Stephen Fishbach is a contestant from Survivor: Tocantins and Survivor: Cambodia.
In Tocantins, Stephen was known for his strong strategic play, and he was described by Coach Wade as "The Wizard." He and his close ally J.T. Thomas dominated the flow of the game, earning them both spots in the Final Two. However, a poor performance in the Final Tribal Council combined with J.T.'s popularity caused him to lose the title of Sole Survivor to the latter in a unanimous vote, thus making him the first and only runner-up in Survivor history to receive zero votes in a Final Two.
After being chosen by public vote to compete in Cambodia, Stephen played more aggressively in an effort to prevent history from repeating itself. He was a key player in the dynamic majority Bayon Alliance for much of the game, involving himself in multiple pivotal blindsides. However, his fixation on targeting 'golden boy' Joe Anglim earned him the enmity of some of his own allies. An initial attempt on his life was staved off when Jeremy Collins played a Hidden Immunity Idol for him, but Stephen's enemies persisted, and he was successfully blindsided at the following Tribal Council. He is also the first contestant to hold the Vote Steal advantage.
Profile[]
Retrieved from CBS.com
Stephen Fishbach (29) Stephen Fishbach believes he's a cutthroat player who can manipulate his way to Survivor success, though you couldn't tell that by looking at his non-threatening appearance. The first one to tell you he resembles a Muppet, Stephen plans to sidetrack his competition with his goofy charm and quirky sense of humor. Aided by his quick wit and prankster personality, this Internet marketing director could very well be a major player behind the scenes. A Yale graduate, Stephen certainly has the right mix of brains and charisma to disarm his fellow castaways. This New Yorker believes people will be inclined to trust him but claims "that would be their mistake, because then I strike!" Described by his friends as wild, smart and ambitious, Stephen's biggest pet peeve is when somebody is "overconfident or cocky." He plans to use that type of person to his advantage by forming a bond and then subtly prompting them to carry out his decisions. A strategist, Stephen prides himself on being able to pretend to agree with someone's idea while replacing it with his own. In his free time, Stephen keeps himself active and fit by boxing and lifting weights. He also takes part in urban combat activities, namely the Idiotarod, which he describes as a great event where "five idiots drag a shopping cart from Brooklyn to Manhattan." Among his reasons for why he believes he will excel at Survivor, Stephen lists "he's strategic and devious." Stephen is single and currently resides in New York, N.Y. His birth date is January 24.[1] |
Survivor[]
Tocantins[]
Stephen started the game on the Jalapao tribe; upon seeing that Sandy Burgin was on his tribe, he was assured that he would not be the first to go. At the marooning, the tribes were asked to vote for their weakest member based solely on first impressions. Like most of his tribe, Stephen voted against Sandy. Instead of eliminating her, she and Sierra Reed were given a helicopter ride to their respective camps. Upon seeing J.T. Thomas, Stephen viewed him as a "good old boy" and thought he would not be able to get along with him. When they arrived at camp, Jalapao found that Sandy had not built the shelter as she had been looking for a Hidden Immunity Idol instead, so the next day, Jalapao built a decent shelter. At the season's first challenge, Timbira narrowly defeated Jalapao to win immunity. After their loss, Carolina Eastwood started bossing people around in order to improve their camp. Aggravated with Carolina and impressed by Sandy's performance in the challenge, the tribe voted out the former over the latter.
Over the next few weeks, Stephen bonded with J.T. and played into the role of being J.T.'s "eager, goofy best friend" if it meant that he would carry him far. They decided to make a pact to the end. Jalapao won the next three challenges. Everyone enjoyed the victories, knowing that Timbira was miserable. Taj aligned herself with Stephen, informing him about the Exile Alliance. Timbira finally broke Jalapao's winning streak by winning the fourth Immunity Challenge. Like everyone else, Stephen was disappointed because they would have had a 7-5 advantage at the merge. Stephen, Taj, and J.T. discussed whether to vote out the strong but antisocial Sandy or the weak yet pleasant Sydney Wheeler. In the end, the trio agreed with sending Sandy home.
Stephen and Taj found the Hidden Immunity Idol together, and they agreed to let Stephen keep it. Jalapao won the next challenge for a trip to the Charmin Cafe. Unfortunately, Stephen was selected by Brendan Synnott to join him on Exile Island. He was unsure about placing his fate in the hands of the Exile Alliance. After Jalapao lost yet another Immunity Challenge, the tribe agreed that Spencer Duhm was their weakest member and unanimously voted him out. Sydney was concerned that she would be the next to go because of Stephen and J.T.'s tight friendship. The Reward Challenge was very close, but Timbira won. They chose to exile Joe Dowdle and he decided to bring Erinn Lobdell with him. Taj made a fake idol to fool Joe. Taj told J.T. about the idol in order to secure his trust. J.T. told Stephen that he had seen the idol in Taj's bag. In response, Stephen explained that he and Taj were planning on telling him, further solidifying their friendship. Timbira won the next challenge, causing Jalapao to have their numbers disadvantage worsen to 4-6. J.T. and Stephen tried to persuade Joe to vote out Sydney, but he refused. Stephen and J.T. considered the possibility of voting out Taj because Stephen technically had the idol. In the end, the Jalapao Three stayed loyal and Sydney was voted out, 3-2.
The next day, the four remaining Jalapaos arrived at the merge feast, where Jalapao and Timbira became Forza. Coach Wade approached Stephen and J.T to recruit them into an alliance. Stephen was amazed at how easily the former Timbira tribe was willing to turn on each other. Unfortunately, Joe was medically evacuated because of his knee. Despite that, the Jalapao Three quickly took control of the game, consolidating their power when Erinn defected to their side. The trio sided with the Timbira Alliance to blindside Brendan, then proceeded to take out Tyson Apostol for his dominance in challenges. Stephen won the Reward Challenge, and had his allies accompany him. When they returned, Coach lied to them that Sierra Reed was trying to reorganize the original Timbira to expel Jalapao from the game. When Sierra learned of this, she accused them of lying, leading Stephen and J.T. to be suspicious of all three of the Jalapao outsiders. After careful consideration, Stephen and J.T. decided to vote Sierra out for causing drama.
Knowing she was in danger, Debbie threw Coach under the bus. Debbie even stated that she would give up the Final Immunity Challenge so Stephen and J.T. could make the Final Two together. The Jalapao Three deemed Debbie the biggest threat for her strategic mindset and athleticism. At the next Immunity Challenge, Stephen used an effective memory strategy to win a mentally taxing challenge, much to his delight. Everything went as plan for the next Tribal Council, and Debbie was voted out. On the way back to camp, Stephen and J.T. informed Coach that Debbie has been targeting him. J.T selected Stephen to join him on the next reward. After J.T. won immunity and remained resolute that he would not vote against Coach, Stephen became the swing vote who would decide who between Erinn and Coach would be eliminated next. Stephen ultimately voted out Coach.
At the final four, Taj and Stephen agreed to vote J.T. off if he did not have immunity. Unfortunately, J.T. did just that and foiled the plan. Fearful of her winning immunity and taking J.T., Stephen convinced J.T. to turn on Taj. Stephen was afraid to win the Final Immunity Challenge, because he would be forced to break his promise of bringing J.T. to the finals. Erinn also wanted to take Stephen to the end as well. With J.T. winning the Final Immunity Challenge, he stuck to his Final Two pact with Stephen and brought his best friend to the end.
At the Final Tribal Council, Stephen pleaded his case to the jury by saying how much he had grown and he and J.T. had the same strategic mindset. However, J.T. was quick to throw Stephen under the bus, framing him as disloyal and blindsiding his friend in the process. Realizing that the jury respected his opponent far more than him, Stephen accepted the vote was likely to be a shut-out. This was proven correct at the Reunion when J.T. won unanimously.
| Episode | Tribe Affiliation |
Challenge | Challenge Type | Sit-Out? | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jalapao | A River, Run Through It | Reward/Immunity | No | Lost |
| 2 | Basket Brawl | Reward/Immunity | No | Won | |
| 3 | Blind Leading the Blind | Reward | No | Won | |
| A Crate Idea | Immunity | No | Won | ||
| 4 | Shoulder the Load | Reward | Yes | Won | |
| Try-Any-Angle | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
| 5 | Dizziness as Usual | Reward | No | Won | |
| Water Mortar | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
| 7 | When Pigs Fly | Reward | No | Lost | |
| Sandstone Shootout | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
| Tribes Merged, Day 19 | |||||
| 8 | Forza | Get a Grip | Immunity | Lost | |
| 9 | Rock Block | Reward | Lost | ||
| Rope-a-Dope | Immunity | Lost | |||
| 10 | Swiss Cheese Please | Reward | Lost | ||
| Tocantins Shuffle | Immunity | Yes1 | Lost | ||
| 11 | Jala-Powed | Reward | Won | ||
| Snag, Drag and Bag | Immunity | Lost | |||
| 12 | Survivor Auction | ||||
| Propellerheads | Immunity | Won | |||
| 13 | Blind to Reason | Reward | Invited | ||
| Chimney Sweep | Immunity | Lost | |||
| 14 | Tarantula | Immunity | Lost | ||
| Simmotion | Immunity | Lost | |||
| Runner-Up, Day 39 | |||||
| Notes: ^1 Stephen elected to sit out of the challenge to eat pizza.
| |||||
Cambodia[]
Stephen was chosen in a public vote to compete on the "Second Chance" season, Survivor: Cambodia.
Stephen was a member of the Bayon tribe consisting of himself, Andrew Savage, Ciera Eastin, Jeremy Collins, Joe Anglim, Kass McQuillen, Keith Nale, Kimmi Kappenberg, Monica Padilla, and Tasha Fox. Stephen was initially uneasy due to the alpha males on his tribe, seeing as it deja vu from his time on Tocantins. Stephen attempted to look for a Hidden Immunity Idol with no luck but his unease would be postponed as Bayon managed to win the first Immunity Challenge. When Savage told a heartfelt and touching story about his kids and family, Jeremy walked off alone on the beach to cry and a paranoid Stephen blurted out in front of his tribemates that he thought Jeremy was hunting for an idol. Bayon would once again win another Immunity Challenge and learned that a tribe switch with a newly added tribe was going to happen. Stephen remained on Bayon along with his original tribemates Jeremy, Kimmi, and Monica. It was during this time that Stephen's odds in the game bettered as he formed a close bond with Jeremy, who he viewed as his new J.T.. When Bayon lost their first and only challenge, Kimmi announced to Stephen and Jeremy that Monica had approached her for an all female alliance and that she was a snake in the grass. Though Jeremy wanted to get rid of Spencer or Kelly due to fear that booting Monica would cause distrust with the other Bayon members, they nevertheless stuck together and got rid of Monica in a 3-2-1 vote. The tribes would shuffle once again with Stephen and the Bayon tribe winning immunity and making the merge.
At the Final 11 individual Immunity Challenge, Bermuda Triangles, Jeff Probst announced that there would be a secret advantage for the first person to jump off their platform and reach their respective buoy. Stephen narrowly beat out Spencer Bledsoe and won the advantage, learning that it was a Vote Steal that allowed him to steal someone's vote and render them unable to vote themselves. Though Stephen was safe at that night's Tribal Council when Kelly Wiglesworth left in a 6-3-2 vote, Spencer became more paranoid about the advantage despite being Stephen's ally and rallied up votes against him, though Jeremy lobbied for Stephen due to his loyalty. At Tribal Council, Jeremy shocked everyone when he pulled out a Hidden Immunity Idol and played it on Stephen, negating 5 votes against him and sending Ciera, who received 3 votes, home in a 3-2-0 vote. This would only give Stephen an extra few days as at the next Tribal Council, Stephen and his allies decided to split their votes between Abi-Maria Gomes and Joe in case Joe had a Hidden Immunity Idol since he was vulnerable for the first time. At Tribal Council, Stephen played his Extra Vote and stole Joe's vote, but the split vote proved to be fatal as Stephen was sent home in a 4-3-2 vote with Spencer flipping due to his paranoia over the power.
At the Final Tribal Council, Stephen applauded Jeremy for being the more honorable member of the Final Three for staying loyal to his word and asked Tasha to defend the perception that she had merely been doing Jeremy's dirty work the entire game. He also asked Spencer about his cutthroat game-play but in the end, he voted for his close ally Jeremy to win in a 10-0-0 vote.
| Episode | Tribe Affiliation |
Challenge | Challenge Type | Sit-Out? | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayon | The Marooning | Reward | No | Lost |
| Quest for Fire | Reward/Immunity | No | Won | ||
| 2 | Yank Yer Hank | Reward/Immunity | No | Won | |
| 3 | Draggin' the Dragon | Immunity | No | 2nd | |
| 4 | Stomp-ede | Reward | No | Lost | |
| Blind Leading the Blind | Immunity | No | 1st | ||
| 5 | In the Barrel | Reward | Yes | Lost | |
| Air Raid | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
| 6 | Slip n' Slide | Reward | No | Lost | |
| Cambodian Catering | Immunity | No | Won | ||
| Tribes Merged, Day 17 | |||||
| 7 | Orkun | Hard to Handle | Immunity | Lost | |
| 8 | Boats, Brains, and Brawn | Reward | Lost | ||
| Take the Reins | Immunity | Lost | |||
| 9 | Styx | Reward | No | Won | |
| Bermuda Triangles | Immunity | Lost | |||
| 10 | Basket Brawl | Reward | Lost | ||
| Ballin' A Jack | Immunity | Yes1 | Lost | ||
| 11 | Folklore | Reward | Won | ||
| The Game is Afoot | Immunity | Lost | |||
| Voted Out, Day 29 | |||||
| Notes: ^1 Stephen elected to sit out of the challenge to help his tribe win a new shelter.
| |||||
| Episode | Stephen's Votes |
Voted Against Stephen |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayon Tribe Immune | |
| 2 | Bayon Tribe Immune | |
| 3 | Bayon Tribe Immune | |
| 4 | Bayon Tribe Immune | |
| 5 | Monica | - |
| 6 | Bayon Tribe Immune | |
| 7 | Kass | - |
| 8 | - | |
| 9 | Kelly | - |
| 10 | Ciera | Spencer, Tasha |
| 11 | Abi-Maria + Joe3 |
Abi-Maria, Keith, Kelley, Spencer |
| Voted Out, Day 29 | ||
| Voted for Sole Survivor |
Jeremy | |
^1 In "You Call, We'll Haul", Kelley used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating Stephen's vote against her.
^2 In "Like Selling Your Soul to the Devil", Jeremy used a Hidden Immunity Idol on Stephen, negating 5 votes against him.
^3 In "My Wheels Are Spinning", Stephen used a Vote Steal advantage on Joe, allowing him to cast an additional vote in Joe's place.
Post-Survivor[]
Stephen officiating Tyson and Rachel's wedding.
- Stephen previously dated Survivor: China contestant Courtney Yates.
- Stephen currently writes blogs on Survivor for People.com.
- In 2012, Stephen began co-hosting Survivor Know-it-alls with Rob Cesternino. However, with Stephen competing in Survivor: Cambodia, he was replaced by Parade.com columnist Josh Wigler.
- In Summer of 2009, Stephen appeared on the TVGuide special "Survivor Millionaires: Where Are They Now?" during J.T. Thomas' segment.[3]
- On January 9, 2010, Stephen attended Survivor's 10-year anniversary party.
- On April 12, 2015, Stephen performed former castmate J.T. Thomas's wedding ceremony.[4]
- Stephen officiated Tyson Apostol and Rachel Foulger's wedding in 2015.[5]
- Stephen helped Liz Markham to get on the show.[6]
- Stephen, along with Rob Cesternino, broadcasted a special edition of Survivor Know-it-alls in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on May 10 to recap the twelfth episode of Survivor: Game Changers.[7]
- Stephen got engaged on September 17, 2017.[8]
- Stephen married Julia Lemle on June 9, 2018.[9]
- Stephen and Rob Cesternino were asked to compete together in The Amazing Race 31, but were unable to do so because of Stephen's wedding.[10]
- Stephen, along with nineteen other former Survivor, Australian Survivor, Survivor South Africa, and Survivor New Zealand contestants, competed in the second Survivor-themed mini-competition of Sequester on June 20, 2020. He made it to the seventeenth and final round, finishing as the runner-up against Nick Iadanza in a 4-3 vote.[11]
- On March 29, 2023, Stephen appeared in a promotional social media post for Survivor Québec (2023).[12]
Trivia[]
- Stephen was recruited for Survivor when a casting agent who knew him during childhood contacted him through Facebook.[13]
- Both times Stephen competed, there was a unanimous jury vote, first for J.T. Thomas and then for Jeremy Collins.
- Stephen is the oldest man on Jalapao.
- Stephen lost 30 lbs. during his time in Tocantins.[14]
- Stephen is the only finalist in a Final Two to not receive any jury votes.
- Stephen is the highest-placing former finalist on Cambodia.
- Stephen is the first castaway to acquire and subsequently use the Vote Steal advantage.
- Stephen is the first castaway to vote against two different people in the same round of voting.
- Stephen lost 20 lbs. during his time in Cambodia.[15]
References[]
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20230324185622/https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/cast/23293/
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20230205173142/https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/cast/215123/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be122Jgy3xg
- ↑ https://instagram.com/p/1YWn57BaGJ/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC1CoJqyN2w
- ↑ https://twitter.com/stephenfishbach/status/689866077157859328
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mLtaGgOB2Y
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BZJR0tCgrFi/
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/10/fashion/weddings/julia-lemle-stephen-fishbach.html
- ↑ https://robhasawebsite.com/survivor-know-it-alls-edge-of-extinction-episode-9-recap/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNMcwCWh1Bg
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CqX-5c1L4sl/
- ↑ https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2009/02/survivor-tocantins-stephen_fishbach/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2sMTVJALJo
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKo072ChpZM
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