'Survivor' is up to its old tricks

Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to "Survivor: Abercrombie & Fitch."

OK, it's called "Survivor: Palau" and if the first episode is any indication of what's to come, hold onto your guacamole chips and fizzy soda.

On the first episode, 20 wannabe survivors rowed the boat ashore, hallelujah.

Host Jeff Probst arrived to tell them that the first man and woman on shore would win immunity. After two eager castaways jumped the shark and out of the boat, they were quickly left behind when the others stayed onboard and rowed closer to shore.

Lawyer Jolanda and dolphin trainer Ian were the first immunity challenge winners but the peace, love and coconuts didn't last long. Jolanda and Ian were split into two teams and it ended up with the pretty people going up against the smarter, older people.

English teacher Wanda and her "Survivor" songs were voted off the island. Maybe, she should try "American Idol." The personality-free Jonathan was also voted off.

After their fake reality TV farewell tears and air kisses, Wanda and Jonathan were whisked away to obscurity.

The castaways soon found their inner-Gilligans and were climbing trees, building shelters and chopping their jeans into Daisy Dukes.

Easley's Ashlee Ashby didn't really say anything in the first half-hour but she did let her team know at Tribal Council that they needed to figure out who was going to lead the group.

In the end, Jolanda may have eaten her first grasshopper but got a one-way ticket back home when she got greedy at the Immunity Challenge and her worker ant teammates voted her out.

Say it isn't so, Jolanda.

Jose Franco can be

reached at 562-7229 or

jose.franco@shj.com.

When: 8 tonight on CBS affiliate News Channel 7 On tonight's episode: u One tribe's beach is overrun with unwelcome little visitors. u One Survivor is suspicious about a special alliance developing between two tribe mates. u While enjoying a feast, a tribe notices one member's reclusive behavior. u A tribe attempts to recover a lost provision. Will they be successful in the task, or will they succumb to exhaustion?