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Richard Hatch became one of the most talked-about figures in Survivor: Borneo when he made a shocking decision during the game. Known for his bold gameplay he stripped n*ked, a move that turned heads and created tension among his tribemates. While some found it amusing, others like Gervase Peterson were uncomfortable.

Richard Hatch in a still from Survivor | Credits: CBS Broadcasting

While this move may have seemed out of place to many, it turned out to be part of his overall strategy, which ultimately helped him secure a significant achievement on the show.

What was the real reason Richard Hatch went nude on Survivor?

In Survivor many players have tried to leave a lasting impression, but while some have succeeded others gained attention for all the wrong reasons. In this, Richard Hatch would definitely stand the tallest. He was a contestant from the very first season (Survivor: Borneo) and...

Since Survivor has dedicated fans who know things like which player was medically evacuated first, there are a lot of debates about the show. Fans of Jeff Probst's beloved reality show who are no longer figuring out which season to watch first love to debate things like which season is the best and who the greatest players are. Another debate is whether Tony Vlachos is the best Survivor winner ever or if the cop who almost got fired from the force is overrated.

Since Jeff Probst is already planting seeds for Survivor 50, the upcoming season has also been the subject of debates. When "Chaos" Kass McQuillen wasn't busy calling Woo Hwang out, she responded to some of Jeff's comments about Survivor 50 by stating her opinion that Tony is overrated.

Jeff Probst Explained What Kind Of Players Aren't Wanted For Survivor 50

In April 2024, Jeff Probst was taking part in an...

Since Survivor has such a devoted fan following, Jeff Probst's beloved reality show gets debated all the time. After all, most Survivor fans who aren't trying to figure out which seasons to watch first know a lot about the show, including who was the first player to be medically evacuated. As a result, there are a lot of debates about how to rank each season, who the best players ever are, and how to compare every winner in the show's history.

No matter how many fans love to debate Survivor, however, they can mostly only know what is shown on TV. With that in mind, it is fascinating when Survivor players reveal what goes on behind the scenes. A perfect example of that is the fact that Kass McQuillen once made a series of accusations about Woo Hwang that were never hinted at on the show.

Survivor's "Chaos...

Now that Survivor has been airing for long enough that hundreds of people have played the game, the show has starred several great players. Fortunately for fans who are past the point of wondering which seasons to watch first, many are so invested in the players that medical evacuations can be heartbreaking.

Despite how much fans of Jeff Probst's beloved reality TV show care about the players, most of them don't know a fascinating fact about two of the show's first players. After they helped make Survivor: Borneo one of the show's best seasons ever, Colleen Haskell and Jenna Lewis were offered a fortune to pose in Playboy.

Survivor's Colleen Haskell Turned Down $100,000 To Pose In Playboy

Since it has been decades since Survivor premiered, some fans may find it hard to believe how popular the show's first season was. In fact, a December 2009 CBS News report revealed...

Saturday night in Hollywood, “Survivor” staged a massive Emmys For Your Consideration event featuring perennial host Jeff Probst, past contestants, authentic challenges, and island-themed drinks and bites. With the recent death of Sonja Christopher still on the minds of fans, Gold Derby chatted exclusively with Probst about his thoughts on the first-ever contestant to be voted off of CBS’s reality TV show.

“Every time I saw Sonja,” Probst remembered, “whether it was on the first season when she was tripping in the first challenge and that kind of doomed her, or when I would see her at ‘Survivor’ events, she was always joy, always happy, always wanting to know how you were doing. And I thought it was pretty interesting that first season, that the first person voted out was Sonja, who had recovered from cancer and came with her ukulele just to have some fun — and then the...

Survivor legend Tyson Apostol is well-known for playing on four seasons (he won Blood vs. Water), and now, he's shedding light on the show's secretive casting process. Tyson first competed on Survivor in the show's 18th installment, Tocantins, in 2009. The former professional cyclist and Division I swimmer showcased biting wit and snarky confessionals, but got voted out for being a physical threat. He was brought back for Heroes vs. Villains in 2010. However, an early error cost him the game. He lived up to his potential on Blood vs. Water in 2013, when he became the Sole Survivor, earning him a spot on Winners at War in 2020.

Tyson co-hosts several podcasts, including the Major League Pickleball Podcast (with Michelle McMahon and Casey Patterson), Life with Boston Rob and Tyson Apostol (with Survivor icon "Boston" Rob Mariano), and News Af (with Survivor All-Star Rob Cesternino and Danny Bryson). Additionally, Survivor's Tyson Apostol launched his own Survivor podcast,...

Every season, Survivor presents elaborate immunity and reward challenges, but they are lacking the diversity they once had. While the specifics of each challenge may vary, they basically boil down to a physical challenge, which is usually an obstacle course, followed by a puzzle. The other option is an endurance challenge, where contestants suffer physical pain for as long as they can stand it, or they have to balance something until it drops.

Whether it is a tribe challenge or an individual challenge, everything has started to look pretty much the same. One of the most frustrating thing for viewers and castaways is that victory almost always comes down to the puzzle. No matter how far a Survivor team or individual has fallen behind during the physical part of the competition, they all usually end up back on even footing during the puzzle portion because the puzzles are so time-consuming to solve.

A large percentage of the strategy on Survivor 43 has been put into action by the duo of Cody Assenmacher and Jesse Lopez, but the pair might need to split up if Cody wants a shot at the money. The two have forged a strong alliance together, especially given their different backgrounds. Cody is a free-spirited elevator salesman who relocated to Hawaii from Iowa, while Jesse entered the game as a political science PhD student who turned his life around after being a gang member in his youth.

Cody and Jesse have been in control of the game during several key moments of the season so far. They began as tribemates on Vesi and have coordinated several blindsides, the most recent being when they ousted their fellow former Vesi member Noelle Lambert. They successfully avoided detection from their competitors until the Noelle vote, when Mike Gabler began to become apprehensive about Cody and Jesse's powerful partnership.

Can you believe it’s been 20 years since CBS censors had to pixelate Richard Hatch‘s naked body on “Survivor: Borneo”? The popular castaway walked around in his “birthday suit” to celebrate his 39th bday on the ninth episode of that iconic first season, which aired July 26, 2000. Watch the “Survivor” flashback video above. It’s since become one of the most well-known and controversial moments throughout the reality TV show’s 40 seasons, particularly in the wake of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment.

There were only eight castaways left in the merged Rattana tribe when Richard celebrated his birthday sans clothing: original Tagi members Richard, Kelly Wiglesworth, Rudy Boesch, Susan Hawk and Sean Kenniff and original Pagong members Jenna Lewis, Gervase Peterson and Colleen Haskell. Richard of course would eventually go on to win the show’s first-ever $1 million check (see the winners list).

See Sonja Christopher still a ‘Survivor...

This summer marks the 20th anniversary of “Survivor” premiering on CBS, and Gervase Peterson is now speaking out about his experience. “I honestly don’t have any regrets” about either of the two times he played, he tells EW.com. This fan-fave original castaway came in seventh place in “Borneo” (2000) and third place in “Blood vs. Water” (2013). “It changed my life, and I have loved every minute of playing it.” Gervase also opens up about what he’d change about the long-running reality TV show, proclaiming, “I would make ‘Survivor’ more equally diverse.”

He continues, “For years, it was a standard of one Black man and one Black woman. That’s just terrible. Also, more diversity in casting and production. This would help in a more diverse cast and the telling of the diverse cast stories and not labeling them with negative stereotypes. It’s been long overdue.” Over the first 40 seasons of “Survivor,...

We're back with a new installment of Horror Highlights! In today's edition, we have details on the 20th annual Shriekfest, news of Hex Studios' new publishing label, and info on the new horror series Scrawl:

20th Annual Shriekfest Announces 2020 Dates : "The Shriekfest Film Festival, an international horror/sci-fi film and screenplay competition, has announced its annual event will take place October 1-4, 2020!. The festival begins with an opening night party on Thursday, which the public is welcome to attend. Then, it will continue its tradition of screening feature length and short films Friday through Sunday at the iconic Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, and culminate with an awards presentation on Sunday night.

Shriekfest was created in July 2001 by festival director Denise Gossett and has grown into the longest-running, one of the largest horror and sci-fi film festivals in the country, and the only bi-coastal horror film festival! Since its inception,...

Even though more than 600 castaways have played the game of “Survivor” over the past two decades, fans have never forgotten B.B. Andersen. This original cast member from the iconic first season was the second person voted off the island when he was 64 years old. After the show wrapped, B.B. lived for another 13 years until his death at age 77 from brain cancer. (He’s one of six dead “Survivor” castaways — see photos above.) Let’s all raise a torch to the late B.B. Andersen, who was voted out of “Survivor: Borneo” 20 years ago this week.

See‘Survivor’ gross-out flashback: It’s the 20th anniversary of Gervase Peterson eating grub worms, and we’re still gagging [Watch]

When he first set foot on the island of Pulau Tiga, Malaysia, B.B. was a fish out of water in terms of his social game. He found himself on the Pagong tribe along...

What are you afraid of? That’s the simple question being asked from the new upcoming series Scrawl. Production is announced today for the haunting new series from the minds of Award-Winning Filmmakers behind “The Samaritans” movie, Doug Bollinger (“Waltzing Anna”, “Mail Order Bride”), Keith Collins (“The Evangelist”) and Cory Green (“The Jersey Devil”). Fear can only be kept hidden away for so …

The post Keith Collins, Doug Bollinger, Gervase Peterson, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal sign onto the new thriller series “Scrawl” appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net.

This week marks the 20th anniversary of one of the most iconic gross-out moments in reality TV: Gervase Peterson eating grub worms on the second episode of the first season of “Survivor.” The date was June 7, 2000. Gervase’s Pagong tribe had won the previous week’s inaugural immunity challenge and was spared from voting someone out at tribal council, so they came into this second challenge with a lot to lose. All they had to do was eat grub worms faster than their Tagi tribe counterparts, and a fresh-faced Jeff Probst would give them the immunity idol again. How did it all play out? Watch the “Survivor: Borneo” flashback video above.

SEESonja Christopher still a ‘Survivor’ fan 20 years after being first person voted off: Tony Vlachos is a ‘loose cannon’ but ‘it worked for him’

“In Borneo this is considered like sushi,” Jeff explained as he revealed the fish bowl filled with dirty beetle larvae.

[Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers from “The Masked Singer” Season 1, including the finale.]

As an adaptation of the Korean show “King of Mask Singer,” which has higher turnover with their singers, “The Masked Singer” will need to do a better job of keeping its singing celebrities incognito in the second season. The show crowned the singer known as Monster its first-ever winner Wednesday night, and while the unmasking was a triumph for rapper T-Pain — a soulful-voiced Grammy winner who finally got redemption after being reviled for using Auto-Tune — his identity also wasn’t that surprising to a good chunk of the audience. Ditto for runners-up Donny Osmond (Peacock) and Gladys Knight (The Bee).

The success of Fox’s runaway hit show, which drew a series-high of 10 million viewers for its finale, hinges on keeping viewers guessing. The production went to great lengths to hide the competitors’ identities beyond the elaborate costumes. From ironclad non-disclosure agreements to disguising the celebs’ handlers,...

By Seth Metoyer

MoreHorror.com

Production has begun on the upcoming violent psychological thriller Rock, Paper, Scissors.

Starring: Timothy Laurel Harrison ("Out of my Hand"), Jeff Riberdy (“Half a Dozen”), Angela Sharp (“Gravedigger”), Gervase Peterson (“Survivor”), Keith Collins (“The Meat Puppet”), Michael Billy (“Clean Cut”), Annelise Nielsen (“The Samaritans”).

Directed by, Doug Bollinger. Produced by, Doug Bollinger, Josh Lee, Keith Collins, Ashley Steele (“Dark Blue”). Written by, Doug Bollinger & Josh Lee. Cinematography & Edited By, Cory Green (“The Jersey Devil”).

Check out the poster and official details below.

From The Press Release:

“How will they know when they've won”

Production is announced today for the frightening new Thriller feature film "Rock, Paper, Scissors." Director Doug Bollinger(“Waltzing Anna”, “Mail Order Bride”) takes you on a violent, psychological ride that pushes a simple suburban couple to the extremes and forces them to answer the question: How far would you go to get...

In HitFix's new feature "Waxing Episodic," we reflect on an episode of television we'll never forget. On May 31, 2000, I watched the premiere of "Survivor." I was edgy.  At that point, the "Survivor" audience was just me and 15.5 million of my fellow early adapters. The next week, the "Survivor" audience went to 18 million and then to 23.25 million. Before "Empire" made our minds boggle at the mere idea of a show actually gaining viewers each week, there was "Survivor," which started with a 6.1 rating among adults 18-49 and was at a 12.7 rating by its penultimate installment. [I actually missed that first finale, which averaged nearly 52 million viewers, because I was in the process of moving to Los Angeles. Nobody tell me who won!] Last week's 15th anniversary marked a good time to dust off my "Survivor" (or "Survivor: Borneo" or "Survivor: Pulau Tiga") DVDs and our frequent -- when we happen to have the time -- "Waxing Episodic" feature was a perfect time to reflect on how the game has changed and how it remains the same. I contemplated...

From the mind of actor Keith Collins (Gravedigger, The Meat Puppet) and two-time NY Emmy Award-winning writer Joseph Pepitone and Billy Pepitone (Stuck in the Middle, The Jersey Devil) comes Clean Cut – billed as “one of the most chilling stories heading to the screen set to make you squirm in your seat with terrifying, heart pounding, fear and fright, permanently deranging the movie goers mind”.

Clean Cut tells the story of Bill Horton who at seven years old watched in horror as a serial killer murdered his mother. Known as The Evangelist, he places a bible next to her body and quotes scripture as he leaves Bill alone and destroyed. Thirty years later, Bill has grown up and appears to be a model citizen, spending his days cleaning his house and baking. He has, however, picked up the mantle of the Evangelist, killing those who he finds wicked and evil...

Stephen Fishbach was the runner-up on Survivor: Tocantins and has been blogging about Survivor strategy for People since 2009. Follow him on Twitter @stephenfishbach. Erik Reichenbach is a Survivor fan-turned-favorite, a comic book author and artist. He placed fifth on both Survivor: Micronesia and Survivor: Caramoan. Follow him on Twitter @BloodyAmer1can. "How about you go talk to someone and you form a bond and you establish some trust. That's strategy." - Mike Chiesl, Survivor: Redemption IslandDrew exhibits all the classic symptoms of the Egotisticus Malus, a common species of Survivor best known for delusional proclamations of...

Stephen Fishbach was the runner-up on Survivor: Tocantins and has been blogging about Survivor strategy for People since 2009. Follow him on Twitter @stephenfishbach. Erik Reichenbach is a Survivor fan-turned-favorite, a comic book author and artist. He placed fifth on both Survivor: Micronesia and Survivor: Caramoan. Follow him on Twitter @BloodyAmer1can.

"How about you go talk to someone and you form a bond and you establish some trust. That's strategy."

– Mike Chiesl, Survivor: Redemption Island

Drew exhibits all the classic symptoms of the Egotisticus Malus, a common species of Survivor best known for delusional proclamations of grandeur...

Stephen Fishbach was the runner-up on Survivor: Tocantins and has been blogging about Survivor strategy for People since 2009. Follow him on Twitter @stephenfishbach. Erik Reichenbach is a Survivor fan-turned-favorite, a comic book author and artist. He placed fifth on both Survivor: Micronesia and Survivor: Caramoan. Follow him on Twitter @BloodyAmer1can. "How about you go talk to someone and you form a bond and you establish some trust. That's strategy." - Mike Chiesl, Survivor: Redemption IslandDrew exhibits all the classic symptoms of the Egotisticus Malus, a common species of Survivor best known for delusional proclamations of...

Stephen Fishbach was the runner-up on Survivor: Tocantins and has been blogging about Survivor strategy for People since 2009. Follow him on Twitter @stephenfishbach. Erik Reichenbach is a Survivor fan-turned-favorite, a comic book author and artist. He placed fifth on both Survivor: Micronesia and Survivor: Caramoan. Follow him on Twitter @BloodyAmer1can.

"Your ability to connect with idiots who can't process things properly is a large part of what this comes down to."

– John Fincher, Survivor: Samoa

On Wednesday's season premiere of Survivor: San Juan Del Sur, a long-standing debate was settled once and for all. Which reality show is harder,...

Stephen Fishbach was the runner-up on Survivor: Tocantins and has been blogging about Survivor strategy for People since 2009. Follow him on Twitter @stephenfishbach. Erik Reichenbach is a Survivor fan-turned-favorite, a comic book author and artist. He placed fifth on both Survivor: Micronesia and Survivor: Caramoan. Follow him on Twitter @BloodyAmer1can. "Your ability to connect with idiots who can't process things properly is a large part of what this comes down to." - John Fincher, Survivor: Samoa On Wednesday's season premiere of Survivor: San Juan Del Sur, a long-standing debate was settled once and for all.

We return with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting the recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes a trailer for The Devil’s Hand and Motivational Growth, screening details from Cub, the short film lineup from Screamfest, first details on The Nightmare, and more:

The Devil’s Hand Trailer and Release Date Announced: “When six girls are born on the sixth day of the sixth month to different mothers in the small, devout village of New Bethlehem an ancient prophecy is set in motion — on their 18th birthday one of the girls will become the Devil’s Hand. As the day approaches and one by one the young women begin to disappear, terror overtakes the quiet community and those remaining girls band together to uncover who or what is behind these treacherous acts.

The Devil’s Hand will be available OnDemand and open in theaters...

A project we've been talking about for a while now, Doug Bollinger's Gravedigger, has been acquired by Shami Media Group, Inc., for worldwide distribution in November; and we have all the details right here!

From the Press Release:

Gravedigger is set to ax the horror genre worldwide! Shami Media Group, Inc., a distribution, marketing, and media leader in worldwide film distribution, recently acquired the film and has set a DVD/VOD release date of November 18, 2014.

Gravedigger was shot in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, a few months after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. The movie features a unique cast including TV personalities, professional sports players, reality stars, and rock legends. The original soundtrack is by guitar rock lord Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal of Guns N’ Roses. Gravedigger, nominated for multiple awards, has won two for Best Thriller Film and Best Actor, Keith Collins.

The film is directed by Doug Bollinger,...

After a brief hiatus due to our live coverage of Comic-Con, we’re back with a double-sized edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting the recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes a new trailer for Come Back to Me and I Spill Your Guts 2, release details on Schism, Silent Retreat, and the Class of Nuke ‘Em High soundtrack, and much more:

Come Back to Me Trailer: “Sarah (Walder) and Josh McLaren (Passmore) are a young married couple living in suburban Las Vegas. Shortly after a car accident, Sarah begins to suffer a series of disturbing memory lapses and frequent blackouts that seem to be increasing in intensity. Unsure of what is happening, and feeling as though she is losing her mind, Sarah comes to learn she is pregnant. To add to her shock, she subsequently discovers that her husband is sterile. As her marriage and world begin to fall apart,...

It's been a few years since we've heard anything about The Meat Puppet, for which one of the most eclectic casts we'd ever seen was assembled, but now the film has landed worldwide distribution and gotten itself some new artwork.

From the Press Release:

Valenti Vision Films and Silver Phoenix Entertainment, in association with Keith Collins Media Inc., are thrilled to announce the award-winning The Meat Puppet has been picked up for worldwide distribution by TomCat Films.

The Meat Puppet is looking to take a bite out of its competition around the globe now that TomCat Films is on board as its distributor. TomCat Films is primarily known for its genre and mockbuster titles (Aliens vs. Avatars, Thunderstorm: The Return of Thor, Agent Beetle) and is headed by sales and distribution veteran Ted Chalmers.

The Meat Puppet has won five awards so far, including Best Horror Film, Best Actor (Keith Collins...

Stephen Fishbach was the runner-up on Survivor: Tocantins and has been blogging about Survivor strategy for People since 2009. Follow him on Twitter @stephenfishbach. Erik Reichenbach is a Survivor fan-turned-favorite, a comic book author and artist. He placed fifth on both Survivor: Micronesia and Survivor: Caramoan. Follow him on Twitter @BloodyAmer1can.

"It just comes down to your gut. And that's scary because if you put your trust in the wrong person, you're going home."

– Gervase Peterson, Survivor: Blood vs. Water

I'm completely heartbroken!

My season-long favorite met an ignominious end Wednesday night on Survivor. Horse trainer Lj...

Stephen Fishbach was the runner-up on Survivor: Tocantins and has been blogging about Survivor strategy for People since 2009. Follow him on Twitter @stephenfishbach. Erik Reichenbach is a Survivor fan-turned-favorite, a comic book author and artist. He placed fifth on both Survivor: Micronesia and Survivor: Caramoan. Follow him on Twitter @BloodyAmer1can. "It just comes down to your gut. And that's scary because if you put your trust in the wrong person, you're going home." - Gervase Peterson, Survivor: Blood vs. Water I'm completely heartbroken! My season-long favorite met an ignominious end Wednesday night on Survivor. Horse trainer...

When the Beauty tribe lost the immunity challenge on day 8 of Survivor: Cagayan, Brice Johnston knew he was likely to be voted out.

Although he tried to sway two other contestants to his side, he believed that they ultimately felt too threatened to join forces with him.

After splitting the vote, the other contestants voted for him in a tiebreaker, making him the third person to leave the game. The 27-year-old social worker from Philadelphia talks about surviving monsoons, smelling "funky" and why he won't remember his fellow castaways' names.

Brice! You got booted off the show!

I know!

When the Beauty tribe lost the immunity challenge on day 8 of Survivor: Cagayan, Brice Johnston knew he was likely to be voted out. Although he tried to sway two other contestants to his side, he believed that they ultimately felt too threatened to join forces with him. After splitting the vote, the other contestants voted for him in a tiebreaker, making him the third person to leave the game. The 27-year-old social worker from Philadelphia talks about surviving monsoons, smelling "funky" and why he won't remember his fellow castaways' names. Brice! You got booted off the show!I know!

It's been nearly a year since we last told you about the indie flick Gravedigger so we're more than overdue for an update! Get set to dig on the newest bit of artwork and the very first trailer, and look for more on this one soon.

From the Press Release:

Bury your guilt! A vigilante serial killer is stalking, killing, and burying those he has judged guilty; and anyone in this corrupt beach town could be next!

Filmed in New Jersey, the disturbing, twisted shock-fest Gravedigger is a sinister collaboration among the minds of award-winning actor Keith Collins (Stuck in the Middle, The Meat Puppet), Doug Bollinger (Waltzing Anna), Brandon Ruckdashel (Co-ed Confidential), and the eerie ink of NY Emmy Award-winning writer Joseph Pepitone and Billy Pepitone (Stuck in the Middle). It also includes original music from guitar rock genius Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (Guns N' Roses). This intense horror/thriller...

On the very first "Survivor," Gervase Peterson was an early favorite, but he fell victim to the Pagonging of his original tribe after the Merge, becoming the third member of the original Jury.   After spending 30 days in "Survivor: Borneo," Gervase had to wait 13 years to get another shot at "Survivor" and he mostly made it count, forming a strong core alliance and working it all the way to end and the Final 3.   Of course, getting to the Final 3 only does limited good if you face a Jury and get shut out, which is what happened...

It's getting personal on season 27 of CBS' Survivor. This time around returning players will be pitted against their loved ones. Survivor's ratings have been declining over the past few years. Will this new twist cause the ratings to rise or will they fall? Time will tell.

Host Jeff Probst is back, as are 10 past contestants -- Aras Baskauskas, Candice Cody, Colton Cumbie, Gervase Peterson, Kat Edorsson, Laura Morett, Monica Culpepper, Rupert Boneham, Tina Wesson, and Tyson Apostol.

The higher a show's ratings (particularly the 18-49 demo), the better its chances for survival. New ratings data will be added as it becomes available -- typically around 11:30am Est/8:30am Pst. Refresh to see the latest.

How are your shows doing? Check the season rankings: ABC | CBS | The CW |Fox | NBC

Final season averages:...

The third time was the charm for Tyson Apostol, who was crowned the winner of Survivor: Blood vs. Water Sunday after previously competing on Survivor: Tocantins and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.

Tyson had control of the reins for the majority of the season, and was widely assumed to be the frontrunner going into the final three with Gervase Peterson and Monica Culpepper. The newest Survivor champ spoke with TVGuide.com the day after his victory to break down his strategy for the season — and admit which contestants he wouldn't want to play against if he returns to the show...

Read More >...

Survivor Review, Season 27, Episode 14

“It’s My Night”

Airs Wednesday at 8pm (Et) on CBS

The challenge when analyzing Survivor is finding thrills when the finale reaches a predictable ending. This trend has happened frequently in recent seasons, with Malcolm’s exit from the Philippines being a rare exception. Even so, there’s still plenty to enjoy with Blood vs. Water’s conclusion. Tyson removes any doubts about a victory by taking the final two immunity challenges and choosing the right people. Underdogs like Ciera and Tina are too dangerous to face with this jury. Despite the editing focusing on Monica, she earns just one vote, and the rest go to Tyson. It’s hard to disagree with rewarding a guy who found two idols, built a solid alliance, and dodged stiff challenges from Hayden and Ciera. He’s come a long way from the goofball of the Tocantins or...

They were the last loved one pair in Survivor: Blood vs. Water, and they got there by very different means. Ciera Eastin was on the outs early so laid low, but then emerged in the back half of the season as risk-taker willing to vote out her own mom and gamble an immediate exit via a colored rock for the chance to improve her position. Mother Laura Morett, however, stuck around simply by destroying anyone that dared to face her at Redemption Island. Eventually, however, their time ran out. However we figured we would get the mother-daughter combo back together...

Third time was the charm for Tyson Apostol. Five years after coming short of the grand prize on Survivor: Tocantins and four years after returning for Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, Apostol finally won the title of sole survivor and the grand prize of $1,000,000. Previously known as a villain for his conniving ways, Apostol, 34, arrived for Survivor: Blood vs. Water alongside his girlfriend of over five years, Rachel Foulger. Apostol was a strong competitor from the start and despite suffering an injury early on in the season, he attacked the game with renewed vigor after Foulger, 33, was eliminated from the competition.

Gervase Peterson had “early boot” written all over him when he showed up to play Survivor: Blood vs. Water. After all, he had not played in 13 years, And the one time he did play back in season 1 of Borneo, he was best known for being freaked out by the food challenge and walking through a running challenge when he was out of eyesight from the rest of his tribe. But when presented this time with an opportunity to make a big move and vote out one of his biggest alliance members in Aras, Gervase took it. And that move brought...

Tina Wesson and Ciera Eastin fell just short of making the Final 3 on "Survivor: Blood vs. Water," but they are happy for Tyson and tell Zap2it that they'd both go back in a heartbeat.

Zap2it: Are you glad you went back on "Survivor", Tina? Is it getting harder each time you go back? It's not like you're an old woman, but the game looks so exhausting.

Tina: You are so funny. Absolutely, I'm glad. Even if I'm 80, I'll still go back. Yes, it does get a whole lot harder for me, both physically and how the game has morphed. It is such a psychological game. It used to be you formed your alliance and it stayed true the whole time. Now, you form your alliance and five minutes later there's another alliance. It's extremely stressful.

Did you consider voting for anyone other than Tyson to win the money?...

It felt weird, right? Having a Big Brother player on Survivor just seemed kind of odd. But Hayden Moss fit right in the second he hit the beach for Blood vs. Water. And the Big Brother champion almost added a Survivor title to his collection. Alas, he was finally voted out and then lost the duel that could have gotten him back into the game. We spoke with the reality veteran to find out which show truly is harder and also to get some explanation as to why his girlfriend, Kat, was bragging about her new boobs on TV. He...

Monica Culpepper made it all the way to the very end of Survivor: Blood vs. Water, and ended up taking home the $100,000 second place prize after getting the one vote that did not go to winner Tyson Apostol. But the season ended on a bittersweet note, as she was hammered at the final Tribal Council, and not over any moves she did or did not make, but rather just for the type of person she was. We spoke with Monica the morning after the Survivor finale to get her thoughts on what went down, and she tells us about the painful ordeal,...

Tyson Apostol was crowned the winner of "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" Sunday (Dec. 15) by a vote of 6-1. He played a good game and he tells Zap2it that even after winning, he loves the game so much that he'd definitely go back if CBS asked.

Zap2it: Obviously you're glad you went back on "Survivor" -- how are you feeling, has it sunk in yet?

Tyson Apostol: "What's this supposed to feel like? That's the thing, I feel the same. Am I going to feel different? I was happy before and I'm happy now. There's things I'm excited to do with the money. I'm grateful that Mark and Jeff and everybody else at "Survivor" gave me another opportunity, but I don't know if it's going to sink in really or what it's going to feel like if it does.

You played a great game, but were you really...

Stephen Fishbach was the runner-up on Survivor: Tocantins and has been blogging about Survivor strategy for People since 2009. Follow him on Twitter @stephenfishbach. Erik Reichenbach is a Survivor fan-turned-favorite, a comic book author and artist. He placed fifth on both Survivor: Micronesia and Survivor: Caramoan. This is his first season illustrating episodes of the show for People.com. Follow him on Twitter @BloodyAmer1can

"When it comes down to it, I want that million dollars. Exotic, expensive furs on my shoulder. Jewels on these pretty fingers. We're talkin' big time."

– Tyson Apostol, Survivor: Tocantins

Sunday night on Survivor,...

Stephen Fishbach was the runner-up on Survivor: Tocantins and has been blogging about Survivor strategy for People since 2009. Follow him on Twitter @stephenfishbach. Erik Reichenbach is a Survivor fan-turned-favorite, a comic book author and artist. He placed fifth on both Survivor: Micronesia and Survivor: Caramoan. This is his first season illustrating episodes of the show for People.com. Follow him on Twitter @BloodyAmer1can"When it comes down to it, I want that million dollars. Exotic, expensive furs on my shoulder. Jewels on these pretty fingers. We're talkin' big time." - Tyson Apostol, Survivor: TocantinsSunday night on Survivor,...

Wow! Time away from the island really does a body good. Warning: Finale Spoilers Below!The stars of "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" proved they look a lot different when not fending for themselves in the jungles of the Philippines, showing up to the finale party looking clean, dapper and totally refreshed.While stars like Hayden Moss and winner Tyson Apostol looked like hairy, scraggly messes in the last episodes of the season, it's been almost 6 months since they filmed those back in May and June -- and they've put that time to good use!We can't believe how different Hayden looks without a beard, all that long hair and with a shirt on. It's a good look for him.Other stars from the season at the event included Tina Wesson, her daughter Katie, Monica and Brad Culpepper, Gervase Peterson and Ciera Eastin.Check out their incredible transformations in the gallery above.

Monica Culpepper stuck by her "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" alliance and went all the way to the Final 3, where she finished second to Tyson Apostol. She tells Zap2it that

Zap2it: Are you glad you went back on "Survivor"? What was different for you this time around?

Monica Culpepper: Absolutely I was glad to go back. What was different was I got to bring Brad with me and that was just awesome ... Rupert and Brad seemed to be the only two out there who put their loved one's needs in front of theirs. They came out there wanting to get some Redemption. I didn't really get a chance to play the game when I was blindsided by Colton on 'One World.' And I got it this time, the whole kit and caboodle.

Did it surprise you that you only got one vote to win the game?

Obviously...

Gervase Peterson, who joined "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" after not having competed on the show since Season 1, took third place during the finale behind Tyson Apostol and Monica Culpepper. He tells Zap2it that he did consider flipping on Tyson at one point.

Zap2it: Are you glad you returned to "Survivor"? What was different about this time around versus your first season?

Gervase Peterson: Absolutely ecstatic that they brought me back to play again. What was different was really the players. The game is the same, it was the players. They're a lot faster-paced with how they do things. As soon as we got to the beach, Colton came to me and he said here's our alliance --  it's me, you, Aras, Monica and Kat. I was like, "What if I don't like somebody in that alliance? I gotta play with them for 39 days?" ... That's the dumbest thing I ever heard.

Tyson Apostol has provided a lot of comedy on Survivor over the years. Some of it was intentional, with his dry sense of humor and snarky attitude. Some was of the unintentional variety, like when he needlessly changed his vote on Heroes vs. Villains, essentially voting himself out of the game. But the guy went from Survivor sideshow to center stage with a dominant run on Blood vs. Water, finding two hidden immunity idols, winning the last two individual challenges, and making the biggest strategic move of the game in getting rid of Aras and the couples. He was rewarded...

I hate calling Survivor: Blood Vs. Water an “emotional season” since that was, y’know, precisely the point. When family members and loved ones are pitted against each other on an island ruled by a crazed Eddie Bauer shift manager named Jeff Probst, tears will be shed. Rupert Boneham will monologue about loving his wife more than he loves Survivor. John will weep when he decides not to take Candice‘s place on Redemption Island. Ciera will quiver and cry when mentoring her mother to her own demise. Monica Culpepper will liberate herself from her brickbrained husband and announce she is doing this “for Monica!”, as if “Monica” is a Make A Wish child she once met. These were all preordained Hallmark moments.

But I wasn’t quite prepared to sympathize so much with the season’s winner, who not only deserved the million dollars but established some humanity that I happily fell for.