Survivor: Cochran Strikes a Deal

Our hometown nerd, , begins wheeling and dealing in the latest episode of "Survivor: South Pacific."

[SPOILER ALERT]

Well it’s Week 4, and Survivor played a bit of an editing trick on us with last week’s previews. But to sum up: Savaii wins the Immunity Challenge, everyone's sporting new bathing suits and Team Cochran is safe another week!

The first thing we see is Ozzy and Elyse in the hammock together. Jim has his Survivor wits about him and knows couples are dangerous. It usually means those two people will vote for each other over everyone else. Good to break them up when you can!

He finds Cochran and starts feeling him out about the Ozzy/Elyse situation. Jim right away asks if Cochran is interested in trying to get Elyse voted out.

He plays to Cochran’s big motivation: being a Survivor fan. He says it would be good to let Ozzy know he’s not controlling everything and that it would be “a Survivor move!” Then he air boxes with him. He’s good, and Cochran easily agrees.

Cochran knows this about his new ally. He says Jim has a car salesman smile and his teeth are “suspiciously white” (LOL) but he wants Elyse gone, which is music to his ears. I think Cochran not only knows that anyone else on the chopping block is good for him in terms of staying around, but Ozzy and/or Elyse is better because they’re on the “power” alliance.

He tells Jim he’s in.

Big game moves are the best! Blindsiding, sneaking around ... Jim might be a little smarmy, but I think he’s in it to have Survivor fun, like Cochran. Who knows? They could work well together! I hope it turns out to be more than just a one-elimination partnership.

We spend a lot of time with the Upolu tribe. Lil Hantz is apologizing to everyone for lying to them. But he’s not winning points — telling someone you’re sorry then telling them no one else likes them will not endear you to them (Edna).

He also apologizes to Mikayla. She accepts it but is very wary of him. And thinks maybe he should think a few times before he opens his mouth.

Christine wins the Redemption Island challenge over Papa Bear.

When they return to camp, Dawn talks to Cochran about getting Elyse or Ozzy out. She’s amenable to the plan, knowing she’s on the outside of the big alliance, too. They’ll still need another player but it’s a good base to work from!

At the immunity challenge, it’s all about stamina and strength. Savaii wins! Cochran and his tribemates are safe again. Great effort. More on that later.

Edna and Stacey are both worried about Tribal Council on Upolu. Lil Hantz is still getting on people's nerves, but he doesn’t seem to be in too much trouble. And he’s not. Stacey is voted out unanimously, despite a stellar performance during the challenge. She goes to join Christine at Redemption Island.

Elsewhere in the South Pacific:

• We find out one of the first books Ozzy ever read was “Robinson Crusoe.” Meh – not sure if I’m buying that one, especially because he was telling (read: flirting with) Elyse at the time.
• The tribes get bathing suits. Weird. That’s never happened before. Everyone has always had to make do with the clothes they came with. Dawn was excited because, as she said, as a Mormon, she didn’t feel comfortable just going around in her underwear. Of course the people we saw trying them on were mostly the young, fit girls. Shocking.
• After Lil Hantz’s revelation about her place in the Upolu pecking order, Edna decides she needs to step up her social game, but in doing so, she seems to annoy people more than win them over. Their main complaints: She asks too many questions and her laugh is annoying. She’s falling into the classic blunder of trying too hard and people seeing that’s what you’re doing. I worried about Cochran doing that earlier, but he seems to have smoothed that problem out.
• At the immunity challenge, three members of each tribe has to hold a stick on their back while the other team puts sandbag weights on them. Upolu puts up Lil Hantz, Albert and Stacey as the weight-bearers, and Savaii has Keith, Dawn and Jim. It’s definitely tough. They start falling – Keith, then Albert, then Jim and Lil Hantz, leaving Stacey and Dawn. Dawn holds
  on to win for Savaii. As they’re running to celebrate, I noticed how white Cochran still is after a week and a half in the South Pacific. Funny. (Remember, I'm a fellow Ginger. It's OK for me to laugh!)
• Oh yeah, in winning immunity, Savaii also got chickens. Two chickens and a rooster. Chickens on Survivor are great. People have named them, treated them as pets, and argued over eating them.

The preview of next week shows everyone finding out Coach’s given name, Benjamin, to which he reacts with a speech reminiscent of the movie "Stripes" and "Don't call me Francis." Of course, everyone starts saying “Benjamin.” The challenge also involves moving meat with their mouths. Lots of primal ripping, tearing and swapping from one to another. Cochran says “worst-case scenario is that I have herpes.” Ha!