Firegirl, Fired Girl; or Why Stephanie Should Not Have Been Voted Off

Ahh, remember the good old days of Survivor, when Rudy walked around in a grumpy mood? When Lex and Tom complained about doing all the work for their new tribe, after the switch? We liked these characters. Fussbudgetness and all. So why then, does this season of Survivor seem to just fall flat? Here we are, into week six and there are so many people flying under the radar, I have to remind myself that they are human beings and not scud missiles. I cannot imagine Burnett will win an editing Emmy this year, if following the game's storyline is the criteria. I think Burnett has gotten to a point where he would rather produce a boring show than accidentally reveal who is going to win. Remember when Ethan was a shoe in? Not anymore. Burnett wants his winners to come from left field - ala Vecepia.

In episode five of Survivor 5, Stephanie was booted for - gasp - getting food and water. Basically, that is what it boils down to. Back there in week one, shelter-building was the height of importance and the tribe didn't care if they starved or not, just as long as they didn't have to sleep in the sand. Stephanie, using half a brain, decided to find her niche and, along with Jed, provide some food. Thus the separation of the shelter builders and the food and water gatherers began.

I am still confused here. Robb has been openly antagonistic to his fellow teammates. Stephanie obviously rubbed a few people the wrong way but no more so that Robb has. Jed won all those challenges for the tribe, and yet he was booted before Robb - although Jed was just as strong and a lot less annoying. Stephanie was working her tail off and yet this week they chose to keep Robb over her. Why?

I have been trying to figure this one out. Here you have a firefighter, one of the heroes of the new century (deservedly so) and she is very "military" in her actions and words. In fact, if she were a man, she would be a younger version of Rudy. But she is not a man.

If Stephanie were a man, she would not have been voted off before Robb. Given the choice between the annoying man, and the grumpy woman, they tossed the woman. Not because of a lack of strength (if that were the case Erin would be gone), but simply because she is a woman acting like a man, but isn't a man. They somehow perceive Robb as being more valuable, for the moment, even though he has yet to show his value to the tribe. Shii Ann was worried about being viewed as differently because she is Asian, but Stephanie was the real victim here. If she were a man, doing as much work as she has been doing, she could be as cranky as anyone on Survivor, she would not likely have been booted before Robb.

Would they boot out a firefighter with great work ethic who was trying to feed them, no matter how cranky he was if that firefighter were a man, say like Ken? I don't think so. They should not have voted Stephanie out. Erin seems much weaker, Shii Ann can be just as annoying and bristles people the wrong way. Penny - who? What has Penny done anyway? I think she might win the game based on such little face time anyway. And she has Jake in her pocket.

So who is the underdog this week? Jake is so safe. As is Ken. Erin might be on the bubble, but I think we all know who the underdog is this week. It's Mr. Skateboard himself, Robb.

Unfortunately, I have a thing for underdogs which means, I am sorry to say, I am beginning to like Robb. He is, at the very least, entertaining. I think he is growing on me. In fact, Robb might be the next Kathy. Remember how annoying she was in the beginning? How stupid she seemed by worrying about fire? Yet she became a fan favorite by the final four. Robb might be edited like Kathy was. According to Probst, there is a cast member who we all will dislike in the beginning but then they change. I was thinking this week his redemption was on the way, but now I don't know what to think after seeing the previewed argument with Ken - who I imagine tells Robb, "You are not being voted out next," and Robb says "You think I am f#@king stupid, Dude, of course I am."

So Robb is our underdog, therefore who should have been voted out? Erin. Why Erin? Why not? What has she done except bitch about Shii Ann's finger-licking chicken habits? She has not really helped on a challenge, or been an exceptionally hard worker. Stephanie was much stronger than she is, even ill.

On Chuay Gahn, Jan is once again Ms. Underdog. She has been annoying Clay, seen as dispensable to Brian, betrayed by Helen, and too old for Ted to grind, so Jan will be voted out of the tribe next week if they lose immunity.

This has been one of the harder weeks to come up with anything interesting to say. The show seems really anemic. All it seems they have left to offer us is Robb. We know that Burnett can make anyone look really bad in his choice of editing. Will this be a new trend? Let's take the footage of whoever is getting voted out and make them look bad the few weeks beforehand. That way, everyone will be so happy when they go. After the intensity of the grinding incident, I hope there is still life in Thailand.

Peggy Keller is Mother and Behavior Therapist to her two autistic sons and teenage daughter. Click here to e-mail her.

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