1. Survivor: Borneo (Winner: Richard Hatch)
Think back to when this show first came on the air - and how we had never seen anything like it. Nothing will ever be able to duplicate that sense of wonder
and excitement…
2. Survivor: Micronesia - Fans Vs. Favorites (Winner: Parvati Shallow)
…although this one came damn close. It wasn't just the most insane four-episode-run in Survivor history (with Ozzy, Jason, and Erik all getting
blindsided, and then Amanda pulling out one last hidden immunity idol). It was also great characters (Chet and Joel are the 21st century odd couple) and the
perfect mix of solid and stupid gameplay.
3. Survivor: Amazon (Winner: Jenna Morasca)
Probably the most unpredictable season ever from week to week. Some people hate on Morasca as a winner, but she won challenges and played a great social
game.
4. Survivor: Pearl Islands (Winner: Sandra Diaz-Twine)
Rupert stealing shoes. Fairplay getting drunk at Tribal Council. Osten sucking at everything. It was all delicious. Loses points, though, for the awful
Outcasts twist, which also led to a disappointing final two.
5. Survivor: Palau (Winner: Tom Westman)
I loved watching one tribe decimate the other, culminating with Stephenie becoming a tribe of one. And the challenges may have been Survivor's
best ever.
6. Survivor: Samoa (Winner: ???)
Never in the history of Survivor can I remember a player going from being so hated to so hailed as Russell Hantz. His controlling of the game
(especially post-merge when his side was down 8-4) was truly a work of art. Evil genius art. (Note: This ranking could move up or down a few slots depending on
what happens in final two episodes.)
7. Survivor: Marquesas (Winner: Vecepia Towery)
An underrated season that saw the first totem pole shake-up: where people on the bottom got together to overthrow those on the top. Yes, it was a weak final
two, but it also had a woman peeing on a guy's hand. Plus: Purple rock!!!
8. Survivor: Cook Islands (Winner: Yul Kwon)
What a difference a mutiny makes. It was listless until that fateful moment when Candice and Penner stepped off the mat. Then, we finally had underdogs to root
for. The Tribal Council fire-making tiebreaker between Sundra and Becky may be the funniest thing I've ever seen in my life.
9. Survivor: Australian Outback (Winner: Tina Wesson)
An overrated season. Probst loves it. I didn't. Solid but unspectacular. Pretty predictable boot order as well. Dude did burn his hands off, though.
10. Survivor: China (Winner: Todd Herzog)
Really good cast. Kinda blah location.
11. Survivor: Tocantins (Winner: J.T. Thomas)
Okay, you may hate Coach. But imagine for a second this season without him. Bo-ring! His unintentional comedy single-handedly lifts this into the middle of the
pack. Seriously, other than Tyson getting blindsided, were there any memorable moments that didn't involve the Steven Seagal wannabe?
12. Survivor: All-Stars (Winner: Amber Brkich)
Overall, a letdown, but man, were there some hate-fueled fireworks at those final few Tribal Councils. Plus: Best. Reunion Show. Ever. (Remember
Jerri getting literally booed off the stage?)
13. Survivor: Panama (Winner: Aras Baskauskas)
Ah, just writing the word Panama gets me daydreaming about Survivor Sally and her intoxicating knee socks. Terry was robbed on a final challenge that
may or may not have been completely fair. Another unmemorable final two.
14. Survivor: Gabon (Winner: Bob Crowley)
It got a bit better near the end, but it was still a case of too little, too late. The fact that so many unworthy players went so far is simply too
damning.
15. Survivor: Africa (Winner: Ethan Zohn)
Some great challenges. Not that much else was great.
16. Survivor: Guatemala (Winner: Danni Boatwright)
One of the more unlikable casts so far. (Remember Judd? Jamie? Stephenie's evil twin?) Rafe was good for a few laughs, though. Especially on rope
obstacles.
17. Survivor: Vanuatu (Winner: Chris Daugherty)
I don't blame producers: The battle of the sexes worked well the first time around.
18. Survivor: Thailand (Winner: Brian Heidik)
The fake merge and brutal last challenge (where the final three had to hold coins between their fingers in a crazy painful pose) keep this dud out of the
bottom spot. Barely.
19. Survivor: Fiji (Winner: Earl Cole)
The season that we shall never speak of again. With the exception of Yau-Man and Earl, a true bummer of a cast, and the "Haves Vs. Have-Nots" twist
was perhaps the worst creative decision in Survivor history - after the "Outcasts."
http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/12/17/survivor-samoa-best-to-worst/
