Survivor: Philipines Starts Tonight

[silenus]

Or...the producers could have figured out that we've figured out that the promos are always deceiving and this time really put in what is happening, figuring we'll assume that it's a deception.

Now the herring is purple.

[enalzi]

I kinda wanted Zane to stick around, just because he reminded me of Landry from Friday Night Lights.

Also, I'm better that the three tribes become 2 within the next few episodes. Maybe have a challenge where the losing tribe gets divided up.

[Tangent]

Originally Posted by aceplace57

Supkin

nitpick: Skupin

[silenus]

Originally Posted by enalzi

I kinda wanted Zane to stick around, just because he reminded me of Landry from Friday Night Lights.

Also, I'm better that the three tribes become 2 within the next few episodes. Maybe have a challenge where the losing tribe gets divided up.

Zane was just too weird for me to want to watch.

I think the only way they'd dissolve a tribe early is if they lose 3 challenges (half their strength). Then it would make sense.

[Ethilrist]

I haven't been following the game consistently enough to know this, but there's something I've been wondering: Anybody have any idea how consistently the immunity idol has helped people? I've only seen it work exactly as intended once (the astronaut). Every other time, it becomes a HUGE FREAKING DEAL and somebody gets voted off just because they think he's got it, or he gets voted off because he does have it and is too stupid to play it. It seems like the car curse, sometimes...

[Ethilrist]

Originally Posted by silenus

Zane was just too weird for me to want to watch.

I think the only way they'd dissolve a tribe early is if they lose 3 challenges (half their strength). Then it would make sense.

Tell that to the Philly Girl from the Little Tribe that Couldn't in the season with Dolphin Boy. Her tribe got down to just herself before the merge.

[jayjay]

Originally Posted by Ethilrist

I've only seen it work exactly as intended once (the astronaut). Every other time, it becomes a HUGE FREAKING DEAL and somebody gets voted off just because they think he's got it, or he gets voted off because he does have it and is too stupid to play it. It seems like the car curse, sometimes...

What makes you think that's not working exactly as intended (by the producers)?

[Ethilrist]

Originally Posted by jayjay

What makes you think that's not working exactly as intended (by the producers)?

Oh, sure, it's there to make more drama and a more interesting game, but it's always advertised as "use this to make sure you don't get voted off." In the shows I've seen, it usually seems to work the opposite: finding it (or even spending a lot of time looking for it) is a death warrant.

[Jas09]

Originally Posted by Ethilrist

Oh, sure, it's there to make more drama and a more interesting game, but it's always advertised as "use this to make sure you don't get voted off." In the shows I've seen, it usually seems to work the opposite: finding it (or even spending a lot of time looking for it) is a death warrant.

I don't think that's close to accurate. In fact, the person finding it almost always makes it pretty far if not to the end of the game. Most of the recent winners either had an idol or someone in their alliance did, including last season.

[notfrommensa]

Just rewatched the episode. The guy that I disliked the most (but probably most entertaining) got voted out first. Just one weird Guy.

I would have never recognize Child star and I watched the show, occasionally. I would not have recognized the baseball player.

IIRC, The only two people that did not get a confessional is the black guy on Skupkin tribe and the young blond guy on Penner's tribe.

Penner's Beach seemed to be awesome, with a lagoon.

I don't know why anyone would come on the show (and claim to be an uber-fan) and be afraid to get into skivvies in the water. (Hello Blair).

This is the second time an athlete has tried to go incognito, and both times they have been outed pretty quickly. I don't believe for a second that another competitor recognized them - they were outed by the producers.

I wonder if Jeff Kent introduced himself as Jeff Kent. I can see a casual fan recognizing the name, more than the face, and then putting two and two together. I suspect that Lisa used her married name rather than her stage name.

I guess the other athlete that you are thinking of is Grant, who was in the last one with Boston Rob? He was an NFLer, but not well known, and barely played.

Other pseudo celebs was Eddie George' wife in Brazil, and Crystal, the Olympic Track Gold Medalist who was a total klutz in challenges and even Ethan Zohn was a pro soccer player.

Crystal is the one that yelled her voting confessional, one of the best tribal councils in Survivor history, the same night that Randy played a fake hidden immunity idol.

[Lamar Mundane]

Originally Posted by notfrommensa

I guess the other athlete that you are thinking of is Grant, who was in the last one with Boston Rob? He was an NFLer, but not well known, and barely played.

Not Grant. IIRC, he never actually appeared in a game, just was on the practice squad for a couple of teams. It was Gary Hogeboom, who started a few games for the Dallas Cowboys, among other teams. He was in the league for about 10 years, although mostly injured or as a backup. On Survivor, he looked nothing like an NFL player. He was tall and skinny with gray hair.

Danni, who eventually won the season, outed him. She claimed that she recognized him from his college days. Riiight.

[kiz]

Originally Posted by notfrommensa

I would have never recognize Child star and I watched the show, occasionally. I would not have recognized the baseball player.

Even if I hadn't already known she was going to be playing, I would have recognized her off the bat. And I think I only watched the show maybe a half dozen times?

Him? Heard of him, but that was it. Wouldn't know him if I'd tripped over him.

I don't know why anyone would come on the show (and claim to be an uber-fan) and be afraid to get into skivvies in the water. (Hello Blair).

IIRC correctly she's an evangelical Christian who does speaking tours and has written a couple of parenting books. Frankly, I'm shocked she actually got on the show because Survivor, in its purest form, is the complete antithesis of her offscreen life. Given that, I'm not surprised she's covering up. I'd expect her to, even if it looks strange by Survivor standards.

[silenus]

Even if I hadn't known they were going to be on the show, I would have recognized both of them instantly. I watched the show on occasion and am a fan of the NLWest. Not hard at all.

My prediction is that Russell goes next. His team hates him already.

[twickster]

Originally Posted by silenus

My prediction is that Russell goes next. His team hates him already.

And why not? He says he understands that being a leader is often a bad strategy, but is unable to prevent himself from grabbing that role at every possible opportunity.

That wouldn't necessarily be a problem, except he did an extremely bad job of "leading" when he assigned roles in the challenge -- so bad that they lost the challenge.

Yup, his strength is an advantage -- but the downside is significant.

[notfrommensa]

Originally Posted by twickster

And why not? He says he understands that being a leader is often a bad strategy, but is unable to prevent himself from grabbing that role at every possible opportunity.

That wouldn't necessarily be a problem, except he did an extremely bad job of "leading" when he assigned roles in the challenge -- so bad that they lost the challenge.

Yup, his strength is an advantage -- but the downside is significant.

IMO, Russell's team did not lose the challenge because the Russell/Zane ran and the two young girls did the puzzle.

They lost the challenge because of the 2nd leg (in the water). By the time the sex therapist and Micronesia Man (Malcolm) came back with the puzzle pieces, the other teams had already done half the puzzle (which was not a complicated puzzle). I think Russell's team would have lost no matter what the assignments were.

Penners team won because they did the water task the best.

[twickster]

Originally Posted by notfrommensa

IMO, Russell's team did not lose the challenge because the Russell/Zane ran and the two young girls did the puzzle.

They lost the challenge because of the 2nd leg (in the water). ...

Well, then, someone else should have taken the second leg. Again, however he made the assignments, and whichever leg was done by process of elimination, he did not make good assignments. Since the 2nd leg was crucial, the strongest players should have been on it -- including Russell. Since he instead assigned himself the first leg....

[notfrommensa]

Strong swimmers were needed for the water part. Russell may not be a strong swimmer.

I think they were doomed to lose that challenge.

[Morgenstern]

Originally Posted by twickster

And why not? He says he understands that being a leader is often a bad strategy, but is unable to prevent himself from grabbing that role at every possible opportunity.

That wouldn't necessarily be a problem, except he did an extremely bad job of "leading" when he assigned roles in the challenge -- so bad that they lost the challenge.

Yup, his strength is an advantage -- but the downside is significant.

If the next challenge is a physical one. "Russell's team" may do well. They were dealt quite a handicap when they ended up with one guy who was both a lard ass and brain dead. As we saw, he couldn't run, he probably would have drowned if he had to swim, and certainly he's still be there wondering what to do first if he had been a puzzle solver. That team is much stronger with him gone.

[D-bear]

Originally Posted by kiz

Even if I hadn't already known she was going to be playing, I would have recognized her off the bat. And I think I only watched the show maybe a half dozen times?

Him? Heard of him, but that was it. Wouldn't know him if I'd tripped over him.

IIRC correctly she's an evangelical Christian who does speaking tours and has written a couple of parenting books. Frankly, I'm shocked she actually got on the show because Survivor, in its purest form, is the complete antithesis of her offscreen life. Given that, I'm not surprised she's covering up. I'd expect her to, even if it looks strange by Survivor standards.

Interestingly enough she finalized her divorce 9 days before heading out to start the competition.

I'd have recognized her as quickly as Skupin. I could not have resisted for a second. I would have shouted "I've just had another one of my Brilllllllllliant ideas," just to see her reaction...