Aras Baskauskas
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Born: September 26, 1981
Hometown: Santa Monica, California Occupation: Yoga Instructor; Musician Seasons: Panama; Blood vs. Water Placing: Winner (Panama); Eleventh (Blood vs. Water) Tribes: Viveros; Casaya (v2); Gitanos; Galang; Tadhana (v2); Kasama Total Challenge Wins: 16
Days Lasted: 64 Votes Against: 16 Awards: Strategy With A Smile (Panama); Best Strategic Move (Panama); Worst Strategic Move (Panama); Bamboozled (Panama) |
Survivor: Panama
Originally part of the younger male Viveros tribe, Aras and the rest of the tribe struggled early on, as the group of younger men were unable to set up camp, nor make fire. Their goofing off and foolishness almost carried over at the first Immunity Challenge, narrowly beating the older women Casaya tribe, finishing third place and avoiding Tribal Council.
On Day 4, Aras became a member of the new Casaya tribe and formed an early alliance with Shane Powers, Courtney Marit, and Danielle DiLorenzo. But the alliance was threatened with implosion when Shane wanted to quit the game, having smoked three packets of cigarettes a day prior to Survivor. But Aras convinced him not to quit, and the alliance regrouped and voted out Melinda Hyder, one of the two older women of the tribe. The dysfunctional Casaya tribe would then win two consecutive Immunity Challenges.
Aras led the charge to vote out Bruce Kanegai due to their clashing points of view, but Courtney, Danielle, and Cirie Fields felt that Bobby Mason was much more of a threat than Bruce, and they voted Bobby out. When the tribes merged in in Day 15, the ex-Casaya tribe members, Aras, Shane, Bruce, Cirie, Courtney, and Danielle had the power in numbers against the four ex-La Mina tribe members. Due to Terry Deitz, the largest target, winning immunity, the alliance voted out Nick Stanbury, Austin Carty and Sally Schumann in three straight Tribal Councils.
On Day 25, Bruce was evacuated out of the game due to constipation, causing him immense pain. When Terry continued to win individual immunity, the alliance was forced to turn on themselves at the final six. Shane, together with Cirie and Aras, targeted Danielle, but Courtney, together with Terry, Danielle, and Cirie wanted to vote out Aras. Not happy with any of these options, Cirie brewed a plan of her own, and together with Aras and Danielle, voted out Courtney, whom Cirie believed was aligned with Shane.
Terry continued his immunity winning streak and once again the alliance was forced to take out one of their own. Shane, believing he was safe, targeted Danielle. But once again, Cirie had her own plans, and together with Aras and Danielle, they voted out Shane, who had aligned with Terry. At the final four, the long-standing rivalry between Terry and Aras was once again raised when Aras won a reward, much to Terry's dismay. When given the choice of picking someone to go on the reward with him to cross the Panama Canal, he decided to pick Cirie, which in turn sent both Terry and Danielle to Exile Island. When sent to Exile Island, Terry and Danielle formed an alliance against Aras and Cirie with plans of ousting Aras.
However, Aras managed to win immunity, making him safe. Terry, due to the widely-known fact that he possessed the Hidden Immunity Idol, was also safe. This created a 2-2 tie between Danielle and Cirie, who competed in a fire-building challenge to determine their fate. Shown over two episodes, Danielle won the challenge, and Aras's ally Cirie was eliminated. With Terry's idol now useless, it was now fair game between the final three, Aras, Danielle, and Terry.
The final immunity was the first to be predeceased by a "prepare for the Immunity Challenge" reward for the Reward Challenge winner. The Immunity Challenge was not one that the winner of the Reward Challenge would profit from. At the Final Immunity Challenge, Danielle out-balanced the two guys to win immunity, giving her the power to choose her opponent in the final two. Danielle eventually chose to eliminate Terry, making him the final member of the jury and propelling Aras into the final two. The challenge ended the perceived battle between both Terry and Aras.
On Day 39, while he and Danielle had glasses of champagne, Aras slipped on a wet rock and fell, sending shards of glass into his hand and back. His wounds required seven stitches by the medical crew.
In the end, despite the injury, Aras beat out Danielle DiLorenzo to become the Sole Survivor in a 5-2 vote, gaining the votes of Austin, Sally, Courtney, Cirie, and Terry.
On Day 4, Aras became a member of the new Casaya tribe and formed an early alliance with Shane Powers, Courtney Marit, and Danielle DiLorenzo. But the alliance was threatened with implosion when Shane wanted to quit the game, having smoked three packets of cigarettes a day prior to Survivor. But Aras convinced him not to quit, and the alliance regrouped and voted out Melinda Hyder, one of the two older women of the tribe. The dysfunctional Casaya tribe would then win two consecutive Immunity Challenges.
Aras led the charge to vote out Bruce Kanegai due to their clashing points of view, but Courtney, Danielle, and Cirie Fields felt that Bobby Mason was much more of a threat than Bruce, and they voted Bobby out. When the tribes merged in in Day 15, the ex-Casaya tribe members, Aras, Shane, Bruce, Cirie, Courtney, and Danielle had the power in numbers against the four ex-La Mina tribe members. Due to Terry Deitz, the largest target, winning immunity, the alliance voted out Nick Stanbury, Austin Carty and Sally Schumann in three straight Tribal Councils.
On Day 25, Bruce was evacuated out of the game due to constipation, causing him immense pain. When Terry continued to win individual immunity, the alliance was forced to turn on themselves at the final six. Shane, together with Cirie and Aras, targeted Danielle, but Courtney, together with Terry, Danielle, and Cirie wanted to vote out Aras. Not happy with any of these options, Cirie brewed a plan of her own, and together with Aras and Danielle, voted out Courtney, whom Cirie believed was aligned with Shane.
Terry continued his immunity winning streak and once again the alliance was forced to take out one of their own. Shane, believing he was safe, targeted Danielle. But once again, Cirie had her own plans, and together with Aras and Danielle, they voted out Shane, who had aligned with Terry. At the final four, the long-standing rivalry between Terry and Aras was once again raised when Aras won a reward, much to Terry's dismay. When given the choice of picking someone to go on the reward with him to cross the Panama Canal, he decided to pick Cirie, which in turn sent both Terry and Danielle to Exile Island. When sent to Exile Island, Terry and Danielle formed an alliance against Aras and Cirie with plans of ousting Aras.
However, Aras managed to win immunity, making him safe. Terry, due to the widely-known fact that he possessed the Hidden Immunity Idol, was also safe. This created a 2-2 tie between Danielle and Cirie, who competed in a fire-building challenge to determine their fate. Shown over two episodes, Danielle won the challenge, and Aras's ally Cirie was eliminated. With Terry's idol now useless, it was now fair game between the final three, Aras, Danielle, and Terry.
The final immunity was the first to be predeceased by a "prepare for the Immunity Challenge" reward for the Reward Challenge winner. The Immunity Challenge was not one that the winner of the Reward Challenge would profit from. At the Final Immunity Challenge, Danielle out-balanced the two guys to win immunity, giving her the power to choose her opponent in the final two. Danielle eventually chose to eliminate Terry, making him the final member of the jury and propelling Aras into the final two. The challenge ended the perceived battle between both Terry and Aras.
On Day 39, while he and Danielle had glasses of champagne, Aras slipped on a wet rock and fell, sending shards of glass into his hand and back. His wounds required seven stitches by the medical crew.
In the end, despite the injury, Aras beat out Danielle DiLorenzo to become the Sole Survivor in a 5-2 vote, gaining the votes of Austin, Sally, Courtney, Cirie, and Terry.
Voting History
Episode |
Aras Voted For |
Voted For Aras |
2 |
Melinda Hyder |
--- |
5 |
Bruce Kanegai |
|
8 |
Nick Stanbury |
--- |
9 |
Austin Carty |
Austin Carty, Sally Schumann, Terry Deitz |
10 |
Sally Schumann |
Sally Schumann, Terry Deitz |
12 |
Courtney Marit |
Courtney Marit, Terry Deitz |
13 |
||
14 |
Individual Immunity |
|
14 |
--- |
Survivor: Blood vs. Water
Aras started on Galang. At the First Impressions, he voted for Gervase Peterson, but Candice Cody was sent to Redemption Island instead. Then his tribemate Rupert Boneham decided to go to Redemption Island in place of his wife Laura Boneham so Laura joined Aras's tribe. Galang dominated in Immunity Challenges. On Day 5, he formed the Galang Alliance and recruited Gervase, Tyson Apostol, Monica Culpepper and Tina Wesson. When Galang finally lost immunity, it appeared Laura B would be the target for being the outsider, but Aras suggested that they target Laura Morett because she could beat and eliminate Brad Culpepper at the next Redemption Island duel which would keep Monica on their side. Aras successfully turned the vote on Laura so she was blindsided. Returning from Tribal Council, Tyson an Gervase talked about targeting Aras.
Aras along with Tyson, and Gervase were switched to Tadhana after the Tribe Switch, and joined fellow Tadhana members Ciera Eastin, Hayden Moss, and Caleb Bankston. Tadhana won the next Immunity Challenge. The next day, Tyson rallied the rest of the tribe against Aras. However, Aras was spared when Tadhana won immunity again.
Aras reached the merge, He was reunited with his brother Vytas Baskauskas, and both Vytas and Katie Collins joined his alliance. He talked to his alliance about targeting Laura or Ciera. After the Immunity Challenge, Aras suggested they split their votes between Laura and Ciera in case a Hidden Immunity Idol was in play. Tina, Katie, and Vytas were on his side, but Tyson successfully turned everyone else on Aras. At Tribal Council, Aras was blindsided in a 7-2-2 vote with Aras and Vytas voting for Laura, and Tina and Katie voting for Ciera. He was sent to Redemption Island. Vytas was sent to Redemption Island next, so Aras was reunited with his brother again. Aras lost the duel to Vytas and Tina, so he was eliminated from the game in 11th place, and he became the first member of the Jury.
At the Final Tribal Council, Aras asked the Final Three about whom they felt he should vote for if not themselves. Aras contributed to Tyson's 7-1-0 victory by voting for him to win.
Aras along with Tyson, and Gervase were switched to Tadhana after the Tribe Switch, and joined fellow Tadhana members Ciera Eastin, Hayden Moss, and Caleb Bankston. Tadhana won the next Immunity Challenge. The next day, Tyson rallied the rest of the tribe against Aras. However, Aras was spared when Tadhana won immunity again.
Aras reached the merge, He was reunited with his brother Vytas Baskauskas, and both Vytas and Katie Collins joined his alliance. He talked to his alliance about targeting Laura or Ciera. After the Immunity Challenge, Aras suggested they split their votes between Laura and Ciera in case a Hidden Immunity Idol was in play. Tina, Katie, and Vytas were on his side, but Tyson successfully turned everyone else on Aras. At Tribal Council, Aras was blindsided in a 7-2-2 vote with Aras and Vytas voting for Laura, and Tina and Katie voting for Ciera. He was sent to Redemption Island. Vytas was sent to Redemption Island next, so Aras was reunited with his brother again. Aras lost the duel to Vytas and Tina, so he was eliminated from the game in 11th place, and he became the first member of the Jury.
At the Final Tribal Council, Aras asked the Final Three about whom they felt he should vote for if not themselves. Aras contributed to Tyson's 7-1-0 victory by voting for him to win.
Voting History
Episode |
Aras Voted For |
Voted For Aras |
1 |
--- |
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5 |
--- |
|
8 |
Caleb Bankston, Ciera Eastin, Gervase Peterson, Hayden Moss, Laura Morett, Monica Culpepper, Tyson Apostol |
|
14 |
--- |
Trivia
- Aras is half-Lithuanian. His last name is pronounced: "Bush-kows-kass".
- Aras is the first winner with a dual citizenship: Lithuanian and American.
- Aras and Vytas Baskauskas' maternal grandfather was late actor Macdonald Carey.
- Aras was the youngest contestant of Panama.
- In the final four of Panama, the remaining four players represented the original tribe that they were on. Aras represented Viveros.
- Aras' injury on Day 39 marks the first time someone has been injured on the final day of the competition.
- Aras holds the record for most elimination votes that counted against a Sole Survivor with 9 over the course of Panama. Ben Driebergen received 11 over the course of Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, but negated the majority of those votes with Hidden Immunity Idols.
- According to her profile for Heroes vs. Villains, Cirie Fields listed Aras as the past Survivor castaway that she respects the most.
- Aras lost 17 lbs. (7 kg) during his time in Blood vs. Water.
- Aras' first choice to play with him in Blood vs. Water was his girlfriend Christy, but production took more interest in Vytas.