Surviving the Amazon, the Finale: A Model Victory

OK, time for their last words before the vote. Matt says he now realizes that he has been deceptive and has lied and he realizes now that is a part of the game and he doesn’t belong on a pedestal because everyone has done a certain amount of lying and betrayal (um, did you think you belonged on a pedestal before the jury questions?). He says he has come to realize that he does not have the level of integrity or high moral character that he has preached and doesn’t deserve that title. He’s done his best to play to the best of his abilities and learned a lot along way.

What a kiss-up speech. Jeez. He should have just told the jury that he lied less than most of them did, so go look in a mirror and stop whining about it!

Jenna thanks them for poking and prodding her because that’s really what she likes. Wait. Cut that end part. She thanks them because it gave her a chance to look at what she’s done in the game that she perhaps wanted to put out of her mind (what, they didn’t even mention the whole getting naked thing). She says maybe she’s not the strongest person to cut down branches but the put in work at camp (um, when? where? doing what?) and she worked at the challenges (sure, she saved up all her energy for those) and she came through at the end to save her butt. She’s proud of herself.

It’s time to cast a final vote. Butch casts his for Matt and congratulates them both. He’s very proud to know them, but tonight the true survivor is Matt. He appreciates his honest that he did lie and deceive. Matt is the true survivor of Survivor 6.

The only other vote we see if Heidi. In a huge shocker (not), she votes for Jenna. She adores her. She loves her. She wants to have her babies. Wait. Lemme check my notes. Okay, she didn’t say that last sentence. She says she was somebody who she could trust and respect in the most adverse circumstances.

We get to hear Rob talking but can’t see his vote. Well, actually, we can because the light shines through the voting card and we see it from behind – it’s Jenna. At this point in the studio I looked at C. Brian Devinney and said, “Uh oh.” Rob says the person he’s voting for did show they have the will and determination to get to the final two. He has to give credit where credit is due. There were only two players in this entire game he didn’t vote off. (Well, technically he didn’t vote off Jeanne or Joanna or Janet or… oh, nevermind.)

Probst says he would love to read the votes now, but he can’t. So he hops onto a jet ski (I kid you not) and rides it all the way to New York City. Wow! Quite a ride! He stops in front of the Statue of Liberty to studio audience applause (I didn’t know the studio mikes were even on until I rewatched it at home).

Then we see him taking the subway with the votes. OK, now what would have happened if he were mugged? Then what would we do?! I love the strange looks from other people on the subway. He comes out of the station into the rainy New York night and into the Letterman theater (this was obviously filmed just a few minutes ahead of time since it was supposed to be in Central Park!). We see the audience but, as happened last year in L.A., the camera is right in front of me and pointing the wrong direction. Sigh. You think they’re trying to tell me something?

The jury and the final two are all cleaned up and looking good. No attempts to trick the audience into thinking they are still in the Amazon (which is good considering the necessity of the change in plans).

Probst says that Rob said best, it started as a battle of sexes, so it’s fitting that it end same way. You don’t get to final two without doing something right. So before the votes are read, Probst wants to check in with Matt and Jenna to see how they feel.

Matt is asked how many people he thinks voted for him. He says he feels two votes for him, five against. He’s not very optimistic (this earns an “awww” from the live audience). He thinks Butch and Christy are on his side. Rob is a wildcard. What does Jenna think? She says she hopes she has Alex and Heidi, but the other five went to Matt. Probst scoffs and says that now she’s just being humble.

The first vote is for Matt. Loud cheers in the audience. Jenna. Cheers, but they seem louder on TV than they did where I was in the audience. Maybe the microphones are by her family and friends or something. Jenna again. Louder applause. Jenna. Jenna! What?! Jenna wins?! How the hell did that happen?! Matt and Jenna hug. We see Jenna’s family and Jenna tears up. The other contestants – voted out pre-jury – come out to share in the hugs and give their congratulations to her.

The big question from Jeff Probst? How. Did. This. Happen? How did spoiled 21-year-old swimsuit model get all these votes? He flips out the rest of the votes – all for her. It’s a 6-1 landslide, the biggest blowout in Survivor history! (I’m considering whether the votes may have been counted in Florida!) Jenna even got a vote from Christy, girl who swore never happen – we see the “freaking evil stepsisters of mine” quote from her final words again. How did it happen and what else is there to talk about? That will all be addressed in the live reunion. But you can also read about it in detail at Why Matthew Lost and Why Jenna Won.

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

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