‘Survivor’ Recap: Wellesley College Grad RC Debuts as a Conniver

It took about 25 minutes of the premier episode of “Survivor: Philippines” for Wellesley College alumna Roberta “RC” Saint-Amour to appear, but when she did the episode picked up some much-needed steam.

RC forged a quick friendship with Brazilian business student Abi-Maria Gomes, and the two immediately recruited an alliance.

“I’m definitely an all or nothing type girl,” RC, 27, said in her on-camera interview. “I know you’re not supposed to trust anybody in this game, but you have to trust someone at a certain time.”

RC and Abi-Maria recruited former "Survivor" contestant Michael Skupin and Pete Yurkowski, who the girls feel is more brawn than brains.

In a curious move, RC, now an investment banker living in New York, tells her teammates she’s an executive assistant.

“I don’t want people to know I’m a banker,” she said to the camera. “I think there’s such a negative connotation about bankers and Wall Street.”

She also says her investment banking background is her chief strength.

“You have to have a killer instinct,” she said. "If I can handle Wall Street I can certainly handle 'Survivor.' "

RC, a former hoop-rolling champion at Wellesley College, made what looked like an attempt to bond with Lisa Whelchel, who played “Blair Warner” on “Facts of Life.” Though earlier in the episode, RC revealed her true opinion on the former child star.

“I don’t trust the old lady,” she said.

With former cast member Mike consistently hurting himself, will RC emerge as Tandang’s new leader, or will the tribe grow tired of her cunning ways?

“Survivor: Phillipines” is Thursdays at 8 p.m. on CBS.