SURVIVOR: ALL STARS! Official FReeping Thread

1/14/2004 | Cuz_it_aint_their_money

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

.

THERE BAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaCK!

Yes Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Posters and Lurkers, Freepers of all kinds!
Those Intrepid Castaways and all round Media Whores are back for another shot at glory!

18 former Survivors, 3 tribes, 1 host, in the Pearl Islands of Panama.
The first episode will air Sunday, February 1st, after the Super Bowel.

So make sure you save enough Super Bowel munchies and adult beverages for the season premiere of:

SURVIVOR: ALL STARS

[Central Scrutiniser]

Damn, old age sucks, I love Rudy, it was a hobsons choice.

Of course if any of them had a brain...Jenna would be first then Skank Jerri. A happy tribe does well, not a tribe full of shrew witches....

[NYTexan]

"it was a hobsons choice"

Your reference is obscure to me, please explain.

I understand your reasoning on selection and agree, but being in their spot they chose well for now. The can't afford to loose another immunity for a while.

Rupert kept his promise as expected, but knew darn well that Rudy had to go. He's garnishing integrity within his clan. When he naturally endears himself to all, Jerri will turn against him and she will be next. IMHO!

[Central Scrutiniser]

http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?HobsonsChoice

Hobson's Choice: Colloquial English phrase for a choice that is not a choice - either there is only one option, or two options that are equally undesirable or virtually identical.

Is this the same thing as a CatchTwentyTwo? No. CatchTwentyTwo is when both (or all) choices are contradictory. You have to be crazy to want to fly a mission, so you're grounded. But if you are scared, you're sane, so you are required to fly.

Found at www.wordorigins.org:

Tobias Hobson (c. 1544-1631) was a Cambridge stable manager who let horses. He insisted customers take the horse in the stall closest to the door (the next one up) or take none at all. Hence, a Hobson's choice is no choice at all. He was made famous by Milton. The phrase dates to 1660.

They love Rudy, but know that he is harming them, they know that the girls or Ethan are screwups, but they need them for the challenge.

[NYTexan]

Thanks for the explanation and the background info. You must like the classics.

Catch 22 was a bizarre and really funny movie exploring greed, lust, desperation, obsession, and many other human frailties.

I hope this tribe gets a break and thrives for a while.
I'm hoping for some losses in the other tribes.

[luckystarmom]

Jerri was crying when Rudy got voted off. I can stand her this time. Of course, she's not hanging on Colby, yet.

[kingu]

Tree mail:

Each tribe got a chest with three padlocks. Instructions on the chests were to not open them, and to keep them dry.

Reward Challenge

Prize: Blankets

The challenge was to build a stairway using five bamboo planks. First team to complete their stairway and to get all tribe members to the top would win. Richard again didn’t cover the hatch. First time out, five tribe members swam together to get the furthest plank, each trip to a nearer plank, and each trip with one less tribal member.

Winner: Saboga

One of the many twists in the game that we can come to expect; Jeff Probst offered the tribe a choice. He revealed that the content of the chests is rice, and should the tribe so choose, they would get a pot to cook rice in and a clue to the location of one of the keys to open the chest. In addition, the pot came with a magnesium fire starter, giving them fire as well. The twist being that if they chose to take the alternative, all three tribes would get it. They chose to take the alternate prize and give fire to the other two tribes, as well as clues to the first key needed to open the rice chest.

Immunity Challenge

Instructions: All members must swim out to a float, touch it, and then they could swim down, remove the slip knots on ropes holding weighted chests which needed to be taken out. The boat would float to the surface as soon as it was empty, then the tribe needed to return the boat to the starting float and bail out the water. Once that was completed, they could then paddle the boat into shore, haul it up on the beach, and then onto the tribal marker. First two tribes to compete the task would win immunity.

Saboga was the first to remove all the crates from their boat, though Chapera and Mogo Mogo soon emptied theirs by tipping the boat over under water to dump out the remaining chests. Saboga was first back to the starting position, and the tribe members busied themselves bailing out the boat.

Chapera returned to the starting float, lifted the boat out of the water and onto the float, thus removing the water that needed to be bailed, then the tribe members got into their boat and started for shore. Mogo Mogo, seeing the trick on the starting float, also dumped their boat, but failed to return it to the water completely empty. A couple more attempts and they got most of the water out, and started for shore, bailing as they went.

Meanwhile, Saboga, noticing the actions of the other two tribes, attempted to duplicate the method. However Ethan’s eagerness to enter the boat from the bow dunked the boat, ensuring the team’s eventual going to tribal council.

Chamera first, Mogo Mogo second, Saboga lost.

Notes on story arc: The story line basically followed a paired theme.. Rudy drinking contaminated well water, followed by Ethan noting that Tina was kicked out and he’s likely next, followed by Rudy having trouble with his ankle, followed by Ethan fishing unsuccessfully, followed by Rupert bringing home the tribe’s first fish. Sure, there were obligatory cuts of Richard being what he is, a pompous hatch, but do we expect anything different after two episodes? And yes, of course, Alicia continues to be the loud bossy person we came to either love or hate from Australia.

An aside on production: The show format wasn’t satisfying last week, and it wasn’t satisfying this week. The three team concept is a huge failure in my mind, not because the idea is unsound, but because covering those three teams in an hour long program is rather difficult and has been completely unsuccessful. The show’s producers have made it into a virtual policy that following the immunity challenge, we basically only get to see the team facing tribal council. Deals or no deals, maneuvering - but the other two teams were ignored. Yes, it worked sort of better this week, but last week’s show was unsatisfying.

I really wanted to see these ‘best of the best’ suffer without food. *grin*

Tribal Council: Rudy voted out
(Two votes Ethan, three votes Rudy - Rubert voted for Ethan, Ethan voted for Rudy)

A final note: In past seasons, Jeff Probst has taken to task those who did not follow instructions. The details on the contest specifically said to bail out the boat, yet the first team across the line didn’t even make the attempt. This went over really poorly with the group I was with who were watching the show, with shouts and jeers of ‘cheaters.’ Most were convinced that the Red team would be disqualified for not following the rules, and the objections just got louder and louder when Probst handed out the immunity idol parts.

It will be interesting to see what the reaction is in the communities I follow as to their opinion on what happened. Nothing like annoying your audience.

[kingu]

I don't mind writing show summaries, nor do I mind maintaining the ping list - I'd actually enjoy both. If no one greatly objects, I'd like to take on that duty.

[Peace4EarthNow]

Thanks for the ping, s2r, and thank you for the recap, kingu!

I missed the last 1/2 because I forgot to put a tape in the VCR, so I'm glad I could find out what happened.

Sorry to see Rudy go, though! He was my favorite...

[goodolemr]

Here's a hint: Flip the boat!

Alicia and RobM will go on clashing. Where was Sue this episode?

[tear_down_this_wall]

Cuz, praying for your wife.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

[Lee'sGhost]

it was a hobsons choice

I'm not familiar with that term?

[Lee'sGhost]

Don't mind you taking over.

I do disagree with the "cheaters" opinion. I would maintain that "bail" in this case simply means "get the water out." Chapera did the same thing I would have done. They played smarter.

[MotleyGirl70]

I haven't been back to this thread in a while and heard the news of your wife. My prayers are with you both. God Bless and with your love and support I hope Mrs. Cuz has a healthy recovery. **prayers**

[MotleyGirl70]

I forgot to tape it! Urg. Please tell me disgusting Richard wasn't running around naked again. Did he at least keep his shorts on for the challenges?

[MotleyGirl70]

Thanks for the excellent re-cap.

Sad to see Rudy go though :(

[Artist]

Dear Cuz:

I'll be praying that your wife is okay.

Mr. Confettiman has been fighting cancer for awhile and really seems to know what he's doing. He says that eliminating sugar from your diet is very helpful. Cancer loves sugar, apparently.

One of the other things that is supposed to be helpful to beat it is lots of laughter. Since you're one funny guy, we all know that you're up to that task.

I'll be looking for your updates on Mrs. Cuz., and wishing you all the best.

[Artist]

Thanks for the info....very interesting.

[So Cal Rocket]

As the rain poured down, the Saboga tribe's morale was going from bad to worse. Not one for low morale, Rudy regaled the tribe with his stories from Vietnam, thus briefly taking the tribe's thoughts off of their hunger, thirst and loss at the first Immunity Challenge.

Over at the Mogo Mogo camp, the dehydrated tribe had varying reactions to the decision of Richard Hatch, the 42-year-old winner of SURVIVOR: BORNEO from Middletown, Rhode Island, to walk around naked. Not everyone agreed with Lex van den Berghe's indifference to Richard's nudity. "We got an overweight, gay, naked man walking around, and no one seems to let it bother them," laughed Colby Donaldson, the 29-year-old tribe member of SURVIVOR: THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK from Christoval, Texas.

Later, the tribes were all surprised to find on each of their islands a mysterious box secured by three padlocks. Questions arose and speculations ran wild as to what could be in the box. Rob Mariano, the 28-year-old castaway of SURVIVOR: MARQUESAS from Canton, Massachusetts, wanted to break open his tribe's box, but his intentions were thwarted by the rest of Chapera. Rob M. explained, "My first inclination was to forget about the note…. We're starving over here. Then, all of a sudden everyone was like, 'Oh no, we don't wanna do that, we might upset pretty boy Probst or something.'"

As the tribes reconvened for a Reward Challenge, host Jeff Probst explained the competition would require the tribes to build a staircase out of five logs that were adrift at sea. The tribes would need to swim out to retrieve each log, with each tribe losing a member after each plank was recovered so that only one castaway would be left to retrieve the final log. The first tribe to build the stairway and use it to reach a platform would win the Reward of a bundle of cozy, warm blankets.

The grueling Challenge started with Chapera taking an early lead. Saboga fell behind as Rudy tired quickly from the intense swimming. Chapera lost their lead as Saboga overtook them to become the first tribe to have over half the staircase built. A late push by Mogo Mogo was not enough as Saboga placed the final log on their staircase and climbed to victory.

After telling the castaways that their mysterious lock boxes contained rice, Jeff Probst surprised Saboga with a choice. They could trade their reward for a clue that would help them find the first key to the lock box, flint for fire and a pot for cooking. However, there was a caveat: if Saboga opted for the clue, flint and pot, then all three tribes would get the same Reward. After deliberating, Saboga chose the clue, flint and pot to the rejoicing cheers of the other two tribes. Everyone won!

As the three tribes returned to their camps from the exhausting Challenge, they all attempted to start fires with their new flints.

The sparks at Chapera weren't just from the new flint. Alicia Calaway, the 35-year-old castaway of SURVIVOR: THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK from Trumbull, Connecticut, micro-managed her tribemates' attempts to catch a flame. "Alicia's just talking a little too much; she walks around giving orders constantly," complained Rob M., "It's her nature; she's got a big mouth; she needs to learn to shut it."

Mogo Mogo's attempts to start a flame fizzled when the rain fell on their fire pit. The tribe had waited too long to make the fire, so the members had to suffer in the storm. "We're freezing because our lame boys didn't make the fire," explained Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien, the 50-year-old castaway of SURVIVOR: MARQUESAS from Burlington, Vermont.

As the tribes met on the beach for their second Immunity Challenge of SURVIVOR: ALL-STARS, Jeff Probst explained that there would be three boats at the bottom of the ocean floor. The first two tribes to swim down, free the boats of their heavy cargo, clear the water out, row to shore and carry the boat over the finish line would win Immunity.

As the rain started to come down, the tribes dove into the ocean in order to clear their boats. Despite Saboga's quick start, Chapera, thinking quickly on their feet, opted to flip their boat free of water instead, thus giving them the lead. Mogo Mogo followed Chapera's lead by flipping their boat over while Saboga was still stuck bailing.

Chapera easily made it to shore first, leaving Mogo Mogo and Saboga in a two-horse competition for Immunity. As Mogo Mogo paddled to shore, their boat was sinking because of the excess water it held. Saboga gained ground, but not enough, as Mogo Mogo crossed the finish line second, securing Immunity for themselves and sending Saboga to their second consecutive Tribal Council.

Saboga returned to camp defeated. Realizing he was on the chopping block, Ethan Zohn, the 30-year-old winner of SURVIVOR: AFRICA from Lexington, Massachusetts, immediately tried to make himself useful by going fishing. After Ethan's failed attempt, Rupert Boneham, the 40-year-old castaway of SURVIVOR: PEARL ISLANDS PANAMA from Indianapolis, Indiana, displayed his fishing prowess by returning with a fish, which added to Ethan's troubles. The discussion then came down to Ethan's precarious position as a previous SURVIVOR winner versus Rudy's age, injured ankle and possible challenge liability. "I'm not writing Rudy's name down. I know that. I'm not writing Rudy's name down," swore Rupert.

In the end, Rupert kept his word, but it wasn't enough to help the 76-year-old All-Star, who received three out of five votes, sending him packing and making Rudy Boesch the second castaway voted out of SURVIVOR: ALL-STARS.

[So Cal Rocket]

The members of the Saboga Tribe missed a GREAT opportunity after winning the reward challenge... They had a choice to make: either take the blankets or allow all three tribes to get the pot/clue/flint.

They chose the second option... WITHOUT GETTING ANYTHING IN RETURN from the other tribes!!

They should have turned to the other two tribes and started cutting some deals... I would have tried to get agreement from the other tribes that each member of Saboga got one "free pass" - at any given tribal council later in the season, any Saboga tribe member could "call in" their free pass and the members from the other tribes would be obligated to NOT put their name down. Of course, it would be a "rely on your word" type thing, which we know you can't really depend on in this game - however, it would have made for some interesting television.

I've found the first two episodes to be rather dull so far - we need something to shake it up a bit!

[WI Conservative 4 Bush]

I thought last week was extremely dull. The tribes flailing to get fire really put a damper on some of the more exciting possibilities of this game. Now that they have fire, things should heat up a bit. Doh!

Thanks for the re-caps, everybody!

And, cuz, my families prayers will be sent for your dear wife. I really appreciate all your efforts, kindness and insight. Be well...