We’ve seen the promos that show Russell Swan collapsing on tonight’s episode of Survivor: Samoa in the middle of a challenge. And we’ve heard Jeff Probst in those promos describe it as “the scariest moment I’ve ever had on the show.” Well, after getting an advance look at the episode, I can tell you this: Probst is right — it is scary. Like, hand-over-the-mouth scary. I can also share some inside scoop that challenge producer John Kirhoffer provided a few weeks back on what went down. The incident takes place during a reward challenge called “Roll With it.” The challenge is adapted from a similar challenge from the Cook Islands season called “Monkeys in a Barrel.” In this one, blindfolded tribe members are directed through a course by someone who is being rolled inside a giant “Helio-sphere.” The blindfolded members then need to roll a small ball through a table maze. From the promos, you can clearly see that Russell is one of the blindfolded contestants. So what causes Russell to collapse? According to Kirhoffer, massive dehydration is to blame. (You’ll have to tune in tonight to see if medical ends up pulling him from the game or not.) As for the other big question of what happens to the rest of the challenge, Kirhoffer revealed two things: The challenge was not reset and finished, and while it was not played through to completion, “you can be sure that we will be playing it again someday, somewhere in the future.” (Hmmm…seeing as how season 20 was also shot in Samoa, I’d wager that will be sooner rather than later.) In the meantime, want to see the challenge for yourself? Then check out this exclusive video of Jeff Probst running a rehearsal of “Roll With It,” and — super Survivor geek alert! — see which former Survivor fave has a niece now working for the show testing out challenges. The answer awaits in the video below! Oh, and don’t forget that I’m now on Twitter just waiting to be followed @EWDaltonRoss.
Thanks for the spoiler on the front page, EW.
The main Survivor page on CBS has a photo of Russel laying down with an oxygen mask. They are the ones with the spoilers! I agree though, I wish they would have left it a secret!
I agree. The promo’s didn’t show who it was.
There are commercials playing that revealed it was Russell.
Why do this? The TV spoilers didn’t show who it was.
CBS has been playing the promos all week SHOWING it is indeed Russell going down and hearing Jeff Probst’s voiceover saying about it was his scariest moment etc. No spoilers here folks!
the TV spoilers on my TV showed it was Russell and show him falling down also. Dalton didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already see on CBS
which promo’s have you guys been seeing, because i’ve seen clips of russell collapsing several times on CBS promos during other shows.
All the promos I saw showed Russel falling down, too.
Yeah, you definitely saw who was falling
What have some of you guys been watching? This was not a spoiler. They have been showing Russell go down since last weeks coming attractions. The commercial with Russell getting medical has been running all week.
I don’t watch CBS all the time, but I thought the promo at end of last week’s episode didn’t show who, just teased that someone was going down.
Last night, during Criminal Minds, they showed it being Russell. And I thought well there goes that mystery
That’s what I was thinking about was the teaser at the end of last weeks episode. I guess I missed the other commercials.
Jeff has the same straw hat that my grandma has. Solid!
What is with all you people who come to EW.com, CLICK on #!@$, and then bitch about “spoilers”????
The spoiler was on the front page, not in the article. I didn’t have to go to the article to read it. I had heard CBS had been running spoilery promos, and I have been purposely avoiding them. It’s tantamount to saying who the cameo is in “Zombieland” on the front page in full type.
right on!
Shame on you EW! You spoiled for me that this show sucks.
EW spoiled NOTHING with this. After Survivor last week CBS showed promos teasing about someone getting injured. By Sunday’s previews AFTER TAR, CBS clearly showed it was Russell on the ground with the doc above him. EW never stated that Russ was evacuated from the game (even tho that spoiler IS out) so why are you guys blaming EW when you should be blaming CBS for spoiling both Survivor and TAR with their crappy previews in the first place.
Hello bondfool, Suzanne and Colin – if you didn’t want to know WHY DID YOU CLICK ON THE ARTICLE???
is that the black or white russell?
The dreadlocked one.
Me Thanks it was a Jack Russell
Hell, I called it last week when Dread Russell was the only male contestant not shown reacting to the injury.
And when is the last time a female contestant needed medical attention or got pulled?