Notable Events
Although the series premiered right after Super Bowl XXXV, the late hour prompted CBS to re-air the premiere episode later that week.
The elimination of contestant Michael Skupin during the sixth episode is noteworthy for being the first case where a Survivor contestant has had to be evacuated due to injuries. While stoking the fire, Skupin breathed in smoke and momentarily fainted, falling into the fire and suffering severe burns to his hands. After being cared for by medical personnel, a helicopter was brought in and Skupin was evacuated. Due to his evacuation, the Immunity Challenge was cancelled, and no Tribal Council was held. As a result, the Ogakor and Kucha tribes merged with an equal number of tribe members, instead of the possible six to four (had Ogakor lost the Immunity Challenge and gone to Tribal Council). At the first merged Tribal Council, Jeff Varner was eliminated after a tie vote along former tribal lines.
During a reward trip, contestant and eventual runner-up Colby Donaldson broke an Australian law by breaking off coral from the Great Barrier Reef which could have resulted in a fine of A$110,000. The helicopter pilot involved in the reward trip also broke an Australian law as he flew over sea bird rookeries. Survivor's producer Mark Burnett apologized on behalf of Colby and the production team after the season had aired.
Gameplay changes between the first two seasons included the game being the first and only season to last 42 days instead of 39, meaning that the rapid-fire elimination of a Final Four turned into a Final Three. This series also began the Survivor tradition of revealing the results live, so that none of the castaways would know who won until the finale.
During a reward on Day 34 where the remaining five contestants were permitted to communicate with their family members, Ogakor/Barramundi member Keith Famie asked his girlfriend to marry him and she said yes.
Read more about this topic: Survivor: The Australian Outback
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