RHAP: We Know Survivor - The 25 Greatest Moments in Survivor History | 10-6

Episode Date: June 26, 2025

This week, Mike Bloom , Moriah Gaynor, Jake O'Kane, and Owen Knight talk through moments 10-6.

Hi everybody and welcome back to RHA Peace 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. You can count on it with two hands, but tonight is a three hander actually, as I'm 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 into us instead of watching the bear 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 that are here to break down moments 10 through six 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 Gator. 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. 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 enjoying by someone who is gonna be talking about some moments that probably prompted him saying, whoa, sorry, whoa, to a lot of stuff watching it back in Survivor

history. It's Jake O'Kane. What's going on, guys? Thanks for having me. We're excited to get into this. I'm expecting a lot of well, it's 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 oh a night. Oh, hello. 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. But yes, 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 you 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. Well, much like the New Orleans environment, we'll see how debauchery things get by nights. And, 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. 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 Pearl Island. 23, coaches trip to Exile Island. Survivor, token sheens. 22, Caleb shot in the dark hits. Jacob, moment you got to experience, I believe you're actually right there over on the far left in moment number, yeah, 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 scoop and falls in the fire in Survivor the Australian outback. We're all probably feeling like you fall in a fire today. Owen is hooting and hollering in response to that 18 Tony spy Shack from a Survivor Kaga. Yon 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 and the five we talked about last week. Number

15, Stephanie becomes a tribe of one. Oolong gets decimated in a survivor Palau 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. 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. 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, Jake, when you look at some of your favorite stuff, do you find a common theme? 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 RJP 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. 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 torch-snuffed. You know, that's at least what it is for me. Like, if 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 dime a dozen.

Great quote, no disrespect, what you're saying. Mo, you were nodding along when Jaka said that. Do you have any sort of criteria for your list of best moments when you think about them? 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 with that advantage, it's 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 and filling that cup, we're gonna see it go a little higher. Owen, you are someone who was 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. I think, I mean, just the way my brain works 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 into you in my pregame, I referenced referenced the Stacey Powell, Benjamin, not coach speech. Yes, you did. I remember that well. Yeah. Penner, you know, back talking to Jeff and yelling back when he was voting for Denise, you know, so those ones definitely popped more as I caught back up on the

show when I had missed, I think, fifteen thirty two. But yeah, then those 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. 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. What are you? Survivor 50 casting? I can't, I can't. Ooh. 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. 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 Donlin from a 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. 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. Oh, great guest. Owen, Moe, any other thoughts? I was racking my brain because I listened to Tina and Roger today and I was like, no, those probably aren't top 10.

I loved pot 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, too, 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. The other one is, I think was Stephen Fish, was he on there with JT? And like- And he was. 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 sunburned feet, like feet or like gastrointestinal distress. I don't know if it's top 10, but those are definitely in my mind.

Yeah. If we weighed more RH.H.A.P. 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 hashtags of your gastrointestinal distress on there. 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 J.T.

sending the letter. I act. 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 J.T. letter might be higher. So I'll put my my guess in on Wentworth here. All right. You know, can I make a hot take real quick? I think the Wentworth moment in the J.T. letter are both going to beworth here. All right. You know what? Can I make a hot take real quick? I think the Wentworth moment in the J.T. letter are both going to be in here

and in like this area of 10 to six. 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. But let's just focus on number 10. 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 on mine. Just by competing against you and the few handshakes we've had, I feel like I can trust you. Play the adults not save yourself. All the girls should be writing your name down. I feel like I can trust you. Play the adults tonight and save yourself. All the girls should be writing your name down, so act like you know you're going home.

I think you should write Parvati's name down and send her home. We will most likely merge into ten 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 then work on getting ourselves into the final three. This is your chance to show you're not a villain. I'll put that in the end right here. Dude, this is survivor history. Oh, my gosh.

It can work, y'all. That works. It'll be incredible. 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 versus 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, too high, too low. I absolutely love it.

I think 10 is exactly right, because we talked about it is that emotional core. It's silly, it's goofy, but it doesn't have that explosive moment that I think numbers may be one through five. Well, 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 I get up, when you get there, you'll know. There's a lot of when you get there moments and heroes versus villains, to be fair.

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 error 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. We have the closing stanza as penned by Rupert over the shoulder is a ghost writer is 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 poverty 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. Is this all right? Yeah, I mean, I would quote that all season if I was on the villain's tribe. Like 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. Yeah, let's call that out because listen, Boston Rob, infamously, when Jamal went to the end of the idols said, you never seen a pen on Survivor before. BS. Look at what JT is 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 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 them a bandy legged little troll. 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 Crappot JT. I mean, is like him abandoning everyone on the raft in game changers. Obviously, he screwed over Malcolm with his his move, but he like invented the the live tribal in a way like he swings big. 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. So when we talk about the magnanimity of this moment, you know, I do remember the reunion of survivor heroes versus 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. 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 the situation again is that this almost seems inspired by Survivor Token Sheets and the Exile Alliance. 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. Oh, and 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 right in the booth, but this the Jamal situation in 39 and then the Sepia writing down different things about people for our travel Council in Marquesas 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? It's a giant swing in the game and it's such a huge pivotal point to the season. You know what I mean? It's a giant swing in the game. And it's a field 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. So I'm 50, but going into 551, let's just give someone a pen and see what happens.

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. My 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. 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 game play 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. 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 idol for the correct person or throw this massive Hail Mary, assume as Rupert says that Romans Alliance is looking pretty strong and then use it to take out poverty. But I will absolutely co-sign 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, you're on your letter,

Russell, but like it's like something he's heading Santa, you know, hoping that there will be a Christmas this year. It is absolutely incredible. And yes, it's this character moment baked into this absolute strategic maneuver that does not work whatsoever. It's incredible from top to bottom. This the imagery now I'm getting is like, is Rupert Santa Claus there? 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 lot of coal there for JT, but beautiful. It's beautiful. Also, I want to back up, JT, the villains that he knew from token chains were like even I was listening on the podcast the other day with Steven is he's always said coach was a nice guy. 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, and I don't think this game move is too much, but knock on him. It's an amazing move.

I, 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 that's my man. That's who I'm gonna 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, those better be the touchdown. 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 a fuse praise for coach and just how many times on that podcast, he said, he's just a really nice guy.

Yes. So I could see the like optimism coming, coming from JT didn't am I remembering correctly that at a challenge, Russell like made eye contact with JT. It was like, help me. He did the like the 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 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. You're gonna 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, Mike. 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. Listen, it was a month ago, but it feels like a year ago,

considering how much has happened in the world since. OK, I'm I'm sure I put down the David versus Goliath mayor of Slam Town tribal council. OK, 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. I'll block that in as my guess.

OK, Jake, Mo, anything jog your memory from your list? So, yeah, there is recency bias, but I definitely put down lose this 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 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.

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, mom. Number nine is Liz. Do you feel comfortable talking about what you're feeling? I'm pissed. Y'all say you eat gone without eating.

I see you eat every day. Q, 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 didn't say nothing! I don't even want to be around y'all! I'm just cute! You blew up my whole freaking spot!

I didn't even know about the damn split vote last night! Well Liz, you voted for me last night, so. I made the decisions based off of where my head is right now in the game. I'm sorry. I'm over it now. Thank you all for letting me have that. I feel better. I just exploded.

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?

Well, on that, 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 out it like we really need like a tick tock remix for that.

Putting that out there to the talented people. But that just, wow, like even now, 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 in Dusted. When did you first hear that this happened? 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 placed with her like sock as a puppet Liz had a meltdown. 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 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. 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 expressed 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. Like, I'm not a big astrology person, but as a cancer, I can relate to that very deeply. Someone once read me a line from a book 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 grumpies got to come out. But it really shocked me how long that clip went for. I think when

she said the word nothing, that was the most syllables that the word nothing has ever had. And she just is 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 it is extra funny that she had voted for Q the night before. 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 like honestly like here in this like I feel for her. People are like I was at a wash. I was I think I was at one of Charlie's watch bodies when this episode came out. The room was silent. There's like probably like over 50 people on this room. People were so quiet. People were like, whoa. but like hearing it, it's like 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 who Q took Maria and not Maria. Excuse me. He took Tiff and Kenzie, right? Mm hmm. Didn't they offer Liz their spot and she said no. Yes, that's what that's what Tiffany claims. What? Why didn't we get that? Like this would 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 to with that. Right. I mean, it would be so incredible if we got the chance to see it, because that's the thing is that Liz obviously is the star of this clip. Deservedly so. But we get a couple of key pop and moments from Q here. 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, share devoted for me. Sorry is absolutely incredible. It takes a rare survivor player to have the cojones to do that. And then for Liz to be bellowing in his face, just a raw miasma ball of emotion. I've heard him just cool. He responded to 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. 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.

I think a lot of people are debating, you know, very recent, 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 Welchel's, your Kathy Babrick O'Brien's, where it's like more of like a sad breaking down. This is a red, hot anger. 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 in made this grown woman meltdown 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 incredible. It's what survivors about. It's like the human condition. Well, and not to mention as well, 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, I wanted to take you jokes. I 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. 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 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. I can't go to her at 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. 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. Jeff knew that was great moment. Jeff's actually going to be like, yo, you want to just like melt down right now. I wouldn't be shocked to be asked someone at some point and you

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. 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? 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 a 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. 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 the 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 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 referential. Is it going to rocks in Millennials vs. Gen X? Because I'm just trying to think of something like referential. Is it going to rocks and 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 changers, is it the first live tribal? The Malcolm tribal? OK. I think I'm wrong. I don't know. Yeah, I'll I'll guess Black Widow. I know. I don't think it's this low on the list. I've been in somewhere.

But I'm putting something. What are we doing? Mm hmm. Yeah. Or could it be the stick? Like, it's it's a freak. 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 re-hiding stuff,

the move itself lives on. So it's a good guess as any, I suppose. 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 three-sheet award. So I heard him pick was the wrong one. It was a blank sheet of wood. So I hurried and picked off the second one.

The actual real was with a congratulations. This is a million idols, not a blank piece of wood. So I have it now, I have it in my possession. I have it with two idols. That's funny. I'm on supply 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's gonna do something they're not supposed to do, I would play the idol. I'd have to. If anyone has a hidden immunity idol, now would be the time to play it. Tenth person voted out and 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. I would I literally smacked my face when I heard James's 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 10. I mean, it's like it's a great move on Todd's part, first of all. But then just like the just those 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 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. 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. And not only that, really set the bar high with getting voted out with two

idols and I think Mel 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 seven somehow. protected by an alliance of five and two idols, you could still find a way to go out seven somehow. Yeah, I was selfishly thinking, I'm like, so did this happen 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.

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 this moment with 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? I, yeah. 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? I, yeah. But if we're looking at like the Fiji, yeah, I guess. Yeah. Because you'll you'll and Terry, I mean, Terry was voted out, but it was after the idol 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. Haha. He had two idols in his pocket.

I wouldn't put it 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. 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, yeah 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, 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 gravedigger who was soft spoken yet hilarious at the same time.

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 what was kind of like a, sort of a slow period of survivor China. So I mean, 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 I 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. 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. 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 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 I as some of you know, I live in New Orleans. I've lived in Louisiana for like 15 years. James is from Louisiana. He's from Lafayette. Strong possibility. His whole family pronounces it Claymaw and not Clement. And he never corrected anyone that has been on the record. I was talking to my, one of my buddies, TJ LeBlanc, and he was saying,

he's got friends named Clay Ma and that's how they all say it around there. So who knows if we ever get ahold of them 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. It does not stay depending on your view of things is because it's more of a stretch that moment or the fact that we've had so many instances of this. And 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 hit and immunity idol in this incarnation was it 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. And it still is wild to me that idols expire at the final five. And James has two of them. 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 to only for everybody else to figure that out. 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. 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, greater moments. It's 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, you know all that contacts. It's great. 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. Sego 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 Mary. People that that is. Yeah, that is music to his ears right now. So 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 in one world.

So like this is one that I didn't probably two or three settings 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 a bench hitter. 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. Two Survivor 50 contestants were present for moment number seven. What was that moment? What was that moment?

I'm 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 could 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. So that's where my head's going off the rip here. I think that's a really good guess. Now I'm thinking it was like there's no way it's anything else to be honest. I completely agree. It's a small pool where two can be in there at the same time

and I think you hit it on the head. All right so we're in unanimity here. Number seven 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 Natalie need to bring me your torch Natalie is there any way I could have your jacket? Natalie? Natalie, the drive is spoken. Thank you, Joe.

Natalie? Time for you to go. 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 Cole, the center of Natalie, can I have your jacket as yes, indeed, 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. 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 gonna do what they're gonna do. And you get this extremely educated, put together person who thinks she has this like amazing plan, acting surprised, right voting for someone else 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. It should always be in top 10. 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 the season come out like 2017 something like that. 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 Verse Water, get someone from her family throwing a blood burst water season. Um, but this moment is so good. This moment is so good. I remember watching this episode. I was in college. Um, I was one of my best friends, Andre, and I remember him watching and be

like, yo, what is this show? Like, 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. Yeah, what kind of hijinks is she up to right now? 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 vote 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 worst. I forgot I'm in Fiji.

I just need a jacket. 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 Carla, 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, 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 through the first four episodes of the season was like, you know, she had some moments in the premiere, especially when you look back at 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? 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 memeify 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.

And then after it happens is like, hey, just circling back up with you, Natalie. Before you walk down that ramp forever. Per my last email, can I have your jacket, Natalie? And I love the nothing as well, because it's also like very self-effacious. Like, damn it. Again, much like the JT letter kind of like that worth a try. But it was a moment that was instantly icon to the point where remember the game within the game, folks, the hit rubric puzzles that were utilized in Survivor 41, one of the Game Within a Game puzzles, which utilize 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. Yeah. I mean, they literally used it on, I think official CBS press was like, she really failed

to get that jacket in her season. But like, there is a note to it in the current, like, Hubba Blue going on. And I also think to like the point of this, there were such a redemption art with Natalie here or not Natalie 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. 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-assign that for sure. I just have to put this out here as a question because during Survivor 48, I did as part of the BNB a game one time of the Survivor Cringe Moment Tournament 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 sent this to me. Do we think, panel, that this is a cringe moment? Yeah.

I think it has to be. Yeah, it's a cringe moment. I think this is a better moment than the Liz moment, but I would say the Liz moment is more cringe. Ooh, interesting. Mm. Mm. Mm-hmm.

I just, I love the screen grab you have here of Mike White, just with his face and his hand, just like, oh my what is happening because that's like 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 experiencing it in the moment must have been so uncomfortable. 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. So I'm excited to see her on 50. Again, this really shows if you want to submit 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 because yes, you might flame out entirely, but you might become instantly mimetic, 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 gonna say something ridiculous and not give it a second thought because that's just who I am. All right. I also love Natalie's face in her 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 parka 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. So we've talked about idols a couple of 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. It could be fucking Stick. It could be Eric. It could be Mayor of Slam Town. 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 patterns are unfolding here. Oh, and then word 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. I'm going to go with another David versus Goliath moment in the John

Hennegan booth. Okay. All right. Three very different moments spanning three different parts of Survivor. Jake, do you have one more thing to say or you're right. No, I just feel like I'm right. I want to. All right. I'm going to cross my fingers. I call it. 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. Ozzy must have put it in there. He must have the real thing. That's not the idol. What is it? It's a snack. I know. It has a face on it. Don't worry. Ozzy put it in there. He must have the real thing. That's not the idol. What is it? It's a stick.

I know. It has a face on it. Don't worry. Oz, he put it in there, 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. Then that's a bummer. Should I try and play? Yeah, of course. All right. A moment so iconic, it had the FCC in shambles indeed as the number six moment in Survivor

history is it's an effing stick from Survivor Mike Maneja, arguably the most iconic line said by Eliza Orland 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, Jason looks like the embodiment of the like the joke. It's like walking in your parents room at three a.m. to tell him you threw up. Yeah. 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 spent 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, 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 inching 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. I think it's low. I don't think it's high. Oh, 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.

The Wentworth vote personally, but or Wentworth, I don't know. But yeah, it's so good. And it's just like Eliza react. This is one of the moments where I'm like, I started watching survival season 24 and I wish I could have seen this live. It's like I feel like the first time I heard about this moment was like through 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. It's just the in this Jason's reaction. Yeah. What? Yeah. Yeah. So so great. So yeah, I'll I'll tie break. I'll say it slow. 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. You know, everyone is 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, 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 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 know, as Johnny Fairplay would say, you thought it was your Hulk doll, but it was just her sister's Barbie doll painted green. That's just an f-ing 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 a little bit of a line that makes it a moment rather than an event, as you're claiming. It's like this is incredibly quotable.

It is one of those rare times where we have an outright curse aside reversing the curse when it comes to this becoming a totem on Ghost Island getting reflected. In a quote, 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, he goes, I know, don't worry about it.

It's gonna be fun. Yeah, he's like, no, no, to follow my logic here, it does have a phase 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. You called it- It's incredible.

Go ahead, Mel. I was just gonna 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, go ahead. 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 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 and is like, says what everyone's been thinking for the last half hour. And everyone's, and it's just like, oh yay, someone told them what we were all thinking. And that's why I think the moment's so powerful and so iconic.

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 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, 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 in very strong ways. Well, I think especially Jason kind of combines 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. 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 have such a way with the word. You should write poetry, Mike. Beautiful. I mean, it's he is he is like I talk 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 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 I would substantiate it back in 2000 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. 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. 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, 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, the idea of hidden idols or the ability to make a really bad stick. Like there's a situation in which this baby

could have been feasible to happen. Yeah, I'm loving where this conversation is going because I was just listening to the other episode where you're talking 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 next plane of comedy. Because 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, you know, you couldn't think of how 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's for the drink last time to the stick that I 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 with Idol in tow. Number nine, Liz's Applebee's meltdown from Survivor 46. Number eight, James gets voted out with two Idols in Survivor China. Number seven, Angelina asks for Natalie's jacket from David vs. 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. But I think it really does show like we are kind of in the endgame 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 6 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 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 it relatable, 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 there top, not in the top five, it's not even on the list because that's all you got left guys It's one or the other at this point Yeah, exactly. It's got 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 Okay, 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 really have anything to plug. You want

to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, you can do that. But like that was such a great, those are some great moments in one kind of event. But you know, 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? Shane Powers threatened to quit. What made my list? So that's more of an event because I have been multiple times

over the course of the season. I would say the first time, though, was the best. Were you going if he wants to quit, let him quit. Like now 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 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.

These are kind of all moments or most of them are moments that toe that line between strategy and just personality. I think we're going to be seeing something like the dead grandma's lie, which is obviously such a big gameplay move, but is just so originally Johnny Fair play, so things like that. I'm nervous. I saw some people talking about the, Jacqueline, did you vote for who I told you to vote for? I don't know if that's gonna make it,

even though it is like an iconic one-liner, great move. But anyway, I digress. This has been super fun. You can follow me, the young knight on platforms. Plugging anything, I mean, obligatory, Fishback wrote a book. I'm sure anyone listening to this knows that already. But shout out to Steven. I know he's worked very hard.

Check out the R.J.P. Clock Tower games on YouTube. Check out Dwight's streams on Twitch. 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. Matt and Franny were in town and I had some of my local friends over and it was shout out Leah Vaidya also RHAP patron and it was so fun. It was so different in person. So

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. I was going to say 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 yeah, this was this was great. And look who happens to show up. His ears were burning when he heard his name, Stephen Fishback feeling when you're randomly in the live feed and your buddy gives you such a kind shout out.

Very well deserved, Stephen. I did hear that JT decided to handwrite your book entirely because he has such a beautiful tongue and chin. 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 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 Donlin every weekday talks with somebody who played with or has a close relationship with what, at least one of the players of Survivor 50. It's been an incredible series so far. Absolutely. Check it out. Uh, 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 helping out with the survivor 48 postseason interviews in lieu of Rob's absence. We just talked with Shaquine last week and coming this Friday, 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. 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.

Thank you to the three of you for offering such sage and entertaining perspectives as usually do over the course of this evening and everybody who's been tuning along both live and after the fact as well. I love you more than Liz adores unlimited apps at Applebee's. Whoa, that says a lot. There we go. I got a lot of Jake.

That's all I need. I can go to bed happy. And now thank you all again so much for listening. 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.