And The Winner Of ‘Survivor: Gabon’ Is …
A few months ago I posted a blogpost concerning Survivor: Gabon and the unfortunate (and very entertaining) wardrobe malfunction that aired on the show (ie. the peek at contestant p33n that was shown in national television) and haven’t blogged about the show since. That’s not to say that I haven’t been watching the show but there hasn’t been a big story to talk about … until now. Last night, Survivor: Gabon aired its finale ep and revealed who the Ultimate Survivor for the 17th season of the series. In an effort to NOT spoil who won the big prize of $1 million and the title of Ultimate Survivor I will keep the announcement behind the cut … but I will reveal who the top three contestants were right here. If you’ve yet to watch any of the show that aired last night, you might want to look away or skip this post until you get to watch.
Here is a pic of the top three Survivor: Gabon finalists at the live prize announcement and reunion special that aired on CBS last night:
That’s right … Susie, Bob and Sugar made it to the very end of the game. After the jury asked questions and voted, the person who was awarded the million dollar prize and the title of Ultimate Survivor is — after the jump …
… by a very narrow vote — Bob Crowley, the lovable and highly skilled high school physics teacher:
Raise your test tubes, science nerds; Bob Crowley is the newest Survivor. The lovable and lanky physics teacher from Portland, Maine, can afford a fancier bowtie — and perhaps a brand new lab — after winning $1 million on Sunday’s finale of Survivor: Gabon. Crowley picked up the seven-figure cheque after pulling in four votes to runnerup Susie Smith’s three (and third place finalist Sugar Kiper’s zero) from a jury of previous castoffs. No shocker here, folks. The earnest quintagenarian was by far the most deserving Survivor on the reality TV competition’s 17th edition. He won five consecutive challenges — the most anyone has ever won in the show’s history — and had the strategic elements of the game down to a, well, science. Even so, the road to wealth was rougher than a rhino’s backside for teach Bob — who won’t have to return to the classroom (but probably will, because that’s the kinda guy he is). Last night’s two-hour finale was chock-full of eliminations, as the final five were quickly rounded down to one. It was game over first for 22-year-old mastermind Ken Hoang, a professional video gamer who was shockingly blindsided by fellow castaways Bob, Sugar, Matty Whitmore and Susie Smith at the first tribal council meeting of the night. Bob fell through on his promise to give little Kenny his immunity necklace two councils in a row — and he sure could have used it that second time. Then went Matty, a 29-year-old personal trainer who had all the muscles any Survivor could need — but couldn’t start a fire to save his life. After he and Bob each received two votes at the second council meeting, host Jeff Probst announced the tie-breaker game would be a repeat of a challenge a few weeks ago where the castaways had to ignite a blaze that would burn through a rope. Outdoorsy Bob aced the challenge, leaving poor Matty out in the cold … If it’s any consolation, Matty got a say in who did get the prize as part of the jury — also including fellow castoffs Ken, Marcus Lehman, Charlie Herschel, Randy Bailey, Corinne Kaplan and Crystal Cox. Survivor’s 17th grill session wasn’t without a few punches: Kenny confronted Bob about the immunity necklace lies; Corinne asked Susie if she would agree to have her vocal chords removed if she won the million — before throwing a low-blow to Sugar by mentioning her dead father; and Randy unleashed his jerky ‘tude to give Sugar and Bob heck for laughing at him when he was voted out after attempting to use a fake idol they gave him. While the rant session took place in Gabon, Probst carried that rustic ballot box all the way to Hollywood so the winner could be revealed before a live studio audience — and with the final three fully shaved, clothed and made up to look like re-civilized human beings. Too bad we only saw them looking this way for, like, five minutes at the tail end of the show.
Man, I gotta say … I thoroughly enjoyed this season of Survivor. I have been quietly watching the show religiously for the past 10 seasons or so it’s safe to say I’m a fan. I was very surprised that Susie made it this far in the game … people carried her along because she was not a threat in any fashion and she ended up winning just the right immunity rewards at the right time. The game is funny that way. I honestly thought that Sugar played a great game. For much of the season I, too, discounted her as a dumb blonde who wouldn’t last long … she ended up playing the most strategic game out of all the contestants — she was smarter than the smartest folks on the island (save for Bob) that that pissed them all off … especially Corinne. Bob, tho, really deserved the prize … and our love. I was shocked that he almost lost the prize to Susie … by only one vote! That would’ve been a shocker to end all shockers.
The other contestants, I have to say, were pitiful players. Kenny ended up bitter and pissed that he was outplayed, Corinne turned into a very jealous loser and, I think, embarrassed herself by questioning Sugar’s feelings for her dead father and Randy, well, I genuinely believe him to be a sad, pathetic person … period. His always bitter attitude and the way he spoke to people really showed his true colors. Sugar should’ve won an award for being the person to really stick it to that a-hole who treated everyone like dirt and then was lookin’ for sympathy when he was made a fool of on live TV (in regards to the fake immunity necklace that he got conned into using, thereby allowing him to get kicked off the island). Okay, I’m rambling … but I will confess that I actually teared up when Bob won. At 57, he is the oldest winner of Survivor and he won it all by using his brains over his fairly nonexistent brawn. He truly deserved the prize and I am thrilled that he won. Bob also went home with the $100,000 Fan Favorite prize as well. All the $$$ and accolades couldn’t have gone to a nicer Survivor. Congrats … and thanks for a great season!!
Tags: 'Survivor: Gabon', Bob Crowley, Jessica 'Sugar' Kiper, Susie Smith
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December 15th, 2008 at 8:03 am
this show is still on?! and there was a decent winner?! damn I have to catch the repeats of this season when they air here. I haven’t watched in a good while because it’s just gotten repetitive, but it’s still better than RW/RR the Island or any of those shows.
December 15th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Oh Survivor was on this year? They’re going to run out of places to have it, unless they want to ship people to the arctic circle…I’d make an effort to watch that…
December 15th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Next Survivor will be in Brazil starting in January! WOOOT!
December 15th, 2008 at 8:35 am
i’m digging his bow ties!
December 15th, 2008 at 8:39 am
is this show still on?
December 15th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I enjoyed this season… it was better than the last 2 combined. The unfortunate thing is it is picking the winner is no longer about great game play, rather popularity and cheap revenge. That jury was SO bitter and couldn’t come to terms with the fact they’d been out outplayed. Respect to all 3 finalists.
December 15th, 2008 at 8:46 am
I only watched season 2 and part of season 3. I’m glad a cute old man won!!! Oh my god wait, he’s only a couple years older than my dad! That makes me sad…
December 15th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Was I the only one bummed to find out Sugar is a full on actress? I knew she looked familiar…then I remembered she was on GILMORE GIRLS! I wish they’d stop hiring actors for Survivor. meh.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:09 am
@ AngieC
Why should being an actor affect you being on Survivor?
December 15th, 2008 at 9:12 am
I guess I just thought Survivor was still a *reality* show…featuring every day real people. Not ones trained in lying. LOL. silly me.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Corinne was absolutely dispicable. I’m still angry at her a day later. I understand why Randy is such a jerk…bad attitude, unattractive bitter old dude. But Corinne, she’s good looking, young, smart, successful…what the hell is she so bitter about? You don’t mess with people’s dead relatives. She needs a martini or something!
December 15th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I found Corrine to be a rather pathetic woman. She was practially begging from the first episode to be seen as mean and nasty. Can you seriously be that desperate for attention, that you BEG to be the bad girl? Is your self esteem that terrible that you need to belittle someone’s dead relative to make yourself feel better? What a SORE loser. I’m so glad Sugar gave her the finger!!!
December 15th, 2008 at 9:58 am
@ Michelle — absolutely and TOTALLY agree. Corinne was just a jerk and did deserve the finger. She and Randy really do seem alike … and it’s very sad.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:57 am
I couldn’t have summed up the season and the finale better myself. I was thrilled to see Bob win – truly a deserving winner!
It’d be great if you covered the show more often next season – I’d like to know you take on the episodes.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:28 am
He teaches physics at the Gorham, Maine high school. Good for him. Julie Berry another contestant a few years ago was also from Gorham.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:37 am
I enjoyed this season because it seemed more like the old Survivor, not just “drop people on tropicall islands where the food practically falls into there hands” It’s more entertaining when people are really trying to survive life and not just the game.IMO Sugar should have won based on gameplay alone.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:37 am
tropical and their instead of there sorry ya’ll
December 15th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I also loved this Gabon season, although I liked the previous season better. It was nice to see most of the “underdogs” get so far in the game: the pin-up model, the 2 middle aged teachers (Susie and Bob), Matty Kenny and Crystal from the initially “loser tribe”.
I just don’t understand why nobody voted for Sugar, she played a very good game, way better than Susie, who almost didn’t appear in most episodes.
I love your comments, I hope you comment the next season frequently =)
December 15th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Sugar rocked! If only she had sold herself better to the jury i think she would’ve won. she shd’ve said ‘i’ve been playing a strategic game since day 1, etc etc’ In the past juries have voted for players who screwed them over if they respected their game. And she was in control for a lot of it, even if people didn’t realize it.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Survivor is still on? Who knew?
December 15th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I agree with you, Moi. Sugar may have even won Randy over if she made a decent case. I guess she was only interested in Bob winning. I would’ve LOVED it if Sugar had won–IN YOUR FACE, Corinne. I too, just don’t understand all the spite and hatred coming from one woman! And, geez, she is ONLY 27 years old!!! UGH! I hope I NEVER meet her in a dark alley! Although I am happy Bob won, Sugar was my second favorite. She was a GREAT strategist :D
December 15th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I’ve been watching this show since Season 2, and am always surprised and disgusted of some Jury members using their “air” time to rip on the final Survivors! Randy…what can you say, just a bitter, lonely loser, who will stay angry the rest of his life. But Corinne…just an evil spirited, despicable little girl! How can a person have so much hatred for what…?…a reality show…you lost! Sugar gave the only response she could give: the finger! Sugar played them all, and deserved to be in the final (Susie…WTF?), but I’m glad Bob won.
December 15th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Usually during the reunion, the players dont even look like themselves (waaaay too much makeup and hair). Everyone looked great last night. My guess is “the bitter ones” wrote down Susie, just so they wouldnt have to write down sugar or bob….lame…. (oh well….I was team matty anyway)
December 15th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Matty should have won. That’s all I have to say. lol
December 15th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
i was hoping sugar would of taken matty, but oh well. i was totally on team sugar. corrine and randy should hook up.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:10 am
I am so pissed that you put that spoiler up, im in a diff country and I havent gotten the final ep yet. THANKS ALOT! NOT
December 16th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Was Sugar really on Gilmore Girls O.o ?
rofl.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Yeah she was on the episode with that long, long dance contest … Rory was with Dean but had a crush on Jesse. Jesse came with Sugar (can’t remember the character’s name) to make Rory jealous. I think it was season 2/3.
December 28th, 2008 at 5:55 am
All of your are stoopid. Kenny should’ve won, he was the smartest and maybe even one of the fittest. He played a relatively good game, and the only reason he fell was due to the pureness of him and how innocent he was. Innocent enough to believe sugar’s lies. Sugar is a bword.
Kenny Hoang PWNZ and ASIANS FTW.