# Survivor 2/20/13 - Brandon is Crazy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 20, 2013, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912 "2013-02-20T22:24:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CrabRangoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9e8a1a/32.png) [@CrabRangoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrabRangoon)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/1 "2013-02-20T22:24:08Z")
So - here’s a thread fer ya. Will Brandon go nuts and destroy his tribe’s chances for immunity? Will he drive his tribe mates to tears? Will he get the royal boot tonight? Let’s watch and find out! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/2 "2013-02-20T23:22:11Z")
For the record, the actual episode title is “Honey Badger” and the TV Guide summary is as follows:After the first elimination, Dawn is targeted; Phillip gives undercover identities to his alliance.And here I thought Phillip had said he was going to try to stay a bit more under the radar this season. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/3 "2013-02-20T23:46:16Z")
Didn’t Brandon get tossed off of “Big Brother” last summer for physically accosting another house guest? What’s with CBS hiring him again? Or is my first sentence the answer to that question? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/4 "2013-02-21T00:03:18Z")
That was apparently [Uncle Willie](http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s69/big-brother-usa/news/a394736/big-brother-usa-willie-hantz-ejection-defended-by-survivor-brandon.html) (Russell’s brother), not Li’l Hantz - though Brandon does of course rush to his uncle’s defense. That whole family is just one frickin’ train wreck of issues, innit? ---
**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:** [February 21, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/5 "2013-02-21T01:14:56Z")
Philip: “Brandon is narcistic.” Yes, that is the way he said the word. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/6 "2013-02-21T01:17:05Z")
Don’t know why it’s bothering me so much, but why the hell does Brandon have a - twig? - stuck through his ear?? “Special Agent Pink Panther” was funny, though. ---
**Author:** ![CrabRangoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9e8a1a/32.png) [@CrabRangoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrabRangoon)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/7 "2013-02-21T02:27:06Z")
> [@Just\_Ed](#): > > Don’t know why it’s bothering me so much, but why the hell does Brandon have a - twig? - stuck through his ear?? Every time they showed that - I said “Take that stupid ass thing out of your ear” to the TV. WTF. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/8 "2013-02-21T02:44:01Z")
> [@Just\_Ed](#): > > Don’t know why it’s bothering me so much, but why the hell does Brandon have a - twig? - stuck through his ear?? I don’t think there is ever going to be a good answer to any question that begins, “Why does Brandon…” ---
**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:** [February 21, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/9 "2013-02-21T05:40:09Z")
Loved the look of shock on the “Cool Kids” faces when Probst read the votes. I swear, some of them had never figured out that 4 \< 6. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/10 "2013-02-21T05:41:40Z")
I knew Phillip would never be able to fly under the radar for long. Besides, he’s what I consider to be comic relief 🙂 Brandon, OTOH – I don’t even want to hazard a guess. On RI I had the feeling he was trying his damndest to contain his temper…my fear is that he might ultimately, seriously snap this time. And WTF about revealing the HII during their very first TC?!?!? Haven’t these fans supposedly been watching Survivor for years now?!? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/11 "2013-02-21T06:03:18Z")
It’s probably just me but I get the idea that they cast the “fans” by parking a bus on the street and waiting for people to come up to them asking for a handout to which their response was, “Can’t give you any money now, but how would you like to be on _Survivor_?” ---
**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:** [February 21, 2013, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/12 "2013-02-21T06:15:28Z")
The “cool kids” thought they had 2 more votes, the two guys who were swing voters – one has a red beard and the other guy is bald. Recall the conversation where Reynold was pushing one of them to vote out Shemar. And that guy said he was on board with the plan, because what else is he going to say to Reynold’s face? In the midst of tribal council, presumably after some key conversations had taken place, Reynold was probably not feeling as confident, so he probably revealed he had the idol to insure he stays. Note: he didn’t actually have to play the idol – he knew the threat of the idol would keep him safe that night. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/13 "2013-02-21T06:46:16Z")
My favorite character this season is the wild-eyed tree dwelling animal who munches lustily on bug heads every time he is on camera. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/14 "2013-02-21T07:12:28Z")
> [@kiz](#): > > And WTF about revealing the HII during their very first TC?!?!? Haven’t these fans supposedly been watching Survivor for years now?!? I think at that point the cat was out of the bag, and fessing up was his best option. Maybe it would convince someone they’d be better off supporting him. At worst he got to do what Malcolm did last season, and stay safe by threatening to play it without actually playing it. I’m really surprised the producers let Brandon Hantz back for another season. He’s just so obviously bipolar/sociopathic, and seems ready to snap at any moment. I haven’t been this worried that someone will flip out and kill another contestant since Machete Matt from Survivor Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/15 "2013-02-21T13:54:37Z")
> [@The\_Controvert](#): > > The “cool kids” thought they had 2 more votes, the two guys who were swing voters – one has a red beard and the other guy is bald. Recall the conversation where Reynold was pushing one of them to vote out Shemar. And that guy said he was on board with the plan, because what else is he going to say to Reynold’s face? > > In the midst of tribal council, presumably after some key conversations had taken place, Reynold was probably not feeling as confident, so he probably revealed he had the idol to insure he stays. Note: he didn’t actually have to play the idol – he knew the threat of the idol would keep him safe that night. Actually, in a weird way it might have been a good play for the six non-cool-kids to vote for Reynold _anyway_. Best case scenario: he does exactly what he does, and fails to play the idol. He goes home, and his idol goes out of the game with him. Worst case scenario: he plays the idol. Your votes for him don’t count. Shemar goes home, which is sad for him, but five is still greater than four and now there’s no more idol with which to contend. ---
**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:** [February 21, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/16 "2013-02-21T13:59:51Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > My favorite character this season is the wild-eyed tree dwelling animal who munches lustily on bug heads every time he is on camera. That’s a [tarsier](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsier). Frankly, I’m over HIIs at all. At least until they start actually burying them or something. How many times have they been found without even a clue having been distributed? Lame… ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/17 "2013-02-21T16:34:24Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > That’s a [tarsier](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsier). > > Frankly, I’m over HIIs at all. At least until they start actually burying them or something. How many times have they been found without even a clue having been distributed? Lame… It doesn’t make very good TV to show someone looking unsuccessfully for HII. He could have been looking for hours and hours before he found the HII. Its not like everyday is filled with paperwork for them to do each day. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/18 "2013-02-21T16:57:21Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > That’s a [tarsier](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsier). Beat me to it. 'Cause, you know, I was still in bed at 0600. 😛 VF-33 (USN fighter squadron 33) called themselves the Tarsiers. I heard that someone thought tarsiers were [fierce animals](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Minky.jpg) that hunted by night. They changed their name to the Starfighters in 1985, and the squadron was disestablished in 1993. ---
**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:** [February 21, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/19 "2013-02-21T17:10:37Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > It doesn’t make very good TV to show someone looking unsuccessfully for HII. > > He could have been looking for hours and hours before he found the HII. Its not like everyday is filled with paperwork for them to do each day. It’s not that he found it so quickly, for me. It’s that I’m wondering why they even bother with the clues at all. It’s obvious that they don’t NEED clues to find the HII, the way it’s usually hidden. All you really need to do is look in every tree hole and snag around the camp (oh, how I wish Burnett would steal a thought from the Flash Gordon movie and stuff some kind of mildly poisonous creature into some of the other holes). It was actually better last season when they hid them in plain sight. ---
**Author:** ![Kepler1571](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/db5fbb/32.png) [@Kepler1571](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepler1571)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912/20 "2013-02-21T17:13:37Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > My favorite character this season is the wild-eyed tree dwelling animal who munches lustily on bug heads every time he is on camera. He’s definitely the brightest. It’s always interesting to see what emotion/reaction they are associating creatures with in post-production. Some are obvious (snakes, spiders). Big Eyes is still a bit of a mystery. And every time I see him I think of Ian Somerhalder. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-2-20-13-brandon-is-crazy/650912.md?page=2)