['Survivor: Nicaragua' - 'Worst Case Scenario']

Jeff Spicoli is alive and well and chillaxin' in Nicaragua -- in the form of La Flor's resident surfer dude, Jud/Fabio. And, let's all drink to that. Dude is a serious breath of fresh air in this otherwise benign 21st season of 'Survivor.'

Without Fab's smile and dimwitted-yet-endearing "insights," we'd be relegated to nothing but having to endure Dan (are we sure he isn't really Peter Falk?) kvetching about the weather and the rest of them freaking that, God forbid, a "cripple" be allowed to continue in the game for fear that she'd win the "sympathy" vote.

(Note: Did it ever occur to anyone to admit that they were afraid of Kelly B. because she's a damn good athlete and a smart cookie? Of course not.)

Happily, the producers have been steering this ship for a looong time and know that it's time to up the antes and stir the pot.

Enter the Individual Immunity Necklaces that were "up for grabs" in a dig-for-a-ring-and-toss-it-into-a-basket-hanging-on-your-butt challenge that saw former fogies Holly and Jill emerge triumphant for their respective tribes. But, not so fast: each tribe was sending someone home and there was a reward up for grabs. So the swim coach and the ER doc headed back into the fray to battle it out for the Holy Grail of 'Survivor' rewards -- The Feast. And, not just any feast mind you, a feast to be gobbled up at Tribal while the losing (hungry and drooling) schmoes send one of theirs packing.

Bummer for Espada that, despite a great showing by a clearly-winded Holly, they'll be going hungry for yet another coupl'a days as Jill's ring toss secured a La Flor shish kabob chow down.

But, of course, it's 'Survivor,' and even the promise of a bacchanalian banquet didn't take anyone's mind off the big prize (well, maybe Fabio's was meandering a tad off course), and La Flor shifted right into maneuver mode. Brenda's really emerged as not only more cunning than we originally gave her credit for, but also more cutthroat and more cruel. She hates Marty, is threatened by both Jill and Kelly B. and for whatever reason, is taken with Jane, whose good old southern ways have somehow managed to ingratiate her with her new tribe. So, yeah, Brenda orchestrated this big scheme to force a tie between Marty and Kelly B. to flush Marty's idol out and ... yada yada yada.

Meh. I say, let Brenda scheme and plot. I just want to see more of Marty regaling Fabio with his fabricated tales of being a grand master in chess and having defeated the "Argentine grand master of all time, Guillermo Vilas." I mean, sure, Marty's a pompous jerk most of the time, but, you gotta admit that was a pretty inspired untruth. Although, how people come up with this stuff is beyond me.

Espada could sorely use some of La Flor's spunk. The biggest nugget of interest over there is which non-entity to get rid of -- Dan (who, excuuuse us, has a Range Rover and a Ferrari and doesn't need the money) or Yve (who's so desperate to stay it's embarrassing). Luckily, time was running out and they had to decide quickly (and put us all out of this stiflingly boring misery). Even NaOnka's spirit seemed to have been drained by the wishy-washiness of the tribe. They needed caffeine. Or something.

With Tribal looming large, Marty was in the unfamiliar position of not really knowing what was going on with the vote. "It's a very, very calculated decision to play or not play the idol," he wisely postured. "My gut is telling me to hang on to it. But, it could very well be me going home tonight if I make the wrong decision." Yep. That's the way this game works.

Brenda, master manipulator that she is, did manage to force a tie (but, ha!, didn't get Marty to fork over his idol) and, in the end, after a re-vote, Kelly B. was hella-blindsided and sent walking through the graveyard while her tribe went on to gorge themselves on chicken and steak. "To be singled out for whatever reason," she said after the fact, "I just never got a vibe that I did something wrong, so I'm surprised." That's the thing, Kelly, you didn't do anything wrong. People (well, Brenda) are just mean.

So, while La Flor scarfed their reward, they got to listen to Espada debate this and that and, snore, Dan and Yve plead their cases. Though, truth be told, the best part of the entire Tribal was watching Chase and Benry manage to refrain from hopping across the set and grabbing one of those kabobs for themselves.

Ultimately, Yve annoyed her tribemates so much that they elected to send her home instead of the rich guy who can barely walk. Go figure.

'Survivor: Nicaragua' airs Wednesdays at 8PM ET on CBS.