Watching Survivor

Last night Jeff Probst took a moment at the opening of The London West Hollywood where he’d joined his friend Chef Gordon Ramsey, to talk a bit about the new Survivor Season that’s due to start production next month. Apparently the show’s already hit a few snags during pre-production.

According to Mr. Dimples, the problems for the 17th season range between encroaching animals to slow shipments. The shipments are so delayed that it’s put them about 30 days behind. Survivor is different from most shows, in that they have to ship throughout the seasons, so being that far behind can cause a major problem. He feels the show itself will be fine, but the crew is sleeping in tents instead of the housing they are used too.

Also causing problems are toppling cranes and disappearing cargo. The first fell over, and the cargo held about $100,000 of food that’s gone missing. But for us challenge lovers - the lumber used to build props, challenge sets and Tribal Council have all arrived safely. Other then that, it’s just the wildlife that’s posing a problem. They’re not sure what to do in some instances - including hippo tracks at base camp. They want to remain safe, but still would love to have the animals run through the frame every once in a while to up the stress level for the contestants.

Survivor: Gabon is the first time that the series has returned to Africa since Season three in Kenya and will be filmed in high definition. Despite the problems, Jeff Probst is positive that the snafus they are dealing with will not halt production, claiming that “these things for us usually have a way of turning into good things.”

I suppose there’s no sense in hoping for FEWER snake shots in the fall, huh?

As I mentioned below, I missed the first bits due to a business phone call I had to attend. I’ll cover it in my own time zone - sorry! Life, and all. *grin*

:05 As usual, the Reunion show opens with the vote - where Jeff says that there are 8 votes, and five needed to win. Parvati, Amanda, Parvati, Amanda, Parvati, Amanda, Parvati, And the winner is Parvati! (I would love to know what they would have done in case of a tie!)

This was one of the most remarkable seasons of Survivor - all 20 Survivors are back together for the first time since filming, it’s the Reunion show!

:12 Commercial.

:14 We’re back with a Parvati montage, of course, and all 20 Survivors have joined Jeff on the stage. Jeff starts by congratulating the winner. He comments about her being the flirt and asks if she planned on playing as hard as she did at first? She says no, she was going to play the same way until Jonnathan outed her as a player and she had to step it up. She says the women’s alliance came to her when they did the Tribal switchup and she says the biggest move for her was bringing in Alexis and Natalie, and with them they had the game on lock, everyone was brilliant at manipulating and ruining people. Jeff says that it was a big move because it put her in the middle of two alliances essentially and she amits to being safe no matter how it fell.

Amanda now holds the record for the number of days on the show - 78 and both of her original alliances for both seasons made it to the end - and in both she didn’t win. She laughs and agrees there’s a problem with that. Jeff asks her where her head is at after having played the game so long. Amanda says it’s been her life for two seasons in a row, and its hard getting back into real life and she has trust issues and keeps looking at people like are they lying or telling the truth it’s hard! Jeff asks how it feels to lose again as one of the strongest players ever - and she says it sucks! But in the end it’s not up to her, it’s impossible to guess what the Jury will do.

Cirie - how many nights have you spent thinking of the last challenge? She says every single night, and says it was the only mistake she made was losing that final immunity. Apart from that, who knows… Jeff asks about the women’s alliance, and if they talked aobut how easy the men were being manipulated. She says well, kinda, and laughed and said that you have to be able to read people to know how they’ll react, and she never would have tried what she did with Erik with Penner. The guys were the right guys, so it worked.

Natalie - jeff says she came out of nowhere as this raving fill in the blank, what’s the reactions? She says she has haters, which is cool. Jeff asked if it was representative of her? She says she knew she had to play under the radar, and step it up when it was time because she’s opinionated. Jeff asks again if its her, she says it’s one of the layers of her.

Alexis - only one who got blindsided by your own alliance. She says it hurts a lot, actually, but you know it’s a game, and it is still a testament to how personal the game is and takes a while for the heart to catch up with the head.

Jeff says partly due to the woman’s alliance, it was a masterful season and filled with blindsides and stupid moves. We see the montage of all of them being voted off.

:22 Ozzy - did you ever consider playing the idol? He says yeah, about five times, and if it had been anyone but Parvati on his side he would have played it. He knew he needed to trust, and it was his downfall and had a lot of harsh words for Parv at the end, and he understands how someone might want to kill in the heat of passion - but hes over it. She’s an amazing girl and he respects her, the relationship has healed.

Jason - you found the fake idol, which lead to the best line ever, Eliza “It’s a bleeping stick” she says. Eliza says she thought he was pulling one over on me! What’s he trying to pull! And then she realized it as the HII, and she was stunned.

Jason - we adore you, but you watch your idol, Ozzy, make a mistake and not play the idol, find a fake, then a real one, and DO THE SAME THING.. how many sleepless nights do you have? He says mor then he wants to think of, and he has a suvinere - and he pulls out the idol and says it sits at home on his desk to remind him of the mistake - it was a bad move and he’ll never live it down.

Jeff says and James, you’re just delighted to have someone in your club! Ozzy and Jason put them in the club, but then there’s Erik… more when we come back.

:25 Commercial.

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-:05 Hey Survivor Fans! It’s here - the Survivor Finale! I’m setting up the post now, It’ll cover both house of the Finale, and the winner. I have a long distance phone call to make right as the reunion show is starting, so I’ll cover that a little bit delayed - but cover it I will! Are we ready? I’m so EXCITED!

:00 36 days ago, 10 Survivor Fans were pitted against 10 of their favorite players from past seasons. let’s get it on! The tropical paradise was both bountiful and brutal. The conditions were so harsh, one castaway quit, injury tallies piled up like never before, forcing the evacuation of two players - the first time ever three players left without getting voted out.

All the women banded together to form a super alliance to take control of the game. The first agenda to blindside the biggest threat - Ozzy had the Immunity Idol, but didn’t play it. That was just the beginning. The Black Widow Brigade struck again. And again in an unprecedented series of blindsides - Jason. Alexis. Erik - where they pulled off the biggest blindside in Survivor History.

Now four are left: Cirie, Natalie, Parvati, Amanda.

:06 We rejoin the girls on Dabu where they’re celebrating Erik’s exit and their parts in it. Parvati says everyone has fallen into their trap, and it’s the same trap over and over again. Cirie says they couldn’t beat Erik at anything, but it’s taken care of. He’s having a sandwich, and they’re gonna play the game.

:07 Roll credits and Commercial!

:10 It’s day 37 on Dabu, and Cirie is up an hour before the other girls. They giggle about Erik again, and Cirie tells that its just tearing her up there’s no guys around, can’t ya see the tears? (There aren’t any!) Cirie jokes she’ll need to check and see if her money is in her pocket around them, cuz they make her nervous. It’s all laughter and fun.

Parvati heads up a tree to get some coconuts for the girls, and splashes Amanda below with a whole bunch. She tells us she doesn’t miss the guys and their egos where they’re trying to provide and look cool. Parvati and Amanda say they can’t believe they’ve beat the guys.

Natalie says she’s thankful to be there still, and Parvati is glad she’s there too - she tells her she can say whatever she want and people believe her and she should just swallow her pride and ask for what she wants. Natalie says she’s the only fan left, but she made a personal bond with Parvati and they compliment each other well.

Parvati tells her there’s a reason they’re there together - everyone has earned their spot in the final three, and have played a damn good day. Natalie tells us that they have a great connection, and it benefits her in the end.

Tree mail! They’re thinking winning is the way to guarentee final three. They love that it’s all women, but one of them has to go.

Challenge time!
Jeff welcomes the ladies, and says they’re feeling oh so good about themselves. Once again, Immunity is up for grabs. Today, they’ll start on a small perch atop a 20 foot pole. They’ll gather water in the bucket, fill the shoot, that raises a set of keys. Swim to shore, use the keys to find 16 individually shaped ladder rungs. Finish the ladder, climb up, raise the flag, win Immunity.

Survivor’s ready? GO! They don’t waist any time, pulling up the bucket and filling the shoot to raise the keys as fast as they can. It’s no easy task, as they have to get the water into the tiny shoot. Doesn’t matter how fast you pull up the water if you don’t get it into the shoot - Natalie almost has her keys, neck and neck with Parvati. Natalie has her keys and is swimming to shore! Parvati has hers as well and is on her way. Amanda tries, but isn’t close enough. Natalie and Parvati have a big lead at this point - both getting the chest open practically at the same time. Amanda has her keys, and is in the water. Cirie isn’t close enough - gets her keys and is on her way!

Everyone is in this. Natalie is still in the lead, getting her first rungs up quickly. There’s 16 ladder rungs, and will only go into one slot - if you have to force it, it isn’t right, a lot of play, it’s not right. It only goes together one way. All the ladies have rungs now - Amanda is making progress, Natalie and Cirie are methodical. If Amanda is right, she’s got a big lead, as Parvati goes for some of the higher rungs. Natalie has touble with the puzzle as Amanda pulls away from the pack - it is her challenge to lose!

Amanda can’t get the last rung in, has to back track and swap pieces as Natalie starts to catch up - Amanda gets the last one and WINS IMUNITY! Tribal council tonight, head back to camp.

:21 Comercial!

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So, has everyone recovered from last night’s episode? I KNOW! Me either! Every time I think about it I start giggling again. Biggest. Blunder. Ever! I understand on some level the people who are upset with how the women manipulated Erik, but that is part of the game and they are playing it VERY well. And EVERYONE knows that you don’t give away Immunity. Not EVER.

Poor kid. Of course, if you’re wondering how he’s taking all of this now, you can check out some interviews with Erik, where he was able to laugh a little about the whole thing. He interviewed with Reality News online, and Reality TV World - and I’m sure there will be more to come.

There’s also an interview with Jeff Probst with the Canadian Press, where he confirms that yes, he is on for the next FOUR seasons of Survivor - at least two more years of them dimples, ya’ll! Whoo!

I’m not sure if there will be a preview of the finale episode by Probst, but if so I’ll be sure to add it as soon as I find it. There are some press images that just came out and whooo! The final immunity (probably) challenge looks cool! A little balance, a little speed, a little hard work… it’s got a little of everything. Check it out!

And here’s Erik at Ponderosa:

Now - for the Pool Party! This is the last chance to get some of those points, folks! You can get up to FORTY points for the Finale episode! Head over there right away, and get your picks in before EST Showtime on Sunday for max possible points! Sugarbooger is still in first place - but with 40 points to win, it’s possible to topple her! Danny is still in second, and who knows who will knock me out of third! Head over to Fun Office Pools today and get your picks in ASAP! After all, there’s PRIZES to be won!

Hey there, Survivor Fans - are you still giggling every time you think of Amanda’s playing that idol like I am? What a great episode last week - and we’re down to the final two episodes! Can you believe this season is almost at a close?! Seems like yesterday that it started!

Let’s get this finale week started! Here’s our Probst Preview for Thursday’s episode:

That’s a lot of Blunder Crown Changes in one season! I can’t wait to see how it all pans out - I mean, something that’s NEVER happened with the idol before? I’m tingly with anticipation! (Yes, I’m fully aware of how much of a dork I am…thanks for pointing it out. *grin*) We’ve also got a few interviews with my main man James (sob!) and Alexis (sob! - she was my pick to WIN in the Pool Party, darnit!). James: I learned to Embrace My Smiley Happiness, Alexis “She played it perfectly.” Alexis on RTVW, and the podcast with them both from SFP.

We are down to our final five - can you believe this? And of all the men in the season, the one I thought had the LEAST chance to make it this far was Erik, the Ice Cream Scooper. He’s still there, and as he said to his brother last week he’s “Ok, doing ok!”

Of course, I think his time is up this week - unless he walks away with the Immunity Necklace once again. And then there’s that pesky Immunity Idol… I, for one, can’t WAIT till Thursday!

I’m still digging the Ponderosa clips too - I’m so glad that CBS decided to let us in on this little tidbit of behind the scenes! And it’s nice to see them eat and clean up, relax and have fun!

James:

Alexis pt 1:

Alexis pt 2:

Don’t forget - get your picks in for the Pool Party before EST showtime on Thursday - we’re down to the wire! Will anyone overtake Sugarbooger or Danny? Head over to FunOfficePools today!

Let’s start off with a bang - time to get those picks in for the Survivor Pool Party, and here’s Mr. Dimples himself to help you make those picks- maybe. He doesn’t really give anything away other then the fact there is another injury to contend with…

It’s clear that James stays at least through the reward challenge, but other then that - who knows? Will he have to leave the game, or get voted off because of the injury? Will he stay to make it another week? I DO love this challenge that’s coming up for the Reward challenge - where they are asked the questions about their fellow tribemates and get down and dirty and brutally honest. “Who mistakenly thinks they are in charge of the game?” Everyone says Parvati - brilliant!

Speaking of - both Randi (a fellow 451 writer) and I agree that the boys were SO STUPID last week - what if, say, James and Erik had gone to Jason, explained what was going on, grabbed Amanda and convinces her to vote their way, and blindsided Parvati INSTEAD? Wouldn’t that have been BRILLIANT? But no - the boys are just laying down and letting the women pick them off one by one. Men. Harumph.

We have our official Finale Date too - it will be a 2 hour extravaganza on Sunday, May 11th. It’ll start with the final four, and go through to the final three, the jury questions, and then the counting of the votes, live! After that will be a one hour reunion show, where Jeff will ask all the important questions, as well as reveal where Season 17 will be filmed, starting in June.

Speaking of Jeff - USA Today posted an interview with him on Monday - and you can find it here. He talks about loving the job, and how it is hard on his relationship - a few months ago he broke up with Julie Berry, who he met and fell for while she was on Survivor: Vanuatu. There’s also a video where he teases about the next season, dishes about this season, and his souvenirs he’s picked up along the way. It’s pretty cool to watch - love Mr. Dimples!

There’s also a glimpse of what Probst thinks about the final seven from TV guide as well. Click the image to bigify!

Yau-Man fans! Yau-Man is going to be on the pilot of a new TV Series called The Skeptologists. Each week they’ll take a handful of wild claims - Bigfoot, the Bermuda Triangle, Haunted Houses, Aliens and the like - and apply scientific practices and experiments to see what holds up and what doesn’t. If that kind of stuff is your cup of tea - be sure to check it out!

Last but not least - a couple of interviews with Jason can be found here and here. And below is Jason’s arrival to Ponderosa - I don’t know about you, but I LOVE the Ponderosa clips!

Get those picks in for the Pool Party before showtime - and join me back here for the full recap of Thursday night’s episode!

-:10 Setting up the post for tonight’s recap! Who are the girls going to get rid of tonight? Or is all the Women Rule This Island a bit of misdirection? Time will tell!

:02 Previously on Survivor….

:03 I come back from a surprise reboot to hear Amanda say that the ousting of Ozzy told her they were there to play the game - that’s fine by her, Game on! Commercial and roll credits.

:07 And we’re back - and I think this is posting, so it’s all good. it’s day 28 at the Dabu tribe, and Cirie tells us that James finger isn’t looking good - it looks infected, and you can’t assume that something is ok, what with their living conditions. Parvati says that she needs to do some serious damage control because Amanda and James are seriously pissed at her for voting Ozzy out.

James asks where she’s going with it - she’ll be alright, what is her plan and who is she taking with her. Parvati says straight up that she’s taking girls to final four. She says sorry, he says that’s not what she means “Ha ha is what you mean” Always got to eat the apple, can’t leave it alone, hopefully you make it. He says it is going to be awkward. She says you act like I’m stupid - he says that no, I said you were selfish. James tells us not to try and pull the wool over his eyes, it showed him who she really is, and he can’t stand people like that.

Parvati goes to Amanda next, and she apologizes and Amanda wants to know the plan. She tells us Parvati is running the show, and Cirie didn’t even tell her, so Parvati has her too. Amanda says she hopes they’re cool, and Cirie joins, and says that they trust her, but with Ozzie, they didn’t know. They say it’s them three to the end. Cirie says she loves her don’t look so sad. Amanda says that she’d like to trust them, but it’d be stupid of her to buy what they’re selling.

:12 Time for Reward - It’s the Survivor Auction! They each have $500 and bidding in $20 increments, no sharing of money or items. First item - Cirie buys it for $120 - she tried to get away with 100, Jeff counts it, and she pays the rest and gets hot dog and fries with all the extras.

Second Item goes for $80 to Erik - Jeff says before you give it up, you can keep it, or… trade for another item. He trades it, and finds out he gave up octopus for a huge tray of nachos! Good call Erik!

Next Item - sold to Natalie for $240 - Bat Soup. She won’t even touch it, James says he’ll eat it, and Jeff says ok, here you go. James grabs it and takes the skin off and takes a big ole bite.

Next item - uncovered - peanut butter sandwich - it goes for $280 to Amanda.

Next item is covered - $240 to Natalie - a bottle with a note. You must choose one person to go to exile island immediately and take all their money. Natalie asks if the idol was replanted. Jeff tells her new clues and a new idol has been hidden. She sends Jason to exile island, and he’s tripping, and Natalie says it could be good, so don’t trip. Jason heads off and Natalie gets his cash.

Next item - covered. $380 to Natalie. She gets a gigantic chocolate cake! This item has another layer to it - she gets a note and reads to the group. Share the cake with three tribe mades, 60 seconds to eat as much as you can. Natalie chooses Alexis, Cirie and Amanda, and tells them not to hog the cake, because she hasn’t had any food. Erik offers them 40 bucks each to lick their fingers - they’re shoving cake into their mouth as quick as possible. Happy ladies…

Cirie sells her fingers to Erik for $40 bucks, and he licks the cake off while James says “Something is wrong with that boy. Poor thing.” Too funny!

:18 Commercial!
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-:15 Setting up the post for this week’s as it happens recap! Who makes the biggest blunder of Survivor History - removing that title from my boy James? Who gets ousted? Who does Parvati betray? So many questions - and answers coming soon!

:01 Previously on Survivor - it’s recap time!

:02 Dabu - right after the Tribal Council, as everyone asks Jason if he gave Eliza an idol. Jason tells us he’s glad that she played it instead of him - he wouldn’t have wanted to go home more of a full. Cirie says for a minute she was nervous, because she thought Ozzy had it, and it might not have been such a bad thing if it had worked out that way… because then Ozzy would have been gone.

:03 Roll credits and Commercial.

:06 Day 25 dawns at the Dabu beach. Jason says that Ozzy fooled him, and that he feels pretty silly, but to go against him against the first immunity challenge and win let him know Ozzy isn’t the only godlike competitor. If he continues to beat him, he’s doing pretty well.

Reward challenge time! they will divide into 2 teams of four - one will crawl through a multilevel wet tunnel, study symbols, race back and put them on the puzzle board. There are extra pieces that won’t match anything. First team to place them all correctly wins reward. Reward winner will fly to the most cultural places - feast, dance, and stay the night in a place reserved for visiting Chiefs. The one person not chosen will go to exile and sit out the challenge - choosing schoolyard style.

Jason, Ozzy, Erik, Amanda
Natalie, James, Parvati, Alexis

Cirie sits out, and goes to Exile immediately. She’ll return at Immunity challenge.

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No, no, no - not YOU! Someone makes one though, according to our ever popular Mr. Dimples, Jeff Probst!

But first - the Pool Party! Sugarbooger62 is still topping the leader board, with near perfect picks every single week. Danny is still in second, and both Silver and Silent_rain have pulled up close to me in 4th and 5th. One good week could topple you right up into the prizes - so get those picks in!

Need a little preview of this week? Jeff says we will LOVE this episode - and who can argue with Mr. Dimples? Certainly not me! Check it out:

The biggest blunder ever happens this week - awesome! Ozzy calls it the dumbest move in Survivor History, and Jason says it could be his saving grace… I can’t wait to see it! Looks like this weeks immunity challenge is the barrel over the head filled with water - the one where one little muscle twitch can cause it to topple. I love this one - mainly because I don’t have to do it. Heh. I love how someone ALWAYS complains that it wasn’t their fault, that they didn’t move, and are shocked when the water comes tumbling down. Love. It.

In the meantime, while we ponder which way our picks should go for the pool party, let’s catch some Eliza interviews, hm? Reality News Online, Reality TV World, and the SFP Podcast.

Only two more days until all our questions are answered! I’ll be back on Thursday with the show recap!

And how did the weekend treat you? Have I got a bunch of stuff for you today!

The Pool Party is heating up, with Sugarbooger and Danyv fighting for the lead with only 11 points between them! I’m still third, which means there’s room for folks to knock me off and nap a prize still! In fact, anyone can still win, as we’ve a few weeks left, and one good week is all it takes to propel you to the top! Silver and Silent_Rain are creeping up slow and steady, in 4th and 5th place - get those picks in for this week!

Speaking of this week - We have come to the Merge, folks! The press photos show green is the buff color of choice, and there will be a get to know you feast, as usual. That means no Reward Challenge, and Immunity will be for an individual - and that challenge looks ROUGH. How long can YOU hold your breath with your life in the game on the line? Have to give the producers props for this season and for China too - the challenges have been top notch!

And I’m throwing in these two for no other reason then they’re cute and hot. Of course - according to certain people (Probst!) there’s a possibility that Alexis will make the Ozzy/Amanda duo a triangle…

And, to help you with those picks, perhaps, here’s the Probst Preview for Episode Nine - where he mentions this impending shomance triangle…

If you want to read Ami’s interviews - check here, here and here. Turns out she really wasn’t after Ozzy (so she says) and she, too, came away from the season with an injury! Micronesia certainly isn’t for the weak!

And! As I was writing this - Billy Garcia heard my cry for details on the Wrestling Event last Saturday and sent me the a complete play by play - Check after the cut to read all about it!

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After a week off - which I greatly appreciated as I needed to rest my poor typing fingers after that double show night of Big Brother and Survivor - Survivor returns in its normal timeslot on Thursday night! It’s episode 8 - though it seems like we’re so much farther in because we’re down to 11 Castaways! It seems like only yesterday we started with an overwhelming 20 Fans and Favorites to begin this season.

To get us back into the swing of things, here’s Jeff Probst with his preview of this weeks episode, though it doesn’t seem to give away much, only promising romance and tears during Tribal Council.

We’re getting down in numbers, I expect a merge within the next couple of weeks. According to previews, Immunity will go to two survivors this week, and there’s a return to a Survivor Delicacy - charbroiled rat! Yum! With Immunity going to two survivors - will Ozzy need to use his Hidden Immunity Idol? Is he safe another week, or will his use of the Hidden Immunity Idol be the downfall of the ‘girls alliance’ which the preview says will target the stronger men of the tribe? I can’t remember over the years - has a girl’s alliance EVER worked out for the girls involved?

The Survivor Pool Party is heating up, with two definite leaders and me hanging on to third by a thread. Anyone can win it with a good week though, so head on over to Fun Office Pools and get your picks in before Thursday’s Show!

Who do you want to go this week? Who do you THINK will go? Are any of you headed to the Wrestling event on the 5th and will you send us pictures? Enquiring minds want to know, so hit that comment button below!

-:30 Hey there Survivor Fans! It’s a busy day for this blogger, with Survivor then Big Brother all in one night. My poor lil typing fingers are gonna be overworked for sure! Thanks, as always, to Bobby for streamin the East Coast Shows for me, and if I miss something somewhere, I’ll pop it up if it’s important as soon as the shows are over and as I watch them in my time zone! That said, let’s get it on!

:00 Previously, on Survivor! It’s recap time! 13 are left, who will be voted out tonight?

:02 It’s day 18 at Malakal, and there’s no eggs from the chicken, and the Ozzy doesn’t want to kill them because they lay three eggs every day, and Tracy says “What, you gonna wait until you can have more meat yourself?” she and Ozzy are getting one ach other’s nerves. She doesn’t like that Ozzy is in charge of the tribe and says he’ll win this thing if they don’t get them out of the game. Ozzy knows she’s just scrambling to save her own ass.

:04 Roll credits, and Commercial!

:07 At Airai, James is telling us they’re complaining about the rain, but they didn’t get rain because they were in a Cave, and you could be outside getting wet! Deal with the funk, couldn’t have smelled any better before, this is a game called Survivor.

Kathy is crabby, and says one day you’re feeling good, then the next day you feel like crap, today was a crap day. She’s thinking of home and her washer and dryer and her family and it makes her want to cry - she tries an Geenie move, but is still there.

:09 At Malakal, Ozzy is getting coconuts, and Erik says he’s amazing and he wants to grow and learn and he feels he can climb the tree too! Erik and Ozzy are like the Lion King, Cirie says, and that stardust comes out of his mouth whenever he says his name. They’re bonding right now, the girls laugh and watch. Cirie says if Ozzy proposed marriage right now it’d be a done deal.

Ozzy wants to move the boat to the back beach, and asked Cirie for help. She says everyone knows that she’s not a strong swimmer, but she was a team player and helped the row to the back beach. They were out there, and saw the Reef and Ozzy says there’s big fish there, and that they’re not that far from shore. Cirie is still nervous, and Ozzy tells her not to worry. He says there might be a giant clam out there to feed them for the rest of the time.

Cirie is all “Yay reef. Reef.” And says they can have the adventure at her expense today but it won’t happen again.

:12 Challenge time! A traditional money stone - for years they were the currency, larger the stone more worth. Two will be blindfolded as someone guides them through the course. They’ll crush tiles to get smaller stones used for to finish a puzzle. The herbal essance great escapes bath is the Reward - taken to an island where they can get clean, and eat a snack too. Natalie is sitting this one out.

Survivors Ready - go! Cirie is guiding, and Eliza is also doin so as the four members are blindfolded and pushing the money stone. Malakal is following Cirie with not too much trouble. Eliza isn’t doing as well, but they are moments behind as they both smash second tiles - Malakal gets their 3rd tile, as Airai has to go back and forth to get their third. Cirie is not messing around and gets their last pieces and heads to the puzzle.

Airai is right behind them, Erik Cirie and Ozzy are working on the puzzle for Malakal, Eliza, James and Kathy working it for Airai. They aren’t making much progress, but Malakal things they’re getting closer - they think they have it and MALAKAL WINS REWARD!

:16 They choose Jason to go to exile island, and Tracy takes one for the team, misses out on reward and heads to EI with Jason. Airai heads back to camp and Malakal heads to the boat and their reward with a squeal of delight.

:17 Commercial.

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Hey there, Survivor Fans! Are you wearin’ bits o’ green? Good!

It’s time for our Pool Party standings, but first, a reminder: GET YOUR PICKS IN EARLY! Don’t forget that this week’s survivor is on WEDNESDAY at 8pm EST, instead of Thursday, due to March Madness basketball. If you need help in making your picks, I usually say to check out the preview - but you know, it doesn’t really give us too much to go on, just yet - or maybe it does. In case I missed some small little clue - check it out!

One thing we do know thanks to the article in TV Guide is that we lose two more Survivors this week - so spread your points wisely!

Now, for those standings I promised you… This week, it’s official! Sugarbooger62 has officially kicked my behind off the number one spot. Only by 2 points, sure, but the inevitable has happened! There’s only a 8 point spread between the top three, though, and many others are close behind. It’s still anybody’s game, one good week can propel you right up to the top of the list! And remember - my standings don’t officially count when it comes to prizes. I want ya’ll to win! The top three that ain’t me get the goods!

Looking for interviews with Jonathan and Chet? Well, you can listen to one with the both of them here, then Reality News Online interviewed Chet, while Jonathan talked to them, and Reality TV World. And if that’s not enough reading to get you through the days until survivor - check out the transcripts of the Survivor Insiders - what was said as the Survivors voted out Chet, two deleted scenes, and what both Chet and Jonathan had to say the day after their leaving the game.

-:30 Howdy folks! It’s time to set up the post for our as it happens recap for tonight’s episode! Have you gotten your Pool Party Picks in yet? If not, skedaddle over there - you’ve only got until show time to do so! As always, Bobby rocks my socks for streaming from the east coast! What do you think will happen tonight? Who’s going home? Can’t wait to see it play out!

:00 Previously on Survivor…. Recap time, folks! 15 are left, who will be voted out tonight?

:02 We start off over at Malakal after Tribal council, as they talk about the vote, and how Shocked Erik was - he says he felt shafted, and they’re tough as nails, you can’t trust the Favorites at all, and if this game is about lying, he might have to do some of that.

:03 Credits and commercial

:07 At Malakal, the girls are in the water, and ask Cirie to go play with them as Chet and Tracey talk. She says they were needed, and she tells us it’s driving her batty not being in control. She tells Chet she didn’t come so far in the game to roll over. They talk to Jason about how vicious they are, and tells him the only thing they can do is get one of them to vote with them so they’re in control.

:08 Tracy says she feels the shift, and Ami goes and gets with her and gives her a pep talk, telling her not to get down, because that gets her out first. She points out she wasn’t part of the original alliance and says maybe she needs to play a little differently - baby steps right now.

:09 Over at Airai, Jonathan says that his knee is feeling better, but slower then he wants too. James says losing Jonathan would be a big blow to the team, and hopefully he’s alright, he doesn’t want to lose the motivator.

Fan vs. favorites is over in Eliza’s mind, and she wants to work with them to get rid of Parvati and James before the merge.

(more…)

Just two more days until this week’s episode - have you made your Pool Party picks yet? If not - maybe this little inside preview from Mr. Dimples himself will help you make them!

YAY! James is gonna dominate! That makes Lessa happy - I love watching him go all RAR with the bulging muscles and brute strength. This is going to be a good episode INDEED!

For those who like the spoilers - check out the TV Guide article, that’s kinda spoilery over the next couple weeks. Nothing is said outright, other then things common sense would dictate. I think. Maybe. Ok - check it out if your game!

Also - for those who want more Joel, here’s the third interview, from Reality News Online, and the insider transcripts from Survivor Fever. It includes a touching scene that was deleted, where Joel came to aid Kathy when she collapsed. As he says “I don’t particularly care for Kathy as a person, but as a firefighter, I care for people on a professional level, so I became Joel the firefighter rather then Joel the Survivor contestant.” Awwwww.

Though he does come back to being the Survivor Contestant in the last solo clip: “We’ve been carrying Kathy as a tribe for as long as we’ve been here. I literally carried her today to the boat to go to the challenge and I will not do it again.”

Also included are Ozzy’s thoughts before Tribal Council, and how he felt about both Joel and Chet, as well as all of Joel’s after the vote words, and his thoughts the day after - including his thoughts on technology, and how it makes us weak.

Don’t forget - head on to Fun Office Pools and get your picks in!