As members of the Executive Voting Committee, the “Survivor” press corps (along with Producer Jesse Jensen, Host and Executive Producer Jeff Probst, and other “Survivor” luminaries) has an awesome responsibility. The committee’s votes will make up 50% of the final tally for entry into the prestigious Class of 2012. The other 50% will come from “Survivor” fans like you.
Note: Polls closed November 30, 2012 at 5 pm ET. Be sure to come back Monday, December 10, 2012 to meet the first member of the Class of 2012!
Set Your DVR to Record “Survivor: Philippines”
Drusilla Moorhouse – Zap2it
Drusilla Moorhouse is a contributing editor for Zap2it. A fanatic of the “Eco Challenge” producer Mark Burnett’s O.G. reality competition, Dru carried a torch for “Survivor” even before the first pixelated images of Richard Hatch hit the airwaves.
Todd Herzog – (“Survivor: China”): The diminutive flight attendant more than compensated for his lack in physical strength with brain power, deceiving and manipulating his opponents at every turn. Todd didn’t join “Survivor” to make friends — his only goal was to win a million dollars. And he did.
Tyson Apostol – (“Survivor: Tocantins” and “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains”): Oh, Tyson. The immodest pretty boy played a terrible social game–twice. But with quips like “I love seeing people cry when you crush their dreams,” he’s “Survivor’s” king of comedy.
Marty Piombo – (“Survivor: Nicaragua”): Shut up. Marty is a brilliant, bold, charismatic strategist who coulda been a contender on any other season. Instead, he was stripped of his power in a tribal reshuffle and sent home before both NaOnka and Purple Kelly quit the game. Surely his Woody Woodpecker hair alone deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame?
Mara Reinstein – US Weekly
Mara Reinstein is the movie critic for Us Weekly magazine. But thanks to her unofficial title as Resident “Survivor” Fanatic, she has somehow finagled her way into 11 (!) “Survivor” location visits since 2004.
Ethan Zohn – (“Survivor: Africa” and “Survivor: All-Stars”): Sentimental choice and my No. 1 from last year, but too bad! Even though he won way way back in “Survivor: Africa”, he did it playing one of the cleanest, good-sport games to date. (Which, if memory serves, made for a super-dull Tribal Council. Oh well.). Who knows how far he could have gone playing “Heroes Vs. Villains.” Away from the game, he wins easily.
Stephenie LaGrossa – (“Survivor: Palau,” “Survivor: Guatemala,” and “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains”): For the record, I’ve chosen to repress everything that happened in “Survivor: Guatemala.” In Palau, she proved as mentally and physically tough as any contestant in the game’s history. (Remember: Before the days of Redemption Island, she spent the night alone on her beach after her tribe got decimated.) For “Heroes Vs. Villains,” I personally witnessed her separate her shoulder during the first challenge, pop it back in, then go back into said challenge! How is this possible?
John Cochran – (“Survivor: South Pacific”): Every week when I watched this guy in “Survivor: South Pacific,” I had one or more of the following thoughts: “Ugh, I can’t stand him. Why won’t he call himself John? He is standing in the way of Ozzy’s win. He’s not nearly as clever as he think he is. Go away, gentile Woody Allen, go awaaaaaaay.” Meanwhile, no other contestant that season (or “One World”) even remotely stands out to me. Well done, sir!
Dalton Ross – Entertainment Weekly
Dalton Ross is the Assistant Managing Editor of Entertainment Weekly. He may have written about this show once or twice over the past 11 years.
Kim Spradlin – (“Survivor: One World”): Kim spent the entire “One World” season just chillin’ in the Domination Station. The only other player that has thrashed the competition so thoroughly in every facet of the game on a first outing is Tom Westman. Socially, strategically, athletically — no one else on “One World” could touch her. Granted, margarita-loving Kat, puzzle-challenged Alicia, and a tribe full of men that VOLUNTEERED to go to Tribal Council is perhaps not the stiffest competition, but Kim was still the real deal.
Amanda Kimmel – (“Survivor: China,” “Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites,” and “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains”): The only reason Amanda isn’t in here already is that she gave perhaps the TWO worst final Tribal Council performances ever. But that was two bad days out of 78. Otherwise, she should be commended for making it to back-to-back finals. Her performance in “Heroes vs. Villains” was neither good nor bad enough to move the needle either way, so if you judge her on what she did before that, she’s earned it for sure.
Brian Heidik – (“Survivor: Thailand”): Let’s be honest — the “Survivor” Hall of Fame is woefully short on former porn stars. “Foursome” star Ozzy Lusth can’t be expected to hold down the fort forever. The man needs some company! And while I’m sure Ozzy would pretty much always prefer “company” of the female variety, he’ll have to make due with Skinemax mainstay Brian Heidik. Yes, Heidik is about as sleazy as they come, but the self-proclaimed “Iceman” ruled Thailand from start to finish. And if you’re judging on performance — which is what all former porn stars should be judged on, if you ask me — then you have to include him. It’s still somewhat shocking that he has not been back to play since. Maybe on “Survivor: STD Edition.”
Tom Santilli – Examiner.com
Tom Santilli has covered “Survivor” for Examiner.com and TheTVKing.com since 2009 and has been a rabid fan (clinically) since the beginning. He is also a film critic and member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, (follow him on Twitter, @tomsantilli and at TomSantilli.com). He reportedly plans on placing his Jeff Probst Bobblehead doll on the top of his wedding cake. He asked you not to tell.
Rob Cesternino – (“Survivor: The Amazon” and “Survivor: All-Stars”): He’s been a personal favorite of mine since he first appeared. Who knew “Survivor” could be so funny? There was no contestant like Rob when he first appeared, but seemingly hundreds since then cut from his mold. Early on, Probst referred to him as “the smartest player never to win,” and he definitely changed the way future contestants would play the game. His second time out, in a cast full of “All-Stars,” he was singled out for being too dangerous. He refers to himself as the “other” Rob (to Rob Mariano) and as “The Rob that sucks,” but might I persuade you to help me re-name him as, “The Rob that sucks…in the Hall of Fame.”
Amanda Kimmel – (“Survivor: China,” “Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites,” and “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains”): Only four other players have ever made it to Day 39 twice and they are all currently in the “Survivor” Hall of Fame (Boston Rob, Parvati, Russell and Sandra). She’s a physical threat and knows how to play the game. She’s one of the most memorable female contestants in the history of the show. Plus, there have been several beautiful contestants on the show – male (I’m told…) and female – but has the “Survivor” camera ever been more enamored with a contestant? Amanda is the epitome of what a contestant should be and the only female currently not in the Hall who needs to be.
Brian Heidik – (“Survivor: Thailand”): It’s unpopular. It may be a throw-away vote. But I want to get the discussion started because Brian Heidik should most definitely be in the Hall of Fame. Brian is unlike any other Sole Survivor for many important reasons. At the time that he won, nobody thought that a “bad guy” could ever win “Survivor” again after Richard Hatch. Brian to this day is the only true “villain,” playing a villainous game, to have won it all. Brian played masterfully, despite back-stabbing and lying his way to the prize. He was a thinker, but he also won several individual immunity challenges along the way. Not until recently (Kim Spradlin) has a contestant made “Survivor” look easy. Like him or not, admit it or not, he is the blueprint.
Be sure to come back Monday, December 10, 2012 to meet the first member of the Class of 2012!
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Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter @gordonholmes
The Hall of Fame votes have been tabulated, the Power Rankings are done, and the exit interviews are all transcribed. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Now that another induction season in in the rearview mirror, I’d like to take a quick minute to reflect on everything, answer some questions, and discuss some potential changes.
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