‘Survivor’ fans have just over a week to wait before the premiere of the highly anticipated 41st season comes to CBS.
For a show that has been around for so long, naysayers wonder how it could possibly stay fresh and entertaining. For Survivor 41 Host Jeff Probst has promised several changes to the traditional format, but even without these alterations, Survivor has had fans hooked for two decades.
These five biggest blunders by competitors over Survivor’s 40 season history will remind you why million are so entertained by this reality kingpin.
In no particular order, these five boneheaded plays have to take the cake:
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J.T. Gives Away Immunity.
J.T. Thomas, a good ole country boy from Alabama where he worked as a cattle rancher, earned a place in Survivor history by not only ingratiating himself to audiences and players during his first appearance in season 18- Survivor: Tocantin, he ended up winning the whole season.
It went downhill though for J.T. when he returned for season 20- Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, his second of 3 appearances. It’s here he made his legendary mistake.
Believing that Villain, Russell Hantz was on the outs with his tribe, J.T. thought the Heroes could benefit from bringing Russell into the fold post the merge of the tribes. Before the merge J.T. gave his immunity idol to Russell as a sign of good faith.
Unfortunately, J.T. had forgotten what season he was on. Living up to the reputation that got them back for another season, the Villains tribe used J.T.’s idol against him, blindsiding him right after the merge.
As Parvati Shallow, a fellow Villain, stated, “J.T. gave Russell his heart today, and Russell is just going to stab it a million times.”
He did. He sure did.
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Colby hands Tina a million dollars.
In the penultimate episode of season 2- Survivor: Australian Outback, home audiences were agog when Colby Donaldson, who won the final immunity challenge of the season (his fifth win in a row) took Tina Wesson into the final two with him instead of Keith Famie.
Keith was so unpopular with the jury that Colby could have easily taken home the million dollars, but the Texan with the million watt smile decided he wanted Keith to lose more than he wanted himself to win and didn’t give Keith the opportunity to plead his case to the jury.
As for 40 year old, mom of two, Tina, she was given the moniker “The Mastermind”. Without winning even one immunity challenge, Tina managed to drive plots and backstab without getting blood on her hands.
Both of the final two contestants were so well liked that the vote came down to 4-3…in Tina’s favor, making Colby’s decision to bring her instead of Keith to the finale a million dollar mistake.
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James Goes Home with Two Idols
Everyone’s favorite gravedigger, James Clement goes down in Survivor history as one of the most beloved players and one who made a hugely boneheaded mistake. During season 15, Survivor: China, handsome James was in a game-winning position being a part of the majority alliance and having two immunity idols in his pockets.
What James underestimated was just how good of a position he was in, therefore posing a huge threat to the other players- both physically and socially- especially as the season was winding down.
Feeling too confident in his alliance, James didn’t feel the need to play one of his two immunity idols. Unfortunately, the alliance turned on him and sent James to the jury with those two, now useless idols, burning a hole in his pocket. I guess at least he has as set of matching coaters now?
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Drew Throws an Immunity Challenge and Gets Voted Out
Everything about Drew Christy from season 29 of Survivor: San Juan del Sur (a.k.a. Blood vs, Water) screamed buffoonery. One of the stupidest moments on Survivor became one of the most satisfying for audiences to experience when self-professed “king pin” Drew’s plan backfired spectacularly, sending the male model home.
Deciding he was too “badass” to operate under the unofficial Survivor rule book, Drew broke pretty much every one of its directives: refusing to listen to his tribe, throwing his weight around without the back-up of numbers and being an all-round douche canoe…who failed dismally at negotiating for fishing equipment with Jeff Probst to return a flint they didn’t need when their original one was found.
The best part came when Drew decided to throw a challenge so that his tribe would end up in tribal council which then parlayed into one of the most satisfying moments of reality television to ever air. Believing he was getting his target, Kelley Wentworth voted out, Drew’s tribe turned on him and blindsided him, giving him an early exit from the game and the dubious honor of being the only person on this list who didn’t make it to the merge (though J.T. barely did).
1.Erik Gives Up His Spot in the Final Four
Poor Erik Reichenbach will go down in history as pulling off the dumbest maneuver in Survivor history. In Season 16, Survivor: Micronesia (a.k.a. Fans vs. Favorites) young Erik didn’t stand a chance against Cerie Fields and the rest of her all-girl alliance- the Black Widow Brigade.
After Erik won yet another individual immunity necklace, which should have guaranteed him a spot in the final four, he was manipulated into giving it to Natalie Bolton during tribal council.
Convinced by Cerie that throwing himself on the sword for Natalie would earn him jury votes, Erik handed the necklace to Natalie and, of course, was promptly blindsided and voted off the island.
While Erik’s naivety is often touted as the dumbest thing ever seen in 40 seasons of the show, the cunning conniving from Cirie, Natalie, Amanda Kimmel and eventual fan vs favorites winner, Parvarti Shallow was nothing short of poetry. Even host Jeff Probst, who has seen it all, described the manipulation as “a master class in persuasion” and akin to “a bank heist”.
Jury member James Clement (of spot number 3 on this list fame) was pleased to state, “I’ve lost my reign as the dumbest Survivor ever.”
Erik’s stupidity might be a little forgiven knowing that, at 21, he was the youngest competitor that season. Smarter and older, Erik was invited back to season 26, Survivor Caramoan, another Fans vs, Favorites season. This time he was a favorite instead of a wide-eyed fan but unfortunately it ended even worse for him when he was medically evacuated from The Philippines.
Sorry Erik, but Survivor is just not your game.
So, Survivor fans, did your favorite stupid move make it onto the list? If not, let us now which moment in time left your jaw hanging open as you wondered how humans can be “that dumb” as we await Survivor 41’s premiere on September 22 on CBS!
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