'Big Tom' Buchanan - Survivor: Africa, Survivor: All-Stars
Big Tom Buchanan on social media: twitter
Seasons: 2 | Days: 73 | Wins: 0 | Jury: 2

Survivor: Africa (2001) - 4th place, 13th out - 6th juror.

  • Voted out in Episode 13, "The Final Four - No Regrets" (Day 37).

Survivor: All-Stars (2004) - 5th place, 14th out - 5th juror.

  • Voted out in Episode 14, "The Instigator" (Day 36).

Big Tom Buchanan - Career statistics
Challenge stats Tribal council stats Jury stats
Season ChW ChA ChW% VFB VAP TCA TC% wTCR JVF TotJ JV% SurvSc SurvAv
S3: Africa 1.67 12.29 0.14 7 7 10 0.69 1.78 - - - 0.83 3.45
S8: All-Stars 3.24 10.81 0.30 5 4 6 0.82 2.92 - - - 1.12 6.16
Career 4.91 23.10 0.21 12 11 16 0.74 2.80 - - - 0.96 5.25
Big Tom Buchanan - Challenge record
  • S3 logo Africa challenges (click to expand/collapse)
    Distress Signal - Ep3 IC
    Movin' On Up - Ep 4 IC

    Tribal/team challenge record (4-for-12; 1 sit-out):

    • Africa Ep. 1 RC/IC: "Trail Blazer" - Helps push the cart. Boran loses as Diane passes out at the end.
    • Africa Ep. 2 RC: "Stairway to the Stars" - Carries the poles, Boran loses again, this time as Kim falls down.
    • Africa Ep. 2 IC: "Safari Supper" - Drinks his first-round shot of blood, but Kelly loses the tiebreaker. Boran loses.
    • Africa Ep. 3 RC: "Rock 'n Roll" - Helps roll the boulder. Boran wins easily.
    • Africa Ep. 3 IC: "Distress Signal" - Boran wisely uses an open area, Tom wears a feather, Boran wins.
    • Africa Ep. 4 RC: "Caught in the Web" - Matched up against Brandon. Kims falls again, as does Boran.
    • Africa Ep. 4 IC: "Movin' on Up" - One of four big guys carrying the heavy stuff, Boran wins.
    • Africa Ep. 5 RC: "Get Your Goat" - Now with New Samburu, which loses, despite Tom being a goat farmer.
    • Africa Ep. 5 IC: "Puzzle of Shields" - New Samburu "wins" as Ethan & Mama Kim throw the IC to boot Silas.
    • Africa Ep. 6 RC: "Africa 102" - Tom sits out, new Samburu wins a feast.
    • Africa Ep. 6 IC: "Spear-It Hunt" - Tom hits one target, but Samburu loses, 5-4.
    • Africa Ep. 9 RC: "Obstacle Course" - Paired with Kim P. Does not win first heat.

     

    Pot Shots - Ep11 IC
    Fallen Comrades - Final 4 IC

    Individual challenge record (1-for-10): (Mean % finish: 55%)

    • Africa Ep. 7 IC: "When It Rains, It Pours" - Lasts 44 minutes, good enough for sixth place (6th/10).
    • Africa Ep. 8 RC: "Stomp-ede" - Lands fewer than Frank's 5, but more than Kelly's 1 item (tie-6th/9).
    • Africa Ep. 8 IC: "Box Your Mind" - Makes final round, gets a surprisingly strong 6 items (tie-2nd/9).
    • Africa Ep. 9 IC: "Light It Up" - Not shown making any fire (tie-6th/8).
    • Africa Ep. 10 IC: "African Folklore" - One of five people tied for third with 4 straps (tie-3rd/7).
    • Africa Ep. 11 RC: "Know Your Loved One" - Just misses the win with 2 matches, but Lex brings him anyway (tie-2nd/6).
    • Africa Ep. 11 IC: "Pot Shots" - Tom smashes a whopping 8 pots, and Tom wins immunity! (1st/6).
    • Africa Ep. 12 RC: "Swahili Scramble" - Not Tom's game. Two words found (5th/5).
    • Africa Ep. 12 IC: "Second Chance" - With Ethan, working on the puzzle as Lex wins (tie-2nd/5).
    • Africa Ep. 13 F4 IC: "Fallen Comrades" - Misses on final question, does not win (3rd/4).

     

    Redemption/Exile Island duel record (0-for-0):

    • None.
  • S8 logo All-Stars challenges (click to expand/collapse)
    Quest for Fire - Ep1 RC/IC
    Float Your Boat - Ep2 IC

    Tribal/team challenge record (7-for-14; 4 sit-outs):

    • All-Stars Ep. 1 RC/IC: "Quest for Fire" - Chapera wins easily (1st/3).
    • All-Stars Ep. 2 RC: "Stairway to the Stars" - Sits out as Chapera loses, but gets reward anyway.
    • All-Stars Ep. 2 IC: "Float Your Boat" - Chapera wins again (1st/3).
    • All-Stars Ep. 3 RC: "Better Homes and Island Living" - Chapera builds the best camp, wins (1st/3).
    • All-Stars Ep. 4 RC: "Match Maker" - Sits out as Chapera wins again (1st/3).
    • All-Stars Ep. 4 IC: "Blind Leading the Blind" - Chapera loses! (3rd/3).
    • All-Stars Ep. 5 RC: "Shipwrecked Raft Race" - Sits out as Chapera finishes second (2nd/3).
    • All-Stars Ep. 5 IC: "Pilfering Pirates" - Now down to two tribes, Chapera wins again.
    • All-Stars Ep. 6 RC: "Tribal Stomp-ede" - Chapera loses Sue, then loses the challenge.
    • All-Stars Ep. 7 RC/IC: "Blind Leading the Blind" - Chapera wins yacht feast, kidnaps Kathy.
    • All-Stars Ep. 8 RC: "Log Jam" - Sits out, Chapera wins again.
    • All-Stars Ep. 8 IC: "Choose Your Weapon" - Chapera wins again.
    • All-Stars Ep. 9 IC: "Survivor History" - Now switched to Mogo Mogo, and Mogo Mogo wins.
    • All-Stars Ep. 11 RC: "Big Bad O' Course" - Not part of the winning team.

    *Note: Second-place finishes during the three-tribe phase of All-Stars count as a half-win.

     

    Individual challenge record (1-for-7): (Mean % finish: 56%)

    • All-Stars Ep. 10 RC: "Rock Bottom" - Eliminated in the third round (tie-4th/9).
    • All-Stars Ep. 10 IC: "Waiting to Exhale" - Second man eliminated, just missing finals (3rd/4).
    • All-Stars Ep. 12 RC: "Face Off" - First person eliminated (7th/7).
    • All-Stars Ep. 12 IC: "When It Rains, It Pours" - Third person out, fairly quickly (5th/7).
    • [All-Stars Ep. 13 RC: "Survivor Smorgasboard" - Bucky Bo wins for Tom! ... but not counted)].
    • All-Stars Ep. 13 IC: "Fire and Rain" - Despite failing at this in Africa, Tom wins! (1st/6).
    • All-Stars Ep. 14 RC: "Second Chance" - Eliminated in the third round (3rd/5).
    • All-Stars Ep. 14 IC: "Survivor Scramble" - Tom puts in a valiant effort, finding 16/17 tribe names (3rd/5).

     

    Redemption/Exile Island duel record (0-for-0):

    • All-Stars: None.
Career challenge totals
  • Team/tribal challenges
    Wins: 11
    Played: 26
    Win%: 0.42
    Sat out: 5
  • Individual challenges
    Wins: 2
    Played: 17
    Win%: 0.12
    Mean% Finish: 84%
  • Duels
    Wins: 0
    Played: 0
    Win%: --
    Mean% Finish: --
Big Tom Buchanan - Tribal Council record
  • S3 logo Africa Tribal (click to expand/collapse)
    Ep1 Tribal Council
    Ep2 Tribal Council

    Idols held/played: (0/0)

    • Africa: None.

     

    VFB - Votes for the person booted (7/10):

     

    VAP - Votes against (7):

    • Africa, Ep. 6: Three votes, from Kim P., Brandon, and Lindsey.
    • Africa, Ep. 12: One vote, from Teresa.
    • Africa, Ep. 13 (F4 vote): Three votes, from Ethan, Kim J., and Lex (voted out, 3-1).

     

    Jury votes made (1/1):

    • Africa, Ep. 13: Voted for Ethan Zohn (who won, 5-2).
  • S8 logo All-Stars Tribal (click to expand/collapse)

    Idols held/played: (0/0)

    • All-Stars: None.

     

    VFB - Votes for the person booted (5/6):

    • All-Stars, Ep. 4: Rob Cesternino (voted out, 5-1).
    • All-Stars, Ep. 10: Lex van den Berghe (voted out, 7-2).
    • All-Stars, Ep. 11: Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien (voted out, 6-2).
    • All-Stars, Ep. 12: Alicia Calaway (voted out, 6-1).
    • All-Stars, Ep. 13: Shii Ann Huang (voted out, 5-1).

     

    VAP - Votes against (4):

    • All-Stars, Ep. 14: Four votes, from Amber, Boston Rob, Jenna L., and Rupert (voted out, 5-1).

     

    Jury votes made (1/1):

Career Tribal Council totals
  • Hidden idols
    Found: 0
    Played: 0
    Votes voided: --
  • Voting record
    VFB: 12
    Tribals: 16
    VAP: 11
  • Jury votes
    Made: 2
    For winners: 2
    Received: --
Big Tom Buchanan - Pictures
  • S3 logo Africa image gallery (click to expand/collapse)
  • S8 logo All-Stars image gallery (click to expand/collapse)
Big Tom Buchanan - Interviews
Big Tom Buchanan - Bios
  • S3 logo Africa bio (click to expand/collapse)

    From his official CBS Survivor: Africa cast bio page:

     

    "Born and raised in Rich Valley, Virginia, Tom Buchanan currently works as a self-employed goat and cattle farmer on the ranch that has been in his family for three generations.

     

    Buchanan attended Rich Valley High School, where he played football, basketball and baseball. He also served as student body president. He then attended East Tennessee State University as a football walk-on and later earned a full football scholarship, serving as team captain his senior year. After college, he returned home to work on the family farm. Known to his friends as 'Big Tom,' his hobbies include softball, fishing, bird hunting and riding his motorcycle. He is a member of the Virginia Cattleman's Association, Rich Valley Farmer's Club and Rich Valley Presbyterian Church

     

    Tom Buchanan has been married to Sandy for 23 years. They have one son, Bucky Bo, who is currently attending Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky. His birth date is October 30, 1955."

  • S8 logo All-Stars bio (click to expand/collapse)

    From his official CBS Survivor: All-Stars cast bio page:

     

    "Since returning from Survivor: Africa, Tom Buchanan has become very involved with elementary schools, promoting reading literacy. Prompted by events on the show that shed light on his inability to spell, Tom created a reading program for kids, 'Reading is The Key to Survival,' which has had an enormous impact on young readers of today. He has also donated many hours of his time to local and national fundraisers. "

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