Watching Survivor

(part one)

Back at camp, Peih-Gee goes after James and blames him for losing the challenge, and James is not happy at all about it. He tells her to shut up, and quit talking, and she walks away, because she can’t believe he ever accused her of giving up (Um, hello - how about the one you threw?)

She tells us she’s mad and took it out on James because she’s mad that she’s never one a reward and she’s in a bad position, without anyone. James and Denise talked about it, and he hates how rude she is. “That’s some nerve!” He says that’s why they need to focus and get her off.

He says “be naked, be happy, don’t eat that damn apple!” when he refers about Courtney and Frosti, and the possibility of a romance. Hahah!

Erik is excited on the reward, and feels it was fun and good to try and build relationships and they talk about other’s back at camp. They diss Peih-Gee, and Erik says he doesn’t mind her being talked about negatively, as then he’s not the one getting talked about.

Courtney tells us that she loves her Frosti. He agrees that he likes her a lot, and that she’s attractive and smart and way out of his league, but he’s comfortable around her and that’s nice. They see a goat, and Eric starts immitateing and they tease him “Stop hitting on the goats!” He thinks maybe he’ll be saved another round for making Courtney and Amanda laugh. Which it seems it has - as Amanda finds him adorable.

They eat a dinner of fried chicken and mashed potatoes and everyone chows down. Frosti is a little worried about it because he doesn’t want to be replaced as the one Fei Long turns too.

Back at Hae Da Fung, they tribe is reunited and the losers ask for juicy details, but they don’t tell them what they ate, so they don’t get the hate. Todd tells Amanda, Courtney Frosti and Eric about Peih-Gee’s freaking out on James, and Erik feels pretty confident that means he’s safe for another week.

Immunity challenge!
Today’s challenge is a memory test - they will have a series of zodiac symbols, each round Jeff calls out a list, use the knife to pick them up in the correct order. Get it right, you’re in, wrong you’re out. If they feel so comfortable that they don’t need immunity - you don’t have to play, you can eat! He unveils Cheeseburger, fries, drinks, and the fixings. Jeff hands out coins, black means you eat, white you play. Simple case of temptation - chose…

Courtney wants to eat (THANK YOU) Todd, Denise and James will all eat. Peih-Gee, Frosti, Amanda and Eric will play. The eaters can only eat for as long as the challenge adds.

Round one: Tiger Rabbit, Rat, Monkey Dog.
Erik is wrong, Amanda is right, Peih-Gee is right, Frosti is still in. Eric has to watch everyone eat, poor guy! He says he’ll just enjoy the smell…

Round two: Rat, Ram, Dragon, Rooster, Ram
Amanda is out. Peih-Gee is in, Frosti is right!
We are down to two!

Round three: Snake, rat, rabbit, tiger, rooster, ram.
Peih-gee just rocks through it, and gets it right, and Frosti is wrong and Peih-Gee wins immunity, and everyone stops eating.

Jeff tells her the only thing better then a cheeseburger on day 27 is Immunity, and she agrees as he hangs it around her neck - then it’s back to camp before Tribal Council tonight.

(part three)

Previously on Survivor - JR was a giant tool and got booted, which brings us to tonight’s episode…

We rejoin the tribe on the morning of day 25, where James tells us about his narrow escape, and he’s going to be sure he has the HII with him at Tribal Council. James wakes the tribe by singing, sending the monkeys running away and to call them to breakfast that he’d made, and Courtney is happy to be without Jean Robert. Amanda and Courtney have noticed that Denise is still upset, and that she was blindsided when they voted off Jean-Robert, and she voted with the original plan, and no one told her about the change.

Denise tells us she feels left out, and she’s feeling backstabbed. She feels like an idiot because she was the only one voting according to plan, and she talks to James and sticks with him because he has the immunity idols. It’s the smart thing to do.

Pieh-gee points out the obvious, that she’s on the outs, and no one likes her. James says duh, and Todd points out that Pieh-Gee has stepped into JR’s annoying role. Todd is worried about Courtney flirting with Frosti. Methinks Todd has gotten a little paranoid.

Reward challenge!
They’ll be divided, using four different sized drums, and have to keep the ball bouncing from one to the other as navigating an obstacle course. First with three balls in the bin at the end, win a cruise on the river, spend the night on the boat and return in the morning. Schoolyard pick once again.

Peih-gee, James, Todd, Denise - Red
Eric, Frosti, Amanda, Courtney - Yellow

Survivor’s ready - go!
Todd and Eric take it all the way to the first obstacle, and the yellow group makes it through the first gate, Red team loses it and goes back, James looses it again, Yellow team keeping it alive and getting all the way through - Frosti and Eric get the first ball in!

Red team having a tough time getting the hang of it and going back a third time! Eric and Frosti leading the yellow team excellently, everyone working together. James loses it AGAIN for the red team on another pass from peih-gee, while Eric, Frosti and the Yellow leads 2-0! Red loses it right at the final bin! Red still on their first ball, James is NOT GOOD at this - and Yellow (Erik, Frosti, Amanda, Courney) wins Reward!

(part two)

On the interview circuit, the Professional Poker player, Jean-Robert Bellande is proving himself to be quite genuine… genuinely delusional, that is! Most of the after show interviews have insights of thought processes, some (or a good deal of) revisionist history, and honest takes on the other players with possibly a couple left field moments.

Jean-Robert lives in left field.

Last week we all watched and (not so) quietly snickered when Jaime played the fake Hidden Immunity Idol, only to this week have Jean-Robert blindsided by the thought that there really is one out there! Then, to win the reward and get all five clues at once and figure out where it should be that very night? Well, it’s clear why he was thought of as “the smart one”.

I know, I couldn’t write it with a straight face - I don’t expect you to read it with one, either.

He was a man in love with his strategy:

Reality TV World: So you’re saying the playing the role of the “local jerk” part of your strategy was over and you were now starting to focus on assuring you had jury votes if you made it to the Final 3?

Jean-Robert: It wasn’t over, it was just a process. You can’t go from being a jerk to being an angel overnight. It’s a process thing we’re all of a sudden now I’m kicking in a lot more at camp, helping build the fires, I’m cooking, doing whatever…

Reality TV World: Were you confident that process would have eventually taken shape and you would have had the jury votes if you made it to the Final 3?

Jean-Robert: I loved my strategy. I loved my strategy. And when I got to the Final 3, and I was presenting my strategy — this was all part of the plan, you know, me being the lazy jerk at the beginning, and you can see me kick in — I think I would have gotten a lot of respect from the jurors and you’d of seen me get votes from people you’d never expect.

And he was a man who was far behind the rest of the players:

Reality TV World: After you read the final Hidden Immunity Idol clue during last night’s reward, you commented how you were shaken-up that you weren’t aware there was a Hidden Immunity Idol out there. Why didn’t you ever think there would be a Hidden Immunity Idol?

Jean-Robert: I had NO CLUE whatsoever that there was a Hidden Immunity Idol in this game. Each season… You know, they had Exile Island, this game we had [kidnapping]. Normally, I’m going to receive some sort of clue — some sort of information — it just was never presented to me.

As far as I’m concerned there isn’t one. I’m not saying there isn’t one, but it’s just like if I don’t know about, there isn’t one as far as I’m concerned. I never had one clue. And you see what happens! Those guys had those clues for who knows how many days and it took them like four or five days — maybe a week — to figure out where this thing was. For me, I got the clues and I was right there within hours! As soon as we got home that night [from the Reward Challenge], you see me digging around and figuring out it was up there in that pagoda, taking off the plaques. The plaques that I had were like the faux idols, but it’s like I’m right there.

Right away in the morning I have that conversation with [Erik Huffman] where I’m fishing around, saying, “Hey, I think I got the idol.” Obviously I didn’t really believe I had the idols — I was just bluffing — but I wanted to get information from him, which I got.

This is part of the thing that freaked Todd out. He’s like, “This guy went from not even knowing there was a Hidden Immunity Idol to coming up with a plan to blind-side James and get rid of him. That’s some scary stuff!” That freaked Todd out, and Todd decided, “Hey, we better get rid of Jean-Robert.”

But Todd organizing this move against me, yeah, he perceived me correctly as a serious threat in the game. But at that moment, James is a bigger threat than I am and it’s actually a big mistake on his part.

Oh, Jean-Robert.

Now, I know we have the advantage of seeing things from outside the game, without the starvation and the rain and the cold and other hardships, but you’d think that maybe, just maybe, he’d see that he was well and thoroughly PLAYED in this game. In the bit above, for instance. He had no clue because he hadn’t received one. Brilliant! And he was there within hours after having received the clues - but he forgets, he got ALL FIVE CLUES at once. Sure he found them right away - after searching all night! The fact that the others already had them, and found them with just three clues while poking around in plain sight, well that was just luck, right Jean-Robert?

After all, he’s “the smart one”:

Reality TV World: When you learned James had the Hidden Immunity Idols, you confronted him about it. What did you hope to get out of that confrontation?

Jean-Robert: A couple things. I wanted him to know that, “Listen man. You knew all along that I was going to figure things out.” He had me pegged as the smarter guy in the group. He keeps referring to me as, “Jean-Robert dumb. Jean-Robert whatever.” But part of that is because he knew that I was like the smart one. I was going to figure things out.

Part of it was, “Listen. I’m hip to what’s going on. James, you going to bring me in on this? You’ve been holding me out of the loop — and yeah, I’m a little disappointed that you haven’t included me — but where are we going from here? Are we the [Final 2] or aren’t we?”

Really… I’m not worried if he’s going to go with me or not because at this point I’m thinking he’s the biggest threat. If he denies this in any way, shape or form, now that gives me the justification in my heart to go ahead and blind-side him.

Oh, Jean-Robert.

You can find other interviews, with more of the same, here and here. He does plan to lobby hard against Todd for betraying him if he makes it to the final two, as he’d threatened last week. Because he’s so well liked, and such a great study of people, I’m sure he can convince them to do his bidding. After all, that was his strategy - and he loves his strategy!

That’s his story, and by gosh, he’s sticking to it! In the meantime, he’s playing $1 Million tournaments… and cashing out at $20k.

Hrm, maybe it’s time to think about a new strategy…

(Part One, Part Two, Part Three)

Tribal Council
Jeff asks if Courtney ever expected to be there wearing the Immunity Necklace. She says “if I was going to win one, it’d be one that involves not falling in a swamp!” James admits that he feels nervous being there without immunity. Peih-Gee says Eric and I are the only one who brought are stuff, so we’re the only ones thinking we’re going! Jean-Robert says he’d be frustrated in their shoes, they’ve been in a bad position. Erik doesn’t quite agree, but he’s playing it one day at and James says “You working it!” he’s not fooling anyone.

Jeff asks about the idol and JR says as the local jerk, he’ll have his name on a ballot any time and if someone plays a HI it could be him. Amanda says everytime she goes to TC, she is not comfortable. Time to Vote!

The Votes: Jean-Robert, Jean-Robert, Peih-Gee, James, James, James, (AAH NO!) Jean-Robert, (THE STRESS!) Jean-Robert, JEAN-ROBERT! (WHEW!)

Jean-Robert is the 8th person voted out, and the second member of the jury. Jeff says the vote speaks for itself - tribal lines are gone, it’s a brand new game.

Next Time on Survivor: Tension rises, and a surprise at Tribal Council - they won’t be headed back to camp, but have more business to attend too.

And I nearly spit my DC all over the place when Jean-Robert says he knows they know he was the best player in the game, and that’s why they got him out. Oh Jean-Robert. You got PLAYED.

What did you think of the episode?! Do tell!

(Part One - Part Two)

Immunity Challenge time!
They have to balance on a large barrel filled with water, as it drains it’ll become more unstable, when you fall off, you’re out. Last person sitting wins immunity.

They push the levers, and the challenge begins. Hands and feet can only touch the barrel, no part of the structure. That’s all. Jeff blasts Jean Robert for complaining - Courtney is like a statue. 10 minutes in, and JR is trying to distract people. James is struggling, JR is the first one out! HAHAH!

Denise is next out, and into the swamp. James is struggling, but saves himself. 20 minutes in, Eric almost falls, Peih-Gee shows the first sign of trouble, Courtney is solid, and James is the 3rd person out and as he says “DundunDUN!”

Todd is struggling, but Eric falls before he does. Amanda is starting to wobble, but Peih-gee is out 5th. Amanda is out because she touched the structure! Down to three - Courtney, Frosti, Todd. 30 minutes in and Frosti is singing. Todd wobbles and falls! And then there were two… Courtney hasn’t moved in 32 minutes and quips “I am lazy!” Frosti is starting to wobble, Frosti can’t recover and COURTNEY WINS IMMUNITY! She says “It’s almost like a pagent!” Guess there are some benefits to weighing like, two pounds. Heh.

Back at camp, they congratulated Courtney, who didn’t think she would ever win anything, she doesn’t care who gets voted out, because it won’t be her! Peih-Gee is scrambling to save her ass, and hopes she’ll AUGH SNAKE survive one more. Jean-Robert and Erik talk and he tells Erik that he has the hidden immunity Idol, and he figures that means he’s guaranteed he is in the top five. Erik is 99% positive that James has it, and let’s Jean Robert in on it that he doesn’t have it, and that he is sure James has it. Aw, poor Jean-Robert. HAHAH! So now Jean Robert thinks he can start something and pull a fast one on James. Boy is this guy always a day late and a dollar short or what?

Jean-Robert confronts James about the HIIs, and he doesn’t give him any answers, and tells James that :The best course is with me, not against me, always!” And James tells us “Why would I align with you? That’d be the worst move in Survivor History!” Jean-Robert figures it’s fair game then. So he tells Todd what he already knows - that there’s two idols, and that James has them both and he wants to blindside him tonight. Which is oh so funny cuz Todd had THAT idea yesterday!

Todd is still entertaining options, and likes to keep it fun. James tells Todd that Jean-Robert knows, and Todd says “Well, he thinks you’re going - so lets go for Jean-Robert!” Amanda says he’s all over the place and second guessing himself, but wants Peih-Gee to go. Courtney says she doesn’t know, and Todd says JR is the best bet. Courtney is happy, he’s the Susan Lucci of Tribal Council. She’s hopeful, but wont’ see for sure. James isn’t even sure he’s going to bring the Idols with him, might roll the dice. But you never know….

(Part Four!)

(Part One Here)

James tells us that the reward was nice and there was a 1000 year old village and he don’t really enjoy the ‘romantic side of stuff’ but the history was really nice. They open the message to find the final clue to the hidden immunity Idol. Jean-Robert says that he should have had some clue, some idea there was an HII out there, he’s stunned. Todd is laughing, and JR is the only one who didn’t know about it. He’s all “This is big guys” and everyone else is laughing at him, quietly. I’m laughing at him too - not so quietly!

Jean-Robert wants to do know to do with the clues - and James is all “Make it disappear!” And everyone is all “That’s cool, an HII!” And Amanda says it was the best part of the whole evening, listening to him try and figure out where it might be.

Back at Camp, Denise is upset, that she wasn’t picked and she was always the last one picked, and she didn’t even get to try for Reward. She wonders if she’ll be the odd man out and go out before the rest of them. They do a bit of strategizing, and Peih-Gee decides to put for the the idea that if those five stick together they can get Jean-Robert. Denise says it’s an easy vote. She’s not sure what she’s going to do, just yet, and won’t give them a definitive answer. Hello swing vote!

That night, the four winners return, and get to bed, but Jean-Robert doesn’t sleep, he starts looking for the immunity Idol, which could be is “Million dollars right there!” He peels off the remaining plaque, but isn’t sure if it’s the right one, but it might be his ‘trump card’. Gee, was he not paying attention LAST TIME? HAHAHAH!

Day 23, and it’s dinner time. James is blasted for eating twice what everyone else does, by Jean-Robert of course. Todd says that “These PEOPLE are driving me insane!” He’s pissed that James has both HII as he gave him one of them and told him where they other one was and he hasn’t offered to give it back. Thus his plan is hatched.

Amanda’s a little suspect, it makes her nervous that he’s wanting to change and get James out, blind-siding him, but not telling Peih-Gee. Frosti knows he’s sort of a swing vote, and he and Todd have a bit of agreement. They just can’t let James win immunity at the next challenge.

(Part Three!)

Previously, on Survivor! Poor Jaime - no matter how much she denies the fact that she ‘didn’t know’ it was fake, and that she knew all along in her post show interviews - they’re still editing it like she had no clue. Awesome. No revisionist history for her!

We rejoin the Hae Da Fung Tribe right after the the Tribal Council and Jean Robert talking about how shocked he was, and then James telling Jean Robert to move to move over and give Erik room, and telling us they need to “keep his dumb-ass in line since we stuck with him now.”

Back at camp the morning of Day 22, James is out working with the nets. He knows they have to stick together, though they’re all completely opposite, and they clash, but they have too. He says Peih-Gee and Erik aren’t trying to win Survivor - they’re trying to win a High School Friend Contest!

Amanda knows that James is in a really good position and that makes her afraid he can win the whole thing, since he has both HII.

Reward Challenge!
They will be divided, one member will sit in the boat, while the opposite members throw buckets of water to try and sink while the member tries to bail fast enough. Sink twice, and win reward which is an authentic Chinese meal, in a little village. Schoolyard pick!

Peig-gee is captain of the red, and Jean Robert is captain of the yellow.
Jean Robert, James, Todd, Amanda
Peih-Gee, Frosti, Erik, Courtney, cuz she’s light.

Poor Denise sits out, and not eligible for the reward for it. That bites!

First round, Todd and Courtney are in the boat. Courtney is getting drenched by Amanda James and Jean-Robert screaming “I hate all of you!’ OH I LOVE THIS CHALLENGE! Todd’s doing awesome - with no water, and staying in the middle and Courtney is drowned! WHOO!

Frosti and Amanda in the boats now for round two. Red team is starting to tire “James is relentless!” and showing no signs of getting tired at all. Amanda has a nice safe spot in the middle, with hardly any water falling into her boat, Frosti is in trouble, and can’t get out of there - and is Sunk! Yellow team wins reward!

James, Todd, Amanda and Jean-Robert are given a message to read all together while they enjoy their reward, and head off to the ancient village.

(Click here for Part Two!)

Well, are ya? Tonight’s the night, and by all accounts there is a sneaky plot to get my boy James blindsided tonight. That is so NOT OK WITH ME! Harumph. Hopefully he gets wind of it all and Jean-Robert finally gets the boot.

Here’s Probst’s Preview to chew over before the big event!

So, do you have any last minute predictions? Who do you see going home? Who do you WANT to go home? Will James be smart and play an HII tonight at Tribal to save himself one more week? Will Courtney disappear completely from view, leaving us only her complaining? Time will tell!

On Thursday’s episode, Jaime made as if she had found the Hidden Immunity Idol, only to have Jeff theatrically toss it into the fire and declare it fake in one of the best Survivor moment’s ever. According to her interviews, however, Jaime swears she knew it was fake, and did it for humor’s sake.

Well, WE sure laughed!
(As did James - how funny is he? Seriously?)

Anyway, according to Jaime’s Reality News Online interview, she and Jean-Robert had talked and she knew she was on her way out, so figured that all her attempts to prove that she DID have an HII, knowing she didn’t, had failed to get them to vote for Jean-Robert instead. So she went for humor, and to see Jean-Robert’s face, which she said was totally worth it. She claims to be a victim of editing, that she told them often in her confessionals that she knew it was fake.

And for the record - she and Erik are Just Friends.

For more Jaime Interviews - check here and here.

For those who still wonder how it is we are in Season 15 of a show like Survivor - whether you love it like I do, or find it part of the trash genre like others, Martin Miller of the LA Times took more then a few words to dissect our love of this Gold Medal winner of ‘reality tv’ - for the fifth consecutive week, Survivor: China won it’s Thursday night time period in the much coveted 18-49 demographic. For the fifth consecutive week, Survivor beat out the media darling America Ferrera in Ugly Betty, as well as My Name is Earl and 30 Rock.

After 14.5 seasons, Survivor is clearly still a force to be reckoned with! (Hear that Mark B?! Don’t take our Survivor away!) The casting has remained top notch, giving us a wealth of people to love, hate, and to love to hate. The editing team works overtime to give us exciting episodes, and the production values have been praised consistently by even the harshest critics.

How long will we have our beloved Thursday night Survivor Fix?

“It’s very difficult to put a life span on something that has gone 15 seasons without people noticeably saying it isn’t any good anymore,” said Holmes, who writes recaps of the show. “I have no idea when it’s going to end. It wouldn’t surprise me if it were on 10 years from now.”

So, let those Torches keep burning, Mark Burnett! We still love to see them snuffed out week by week!

Survivor, Survivor: China, CBS, Jeff Probst, Reality TV, rumors, contestants

(Part One, Part Two)

Back at camp, Peih-Gee is pretty sure that it’s her, Jaime or Erik going home, and she’s bugging James and asking if they’re still cool. She’s not all that smooth about it either. James is telling Todd about the blank one, and how they think they have it. He tells Amanda too - and they’re all giggling. They agree that Jaime should be the next one out, because she’s a silent leader, being close to Erik, and Peih-Gee is devious but Jaime doesn’t see it with her right away. Amanda does warn him about Courtney so that they can’t trust her. “She’s supposed to have city smarts” he says “but dayum!”

Todd checks in with Jean-Robert, and he makes a suggestion and he says they know about Jaime, but he’s not sure with Peih-Gee. Then says if he gets screwed - he’s going to hold it against Todd, and he’ll never win if he has anything to do with it. Todd is REALLY working everything - he is a true game player for sure.

Peih-Gee and Jaime talk, and decide who to vote for. They still worry about Frosti. Jaime tells Frosti that she and Erik found the Immunity Idol. She’s positive they have the idol, Frosti knows it’s a possibility, and the worst that will happen is that Jean-Robert would be voted out. Frosti knows he is the swing vote and that it could go either way. Jaime goes to Todd then, and says she knows who has the idol - he says she’s on the small bike in the back.

She feels that Todd will be shocked when she plays the idol and here it is “I’m not as dumb as I look!” It’s either going to be Jean-Robert or Jaime at this point, and James is stillc alling everyone ‘dumb-ass’ because they don’t get it.

Tribal Council!

Amanda says that it’s nice to be merged and that they all get along really well. Jeff asks Peih-Gee if she is having fun, if she feels confident, or is clueless. She says she’s confident. Jean-Robert says that Courtney is not going to be gunned after now, and Courtney rolls her eyes, and that he’s just trying to be nice. James says that Jean-Robert just don’t be quiet, he doesn’t stop! He feels it’s going to be a liability. Peih-Gee says that she has found some cracks, and most of them are Jean-Robert. Jeff asks Jaime what she is going to do, being one of the smaller numbers. She says she just looked for the cracks, to do her best to stay longer. And with that, it’s time to vote.

Jaime interrupts Jeff, and asks if the plaque she found is immunity. He explains the rules - James tries SO HARD not to laugh, as they’re told it’s not the idol and any votes will count. Everyone giggles.

The Votes: Jean-Robert, Jaime, Jaime, Jean-Robert, Jean-Robert, Jaime, Jaime, Jaime, and the 7th person voted out and first member of the Jury, Jaime!

Next time on Survivor: Todd wants to blindside James, causing his alliance to question his leadership and Peih-Gee makes a power play.

–

So what did you think of the episode? How funny was James?! And what’s with Jean-Robert suddenly threatening Todd - when has that EVER worked for a Survivor?!

(Part one - HERE!)

The teams come together for what they think will be a challenge and see that Sherea is gone. Jeff tells them one of the major things in The Art Of War is to know themselves, and their opponents, and then they’re told to drop the buffs, they are merged. They’re given new buffs, black ones, and they will live at the Fei Long beach. And they get a feast, and an afternoon of Chinese cultural performances. Jeff reminds them that the game never stops and to keep it in mind as they enjoy the afternoon.

Jean-Robert is trying to figure it out, but he was excited to be eating, he was just waiting for food. Firecrackers go off, Courtney says boo challenges, yay feast! THANK GOD. EAT WOMAN! And she enjoyed the alcohol too. Ha! They enjoy acrobats, and music, and more fireworks, and dancers, contortionists, etc.

While watching, Amanda is still figuring out who to kick off next and she and Todd share a little work, before going back to enjoy the performances.

Day 20, and the merged tribe goes back to Fei Long. Jean Robert says that the merge doesn’t change his strategy at all, he still feels the other tribe will go first. He feels confident. That’s never a good sign. Hah.

They try to figure a name, and they start making racial comments about the name of ‘black something’ and Frosti says “I was on the YELLOW team!” and everyone laughs. They finally decide on Black Fighting Wind, Hae Da Fung. Peih-Gee is still working the numbers, trying to figure if she’s in a powerful position or a sucky one.

Jeff shows up at camp, with a bag - and he brings something better then food, a gift for one of them. It’s the individual immunity necklace. It is time for the first Individual Imunity Challenge!

Everyone takes a seat, and he reminds them of his reminder, and they find out how it will come into play. They will be tested on the things that happened during the feast and performances. If you’re wrong, you’re out. Last person standing wins Individual Immunity and is safe at the next Tribal Council. Frosti says he’s screwed, and no one is feeling confident at all.

1. How many times did firecrackers go off? 3
2. What was the center piece on the table? Dragon
3. A tall pole with knife blades as ladder rungs - what color was the pole? Yellow

We are down to Frosti and Jaime.

4. What did the four cultural dancers with the skirts wear on their feet? Frosti makes a joke about not watching their feet, the correct answer is nothing - their feet were bare. Jaime said silk stockings, and….

Frosti wins the first individual Immunity!

(Part three - HERE!)

Hidy-ho Survivor Fans! It sure feels nice to be back here in my comfy chair watching the East Coast stream by BBFan (ATI’s TV)! Thanks, as always!

Previously, on Survivor….

We rejoin Fei Long on night 18, where Amanda and Jean-Robert were talking about Courtney’s attacking him, and he’s a bit upset about it. Todd and Amanda refuse to take sides, and Courtney isn’t happy that they’re taking his side.

Back at Zhun Hu the next morning, Peih-Gee asks James if he thinks they’re loyal to him, and does her best to sway him to her side. James isn’t committing, and is looking right at the second immunity idol. Ha. She says her gut instinct is to trust James. He’s biding his time to get it off, taking both of them, one which is wrong, the other which is the correct one. He’s got two idols, and he’s sitting pretty.

Back at Fei Long, the heat is getting to them. Todd was in a good mood, and Courtney is upset that they sent Jean Robert home. She wants them to quit pandering to him, and she’s just not buying it and is upset they don’t stand up to them. Todd knows that she’ll vote against him every single time, and he knows they’ll lose the numbers. Todd’s all “Deal with it, bitch!” Hahah!

To Zhun Hu again, Jaime notices that the sign is missing off the arch, and points it out to Eric and Peih-Gee. Eric picks it up, and figures it looks idolish, and shows it to the girls, then puts it in his bag. They’re not sure what it stands for, but has to mean something, right? Then, nightfall, and Jaime decides to go through James’ bag while the other’s watch out for Peih-Gee and James to come back. And she finds the other idols, and that it’s the same thing he has - he has two of them wrapped up in his pants.

The next morning, James looks around for the other plaque, and since it’s missing figures that the others have it. He feels the same way I do - if Jaime has and tries to play the wrong one, he’d fall over laughing… “That would fill me with glee!” God I love him! He has such a great laugh!

(Part two - HERE!)

Are you ready? No, not for trick or treating, but for tomorrow’s episode of Survivor?! It’s said that my boy James might make a grave mistake tomorrow, and I’ve been busy sacrificing all my candy in the hopes that it just ain’t so!

While we wait, there’s of course a multitude of things to read! You can hop over to Survivor Fever, and read the cut scene between Jean Robert and Sherea, as well as Sherea’s final words, and day after comments. She’s pretty sure she was voted out because she was a threat - just like every other survivor that’s been voted off. She did her best to keep her head down and her mouth shut, but it just wasn’t enough. She is, however, already planning Survivor Days for the kids in her classroom - she sounds like a great hands on teacher to me!

And, of course, there’s the interview circuit - everyone’s favorite. Sherea’s interviews can be seen here, here, here, here, here and here.

And, from the looks of previews for tomorrow, James just might find himself the SECOND Immunity idol too - they told him where the first one was, stands to reason the second is in the same place. How could he make a horrible mistake if he has TWO idols? There is also promise of unique challenge, where if we don’t pay attention, we’ll miss the clues.

And, because I do love to watch James so very much, The Buzz has an article about him posted online: Acadiana ‘Survivor’ star and Crowley native strongest contestant?

They too speak of him having two immunity idols, and his friend says he might be in the best position of any Survivor ever - he’s strong, and used to hard work. Man… now we KNOW something’s going to happen to James soon - if not this episode, the next one!

Well, hopefully it’s not until the Jury, so that I still get to watch him every week for the rest of the season!

PS - just for today, check out CBS’s How To Survive A Horror Movie. There’s some seriously good stuff there! (grin)

I know it’s a little late, but the California Sun was so…so… Sunny! But I’m home now, and things will resume their regular schedule around here, asa! So, with the proper suck-up-ing done… We rejoin Zhun Hu on day 16…

Peih-gee, Jaime and Erik are sleeping, while James is doing all the work – when are those girls gonna do something? Peih-Gee is still planning to throw the next challenge, to get rid of James. He, on the other hand, is still working hard and doing what he does, hoping to push them forward in the next challenges to save himself at the next council.

At Fei Long, John Robert is snoring up a storm, while Todd pulls Amanda aside and tells her that he has the clues for the Hidden Immunity Island, but since he can’t find it, he needs her help. Amanda is socked, of course, as she didn’t know one existed.

We jump right to the reward challenge, early this week! One by one will race through the abandoned Chinese village, find a plank, untie it, and bring it back, once they have it they’ll use the planks to solve the puzzle and spell “The journey of a thousand minds begins with a single step.” The reward is a trip to the tea house for bathing and food, plus they get to kidnap someone. For Fei Long, Denise, Amanda and Courtney sit out.

James and John-Robert start off, finding the planks easily, untying and running back. Fei long is in the lead, Sherea takes off, and so does Peih-Gee, who takes the chance to tell Sherea that they’re still with them as a tribe, and will work to get their fei long member out of there. Sherea says nothing. They’re working hard, and they are tied, 3-3, it’s close and remains so as they work the knots and Fei Long pulls ahead bit by bit. Tied 7-7, and Zhun Hu is trying to line planks up to get a head start, but there is none to be had. They’re slightly behind as Fei Long starts working on the puzzle. Frosti thinks he has it, and Zhun Hu has zero progress in figuring it out.

(more…)

(Part one, part two)

Immunity Challenge Time!

Aaron makes no bones about having to put up or shut up to win the challenge or one of them is going home. Immunity is back up for grabs. Today’s challenge, two members swim to a platform and pull the sticks to free the disks that represent the signs of the Chinese zodiac by alternating turns diving. They put them all in the boat, the other tribemembers will arrange the puzzle to put them in order, winner is safe from Tribal council.

Erik and Aaron swim for Zhan Hu, Frosti and Jean-Robert for Fei Long. They all get to the platforms pretty quickly, they can pull as many sticks to free the disks as possible in one breath, then get back to the mat before the next guy can go and do the same thing. They are neck and neck at first. Courtney cheers for Jean Robert, then tells Amanda it hurt a little in her heart to say that. The deepest stick is about 12 feet down, and Jaime tells them to take their time and James gets upset as he waits for them to bring them in. They try to figure out how to work it, and the girls tell James they’ll work on the puzzle he should just place it for them. Frosti was done for a long time and got all the remaining tiles. Erik and Aaron have a big lead, it’s a race to shore, Aaron is swimming with the rope in his teeth, and Jean-Robert is completely spent!

Jaime tosses one of their pieces over the puzzle table, then saunters back where she and Peih-Gee are in slow motion, as James works around them and tries to get them into the lead. Jeff Probst says that Jaime is unconcerned and “You’d never think something is on the line!” Fei Long is working hard, no one wants to go home. Jeff asks Peih-gee a question, and she answers and James tells her to pay attention! Feih Long wins Immunity!

He tells Zhun Hu it was he worst performance in a challenge yet, they had a big lead and the girls and James completely blew it. Aaron looks worried, and James looks PISSED.

Back ag Zhan Hu, James tells the ‘puzzle girls” they can’t handle pressure, and Peih-Gee and Jaime are trying (and failing) not to laugh as James goes on and on and asking them why they weren’t focusing, and they need a strong team, and that’s all he’s gonna say. He don’t wanna babysit a bunch of children that won’t try, so they may as well send him home! The girls walk off and start giggling and cannot stop laughing. Erik follows to talk to them, and finds out they did throw it. He’s not happy, but what can he do? He can’t believe that they threw it, but it worries him, clearly. They talk about James and Aaron, but Jaime feels they should vote off Aaron first, feeling like Aaron probably has more ties in the other tribe. Peih-Gee talks to James, and try to get them on their side, and she discovers that he doesn’t trust them at all after what happened that day. Aaron talks to Erik who says the girls are voting against James. Aaron decides to vote for James so he doesn’t end up with hard feelings should he stay.

Tribal Council!

They talk about the switch first, and Jaime tells Jeff that they wanted to break the other team by taking their strongest members. Aaron says it was hard, and to lose immunity was still harder. Jeff says that Jaime is smiling, and it’s odd. She just says she’s not trying to pissed off. Jeff says he’s been around, and he had no concern about winning. She says flat out that they threw the challenge and James is UPSET. Peih-Gee says the big assumption they are making is a numbers game, and it’s driving James nuts. He says it does drive him insane, and they aren’t winning anything, even when Peih-Gee says it’s not winning the battles, but winning the war. He says he can’t work with them if this is the way they’re going to be. They know how he is about not going 100%, and he loves being there and he can’t take another loss like that. Aaron says he wants to be there as long as possible, and says he feels comfortable he’s going to still be there tonight, but he brought his bag anyway.

Jeff says it’s pretty clear that it will be James or Aaron, so lets end the suspense and see who gets the guietine.

The Votes: Peih-Gee, James, Aaron, Aaron, The fifth person voted out of Survivor: China, Aaron.

Jeff closes Tribal Council by telling Jaime, Peih-Gee, Erik are making a strategic gameplay. If they’re assumptions about the game are right, it was a good move – but if they are wrong…

Next time, on Survivor: China! The search for the Idol gets warmer and warmer, and the Survivors get a first hand taste of some local Chinese cuisine.

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What did you think of the episode? I can’t believe they risked throwing a challenge this early in the game, and blindly trust that the other members of their team won’t be working hard to be part of the other tribe instead of sticking with the originals. have these people never WATCHED this show? UGH!