S9: Vanuatu
S16: MicronesiaChallenges: MPF percentile
92%
Seasons: 2 | Days: 54 | Wins: 0 | Jury: 1
- Survivor 9: Vanuatu (2004) - 6th place, 13th out - 4th juror.
- Voted out in Episode 12, "Now Who's In Charge Here?" (Day 33).
- Survivor 16: Micronesia-Fans vs. Favorites (2008) - 11th place, 10th out.
- Sent to Exile Island (with Kathy) in Episode 3. Cumulative longevity: In-game - 20 days; Exile Isl. - 1 day.
- Voted out in Episode 8, "A Lost Puppy Dog" (Day 21).
Ami Cusack on social media: facebook
| Challenge stats | Tribal council stats | Jury stats | Overall stats | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | ChW | ChA | ChW% | VFB | VAP | TCA | TC% | wTCR | JVF | TotJ | JV% | SurvSc | SurvAv |
| S9: Vanuatu | 3.67 | 10.24 | 0.36 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0.77 | 1.81 | - | - | - | 1.12 | 5.49 |
| S16: Micronesia | 0.64 | 2.80 | 0.23 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0.64 | 2.33 | - | - | - | 0.88 | 2.97 |
| Career | 4.31 | 13.04 | 0.33 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 0.73 | 2.05 | - | - | - | 1.06 | 4.21 |
Ami Cusack - Performance ranks
Tribal: VFB% percentile
80%
Tribal: rVAP percentile
56%
Challenges: MPF percentile
20%
Tribal: VFB% percentile
68%
Tribal: rVAP percentile
64%
Performance ranks are a quick visual measure of the contestant's season vs. historical data from all prior contestants, in three basic (scorable) categories:
1. Performance in individual challenges (MPF), as a measure of "physical game";
2. Ability to vote people out consistently (VFB%, or VFB/TCA), or "strategic game"; and
3. Ability to avoid being voted against (rVAP, or TCA-VAP) - which scales better than a percentage would - for "social/strategic game."
See also: Full glossary for all these abbreviations.
Ami Cusack - Challenge record
Tribal/team challenge record (7-for-14):
- Vanuatu Ep. 1 RC/IC: "Fire Starter" - Yasur performs well out of the gate (thanks mostly to Chris); Yasur wins.
- Vanuatu Ep. 2 RC: "By the Numbers" - Yasurs all get across; Yasur wins again.
- Vanuatu Ep. 2 IC: "Four on the Floor" - Tethered to Twila and Leann; thanks to Scout's forgetting a piece, Yasur loses.
- Vanuatu Ep. 3 RC: "Great Escape Run" - Participates, but Yasur loses on the reward portion.
- Vanuatu Ep. 4 RC: "Remembrance" - Makes the first match, Yasur wins (Dah!).
- Vanuatu Ep. 4 IC: "Tribal Tiles" - Places tiles for Yasur, and Yasur wins again.
- Vanuatu Ep. 5 RC: "Dive Masters" - Now with New Yasur, which is much worse than the old version. Yasur loses.
- Vanuatu Ep. 5 IC: "Outwit, Outplay, Outrig" - Retrieves the frame & paddles with Bubba, but Yasur loses again.
- Vanuatu Ep. 6 RC: "Pig Pen" - Carries pigs, Yasur loses again.
- Vanuatu Ep. 6 IC: "Strung Out" - Moves the float well enough for yet another New Yasur loss.
- Vanuatu Ep. 7 RC: "Jo Coconut" - Competes, and somehow, New Yasur wins! Coffee!
- Vanuatu Ep. 7 IC: "Shoot Your Way Home" - Shoots a slingshot at plates, Yasur wins (narrowly) again.
- Vanuatu Ep. 8 RC: "Fire Fighter" - New Yasur saves one last loss for the final tribal challenge.
- Vanuatu Ep. 10 RC: "Sacrificial Lamb" - Part of the winning team, with Chris, Chad, and Eliza.
Individual challenge record (2-for-8): (Mean % Finish: 75.4%)
- Vanuatu Ep. 8 IC: "Jumper" - Second in the first-round heat & advances to finals, where she and Rory trail Sarge (tie-2nd/10).
- Vanuatu Ep. 9 RC: "Head Hunter" - Takes out Sarge, ends up in third place (3rd/9).
- Vanuatu Ep. 9 IC: "Memory Mosaic" - Survives all four rounds, and Ami wins immunity! (1st/9)
- Vanuatu Ep. 10 IC: "Get A Grip" - No elapsed time shown, but fourth to drop out (5th/8).
- Vanuatu Ep. 11 RC: "Played Out" - gets six right, just misses the tie-breaker round (tie-3rd/7).
- Vanuatu Ep. 11 IC: "Love Is Blind" (with loved ones) - with Crissy, first to start the puzzle, and Ami wins (1st/7).
- Vanuatu Ep. 12 RC: "Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Finishes second, which qualifies her to join Eliza (and Chris) on the reward (2nd/6).
- Vanuatu Ep. 12 IC: "Island Hopping" - does not win.
Redemption/Exile Island duel record: (0-for-0)
- Vanuatu: None.
Tribal/team challenge record (5-for-13):
- Micronesia Ep.1 RC/IC: "Reinventing the Wheel" - Carries the flag for Malakal, Malakal loses.
- Micronesia Ep.2 RC/IC: "Smash and Grab" - One of Malakal's tile smashers, and Malakal wins.
- Micronesia Ep.3 RC: "Beach Bash" - Competes, Malakal wins, Ami's reward is getting exiled. With Kathy.
- Micronesia Ep.3 IC: "Nut Bucket" - Shoots baskets, but Malakal's four can't hold theirs. Malakal loses.
- Micronesia Ep.4 RC: "Diver Down" - Retrieves 2 of Malakal's 10 coconuts; Malakal wins.
- Micronesia Ep.4 IC: "Crosswalk" - One of Malakal's six walkers/necklace retrievers. Malakal wins.
- Micronesia Ep.5 RC: "Cat and Mouse" - Tethered to Amanda, scores a point vs. Jason/James, but injures her knee; Malakal loses, 3-2.
- Micronesia Ep.5 IC: "A Stone's Throw" - With Amanda and Cirie, blows a lead on the puzzle; Malakal loses.
- Micronesia Ep. 6 RC: "Build It Up, Break It Down" - Participates, but Malakal is slow, loses.
- Micronesia Ep. 6 IC: "United We Stand" - Malakal is out-strategized by James, loses big.
- Micronesia Ep. 7 RC: "Money Roll" - Helps roll the big stone; somehow, Malakal wins.
- Micronesia Ep. 7 IC: "What-er Drag" - Turns the crank; Malakal returns to losing.
- Micronesia Ep.8 RC/IC: "The Gauntlet" - Swings bags; Malakal loses again.
Individual challenge record (0-for-1): (Mean % finish: 45%)
- Micronesia Ep. 1 Individual IC: Does not find Malakal's necklace/idol thing (bottom 8/10).
Hero challenge/ duel record (0-for-0):
- Micronesia: None.
Career totals - challenges
| Wins: | 12 |
| Played: | 27 |
| Win%: | 0.44 |
| Sat out: | - |
| Wins: | 2 |
| Played: | 9 |
| Win%: | 0.22 |
| Mean % Finish: | 72.0% |
| Wins: | 0 |
| Played: | 0 |
| Win%: | - |
| Mean % Finish: | - |
Ami Cusack - Tribal Council record
Idols held/played: (0/0)
- Vanuatu: None.
VFB - Votes for the person booted (7/9):
| Tribal | Voted | Boot (totals) | VFB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep2 | Dolly | Dolly Neely (voted out, 5-4) | Yes |
| Ep3 | Mia | Mia Galeotalanza (voted out, 5-3) | Yes |
| Ep5 | Bubba | Travis 'Bubba' Sampson (voted out, 6-1) | Yes |
| Ep6 | Lisa | Lisa Keiffer (voted out, 4-2) | Yes |
| Ep8 | Rory | Rory Freeman (voted out, 6-4) | Yes |
| Ep9 | Sarge | 'Sarge' Masters (voted out, 7-1-1) | Yes |
| Ep10 | Chad | Chad Crittenden (voted out, 6-2) | Yes |
| Ep11 | Eliza | Leann Slaby (voted out, 4-3) | - |
| Ep12 | Scout | Ami Cusack (voted out, 4-2) | - |
| 9 | TOTALS | 7 | |
VAP - Votes against (8):
- Vanuatu, Ep. 2: Four votes, from Julie, Lisa, Mia, and Dolly.
- Vanuatu, Ep. 11: Four votes, from Chris, Twila, Scout, and Eliza (voted out, 4-3).
Jury votes made (0/1):
- Vanuatu, Ep. 14: Voted for Twila Tanner, who finished second, 5-2.
Idols held/played: (0/0)
- Micronesia: None.
VFB - Votes for the person booted (4/6):
| Tribal | Voted | Boot (totals) | VFB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep1 | Fairplay | Jonny Fairplay (voted out, 9-1) | Yes |
| Ep3 | Cirie | Yau-Man Chan (voted out, 6-2-1) | - |
| Ep5 | Joel | Joel Anderson (voted out, 6-2) | Yes |
| Ep6 | Chet | Chet Welch (voted out, 5-2) | Yes |
| Ep7 | Tracy | Tracy Hughes-Wolf (voted out, 5-1) | Yes |
| Ep8 | Erik | Ami Cusack (voted out, 4-1) | - |
| 6 | TOTALS | 4 | |
VAP - Votes against (4):
- Micronesia, Ep. 8: Four votes, from Amanda, Cirie, Erik, and Ozzy (voted out, 4-1).
Jury votes made (0/0):
- Micronesia: None.
Career totals - Tribal Council
| Idols found: | 0 |
| Idols played: | 0 |
| Votes voided: | - |
| VFB: | 11 |
| Tribals: | 14 |
| VAP: | 12 |
| Made: | 1 |
| For winners: | 0 |
| Received: | - |
Ami Cusack - Pictures
-
Vanuatu intro shot -
Vanuatu intro shot -
On the boat, pre-arrival, Ep1 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep1 RC/IC -
Commenting on Yasur's early age-specific tribal division, Ep2 -
Standing around, waiting for directions from Scout, Ep2 IC -
Watching Scout and Leann trying to snag a key, Ep3 RC -
Yasur watches the immunity portion of the Ep3 RC/IC from the sidelines -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 RC -
The winning Yasur tribe, post-Ep4 RC -
Enjoying Dah's sugar cane advice, Ep4 reward -
More fun with Dah -
Rearranging tiles, Ep4 IC -
Yasur wins! Ep4 IC -
Now diving for New Yasur, Ep5 RC -
Retrieving the outrigger frame with Bubba, Ep5 IC -
Waiting for the rest of the canoe, Ep5 IC -
Paddles almost coming -
Ready to (try to) catch some pigs, Ep6 RC -
Moving the float along, Ep6 IC -
Waiting for Eliza, Ep7 RC -
New Yasur finally won something! Ep7 RC -
Coffee! -
Go win it for us, Rory -
About to be merged, Ep8 -
Final round, Ep8 IC -
Just lost to Sarge, Ep8 IC -
Bonding via body paint, Ep8 -
Hey, everyone got one right! -
Correctly calling that lava isn't edible, Ep9 RC -
Take that, Twila -
Enjoying the women's-only surreptitious wing delivery, Ep9 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep9 IC -
First round, Ep9 IC -
Ami wins! Ep9 IC -
Alinta tribe, Ep9 Tribal Council -
Ha ha! Eliza was so mad at the reward challenge! -
More Ep9 Tribal -
Moving Eliza through the obstacles, Ep10 RC -
Delivering the pig to the village, Ep10 reward -
Answering questions about prior challenges, Ep11 RC -
Listening to Twila swear on her son, Ep11 -
Second chance with the loved ones: Ep11 IC -
Go! All of you! Go! -
Seems legit -
A Pontiac? Eh, you can keep it, Probst. -
A bridge over troubled water, apparently (Ep12 RC) -
Trying to get past Chris -
Racing Eliza, Ep12 RC -
Enjoying the Ep12 resort reward, despite not winning herself -
This is an immunity challenge? Ok. Ep12 IC -
And snuffed, Ep12. -
I'll be back...
-
Micronesia intro shot -
Micronesia intro shot -
Getting rafted in, Micronesia Ep1 -
Introduction to the fans, Ep1 -
Listening to Probst, pre-Ep1 individual IC -
Arriving at the site of Yau-Man's idol acquisition, opening IC -
Freshly arrived at Malakal camp, Ep1 -
Alliance building with Eliza, Penner, and the unreliable Fairplay -
Starting line, Ep1 IC -
The losing Faves -
Relaxing Malakals, Ep1 -
With her (outnumbered) alliance -
Not thrilled with having to depend on Fairplay keeping his word -
Malakal tribe, Ep1 Tribal Council -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC -
Smashing and grabbing, Ep2 RC/IC -
Watching the puzzle stage, Ep2 RC/IC -
The winning Malakals, Ep2 RC/IC -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 RC -
Trying to catch Erik, Ep3 RC -
Getting rewarded with Exile Island for her tribe winning the Ep3 RC -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 IC -
Listening to Probst -
Shooting coconut baskets -
Heading back to camp, post-Ep3 IC loss -
Well... that sucked, but at least we have Cirie -
Hmm, maybe they don't have Cirie -
Malakal, Ep3 Tribal Council -
Tribal Council is always fun -
Listening to Penner argue with Cirie. Yay. -
Ready to dive for coconuts, Ep4 RC -
Malakal wins! Ep4 RC -
The winning Malakals, ready to exile Ozzy -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 IC -
Finding her key -
Retrieving necklaces, Ep4 IC -
Time to swap, Ep5 -
The new Malakal tribe, pre-Ep5 RC -
Malakal, feasting on shark -
Working the puzzle, guided by Chet -
Malakal, Ep5 Tribal -
Listening to Ozzy -
Giving Tracy a pep talk, Ep6 -
Malakal trailing again, Ep6 RC -
Also trailing again, Ep6 IC -
Talking about how there could be a cool blindside, if only Chet wants to stay in -
Malakal, Ep6 Tribal -
Listening to Chet -
Watching the puzzle stage, Ep7 RC -
Malakal wins a challenge! -
Reward feasting (while Tracy takes Exile for the team) -
Well, time to vote out Tracy -
Malakal, Ep7 Tribal -
Assuring Ozzy she's with him, Ep8 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 RC/IC -
Well, we lost. Sucks to be Erik. -
Malakal, Ep8 Tribal -
Pleading with Ozzy to trust her -
Eight person voted out of Fans vs. Favorites... -
Snuffed, Day 21 (Episode 8) -
Full cast, reunion show
Ami Cusack - Interviews
Pre-game interviews
- None found?
Post-game interviews
- Rene Syler at CBS's The Early Show (12/2/04): "Ami on Survivor Shocker"
- Angel Cohn at TVGuide.com (12/8/04): "Survivor Schemer Ami Tells All"
- David Bloomberg at RealityNewsOnline (12/11/04): "'I Felt As If I Had Too Much Input': An Interview with Survivor's Ami"
Pre-game interviews
- Pre-Micronesia interview with AfterEllen.com (2/7/08): "Interview with Ami Cusack"
- CBS pre-game interview (YouTube)
Post-game interviews
- Gina Scarpa at BuddyTV.com (4/4/08): "Ami Cusack of Survivor: Micronesia"
- Eric Goldman at IGN.com (4/9/08): "Survivor: Micronesia Interview - Ami"
- Rob Cesternino & Teresa Cooper at RHAP (8/25/19): "Talking with T-Bird: Ami Cusack"
Ami Cusack - Bios
From her official CBS Vanuatu bio page:
"Ami Cusack was born and raised in Golden, Colorado, to Richard, a top gun pilot and explosives engineer, and Virginia, a former substitute English teacher and homemaker. After graduating Golden High School, she attended Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Denver. In 1992, while attending RMCAD, Cusack became one of the original six employees of a Golden-based nutritional company called Experiment and Applied Sciences. She started out by answering phones and by 1996 she became the company's charitable director. In 1998, (with over 350 employees), the company was sold and Cusack decided to travel for the next four years. Her travels led her to Australia, Thailand, Tahiti, Iceland, Japan and Africa.
Upon returning to the US, she took a job at a coffee shop which she now considers 'the greatest job in the world.' She looks forward to being a mom and taking care of her family.
In 1996, she lost her 18-year-old younger brother, Kyle, to a drunk driver. Her mother now conducts motivation speaking to high school students about the consequences of drinking and driving.
Cusack is currently dating Crissy, whom she's been with for three years. Her birth date is January 25, 1973."
From her official CBS Survivor: Micronesia bio page:
"Ami Cusack was born and raised in Golden, Colorado, to Richard, a top gun pilot and explosives engineer, and Virginia, a former substitute English teacher and homemaker. After graduating Golden High School, she attended Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Denver. In 1992, while attending RMCAD, Cusack became one of the original six employees of a Golden-based nutritional company called Experiment and Applied Sciences. She started out by answering phones and by 1996 she became the company's charitable director. In 1998, (with over 350 employees), the company was sold and Cusack decided to travel for the next four years. Her travels led her to Australia, Thailand, Tahiti, Iceland, Japan and Africa
Upon returning to the U.S., she took a job at a coffee shop, which she now considers 'the greatest job in the world.' She looks forward to being a mom and taking care of her family. She also is a nanny for a six-year-old. She is still very active in charities and has been named an Ambassador for the Colorado Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In 1996, she lost her 18-year-old younger brother, Kyle, to a drunk driver. Her mother now conducts motivational speaking to high school students about the consequences of drinking and driving.
Cusack is currently single. Her birth date is January 25, 1973."