Hey Mama ?? Did you just get home from the finale??
I was wondering if you where their or not?
I'll add a article here ..Hey another PA. winner ?
Maybe our own Wendy will win too someday?? :;>)
Amber - Survivor to the End
Scott Tady, Times Staff 05/09/2004
Brkich has silenced many of her huffy critics the past few months as she's deftly played the game of "Survivor: All-Stars."
Displaying athletic skill, survival smarts and beauty, the 25-year-old Brighton Township woman has outwitted, outlasted and outplayed 14 other all-star alumni from CBS's widely popular unscripted show.
Tonight, millions of TV viewers will discover whether Brkich or her boyfriend Rob Mariano will win the $1 million "Survivor" grand prize. Two other contestants remain in the hunt: teen counselor Rupert Boneham of Indiana and single mom Jenna Lewis of California.
Following the "Survivor" finale, the 18 all-stars will gather at 10 p.m. for a televised reunion, where the romance between Brkich and her "Survivor" co-star Mariano figures to be a focal point. Internet sites are buzzing with rumors and speculation that Mariano might plop down on one knee and pop the question to Brkich.
It's not like they haven't already been in church together, as Brkich and Mariano were spotted on Easter attending Mass at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Beaver.
But since then, the couple has kept a low public profile.
Forced into silence the past three months by CBS, Brkich finally will be able to publicly address her feelings for Mariano tonight.
If the emcee of the reunion show, "Survivor" host Jeff Probst, has done his homework, he also will want to pepper Brkich with questions about her strong finish in "Survivor" and whether she feels validated now after some media outlets initially said she didn't belong on the program.
In its Jan. 30 "Survivor" preview story, for instance, USA Today snidely said Brkich was best known for "being pretty, stupid and too loyal to the wrong person" (Jerri Manthey, her buddy from 2001's "Survivor: Australian Outback").
In a similar story, TV Guide pegged Brkich the longest of longshots, giving her only a 50:1 shot of winning (loudmouth truck driver Susan Hawk was 3:1). In listing all the all-stars' strengths, TV Guide sarcastically said about Brkich, "Give us time, we're thinking."
"Survivor" executive producer Mark Burnett admitted two other "Survivor" hotties - Colleen Haskell from "Survivor: Borneo" and newlywed Elisabeth Hasselbeck from "Survivor: Australian Outback" - rejected offers to appear on the all-star edition of the program, which fueled speculation that Brkich wasn't an original choice.
But reality show aficionados might suspect Burnett had Brkich on his radar from the get-go. Is anyone naive enough to believe Burnett accidentally placed the unattached and attractive Brkich into the same "Survivor" tribe that included two single, handsome young Robs: Mariano of Boston and Cesternino from New York City?
The romantic frolicking between Brkich and Mariano has been among the most memorable moments in "Survivor: All-Stars," helping the couple land on the covers of People and TV Guide. Speculation of whether the romance is authentic has remained a hot topic in "Survivor" chat rooms.
"I think she is playing the game 24/7 and playing Rob without him knowing it," said Brkich fan Travis Jordan of Pine Grove, Ark.
But Ariel Carmone Jr. of Covina, Calif., stopped rooting for Brkich because "I hate Boston Rob so much."
From Midland to Finland, and Brighton to Bulgaria, e-mails have flooded Brkich's official Web site (
www.amber-brkich.com) offering her encouragement and advice.
"Best of luck to the girl with the hottest and most adoring smile," writes Nigel Heath of Melbourne, Australia, while Tony Bartz of Phoenix writes, "Amber you warm my heart. When I see you on TV, your stunning eyes and gorgeous smile are almost mesmerizing."
Bayley Weese, 11, of Norwich, Conn., writes to Brkich, "You are my hero."
Tony Chandler, a Brkich fan from Edna Prairie, Minn., says, "By my calculations, if Amber makes it to the final two, she will have played the game of 'Survivor' for more days than any other contestant.
"Combining her sixth place in Australia and a top-two finish here, no other player can claim they are better or a more deserving all-star than her. It is very impressive," Chandler said.
Even USA Today might have to agree.
Scott Tady can be reached online at
stady@timesonline.com.