CANOE -- JAM! Television - TV Shows - Survivor 7 : Pearl Islands: 'Pearl Islands' Finale: Sassy mom wins 'Survivor'

The lippiest 'Survivor' mom beat the Scout Troop Leader. Not that you would've known that if you tuned in late to the 'Survivor: Pearl Islands' reunion show as stronger personalities on the reality show series - like the popular Rupert Boneham and the despised Jon 'Jonnie Fairplay' Dalton - overshadowed Sandra Diaz-Twine's win.

Diaz-Twine, the 29-year-old office assistant from Washington, who had contemplated an elaborate sabotage scheme to cripple the tribe if she was ever voted off, was awarded the title of 'Ultimate Survivor' and the million dollars that goes along with it on last night's finale. Diaz-Twine beat Lillian Morris, the Scout Troop Leader from Ohio in a landslide 6 to 1 vote. Darrah Johnson, the 22-year-old mortician from Mississippi finished fourth while Jon Dalton, the art consultant and indy pro wrestler and promoter from Virginia came in third. Tijuana Bradley from the Morgan Tribe cast the sole vote for Morris because she had felt she had been the better strategist in the game.

"First of all, everyone was strategizing and I was like...Why waste my time strategizing? If they need an extra vote I will just go with whatever happens and everyone always had bigger fish to fry. Nobody worried about me so I just kept on...every three days, three days, three more days...until I made it to the end," Diaz-Twine told host Jeff Probst on the reunion show. As Probst noted, Diaz-Twine never had a vote cast against her in the game.

Diaz-Twine's victory had been leaked before the 'Pearl Islands' series had even began when an offshore gambling site (BetWWTS.com) pulled the plug on 'Survivor: Pearl Islands' betting when 15 bets on the same contestant were placed by people who lived near each other in Vancouver, British Columbia. The player in question was Diaz-Twine. A similar situation erupted before 'Survivor: The Amazon' aired too with an unusual number of bets being placed on the eventual winner: swimsuit model Jenna Morasca.

For her part, Morris predicted even before she sat down at the final Tribal Council that she had lost the game. Having been voted off earlier on but permitted to return to the game after The Outcasts - a tribe of booted players - won a special competition, Morris understood that the jury wouldn't award her the grand prize. Knowing that and having won the final Immunity Challenge, Morris decided to take Diaz-Twine in the Final Two as she thought she was more deserving of the prize money than hated deceiver Jon 'Jonnie Fairplay' Dalton.

"I used my heart more than my head. Sandra was a mom like me, a wife like me. She had plans for her kids. No offence but Jon's lifestyle is totally different from mine. He is into the drinking and carousing...and what have you. I just couldn't accept that," Morris told Probst. "It came down to who I thought deserved the money more. I prayed about it. I thought about it and it was Sandra."

To test out her theory, Probst reversed the scenario and called for a vote on the live reunion show as if Morris had taken Dalton into the Final Two instead of Diaz-Twine. After a show of hands it was clear Morris would've been the 'Ultimate Survivor'.

"It's all right. I put my trust in it and I went the way my heart was. That's just Lill. That's not inside the game. I can live with that," said Lill. In response to her statement, the live crowd cheered her.

For the rest of the reunion show, the focus left the finalists and stayed on the characters who made 'Survivor: Pearl Islands" the best edition of the series thus far. Rupert 'Blackbeard' Boneham, the rough and lovable troubled teens mentor from Indiana whose looks and personality fit the bill of the pirate-themed series so perfectly was stunned by his popularity with fans.

"I couldn't believe how people were taking me. I never thought it would be such a wonderful experience. Never. I knew I wanted to come play 'Survivor' and be on it ever since I saw Richard Hatch out there playing around. I knew I could beat him," Rupert, who is rumoured to be on the forthcoming "All-Star" edition with Hatch, told Probst.

Probst then switch gears from the most loved to possibly the most hated 'Survivor' of all time" Jon 'Jonnie Fairplay' Dalton, who lied about his grandmother dying to gain sympathy from his tribe. Dalton's grandma was shown to be very much alive on the reunion show and even supported Jon's strategy in using the lie to outwit the others.

"I wanted to be the most hated 'Survivor' of all time and I think I did a pretty good job of it," said the wise-cracking Dalton who informed everyone that the 'Fairplay' persona came from his days as a pro wrestler and promoter. The reaction Dalton has received from the public has baffled him as well.

"I've had people tell me flat-out that they want to kill me and I give them the finger and then...they cheer. It's weird," said Dalton. "Actually, I just want the guys to hate me. The girls, I would like to be the most popular 'Survivor' there." Perhaps letting a surprise out of the bag, Dalton joked with Probst about his grandfather possibly dying on 'Survivor: All Stars'. Dalton, however, hasn't been mentioned on any of the rumoured 'All Stars' cast listings which have been circulating on the Internet.

And how about 'quitter' Osten Taylor who asked to be voted out on the seventh episode? He is sticking to his decision and has no regrets.

"I am feeling all right about it. In life, you've got to make decisions. Some are going to be popular. Some are not going to be popular," said Taylor. "Is there going to be backlash? Yeah, I've seen backlash but at the end of the day, take the backlash, be a man and walk on."

"You can't argue with that. You are sticking up for what you decided," replied Probst who had lain Osten's torch down after he had snuffed it out and summarily told Osten to go home at the now infamous Tribal Council.

Burdened by so many personalities, the reunion show broke away from tradition on two important fronts. The finale was supposed to be held at the ruins of the Casco Viejo's Santo Domingo Convent in Panama City. On November 7th, the structure collapsed and the reunion show was then moved to Los Angeles. Either because of that or a crunch for time, Probst's usual comedic grand entrance with the final votes did not occur. Probst also did not reveal any details about the upcoming 'All-Stars' edition which wrapped up filming in the Pearl Islands last week.

'Survivor: All-Stars' debuts on CBS after the Super Bowl on February 1st.

The remaining Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:

Balboa Tribe
1. JON DALTON: Art Consultant.
2. SANDRA DIAZ-TWINE: Office Assistant.
3.DARRAH JOHNSON: Mortician.
4.LILLIAN MORRIS: Scout Troop Leader.

Balboa Tribal Happenings (Day 37)

Our cranky host Jeff Probst is all smiles this morning and that's because he gets to wake up the Final Four bright and early. He's brought pastries and champagne to salute them. "This is another first. Jonnie Fairplay in bed with three women," he cracks. Jon corrects Probst and says it isn't. Probst delivers some letters from home. Lillian fawns all over Probst and asks him if he wants to be part of a Scout Troop. "One day, maybe," mumbles Probst as he shuffles off.

Everyone sniffles and bawls over the greetings from home. Lill more so than others. Jon considers using that against Lillian.

Resting in the hovel, Jon fires some barbs at Lillian. He accuses her of deliberately turning on the waterworks and predicts she will pull out all the "hearts and flowers" in front of the jury. He thinks her tears will get her the money. Lillian denies it all and asks Darrah for her opinion. Lillian asks Darrah if she would bring her to the finals. Darrah isn't sure. She puts some stock into what Jon claims. Lillian goes off in a huff. "Sorry if that makes me mean," she grumps as she slouches into a hammock.

Jon offers a deal to Darrah. Since everyone is sure they can't beat Lillian in front of the jury they should vote her out. All they need is Sandra. Later, Sandra and Darrah chat in the shrubs. Darrah calls Lillian "selfish" and thinks it would be a good strategy if they kept Jon. Sandra mulls over the idea.

Back in the hovel, Lillian and Sandra want to talk privately. Lillian to Jon: "Will you get out of here?". Jon obliges. Lill and Sandra agree to kick Darrah. They don't want her winning any more challenges. Lillian calls Jon back and lets him in on their plan. Jon is onboard in a heartbeat.

Jon tells us that his ploy to create tension between two tribemates may have worked. His head was on the chopping block and now it is not. Ain't that crazy? Sandra doesn't give a crap who goes as long as it isn't her. The tribe receives some sea mail telling them to head to Tribal Council where their fates will be determined by a jury of their peers. Fairplay ain't worried. He is a king of men and they are just women. He can beat any one of them.

Immunity Challenge

The Final Four are thrown a curve ball. They will face-off against each other and the jury in a trivia game. Whoever answers five questions correctly first wins. If the jury is victorious, they take the Immunity Scabbard.

Reward

Immunity from the Tribal Council vote.

Result

The jury can put their heads together as give their answers by committee. The players can't.

Winners: The 'Survivor: Pearl Islands' jury. The Immunity Scabbard is passed to Christa.

Tribal Council Happenings

Jon feels he is a big target tonight. Lillian blithers on about how much the message from home meant to her. Darrah is taking one day at a time. She is not thinking about who she wants with her in the finals as she hasn't arrived at that crossroads yet. Sandra tries not to leave the shelter for a "piss break" just in case people talk about her behind her back. Lillian still does. She doesn't care though she doesn't like what the game has done to her. Darrah maintains she is not a physical threat. Jon hopes people recognize that it would be good strategy to keep him around as the jury hates him.

Lill votes for Darrah. She is too strong and Lill saved her twice already. Darrah is tired of listening to Lill's whining. She votes for her.

Final Voting

Tribal Council Victim: DARRAH JOHNSON.

Parting Comments

"Well, that sucked. You know it is pretty bad when people think you are a physical threat when you weigh about 50 pounds soaking wet. Lill and Jon, you guys are snakes. Lill, you act like you don't know the game. You know, it has been a great experience and I would do it all over again." -- DARRAH JOHNSON.

Balboa Tribal Happenings (Night 37)

Jon is sure Darrah was surprised by the vote. Sandra: "The strongest had to go." Lillian still believes she is next. Jon: "If you say so." The players receive sea mail in the middle of the night. They are told to head to pirate's cove before sunrise.

When Sandra, Jon and Lillian row in, Probst greets them with torches representing all of the booted players and three muskets. A ship wreck used in previous challenges sits in the background. The players are to place the torches on the ship and say a few words. Osten's torch will remain at Tribal Council where he laid it down and will not be a part of the ceremony. A video recap of Osten's time in the game is still shown though in the end. Once that is done, the Survivors fire their muskets and the ship burns. It is off to the final Immunity Challenge.

Immunity Challenge

There are three platforms floating in the water. It is an endurance test. The players cannot let their knees or their butts touch the platform or they are disqualified.

Result

Probst actually refers to Jon as a "wannabe WWE wrestler". Sandra is out rather quickly. Jon tries to cut a deal with Lillan on two occasions. She won't barter. She's done aerobics and can last forever. At 2 hours and 45 minutes, Jon is out.

Winner: Lillian.

Balboa Pre-Tribal Council Happenings

Lillian tells us she wouldn't bargain with Fairplay because she wanted to win Immunity for herself. Sandra thinks her goose is cooked. If she was smart, Lillian would keep Jon. Jon paces the beach to get some feeling back into his legs. The Immunity Challenge was the most hardcore thing he has ever done. He is not going home without a fight.

Sandra reminds Lillian that she has always done what she has asked. Now it is time for Lillian to pay her back by keeping her around. Lillian is not sure what to do. Sandra has a family and kids. People on the jury like her. Jon has screwed over many people but the jury might view that as great strategy. Jon approaches Lillian. Everyone on the jury hates him but Sandra has many of the jury members on her side. Lillian's rendition of 'Amazing Grace' sends us to...

Tribal Council Happenings

Jon is surprised he made friends with Burton while playing the game and sees Rupert as a great guy and a strong competitor. If Rupie was in front of the jury, he would sweep the final vote. Sandra is shocked to still be in contention and that Lillian won Immunity. Lillian has been weighing many factors into her decision. Jon is a brilliant schemer and Sandra has friends on the jury.

Final Voting

Tribal Council Victim: JON DALTON.

Parting Comments

"I am pretty proud of myself. I never gave up and I didn't play fair and didn't plan on it. I am happy that my grandma's at home and doing just fine. I can't wait to see her. In a game in which the old term 'To be the man, you have to beat the man.' comes into play, I was the last man. Peace out from Jonnie Fairplay." -- JON DALTON.

Balboa Tribal Happenings (Night 38)

Back at camp, Sandra tells Lill that she thought she was going to be voted out for sure. Lillian wants Sandra to have the money because Jon would just spend it on booze and women. Lillian and Sandra rest in the hovel. They are just going to relax before the big day tomorrow.

Balboa Tribal Happenings (Day 39)

Lillian swipes at viewers watching the show. In her mind, viewers can't judge them until they have played the game and tried to survive in such a harsh setting. Sandra is proud of the fact that nobody has ever written her name down at Tribal Council. She thinks she has a good chance at winning. Sandra makes Lillian a necklace to match her uniform. She calls Lillian a "boy scout pirate". As they walk away from camp, Sandra doesn't want to look back but Lillian makes her do so. "It's you and me, sister," she says as they march off.

Final Tribal Council Happenings

Sandra's opening statement: "Hello. I feel that I deserve the million dollars because I was always a team player from the get-go. It was my strategy to always be that person anybody could come to and say...Sandra, we need to vote this person out so we can move forward in the game and I accomplished that because I was always a team player. I gave 100 per cent. Everyone could always count on me to have their backs and to help out with everything that had to be done."

Lillian's opening statement: "My strategy from the very beginning was to just be Lillian Morris. Not only did my strategy consist of trying to be kind to everyone, because that's what Lillian is. Lillian is a kind person. I worked constantly while everybody else was hanging back a little bit. Three different people told me that...Lill, we are going to take you to the final two with me. Turns out, all three of these people kinda turned their backs on me. They said I was too nice and they wouldn't go up against me. I think basically my strategy was just to come in, work hard, be friendly, do good by others and just be Lillian. And, I think mostly that's what I was."

Jury questions and answers

Ryan questions Lillian on being out of the game and wonders why she deserves the money. Lillian replies that is was the lowest time of her life. It was no picnic being an Outcast. Ryan asks Sandra if she rode any coat-tails to get to the final two. Sandra acknowledges her alliance with Rupert and Christa. She claims that she survived when Rupert was voted out and that demonstrates that she made it the rest of the way on her own.

Rupert wonders if Lillian was ever honest with him in the game. He believes she lied to him constantly. Lillian denies that. She was speaking the truth when they talked about their families and their commitment to helping youth. Rupert doesn't think he will get another more from Lillian so he moves on to Sandra. He asks her if she knew he was going to be booted out. She answers that she had no idea and that his eviction made her angry.

Tijuana asks Sandra and Lillian why the other shouldn't win. Lillian apologizes to Sandra ahead of time. Sandra says it is okay. Lillian has to say something bad about her. Lillian believes Sandra disrespected a number of people and rode the coat-tails of other people. She didn't have a mind of her own and was just a follower. Sandra thinks that Lillian is responsible for every one of the jury members being voted out.

Christa bumbles in. "What's up, people. All right. Rock stars," she babbles. Christa questions why Lillian hid behind her Scout oath all the time and apologized constantly. Lillian replies that she was really sorry in those instances. Lillian wishes she hadn't worn the scout uniform because it was a curse during the game. Lillian claims the first time she ever lied in the game was when Rupert was voted out. Christa asks Sandra what her most elaborate scheme was. Sandra says when she and Tijuana snuck behind the bushes to listen to Jon and Burton discuss strategy.

Burton wants to know how they would rate themselves as real 'Survivors' if they were stranded on an island. Sandra gives herself a five. She doesn't know how to start fires and such. She would do well for the first couple of days and then starve to death. Lillian gives herself a seven. She knows how to start a fire...etc. Burton cuts her off when he has heard enough.

Darrah wants to know how Sandra and Lillian got to where they are. Whoever gives her the most honest answer will get her vote. Sandra survived because other people had other agendas and didn't view her as a threat. Lillian followed along with others and used her own head to make crucial decisions.

Jon to Jeff: "Can I vote...none of the above?". Jon asks Sandra how she feels she represented the Puerto Rican population. Sandra thinks she did a fine job. She just did what she had to do to make it through the game. She was taught to take care of herself first and that's what she did. Jon questions Lillian about how she represented the Scouts. Lillian wishes she hadn't have worn the uniform at all. Lillian: "This game has nothing to do with honour and integrity." She doesn't feel she represented the Scouts very well at all but that the Survivor game doesn't lend itself to the beliefs of the Scouts.

Sandra's final statement: "I think I played this game the way I knew how. When I came here, I represented myself the way that I truly am. There was no lies and deceptions about how Sandra is. I always thought that my mouth would get me in trouble but now that I look at it, being open and saying things the way they are is what helped me to get this far. Because when anyone approached me and said...Sandra we need to do this or whatever...I openly and frankly expressed my opinions...yes I will go with you or yes, I will help you. I am actually surprised to be sitting here but now that I am, I am kind of glad. I think I am a good person regardless if I cussed you out or not. That's how I was feeling at the time. There's no regrets about whatever I did and I am glad to be sitting here. Thank you very much for your time."

Lillian's final statement: "If I had to do it all over again, the Boy Scout uniform would be at home. It would have been harder for anybody to say...Boy Scout, dignity, honour, 'Survivor', liar, cheater, whatever. Those two things don't come together and whatever you guys say about my honour, my integrity...it is that way here. It is not that way at home. Now why should you give it to me and not give it to Sandra? I also tried to learn this game and play this game as best that I could. I also tried to remain respectful to people and I also tried to form friendships. Friendships dissolved and it hurt me bad because I couldn't do anything about it. You either play the game or you get voted out. So, no matter what you guys do, I did the best I could with what I had and the person that I am. This is one night. Yes, it is a big reward but I am going back home. I am going to be the "Big Lill" to 75 kids that look up to me and I am going to explain to them that this was a game. Put the Scout uniform aside. I wish I had and I didn't. Thank you."

Final Voting

Ultimate Survivor: Sandra Diaz-Twine.

Powell's Thoughts:

Well, my predictions were off slightly. There are some spoilers I should've discounted and some I should've taken to heart. Me bad. I guess 12 out of 17 guesses ain't too bad. In the end, not a bad prediction record, I suppose.

What I am most proud of though is that the psychology surrounding the finale was right on the money. Whichever of the finalists were up against Lillian in the Final Two was assured a win because of one simple fact: 'Big Lill' was voted back in and didn't exactly last the entire 39 days. Though it was a ratings hit, the return of the Tribe of the Living Dead (The Outcasts) really did have a disastrous affect on the game and the finale in general making it very predictable once it was revealed who the final two would be.

Lillian's defeat can be summed up very succinctly. She returned to the game after being voted out. She was combative at Tribal Council and like Colby in 'Survivor: Australia', she handed the win away by making a wonderful moral and ethical choice but a bad tactical choice going into the jury vote. Someone will have to explain to me one day how a 'Survivor' player can work so hard, lie and betray their friends in the game for 39 days, make it to the end and then decide to toss the whole game away. Morris' loss also points to the fact that once again, hard work at camp doesn't guarantee a 'Survivor' win.

Though Sandra is a worthy winner (more than Jenna last season) because she saved her own hide from being voted out by turning the tables numerous times during the game, I truly wonder if the jury would've voted differently had they known about Sandra's attempts at sabotaging the tribe. Rupert might have. Whatever the case, it certainly is ammunition for those fans who think that the jury should be permitted to view tapes of what is going on in the game after they've been voted out.

Despite some of the inequitable rule changes - The Outcasts returning being the most hideous one - the 'Pearl Islands' series itself was the best Mark Burnett and crew have ever put together. That's thanks in part to the casting and the carefully crafted pirate theme. Methinks once 'All-Star' is over and done with, Burnett will probably be placing more emphasis on the themes he can come up for future editions. There is no doubt that the pirate theme helped boost Rupert's popularity in a major way.

Sadly, the producers didn't give much info on the pending 'All-Stars' series. You'd think they would've revealed Rupert's involvement in it to spark more interest with mainstream or newbie fans to the series. Here are some 'All-Stars' rumours to ponder until we meet again in the new year:

It was filmed in the Pearl Islands.

The Tribal Council area is actually the old Mar and Diversion Cantina.

The final Tribal Council vote was held on December 11th. Filming began on November 3rd.

There are three tribes this time around. The rumoured participants are: Rob C., Rob M., Tom, Alicia, Amber and Susan on the Red Tribe. Ethan, Rudy, Rupert, Jenna. L., Jerri and Tina on the Blue Tribe. Richard, Colby, Lex, Jenna M., Shii Ann and Kathy on the Green Tribe.

The prize is two million dollars.

Jenna M. might have had to leave the game (if she wasn't already voted out) due to the death of her mother.