OMG…THAT’s who he was reminding me of!
I wanted to smack that smug little smirk off the guy’s face over the last few episodes, but I must say that I have to admire a guy who can basically thank the jury for losing so he could win, and still get them to vote for him.
Do we know when the new Survivor starts? I know I kind of fell off the radar at the end of this season – long and stupid story, don’t even ask – but I was still lurking, and I loved me some Palau scenery, so maybe I can reprioritize my life for the next season. Or get my husband a mistress, or something.
They said February on the show. The commercials for Big Brother were saying that it started on February 12th, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Survivor started the same night.
February…something. The new Big Brother also starts in February.
(Have I mentioned that I would seriously rather have had a new season of TAR than Big Brother? I have? Oh, well…)
Courtney gave Jeff the finger. That chick sure has some balls.
James’ big smile when he won the Popularity Contest made my day, though a part of me thinks that having a Popularity prize kind of spoils the game. James was going to be just fine after that show for no other reason than because he was just fine coming into the show. I hope all the predatory women who will be after him now won’t corrupt him. 
I am SO glad that he didn’t act all bitter at the final tribal.
I think Jamie and Denise were the only ones who disappointed me in the final tribal session with their irrational bitterness. Were Jamie’s boobs always that big? She looked like she’d gained a lot of weight at the tribal council.
Amanda should have either voted her conscience OR voted her strategy and made no apologies for it. But the route she took (vote her strategy but look tormented about it) lost her the million. On paper, she was certainly the strongest contender to win - she was good looking, diplomatic, won a lot of challenges, and was a great strategic player. But sitting there looking doe-eyed was the wrong way to handle herself in front of angry, disappointed people. Act like a leader and be proud or give your seat up to someone more worthy.
I completely agree that the “makeovers” were hideous. Courtney, Todd and Amanda all looked far better au natural. And Erik, who was really hot on the show, looked…meh.
I was really glad that Denise got $50g but I have to say that I’m not a fan of people who cannot help themselves. I hope that she uses the money to earn a degree or some skill so that she can get a better paying job. If you’re not a high school kid, there’s no excuse to be earning minimum wage.
I’m still pissed that they put so much filler into the last tribal council show. They should either let Jeff do a recap of the entire season OR keep the “let’s visit the torches of our fallen brethren” memorial section. But not both. If you haven’t been watching all season, I doubt you’ll be watching the finale. I’d much rather see 1.5 hours devoted to the final 4 and 1.5 hours devoted to the reunion show than the current format. (Though kudos to them for cutting out the hokey “Jeff parachuting out of a plane into the studio holding the voting urn” crap this reunion show.) I really didn’t enjoy the fact that they seemed to backload the bulk of the commercials into the reunion show.
I like that Todd won. He earned it. I also think Jeff is the best interviewer on television, but I say that every year.
So, Lib…when does the letter-writing campaign to get Mark Burnett to invite Rob & Amber back for this next season start? 
I love the idea of the super fans, and I think they should have gotten their own show. All super fans. They can always do the versus season later on. I expect the full range from the truly well prepared to the totally clueless wannabes. It should be fun
I missed the premise for S:Micronesia. Super fans? What are they, and how are they chosen? Most posts on the CBS message boards?
If the next seaon starts in February, the taping would be over by now wouldn’t it?
No need. They (as least Rob) will surely be in upcoming season.
I see someone here has outlined some of what’s known about S:Micronesia. I really don’t get the “Super Fan” idea at all – wouldn’t every single contestant in the last 10 seasons (minus All Stars) be described as a Super Fan of the show? I mean, they all wanted a million smackers, but the odds were pretty long – you’d have to be nuts for Survivor in some way to go through the auditions and look forward to living in a under a microscope with a dozen and a half other nuts.
I think this may be a response to complaints that lately the show seems to be “casted” more than filled with people who apply to be there. MSNBC talks about it here. Casting gets us people like Johnny Fairplay, and I’m guessing Courtney and Ashley from this season. I assume these superfans will be people who audtitioned the old fashioned way, but who knows for sure.
Actually, Earl Cole, who won Fiji, claimed he had never watched the show before applying. And even last night, Courtney said she wasn’t a fan of the show, which is why she had no strategy going into it.
What’s with all the Todd hatred in this thread? I didn’t like him either, but I’m not surprised or disappointed he won - he definitely played a better game than Amanda or Courtney. I’d actually compare his gameplay to Yul, except he’s small and creepy, not big & muscular.
Cast your memory back to the season when Rosie O’Donnell hosted the reunion show (shudder).
I missed Courtney flipping off Jeff. I’ll have to fish the show out of Tivo’s recycle bin.
Another Survivor All-Star? good god, why? Burnett’s showing some real creativity wrt to the gameplay/rules…why does he need to screw around with casting? And pleeeeezzze…don’t even think about bringing back Romber. (And I like the way they promo’d it: All Stars! Fans! More All Stars!!! (and oh yeah, it’s gonna be in Micronesia somewhere…but not one of the other 8 places in Micronesia we’ve already been.)
As soon as Jeff mentioned the $100k Rupert Memorial Popularity Consolation Award…it had to be James.
As already mentioned, several contestants have declared unfamiliarity with the show (and several others have shown it!). I think the super fans can be defined as people who live and breathe Survivor and think they could do a better job than the contestants so far. I am seriously hoping to see some Swiss Family Robinson shelters and 3 warm meals every day. And monkey butlers, only one at first, but then more.
Courtney lied. She was all “Todd’s pulling a Johnny Fairplay!” a couple of episodes ago. Not familiar with the show? Please. She had no strategy because she’s not particularly insightful (except as a spiteful shrew), no other reason needed.
Just because several people weren’t Survivor fans, that doesn’t mean the majority weren’t. I don’t think its a stretch to say most (sure, not all) of the contestants were fans of the show. The producers probably wouldn’t play that up on camera unless it was pertinent to the narrative they were building.
Now, if they were “super” fans… well, I’m not sure what that means.
On the whole superfan/applying question - according to the wikipedia article for the Fiji season, only one of the 20(19) players actually went through the “standard” application process. The others were all recruited. Yau-Man was recruited from a Table Tennis website.
Just got this off the Survivor Sucks and TWOP sites:
Press Release: Mrs. Denise Martin
December 17, 2007
Douglas Public Schools
On the “Survivor China” television program that aired on December 16, 2007, Mrs. Denise Martin, an employee of the Douglas Public Schools, stated that she was demoted from her position as a cafeteria worker upon her return from taping the show. This statement is false. In fact, Mrs. Martin held a full-time position as a custodian prior to her participation in the series, and she returned to this same position upon her return from China. Mrs. Martin was granted - at her request - an unpaid leave of absence so that she could participate in the “Survivor” program. We were pleased and excited to support Denise, and have enthusiastically cheered her on throughout the duration of the show.
Although Mrs. Martin was a cafeteria employee prior to her selection as a contestant, she asked to be considered for a promotion to full-time custodian, and was promoted to this position on March 30, 2007. This promotion came with additional benefits and a higher salary. Following her leave, she then returned to this same position.
Regretfully, the Douglas Public School District was inaccurately portrayed as failing to be accommodating to an employee during what the District viewed as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity. This is far from the case. On the contrary, we granted all requests made by Mrs. Martin so that she could participate in the “Survivor” series. Since Mrs. Martin was on an approved leave, her position was held open for her, and she returned to this same position upon her return from China. As a District, we make every effort to support our employees, and will continue to do so.
Nancy T. Lane
Superintendent of Schools
So this puts Denise squarely at the top of my Rupert Memorial Whiney Entitlement Shi*tlist, with an added asterisk for the bald-face lie. I guess she finally outwitted someone - Mark Burnett.
So does Burnett track down Denise and – yoink – take his check back? 
Good move by the school district…I was thinking that they were about to get a shitstorm of nasty e-mails. And this also jives with the input of my school district employed wife, who says that janitors make more than cafeteria workers, anyway.