Following the debut in which the former winners became immediate targets,
'Survivor' swung back to its traditional gameplay last night with the
wolves circling around wounded and weak prey.
Rudy Boesch, the original "grumpy old man" of the 'Survivor' series and
highly decorated retired Master Chief from the U.S. Navy, was discharged by
the Saboga tribe because of an injury to his foot and possibly his age.
Heading to their second Tribal Council in a row, Saboga elected to keep
'Survivor: Africa' winner Ethan Zohn in their ranks by a narrow vote.
Cementing his place in the hearts of fans, Rupert "Blackbeard" Boneham
remained true to his promise to Rudy and didn't cast a vote for him despite
the fact that everyone else did.
Once Rudy's torch was snuffed and he had taken the Walk of Shame, host Jeff
Probst gave a long speech honouring Rudy at an already weepy Tribal
Council.
"Tribal Council is an interesting place. Always emotional and tonight was
no exception. How could you not like Rudy? A 75-year-old former Navy SEAL
hanging with kids a third of his age. A hero in anybody's book. I know you
didn't want to vote him out and yet somebody had to go which is what makes
'Survivor' exactly what it is: complicated," said Probst.
The remaining Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:
Chapera Tribe
1. Alicia Calaway.
2. Amber Brkich
3. Rob Cesternino
4. Rob Mariano.
5. Susan Hawk.
6. Tom Buchanan.
Saboga Tribe
1. Ethan Zohn.
2. Jenna Lewis.
3. Jerri Manthey.
4. Rudy Boesch.
5. Rupert Boneham.
Mogo Mogo Tribe
1. Colby Donaldson.
2. Jenna Morasca.
3. Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien.
4. Lex Van Den Berghe.
5. Richard Hatch.
6. Shii Ann Huang.
Saboga Tribal Happenings (Day Four)
For Rupert 'Blackbeard' having no fire is "devastating". Boneheads Saboga
left a pot of contaminated water out hoping they would be allowed to bring
back fire from Tribal Council. Probst denied them that courtesy. If Rupert
would've known Probst was gonna deny them fire, he would've used the pot to
catch rain water. Damn you Jiffy Probst! Damn you to hell!
'Wicked Witch' Jerri didn't sleep well last night in the cold and she looks
like a man when her hair is tied in a bun. Bad move, mistress of Satan.
Rudy recounts some Vietnam war stories. What is Saboga got to bitch about?
His boots never dried in 'Nam. He was always wet and cold there. In a
"Duh!-is-me" 'Survivor' moment, Ethan asks Rudy if he was ever "scared" in
'Nam. "I was scared the whole year," replies Rudy. Didn't the Ken doll of a
soccer hooligan ever watch 'Platoon'? Moron. Jerri can't believe that Rudy
sleeps on the ground and drinks the polluted water without suffering any
ill consequences. Jenna has tried to warn Rudy about the water but there is
no stopping him.
Rudy proceeds to tell the tribe about how he drank from a reservoir with
dead bodies in it in 'Nam just to make Saboga, who are closely watched by
the 'Survivor' medical team off camera, feel completely stupid...as they
should. Don't worry, folks. The water situation is a set-up to create
tension and drama right off the bat. Mark my words, the players will soon
be bailed out by the producers.
Mogo Mogo Tribal Happenings (Day Four)
Echoing Rupert, Colby says that dehydration is their biggest concern. Why?
The same thing happened to the players in the African edition and the
medical team aided those folks off camera. What a drama queen. "She-Devil"
Shii-Ann is worried that her tongue has turned white and she is dying of
thirst. This from a full-time resident of the Fifth Plane of Hell.
Huddled in the shelter as it pours of rain, Mogo Mogo finally gets a clue
and begins drinking the rain water. Mogo Mogo is dumb-o dumb-o. As everyone
shivers in the hovel, a naked King Richard strolls around in a comfortable
manner...or so he says.
Lex: King Richard's nudity doesn't bother him but he finds it scary that
everyone is getting used to it now.
Colby: He is still shocked there is a overweight, naked gay guy walking
around. He knows Richard wants everyone to doff their duds too but that
ain't happening. Sorry gals. You'll have to use your imagination as you
take in those razor commercials.
Chapera Tribal Happenings (Day Four)
Chapera is slurping the rain water too. Some noise pollution echoes through
the jungle as Chapera disembowels Credence Clearwater Revival's "Have You
Ever Seen The Rain?". Tom dances his infamous jig. Good golly Miss Molly
indeed.
Saboga Tribal Happenings (Day Four)
A crate arrives with four locks on it. There is a note attached to it
warning the tribe to keep it dry.
Mogo Mogo Tribal Happenings (Day Four)
They've got the same mysterious crate too. Jenna thinks the box is
"interesting". Well, what do you expect from a swimsuit model? For Colby
the arrival of the crate is great. It's like Christmas or something. Yeah.
Okay. I guess razor boy didn't notice the locks.
Chapera Tribal Happenings (Day Four)
The Robfather wants smash open the box. Screw the rules. He doesn't though
because everyone else thinks it would be a bad idea to tick off the
producers. Robfather: "Nobody wants to upset 'pretty boy' Probst".
Reward Challenge
Richard smiles when Probst announces that Tina was kicked at the last
Tribal Council. It is a ladder challenge. The rungs are secured in the
water. First 5 players from each tribe will swim out to retrieve the first
rung then four will go out, then three...you get the idea. First team to
snatch all of their rungs, climb them and assemble at the top of the
platform wins reward.
Reward
Blankets.
Result
Chapera sits out Tom. Mogo Mogo sits out Jenna. Rudy is lagging during
the challenge as Jenna tries to cheer him on. Viewers can tell the players
are just not into killing themselves for some blankets. They basically put
in a half-hearted effort. That annoys Probst. "You can rest tonight," he
shouts out. Easy for him to say. Ethan, Richard and The Robfather are the
last swimmers for their respective tribes.
Winners: Saboga
Probst makes Saboga a special deal. In everyone's crates is a ton of
rice. Saboga can either take the blankets back to camp or they can accept a
water pot with a clue to their first key and a flint to start a fire. The
catch is if they take the flint and pot, all of the tribes get the same
reward. Saboga decides to play nice and share with everyone. Boo! Hiss!
Told you the producers would bail the Survivors out. Who would not share
the reward knowing the tribes will eventually merge at some point in the
game? Duh!
Mogo Mogo Tribal Happenings (Day Four)
Richard: Tina is gone! Holy crap! That means all of the previous winners
are huge targets...except maybe him. Richard just figured this out? I told
you Mogo Mogo was dumb-o dumb-o.
Sitting around with the others, Lex is happy Tina is history. It sets the
tone for the game. Stealing a line from Thailand's winner Brian, Lex says
it is all business now.
Chapera Tribal Happenings (Day Four)
The Rob C. is so pleased Tina got the boot. She is nothing but a "big
phony". He is happy the winners are the ones with bulls-eyes painted on
their foreheads. Last time he checked, he didn't have a million bucks in
his bank account.
Tom and The Robfather attempt to use the flint to light a fire. They aren't
having much luck. Mostly it is because Alicia 'The Warrior Princess' and
The Robfather can't agree on how it should be done. Alicia claims the men
won't let the women have a go at it.
Tom: He is just a farm boy who is going to keep his big mouth shut. It is
like his team has four or five bosses and he doesn't want to be one of
them.
The Robfather: Alicia has a big mouth. She should learn how to shut
it.
Chapera ends up starting a fire.
Mogo Mogo Tribal Happenings (Day Four)
Rupert and Jerri put the flint to work but no fire yet.
Rupert: "I used to think I was an outdoorsman. I am. An outdoorsmen...with
a lighter."
As they fetch some water, Jenna and Ethan gab. Ethan is concerned that
considering what happened to Tina, he is on the chopping block next time
around.
Jenna: Ethan is trying to do well at the challenges to impress everyone but
it is all for nothing.
On their way back to camp, Jenna tells Ethan to chill out for a couple of
days. People may think differently then.
Ethan: So Jenna is giving him a reprieve for now? Thanks a lot. He calls
Jenna "cocky".
Saboga work their fire stacking twigs and grass. Jenna blows on the fire,
gets too close and almost pulls a Michael Skupin. The fire flashes and
singes her bangs off.
Rupert 'Blackbeard' does a victory dance as Saboga's fire burns brightly.
Tom, Rupert and Richard in a dance marathon - endurance challenge on
'Survivor'? Sounds like a plan to me. I'd munch popcorn and watch that.
Bah. Ha.
Mogo Mogo Tribal Happenings (Day Four)
No fire yet and a storm is coming. Lex: The elements are just against us.
Lex thinks they should stop before the rain hits. He thinks it is best to
conserve their materials. Kathy wants them to continue on trying. Obviously
Lex won the argument because when night falls, Mogo Mogo is shivering in
their hovel.
Kathy in a 'Blair Witch' night cam moment, blames the "boys". Kathy: "I am
having a great time."
Mogo Mogo Tribal Happenings (Day Five)
They finally have fire. Kathy: "Fire is everything. It gives us purpose."
Yeah. Right. The million dollars gives the players purpose. Mogo Mogo
dashes off to find their first key. Richard finds it in a cave.
Richard: "Finding the key and the challenges are extraneous crap. That's
not 'Survivor'. 'Survivor' is the interpersonal relationships. Hmmmm. He
might have something there.
Saboga Tribal Happenings (Day Five)
Rudy is limping around nursing a hurt foot. Rupert and Jenna look on with
concern. Rupert calls Rudy a "tough old man". Rudy isn't sure what is wrong
but he should be fine in a week or so. Jenna thinks Rudy has done something
to a bone in his foot. Rupert hopes the Immunity Challenge doesn't involve
running or they are as dead in the water as the 'Train 48' series is.
Immunity Challenge
The Survivors start on a platform. Each tribe has a sunken boat which is
held down by many weights. The players must free their boat, bail the water
out of it and row it back to shore.
Reward
Immunity from Tribal Council.
B>Result
Chapera sits Alicia out. Shii Ann takes a seat for Mogo Mogo. The
Robfather and Tom execute a good strategy. They tip the boat over and dump
some of the weights out. Saboga has the lead but blows it when they don't
bail the boat properly, lose a bucket and forget an oar. Saboga eventually
abandons paddling and just swims with their boat in tow. It seems like Rudy
is favouring his foot during the challenge but soldiers on.
First Place Winners: Chapera
Second Place Winners: Mogo Mogo
Saboga Pre-Tribal Council Happenings
Everyone agrees they made some stupid mistakes in the competition. Walking
alone with Jenna, Rupert 'Blackbeard' says he wanted to smash Ethan upside
the head for messing up the challenge. Jenna is sure Ethan blew it for
them. Ethan heads out fishing but returns empty handed. Rupert, Jenna and
Jerri discuss voting out Rudy. Rupert is totally against the idea. Rupert
doesn't want to vote for anyone. He wishes he could write his own name
down. Rupert tells Jenna and Jerri that they are free to vote for whoever
but he will not cast a vote against Rudy.
A tearful Rupert: Rudy is a hero and deserves to be in the game.
Rupert goes out fishing and catches one easily.
Ethan: Rupert snags a fish in five minutes? Great. I am struggling to find
my niche but nothing is working. Everyone chows down on the fish Rupert
caught.
Tribal Council Happenings
Rupert states that the last time they were at Tribal Council, Saboga was
whipped and beat. The Reward Challenge win boosted their spirits. Ethan:
Saboga's mistake was in bailing the boat improperly. Jerri: Tribal Council
sucks...always. Rudy doesn't know why he is in the game again. The battle
against the environment is the easy part for him. It is dealing with the
people that is harder. Rupert feels like the odd man out but he caught a
fish today. Ethan isn't upset by Rupert's success. He might catch 10 fish
tomorrow. He is nervous. He suspects his head is on the chopping block.
Jenna says many factor enter into this vote tonight.
Ethan votes for Rudy. It was an honour being on his team. His vote is a
strategic one. Rupert picks Ethan. Ethan is tough and he is honouring his
pact with Rudy.
Final Voting
1. Ethan Zohn: Rudy.
2. Jenna Lewis: Rudy.
3. Jerri Manthey: Rudy.
4. Rudy Boesch: Ethan.
5. Rupert Boneham: Ethan.
Tribal Council Victim:
Rudy Boesch.
Parting Comments
Internet: "The second time around, I was three years slower, for one
thing, and I noticed that. I'm not getting any younger, and it's not
getting any easier. But I enjoy doing it. I should know that there's a lot
of cutthroating going on out there. I should have known better than the
agreement I made. Well, what surprised me the most was probably talking to
these people two hours ago, and everything is all set to go, and I wouldn't
have been voted off. But all of a sudden, I am. I don't like that. It makes
me feel lousy." -- Rudy Boesch.
Television: "I talked to these people about two hours ago and
everything was all set up to vote Ethan off and I can see Ethan voting
against me but I can't see the other two people voting against me. If I was
them, I'd stay clear of me. I have got a lot of friends. That's about all
I've got to say." -- Rudy Boesch.
On the next 'Survivor': Television: Rupert and Jerri go head
to head. Jerri: "Rupert is a complete control freak." Ethan: "Rupert and
Jerri got into a fight. Perfect. Just what I want." Richard faces off with
a shark. Richard: "Screw it. I am not leaving the thing there. I am going
home with food." Internet: "Who knew? Frustration, sleep deprivation
and dehydration are the perfect ingredients for love! Richard is attacked
by a shark. Rupert and Jerri butt heads, but only one gets to say, "I told
you so." Nature's fury and an unexpected twist send all the castaways on an
emotional roller coaster ride."
Powell's Thoughts:
Break out the tissues next week. The "unexpected twist" is most probably
that Jenna M. learns about her mother's death, decides to leave the island
and forfeits the game. Out of respect, there is no symbolic Tribal Council
and she is not voted out. The romance (Funny how the episode will coincide
with the dreaded Valentine's Day, eh? Yech! ) is The Robfather and Amber
working a romance.
Rumours are swirling that there is a switching-up of the tribes on Episode
Four and that Ethan and Jerri suffer the most because of it. That is not
necessarily a strong rumour though.
Strange that Rudy's Final Thoughts on television and the Internet are so
different. I would guess that the producers weren't sure about running his
"stay clear of me" and "I've got a lot of friends" comments. Read into them
what you will. You be the judge.
In a recent interview on the "Jeff & Jer" radio show, Jeff Probst said
about Tina's boot: "I wasn't shocked Tina got booted because it had to be
somebody and you knew it had to be somebody big because they are all big.
But if you are going to lose somebody, Tina isn't a bad person to lose in
terms of what excitement she brings to the show." Ouch! Probst also said
that Mark Burnett sometimes doesn't give proper credit to the crew and
staff who make his shows such a great success. Read into that what you
will. You be the judge.
