Surviving the Amazon, Episode 8: It Doesn't Take a Rocket Scientist…

True or false? The Amazon is the longest river in the world. False, and everybody gets it. The longest is the Nile, just FYI (hey, we want this to be an educational experience as well as an entertaining one). Christy chops at Heidi. Deena and Heidi both chop at Christy and she's out. Jenna takes out Deena, saying it's because she already won last time.

Jenna has two chops left, Heidi only one. So if Jenna gets the next question right, Heidi is gone no matter what. And, indeed, that's just what happens. Both get it right and Jenna wins immunity.

So now it's time to figure out who will go. Matthew is back at it with the machete - this time hacking at his own shoes. Huh? All is explained when he says the shoes were left too close to the fire and have been uncomfortable. So he's going to MacGuyver them into sandals. (His words, not mine.) I dunno, I'm thinking I'd rather have bad sneakers than chopped-up sandals in the Amazon…

Christy still feels creeped out by Matt, saying she'd vote him off because she never knows what's going through his head.

Dave says he'll be voting for Matt because the only way Dave will stay around is if enough people vote for Matt. See, that's why he's a rocket scientist - he can do math problems like figuring out he wants a majority of people to not vote for him.

However, his plea falls on deaf ears when he gets to Alex. Alex tells him that two things are working against him. First is his previous alliance with Roger. Second is that he's a bad ass and the single biggest threat in the game.

Jenna, Rob, and Deena talk about the whole Heidi/Dave thing. Jenna says she doesn't really know how Heidi feels about him. Meanwhile (or at least that's the way it appears), Heidi and Dave talk. He tries to convince her that he should stay and she seems to agree. She tells him he has a 50/50 chance.

So it's time for Tribal Council. Host Jeff Probst begins by talking about how people fit in. He goes to Matthew, saying that in the past he'd say he didn't totally fit in and Probst wonders if that's changed. Matt says it has indeed. With the merge, people are more interested in what he has to say. He has some true friends and genuine relationships.

Apparently, Rob couldn't listen to all of this with a straight face, and Probst catches him, noting that he was making faces as Matt spoke. Rob recovers nicely, saying he's happy with Matt's progress. He was secluded but now he fits in and is an invaluable member of the tribe. Jeez, this man is full of it! But he says it so earnestly that I'm sure Matt believes him.

Probst moves to Heidi, pointing out that in the immunity challenge, there was no way to hide what was going on. She says it was interesting that the four women were the last ones standing. She didn't expect that but the guys essentially eliminated themselves. So, Probst says, first it was Matthew and then Dave, does that tell you something? Matt says he wasn't happy where he fell, but, hey. Dave says it's an individual game and some people see him as a threat (some?). He knows he's in a precarious position and knows that his name will come up - he just hopes it's not in the majority.

Probst asks Deena if a plea like the one Dave just gave can swing votes from people who had already made up their minds. She says that people sometimes have questions and it can sway them.

Finally, Jenna is asked if she wants to give up immunity or maybe trade it for something. She says she can't see anything to exchange, so she'll hold onto it.

As they are about to vote, Probst reminds them that the loser tonight will be the first member of the jury.

The only votes we see are Matt's and Dave's who vote for one another and say harmless things. We don't see who Heidi votes for, but she says she respects him for how he plays and that he played well - which is the reason she has to vote for him. OK, at this point I know she's voted for Dave, because nobody there would say Matt has played well.

Time to reveal the votes. Dave. Matt. Dave. Dave. Dave. Dave. Ouch. Dave is gone and nobody voted for Matt except Dave himself - not even Butch! That's gotta sting. So much for Heidi and her 50/50 chance. Then again, if she did the math herself that might have actually been the number she came up with.

Before Dave's final words, we get the commercial where Saturn congratulates a winner. This time, they congratulate Dave for his reward challenge win. Yeah, that was good timing.

Dave doesn't have much to say in his final words - he wishes them all the best and then provides a quote that appears to translate as "what to do." Ooookay.

So after all is said and done, Dave tried and tried and thought he was just a vote or so shy of coming out ahead - but in fact he had no votes supporting him. Lies, lies, and more lies. But really, does Butch think he can save himself just by voting with the others this time? I suppose it can't hurt…

Next time, speaking of Butch and hurt, it looks like he gets bitten on the finger by a piranha. Yow! And there is a power struggle in the alliance. Rob says Deena thinks she's pulling the strings, Alex thinks he's in charge, but actually Rob himself is in command. Oy.

David Bloomberg is the Editor of RealityNewsOnline and can be reached at rno@pobox.com.

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