Watching Survivor

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

Erik: 22, Ice cream scooper, Ypsilanti, MI

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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