Challenges: MPF percentile
42%
Seasons: 1 | Days played: 39 | Wins: 0 | Final Three: 1
- Survivor 39: Island of the Idols (2019) - 2nd place, two jury votes.
- Visited Island of the Idols 1 time; won an idol nullifier on a coin flip.
- Received two jury votes to finish 2nd (8-2-0), in Episode 14, "Mama, Look at Me Now" (Day 39).
| Challenge stats | Tribal council stats | Jury stats | Overall stats | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | ChW | ChA | ChW% | VFB | VAP | TCA | TC% | wTCR | JVF | TotJ | JV% | SurvSc | SurvAv |
| S39: Island of the Idols | 2.42 | 10.79 | 0.22 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 0.67 | 4.67 | 2 | 10 | 0.20 | 1.09 | 8.29 |
| Career | 2.42 | 10.79 | 0.22 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 0.67 | 4.67 | 2 | 10 | 0.20 | 1.09 | 8.29 |
Dean Kowalski - Performance ranks
Tribal: VFB% percentile
68%
Tribal: rVAP percentile
99%
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.
Dean Kowalski - Challenge record
S39:
Island of the Idols 
Tribal/team challenge record (3-for-11):
- Island of the Idols Ep. 1 RC/IC: "Tower of Equality" - Part of the human ladder, helps work the puzzle, but Lairo loses.
- Island of the Idols Ep. 2 RC/IC: "Rung-O Star" - Helps carry and steady the ladder, and Lairo wins.
- Island of the Idols Ep. 3 RC/IC: "Beam Me Up" - Works the puzzle with Karishma, but Lairo loses.
- Island of the Idols Ep. 4 RC/IC: "Ow Pairs" - Tethered to Chelsea, eventually gets a key, and Lairo loses.
- Island of the Idols Ep. 5 RC: "Headlong Flight" - Tethered to Jack, slithers well, but Lairo loses.
- Island of the Idols Ep. 5 IC: "Discography" - Makes two shots to catch up, but can't hit the third; Lairo loses.
- Island of the Idols Ep. 6 RC: "Heroes End" - Helps carry the sled, move sandbags, but Lairo loses again.
- Island of the Idols Ep. 6 IC: "Cage Against the Machine" - Hits the fifth and final basket for Lairo, and Lairo wins!
- Island of the Idols Ep. 7 IC: "Faulty Towers" - Shoots coconuts, but Lairo barely loses on the puzzle.
- [Island of the Idols Ep. 9 RC: "Raise the Roof" - (unaired) Holds up sandbags as part of the winning team.]
- Island of the Idols Ep. 12 RC: "Full Tilt Affair" - Paired with Elaine, they reach the final stage, but do not win.
Individual challenge record (2-for-9; 1 sit-out): (Mean % finish: 57.2%)
- Island of the Idols Ep. 8 IC: "Pegs Over Easy" - Fourth person to drop out, fairly quickly (11th/13)
- Island of the Idols Ep. 9 IC: "I Hold On" - Third man to drop out, lasts over 5 minutes (3rd/5).
- Island of the Idols Ep. 10 IC: "We Will Go Round" - Final person out from purple team (2nd/6).
- Island of the Idols Ep. 11 IC: "Crocodile Rock" - Sat out to eat, instead of competing (tie-9th/9).
- Island of the Idols Ep. 12 IC: "Ballin' A Jack" - First person to drop out (8th/8).
- [Island of the Idols Ep. 13 RC: (Unaired) - Has a lead until the sandbag stage, but does not win (2nd/7).]
- Island of the Idols Ep. 13 IC: "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" - Races to complete the word puzzle, and Dean wins (1st/7).
- Island of the Idols Ep. 14 F5 IC: "Born to Rung" - Passes Tommy, places both balls, and Dean wins! (1st/6).
- Island of the Idols Ep. 14 F4 IC: "You Shook Me" - In a tight race with Noura, but does not win (tie-2nd/4).
Redemption/Exile Island duel record (0-for-0):
- Island of the Idols: None.
Career totals - challenges
| Wins: | 3 |
| Played: | 11 |
| Win%: | 0.27 |
| Sat out: | - |
| Wins: | 2 |
| Played: | 9 |
| Sat out: | 1 |
| Win%: | 0.22 |
| Mean% Finish: | 57.2% |
| Wins: | 0 |
| Played: | 0 |
| Win%: | - |
| Mean% Finish: | - |
Dean Kowalski - Tribal Council record
S39:
Island of the Idols 
Idols found/played (1/1; 5 votes voided) | Advantages held/played (1/1; 4 votes un-voided):
- Island of the Idols, Ep. 7: Kellee gives her idol to Dean, tells him to play it for himself. He does, voiding five votes and saving himself (Day 19).
- Island of the Idols, Ep. 13: Wins an idol nullifier on a coin flip at Island of the Idols (Day 34).
- Island of the Idols, Ep. 14: Finds an idol in the shelter at Island of the Idols (Day 36). Does not end up playing it.
- Island of the Idols, Ep. 14: Plays his idol nullifier against Janet, re-activating four votes, booting her (Day 36).
VFB - Votes for the person booted (8/12):
| Tribal | Voted | Boot (totals) | VFB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep1 | Ronnie | Ronnie Bardah (voted out, 7-2) | Yes |
| Ep3 | Karishma | Vince Moua (voted out, 5-3-1) | - |
| Ep4 | Karishma | Chelsea Walker (voted out, 6-2) | - |
| Ep5 | Karishma | Tom Laidlaw (voted out, 5-2) | - |
| Ep7 | Jack | Jack Nichting (idoled out, [0]-2) | Yes |
| Ep8 | Kellee | Kellee Kim (voted out, 8-5) | Yes |
| Ep9 | Jamal | Jamal Shipman (voted out, 5-3-[0]) | Yes |
| Ep10 | Aaron | Aaron Meredith (voted out, 5-1) | Yes |
| Ep11 | Karishma | Elizabeth Beisel (idoled out, [0]-1-1; 7-0) | - |
| Ep12 | Karishma | Karishma Patel (voted out, 5-3) | Yes |
| Ep13 | Elaine | Elaine Stott (voted out, 5-2) | Yes |
| Ep14 | Janet | Janet Carbin (voted out, 4-1) | Yes |
| 12 | TOTALS | 8 | |
VAP - Votes against (0):
- [Island of the Idols, Ep. 7: Five votes, from Jack, Jamal, Janet, Karishma, and Kellee, all voided by the idol play.]
Jury votes received (2/10):
- Island of the Idols, Ep. 14: Received two votes, from Aaron Meredith and Elizabeth Beisel, to finish second (8-2-0).
Career totals - Tribal Council
| Advantages held/played: | 1/1 |
| Idols found: | 1 |
| Idols played: | 1 |
| Votes voided: | 5 |
| VFB: | 8 |
| Tribals: | 12 |
| VAP: | 0 |
| Made: | - |
| Received: | 2 |
| Total jurors: | 10 |
Dean Kowalski - Pictures
S39:
Island of the Idols -
CBS pre-game interview -
On the boat, Day 1 -
The "strong seven" alliance forms -
Weaving palm fronds -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep1 RC/IC -
Starting line -
Holding the grappling hook -
Climbing the human ladder -
Getting started on the puzzle -
Something is wrong here... -
The losing Lairos -
Looking on as Elaine selects the first Island of the Idols visitor -
Post-challenge discussion in camp -
Aaron and Ronnie want to target Elaine -
Heading to Tribal -
Lairo, Ep1 Tribal Council -
Listening to Elaine -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC/IC -
Holding the ladder -
Watching Missy roll balls -
Lairo wins! -
Making an entrance, as Lairo goes to fetch the IotI note, Ep3 -
Dean speaks! -
Probably shouldn't have said that -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 RC/IC -
Working the puzzle, with Karishma -
The losing Lairos -
Plotting to split the vote -
Lairo, Ep3 Tribal Council -
Listening to Karishma -
(Archival?) snuggling with Chelsea, Ep4 -
(Circa Ep1) confessional praising Chelsea -
Chatting with Chelsea -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 RC/IC -
Starting line -
Traffic jam -
Lairo finally reaches the puzzle -
Should be an easy vote for Karishma -
Heading to Tribal -
Lairo, Ep4 Tribal Council -
Listening to Probst -
Detective Dean tries to figure out what happened at Tribal, Ep5 -
Interrogating Missy -
Picking new buffs -
The new Lairo tribe -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 RC -
With Jack, waiting to crawl -
Sigh, Vokai wins -
Connecting with Kellee -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 IC -
Landing Lairo's second basket -
Different tribemates, same result -
Heading to Tribal -
Lairo, Ep5 Tribal Council -
Listening to Janet -
Listening to Noura's plan to target Jamal, Ep6 -
Thanks but no thanks, Noura -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep6 RC -
Carrying Jack to the slingshot -
Watching Jack shoot -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep6 IC -
Getting ready to carry the cage -
About to make the winning shot -
Lairo wins immunity! -
Learning Janet has to go to Island of the Idols, Ep7 -
Lairo hands back the idol, pre-Ep7 IC -
Shooting coconuts -
Watching the puzzle stage -
Time to vote Karishma again, I guess -
Wait, what? -
About to get a free idol -
Lairo, Ep7 Tribal Council -
Playing Kellee's idol for himself -
Watching the votes come up... Dean, does not count -
About to merge, Ep8 -
New blue buffs, about to merge feast -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 IC -
Starting line -
Lumuwaku, Ep8 Tribal Council -
Listening to Kellee -
Listening to Jamal's Island of the Idols story, Ep9 -
Birthday gift! -
Is it real? It's a target on me, either way -
Seems legit -
Starting line, Ep9 IC -
Lumuwaku, Ep9 Tribal Council -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep10 IC -
Purple group, ready to start -
Spinning -
Let's vote out Aaron! -
Heading to Tribal -
Purple group, Ep10 Tribal Council -
Worried about the goat army assembling, Ep11 -
It's worked so well in the past, why stop now? -
Showing off the fake copy of the fake Legacy Advantage he hustled to make -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep11 IC -
Opting to eat, instead of compete -
Eating -
Lumuwaku, Ep11 Tribal Council -
Listening to Karishma -
The loved ones are here! Ep12 -
With his mom, Laurie -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep12 RC -
Starting line -
First pair to the sandbags -
Not picked for reward -
Listening to Noura's rant about not being picked -
Noura's rant was music to my ears -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep12 IC -
Starting line -
We don't need to worry if they have an idol, Noura -
Can Noura really stick to the plan? -
Immediately leaking the plan to Tommy -
Lumuwaku, Ep12 Tribal Council -
Spotting Janet and Tommy looking at a probable idol, Ep13 -
Information is power in this game -
Making a final three deal with Tommy and Dan -
Listening to the note requiring a "random draw" to attend Island of the Idols -
It me -
Excited to go to Island of the Idols -
Getting a free fish lunch from Rob and Sandra -
You guys, I have this Legacy Advantage, so I should try to get votes at F6 -
Winning the coin flip -
A free idol nullifier, good through the F5 vote -
Giving his post-Island report -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep13 IC -
Spinning off the starting line -
Working the puzzle -
Almost there... -
Dean wins immunity! -
Safe at Tribal Council tonight -
Heading to Tribal -
Lumuwaku, Ep13 Tribal Council -
Listening to Elaine -
Listening to Probst announce Dan being pulled from the game -
You're all moving to Island of the Idols! Ep14 -
Rob and Sandra are going to be so thrilled about how I played the idol nullifier! -
Rob and Sandra: We're outta here! Later! -
Checking out the mega-shelter -
Tommy really shouldn't have told me that idol clue -
Success -
Ready for F5 Tribal -
Pre-challenge lineup, F5 IC -
Off to a fast start -
Working the table maze -
Just placed the winning ball. Dean wins immunity and reward! -
Safe at Tribal tonight, as if you already weren't -
Reward feasting with Noura -
I've made a huge mistake -
Lumuwaku, F5 Tribal Council -
Listening to the soon-to-be-nullified Janet -
Pre-challenge lineup, F4 IC -
Stacking blocks -
Almost there... -
Noura slowly announces who's making fire -
Heading to Tribal -
Lumuwaku, F4 Tribal Council -
Starting line, F4 firemaking -
Almost there... -
Dean wins, and is going to the Final Three! -
Morning 39 breakfast -
Reflecting on his fourth-quarter surge -
But of course -
The final three, Final Tribal Council -
Pleading his case -
Final three, waiting for the vote reveal -
Watching the vote reveal -
Congratulating Tommy -
Listening to Tommy, reunion show -
(Almost) full cast, reunion show
Dean Kowalski - Interviews
S39:
Island of the Idols Pre-game interviews
- Josh Wigler at RHAP (9/11/19): "Survivor 39 Preseason Interviews: Lairo Tribe - Part 1"
- Mike Bloom at Parade.com (9/19/19): "Survivor Island of the Idols: Meet Dean Kowalski"
Post-game interviews
- Dalton Ross at EW.com (12/19/19): "Dean Kowalski reveals why he was doomed at final Tribal Council"
- Mike Bloom at Parade.com (12/19/19): "Dean Kowalski Goes from Chill to Thrilled to Getting Grilled"
- Rob Cesternino at RHAP (12/19/19): "Survivor 39 FINALE Exit Interviews with the Final 5 + Kellee Kim"
Dean Kowalski - Bio
S39:
Island of the Idols Official CBS Island of the Idols bio excerpts (September 9, 2019):
"Pet peeves: People honking in dead-stop traffic, people from the back pushing up a couple rows upon airplane landing, and roommates leaving dirty dishes in the sink for a prolonged period of time.
What accomplishment are you most proud of? Achieving the highest success rate of all Miami Algebra 1 teachers for students passing the end of year exam.
Who or what is your inspiration in life?Shirley Manzanares. Shirley was one of my 9th grade Algebra 1 students in my first year teaching. Shirley was an A+ student and the most respectful and loving soul. What you didn't see was her two jobs to help pay for prom, her caring for her two younger siblings while her mom worked at night, and her dedication to community service. Shirley will be the first in her family to attend college.
What's one thing we wouldn't know from seeing a photo of you? I have recently grown to appreciate astronomy, physics, and our place in the universe.
Which Survivor contestant are you most like? Wendell for his quiet leadership.
Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor? Self-awareness is one of the most important leadership characteristics. My social intelligence will allow me to read when to go big and when to fall back. I strongly believe in my ability to get along with and be liked by a variety of different people. This will allow me to build strong, diverse alliances. Additionally, my athletic and puzzle abilities will make me a threat within challenges. My experience working in sales will fuel my persuasion within my alliances."