Zack wins Paradise Hotel 2, shares money too

Paradise Hotel 2 Recap: Episode 2.17 – Season Finale

Airdate: 19 May 2008

Spoilers: Zack wins $200,000, shares with Stephanie and Tidisha

During the finale of Fox Reality Channel’s Paradise Hotel 2, the bad boy-turned-nice guy from the original 2003 Paradise Hotel — Zack Stewart — wins the prize and even shares some of the money with two of his friends.

Two couples were still in the competition for the final prize when the finale began — originals The Surfer (Ryan) and The Schemer (Tidisha) and the newbie couple, The Player (Zack) and The Partier (Stephanie).

On hand to pick the winning couple were the last seven most recently eliminated from Paradise — originals Mike and Krista (who think they should have been picked over Zack and Stephanie), originals James and Lauren as well as newbies Chris, Aaron and Myrna.

At the end of the last episode, pretty much everyone was at each other’s throats, many out to get revenge on the person who eliminated them. Tidisha and Stephanie, who are usually close, argued over one of Jame’s comments.

Now on the day of the final elimination ceremony, the two remaining pairs ate breakfast together, discussing that alcohol played a big part in their arguments the night before. Tidisha and Stephanie make up, though Stephanie tells Zack later that she still doesn’t think that she can trust her.

Receiving a note from the hotel insider McKenna (who always drops off notes to the guests), the final four learns that they will be questioned by the seven “judges” and then each give a short speech.

Meanwhile, the seven “judges,” enjoy breakfast together. Mike and Krista are unhappy that they weren’t given a moment after they were eliminated. They felt like they were basically pushed to “suck it up and deal with it.” The final four come over to tell all seven the news from the note and that they will soon be questioning the four.

As expected, the questioning gets heated as each judge is allowed to ask one finalist a question.

Myrna asks Zack if he meant it when he told her he didn’t want to befriend her because no one else liked her. Zack doesn’t deny it, but says he is sorry. There’s no love lost between these two.

Krista then asks Tidisha if she regrets the argument where Tidisha and Charte called Krista out after befriending Stephanie on her first night. Tidisha admits that she went overboard and apologizes for her behavior.

James asks Stephanie the most outrageous question of all: Did you sleep your way to the top? Stephanie smirks and admits that yes, she did have a short relationship with Ryan because they were attracted to each other. And then later, yes, she did hook up with Zack because they got along so well. But, no, she did not sleep her way to the top. It’s not like James wouldn’t have hooked up with Lauren if he had the chance.

Mike asks Tidisha if winning the game was really worth forcing Ryan to be in the position to vote off his best friend Tidisha says that it wasn’t personal, as she has said many times, but that they (Mike and Krista) were the power couple to beat. She and Ryan made the decision together the best they could, she said.

Lauren doesn’t really ask Tidisha a question, but instead tells Tidisha that voting a person off is personal. It was personal to her, and it was personal to Mike and Krista, she says. Krista jumps in and tells Tidisha to cut the “OG crap” when Tidisha says that she knew they were going to be unpopular when they cut out an original couple.

Now given the opportunity to make their final statements, Zack tells the seven that he appreciates that everyone took him in though he was an outsider and he appreciates the friendships that he has made, noting that he has kept his commitments to his allies. Stephanie tells the group that she doesn’t regret her time spent in Paradise and will walk off the plane a different person, telling each judge what she learned from each one of them (from Mike, for example, she enjoyed his sense of humor, from Lauren, the knowledge to say it like it is). Tidisha breaks down during her statement, saying she is who she is. She spoke her mind when she needed to and doesn’t want to feel guilty for being one of the final two couples (this is when she cries). Ryan uses his time to ask his two friends Mike and Krista for forgiveness, even going so far that he would rather have their friendship than their vote. Of course, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind having their vote too!

With host Amanda Byram leading the final elimination ceremony, the two couples await their fate from their judges, as Amanda asks each one to put the name of the couple they want to win on a piece of paper. After counting their votes, she announces that one couple won 4-3.

And the winnin couple are: Zack and Stephanie. Before anyone has any time to celebrate, Amanda announces the twist. Because you know there are always twists in Paradise.

She tells Ryan and Tidisha that at this very moment they must pick a winner — either Zack or Stephanie — and the winner will win the contents of the envelope that she is holding (this is the ultimate prize they are always talking about but never divulge on).

This is where I got it wrong. I figured they would pick Stephanie because Tidisha is close to her and Ryan did have a brief relationship with her. But everyone likes Zack.

At the moment of truth, Ryan whispers into Tidisha’s ear and they announce the winner: Zack.

Amanda gives Zack the envelope and tells him to see what’s inside. Zack is visibly shaken when he announces he has just won $200,000.

“It’s very surreal… I don’t even know what that amount is,” Zack tells everyone, and notes that he wouldn’t even have a prize if it wasn’t for his roommate.

For the last twist, Amanda announces that Zack needs to take a closer look at the envelope — because there are three checks. One is blank and made out to him. There are two other blank checks. Zack can choose to put $200,000 on his check and walk away. Or he can give any amount to one or two other people of his choice — anyone — the other final three or one of the seven judges.

Given a few minutes to step away, Zack is allowed private time to make his decision.

Coming back, Amanda asks Zack one question: “To share or not share, that is indeed the question?”

Zack announces that he will share the money with two people. He first gives Tidisha a check for $20,000 and tells her that he could not have made it in Paradise without her.

Then he announces that he is giving his roommate Stephanie $90,000, approximately half of the $180,000 that he had left.

Both Tidisha and Stephanie are overwhelmed. After thanking Zack, Tidisha tells everyone that she came into the show with trust issues and will now walk away knowing that she can trust people again. Stephanie says gratefully that Zack “swept her off her feet” but she didn’t expect him to take care of both of them.

Zack tells her, “My dad always said giving was better than receiving and it feels better to give than receive to me.”

I was especially glad to see that the seven judges seemed pretty happy (especially Mike) with Zack’s decisions to share. I think that showed many of them that Zack really did have character.

At this point, Amanda announces happily to the Paradise Hotel 2 group that there are no more twists or turns in Paradise, just time to celebrate.

As a big fan of Paradise Hotel 1, I will have to say that I was amazed with the Zack’s transformation. He literally grew up and matured so much from what he was on the first season (which premiered in 2003 on Fox). I absolutely despised Zack on the first Paradise Hotel. Such a turnaround! This guy actually shared money he won with people!

At the end of the first Paradise Hotel, Charla Pihlstrom and Keith Cuda won, with Dave Kerpen and Tara Gerarad finishing as runners-up. In the finale, Charla and Keith won $250,000, but had the choice to split it with their partners. Keith shared his with Tara, but Charla surprised everyone by keeping the money for herself, leaving Dave with nothing.

Note: Fox Reality Channel will show repeats of the last two episodes “The Ultimate Power” and “Season Finale” this weekend, May 24-26 and will start showing a “Reunion” episode on May 26. All of the guests will reunion for the first time, while host Amanda asks revealing questions including a special version of Pandora’s Box.’

©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co.