Interesting that no one attempted to check the obvious place for the immunity idol - that pretty little topper for their rice bin. Nice to see the return of the strip the boat challenge and the 100 meter raft with chicken challenge.
Returning players? I gotta say, there has to be a test at the door of Survivor - are you stupid enough not to pay attention during your intensive three day survival course that identifies safe and dangerous plants, as well as dangerous animals, wound care and fire making? YOU'RE IN! All those who take notes during the course are relegated immediately to ‘alternate’ position.
As for the returning players themselves - Russel, hope you didn't have any plans for a million dollars, as it's not happening. Penner, always glad to hear my favorite Alan Alda sound alike, but at one point, you might want to stop being a fan of the game and become a player. Skupin? Seriously, please work on hand eye coordination, you're ruining the whole myth of inhaling the smoke and ‘passing out’ into the flames.
Loads of schemers, few ‘good’ folks to cheer on. Baseball player who could pay for his own Survivor game to play? Yeah, I'd be more interested in a AA player hungry for recognition. Blair? Oh, yeah, typical sob story, blew all the money, lived life of ‘poverty’ that apparently affords some pretty nifty makeover budget.
Myself, ones I'm thinking to ‘watch’ are Denise who seems very settled on the mind game, future Octomom Abi-Maria, and Malcolm. Ones to cheer on are Dana and Roxie.
And I've high hopes for spectacular crashes by Artis, RC and Skupin. I'd give even odds that Skupin will have to resort to adding in some toes to count to ten by the end of this season. Artis just strikes me as the wig out type, and RC - the oh so intelligent investment banker who'll make bets she can't cover with other people's money.
Scenery? A+ Great location. Casting? C- - low marks for digging into retreads and ‘celebrities’, with a little redemption for picking a few interesting people before falling back to the beach calendar mentality. First challenge? A+... Err, right, not counting the boat as a challenge, a B- - I know it's easier on the production crew to break up the tribe and focus just on a couple people with follow up reaction shots, but the best first challenges are all out team efforts, not relays.
And finally, the host. We got it, Jeff, you're bored. Go ahead, stay with your daytime show, and bring in Colby to handle it for you. You know he'd be on the plane in minutes, and heck, these remote locations would work out just fine for Top Shot too - they could use the same set building crew and give some real interest to loser camp.
Finally, for Zane - really? Have you EVER watched this show? I mean, EVER? First, the strategy of an ‘alliance’ with everyone rarely works out past the first tribal. Second, bragging about it just paints a massive target on your back, and finally - there's a time to shut up. When you're babbling so much that you're talking about how people are onions that’ll make you cry? You can't really expect BUT to get voted off at that point.
No one could trust you, especially to keep a secret, but moreso, you went out of your way to ensure that everyone had a reason to vote you out - you made an alliance with them, all of them, and in doing so, betrayed all of them. Worse, you're kinda likable, which means you'll get votes if you make it to the end. To the loser village with you, your fool outfit awaits.
Agree
6 person teams allow the cool kids to set up a majority alliance too fast. Yeah, it’s only 4 on a six person team vs 5 on a 9 person team but that number 5 can quickly see they are only 5.
Zane? Way too deep for the team I guess /s. He might have had a chance if when alone with the others he’d have said it was all an act to target Russell if he had the II and that was who they should vote for - but no “Vote me!”.
At least the youngsters showed signs of intelligence last night when they voted out Zane instead of Russell. Speaking of Russell, he needs to take a chill pill or he’s next.
Three words - Bless their hearts.
Zane, Zane, Zane... I just quit smoking and can’t run. I lost the challenge for the team. I just don’t do physical. And I have already made alliances with her and him and that guy over there and even the chicken and the camera guy!!! He not only threw himself under the bus but threw it in reverse about 6 times to get run over again and again. That ranks right up there with whatshisname giving the II to someone else. Still, good for some laughes.
Russell, Russell, Russell... I don’t want to be leader. Someone else can step up to the dictator plate. Now, every listen to MEEEEE! Yes, even you camera guy and hey, you chicken you better do as I say! The only thing that saved his hide was he doesn’t pass out at the least bit of exertion. Crikey, the II is RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE!
Lisa, Lisa, Lisa... I had high hopes for you but you’re going to blow it if you don’t get in with the perky booby click. Poor accident prone Mike has tried to tell you this so start listening before they send you packing.
Mike, Mike, Mike... Stay away from fires, sharp instruments, sand, sticks, air, etc. Please, keep trying to save Lisa from the chopping block.
Jeff, Jeff, Jeff... has there ever been a contestant who injured themselves before making it to camp? I called it he wouldn’t make jury but didn’t know he’d be limping down the walk of shame so early.