By Buzz Byrne

There are certain traditions on SURVIVOR. The letters from home episode which has evolved to an actual person from home- this one guarantees a lot of blubbering; the final three players paying homage to their fallen competitors and mustering false levels of sincerity (this one is my favorite, I’m planning a 5000 word opus on this season’s when it comes up); and the episode that launched the rebirth of Joe Rogan’s career and inspired FEAR FACTOR- people forced to eat disgusting things.

But that was tonight’s immunity challenge. The reward challenge came first and the prize was for an afternoon of pampering and product placement in a Chinese tea house. Fei Long won the challenge easily but the interesting moment came when former Zhan Hu member Sherea found herself alone with current Zhan Hu member Peih-Gee and Peih-Gee told her about their throwing of the last immunity challenge to save Sherea and Frosti. Sherea barely acknowledged her. This became important later.


At the Charmin Tea House- seriously, they got toilet paper to sponsor a tea house, Jean-Robert continued to alienate by making pervy comments to Courtney and Amanda. James was kidnapped by his former team so he got to enjoy a shower there and show off his well-defined buttocks. Denise got to wash her mullet. Who says dreams can’t come true.

Todd convinced James to give him the clue for the hidden immunity idol with the plan of James using it when/if Zhan Hu went to tribal council. With this last clue, Todd and Amanda figured out the location and for some mind-numbing reason they decided to get it in front of everybody. Frosti, eager to help his new team, joined in and wound up seeing what they were doing and seeing the idol itself. Todd reluctantly brought him into the fold but countered that by telling the rest of the tribe that James was getting the idol and they needed to win immunity so James could send someone packing from Zhan Hu.

Back at Zhan Hu, Jaime was upset that Frosti won’t make “eye contact” with his old team when they see him. Yeah, that would work out real well for him, mugging to the enemy- giving them the big thumbs up. Peih-Gee related her encounter with Sherea and suddenly Zhan Hu abandons their plan to throw immunity and go after James. The game turns on a dime because these players are freakin’ morons.

At the immunity challenge the menu is revealed as each contestant squares off against another. First team to choke down four items faster than the opponent wins. First were chicken hearts and Frosti won that heat for Fei Long. Next were three eels with their heads and Jaime beat Courtney (OMG, n’fair!!). Next were three baby turtles with shells. Erik crunched a victory out for Zhan Hu. Next James and Denise faced off over chicken fetuses. James tried to throw it but the lunch lady couldn’t choke the stuff down. I refuse to believe that a mulleted lunch lady from New Hampshire hasn’t eaten anything as gross as that but whatever. Erik faced Frosti over a thousand year old egg and brought home a victory for Zhan Hu.

With their plans in ruins, Fei Long had to make a decision for tribal council. Sherea was the obvious choice but Courtney changed things up and moved people to consider Jean-Robert. A stupid move, but like she totally thinks he’s like a creep and like OMG that might be a good point. She even blabbed to Sherea what was going on. That is just a bad move, you dummy.


At tribal council Sherea got her attitude up when Jeff asked Jean-Robert a question and Jean-Robert started to answer. It looked dicey for our leering poker playing lothario. When Sherea wrote down his name she capped it off with saying to the camera as if it were Jean-Robert, “Someone told along the way that you were hot. I’m here to bust that in the mouth and tell you, you’re not!” Sherea is an elementary school teacher. I was hoping she would invoke the Central High cheer from 1986’s WILDCATS and shout at Jean-Robert, “You ugly! You ugly! Yo’ momma said you ugly!”

In the end however, Sherea was sent home to explain to her school board why she had to have her nipples pixilated so often on a family show. After this episode I’m back to thinking this show is fun. Maybe I’m the dummy.