Were Fabio and Benry able to hold their alliance together last night on 'Survivor Nicaragua?' Did they make it into the Final 6?Up until a week ago on "Survivor: Nicaragua," cocky New York real estate broker Sash had all the power. Or at least he thought he did.
But he ended up losing two of his allies -- NaOnka and Purple Kelly -- after both of them struggled badly and decided to quit the show last week.
It was the first time in 21 seasons of Survivor that two contestants quit on the same day.
So, the first half of last night's show predictably focused on Sash and his suddenly non-existent alliance. The second half of the show focused on a seemingly perfect plot to blind-side an unsuspecting castaway.
Chase, Holly and Jane had formed a tight alliance. Same for Benry, Fabio and Dan. All too quickly, Sash was left all alone. But at least he had some comfort: his hidden immunity idol. (well, it actually was Marty's hidden immunity idol, but the arrogant business executive was dumb enough to hand it over to Sash earlier this season.)
With his alliance crumbling to pieces, was Sash targeted for elimination last night on 'Survivor Nicaragua?' Or did he manage to survive another week?Would Sash be forced to use the hidden idol? Or would he somehow manage to develop another game plan to stay alive?
(Spoiler alert: If you didn't watch the show and you don't want to know any more about what happened, stop reading now. If you watched the show, keep on reading, and cast a vote in our two new Survivor polls below.)
Episode 13 started out with the seven remaining castaways heading back to camp and expressing disbelief that Nay and Kelly both dropped out of contention with only 11 days left in the game. They even named their chicken “Kelly-Nay” as a sarcastic tribute to the quitters.
Almost immediately, Sash began working on his new strategy. He tried to talk Chase, Benry and Fabio into targeting Jane. Sash promised he would play his hidden idol at the next tribal council, in hopes of building trust among the remaining castaways.
Heading into last night's episode of 'Survivor Nicaragua,' buddies Holly and Jane were the only two women remaining in contention for a spot in the Final 6.“I think the idol right now may be putting a target on my back,” Sash said, in one of the biggest understatements of the season. ”So, what I’d like to do is just get rid of it and hopefully that will show everyone that I’m kinda like a free agent, and whoever wants my vote to try and get them further, it’s kind of up for grabs.”
Sash’s reasoning: By getting rid of his idol, he will no longer be viewed as a threat. And maybe he’ll have a shot at sticking around for a little while longer.
My immediate reaction, as I put my DVR on pause: Sash really has no choice at this point. To guarantee he'll survive one more week, he has to play his idol, unless he wins the immunity challenge. If the latter happens, he automatically makes it to the Final 5.
And, as every Survivor fan knows all too well, anything can happen from that point on. With one or two immunity challenge wins, and a little luck, it’s a brand new game.
Part 2 of Sash’s strategy: He plants an important seed in Chase’s mind -- No one would want to sit in the finals with Jane by their side. Sash might not have the power any longer, but he still has great survival instincts. He’s sneaky and he’s slimy, but he definitely knows how to play the game.
Revisiting some of the challenges from earlier this season, the contestants yesterday had to race through a muddy pit, dig a ball out of a hay stack and bounce the ball into a barrel.
Mud, sweat and tears: During the reward challenge on 'Survivor Nicaragua' last night, the seven remaining castaways had to crawl through a pit of mud. The first four finishers would advance to the next phase of the challenge, using a pole to grab a key that unlocked a chest filled with sand bags, which had to be tossed on top of a barrel.
The first two contestants would move on to the final phase: using a rowing paddle to dig up three rope rings, then tossing the rings onto a target.
At stake was a nice reward… a trip to a private island resort, where the winner would have an opportunity to eat a hearty meal, take an outdoor shower, get a massage and sleep in a warm bed. (They also would get to see their reflections in a mirror and get stunned by their weight loss.)
The winner turned out to be Chase, and it surprised no one – but angered Sash – that he picked his two closest allies, Holly and Jane, to accompany him to the resort. In a private chat with Sash just moments before the challenge, Chase had promised to bring him along if he won.
'Survivor' mud bath: He might be covered in mud, but the challenge was well worth it for Chase Rice. He won a trip to a private resort, where he was treated to a nice meal, a shower, a massage and a clean bed.Did anyone notice? Dan, one of the most physically inept players in the history of Survivor, was still trying to dig his ball out of the hay stack when four of his opponents were already moving on to the second round of the contest! I had to let out a big laugh when I spotted that.
It’s a good thing Dan didn’t try out for “The Amazing Race.” He would probably be stuck in China when everyone else moved on to France.
Sash tries to work his magic on Dan, Benry and Fabio, hoping to persuade them to use him as a swing vote to break up the other alliance. But no one seems to trust him.
PETA alert: The four guys then take it upon themselves to slay Kelly-Nay so they would have a decent meal while Chase, Holly and Jane were living it up at the resort. When they returned to camp, Jane was in tears when she found out "her chicken" had been killed. She even made a little memorial, using sticks for a cross and shells for a heart.
As the game moves on, individual immunity becomes more and more crucial for survival, especially when so many people are scheming to eliminate so many different players.
The only way to protect yourself is to win immunity.
North Carolina pals Chase and Jane are part of a tight alliance on 'Survivor Nicaragua?'. But is Chase smart enough to realize Jane is a major threat to win the million-dollar prize?In last night’s challenge, the castaways were attached to hitching rails and had to unravel enough rope to reach a bag of gold coins. The first three to make it back with their coins would move on to the next round of the competition.
Fabio, Benry and Sash battled it out for the immunity necklace. They had to piece together a tricky puzzle using piles of gold coins. The winner turned out to be…. Sash. That means he now has TWO immunity idols!
It’s an incredible stroke of fortune for Sash and a scary dose of reality for all of the other players. Sash is now guaranteed to make it not only to the Final 6, but the Final 5. It’s a significant game changer for both alliances, and everyone (except Dan) has to feel vulnerable at this point.
• Jane is a target because no one wants to sit next to her in the finals. With her motherly ways and fish-catching skills, she's a major threat to win the million-dollar prize.
• Fabio is a target because he's a physical threat in every challenge, he's an easy-going guy and he's smarter than he appears.
• Benry is a target because he's a physical threat in every challenge and hardly anyone can trust him.
• Chase is a target because he's so tight with Jane and Holly, and he's also a strong physical player.
Ben 'Benry' Henry thought he was safe from elimination last night on 'Survivor Nicaragua.' So did his alliance member, Jud 'Fabio' Birza.• Holly is a target because she's so tight with Jane and Chase.
• Sash should be a target because he's not part of the two remaining alliances, but he's now safe for two more tribal councils.
Interesting how Jeff Probst introduced the five jury members and made sure he reminded everyone that Nay and Kelly were "the two quitters." Way to go, Jeff!
Jeff also called out Chase for making a bad decision to bring his two closest allies to the resort reward, leaving Sash to strategize with the opposing alliance. It was a risky move on Chase’s part.
But, this appeared to be one of the least suspenseful tribal councils all season. It was clear the big blind-side was on against the unsuspecting Fabio. Everyone had him duped into thinking Holly was being targeted.
The goofy model-actor-student was clearly being blind-sided. Or was he????
Wait a minute…. As the votes were being counted, it became apparent that someone ELSE was being blind-sided. What a great twist to an otherwise boring episode!
The vote tally: Holly, Fabio, Fabio, Benry, Benry, Benry, Benry.
Now THAT's what you call a blind-side! Mr. Dirt Squirrel is going home.
What do YOU think about last night’s show? Did you have any idea Benry would be blind-sided? Did you expect Fabio to get the boot? Who is in the best position to make it to the Final 3?
Former Las Vegas showgirl Janu Tornell was allowed to sit on the jury during an earlier season of 'Survivor,' even though she quit the game. Survivor fans all across the nation, including those who read my column, are infuriated that the show’s producers are allowing Kelly and Nay to sit on the jury, even though they voluntarily quit the show.
A poll of NJ.com readers last week showed Survivor viewers were overwhelmingly opposed to the decision. (see the numbers below)
In case anyone is wondering whether any contestants in the past were allowed to serve on the jury after quitting, the answer is yes. Back in 2005, a skinny Vegas showgirl named Janu Tornell quit "Survivor: Pulau" and served on the jury.
In addition, there have been at least one or two occasions where an injured player left the game and sat on the jury. But those cases were not controversial, because the players were forced out of the game by medical teams.
They really had no choice. Nay and Kelly DID have a choice.
Question 1: Should NaOnka and Kelly be allowed to serve on the Survivor jury?
Your responses, with 773 votes cast:
• No way! They quit, so they should go home ............. 96% (741 votes)
• Yes. They still outlasted most of the castaways .......... 4% (32 votes)
Question 2: Who do you think will win 'Survivor Nicaragua?'
Your responses, with 664 votes cast:
• Jane .......... 31.5% (209 votes)
• Fabio ......... 25.9% (172 votes)
• Holly .......... 19.9% (132 votes)
• Chase ........ 11.1% (74 votes)
• Benry .......... 5.3% (35 votes)
• Sash ........... 3.9% (26 votes)
• Dan ............ 2.4% (16 votes)
• Wednesday, Dec. 15 – 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on CBS
• Sunday, Dec. 19 – 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on CBS (winner will be announced)
• Sunday, Dec. 19 – 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. on CBS (cast reunion show)
Len Melisurgo is a news editor at The Star-Ledger and a self-professed reality TV addict. He spent many sleepless nights blogging about Season 9 of "American Idol" earlier this year, and he did the same as he followed Season 5 of "America's Got Talent" during the summer.
• Dec. 2: Dummies, heroes and quitters
• Nov. 18: A raging camp fire and a daring power move
• Nov. 11: The Marty-Jane battle heats up in Episode 9
• Nov. 5: 'Survivor Nicaragua' puzzle: Is Alina a 'dirt squirrel?'
• Nov. 4: Survivor Photo Gallery: The Big Merge / Slideshow
• Nov. 4: The merge is on, and a thief is lurking
• Oct. 28: A stunning tribal council, with lots of twists and dumb moves
• Oct. 25: Tensions rising between Marty and Brenda
• Oct. 14: New tribes, water torture, rainbow healing
• Oct. 7: Blind ambition and personality clashes
• Sept. 30: Coach Jimmy Johnson gets sacked
• Sept. 23: Wild tribal council, crazy lady, expensive shoes
• Sept. 20: Man boobs and other scary sights