When It Rains, It Pours (also known as Fools in the Rain and When It Rains) is a recurring endurance challenge that originated in Survivor: Africa. Considered to be a classic Survivor challenge, it has had numerous incarnations throughout the series' run.
A team variant of the challenge first appeared under the name "Shower Caddies" in Australian Survivor (2017) before making its United States debut as Raise the Roof in David vs. Goliath.
Rules[]
Castaways will have one arm above their head with their wrist tethered to a bucket of water on top of a platform. The castaway who could stand there the longest without tipping the bucket would win. At random points during the challenge, the host may tempt the contestants with food items. They would get the food item only if they step down.
Starting from Heroes vs. Villains, players would have to balance on a narrow perch while trying to maintain their balance at the same time. In Winners at War, castaways were not allowed to support their tethered arm with their free hand.
In David vs. Goliath, the challenge was reformatted to be a team challenge. The six members in each team must hold up eight sandbags, each weighing 10 pounds. Every 15 minutes, one member must drop out and their sandbag must be carried by another member. The first person to drop a sandbag loses for their team.
History[]
United States[]
The challenge made its debut immediately after the merge in Africa. At various points, host Jeff Probst tempted the castaways with food if they stepped down. Ultimately, the challenge came down to Clarence Black and Teresa Cooper. Clarence attempted to make a deal with Teresa, though she refused his attempts at striking a deal. After over six hours, they agreed to a game of "rock, paper, scissors" to decide the winner. Clarence lost the game, and Teresa won individual immunity.
In All-Stars, the challenge came down to Rupert Boneham and Shii Ann Huang. When asked about secrets within the tribe, Shii Ann said that there were secrets, but not as to who the Chapera Alliance, who were openly rooting against her, was planning to vote out. After over two hours, Rupert dropped and Shii Ann won a vital immunity which was met with a vocal celebration.
In Micronesia, Jeff Probst again tempted the castaways with food. After over six hours, the challenge came down to Jason Siska and Parvati Shallow. Jeff brought out a large platter of food for the person who stepped down to share with the rest of the tribe. The tribe offered Jason, the clear outsider, that they would not vote him out that night if he stepped down. Jason demanded guarantees from each member of the tribe, who gave them, though no one actually intended to keep their word. Jason ultimately accepted the offer, giving Parvati immunity.
In Heroes vs. Villains, a narrow perch was added for the castaways to stand on to make the challenge more difficult. Throughout the challenge, Jeff Probst once again tempted the castaways with food. The challenge ultimately came down to Parvati Shallow and Rupert Boneham, and after an hour and ten minutes, Rupert lost his balance, handing Parvati immunity and her second victory in this challenge.
In One World, Jeff Probst once again tempted the castaways with food. After over 45 minutes, the challenge came down to Chelsea Meissner and Leif Manson. With Jeff offering a plate of burgers to tempt them down, Chelsea convinced Leif that stepping down would make him less of a threat. Leif obliged and took the food, leaving Chelsea to win immunity.
In Millennials vs. Gen X, the challenge was made even more difficult by having both arms tethered to a pole, with no food temptations offered. Although most of the tribe dropped out early on, Jessica Lewis and Will Wahl managed to last over an hour and a half into the challenge. Jessica then lost her balance and dropped, winning Will immunity.
In David vs. Goliath, the challenge was reformatted as a team Reward Challenge, with each team having to pass around eight bags, each weighing 10 pounds, between them. Every 15 minutes, one member had to drop out and pass any sandbags held to another member. After over 30 minutes, Dan Rengering's attempt at showboating by carrying three bags with one hand backfired and cost the purple team the challenge, winning the orange team of Alec Merlino, Alison Raybould, Christian Hubicki, Gabby Pascuzzi, John Hennigan, and Nick Wilson the reward.
In Island of the Idols, this challenge was used as a team Reward Challenge, but was unaired. The team of Dan Spilo, Dean Kowalski, Elaine Stott, Elizabeth Beisel, Noura Salman, and Tommy Sheehan won reward.[1]
In Winners at War, the challenge returned to the format previously used since Heroes vs. Villains, but the castaways were now forbidden to use their free arm to support their tethered arm. In addition, the last woman and man left standing would win immunity and two Fire Tokens. At the 15-minute mark, Jeff Probst tempted the remaining castaways with cookies, peanut butter, chocolate, and milk. Kim Spradlin-Wolfe and Michele Fitzgerald immediately dropped out, giving Denise Stapley immunity. Then, Nick Wilson dropped out after bargaining with Tony Vlachos to give him a Fire Token if he did so, giving Tony immunity as well.
Australia[]
Australian Survivor (2017) introduced the team variant of the challenge that would later appear in the United States in David vs. Goliath. The competing Asaga and Samatau tribes would hold heavy sandbags tethered to a water-filled trough above their head. Asaga won the challenge and sent Samatau to Tribal Council.
The challenge appeared as the final tribal Immunity Challenge in Australian Survivor: Heroes v Villains, where it was modified to include a puzzle element. The puzzlemaker, Stevie Khouw for the Heroes and Nina Twine for the Villains, raced to complete a jigsaw puzzle of the Survivor logo. Nina finished the puzzle first and had the right to choose one member of the Heroes to step down from the challenge. Nina picked Matt Sharp, causing the already physically weaker Heroes to scramble to stay in the game. Ultimately, the Villains easily emerged victorious over the Heroes, sending them to Tribal Council.
France[]
New Zealand[]
South Africa[]
In Island of Secrets, the Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X variant of the challenge appeared as the first individual Immunity Challenge. Laetitia Le Roux dropped out seconds into the challenge, following which Nicole Capper spent the next hour distracting her tribemates by listing off names of food, effectively taking out half of the tribe. At the two-hour mark, the remaining castaways were instructed to switch to standing on one foot. After 2 hours and 35 minutes, Steffi Brink defeated Geoffrey Cooke-Tonnesen to win the first Immunity Necklace of the season.
Winners[]
Episode | Challenge Type | Winner | |
---|---|---|---|
Africa "Will There Be a Feast Tonight?" |
Individual Immunity | Teresa Cooper | |
All-Stars "Stupid People, Stupid, Stupid People" |
Individual Immunity | Shii Ann Huang | |
Micronesia "I Promise..." |
Individual Immunity | Parvati Shallow | |
Heroes vs. Villains "A Sinking Ship" |
Individual Immunity | Parvati Shallow | |
One World "Go Out with a Bang" |
Individual Immunity | Chelsea Meissner | |
Millennials vs. Gen X "I'm the Kingpin" |
Individual Immunity | Will Wahl | |
David vs. Goliath "You Get What You Give" |
Team Reward | Alec, Alison, Christian, Gabby, John, Nick | |
Island of the Idols "We Made It to the Merge!" |
Team Reward | Dan, Dean, Elaine, Elizabeth, Noura, Tommy | |
Winners at War "Friendly Fire" |
Individual Immunity | Denise Stapley |
Tony Vlachos |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Celebrity Survivor Australia Episode 11 |
Individual Reward | Guy Leech |
Australian Survivor (2017) Episode 13 |
Tribal Immunity | Asaga |
Champions v Contenders (2018) Episode 8 |
Tribal Immunity | Champions (2018) |
Champions v Contenders (2019) Episode 14 |
Individual Reward | Daisy Richardson |
Heroes v Villains Episode 13 |
Tribal Immunity | Villains (Australia) |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Fidji Episode 12 |
Individual Immunity | Tiffany Gounin |
Les 4 Terres Episode 6 |
Tribal Reward | Vuro |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners | |
---|---|---|---|
Nicaragua Episode 15 |
Duel | Jak Thomas |
Mike Sparrow |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winner | |
---|---|---|---|
Island of Secrets "Are You Crying?" |
Individual Immunity | Steffi Brink |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Survivor U.K. (2023) Episode 8 |
Tribal Immunity | La Nena |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Kelly Goldsmith was the first person to lose this challenge, dropping out 14 minutes into the Africa iteration of the challenge.
- Will Wahl is the first male to win this challenge. Jessica Lewis is the first female to be runner-up.
- Parvati Shallow has won this challenge twice. She is the first person to win the same individual challenge on multiple occasions.
- She is currently tied for the record for having lasted the longest in this challenge with Teresa Cooper, at six hours. Parvati accomplished this in Micronesia.
- Tarzan Smith lost this challenge in the quickest time, losing only after 1 second in One World.
- Rupert Boneham has finished in second place in this challenge twice.
References[]