Gorham High School physics teacher Bob Crowley is quickly becoming one of the premier players in this season’s “Survivor: Gabon – Earth’s Last Eden.”
Heading into the second week on the CBS reality show, Crowley’s team should continue to look to him for survival support, such as catching fish to eat, building fires and solving the riddles of the African land, said Gorham High colleague Sally Hatch.
“I would say he’s the person to beat right now on the show,” Hatch said after the first two episodes aired back to back Sept. 25.
Crowley’s Boy Scout survival skills will be needed for contestants, who are living in the African jungle without any comforts such as electricity, water or a grocery store. The question looms, however, as to whether Crowley will continue to be the “Survivor” golden boy.
Crowley is appearing on the 17th season of the show, which was taped during July. He joined more than 85 friends, family, students and colleagues at Thatcher’s in South Portland to watch his small screen debut last Thursday.
“Bob was meant for this show,” said Gorham High School teacher and friend Rocky Myers. “He is the ultimate survivor.”
The festivities kicked off a few hours before the premiere episode aired at 8 p.m. Crowley, 57, made the rounds, laughing with friends while sporting his usual attire of dress shirt and bow tie. This time, however, the bow tie was one of the yellow and green handkerchiefs that he and his teammates wore while filming the show.
As the show began, Crowley’s first appearance caused the crowd to burst into applause and energetic screams. Those grew in enthusiasm as “Survivor” host Jeff Probst picked Crowley, as the oldest competitor, to be one of two captains to choose the teams that would compete head-to-head for the next 39 days. However, according to the show’s Web site, competitor Gillian Larson, of Telecuma, Calif., had said she was 56 as cast members introduced themselves, but later revealed her true age – 61.
Despite his age, Crowley didn’t disappoint, displaying his wit as he chose his first pick for his team, named Kota.
“I’m bad with names. I pick baldy,” he quipped as he chose Ace Gordon of Naples, Fla.
From there, it didn’t take Crowley long to become his team’s most valuable member. After helping his teammates reach the summit of a rugged and steep hill that awaited them after a mile run to beat the other team, named Fang, he put his self-described Boy Scout skills to good use. He built most of the team’s hut that will provide shelter during the show’s taping.
His teammates praised him in amazement, but Crowley was modest.
“This is common-sense stuff,” Crowley told them. “I’m from Maine. This is what we do.”
Crowley is competing against 17 other contestants to be the last person standing and win $1 million. Contestants break down into initial teams of nine and compete head-to-head in challenges that test their minds and bodies in order to win immunity. The team that does not win the immunity challenges must vote one of their teammates off the show.
In the first episode, Crowley helped his team win the first immunity challenge – meaning no one from his team could be voted off – as he helped complete three puzzles.
In the second episode, Crowley’s team later chose him to untie the knots during the immunity competition. As his team rolled a ball through an obstacle course, they launched Crowley onto the top of the ball, where he untied keys hanging from three posts. They eventually unlocked a gate, completing their challenge as they tried to outrace the other team.
“This absolutely is up his alley,” said Hatch. “This is very indicative of the person he is.”
By the end of the second episode, Crowley had helped his team win two immunity challenges, provided his team shelter, built much-needed fires and caught fish to eat.
Crowley, along with two others, was also nominated for the “Survivor of the Week” title, where viewers select a winner.
The third episode of Survivor airs Thursday. Oct. 2, at 8 p.m. on CBS. Gorham High School will host a “Survivor” night on Thursday so faculty, friends and students can cheer Crowley on. The event is to raise money for the Class of 2009.
Crowley will address the crowd in the school’s 700-seat auditorium at 7:30 p.m., and discuss his experiences in Africa. Crowley’s contract with CBS prohibits him from saying how he did on the show. Crowley is also prohibited from giving any more news interviews until the final episode has aired.
“I’ve been telling him since I was in the seventh grade that he would be amazing on this show,” said Crowley’s daughter, Page Crowley. “This all comes so easy to him and he’s been doing things like this since I was a little girl.”
Bob Crowley, a Gorham High School physics teacher and South Portland resident, traverses a river in Gabon, Africa, during the premiere episode of Surviv: Gabon, Earth’s Last Eden, on Thursday night. The show airs on CBS.
He appears to be the glue that keeps the camp together.
He has put himself back in the position to remain for a while.
If his tribe is smart they will keep him around for a while.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
