Did you hear about the guy last week who accidentally ejected himself from a plane? He was trying to hold on to a lever during a turbulent moment and then he was airborne. He had no idea what had happened. That's what happened to Kelly on last night's Survivor: Samoa.

The first seven votes were void after Russell played his latest Hidden Immunity Idol.  Yes, another one. The hut was filled with the puffs of shallow breathing as eight original Galu members sat there wishing they'd listened to Monica when she told them this was going to happen. Now Monica was covering her eyes like it was a horror movie and she wasn't peaking between her fingers. But I'm not sure that even then Kelly thought she was in immediate danger.  

The moment when Jeff flipped over the eighth vote must replay over and over in Kelly's dreams. You might say it was Dreadlocks' most dread-ed moment.

Brutal.

We never got to know Kelly. Brett still gets this season's Kenny Award for the mutest contestant. When the guy throws in a comment it goes so unnoticed that he might as well be talking in musical instrument notes like Charlie Brown's teacher. But Kelly was a close second.

I almost think the producers edited her to be so hard to identify with just so that you'd feel no sympathy when Russell pawned the Galu. But I guess it's more likely that her parents taught her the Quiet Game during a cross country trip once and they forgot to tell her she could talk again once they arrived. Poor Kelly.  If I went on the show and I got Kelly's edit I'd ask for my money back.

And I totally understand the hate, but you've gotta give Russell some love, too. Not only does he look like Michael Chiklis but he pulled a big time Vic Mackey police raid on the Aiga camp. He would have found that Idol if it were hidden in a production van.  

With eight Galu guns drawn on him from all sides Russell found a way to turn the tables. Much like the 1995 Seattle Mariners he refuses to lose. He just won't let them vote him out.

Although, I think you could argue that he's riding Natalie's coattails a little bit. She was the one who talked Galu out of voting him out last week and she did keep them distracted against this week. Oh, and she's the tribal provider.

How cool must she have felt? "You guys! I caught a rat! Score!" Yes, much like Rick Ross and Tabby, everyday she's hustlin'.

I also have to give a shout out to Laura.  She's Russell's biggest competition in this game. They have a great Federer-Nadal marathon match going on because she also refuses to lose. Laura was locked in during that immunity challenge. It's very impressive to see a 39 year old woman win back to back immunities and she's obviously a strong leader around camp. You go, girl!

I could not be looking forward to next week's episode more, with six Galu members taking on four Foa Foa's in an impromptu challenge to find the next Hidden Immunity Idol. I still give Russell the edge because he doesn't need to physically fight them off. He just has to put his hands on it first, and from the looks of things he's the only one trying to find it. They're just chasing him. Still, should be a great show.
 
Can Russell survive if someone else finds the Idol? Will Shambo ever vote for the right person? And is Laura really next on the block for Galu or, as I suspect, should Danger Dave actually be saying "Danger, Will Robinson!"?

Stay tuned!



-Henry Jenkins, BuddyTV Guest Columnist
(Image courtesy of CBS)