There is an old saying that goes something like...a person is judged by the company they keep. In the game of 'Survivor', who you decide to hang with or throw your support behind can determine just how far you will go in the game. Check in with the wrong people and you could be checking out in a hurry. It is a lesson that Michelle Tesauro had to learn the hard way. Ghost girl hitched her wagon to the wrong horse - Burton - at Tribal Council last week. The decision left her vulnerable when her other alliance members Jon Dalton and Shawn Cohen booked on Burton and then her too. Not even Rupert 'Blackbeard', the pirate with a heart of gold, could do anything to save her even though she executed the one and only sympathy puke seen on 'Survivor'.
The remaining Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:
Drake Tribe
1. RUPERT BONEHAM: Troubled Teens Mentor.
2. SHAWN COHEN: Advertising Sales.
3. JON DALTON: Art Consultant.
4. SANDRA DIAZ-TWINE: Office Assistant.
5. TRISH DUNN: Sales Executive.
6. CHRISTA HASTIE: Computer Programmer.
7. MICHELLE TESAURO: Student
Morgan Tribe
1. TIJUANA BRADLEY: Pharmaceutical Sales.
2. DARRAH JOHNSON: Mortician.
3. RYAN OPRAY: Electrician.
4. ANDREW SAVAGE: Attorney.
5. OSTEN TAYLOR: Equity Trade Manager.
Drake Tribal Happenings (Day 12)
Drake slinks on home after tossing Shawn into the drink without a life preserver. Holy cat fish, Batman. Shawn's loyalty to his Dynamic Duo partner knows no bounds. As soon as he gets back to camp Shawn begins tearing Burton apart. He was leery of him from the start. He was annoying and always wanted things his way. So long and good riddance. With friends like Shawn, Burton didn't need any enemies it seems. Trish drops her elaborate cloaking system just in time to point out the obvious to us - Shawn's trashing of Burton is awful low. Jon seizes the moment to Pearl Harbor Michelle. In front of everyone, he delightfully outs her for aligning with Burton and voting for Christa. It is okay, he says. It is water under the bridge. Yeah, right. Michelle: "I am in big trouble." No kidding.
Morgan Tribal Happenings (Day 13)
Honourary Morgan member - Rupert 'Blackbeard' - sees for himself just how screwed up Morgan is. Even though they saw the tide coming in last episode, Morgan has done absolutely nothing to save their wretched dwelling from the oncoming swell. Rupert can't believe Morgan actually thought a few logs would hold back the tide. He takes a seat and puts his head in his hands as Morgan bickers about where and how they should move their shack. Osten doesn't want to relocate near the jungle. He is fearful the mosquitoes, snakes, giant apes and Pteranodons might gobble him up. Rupert is amazed at how much effort Morgan puts into not working. Now he knows why they are not a great team. Everyone moves the frame of the shelter and it collapses. Man, it sucks to be Morgan.
Drake Tribal Happenings (Day 13)
Michelle tells Trish that she wants a can of something...anything. Trish thinks they should wait until Rupert comes back. No longer an extra on the show but the voice of reason on Drake, Trish tells us that she hopes Rupert hasn't given away any of their secrets. With the others, Jon wonders if Morgan has been buttering him up. Sandra isn't sure about Rupert either. Absence sure makes the heart grow fonder, doesn't it?
Morgan Tribal Happenings (Day 13)
For his entire stay, Rupert informs us that he has been hungry and thirsty. Despite that, good old Rupe shows Morgan how to operate their underwater spear. He also takes the time to explain that the world isn't flat and that the sun will assuredly rise tomorrow as well. Ryan O becomes Rupe's first mate taking in all the advice and lessons Rupe has to offer. Rupe is impressed that Ryan really wants to provide for his tribe. 'Blackbeard' does spear a whopper of a fish. While putting it in a bag, Ryan bobbles supper and it swims away. Rupe voices his displeasure with his usual beserker growl. Rupe snags some more and brings them ashore. Tijuana gives Rupe a big smooch on the cheek. Lord Andrew proclaims Rupert a "godsend". He admires his work ethic. Ryan: "The smartest thing Morgan ever did was get a hold of Rupert."
Morgan has even got Rupe retrieving their sea mail for them. He does so and reads the usual cryptic message from the producers. Rupe says that he loves Drake but wants to beat them so bad to show them that they are lost without him. Morgan has no beefs with that.
Reward Challenge
The tribes must paddle their boats out to where they can retrieve some ladder rungs under the water. The ladders back on shore are puzzles that must be fitted together correctly. Each tribe also has an idol in a nearby well. First tribe to assemble their ladder, climb an apparatus and post their idol wins.
Reward
A "water reward" featuring a water pot, cans, rain jackets, sponges, shampoo and a portable shower. Winners can loot one item from the opposing tribes' camp. A piece of their treasure map.
Result
Rupert is a one man wrecking crew. While Drake has trouble navigating their boat, Rupe retrieves all of Morgan's ladder pieces himself. Once Morgan starts assembling the ladder, Andrew rushes off to get the idol. Drake finally makes it back with their pieces. Probst really ridicule them. "Welcome to the challenge, Drake. Glad you could join us," he quips. As Michelle goes after the idol, Probst states that it is a waste of time. Andrew is allowed the honours of scaling the ladder and placing the idol on its perch. Rupe shares in Morgan's group hug. Probst gives Rupert 'Blackbeard' the choice of sharing in the reward or immediately returning to Drake. He elects to rejoin his tribe. "I love you guys but I want to go home," Rupe tells Morgan.
Winners: Morgan.
Morgan Tribal Happenings
Lord Andrew is a merry old soul. He reminds us that though Rupert aided Morgan in a big way during the challenge, Morgan itself came through as a team especially in rowing and steering the boat along. Tijuana can't wait to shower. She feels so nasty. As 'Dr. Death' Darrah showers nude, the guys do respect her privacy. Ryan revels in the "positive vibe" at Morgan.
Drake Tribal Happenings
Rupe has been hugged so many times, he's actually shrunk four dress sizes. As Drake gathers around, 'Blackbeard' gives them the lowdown. Morgan has almost no food left. They are done. Drake has the competition in the bag. Lord Andrew arrives to raid Drake. Rupert greets him. In a stunning move, Rupert offers to show Lord Andrew what he should take. Rupert brings Andrew to Drake's stash of rice. He will give Andrew the whole bag if he wants it. Andrew says he would never do that. Hold onto your hats but Rupert and Andrew negotiate the looting. Andrew leaves with a good portion of Drake's rice. 'Blackbeard' tells us that what we just saw wasn't a "looting". It was friends helping friends. Man, what a guy.
'Blackbeard' lets us in on a little secret though. It is dangerous to be in control of two tribes. If he pushes too hard, he might alienate himself.
Gathering their sea mail and realizing that the Immunity Challenge will be the gross food deal, Drake plots their strategy. Even though Michelle is game for eating raw sewage if she has to, everyone instructs her to act like a wuss. She has to gag a lot and really play up the "girly girl" persona so if the challenge goes into a tie-breaker round that Morgan will choose her to face off against. Before trudging off to the challenge, Rupert finds an injured snake in the water. He bandages it up and brings it along.
Immunity Challenge
Probst notices that Drake has a new member...a reptilian one. Rupert introduces the snake as Balboa, Drake's new mascot. There is a difference to this year's gross food challenge. Probst and his blender are serving up seafood smoothies. Competing in pairs, each Survivor gets a ball to toss on a roulette wheel. Whichever two seafood items the balls land on is what Probst mixes for the competitors to drink. There is one space titled "Jeff's Special". If the Survivors land on that one, Jeff picks the ingredient.
Reward
Immunity from Tribal Council.
Result
Michelle doesn't follow Drake's plan. She downs her smoothie with a hassle. Many members of Drake are not pleased with her actions. The challenge does come down to a timed tie-breaker round. Morgan picks Sandra. Drake selects 'Dr. Death' Darrah. Probst churns out their smoothies and garnishes them with a sardine. Darrah is the first to consume both.
Winners: Morgan.
Drake Pre-Tribal Council Happenings
Sandra blames herself for losing the challenge for Drake. She predicts her head will be on the chopping block. Michelle knows she blew it. She should've done as her tribe has requested. Christa comforts Sandra. "You did your best," she says. Jon says to us that the challenge was mind over matter and that a sardine is bigger than Sandra's mind. He is pissed at Michelle for letting her ego get in the way of the tribe's strategy. Shawn confers with Rupert about voting Michelle off. When he shambles away, Rupert comments to himself that Shawn better watch out as he could be the one voted out. Michelle privately chats with Rupert. Mumbles and bumbles is more like it. As she pukes her guts out for Rupert's benefit. While spewing bile she lobbies for Shawn to be booted. He does nothing around camp and can't be trusted. Rupert promises to speak to the others about Shawn. Michelle does eat less and works hard.
Tribal Council
Probst is quick to kick Drake while they are down. "What a difference a few days makes," he jokes. If she is voted out, Sandra will understand. She lost the challenge for Drake. Jon and Probst bicker about how many challenges Drake legitimately lost. In the background, Rupert shakes his head. Probst comments that purposely throwing a challenge is so cocky. Rupert speaks out. Drake's decision to forfeit the challenge was the worst mistake possible. He tells Probst he tried to convince Drake not to do so...but they wouldn't listen. If they hadn't lost, he would not have roomed with Morgan. He claims to have learned a lot about Morgan which he will use against them later on.
Michelle votes for Shawn. Something about him jumping ship. Jon writes down Michelle's name. Stealing a line from wrestler Scott Hall (Razor Ramon) he calls Michelle a "good girl" and himself a "bad guy".
Final Voting
1. RUPERT BONEHAM: Michelle.
2. SHAWN COHEN: Michelle.
3. JON DALTON: Michelle.
4. SANDRA DIAZ-TWINE: Michelle.
5. TRISH DUNN: Michelle.
6. CHRISTA HASTIE: Michelle.
7. MICHELLE TESAURO: Shawn
Tribal Council Victim:
MICHELLE TESAURO.
Parting Comments
"Wow, what an amazing experience. Wish I could have been here longer. I wish I could have had more time to kick some butt, and to really get into the game, but for whatever reason, that didn't get to happen. I'm really upset that I came all this way, and I got here, and I'm missing my sister's wedding for this. I wish I would have been able to pay her back by letting her see me down here longer, and really kick some ass, but it didn't happen for me right now. But regardless of all the politics between what had happened, I'm glad that I was a part of it. I had an amazing time, I learned a lot, and I'll always have this experience with me. I think that's all I have to say. " -- MICHELLE TESAURO.
Powell's Thoughts:
On the next 'Survivor', a pelican visits Morgan and bugs the crap out of Osten. Osten: "I don't like animals. I have been bitten by a couple of animals." At Drake, tempers fly. Jon and Shawn are shown arguing. Shawn tells Jon to shut up. Sandra: "Maybe Shawn should get a clue or he's going home."
Rupert 'Blackbeard'. You gotta love the man. Even after showing Morgan how to fish and leading them to a victory at the Reward Challenge, he still helps them out by offering the rice to Andrew. To top it all off, he saves an injured water snake. Can you say most popular Survivor of all time? Yes, indeed. One wonders if he might be offered a spot at the All-Star gig. If not, he should be. Great strategy for Rupert to announce that he has a ton of information to use against Morgan. Obviously he is hoping the info will force Drake to keep him around for the merge. It wasn't smart of him to mention that he advised his tribe against throwing the challenge at tonight's Tribal Council and that they didn't listen to him. Some are sure to hold that statement against him.
Funny that the "kidnapping" of an opposing tribemate didn't repeat itself this week. It sure does give rise to the speculation that the producers introduced it last week to aid an ailing Morgan because they knew ahead of time that Drake was going to throw the Immunity Challenge. I gotta agree with Rupe there. You never throw a Survivor challenge...ever. Things like that have a way of coming back to bite you in the rear.
I suspect that we could be seeing some sort of tribal switch-up quite soon. Most likely, Morgan will lose Ryan O in that manner. Jon and I am sad to say...Rupert might be nearing the end of their runs on the series too. Rupert's statement about pushing things too far could foreshadow his departure. Jon is stirring things up far too much at Drake. The next episode is called "Me and my snake". That has two meanings. It could be about Rupert and his new slimy pal or Shawn and his slimy pal, Jon.
Remember to check the "Survivor: Pearl Islands" boot pick page in Jam! every Thursday to see who I believe will be kicked that night and join us for our 'Survivor' chat every Thursday as well.
