“Survivor” players know that only one person can win the game, but it always stings to be the first one eliminated. The pain of being booted first from your season has to be a difficult one to get over, especially for those who really wanted to play the game. First boots are often targeted because of age or challenge performance or etiquette around camp, and it’s sad to see people’s torch be snuffed after only three days on the island. Some early vote-offs make such an impression, however, that they are remembered even today. Above you can scroll through our gallery (or click here for direct access) of 20 memorable “Survivor” first boots, listed in order of appearance. We hope they get another chance to play again one day.
Sonja Christopher
Season 1 — “Survivor: Borneo”
Having the distinction of being the first person to be voted out of “Survivor,” Sonja was a sweet,...
Sonja Christopher
Season 1 — “Survivor: Borneo”
Having the distinction of being the first person to be voted out of “Survivor,” Sonja was a sweet,...
- 4/26/2023
- by Marcus James Dixon and Christopher Tsang
- Gold Derby
“Survivor” players know that only one person can win the game, but it always stings to be the first one eliminated. The pain of being booted first from your season has to be a difficult one to get over, especially for those who really wanted to play the game. First boots are often targeted because of age or challenge performance or etiquette around camp and it’s sad to see people’s torch be snuffed after only three days on the island. Some early boots make such an impression, however, that they are remembered even today. Above you can scroll through our ranked gallery of memorable first boots we hope get another chance to play “Survivor” again.
See ‘Survivor 40’ advantages: Who currently has immunity idols, fire tokens in ‘Winners at War’?
The first people voted out of each season typically have outsized personalities and are naturally booted because they don...
See ‘Survivor 40’ advantages: Who currently has immunity idols, fire tokens in ‘Winners at War’?
The first people voted out of each season typically have outsized personalities and are naturally booted because they don...
- 4/11/2020
- by Kevin Jacobsen
- Gold Derby
It's been exactly a year since Amtrak. No. 188 derailed in Philadelphia, killing eight people and injuring more than 200. As families continue to grieve for their loved ones who died in the May 12, 2015 crash - and others still cope with debilitating injuries - they continue to ask a still-unanswered question: What happened? "Why? Why? Why could this happen? Why was he going so fast? Why didn't he slow down?" Larry Saia, whose best friend, Giuseppe Piras, 40, was killed in the wreck, told New York's Daily News. "We can't bring Giuseppe back, I know. But they could tell us how - why - this happened.
- 5/12/2016
- by Caitlin Keating, @caitkeating
- PEOPLE.com
It's been exactly a year since Amtrak. No. 188 derailed in Philadelphia, killing eight people and injuring more than 200. As families continue to grieve for their loved ones who died in the May 12, 2015 crash - and others still cope with debilitating injuries - they continue to ask a still-unanswered question: What happened? "Why? Why? Why could this happen? Why was he going so fast? Why didn't he slow down?" Larry Saia, whose best friend, Giuseppe Piras, 40, was killed in the wreck, told New York's Daily News. "We can't bring Giuseppe back, I know. But they could tell us how - why - this happened.
- 5/12/2016
- by Caitlin Keating, @caitkeating
- PEOPLE.com
Did Natalie deserve the win on Survivor: Samoa? Yes.
For one, her strategy--lying low and hanging on with arguably the best player this season--is a valid one. She's right: the more aggressive female contestants get eliminated early on. She was right about Marisa, who got kicked because she felt Russell was playing the game too hard. Same goes for Betsy. We all did treat her lightly, just as part of the so-called "dumb-ass girl alliance" that he was done with early on in the game.
For one, her strategy--lying low and hanging on with arguably the best player this season--is a valid one. She's right: the more aggressive female contestants get eliminated early on. She was right about Marisa, who got kicked because she felt Russell was playing the game too hard. Same goes for Betsy. We all did treat her lightly, just as part of the so-called "dumb-ass girl alliance" that he was done with early on in the game.
- 12/21/2009
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
When Survivor: Samoa began, like many other fans, I had an idea of who'll make an impact and who will be eliminated early on. For some of you who saw my power rankings over the past few weeks, you would've noticed that I always put Natalie on the bottom ranks. Admittedly, I never really held her in high regard.
Come to think of it. At the very beginning she was one of Russell's "dumb blondes", the people who he struck alliances with early on, only to eliminate when the deed is done, like Marisa. When she got eliminated, it felt Russell would kick her out soon, especially after having found more reliable allies in Mick and Jaison. The gender lines being drawn then on Foa Foa wasn't helping, either. Liz was the most vocal of the females, and Natalie was just hanging on to her (or to Russell, although...
Come to think of it. At the very beginning she was one of Russell's "dumb blondes", the people who he struck alliances with early on, only to eliminate when the deed is done, like Marisa. When she got eliminated, it felt Russell would kick her out soon, especially after having found more reliable allies in Mick and Jaison. The gender lines being drawn then on Foa Foa wasn't helping, either. Liz was the most vocal of the females, and Natalie was just hanging on to her (or to Russell, although...
- 11/13/2009
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
Last night on Survivor: Samoa, Mike Borassi, the 62-year-old personal chef from Marina del Ray, California, was evacuated from the game. After trying hard to prove himself in the Schmergenbrawl challenge he collapsed twice from the exhaustion and dehydration. Mike had originally been chosen to compete on Survivor: Tocantins but had been removed hours before the game for medical reasons. Mike has since reported that he was fine an hour later, but not until after he had been removed from the game.
When I talked with Mike earlier today he told me about his culinary training, how his football training prepared him for the Schmergenbrawl, what inspired him to grow a pointy beard, why he really voted off Marisa and whether he would have preferred to compete in Tocantins.
When I talked with Mike earlier today he told me about his culinary training, how his football training prepared him for the Schmergenbrawl, what inspired him to grow a pointy beard, why he really voted off Marisa and whether he would have preferred to compete in Tocantins.
- 9/25/2009
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
The second episode of Survivor Samoa opened with Russell H reflecting on Marisa's elimination, stating that "she's a strong woman. You can't have that out here - I can't have that". Later he warned Betsy that she had made a huge mistake in not trusting him and she would see that later on. Jaison formed an alliance with Russell H who suspected an immunity idol had been hidden in the camp and set out to look for it. Russell H located the immunity idol inside a tree and concealed his discovery in his underwear, only showing it to Jaison. The teams arrived for the immunity/reward challenge painted as Samoan warriors. The challenge was to fight each other for control of three balls which were to be passed to their team mates on a platform and thrown through their rival team's basket at the opposite end of an arena.
- 9/25/2009
- by By Philippa Warr
- Digital Spy
Russell Hantz is one of the best Survivor players ever. The fact that he snagged an idol right out from under the noses of his oblivious tribe -- without any clues -- was just the icing on the cake. The best move of the episode was the way he used the idol as a tool to ally with Jaison. Congratulations, Russell. Like Jeff Probst easily winning his second Emmy, you’ve nabbed your second Fishy Award for Best Strategic Move. You both should be proud. Is the rest of Foa Foa blind? I was once again open-mouthed in shock as the Foa Foans puttered around while Russell fully climbed into a tree looking for the hidden immunity idol -- in the middle of camp. When Mick asks him what he’s doing, Russell tells him: “I’m looking for the immunity idol.” Then he casually gets up, sticks the idol in his pants,...
- 9/25/2009
- by StyleWatch
- People.com - TV Watch
Pre-credit sequence. Welcome to Week Two of "Survivor: Samoa" or, as it's pretty much already been renamed, "The Psycho Russell Variety Hour." Rarely if ever has a single castmate so immediately and completely dominated the conversation. It's only Day Four in Foa Foa and Psycho Russell is gloating, warning that Marisa played with fire and, thus, got burned. He's pretty solid with his causal logic, at least. He's relieved to no longer have to worry about her strong mind. Officer Betsy, sensing Psycho Russell's wrath, approaches him and attempts to reconcile. They agree that they don't trust each other, but they'll...
- 9/25/2009
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Last week on Survivor: Samoa, pudgy Russell flexed his muscles, orchestrating Marisa's exit from Foa Foa purely on the power of persuasion--or, perhaps, his belief that she's threatening him. This week, it's pretty much the same. Or maybe not.
First off, I might as well call this Survivor: Foa Foa, for everything that's happening seems to be over there. I mean, last week and this week? Well, there's Yasmin getting used to living in the outdoors. But I warned you.
First off, I might as well call this Survivor: Foa Foa, for everything that's happening seems to be over there. I mean, last week and this week? Well, there's Yasmin getting used to living in the outdoors. But I warned you.
- 9/24/2009
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
Marisa Calihan, a 27-year-old Spanish major from Cincinnati, was the first (and surely not the last) target of muscular manipulator Russell on Survivor: Samoa. She spoke with People about why standing up to bullies is more important than winning. -- Carrie Bell How does it feel to be part of Survivor’s illustrious first castoff club? I would rather be the first one off with dignity than the fifth or sixth one off taking Russell’s crap the whole time. When did you realize it was going to be you going home? Before I arrived at Tribal Council, I didn’t expect it at all. But most of a very long council centered on Ben and Russell bullying me and making things up. I started to have a pretty good feeling that they would stop at nothing to get me off. Where did you go wrong? What I would have...
- 9/19/2009
- by StyleWatch
- People.com - TV Watch
The nineteenth season of Survivor got underway last night with 20 new contestants pitting themselves against each other and the elements on the island of Samoa. Marisa Calihan was the first to be voted off at Tribal Council after clashing with fellow contestants Russell Hantz and Ben Browning. We talked to the 26-year-old student to find out more about her experiences on the show. How does it feel to be the first to leave?
"It's like, 'I've let my family down, I've done all this legwork, I took a quarter off school, I failed them all'. I made alliances and now they've got to go back to camp and their whole strategy's blown. I felt like I'd failed everyone and then the next day I woke up feeling so proud that I was the only one who stood up to Russell." Did you know you were going home?
"When I stepped...
"It's like, 'I've let my family down, I've done all this legwork, I took a quarter off school, I failed them all'. I made alliances and now they've got to go back to camp and their whole strategy's blown. I felt like I'd failed everyone and then the next day I woke up feeling so proud that I was the only one who stood up to Russell." Did you know you were going home?
"When I stepped...
- 9/18/2009
- by By Philippa Warr
- Digital Spy
When "Survivor: Samoa" kicked off last night, the players were thrown into a Reward Challenge before they even got to know each other. Then it was off to their respective camps. For some reason, Marisa Calihan angered fellow teammate Russell Hantz to such a degree that the oil company owner lobbied to get her voted off the island when their team lost the Immunity Challenge. Now the 26-year-old college student tells "The Insider" it was because she wasn't stupid enough to fall for his lies! "The Insider": How hard was it to be the first to go? Marisa: You don't want to be the first to go because you want to be a part of everything you have been preparing for, for as long as possible. However, there are some huge benefits for me being the first to go: One) I didn't have to spend any more time with Russell.
- 9/18/2009
- by TheInsider
- TheInsider.com
She didn't put up much of a fight at Tribal Council, but Survivor: Samoa's first casualty, Marisa Calihan, has some strong words for former tribemates Russell and Ben. (Shocker! She doesn’t like them!) The 26-year-old student chats about her exit with Survivor: Amazon champ Jenna Morasca and yours truly for the season premiere of Survivor Talk. When did she realize Russell was a shady character? What did they think had happened to all their missing canteen water? And who from the tribe actually bought that phoney baloney sob story about Hurricane Katrina and the dead dog? Marisa spills all while trying not to feel too uncomfortable about Jenna's obvious girl crush. Just click on the video below and let the awkward battle of the hotties begin!
- 9/18/2009
- by Dalton Ross
- EW.com - PopWatch
I'm crestfallen. Last night on Survivor: Samoa, Marisa Calihan became the first person voted out of the Foa Foa tribe. Russell targeted her because she admitted she was "leery" of him, and as Jeff Probst read the votes she reminded me of the horse in The Neverending Story sinking into the Swamp of Sadness. Every time Jeff read a vote for Ashley, Marisa seemed relieved to learn the whole thing was a mistake.
Then he read a vote for her and her mouth became a child's zigzagging magic marker line. I wanted to jump off the couch and shout "No! Spare her! Vote me off instead!" Unfortunately I wasn't playing.
Then he read a vote for her and her mouth became a child's zigzagging magic marker line. I wanted to jump off the couch and shout "No! Spare her! Vote me off instead!" Unfortunately I wasn't playing.
- 9/18/2009
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
This is the second in a series of interviews with Survivor Samoa cast members. Marisa Calihan is kind of impossible not to like. Although Marisa was recruited for Survivor Samoa, she is anything but the type we've come to expect from some recruits. She's certainly attractive, but she's had an interesting life and is thoughtful about it. She's somewhere between quirky and traditional, unpredictable and conservative. A songwriter who "lived in L.A. writing music but... keep reading » » read the full story and comment, or find the latest news about Survivor Samoa
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- 9/1/2009
- by Andy Dehnart
- Reality Blurred
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