CANOE -- JAM! - Marquesas Finale: 'Vee' is for victory

November 28, 2004

Marquesas Finale: 'Vee' is for victory

By JOHN POWELL -- JAM! Showbiz

For Vecepia 'Vee' Towery, her vision has become a reality. With a shout of "God is great!", Vecepia Towery, the office manager from Portland, Oregon, who claims she had a premonition that she would win 'Survivor' before even trying out for the show, celebrated her win as the Ultimate Survivor on the finale of 'Survivor: Marquesas' last night. The former member of the United States Air Force with a background in sociology and psychology, used her wit and a notebook to defeat the 16 other American contestants in the fourth edition of the popular reality show.

When asked by 'Survivor: Reunion" show host Rosie O'Donnell what she took away from the experience besides a million bucks, Vecepia answered: "Without a doubt, being the first African-American to take it (the prize). It is a great feeling just to know that so many people are proud of me right now."

In the final jury vote, Towery beat out Neleh Dennis, the 21 year-old student from Layton, Utah, by one vote to snag the million dollar prize and a new Saturn Vue. Both were underestimated by the other players, faded into the background, weren't considered threats in the game and formed alliances early on to carry them through. Dennis had latched onto father figure Paschal English while Towery had an on and off again partnership with the other African-American contestant on 'Survivor: Marquesas', Sean Rector. For the most part, the Rotu Alliance (John, Tammy, Robert and Zpe) threw their support behind Vecepia and not Neleh. Everyone except for Zoe that is who broke away from the Alliance and voted for Neleh.

In describing her strategy at the final Tribal Council, Towery, a devote Christian who made no bones about her beliefs on the show, professed to having had a vision four months ago that she would win the game. Her strategy was to establish a relationship with everyone, have them come to her about alliances and to show a strong work ethic. Unknown to the other players, Towery recorded all of her observations in a notebook. Towery used those tidbits of information to win the second last Immunity Challenge in which the final four Survivors - Paschal English, Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien, Neleh Dennis and Vecepia Towery - were quizzed about other contestants. That victory propelled her into the final three when Paschal English, the Superior Court judge from Georgia, was the victim of a tied Tribal Council vote. Instead of relying on past votes to break the stalemate, the producers had the 'Survivors' choose rocks out of a bag. Paschal's was purple. Everyone else's was yellow. Paschal left the game.

In a finale that saw more deals than any used car lot in New Jersey, Neleh Dennis won the final Immunity Challenge after making a pact with Towery. Dennis and Towery then voted off hard-working real estate agent Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien, to become the final two.

As a tribute to New York City, host Jeff Probst carried the final votes to the live reunion show in Central Park in a helicopter cruising past the Statue Of Liberty and The Empire State Building.

On the 'Survivor: Marquesas' reunion show it was confirmed that the next 'Survivor' will take place in Thailand and will be broadcast this fall.

The remaining Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:

Soliantu Tribe

Soliantu Tribal Happenings (Night 36)

The 'Survivors' arrive back from an emotional Tribal Council. The fire is out. Is it a sign from above? Hmmmm. Could be. Where's Vecepia when you need her? Kathy tells us she didn't like what happened at Tribal Council and hopes she made the right choice to side with Neleh and Paschal.

Soliantu Tribal Happenings (Day 37)

Paschal The Barbarian is a shell of his former self. He is staggering around like he drank too much mead at the Red Dragon Inn. If that wasn't a bad enough sight, Kathy and Neleh decide that they are going to sing, hold a prayer for the island gods and scream "I hate this place!" over and over again. Someone give these two the hook, please.

The next Immunity Challenge will be based on what the 'Survivors' know about the contestants they've spent time with. So, the ending of 'Survivor: Marquesas' will be just like 'Survivor Africa' in terms of the challenges? Gee, thanks a lot for using your imagination there, Burnett. Nothing like seeing the same moments again and again with different faces attached to them.

Paschal The Barbarian has a plan. He suggests to everyone that they compare notes about the other 'Survivors' so everyone will be on a "level playing field". Studying her notebook alone, Vecepia politely declines to participate. Question for Mark Burnett. If Vecepia was writing in this book all the time, why is this the first time it is being shown on the show? This is a major plot point that fans should've known about a long time ago.

Immunity Challenge

It's a quiz on the former Tribe Members. First one to score 10 points wins.

Reward

Immunity From Tribal Council.

Result

The notebook, the one we weren't shown before but really made a difference on the show, comes in handy.

Winner: Vecepia Towery.

Tribal Council

Kathy makes a pact with Vecepia. If Vecepia doesn't vote for her, she will align herself with her. If there is a tie, Kathy says she will take the fall. Vecepia agrees. In a classic moment, Probst tells Kathy and Vecepia if they want to decide who to vote for, they have to do it in front of everyone...including the Survivor Jury. They agree on Neleh. An indignant Paschal, tells Neleh to vote for Kathy.

Paschal votes for Kathy. She is an amazing woman. Neleh selects Kathy. She promised Paschal she would never vote for him.

Final Voting

The vote ends in a tie so Probst gives the Tribe two minutes to come to a unanimous decision about who they want to vote out. Neleh and Kathy are given time to speak before everyone chats. Neleh says she has played fairly from the start. Kathy emphasis her role as a provider.

Still no agreement can be made so in one of the lamest moments on 'Survivor' ever, another quiz doesn't determine who gets the boot. Past votes (Which I have always considered a fair way to play.) aren't factored in. Instead, get this, the 'Survivors' pull rocks from a bag. The one will the purple rock is out. Paschal The Barbarian is the unlucky one. The three women all hug Paschal The Barbarian as our courageous warrior has his torch snuffed knowing that his tales of bravery and honour will be told forever more. Princess Neleh, who Paschal carried on his back to the final, cries.

Tribal Council Victim: Paschal English.

Parting Comments

"It's been an amazing experience. I've met some wonderful people and made some life-long friends. Of the competitors who remain, I wish each of them all luck. They are all worthy. To the other jury members, I look forward to being part of you. " - Paschal English.

Soliantu Tribal Happenings (Day 38)

Kathy, Neleh and Vee are awoken by Jeff Probst. Probst won't tell them what time it is but assures them that it is early in the morning. Knowing that the final days on past shows haven't drawn many interesting moments, the women are required to put a canoe together and paddle to another beach. From there, they walk along a canyon and past torches representing the losers of 'Survivor: Marquesas'. Neleh cries over Paschal's.

At a "cleansing area" area, the women pour some scented goop on each other and paint some temporary tattoos on themselves. Vee's is the most interesting. She has torches of all the former Tribe Members on her leg as well as their names and in which order they were voted off.

Kathy and Vee discuss some strategy right in front of Neleh. Neleh barks at them..."You guys haven't won yet!". "Oh, my heck." or not, she has a point. Neleh tells us that it wasn't very sportsmen like to throw that in her face.

Immunity Challenge

Got some time to kill? It's the endurance test I think we've seen as the final Immunity Challenge on every edition of 'Survivor'. The women have to stand on logs and put one hand on an idol. If either their feet or hands come off the logs or the idol, they are history.

Reward

Immunity from Tribal Council.

Result

Kathy makes a huge mistake or Neleh works some brilliant strategy. You be the judge. Neleh tells Kathy that in leaning over like that, her...ummm...coconuts are falling out of her blouse. Kathy moves to adjust herself and falls off at about four hours in. Vee and Neleh make a deal. If Neleh will take Vee into the finals, she will drop out. Neleh agrees. Vee gives up Immunity.

Winner: Neleh.

Tribal Council

Some bad news. It seems as though Paschal collapsed before he got to Tribal Council and had to be taken away for medical care. John tells Kathy, Neleh and Vee that Pappy is okay. He is just tired and needs some rest.

Kathy blames herself for failing at the last Immunity Challenge. She should never have lost focus like that. Neleh claims she didn't do it on purpose. Kathy is disappointed that Vee abandoned her as soon as she lost Immunity.

Since Kathy and Vee's votes cancel each other's out, only Neleh votes.

Final Voting

Tribal Council Victim: Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien.

Parting Comments

"Sixteen total American strangers hit this island. First thing off the bat, we are working as a team. It was done with positive attitudes, integrity, honesty -- that might have been a little shaky at times. It's the relationships and how you can improve upon them that I am taking away but I loved it. " - Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien.

Soliantu Tribal Happenings (Night 38)

Neleh and Vee can't believe they have made it to the finals. The camp fire has gone out again. Strange, that. Vee reveals to us that she wanted Neleh in the finals against her than Kathy all along. Vee understands that many of the contestants didn't like Neleh's "innocent act". Neleh and Vee pray at the camp fire. They say a special one for Paschal hoping he is okay.

Soliantu Tribal Happenings (Day 39)

Vee and Neleh wake up to see a pig and chickens around the camp. Where were these animals weeks ago, they must be thinking. Vee and Neleh eat breakfast, take a mud bath and burn the camp. Vee quotes the Bible. "It is finished. It is almost done." It's off to the final Tribal Council.

Tribal Council

Neleh and Vee are asked to make a statement to the jury. Neleh says she has had an incredible time. She didn't think she had a chance and wasn't trying that hard to win. She loves them no matter who they choose. Vee reveals that she had a vision about winning 'Survivor' months ago. She didn't ride on anyone's coat tails. She worked hard. She has faith in God.

The Jury is allowed to pose their questions.

Tammy calls Vee and Neleh hypocrites for being "holier than thou" and then lying like everyone else. Neleh got greedy and stabbed Rotu in the back. According to Tammy, neither of them deserve to win. In her opinion, Kathy should be the "Ultimate Survivor".

Sean congratulates both ladies. He wonders if there is any moral message they got out of the game. Neleh says a lot of the time her heart wouldn't let her make the moves she wanted to. Vee says that she will think harder about the important decisions she makes once she is back home.

Paschal says both women are deserving winners. They are great representatives of the United States. He is a better person for knowing the both of them. He wishes there could be a joint 'Survivor' winner.

Robert asks them to explain which decision they regretted the most. Vee says she regrets what she had to do to Kathy yesterday. Neleh is sorry for turning her back on the Rotu Alliance.

Zoe states that both women have good hearts. Congratulations.

Kathy has two questions. Neleh: What was the dramatic shift in the game for you? Neleh says when on Day 24 the rest of the tribe turned on the Rotu Alliance and voted them out. Kathy to Vee: What was your strategy? Vee answers to have people approach her about alliances.

John asks both of them why his vote should go either of them. They both lied and were far from innocent. Neleh says because she was going to join their Alliance. That's when things changed. Vee replies that because she came in with a strategy and played the game to the fullest.

John stalls taking forever to vote. He writes down Vee. It was a hard decision but he was hoping Neleh would have stepped forward and apologized to him. Paschal, of course, selects Neleh. She was more honest and a great competitor. It is not known who Rob voted for. Sean, of course, chooses Vee. He hopes Vee will help him out some with that wad of dough she will be winning. It is not known who Kathy or Tammy selected. Zoe writes down Neleh's name. Vee is not for victory tonight, she says.

Final Voting

The Ultimate Survivor of 'Survivor: Marquesas': Vecepia Towery.

Episode Rating: A+.

Powell's Thoughts

And so ends another 'Survivor' series and so too does our coverage of it at Jam! Showbiz. I know. I know. I messed up my choice for the winner. Oh, well. There is a first time for everything. Thanks so much to all of you for sending all those encouraging comments and insights my way. They were greatly appreciated more than you will ever know. I hope the reviews added something to the experience for you...even if it was just a few cheap laughs. It was a pleasure writing them and sharing my passion for the show with you. Hopefully, we can do this all again this fall. Until then, take care and thanks for reading and supporting my column.