Challenges: MPF percentile
30%
Seasons: 1 | Days played: 30 | Wins: 0 | Jury: 1
- Survivor 19: Samoa (2009) - 9th place, 12th out - 4th juror.
- Voted out in Episode 11, "Off With Their Heads!" (Day 30).
| Challenge stats | Tribal council stats | Jury stats | Overall stats | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | ChW | ChA | ChW% | VFB | VAP | TCA | TC% | wTCR | JVF | TotJ | JV% | SurvSc | SurvAv |
| S19: Samoa | 1.94 | 5.80 | 0.34 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 0.37 | 1.02 | - | - | - | 0.71 | 2.96 |
| Career | 1.94 | 5.80 | 0.34 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 0.37 | 1.02 | - | - | - | 0.71 | 2.96 |
John Fincher - Performance ranks
Tribal: VFB% percentile
33%
Tribal: rVAP percentile
32%
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.
John Fincher - Challenge record
S19: Samoa 
Tribal/team challenge record (6-for-10; 2 sit-outs):
- Samoa Ep.1 IC: "Yank Your Hank" - Crosses obstacles, hauls the crate; Galu wins.
- Samoa Ep.2 RC/IC: "Schmergen Brawl" - Scores Galu's first point; Galu wins.
- Samoa Ep.3 RC/IC: "Sea Crates" - With Dave, gathers crates; Galu wins again.
- Samoa Ep.4 IC: "Well Stacked" - Helps gather and stack blocks, but Galu loses.
- Samoa Ep. 5 RC: "Samoa Smoothies" - Sits out, as Galu wins again.
- Samoa Ep. 5 IC: "Sack Attack" - Shoots coconuts into Foa Foa's nets, Galu wins.
- [Samoa Ep. 6 RC: "Roll With It" - Russ Swan collapses, is medically evacuated. Challenge not counted.]
- Samoa Ep.7 RC: "Brain Food" - Makes two matches, and Galu wins, 7-4.
- Samoa Ep.7 IC: "Canoe Dueling" - Sits out, as Galu wins again.
- Samoa Ep. 9 RC: "Coconut Code" - Retrieves and arranges the poles; purple team wins.
- Samoa Ep. 10 RC: "Get Hooked" - Rides the platform, grabs flags for the losing team.
Individual challenge record (1-for-4): (Mean % finish: 50.5%)
- Samoa Ep. 8 IC: "Nut Cracker" - Takes the final swing, and John wins! (1st/7).
- Samoa Ep. 9 IC: "Square Peg Round Hole" - Retrieves no bags, does not advance (tie-8th/11).
- Samoa Ep. 10 IC: "Spear Me the Details" - Eliminated in the first round (tie-5th/10).
- Samoa Ep. 11 IC: "Drop a Log" - Fourth to drop out, on final knot (6th/9).
Hero challenge/ duel record (0-for-1): (Mean % finish: 50%)
- Samoa Ep.1 RC: "Chief's Choice" - Trails Jaison in the opening swim leg; Galu loses.
- [Samoa Ep.4 RC: "Bocce in a Box" - Does not participate; Galu wins.]
Career totals - challenges
| Wins: | 6 |
| Played: | 10 |
| Win%: | 0.60 |
| Sat out: | 2 |
| Wins: | 1 |
| Played: | 4 |
| Win%: | 0.25 |
| Mean% Finish: | 50.5% |
| Wins: | 0 |
| Played: | 1 |
| Win%: | 0.00 |
| Mean% Finish: | 50% |
John Fincher - Tribal Council record
S19: Samoa 
Idols held/played (0/0):
- Samoa: None.
VFB - Votes for the person booted (2/5):
| Tribal | Voted | Boot (totals) | VFB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep4 | Yasmin | Yasmin Giles (voted out, 8-2) | Yes |
| Ep8 | Erik | Erik Cardona (voted out, 10-2) | Yes |
| Ep9 | Hantz | Kelly Sharbaugh (idoled out, [0]-4) | - |
| Ep10 | Natalie | Laura Morett (voted out, 5-5; 5-3) | - |
| Ep11 | Mick | John Fincher (voted out, 7-1-1) | - |
| 5 | TOTALS | 2 | |
VAP - Votes against (7):
- Samoa, Ep. 11: Seven votes, from Brett, Dave, Jaison, Mick, Monica, Natalie, and Russell (voted out, 7-1-1).
Jury votes made (0/1):
- Samoa, Ep. 14: Voted for Russell Hantz, who finished second, 7-2-0.
Career totals - Tribal Council
| Advantages held/played: | 0/0 |
| Idols found: | 0 |
| Idols played: | - |
| Votes voided: | - |
| VFB: | 2 |
| Tribals: | 5 |
| VAP: | 7 |
| Made: | 1 |
| For winners: | 0 |
| Received: | - |
John Fincher - Pictures
S19: Samoa -
Samoa intro shot -
Samoa intro shot -
Paddling in, Day 1 -
Galu, finally arrived -
Starting line, Ep1 RC hero challenge -
Trailing Jaison -
The losing Galus -
Talking about putting his engineering background to use in shelter design -
Talking about the shelter -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep1 IC -
Starting line -
Hauling the crate -
Watching Galu complete the puzzle -
Galu wins! -
Watching the starting line, Ep2 RC/IC -
Waiting for a rebound -
Galu wins! -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 RC/IC -
Starting line -
Bringing in a crate, with Dave -
Getting started on the puzzle -
Galu wins! -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 IC -
Building the stack -
The losing Galus? -
Galu, Ep4 Tribal Council -
Listening to Shambo -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 RC -
Watching from the sit-out bench -
Galu wins reward! -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 IC -
Shooting coconuts -
Galu wins. Yay? -
Huddling for warmth, Ep6 -
Talking about Russ Swan doing extra work as chief -
A rainbow! Things are looking up for Galu -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep6 RC -
Trying to grab a Russ on autopilot -
Probst halts the challenge as Russ passes out -
Reacting to Russ's medevac -
Galu AND Foa Foa, Ep6 Tribal Council -
Probst: There will be no vote tonight -
Galu elects a new chief, Ep7 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep7 RC -
Brett elects to keep the tarp/ fire kit -
The winning Galus -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep7 IC -
Watching the puzzle stage -
Galu wins! -
It's the merge! Ep8 -
Merge feasting -
Hooray, new flag -
Checking out Russell's idol -
Contemplating a more cutthroat post-merge game -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 IC -
The men, waiting to bat -
Taking a swing -
John wins immunity! So does Laura! -
Plotting to take out Monica, with Erik -
Going over the plan -
Heading to Tribal -
Aiga, Ep8 Tribal Council -
Listening to Probst -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep9 RC -
Purple team, ready to go -
Working the puzzle -
Purple team wins! -
Enjoying the sliding rocks reward -
Jumping in -
Reward feasting -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep9 IC -
Starting line, first round -
Watching the final round -
Galu insists on piling votes on Russell -
Aiga, Ep9 Tribal Council -
Listening to Russell -
Shambo says she's done with Galu, Ep10 -
Maybe I am too? -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep10 RC -
Riding the platform, grabbing flags -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep10 IC -
Yay, throwing rocks for immunity -
Learning about Monica's scheme to dump votes on John, to save Laura -
Hatching a counter-plan with Russell -
Aiga, Ep10 Tribal Council -
Listening to Shambo -
I wasn't gonna draw rocks for Laura! Ep11 -
Auction time! -
Pre-auction sit-down -
Jaison checks out his IC advantage -
Purchasing an idol clue for a low, low $200 -
I'm not gonna pass up an idol clue! -
Nah, I'll keep the pie for myself, Probst -
Reading his expensive but bogus clue -
Hmm, there is no idol here -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep11 IC -
Still going, 20 minutes in -
Still plotting with Russell -
Aiga, Ep11 Tribal Council -
Listening to Shambo -
A second vote for John? -
Tenth person voted out, and our fourth juror... -
About to be snuffed, Episode 11 (Day 30)
John Fincher - Interviews
S19:
Samoa Pre-game interviews
- Andy Dehnart at RealityBlurred (9/15/09): "John Fincher: 'Some may see right through all the bullshit and think I'm a really smart dude'"
- CBS "Meet the cast" video (YouTube)
Post-game interviews
- Amy Kaufman at LATimes.com (12/4/09): "John Fincher talks about his game-changing blunder"
- Gordon Holmes at MoreWhatnot.com (12/6/09): "Castaway Interview - John Fincher"
- Rob Cesternino at RHAP (10/17/13): "John Fincher on why Laura M. rubs him the wrong way"
John Fincher - Bio
S19:
Samoa Official CBS.com Survivor: Samoa bio page excerpts (8/27/09):
"John Fincher claims “winning” is his favorite hobby, and because of that he should have no problem playing the game of Survivor. Being a rocket scientist probably will not hurt his chances either. This charmingly cocky genius believes he possesses the analytical skills necessary to take him far in the game while helping him create a mastermind strategy. In addition to brains, he is a former semi-pro soccer player, who is also going to pose a physical threat in the game.
Fincher says that he is at his best during high pressure situations and times of complete chaos. He finds idiots or “unskilled” people amusing, and has no problem telling them to their face. John has traveled extensively in South America, Europe, South Africa, and Canada, and he plans to use his experience of dealing with people from diverse backgrounds to his best advantage.
John is no stranger to creating conflict and thinks it could work to his advantage in the game. Although, John also believes his good looks and charm will help even out his aggressive personality, especially with the ladies. He also will not apologize living a privileged life and claims that he will party his way around the world with his winnings.
John resides in Santa Monica, Calif. His birth date is August 16th."