Utahn Neleh Dennis survived the first episode of "Survivor: Marquesas," upping her chances of winning the million-dollar prize to one-in-15 as bowling alley-owner Peter Harkey was voted off the island.
We'll keep you updated on Dennis' status here each week she survives — which means this will either continue through the finale in May or end as soon as next week. You never know.
The Layton resident was never in any danger of being eliminated. Not only did her Rotu tribe win the immunity challenge, leaving its members safe, but Dennis already seems popular with her castmates.
OK, she comes across just as nice and sweet as "Survivor's" creator/executive producer Mark Burnett said she would.
And, as Burnett promised, the fact that Dennis is a Utahn and a Mormon wasn't even an issue. Of course, she wasn't in the episode much, either.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: The contestants arrived on the island of Nuku Hiva and discovered that they did indeed have to find their own food and water — and they did. Both tribes eventually lit a fire (Kathy and John fought about that). Rob unsuccessfully chased chickens (and argued with Hunter about it).
And the flirting has begun, including Rob and Sarah, and Gina and Hunter.
The Rotu tribe won the immunity challenge — a contest involving outrigger canoes and lighting torches at sea and on land — leaving Maraamu to vote out Peter, apparently because he was so weird.
CATTIEST COMMENTS: "Sarah has a very cute body," Vecepia said. "She paid a lot for it."
Sean on Sarah's lack of help rowing the raft to shore: "Sarah's arrival was almost like Cleopatra. . . . She's sitting on the crate looking sooooo mah-velous with her (chest) hanging out and her goldilocks in the air."
LEAST APPETIZING MOMENT: A seasick Sarah barfing on the boat.
CONTESTANT YOU LOVE TO HATE: Sean's the early leader because of his attitude, his self-serving, his self-righteousness, his jealousy of Hunter, his strutting and his general obnoxiousness. But Sarah's running a close second.
E-MAIL: pierce@desnews.com