'Survivor' Tsunami

The four people poised to make the biggest history are the finalists. Rich the conniving corporate trainer, Kelly the conflicted river guide, Rudy the crusty ex Navy SEAL and Sue the cutthroat truckdriver--they're all so famous now we don't even need to give you their last names. It's no coincidence that they're the four people who realized early on that politics and cunning, not traditional survival skills, would determine who'd take home the $1 million. In exclusive interviews with NEWSWEEK, the four members of the Tagi alliance, as their cabal came to be called, admitted they wouldn't have made it this far if they hadn't banded together. "Me, I'm a little outspoken," says Sue. "Besides living with these people, I had to work with them. So I thought, 'Oh, boy, we're going to need some teamwork here'." Like Rich, neither Sue nor Rudy regrets the way they played the game. Kelly is another story. She showed signs of remorse during the last few episodes, and she seems even sorrier now about using a voting bloc to knock out the others. "I thought it was going to be more strictly survival-oriented as opposed to people playing mind games," she says. "It just made me feel crappy about myself."

Wait until she feels the pain of the alliance feeding on itself. We already know that Rich, who handpicked the alliance and worked assiduously to preserve it, is poised to bounce Kelly because she wavered in her fealty to him. But this week's double episode--featuring three tribal councils--will unfold differently from any of the previous ones. Every episode has an "immunity challenge," where the winner dodges expulsion for one round. This time, immunity should play all sorts of tricks. If Kelly wins immunity, will Rich's buddies still side with him? Or will Rudy and Sue turn on the island king? What's more, the final immunity challenges aren't like the ones we've seen so far. They'll be more cerebral, less physical. "Something a little more spiritual," says Mark Burnett, the show's producer. "This was really a profound month. The last couple of immunity challenges relate to the deeper meaning of the adventure experience." The "deeper meaning" of stabbing people in the back? Maybe Burnett has spent too much time in the tropical heat.

The final council will feature the last two players pleading their cases to the previous seven people voted off the island. It should be a doozy. "It's kind of like a judge-and-jury type thing, or jury and executioner," says Ramona. "It's a courtroom scene. I can't describe it better than that. You will not be disappointed." It's hard to imagine any of the deposed contestants voting for Rich or Sue, should they get that far. Then again, Rich seems capable of talking a dog out of his bone. So who will win? We don't know the answer, but our interviews may provide a few clues. It's hard to imagine that Kelly would still be feeling "crappy" if she was taking home $1 million. And when we asked Sue what she'd do differently if she could do it all again, she said, "I'll answer that question after it's over." Sounds like there's something she'd like to have another shot at. Doesn't it? Sort of? That leaves Rudy. But don't take our word for it. Most of the predictions have been dead wrong.

Fact is, all 16 Survivors are winners--or at least most of them have agents. Sean, the doctor with a nipple ring, has three: one for acting, one for speeches, one to peddle his novel. He's already signed up to play a doctor on "Guiding Light" and to work as a medical correspondent on "Extra." Gervase has booked a spot on the sitcom "The Hughleys." Stacey and B.B. shot Reebok commercials. Colleen turned down $100,000 from Playboy, though Jenna is still considering her offer. For her part, Sue says she's not insulted that Hugh Hefner hasn't dropped a line. "Me and Kelly don't belong in Playboy 'cause we've got tattoos," says Sue. "We belong in Hustler--and I heard Larry Flynt pays more!" The only people who won't get 15 more minutes of fame are those who don't grab for it. "I really don't want to be disturbed in my normal life," says Greg, who, given his penchant for talking into coconut shells as if they were telephones, seemed the most eccentric person on the island. He was also the only one to shun the normal round of post-island interviews (except this one). "I just lived in front of the camera. I don't need to do that anymore," Greg says. He says he hasn't even watched many of the episodes. "It's a fine show, but I'm just not a big fan of TV. It doesn't appeal to me."

The biggest fish--the finalists--have yet to hook deals. CBS won't allow them to sign anything until the show is over. Surprisingly, they seem less hellbent on cashing in than the others. Sue would like to lecture on being a woman in a man's job. Rudy is primarily interested in getting on Burnett's new show, where the winner gets a trip to the Mir, the Russian space station. Kelly wouldn't mind acting, but "I'm not beating down anybody's door or anything." Hollywood types predict that, win or lose, Rich will likely have the highest marketability. "Anyone controversial has a shot at being major," says agent Sherri Spillane, who has signed up nine of the Survivors. "He's the man everyone loves to hate. Remember J.R.? Hollywood loves that kind of thing."

Rich begs to differ with the notion that America hates him. Like the rest of the cast, he says he's hounded by autograph seekers almost everywhere he goes. "Everything has been overwhelmingly positive. We're talking fan clubs, support from the gay community. I'm getting marriage proposals from men and women and wonderful naked photos of men," says Rich, who is openly gay on the show. "I mean, just insane amounts of positive contact and two--literally--letters saying, 'you're evil, I hope you die'."