Sole 'Survivor' Reigns Triumphant

Tina Wins A Close One

Ed Dykhuizen, Staff Writer
May 4, 2001, 11:04 p.m. EDT

In "typical 'Survivor' fashion," in the words of host Jeff Probst, 40-year-old nurse Tina became the sole "Survivor" by a tight 4-3 vote.

Also, in an hour-long live discussion with Bryant Gumbel after the two-hour final episode, the location of "Survivor 3" was announced: Africa. No other details were given.

Tina and her final competitor, 26-year-old auto designer Colby, remained close until the end. When the final vote was announced, live, Colby leapt up in triumph and hugged Tina vigorously, looking as if he had won himself.

In fact, Tina and Colby were the final two because of their mutual respect. Colby won immunity, which granted him the right to choose his opponent for the final two. He chose Tina over Keith, despite the fact that he knew full well that she was the tougher opponent, because he felt that Tina deserved it more. The two originally became close after banding together in ousting Mitchell, which was depicted in the fourth episode.

Tina, of course, was thrilled to win. Earlier, she said that she had never had many jobs in which she earned more than minimum wage. The money she won would be her first, proud major contribution to her family's finances.

Tina and Colby also came forth and admitted to cameras that Keith was strung along throughout the 40 days in the Outback to provide another vote for their side in tribal councils. Colby also said that, in the episode in which Rodger was ousted, he and Tina tried desperately to figure out how they could get rid of Keith instead.

All three finalists spent their last days reflecting on their experiences in the Outback and their renewed appreciation for their families back home. All said many times that it was "no longer about the money." Keith was particularly reflective, and even admitted, with unusual pessimism, that he would not make it to the final two.

Final Voting: Most who voted for Tina to win the $1 million first-place prize, particularly Alicia, cited the fact that she survived to the end despite being unable to win any immunity challenges. Amber, who voted for Colby, was impressed by his dominance of challenges.

Jerri and Keith were both offended by Colby's actions or words, and voted for Tina. Elisabeth and Rodger emphasized that the vote was a difficult one and split their votes; Elisabeth ended up choosing Tina, while Rodger chose Colby. Nick said that he felt Colby was an especially genuine, friendly person, and gave his vote to him.

Immunity Challenge: The challenge was held in the tribal council area, immediately before the council that led to Keith's ousting. In front of the jury that would choose the final winner, Colby, Keith and Tina were asked a series of questions about the lives of the exiled contestants.

Keith was eliminated from the challenge when he incorrectly identified Elisabeth's college as Boston University, instead of Boston College. Colby won on the final question, which asked who was on the dean's list in five semesters: Amber.

Jury Takes Their Shots: The last "challenge," in a sense, was the gauntlet of questions through which Colby and Tina had to endure from the seven members of the jury.

Jerri took the opportunity to get back at both of them. To cameras beforehand, she said that "Now I'm in a position of power, and I like it. These two backstabbed me three times -- I want to force them to see themselves for what they've become."

Jerri used her question to ask, rather pointedly, Colby and Tina to "clear [their] conscience," and tell her what they did to make them feel guilty, about something they did to someone. Colby cited the fact that Alicia was ousted merely because her physicality posed a threat to the former Ogakor. Tina shot back a response about participating in looking through Kel's bag for the beef jerky, an action initiated by Jerri.

Other questions were just as tough. Elisabeth asked Colby and Tina which two contestants they would exclude, if it came to that, and did not allow them to explain why. Tina chose Jerri and Rodger, while Colby chose Jerri and Keith.

Amber's question was a softball, about what they would do with the $1 million. Colby said he would buy a Harley-Davidson, buy a building that his dad had to give up for financial reasons, and take care of his mother. Tina said that she would pay off her house, her best friend's house, and set up a fund for families in need, the last of which was an idea of Elisabeth's.

Discussion with Bryant Gumbel: Perhaps most enlightening was a live discussion with all of the contestants that occurred immediately after the live unveiling of the identity of the sole survivor.

The final three made some interesting revelations. Tina was originally an alternate for the show, and got the call to join the group in the Outback only days before leaving. Colby swore that, in the months he spent wondering if he had won, he hadn't lost a night of sleep after chosing Tina, instead of the easy-to-beat Keith, as his final opponent. And Bryant Gumbel revealed that Keith was originally slated to appear on the first "Survivor."

Most every controversy, rivalry and major issue was covered. Kel, who was ousted in the second episode after a bizarre incident in which Jerri accused him of hoarding beef jerky, refused to reconcile with Jerri, saying, "I have forgiven Jerri, but I don't like her. She's not getting a Christmas card from me."

Another duo that will not be exchanging Christmas cards is Alicia and Kimmi. After watching their heated argument on tape, Alicia said that they would never have gotten along. Kimmi had less to say on the subject, but later did admit that, if she had lasted in the Outback through her birthday, she would have spent the day in her "birthday suit," as had Richard in the original "Survivor."

Perhaps most heartbreaking was a testimonial from Debb, who was the first person banished. Through tears, she admitted that the experience was scarring for her, making her "doubt herself," and she didn't want to come to the reunion. Later, Mitchell used part of his answer to say that he traveled with Debb and found her to be a wonderful person.

Michael was, interestingly enough, particularly pleased with his experience, which ended after he collapsed into a fire and suffered severe burns. He cited the love of his family and friends as getting him through, and displayed his healed hands.

The survivors also squelched any speculation that that any romance bloomed on the island. Jeff and Nick both stated that because of little bathing or brushing of teeth, the many attractive women in the Outback became unsexy within 24 hours.

Maralyn, entertaining as usual, said, "I was the prophylactic police. There were 12 when I got there and 12 when I left." Later she said that she would've welcomed the starvation that the contestants underwent, saying, "If I could've stayed, I'd be wearing a thong!" At the end of the conversation, she displayed her new talent on the didgeridoo, a long cylindrical Australian instrument that made some of the more unusual sounds in the "Survivor II" theme song.

Jeff also hadn't mellowed with age. Again, he used his answer to bring up the long-forgotten dominance of the Kucha tribe in the early going, which supplied them with plenty of food. Colby shouted, "The game's over, man!" It was also revealed that immediately before being ousted, Jeff sabotaged the Barramundi tribe's stash of 13 fish, as a pre-emptive revenge for his banishment.

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