Survivor: Gabon, also known as Survivor: Gabon — Earth's Last Eden, is the seventeenth season of Survivor. The winner of this season, Bob Crowley, the oldest winner in Survivor history, defeated Susie Smith and Sugar Kiper in a 4-3-0 final vote.
Production
On April 13, 2008, at the National Association of Broadcasters's annual show, Sony announced that the 17th season of Survivor would be the first to be shot in high definition, using Sony XDCAMs.
Survivor: Gabon began filming in late June. It marked the second season of the series that was filmed in Africa, as Survivor: Africa had been filmed seven years earlier in Kenya. Reports from Gabon indicate the show was filmed around the coastal towns of Nyonie and Ekwata in the Wonga-Wongue Presidential Reserve. Production struggled in transportation because of animals constantly obstructing them.
Twists/Changes
- Tribe Selection: Like Survivor: Thailand, the oldest male and female players will choose their tribemates.
- Individual Immunity Idols: Similar to Survivor: Micronesia, the players competed for individual immunity for their first visit to Tribal Council.
- Exile Island: Exile Island returns this season, with some new tweaks. The banished player will pick one of two bottles, one will grant idle comfort (referring to a semi-lavish shelter with a fruit basket inside), while the other will provide idol protection (a clue to the Hidden Immunity Idol somewhere around the vicinity). If the player chose to look for the idol, he/she must rest outside of the shelter. If that player chose to enjoy the comforts of the shelter, the player in question cannot look out for the idol.
- Hidden Immunity Idols: Two Hidden Immunity Idols were available this season, one during the tribal phase of the game, and another during the second tribe switch.
- Double Tribal Council: On Day 21, both tribes must go to Tribal Council to eliminate one of their own.
- Two Tribe Switches: There were two tribe swaps in this season, the first one on Day 10, and the other on Day 22.
- Delayed Merge: Due to the surprise second tribe switch, the merge was delayed for three days, merging with nine remaining contestants.
- Final Tribal Council: The finale returned to the Final Three, seven-person jury format, similar to Survivor: China.
Castaways
Contestant | Tribe Affiliation | Finish | Votes Against | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Original Tribe | Switched Tribe | Switched Tribe | Merged Tribe | ||||
#1 | #2 | ||||||
File:S17 michelle t.jpg | Michelle Chase 24, Los Angeles, CA |
Fang | 1st Voted Out Day 3 |
8 | |||
File:S17 gillian t.jpg | Gillian Larson 61, Temecula, CA |
Fang | 2nd Voted Out Day 6 |
8 | |||
File:S17 paloma t.jpg | Paloma Soto-Castillo 23, Downey, CA |
Kota | 3rd Voted Out Day 9 |
7 | |||
File:S17 jacquie t.jpg | Jacquie Berg 25, Santa Barbara, CA |
Kota | Fang | 4th Voted Out Day 12 |
5 | ||
File:S17 gc t.jpg | G.C. Brown 25, Portland, OR |
Fang | Fang | 5th Voted Out Day 15 |
6 | ||
File:S17 kelly t.jpg | Kelly Czarnecki 22, Buffalo Grove, IL |
Kota | Fang | 6th Voted Out Day 18 |
8 | ||
File:S17 ace t.jpg | Ace Gordon 27, Naples, FL |
Kota | Fang | 7th Voted Out Day 21 |
5 | ||
File:S17 dan t.jpg | Dan Kay 32, Boston, MA |
Fang | Kota | 8th Voted Out Day 21 |
4 | ||
File:S17 marcus t.jpg | Marcus Lehman 28, Atlanta, GA |
Kota | Kota | Kota | 9th Voted Out 1st Jury Member Day 24 |
3 | |
File:S17 charlie t.jpg | Charlie Herschel 29, New York City, NY |
Kota | Kota | Fang | Nobag | 10th Voted Out 2nd Jury Member Day 27 |
5 |
File:S17 randy t.jpg | Randy Bailey 49, Eagle Rock, MO |
Fang | Kota | Fang | 11th Voted Out 3rd Jury Member Day 30 |
5 | |
File:S17 corinne t.jpg | Corinne Kaplan 29, Los Angeles, CA |
Kota | Kota | Fang | 12th Voted Out 4th Jury Member Day 33 |
4 | |
File:S17 crystal t.jpg | Crystal Cox 29, Durham, NC |
Fang | Fang | Kota | 13th Voted Out 5th Jury Member Day 36 |
11 | |
File:S17 ken t.jpg | Ken Hoang 22, Westminster, CA |
Fang | Fang | Kota | 14th Voted Out 6th Jury Member Day 37 |
7 | |
File:S17 matty t.jpg | Matty Whitmore 29, Pacific Palisades, CA |
Fang | Fang | Fang | 15th Voted Out 7th Jury Member Day 38 |
7 | |
File:S17 sugar t.jpg | Sugar Kiper 29, Brooklyn, NY |
Kota | Fang | Fang | Second Runner-Up |
0 | |
File:S17 susie t.jpg | Susie Smith 47, Charles City, IA |
Fang | Kota | Kota | Runner-Up | 7 | |
File:S17 bob t.jpg | Bob Crowley 57, South Portland, ME |
Kota | Kota | Kota | Sole Survivor | 2 |
Season Summary
The players were divided into tribes by a Schoolyard Pick started by the oldest players, Bob Crowley and Gillian Larson. It became evident that Gillian's tribe, Fang, was weaker, losing many of the Reward and Immunity Challenges, even after a Tribe Switch; however, a core alliance between Matty Whitmore, Ken Hoang, and Crystal Cox developed. On Bob's tribe, Kota, a series of alliances were formed, strengthened after the swap with the addition of Randy Bailey. Both the Hidden Immunity Idol and Exile Island twists were in play; the winning tribe on Reward Challenges was able to send one of the losing tribe's members to the latter. At Exile, that player had the option of a clue to the Immunity Idol hidden near Exile (ultimately leading to a string of hidden clues to the Idol), or to relax in a small shack, latter dubbed the Sugar Shack, with a provision of fruit and a hammock. Sugar Kiper was the second player to visit Exile and found the idol on her first visit; she was repeatedly sent back to Exile, where, isolated from both tribes, she relaxed most of the time. Sugar's Idol was eventually discovered by Matty, Ken, and Crystal, and they decided to bring her into their alliance, with Ken convincing her to vote off her closest ally Ace Gordon whom he claimed was using her for the idol.
On Day 22, both tribes were given clues suggesting a tribal merge; they enjoyed a celebratory meal, and discovered an Immunity Idol nearby. Unanimously, the players agreed to throw the Idol away into the ocean. They then discovered they were still separate tribes, mixed by random draw, and returned to their camps. This development proved crucial for the minority Fang alliance, who successfully convinced Susie Smith that she was on the bottom of her alliance, resulting in the elimination of Kota alliance leader Marcus Lehman. The tribes were then merged with the former Kota alliance in the minority. The Fang alliance, now with Susie, dominated the game, eliminating the former Kota alliance until only Bob was left. Bob won three consecutive Immunity Challenges, forcing the Fang alliance to turn on themselves. This resulted in the eliminations of Crystal and Ken due to their strong strategic prowess.
At the final four, Susie won the Final Immunity Challenge, ending Bob's immunity streak. Sugar decided to vote with Bob due to their social bond, forcing a tie between him and Matty; Bob won the fire-making tiebreaker challenge. At the Final Tribal Council, the jury was critical of Sugar's backstabbing and of Susie's less-dominant strategic game. They ultimately voted Bob as the Sole Survivor with four votes to Susie's three, and Sugar receiving none.
Episode Guide
Episode | Air date | Challenges | Exiled | Eliminated (Vote) |
Finish | Viewership (in millions)[1] |
Rating/Share (18-49)[1] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reward | Immunity | ||||||||
1 | "Want to See the Elephant Dung?" | September 25, 2008 | Kota | GC | Michelle (8-1) |
1st Voted Out Day 3 |
13.06 | 4.5/11 | |
Marcus | |||||||||
Kota1 | |||||||||
Kota1 | Dan | Gillian (7-1) |
2nd Voted Out Day 6 | ||||||
2 | "She Obviously Is Post-Op!" | October 2, 2008 | Fang | Fang | Sugar | Paloma (7-2) |
3rd Voted Out Day 9 |
13.08 | 4.5/12 |
3 | "It Was Like Christmas Morning!" | October 9, 2008 | None | Kota | Sugar2 | Jacquie (5-2) |
4th Voted Out Day 12 |
13.28 | 4.4/12 |
4 | "This Camp Is Cursed" | October 16, 2008 | Kota | Kota | Sugar | GC (6-1) |
5th Voted Out Day 15 |
12.81 | 4.2/12 |
5 | "He's a Snake, but He's My Snake" | October 23, 2008 | Kota | Kota | Sugar | Kelly (5-1) |
6th Voted Out Day 18 |
13.31 | 4.4/12 |
6 | "It All Depends on the Pin-Up Girl" | October 30, 2008 | Kota | Marcus | Sugar | Ace (3-2) |
7th Voted Out Day 21 |
13.02 | 4.1/12 |
[Sugar]3 | Dan (4-3) |
8th Voted Out Day 21 | |||||||
7 | "Apple in the Garden of Eden" | November 6, 2008 | None | Fang | None | Marcus (3-2) |
9th Voted Out 1st Jury Member Day 24 |
12.01 | 3.8/10 |
8 | "The Brains Behind Everything" | November 13, 2008 | Fang | Susie | Bob | Charlie (5-4) |
10th Voted Out 2nd Jury Member Day 27 |
12.88 | 4.1/11 |
9 | "Nothing Tastes Better than Five Hundred Dollars" | November 20, 2008 | Survivor Auction |
Ken | Bob | Randy (5-3) |
11th Voted Out 3rd Jury Member Day 30 |
12.50 | 4.0/11 |
10 | "I Was Put on the Planet for This Show" | November 27, 2008 | Recap Episode | N/A | N/A | ||||
11 | "The Good Things in Life Aren't Easy" | December 4, 2008 | Bob | Bob | None | Corinne (4-3) |
12th Voted Out 4th Jury Member Day 33 |
12.73 | 3.9/11 |
12 | "The Good Guys Should Win in the End" | December 11, 2008 | Bob [Crystal, Ken] |
Bob | Susie | Crystal (4-0)4 |
13th Voted Out 5th Jury Member Day 36 |
13.05 | 4.0/11 |
13 | "Say Goodbye to Gabon" | December 14, 2008 | None | Bob | None | Ken (4-1) |
14th Voted Out 6th Jury Member Day 37 |
13.77 | 4.4/10 |
Susie | Matty (2-2; tiebreaker)5 |
Eliminated 7th Jury Member Day 38 | |||||||
Jury Vote | Sugar (4-3-0) |
Second Runner-Up | |||||||
Susie (4-3-0) |
Runner-Up | ||||||||
Bob (4-3-0) |
Sole Survivor | ||||||||
14 | "Reunion" | 11.74 | 3.8/10 | ||||||
Notes: ^1 Combined Reward and Immunity Challenge.
^2 Due to an odd number of castaways at the tribe switch, the odd person out was sent to Exile Island until after the following Tribal Council, when that castaway would join the tribe that lost a member. ^3 Before the Double Tribal Council on Day 21, the tribes competed in an individual Immunity Challenge. The winner of the challenge, Marcus from Kota, was given the right to assign immunity to a member from the Fang tribe. He chose Sugar. ^4 A Hidden Immunity Idol was played, negating all votes against its user. ^5 Per Survivor rules, in the event of a tie at the final four, a fire-making challenge would be held between the tied castaways. |
Voting History
Original Tribes | First Switched Tribes | Second Switched Tribes |
Merged Tribe | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Episode | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | ||||||||
Voted Out | Michelle |
Gillian |
Paloma |
Jacquie |
GC |
Kelly |
Ace |
Dan |
Marcus |
Charlie |
Randy |
Corinne |
Crystal |
Ken |
Tie | Matty |
Sugar |
Susie |
Bob | |
Vote | 8-1 | 7-1 | 7-2 | 5-2 | 6-1 | 5-1 | 3-2 | 4-3 | 3-2 | 5-4 | 5-3 | 4-3 | 4-02 | 4-1 | 2-23 | Tiebreaker | 4-3-0 | |||
►►► | Bob | — | — | Paloma | — | — | — | — | Dan | Ken | Crystal | Susie | Matty | Crystal | Ken | Matty | — | Jury Vote | ||
►►► | Susie | Michelle | Gillian | — | — | — | — | — | Dan | Marcus | Charlie | Randy | Corinne | Crystal | Ken | Bob | — | |||
►►► | Sugar | — | — | Paloma | Exiled1 | GC | Kelly | Ace | — | — | Charlie | Randy | Corinne | Crystal | Ken | Matty | — | |||
►►► | Matty | Michelle | Gillian | — | Jacquie | GC | Kelly | Crystal | — | — | Charlie | Randy | Corinne | Crystal | Ken | Bob | Eliminated | Susie | ||
►►► | Ken | Michelle | Gillian | — | Jacquie | GC | Kelly | Ace | — | Marcus | Charlie | Randy | Matty | Susie | Susie | |||||
►►► | Crystal | Michelle | Gillian | — | Jacquie | GC | Kelly | Ace | — | Marcus | Charlie | Randy | Corinne | Susie | ||||||
►►► | Corinne | — | — | Paloma | — | — | — | — | Dan | — | Crystal | Susie | Matty | Bob | ||||||
►►► | Randy | Michelle | Gillian | — | — | — | — | — | Susie | — | Crystal | Susie | Bob | |||||||
►►► | Charlie | — | — | Paloma | — | — | — | — | Dan | — | Crystal | Bob | ||||||||
►► | Marcus | — | — | Paloma | — | — | — | — | Susie | Ken | Bob | |||||||||
► | Dan | Michelle | Gillian | — | — | — | — | — | Susie | |||||||||||
► | Ace | — | — | Paloma | Kelly | GC | Kelly | Crystal | ||||||||||||
► | Kelly | — | — | Ace | Jacquie | GC | Crystal | |||||||||||||
► | GC | Michelle | Gillian | — | Jacquie | Kelly | ||||||||||||||
► | Jacquie | — | — | Paloma | Kelly | |||||||||||||||
Paloma | — | — | Ace | |||||||||||||||||
Gillian | Michelle | Ken | ||||||||||||||||||
Michelle | Gillian | |||||||||||||||||||
Notes: ^1 Due to the odd number of castaways at the tribe switch, the odd person out was sent to Exile Island until after the following Tribal Council, when they would join the tribe that lost a member.
^2 A Hidden Immunity Idol was played, negating all votes against its user. ^3 Per Survivor rules, in the event of a tie at the final four, a fire-making challenge would be held between the tied players. |
Reception
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Trivia
- This is the only season to have only two pre-merge tribes, yet have two Tribe Switches.
- This is the first season since Survivor: China to feature a seven-member jury with a final three. After this season, every season that had a final three would feature a jury of at least eight members, though the Juror Removal twist in Survivor: Kaôh Rōng would reduce that season to an eventual seven-member jury.
- This is the first season with an 18-player cast where the jury began before the merge.
References
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 |