# Survivor 11-19: "The Day Of Reckoning" \[SPOILERS\]

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 20, 2009, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242 "2009-11-20T02:23:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/41 "2009-11-21T01:12:57Z")

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In RocketMan John’s voting confessional, the first vote, when he voted for Natalie, he said, “Don’t worry, you are not going home”

So John had some sort of strategy in flipping the 2nd time but I have no idea what it might be.

And FTR, it was Russell who voted for “Luara” [sic] the first time around.

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**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/42 "2009-11-21T01:16:10Z")

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> [@BMada](#):
>
> sometimes I think they should just do what Big Brother does and give the Immunity Challenge winner (or Head of Household for BB) the ultimate tiebreaker vote. This would make the winning of the immunity challenge of utmost importance when there is a possibility of a tie.

That would be better than the PRoD.

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**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/43 "2009-11-21T02:34:12Z")

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> [@notfrommensa](#):
>
> In RocketMan John’s voting confessional, the first vote, when he voted for Natalie, he said, “Don’t worry, you are not going home”
> 
> So John had some sort of strategy in flipping the 2nd time but I have no idea what it might be.

John wanted to be sure his back was against the wall. No point in burning John’s tribemates unless John is sure there would be a chance of John going home.

I’m pretty damn sure the contestants got clarifications on the tiebreaker rules before tribal council and they parroted on screen the info they received. One of the rules states two votes before the rock is drawn. If John know this, he would be a fool not to take advantage of there being two votes. Costs him absolutely nothing.

As for the previous rock draw on Marquesas, I thought the only one immune to the draw was Vicepia, the immunity challenge winner. It was final four, so the vote recipients drew and Paschal the non-vote-recipient drew, but Vicepia did not. Paschal lost the 1 in 3 random rock draw.

Therefore, in the recent Samoa episode, had it gone to a rock draw tiebreaker, Mick would not draw because he held immunity. Everyone else draws, including Natalie and Laura.

I don’t know where the idea came from about Natalie and Laura not drawing.

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**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/44 "2009-11-21T02:53:01Z")

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> [@The\_Controvert](#):
>
> I don’t know where the idea came from about Natalie and Laura not drawing.

From what Jeff said, everyone but them would draw rocks, including those with immunity. As in, immunity _from votes_. Purple rocks aren’t votes.

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**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/45 "2009-11-21T04:16:49Z")

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> [@The\_Controvert](#):
>
> As for the previous rock draw on Marquesas, I thought the only one immune to the draw was Vicepia, the immunity challenge winner. It was final four, so the vote recipients drew and Paschal the non-vote-recipient drew, but Vicepia did not. Paschal lost the 1 in 3 random rock draw.
> 
> Therefore, in the recent Samoa episode, had it gone to a rock draw tiebreaker, Mick would not draw because he held immunity. Everyone else draws, including Natalie and Laura.
> 
> I don’t know where the idea came from about Natalie and Laura not drawing.

Marquesas was a fluke. They didn’t plan out the PROD well enough to realize that it wouldn’t work at the final four.

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**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/46 "2009-11-21T15:28:04Z")

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> [@jsc1953](#):
>
> Color me extremely dubious about the finding of the HII. Russell ‘loses’ Dave, while being trailed by cameramen and sound men? Doubles back and turns over the right rock without Dave ever catching up? Hmmm.

They’ve said before that they sometimes ‘reenact’ dramatic moments if they’re missed, or had a bad camera accident, or whatever.

So my guess is that it played out pretty much as shown – Russell managed to ditch his followers INCLUDING the camera men and found the idol.

Then they took him back to the stone wall and had him ‘find’ the HI again while the cameraman shot good footage.

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**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/47 "2009-11-21T16:01:09Z")

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> [@StarvingButStrong](#):
>
> They’ve said before that they sometimes ‘reenact’ dramatic moments if they’re missed, or had a bad camera accident, or whatever.

I thought that was only camera fly overs during challenges.

When did they say they reenact dramatic moments from island life, so to speak?

😕

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**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/48 "2009-11-21T20:35:36Z")

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Okay, I stand corrected. I was wrong about Natalie and Laura drawing rocks based on Marquesas. However, **Ellis Dee** is wrong about Mick’s immunity. According to this [link](http://boards.survivoraddicts.net/showthread.php?p=273118), 3 people would have been immune: Natalie, Laura and Mick.

The immunity challenge is not solely for immunity from votes. It’s immunity from leaving that week.

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**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/49 "2009-11-21T22:05:48Z")

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Not quite as good as last week’s fantastic episodes, but still one of the better ones. I cheered out-loud when Russell found the hidden immunity idle again–freakin’ insane!

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the incredbably egregious product placement of the **Palm Pre.** The way the clues were scattered between three multimedia functions of the phone? Disgusting. The whole ‘taking pictures’ thing was cheesy as hell and really detracted from the first half of the episode.

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**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/50 "2009-11-21T22:12:31Z")

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They gotta pay for their new HD cameras somehow. Just ignore the product placements and don’t let it bother you.

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**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/51 "2009-11-21T22:15:33Z")

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> [@The\_Controvert](#):
>
> They gotta pay for their new HD cameras somehow. Just ignore the product placements and don’t let it bother you.

If it were that easy, I would have done so.

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**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/52 "2009-11-22T01:46:55Z")

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> [@Red\_Barchetta](#):
>
> I am surprised that no one has mentioned the incredbably egregious product placement of the **Palm Pre.** The way the clues were scattered between three multimedia functions of the phone? Disgusting. The whole ‘taking pictures’ thing was cheesy as hell and really detracted from the first half of the episode.

Oh, god, I agree. That was freaking awful. One of the players even said something “Wow!” about the phone, obviously a fed line. That took me all the way back to season two where Colby won a [Pontiac Aztek](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Aztek), a very fugly car, and he had to say something like “Wow, what an amazing vehicle!” in his confessional. :rolleyes:

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**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/53 "2009-11-22T02:07:05Z")

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**squeegee** and **Red Barchete** , I’m with you two on this. Product placement, I get–blatantly hocking something, even, I get. But this was an awkward, painful infomercial that was so obviously fake in its attempt to look real…ugh. It got to where I started groaning and moaning at all of the lame picture stills they kept showing (that weren’t the clearest quality, I noted).

At one point, I turned to hubby and said, “I feel like we’re watching the [Flintstones hock cigarettes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAExoSozc2c).”

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**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/54 "2009-11-22T02:26:16Z")

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> [@Ruffian](#):
>
> It got to where I started groaning and moaning at all of the lame picture stills they kept showing (that weren’t the clearest quality, I noted).

If only they had some HD cameras handy to film them going on their reward…

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**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/55 "2009-11-23T12:07:10Z")

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It was cringe-inducing, but I am really glad that they’ve backed off quite a bit on a lot of the placement they used to have. I’m always pleased when the food rewards are obviously home-made real food, not Do-ree-toes and Sprite. I find that refreshing, and it doesn’t take me out of the game.

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**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/56 "2009-11-23T19:08:57Z")

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What was that one that we saw in the last season or two, the “Charmin Tea House” or somesuch? I remember it was very groan-inducing, but I’ve expunged the details from my memory.

And, yeah, having brand name food rewards was pretty annoying. At least the players weren’t excitedly singing the praises of Snickers™ while they ate, oy.

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/57 "2009-11-23T19:14:35Z")

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> [@squeegee](#):
>
> What was that one that we saw in the last season or two, the “Charmin Tea House” or somesuch? I remember it was very groan-inducing, but I’ve expunged the details from my memory.
> 
> And, yeah, having brand name food rewards was pretty annoying. At least the players weren’t excitedly singing the praises of Snickers™ while they ate, oy.

Whatever season had the most disparate team competence ever…culminating in a single person from the sucky loser tribe (Stephanie?) surviving to what amounted to an all-out absorption, rather than a merge, had a Charmin bathhouse built at the competent team’s camp. That was the season with Dolphin Boy and Firefighter Tom, wasn’t it?

Ah…I remember what you’re talking about. I think it was the China season…they went on a reward challenge that was at a teahouse or something that was sponsored by Charmin (they could shower and stuff, too, so I think the opportunity to poop with soft tissue cleanup was implied).

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**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/58 "2009-11-23T20:02:22Z")

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In response to questions about his Survivor EW blog EW Probst has written:

> [@](#):
>
> Jeff Probst Fri 11/20/09 1:58 PM
> 
> PRODUCT PLACEMENT -I have four words for you: Get used to it. TIVO and the internet has thrown the advertising world into a tailspin. At the end of the day television shows are merely the stuff in between the commercials. Advertisers are what pay for television shows. Because people are watching shows and skipping commercials or watching them online without commercials -these days one of the only ways advertisers can get their product seen is to put it within the body of the show where they know you will see it. Sprint is one of the reasons Survivor is still on the air. The biggest reason Survivor is still on the air though – loyal fans. Thank you for the continued support. Glad you’re digging the season.

The product placement stuff doesn’t bother me at all.  
Probst also goes on to say:

> [@](#):
>
> MANIPULATION – To those of you who honestly believe we are telling Russell where the idols are, I can only say this – we aren’t. We have never cheated and helped certain people win. We could never get away with it. If we tried and somebody spoke up, or one of our crew members told one of their family members, or a disgruntled Survivor decided to use it against us – any of those scenarios would result in the end of Survivor and the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars for Mark and CBS. We just don’t do it. Russell is just playing a fun and smart game and the rest of the people are a step behind. It’s really that simple.

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**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/59 "2009-11-23T21:03:03Z")

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> [@notfrommensa](#):
>
> In response to questions about his Survivor EW blog EW Probst has written:

Yeah, probst isn’t biased at all :rolleyes:

I don’t care what the justifications are, it doesn’t change the fact that it detracted from the show for both me and apparently many others.

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**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-11-19-the-day-of-reckoning-spoilers/518242/60 "2009-11-23T21:06:20Z")

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> [@notfrommensa](#):
>
> The product placement stuff doesn’t bother me at all.

You know, most of it doesn’t bother me all that much, either. The brand-name food, tools, whatever for rewards is cheesy but I can get over it. The Charmin tea house was just somewhat bad, not horrid; it was just a brand-named outhouse.

The placement that bothers me most is the type from this episode, where the players are more or less following a script with the product, which takes the players from being reality contestants to unpaid\* advertising shills. That really bugs me.

\*I have wondered if the players get a performance fee for this stuff. I’m guessing no, but it wouldn’t be surprised if they did.

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