Rudy Boesch was the sentimental favorite
of the viewing audience during Survivor's
celebrated first season, and with
practically the entire nation rooting for
him finished very respectably behind the
winner Richard Hatch and runner-up Kelly
Wiglesworth.
Also known for
his forthright, even blunt manner, talk
around water coolers were frequently
filled with 'Rudy-isms'. His live
& let live attitude about about Dirk's
religiousness and Richard's homosexuality
are forever etched in television lore.
Many believe to
this day that Rudy could have been the
million dollar winner but for a momentary
lapse of concentration that cost him the
final immunity challenge. As he and
Kelly gripped an island totem pole to
determine which of the two of them would
single-handedly determine the final
castaways to face the jury, he
inexplicably removed his hand from the
pole, granting Kelly immunity and the
clear upper hand. Believing her
chances of victory to be better by
squaring off with Richard, she cast Rudy
from the island but not from the hearts of
the viewing masses.
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