As we predicted, Ramona takes a hike

By ERIC DEGGANS

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 28, 2000

Victory!

After a disappointing initial strikeout, this humble critic couldn't help loosing a short touchdown dance after last week's episode of Survivor.

That's because Pagong Tribe finally gave New Jersey chemist Ramona Gray her walking papers, confirming my prediction, and that of readers, of the week before. As comedian Julia Sweeney noted on The Early Show Thursday, the fact that cameras spent so much time with her last Wednesday was a dead giveaway.

This week, we face a new prediction and perhaps a new trend: gender warfare. With two of the older contestants eliminated early on, it seemed this mostly twentysomething and thirtysomething band of intentional castaways might get all their seniors out of the way before the contest really got going.

But last week saw the only expulsion votes in Pagong handed to women. And among the Tagi Tribe, Richard, the gay corporate trainer, formed a secret alliance with the group's two remaining women, ensuring they will likely move against one of the other men (my money's on borderline-homophobic doctor Sean, who has irritated both Richard and tough-talking truck driver Susan).

With a romance between Colleen and coconut phone-toting weirdo Greg hinted at, expect to see friction as the men move to eliminate the physically weaker women.

The contrast between Tagi and Pagong has unfolded like yin and yang. Pagong bonds and weeps while ejecting one of their own, as Tagi bickers openly and plots secretly. Talk about summertime TV fun!

Last week, I anticipated Susan would take a hike from Tagi tonight, but that was before I learned of her secret alliance with two teammates. Now I expect Sean to be the first casualty of that agreement -- fittingly kicked out of Survivor's most fractious team through a deviously hidden alliance.

In Pagong, I named Gervase as the most useless member of the team -- he has few survival skills and can't even swim well. But now I think Miami Beach's Colleen will go tonight, mostly because she has taken Gervase's title as least effective team member.

Next Wednesday, Gervase gets the boot from Pagong or Susan will be ejected from Tagi (even a secret alliance won't make up for her sharp tongue).

Readers picked Colleen as most likely to lose on Pagong tonight (with Gervase three votes behind). For Tagi, readers tagged Sean, whose incessant chatter about his homemade fishing pole would tax even the most understanding teammate.

As you may remember, I'm asking for your predictions on next Wednesday's ejectees, not tonight's.

Next week's update will contain plenty of quotes from those who have voted so far, so feel free to offer any thoughts.

E-mail: Floridian@sptimes.com; fax is (727) 892-2327. Or mail to Eric Deggans, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg FL 33731. Faxes and e-mails must be received by noon Friday; letters must be postmarked Thursday. No calls, please.

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