CBS/Robert VoetsNo no no no no no no no! No!
That's denial for you—the first stage in the grieving process over tonight's terrible Tribal Council tragedy on Heroes vs. Villains.
Disclaimer for the DVR peeps: It's OK, no one actually died. (That hasn't happened yet on Survivor, although Samoa's Russell Swan sure seemed like a goner for a few scary moments last season.) We're still mourning this staggering loss.
Melodramatic much? So what. Let's hug it out, people...
Awesome Rob, you said it best: "I put 'em on my shoulders and carr[ied] 'em as long as I could but at the end of the day, this is what I get. Thanks."
And then he was gone. (Thanks, Tyson. Jerk.)
Boy Soldiers: In a way, tonight was little more than the ladies (and Coach) waving their handkerchiefs at their heroes and calling for their smelling salts. But Russell had the only ammunition that mattered: a stronger alliance. Jerri appeared to be wavering, but Tyson told me last week: "Jerri didn't like Rob—she wanted him gone." Russell, Danielle (she speaks!) and Parvati just had to open the door and invite her in.
Time for a Change: Colby said it's "put up or shut up time for Colby," and according to my clock it's Put Up Time. It's also Irony Time, because with James gone, his tribe is finally speaking with "one voice"—and winning for a change. They might even the numbers by Merge Time.
"If You Ain't With" Russell...You're in big trouble. It's Samoa all over again—anyone Russell distrusts is doomed. I think he might even have been reciting a script from last season when he said, "If you're gunning for me, you're not gonna get what you want, not with me. You're going to have to go." Russell doesn't respect alliances—if he smells a rat, he won't think twice about flipping.
WHO WILL GET VOTED OFF NEXT
Considering how much airtime their tribe got in the preview for next week (100 percent), another Villain is on the chopping block—and it's gotta be Parvati or her "hero," Russell, right? Their tribemates are all Survivor veterans and should be smart enough to band together to eliminate their greatest threats. (P.S.: I hope it isn't Russell. With Boston Rob gone, he's once again the smartest and most entertaining Castaway.)
SURVIVOR INSIDER
When Jerri complained about the cold, I don't think she was just talking about her icy heart. Maybe she didn't pick out the warmest attire for Colby-less jungle nights? The Castaways' clothes are actually chosen from their own wardrobes, but—as Jaison and Mick dished to me last season—producers have the final say about what they actually wear on location. Courtney told me she learned from China and this time sent in enough stuff to make sure she'd be covered—and she does look pretty toasty in that hat, long-sleeve shirt and knee-high socks. (Note: A couple steaks and a milkshake wouldn't hurt either.)
Yay 30 Rock for giving us hope with a final chance to celebrate Rob, whom Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) recognizes as one of several great Boston institutions. See Jack's shout-out in the clip above—laughter is the best medicine, right?
Believe it or not, the game is continuing without Boston Rob. Who will go next? Cast your vote in our poll...and come back here later Friday to hear what Rob has to say about Russell, Coach and just being awesome in our exclusive interview.