Watching Survivor

That’s right! This season, we here at Watching Survivor have the chance to participate in our very own Pool! So grab your rubber ducky and check out the floating ba…. wait. Not THAT kind of pool! This is an online version of what office’s and friends and family do all over the place, making predictions and earning points until an eventual winner is crowned! Jim, over at FunOfficePools.com has graciously invited us, walked me through the process, and helped me set up our very own Watching Survivor Micronesia Pool! And did I mention? It’s TOTALLY FREE to join and play!

Here’s how it works:

Step one: Click here and join! I know, easy right?
Step two: Make your picks for who is going to be voted off Week One! You can spread you’re points around, or put them all on one. You can change you’re mind up until the countdown clock hits zero.
Step three: Make your Overall Winner pick! If your pick wins, you will get 40 points, second gets 20 and third gets 10.
Step four: Check back EVERY WEEK to see how you’re doing in the standings and make your next week’s predictions!
(if you need help choosing your first weeks picks, check out the previous posts -here, here, here and here- where I’ve already begun snarking on the contestants!)

At the end of the season, whoever has the most points wins! What will you win? Well, total bragging rights, first off. I’m still working on the rest. As of now:

Grand Prize: A button declaring you the Sole Pool Survivor posted on here and linked to your site.
2nd Prize: A smaller button declaring you pretty darn awesome as well and linked to your site.
3rd Prize: The smallest of the three buttons, but hey - It’s a link!

And you will, of course, be able to have a copy of your button to plaster wherever you want.

I’m working on some other ideas as well, but I won’t have everything cemented for a couple weeks yet - but it’ll TOTALLY be worth it! If you’re interested in donating something fabulous for a prize, please let me know by clicking that ‘contact me’ button over there, or leaving a comment and I’ll get back to you straight away. Otherwise you’ll be stuck with the buttons and whatever I choose for the winner! (grin)

So what are you waiting for? Click HERE and sign up today! Invite your friends to do the same! The more people we have, the more fun it’ll be - so spread the word!

Only five more Survivors to go, for our totally unsubstantiated thoughts on how they’re going to do during Survivor: Micronesia! And true to form, this last group has some of the oddest contestants yet. Ha!

Erik: 22, Ice cream scooper, Ypsilanti, MI

Erik says: I want to do this for myself, to grow up more. I haven’t experienced a lot of life. I haven’t experienced a lot of stress.

Says Jeff: Erik loves the show more then anyone I have ever met. He remembers things that I did that I don’t remember. He’s a young kid, and that young exciting energy is what’s going to keep him in this game and could easily be what gets him knocked out, because he doesn’t have the maturity of life to know when he’s being played. That’s what he’s going to have to watch out for. Because you could see people looking at him on Day one and going ‘who is the kid in the green shoes, for crying out loud?’

Says me: Oh my heavens - I could swear I have a poster from back in the day that hung on my walk of an earlier incarnation of Erik - I can’t for the life of me place a name with the face, but never-the-less, it makes me feel incredibly old. Also, how can anyone possibly take him seriously with that hair, paired with those SHORTS and the afore mentioned green shoes? And he’s an ICE CREAM SCOOPER? He may have been a Super Fan who loves the game, but he looks like he was bore yesterday… when yesterday is a reincarnation of 1979. It might end up that we completely underestimate him because of all of the above? But I have a feeling this baby’s gonna be trampled by the other players.

Mary: 29, Real Estate Entrepreneur, Emeryville, CA.

Mary says: This is closer to $1 million then I’ve ever been before. I’m definitely in it for the money. I’m largely money-driven.

Says Jeff: I think mary coming into the game is going to be on the bubble. She’s either going to learn where to fit in this group quickly or she’s going to be on the outs for the whole time. Mary’s best play is to hide in the middle, not become a nuisance, just hang out and see if you can hang out long enough that your vote becomes valuable.

Says me: Yes, she’s one of my son’s favorites too. She’s on the bikini watch, and will have to prove again that there are brains behind the boobs. Being in Real Estate, she’s clearly got some level of smarts, though she’s still young too. The catty side of me wants to just wave her off - but then again, who’s to say she’s not going to pull the slow under the radar, flirt her way to the final two move…

Jason: 22, Student Teacher, Fox River Grove, IL.

Jason says: I’m not evil or devious. But I can be. If it comes down to lying, I have no problem.

Says Jeff: Jason loves to compare himself to Ozzy. He thinks Ozzy is the greatest player to ever participate in Survivor - I think he’s kind of got a man-crush on him. He’s coming on strong in the beginning saying ‘I’ going to go toe-to toe with Ozzy. I can climb coconut trees just like he can, I can swim just like he can, and I’m just as athletic as he is’ My response to that is, it’s on thing to say it and another thing to do it. So he can talk the talk, but the question is can he walk the walk?

Says me: Awwww, if he isn’t a fresh faced good ole boy? He sounds confident, and determined, but that could very well be his downfall. And I hate to break it too you Jason, but you ain’t Ozzy. There’s only one Ozzy and we love him with a love that cannot be compromised. If he goes on and on about being just like Ozzy, I may have to throw something at my TV. That could be bad. (grin)

Kathleen: 45, Golf Course vendor, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Kathleen says: I’m tending to look for misfits, people who are psychologically or emotionally damaged, like myself.

Says Jeff: We almost put Kathy on Vanuatu and we didn’t. It’s one thing to have a positive attitude, it’s another to survive 39 days eating some rice, clams and an occasional fish. I think Kathy’s going to be tested enormously, and the longer she lasts, the tougher it’s going to be unless she can embrace it. It’s not an easy season out there. It rained almost every night we were there, and if you get sent to Exile, it can be brutal.

Says me: Tell us something we DON’T know, Jeff. Exile can be brutal? You get hungry? Noooo… say it ain’t so! Ha! My first impression of this picture of Kathleen was “wackjob!” which is probably totally and completely unfair of me, but what person wants to strike up an alliance with people who are damaged - just like herself? And what exactly is a Golf Course Vendor? I don’t know - she looks too happy. Manic even. Time will tell…

Chet: 48, Beauty Pageant Coach, Ford City, PA.

Chet says: I play outside the box. I know how to stand out, and I know what I need to do.

Says Jeff: Chet works in the pageant world. He produces winners and he will do whatever it takes to get his pageant girl to win. If he plays this game the way he plays in the pageant world, then he is definitely a force to be reckoned with. If he doesn’t, he could be going home soon. He has sort of been playing a version of Survivor for the past 20 years in the pageant world, and he gets this game.

Says me: Now, some folks will see “pageant coach” and scoff and wave their hands and not give him a second thought, but those pageants can be BRUTAL. A coach deals with the divas and worse? the Diva MOMS. This guy probably has more practical experience to rely on as he deals with the social and manipulative aspects of Survivor then any other contestant this season. If he plays his cards right, he could go pretty far indeed.

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So there you have it! Just over a week left before I can finally get a real look at the rookies and see if my snap judgments are anywhere near correct. Stay tuned here at WatchingSurvivor for another surprise too, and of course, hit me up Thursday night for the recap and the start of the season’s dirt slinging and name-calling! I can’t WAIT!

I know, I totally slacked in getting you guys my thoughts on the Super Fans who are going to be in Micronesia - but I have a good excuse! Click there if you’re interested in my mama drama (please note, mom, that’s not DRAMA MAMA. *grin), or continue on to hear the comments you’ve been waiting over a WHOLE WEEK for! (Don’t burst my bubble, ya’ll!) We’ll be following the same format of the previous posts on the two timers.

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Joel: 32, Firefighter, Avondale, AZ.

Joel says: Bottom line, I’m here for my family. If I just wanted to go on vacation and hang out on the beach, I’d take my family with me.

Says Jeff: Joel is the one guy who might be able to give James a run for his money, because he’s every bit as big as James. He’s a fireman, he’s a father and a husband, and when I met with him the thing that really struck me is how he does everything for his wife and his family. And I like that about him. He’s a big, big guy and these challenges start off physical right from the get-go. Sometimes being a physical threat works against you early; I think in Joel’s case it’s going to be advantageous.

Says me: Oh my heavens. He’s not quite as pretty as James, but he’s big and strong and tattooed and a teddy bear daddy and hubby too? How can you NOT love him? I can see the Rookies keeping him around longer then the strong ones are usually as long as he’s performing well in the challenges - at least until they take out the Two-Timer powerhouses of Ozzie and James. He’ll have to get himself into an airtight alliance to last longer then that, however - and we all know how ‘airtight’ alliances traditionally are on Survivor!

Natalie: 32, Personal Trainer/Bartender, West Hollywood, CA.

Natalie says: I need to be fearless again. I want to unearth all those things when I was 8 and didn’t give a s*** about what people thought, and I did it anyway.

Says Jeff: I’m on the fence with Natalie because I can’t figure out if she has any business being in this game or not. On paper she sounds great - she’s a personal trainer and she’s young and she’s attractive - but when I watched the first few moments on the show, I’m not sure her attitude is going to be able to survive. you have to have a sense of humor or you’re going to be miserable person if you can’t laugh about being hungry at some point. I’m not sure Natalie’s had to go through anything as difficult as what she’s about to go through.

Says me: Or rather, says my son… “…wow…” Of course, now that we have that out of the way, we’ve seen a plethora of pretty girls do Survivor, and only a few of them are memorable enough in the game to be something other then a pretty set of abs. The question is, will she go the Amber route and flirt her way to the top, or Amanda’s take and prove there’s brains behind the boobs? (or fuzzed out butt, as the case may be. hah!)

Michael: 34, Writer/Actor, Los Angeles, CA

Michael says: I’m good at reading people. You got to be everybody’s best friend.

Says Jeff: I like Mikey B. a lot. He’s Boston and Boston is so damn good to Survivor. He’s got a colorful way of saying the most mundane thing, and that makes him somebody I will love to go to at Tribal Council.

Says me: Boston has been ’so damn good’ to Survivor? Please tell me he’s not comparing this guy to Boston Rob, who was an idiot but the only Boston I can remember. Ha! The guy looks like a goofball, which could be good for him. Depends on if he’s over the top, or if he really can be ‘everybody’s friend’ like he wants to be. I’m a bit leery about ‘colorful’ ways of saying things too, as that is bound to have someone misunderstanding him and create a bit of tension. Could go either way on this guy.

Tracy: 43, Commercial Builder, Fredericksburg, VA.

Tracy Says: I’m a thrill seeker. I want to push myself to that point where I know I can do it.

Says Jeff: Tracy should be very valuable because of her background, because she’s a woman who works in construction. I don’t know how much she wants to share about what she does, because there’s a part of her that thinks if she comes on too strong, she could be seen as a threat. But on paper, this is something you rarely get; somebody who knows how to build. Boston Rob knew how to build things and that made him hugely valueable. I think Tracy could be the same way.

Says me: Again with the Boston Rob reference. Sigh. Jeff has a point though - someone who can build can be an asset. Unless they’re obstinate like Chicken, and won’t help after a confrontation, or just get very demanding that things be done THEIR way. It’s a delicate balance between being helpful and annoying. If Tracy can find that balance and work it right, she’ll be invaluable. Though, I gotta say - what the heck is wrong with her face in that picture? It looks seriously… not right. Ugh.

Alexis: 24, Motivational speaker, Beverly Hills.

Alexis says: People will see the Southern belle in me. But I’m fiercely competitive - despite my dimples.

Says Jeff: When she came in she was so excited. And I launched into this speech about how you need to drop the excitement and get your head in the game because these other people out here, they’re already playing, they’re already playing you and they’re already seeing you’re this little simple girl from Texas that they’re going to run right over. And she looks at me and says “I’ve read every person here” and she had a pretty good read on everybody. I thought This is all I need to know, this girl knows how to play. As a fan, I picked this girl to win.

Says me: Aw, ain’t she cute? Love the dimples. Which means that there will be no in between with her for me - I’ll love her, or hate her. Ha! The fact that Jeff picked her to win out of the Rookies makes her one to watch for sure. He’s not always correct, but he’s been doing this a long time, and if she can work her cuteness correctly and manage to pair it with a decent strategy and alliance she’ll get to the final three, like Amanda did.

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Of course, there’s a lot of if’s up there, and no one can have a decent opinion until the premiere a week from Thursday - I can’t wait! I’ll hit up the rest of the newbies sometime this week - ya’ll come back no, hear?

So, let’s continue my little comments on the upcoming survivor, along with what they said, and what Jeff said about them at EW.com. After all, that’s half the fun of watching Reality TV - waxing eloquent (or not) on every little attribute and attitude and words that you find, and then seeing if you were right all along about them once the Season starts! Who doesn’t love completely uneducated opinions on people they’ve never meant? Exactly.

So, we already covered the first five Faves (in first name alphabetical order, of course) - so let’s tackle the remaining five.

Fittingly, we’re going to start today with the one, the only, Jonny Fairplay. Before we get into the dirt, however, I want to say CONGRATS! to Jonny and his girl Michelle Deighton, who welcomed their baby girl on Wednesday. Mom and baby girl Piper Addison are said to be doing fine, and we at Watching Survivor wish you all of the best!

Now, on to the DIRT.

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That’s right - we’re in full countdown mode here at Watching Survivor! The much anticipated Fans vs. Favorites is getting closer, and there’s all sorts of speculation to be had - as well as promos! I think this one has to be my current favorite:

Careful what you wish for, indeed! I am so stoked for this season! Despite some of the complaining from others, I’m happy because at least three of MY personal favorites made the Allstar Team - Ozzy, Yau-Man, and of course, my man James! Do I think they have a chance in hell of pulling this one out? Unfortunately, no. All those fans that get to play the game, know exactly how strong those three can be. I am just hoping for James to hit Jury so that I get my Grave Digger fix every week for the whole season!

So, what does Mr. Dimples - er, Jeff Probst - think about the survivors that have returned? When they released the cast, they also released Jeff’s thoughts on those who are returning, as well as the Fans picked to play against them. Click the ‘more’ link there to see what he had to say - about the first five (alphabetically!) of the chosen favorites!

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So, you know there are spoilers all over the net who are gleeful about having found out the casts before the official announcements. They also are gleefully putting their boot lists out there (none of which you’ll find here, thanks) and take great joy in having it all figured out right up till the final three, before the season premiere even airs. They are most awesome, these spoilers, they are! Survivor Fever collects their spoiling ways and putting them in a one-stop spoiler shop. Ya’ll know that I don’t post spoilers here often for Survivor, but these pictures that were let out by Film Palau don’t give anything away.

They just give us the first look at Tribal Council for Survivor: Micronesia!

Among other pictures, there’s also the following, which clears up any and all questions about JUST how the Hidden Immunity Idol can be used in game.

Which, of course, means there will be Hidden Immunity Idols once again, as well as the promise that Exile Island is back too.

Other little non-spoiler production tidbits:
**The crew of nearly 200, and 80 forty foot containers arrived in September, 2007 to start building the set, transforming an empty lot into the Survivor Micronesia Camp. They spent four mounts in Palau, and brought millions of dollars into the local community.

**They used flights to other nearby islands to allow it to be called Survivor: Micronesia, instead of boring ole ‘Palau 2′.

**The helicopter used for aerial shots, and also Jeff’s traditional opening monolog during the first episode is a Bell 400, and they built a helipad for it at camp.

**The theme this time will revolve around Traditional Island Warrior - last time they were in Palau, it was based on World War II.

**Despite the fact that the filming shut down the biggest tourism area in Palau for several months during filming, the people of Palau embraced the return of Survivor and they were welcomed by the community at large.

**The crew itself, as we saw in some of Jeff’s backstage youtubes last season, is a mix of professionals and folks picked up along the way - the aura is said to be part film set, part surf camp and part fraternity.

There - that should keep you busy and speculating for a little while, huh? Less then a month to go! WHOOO!

The Faves: Ciree (Panama), Jonathan (Cook Islands), Amanda (China), James (China), Ozzy (Cook Islands), Yau-Man (Fiji), Eliza (Vanuatu), Johnny FP (Pearl Islands), Parvati (Cook Islands), Ami (Vanuatu)

The Spoilers are smiling smugly into their morning (or afternoon, as the case may be) coffee’s today, that’s for sure. With the usual aplomb, they’ve managed to pick out every one of the cast members for Survivor: Micronesia that was officially announced this morning! I’m happy because it means My Man James is back for the faves, as well as Yau-Man and Ozzy, my favorites from their seasons too! Lessa is a very happy girl!

(And when Lessa’s happy - EVERYONE’s happy! (grin))

EW has posted the cast, and Mr. Dimple’s… er… Jeff Probst’s thoughts on the contestants and what kind of odds he gives them for the upcoming season as well. The Faves are at a bit of a disadvantage for sure, as these aren’t naïve first time fans they’re going against. These are folks that have watched the seasons, who know exactly how each of the Fave’s played before, and there will be some definite switching up of strategies for all of the Two-Timers. Of course, they also have the advantage of ‘been there, done that’ and know just how difficult it is - perhaps the two things will cancel each other out.

Oh, and there’s an explanation why there are no Faves from Palau and Guatemala - The two poplar contestants, Stephenie and Bobby Jon already appeared in both those seasons, and Palau’s winner, Tom Westman - the only winner to be invited - declined the invitation.

The Fans: Michael (Writer/Actor), Tracy (Commercial Builder), Joel (Firefighter), Kathleen (Golf Course Vender), Erik (Ice Cream Scooper), Mary (Small Business Owner), Chet (Beauty Pageant Coach), Natalie (Personal Trainer), Jason (Student Teacher), Alexis (Motivational Speaker)

The Rookies have a couple impressive standouts as well - with everything from Fire Fighters to Ice Cream Venders to Golf Course Venders in their ranks. There’s even Chet the Beauty Pageant Coach. How could that guy NOT be worth some comedy gold?!

I can’t WAIT for this season to get started! February 7th seems so far away, yet it gives us a full month to debate the pros and cons of the new contestants. I’ll be posting the blurbs as told by Jeff over the next few days, as well as my completely arbitrary and unsubstantiated opinions of what may or may not happen based on first looks at the Rookies. If you look close, you might even catch a spoiler or two that I’ve found. Or maybe not. Who knows? I might just continue to pull posts out of thin air until it all starts up official like.

Only way to know, is to head back here for another look, huh? See ya soon!