Survivorfest - week 5!

Ashley and her nose piercing get the boot!

At the previous tribal council, no one bothered to tell Shambo the plan and she was one of the odd men out in casting a vote for Monica. Monica knows and has her "in her sites".

Erik is angry at the ocean...I guess because it gets him wet and stuff.

Tree mail for the tribes indicated an upcoming food challenge.

Liz: "It'll maybe like be stuff from the ocean!" She went on to start guessing as to who would struggle with the challenge. "Who do you think is the pickiest eater here?" Not Evil Russell, clearly. She decided that Ashley would have the toughest time.

Anyone else notice Evil Russell's weird beard spots? He has three bald spots on the neck portion of his beard...they're like bowling ball holes.

At the reward challenge, the nasty food awaited...and it seemed covered with flies. Nice touch. I wonder how much research CBS does on the digestive damage that things like sea slug intestines can do. Can you have an allergic reaction? How in the world would you know?

Survivor medical clearance form:

Please list any food allergies that may apply:

__ bird embryos
__ sea slug intestines
__ monkey urine
__ swine semen

The winner of the challenge stood to gain a barbeque feast! I can't help but wonder how long that uncooked meat sat out before, during and after the challenge. Mmmmmmm, triganosis!

The first pair was Shambo and Jaison. Shambo quaffed hers down like a true soldier. Jaison had a little case of the yacks, but managed to put it down.

The two Russells went at it next. Russell H finished his first, with Evil Russell taking a little more time.

Brett and Mick went next. Mick popped his down. Brett looked like he was getting a case of the gooks, but finished it off with style, licking the inside of his glass.

Monica and Liz slurped theirs down. I think that clip would make it into the Survivor fetish hall of fame. You know there are some oddballs out there that loooooove this stuff.

Ashley and Danger Dave went next. Dave polished his off, adding some extra sound effects, I assume for Ashley's benefit. Ashley got most of the way through her glass and then was down to the chunky bits at the bottom. She looked like she was trying to choke herself. She couldn't finish, costing Foa Foa a chance at a picnic.

You know her tribe had to be peeved after putting down all of that mess only to have her fail at a challenge that didn't have a time limit. You'd think she could've gotten it down eventually, wouldn't you?

As the winning tribe, Galu had to send a member to Foa Foa for the day and skip the BBQ. Russell decided to send Shambo. She was not pleased.

"I need my protein!" I'm pretty sure those seas slug intestines had plenty of that!

Russell muttered that she needed to pay for losing a chicken, and that was the price.

Back at Foa Foa, Shambo got some sympathy from her new pals and called for a group hug. Which she got. Even Evil Russell did it. Although in retrospect I think he may have been copping a feel.

Natalie gave Ashley a lot of sympathy. She was pretty nice considering her poor effort. Everyone else didn't seem as forgiving.

Back at Galu, the tribe couldn't seem to get the fire started to begin grilling their reward.

Dave got irritable and started sniping with Russell about it. He didn't want to help unless Russell "asked" him to. Eventually he realized he was causing a scene and apologized and began helping with the fire. A few minutes later, it was blazing.

Dave: "Evidently I'm the only one here who can make fire. I'm trying to downplay my awesomeness." I do that a lot, too. It's hard having awesomeness.

Back at Foa Foa, Shambo continued her blabbery ways and read off the hidden idol clues to the entire camp.

They found the right tree, but it was empty due to Evil Russell's early detective work. Most of the tribe suspected that Ben had found it and had taken it with him when he was voted off.

Liz suspected that Evil Russell had it and even told him so.

As true liars often do, Evil Russell was furious that someone would accuse him of...well, lying. He warned Liz that she was getting on his bad side. "Do you wanna go next?"

The weather began to turn really nasty. Galu finally began to regret their earlier challenge decision about taking blankets and pillow in favor of tent and tarp supplies. How's your Hello Kitty comforter working out for you now?

I can't decide if Danger Dave is starting to look like Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull or a cast reject from Deliverance.

The previous night was cold and very wet. Everyone looked particularly miserable as they lined up for the challenge.

This one was well selected. Nothing better than a strength/endurance challenge after a hard night of cold, rainy weather!

The challenge was for four individuals (two from each tribe) to hold a rope tied to a basket that four other tribe members would toss coconuts at. Each coconut would add weight to the basket until only one tribe remained.

Evil Russell and Liz held ropes for Foa Foa while Russell and someone else held for Galu.

Galu took an early lead on getting the coconuts in the baskets. Jonathan was hitting them like crazy. Jaison started shooting like a point guard, without much success. After a while everyone realized that the two hand toss worked better and the baskets started to fill.

The steady rain turned into a downpour.

Evil Russell dropped out first. He made a good effort, but the other tribe had dropped in too many coconuts. Liz held out longer, but eventually she caved as well.

Of note, Ashley was completely useless.

Back at camp, Foa Foa was stuck under their shelter in the torrential rains. There was no opportunity to talk strategy or weasel around. They decided to make their own decisions for who would be voted off at council that evening.

Jaison was miserable. The dude looked like a leper. Hands and feet all bleached and pruney. His extremeties looked a bit like Carol Channing's. Seems like everyone had similar problems judging by the way they held their hands out like they wanted nothing more but for them to dry out.

At camp, everyone seemed to be happy to be under shelter and by a warm fire. Possibly one of the few times when being at council provided a small advantage. At least they got to dry out.

Probst didn't have a lot to work with at council which confirms my suspicions that he watches the camp interviews before council to try to rile things up. He mostly asked about who trusted whom. Turns out everyone trusts everyone. How unfortunate.

The vote was a landslide, with Ashley getting eliminated. I noted that even her bestest pal, Natalie, wrote down her name. I guess when it's time to go, everyone knows it.

Odd Sears-sponsored "family moment" for Ashley. Her parents and their pair of lapdogs. Not sure what that was about. "We're proud of you, Ash! And so are Sweetums and Snookies!"

Next week, another challenge and another medical event! Who could it be!?!

Find out next week on...Survivorfest!