LAST EDITED ON 08-16-00 AT 04:42 PM (EST)After reviewing ferretkiss's challenge page I came up with the thought that the immuninity challenges are very much biased in Rich's favor.
Episode 10-Fire building-
Rich just barely missed being kicked off the prevous week. If Gervase, Colleen, and either or both Kelly/Sean got a counter alliance together it could have been trouble for Rich. Rather than take any chance in losing his most interesting character, Mark may have picked an immunity challenge that (is reported to have) highlighted Rich's known ability as the person who is best at building a hot fire.
Episode 11-balance beam
Rich was in no danger and Mark needed an immunity challenged that appeared to be balanced in the women's favor. This challenge reminded me of the balance beam, a women's gymnastic event.
Episode 12 - Tigi Witch Hunt
Find hidden masks
answer questions via video tape
First one back with a tape with all the right answers win.
This sounds a lot like one of those stupid games a corporate trainer would use to promote logical thinking and problem solving. It would appear Rich would have the best chance and Sean second. Unless there is some unusual twist I do not see Sue winning this challenge. ( Others have suggested that if there is running perhaps either Kelly or Sean might win, if you need to looks for clues on the trail then Kelly may win. The rules are critical to who wins and we do not know them. In any event Rich will probably not get booted if he loses so he probably does not have to win)
Episode 13 Foreign Comrades (Fallen Comrades?) The final four must answer question about the people they just spend 39 days with on the island
A corporate trainer has to quickly remember information on a group of people. He needs reminder names and unique pieces of information on each person so he looks like he is a friend and cares. He practices these skills week in and out as just part of his job. I would be totally shocked if this challenge was not specifically designed to insure Rich wins it.
Rites of Passage:An endurance contest including fire walking.
If you read chapter 1 of Mark's book, an unshown reward challenge had Joel and Rich holding bamboo poles with coconut filled with water. Joel and Rich were the ones picked because they were the strongest and had the most endurance. Interestingly enough, according to Mark' book .....Rich guaranteed a win. Well, it turns out Rich may have lost this one but frankly I don't see anyone left looking like Joel! Someone may think Rudy might have a chance but it sure does not sound like something that any 72 year old could win, no matter how good a shape he was in.
On the surface it appears that Mark has used Gervase's cards to stack the deck in favor of Rich.
It is then only logical for Mark Burnett to make every effort to make it a Rich/Sue final two. This is Rich's only chance of winning.
I think the reason Mark picked the challenges is that Mark wants to make the final two as exciting as possible.
Exciting is Rich & Sue!!!!!!!
Any other match up seems to be a foregone conclusion and not nearly as exciting. I have picked Sue as the winner for a variety of random pieces of information that has more to do with the intro video than anything else. However it is clearly an interesting match-up and could go either way and may be very close. If I am wrong on this then I guess I should have believed Ebay.
If Rich wins these biased immunity challenges as I proposed, then the reason that Rudy made his reported "don't call me and I won't call you statement" is that he felt Mark fixed the results.
Gretchen said that he arbitrary changed the ambassadors for dramatic effect and I find it quite conceivable that he fixed the immunity challenges. Of course one can say anyone could of won and might but if they do, it will probably be mostly an accident.