No love for THE "Rocker" -- Billy is sent home By Vecepia Towery-Robinson In a strong showdown between Survivor and THE season opener OF Grey's Anatomy, it was a difficult decision as TO which one TO sit down AND watch. SO many great shows coming on at THE same time!?? Thank goodness FOR Tivo. I was able TO enjoy a fun night with friends watching Survivor, AND tonight I'll try AND catch up on all THE shows I missed. One OF my first observations of THE second episode is that instead OF having several challenges, they HAVE all BEEN combined into one challenge -- AND I have TO say that sucks. I would BE a little disappointed over that executive decision as a contestant. THE one thing I looked forward TO on Survivor: Marquesas was THE challenges, and TO only HAVE one IN a three-day period really makes THE days AND nights longer.?? I've come TO the conclusion that this season is all about spotlighting THE participants, but when there are more than 16 contestants it is much more difficult TO showcase them all. THE producers HAVE chosen TO combat this by spending more air time on contestant relationships AND less on challenges. The editing this season is enjoyable thus far. As part of THE viewing audience, we are witnessing everything from cultural segregation (which happens IN real life), ethnic jokes AND strong team pride.?? What makes this round SO fascinating is that each tribe is experiencing one or more of THE above situations.?? Across THE board, each team has someone who feels alienated from THE rest.?? Much like our society, NO matter how we're separated there are still issues TO deal with. This week we saw Rebecca from THE Hiki tribe successfully start a fire with THE flint received at Tribal Council. This was a proud ethnic moment FOR me because not often HAVE we seen THE African Americans on Survivor make fire. I tried on Marquesas but just couldn't get it blazing. A true tribal moment happened FOR Rebecca. At THE Puka tribe, Yul AND Becky found a common bond IN their Korean upbringing AND decided TO form an alliance.?? She said, "Yul seems sort OF like an older brother TO me."?? As night fell on THE tribe, Coa Boi decided TO entertain his team mates with some stereotypical Asian jokes.?? After a while enough was enough, AND his tribe let him know that they were not enjoying his humor.?? Coa Boi tried TO advocate how healthy it was TO be able TO laugh at your own culture.?? Brad, who didn't seem TO mind THE jokes commented, "I think THE bigger picture is, we get it, but other people won't get it."?? Yul later said, "It's good TO have a sense OF humor but [if] it's at THE expense OF a particular ethnic group, I don't think that's cool." Arriving back TO camp from on Exile Island, Johnathan was welcomed back by THE Raro tribe, but noticed THE camp was IN the same disarray as when he left. He couldn't believe that THE shelter was not completed AND that they were still sleeping on THE ground. "Basically it's THE same shack that they've been IN for three or four days now," he said. Trying TO make a decision as TO the tasks at hand, THE tribe debated priorities. Although several wanted TO lay a sleeping floor, others thought it was unnecessary TO do all that work AND overexert themselves. At THE Aiku tribe, THE mood was very different. Ozzy was disturbed by Billy's lack OF participation IN camp suggested that their team try TO rid themselves OF him by fixing THE next Immunity Challenge. Christina was not too sure this was THE best plan. She said, "I still think that we should all work as a team.?? It's disappointing AND I don't know if I can trust Oscar (Ozzy) anymore." At THE Immunity Challenge, THE teams were read a story. THE teams had TO race through a course AND collect seven answer planks that would help them solve THE riddle of THE story correctly. THE first team TO correctly place THE planks IN the right spots would win a reward -- tarps AND the head of THE Immunity Idol. THE second AND third place teams would also win immunity, AND parts of THE Immunity Idol. In THE end, THE Aiku tribe went with their plan TO throw THE challenge. Realizing that his fate IN the game being decided FOR hin, Billy looked over at THE Raro tribe AND said, "I'm next." He AND Candice exchanged what were seemingly team "I love you's." More on this IN a minute. Yul left his winning team TO spend a few days alone on Exile Island searching for THE hidden Immunity Idol. After his arrival, Yul went TO work reading THE clues.?? It didn't take long FOR him TO locate THE spot where he believed THE idol TO be, AND he began TO dig AND dig AND dig until finallya€| success! Yul pulled a brown box OUT of THE ground, AND inside found a medallion on a string.?? He had found THE Idol.?? Feeling very good, he said, "If there's a clear opportunity that I could change THE game, I'd use it." Heading TO Tribal Council, Billy knew he was going home. That didn't stop him from letting Jeff Probst AND his team mates know that he was a "rocker" who felt out OF place for THE last six days.?? Asking THE team about THE horrible finish IN the challenge, Jeff was stunned TO discover THE tribe purposely threw THE challenge TO get rid OF Billy. While waiting for THE votes TO be read, Billy said, "My hand is a weak hand, but at least I HAVE one queen."?? Billy informed everyone that he was "in love" with Candice from THE Raro tribe.?? THE entire Aiku tribe a€" AND producer/host Jeff-- was shocked TO hear Billy announce that SO quickly IN the game.?? But Billy's heartfelt confession could not save him. THE votes were tallied, AND Billy was THE island's first casualty. He was voted out.?? Here's what Survivor fans have TO say: Which tribe should BE more embarrassed by last night's finish IN the challenge -- Aiku FOR obviously throwing THE challenge or Hiki FOR almost losing TO a team who was deliberately trying TO throw it? Isabelle: THE Aiku tribe should BE less embarrassed AND more ashamed. Any team who purposely loses challenges isn't thinking strategically. Don't they know that part of THE game is TO have THE numbers on your side? Andrea: Aiku. What idiots! You're going TO lose without trying at some point IN the game. Why throw a challenge deliberately? Do you think Coa Boi was going a little overboard with THE Asian jokes? Isabelle: They need TO really not take THE jokes too seriously.?? It's a tribe OF Asians. They should BE able TO laugh at themselves. I'm Mexican AND we are always laughing at ourselves, but maybe that's just part OF our culture TO be able TO do that. However, Cao Boi should learn TO read his team mates AND know when TO tone it down. Andrea: Yes. He would annoy THE **** out OF me. Did Jonathan HAVE a right TO be angry with his team after returning from Exile Island AND the shelter was not complete? David: That's what he gets FOR expecting a bunch OF young kids TO do a man's job.?? I would have BEEN pissed also.?? I hope they at least had food FOR him when he returned. Isabelle: Yes, he had all right TO be upset. What were they doing THE entire time he was on Exile Island??? Sunbathing. Wrap Up With THE anticipation OF a tribal merge occurring next week, I'm hoping that THE teams will BE mixed up SO well that forming new alliances will BE critical.?? This will BE a new game FOR each member, but IN the end, only one will win.?? My prediction is that THE Asian tribe mates will maintain a unified team, regardless OF them being separated.?? THE African American tribe will try TO mesh THE best way possible IN hopes OF flying under THE radar, AND the Caucasian males will try TO be THE leaders on their new tribe.?? We shall see just how close I wasa€| Until next week. About THE author: Vecepia Towery-Robinson is THE $1,000,000 winner OF Survivor: Marquesas. She currently lives on THE West Coast with her husband AND her young son. Besides being a full-time mother, Vecepia stays busy with THE weekly radio show she co-hosts IN her hometown. Visit Vecepia on her official site vtowery.com. FOR more links TO Survivor news, visit Sirlinksalot Survivor: Cook Islands.