'Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains': Will Stephenie's shoulder dislocate her from the game?
Stephenie LaGrossa is an interesting pick for Heroes Vs. Villains in that she has somewhat played both sides already. In Palau she got the America’s Sweetheart edit. She was portrayed as the tough-as-nails competitor stuck on a tribe full of inept and incompetent losers. We all sympathized with her plight. In Guatemala, however, we were shown a lot more of Steph’s rough edges: calling Bobby Jon “retarded,” turning on alliance-mates, etc…. Even while running much of that season, she was in a sour mood for a good part of it, and it’s no wonder considering the conditions in Guatemala, which many Survivor producers consider the worst ever (Fiji and Tocantins were no picnic either). Still, it was obvious that Stephenie would be on the Heroes tribe. [Intel on who Stephenie’s is targeting as well as exclusive video of her big injury after the jump.]
As for whom Stephenie wants to get rid off in this, her third time out, she has a trifecta of targets: Parvati, Rupert, and Boston Rob: “Parvati because this is her third time and she’s won the million,” she told me in Samoa right before the game started. “And she’s tricky. She’s a tricky little sucker. Rupert? We’re all Survivors. We can all get our own food now, so Rupert is just very tricky, very conniving, very scheming and he’s good. He’ll get to the end. And Boston Rob, he’s just cutthroat and he will try to charm you all the way to the end until the second you are walking off that island because your fire is put out.” (She also mentioned Cirie as someone she needs to keep her eye on.)
But Stephenie has a problem that could prove to be far greater that any other player: her shoulder. One of the things Stephenie prides herself on is her toughness. But how tough can she be if she has a tricky shoulder that can pop out of place? That question comes into play from the get go. In the very first challenge, the tribes are pitted against each other in a brutally physical challenge that involves digging and wrestling for an object that must then be returned to a team’s mat. It is definitely one of the most aggressive and dangerous challenges ever, and Stephenie is one of the players that did not make it through unscathed. Sure enough, her shoulder was dislocated, forcing medical to rush over and intervene (check out video of it below!). Will Stephenie be able to continue, or will she be pulled from the game before it has even really begun? Will the Heroes have to forfeit the challenge? I’m not spilling. To find out the answers to those questions, you’ll have to watch the premiere on Feb. 11, but as you can see from the sneak peak video snippet I’ve given you below, it’s no joke. The woman is in serious pain.
This is the 11th in a series of daily profiles on the contestants of Survivor: Heroes Vs Villains. If you missed our first 10 (including Russell, Boston Rob, and Cirie), there are links to all those players below the video. And to enjoy interviews with all the Heroes and Villains, head over to our action packed Survivor video hub. Up next tomorrow: Colby Donaldson. Oh, and for Survivor scoop delivered right to you, follow me on Twitter @EWDaltonRoss. Okay, take it away, Stephenie…
Image Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS