LAST EDITED ON 01-11-02 AT 11:51 AM (EST)The voting was in Africa. The post-commerical footage was in the studio.
The facial hair was all real:
http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?23038
Ethan Zohn, who won the $1 million prize Thursday night (Jan. 10) on the finale of "Survivor: Africa," wouldn't listen to his fellow finalist, Kim Johnson.
"I kept telling him he was going to win," Johnson told reporters after the live annoucement of the winner -- revealed to be at CBS studios in Los Angeles only after the final votes were called -- and reunion show.
At the final tribal council in Kenya, however, Zohn had no idea how the vote would go.
"You go over it every 10 minutes," he said. "In my mind, it was even."
Executive producer Mark Burnett said that the final four contestants -- Lex Van den Berghe and Tom Buchanan were the other two -- and the seven exiled players who made up the jury were all in on the decision not to reveal they'd left Africa until the winner was announced. All wore the same clothes they had on at the final council, and the men were called about a month before Thursday's show and told to regrow whatever facial hair they'd had.
"I think it went well," Burnett said. "It was a big risk, but it paid off."
Van den Berghe complied with the producers' request, but shaved immediately after the reunion show ended, saying he "couldn't wait" to get rid of the beard again.
Zohn, a professional soccer player before traveling to Africa for the game, said he's now coaching and would like to start a youth league for disadvantaged kids in New York City, where he lives.
"There are a lot of great kids in New York ... but they can't afford to play in the leagues," he said.
All four players revealed their first indulgences upon returning home. Zohn ate Rice Krispies treats "until I almost passed out." Buchanan, who said he dreamed of "four-foot cheeseburgers" in Africa, found a more manageable one in his home state of Virginia. Van den Berghe followed a comfort-food meal of grilled cheese and tomato soup with a $375 spending spree at the grocery, while Johnson craved things she'd never really wanted before.
"I couldn't get doughnuts in me fast enough," she said. "The first time I went to the drugstore, I bought five candy bars and ended up eating them all."
None of the four seemed too concerned about handling the notoriety that comes with the game. Buchanan, a goat and cattle farmer, said he'd enjoy whatever opportunities might come his way because of "Survivor," but when the run ends, "I'll go back and put my boots on."
He also noted that the nearly 80 pounds he lost while in Africa was a record for "Survivor" contestants.
"I lost more weight than anyone," he said, "so at least I won something."
Email this topic to a friend
Printer-friendly version of this topic
Bookmark this topic (Registered users only)
