Tom Buchanan - Survivor: Africa, Survivor: All-Stars

Seasons: 2 | Days played: 73 | Wins: 0 | Jury: 2

  • Survivor 3: Africa (2001) - 4th place, 13th out - 6th juror.
  • Voted out in Episode 13, "The Final Four - No Regrets" (Day 37).

  • Survivor 8: All-Stars (2004) - 5th place, 14th out - 5th juror.
  • Voted out in Episode 14, "The Instigator" (Day 36).

Tom Buchanan on social media: twitter

Tom Buchanan - Career statistics

Challenge stats Tribal council stats Jury stats Overall stats
Season ChW ChA ChW% VFB VAP TCA TC% wTCR JVF TotJ JV% SurvSc SurvAv
S3: Africa 1.67 12.31 0.14 7 7 10 0.69 1.78 - - - 0.83 3.45
S8: All-Stars 2.24 9.81 0.23 5 4 6 0.82 2.92 - - - 1.05 5.16
Career 3.91 22.12 0.18 12 11 16 0.74 2.21 - - - 0.94 4.16

 

Tom Buchanan - Performance ranks

Challenges: MPF percentile

45%

Tribal: VFB% percentile

72%

Tribal: rVAP percentile

71%

Challenges: MPF percentile

50%

Tribal: VFB% percentile

84%

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.

 

Tom Buchanan - Challenge record

Distress Signal - Ep3 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

Individual challenge record (1-for-10): (Mean % finish: 54.5%)

  • 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)

  • Africa: None.

Quest for Fire - Ep1 RC/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.
  •  

    Individual challenge record (1-for-7): (Mean % Finish: 56.3%)

    • 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).

     

    Hero challenge/ duel record (0-for-0):

    • All-Stars: None.
Career totals - challenges
Team/tribal challenges
Wins: 10
2nd place: --
Played: 26
Win%: 0.39
Sat out: 5
Individual challenges
Wins: 2
Played: 17
Win%: 0.12
Mean% Finish: 55.2%
Hero challenges
Wins: 0
Played: 0
Win%: --
Mean% Finish: --

 

Tom Buchanan - Tribal Council record

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).

Idols held/played: (0/0)

  • All-Stars: None.

 

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

 

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 totals - Tribal Council
Hidden idols
Found: 0
Played: --
Votes voided: --
Voting record
VFB: 12
Tribals: 11
VAP: 16
Jury votes
Made: 2
For winners: 2
Received: --

 

Tom Buchanan - Pictures
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Africa intro shot
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    Africa intro shot
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    On the truck with Probst, Day 1
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    On the truck, head shot
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    Hometown intro shot
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    Freshly dumped off the truck. Have a nice day!
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    Boran gathers stuff
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    Double-checking the map
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    Talking about the hike
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    Trying to make fire
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep1 RC/IC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Starting line
  • Still leading? (No)

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    Relaxing with Diane
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Boran yells at Clarence
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Boran, Ep1 Tribal Council
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Talking about Clarence
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Watching the vote reveal
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Placing a pole
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 IC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Here comes the cow
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    That's... graphic
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Watching Kelly lose the tiebreaker
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Boran, back at Tribal Council again, Ep2
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Talking about Clarence again
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Checking treemail with Clarence
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    Reading the Ep3 RC treemail
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 RC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Listening to Probst
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    Rolling stones
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    On a roll to victory
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Boran finally wins one!
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    Enjoying some water
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    Talking about Boran's distress signal, Ep3 IC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Nothing says distress quite like this
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Boran wins! Ep3 IC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Cheers
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    Talking about food, early Ep4
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    Trying and failing to climb a tree
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 RC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Starting line
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    Battling Brandon
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    Watching Boran lose another one
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 IC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Listening to Probst
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Starting line
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Boran hauls a house
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Put 'er there
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Boran wins immunity!
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    Victory hike to some big rock
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    Victim of the first-ever tribe swap, Ep5
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Answering fairly easy questions about Africa, Ep6 RC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Samburu wins!
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep6 IC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Freshly merged, pre-challenge lineup, Ep7 IC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Ep7 IC, now underway
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    Time to find an item, Ep8 IC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Final round, Ep8 IC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Failing to start a fire, Ep9 IC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Ready to eat *all* the ham, Ep10 auction
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Trying to match answers with loved ones, Ep11 RC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Smashing things with clubs, Ep11 IC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Trying to catch up to Lex, Ep12 IC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Not winning, Final 4 IC
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    All-Stars intro shot
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    All-Stars intro shot
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    Soggy arrival
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    Bonus hometown intro shot
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    Chapera arrives in camp
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    We have nothing!
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    Trying to start a fire
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Already suspicious of Boston Rob and Amber
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep1 RC/IC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Listening to Probst
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Starting line
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    Hauling the raft
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    Chapera hits the beach
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Almost there...
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    Pulling the raft through the crawl
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    Final steps
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Chapera wins immunity!
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Accepting the idol
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Have you ever seen the rain?
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Talking about Chapera's mysterious treasure chest
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Sitting this one out
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Working on fire again, now with flint
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 IC
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Trying to flip Chapera's boat
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Paddling
  • Tom Buchanan S3
    Chapera wins immunity again!

 

Tom Buchanan - Interviews

Pre-game interviews

 

Post-game interviews

  • Larry Edens at Appalachian Voices (3/1/02): "From Appalachia to Africa, Big Tom Emerges a Survivor"

Pre-game interviews

    None?

 

Post-game interviews

  • Rome Neal at CBSNews.com (5/6/04): "BigTom Takes the Fall"
  • Angel Cohn at TVGuide.com (5/13/04): "Survivor's Big Tom Bites Back"
  • Rob Cesternino at RHAP (8/5/13): "Lex and Big Tom LIVE to talk Tom's new show Family Beef"

 

Thanks to Muneeb Khan (@MUK734) for his help in compiling this list.

 

Tom Buchanan - Bios

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."

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. "