SURVIVOR: CHINA

various websites | 21 August, 2007 | Cuz It Aint Their Money

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

The reality show that started it all continues to raise the bar with its
exotic locations and high-risk challenges with
SURVIVOR: CHINA.
The new competition unleashes an eclectic group of castaways on the ancient south central province of Jiang Xi,
where they are prepared for adventure, danger and surprises in the hopes of winning
$1 million and becoming the ultimate Survivor.
Who will Outwit, Outplay and Outlast?

[YaYa123]

I love this.....but don’t tell anyone I’ve got a mean streak.

About SURVIVOR...I think it may be the most fun one yet. I mean, was there a single tribe member you were drawn to? pull for? or admire? Me either.

[rintense]

Ooh! When did it premiere?

[girlscout]

Thanks Cuz! That gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling.

[girlscout]

HAHAHAHA!! Boy did it!

[Lee'sGhost]

Ted Kennedy does NOT see the humor.

But I sure as hell do!

Bwahahahahahahahahaha!!

[JillValentine]

It's on at 8 (Eastern/Pacific) on Thursdays. The first episode was on September 20.

The SeeBS website has video of the episode online.

[EmilyGeiger]

That was just wrong! :) Hehe, have to email it though. ;)

[tob2]

Thanks for jogging my memory.

[JillValentine]

Ashley has big...muscles. Seriously.

[JillValentine]

Oh, and Jean-Robert, physically and mentally, reminds me of Richard Hatch.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Greetings Ladies and Gentlemen,

Well, its Monday morning and that means its time for your:

SURVIVOR RECAP!

The Fei Long (flying dragon) Tribe: Red Buffs
Aaron, Amanda, Courtney, Denise, James, Jean-Robert, Leslie, Todd

The Zahn Hu (fighting tiger) Tribe: Yellow Buffs
Ashley, Dave, Erik, Jaime, Frosti, Peih-Gee, Sherea

The losers:
Chicken

Chicken’s Wings Clipped

The highly anticipated SURVIVOR: CHINA has begun. On night three, the journey ends for Steve "Chicken" Morris, the 47-year-old chicken farmer from Marion, Virginia. Stubborn and unable to coexist peacefully in his new tribe, he is the first person voted out of the game. After his torch is extinguished at Tribal Council, Chicken gives his final words. "It was kind of a shock that the young group didn’t come together. I don’t think they ever will. They’re just playing by the seat of their pants. It’s truly an honor to be here with out a doubt."

Welcome to China
Transported back in time, 16 Americans from various walks of life begin the adventure of a lifetime in the mysterious land of China. Upon arrival at an ancient Buddhist temple, the Survivors are greeted by host Jeff Probst and participate in a traditional welcome ceremony. Tears streaking her face, Peih-Gee, the 29-year-old jeweler from Marina Del Rey, California, describes the emotion of being in the land of her ancestors. "Being Chinese, it’s so amazing, coming to do Survivor in China. My grandfather passed away a couple weeks ago. He would have just gotten such a kick out of seeing me here, doing this." Leslie, a 38-year-old Christian radio talk show host, quietly stepped out of the ceremony and wept for her own reason. "I’m a believer in Jesus Christ and in the Bible it said thou shall not bow down to any other god. It really felt like worship." Out of her element, Courtney, the 26-year-old New York City waitress, finds the ceremony exasperating. "I’m not trying to be a monk here. I’m tired; I want to go sit back with a lemonade, I don’t wanna be like bowing 37 times. We bowed for like days, I swear to God."

Jeff Probst tells the castaways they will be wearing the clothes on their backs for the next 39 days. He then divides the Survivors into tribes and sends them off to their new homes. The yellow tribe, Zhan Hu, meaning Fighting Tiger, consists of Frosti, Dave, Jaime, Erik, Peih-Gee, Sherea, Ashley and Chicken. The red tribe, Fei Long, meaning Flying Dragon, consists of Jean-Robert, Leslie, Amanda, Courtney, Denise, James, Todd and Aaron.

First Impressions

Arriving at their new home in celebration, the Fei Long tribe prioritizes working on their shelter before nightfall. As work continues, Courtney becomes increasingly annoyed at her new tribe’s positive energy. "I seemed to be marooned in a land of flight attendants and Sunday school teachers. This is like my own private hell." Meanwhile, while exploring the land surrounding their camp, Jean-Robert approaches Todd in order to test his strategy. Calling on his professional poker player skills, Jean-Robert explains, "My conversation with Todd was deliberate. I wanted him to know, listen, I know that you’re the clever guy. I’m on to you."

Frustrations Begin

Upon arriving at their barren tribe camp, the boisterous Zhan Hu tribe assesses their bleak situation, while Ashley sizes up her competition. "I wrestle for a living," she explains. "There is a competitive nature that you have in the locker room. That’s a great positive that I’m going to have going into this game." Later, as the tribe squanders precious time with no plans to build a shelter, frustration sets in for camping-savvy Chicken. "I live in the woods," explains Chicken. "I got a lot of experience over these characters. I was just giving my opinion and nobody wanted it so you know, I’m done suggesting."

Grave Concerns

Back at Fei Long, James and Aaron hack through the surrounding trees for lumber to reinforce their shelter. When Leslie approaches a quiet James in order to get to know him, James confides his concerns about the social aspect of the game. "I’m a gravedigger. I like that work because I’m by myself. That’s part of my problem over here now. The whole initiation of the social thing, talking and trying to strategize, that’s going to kill me."

Looks Can Be Deceiving

As a heavy lightning storm rips through the Zhan Hu camp, the shelter-less tribe huddles together for warmth in the pouring rain. At sunrise, Ashley lays crippled on the ground, as she has fallen ill while the rest of the tribe works on the shelter. "I’ve wrestled with a hundred and four fever before," moans Ashley in disbelief. "I have to stay in the game. Hopefully it’ll pass." Observing Ashley, Dave is unimpressed with the tough-nosed woman of the WWE. "I thought [Ashley] would be a much stronger person considering her profession and how her demeanor is, but if Ashley’s health stays the same, Ashley’s going first."

Follow the Leader?

Anxious for their first Immunity Challenge, the Fei Long tribe looks to the Art of War for guidance before battle. The text details the need for a commander, so Todd seizes the opportunity to deflect responsibility off of him and coyly elects Aaron as Fei Long’s leader. "Aaron’s a very strong player," explains Todd, wheels in motion. "I’m very smart in trying to push the leader role onto Aaron because I don’t want to take that position." Hesitant at first, Aaron reluctantly accepts his position in the tribe. "Being in the leadership role," says Aaron, “It’s not someplace that I want to be. But leadership is going for it and I’m ready."

Immunity Challenge: Dragon Dance

The tribes meet for their first Immunity Challenge, where Jeff Probst explains the rules. Each tribe will be connected to and carrying a heavy ceremonial mascot. They will maneuver through a series of obstacles on their way to a locked gate. Once at the gate, one tribe member will scale two walls, releasing a drawbridge at each wall, retrieve a key, and race back to unlock the gate, freeing the rest of their tribe. Next, they will make their way through a swamp to the finish platform, where they will solve a puzzle. First tribe to do so wins flint and Immunity.

The race begins with the tribes trudging through the muddy course, maneuvering side-by-side as they make their way to the locked gate. Frosti and James are neck-and-neck as they catapult themselves over the walls. But when Frosti forgets to lower the drawbridge and has to go back, he gives James from Fei Long a narrow lead.

Carrying the awkward and heavy mascots, both tribes make their way through the waist deep swamp. Fei Long reaches the finish platform first. They start on their puzzle as the swamp slows the Zhan Hu tribe. Zhan Hu can never catch up, as Fei Long solves the puzzle, winning flint and Immunity.

Worth Your Weight

With Tribal Council looming, an emotional Peih-Gee clashes with Chicken as they attempt to reinforce their shelter. He refuses to lend his expertise. Exasperated, Peih-Gee laments. "Chicken won’t give an opinion on how he thinks anything should be done. It’s not worth anything to me if he chooses not to apply his strengths." Confident his work ethic is an essential contribution to the tribe, Chicken targets the once-sick Ashley. "I feel like Ashley’s going. She ain’t done nothing since she landed down there." Meanwhile, realizing she may be a target, Ashley worries about her own fate. "I would hate to think that one day of being sick would dominate over everything."

In the end, at Tribal Council, Ashley is spared when the votes are read. Chicken gets plucked from the game and becomes the first casualty of SURVIVOR: CHINA.

Voting Breakdown:
Chicken received 5 votes from Frosti, Erik, Sherea, Jamie & Peih-Gee
Ashley received 2 votes from Chicken & Dave
Peih-Gee received 1 vote from Ashley

I’ll be back Thursday morning with your Survivor Ping, so till then,
Take Care,

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

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Notable Survivor Quote:
“I was camping with a bunch of knuckleheads.”
Hunter Ellis, Survivor Marquesas

[trimom]

Hunter Ellis, Survivor Marquesas

Now, there was a player I could have watched for a long time. My husband knew they weren't dumping Ashley because she's the one with the big, ummm, lungs.

[kingu]

Chicken: Man, plucked /way/ too early. Alas, sometimes you gotta swallow some pride and find those few sane people in a tribe, and work with them, and tell the brats to go play in the mud.

Team Yellow as a whole: What on God’s green earth were you thinking? You’ve got a bamboo forest, right here, giving you an incredible building resource and after three days, all you have to show for shelter building is something that makes cub scouts point and laugh. This early in the game, it is /all about survival/ - swallow all your pride, get the shelter built, kick off the weakest slug that the producers stuck you with.

Wonder how long until the red team gets the brilliant idea of losing a challenge to dump dead weight?

[JillValentine]

Hunter’s “knuckleheads” line was a classic, along with Jamie’s “Blindsided!” and Chicken’s “Damn!”

Did you see Ashley hauling that heavy suitcase on her back up the stairway? Someone whose job involves lifting a 130-pound woman over her head has to be pretty strong.

“Blindsided! NICE! Now THAT’s how you vote somebody out!” - Jamie Newton, Survivor: Guatemala

[JillValentine]

Next week...the poker player’s bluff is called.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Greetings Ladies and Gentlemen,

Yep! It’s me once again with your:

SURVIVOR PING!

The Fei Long (flying dragon) Tribe: Red Buffs
Aaron, Amanda, Courtney, Denise, James, Jean-Robert, Leslie, Todd

The Zahn Hu (fighting tiger) Tribe: Yellow Buffs
Ashley, Dave, Erik, Jaime, Frosti, Peih-Gee, Sherea

The Losers:
Chicken

The title of tonight’s episode is: ”My Mom Is Going to Kill Me!”

For hints on what to expect tonight, start highlighting at the - > below:
For those of you in Rio Linda, that means DON’T highlight it if you don’t want to know what happens!

- > From the SeeBS website:
The castaways are thrown, choked, and wrestled as mud flies and tops are ripped off in one of the most physical and dirtiest challenges in Survivor history.
When Leslie feels weak and vulnerable, she receives what she thinks is a gift from God.
Jean-Robert concocts a plan to purposely act lazy in order to get ahead in the game.

The reward challenge appears to be a frolic in the mud. Previews have shown Jeff releasing vary large balls into a mud pit and the players have to try and get their balls onto their mat while at the same time preventing the other team from doing the same thing. Clothes do in fact get torn off and tossed aside which will make the video producers job quite hectic by having to “fuzzy out” quite a bit.

Other “press release” photos show the Zahn Hu tribe sitting around camp in what appears to be the morning of the Immunity Challenge. (Dave appears to be reading the tree mail calling them to the challenge.) Conspicuously missing from this photo is Jaime, which leads people to believe that Fei Long won the Reward Challenge and “kidnapped” Jaime.

The Immunity Challenge appears to be breaking through barriers with a battering ram. Since the Fei Long tribe appears to have their act together and conversely, the Zahn Hu tribe can’t seem to function together, I’m gonna say the Fei Long continue their winning streak and win Immunity.

Well there you have it:
Cuz’s Weekly Survivor Picks

Start highlighting again: - >

Reward Challenge Winner: Fei Long
Immunity Challenge Winner: Fei Long
Voted out: Ashley Massaro

I’ll be back Monday morning with a recap of tonight’s episode, so till then,
Take Care,

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

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Notable Survivor Quote:
"I need someone to pee on my hand!"
John Carroll, Survivor Marquesas

[Notforprophet]

Just caught the first ep On Demand last night. Boy that Ashley chick is really annoying to me for some reason. Maybe it's the lip piercings... who knows?

NFP

[A knight without armor]

Tick.....tick.....tick.....tick.....have all snacks and drinks within arms reach and the pets fed......

[A knight without armor]

Last season I commented how they wore so many clothes and shoes. Now this time it seems everybody is naked. That mud splat at the fire pit was pretty funny!

[kingu]

While there’s been some improvements in the Zahn Hu camp, they still don’t even have a roof that’ll keep out the rain, and still have the split bamboo bottom. I suppose that’s a bit more comfortable to sleep on, but it’s going to fall apart after not so long. Not sorry to see Ashley gone, but that tribe has to get on the ball in regards to food if they intend upon doing anything other than being a constantly losing tribe.

And once again, the challenges were very well built, still /too/ well built for a ‘survival’ situation. The twist of the kidnap and hidden immunity clue was interesting; really like that twist to it, and hope that continues on.

Really wonder if Jamie’s going to point out how bad their camp is in comparison to the other, and use the observations on how to build a shelter right. The camp, as it is, /really/ needs help. Quick, someone call Home Depot to sponsor a challenge!