The 25 Greatest Moments in Survivor History | 10-6

[00:00:00] Hey Sandra, wir haben uns ja lange nicht mehr gesehen. Grüß dich, Nadine! Mensch, du siehst ja toll aus! Ja danke, ich habe mein Plus fürs gesündere Ich entdeckt. Was? Komm, ich zeig's dir! Die Bewegungskurse der AOK Plus. Kostenfrei für AOK Plus Versicherte. Entdecke dein Plus fürs gesündere Ich und starte mit unserem Selfcheck. Ganz einfach online auf aok.de Aus Liebe zur Gesundheit. AOK Plus.

[00:00:30] Hey everybody and welcome back to RHAP's countdown of the 25 greatest moments in Survivor history. As voted on by you, the fans. My name is Mike Bloom and we have reached some rarefied air here. We are officially in the top 10 Survivor moments.

[00:00:59] You can count on it with two hands, but tonight is a three-hander actually, as I am once again joined by an illustrious panel of Survivor alum to break this down. We are actually live right now on the interwebs. For those of you that are tuning in to us instead of watching the Bears season four, that's greatly appreciated. Hopefully we can cook up a delicious meal of a podcast for you tonight. But let's go down the line. Talk about some of our line cooks.

[00:01:24] We are here to break down moments 10 through 6 as voted on by you. First off, she is known for jumping into any unknown situation, including combing through Survivor history. This is the great Mo Gaynor. Mo, how are you? Hello. I am here today and not completely drenched in sweat. So, you know, big win for the day. Listen, we wanted to really immerse you all in the tropical environment that you all played in.

[00:01:51] You all were from the new era. You all were in Fiji. So we want to get you in that mindset where your mental acuity was truly at its highest. I can already hear Jeff telling me to like dig deep for this podcast. Like you got it only a few more hours till sundown. Well, we're also in joined by someone who is going to be talking about some moments that probably prompted him saying, whoa, sorry. Whoa to a lot of stuff watching him back in Survivor history. It's Jay Gokane. What's going on guys? Thanks for having me. We get excited to get into this.

[00:02:20] I'm expecting a lot of. Well, it's the top 10. You know what I mean? Top well, next five. All right. And last, but certainly not least, we talked about the bear before. And this is a man who once said his P had the consistency of bouillon cubes. It is the one, the only Owen Knight. For the record, I was talking about the rest of Baca's P. They were dehydrated. I was so hydrated, Mike. I've never been more hydrated than when I was on Survivor.

[00:02:49] I'm honored to be here on the panel. Pleasure to be here. It's been fun listening through these moments. I mean, these are the things that live rent free in my head. And it's been a fun trip down memory lane as we get to this kind of milestone season coming up in the spring. But yeah, it's nice to be here live with everyone. I know the heat wave is going on. So we all know what it's like for me every day here in New Orleans. And we were comparing temperatures and I'm actually like the coldest right now. So quite a reversal, but I'm ready to get into it.

[00:03:17] Well, much like the New Orleans environment, we'll see how debaucherous things get by night's end. But Owen talked about strolling down memory lane. Let's take another stroll, shall we, as we are going to be reminded of all the moments we have experienced up to this point. It's like the fallen comrades that no longer exists in Survivor, but we're bringing it back. Dang it. So starting a moment number 25.

[00:03:40] It's a moment that Owen knows all too well, which was Jesse betrays Cody from Survivor 43 moment. Moment 24. Rupert steals the shoes from Survivor Pearl Island. 23 coaches trip to Exile Island, Survivor token jeans. 22 Caleb shot in the dark hits. Jake, a moment you got to experience. I believe you're actually right there over on the far left in moment number. Yeah.

[00:04:07] In moment number 22, 21, a series three to one vote in Survivor Panama. Number 20 Sandra wins twice in Heroes versus Villains. Number 19, a scooping falls in the fire in Survivor the Australian Outback. We're all probably feeling like we fall in a fire today. Owen is hooting and hollering in response to that. 18 Tony's spy shack from a Survivor. Kaga Yan.

[00:04:31] Number 17, advantage get in the tragic series of unfortunate events that sent out three in Survivor Game Changers. Number 16, Heidi and Jenna strip for chocolate and peanut butter from Survivor the Amazon of the Five. We talked about last week. Number 15, Stephanie becomes a tribe of one. Oolong gets decimated in a Survivor plow. Number 14, a Boston Rob proposes to Amber in Survivor All Stars. And Jake, if you want a double dose of Boston, I've got one for you.

[00:05:01] Boston Rob betrays Lex. Also from Survivor All Stars is moment number 13. Moment number 12, the jury vote ties for the first time ever in Survivor Ghost Island. And coming in at number 11, a moment fitting for our new era laden panel, Operation Italy from Survivor 47.

[00:05:22] So before we get into the top 10 moments proper, let's tease things out a little bit more because as three people that have voluminous knowledge of previous Survivor seasons, episodes and especially moments. I'm curious, you know, Jake, when you look at some of your favorite stuff, do you find a common theme?

[00:05:45] Is it stuff from the first 10 seasons? Is it character moments, strategy moments? Is there a running thread amongst some of your favorite standout stuff from 25 years of Survivor? See, like when I filled out, I filled out this thing. When, when RHAP was compiling all these moments, I had a lot of character moments. But as you just went down the list right now, there was definitely more, I feel like, gameplay moments. You know what I mean? I feel like that's what I saw from the list coming down.

[00:06:12] But I, character moments were always bigger for me just because, I don't know, like the one-liners aren't necessarily someone getting it towards snuffed. You know, that's at least what it is for me. Like when you quote Survivor, you don't, you might say the tribe has spoken, but you know, there's some good quote. Like, tribe has spoken and said every single episode, it's a dime a dozen. Great quote, no disrespect, but just saying. Mo, you were nodding along when Jake said that. Do you have any sort of criteria for your list of best moments when you think about them?

[00:06:39] I agree. I mean, that's the beautiful thing about Survivor is people are attracted to so many facets. And we just saw like a huge rundown of things that were like beautiful game moves. And I think as we get higher, we're going to see a lot more character. Like, when I think of Survivor, you know the structure, right? You go out, you have challenges, you vote someone off. But it's the moments and the people that fill it in between. It's how they describe things. It's what they do without advantage.

[00:07:05] It's, you know, deciding to strip and being glad about it. Like, it's the people that really fill up the cup that the producers and Jeff leave for us to do. And I think as we see people playing more of a hand in filling that cup, we're going to see it go a little higher. Oh, and you are someone who is well hydrated, as previously expressed. What fills up your cup when it comes to Survivor history? I know I completely agree with Mo and Jake. Like, I think, I mean, just the way my brain works.

[00:07:33] And especially since I did end up watching like about half the seasons live and about half the seasons on a binge. What stands out in my memory are those one-liners, those zingers. Like, my brain often thinks in terms of memes and like quotable quotes and things of that nature. So I actually remember in the answers I sent in to you in my pregame. I referenced the Stacey Powell, Benjamin Not Coach speech. Ah, yes, you did. I remember that well. Yeah. Penner, you know, back talking to Jeff and yelling back when he was voting for Denise.

[00:08:03] You know, so those ones definitely popped more as I caught back up on the show when I had missed, I think, 15 to 32. But yeah, then there's those iconic strategy moments that, you know, are writing the playbook on how to play Survivor and like writing the Survivor history book. So you can't ignore those either. But I think it's been a really nice mix so far on the list. And yeah, I know, like Jake was saying, my list personally was a bit more character heavy. But it's hard to argue against a lot of these missing 15 to 32.

[00:08:33] What are you? Survivor 50 casting? I can't. Well, let's get into moment number 10 here. Let us not tarry any further, though I will tarry a little bit. Not deets, sadly. But I will, as always, give a little clue to our panel here. And it is up to you to guess what each moment is going to be before I play a clip officially revealing it.

[00:09:02] So starting with moment number 10 on the note of Survivor 50, we have an absolutely fantastic companion podcast series that has been coming out this summer called the Survivor 50 files hosted by the absolutely effervescent Brandon Donlan from Survivor 45. If you haven't checked it out yet, please do. It's an incredible podcast series. And Brandon has been able to book some fantastic guests.

[00:09:30] And what I will say is that moment number 10 heavily involves one of those guests. A guest on the Survivor 50 files on the episodes that have released so far is the center of moment number 10. Jake, any initial thoughts right now? Speak out loud. Is it JT giving Russell the note? Okay. Great. Owen, Mo, any other thoughts?

[00:10:00] I was writing my brain because I listened to Tina and Roger today and I was like, no, those probably aren't top 10. I love the pod with JT. So, yeah, I think that's the best option for JT. I'll try to think of another one, but I'll let Mo go next. I think that's a really good one. I'm thinking like two, like, I think I saw it here, like Wentworth will not count, but I think that might be a little bit higher, like a lot higher than 10 being how like quoted and historic it is.

[00:10:28] The other one is, I think was Stephen Fishman. Was he on there with JT? And like, And he was. I, so I don't even know if this is on the list. I did vote, but maybe there's something that sticks out to me of like his absolute wrecked sunburn, like feet or like through intestinal distress. I don't know if it's top 10, but those are definitely in my mind. Yeah.

[00:10:53] If we weighed more RHAP and less survivor heavy in general, you know that. And I say this with all the love mocking Stephen Fishback is a pastime here on Rob has a podcast. So if only, if only we put hashtag severe gastrointestinal distress on there. Yeah. Yeah. I'm trying to think because Eric was on. I think this is too early, obviously for the Black Widow Brigade. But I think I might lean more towards Wentworth than JT sending the letter. I act.

[00:11:20] That's hard because that's where you kind of get into the comedy of it versus the pure strategy. So I think actually the JT letter might be higher. So I'll put my guess in on Wentworth here. All right. You know what? Can I make a hard take real quick? I think the Wentworth moment and the JT letter are both going to be in here and in like this area of 10 to 6. All right. Well, we've got a couple of predictions in, including, I guess, two moments now instead of one that will show up tonight. Let's just focus on number 10.

[00:11:49] Here's what the number 10 moment in Survivor history is voted on by you, the listeners. You're writing your letter to Russell, buddy? Yeah. Russell, this is a huge turning point in this game. This is not fake. I wouldn't waste your time or mine. Just by competing against you and the few handshakes we've had, I feel like I can trust you. Play the idol tonight and save yourself. All the girls should be writing your name down, so act like you know you're going home.

[00:12:19] I think you should write Parvati's name down and send her home. We will most likely merge with 10 people, and then you will be completely safe with us. Our five plus you will remain strong until the girls are done with. We can now work on getting ourselves into the final three. This is your chance to show you're not a villain. I'll put that at the end right here. Dude, this is Survivor history. Oh my gosh. It could work, y'all. If that works, it would be incredible.

[00:12:46] Unfortunately, it did not work, but it does work to make its way onto its list as Jacob Kane is on the board right at the jump. Number 10 is indeed JT writing a letter to Russell with one of the best attachments you could ever receive with an email or a tree mail. A hidden immunity idol from Survivor Heroes vs. Villains. I feel like we were all kind of circling around the drain as to just a matter of when, not if, this shows up. So, Mo, thoughts about this being number 10?

[00:13:16] Too high, too low? I absolutely love it. I think 10 is exactly right because we talked about it. It's that emotional core. It's silly, it's goofy, but it doesn't have that explosive moment that I think numbers maybe one through five will. Personally, with this moment, this is the epitome of when I tell people to watch the season, I say, text me when you get there. And they say, when you get there, you'll know. There's a lot of when you get there moments in Heroes vs. Villains, to be fair.

[00:13:44] They're like, oh, this dude just, this woman's shoulder got popped out and this other lady did a triple bird in the very first challenge. Meh. I just think that this moment, especially looking at the era that we're in of, like, people are playing too nice and playing the good guy. This is really, like, taking a jab at that and while beautifully showcasing themes, which are fantastic to showcase because themes are fantastic in Survivor. Yeah. I mean, listen to that point, Owen.

[00:14:13] We have the closing stanza as penned by Rupert over the shoulder as a ghostwriter. It's like, you know, this is your chance to prove you're not a villain. And what I didn't play is when Russell gets the letter, you know, when they do the sly handoff at the end of the challenge and Parvati proceeds to read JT's letter back in the most mocking tone possible. Something that allegedly she did many times in front of many different people for the rest of the season. As is her right. Yeah.

[00:14:43] I mean, I would quote that all season if I was on the villain's drive. It's like impossible to not make fun of. Also, I forgot how beautiful JT's penmanship is for all the video consumers here. Like, he really, like, focused on the cursive there. I wonder if it was production hoping Jamal might do something cracked like this with his pencil and kit. Yeah. Listen, let's call that out. Because, listen, Boston Rob infamously when Jamal went on to the Idol said, you've never seen a pen on Survivor before.

[00:15:13] B.S. Look at what JT's holding right now. That is a blue ballpoint pen. I do not want to know where that came from and how that made its way into the game, but made it, it did. Made it, it did. And definitely an iconic moment. I think 10 is perfectly fair. I don't know if it would have cracked the top five. I maybe would have had a little higher because what I was saying earlier, just like, it's just so objectively funny. Just like, also like, Russell, of all people, you see him, and as Courtney described him, what, she called him a bandy-legged little troll.

[00:15:43] Like, he does not exude trustworthiness. It doesn't necessarily, like, radiate off him. And you know he's on the Villain's Tribe for a reason. And it's great. I love it. And just, I mean, I love, I love Crackpot JT. I mean, his, like him abandoning everyone on the raft in Game Changers. Obviously, he screwed over Malcolm with his move, but he, like, invented the live tribal in a way. Like, he swings big.

[00:16:11] And honestly, I love watching him play with house money. And just, like, on all his subsequent seasons, he just kind of went for it. And this didn't work out for him, but it gave us great TV.

[00:16:21] So, when we talk about the magnanimity of this moment, you know, I do remember the reunion of Survivor Heroes vs. Villains, where they didn't do the whole America's Tribal Council, but they did have an impromptu award show for one particular category, which was the dumbest move in Survivor history. And JT's letter to Russell, I believe, became the leader in the clubhouse.

[00:16:48] And we are now 15 years removed from that. Jake, in retrospect, do you think this is indeed the dumbest move in Survivor history? No, absolutely not. Like, no disrespect to Eric, but, like, come on now. Like, I think here, almost, you know what I was thinking about when we were talking about this situation again, is that this almost seems inspiring. By Survivor token cheats in the exile alliance.

[00:17:15] I wonder, I'd be really interested to ask if, ask JT if this idea came from there. And then also, I was thinking about the pen as well, Owen. I can only think of three instances where there has been, you know, some sort of writing material in Survivor that has impacted the game. And someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Like, on the beach, obviously not writing in the booth. But this, the Jamal situation in 39, and then Vesepia writing down different things about people for travel council in Marquesas.

[00:17:45] And, like, as we're going through this situation now, it's hilarious. It's full of character moments. And it's such a huge, pivotal point to the season. You know what I mean? I mean, it's a giant swing in the game. And it's filled with so many character moments, as you said, like the poverty situation. And also now I'm thinking it's like looking at this situation. Let's give someone a pen on the beach. Let's see what they can do. You know what I mean? Like going into Survivor, like probably won't do it in Survivor 50, but going into Survivor 51, let's just give someone a pen and see what happens.

[00:18:15] You know? Well, yeah. Weren't you the guy that recently claimed, like, let's bring back luxury items and make them advantages? I did say that, yes. And I stand by it. And burn the advantages. That's a really key point here, Mike Bloom. Only if you want an idol. So that said, I mean, listen, I guess you could say the heroes got burned by Russell in the process. But I agree with you, Jake. Like, I think especially when you put yourself in the mindset of what these people were going through at the time.

[00:18:45] Yes, I agree. Russell was on the Villains Tribe. But they have no idea who this man is. He played a season that they had not seen up to that point. Allegedly, Russell had some very different claims as to why he was a villain that did not have anything to do with gameplay. Without saying too much, it might be something I get into in a future interview. But basically, you know, this was a blank slate that I think they were trying to work off of.

[00:19:12] And I think as the letter says, you know, they were assuming that the merge was going to be five versus five. And they figured they needed to swing somebody over or risk a possible tie vote here. And so it's either play the aisle for the correct person or throw this massive Hail Mary. Assume, as Rupert says, that Roman's Alliance is looking pretty strong and then use it to take out Parvati.

[00:19:36] But I will absolutely cosign everything you all are saying in like these are the swings we want Legends of the Game. You know, like this is truly out of the box thinking. And God, I get tickled every single time this clip opens with Colby, a Survivor 50 player saying, Ryan, you're letting it wrestle, bud.

[00:20:00] Like it's like something he's penning Santa, you know, hoping that there will be a Christmas this year. It is absolutely incredible. And yet it's this character moment baked into this absolute strategic maneuver that does not work whatsoever. It's incredible from top to bottom. The imagery now I'm getting is like, is Rupert Santa Claus there?

[00:20:25] Is he like the uncle over the shoulder, like asking him to, you know, ask his parents for bigger things for Christmas? Ask for more shoes, please. We need more shoes. Yeah. It's got a lump of coal there for JT, but it's beautiful. It's beautiful. Also, too, I want to back up JT. The villains that he knew from Token Sheets were like, even I was listening to him on the podcast the other day with Steven. He's always said Coach was a nice guy.

[00:20:53] Like people just didn't really like people thought Coach as quoting someone else. Very nice when I met him. Someone called him a jackass. You know what I mean? Like it wasn't necessarily he was doing bad things or like burning people's socks or things like that. Or like. And even even Tyson, you know, people really Tyson has a really notoriously strong social game through what I'm told. And you know what? I think Russell was just something else. And I think JT is an amazing winner, personally. But I don't think this game move is too much of a knock on him.

[00:21:23] It's an amazing move. Yeah, that's a really good point. I kind of disagree in a way of like, this is the epitome of do you go with the devil that you know or the devil that you don't? And he chose the literal one devil he did not know on that entire beach and said, that's my man. That's who I'm going to go with. So it was a true like, I think a Hail Mary from like a different stadium almost. Like he's really going for it. It was like a Hail Mary with a basketball. Like, all right, there better be the touchdown.

[00:21:52] You can throw this over the mountains. But I think that's the kind of attitude you can have as a winner. You're just coming back and you're just like, you're just playing Yolo ball at that point. But yeah, I agree with you, Jake. Hearing JT kind of just like effuse praise for coach and just how many times on that podcast he said, he's just a really nice guy. So I can see the like optimism coming from JT. And am I remembering correctly that at a challenge, Russell like made eye contact with JT. It was like, help me, help me.

[00:22:22] Yeah, he did the like the prayer hands. Because once he found out, once he heard the whole again discourse that was going on, the heroes were not keeping secret whatsoever. He's like, oh, I'm going to play the hell out of this. And so again, I'll give kudos to Russell here. He played his part incredibly well, much like a lot of great survivor players. He heard the perception that was being thrown his way and he steered the hell into the curve and it wound up with an idol in his and his alliances pocket. All right, let's move on to moment number nine.

[00:22:52] Here now, all three of you mentioned, which I am incredibly grateful for, that you had filled in your own top survivor moments, which ended up getting fueled into this list in more ways than one. Because I will say moment number nine was a moment that at least one of you submitted to us. It's a little bit of a wide net right now.

[00:23:19] You're going to do a little bit of even more memory jogging than this exercise provides. But at least one of you has moment number nine on their list. Doesn't narrow it down at all much. I mean, it narrows it down to like five to seven if you remember what you submitted. Oh, God. Oh, God. When was this list? 2014? No. Exactly.

[00:23:45] Listen, it was a month ago, but it feels like a year ago, considering how much has happened in the world since. Okay, I'm sure I put down the David versus Goliath, Mayor of Slamtown Tribal Council. Okay. I think that has potential here because I don't know if that's necessarily a top five, but that's a huge one for me, at least. I mean, it's extremely memorable. It's fun. It's like, you know, the storytelling perspective of the underdogs coming together. So that's what came to mind first.

[00:24:14] I'll lock that in as my guess. Okay. Jake, Mo, anything jog your memory from your list? So, yeah, there is recency bias, but I definitely put down Liz's Apple email down. Like, crash out is the word of the summer, so I feel like it's apt here, and we haven't seen it yet. It's a huge character moment. I know I put that down at least. Much like the apps that Liz missed out on. I think I put, I'm thinking Tony Speaks Llama. Okay.

[00:24:44] All right. Three very different guesses from three very different lists. Let's see what moment number nine is. Liz, do you feel comfortable talking about what you're feeling? Good job, Mo. Y'all say you had gone without eating. I see you eat every day.

[00:25:12] You almost blew up my whole game. You overshadowed everything I was trying to do. And I said it's cool. I didn't say nothing. I'm proud, y'all.

[00:25:42] I'm just cute, freaking spuck. But Liz, you voted for me last night, so. I made decisions based off where my head is right now in the game. I'm sorry. I'm over it now.

[00:26:11] Thank y'all for letting me have that. I feel better. I just exploded. Please. I'm sorry. Back to your regularly scheduled program. Thank you so much, Liz, for the natural transition as indeed from Survivor 46, the number nine moment in Survivor history. Liz's Applebee's meltdown. Mo, did you just feel the doppelganger spirit within you telling you that this had to be the number nine moment?

[00:26:40] Well, I just felt so hungry in that moment that it was just, again, maybe it's just recency bias, but I just don't remember something so overtly over the top that's antithetical to your game. It is in your best interest to do exactly not that at that moment. And I feel like that's what made it so beautiful. Also, isn't mirror was that extra, extra emotional just listening to it on audio only? There's something about it.

[00:27:10] Like we really need like a TikTok remix for that, putting that out there to the talented people. But that just wow. Like even now, it it went on a lot longer than I thought. Well, Mo, I want to stay on you here because, listen, you did not tragically get to experience the Applebee's meltdown in real time. But I'm curious. Look, I'm sure there was a lot to discuss in the Survivor 46 group chats after the season was done and dusted. When did you first hear that this happened?

[00:27:40] And what was your reaction to it? So this was one of the first things that we heard. Like, and I think that's why it came out so strong in my mind. Is it just like, who won? Liz had a meltdown out there. And I just remember thinking like, Liz, like Mima, Meek Liz, who like plays with her like sock as a puppet. Liz had a meltdown.

[00:28:05] So I'm just thinking about me as a viewer, me as someone hearing about it, Liz. And I love that. It's almost like you're watching someone on the Metro like have the worst day of their life. And there's something so human about it of like you are there in that moment watching someone crash out in real time. It is so raw. It is so specific. It is so hangry that you just feel it to your core. Almost in an, oh, we're in Fiji. I forgot type way. Yeah.

[00:28:35] I mean, to that point, listen, Owen, Jake, we are talking to arguably two of the biggest, you know, Charlie Browns in recent memory. Two people that express a bunch of visceral anger and frustration at certain points in the game. So do you find any sort of connection to Liz's moment from that perspective? I do. I mean, I had forgotten at the end. She just goes, I'm good now. I got it out.

[00:29:02] Like, I'm not a big astrology person, but as a Cancer, I can relate to that very deeply. Um, someone once read me a line from a book, uh, about astrology that was like, cancers have a, just a simmering anger beneath a calm surface at all times. And it just, it pops out. But yeah, I mean, to your point about just like forgetting you're there almost. Yeah. Just sometimes the, the, the grumpy's got to come out, but, uh, it really shocked me how long that, that clip went for.

[00:29:30] Um, I think when she said the word nothing, that was the most syllables that the word nothing has ever had. Um, and she just, it was a performance and hearing it without the visual, honestly, like you said, like perfection. But yeah, I can definitely relate to Liz. I mean, I lost my cool with James. I murdered that coconut after Carla got the advantage at the final five. Like I've been there. I get it. But, um, it is extra funny that she had voted for Q the night before.

[00:29:59] Like that just, that's just, that's just what takes it to the next level for me. I could not imagine the final five of survivor 45 going to shit. And then someone taking away a sandwich from me the next morning. I just, I don't even like, I don't, I like, honestly, like hearing Liz, like I feel for her. People are like, I was at a watch. I was, I think I was at one of Charlie's watch parties when this episode came out. Dude, the room was silent.

[00:30:29] There's like probably like over 50 people in this room. People were so quiet. People were like, whoa. But like hearing it, it's like, to be fair, kind of get it. Number one. And then number two, the biggest thing that pisses me off about this moment is that I feel like in all the exit press we heard, um, who, uh, Q took Maria and not Maria, excuse me. He took, uh, Tiff and Kenzie, right? Didn't they offer Liz their spot?

[00:30:58] And Q said not. Yes. That's what, that's what Tiffany claims. Why didn't we get that? Like this could have been so much, like it's amazing moment. There's a reason it's number nine, but it's like, it feels like it could have moved up too with that. Right. I mean, it would be so incredible if we got the chance to see it. Cause that's the thing is that Liz obviously is the star of this clip deservedly. So, but we get a couple of key popping moments from Q here.

[00:31:24] First, the idea that, you know, in a survivor of 46, one of, and I say with love the most petty seasons in recent memory. That Q deprives Liz of one of the only things she could have eaten out there. And over the course of a month, he's like, shouldn't have voted for me. Sorry is absolutely incredible. It takes a rare survivor player to have the cojones to do that.

[00:31:50] And then for Liz to be bellowing in his face, just a raw miasma ball of emotion. And for him, just coolly respond and be like, well, you voted for me last night. So sorry. What a wild response to have to someone having a mental breakdown. Like, well, the more you think about it, Liz, it actually is your fault. So sorry about that. Well, and there's not a lick of sass or any attitude or anything on Q's response.

[00:32:19] It's just so matter of fact, so dry, just so to the point that that just elevates it even higher. It almost sounds like elementary school or like you don't get to go to recess because you hit someone. Like it has a very matter of fact. You did this, you get that kind of deal. Actions have consequences, Liz. It's so good. Yeah, I mean, this is one of those moments where I think, you know, and we'll certainly probably hear about it in the comments.

[00:32:49] I think a lot of people are debating, you know, very recent. And again, we experienced this a year ago. Is it too high? This to me is an instantly iconic moment. You know, I think this might be one of the biggest and most entertaining meltdowns in Survivor history, because we have certainly seen the hashtag version of it. Right. During the days of like your Holly Hoffman's, your Lisa Welchell's, your Kathy Babrick O'Brien's, where it's like more of like a sad breaking down. This is a red hot anger.

[00:33:17] This is a new emotion when it comes to the Survivor breakdown. And not only that, it quickly brings Applebee's into the equation where back in the day you have car sponsors, right? They're like, oh, this guy made a deal with a GMC truck. We don't want to be a part of this anymore. Survivor. Sorry. Applebee's is like, no. Now everyone has been given the best advertisement possible for our Bourbon Street mushroom burger.

[00:33:44] It made this grown woman melt down on national television. That's how good Applebee's is. It's it's just such an incredible moment. It is one of those things where you were watching something unfold in real time and you're like, I truly cannot believe what I'm seeing. This is humanity on display to your point, Mo, in so many different ways. Yeah, the absurdity knocks it up a few spots for sure. It's just like, how did this even happen? It's it's incredible. It's what Survivor is about.

[00:34:13] It's like the human condition. Well, and not to mention as well, you know, I think a big question is going to be, does this affect things moving forward? Again, this is a very recent season. We saw Shaheen make a crack about it, to be fair, when he went to the sanctuary right in 48. He's like, oh, I, you know, I was I didn't want I wanted to take you joke. They didn't want you to have a Liz esque meltdown. And so I'm incredibly intrigued to see if this is something that's going to be living rent free in so many.

[00:34:41] I imagine especially new players heads moving forward. What do you think, though? Oh, I think absolutely. And part of it, too, is is that weird cross section of a lot of emotion actually layered over gameplay in such a subtle way that like you almost forgot. Not Q said, well, you voted for me at the end because it's so focused on the raw emotion. But at the end of the day, it is Survivor. And everything that you're doing out there, it's another layer to think about. Oh, I broke this woman.

[00:35:11] I can't go to her camp and ask her to vote with me or maybe my actions will have this reaction just based on voting, based on challenge reward. It's always been a thing. But I think this is really like take the volume, turn it up to 12. And I guess the other side of it, Jake, is do we predict any players are given the freedom now to have these open crash outs as a result of the epic display that Liz put on? Yeah, absolutely. Jeff knows what's good.

[00:35:40] Jeff knew that was a great moment. Jeff's actually going to be like, yo, you want to just like melt down right now? I wouldn't be shocked if he asked someone at some point. And he's just like, yeah, let it ride. All right. Well, we are melting. Yeah, we are far from a meltdown as we will finish our meal with Liz because we see her eat every day whenever we get to see this moment. Let's get to number eight.

[00:36:06] And while this moment in particular is from one season, I will say that moment number eight is a moment that has been referenced in multiple subsequent seasons of Survivor. This moment is so big it has been referenced in multiple subsequent seasons after it initially occurred. What are we thinking about right now? What's right off the top of the noggin?

[00:36:34] I don't have a moment I'm thinking of. I'm like trying to think in my brain. Are you more likely to reference a gameplay reference in one line or reference a character moment? And that's kind of where I'm going at. What does this entail that is so referenceable? Is it quotable? I know what like for me, I feel like the new era is so self-referential to Survivor.

[00:37:02] There's so many new super fans. I'm like trying to rack my brain for what people have referenced. Something coming to mind, but it doesn't track with a moment is people comparing themselves to Malcolm and Denise. But I don't think Malcolm and Denise forming their alliance and doing their little dance is a top 10 moment. But like they are such an iconic alliance that people have referenced since. So I got to move past that and try to think of something else. Jake, what's going on with you? I think I'm wrong, but I'm just trying to think of something like referential.

[00:37:33] Is it going to rocks in Millennials versus Gen X? Because I'm just thinking like even in 34, like they switch the tiebreaker rules because of it. What would it be? Now that we're talking about game changes. Is it the first live tribal? The Malcolm tribal? Okay. I think I'm wrong. I don't know. Yeah, I'll guess Black Widow. I know. I don't think it's this low on the list. Gotta fit in somewhere. But I'm putting something. What are we doing?

[00:38:04] Yeah. Or could it be the stick? Like it's a freaking it's a fucking stick. Oh, that may be here. But then I don't know if that's like a direct reference that people are referencing. But the whole concept of fake idols and rehiding stuff, the move itself lives on. So it's a good guess as any, I suppose. All right. We're all going to be kicking ourselves in the ass as soon as you say it, Mike. All right. Well, get those feet already. Let's see what number eight is. I picked off one. It was the wrong one. There's a blank sheet of wood.

[00:38:35] So I heard it and picked off the second one. The actual rose with the congratulations. This is a million idols, not a blank piece of wood. So I have it now. I have it in my possession. And I have it with two idols. That's funny. I'm more surprised with two idols. I will have the idols there. They will be in my possession. Just in case. If I get a sense that somebody is going to do something they're not supposed to do, I would play the idol. I'd have to.

[00:39:03] If anyone has a hidden immunity idol, now would be the time to play it. Tenth person voted out in the fourth member of our jury. James. I have the two idols. I guess I should have played them. Yeah. You think so, James? You think so? As your blunder becomes our pleasure to discuss. As the number eight moment in Survivor history, James gets voted out with two idols. And briefly holds his reign as he claims as the dumbest Survivor ever.

[00:39:34] I literally smacked my face when I heard James' voice. I was like, duh, that's so obvious. Because, yeah, I mean, no one wants to be the next James. And, I mean, obviously it's rare to have two idols in your possession. But the fear of going home with an idol in your pocket, that is the double-edged sword that an idol presents to everybody. So, yeah, this makes sense as being a top ten. I mean, it's like, it's a great move on Todd's part, first of all.

[00:39:59] But then just like the calamity of it all is just so juicy. And you feel so bad. And, yeah, that's just, that's a bummer. And I'm surprised we didn't think of it. But I guess when people reference it, they just say, I don't want to go home with an idol in my pocket. They don't always say, I don't want to go home with an idol in my pocket like James. But still, it was right there in front of us. But that's a good one. It's a good pick.

[00:40:24] Yeah, I mean, you bring up a really good point, Owen, as we move from Applebee's to biting the apple here and James getting voted out, is the hidden immunity idol was still very young. It had just reached sort of the version that we see today. But I believe, technically speaking, I mean, I guess we could count sort of like the god idols that don't get used by Terry and Yule. But again, in the modern incarnation, James was the first person, but certainly not the last to get voted out with an idol in his pocket.

[00:40:50] And not only that, really set the bar high with getting voted out with two idols. And I think Mo really was a sharp slap to the face to not only himself, but a lot of future survivor players of like, yeah, you really can never be too, you know, fearful of your life. Even if you feel protected by an alliance of five and two idols, you could still find a way to go out seventh somehow. Yeah, I was selfishly.

[00:41:18] I'm thinking I'm like, so did this in between Hunter or Tiff or between Tiff and Q or but I think there's a certain brutality. And like you said, it's so early on. And to be a viewer and watching this unfold, it's really one of those times where you as the viewer are let in almost on a secret. Like you're watching it all go down. You're seeing the conversations. You're seeing the vote. And you're seeing it crumble before your eyes in real time.

[00:41:48] And also as a viewer, it probably feels pretty good. You're like, I would never do that. I could never do that. So watching that moment, I think, strikes a very strong emotion from someone on the couch watching. Oh, yeah. Jake, I think a thousand more armchair quarterbacks were born in what James was able to pull off or not pull off. I mean, like, look, it's iconic. He's the first person to ever be voted out with two idols. He's the first person to be voted out with an idol in their pocket as well. Right. Yeah. But if we're looking at like the Fiji. Yeah, I guess. Yeah.

[00:42:18] Because you're you'll and Terry. I mean, Terry was voted out, but it was after the aisle expired. I'm just going to make a hot take real quick. I don't think I don't think this moment should be in the top 25 because it's not a moment. You know what I mean? It's not a moment. You know what I mean? It's like the whole episode. I don't see it as a moment as much. James got voted out. Yeah, it was a big deal. Ha ha. He had two idols in his pocket. I wouldn't have been in the top 25. I don't even think it's the best moment of the season. I think the best moment of the season is Todd calling out John Robert and final tribal. I don't think it's close. And I don't think you're going to see that on this list moving forward.

[00:42:46] I think this it's a wild fact, but I wouldn't have put it as a top 25 moment. I mean, I'll admit, I think when you look at some of the biggest moments involving idols, which we might talk about over the rest of this list, you know, this podcast and next, it doesn't necessarily, you know, hit the creme de la creme in my mind. Maybe it's because, again, we have seen so many people get voted out with idols in the process,

[00:43:10] but it also serves as a key reminder of what a star James Clement was. Like, yes, he really burned out in so many ways in Heroes vs. Villains, but like Micronesia and especially China, like this guy won back-to-back fan favorite awards. He was this truly once-in-a-lifetime character, this svelte grave digger who was soft-spoken yet hilarious at the same time.

[00:43:37] And then to watch him go from like the king of everything to becoming the most lowly peasant after digging himself up from being a lowly peasant, right? That like the whole reason why he winds up with two idols is because he got swapped screwed. And so Todd gives him an idol, tells him how to find the other idol, which he does, then just kind of holds on to them, hoping like, you know, Todd won't ask for it back. But Amanda is the one to really put the bug in the ear here and I think really invigorate

[00:44:06] what was kind of like a more of a slow period of Survivor China. So, I mean, Owen, when we talk about what ramifications this moment has, this was alongside the JT letter as a nominee for dumbest move in Survivor history. Yeah, and now that we're talking about it more, I think I do agree with Jake. I think this is on the list because of like the legacy it left behind more so than like the entertainment value in the moment.

[00:44:31] So I think like maybe definitionally, this is more of like a game changing moment, monumental moment, whatever you want to say. Like it's so hard. Like I know people are sending in their like best movies lists on the New York Times right now. And it's like, what does best mean? And what does greatest mean when we're talking about this list? But no question, this is like a huge moment in Survivor history. But it is, I think, more about what's to follow.

[00:44:59] But yeah, it's in hindsight, I think like having to play multiple clips to like explain the whole situation almost, I think, is a sign that it's not as like zippy as some of the others. But still, the impact on the show and like subsequent seasons and like the meta of the whole game that we all love is really cool. And also, I don't know if I've said this on a podcast before. I've realized I learned this from, as some of you know, I live in New Orleans. I've lived in Louisiana for like 15 years. James is from Louisiana.

[00:45:28] He's from Lafayette. Strong possibility. His whole family pronounces it Claymore and not Clement. And he never corrected anyone that's been on the record. I was talking to my one of my buddies, TJ LeBlanc, and he was saying he's got friends named Claymore. And that's how they all say it around there. So who knows if we ever get a hold of him again, we'll have to ask how they pronounce it. Yeah, I mean, it's one of these things where, again, maybe one of the reasons why we feel like it might ping Hollow or not.

[00:45:56] It does not stay, depending on your view of things, is because it's more of a stretched out moment or the fact that we've had so many instances of this. Since we even had another two-idol moment with Kelly Kim in Survivor 39. But I do remember watching this live in the moment and how big of a deal this was. Like, yes, the hidden immunity idol in this incarnation was a new thing. But like, as a concept, this was looked at as kind of like a get-out-of-jail-free card, right?

[00:46:23] And it still is wild to me that idols expire at the final five and James has two of them. And so he probably thinks, if I just get through this one vote, I can just play the next two idols and I'm sitting in the final four. Gee, I hope nobody else figures that out, too. Only for everybody else to figure that out.

[00:46:47] I mean, I think that obviously a lot of things in Micronesia will eclipse this to the point that James will exclaim it during a certain tribal council. But certainly at the time, due to the character as well as just like the pure unprecedented aspect of this move, it certainly did loom large towards like, you know, the late aughts in Survivor history. I think we need to stop referring to this as a moment and more an event, something that happened.

[00:47:12] Like, I feel like it was a notch in the timeline of Survivor. It happened. It changed the course of the future. But for me, and this is looking back and figuring, differentiating between like recency bias of like, how do you feel when it happened versus how do you reflect on its impact of the game and its greater moments? Its impact and legacy to me is the two idols, not James. And I feel like, yes, if you're a big fan and you have all that swirling around, you know, all that context. It's great.

[00:47:41] But really, the headline to me is someone got voted out with two idols. Oh, my God. That's awful. Yeah. I like when I think of when I think of James in China, I'm thinking don't bite the apple. I'm thinking F. Go F. Sudoku. Right. Like, I'll be real. When I think of James in China, I don't even. This isn't the first probably three or four things I think of. I'll marry people. That is music to his ears right now.

[00:48:08] Remember, the last thing we saw of James was that they unearthed him, speaking of burying bodies, to come out for the Survivor Ghost Island finale to be like, hello, remember my failures? Yes, wasn't that fun? I don't know. I didn't watch it live. I started watching it in one world. So like, this is one that I did in probably two or three sittings, like the whole season. And like you said, Mike, it was probably much bigger if you watched it live week to week than if you're binged.

[00:49:09] All right. Well, let us move into Moment number several on this list. Moment number seven. There we go. And I'm bringing it back to Survivor 50. Moment number seven on this list was something experienced by not one, but two contestants from Survivor 50.

[00:49:33] Two Survivor 50 contestants were present for Moment number seven. What was that moment? I'm my head's going to I'm trying to remember. Oh, oh, Natalie, can I have your jacket? Because Mike and Angelina were there. But I can see this group putting it in the top five. But we're getting close. I mean, sevens, that's that's a very respectable placement.

[00:50:03] So that's where my head's going off the rip here. I think that's a really good guess. Now I'm thinking I was like, there's no way it's anything else. To be honest. I completely agree. I it's a small pool where two can be in there at the same time. And I think you hit on the head. All right. So we're in unanimity here. Number seven is the jacket moment. Is it the jacket moment? Six person voted out of Survivor. David versus Goliath.

[00:50:33] Natalie. Need to bring me your torch. Hi. Oh, my God. I just wanted to give you a hug. Natalie, is there any way I could have your jacket? Natalie. Natalie. Travis spoken. Thank you, Jim. Natalie. Natalie. Time for you to go.

[00:51:03] Thank you. I didn't give Angelina my jacket because I didn't know if she was a part of the reason why I'm out. So why should I? I don't have to. And I chose not to. So I'm wearing it. Really underrated. Incredible. Final words from Natalie cold. The center of Natalie. Can I have your jacket as? Yes, indeed.

[00:51:31] We have two people who experienced this live. One of whom was standing begging for a jacket from a woman that she just contributed to voting out and the other from a man whose face was in his hands as he realized I could probably make a TV show out of this moment. So you all were correct about this. Oh, and does this feel right for you to have this particular moment in the top 10? I think it does.

[00:52:00] I think it does because it just similar to the Liz moment. It just encapsulates kind of the absurdity of the things that can happen on the show. When you put these people in these situations, whether it's hunger or discomfort from the cold or whatever, like people are just going to do what they're going to do. And you get this extremely educated, put together person who is thinks she has this like amazing plan, acting surprised, right? Voting for someone else.

[00:52:27] And then just pulling off this absurd thing to try to secure a zip hoodie. It's just it's so ridiculous. It's so funny. So, yeah, I think I think top 10 feels fair for sure. I personally actually know I think I personally would have it up there. It's just so ridiculous. You just can't you almost can't believe that it's something that actually happened. But that's what makes it beautiful to me. Jake, agree. It's great for top 10. This should never move. This should always be in top 10.

[00:52:57] It really should. I remember when the cast for 50 was announced and I was like really hyped for Angelina to come back. I was like going back through Twitter and I was like trying to go back to when this season come out, like 2017, something like that. And I remember rooting for her literally the whole time because this is just so funny. It's so funny. And then the fact that you have Natalie needs to come back for blood versus water, get someone from her family throwing in blood versus water season.

[00:53:26] But this moment is so good. This moment is so good. I remember watching this episode. I was in college. I was one of my best friends, Andre. And I remember him watching and be like, yo, what is this show? I'm like, dog, I can't even tell you right now. I don't even know. What is this? You know what I mean? And I haven't seen every season at that point. But this is just so iconic. It's so good. And now I'm just getting excited to see Angelina back. What kind of hijinks is she up to right now?

[00:53:56] Oh, yeah. I hope she has a jacket, whatever she's doing. I mean, she will by the end of this. I wouldn't be surprised if she's like the veritable coat check and has everyone's jacket by whatever day it is on Survivor 50. No, I completely. I think the fact that it's also so close to the Liz mode really speaks to like the statistical norming that our viewers like subconsciously did, because there are so many parallels. Like this is her silently being like, I'm emotional. I'm in my works. I forgot I'm in Fiji. I just need a jacket.

[00:54:26] I'm cold. And Natalie being like, you voted for me. Sorry. It is a game. But at least for me, this this moment lives rent free in my head the entire time because I have never looked at Survivor clothing the same way again. And even on like with like trading earrings or like the way that people barter, their creativity of what you wear really is almost the character in the game itself. Yeah.

[00:54:54] I mean, it's a good point that I think while this is, you know, obviously personified as a huge character moment or Angelina and incredible character, I would say this is like really her coming out moment who I think for the two of the first four episodes of the season was like, you know, she had some moments in the premiere, especially when you look back on it. But like this is the moment where she really stands out as an incredibly unique person. It does speak to her doing this because she has this basic human need, right?

[00:55:21] Like this has to fall pretty high on Maslow's hierarchy of survivor needs, which is like she wants a jacket, so she's going to get it. I think what I forget about until I play the clip is that the way it's written out, usually when we memify it or just recall it is like, Natalie, is there any way I can have your jacket? Natalie, Natalie, nothing. You forget the second half of that quote is reserved until after Natalie's torches stuff that Angelina makes the ask before Natalie gets her torch snuff.

[00:55:51] And then after it happens is like, hey, just circling back up with. Yes, you're right. Before you walk down that ramp forever. Per my last email, can I have your jacket, Natalie? And I love the nothing as well. It's also like very self-effaciously. She's like, damn it. Again, much like the JT letter, kind of like, yep, worth a try. But it was a moment that was instantly iconic to the point where remember the game within the game, folks, the hit rubric puzzles that were utilized in Survivor 41.

[00:56:21] One of the game within a game puzzles, which utilized a bunch of Survivor phrases usually said by Jeff with maybe one exception, which was Natalie, can I have your jacket? And so if you ever wanted an indication as to Survivor wanting Angelina back ASAP, look to that. Look to the rubric. I mean, they literally used it on, I think, official CBS press was like, she really failed to get that jacket in her season.

[00:56:49] But like there is a no to it in the current like hubbubaloo going on. And I also think to like the point of this, there was such a redemption arc with Natalie here or not only with Angelina because she became the negotiator later on. She's negotiating with Jeff. She's speaking for the tribe. She's like begging in a more eloquent, more successful way. But we really like almost set that up here of her failing to see it succeed later down the line.

[00:57:19] If Becky Lee is the godmother of zero vote finalists, Angelina is the Coco Chanel. Owen, do you feel like that's fair to say? I do think that's fair. I'll co-sign that for sure. I just have to put this out here as a question, because during Survivor 48, I did as part of the B&B a game one time of the Survivor cringe moment tournament.

[00:57:47] And I asked the listeners to send me what they thought was the most cringe moments across 25 years of Survivor. And there was a healthy amount of people, I would say, that sent this to me. Do we think, panel, that this is a cringe moment? Yeah. I think it has to be. Yeah. I think this is a better moment than the Liz moment. But I would say the Liz moment is more cringe. Oh, interesting.

[00:58:18] Mm-hmm. I just, I love the screen grab you have here of Mike White, just with his face in his hand, just like, oh my god, what is happening? Because that's one of those things that you'd be watching it unfold in front of you, just like, how is this really a thing that's going on in the universe right now? So yeah, I think it's certainly cringe, but in like a beautiful, beautiful, funny way. But like experiencing it in the moment must have been so uncomfortable.

[00:58:45] And especially for like, it was jarring to me how quiet Tribal Council is when you're there. You know, you can just hear a pin drop. And so for that to be happening while you can hear Natalie just like walking over there, no music, obviously. Like, it just must have been like violently uncomfortable. And I love it. I love it for that. And just shout out Angelina. Between this, the Rice negotiation, and her 200-foot ladder, just so many, just so many iconic moments.

[00:59:14] So I'm excited to see her on 50. Again, this really shows if you want to cement yourself as someone that remains in the eyes of fans all these years later in production to get brought back, do things like this. Take risks. They say you have to make big moves to win the game. This is a manner of speaking that sentiment of like, if you want to pop on our screens, like, try some stuff.

[00:59:38] Because yes, you might flame out entirely, but you might become instantly memetic, you know, referenced in myriad survivor merchandise. And then half a decade later, come back, coming for everyone else's jackets. Personality hires get jobs, you know? Like, she's a great strategist too, but this is truly a moment of like, I'm going to say something ridiculous and not give it a second thought because that's just who I am. All right.

[01:00:07] I also love Natalie's face in her final words. She's just like cheesing with her hoodie on. She is just so content with wearing that jacket. Yeah. She looks like she was about to put on like another park on top of it. Like, oh, I'm just so chilly right now. All right. We have one moment left to talk about here. Moment number six, which will get left out in the cold from the top five, much like Angelina was.

[01:00:35] So we've talked about idols a couple times in this very podcast. Of course, number 10 was JT giving an idol to Russell. Number eight was James getting voted out with two idols. And I will say appropriately so. Number six is a moment also involving an idol. Wentworth will not count. That it could be fucking stick. It could be Eric. It could be a mayor of slam town.

[01:01:04] I feel like Wentworth makes top five. Maybe. I don't know. I might be contradicting myself from an hour ago. I don't even know at this point. It's so hard to say like how the like how the patterns are unfolding here. Oh, but like and then we're missing like I've been reading the chat as we're going like they're listing off so many worthy moments that aren't on the list yet and they're listing more than five or more than six. So I'm wondering what's going to get totally left off the list here.

[01:01:33] I'm going to go with the David another David versus Goliath moment in the John Hennigan booth. Okay. All right. Three very different moments spanning three different parts of Survivor. Jake, you have one more thing to say or you're right? I just feel like I'm right. I want to. All right. Let's see. Jake is right. Here is moment number six. What are you trying to pull? I'm going home anyhow. Why? It's not the idol. It is the idol. It's not the idol. It's this. Ozzy must have put it in there. He must have the real thing. That's not the idol. What is it?

[01:02:02] It's a stick. I know. It has a face on it. Don't worry. Ozzy put it on there and made a face on it. No, he didn't. It's not the idol. Why do you say that? Because that can't be the idol. Why not? Because it's just a stick. I know. Do you think so? I think that that's not the idol. And that's a bummer. Should I try and play? Yeah, of course. All right.

[01:02:32] A moment so iconic. It had the FCC in shambles. Indeed, as well predicted. The number six moment in Survivor history is, it's an effing stick from Survivor Micronesia. Arguably the most iconic line said by Eliza Orleans across her two seasons. Certainly. I forgot how much, how circular that conversation was. Like the fact that she really had to like say it three times. And in this screen grab you have here,

[01:03:01] Jason looks like the embodiment of the like the joke. It's like walking in your parents' room at 3 a.m. to tell him you threw up. Yeah. Like a child getting chastised, which he kind of is. That's kind of how the conversation went. It is objectively hilarious that he thought this poorly. It's not like this was a work of art. Like I think it was just. Hey, I'll do spend hours working on it. He said as much when Jeff threw it in the fire that night. So this makes sense. This makes sense. Maybe, maybe a touch high, but no.

[01:03:31] I mean, it's, it's so quotable. It's, it's memorable, memorable. And yeah, just, just like, to me, it's so funny just because you get like these polar opposite personalities interacting, these two people who probably would not like interface much in real life. And they're having this very serious strategy conversation that is enging upon this just like absurd thought of Jason's that he thinks this is a real idol. It's just, it's great. See, Owen, I'm going to disagree with you.

[01:04:00] I think it's low. I don't think it's high. Cause like, I feel, I feel like it's an effing stick. It's just a lot. Wherever the Wentworth vote is. I think this should switch. If it's in the top five, it should switch spots to Wentworth vote personally, but or Wentworth idol, but yeah, it's so good. And it just like Eliza react. This is one of the moments where I'm like, I started watching survivor season 24 and I wish I could have seen this live. Cause like, I feel like the first time I heard about this moment was like through the,

[01:04:30] the Twitter or Reddit or something. And it was like, damn, I wish I could have been there in that moment to just really take it all in. And of course I've seen Micronesia numerous times, but it's, it was so funny. Even watching it for the first time and you know, what's going to happen. And it's just the, just Jason's reaction. Yeah. What? Yeah. Okay. And so, so great. So, yeah. I'll, I'll tie break. I'll say it slow.

[01:04:59] I like looking at the criteria that we've heard tonight. Right. It's quotable, making it a moment and not an event, like just two idols. It's a character moment of like the way that she's saying it and the way that she's explaining and the way it's almost like shaking someone verbally is something unique to her. It's something that's game wise. It's a gameplay move. It might impact the way that you play the game. And it's also going to impact players in the future of it's a fucking stick.

[01:05:30] You know, everyone's out there. Like I'm surprised there wasn't a fucking stick idol on the next season. You know, there was technically in ghost Island. Technically it had to mature a little bit. It wasn't there yet. Yeah, exactly. I mean, you bring up a really good point in that this does feel like a bit of an event. You know, this is the culmination of this episode's long storyline where Ozzy goes to exile, finds the idol decides to make a fake. And by that, I mean, you know, one of the, I would say, you know,

[01:05:58] most nature efficient contestants in Ozzy loop decides to assemble his fake idol by taking a piece of wood and carving a little face into it. Like Mr. Henke, and then puts it under a rock and basically says no one dumb enough would be able to get fooled by that. They found that one. This is the Neo here. It is Prince. It's Jason Siska and him, you know, parading this along him promising Eliza, like, listen, you're in danger right now. So I'll give you the idol. He leaves it for her. Like, all right,

[01:06:28] your present is waiting. It's like, great. And then she finds that, you know, as Johnny Fairplay would say, you thought it was a, your whole doll, but it was just her sister's Barbie doll painted green. That's just an effing stick. And I think it's that line that makes it a moment rather than an event as you're claiming, right? It's like, this is incredibly quotable. It is one of those rare times where we have, you know, an outright curse, uh, aside reversing the curse when it comes to this, becoming a totem on ghost Island, getting reflected in a quote.

[01:06:57] It does represent Eliza as well in many ways. But again, what I love about this moment is Jason Siska and how he's like, maybe also low key gaslighting Eliza as well. When you listen back and he's like, it's an epic thing. I know. Don't worry about it. It's going to be fine. He's like, no, no, just follow my logic here. It does have a face that he eventually goes through kind of like the five stages of grief all at once. Finally to acceptance of like, Oh yeah, you think so? That sucks.

[01:07:27] You called it incredible. Go ahead. I was just going to say, you called it a green painted Barbie. I was thinking like straight to like 40 from like toy story five or something like a little, like it's my favorite. Like, I do think one of the cool moments about this is like Eliza is almost the voice of the audience in this moment. And like, you know, you see the scene where Jason gets the stick and everyone's like, are you serious? Like it's not even that good. And then Eliza comes in is like,

[01:07:57] says what everyone's been thinking for the last half hour. And it's just like, Oh yeah. Someone told what we were all thinking. And that's why I think the moment's so powerful. And so like, yeah, shout out to Eliza for that one. And as, as I'm looking at this photo and reading the chat, people in the chat are, are talking about San Juan del Sur and Natalie Anderson. And a moment from there, the Jacqueline, did you vote for, but seeing this photo while I'm thinking about San Juan del Sur,

[01:08:27] um, is Jason a long lost relative to the Christie brothers? Like, has this been discussed before? Because this is big Christie energy happening in this scene. And they look like they could be like, they're just all giving Florida man. Yeah. Very strong ways. Well, and I think especially Jason kind of combined some of the worst slash most memeable qualities of both drew and Alec. And that he was so obscenely confident through him getting voted out with an idol in his pocket.

[01:08:56] It also had this complete airheadedness with which he walked around everything as well. Like he thought his shit couldn't stink, but also like, he didn't know how to wipe. If that makes sense. Like you should write poetry, Mike. I mean, it's a, he is, he is like, and like I talked about with Q, like he's a very essential member. I think of this scene. I know that Eliza obviously is going to get the brunt of the focus understandably.

[01:09:26] So for having the line behind it, but Jason Siska for not only providing the prop, but again, just, this is the thing is that these next level moments in survivor are proof positive. That was something that was substantiated back in 2000. And that like the reason why reality TV took off is because of this entire vantage point of like, wow, you can create something on the level of scripted TV without writers and without actors. This legitimately is a comedy scene. Like replay it,

[01:09:56] listen to the dialogue. This is something out of sketch comedy with the whole straight man, crazy man dynamic. We've seen Oh, so many times. This kind of harkens to what we were talking about earlier when we were talking about the letter is, it's not just JT writing the letter and having that move. It's Russell, like really like hamming it up like at the challenges and one really feeds into the other. So it's this great combination of you have an instigator,

[01:10:24] you have someone to antagonize them and keep them like pushing them to their limit, to like really climb sillier and more ridiculous than you ever would in normal life. And then you just have the whole setting of survivor, whether it be a challenge, the idea of idols, data of hidden idols, or the ability to make a really bad stick. Like there's a situation in which this maybe could have been feasible to happen. Yeah. I'm loving where this conversation is going. Cause I was just listening to the other episode where you're talking

[01:10:51] about operation Italy and how Sam Phelan said, Andy is the straw that stirs the drink. So all these, what we've just been talking about Jason here, like he is the straw that is just elevating this moment to like the, the next plane of comedy. Cause it wouldn't just be the same if he just handed it over and she said, it's a stick. And he said, okay, damn, you know, it's just all these extra layers to it that just make these moments so juicy. And like you said, just like, like so unbelievable that they couldn't be possibly written.

[01:11:21] You know, you couldn't pay for them to come up with shit like this. It's just so absurd. And that's, that's what makes survivor like my favorite show. Like, it's just, you get all these, like every pocket of these kinds of moments, whether it's dramatic and heartfelt and you find yourself like crying at a beautiful human moment or the absurd. And it's, it's great. Yeah. We go from the straw that stirred the drink last time to the stick that I

[01:11:45] suppose stirs the drink in the form of this fake idol to close out this edition. So just to review here, the five moments that we talked about as we cracked into the top 10 and number 10 is JT's letter to Russell and heroes versus villains idle in tow. Number nine, Liz's Applebee's meltdown from a survivor. 46 number eight, James gets voted out with two idols in survivor China. Number seven,

[01:12:14] Angelina asked for Natalie's jacket from David versus Goliath. And number six, it's an effing stick from survivor Micronesia, which I will also mention. Actually, I don't remember if that was listed in the dumbest moves in survivor history. I do not think it made the cut. I don't remember them cutting to Jason Siska or Eliza in the audience, but I mean, looking at this, this particular batch, yeah, there might be some placements that surprise people one way or the other,

[01:12:42] but I think it really does show like we are kind of in the end game here that these are instantly quotable moments. Some things that have broken the internet, some that have defined survivor history thereafter, defined character arcs thereafter. So if this is what 10 to six looks like, I am incredibly intrigued to see what five to one are going to be. Let's go around the horn. If you want to each give some final words, plug anything.

[01:13:10] If you'd like people to check you out anywhere in particular, Mo, let's start with you. Okay. Hi, my username is here. Check me out there on Twitter and Instagram. I would say, I think this list is really good. Minus the one event that snuck in here, but happens. And I think it really encapsulates the human side of survivor. We're getting into this idea that, you know, you think grandiose TV, you think like Emmys or stuff, and it really has to pull at your heartstrings, but having these light comedic moments are really what makes,

[01:13:40] what makes it really elevated and what makes it last. So, so long. And I'm curious, at least for the top five, I think we're going to see a little bit more stronger of those character building on gameplay. And I'm really excited for it. I'm also very, very excited to see the heated comments when people realize that not only is their top, not in the top five is not even on the list because that's all you got left guys. It's one or the other at this point. Yeah, exactly.

[01:14:08] It's got to either make the top five or not make the list at all. And who knows, maybe if I'm being nice, I could get into some honorable mentions that just missed out, but we did not miss out. Jake O'Kane and having you on the podcast. Great job as per usual, any final words. And what would you like to plug? I think there was a lot of good moments there. I don't, I don't really have anything to plug. You want to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, you can do that, but like that, that was such a great, those are, those are some great moments in one kind of event, but you know,

[01:14:37] I'm really excited to see what the top five has in store. You know, I'm going to miss some of my favorite moments that I'm pretty sure I'm going to make the list, but I'm excited to see what the top five actually is. What's what's one that you think will not make the list, but what it made yours. Uh, Shane powers threatened to quit. Would have made my list. So that's more of an event because having multiple times over the course of the season, I would say the first time though was the best. We go on. If he wants to quit, let him quit. Like now,

[01:15:07] that would have been the moment for me. All right. Owen bring us home. Yeah. Well, thanks for having us. This has been a fun series and, and Mo, I think you captured it. Well, I think those looking back at the list, I was like frantically typing as we went through them. Um, these are kind of all moments or most of them are moments that kind of like toe that line between, between strategy and, uh, just personality. And so I think we're going to be seeing, you know, something like the dead grandma's lie, you know,

[01:15:37] which is obviously such a big gameplay move, but it's just so originally Johnny fair play. So things like that. So I'm nervous. I saw some people talking about the, uh, Jacqueline, did you vote for who I told you to vote for? I don't know if that's going to make it, even though it is like an iconic one line or great move. But anyway, I digress. This is, this has been super fun that you can follow me the young night on platforms. Um, plugging anything. I mean, obligatory fishback wrote a book. Uh, I'm sure anyone listening to this knows that already,

[01:16:07] but, shout out to Steven. I know he's worked very hard. Um, check out the RHAP clock tower games on YouTube. Check out Dwight's streams on Twitch. Uh, all four of us play clock tower pretty regularly at this point. And it is the best game ever. I just hosted my first in-person game. Um, Matt and Franny were in town and, uh, I had some of my local friends over and it was a shout out Leah Videa also RHAP patron. Um, and it was so fun. It was so different in person. So, um,

[01:16:35] if the online situation intimidates any of you, if you can find a way to play in person, it's very different. And honestly, it took me back to survivor. It's a big live tribal council, right? You're pulling people aside in a very intimate space. For sure. Yeah. It definitely brought me back a little bit. So anything clock tower. And, uh, yeah, this was, this was great. And look who happens to show up. His ears were burning when he heard his name, Steven fishback feeling when you're randomly in the live feed and

[01:17:05] your buddy gives you such a kind shout out. Very well deserved. Steven. I did hear that JT decided to handwrite your book entirely. I will not hear otherwise. Well, I hope we were able to pen a love letter to survivor over the course of this podcast. But of course we have been doing a bunch of different stuff when it comes to survivor over the past couple of weeks or I mentioned it before, but the survivor 50 files where Brandon Donlan every weekday talks with somebody who played with or has a close

[01:17:34] relationship with what, at least one of the players of survivor 50. It's been an incredible series so far. Absolutely. Check it out. tomorrow, Brandon's got a little bit of an omnibus going on with some of the players from David versus Goliath, including two of the ones that we talked about in one of the moments tonight. So you don't want to miss out on that. I am, uh, helping out with the survivor 48 post-season interviews in lieu of Rob. We just talked with Shaquille last week and coming this Friday.

[01:18:02] I have a sit down with Eva that I think you'll really want to check out. I think Eva was able to shed a lot more light onto her story and her perspective behind a lot of stuff that was happening in 48. So very much recommend that as well as all the other stuff we have going on here on Rob has a podcast and we know survivor do not miss a second of it, especially next week as Wednesday, we will welcome in July by bidding adieu to this series.

[01:18:31] I will be joined by yet another alumni panel to reveal at long last the number five to number one moment in survivor history as voted on by the fans. You know what to do. Let your voice be heard. Let us know your thoughts predictions as to what the top five baby are going to be. And we'll see how right you are next week as this whole shebang gets brought to a close, but I don't want it to end. It's been such a great time.

[01:19:01] Thank you to the three of you for offering such sage and entertaining perspectives as you usually do over the course of this evening and everybody who has been tuning along both live and after the fact as well. I love you more than Liz adores unlimited apps at Apple. Whoa. That says a lot. There we got a got a wall out of Jake. That's all I need. I can go to bed happy. And now thank you all again so much for listening.

[01:19:27] I'll be back next Wednesday as we count down the fifth to first best moments in survivor history until then, everybody take care. Bye. Bye.