CANOE -- JAM! Television - TV Shows - Survivor 8: All Stars: Episode Ten: Survivor's 'Illustrated Man' rubbed out

It is the simple and most basic strategy in playing the 'Survivor' game: form a strong alliance. To be successful, you need to stay true to the people you can trust in the game until you have no alternative but to cut them loose. For this reason and this reason alone, Lex Van Den Berghe played possibly one of the stupidest 'Survivor' games ever by systematically voting out all of his friends on 'Survivor: All Stars'.

Colby, Ethan and Jerri placed their trust in Lex and would've gone to the proverbial wall for him. Especially Ethan and Jerri who share friendships with Lex outside of the series. Knowing this, what did the short-sighted Lex do? He orchestrated their boots one by one instead of turning on Shii-Ann or Kathy.

It is only fitting then that Lex himself would be betrayed by two supposed pals and voted off the island. Foolishly taking Rob Mariano at his word, Lex saved Amber Brkich from the axe at last week's Tribal Council instead of sacrificing her as an easy out. Lex's decision came back to haunt him this week when "The Robfather" wiggled out of his promise leaving an angry Lex high and dry with nobody to blame but himself for the predicament he had found himself in. If that wasn't bad enough, Lex's one alliance partner - Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien - swore that she would hand over Immunity to him at Tribal Council. She claimed to have no desire to continue on with the game. Once decision time arrived though, Kathy backtracked on her vow and elected to hold onto the sacred necklace. What goes around does indeed come around. Just ask Lex.

The remaining Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:

Mogo Mogo Tribe
1. Alicia Calaway.
2. Rob Mariano.
3. Tom Buchanan.
4. Rupert Boneham.
5. Jenna Lewis.

Chapera Tribe
1. Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien.
2. Lex Van Den Berghe.
3. Shii Ann Huang.
4. Amber Brkich.

Chapera Tribal Happenings

Everyone putters around. Lex chops wood like Jason Voorhees.

Lex: To cut Jerri loose was horrible. He did it as a favour to "The Robfather" though. It is a favour he means to collect on. Everything should be cool. "The Robfather" always makes good on his word.

Insert canned laughter here.

Mogo Mogo Tribal Happenings

With everybody presuming that Am-bore is history, Mogo Mogo is in deep despair.

"The Robfather" does one of those brooding, James Dean poses down by the beach. You know, to illicit sympathy from the viewers and stuff.

Rob: He said a prayer last night. Maybe Lex will come through .

I didn't have a clue that Rob knew how to say 'The Lord's Prayer' backwards. I wish the producers would show a close-up of Rob's forehead so all could be confirmed.

'Peeping' Tom utilizes a barnyard analogy to sum up Rob and Am-bore's relationship. Hee-Haw! Hee-Haw! Come on, did you expect anything less? Insert Buck Owens style banjo music here. Tom compares 'The Robfather' to a calf needing to be weaned off of its mother. Give Rob a couple of days and he will be back to normal. It won't be long before he is manipulating another gullible female.

Speaking of gullible females...

With Am-bore's whereabouts unknown, "The Robfather" offers a "silent alliance" to Alicia. Assumed to be out of the loop, The Warrior Princess sells her soul without a second thought. Both agree never to write down the other's name. Any bets on how long it will take before that pact is broken? You can put me down for two to three episodes from now.

Reward Challenge

She's alive! She's alive! Am-bore walks out with the new Chapera. "The Robfather" and Jenna are teary-eyed. How sweet. My blackened heart is weeping. Whatever. Back to the challenge. It is a diving for pots deal. There are more Survivors than pots at the bottom of the ocean. Whoever doesn't snag one is a goner. The challenge is run in heats. The last three players will compete in the final leg which will see them lug heavy treasure chests back to shore. It is an individual challenge and the winner can select any two players to join them on the getaway. Get it? Got it? Good.

Reward

A trip to a luxurious spa.

Result

'She-Devil' and Jenna are out. Next are Amber, Kathy. Amber fought with Tom over a pot and lost. Alicia and Tom follow them. It is Lex, Rob and Rupert in the finals. Rupert muscles his way to victory.

Winner: Rupert.

Reward Happenings

Rupert picks Amber and Jenna. A helicopter whisks them away. Am-bore waves goodbye to Rob. Rupert 'Blackbeard' jokes that his kids will think he is the "strongest Daddy in the world". This is the first 'Survivor' Reward that he has claimed for himself. He feels lucky there are two "goddesses" accompanying him.

In their room, Rupert, Jenna and Am-bore find all manner of personal hygiene products and make-up. Insert gratuitous and cheesy sponsorships here. You can also add the traditional squeals from the females. The women promise Rupert they will "get pretty" for him. In the shower, 'Blackbeard' asks in which order the hair products go on. Next, it is outside to the massage tables. 'Blackbeard' jokes that he will go back to the camp as 'Superman'. He will be able to do the remaining days standing on his head.

At dinner, the women look so great Rupert says he wanted to hug and kiss them both. Heel. Big fella. Heel. Jenna and Rupert talk about the core alliance back in the game. Am-bore feels uncomfortable because of her promise to Lex and Kathy that she would bring them into the finals. She doesn't say anything to Rupert and Jenna though.

Mogo Mogo Tribal Happenings

Tree mail suggests another challenge is on the way. 'The Robfather' finds it to be really odd that the producers would run back-to-back challenges like that.

Merger Happenings

Everyone arrives at the former camp site of Saboga. A chopper flies in with Jenna, Rupert and Am-bore. Probst asks everyone to drop their buffs and reach into the infamous pot for a new one. All of the buffs are the same colour. The Survivor whoop and holler knowing that the merger is finally here. Probst informs everyone that the Chapera and Mogo Mogo camps are no more. They will be living on Saboga beach now. There is some wood to build another shelter and the tools which were left behind when the Saboga tribe was absorbed. Feeling charitable, Probst has a welcoming gift for the new united tribe. They are given spears, a tarp and paints to create a new flag. Probst advises that the day is half over and that they better get to work. Adios amigos.

Chaboga Mogo Tribal Happenings

Am-bore and Alicia 'The Warrior Princess' invent a new name by combining all of the 'Survivor All-Stars' tribe names together. What they get is...Chaboga Mogo? Ah, maybe they should've left the naming deal to someone else.

Lex: Is thrilled that the merge he has been anticipating is finally here. It is especially great for someone like him who thrives on playing the game.

'Robfather': He is glad that Lex did everything he could to save Am-bore. About the promise he made? Lex didn't actually believe that, did he?

Lex and Rob confer. Lex is worried that Rob might not hold up his end of the bargain and stab him in the back. Rob states that he would never do that.

'Robfather': It's all about the game. He has been playing it from the moment he set foot on the island.

'Robfather' and Am-bore cuddle on the beach. Rob suggests they must get rid of Lex next. That way, 'Peeping' Tom "doesn't have a leg to stand on". Am-bore is worried about her pact with Lex and Kathy. Rob warns Am-bore not to "go soft" on him. Everyone is going to target them eventually. They have to remember, they are playing a game for a million dollars.

Am-bore: They have their work cut out for them. She and Rob have made deals with everyone in the game. Juggling all of the alliances is too much for her itty bitty brain to handle. She is starting to "freak out".

Immunity Challenge

It is a two stage challenge. The first part will consist of the Survivors holding their breath under water. The last two men and women will move to the second stage - underwater release the buoys challenge - where they will compete by gender. Man versus man. A woman versus Kathy. Why? Probst reveals two Immunity necklaces are at stake. One for each gender.

Reward

Immunity from Tribal Council.

Result

The order of elimination is Alicia, Jenna, Shii-Ann, Rupert and Tom. Lex will battle 'The Robfather'. Kathy will race Am-bore. Kathy beats Am-bore. Rob is victorious over Lex when the last buoy gives him some trouble allowing Rob to catch up.

Winners: Kathy and Rob.

Chaboga Mogo Pre-Tribal Council Happenings

Lex and Kathy find it very telling that they have been one tribe for hours and the new Chapera has been given the cold shoulder.

Lex: Believes he made a "huge mistake" in keeping Am-bore. It could very well be a "game ending blunder".

'The Robfather' meets with Kathy and Lex. Though Rob is happy they saved Amber, Lex is going next. At hearing the news, Lex blows his stack. He can't believe it. He thought he was doing a favour for a friend. The decision he made screwed his gameplan up. He accuses Rob of sticking a knife in his back. Rob insists that only promised to do what he could if Lex worked to keep Am-bore in the game. He cannot do anything for Lex without screwing over everyone in the Mogo Mogo Alliance now. A sobbing Kathy informs Rob that it was their plan from the beginning to bring Am-bore and him along with them into the finals. Lex insists there is a lot Rob could do to keep him around. Using the same line he uses on everyone, Rob says he feels sorry that Lex is reacting this way.

Kathy: Rob is a good kid...except in the 'Survivor' game. Something different comes out of him when he is playing the game. It is so sad.

Bawling now, Kathy assures Lex that she will award him Immunity at Tribal Council. "This isn't worth it," she bellows. Lex appreciates the gesture but he can't let her do that. Kathy insists. She doesn't want to play the game any more.

Tribal Council Happenings

Probst tells everyone that whomever is voted out tonight will be the first member of the 'Survivor All-Stars' jury. Lex casts a 'you're screwed' glance at Rob. Rupert says that the events of today tested everyone in every way. Rob says they need the sun to come out. Seemingly to have pissed off Mother Nature as well, as soon as the words come out of Rob's mouth...it begins to rain heavily. Rob: "I have two choices. I either laugh or cry." Lex thinks the game has changed since the merge. The ex-Chapereans are struggling. Jenna says there has been a lot of bickering today as gameplay is spoken aloud. Amber claims things are definitely uncomfortable back at camp. Rob speaks out pledging his friendship to everyone. Indirectly addressing Lex, Rob says he hopes some friendships will last beyond the game. Rob is not giving away his Immunity. Kathy isn't either. Lex's jaw hits the floor and his eyes bug out.

Lex selects Amber. He says something about not being an "errand boy". Rob votes for Lex. He apologizes again. He hopes they can get over this difficult situation. Kathy writes down Amber's name. She feels she was lied to in a big way.

Final Voting

Tribal Council Victim: Lex Van Den Berghe.

Parting Comments

Television: "Wow. I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed but I came into this game as the wealthiest man in the world. I have an amazing wife, two beautiful sons, a loving family and the greatest friends a man could ever hope for. Everything above and beyond that is gravy as far as I am concerned. Big Tom. You go out there and give them hell. I am going to be rooting for you all the way. Love yah." - Lex Van Den Berghe.

Internet: "I'm still not really sure why I did this a second time. I couldn't imagine saying no. I'm such a sucker for an adventure and a challenge. You throw anything in front of me and dare me to do anything, I'm all over it. You double-dog-dare me, I'm jumping at it. The opportunity to do SURVIVOR a second time? SURVIVOR the first time around was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I got it twice in a lifetime. Pretty lucky for me! I'm glad I did it again. No regrets, man, no looking back. I guess it's just my nature. You throw something like this in my way, I've got to grab at it; I've got to go for it.

I had a good time. It was tough; it was different the second time around. I have to say I had a lot more fun the first time around. The first time around was an exquisite adventure; it was the trip of a lifetime; it was like nothing I'd ever experienced. The second time around, it was business, and I feel like I did pretty good business. Not quite what I wanted, not quite as far as I wanted to go, but I'm still proud.

I think I bumped things up a notch as far as playing a hardcore game. I made a pretty big effort coming into this thing to play it harder. By harder I mean to pull a few tricks out of my bag that I wasn't prepared to pull out of my bag the first time around as far as maybe bending the truth a bit, doing a little bit of deceiving, a little bit of lying, maybe, to get to where I had to go. It was necessary this time around. The players were all seasoned veterans. These were hardcore players, and you really had to be prepared to do more.

But with that said, in the end, I ended up not being able to get away from my true self. It's what cost me the game. I broke the biggest promise I made to myself coming into this thing: I mixed friendship with the game. The two cannot mix together; they don't go together. As soon as you try to work it out both ways, as soon as you allow a little too much compassion to show through, as soon as the friendship and game lines blur, you're setting yourself up for disaster. It's what happened to me. But I have, again, no regrets about it. I am what I am. I played the game the only way I can play it: as myself. It's the way I live my life; it's the way I'd play the game if I ever did it again, and I make no apologies to myself or anybody else. What you see is what you get. That's all you're ever going to get.

Honestly, I'd have to say that I didn't really have any new, life-altering experiences out here. I kind of knew what to expect. I would say rather than life-altering experiences, I had life-affirming experiences. Being out here once again just confirmed how lucky I am in my life, and how this game was really a great time, it was a great adventure, but it really was just a blip in the grand scheme of my life. The important things to me are my family, my wife, my kids, my friends, my life back home in Santa Cruz. That's the stuff that defines who I am. That's the stuff that gives my life value. I'm the luckiest man in the world. I was before I came out and played SURVIVOR the first time around; I was still the luckiest man in the world before I played it the second time around. I don't have to win the game to know that that's true. A million bucks really ain't gonna change my life the way all the other good things in my life have. I walk out of here looking forward to nothing but a great future, a great life. It's all good. I'm happy."

On the next 'Survivor':

Television: "The All-Stars get a glimpse of home. The Survivors are shown sitting under a tent and watching video messages from home. And Kathy stirs things up. Kathy is shown talking to Tom about cutting Jenna out. Rob: I think we've got some last minute scrambling going on in Panama today."

Internet: "Feeling isolated, Kathy works to reconcile with a tribemate. After several castaways are brought to tears, one Survivor surprises all. Paranoia plagues Jenna, who witnesses a strategy session amongst tribemates. Scrambling, panic and pleading intensify as Tribal Council approaches. "

Powell's Thoughts:

Bad prediction for me today. Oh, well. Sometimes you have to go out on a limb and I really did think that Lex would win Immunity or that Kathy would grant it to him. I should've known Kathy cannot be trusted. Funny how Kath only has regrets when she's sure that her goose is cooked. I can't figure out why she is so upset about Rob's betrayal considering she was planning on selling out the new Chapera anyway. Maybe it was realizing her own fate that brought about the water works and the desire to quit the game? It is interesting to note that 'The She-Devil' voted for Lex too.

Don't buy into the promos that might make it appear that there are cracks in the Mogo Mogo Alliance. There is no way in hell any of them are going to jump ship now. As long as there are Chapereans to boot, they are all safe and secure. Kathy's Hail Mary play won't work. Unless she wins Immunity, she is out next followed by Shii-Ann. If either of them scores the Tinker Toy necklace, Alicia's head is on the chopping block. She is the odd woman out in the Mogo Mogo Alliance. Rob's comment on tonight's show makes Tom a potential forthcoming target too. Tom's demise reminds me of how cows are aced in a slaughter house. Hee-Haw! They are unsuspecting led into a pen and then...