Survivor: Exile Island – Survivor Live Recap, Episode 12

Once again it’s time for an episode of Survivor Live, CBS’s Internet interview show that features the most recently eliminated contestant from Survivor: Exile Island. Hosts Dalton Ross of Entertainment Weekly and Survivor: Amazon winner Jenna Morasca welcome this weeks guest, Boston Powers’ dad Shane. Shane is chewing gum and appears not to have slept for a while.

Let’s begin, as usual, with a trivia question. This week, we saw three different people get votes at tribal council. In fact, this is the third time this season that three or more different people got votes. However, this is not the record. The question is: in which season did it most frequently occur that three or more people get votes, and how many times did it happen? As usual, the answer will be near the bottom of this article.

Both hosts start things off by commenting that in a season of interesting personalities, Shane was very entertaining. Shane says, “Today we love Shane.” No one took that bait… yet.

Dalton asks Shane to walk us through last night’s events, where Shane was sure he was safe, yet ended up getting booted. Not answering directly, Shane starts to reply by reminding us about the original four-person alliance he had with Danielle, Aras, and Courtney. However, he was concerned about Courtney’s “mental state” and got himself released from the bond he made on his son’s life. He stayed aligned with Aras, then after the merge, Cirie was brought into the mix.

At this point discussion diverts and any response to the original question is lost. After all, none of that happened this week.

Shane appreciates that Cirie has brought herself so far when she was next to go after Melinda. Now, Cirie is in a place where she can win. Wow, do you remember Melinda? She was on so long ago I could use her in a trivia question!

Dalton shifts our focus to the clip of Jeff Probst reading the votes at tribal council. There were some good facial reactions. Jenna thinks Shane gave one of the top five exit lines ever, but Shane says to Jenna, “No chance!” Heck, all he said was, “I’m going to have an ice-cream bar in about one minute,” that’s hardly bamboozle-worthy.

Shane does promise the jury is going to be “real fun” for him. I take that to mean he gets to unload on at least one of the finalists he felt was responsible for selling him out.

Dalton notes Terry’s vote wasn’t shown and wonders if Shane thought the vote was unanimous against him. Shane relates that while on reward, Terry had proposed that he flip then, but Shane insisted he was confident with Cirie and Aras.

Shane feels Cirie has been smart until now, but she’s over-playing her hand. He takes credit for showing her “the correct path” of taking out Danielle first, then Aras. Shane adds that Cirie will have to win an immunity to win the game and sees Aras considered as “the golden boy” who cannot be beaten in the final two. Shane concludes his analysis by saying he thought he was in a good spot, but calls himself delusional.

Jeepers Shane, another question not answered – it was about Terry’s vote!

The first caller is Elaine from South Carolina, who wants to talk to “The Shane-iak.” Using a lot of words, but at least speaking rapidly, she asks if he didn’t have a clue that things were not about to going his way. Most recently he was in a tribal council where he found himself on the outside of those directing that vote; also, there was the voodoo challenge, where he was told he only thought he was running the game. Shane says at that point, he was tied in with Aras and Cirie, and he wasn’t about to go back on his word.

So, that’s a “No.”

He reveals that for his last eight days, he was sleeping apart from the rest. He called it “his summer house up on the ridge.” Shane did this so he could avoid some of the drama and not blow up in front of anyone. I guess he never heard the old saw about keeping friends close and enemies closer.

Adam from Montréal points out that the final four consists of one person from each of the four original tribes. Shane didn’t think about that while he was on the island and now feels that it’s just a coincidence.

As Adam hangs up, Shane asks about the Alouettes (the CFL team in Montréal). Well, Adam’s gone but I can cheerfully report for him that they’re losers who still suck wind big-time. Arrrrr-goooooooooooos!!

Shane says the mental aspects of quitting smoking were the hardest thing he faced, harder than the physical aspects, not eating, lack of water, or anything else. He concedes he must have appeared unstable to the others and admits that Aras was probably seen as a more stable choice of ally.

Shane says Cirie was very convincing and had an infectious laugh. I’m guessing it was probably more so when she was laughing at Courtney. However, when Dalton asks which player in the game he would be happiest not seeing again, it’s Cirie. He’s not mad at her, but he’s not sure what they’d talk about. His plan was to align his star with an alpha male and single mom.

Shane thinks if he’d made it to the final two, he’d have done well for himself.

Dalton introduces the “Time Capsule” feature. Essentially, contestants recorded a message to themselves two days before the show started and it’s played back now. Shane says he probably did things he didn’t want to do in the context of the game, so he forgives himself in advance. His priority was making a million dollars for his son.

Dalton notes that Shane didn’t have to backstab anyone, and Shane admits he was a little surprised he got so far without having to do so… yet. He wonders if anyone has ever played that way, he’s not sure because he’s only watched four seasons. The hosts suggest Tom and Ethan’s names. Shane says, “That’s why you want to marry him,” and a blushing Jenna replies, “You’ll have to ask him that question.” Now I know what “man running away” sounds like on these four-dollar speakers!