Episode Report Card Sara M: C+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Fans vs. Favorites vs. Probst
By Sara M | Season 16 | Episode 15 | Aired on 05.11.2008
And now, poor, poor Erik. Probst says Erik was what they were looking for in a contestant this season -- a huge fan who studied the game and was star-struck. There's the scene were Erik goes bananas over Probst and then a montage of Erik's greatest moments, including that last one -- with a special bonus shot of Eliza's reaction! Erik says he "lost it" when he found out he was going to be on the show, because he's been watching it since it started and also because this was a chance for him to see the world outside of his small Michigan hometown, which has been really supportive of him. Probst asks Erik if he learned a "life lesson" after being voted out. Erik says he definitely did. He says that at first he felt really dumb for falling for the girls' lies, but after time he realized that he just underestimated the social aspect of the game and how close you get to the people you're supposed to use to advance. And in the end, he saw that the women are friends instead of fellow competitors. Probst asks Erik if he regrets his decision now. Erik says at first he did, but now he realizes he just doesn't have it in him to treat people the way you have to in order to win. He has morals, and apparently, the four ladies who finished ahead of him do not. I think it's more like he's still in college and therefore has no concept of what a million dollars is really worth. Give him a year working as a full-time ice cream scooper struggling to make enough money for health insurance and then we'll see. Anyway, the audience applauds wildly and we hear someone (I think it was Parvati) say "whatever!"
Probst moves onto James, but some ladies are still chattering amongst themselves over being called amoral bitches by Erik, so Probst shoots them his school-master "shush!" glare. We must have complete silence so that all attention may be focused on James, the powerful alpha male who did absolutely no strategizing and couldn't even help his team in the challenges that involved swimming. Shoot, James couldn't even win a challenge against Erik. Probst asks him, as the resident expert on dumb Survivor moves, which of the three guys made the dumbest move this season. James says that Ozzy and Jason were blind-sided, which is part of the game. "It happens," he says. As for Erik, he knew he was in danger, won immunity, and then gave it away. Probst asks for the word on the street in this matter and gets the audience's approval of James' assessment. And so, by the power vested in Probst, he now pronounces Erik the Dumbest Survivor Ever, and allows James to hand him his imaginary crown. It should look very nice atop those fluffy golden locks. Probst claims that three people were "forced" out of the game this season, although I only remember two. Apparently, Kathy's decision to quit counts as being forced to leave. Okay. We'll address that and the love affairzzz after the break.