Surviving the Amazon, the Finale: A Model Victory

Matt says Jenna has not done as much as him to contribute at camp. She didn’t collect water, boil water, gather wood, help with the shelter, etc. There were times when she expressed a desire to give up, which he found really inappropriate. Jenna says Matt had not played game from the beginning, but tagged along at the end of an alliance. He doesn’t need the money, doesn’t care about the people here (because, obviously, she was extremely caring towards people like Christy…), and it’s not a big deal to him – just another adventure on his list of things to do.

Alex says they’ve sat around on the jury listening to them at Tribal Council and two words he never wants to hear again are “honesty” and “integrity” – they have no meaning to him anymore. That said, he asks each what the biggest regret was in the game? If there were one thing they could change, what is it?

Jenna does a good job of turning this negative question into a positive (just the way you’re supposed to in an interview setting). She says her regret is putting too much trust in people that she couldn’t trust. Why would they be honest all the time when they could be dishonest and win a million dollars? Matt says it’s his naïveté when began the game and his decision to support Ryan and his alliance and voting strategy that started the whole process of people regarding him as a threat and which resulted in two weeks of near depression for him. Not really a good idea, Matt, to remind people that you didn’t know what you were doing at first.

Heidi says the two of them have been trying to outdo each other. The jury is deciding their fate. So, is somebody in the jury more deserving than each of them? If not, fine, explain why.

Matt says Rob deserves his seat because he’s an amazing strategist. He’s in debt to Rob. Without Rob, Matt says there’s no way he’d be there, but would have been wiped out long ago (ouch, another bad idea – telling people you’re only here because of somebody else). If he won the final immunity challenge, he says Rob would have been sitting next to him (of course, he threw it, so…). He adds that Rob deserves it more than Jenna. Jenna herself echoes what Matt said. Rob has strategy, game play, and a wealth of knowledge.

Heidi isn’t really satisfied with that answer. She asks, is that the only person? Translation: Stroke my ego and say that I’m the one who should be there! Both Jenna and Matt kind of look off in other directions. Rob covers his eyes with an “Oh my God” expression. Probst has to tell her that they’ve covered it, so she can sit down. Nice try, Heidi, but they were not going to say you!

Deena’s up next. She says as she was sitting there listening, Jenna mentioned that Matt doesn’t need the money. Does she honestly think that’s the way they should judge their votes – on need rather than the way they played. Jenna says need should come into it because that’s how she would vote if she were on the jury. She knows everybody is different, though.

For Matt, she reminds him that he stated, “May the best man win” a couple Tribal Councils ago. She says she was offended on Jenna’s behalf and it was a load of hooey that was based on the alliance of Butch, Rob, and Matt. (Well, yeah. So what’s the problem?) Matt says he doesn’t remember saying it but if he did, he regrets it. He’s not a chauvinist and is happy she pointed that out (oh, I bet). Perhaps, he says, it did reflect the fact that they thought it was all locked up (perhaps??).

Incidentally, at the post-finale party, somebody asked Deena why she didn’t debate with them like the lawyer she is. Deena said she did, but it was cut. God, I’d love to see that unaired footage!

Christy comes up and it looks like it’s going to be a good one. She asks Matt what his initial reaction was when he found out he was competing with a deaf person? Matt says he figured she was going to be like everyone else and didn’t treat her any differently. She asks if his opinion of her changed. No. He just thought she had a funky accent.

For Jenna, Christy says she found it fascinating that she said she had a handicap because she’s beautiful. Hmm. How is that a handicap? In the real world she’s never heard anybody say that. Jenna says she doesn’t know if she ever used that word. Christy interrupts and says she definitely used that word while others on the jury nod in agreement. Jenna says she was asked a question and she didn’t mean to compare it in any way to what Christy is going through. (Um. What she is going through?! It’s not like it’s temporary!) She says being 21 and attractive and a swimsuit model, people judge her as someone who is not smart and not tough and can’t think for herself – that’s what she meant.

Dave comes up with perhaps the strangest question of the night. He asks what modern influential leader each has emulated during this game. He wants somebody he can relate to. (Lucky for Jenna, Matt goes first. She’s still trying to figure out what “emulate” means. And trying to remember the name of any world leader.)

Matt says he emulated Colin Powell and that his concept of versatility was a critical factor in his ability to be here. Um. Huh? I have no idea what that means.

Jenna says that she tried to emulate Miss Universe. After all, that’s even better than a world leader – she’s the leader of the whole universe! OK, she doesn’t really say that (but C. Brian Devinney, sitting next to me at the finale, said something very similar and got quite a laugh from those in earshot). What she actually says is that it’s a really great question but honestly, she cannot think of a modern leader (okay, she can stop there, but she doesn’t) that she emulated. She emulate people she knows really well, like her mom. She gains from emulating both of her parents, but mostly her mom because of her fight and her strength. It’s important not just here but in real life.