Episode Five: Poof goes Spencer

Now you see him. Now you don’t.

Spencer Duhm, the youngest player in “˜Survivor’ history, was as safe as safe could be last week on the Jalapao Tribe and out the door this week without so much as a hint or warning that doom was shadowing the 19-year-old student from Florida.

Spencer, who hid the fact that he was gay from his tribemates for fear of retribution, bungled one challenge and that is all it took for the merciless Jalapao to collectively stab him in the back.

The Stealth Alliance suffered a major setback when the Timbira Tribe began to correctly suspect that Brendan is using Exile Island to build partnerships with members of Jalapao. And, in what could prove to be one of the stupidest moves in “˜Survivor’ history, Taj Johnson-George found the Hidden Immunity Idol but gave it to fellow Stealth Alliance member Stephen Fishbach for safekeeping.

“As long as it’s in my possession, I’m going to try to keep it in my possession. Theoretically and ostensibly, it is mine. I’m the one wearing the idol around my neck,” said Stephen.

The Survivors at the start of the broadcast were:

The Jalapao Tribe

JOE DOWDLE

SPENCER DUHM

STEPHEN FISHBACH

TAJ JOHNSON-GEORGE

JAMES "JT" THOMAS JR.

SYDNEY WHEELER

The Timbira Tribe

TYSON APOSTOL

DEBRA "Debbie" BEEBE

ERINN LOBDELL

SIERRA REED

BRENDAN SYNNOTT

BENJAMIN "Coach" WADE

Episode Five: "You’re Going To Want That Tooth”

Jalapao Tribe – Day 13

Taj explains that she wrote down Joe’s name because she just couldn’t vote for Crazy Granny.

Taj and Stephen go off to search for the Hidden Immunity Idol. They find it at the Tree Mail location.

Taj: Everything is now complete. I just love it when a perfect plan comes together. It is so much fun.

In what could be the “Duh!” move of the season, Taj hands the Idol over to Stephen to hide in his pocket.

Timbira Tribe – Day 13

Sierra meets with Brendan and wonders why he didn’t fill her in on the Stealth Alliance.

Sierra: Dude, you didn’t tell me. I was going to kill you.

Once again, Brendan says he didn’t have the time or the opportunity to. Sierra praises everyone from Jesus to Buddha for her good fortune.

Sierra: “I’m proud of myself. I formed an amazing alliance. We’re gonna take over the world.”

One wonders how did Sierra go from not knowing about the alliance at all to forming it? Yeah, Sierra, those cameras are around for a reason.

Reward Challenge

One member from each tribe sits on a spinning platform attached to a rope. A rival tribe member runs off with said rope causing the platform to spin like a top. After being spun around, the player sitting on the platform must make their way across a balance beam first to score a point for their team.

Reward

An afternoon at a special retreat and the power to send one member of the rival tribe to Exile Sand Dune.

Result

A close challenge but Jalapao has been control and concentration.

Winners: Jalapao Tribe

Brendan is exiled. He in turn picks Stephen to accompany him, of course. Tyson and the Almighty Coach share knowing glances.

Jalapao Tribe – Reward Happenings

There is plenty to eat and drink. Taj is glad to be able to share in a Reward for once. Joe wonders if Taj being away so often has damaged her status within the tribe. Jalapao receives some letters from home.

Timbira Tribe – Day 13

Tyson and The Almighty Coach discuss Brendan’s trips to Exile Sand Dune. Tyson has a feeling he is trying to build bonds with the other tribe.

Coach: If we merge, he has control of the game and I’m a bystander and I certainly don’t want that to happen.

By scientifically gauging the air temperature, pressure with his finger and using his sixth sense, the Almighty Coach suspects that a storm is coming in…and one does.

Erinn: Coach thinks he is Survivorman or something. Watch, he will reveal that he is an accountant who has never left Nebraska.

Exile Sand Dune

Brendan gives Stephen the tour of Exile Sand Dune.

Stephen admits: I have only known him for five minutes so it is hard to trust him. I can’t place my entire faith on this four-person alliance.

Jalapao Tribe – Day 15

Sydney babbles on and on about her boyfriend back home. Spencer nods politely.

Spencer confesses to us that he is gay but is fearful of telling the others because of what they might think.

Immunity Challenge

We’ve seen this one before. It is a bizarre game of lacrosse with the balls being put into play via very big slingshots.

Reward

Immunity from the Tribal Council vote.

Result

JT loses half a tooth. Although JT himself spits it out and throws it away, Jeff Probes stops the game until the shard is found. Taj and Spencer don’t cover their targets very well.

Winners: Timbira Tribe

A classic line from Probst: Jalapao, all I have for you is this tooth. I will see you at Tribal Council.

Pre-Tribal Council Happenings – Day 15

Coming back from the Challenge, Taj has a hissy fit in the river. She thinks the tribe needs to do what’s best for the team. Taj attacks Joe for never bonding with her.

Joe: It is a two-way road, Taj.

When Taj leaves, Joe says she has snapped. Stephen tries to mitigate the damage by saying she is just scared. JT wants Spencer gone because of his cruddy performance.

Stephen wonders if he should just let Taj get voted off so he gets to keep the Hidden Immunity Idol and doesn’t owe her a thing.

Spencer arrives at the river. TJ confesses to him that either he or Taj is going home tonight.

Tribal Council Happenings

Spencer agrees that his performance during the Challenge was pathetic. Taj admits she exploded at camp. Joe wonders if Taj has the Hidden Immunity Idol. Taj declares in front of everyone that she doesn’t.

Spencer votes for Taj: It is either you or me tonight. We don’t see who Sydney voted for but she thinks they played a “hell of a game”.

Final Voting

JOE DOWDLE: SPENCER DUHM

SPENCER DUHM: TAJ JOHNSON-GEORGE

STEPHEN FISHBACH: SPENCER DUHM

TAJ JOHNSON-GEORGE: SPENCER DUHM

JAMES "JT" THOMAS JR.: SPENCER DUHM

SYDNEY WHEELER: SPENCER DUHM

Tribal Council Victim: SPENCER DUHM.

On the next ‘Survivor’ (Television): In two weeks, “˜Survivor’ returns with a special Wednesday episode. Erinn about Coach: Who is this jackass?

On the next “˜Survivor’ (CBS Internet): Never before seen footage from the first 15 days.

Powell’s Thoughts

So, there you have it, folks. Because of March Madness, there will not be a new “˜Survivor’ episode for like two or three weeks…and then a recap episode.

Methinks the Stealth Alliance is about to lose a member. It is pretty obvious what is going on and you just know The Almighty Coach and Tyson are sharpening the guillotine. Brendan’s days are numbered unless a merge happens quite soon. I wonder if Sierra will be smart enough to hit the ground when that alliance comes crumbling down?

Love the way Stephen is playing the game. He impresses me more and more each week in the sense that he is assessing situations and people quite accurately. I would guess that he may be the last Jalapao standing when all is said and done.

The word is Spencer is dating “˜Survivor: China’ winner Todd Herzog.

Boot predictions? What can I say? When there are no story arcs or clues presented, it is very hard to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Erinn’s edit is very odd. I suspect her storyline may be how an outsider continues to survive week to week even though the world is against her. Might she flip on her own tribe at the merger?

Reader Alert

‘Survivor: Brazil’ Interviews

1. Carolina.

2. Candace.

3. Jerry.

You can check out the weekly boot predictions at ‘The Tale of the Torch‘