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Russell Hantz’s Top 100 Greatest Survivors Ever

By Leigh Oleszczak

Photo: Screen Grab/CBS Entertainment ©2020 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Photo: Screen Grab/CBS Entertainment ©2020 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 18: (L-R) Television contestant Benjamin “Coach” Wade, contestant winner Sophie Clarke and television contestant Ozzy Lusth pose at the CBS’ “Survivor: South Pacific” Finale & Reunion at CBS Television City on December 18, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 18: (L-R) Television contestant Benjamin “Coach” Wade, contestant winner Sophie Clarke and television contestant Ozzy Lusth pose at the CBS’ “Survivor: South Pacific” Finale & Reunion at CBS Television City on December 18, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images) /

20. Benjamin “Coach” Wade (Tocantins, Heroes vs Villains, South Pacific)

You just knew Coach Wade was going to be a top 20 player. For one, he played three times and not only that, but he made a lasting impression on each of those three seasons. He honestly should have won South Pacific (and I’m a huge fan of Sophie’s), but couldn’t own up to his game and that cost him the title.

Watching Coach for the first time on Tocantins was such a joy because he was so kooky and those are the kind of characters we love to see on Survivor. He got voted off Heroes vs Villains before the merge, but still found himself on the jury, so he’s made it to the jury twice and made it to the end once.

Coach might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he’s entertaining, that’s for sure and he’s one of the biggest characters to ever emerge from Survivor.

19. Amanda Kimmel (China, Micronesia, Heroes vs Villains)

Amanda Kimmel is a Survivor legend and I don’t care what people say. First and foremost, she made it to the end twice (back-to-back seasons at that) and in Heroes vs Villains, she was a huge target because of her ability to maneuver her way through the game with ease.

Amanda was the first woman to play a Hidden Immunity Idol successfully (and be honest – You remember her swinging that idol around singing “I GOT IT!” while she walked it up to Jeff Probst) and she’s one of the best strategic players of all-time.

What always held Amanda back was that she could not explain her game to a jury and crumbled both times she made it to the end. She was the favorite to win China heading into the final tribal council and had a strong resumé to beat Parvati in Micronesia, but she froze in front of the jury once again.

Be that as it may, Amanda Kimmel is one of the best players in Survivor history and I’d LOVE to see her play for a fourth time. Legend.

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