Ponderosa

This page explains what happens to Survivor contestants after they are eliminated from the game.

About
Immediately after being voted out, the eliminated players are whisked away from Tribal Council and will be given finger foods to eat, while being interrogated by the in-game psychiatrist for debriefing as the contestant headed to the sequester house. Upon reaching the house, the player in question will undergo medical examinations and a weigh-in (to compare his/her pre-game weight and all the weight he/she lost during the game). The eliminated castaway were then allowed to socialize with the other eliminated cast members. From there on out, the eliminated player would enjoy the luxuries that were uncommon to the game of Survivor, such as eating all the food he/she can eat and sleeping on a soft bed.

From to, the eliminated castaways were sequestered in an undisclosed location that was beyond the reach of the game, either a faraway hotel that was still within the territory where the season was being filmed; or a location outside the host country. If the castaways were to be on vacation trips, their expenses were all covered by production. While being sequestered, the evictees were still forbidden to have access to television, internet, and telephones; however, they were given a VCR and a DVD player to help alleviate boredom. Those who did not make the jury phase will be sequestered in a separate location to lessen the possibility of spoilers to circulate before the season starts.

The contestants headed home in batches, the first group contained the pre-merge or pre-jury eliminees, while the second group consisted of the Jury and the finalists.

After the castaways went home, the in-game psychiatrist still checked the well-being of the players.

Starting from, Ponderosa was introduced.

Ponderosa
Ponderosa, also known as the Losers' Lounge or Jury House, is the name given to the place where eliminated contestants stay after being voted out of the game. This web-show is exclusive the the goings-on at the sequester house after the jury phase. Similar to the previous sequestering format, the contestants who did not make it to the jury phase will be sequestered somewhere else until filming has been wrapped up.

The eliminated players are either staying in separate rooms, air-conditioned collapsible cabins (similar to the cabins that are used by the production team at base camp), or mere tents fitted with mosquito nets.

Unlike the format of sequestering contestants prior to, subsequent contestants appeared to enjoy more freedom. For one, they can now watch TV, communicate with their loved ones (if the players still in the game just competed in a loved-ones challenge), play video games, and even cook their own food during meals. Furthermore, they are given the liberty of exploring the inhabited areas of their filming location, even buy souvenirs for their loved ones back home.

Life at Ponderosa
Ponderosa is the place where eliminated contestants stay after being voted out of the game, starting from.

Life at Ponderosa is a web-exclusive show, featuring the goings-on after a contestant's elimination and what they are doing while outside Tribal Council or the game in general. While unavailable on mainstream television, these clips can be viewed on the CBS website (exclusively for American viewers) and the CBS channel on YouTube (for viewers outside the United States). These never-before seen footage became available since.

Each episode is divided into three part clips, which each focusing on the most recent evictee. It also shows the contestant being weighed, enjoying food, looking at themselves in the mirror for the first time in however many days,usually interacting with other jurors, getting ready and leaving for the next Tribal Council, and sometimes getting out of Ponderosa and exploring the area outside of location. Scenes may also show the eliminee talking of his/her Survivor experience. This can also be an opportunity to discuss failed strategies and the possible outcome of the game.

After the Final Tribal Council, the finalists also get to stay in Ponderosa, though only for one night. The next day, they will have one final breakfast, then they will be escorted by the production team's vehicles, and they will be heading home.

Trivia

 * Contrary to popular belief, Ponderosa is not located near Base Camp. Also, Jeff Probst does not visit Ponderosa.
 * Eliza Orlins is the first contestant to ever go to Ponderosa.
 * On the  DVD, the bonus features include Ponderosa clips.
 * Coach Wade has spent the most days in Ponderosa at 21 days. The contestant to spend the most days in one season is R.C. Saint-Amour at 20 days.