Survivor thread

[a1mamacat]

this is a great show this year!!!

Spoiler

I don't care what the sour grapes jury members think, Sugar has proven to be one of the best strategists that I think has ever been on. She has been so underestimated by the rest of the cast, that she has been able to manipulate almost all of them, and been able to do so while still maintaining her air of innocence, or blondness, if you will.

The move at tribal last night was masterful. Ensuring that Bob was aware of the plot to blindside him, and actually wearing the previously hidden idol so no one would bother to vote for her, ensuring that the other two (we didn't see her work on Susie) would vote for Crystal, then after the vote, handing the hidden idol over to Matty for him to be save.

Brilliant!!!

The look of chagrin on Kenny's face and the shock on Crystal's and the glee from the jury made it one of the most entertaining tribals yet.

[christie1111]

this is a great show this year!!!

Spoiler

I don't care what the sour grapes jury members think, Sugar has proven to be one of the best strategists that I think has ever been on. She has been so underestimated by the rest of the cast, that she has been able to manipulate almost all of them, and been able to do so while still maintaining her air of innocence, or blondness, if you will.

The move at tribal last night was masterful. Ensuring that Bob was aware of the plot to blindside him, and actually wearing the previously hidden idol so no one would bother to vote for her, ensuring that the other two (we didn't see her work on Susie) would vote for Crystal, then after the vote, handing the hidden idol over to Matty for him to be save.

Brilliant!!!

The look of chagrin on Kenny's face and the shock on Crystal's and the glee from the jury made it one of the most entertaining tribals yet.

Spoiler

I agree. And the fact that Bob knew that Kenny was trying to blindside him made the 'woe is me' little speech really slimy. I would vote him out in a heartbeat.
Crystal really didn't play the game well. And she did not seem to bring an Olympic athlete feel to the competitions.

I am really liking Bob. Maybe it is my fondness for science teachers, but he is really my fav this year.

Sugar has been the sleeper though.

[plasticene]

I really enjoyed last night's episode as well. At this point, everyone knows what a snake Kenny is. I was rooting for him most of the season, but his plan to stab Bob in the back was loathsome. I think the only player left that he could beat is Susie; I can't see many jury members being willing to reward her with the grand prize.

If Bob or Sugar wins, I'll be very happy. I wouldn't be excited to see Matty or Kenny win, but either one would at least have earned it. Susie is just so clueless, I would hate to see her win.

[ghostjmf]

Spoiler

I didn't much care for that back-off of his pledge by "Honest Bob". I care far less for Stabby Kenny, but Bob changing from "I'll give you my next immunity" to "I'll give you immunity if I think you're in danger & I happen to have it at the time" was not an honorable move. It was a darn good Survivor move, though, since slimy Kenny was going to turn around & vote the person who had given him immunity off.

He'll probably still do it if Bob wins the next one. Sigh.

The only "under radar" player left is Susie. But "under-radar/no-threat, so not voted off" players have won before.

[Flybrick]

Good series this time.

I cannot stand the now departed Randy. During the show he struck me as an attention whore, but I tried to put that down as editing by the producers.

His appearance in the jury with a mohawk, however, confirmed it.

Other than a really bad toupee (sp?), that's one of the saddest looks for a 50 year old man...

[tanstaafl2]

Spoiler

I didn't much care for that back-off of his pledge by "Honest Bob". I care far less for Stabby Kenny, but Bob changing from "I'll give you my next immunity" to "I'll give you immunity if I think you're in danger & I happen to have it at the time" was not an honorable move. It was a darn good Survivor move, though, since slimy Kenny was going to turn around & vote the person who had given him immunity off.

He'll probably still do it if Bob wins the next one. Sigh.

The only "under radar" player left is Susie. But "under-radar/no-threat, so not voted off" players have won before.

Spoiler

Bob's play seemed perfectly legitimate to me. It was Kenny who started to waffle by saying maybe he would only ask for it if he thought he "needed" it. He was trying to make Bob feel guilty enough to give the idol to him whenever he wanted it. Then he tried to force Bob to give it to him so that he could back stab Bob. But Bob made it clear before tribal once Kenny started waffling that he would give it to him if he thought Kenny needed it. Well, obviously Kenny didn't need it! Kenny got just what he deserved. He had better win out at this point if he hopes to hang around. Although I still think Bob may need to do likewise as he is the obvious favorite. Unless Sugar really believes the "good guys" ought to win and wants to take Matty, Bob and herself to the final three. Since she is unlikely to win immunitiy against those two (it is possible that she could as final immunity is sometimes a balance thing that women often do well with) she might have to rely on one of those two being willing to take her with them to the final two. They both might well do that. That of course presumes it will be a final two as that has varied at times. A final two leaves a jury of 8. A bit odd to have an even number but that was the case last year as well. I think last season the idol was good until final four, not final five, so that was already one change this year.

I value devious play but Kenny was getting cocky and that usually comes with a cost (rather like Ozzy last season).

Bob is far from wrapping this up and Sugar has certainly stepped up her play in the latter part of the game. If Bob makes the final he likely wins over anyone else. Sugar may have a slight edge over Matty and Kenny could likely only win against Susie who likely couldn't win against anyone. Making her the person you would want to take to the finals with you if you could...

[tanstaafl2]

Spoiler

I agree. And the fact that Bob knew that Kenny was trying to blindside him made the 'woe is me' little speech really slimy. I would vote him out in a heartbeat.
Crystal really didn't play the game well. And she did not seem to bring an Olympic athlete feel to the competitions.

I am really liking Bob. Maybe it is my fondness for science teachers, but he is really my fav this year.

Sugar has been the sleeper though.

Spoiler

Crystal had been surprisingly useless this year. She will no doubt have a nonsensical rant at the end to go with her abysmal play in all aspects of the game.

As good as Sugar has proven to be late in the game I think she has too many people that dislike her on the jury for her to be successful. Perhaps they will get over their personal dislike for her to give her credit for her game play but she doesn't seem likely to beat Bob. I would vote for over Matty despite her tendency to be a bit smarmy at times but not sure the jury will.

[Estonut]

Spoiler

I didn't much care for that back-off of his pledge by "Honest Bob". I care far less for Stabby Kenny, but Bob changing from "I'll give you my next immunity" to "I'll give you immunity if I think you're in danger & I happen to have it at the time" was not an honorable move. It was a darn good Survivor move, though, since slimy Kenny was going to turn around & vote the person who had given him immunity off.

He'll probably still do it if Bob wins the next one. Sigh.

The only "under radar" player left is Susie. But "under-radar/no-threat, so not voted off" players have won before.

Spoiler

Tan already addressed your first paragraph. Bob did nothing that he had not already discussed with Kenny.

As far as your third paragraph: what about the blond lady who won in Australia? Wouldn't she qualify as "under-radar/no-threat, so not voted off"? Same for Amber winning the All-Star edition.

[jaybee]

Spoiler

I've been waiting to see if the Olympic athlete in Crystal would ever appear - Couldn't decide if she was just way out of shape or if she was hiding her physical abilities until a later time - quess we'll never know for sure now.

It was telling though in the reward challenge where the first part (before hitting the obsticles in the swamp) was a sprint on dry land to see that Crystal was one of the last ones to start the course.

[ghostjmf]

Estonut says:

Spoiler

As far as your third paragraph: what about the blond lady who won in Australia? Wouldn't she qualify as "under-radar/no-threat, so not voted off"? Same for Amber winning the All-Star edition.

Spoiler

My 3rd paragraph says that:

"under-radar/no-threat, so not voted off" players have won before

We're agreeing with each other here. The African American lady with the religious reasoning
("I won this because I believe in Jesus") was definitely under-radar & useless in challenges. Ditto Amber. I don't remember a blond under-radar person, but opinions of anonymity on Survivor I guess can vary.

I listened to an interview somewhere where Amber explained herself as being wily vis-a-vis alliiances. Her only real alliance was with her hateful main-squeeze, though.

Sugar, now, despite being generally useless in challenges (was only beaten by Bob, I think, on that ball-toss though), found & hung onto that immunity idol until she could play it to keep a friend in (or lose the use of it entirely anyway, of course). Her reasoning of "who should win" is pie-in-the-sky, but she's allowed to her opinion.

So that leaves 4 of the final 5 as definite players, & Suzy as a fairly annoying (to me, anyway) under-radar-flier

[Estonut]

Sorry, Ghost!

Spoiler

I saw an extra "no" in there. I misread your line as "no 'under-radar/no-threat, so not voted off' players have won before."

[jayhawker536]

Spoiler

Some people can't learn when to keep their mouths shut. If Crystal would have just laid off Matty and let Matty keep whining, then Matty would have been the one upsetting everyone. Sugar already told him it was highly likely he would be going home.

Kenny could not leave well enough alone for this week, he just had to go after Bob.

These two things combined upset Sugar. Kick someone when their down (Matty), play on someone's integrity and then backstack them (Bob). She had already said she was in an alliance with Crystal and Kenny, they should have left it alone. I believe Bob would have given Kenny the immunity necklace if not forwarned by Sugar, simply because he is a man of integrity. What Kenny tried to do negates every agreement they had between them, in my opinion. Sure he wiggled out of it with technicalities but who could blame him after finding out what Kenny was planning on doing.

If Cyrstal and Kenny would have just laid low and kept their traps shut either Matty or Bob would have went home last night, probably Matty. Sugar would have played her idol on herself simply because it was the last chance to use it.

Suzy will do whatever she is told to do, her vote for Crystal last night reinterrated that. She feels no loyalty for anyone but Suzy and is laying low on purpose, she learned her lesson with Corrine.

The last two seasons it has been the final three, not two, it's going to be that way this season also. Five people left, two will go in the first hour and a half of the show Sunday evening. The last half hour will be devoted to the remaining three pleading their cases before the jury. The winner will be announced at the wrap party in the last hour of Sunday night's three hour show.

I hope it is Matty, Bob and Sugar. Would rather see Bob or Sugar win than Matty. Bob because he is an oustanding game player, not to mention an all-around Survivor Man. Sugar because for such a "dumb blonde", she has turned out to be one of the best strategist that Survivor has had in any of their seasons.

[jaybee]

Spoiler

And one other thing RE: Sugar giving the idol to Matty - It was pretty obvious that Sugar was not going to be voted out and even though the 4-2 vote meant that Crystal would go no matter what idol was or was not played, Matty was still on the chopping block. Giving the idol to Matty goes a long way to getting his vote for Sugar if he winds up on the jury and she is in the final.

I agree, I'd like to see Matty, Bob and Sugar in the final and see Bob take it all.

[ontellen]

The Canadian station that carries Survivor puts in little info things on the commercial breaks. Last night's little fact was that Matty inherited a sizable sum of money when he was 18 and blew it all by the time he was 24. Don't think I'll root for him now. Bob deserves it.

[takinover]

Spoiler

The last two seasons it has been the final three, not two, it's going to be that way this season also. Five people left, two will go in the first hour and a half of the show Sunday evening. The last half hour will be devoted to the remaining three pleading their cases before the jury. The winner will be announced at the wrap party in the last hour of Sunday night's three hour show.

Last season was the "fans vs. favorites" and that was a final 2 (Parvati vs. Amanda).

[tanstaafl2]

Spoiler

The last two seasons it has been the final three, not two, it's going to be that way this season also. Five people left, two will go in the first hour and a half of the show Sunday evening. The last half hour will be devoted to the remaining three pleading their cases before the jury. The winner will be announced at the wrap party in the last hour of Sunday night's three hour show.

Last season was the "fans vs. favorites" and that was a final 2 (Parvati vs. Amanda).

As noted the rules, such as they are for this game, appear to be "flexible" at best. Last season was indeed a final two with a jury of 8. It was the first time there have ever been 8 on the jury and the only time so far that there was an even number. There have been 9 on two occasions (Cook Islands 13 and Fiji 14). All others were 7. If they have a final 3 that would leave 7 otherwise it will be 8 again this season. I can see them eliminating three in the final episode and leaving a final 2 again.

I think they make up the rules as they go along depending on the game. I am convinced that they had two tribe mix ups this season because one tribe was so bad. Had they been better it might not have gotten rearranged twice.

[jaybee]

I've always assumed that they have a mix-n-match choice of varieties of rules and changes that they can work into each show once they see how the personalities and strengths fall into place. Let's face it, there were a couple of the earlier shows where a solid alliance outnumbered all others and the predictable outcome was quite boring.

[MarleysGh0st]

I've always assumed that they have a mix-n-match choice of varieties of rules and changes that they can work into each show once they see how the personalities and strengths fall into place. Let's face it, there were a couple of the earlier shows where a solid alliance outnumbered all others and the predictable outcome was quite boring.

I don't like the everchanging rules on Survivor. If one team is that much better than another, that's just the breaks. This isn't Calvinball.

[jaybee]

Ahhhhh - But it's not about a gameshow where a contestant will win a million bucks. It's all about ratings and getting multiple millions of viewers to tune in season after season.

If you want fairness, maybe someday they will come out with a 100% knowledge based quiz show - where contestants get on the show based on their trivia knowledge and have a chance at a million by answering the one correct answer to each question. Oh wait! That's been done already.

[christie1111]

Ahhhhh - But it's not about a gameshow where a contestant will win a million bucks. It's all about ratings and getting multiple millions of viewers to tune in season after season.

If you want fairness, maybe someday they will come out with a 100% knowledge based quiz show - where contestants get on the show based on their trivia knowledge and have a chance at a million by answering the one correct answer to each question. Oh wait! That's been done already.

Oh wait, add a phone game and it would be really good.

[MarkBarrett]

I don't know anything for fact about the show, but my thinking is S&P is on hand. My guess is the format for each season is set and cannot be changed at the whim of producers as the game plays out. Merge, tribe switch, challenges & their order, 2 or 3 finalists etc. is decided before the season and isn't altered.

CBS does have a contest for player of the season to give Bob, I mean any of the 18, a $100,000 prize. The voting viewer is entered into a drawing for 10K.

I think Survivor finale Sunday is great and only equaled by the Super Bowl and Oscars. The jury questioning should be a classic with many blindsided and bitter members letting the finalists have it. Jeff Probst does a wonderful job with the reunion and proves each time why there was no reason to have Rosie or Gumbel do it.

This Sunday I'm rooting for in order:
Bob
Sugar
Kenny
Matty
Susie

I can't imagine a scenario where Matty or Susie get enough votes, so I expect to be satisfied with the season. I'm still not convinced peanut butter Jenna was more deserving than crazy Matthew in season 6.

[jaybee]

I'm still not convinced peanut butter Jenna was more deserving than crazy Matthew in season 6.

There was one of those on-line interviews with Probst a few weeks ago where he was asked to name the least deserving winner of Survivor. His answer was Jenna - citing that three days before the final she wanted to quit and go home. He also felt that the only reason she won is that most of the jury were really wierded out by Matthew.