In a replay of last week's big "reality" finish, Waukesha hairstylist Erinn Lobdell couldn't get past third place on the 18th edition of CBS' "Survivor."
The winner of the latest "Survivor" - which took place in the Brazilian state of Tocantins - was the favorite, James "JT" Thomas Jr., 24, a native of Samson, Ala., who lives in Mobile.
"My parents are crying, so I can't help it," Thomas said with tears in his eyes after the results were announced.
Lobdell, 27, had made it through the first cut of Sunday night's three-hour finale, when Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George, 37, of Nashville, Tenn., was sent home in a 3-1 vote.
But she followed that up by losing a competition for immunity, which would have guaranteed her a spot in the finals in the competition for $1 million.
In the vote that ended her run, the wily Lobdell tried to convince front-runner Thomas that keeping her in the game would be better for him in the final vote by axed competitors, since they would pick him over her.
Instead, Thomas picked buddy Stephen Fishbach, 29, of New York City to join him in the finals, facing the jury of previously voted-off competitors.
Fishbach ended up in second place in a vote that lacked drama.
"I was a little bit surprised," Lobdell said on camera after her demise.
"But I think, like, deep down, I definitely knew that that was the decision JT was gonna make. And I'm really proud of myself for as far as I've come. It's really been life-changing, and I'm glad I was able to stick around for as long as I did."
Lobdell's finish came four nights after Milwaukeean Danny Gokey was cut from Fox's "American Idol," ending up in third place on TV's top-rated show.
FARRAH'S STILL A DRAW: NBC's Friday night Farrah Fawcett documentary averaged nearly 9 million viewers for its two-hour run, according to Nielsen Media Research numbers. Those are the network's best Friday night numbers in more than a year.
"Farrah's Story" was shot with the star's own video camera and offered a look at her cancer battle.
"CHUCK" HANGS ON: NBC has decided to order 13 episodes of on-the-bubble "Chuck" for next season. Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello reports at www.ew.com that the financial arrangement to keep the show alive may mean that some of the cast won't be in all the episodes.
NBC already has announced most of its plans. Fox formalizes its fall schedule Monday, ABC goes on Tuesday, CBS on Wednesday and CW on Thursday.
Reach Tim Cuprisin at (414) 224-2397 or tcuprisin@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cuprisin.