Schmergen Brawl is a recurring challenge, first appearing in Survivor: Samoa and later in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, and also showing up in La Isla: El Reality. It was infamously known for being a brutally physically-punishing Survivor version of basketball, and leaving several injuries among players. It is also the first recurring challenge to be officially banned from reuse.
Rules[]
In a walled-surrounded arena, three members of each tribe would battle for control of three balls. Once a castaway gets control of a ball, they would pass the ball to three other tribe members standing on an elevated platform who would then attempt to throw the ball through the opposing tribe's basket, situated at the opposite end of the arena. One point would be scored when a ball is made in the basket. After every point, the tribes would change who was in the arena and on the platform. The first tribe to score the required number of points, would win the challenge. In Samoa, three points were needed, in Heroes vs. Villains, two points were required, and in La Isla 2012, it was first to fifteen points.
History[]
United States[]
In Survivor: Samoa, the challenge was infamously known (Jeff Probst himself declared the challenge as a "classic") for its dramatic conclusion: one contestant, Ben Browning was disqualified due to kicking Russell Swan in the leg, and another, Mike Borassi was evacuated from the game shortly after due to a severely weakened condition. Both Ben and Mike were members of the Foa Foa tribe, who eventually lost the challenge over the Galu tribe.
The challenge was reused in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, where it continued its long line of injuries. James Clement, one of the series' most physically strong competitors incurred a knee injury which continued to endure until the Heroes vs. Villains Reunion Show, where he was still seen limping. The Villains ended up winning the challenge.
Mexico (Unofficial)[]
Much like its US counterpart, when it debuted in La Isla 2012, it was also notable for hurting the contestants, more specifically, Daniel Elbittar. He already had a bad knee coming into the season, but this challenge exacerbated the injury. The knee got swollen, to the point where he had to be taken out of the competition and had to be replaced by Ricardo Casares, who was originally sitting out. Daniel ended up needing surgery on his knee due to all the damage. To add more misfortune to the Celebridades tribe, their tribe lost 15 to 3 to the Desconocidos tribe.
Winners[]
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Samoa "Taking Candy from a Baby" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |           Galu |
| Heroes vs. Villains "Knights of the Round Table" |
Tribal Reward |          Villains |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| La Isla 2012 Cycle 6, Episodes 22 and 23 |
Tribal Immunity |       Desconocidos (2012) |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Due to the very physical nature, and the long history of injuries it caused to contestants, CBS deemed the challenge too dangerous to reuse again.[1]
- Schmergen Brawl is the second challenge in which a contestant was disqualified for violating the rules (following Pilfering Pirates in Thailand).
- Russell Hantz is the only castaway to compete in this challenge twice. He lost the first time, and won the second time.
- Both times this challenge was used, a player was removed giving a tribe one less player in the challenge.
- Both times the challenge was used, the tribe that scored the first point lost the challenge.
- In Samoa, all four players who scored threw underhanded shots using both their hands, while in Heroes vs. Villains, all three players scored by throwing overhand shots with their dominant hand.
- The first and last shot of this challenge was thrown by a female player.
References[]
- ↑ "Survivor Video — You Ask, They Tell: Jeff Probst". CBS. March 22, 2010. http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/video/?play=true&pid=O0vqtSFsk_uAobJ1X__OP_maqTW9FNDO. Retrieved March 23, 2010.