The Ten Most Shocking Moments in Survivor History

A decade later, we still remember when that guy fell in the campfire.

by Scott Von Doviak

When Survivor debuted on CBS in the summer of 2000, few of the viewers who tuned in out of curiosity for what sounded like a weird hybrid of Gilligan's Island and Battle of the Network Stars could have predicted that, a decade later, the granddaddy of the reality genre would be celebrating its twentieth season with an all-star matchup of Heroes vs. Villains. In recognition of this milestone, Nerve looks back at the ten moments most responsible for Survivor's enduring popularity.

10. Boston Rob Proposes to Amber, Survivor: All-Stars

The "surprise" marriage proposal was already old hat in the reality-TV realm by the time Survivor's first all-star season surfaced in 2004, but give eternal schemer "Boston" Rob Mariano some credit for perfect timing: just before Jeff Probst read the votes that would determine whether he or co-finalist Amber Brkich won the million dollar prize, Rob popped the question and Amber accepted, guaranteeing the Red Sox-cap-wearing rogue a payoff no matter what the outcome.

9. Kathy Urinates on John, Survivor: Marquesas

As far as our crack research team can tell, Survivor can count among its innovations the first golden shower in prime-time network-television history. John Carroll was stung by a sea urchin while fishing and, much to the bafflement of his tribemates, emerged from the ocean shouting, "I need somebody who can pee on my hand!" Apparently urine is supposed to relieve the pain and swelling of such a sting, and while the obvious response would seem to be "Pee on your own hand," Kathy O'Brien was only too happy to oblige. Now that's a strong alliance.

8. Russell Without a Clue, Survivor: Samoa

Although later seasons of the show have become increasingly populated by swimsuit models and Hollywood bartenders, each edition is usually good for at least one larger-than-life cartoon character. The most recent example is Russell Hantz, a devilish homunculus whose sock-burning, canteen-dumping antics seemed less like strategic moves than camera-hogging maneuvers. That changed when Russell found no fewer than three hidden immunity idols, the first two without the benefit of any clues whatsoever. Whether this qualifies him as a genius or simply means the Survivor crew is getting lazy about hiding idols is still up for debate.

7. The Merge That Wasn't, Survivor: Thailand

As Survivor threatened to become too predictable, the producers were forced to inject more and more twists into the gameplay: tribal switches, hidden idols, Exile Island, etc. They came up with one worthy of M. Night Shyamalan in the otherwise forgettable Thailand season, as Jeff Probst gathered the two competing tribes, announced they would now be living together on one beach, and let them assume that the tribes had merged. They hadn't, of course, which came as bad news to Shii Ann Huang, who had already flipped her loyalties. When her tribe lost the next challenge, she paid the price at Tribal Council.

6. Erik Gives Up Immunity, Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites

The most satisfying moments of any Survivor season are those Tribal Councils wherein smug players secure in their position within the game are blindsided by the vote. Fans vs. Favorites saw a record number of such blindsides. The most comical found Erik, the lone man left among a bevy of babes, thinking with the little head instead of the big one and giving his immunity away to self-proclaimed "black widow" Natalie.  Blue balls is not a strategy, Erik.