# Survivor 4/29: "A Chapera Surprise" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 28, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575 "2004-04-28T23:09:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/21 "2004-04-29T17:32:35Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > You could just do like What’s-his-name did and use the whole family thing as a game tactic. The curly blond guy. Lied about his grandmother dying. That was Johnny-ass-play. I’m not sure I couldn’t watched all stars if Burnett had included him. BTW, I’m on board with the “what’s all this crying about family members BS”, too. Have you never been away from someone for more than a week? It must have to do with the “hardships” of living on the island… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/22 "2004-04-29T17:33:55Z")
Wow, how did that happen? “I’m not sure I **could have** watched…” ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/23 "2004-04-29T17:52:03Z")
Trust me, people, “Survivor” isn’t like staying in a Holiday Inn for 30 days away from your family. It’s physically, mentally and emotionally difficult to keep a mask on for 30 days, never truly showing your cards to anyone. The outpouring of emotion is pretty natural for most of these people – they’re not only away from their loved ones, they’re happy to just have one moment of normalcy. Admittedly, some of you might not be too broken up in the same situation, but let’s not paint these people as candyasses until you’ve walked a mile in their moccassins, shall we? I think it’s pretty disrespectful to call the contestants’ mental state into question, seeing as none of us have lived through the same thing. Ahem. Now, on to answering some pressing questions: > [@monster](#): > > Aren’t Rupert and Jenna the remaining Chaperas? I predict that they will join forces with Shii Ann and Big Tom (not as dumb as he acts) and vote off Rob. Rupert and Jenna are the remaining **Sabogans**. The remaining Chaperans are Rawb, Ambuh, and Tom. > [@carterba](#): > > When was this filmed, anyway? Surely not during the '03 playoffs? Near as I can tell, about 2 weeks after the Survivor: PI reunion show. There was a lot of early speculation about Rupert’s health, seeing as he’d just finished PI, and I know he didn’t have longer than 2 months between the tapings. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/24 "2004-04-29T19:22:58Z")
> [@Chastain86](#): > > Near as I can tell, about 2 weeks after the Survivor: PI reunion show. There was a lot of early speculation about Rupert’s health, seeing as he’d just finished PI, and I know he didn’t have longer than 2 months between the tapings. Filming of **S:AS** finished about 2 weeks _before_ the **S:PI** reunion show. There was a big brouhaha about Rupert’s comment that he knew he “could beat that Richard Hatch” during the reunion show (I think Jeff even had to say something about not giving anything away), and Rupert was unavailable for chat and Early Show appearances after his PI episode aired, because he was filming. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/25 "2004-04-29T19:24:59Z")
> [@rockle](#): > > Filming of **S:AS** finished about 2 weeks _before_ the **S:PI** reunion show. There was a big brouhaha about Rupert’s comment that he knew he “could beat that Richard Hatch” during the reunion show (I think Jeff even had to say something about not giving anything away), and Rupert was unavailable for chat and Early Show appearances after his PI episode aired, because he was filming. You’re correct, I misspoke. Exactly right on all counts. ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/26 "2004-04-29T19:55:56Z")
[QUOTE=Chastain86] Rupert and Jenna are the remaining **Sabogans**. The remaining Chaperans are Rawb, Ambuh, and Tom. [QUOTE] Okay, so I’m a dummy. But my prediction still works because then the Chaperas (less Tom) are getting the surprise and not doing the surprising! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/27 "2004-04-29T20:08:27Z")
> [@Chastain86](#): > > You’re correct, I misspoke. Exactly right on all counts. S’ai’ight. Sorry if I came off snarky, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/28 "2004-04-29T20:19:08Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Dogzilla, I love everything about your post. One suggestion: if you get on the show, you should have your friends send you a tape of all your favorite TV shows that you’ll be missing. Maybe quick, 5-minute recaps. Secondly, I LOVE “Ramber”. I, too, have deemed the rest of the contestants too stupid to win - so many opportunities to take out Rob, all of them wasted. > > One thing I don’t understand - why does everyone on the show hate Jenna? I really like her. That’s a great idea! My friends would get a huge thrill out of gloating about how I’m missing ER, Nip/Tuck and Six Feet Under … and then they’d be sure to mention that everyone in the pool has bet against me. (Which is the only reason we watch together – we have a little pool going.) I believe my friends might be kind enough to keep my dogs out of a video because they know that would kill me. On the other hand… well, you just never know. I think the people on the show hate Jenna because she never shuts up. She admitted to that in the last episode with the nasty quiz. I believe that was a big topic of discussion in season 1, which she was on – she didn’t shut up then either. She seems nice to me, but we’re just victims of editing I think. I think I’d hate to be stuck in a mind-game, deserted island with a chatterbox. I’d either befriend her or cook her and feed her to the other team. 😃 And **monster** … > [@](#): > > Aren’t Rupert and Jenna the remaining Chaperas? I predict that they will join forces with Shii Ann and Big Tom (not as dumb as he acts) and vote off Rob. I so wish you were right. Unfortunately, I think you’re giving them way too much credit. However, since I’ve bet three weeks in a row that Shii Ann will be dumped, and have my money on her this week as well… they probably will dump Ramber. Just so I don’t get my brunch at the end of the season. Stupid bastids. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/29 "2004-04-29T20:24:07Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > and then when it was time for the family visit, they’d bring my dogs to me and let them stay with me until I’m voted out! I just have to say this is a great idea. Especially if the dogs are a pack of trained attack dogs. “You’re thinking about voting me off, huh? ATTACK!!!” ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/30 "2004-04-30T00:46:03Z")
It seems to me that everytime we come down to where someone says the other folks are gonna have to come to them as a swing vote… that person gets voted off. Bye-bye Shii-ann. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/31 "2004-04-30T01:09:47Z")
Stupid Shii Ann. She call out the “mastermind” _and then votes for the wrong damn person!_ I’ll say it again: Stupid Shii Ann. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/32 "2004-04-30T01:15:14Z")
> [@rockle](#): > > Stupid Shii Ann. She call out the “mastermind” _and then votes for the wrong damn person!_ I’ll say it again: Stupid Shii Ann. I’m not so sure about that. Everyone knows Rawb is dangerous, sneaky, and apparently in control of the game. But you know if Slamber whispered “Froggy!” he’d jump right quick, as Big Tom might say. Little Innocent Amber with the green eyes and pretty smile has her delicate little fist around Rawb’s scrotum, make no mistake. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/33 "2004-04-30T01:33:20Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I’m not so sure about that. Everyone knows Rawb is dangerous, sneaky, and apparently in control of the game. But you know if Slamber whispered “Froggy!” he’d jump right quick, as Big Tom might say. Little Innocent Amber with the green eyes and pretty smile has her delicate little fist around Rawb’s scrotum, make no mistake. In retrospect, you are probably right. I think. Damn it all to hell - Rob has me so torqued with his arrogance that I keep forgetting that the fool is thinking with the wrong head. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/34 "2004-04-30T03:37:08Z")
Make no mistake, they’re setting Rob up for an **enormous** fall. Repeatedly they’ve shown him saying he trusts Amber implicitly, she’d never betray him, et cetera and so on. Methinks you’ll see that betrayal take fruition in the Final 4. I’m predicting it now: Amber and Jenna in the final two. We’ll see how that pans out. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/35 "2004-04-30T03:43:15Z")
Despite the most boring and predictable beginning to the show, the last couple of weeks have the capacity to be the best ever. That is, if most of the competitors (Rupert, I’m looking at you) are not as dense as all available evidence has shown to us. Shii-Ann was dead right tonight - Time to play the game, survivors. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/36 "2004-04-30T04:34:53Z")
Nope, Last week was the time to play the game. But, Rupert is too trusting, Tom is too dumb, and Jenna hates Shi-ahn enough to loose because she can’t see the advantage of using the odd man out. Two straight opportunities to dump Rob. He won’t keep loosing. If Rupert and Tom had made Jenna a last minute offer to take out Rob, then Amber, and then Shi-ahn, it would have been doable, and unstoppable. Now, they have to let Amber hold the deciding vote, even if they do wake up and dump Rob. Tris ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/37 "2004-04-30T06:14:56Z")
Did anyone else think “She’s talking about Amber!!” when Shii-Ann kept mentioning someone who is playing the game so well and the camera kept flahsing over to Rob? I knew she was going to vote for Amber and not Rob. I’m only wondering if she thought she had convinced anyone else to vote that way as well. I agree with the thought that the producers are setting up Rob for a mighty fall. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part, but I honestly do think they wouldn’t give Rob such prominent camera time if he was going to win. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that Rupert wins the IC next week and Rob is out. If Rupert by chance does not win, he (Rupert) will be the goner. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/38 "2004-04-30T07:24:29Z")
Maybe I’m in the minority, but I don’t think these Survivors are “dumb.” They’re playing the game the way they wanted it to be played the first time. Reward those doing well, dump those that don’t. I guarantee there are some that aren’t voting out Rob and Amber because they respect what a good job they’re doing. The same with Rupert. Of coruse, Rob and Amber are also playing so well that they basically control the votes through a tight alliance anyway. And that’s the way to play. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/39 "2004-04-30T07:54:14Z")
Pretty standard episode this week. They made an effort to build some suspense, but Shii-Ann’s leaving was inevitable. There really wasn’t much drama - I didn’t even much care about the family visits this time around. So what was the big “Chapera Surprise” of the title? The fact that Rob got a family visit, too? Tom’s bonehead son losing the spear tip? The “surprise” that Chapera stuck together? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575/40 "2004-04-30T08:11:08Z")
> [@](#): > > So what was the big “Chapera Surprise” of the title? I only noticed it because I was avoiding someone in particular at the moment so was watching the TV with fake intently at that second, but they showed the Chapera flag conspicuously right before Rob and Tom and the guests started partying, so the surprise was that the swag was at the former Chapera camp, I think. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-4-29-a-chapera-surprise/242575.md?page=3)