Survivor: Samoa is the nineteenth season of Survivor. It premiered on September 17, 2009 and concluded on December 20, 2009.
In the end, Natalie White defeated Russell Hantz and Mick Trimming in a 7-2-0 vote. Hantz ended up winning the "Sprint Player of the Season" award, earning the fans' vote over Shambo Waters and Brett Clouser. It would ultimately feature two medical evacuations, and has to date produced four returning players (Laura Morett, Monica Padilla, Russell Hantz, and Russell Swan) for subsequent seasons.
Production[]
Participant applications were due by January 14, 2009. Approximately 800 might have been invited to be interviewed in several states. Following this, approximately 48 semi-finalists were invited to Los Angeles in April 2009 for final interviews with the producers. Initially, there were supposed to have only 18 contestants for the season, but it was increased to 20, at cost of the budget allotted for the family visit being repurposed to accommodate the two additional castaways: Ashley Trainer and Erik Cardona.[2]
Survivor: Samoa and the succeeding season, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, were filmed back-to-back. Day 39 of Samoa and Day 1 of Heroes vs. Villains were 20 days apart, giving Russell Hantz only a few days to prepare.
Twists/Changes[]
- Tribe Composition: The twenty castaways were divided into two tribes of ten.
- Tribe Leaders: At the beginning of the game, both tribes voted for a tribe "leader." This leader (symbolized by a necklace, not to be confused with the Immunity Necklace) would make decisions in challenges such as assigning tasks for tribe mates, sit-outs, etc. After a Reward Challenge, the winning tribe's leader would also assign one of his tribe mates to be an "observer." If a leader gets eliminated, the tribe must select a new one to replace them.
- The "Observer": Following a Reward Challenge, one member from the winning tribe would be selected by the tribe leader to go to the opposing tribe's camp, and would return to them at the next Immunity Challenge. This person would hand the tribe a clue to the whereabouts of a Hidden Immunity Idol at their camp.
- Hidden Immunity Idol: A Hidden Immunity Idol will be hidden at both camps. Both idols are usable until the Day 36 Tribal Council.
- Double Tribal Council: Both tribes would go to separate Tribal Council sessions to eliminate a player. This would be cancelled due to Russell Swan's medical evacuation.
- Early Merge: For the first time in Survivor history, the merge occurred with 12 players.
- Expanded Jury and Final Three: Instead of the conventional Final Two facing the jury of seven, the Day 39 Tribal Council was held with three finalists facing a nine-person jury.
Castaways[]
Contestant | Tribe Affiliation | Finish | Votes Against | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Original Tribe | Merged Tribe | ||||
Marisa Calihan 25, Cincinnati, OH Student |
Foa Foa | 1st Voted Out Day 3 |
7 | ||
Mike Borassi 62, Marina del Rey, CA Personal Chef |
Foa Foa | Evacuated Day 5 |
0 | ||
Betsy Bolan 48, Campton, NH Police Officer |
Foa Foa | 2nd Voted Out Day 6 |
7 | ||
Ben Browning 28, Los Angeles, CA Bar Manager |
Foa Foa | 3rd Voted Out Day 8 |
7 | ||
Yasmin Giles 33, Los Angeles, CA Hairstylist |
Galu | 4th Voted Out Day 11 |
8 | ||
Ashley Trainer 22, Maple Grove, MN Spa Saleswoman |
Foa Foa | 5th Voted Out Day 14 |
9 | ||
Russell Swan 42, Glenside, PA Attorney |
Galu | Evacuated Day 15 |
0 | ||
Liz Kim 33, New York City, NY Urban Planner |
Foa Foa | 6th Voted Out Day 18 |
5 | ||
Erik Cardona 28, Los Angeles, CA Bartender |
Galu | Aiga | 7th Voted Out 1st Jury Member Day 21 |
10 | |
Kelly Sharbaugh 25, San Diego, CA Hairstylist |
Galu | 8th Voted Out 2nd Jury Member Day 24 |
4 | ||
Laura Morett 39, Salem, OR Office Manager |
Galu | 9th Voted Out 3rd Jury Member Day 27 |
10 | ||
John Fincher 25, Santa Monica, CA Rocket Scientist |
Galu | 10th Voted Out 4th Jury Member Day 30 |
7 | ||
Dave Ball 38, Los Angeles, CA Fitness Instructor |
Galu | 11th Voted Out 5th Jury Member Day 31 |
8 | ||
Monica Padilla 24, San Diego, CA Law Student |
Galu | 12th Voted Out 6th Jury Member Day 33 |
7 | ||
Shambo Waters 45, Renton, WA Saleswoman |
Galu | 13th Voted Out 7th Jury Member Day 36 |
6 | ||
Jaison Robinson 28, Chicago, IL Law Student |
Foa Foa | 14th Voted Out 8th Jury Member Day 37 |
7 | ||
Brett Clouser 23, Los Angeles, CA T-shirt Designer |
Galu | 15th Voted Out 9th Jury Member Day 38 |
3 | ||
Mick Trimming 33, Los Angeles, CA Doctor |
Foa Foa | Second Runner-Up |
4 | ||
Russell Hantz 36, Dayton, TX Oil Company Owner |
Foa Foa | Runner-Up | 9 | ||
Natalie White 26, Van Buren, AR Pharmaceutical Saleswoman |
Foa Foa | Sole Survivor | 8 |
Season Summary[]
Based only on first impressions, the tribes were told to vote one of their own as a "leader" who, for the tribal portion of the game, would make critical decisions at certain challenges, in particular, selecting one member of their tribe to spend the day after Reward Challenges with the other tribe through which they would receive a clue to the Hidden Immunity Idol. Foa Foa selected Mick as their leader, while Galu picked Russell S. as their leader.
Foa Foa's Russell H. attempted to make living conditions harsher for Foa Foa by sabotaging his own tribe by dumping water out of canteens and burning his tribemates' socks. Russell H.'s risky move proved effective as Foa Foa performed dismally in challenges, and consequentially, the tribe was quickly decimated. At the same time, Russell H. took complete control of Foa Foa by making individual alliances with each of his tribemates.
Before the merge, the opposing Galu tribe had won eight challenges, while Foa Foa won only one Reward Challenge and one Immunity Challenge. The Galu members became increasingly relaxed and lazy as they continued their winning streak, which Shambo resented. Shambo also felt alienated from her tribe after she was excluded from a reward by Russell S. and, while visiting with the Foa Foa tribe, she began to grow roots within the yellow tribe.
The two tribes merged with twelve players left; Galu had the advantage of eight players over Foa Foa's four, though Shambo clearly showed favoritism towards Foa Foa. Natalie was able to convince Galu to vote off Erik along with the rest of Foa Foa. At this vote, Russell H. had played his Hidden Immunity Idol, but was able to find the rehidden idol in its new location, again without clues, before the next Tribal Council. Russell H. played his new idol there, saving himself and eliminating Kelly.
As Shambo switched allegiances to side with the former Foa Foa members, the next vote first ended in a tie, but John, worried about being eliminated from the game by the rock-pulling Tiebreaker, flipped his vote, and aligned with the former Foa Foas to eliminate Laura, the leader of the Galu Alliance. With Foa Foa now in the majority, they held together for the rest of the game, systematically eliminating the former Galu members one by one. Their plans were halted when Brett went on an Immunity Challenge winning streak, resulting in Foa Foa having to turn on each other. Brett lost the Final Immunity Challenge and was voted out, leaving the Final Three as Russell H., Natalie, and Mick.
At the Final Tribal Council, Mick was mostly ignored by the jury for his poor leadership that led to Foa Foa's failure in challenges, while Russell H. was berated for his unethical game strategy. In the end, Natalie's superior social game made her the nineteenth Sole Survivor in a 7-2-0 vote over Russell and Mick respectively.
Episode | Air date | Challenges | Observer | Eliminated (Vote) |
Finish | Viewership (in millions)[3] |
Rating/Share (18-49)[3] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reward | Immunity | ||||||||
1 | "The Puppet Master" | September 17, 2009 | Foa Foa | Galu | Marisa (7-3) |
1st Voted Out Day 3 |
11.66 | 3.6/11 | |
2 | "Taking Candy from a Baby" | September 24, 2009 | Galu1 | Yasmin | Mike (no vote) |
Evacuated Day 5 |
11.66 | 3.7/11 | |
Betsy (7-1) |
2nd Voted Out Day 6 | ||||||||
3 | "It's Called a Russell Seed" | October 1, 2009 | Galu1 | Shambo | Ben (6-1) |
3rd Voted Out Day 8 |
11.54 | 3.7/11 | |
4 | "Hungry for a Win" | October 8, 2009 | Galu | Foa Foa | None | Yasmin (8-2) |
4th Voted Out Day 11 |
11.69 | 3.4/10 |
5 | "Walking on Thin Ice" | October 15, 2009 | Galu | Galu | Shambo | Ashley (5-1) |
5th Voted Out Day 14 |
11.78 | 3.5/10 |
6 | "This Is the Man Test" | October 22, 2009 | None2 | None | None | Russell S. (no vote) |
Evacuated Day 15 |
12.90 | 4.0/12 |
7 | "Houdini Magic" | October 29, 2009 | Galu | Galu | Laura | Liz (4-1) |
6th Voted Out Day 18 |
12.19 | 3.7/10 |
8 | "All Hell Breaks Loose" | November 5, 2009 | None | John | Erik (10-2)3 |
7th Voted Out 1st Jury Member Day 21 |
12.44 | 3.7/10 | |
Laura | |||||||||
9 | "Tastes Like Chicken" | November 12, 2009 | Dave, John, Kelly, Monica, Shambo |
Laura | Kelly (4-0)4 |
8th Voted Out 2nd Jury Member Day 24 |
12.94 | 4.0/10 | |
10 | "The Day of Reckoning" | November 19, 2009 | Brett, Dave, Laura, Natalie, Russell H. |
Mick | Laura (5-5; 5-3)5 |
9th Voted Out 3rd Jury Member Day 27 |
12.33 | 3.8/11 | |
11 | "The First 27 Days" | November 26, 2009 | Recap Episode | N/A | N/A | ||||
12 | "Off with Their Heads!" | December 3, 2009 | Survivor Auction |
Jaison | John (7-1-1) |
10th Voted Out 4th Jury Member Day 30 |
12.82 | 3.9/11 | |
13 | "Damage Control" | December 10, 2009 | None | Jaison | Dave (7-1) |
11th Voted Out 5th Jury Member Day 31 |
13.25 | 4.2/12 | |
Brett | Monica (5-2) |
12th Voted Out 6th Jury Member Day 33 | |||||||
14 | "Two Brains Are Better than One" | December 17, 2009 | Jaison, Russell H., Shambo |
Brett | Shambo (5-1) |
13th Voted Out 7th Jury Member Day 36 |
12.56 | 3.9/12 | |
15 | "This Game Ain't Over" | December 20, 2009 | None | Brett | Jaison (4-1) |
14th Voted Out 8th Jury Member Day 37 |
13.97 | 4.4/11 | |
Russell H. | Brett (3-1) |
15th Voted Out 9th Jury Member Day 38 | |||||||
Jury Vote | Mick (7-2-0) |
Second Runner-Up | |||||||
Russell H. (7-2-0) |
Runner-Up | ||||||||
Natalie (7-2-0) |
Sole Survivor | ||||||||
16 | "Reunion" | 11.68 | 3.8/10 | ||||||
Notes: ^1 Combined Reward and Immunity Challenge.
^2 Russell S. collapsed at the challenge, causing the challenge to be stopped with no winner. Galu and Foa Foa attended Tribal Council that night, to discuss Russell S.'s situation. ^3 A Hidden Immunity Idol was played; however, no votes were cast against its user. ^4 A Hidden Immunity Idol was played, negating all votes against its user. ^5 The vote resulted in a tie. Per Survivor rules, a revote would commence. |
Voting History[]
Original Tribes | Merged Tribe | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Episode | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | ||||||||
Voted out: | Marisa |
Mike |
Betsy |
Ben |
Yasmin |
Ashley |
Russell S. |
Liz |
Erik |
Kelly |
Tie | Laura |
John |
Dave |
Monica |
Shambo |
Jaison |
Brett |
Mick |
Russell H. |
Natalie | |
Vote: | 7-3 | No vote1 | 7-1 | 6-1 | 8-2 | 5-1 | No vote2 | 4-1 | 10-23 | 4-04 | 5-55 | 5-3 | 7-1-1 | 7-1 | 5-2 | 5-1 | 4-1 | 3-1 | 7-2-0 | |||
► | Natalie | Marisa | — | Betsy | Ben | — | Ashley | — | Liz | Erik | Kelly | Laura | None | John | Dave | Monica | Shambo | Jaison | Brett | Jury Vote | ||
► | Russell H. | Marisa | — | Betsy | Ben | — | Ashley | — | Liz | Erik | Kelly | Laura | Laura | John | Dave | Monica | Shambo | Jaison | Brett | |||
► | Mick | Ashley | — | Betsy | Ben | — | Ashley | — | Liz | Erik | Kelly | Laura | Laura | John | Dave | Monica | Shambo | Jaison | Brett | |||
► | Brett | — | — | — | — | Yasmin | — | — | — | Erik | Natalie | Natalie | John | Dave | Russell H. | Shambo | Jaison | Mick | Natalie | |||
► | Jaison | Marisa | — | Betsy | Ben | — | Ashley | — | Liz | Erik | Kelly | Laura | Laura | John | Dave | Monica | Shambo | Mick | Natalie | |||
► | Shambo | — | — | — | — | Monica | — | — | — | Jaison | Laura | Laura | Dave | Dave | Monica | Mick | Russell H. | |||||
► | Monica | — | — | — | — | Yasmin | — | — | — | Erik | Natalie | Natalie | John | Dave | Russell H. | Natalie | ||||||
► | Dave | — | — | — | — | Yasmin | — | — | — | Erik | Natalie | Natalie | John | Shambo | Natalie | |||||||
► | John | — | — | — | — | Yasmin | — | — | — | Erik | Natalie | Laura | Mick | Russell H. | ||||||||
► | Laura | — | — | — | — | Yasmin | — | — | — | Erik | Natalie | None | Natalie | |||||||||
► | Kelly | — | — | — | — | Yasmin | — | — | — | Erik | Natalie | |||||||||||
► | Erik | — | — | — | — | Yasmin | — | — | — | Jaison | Natalie | |||||||||||
Liz | Marisa | — | Betsy | Ben | — | Ashley | — | Jaison | ||||||||||||||
Russell S. | — | — | — | — | Yasmin | — | Evacuated | |||||||||||||||
Ashley | Marisa | — | Betsy | Ben | — | Liz | ||||||||||||||||
Yasmin | — | — | — | — | Monica | |||||||||||||||||
Ben | Marisa | — | Betsy | Ashley | ||||||||||||||||||
Betsy | Ashley | — | Ben | |||||||||||||||||||
Mike | Marisa | Evacuated | ||||||||||||||||||||
Marisa | Ashley | |||||||||||||||||||||
Notes: ^1 Mike was evacuated from the game due to injury and hypotension. However, Foa Foa still had to visit Tribal Council and vote.
^2 Russell S. was evacuated from the game due to severe hypotension. Therefore, the scheduled double Tribal Council was cancelled. ^3 A Hidden Immunity Idol was played, however, no votes were cast against its user. ^4 A Hidden Immunity Idol was played, negating all votes against its user. ^5 The vote resulted in a tie. Per Survivor rules, a revote was held where the castaways involved in the tie would not vote and the remaining castaways could only vote for those involved in the tie. |
Trivia[]
- Samoa is the first season since China to not have a subtitle.
- This season's rendition of "Ancient Voices" is remixed with another track from the season's soundtrack entitled Samoa Tomeah.
- As stated during the Tocantins Reunion Show, Samoa was originally planned to have only 18 castaways.
- Samoa has the first person to be disqualified from a challenge due to foul behavior since several members of Thailand's Sook Jai tribe did so.
- However, because the disqualified players in Thailand broke a specific rule, Ben Browning is the first player to be arbitrarily ejected from a challenge at the sole judgement of Jeff Probst.
- Samoa set the record for the largest Tribal Council with 13 players, which occurred on Day 15 after Russell Swan was pulled from the game. It was eventually tied by the first post-merge Tribal Council of Survivor: Cambodia and several subsequent seasons.
- Samoa was the first season to have the merged tribe consist of more than ten members.
- Consequently, this season was the first in which a player received more than nine votes at a single Tribal Council, excluding revotes.
- Samoa is the first time that Ulonging happened to one tribe and Pagonging happened to another.
- Samoa is the first season where a woman won a Final Three.
- The necklace Jeff Probst that wore this season was made by Marquesas contestant Gina Crews.[4]
- All four returning players from Samoa have been voted out pre-merge in subsequent seasons.
- Russell Hantz made it to the Final Tribal Council in Heroes vs. Villains, but was voted out pre-merge in Redemption Island, while Laura Morett had been voted out pre-merge in Blood vs. Water, but eventually returned to the game via Redemption Island and placed 6th.
References[]
- ↑ http://deadline.com/2010/05/full-series-rankings-for-the-2009-10-broadcast-season-44277/
- ↑ https://ew.com/tv/survivor-samoa-erik-cardona-quarantine-questionnaire/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.spottedratings.com/2011/12/spotvault-survivor-cbs-fall-2009.html
- ↑ http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20354695_20343257,00.html#2073853
Survivor (U.S.) Seasons |
---|
Borneo • The Australian Outback • Africa • Marquesas • Thailand • The Amazon • Pearl Islands • All-Stars • Vanuatu • Palau • Guatemala • Panama • Cook Islands • Fiji • China • Micronesia • Gabon • Tocantins • Samoa • Heroes vs. Villains • Nicaragua • Redemption Island • South Pacific • One World • Philippines • Caramoan • Blood vs. Water • Cagayan • San Juan del Sur • Worlds Apart • Cambodia • Kaôh Rōng • Millennials vs. Gen X • Game Changers • Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers • Ghost Island • David vs. Goliath • Edge of Extinction • Island of the Idols • Winners at War • Survivor 41 • Survivor 42 • Survivor 43 • Survivor 44 • Survivor 45 • Survivor 46 |