Survivor Gabon Episode 1 and 2

- Eliminated contestants: Michelle Chase, Gillian Larson
- New episodes: Thursdays at 8/7c
- Network: CBS
- Current season: 17
- Season premiere: September 25, 2008
- Host: Jeff Probst
- Filming dates: June 23-July 31, 2008
- Filming location: Wonga-Wongue Presidential Reserve, Estuaire, Gabon, Africa

Check out the recap for the season premiere of Survivor Gabon. The first two episodes were featured on CBS on September 25, 2008, after having been pushed back from the original premiere date of September 18. Two contestants were voted off during the season premiere, first Michelle Chase and later Gillian Larson. For current spoilers and recaps, please see Mahalo's Survivor Gabon spoilers page.

Survivor Gabon Season Premiere, Episode One and Two
- YouTube Video: Survivor Gabon Pre-Season Promo (Time: 0:30)
- EW.com: Behind the Scenes of Episodes 1 and 2 with Jeff Probst (September 26, 2008)
- Day 1
- Welcome to the two hour special premiere of the 17th season of Survivor. Eighteen Americans have been dropped off in Gabon, Africa with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They will be forced to work together to create a new society and must learn to adapt or be voted out. Thirty-nine days, 18 people, one Survivor.
- The cast members walk up to host Jeff Probst as he asks everyone to introduce themselves. First up is Danny, he's a maintenance supervisor. Bob is a physics teacher. Jackie sells medical devices. Ken is a professional video game player and a college student. Marcus is in the medical field. Charlie is a management consultant. Matty is a personal trainer. Susie is a part-time hairdresser, mother and wife. Paloma is a student and server. Randy is a videographer for weddings. Ace is a photographer. Crystal says she is a pre-school teacher and a full-time mom. (She left out that she is an Olympian.) Kelly is a buyer for a large retail store. Corrine is in pharmaceutical sales. (She's also a self-proclaimed b___h.) Dan was an attorney, but is currently "finding himself." Michelle works in film. Sugar is a pin-up model. Gillian is a wife, mother, grandmother and a nurse.
- In keeping with the tradition of Survivor, team leaders are the oldest members of the cast. Gillan and Bob will choose teams. Gillian chooses red, Bob chooses yellow.
- Each person will choose one person for their team, one by one. Rock-paper-scissors will decide who chooses first, Bob wins and gets to pick first. Gillian will choose next, then the person Bob picked will choose next and go down the line until all cast members are on a team.
- Yellow team:
- Bob
- Ace
- Sugar
- Marcus
- Charlie
- Paloma
- Kelly
- Jacquie
- Corrine
- Red team:
- Gillian
- Crystal
- Susie
- Matty
- Randy
- Dan
- Danny
- Ken
- Michelle
- Charlie doesn't understand why all the weak people are being picked first, calling this "Stupid Survivor." (Private session.)
- The red tribe is called "Fang" The yellow tribe will be called "Kota."
- Time for the first challenge! Two immunity idols are at stake! The first person from each team that goes up a huge hill first will win an immunity idol they will be able to use at the first tribal council. Also, on top of the hill are necessities like rice, pots and more that both teams will win. The first tribe to get all the members to the top of the hill will win a bag of bean and corn in addition to everything else mentioned.
- Randy and Gillian are at the back of the pack, with Danny leading the way. Jeff is even running!
- Matty and Dan go back to help Randy and Gillian. Danny is first to start the climb up the hill with Marcus coming in close behind him.
- Bob is holding Paloma's hand helping her up the hill, Ace is helping her also. Marcus is the first to reach the idol for the Kota tribe.
- Michelle is closing in on Danny, but she doesn't make it in time. Danny gets the idol, but Michelle, who was the last one picked, is the first woman up the hill.
- Matty is pushing Crystal up the hill.
- Kota wins the extra food!
- Matty thinks Gillain will be a huge load to carry because she is very slow. (Private session.)
- Jeff tells Fang that this competition wasn't even close.
- Kota tribe is making their way to find their camp. It's set near a beautiful lake and there is a small shelter set in place for them. I have to say, the setting is simply beautiful. Sugar doesn't want to go in the water because of the animals.
- Bob gets on the roof because it is starting to rain, he's using twine to secure the roof. Corrine thinks Bob is awesome, everyone applauds as he comes down. Now he's teaching them how to make a bench, then one of the girls asks him what they will eat. Everyone giggles.
- The Fang tribe is settling in. They have three partial huts at their site. Gillian tells her tribe that they don't suck and they need to keep their awesome spirit going. She rallies everyone and is trying to make everyone feel good.
- Gillian asks everyone to bring back elephant dung because it burns well. She hopes a fire will keep the wild animals away. She brings some back to camp, a few of the guys are grossed out when she says you can squeeze elephant dung and drink the juice! (Ew!)
- Randy is totally annoyed by Gillian because she's spending all her time trying to look busy but not accomplishing anything.
- Ken tries to convince Michelle to eat a termite. She eats it! They are 'almost' flirting! In a private taping, Ken admits he is attracted to Michelle.
- Back at Kota, Ace asks his tribe to start on getting things they will need for fire and water. One of the guys wants to know where they will put the bathroom. Paloma doesn't seem too excited about digging a hole every time she uses the bathroom. Ace says he will dig a hole and when it is full, they will cover it and dig another hole. Matty volunteers to start digging and takes Paloma with him. As they walk away, Paloma says that Ace is getting on her nerves.
- Ace is telling everyone his suggestions, but everyone is getting annoyed with him. Charlie and Marcus want to let Ace dig a hole for himself.
- In a private taping, Charlie admits that he has a connection with Marcus and loves his deep blue and beautiful eyes.
- Marcus doesn't see anything romantic with Charlie because Marcus is straight. (Private taping.)
- In the Fang camp,. they are all laying down and hear an animal around their camp. There's an elephant behind their hut.
- Randy comes in the hut and hits his head on a branch, there's blood running down his face! He asks Gillian to take a look at it, she says that she can't see a thing. (It is very dark.) She sternly warns Randy that he needs to take care of himself or he'll get hurt.
- The medical staff is called, Randy asks for a shot to ease the pain. He'll need a few stitches. He is at a risk for infection and the medical staff will keep an eye on it.
- Randy is petrified that his injury will take him out of the game. (Private taping.)
- Day 2
- At the Fang camp, everyone is hungry. Bugs are on the menu!
- Michelle is standing there freezing and hollering that she's on the equator "Where's the sun!"
- The guys of Fang are trying to start a fire, but have no luck.
- In a private taping, Michelle wants to know why she got stuck with all the dorks.
- In Kota, Jacquie and a few others find the tree mail. Immunity challenge and the winners will also receive fire.
- Ace wants everyone to do yoga to get their spirits and chakras as one before the challenge. A few of the members are taking part, but Paloma is sitting down giggling at the ones who are participating. She tells Bob that she can't do it, she'd laugh the whole time. "Just the thought of doing yoga next to guys in their underwear in the middle of the jungle is weird."
- Today's challenge: Six tribe members will be belted together. They must work through a swamp and other obstacles then work together to put together a puzzle. Tribe immunity is up for grabs and flint will also go to the winner.
- For Kota, Paloma, Sugar and Bob will work the puzzle. Everyone else is tied together.
- For Fang, Susie, Gillian and Randy will work the puzzle.
- First leg of the race is through a leech-filled swamp. Kota has a small lead as they go up a vine wall. Corrine and Kelly have a hard time getting up the wall, Fang takes over the lead. They now must go over and under wood fences, Fang still has the lead. They are digging for puzzle pieces, without much enthusiasm from either side.
- Fang finds the first bag, Kota is still working on their first.
- Kota finds their last bag while Fang is still trying to find the second and third bags.
- Paloma, Bob and Sugar are working quickly on their puzzle. Fang hasn't even got all their bags yet.
- Kota wins the first immunity challenge. Hugs all around.
- Wonder who will go?? I think it will be Randy or Gillian. We'll shall soon see!
- Day 3
- OK, it says we're on day three, but it looks like day two. The Fang tribe is just coming back from losing their first immunity challenge and their heads are hung low. There's a few hand-shakes and encouragement. Lots of hugs.
- Danny "GC" says he's not worried about tonight as he won the first immunity challenge, but is worried because no one has stepped up as the leader.
- Matty tells the guys that he wants to vote out Michelle for being so negative all the time. Susie backs Matty up and says she'll do it, just give her the word. Matty asks Randy if he's in, Randy gives Matty a confused look and says "it's early." All eyes are on Randy.
- Privately, Randy says he isn't sure Michelle will get all the votes needed to be voted out. He wants Gillian to go tonight because of her age.
- Gillian is trying to get everyone pumped up again with her positive attitude.
- Michelle tells Ken that she wants to vote out Gillian because she is a liability. Ken warns Michelle that she is an outcast and that she needs to talk to the other people in camp.
- Gillian agrees that Michelle doesn't need to be here because of her attitude.
- Time for the first tribal council of the new season!
- Everyone lights their torches and sits down.
- Jeff asks Dan how he thinks they did at the challenge. Dan thinks they did OK, Jeff thinks the tribe is in total denial. Dan disagrees, saying that they are looking forward to taking the other team in the next challenge. Michelle thinks people took too many breaks while digging and points out Ken and GC (Danny) totally stopped digging at one point. Susie gets right in there and says that Michelle should have verbalized it, Michelle thinks that it's common sense that you don't stop until you win.
- Crystal says they don't have a leader and it's frustrating. Gillian thinks there are plenty of leaders of the group, but no one has really stepped up. GC says it should be someone they all look up to, many of the team ask GC to be the leader. GC declines saying that he doesn't want people to be upset with him for making wrong decisions, but says that he's open if that is what the tribe wants. Everyone is OK, Fang officially has a leader!
- Michelle admits she's closest to Ken and says there's dead weight they need to throw off the boat. (Gillian giggles.) Gillian says there's more to her than an old woman who "sucked on the hill" challenge.
- GC decides not to give up his individual immunity.
- Time to vote.
- Michelle votes for Gillian.
- Gillian votes for Michelle.
- Well, they sure could have revealed a few more of the votes!
- The first person evicted from Survivor Gabon is Michelle.
- Jeff says they may have found the necessary leadership to come together and send the tribe home with flint to make fire.
- Back at camp, GC says that tribal council sucked. GC asks Ken to do the fire, but Randy asks GC to make it and tells him if he can't do it, they will vote him out.
- GC does feel like his newly elected leadership position may put a target on his back. (Private taping.)
- Day 4
- It's morning at the Kota camp. Bob is trying to make fire. They made a huge flat of rice pudding. Charlie is fawning over Marcus about how cute he is. They go off together in the boat. Charlie says their alliance is strong, but he's being very forward. They want to include Jacquie in their alliance and maybe Corrine. Marcus will try and get to know Corrine.
- At Fang, GC asks Susie and Crystal to find fruit then asks Matty and Randy to find things to use as bowls and spoons. Ken suggests weaving a layer of grass for mats to sleep on.
- GC offers to make water, Randy doesn't understand why GC wants to boil the water twice.
- Randy now doesn't like GC and is ready to watch everyone crash and burn. (Private taping.)
- Back at Kota, Corrine admits to Marcus that she has spoken to Jacquie and likes her a lot. Corrinne is all for an alliance with her, Marcus, Jacquie and Charlie, but wants a fifth person. Corrine thinks she can bring Bob in, but doesn't want to give him too much information.
- Gillian is snoring in the Fang camp. No one else can sleep. Gillian wakes up noticing that GC is washing clothes, she's aggravated because he's making noise while doing it. A few people wake up to and talk to GC. Gillian wants them all to go to bed and GC tells her that he's a grown man and no one will tell him when to go to bed. GC resigns as the leader stating that he's younger than anyone here and has no business being leader. Randy thinks it was a good decision, Dan thinks it was a bad move, but he wants to be the silent leader so as to not take blame for anything.
- Treemail! Team immunity challenge tonight! Fang has painted themselves with charcoal to try and show a unified tribe and work as a team.
- The object of this challenge is to roll a large boulder between a series of gates, picking up keys along the way. First team to get all the keys to the gates and get their boulder on a wooden pedestal will win immunity and fishing gear. The winning tribe will also choose someone to go to exile island and get the first clue to help them find the individual immunity idol.
- Kota has an extra member, Paloma will sit out.
- The playing field is huge! They are going up steep hills, someone asks Gillian to get out of the way so they can push. (She really is getting in the way.) Kota takes the lead.
- They are heading downhill trying to control their boulder; Fang's boulder rams Kota's!
- Kota is out of the second gate first, but it's a very close race!
- Both teams are working on their final gate, using the keys to open the locks. Only three of the six work.
- Kota races to the finish, but Fang is trying hard to catch up! Kota can't get their boulder on the pedestal.
- Kota wins immunity.
- Jeff walks by Fang and with encouragement says that "this was much better than your last challenge, you were right there."
- Kota chooses to send Dan to exile island. He will be back in time for the next tribal council.
- Day 5
- Charlie is excited about the fishing reward and knows his tribe is getting stronger and stronger because of the rewards they win. He says this is 10,000 times better than his normal life at home. (Private taping.)
- Jacquie says they have the smartest guys ever on her tribe and that they are doing very well. (Private taping.)
- Dan is stuck at exile island. He doesn't think sending a strong guy to the island was a smart idea. He is given the choice of a clue or comfort, he chooses the clue with very little time wasted.
- Dan's scouting the island for the sandy crater mentioned in the clue with very little luck. He's frustrated that he's "not smart enough to understand the clue." With more daylight to go, he gives up.
- At the Fang camp, they agree their performance was a huge improvement from their last competition.
- GC is tired of losing and thinks they may never win. (Private taping.)
- Crystal asks Ken how he feels about their tribe. Ken feels Gillian's lack of strength is holding the tribe back. Crystal agrees.
- Gillian asks Susie who they feel the swing vote may be. Gillian wants the weak young people to go and wants Ken gone. Gillian tells Susie that "I'll go first, then they will vote you out next." Susie agrees, but doesn't commit to voting Ken out.
- Day 6
- GC is upset about having to go to another tribal council. (Private taping.)
- Randy broke his glasses apart to make a fishing hook to help feed the tribe using GC's shoestrings. A few of the girls went to look for worms, everyone is helping in the quest to find food.
- GC is fishing, Ken is talking to the fish in the lake asking them to eat the worm. Success! They caught five small fish!
- Dan is back already. He says there is a choice when you get to the island and they should send a weak player to the island, not a strong player. Dan says he looked for five or six hours. (GC is suspicious of Dan and thinks he has the idol. A few of the guys agree Dan is acting weird.) Randy stands up for Dan and says that he doesn't think Dan has it.
- Crystal and Matty discuss who they will vote for, Dan or Gillian.
- At tribal council, Jeff wants to know what's been happening the past few days. GC tells Jeff that being leader was not a position that he wanted to be in. Susie explains that GC and Gillian had an argument and that everything fell apart after that. Randy feels that he wouldn't want to lead this bunch either, no one will work as a team. Crystal feels they may not need a leader, they all know what needs to be done at camp. Gillian says they need to pull together.
- Crystal laughs at Dan and calls him out, saying that he has the idol. Dan empties his bag and pulls out his pockets asking the tribe "not to try and flush out the idol, he doesn't want to go home."
- Dan votes for Gillian to go home.
- Gillian votes for Ken to go home.
- Randy whispers "Sorry, I wish it wasn't you, but it is" as he casts his vote.
- Jeff asks if anyone wants to play the idol. It is not played.
- Gillian has been voted off of Survivor. She wishes them good luck as she walks away with a smile.
- Join us next Thursday night for the second episode of Survivor and see the drama unfold!
- First episode thoughts: Wow, what a season premiere! Randy doesn't seem to like anyone, it feels spooky how much Charlie likes Marcus and I'm so excited about this season!
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