After 117 days, spread across 10 years, and 4 seasons, Rob Mariano affectionately known to Survivor fans as Boston Rob, finally took the title of Sole Survivor, and in my opinion should be considered the best Survivor player ever.
Rob was in complete control of the game from beginning to end, maneuvering and manipulating his way all the way through to the end. Nobody has ever dominated the game as thoroughly and consistently throughout a season as Mariano did this year. Only the gameplay of Russell Hantz in 'Survivor: Samoa' comes close, Hantz was the runner up that season, and readers of this blog know my feelings on that.
The 35 year old Boston native overcame the 52-year-old former federal agent Phillip Sheppard and 19-year-old dancer Natalie Tenerelli to take home the $1 million grand prize on Sunday's finale of "Survivor: Redemption Island." It was an easy victory: Mariano earned eight of nine votes cast. Rob also took home the top prize of $1 million and was also awarded a bonus prize of $100,000 from viewers in the Sprint-sponsored “fan favorite award.”
"I played my heart out," Rob told the Associated Press. He competed (and lost) on previous seasons Marquesas, All-Stars and Heroes vs. Villains. "I love this game, but you've got to get lucky along the way, too. I know what it takes. It's really, really difficult. I'm really, really happy things happened the way they did this time."
Filmed in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, the show's main attraction was the returns of rivals Mariano and Russell Hantz. Things didn't go as smoothly for Hantz, as he was the third player voted out. Mariano, once the leader of the Villains tribe in "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains," made friends quickly and catapulted himself to the top.
The Survivor finale also drew big ratings for CBS, winning the night. 12.5 million people watched. Though it easily topped the night in both categories, the 22nd season finale was down slightly compared to the previous season, set in Nicaragua (13.6 million).
At the end it was announced that the 23rd edition, 'Survivor : South Pacific' will feature the Redemption Island twist again and once again will also feature 2 former contestants returning to play with 16 new players.
A very satisfying end to good Survivor season. A very well deserved champion was crowned. As host Jeff Probst said during the finale, “For my money, in 22 seasons, that’s as close to a perfect game as anyone has played on Survivor."
After 117 days, spread across 10 years, and 4 seasons, Rob Mariano affectionately known to Survivor fans as Boston Rob, finally took the title of Sole Survivor, and in my opinion should be considered the best Survivor player ever.
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