Survivor. Where's the thread? Oh, here it is.

[Zekester]

 

First episode was decent. A few thoughts....

-Jimmy Johnson. Pukin'. Shirtless. Giving pep talks. And quite chatty. Who knew?
-The one-legged girl? Hot as hell. Rooting for her, hope she goes far so I can keep looking at her -surprisingly- nice ass.
-What's with everyone running around in their skivvies? There was blurred out shit EVERYWHERE. I guess the producers want to make sure people stay tuned in? We really need an R-rated version released on DVD 

Thoughts?

[envy24]

after that ladys rant in the council i would have voted her annoying ass of too

[Scraper]

I missed the first 20 minutes or so, damn move to Wednesday. Sucks too because I really wanted to see everyone's reaction to seeing Jimmy Johnson there.

And yeah I would have voted that crazy bitch out too. Worst don't vote for me speech ever.

[Isgrimnur]

If only they posted stuff like that on their website.  Oh, well...

[Scraper]

If only they posted stuff like that on their website.  Oh, well...

If only I had time to look at every freaking website in the known universe. I would imagine that I would hit up Survivor's right after the Elen Show website and just prior to www.thingsIwouldratherbedoing.com

[Isgrimnur]

All in good fun, sir, all in good fun.

[Crawley]

A pretty boring start to the series overall. The Talisman of Power thing is a dumb and probably ruin the challenges when used. I'm also not sure about the whole reveal for the hidden immunity idol. Are the clues just going to show up at each treemail? That'll stink. But I do like the fact it was unexpected and now two people who probably didn't want to work together have to. And why didn't the old team get a hidden immunity idol clue?

You can already tell the old people's tribe is in trouble. Too many old bittys and grumpy old men. I don't get the sense they'll be able to get any unified orginization together to win the challenges. However I do like the fact that Machete is on the tribe so there's that going for them.

I'm also thankful the young tribe has their own celebrity lookalike in Fabio. They need some comedic personality to even out their cutthroat attitude.

So not off to a good start but maybe its working towards a slow foot blistering boil.

[Crawley]

Here's the hidden immunity idol clue BTW. No wonder they didn't figure it out:

[Zekester]

I don't get the sense they'll be able to get any unified orginization together to win the challenges.

I think they will if JJ stays on

[LoneStarSpur]

Looks like it might be a fun season.

• It's kicking Jimmy's ass already. 
• Fabio has to be acting. He just has to be.
• They got 39 days to go and they're already worried about the final 3. Sheesh.
• Those young chicks already annoy me. High maintenance. Love the one-legged girl, though.
• Crazy lady was crazy. Thank God she didn't start talking until the council or they might have just thrown her in the ocean or something.
• Old folks don't look like they have much of a chance.

[rittchard]

That clue looks like it belongs on Lost.

I watched the premiere but nothing really stood out for me much except the 2 hunky guys, Fabio and Leg-o-lass, but even then I was just mildly interested.  I dunno if I'm going to keep watching this season.

[ATB]

OK opener. SO SICK OF PUZZLES IN EVERY DAGGON CHALLENGE.  Time to innovate Survivor producers.

I'm kinda bored already, but my money is on the maturity team getting it together and the young fools getting picked apart.

Also, SUPER POWAR necklace is lame.

[Crawley]

OK opener. SO SICK OF PUZZLES IN EVERY DAGGON CHALLENGE.  Time to innovate Survivor producers.

Jeff Probst has said this seasons challenges will be less physical and more puzzle oriented due to the tribes age differences. So I image there will be quite a few puzzle pieces to come. As long as the challenges are creative I don't mind them. And I dig Jeff Probst saying "puzzle pieces".

[Zekester]

Spoiler for Hiden:

Not sure voting Shannon off was a good move considering how strong he was and it's the beginning of the challenges.

The questionable decision-making moves like this is where the older tribe should have the advantage.

Was anyone else bothered just a little bit by the "let's try to get the minorities to the final" comment made by stash or slash or whatever the hell his name is? Not whining about it, but I could just imagine if that comment was made the other way around 

...and glad to see they're still showing the handicapped-girl's nice ass in the edits still 

[Jimmy the Fish]

The person who got voted off was a true douchebag. People like that who go around shooting off their mouths because they think they know it all do nothing but divide the tribe. You could already see the division happening before they went to tribal council. Really dumb move on his part. He was clearly the leader and one of the physically strongest contestants out there. He could have been one of the season's power players.

The minorities thing bothered me too. As a minority myself, I hate it when people play that card. It's a convenient cop out and total doublestandard. The black girl needs to get off the whole angry oppressed ghetto attitude. For god's sake, it's 2010. You aren't in 1962 Alabama. She's fortunate someone else had just a little bit of a bigger mouth than her this week.

On the old tribe, the swim coach is playing like she wants to leave next. The whole episode with the shoes was bizarre. Jimmy Johnson is right. It's going to be easy for her to crack a second time, which give them a convenient excuse to vote her ass off.

[rittchard]

Funny, as a minority myself I thought it wasn't a bad idea.  I don't see it being any different than in past seasons when the most pretty/popular people band together, or all the young or people have united.  In their situation where it was looking like they were already on the outs, why not try to find something common to bond over?  In a group of strangers with nothing else necessarily sparking, it seems natural to bond over anything you have in common, and like it or not, race is still an issue no matter where you live.  I was born in the US and have been discriminated against, my mom's lived here 50+ years, and not too long ago she was told at a local Denny's that she didn't belong here.  And this was in Southern California, no less.

Anyway, was glad to see Shannon go.  I heart Chase/Brenda, so I'm hoping they can last.

Also what happened to the hidden immunity idol supposedly being much more difficult to find?  Russell would have dug that sh&t out the first hour he was there  

[Crawley]

Woo...Famke Janssen is a hawt insane cradle robber. I'm expecting some Fatal Attraction scenes from her in the near future. It'll be interesting if Julia and Matt let Sean in on their secret. I imagine its gotta come out sooner or later. Can't wait. And what's Christian gonna....oh wait. That's right this is the Survivor thread. Here I wanted to recap my thoughts on some exciting television watching but oh well.

I get the sense this season is going to be one of the more boring ones. Beyond Fabio I can't think of anyone on either tribe I want to back. There's only one guy on the old tribe that seems to be playing the game (Dan?) but he's not likable and he's thinking way too far ahead. He's certainly no Russel Hanz. Beyond him no one else on that tribe seems to realize this is a game. The red headed doctor who is obviously intelligent pissed me off when she told the guy (Dan? again) she'd vote for whomever he chooses.  How lame.

Then everyone on the young tribe is either too cutthroat, have no personality, or is just plain mean (Naonka). So there is no one to back. Just Fabio. What they need to do is fly Shambo out for this season. I never really liked her as she was so dopey but I could back her this season. Heck the possibility of an alliance between Fabio and Shambo is just too good not to think of. Throw in a challenge those two are tied together and need to navigate an obstacle course and you got prime television entertainment. Wishful thinking.

In the short term the only thing I think I can look forward to is Naonka getting the beat down by Kelly with her artificial leg.

I haven't given up yet but this season has been disappointing.

[rittchard]

Yeah I was pretty bored, fast forwarded through most of it.  No one on the old people's tribe interests me in the least.  That one guy who got rid of JJ just irritates me.  The young people are more fun and attractive to watch, but overall still a bore.

[ATB]

I don't really like anyone one the show.  Missed half the show and was still bored with only 30 minutes to watch.  One more episode might be it for me.

[rittchard]

I don't really like anyone one the show.  Missed half the show and was still bored with only 30 minutes to watch.  One more episode might be it for me.

This season is definitely testing my patience.  I'm basically fast forwarding now just to get to the end and see who is voted off.  Yet another cheap switcheroo ploy early in the game.  Why do they bother with the themes if they aren't willing to stick with them?  They did the same thing during Racial Survivor, giving up on the thematic splits almost immediately.  Note to producers, it's not a "twist" if you do it every frickin season, and it's not very "reality TV" when you do it to control/shift the balance against a particular team.  I suppose they are afraid of running into the problem they had the one season where they ran the team with Stephanie down to the last 2(?) people.

Anyway, it was also weird to have Naonka replaced with some zombie clone sad divorcee.  What happened to my ghetto-legless-shoving biatch?  Hope she's back soon because she's the only thing worth watching.  I guess I'm also hoping Brenda will eliminate the ever more annoying Marty.

[Jimmy the Fish]

My theory is that the show producers made the decision to jumble up the tribes on the fly because they didn't like the way things were shaking out. It was looking pretty obvious that the older tribe was going to continue imploding on itself to the point where the younger tribe would have an insurmountable advantage by the time the merge happened. Sure, it seems cheap to shuffle the deck like they did, but letting things play out on a very predictable path would have rendered the entire season even more unwatchable than it already is. I give them credit for ditching the amulet of power, which was a totally stupid challenge gimmick.

Marty is interesting to watch only in the sense that he is the next in a long line of Survivor players who fancy themselves a power player destined to be doomed by massive ego.

Naonka's days are numbered. Once everyone else knows you've mentally checked out, you're done.

[ATB]

I haven't seen the show in a couple weeks...but I've officially hit eject.  See you guys at the next all stars!   

[rittchard]

My theory is that the show producers made the decision to jumble up the tribes on the fly because they didn't like the way things were shaking out. It was looking pretty obvious that the older tribe was going to continue imploding on itself to the point where the younger tribe would have an insurmountable advantage by the time the merge happened. Sure, it seems cheap to shuffle the deck like they did, but letting things play out on a very predictable path would have rendered the entire season even more unwatchable than it already is. I give them credit for ditching the amulet of power, which was a totally stupid challenge gimmick.

I dunno, it's like giving an MMORPG developer credit for "balancing" the classes in 2 factions long after the fact by giving both factions the exact same classes 

But seriously, as a dedicated gamer, I really hate when these "reality" game shows change their own rules and even the game itself seemingly at their own whim just to fix/change whatever they perceive is not going the way they want it to.  Why not just script the whole thing then?  The season with Stephanie where they let it play out was actually interesting in a torturous sort of way.  In a show like this, the casting and editing is more important than the actual game, so why not just adhere to some set rules so that the game itself is preserved, and let the cast of characters drive the show (instead of the producers)?

[rittchard]

Spoiler for Hiden:

Can someone explain to me why the first tribe decided to gank Kelly B instead of Marty on the re-vote?  I FF'd through a lot of the ep so I'm not sure if I missed something that would make that make sense.

[LoneStarSpur]

Spoiler for Hiden:

Can someone explain to me why the first tribe decided to gank Kelly B instead of Marty on the re-vote?  I FF'd through a lot of the ep so I'm not sure if I missed something that would make that make sense.

Only thing I can't think of is that they're a bunch of friggin' morons.

I'm pretty sure I'm right.

[Jimmy the Fish]

I concur. There was no logical reason why they voted out the person they did. I guess he/she was not in the right alliance and that pretty much was it.

This season is getting harder and harder to watch. No interesting or sympathetic personalities to get behind. Just a collective group of douchebags, idiots, and mean-spirited cretins.

[Zekester]

Ya, i'm right there with you guys.

[rittchard]

Anyone still watching?  As much as I hate this season, I still feel compelled to keep watching, or at least FF'ing through to see who goes.  OK I admit that I really am only watching for my eye candy (Chase and Benry).

These people are all such incredible tools it's hard to predict anything, they keep breaking traditional Survivor-isms, and the editing seems to be deliberately cutting things out to confuse us further.  Now 3 weeks in a row Marty, arguably the only "hardcore" player, is left to continue his annoying presence.  I can't stand him but it would serve the rest of them right if he made it to the end due to their stupidity.  Then my girl Naonka?  WTF is up with her?  She is just flat out insane.  I guess it makes for amusing TV.  I almost wonder if the producers insisted they keep her and Marty on because everyone else was so boring.   

[LoneStarSpur]

We are, but I swear if it wasn't for Jane I wouldn't be. That woman is a hoot and her hatred of Marty is awesome. 

Glad you have some eye candy. I don't.  Except for possibly Purple Kelly, but I'm not sure she really exists. She must be the most boring person on the planet if she can't get any screen time with this group.

Na is insane, but she's at least entertaining.

Marty might be the most annoying person ever on Survivor. Yeah, that's a stretch, but damn that guy is a thoroughly unlikable prick.

Dan will probably end up in the final 3 with Na and Brenda or Stash (or slash...whatever dumb ass name he goes by.) Won't that be special?

I almost feel sorry for Jeff for having to put up with this bunch of dumb asses after the greatness that was Heroes vs. Villains. 

[rittchard]

We are, but I swear if it wasn't for Jane I wouldn't be. That woman is a hoot and her hatred of Marty is awesome. 

Glad you have some eye candy. I don't.  Except for possibly Purple Kelly, but I'm not sure she really exists. She must be the most boring person on the planet if she can't get any screen time with this group.

Na is insane, but she's at least entertaining.

Marty might be the most annoying person ever on Survivor. Yeah, that's a stretch, but damn that guy is a thoroughly unlikable prick.

Dan will probably end up in the final 3 with Na and Brenda or Stash (or slash...whatever dumb ass name he goes by.) Won't that be special?

I almost feel sorry for Jeff for having to put up with this bunch of dumb asses after the greatness that was Heroes vs. Villains. 

Agreed on that last statement! 

About Purple Kelly, I'm wondering if she is one of those "dark horse" under-the-radar types that they purposely have not shown much of.  Sometimes there's one person in the cast you don't see much footage of, because they've been kind of "saving up" for that person to be in it a lot more towards the end.  Given that theory, I wouldn't even be surprised if she made the final 3 or even wins it all.

[rittchard]

Good riddance Mr. Farty!!!!   

And gogogo Naonka, you psychopath, I love ya!!!!

In a season of idiots, tools and psychos, I'm almost thinking anything can happen.  As horrible as this year's cast is, I'm starting to get much more curious about who might possibly win.  Though it looks like Brenda and Sash are running the camp, numbers-wise it wouldn't take much to take either or both of them out, and then it would be a free-for-all.  I hope it's not as lame/simple as Brenda, Sash and Naonka in the final.  I would love to see some bizarre combo like Purple Kelly, Fabio and Dan making it, with Purple Kelly winning just because the other 2 are such dolts.

[Lee]

The previews for next week were the most exciting part of the show. Wonder what happened? Something tore up their chickens maybe?

[rittchard]

The previews for next week were the most exciting part of the show. Wonder what happened? Something tore up their chickens maybe?

Someone finally killed Naonka and chopped her into pieces!!!   

[Crawley]

The previews for next week were the most exciting part of the show. Wonder what happened? Something tore up their chickens maybe?

Someone finally killed Naonka and chopped her into pieces!!!   

Or found her back at camp chomping on an artificial leg.

[rittchard]

In a season of idiots, tools and psychos, I'm almost thinking anything can happen.  As horrible as this year's cast is, I'm starting to get much more curious about who might possibly win.  Though it looks like Brenda and Sash are running the camp, numbers-wise it wouldn't take much to take either or both of them out, and then it would be a free-for-all.  I hope it's not as lame/simple as Brenda, Sash and Naonka in the final.  I would love to see some bizarre combo like Purple Kelly, Fabio and Dan making it, with Purple Kelly winning just because the other 2 are such dolts.

This season, particularly after following a couple of the smartest and conniving and surprising backstab seasons, just goes further and further in the opposite direction.  This is possibly the stupidest cast of Survivor yet, it's like they took a bunch of dolts (or zombies?) who seem to be aware of many of the concepts in recent Survivor history (backstabs, alliances, immunity idols, strategy!, etc), but are completely unable to use them effectively.  Instead one or two people get an idea in their head, and the rest follow like mindless zombies or a rabid mob.  This week Holly of all people (who the hell is Holly, right?  you may remember her stealing Dan's shoes in the early episodes and wanting to quit) comes up with the idea that Brenda is in charge and needs to be taken out.  Suddenly the masses are all like "ooooo aaaaaahhhhh Holly smart.  It's time to make a MOVE!" and before you know it the weak willed zombie horde is all in cahoots to take her out.

Brenda, who I gave way too much credit, seems to be oblivious or just doesn't care, even telling us she "isn't even that impressed" - making us think she has an ace or 2 up her sleeve.  Instead her best friend, her alliance buddy, AND even her puppy dog all vote her off.  The saddest part is a simple playing of the idol and she and her alliance (with Kelly Purple they had 4 votes to take whoever they wanted out, even if the other 6 had been smart enough to do a split vote to flush the idol) could have solidified the game by taking anyone they wanted out, whether it was the traitorous psycho Naonka, the apparent mastermind Holly, or Benry the Tool. 

The only good part about this bunch of misfits and idiots is that it's completely impossible to figure out what stupid thing will happen next, which makes it impossible to guess who will win.  In its complete opposite from the last two seasons way, it's actually turning out to be fairly riveting.

[Crawley]

This has been a horrible season but this last episode was fantastic. Finally a major wakeup call to many of the players. I think it was actually Holly, the lady who wanted to quit at like day 2, that realized Brenda was a threat and had to get shit moving. NaOnka, bless her insane head, took the idea of getting Brenda out and ran with it. I'm glad that Brenda/Sash alliance is broken up as if that alliance held there would have been little excitment in who they would choose to vote out week after week.

On top of this wake up call you had what had to be one of the best stupid things Survivors had done by protecting their fire with 3 wooden chests full of supplies and then leave it! Oh how wonderful that was! And to top it off they were shocked these things could catch fire.

There was much more goodness in this episode. I loved Jeff Probsts ragging on the losing team of the reward challenge. "And Benre with the ceremonial loser dismount!" Ha! Then you had one of the best immunity challenges ever with young vs old. How could you not root for Jane in that challenge. That was a most satisfying conclusion. And yet another great moment was when Kelly Purple finally got some screen time...and showed viewers exactly why she's not shown. Hillarious!

Best episode of the season.

[Zekester]

Ya, i'll have to agree about the episode being better for all the reasons you mentioned.

I actually have Naonka in our office poll, but I can't help it...I can't stand her, and i'd love to see her get booted despite my chance at the winnings.

Ahh hell, there I go being all nonsensical again  

[hispanicgamer]

Cracked me up how Brenda couldn't believe that she was going to be voted off and really didn't do anything to stop it. The entertaining thing about Survivor is that the minute you think you're the winner is when you are voted off. Dumbass!  Next week should be entertaining with Sash running around to muster up some support.

[rittchard]

Cracked me up how Brenda couldn't believe that she was going to be voted off and really didn't do anything to stop it.

That was really the most frustrating thing for me, it was like she was a different person from the one shown in the first few weeks.  Now maybe I can buy she was just worn out and more or less ready to quit after she found out everyone (particularly Naonka) had turned on her.  The whole arrogant "I don't scramble" thing I actually thought was fine.  I actually agree that often times the scramblers just look desperate and pathetic and all the more irritating. 

The problem is not only didn't she scramble, she just did nothing.  Now unless they edited out something significant, all her pieces were in place for a painfree backstab and solidifying of her powerbase.  It would have taken one minute for her to tell Kelly Purple who to vote for - say Benry (or Naonka).  Then herself, puppy dog Chase and Sash all vote the same way, Sash plays the idol for her and boom!  Done!  4 votes was enough to beat a split vote strategy.  That's not scrambling, it's like a couple minutes to tell your peeps what to do.  Now granted you might argue Sash was completely unwilling to give her the idol, and was afraid he himself would get backstabbed - maybe I would buy that but there was not a word that gave that impression.  And if he had a brain at all in his head, he should know once Brenda was gone his own days would be numbered.  Oh well, I can't wait to hear how Brenda defends herself at the reunion.

[dfs]

It would have taken one minute for her to tell Kelly Purple who to vote for - say Benry (or Naonka).  Then herself, puppy dog Chase and Sash all vote the same way, Sash plays the idol for her and boom!  Done!  4 votes was enough to beat a split vote strategy.  That's not scrambling, it's like a couple minutes to tell your peeps what to do.

At which point you and your peeps have drawn a line in the sand where you are down 5-4 and getting ready for slow death.
The decision was for Sash to go that way or play for himself and he decided that he didn't need Brenda anymore. Can't fault him for that. She had become a pretty polarizing figure.