Survivor: Panama

Survivor: Panama, also known as Survivor: Panama — Exile Island, is the twelfth season of the CBS competitive reality television series . Aras Baskauskas defeated Danielle DiLorenzo in a 5-2 vote to become the Sole Survivor. It would ultimately feature one medical evacuation, and has to date produced four returning players (Aras Baskauskas, Cirie Fields, Danielle DiLorenzo, and Terry Deitz) for subsequent seasons.
==Production==
Applications were due on June 17, 2005. Around August 2005, 800 applicants were invited for an interview by CBS. Out of these 800, 48 of them were selected as semi-finalists and were invited to Los Angeles in September 2005. From these semi-finalists, 16 were chosen to appear on the show. Filming took place from November to December 2005.
The season's theme is inspired from and headhunting culture practiced in Central and South America. The Tribal Council set was a cave made out of foam. The Panamanian government insisted on preserving certain trees nearby, prompting production to build the cave around these, hiding them in the process. The candles illuminating Tribal Council can be controlled, thus enhancing the fire whenever production pleased.
==Twists/Changes==
* : After a Reward Challenge, players may banish a player from the rival tribe to Exile Island. This island, entirely separate from the existing camps, will force the banished player to fend for him/herself until the upcoming Immunity Challenge (unless stated otherwise). The player would not be left in despair, for he/she will be given clues to a Hidden Immunity Idol that is hidden somewhere on the island.
* Rehashed Hidden Immunity Idol Mechanism: Unlike the previous season where the Hidden Immunity Idol is used like the Immunity Necklace, the mechanism of using the idol was now changed. Instead of revealing the idol before voting, the owner must draw it when he/she has enough votes to eliminate him/her. The votes cast against that player will be considered spoilt, while the person that gets the second highest amount of votes will be eliminated instead. The idol is usable until the Day 36 Tribal Council.
* Four Tribes: For the first time in the series, the castaways were divided into four tribes of four.
* Tribe Division: These four tribes are defined according to age and gender, thus having tribes of Older Men (La Mina), Younger Men (Viveros), Younger Women (Bayoneta), and Older Women (Casaya).
* Tribe Switch: On Day 4, the tribes were mixed up. Viveros and Bayoneta were disbanded. Two team captains were chosen randomly and contestants were divided into the new Casaya and La Mina tribes by a Schoolyard Pick. Because of odd numbers, the last unpicked player was sent to Exile Island and was given immunity. The exiled player will stay there until the tribe that loses the next Immunity Challenge already finished the task of voting out one of their own. After the vote, the exiled player will join that tribe.
==Castaways==
Contestant	Contestant 	Tribe Affiliation	Tribe Affiliation	Tribe Affiliation	Finish	VotesAgainst
Contestant	Contestant 	Original Tribe 	Switched Tribe 	Merged Tribe 	Finish	VotesAgainst
 	Tina Scheer44, Hayward, WILumberjill 	 	 	 	 	3
 	Melinda Hyder32, Sevierville, TNSinger/Entertainer 	 	 	 	 	5
 	Misty Giles24, Dallas, TXMissile Engineer 	 	 	 	 	5
 	Ruth Marie Milliman48, Greenville, SCProperty Developer 	 	 	 	 	6
 	Bobby Mason32, Los Angeles, CAAttorney 	 	 	 	 	3
 	Dan Barry51, South Hadley, MAAstronaut 	 	 	 	 	3
 	Nick Stanbury25, Tempe, AZFinancial Salesman 	 	 	rowspan="10" 	 	6
 	Austin Carty24, High Point, NCWriter 	 	 	 	7 	
 	Sally Schumann26, Chicago, ILSocial Worker 	 	 	 	8 	
 	Bruce Kanegai57, Simi Valley, CAArt Teacher 	 	 	 	2 	
 	Courtney Marit31, Los Angeles, CAFire Dancer 	 	 	 	4 	
 	Shane Powers34, Los Angeles, CAMarketing Executive 	 	 	 	9 	
 	Cirie Fields35, Walterboro, SCNurse 	 	 	 	3 	
 	Terry Deitz46, Simsbury, CTPilot 	 	 	 	1 	
 	Danielle DiLorenzo24, Pompano Beach, FLMedical Sales Representative	 	 	Runner-Up 	4 	
 	Aras Baskauskas24, Santa Monica, CAYoga Instructor 	 	 	Sole Survivor 	9 	
==Season Summary==
The game began with the sixteen competitors split into four tribes by both relative age and gender. They were also introduced to the concept of "" with the promise of a Hidden Immunity Idol located somewhere on it, while one person from the losing tribe at challenges would be sent to the island and given clues to look for it. After the first four days, the four tribes were merged by a Schoolyard Pick into two tribes, Casaya and La Mina. 
Though Casaya was generally the stronger of the two tribes, they were dominated by dysfunction and infighting, mainly between Shane (who was suffering from nicotine withdrawal), the eccentric Courtney, and hot-headed Danielle. In the midst of the chaos however, a tight bond formed between Aras and Cirie. Compared to their rivals, La Mina was much more peaceful, as a powerful men's alliance headed by Terry and Dan took control. Because of their challenge ability, Casaya opted to send Terry over to Exile Island multiple times, which eventually allowed him to find the Hidden Immunity Idol.
The two tribes merged into Gitanos on Day 16, with Casaya holding a 6-4 numbers advantage. Though their conflicts continued, Casaya held together and was successful in eliminating the former La Mina members until only Terry remained. However, Terry soon began a streak of immunity wins, forcing Casaya to turn on one another. Come Day 30, Cirie noticed that both Terry and Shane looked to take Courtney to the Final Two as an assurance to win the jury's favor. Forming a final three pact with Aras and Danielle, Cirie succeeded in blindsiding Courtney, with Shane following immediately after on Day 33. 
At the final four, Aras won reward and took Cirie with him. This prompted Danielle to vote with Terry, forcing a fire-making tiebreaker between Cirie and Danielle, with the latter emerging victorious. Danielle would also go on to win the Final Immunity Challenge, forcing her to cast the sole vote to eliminate. Believing Terry to be the larger jury threat, Danielle voted him out, advancing to the Final Two with Aras. At the Final Tribal Council, Aras and Danielle both received lukewarm remarks from the jury, but by a vote of 5-2 Aras was awarded the title of Sole Survivor.
==Voting History==
==Trivia==
* All four original tribes were represented in the final four, with Aras Baskauskas, Danielle DiLorenzo, Terry Deitz, and Cirie Fields representing Viveros, Bayoneta, La Mina, and Casaya respectively.
* Panama is the first season to have as a season-long twist.
** This is the first season to have a Hidden Immunity Idol at Exile Island; the two twists would often be associated with each other in future seasons.
* Panama is the first season to have a gap between episodes longer than eight days. Coverage of the NCAA basketball tournament led to a 15-day gap between and .
* Panama is the first season to feature a shorter "Ancient Voices" intro rather than play the entire opening credits for every episode.
* Only the final three castaways won individual immunity. Terry won the first five, then Aras won the penultimate, and Danielle won the Final Immunity Challenge.
* Panama ties with for the most starting tribes, with four.
* Panama is the first season to have an episode end with a Tribal Council vote, but no elimination. ended with Danielle and Cirie preparing to start the fire-making tiebreaker, but its result was not featured until the finale.
* Panama is the second season where the youngest contestant of the season won, after Jenna Morasca won in .
* Panama is the first season since to have a Tribal Council area with a roof.
* Panama was the last season until in which the first person voted out of the merged tribe was not a member of the jury.
* Panama and are tied for fewest votes cast throughout the season, including at Final Tribal Council, with only 85 ballots cast.
* Panama is one of three seasons to have the entire final four come back as returning players in future seasons, the other two being and .
** As Borneo and Cagayan had other contestants return in future seasons, Panama is the only season to have only the final four come back as returning players.
==References==
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Category:Survivor (U.S.)
Category:Survivor: Panama
Category:Seasons with a reused location