One 'Survivor' Sacrifices Self, Is Ousted

Charming Rodger Offers Himself For Banishment Over Elisabeth

Ed Dykhuizen, Staff Writer
April 19, 2001, 10:14 p.m. EDT

In a stunningly chivalrous move, 53-year-old farmer Rodger volunteered to be ousted in the latest "Survivor" episode, and was banished by former Ogakorians Keith, Colby and Tina.

Soon before the tribal council, Rodger was approached by 40-year-old nurse Tina and asked who needed the $1 million more between him and 23-year-old footwear designer Elisabeth. Citing health problems suffered by Elisabeth's mother, and his personal affection for Elisabeth, Rodger volunteered to be the one to go next. Rodger stressed that he did not want Elisabeth to know that he made the sacrifice.

In a post-ousting interview, Rodger stressed that he could have easily withstood the next six days. He also wished everyone luck, "especially Elisabeth -- I hope she goes all the way."

Colby Becomes "Volatile": Had Colby not won immunity for the third consecutive time, he may well have been ousted. Left out of the previous alliance to oust Amber, he was visibly irritable throughout the episode.

A particular object of his ire was Keith. The two clashed over Keith's handling of their food rations; Keith constantly tinkered with the portions, despite a previous agreement that rations would be kept strict. Throughout the episode, Colby told cameras that Keith was a "bozo" and had nothing but "ulterior motives."

Ironically, Colby only won the immunity challenge because of a decisive mistake by Keith. Before the challenge, each Survivor was latched into five shackles. After being read a story about escaped Australian convicts and their failings at surviving in the Outback, the contestants went to five stations and each answered a survival-related question based on the story. If they got they question right, they were rewarded with a key that would undo one of their shackles. Then, they had to return to host Jeff Probst with all of their shackles.

Keith finished first in loosing himself from all of his shackles, but returned to Jeff with one of his locks missing. He had dropped it while running; while retrieving it, Colby was able to overtake him and win immunity.

Reward Challenge: In the reward challenge, each contestant was allowed to chat online with loved ones back home. Each contestant became tearful in doing so, "especially the men," in Rodger's observation.

Each contestant asked their loved ones a series of survival-related questions. Tina's family got the most right, so she won the most time to chat with her family. But each contestant was allowed some time to chat.

Keith took advantage of his chat to propose to his girlfriend, who accepted. He was widely congratulated, but Colby later said to cameras that he felt even that had ulterior motives, presumably to garner sympathy from the other Survivors.

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