Blog Entry, 03/14/2008
Authored by: Laura Dean, sensitivenakedgirlI think this show gets better every week. It started a little rough, sure, but it looks like Maria's grown out of needing an arch-rival the way she seemed to in Japan and has turned into a very mature player and a genuinely enjoyable person. And her previously easy-going, to-hell-with-everything attitude has nothing to do with it. She's grown up.
Like I said in a previous blog, Maria used to be very immature and irresponsible. She went through that phase after being a straight-A student in college. She went from being the girl who never missed a day of class and got good grades to the girl who couldn't handle medical school; then she went from job to job for little pay. I think she figured out I would work hard enough for both of us; she didn't have to do a thing.
She listed herself as a "medical assistant" her first time out. That was her last job, which was over a year before she left for the show. She got fired for never going in. And then she sat on the couch, ate chips, drank wine coolers and Coke, and watched TV naked all day. I got fed up with her and told her she had to do something.
I can't believe she talked me into auditioning for that show "The Amazing Race." I just couldn't get into it, and I was so mad at her for the fact that CBS now owns a video of me and her in the nude. But, even if she never worked for that year, it led to her being cast for "Survivor," buying us a house, going back to school, and the two of us falling in love and starting a life together. And she's continuing to grow up out there.
That's not to say I didn't think Charlie and Danni's hiding of her clothes wasn't the funniest thing I've ever seen. I laughed myself purple at that. And Maria was watching with me and she gave me this look like I just turned into a five-eyed alien.
If Maria weren't already a winner, she would be on the fast track to winning. But as it is, she's already on the fast track to growing up, getting her MBA, and working hard. So I can take a few months off and enjoy life.
Back from commercial.
Angakauital Island, neutral camp, Day 15. After the narrow immunity defeat, the Ta'aroa tribe arrives at the beach.
Ian: It's just like on my season, I swear.
Paula: What gives you that idea?
Ian: My first tribe won because we had a gay hairdresser who beat an Alabama steelworker in this challenge. This time, a gay wilderness guide beats a Navy pilot.
(confessional) Paula: The irony wasn't lost on me at all, but the fact remains, if Ian had won just one match, we wouldn't be in this situation. I won a match. Ozzy won a match. Even Yau-Man won a match. Ian was winless.
The camera shows Ozzy looking at the immunity idol clue.
Ozzy (from idol clue): The efforts of many have gone into concealing it. Well, that could mean anything.
The camera switches to Ozzy talking to Paula and Yau-Man.
Ozzy: So just so we're clear, who needs to go?
Paula: I hate to say it, but we might need to be afraid of Ian a bit.
Ozzy: What? Ian? Are you crazy?
Yau-Man: Ian had a rough challenge, but he's with us.
(confessional) Paula: Correction, guys; he's with you. Once we merge, I'm flipping to the other tribe. That's why I want Ian out.
Yau-Man: We can't vote just based on who does well in challenges. There are people we need around here and people we don't.
Paula: Well, let's be perfectly honest; everyone here works.
Ozzy: That's what makes it so hard to get rid of someone.
(confessional) Ozzy: I know who I want gone, and I know I could do it. I don't know if we'll win a challenge with them gone, though.
The camera switches to Terry talking to Twila.
Terry: So what can we do here? Four of them, three of us.
Twila: I've been in worse situations. All we need is at least one person to cave. Or maybe we can just turn the mood against someone on their alliance.
(confessional) Terry: And at that point, I had a really good idea.
The camerea shows Terry talking to Ozzy and Yau-Man.
Terry: We all know who the weakest member of the tribe is.
Ozzy: Really?
Terry: It's Paula. If we want to win a challenge, we need her gone.
Ozzy: Careful, though. I'm in, but there's just one thing.
Terry: What's that?
Ozzy: Paula has an immunity idol. It has to be a blindside.
Terry: No problem. Tell her I'm going.
Ozzy: What do you suppose we were doing?
(confessional) Yau-Man: The plan right now is to get Paula out. She's the weakest member of the tribe, and she has an immunity idol. Also, she has allies on the other tribe. She's dangerous.
The camera switches to Paula talking to Yau-Man.
Paula: So the plan is to vote Terry?
Yau-Man: Yes, we vote Terry.
Paula: I just hope the next few immunities aren't pure strength.
Yau-Man: Relax; we just did a strength one. Next up is probably a puzzle. I can handle those.
(confessional) Paula: It's a bold move cutting Terry loose, but I'm prepared for it.
The camera shows Yau-Man talking to Ozzy and Ian.
Yau-Man: So I made her believe we're going after Terry. She doesn't suspect a thing.
Ozzy: For real, you did?
Yau-Man: Honest. Why would I lie about that? It doesn't make sense. We need Terry.
(confessional) Ian: Yau-Man is a bit shady sometimes, like with the second vote, but there's an idol involved, and I know he's with us.
Yau-Man: You understand it's in my best interests to keep her going.
(confessional) Yau-Man: It's also in my best interests to be the only one in the tribe with an immunity idol. So once that idol's gone, I'm off to look for another one.
The camera shows the sun setting on Night 15 and the tribe walking into Tribal Council. Everyone takes a seat, with the men in the back row and the women in the front.
Jeff: Ian, I guess it comes up that you were the only one not to win a match at the immunity challenge.
Ian: Don't remind me. Tom's a tough man, and I dare anyone to go against him on that platform.
Jeff: Ozzy, do you think you could take Tom?
Ozzy: I don't know. I managed Charlie one time out of two; I always thought they were pretty evenly matched.
Jeff: Terry, Rafe doesn't look anywhere near as strong as you. How did you lose that match to him?
Terry: Rafe's a lot tougher than he looks, and he learns quickly. I know it's not as hilarious as if I talk about how he's been at the gym all the time, but--
Terry's speech is interrupted by the rest of the tribe's laughter.
Jeff: Harriet, is Cirie tougher than she gives herself credit for?
Harriet: Cirie's possibly the smartest player out there. I sure as hell wouldn't want to go up against her in the final vote.
Jeff: Does playing a tough opponent excuse losing to her in the reward as well as losing once to her in immunity?
Harriet: Cirie beat everyone she faced in the reward. I actually went the longest with her.
Jeff: Still--
Harriet: Look over at Ian, thank you very much.
Ian: Hey, I won in the reward one time. I might not be able to take Tom, but I would say that's almost a reason to keep me around. There are stronger people who carry us to the merge, and I'm not a threat.
Jeff: Do you really think you're not a threat, Ian?
Ian: Name me one threatening thing I've done out here.
Paula: You mean besides threatening to trade shorts with Chris?
Ian is temporarily unable to respond due to laughter.
Jeff: Yau-Man, does anyone around here not pull their weight?
Yau-Man: There's no room for laziness in this tribe. Fortunately for the tribe, there is none. Unfortunately for the voters, that's making it a lot harder to find reasons to vote.
Jeff: Paula, you're arguably the hardest worker out here. Do you agree with that?
Paula: This is the hardest-working group of people I've ever seen. Being a hard worker counts for nothing out here. I've made a worker out of a lazy bimbo on the other tribe. Laziness just does not fly out here.
Jeff: Do you think you're helping the tribes' work ethic?
Paula: I sure as hell ain't hurting it.
Jeff: Ozzy, is that a pretty accurate statement?
Ozzy: We all have our roles. Terry keeps us stocked full of firewood and makes sure the fire's burning, Twila and Harriet make sure the shelter stays intact, Yau-Man does whatever it is he does to keep coconuts coming in, Ian seems to be a master with the rice, and Paula and I keep the fish coming in.
Jeff: Terry, is this tribe pretty well-fed?
Terry: Everything here works. Sometimes we trade duties and everything, but everything gets done.
Jeff: You're in a tough spot here just because you're in a minority. Is that making it hard to get what you want done to be done around here?
Terry: Not at all. We came here to vote someone off tonight, and we're doing it in such a way that it strengthens the tribe.
Jeff: Paula, who would you say is the weakest out here?
Paula: There's no weakest member. I know a lot of people see me as the weakest member, but there is none.
Jeff: Harriet, are you the weakest?
Harriet: Not even close. I'm clever and determined; that's all you have to be.
Jeff: Ian, what about you?
Ian: I'm not the strongest, but I'm certainly not the weakest.
Jeff: What you're saying here is that the decision is looking very tough. We'll see if you're really torn or if your minds are made up. It is time to vote. Paula, you're up.
Paula gets up to vote and goes behind the curtain; she writes down Terry's name.
Paula (to voting camera): I hate to get rid of a strong player, but you just don't fit in.
The camera also shows her looking at her immunity idol as if to determine whether she needs to play it or not; she appears to put it back in her pocket before leaving.
Next to vote after Paula is Harriet, whose vote is not shown.
After Harriet, the next to vote is Ozzy; he votes Paula.
Ozzy (to voting camera): Just doing what I have to in order to make sure we've seen the last of that idol.
Ozzy goes back to sit down; after he does, Twila gets up to vote. Her vote is not shown.
The next to vote is Ian; his vote is not shown.
After Ian, Terry votes; his vote is not shown.
The final person to vote is Yau-Man; his vote is not shown, but his speech is heard.
Yau-Man (to voting camera): This is the ultimate blindside vote.
Yau-Man sits back down, and the camera switches to Jeff.
Jeff: I'll go tally the votes.
The camera focuses on a nervous Paula immediately before going back to Jeff.
Jeff: Once the votes are read, the decision is final; the person voted out will be asked to leave the Tribal Council area immediately unless an idol is played on their behalf. I'll read the votes.
Jeff reaches in and takes out a vote.
Jeff: First vote...Terry.
Clearly in Paula's handwriting.
Jeff: ...Paula. One vote Paula.
The handwriting give no clue to who wrote it.
Jeff: ...Paula. Two votes Paula.
This is Ozzy's vote.
Jeff: ...Paula. Three votes Paula.
The camera shows Ian immediately.
Paula sits uneasily in her seat.
Jeff takes out another vote.
He opens it.
Jeff: ...Ian. One vote Ian.
The look on Ian's face is of total shock.
Jeff reaches in and takes out another vote.
The camera shows Yau-Man giving no expression.
Jeff opens the vote.
Jeff: ...the seventh person voted out of Survivor: All-Stars II...Paula. I will now check the side pouch for an idol.
Jeff turns the urn so the pouch is toward the players.
He reaches up to unfasten the top.
The flap falls...
...and the camera focuses on Paula...
...who appears to take out something from her bag...
...but comes up with nothing.
The side pouch falls, and an idol is present.
Jeff: There is one idol in here. I will now open it up and see who it is played for.
The idol is a voodoo doll; Jeff opens the mouth and pulls out a small roll of parchment.
He unfurls it for the tribe.
The name on the parchment...
...is not seen at first...
...Jeff turns the paper...
...grabs it at the corners...
...and turns it around...
...and the name "Paula" is written on it.
Jeff: The immunity idol was played on behalf of Paula. All votes cast against Paula do not count.
The camera focuses on an uneasy Ian.
Jeff: There is one vote each for Terry and for Ian. We will go to a tiebreaker. One of you needs to come forward to determine what tiebreak will be used. Please select an envelope.
Terry takes an envelope and opens it.
He begins to read from it.
Terry: This tiebreaker is brand new. It has never been done on a show or even been a season's tiebreaker. Anyone who has immunity retains it.
There is a pause.
Terry: You will compete in a head-to-head rendition of today's reward challenge. The same rules apply. In addition, it will be head-to-head involving every member of the tribe who does not have immunity already.
Jeff: There are six of you who are eligible to be dismissed. You will compete head-to-head. If you lose, you will compete in two simultaneous games against the others who lose. I will explain the rules to that once we get that far. Everyone draw for spots.
Everyone takes a seat in makeshift setups.
Jeff: We have Ian against Yau-Man, Ozzy against Harriet, and Terry against Twila. You each start with one bullet. Whenever you're ready, place your first item.
All six players are shown placing items.
Jeff: Reveal.
Everyone plays a bullet with the exception of Terry, who plays a shield.
Jeff: Terry playing conservatively; everyone else taking chances. Go again.
Everyone looks to place items.
Jeff: Reveal.
This time, everyone places a bullet except Harriet and Ian, who place shields.
Jeff: Looks like paranoia might be setting in for some. Go ahead and place again.
Everyone places an item.
Jeff: Reveal.
Ian plays a bullet, trying to catch up; Yau-Man plays a gun.
Jeff: Yau-Man just eliminates Ian; Yau-Man is safe. Take a seat back in your spot, Yau-Man.
Ian stays put; Yau-Man returns to the contestants' area. In addition, both Ozzy and Harriet played bullets.
Jeff: We have one match here that looks like it could go a while...
Terry played a shield and Twila a gun.
Jeff: ...with another that might be over at the next careless move. Everyone left in the matches, place.
All four remaining players place their items.
Jeff: Reveal.
Ozzy plays a bullet to Harriet's shield.
Jeff: Ozzy up to five bullets; Harriet at three.
Terry plays a gun to Twila's bullet.
Jeff: Twila's just been eliminated. Terry, take a seat on the sideline.
Terry walks over and sits next to Yau-Man.
Yau-Man (to Terry, subtitled): I voted Ian.
Terry (to Yau-Man, subtitled): Thanks.
Jeff: Ozzy, Harriet, you need to place.
Both do so.
Jeff: Reveal.
Harriet uses a bullet...
...and so does Ozzy.
Jeff: Ozzy, you have six bullets.
Ozzy: Sorry Harriet, but I'll be using a cannon next.
Jeff: Harriet, you're still able to be eliminated. Ozzy, take a seat on the side.
Ozzy sits in the back row.
Jeff: OK, here's how it works. Each of you will play two games at the same time, one against each of the other two players. Whoever gets a kill first is safe. At that point, it's between whoever is left. Whoever gets the last kill is also safe. Twila and Harriet, you can still be eliminated despite not receiving a vote. Twila, you have yet to receive a vote in the game. No one is safe.
Everyone sits around the table and places two items.
Jeff: Reveal.
Twila and Ian both use bullets in both matches. Harriet uses a gun in both.
Jeff: Harriet, you look like you might just have mastered the game. Take a spot on the side.
Harriet sits next to Ozzy.
Jeff: Ian and Twila, you each have two bullets. The game is on. Reveal.
Ian uses a bullet and Twila a shield.
Jeff: Twila down a bullet now. Reveal.
Ian uses a bullet.
Twila lifts her item box.
There's a gun in it.
Twila pumps her fist in victory.
Jeff: Ian, that's the match. You're the only one left. You need to bring me your torch.
Ian, without a word, takes his torch and gives it to Jeff.
Jeff: Ian, the tribe has spoken.
Jeff snuffs Ian's torch.
Ian: Thanks to whoever threw that odd vote at me.
Yau-Man: No problem, man.
Twila takes her place next to Harriet.
Jeff: Well, it's been 15 days and the most chaotic tiebreak ever, and the person you voted out is still sitting here because she had an immunity idol. It just goes to show that your safety can never be guaranteed. Watch your back. Grab your torches; head on back to camp. Goodnight.
The tribe files out of Tribal Council as the screen begins to roll credits.
Jeff: Stay tuned for scenes from our next episode.
The screen cuts to commercial.
SURVIVORS STRIKE BACK
Becky: Well, if they did that tiebreaker in the Cook Islands, things might have turned out very differently...at least I wouldn't be embarrassed for never learning to make fire. Seems to me that they're really emphasizing challenge strength, and it comes from a lot of people we never expected it from. I expected Cirie against Harriet to be a pillow fight. Not even close to what i was expecting.
A lot of strategy and a lot of brainpower is needed for this season's challenges. The reward this time was all mind power. Even immunity was won by the clever and not always the strong. I had to ask about the ruling for Yau-Man's move, and what I was told is this: "Since he did it before Medical arrived, it's legal. If the medical staff were checking him out and he clobbered Jonathan in the face, it would have been a violation and he would have risked being expelled from the game." Also, they edited that sequence to make it look longer than it really was; Jonathan dropped to his knees pretty immediately, and Jeff called for Medical at the same time as Yau-Man hit Jonathan with his blocker.
The ruling was a correct one, although Jeff was probably more shocked at the events that took place than he's ever been. And he's sat through dead grandmas, marriage proposals, and unrequited love.
Candice: I think Jeff was the only person more stunned than me at Billy's statement about being in love with me, so I know what Becky means. Billy and I have since become pretty good friends, though as far as dating goes, he's not my type. Since I was so close to that situation, I consider it a bit more of a shocker than Yau-Man's ploy, which was good simply for the shock value.
I feel a little bad for Ian, though. He lost to Tom again in what seems like every way possible. Tom just thrashed him in the immunity challenge, and then he managed to lose the tiebreaker for immunity and he's out now. It's a shame. It really is. I saw him going far. And it all ends because of an odd vote from Yau-Man.
I'll tell you what I think happened. Yau-Man spilled to Paula about the plan to blindside her. She played the idol, and Yau-Man didn't want Terry to go, so he voted Ian, which is who he really wanted out. And his one vote was the deciding vote. Anyone who had a doubt that Yau-Man came to play hard is deluded.
Catharine: I'm still cracking up at Charlie and Danni's prank. I can only imagine how long they waited to be able to pull that. And I have a small confession to make, and maybe I'm not really that innocent in this whole situation here.
I inspired that prank.
No lie. At the start of Japan, we were separated by gender, and it was the only time I was on a tribe with Maria. She told me in confidence she was a nudist, but she never displayed it until she was on Minamoto. I had an idea at one point, in the event we became tribemates again. I would take whatever clothes she had and bury them when she went for a skinny dip. And she would freak out and wonder where they went, probably going insane by the time I started doubling over laughing at the whole situation.
I never got to do it. But I talked to Charlie about it after the Japan reunion, and he thought it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard. He didn't think he could bring himself to do it, though, and I had a bad feeling he wouldn't be tribemates with Maria. But he was, and he pulled it off. And for that, he should be given a medal.
And I seriously doubt if Maria takes off anything for the rest of the show.
Rob: Oh sure, put the challenge I can do in this season, where I'm not. That reward challenge is right up my alley. I do strategy games and geeky stuff all the time. It's my life. And I would have been a hero. And I would never have been in danger at that insane Tribal Council. I know, it's tough when people actually have to use their brains, isn't it?
It's even better than a lot of those puzzle challenges we're used to seeing. And it's a lot easier to play than those big-board chess-type games. And there wasn't a lot of cutting that had to be done. This challenge should become a mainstay. And Rob Cesternino would be the champion.
And I promptly would have gotten my ass kicked in the immunity challenge. No lie.
Back from commercial.
Voice-over: Join us next week as we recap the first six episodes and show you never-before-seen footage. In her Survivor Live interview, Parvati admitted to shameless attempts to get an immunity idol. What really happened?
The camera shows a disinterested Maria sitting in the woods with Parvati pleading.
Voice-over: How close have Charlie and Danni really gotten?
The camera shows Charlie and Danni holding hands and getting close.
Voice-over: And what was behind some of the surprise votes?
The camera shows Jeff snuffing Yul's torch.
Voice-over: Join us next Wednesday at 8/7 Central for a Survivor recap, and for our next all-new episode at Survivor's regular time, Thursday at 8/7 Central on March 28.
Different voice-over: Stay tuned for an all-new CSI coming up next.
Ian (final words): I have no idea what happened tonight; I'm completely puzzled. I thought the plan was in place, and I think someone told Paula to play the idol. Even so, I never thought it would be me. I didn't get the chance to prove I'm a great player, and I'll never let myself live down giving up the chance to play for a million in Palau after this.
5 votes Paula: Harriet, Ian, Ozzy, Terry, Twila
1 vote Terry: Paula
1 vote Ian: Yau-Man
Paula played an immunity idol and Ian lost a tiebreaker
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