SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA - FANS VS. FAVORITES

Little Ol Me | 01/29/2008 | Cuz It Aint Their Money

[JillValentine]

Exciting episode! I can root for Tracy very easily. I felt for her when she was angry with Joel for calling her weak. I just can’t bring myself to root for her closest ally, Chet. Physically and mentally, he’s not in the game at all, and personality-wise, he’s embodying the worst stereotypes about gay people.

Not sorry to see Joel go, but I felt a little sorry for Erik. He’s naive, but seems like a good kid who just got put into a bad place. He looks like the odd man out now - unless Ami turns on her fellow Favorites and forms an alliance with Erik, Tracy, and Chet to counter the Ozzy/Amanda/Cirie trio. That could really save his bacon.

Joel and Erik groaning when they realized they were still on the same tribe as Chet - soo funny! Although I would have groaned too.

[JillValentine]

Ozzy screwed up by telling other people (three others!) that he had the hidden immunity idol. Even if none of them betrays him, did you see Amanda turn and look at Ozzy when Jeff said, “If anyone has the hidden immunity idol, now’s the time to play it”? An observant player could deduce that Ozzy has it. Big mistake, Ozzy.

On the other hand, looks like Jason finds Ozzy’s clever fake idol next week. Heh heh heh...

[I Drive Too Fast]

And they better wake up soon to the threat that Cirie is. She needs to go.

Yes they should, but I have a feeling this bunch is not that smart. I hope she doesn't win, but credit where credit is due - she is playing the game very good.

Hey Joel, he who laughs last laughs best. I didn't see that S eating grin on your face last night.

[I Drive Too Fast]

James had the record for the biggest blunder concerning not playing the idol. I bet Ozzy will be so overconfident that he doesn't play the idol and will discover too late that he blew it.

Too bad most of them don't see the Cirie threat at all. Again, they should have voted off Chet. They could have got rid of Joel anytime before the merge with no problems at all.

I predict Chet goes the next time this tribe doesn't win immunity though.

I saw the rules for the hidden immunity idol. One of them was that it could not be taken by another player.

[PeteB570]

I think Jason and Erik kinda’ have their hearts in the right place but they are minnows swimming in a sea of sharks.

Old JP’s leg looks real nasty, that was a deep pucture. Look at the course they were smashing through. Dead bamboo shards all over the place. Somebody broke off a piece and he fell on it.

[Tatze]

On the other hand, looks like Jason finds Ozzy’s clever fake idol next week. Heh heh heh...

How could anyone believe that stick is the immunity idol?? If Jason really does, as it appears from the preview, he is a moron.

[Right Cal Gal]

For a bunch of fans, they seem to have forgotten Cirie’s very very brilliant play in getting rid of Courtney in her season. And I went back to loving her tonight - she was my Cirie of old, the smart player who stays back, makes a good assessment and persuades the others to vote her way. She was dead on that she’d have been booted next if Chet was to go - let’s face it, the faves wouldn’t need her anymore, because they had their three and Joel to go along with them to boot her.

I was very glad to see Joel go. I’ll grant you Chet’s a liability, but the producers cast him. Joel’s the typical tarzan bully who, as it was pointed out, was completely worthless in the immunity challenge. Didn’t break any plates, and didn’t help in puzzle solving. I loved that S-eating grin he had going in dissolving with each vote.

I had to hand it to Eliza - she did well. The clues to solving it were to be found with the “border” colors. If you took your time, you could solve it easier.

[sappy]

Cirie is the silent assasin. She manipulated that whole thing so perfectly in addition to getting caught and blown up breaking her alliance with Jonathan where she basically emerged unscathed, so far.She is really good.

I thought Ozzy should have kept the fact that he found the Immunity Idol to himself, even from Amanda for a little longer. Now people on the other tribe know. Just MHO.

[Right Cal Gal]

I was giving Ozzy props for keeping the idol secret. Then he had to go tell James. What Ozzy doesn’t know, and what James does, is how James got blindsided by not using the idol when he thought he was safe. Getting closer to the merge, and with Ozzy the challenge monster that he is, I can see James doing the same blindside of Ozzy that happened to him.

And I don’t know if Amanda actually looked at Ozzy when Jeff mentioned the idol or if this was edited to look that way, and they were using footage of another head turn, but if it was the former, then it was dumb and wouldn’t have gone unnoticed.

I’ve always appreciated Cirie’s ability not to panic and to strategize. I was completely taken aback by her attacks on Jonathan - they almost seemed to be personal rather than strategic. So much so, that I was wondering if they might be staged for the benefit of others, since both are not considered very trustworthy.

As much as I loooove Yau-Man, I thought getting rid of him early was not a bad idea, although Cirie, again, almost seemed to see it as a personal mission, as if there was an extreme dislike. Cirie normally presents her case logically but she was really snotty for those two weeks.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Greetings all, its time once again for your:

SURVIVOR RECAP!

The New Airai Tribe: Orange Buffs
Alexis, Eliza, James, Jason, Jonathan, Kathy. Parvati, and Natalie

The New Malakal Tribe: Purple Buffs
Amanda, Ami, Chet, Cirie, Erik, Ozzy and Tracy

The Losers:
Jonny Jackass, Mary, Yau-Man, Mikey B., Joel

TRIBE SWITCH-UP: FIREMAN OUSTED

The tribes of Fans and Favorites are no more after a tribal mix up. The newly formed Malakal faced Tribal Council and, with their tribe split evenly between four Favorites and four Fans, it was clear that either a Fan or a Favorite would have to flip. Joel and Erik, angered by Chet's dismal performance in the challenges, agreed Chet's time was up and tried to join the Favorites in voting him out to keep the new tribe strong. But Chet and Tracy, upset with Joel's poor sportsmanship and bullying, joined forces with Cirie to stop Joel and Erik's targeting of the weak players. Upset that she was included as a 'weak' player and concerned she could soon become targeted, Cirie lobbied to Amanda and Ozzy to keep the less threatening and disposable Chet in the game and get rid of Joel, the tough gamer and physical threat to all.

At Tribal Council, Cirie's plan worked. As she did with Yau-Man, Cirie once again convinced her tribe to send home someone who threatened her game, and Joel was voted out of the new Malakal 6 votes to 2. Dazed, Joel leaves his final words: "The tribe picked Chet. Over me. A little bit humiliating. Insulting. Wow. I don't understand why you would want to keep somebody like Chet. It's just very, very confusing. I'm angry, I think I'd like to wring a couple people's necks right now, but I'm stunned."

Outcasts Prevail
At Airai, Jason feels disheartened after his friend Mikey was voted out at the previous night's Tribal Council. "I have a bad feeling that we're just going to keep losing and losing and losing," Jason complains. "I feel that the tribe I'm in is not the tribe I want to be in." Chet and Tracy, on the other hand, congratulate each other on staying in the game despite constant targeting at Tribal Council. "Another one bites the dust and it wasn't us," Tracy gloats, as the two outcasts set their sights on voting Jason out next. After being annihilated by the Favorites in both the Reward and Immunity Challenges, the Fans once again found themselves at Tribal Council on Day 11. Joel, the mastermind of the Mary blindside, faced a difficult decision—risk losing future challenges by voting out Mikey, a strong competitor but a major threat to his game, or strengthen the tribe in challenges by getting rid of Chet, a physically weak player who poses little threat to him.

Ozzy and the Idol
As the Favorites prepare Charlie, one of their chickens, for lunch, Ozzy sneaks away from the temporarily distracted group. He stashes the Hidden Immunity Idol that he found on Exile Island in the cave, out of the way and out of sight. "I totally trust James, and I think I can trust Amanda, and I know I can trust Parvati," he says. With complete faith in the couples' alliance, Ozzy excitedly informs the members he has the Immunity Idol; the powerful weapon is now in their arsenal. Upon hearing the news, Amanda exclaims, "[The couple's alliance] we're like the powerhouse right now."

Tribal Switch-Up
As the Fans and Favorites arrive at what they suspect is a Reward Challenge, Jeff Probst makes a surprise announcement: "It's time you got to know each other. Drop your buffs. We are switching tribes." The shocked and anxious Survivors draw rocks to decide team captains for a school-yard pick. Ozzy draws the purple rock for Malakal and Natalie draws the orange rock for Airai, giving them first choice of the contestants. Alternating, Survivors will choose teammates, but Fans must choose Favorites and Favorites must choose Fans. Natalie, without hesitation, selects James for the new Airai tribe, and Ozzy in turn picks Joel, matching James' strength on the new Malakal tribe. As the tribes shake out, the new Malakal consists of Ozzy, Amanda, Cirie, Ami, Joel, Erik, Tracy, and Chet. The new Airai tribe members are Jonathan, James, Parvati, Eliza, Alexis, Natalie, Jason, and Kathy. "We are no longer tribes of Fans vs. Favorites," declares Jeff Probst. "We are now Malakal versus Airai."

Reward Challenge: Cat and Mouse
After tossing the tribes their new buffs, Jeff Probst reveals they will compete immediately for Reward as new tribes. Jeff explains the rules. Tribe members will be divided into pairs and harnessed together. Each round, a harnessed pair from one tribe will chase a pair from the other tribe through a muddy obstacle course, attempting to grab a flag off the opposing tribe's back. Each time a pursuing pair successfully gets a flag they score a point for their tribe. To make things interesting, the chasing pair has only 60 seconds to capture the other tribe’s flag. If they fail to do so, the fleeing tribe scores the point. First tribe to three points wins Reward: a steak barbecue with all the fixings, wine, and spices. To give the new tribemates a chance to get to know each other, no one will be sent to Exile Island.

First up, Erik and Ozzy from Malakal chase Airai’s Natalie and Kathy. In no time, Ozzy snatches Kathy’s flag, scoring the first point for Malakal. Eliza and Parvati chase Joel and Chet around the course. Slipping in the mud, Eliza accidentally smacks Parvati in the face with her elbow, giving Parvati a fat lip. But they still manage to capture Chet’s flag as Joel pulls him through the course, scoring the first point for the new Airai. In the next few matches, the injuries continue to pile up when something rips through Jonathan’s kneecap and Malakal’s Ami tweaks her knee jumping over a fence in the course. In the final round, with the teams tied 2-2, it’s a rematch between Joel and Chet and Parvati and Eliza. This time Joel and Chet do the chasing, but Chet is unable to maintain Joel’s pace and Joel, frustrated, drags Chet like a rag doll through the muddy obstacle course, while screaming at him to keep up. With seconds remaining on the clock, Eliza and Parvati narrowly elude Joel as he dives for Parvati’s flag. The new Airai tribe wins their first challenge and a huge reward of steaks, veggies and wine.

Saddled with Chet
Defeated, the Malakal tribe returns to the old Favorites’ beach. Joel is livid with Chet's performance in the challenge. "Maybe this is poetic justice of some form because I chose to get rid of Mikey versus Chet," says Joel in disgust. "Now here I end up with Chet again on my tribe, who's probably the weakest of both tribes." Ozzy shows off the Malakal camp to the newcomers who, at the sight of the shelter, chicken coop, and dry cave, start to believe they could become a very strong tribe. But even with the new energy in camp, Ozzy is apprehensive about Chet’s presence at Malakal. "Chet, he's like a sack of potatoes," moans Ozzy. "In the challenge, he freaking gave up." Meanwhile, Chet finds new friends in the tribe's chickens. He likens their real-life pecking order to the game of Survivor, vaguely aware that he has already been targeted as the tribe's biggest liability, saying, "The weakest one is pecked on until they're removed from the tribe."

A Feast and A Nighttime Visit
Airai returns to their camp, jubilant after their victory and excited about the evening barbecue. The tribe salivates at the sound of sizzling meat as the aroma of grilling steaks fills the air. But things don’t work out the way they planned. The Fans had originally built their campfire and shelter unknowingly on the tide line of the beach. "Oh my God! Here comes the water!" screeches Eliza, as a wave crashes onto shore, dousing the fire and nearly wiping out their Reward dinner. With sand flies jumping at their feet, the fire out and the wood drenched, James can't believe the poorly organized Fans, exclaiming, "I'm amazed they're still alive, poor things. They should be dead!"

As the tribe settles in with full bellies, Jonathan's injury from the challenge turns serious. The Survivor Medical Team arrives in the dead of night to stitch up the puncture below his knee. During the painful operation, Jonathan grits his teeth to endure the agony. He speculates, "There could be an infection and it could work down towards the joint of my knee. So let's hope it doesn't get worse."

Two Superpowers
At Malakal, Ozzy gives fishing lessons to his new tribemates, Joel and Erik. The three spend some time strategizing. "I think we have a really strong tribe aside from one person," says Ozzy to Joel. "I'm just thinking Chet." Joel counters, "I tell you what, if you're willing to get rid of Cirie first I got no problem giving up Chet." Erik watches the negotiations, describing it as "two superpowers discussing terms." The one thing the three men agree on is that it is imperative that they find a way to keep the tribe strong. "It is to a degree still Fans versus Favorites," explains Joel. "But either the Favorites have to swing a Fan over to their side, or the Fans have to swing a Favorite over to their side. Somebody's going to have to flip."

New Tribe, New Shelter
Jonathan, James, Parvati, and Eliza take charge leading the new Airai tribe in clearing a bigger living area and shelter away from the water’s edge. Skilled Survivors after their previous seasons’ experiences, the Favorites quickly erect a solid shelter. The Fans are excited to have an upgraded home and new life in the tribe. "The new members of Airai, I mean, they're just on it," Natalie respectfully admits. "They're quick, they'e making it happen, it's getting done and it's brilliant."

Shark Steak Anyone?
As the Malakal tribe prepares a meager breakfast of chicken feed, they’re surprised by yells from the beach. “Hey guys look what I caught!” hollers Amanda as she strolls into camp lugging a shark that she’s wrestled out of the fishing net. Ozzy instantly lights up, impressed by his amour, Amanda. He gushes, “She basically wrestled a 4-foot shark by herself! That’s pretty attractive to a guy like me.” Cooking up the giant shark steaks for breakfast, the new Malakal is determined to do well in the challenge.

Immunity Challenge: A Stone's Throw
At the Immunity Challenge, four members from each tribe will alternate throwing rocks at suspended ceramic tiles, breaking them to release four bundles of wooden puzzle pieces. Collecting all four bundles and handing them off, three other tribe members will race to assemble the pieces with help from a caller on top of a tower. The first tribe to solve their puzzle wins Immunity and is safe from Tribal Council.

The Challenge begins with the new Malakal taking an early lead, nailing their four tile targets and quickly collecting their puzzle pieces. Jonathan, James, Jason and Alexis of the new Airai aren’t as lucky. Although they connect with the targets, they don’t hit them hard enough to break them and can’t release their puzzle pieces. However, Chet’s poor direction as Malakal’s caller and Joel’s disruptive interjections begin to slow Malakal down. Airai finally smashes their tile targets and collect the puzzle pieces, getting back in the game. Eliza, Airai’s caller, spots a pattern in the puzzle and directs Natalie, Parvati, and Kathy with their last pieces. Airai comes from behind to win Immunity and send the new Malakal to Tribal Council.

Chet and Joel
With Tribal Council looming for the new Malakal tribe, Erik and Joel decide to get rid of their weak link once and for all. Agreeing to give up a Fan, they promise to vote out their former tribemate, Chet, in order to keep Malakal strong. "It's almost like [Chet's] a wet rag, or a ball of goo," complains Joel about Chet's inability to compete. "If you went back to Medieval times I think we'd kill him ourselves." But as Chet's name gets tossed around as the obvious vote for the night, Cirie is unsettled. "Erik seems to think we should get rid of the weaker players in the tribe," explains Cirie. "Which is fine with me except I'm included in the [group of] weaker tribe members." She quickly checks in with Chet and Tracy. As they complain about Joel’s distracting and bossy performance in the tribe, which they believe cost them Immunity, the three decide to turn the tables on Joel. "Let's take his ass out," cries Tracy. With three votes solid against Joel and wanting to protect herself and her fellow weaker players, Cirie tries to convince Amanda and Ozzy to vote out Joel moments before they depart for Tribal Council. "There are so many plusses for getting rid of Joel. Chet is just like a pawn," explains Cirie. "We can use Chet for whatever we need, whenever we need." Ozzy is not convinced that losing strength in the tribe is a good idea but agrees to consider Cirie’s plan to oust Joel. "This is an incredibly important vote tonight," says Ozzy. "Chet in challenges, he is a waste of space. On the other hand, Joel wants to win challenges. But Joel wants to win the game really bad. Joel is dangerous. It's a hard decision."

Tribal Council
At Tribal Council, Chet is criticized for having performed badly in the challenge. Tracy comes to his rescue, calling out Joel as a poor teammate when he dragged Chet through the mud during the Reward Challenge. Chet pipes in, "I felt like I was harnessed to a Mack Truck and drug through a forest." In the end, Cirie's plan to protect the weaker members of the tribe, and herself down the road, works. A completely stunned Joel is sent home as the fifth person voted out of SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA – FANS VS FAVORITES.

I’ll be back Thursday morning with this weeks picks. So till then,
Take care,

FReepmail me if you want added to (or removed from) the Survivor Ping List.

[Lee'sGhost]

Just got to watch it last night. I’m still focused on the fact that Airai still had not built shelter. Jeez they’re stupid. Raisin Maid was responsible for her, Chet and Cathy building their own shelter and the reason I thought she might be a survivor to watch. I just hope that Chet doesn’t cause her to get voted out — not that she has ever had any choice but ally with him and Cathy. That she has managed to win with such a weak alliance is amazing.

Special kudos to Amanda for hauling in the shark, even if it was in a net. Most women would have called for help any way. Fresh shark steak is excellent, by the way.

[mtbopfuyn]

Ozzy screwed up by telling other people (three others!) that he had the hidden immunity idol.

Who wouldn't love to play poker with Ozzy. What an idiot. Can't keep a secret to save his hide and it will be his hide now he has to use it or else. BTW, I got lost. Did he get moved and does he still have easy access to the II?

Sorry, but Cirie is getting on my nerves. Sure, she's playing the game well and knows the minute Chet is gone her head's on the the chopping block. But Chet seriously makes my skin ~~~crawl~~~ ewww, and she's the one who's keeping him in.

[JillValentine]

No, Ozzy stayed on the same beach.

[mtbopfuyn]

Same beach. Whew, I bet he was worried there for a while.

[Lee'sGhost]

You would think that they (production) would have focused on that a little.

[I Drive Too Fast]

The only question I have about this Thursday's show is will there be a double boot? Next week's TV Guide tells me one name that is gone. They also hint at what will happen the next week.

Previews show Jason telling his tribemates that Ozzy found the hidden immunity idol. I guess he figured out the one he found is not real.

[Lee'sGhost]

I’ll buy that. I just can’t imagine anybody falling for a stick as being the HII.

Then again, some of the folks ain’t too swift.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

TONIGHT 8:00 PM (EST)

Greetings Ladies and Gentlemen, its Thursday, and that means its time once again for your:
SURVIVOR PING!

The New Airai Tribe: Orange Buffs
Alexis, Eliza, James, Jason, Jonathan, Kathy. Parvati, and Natalie

The New Malakal Tribe: Purple Buffs
Amanda, Ami, Chet, Cirie, Erik, Ozzy and Tracy

The Losers:
Jonny Jackass, Mary, Yau-Man, Mikey B., Joel

The title for tonight’s episode is “It Hit Everyone Pretty Hard.”

From the website:
One tribe gets the answer it has been waiting for-will their tribemate recover from a devastating injury? One Castaway becomes the gullible victim of Ozzy's devious plan set in motion on Exile Island while another Castaway is injured, but surprisingly finds himself with more power than ever before.

And from the TV Guide listing for Thursday, March 13:
Jonathan deals with a serious infection that could result in his exit; Jason discovers the fake immunity idol on Exile Island that was created by Ozzy; Ami struggles with whether to remain true to her alliance. Jeff Probst is the host. Interesting to note: It does not say the typical “And another player is voted out of the game.”

Now for those who don’t want to have tonight’s (and some of next week’s) episode spoiled then hit your back button now.

Otherwise, start highlighting at the - - > below:

WARNING! The following DOES contain many spoilers! So if you don’t want to read them, DO NOT CONTINUE!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

- - > OK, all the following spoilers are provided by a TV Guide article for the week of 17 March, titled “Survivor Shockers!” by Shawna Malcom:

Jonathan Penner is forced to leave the game during the March 13th episode. Jeff Probst is quoted as saying “There was a certain point when our doctor said ‘You’re done. If the infection’s not treated, it will spread to your lymph nodes and kill you.’” (Jonathan was rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment and has since fully recovered.)

Continuing on… Perhaps the bigger shock is that he won’t be the only player to leave this season without having his torch snuffed. While Probst won’t specify whether the second exit is the result of an injury, he will reveal that it happens in the episode, airing Wednesday, March 19 (due to the NCAA tournament.) “It’s a testament”, the host says, “to the wear and tear, not only physically, but emotionally, that this game can take.” Unfortunately, for the remaining players, the two premature exits don’t preclude trips to Tribal Council – meaning, viewers will see a total of four players leave within these two episodes.

The article continues by delving into the show’s on screen romances… Ozzy and Amanda have quickly become Survivor’s hottest couple since All-Stars Rob and Amber. (Their recent night-time make-out session just might pale in comparison to their “really sexy shower scene” after they win a reward challenge in the March 19 episode.)
According to host Jeff Probst… “Ozzy fell in love right away, and Amanda is falling in love as it goes.”
In contrast, Probst characterizes the other showmance between Parvati and James as equal opportunity. “Parvati’s playing James, and I’m not sure James cares one way or the other. He’s getting what he wants, and she’s getting what she needs…to get further in the game.”

Regarding Ozzy and the fake Immunity Idol… The fake idol is found during the March 13 episode and the person finding it believes it is the real deal. And you just know that someone will try and play it. But it’s the REAL idol that may cause the biggest drama of the season. “The hidden Idol has never played a bigger role than it does this time.” Probst says, “Your jaw is gonna drop at least twice, and maybe more, when you see how it’s played.”

And finally, “James passes on the title of Dumbest Move in Survivor History. “In Micronesia,” says Probst, “there are three or four people lining up to hold that crown. Like James, some are on the receiving end of what the host claims are more blindsides at Tribal Council than ever before. “We have four or five,” he says, “in a row!”

Now let’s get to the challenges.

The title of the Reward Challenge is “Build it up, Break it down” and appears to be a take off of Survivor Palau’s hide the flag challenge. Each tribe is given a wooden structure in which to “improve.” The tribes race into the water to retrieve rope and additional pieces of wood and haul them back to the beach. They are then given a set amount of time to weave these ropes and wood pieces in and through the wooden structure. After this time has expired, then each tribe has to break apart the other tribes structure and “undo” what has been done. The first tribe to complete this task wins reward.

The title of the Immunity Challenge is “United We Stand” and appears to be a remake of a Survivor Cook Island Challenge. The tribes must assemble “stepping poles” in the water in order to transport two tribemates out to a series of progressively smaller platforms. Once the two tribemates are safely on the last platform, the rest of the tribe must climb up and balance all the members on a too small platform. The first tribe to accomplish this feat wins Immunity.

Well, there you have it:
CUZ’S WEEKLY SURVIVOR PICKS!

- - >
Reward Challenge Winner: New Airai
Immunity Challenge Winner: New Airai
Removed from the game: Jonathan (medical evacuation)
Removed from the game: Chet (voted out at Tribal Council)

I’ll be back Monday morning with a recap. So till then,
Take care,

FReepmail me if you want added to (or removed from) the Survivor Ping List.

[PeteB570]

On board for tonight’s episode. We’ll soon see.

[Lee'sGhost]

I’m psyched!