Coach, Tyson, Sierra, Brendan and Debbie. (Photo: CBS)TYSON APOSTOL WON THE BIG individual immunity challenge in this week's show … and it meant absolutely nothing.
Because nobody got voted off. Another castaway, Joe, had to leave the game because of an infection in his leg. So immunity was meaningless to the Utahn.
Ah, well. Tyson did climb up that pole and hang on longer than anyone else, and that has to mean something, right? Well, it did offer Tyson a chance to act arrogant in front of all the other contestants instead of just in his straight-to-the-camera interviews.
"So, I kick a-- like I always do," Tyson said to the camera. "And if any ladies want my phone number, I guess, uh, ask."
It's just that Tyson sense of humor at work again. (Although one person I know who watched this season of "Survivor" for the first time came away thinking that the Utahn was, well, a jerk.)
What with the two tribes merging this week, the plotting and scheming kicked into high gear. And, while Tyson wasn't alone, he absolutely seemed to think he's got the game in hand.
Apparently, he's never watched, well, pretty much every single season of "Survivor" when the contestants who think they're pulling all the strings invariably take a big fall.
The plotting is too involved - and, ultimately, meaningless - to go into in any great length. Suffice it to say that Tyson is determined to oust Brendan.
"He's the biggest threat," Tyson said. "He just seems like a sneaky (expletive). I can't look him in the eyes and believe anything he says. You can look me in my sweet blue eyes all day and I'll tell you sweet nothings and you'll believe all of them."
So Tyson set out to stab his supposed ally in the back. Of course, Brendan was plotting, too, so it's not like Tyson was the bad guy. But he did seem to be taking waaaaay too much pleasure in himself.
"I do feel proud being a better schemer than Brendan," he said. "He's supposed to be this bigwig businessman who gets businesses rolling, makes them tons of money. He's like putty in my hands. I can mold this game however I want right now."
And sometimes he sounds downright mean.
"Lying to everybody, especially Brendan and Sierra, actually brings me pleasure," Tyson said. "I never liked Sierra, ever. I have no clue why she's out here other than to just give hope to stupid people around the world.
"And Brendan, he's really the sneakiest (expletive) I have to worry about. We smile at each other. We hug. I've kissed him on the neck. Softly. He's felt my warm, steamy breath on the nape of his neck. Even on the small of his back. But, as the old adage goes, keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
What's that other old saying? Oh, yeah - pride goeth before a fall.