The Towering Inferno

With High Drama And Operatic Emotion, Tom Wins 'Survivor: Palau'

(CBS)  After the usual "we-can't-believe-we're-the-final-two" scene, Tom and Katie made a bonfire (for which the Koror picnic table provided the primary fuel) and headed off to face the jury. This part of the game turned into the Katie Roast, as it became clear that most of the people on the jury had taken note of Katie's lack of kindness and her lack of talent in winning any challenges for herself or contributing to the team victories.

Especially brutal were the statements by Caryn, who best articulated the general feeling that Katie had hitchhiked to the final two on the coattails of Tom and Ian, and that in the process she had revealed herself to be lazy and mean.

Katie basically clammed up on Caryn and also on Janu, explaining that she was sure she would not be able to win those votes, no matter what she said.

As it turned out, Katie didn't get any votes except for Coby's, and even he admitted that it was less a vote FOR Katie than it was meant as a vote AGAINST Tom.

On the reunion show, where Tom's victory was announced, some other news was revealed as well:

• Coby has adopted a baby girl and named her Janu.
  
  
• Gregg 'n' Jenn are Just Friends.
  
  
• Jeff and Kim (remember them?) are Just Friends.
  
  
• James, the self-described "redneck," is unemployed but has gained a new appreciation for his wife and kids.
  
  
• Stephenie is getting a lot of fan mail.
  
  
• Wanda wrote a new song (to the tune of "O Susanna!") which she obligingly performed, at the request of Jeff Probst.

Tom was presented with his million-dollar check Monday on The Early Show.

As for his plans for the money, they fit in pretty well with what we know of the latest "Survivor" winner: He'll use it to put his three children through college and to fix up the home he shares with them and with wife Bernadette.