Wow -- this is the first episode since episode 3 (w/ the weight carrying challenge) that I actually liked!

I'm in total agreement with all the other posters about Stephenie. So nice to see how emotional she got when she found out she was going to Koror.

I was disappointed at first that she didn't duke it out w/ Tom in the immunity challenge but, in retrospect, I think she made the right decision. There was no way she was going to outlast Tom and she must have been fairly certain that Coby was on the way out. So, she was smart to take the nice carb-heavy meal!

I'm completely baffled about what Coby thought he was accomplishing with his diva-ish behavior. His timing was all wrong considering he had no real alliance with anyone. Approaching Stephenie wasn't a bad idea in and of itself but he had nothing to offer her in the way of a strong alliance comparable to the Tom/Ian/Katie alliance. No wonder she stuck w/ them!

So, Jeff's little tirade at the end of Vanuatu WAS about a quitter and the mystery over who quit was revealed last night. I wonder is she actually thought she'd get to go home, though? It's good to see Stephanie still in the game. Good riddance Janu!

Janu may have just put off Steph's exit until next time. I just caught the end last night but it seemed pretty clear Steph was on the way out.

Wow, that was actually a pretty intense tribal council. Steph looked like she wanted to choke Janu for being so whiny. It was clear to all - including Steph - that the alliance to take her to the Final Four was dead. That's gonna have to create a tense dynamic when she now returns to camp with the people she thought were her comrades but turned out to be ready to do her in. I'm so looking forward to next week - it looks like Steph tries to form a new alliance with the remaining women. She may be the best Survivor player ever - I don't know that I'll have any interest in watching if she gets booted off before the last episode.

I think Tom is off the first time he loses an immunity challenge. He's won two in a row...and we all know that the strongest at this point is usually gone in a matter of weeks. It is always best to be strongest at the end of the season.

...then my guess is Tom will not lose another Immunity Challenge. eek!

I will miss Steph.

Nice to see Stephenie survive (w/ Jeff's help) for another week but I fear that she is in the same boat that Shii Ann was in All-Star's. Like Steph, Shii Ann was confronted with a six person majority that saw her as an outsider. She managed to forestall eviction for one week by winning a tremendous immunity win (thereby leading to Alicia's elimination) but she was gone once she lost immunity.

I think Tom made a terrible blunder in going along with Gregg. If he had stuck with his alliance and either (a) brought Caryn in as a fifth vote, or ( convinced Janu to vote for anyone but Steph in exchange for getting voted out (which is what she wanted), he could have eliminated his greatest threat -- Gregg -- and the game would have been his for the taking.

As it is, he is in real danger if he loses immunity. Gregg could very easily cobble together an alliance of himself, Jennifer, Caryn and Stephenie (who will do whatever she has to to buy herself three more days) in order to get rid of an immunity challenge monster like Tom.

What I meant to say in my prior post is that Tom could have marginalized Gregg - not eliminated him.

A thousand bucks for THIS?!

What happens to tonight's episode because of this:
The Link

What happens is my life becomes hell tomorrow. I work for CBS so all my advertisers call and complain. But, to answer your question, more directly, in the EST/CT zones Survivor will air at 9p/8p. I believe in the Mountain and Pacific Time Zone, it airs at it's normal time. Then CSI at 10p/9p. No Without a Trace in the East and Central.

Can anyone send me a spoiler on who was ousted tonight? I just moved and am without TV until tomorrow... oy LOL

Thanks in advance.

Stephenie. frown

The prez was cut off at precisely 9et/8ct. That was awesome! Right in the middle of a sentence, too. I can hear the right wingnuts screaming about CBS's liberal bias now.

Sad to see Stef go. Probably one of the greatest Survivor members, ever.

No more Steph.

Stupid Caryn :mad: Unless you win immunity, you're toast next week. ANd then we'll all say "Boy, Tom sure looked after you!" Buh-bye.


At least we got to see more of Katie this week and how she's at least trying to play the game. Jenn on the other hand...totally invisible except that she's attached at the hip to Greg.

No more GJ eye candy.

I agree. Last week when Jenn got some camera time, I thought, "Who the heck is she?"

Not too bright, Caryn. She's next. The chances of her winning any type of physical immunity challenge are slim.

She's so blind, thinking Tom is lloking out for her. Now that Ulong is gone, it will be interesting to see the relationship shift between the remaining players.

Even if Caryn manages to win immunity (it would have to be one of those mental type challenges) next week, the second she doesn't win immunity, she's gone. Stupid Stupid Stupid.

Not that I wanted to see him naked, but why didn't Ian strip down to at least his underwear when he "took a bath"? Unless he goes commando.
It was cute he aked Greg to scrub his back. Bom Chicka Bom Bom!

As low as Ian wears those shorts...it looks like there is no additional clothing underneath.

My worst fears are realized and Stephenie goes on a 6-1 vote. As much as the other members of Koror seemed to like her, she was never able to build an effective alliance with any of them and that doomed her in the end.

I'm perplexed by Gregg's actions this week. His obsession with eliminating Stephenie (who, after all, hadn't won a single individual immunity challenge) seemed misplaced when a much greater immunity threat -- Tom -- was ripe for elimination. I don't understand why he didn't approach Stephenie about an alliance with him, Jenn and one of the other two women to take out Tom.

My only guess is that Gregg thinks he can (a) take out Tom or Ian at 6 with a coalition of him, Jenn, Katie and Caryn, or ( take out Tom or Ian at 5 with a coalition of him, Jenn and Katie (presuming Caryn goes next week.) What may kill him (and Jenn) is that Katie and Caryn may side with Tom and Ian to get rid of Gregg or Jenn next week. Katie is extremely loyal to Ian and now Caryn has allied with Tom. I don't know how Gregg thinks he is in a position of strength heading into the next round.

Even if Caryn goes next week, I still don't see how Gregg and Jenn make it to the final 3. If I were Katie, I would rightly think that Gregg and Jenn would go to the final 2 together and that I would be in the Jenna Lewis position from All-Stars. If she sticks with Tom and Ian, there is a strong likelihood that one of the two will take her to the final 2 on the theory that she is so disliked that many jurors won't vote for her. While I don't think she can win, $100,000 isn't bad for being incompetent in challenges and doing nothing around camp.

We will see if Gregg's commitment to "the plan" pans out for him and Jenn. He may come to regret not following Kathy's advice (in All-Stars) that the time to strike is at 7. While Kathy also said that 5 is another time to strike, it may be too late for him by then.

On a lighter note, I enjoyed Gregg washing Ian's back. Something interesting in an otherwise dull episode.

Yeah, what is up with these people? If I was stuck on some humid island with one item of clothing, I seriously doubt I'd be swimming in it. It would never dry out. I could understand a bit of modesty, especially at first, but once you've pretty much seen someone kill a shark, it's probably okay to bathe as nature intended.

Very, very interesting turn of events last night. The "eye-candy" is gone. I thought Gregg was setting things up perfectly then he goes and believes that nothing happened while he was gone on reward challenge. Very bad mistake on his part.

Can Ian get any skinnier? Man the dude is a pole. Another thing that surprised me about last nights show was his alliance with Katie. Where did that come from and from the previews of next week it looks like he might fall on the sword for her for some reason.

They better watch out cause the "nanny" is playin the game too, she might just sneak up and win it all.

later

Nope, you will not see the 'nanny' getting much farther.

I'd like to have seen Katie get some guts and force the tie at tribal council. That mistake sealed the win for Tom. :-(

Those egg-thingys still gross the crap out of me, I'd have hurled!

The look on Jenn's face when Gregg was voted off last night was priceless!!! Her cute little snuggle bunny is gone. Poor baby!!! hehehe

Next week should be good. Cat fight AND a meltdown by Katie!

[Doing my best Napolean Dynamite impression] Yes!

These chuckleheads are handing Tom the game on a silver platter.

Greg actually blew his chance by not bringing Jenn & aligning with Coby, Janu & Caryn, like he proposed, earlier in the game. Then his obsession with ousting Steph... Gonzo.

Oh, Gregg. You're Ivy League smart but game stupid!

His obsession with eliminating Stephenie and his rigid adherence to "The Plan" caught up with him this week. The time for him to take control of the game was at 7. All he needed to do was to draw a desperate-to-save-herself Stephenie into an alliance and then bring in either Katie (who wanted to jump from Tom's control last week) or Caryn (who was on the outside until Tom drew her into his orbit.) By failing to do any of these things, he allowed a vulnerable Tom to escape elimination last week and lead the charge against him this week.

Gregg made a classic Survivor mistake -- thinking he could eliminate his opponents at his own leisure. He thought he could wait until 5 to deal with Tom and Ian but their willingness to use the "nuclear option" -- forcing a tie -- shocked a wavering Katie back into the dominant alliance and destroyed Gregg's grand strategy in a single day.

Sorry to see Gregg go as he seems like a nice guy and he is so my type -- I prefer his type of build to those of, say, Ibrehim and Jeff. Maybe he'll accept the offer from Playgirl!

Other thoughts:

Can't wait to see Ian and Katie's drama next week. Ian is acting like he is in love with Katie!

Ian is the world's worst liar. He was so unconvincing two weeks ago when Stephenie asked him if she was going to get booted out and he nearly blew it this week with his "tribal council should be interesting" comment to Gregg.

Hated Coby's shirt!

Liked Stephenie better with the hair under control!

I just have one word to say about Coby's look at TC:
GUUUUUUUURL!

I LOL'd when it was announced that Gregg was getting the boot at TC, did you see that queenie gasp and the hand over the mouth by Coby. Too funny.

So...who is your pick to win it?

My pick is Ian...and I am usually wrong.

Well, I cannot imagine Tom and/or Ian losing any more Immunity Challenges.

Gregg and Jenn were stupid for not getting Janu, Coby and Steph to help in taking out Tom and Ian. This not only led to his demise, but also secured Tom a spot in the final 2, if not win it ALL.

Ian is very likeable, I do not see ANY of the other 4 taking him to the final 2 with them, they would only lose.

Now that Caryn has gone, the boredom factor has increased significantly. Good to see my pick is still around.

Oooh, we saw "Dark Tom" last night. I still think Tom will go all the way and possibly sweep the votes on the jury. Unless Jenn wins immunity, she's toast. Ian = too likeable. That leaves Katie vs. Tom and I don't know who would vote for Katie.

Tom has controlled this game from the beginning and it was the women's (helllo, Caryn) fault for not taking him out when they were at 7. They also should have listened to Coby instead of voting him out.

I've watched the final episodes of other Survivors, but this is my first to watch from the first episode. Can anyone tell me if they are usually this boring and predictable...this one has been the Koror and Tom show from the beginning...it's been anything but exciting. I know Ulong is the first tribe to lose every immunity challenge in Survivor history, but Tom has been the leader from the beginning...it's kinda ho-hum to see him win immunity after immunity, with an Ian win in between...

A few responses to some of the more recent posts:

softballstud -- ITA with you regarding Gregg and Jenn. They focused on the wrong target (Stephenie) instead of focusing on Tom and Ian. That mistake cost Gregg a Final Four position and, if she doesn't win immunity, I suspect Jenn will be the first one gone from the Final Four.

Mariner Duck Boy -- Up until last night, I would have agreed with you that Tom would have an easy time of it if he made it to the Final 2 with Katie. I'm not so sure now. If Tom makes it to the Final 2, Ian and Gregg are probably safe votes for him but I'm not so sure about what happens with the rest of them. Coby left with some bitterness toward Tom and we all saw what happened with Caryn last night. They could both give their votes to Katie. Jenn is closer to Katie than she is to Tom and also might give her vote to Katie. That leaves Stephenie and Janu. I really don't have a good sense of where they stand. While I still think Tom would prevail in a head-to-head with Katie, I can also envision a scenario similar to Season 2 when Colby lost in the end.

dfwAggie99 -- Enjoyment of this season depends on how much you like Tom and Ian. There are a lot of people out there who love the two of them and are proclaiming this season the best ever. I'm neutral about them so, like you, I'm finding this season boring. The overemphasis on a losing tribe instead of on a winning tribe, the lack of a tribal shake-up to add excitement, the domination of Tom and Ian in the individual immunity challenges and the lousy game play of most of the Koror tribe members (particularly Coby, Gregg and -- last night -- Ian) have really made this season a tough slog.


As for last night's episode, I thought that the show almost needed to be another 30 minutes length. There was a lot left out which meant that the storyline lurched along to its conclusion.

I enjoyed Caryn shaking things up at tribal council. She knew she was going so she had nothing left to lose. I actually thought she got the better of Tom and Ian at times, particularly in regard to the issue of when Ian told Katie about booting off Gregg.

What I find interesting is that I felt that really the power shift in last night's episode slid over towards Katie.

Her emotional outburst with Ian helped her solidify him in her corner.

The fact that she voted along with Tom and Ian gives her a power piece in the swing vote category. They need her if they want to both get to the Final 2.

I see Katie being the biggest threat right now and the guys might have to convince Jenn to vote Katie off.

I think both Tom and Ian need to be in the Final 2 together for either of them to win. If Tom or Ian goes up against Katie or Jenn, I think the female contestant wins. The jury are not fans of Tom or Ian as a whole...and Katie and Jenn are both fairly popular and especially Katie has played a decent strategic game. Jenn has been a close third in the physical challenges as of late. It should be interesting to see who wins the next Immunity challenge.

What the hell is worng with Coby? You vote for someone who admitted that she rode the coat tails of Ian & Tom just because you thought Tom wasn't truthful? I don't know what he was expecting to hear. What a bitter queen if he couldn't see beyond his hurt feelings.

Katie getts my vote for the least deserving final 2 member ever. I don't buy her "strategy" at all. If it weren't for Ian and his integrity, she wouldn't have been final 2. A Tom/Ian final two would have been sweet. It had all the making of a good stroy. The teacher vs. his student. Would the protoge rise up & defeat the master in the end.

Well, I would have to agree that Katie was one of the all-time least deserving Final 2 members. Although, I must say she almost had me convinced with her pre-questions speech. But, although she claims her strategy all along was to align with the two stronges, the fact that she really was no threat physically, with the challenges and also did not pull her weight around camp, STILL makes her undeserving.

Due to Desp. Housewives, I missed the questions...were they bitchy? What did Coby ask?

Surprisingly, the biggest bitch of the Final Jury wasn't Coby, it was Greg. He called Katie pathetic. In the reunion show, he said it was part of the game and his final move.

Otehrwise, they were pretty much well behaved. Katie was a bitch to Janu and wouldn't answer her final question. She was also a bitch to Caryn.

I thought Tom and Katie were rephrehensible in how badly they treated Ian on that final day. I can't believe Ian let himself be so manipulated by Tom - and Tom, what a self-righteous jerk. Ian made a big mistake by giving up in order to regain Tom and Katie's friendship - Tom really duped him.
And the jury? Again, what is wrong with these people? It's Survivor - ya gotta play, not depend upon so called friendships. Wow, kind of a lame crew. Although, Gregg is a babe.

Does anyone have a link to the final questions transcript? I missed all the questions and would love to see them.

Congratulations to Tom on a very deserving win. He was an individual immunity challenge powerhouse, led his tribe on an impressive series of wins in the tribal challenges, was an adequate strategist (not his strong suit, as he himself admitted) and managed to play the game without creating a tidal wave of rancor during the game and after its conclusion.

Ian's decision to quit has to rank as one of the all time worst decisions in Survivor history (up there with Colby's decision to take Tina to the finals in Australia and the Amber fiasco in All-Stars.) Yet another quitter in a season of quitters (Ashlee, Jeff, Janu). And it annoyed me to see Jeff Probst giving contestant Jeff such a hard time about his sprained ankle while he gave Ian a free pass for handing Tom the game on a platter!

(Bryan -- I wasn't as bothered as you were about Tom. I think he overreacted but, in his defense, I think he thought he had a special mentor/pupil relationship with Ian that transcended the game. I also think Ian's weaselly responses back at camp made the situation much, much worse. If Ian had replied in a forthright manner, I think Tom wouldn't have been so incensed.)

Katie was a disaster at tribal council. I thought she might benefit from some anti-Tom sentiment but that never materialized and then she didn't give the jurors a reason to vote for her! In fact, she gave them a reason NOT to vote for her when she refused to answer Janu's question. If she doesn't care enough to fight for a jury vote, why should the jurors reward her with theirs?

That being said, I thought Gregg was over the line when he called Katie "pathetic". I was glad to see him apologize on the reunion show and say that he lost perspective.

I feel sorry for poor Jonathan. You can tell by his facial expressions and body language that the Survivor experience has been humiliating for him. I do think Angie was on to something when she said that his social skills (or lack of such) may have kept him from getting picked in the school yard pick. Interestingly, his body language last night confirmed Angie's point. In groups shots, he seemed to be pulling away from the rest of the group.

I don't think I would agree with Jeff Probst that this was one of the best Survivors ever. I actually thought it was static and boring most of the time. Oh well, at least we got Stephenie out of it!

I thought Ian taking himself out of the game was a total lame ass move. What did it prove and what did he gain from it. With a million $$ he could buy all the intergity he wants. He deserved to lose because he lost sight of the point...its a game...outwit, outsmart etc. It wasn't real life.
Tom deserved to win because he was the ultimate manipulator....and not too bad looking either :-)

Katie did not deserve to be there at all.

Swim,, Although I don't agree with what Ian did..... It's a sad reflection that you and most people feel that way about money. And the poster that grouped Ian's decision with Colby's as bad moves. Colby certainly got more out of his endorsement deals ( Gillette and others) then he would have with just a million dollar prize. It was his good guy image that got him those gigs

StPtGator -- I was the poster who lumped Ian's decision to quit with Colby's decision to take Tina to the finals.

I'm a firm believer that the sole point of Survivor is to be the sole survivor -- not to earn another contestant's respect (Ian) or to be a nice guy (Colby). From that standpoint, they both made terrible decisions. We'll just have to agree to disagree about how much morality should come to play in Survivor.

Sorry guy, while I do place a huge value on integrity in my business and private life , the whole point of entering the Survivor Game ( and it is just a game) is to win, and winning means getting the big prize not quitting because you want everyone to think you're a nice guy.
I doubt if Ian will get the endorsements that Colby did. Colby combined a nice guy rep with being hot!! And he didn't take himself out of the game, he came second.