Survivor Gabon - December 11, 2008

I gotta say I'm lovin' this season of Survivor. No real villains but lots of nice twists and turns.


Tonight's episode begins with the six remaining Gonads arriving back at camp after having snuffed Corinne at Tribal Council. Matty is pissed at the three votes he received, especially the one from Kenny. Crystal, meanwhile, is wishing that she had voted for Matty instead of Corinne. When Kenny confronts Bob, wanting to know why Corinne didn't play the immunity idol, Bob admits that the idol was a fake. Kenny pouts that Bob deceived him and messed up his strategy. Bob, in what appears to be a fit of genuine (but really really stupid) remorse, tells Kenny that he will make it up to him by giving him the immunity necklace if he wins it.


The reward challenge involves a race through an obstacle course submerged in a swamp. Survivors must race to the far end, retrieve a ball, return the start and sink a basket. The first to do this three times and sink three baskets wins reward - a trip to a National Park and Gorilla Sanctuary. A calm Bob methodically plods through the mud and calmly sinks his three baskets ahead of Matty and Kenny and way ahead of the three women. Dimples, in delightful baby blue, tells him he can take two others with him. He selects Crystal and Kenny and also picks Susie to go to Exile Island. Bob, Crystal and Kenny then climb aboard a helicopter and are whisked off to a National Park. They eat, shower and go out to see the lowland gorillas who live in the park. Any of you thinking "gee what can I get Pat for Christmas?" might want to consider buying me a trip to this park..just a thought. During their stay at the park Kenny and Bob discuss the immunity necklace. Kenny tells Bob that he may only ask for the idol if he feels he is real danger. Over at Exile Island Susie is relaxing and enjoying some down-time from the game knowing that Sugar has the idol. Alone back at camp, Sugar tells Matty that she is in an alliance with Crystal and Kenny. Sugar intends to use her idol to get to the final five and Matty declares that he is on his own. Indeed it certainly looks that way.


On Day 35 Bob, Crystal and Kenny return from their gorilla adventure wearing their colorful (and, more importantly, clean) dashikis acquired from the people at the park. Matty is upset that he didn't get to go on the reward and quickly gets into a fight with Kenny, then with Crystal. Sugar overhears this and begins to sympathize with Matty. She suggests they band together, recruit Bob and get rid of Crystal. Matty can hardly believe his good fortune.


For the immunity challenge, Survivors are blindfolded and must study the features of a Gabonese wooden mask using only their sense of touch. They must then make their way through a rope maze to the far end of the course, retrieve three bags of puzzle pieces, and recreate the mask. Once again Bob wins, his fourth consecutive challenge win. Now the big question...will he give Kenny his immunity necklace? Kenny believes he can get Bob to give him the necklace, then plans to vote Bob out. He asks Bob for the idol but the only way Bob will give it to him is if the others confirm they are planning to vote for Kenny and that he really is in danger. Kenny tells everyone to confirm this story if Bob asks. But Sugar tells Bob about the plan, saying she wants the good guys to win. Then she returns to the others and tells them that she thinks Bob is falling for the plan. Guess what Kenny! You aren't the mastermind here, the cute blonde is.


So the remaining six Survivors trek off to Tribal Council. Kenny gives his sob story about being in danger now that he has turned on his alliance. But when the time comes for Bob to hand over his idol he pauses for effect, then tells Dimples that he promised to give Kenny the idol if he felt he was in danger, but that he doesn't believe Kenny is really in any danger. So Bob keeps the magic necklace and the votes are cast. Before Dimples counts the votes he asks if anyone wants to play a hidden immunity idol. Sugar fingers the idol around her neck, then takes it off and hands it to Matty. Crystal and Kenny look sick. And when the votes are cast, Matty is safe and Crystal (voted the most unathletic olympic athlete in Survivor history) is walking down the path of shame. With Crystal goes Debbie and Mitzie from our pool. No one picked Crystal to win the million, however we forgot to acknowledge Selina's loss last week when her pick, Corinne, left the game.



There are now five Survivors left. They are Matty (Jeff)) Bob (Pam), Sugar (Georgia), Susie (Donna), and Kenny (Roberta). Sunday December 14th (yes, this coming Sunday!) is the season finale, complete with the reunion show. Round up your Christmas presents, along with all your tape and gift wrap, pour yourself a glass of wine and prepare to spend the evening in front of the television. Its ok. Really. It is. As long as you wrap presents at the same time. Until then,

Outwit, Outplay Outlast
Pat (aka Randy what the hell is with that Mohawk Bailey)