OFFICIAL WEBSITE & OFFICIAL PROFILES

For 39 days, 16 castaways were stranded in Asia.  Every 3 days on the island became a 1-hour show.  The first contestant eliminated pockets $2500.  Each successive eliminated contestant wins more money, through the next-to-last Survivor, who receives $100,000.  The final Survivor wins a million dollars!

Images (C) 2003 CBS, Inc. and Mark Burnett Productions. This page is in no way associated with CBS, Mark Burnett Productions, or the Survivor production.

Okay, so this season, we had a quitter, two people who came back after being voted out, and a dead grandmother who wasn't dead. And it all comes to a head with this... THE FINALE!

Day 37: "This is another first, Jonny Fairplay in bed with three women."

Just another line, I say. It's the final four show, and the first thing that our plucky four, Jon, Sandra, Lill, and Darrah, wake up to is a champagne breakfast delivered by Jeff. From butler to mail carrier, as Jeff delivers tidings of co-omfort and joy, comfort and joy.

Everyone is all smiles and some tears with the recent discovery of the CBS mailbag. Darrah echoes the tribe's sentiments, saying that it's "hard, because you haven't talked to anybody in 37 days. I just mainly worried if my dog was okay and, you know, my family." Sandra gets four letters from home, from her mom, her husband, and her two little girls. Lill was too teary-eyed for even our crying-ator's circuits to translate, so I'll have to do it. "Happy returns, win or lose, we love you." All I can understand. "Lill went into so much theatrics that it pretty much overshadowed anyone else's letter," Jon said, still reeling from the fact that he's the only torso without a leg at this point.

But you and I know what Jon does best at this point in time: scheme, scheme, scheme. Especially in the face of Lill's wanton never-give-up-ness. Jon accuses Lill of guilting the jury out of the money, and suggests to Darrah that she be voted out. And hey, it would make sense, since Lill's plan would've worked up to that point...

But then she got greedy. Lill turned to Darrah and asked her for top two. Darrah couldn't make any promises, leading Lill to act like an uppity mother with a shaking head. "Sorry if that makes me mean," Lill quips as she hammocks away. See, a smart person would just shut up there. But Darrah, as we've seen so far, is not a smart person.

All of a sudden, Lill asks Jon to leave the hut (he gladly obliges) and is buddying up with Sandra, thinking that the two of them could vote not Jon, but Darrah off for being the greater physical threat. Jon loves this new bit of news, saying that "whenever you're in the hot seat and someone's ready to vote you off, create tension between two other people and those two people's heads are on the chopping block. I'm the king of men, and they're just women." And Sandra's take: "I don't give a damn which one of the two goes, as long as it isn't me."

Then, Darrah gets sea mail:

So here you are, the final four.

But after tonight, you'll lose one more.

Head to Tribal Council, like you always do.

Your peers and your fate are waiting for you.

Night 37: Tribal.

It's time to ditch one of these people, but first...

I-CHALLENGE: Tribal Draft (for 24 hours at a spa and swimsuits from their original packs)

The four players will compete against the Jury, captained by Rupert, in a trivia contest based on the knowledge of how to survive and pirate folklore. Interesting fact, the one sure way to avoid being shark bait? Don't go into the water. It's not enough to beat the jury, though, as they win. End result, NO ONE gets immunity (unless you count Christa... and if I may say so... damn...). Afterwards, Jon feels vulnerable, Lill can't stop going on about the letter from home, Darrah doesn't think about the end of the game, and Sandra doesn't leave the hut for a piss break. Okay, too much info. Let's go right to the vote.

Lill: DARRAH - "You are too strong of a competitor. And when you said you wouldn't take me to the final vote after I saved you twice... I had no other choice."

Darrah: LILL - "I'm voting for you because I'm tired of listening to you whine that you won't win the jury vote when you know you will."

And the other two:

Jon: (D)ARRAH

Sandra: DARRAH

And because the Women's Lib Movement only lasted for an episode, Darrah, THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN. "Well that sucked." Darrah with the gift of gab, there.

"It comes down to this: three people, two Tribal Councils, one winner."

Night 37/Day 38: An early start.

Another surprise vote, another row in. Another sea mail?

"Try to get some rest because tomorrow's a big day.

The last chapter of your adventure begins at Shipwreck Bay.

Arrive at the beach by sunrise, you'll be greeted on the coast.

Who's guaranteed in the Final Two? The player who wants it most."

It's an endurance trial! But first, of course, since this is the finale, we have to have a proper send-off for those who we have lost along the way. Here's how it goes down this season...

Twelve tribal torches, representing the twelve tribesmen voted out - Nicole "Rockin' Body", Skinny Ryan, Michelle, Trish the Dish, Shawn, Savage, Rhino, Rupert, T, Christa, Burton, and now Darrah (the thirteenth, Osten's, is still at Tribal Council, where it will remain forever and ever) - will be hoisted on the Challenge Ship. Then Jon, Lill, and Sandra will fire muskets at the wreck, setting it ablaze.

They are properly eulogized, Lill gives the proper Scout's salute, and then... FIRE FIRE FIRE!!!

I-CHALLENGE: Set Adrift

In a squat of a pirate torture device, the three remaining players must fight the current and remain upon a pallet. Only your hands and your feet can touch the pallet. Anything else and you're gonzo. Last one... err, squatting... wins.

Sandra is the first one down after about 15 minutes, and Jon... starts to deal. Jon tries to shake up Lill with offer after offer to send her to the final two, but Lill, who has been awarded "stupidest player in the game" kudos TWICE rescinds those kudos, telling Jon to "SHUT UP!" After 2:45 of Jon groveling, the wrestler-wannabe throws in the towel, giving Lill the final vote-off right.

And it's a good thing that she did, because if she didn't win it, she would've been on the next boat off. "This had nothing to do with scheming. Nothing to do with bargaining. This was for Lill and Lill only." Now it's Jonny Fairplay in the hot seat. "I'm not going down without a fight." Tough talk from a screwover guy. He knows he can't win the money, but whoever is sitting by them can.

And then comes the Sandra factor, as Lill cites her family, and Sandra cites all the times she agreed to whatever she asked. But which will overplay this time? Lill gives us the answer in cryptic fashion:

"I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see."

Night 38: Tribal.

It stood out that Rupert was planted on the ship of doom due to his good nature and strength and that Burton was because he was Jon's friend. Sandra was shocked to see Lill go the distance in immunity. So was Lill. Push and pull factors play as before. Time to vote again. Jon can't vote for himself, has to vote for Sandra. Sandra, vicey-versey. So Lill makes her decision, coming down to whether or not she could possibly beat that person in the final vote. And that vote is...

Jonny Fairplay. LILL has spoken, and he can take that *fairplay sign* and *fairplay sign* on outta this piece. The jury is complete, and the next time we see them, they'll have a few questions.

It all came down to the fact that Lill wanted Sandra to have the money more than Jon. The rest of the night is relaxation for the two sole Survivors.

Day 39: "We gotta look back!"

Lill snags all of us viewers for basically judging what she did. In such, therefore reinstating her as stupidest player ever. Of course we would do what you did. It's called "Survivor." And as for judging, well... it's only human nature. So shut it already. Sandra is proud that she never saw her name at Tribal. "If they write it tonight, it's to give me the money. It'll be for a good reason, not a bad reason!" She thinks it's going to be something close.

Lill and Sandra begin their final sojourn to Tribal Council. We get final words from the jury:

Rhino: "I want to be able give somebody the money that deserves it."

T: "(Lill)'s definitely perservered through the course of these 39 days. (Sandra)'s so blatant and she's still here. A lot of people did it and they were kicked off."

Burton: "I want Lill and Sandra to answer my questions, 100% honestly, and if one of them does it, they will probably get my vote tonight. So I want to see 100% honesty for the first time this game."

Christa (C-Note: aside from everything, you can't really change the fact that it's Christa): "Both of them were underdogs from the very beginning."

Darrah (C-Note: aside from everything, you can't really change the fact that it's Darrah): "It's a good thing that I get to come back and say how I feel about 'em"

Rupert: "Win or lose, they should appreciate the situation they've been given. And EARNED!"

Jonny Fairplay: "I feel like the strongest player in this game has gone as far as HE could. Jonny Fairplay is going to have a fun time at Tribal Council tonight. And the one thing I can promise you is that I won't play fair. *Fairplay sign*"

That brings us to... zero hour.

Night 39: Final Tribal.

Sandra opens with: "I feel that I deserve the million dollars because I was always a team player from the get-go. It was my strategy to always be that person anybody could come to and say... 'Sandra, we need to vote this person out so we can move forward in the game', and I accomplished that because I was always a team player. I gave 100%. Everyone could always count on me to have their backs and to help out with everything that had to be done."

Lill's opener: "My strategy from the very beginning was to just be Lillian Morris. Not only did my strategy consist of trying to be kind to everyone, because that's what Lillian is. Lillian is a kind person. I worked constantly while everybody else was hanging back a little bit. Three different people told me that... 'Lill, we are going to take you to the final two with me.' Turns out, all three of these people kinda turned their backs on me. They said I was too nice and they wouldn't go up against me. I think basically my strategy was just to come in, work hard, be friendly, do good by others and just be Lillian. And, I think mostly that's what I was."

And now the jury: Rhino asks Lill if it's fair to give her the million because she was out of the game for 10 days (eight, sorry). Lill says it was a low point, but those eight days were no picnic being outcast. He then asks Sandra if she rode coattails to progress. Sandra says no.

Rupert, impressed and proud, asks Lill if he was ever honest with him, turning the scouts uniform on her. Lill says that everything was honest until Burton came along wanting to get rid of Rupert. That doesn't tell him anything. He asks Sandra if she knew that his voteoff was foreseen. She said no; she voted to Jon that day.

T asked the two the key question: "Why should the other person not win?" Lill says that Sandra has disrespected a lot of people and rode coattails. Sandra says that Lill is responsible for every member of the jury being on the jury.

Christa: "What's up people? Alright, rock stars." ... Are you as confused as I am? Anyway, she asked Lill why she is always hiding behind her Scout oath. She was cursed from the get-go for being part of that mystique. She then asks Sandra about her most challenging plotting and scheming. That would have to be the bush plan from the Morgan tribe.

Burton asked the two how they would fare if they were really stranded. Lill says seven. Sandra says five.

Darrah asked the two to explain how the both of them got there. Sandra said that other people had other fish to fry, as long as it wasn't her head on the block. Lill said that she was a non-threat because she was older and non-athletic. Correct answer: "You broke alliances."

Jon: "My question is for Jeff, and I vote none of the above." He asks Sandra how she represented the Puerto Rican population. Sandra didn't do anything that no one else was doing, thus taking care of herself. "If I don't look out for number one, no one will look out for me." Then he asked Lill how she represented the Scouts. Lill wishes she hadn't have worn the uniform at all. "This game has nothing to do with honor and integrity."

And now the closers.

Sandra: "I think I played this game the way I knew how. When I came here, I represented myself the way that I truly am. There was no lies and deceptions about how Sandra is. I always thought that my mouth would get me in trouble but now that I look at it, being open and saying things the way they are is what helped me to get this far. Because when anyone approached me and said...Sandra we need to do this or whatever...I openly and frankly expressed my opinions...yes I will go with you or yes, I will help you. I am actually surprised to be sitting here but now that I am, I am kind of glad. I think I am a good person regardless if I cussed you out or not. That's how I was feeling at the time. There's no regrets about whatever I did and I am glad to be sitting here."

Lill: "If I had to do it all over again, the Boy Scout uniform would be at home. It would have been harder for anybody to say... Boy Scout, dignity, honor; 'Survivor', liar, cheater, whatever. Those two things don't come together and whatever you guys say about my honor, my integrity... it is that way here. It is not that way at home. Now why should you give it to me and not give it to Sandra? I also tried to learn this game and play this game as best that I could. I also tried to remain respectful to people and I also tried to form friendships. Friendships dissolved and it hurt me bad because I couldn't do anything about it. You either play the game or you get voted out. So, no matter what you guys do, I did the best I could with what I had and the person that I am. This is one night. Yes, it is a big reward but I am going back home. I am going to be the 'Big Lill' to 75 kids that look up to me and I am going to explain to them that this was a game. Put the Scout uniform aside. I wish I had and I didn't."

Once again, at stake: $1 million, a new GMC Envoy, and the title of Sole Survivor. For the final time in the Pearl Islands... It is TIME TO VOTE!

Rupert: SANDRA - "I'm so happy for you. We were blood brother and sister. It's over. I was so thrilled to have someone by my side." She played the game hard.

T (C-Note: yes, it has finally dawned on me that she talks WAY too much): LILL - "I had to look at who played the game regardless of Tribal Council". It came down to who answered the question the best.

And the other five votes... will be express mailed to the reunion show, "From Television City in Hollywood!" for a live reveal. The other votes are...

Jon: SANDRA

Darrah: SANDRA

"The winner of Survivor Pearl Islands is..."

Rhino: SANDRA

The other votes:

Christa: SANDRA

Burton: SANDRA

So how did she do it? "Just tell it like it is, straight up." Seems like everyone was strategizing and no one was really worrying about Sandra. And of course, the wimpiest mom was a little curt when it came down to challenges. It's then revealed that Christa did know that Sandra threw out the fish the night that Rupert was voted. Admittedly, Lill used her heart more than her head, and excluded Jon because of a difference in lifestyle. "Who did I think deserved the money more," Lill said. But it turns out that if Jon was in the final two, on an informal vote... Lill made a Colby.

Rhino couldn't justify Lill's lying, even though he himself lied. So why no show of love? Andrew put it best, "Survivor is a game where your true self comes out." Trish thought that you could separate scoutmaster and Survivor player. "You play the game or you get voted out." But that's just Jeff, he just producer/host/17th leg.

And in case you haven't figured it out, yes, Gordon, Chris, and I are followers of the Rupert. And YOU, are one of us now, reader. Stealing shoes + wearing skirts that enabled players to see more than we actually needed to see + catching more fish than a pelican in heat = one of the most likeable Survivors ever. Rupert's energy comes from being appreciative of everything he has. "You gotta appreciate everything you've got, and be happy!" Understandable, as he played in water, caught animals, and fished in Indianapolis. Can someone explain that? Not like it matters, as Shawn notes that they showed more of Rupert's greater moments and less of Shawn's lesser ones. One of Rupert's lesser moments? Trusting Jon. Of course.

But it's not like he has that darn many "lesser moments," as Jeff points out. "Can we get a shot of Rupert's wife? Life has blessed you in a lot of ways, my friend." Oh yeah.

But back to Jonny Fairplay, who, from the get-go, set out to be THE villain, even though in the real world, he really isn't so... "I'm an a-hole, pretty much." First of all, the nickname... He used to be into wrestling (the act, not just the playacting), and that's his character. "I had people tell me flat out that they want to kill me, and I'd give them the finger and they'd cheer." Then comes the dead grandmother lie. As you can plainly see, his grandmother is alive and... very well kept. She was NOT in on this. She found out after Survivor called home and she answered the damn phone. Any remorse on Jon's part?

"No way!"

And Jon and Nicole?

"Absolutely not!"

How about Burton?

"That'd be against the rules, Jeff!"

Michelle?

"He's like my big brother?"

So how about Jon and Darrah?

"No, he's not appealing at all?"

Darrah and the modeling?

"No, not right now."

I bet you anything that D's waiting for the call from Playboy. Also waiting for a call is Kylie Cusick, a 14-year-old who mailed in a challenge idea (the word scramble where Jeff had to be reminded that "liaison" had two I's. One person that's not waiting for ANYTHING any time soon is Osten, who, in the middle of his sojourn, had a change of mind and wussed out of the game, opening the gates for one person to reenter in his place. Eventually, that one person was Lill. No regrets from Osten, even as he gets mixed retorts on the street. "I'm not an outdoors person in the least bit. The only thing appetizing was the million dollars." So he's alright with it, and he's walking on.

And we move right to the Outcasts. Rupert reconciled with Burton, while Andrew went after Lill. He gets a heightened sensitivity. Skinny Ryan was literally Outcasted when everyone cliqued up, and he wishes that he did it sooner.

So that's it. Pretty good season, much better than Thailand, and with a more deserved winner in Sandra than in Jenna last season. Obligatory plugs: Swag available at ebay.com/survivor to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. After the Super Bowl, your favorite Survivors, although CBS won't say who just yet, return for "Survivor All Stars". And so will Chris, Gordon, and I.

Okay, guys, one final "Arrrr" is in order. "ARRRRRRRR!" See you for All-Stars!