Who went home on ‘Survivor 50’ tonight? Jimmy Fallon introduces unique tribal council twist
Episode 9 of 'Survivor 50' featured a jaw-dropping twist: a first in the show's storied history. This week's episode, titled 'I Deserve All Of This,' dropped on April 22 on CBS. Rick Devens' fake idol antics from last week made him unpopular among his adversaries and allies, as Cirie Fields rightly put it, "He just made a bullseye on his back, and anybody that has a bigger target than me is beneficial to me in this game." But it was the Survivor superfan, Jimmy Fallon, who sealed the fate of another contestant with his 'Jimmy Fallon One in the Urn' twist. His unlucky victim was Christian Hubicki, who was voted out 6–3–2 against Devens and Oscar 'Ozzy' Lusth.
The episode also included another 'first' as the host, Jeff Probst, competed with the contestants in a side bet, prompted by Fallon. The 63-year-old participated in a grip-strength immunity challenge against Joe Hunter, Tiffany 'Tiff' Nicole Ervin, Ozzy, and Jonathan Young for a large bag of rice. If even one of the four players outlasted Probst, they would win a large bag of rice that would last the rest of the season. But if Probst outlasted them, they would lose out on the prize. Probst lasted only seven-and-a-half minutes and lost the challenge, to the relief of the players.
The immunity challenge featured an endurance test where castaways had to hold a bucket filled with 25% of their pre-game body weight. Joe Hunter lasted the longest, winning immunity and the chance to send someone on a journey. Instead of making a strategic play, he went with rock-paper-scissors and chose Hubicki from the group who volunteered. The robotics professor had to complete a Survivor logo puzzle in the given time before its got pulled back into the ocean. He received a note from Fallon, stating the rules of the task. If he solved the puzzle in time, then Hubicki could vote against a player right without consulting his partners. Others would not know about his vote in the urn until the tribal council. However, if he loses, he will have to write his own name during the vote-out.
It was not Hubicki's day after all, as the puzzle-master lost the task and returned to his tribe dejected. He had to read a letter in front of the entire tribe, stating that he had made 'Survivor' history as the first player to cast a vote for himself at tribal council. He made a play to save his neck by teaming up with Emily Flippen. They tried to get Fields on their side by pitching Ozzy's name for the vote-out, unaware of their tight bond. Fields has proven herself to be a real power player, pulling the strings from behind with most of her fellow castaways unaware of her core alliance with Rizo Velovic and Ozzy.
She played it cool, acting as if she would consider it. However, she worked behind the scenes to take out Hubicki. Velovic was on board. The way he saw it, Hubicki was at a clear disadvantage this week, and he could not even play his ‘Shot in the Dark.’ Moreover, his ability to win immunities made him a formidable competitor. At the tribal council, Hubicki received six votes from Fields, Aubry Bracco, Hunter, Velovic, Tiff, and his own vote. Young, Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, and Ozzy voted for Devens, while Flippen and Devens voted for Ozzy. Hubicki's torch was snuffed out at the end of the episode, making him the fourth jury member alongside Dianelys Maria 'Dee' Valladares, Benjamin 'Coach' Wade, and Christine Bass 'Chrissy' Hofbeck. Catch the latest episodes of 'Survivor 50' on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
