By RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com, filed Dec. 16, 2010
Out of 320 players over 21 cycles, former Atlantan and UGA grad Parvati Shallow was the first person inducted into the "Survivor" Hall of Fame, created by Fancast.com.
"If I were in high school, I'd hate her guts," said Gordon Holmes, xfinityTV.com assistant managing producer who put the Hall of Fame together. "But you can't argue with the success she's had. Having spoken with her, I absolutely understand why people fall in line when she starts doing her moves."
[UPDATE: I apologize about the poll. I omitted two obvious candidates: Rupert and Colby. Sorry!]
[poll ID="317"]
Over three "Survivor" competitions, she won the $1 million once on Micronesia and made it to the finals another time. Half the vote total came from a panel of experts which included host Jeff Probst, Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer, Executive Producer David Burris, Producer Jesse Jensen, members of the "Survivor" press corps, and Holmes.
Shallow, 28, who now lives in California and runs a wellness center in Santa Monica, was the only contestant to make it on all nine voting committee ballots. (Each member was able to select five of the best players in their mind.)
The fan votes encompassed the other half of the score.
To prove what a Babe Ruth Shallow is, she also came in No. 1 with the fans.
After falling short in Cook Islands, she was an underdog on Micronesia but came out on top. "She went into 'Heroes vs. Villains' with a huge target on her back and lasted to the end," Holmes said. "She could have ridden Russell [Hantz's] coattails but found her own idols. She was a triple threat strategically. She was good in challenges. She played the mental game well. And she was fun to watch."
Notably, Shallow spent more days competing in "Survivor" than any other contestant in history to date.
Parvati told fancast.com:
To be recognized as one of the best by the guys whose job is to make the game as difficult and challenging as possible is truly an honor. I loved playing "Survivor" and was never content to let anyone play for me. It's cool that all the producers and press could see how hard I was working out there on the island. I guess I'm going to have to thank them and the rest of the contestants for never taking it easy on me so that I could rise to the challenge. All the bug bites, busted lips, severed fingers and starvation were worth it since all the fans watching at home were entertained enough to vote me into the Hall of Fame. Thanks everybody. I'm a very happy girl. Now where's my trophy?
Holmes said there was no budget for a trophy - beyond the on-line version.
She, like me and most others, has been unimpressed with this season's rather lackluster season though she enjoyed Probst getting on the case of the two quitters. And she repeated what she told me after "Heroes vs. Villains:" she's not playing again! But do check out her wellness center!
Holmes said although Sandra Diaz-Twine is the only person who won "Survivor" twice, her "below the radar" strategy didn't impress as many voters.
"Boston Rob" Mariano came in second. Three more names will be named this week.
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By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog
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