So I’ve a question for those that wander through - I’ve never posted spoilers for Survivor before, though I do know where to find those that leak out every year. So my question is - do you want me to post them as I find them out (under a “spoiler” cut, of course, so that they’re not on the front page) or remain spoiler free as a whole?

As the season is filmed in it’s entirety before the Season Premiere, there are a lot of juicy things that trickle back while the show is in production. Production which starts soon - or has recently started. That means those that like to be in the know before anyone else dig and dig and dig to find the smallest tidbits about production and contestants and challenges before we even hit that first show on September 18th. I can do either way - so I leave it up to you. Comment and let me know!

In the meantime, let’s learn a little about Gabon, courtesy of SurvivorFever, hm?

Geography/Location:
Bordered on the west by the Atlantic, this West African country is also bounded by Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and the Congo. It’s area is slightly less than the Colorado’s.

Climate:
Tropical rainforest, heavily forested with some savanna areas toward the coast.

Ethnicity/Race
Bantu Tribes, including four major tribal groupings: Fang, Punu, Nzeiby, Mbsds (Obamba/Bateke) - other Africans and Europeans 10.8%

Wildlife:
Gorillas, Chimpanzee, Elephants, Army ants, hippos, Leopards, Water Buffalo, Manatees

As Gabon is one of the last places on Earth with primitive areas and lies next to Congo, some of the possible cultural production themes could include: Heart of Darkness, Pygmies, tarzan, Albert Schweitzer, Slavery and blood diamonds.

It seems that Survivor:Gabon will take place in areas surrounded Nyonie, which will serve as basecamp for production. DaleBJ confirmed the location to SurvivorFever sourcing his friends met there in 05-06 when he worked at the US Embassy in Gabon. t is only accessible via boat, and is isolated and unspoiled. If you search Flickr for Nyonie, there are dozens of pictures to be seen - it’s truly a beautiful place!

So. To Spoil, or not to spoil - that is the question! Leave your vote in the comments!

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?

Richard Hatch, the winner of Survivor: Borneo, is still appealing his tax evasion conviction and now he’s gotten it all the way to the US Supreme Court, according to his attorney. Two years ago, he was convicted of failing to pay taxes on the $1 million prize he netted after besting the rest of the Season One Survivor Contestants. He was sentenced to more then 4 years in prison for being a dumbass.

You see, he claims that he discovered producers cheating during the filming of the show, and when he confronted them, they promised to pay the taxes if he kept quiet and won the competition. Because of this, he didn’t pay his taxes at all on the final prize.

…

I know, right? Even IF the claims were true (and CBS, of course, says the claims are ridiculous and have no merit) why on earth would he not just pay the taxes upfront, and have them pay him back, instead of getting tangled up with the law? Seriously, it’s the height of stupidity, and I’m far more inclined to believe that he blew all the money and then couldn’t afford the taxes so started pointing fingers and sputtering foul play. Idiot.

The appeal has made it to the Supreme Court based on claims that the judge improperly prevented Hatch from testifying about the conversation he supposedly had with the Survivor Producers. He also argued that his cross-examination of the tax accountant who filed the returns, a key witness for the IRS, was unfairly limited.

Meanwhile, Hatch is, of course, writing a book about “his experience with the legal system and his disappointment not just with the problems that he suffered but with the problems other people have suffered that he has met.”

Gee. Sounds like a gripping read, there, Richard, but I think I’ll pass, just like the Supreme Court should have done on this idiotic appeal.

Seems like most folks were seriously surprised by the outcome - in fact only ONE person got the full forty points for picking Parvati as the winner this week! IN doing so, they took over second place and kicked me official out of the top three spots. Well played! In the end, as you know, there can be only one. (I am well aware of how much of a dork I am, honest. *grin*) So, without further ado, I give you the winners of the Watching Survivor Pool Party!

With a total of 234 points, First Place and the winner of the Survivor Blast DVD and 3 Tribal Buffs from Survivor: Thailand (gold, purple, orange) is:

With a total of 215 points, Second place and the winner of the Survivor Board Game, and 2 tribal buffs from Survivor: Africa (gold, red) is:

With a total of 211 points, Third place and the winner of the Survivor Card Game Starter Set and 1 Tribal Buff from Survivor: Thailand (gold) is:

Congratulations to all of the winners, and thanks for playing along to the rest of you! My family made a pretty darn good showing too - with my two oldest coming in fifth and sixth behind me, my mom in twelfth, despite never having watched a single episode of Survivor - ever, and my sister popped up to twenty-first. Good job, guys, and thanks for the support!

Winners - please email me your mailing addresses to lessasdesign@gmail.com and I’ll get your prize packages off to you this week!

: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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: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!

:01 Previously on Survivor…

:03 It’s night 33 on Dabu, just after the last tribal council. Ciree says Tribal Council is getting dangerous with all the idols floating around. Amanda put her through the ringer, and had her on the brink of making it a tie vote.

The next morning, Erik is talking to Natalie about their getting Alexis out. They say it doesn’t make any sense to take Amanda to the final three because everyone on the Jury likes her. Erik says everyone played him for a fool and he’s upset about that. But he wants to go to exile island to find the idol and it’d be the last chance to lose it. Natalie and Erik agree to send each other to exile if they win the next challenge.

Erik says he’s weighing the pros and cons, he might have to go with Natalie, but he doesn’t trust anyone in the game, but he has to pick a side.

:04 Roll credits and commercial.

:08 We’re back and Cirie and Amanda are talking about if they can beat Erik at final three. Amanda says that she tested Cirie’s trust, and she trusts her and Parvati to the end. They don’t want Erik or Natalie going to exile because one of them finds the immunity idol it could take them. Cirie says that Amanda can get to Erik and get him to do what she wants.

:09 Amanda talks to Erik and asks where his thoughts are. He says he feels he can win reward, he’s starving, it should be food. He tells us Amanda is strategic, and doesn’t know if he can trust her after raking him over the coals. She tells him that they’ll get through it if they go together - the strategic player and the strong one. She tells us that he’s naïve, and wants to send Parvati to exile. Amanda tells him that Natalie wants him at exile to weaken him, and she pushes for Parvati. Erik says he feels like he has a choice to make and feels like it’s Natalie and Amanda talking him into different plans, so it’s about who he trusts. Amanda says he’s thinking, he’s almost there. He says its not all hair on his head.

:11 Reward challenge! Today’s challenge tests how well you know the game. Questions about past seasons, right scores a point, first to 4 wins. They win a helicopter ride to a resort with massage and meal. You also send someone to exile where there’s “yet another” idol hidden. The final time to play it is the next council.

Time to get started. On which season did a castaway have a pet snake? Pearl Islands (It was Rupart) Cirie and Erik get it right.

In which season did a shark bite a survivor and the survivor bit it back? Jeff says if you’re a fan you should know it - Allstars - Amanda and Natalie are correct. Hatch did it.

Which season did a tribe mate ask another to pee on their hand after being stung by a sea urchin? Marcasus - Erik gets it right, John asked Kathy to do it.

Which season did a castaway evacuated after falling into the fire? Cirie, Parv and Erik are correct with Austrailia - Erik was 14 years old and jeff says its proof of his super fan status.

Which season did they first divide the castaways into 4 tribes? Exile Island is correct, and Erik wins reward!

First decision - he sends Parvati to exile island. (Good job Amanda!) And he gets to choose someone to with him on the reward, and he chooses Amanda, saying they gave each other their word to do so and Amanda thanks him for that, and they head on out to meet the helicopter.

:17 Commercial!

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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!

:01 Previously on Survivor… It’s recap time!

:02 We jump right back into it on night 30, as James gets his finger looked at on the med boat. James says it’s nothing to bother with, but it was swelling up a bit, and medical gave him some antibiotic and they also are keeping a eye on it. They’re only going to give him until the next morning, if it’s not better he’ll have to go to surgery to clean out the joint. He tells us he works with his hands and needs his hands when he gets back home so it’s important to have it taken care of right away.

:03 Roll intro and commercial!

:06 Back at Dabu, James is back and says his finger is just a little inflamed. Amanda says the infection is close to the joint which could lead to permanent problems and she hopes that it’s better by morning, and they tell him he can continue the game.

:07 The next morning, James is working - and Alexis says she was walking last night and ate it really bad, and hurt her knee. She says it’s sore - and Cirie says Alexis takes a tumble and James infected, and it’s bad that she’s a nurse but that’s two less people she has to fight for a million dollars.

:08 It’s challenge time, and everyone has statues in their likeness. They’re each answering a questions, and then Jeff will tally the results, and be asked the same questions and you’ll have to answer what the majority said. Each right answer you cut a rope of another tribemate - 3 strikes and the statue is dashed and your out of the game. Playing for Family Visits!!

Erik is so excited to show off his beard to his brother, and Jeff Probst, Jeff Probst he’s STANDING THERE! Jeff calls Erik a freak, then Natalie’s mom is there, and she’s apologizing for smelling so bad. Alexis limps over to see her brother, and Amanda’s sister is there for her. And James dad joins the rest of them on the island. Big hugs and Dad says he’s gonna go on a diet so his belly looks like James. And Cirie’s hubby runs around the corner to say hello to her too.andhe brought her a flower - awwwww!

The winner of the challenge gets to go to jellyfish lake to swim with thousands of non-stinging jellyfish. Exile island is back into play - someone is going, and the idol is hidden again.

:12 Time to get to it!

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