by Michael J. Lamp

 

Here we are. More than a decade of torch-snuffing, backstabbing and million-dollar winners brings us to yet another Survivor season finale.

 

This time, I'm lucky enough to have an (almost) front row seat to the action. I'm sitting in NYC's famous Ed Sullivan Theater along with other members of the press, Survivor fans from far and wide and plenty of supportive family members of this year's cast.

 

Funny man Seth Herzog comes out to warm the crowd. Soon, the lights go down, the screens come up and we're watching the final two hours of Survivor: Redemption Island.

 

After a season recap, it's commercial time. Seth is back onstage, this time chatting with Andrea's father, who is wearing a rather kooky leather jacket. Seth will be entertaining the crowd during each of the commercial breaks.

 

Back to the action, and it's time for the final duel. It's a game of balance, with each Survivor keeping his/her vase steady while they navigate a see-saw-like two by four.

 

Rather shockingly, Grant drops first, then Matt. Each of their defeats was met with a huge audience reaction, especially when Matt dropped. People in the theater were really rooting for him. Mike finally falls, giving Andrea the crucial win.

 

Andrea is hardly welcomed back to the tribe with open arms, but her jokes for the camera get big laughs from the audience - and her leather-clad dad.

 

Ashley claims the final immunity, narrowly beating Rob and Andrea. Phillip and Natalie were basically non-issues in the challenge. Are you surprised? Rob seems more than a little annoyed by Ashley's victory.

 

Ashley and Natalie are chatting up a storm, and Phillip is suspicious of them. He talks to Rob about the girls' chat, but he does so right in front of Andrea. Huge laughs from the audience when Rob and Phillip finally up and leave Andrea alone on the beach.

 

Rob talks about taking the immunity idol home as a souvenir. During the commercial break before tribal council, there are lots of whispers in the crowd about Rob's fate. The majority of the crowd seems to be in his corner, but everyone appears afraid that he's going to let his ego keep him from the final three.

Jeff reminds the tribe that it's their last chance to use an immunity idol. A hush falls over the live crowd before Rob reveals and uses his hidden idol. Another burst of applause. Andrea gets voted out again. Sad.

 

The final immunity challenge starts as a physical maze and ends with a puzzle. Natalie never makes it out of the maze. Every time the camera cuts to the dazed teenager, the audience laughs pretty uncontrollably. Natalie is sweet and cute, but she's no Fleur Delacorte, that's for sure.

 

Phillip puts up a decent fight, but it comes down to Ashley and Rob, once again. Rob is first to uncover the riddle (Only You Are Safe). With that, he claims the final immunity. Yes, the crowd goes wild...again.

 

During the commercial, Seth is back - this time with schwag! He's quizzing the audience about secret agents and tossing t-shirts into the crowd.

 

After some awkward back and forth on the island, Rob sets his sights on Ashley. Natalie is nervous to vote out her BFF, but it's highly unlikely that she'll go against Rob. And she doesn't. And buh-bye to Ashley.

 

During the final tribal council, Natalie and Phillip pretty much stink up the joint with their sad pleas. I mean, they basically just talked about Rob the whole time. Rob talks about 10 years of Survivor and how it is a part of him, but not the defining part of him. There's some talk of family and some tears down cheeks. Shucks.

 

Phillip goes at it with basically ever member of the jury. When I said earlier that the crowd went wild, that was timid compared to the eruption of laughter that followed basically every jury member's questioning of Philip. My favorites were his interactions with Ashley and Julie. "Oh I will respond!" "To hell with you!" You can't write this stuff, people.

 

During the last commercial break, production assistants usher in the final three, along with the jury. Everyone is well dressed and obviously styled by professionals. Lots of new hairstyles - and make-up! Pockets of the audience cheer louder for certain members. Family members? Obsessed fans? Probably both. There are lots of waves from the stage, as well.

 

Jeff leaves Nicaragua and suddenly he's with us in NYC - it's magic! In a pretty ant-climactic reveal, Jeff announces Rob as the winner of Survivor: Redemption Island. (During a later commercial break, he reveals that Rob got all but one vote.)

 

Live show highlights included the playful love chat about Matt and Andrea, the super-awkward Dave proposal and the handshake between Russell and Rob. The best moment came when Jeff received (at long last) verification that Phillip was, after all, a special agent.

 

Now, back to this proposal. I can't begin to tell you how awkward it was to witness in person. I'm not sure how it looked on screen, but she didn't look super into it from my seat in the house. During the commercial break, Jeff joked about cueing Dave three of four times and wondering if he was actually going through with it or not.

 

Jeff also asked the crowd who they wish had lasted longer in the game. Ralph and Francesca seemed to receive particularly large cheers.

 

My favorite Phillip moment that is unrelated to his special agent status also came during a commercial break. He started talking to the crowd about what he's up to now and pimped his LinkedIn profile, like whoa. Really, it was just funny watching him explain LinkedIn.

 

Once the show ended and the cameras went off, the cast was all smiles, hugging and posing for photos from stage. I caught up with each of the final eight live on the red carpet. Check back tomorrow for that Q&A.

 

So, what did you think of the finale? Are you excited for more Redemption Island, this time from the South Pacific?

 

 

Follow Michael @mjlamp