Survivor South Pacific - Sept 28/11 Episode Recap

Reap What You Sew

Redemption Island - Night 5
Christine (the b*tchy one) arrives and, true to form, shakes Semhar awake - I'm here!  Semhar pumps her for info on her tribe and Christine says Coach is big ol' pain in the *ss.  He thinks he's King Farouk or somethin'.  (At least Christine can build a fire - I'm sure Semhar is glad of that.)  Christine sees Redemption Island as her chance to get back in the game... let's see if you can make good on that.

Upolu - Night 5
They return from tribal council - Mikayla is still reeling from Brandon's attempt to get rid of her.  She's glad Coach took the heat off of her but as she tries to talk to him Brandon comes over whining that Tribal sucked so bad... Coach hugs him - to comfort him... Really?
-Brandon says to the camera that he was 150% sure that Mikayla was going to go but his plan backfired and he got caught in a bold-faced lie.  He didn't want to be branded a villain like his uncle, he didn't want to play that way. (You are so far from being your uncle.  He would have recruited Mikayla as his 'dumb-ass girl' and had her working for him.  Brandon doesn't strike me as clever enough to achieve his uncle's level of chicanery.)

Upolu - Day 6
They choose two people to go watch the duel at Redemption Island - Coach humbly requests that the tribe allows him to go (ugh) and Stacey says, "I want to go too."  And it's that easy.  Coach says the best part of the day would be if Christine lost.  He doesn't want to see her at any time get back in the game.

Redemption Island - Day 6
We see Coach and Stacey and Ozzie and Elyse take a seat in the viewing area.  And Semhar has spent the day braiding her hair... or maybe they bonded over cornrows... and really, do we need to see your bra?  Your shirt is adequate to cover it and your chest is not going to win you any points.

Jeff asks Christine what went wrong on her tribe - she said Coach Wade did not like her because she voiced what everyone was thinking, that he was a temporary player, but he took offence to it and wanted her gone.  Jeff asks Semhar how she fared at Redemption island all alone - she said it was scary and I was all alone... wow, not feeling poetic today I see.

DUEL: They will place a wooden totem on the end of a pole and balance it - at timed intervals they will add another section to the pole making it longer and harder to balance.  At any time if the totem falls from the top of the pole, that player loses and is out of the game.  For reals this time.

And... we are all waiting for Semhar to pray... oh wait, no, it's a spoken word performance - they're all just looking at each other and Jeff gives a big ol' heavy sigh (haha, that is why he's the best reality host on TV)... "Okay, I'm good." (she's got to get her performance time in while she can.)

And finally they begin: they both get to the 2nd section, and the third, though Semhar swayed a little - Christine's started to wobble... they're both getting fatigued... and Semhar loses her totem. Goodbye boo.
And with Semhar losing that means: Lynne B, Bryon L and Cheryl B get the booby prize of first out pool money back.

-Jeff asks Semhar what's the emotion (on losing) - and she gets choked up, her tribe sending her to Redemption Island brought up her painful past, she moved so many times and felt abandoned and it made her feel that way about her tribe. "I don't know how people can be so cruel."
Jeff, "And yet, you sought out this game." (Meaning, didn't you know that could happen, do you watch the show?) but she doesn't get it at all.  She says, "Exactly, and I'm so proud of myself, I never gave up..." (What? I don't think she listens - she's too busy writing her own spoken word story in her head to worry about what the cruel world thinks of her.)
-Just burn her buff already!  She does give Christine her blanket before she leaves - that was nice.
-Christine knows Coach was just there to see if she would lose, "What a dope." She's hoping she can "pull a Matt" and have a run at Redemption and get back in.  She knows she'll win. (As long as she doesn't pull a total Matt and implode when she gets back in - though I don't see her as the WWJD type.)

Upolu - Day 7
-Brandon is having a crisis of conscience - he doesn't want to lie anymore or play games with these people... (Uh, are you going home then?  You do realize you're there for a game where you lie to people right?  I'm getting a little sick of Lil Hantz.) 
-So... Brandon takes off his shirt and tells everyone that he's Russell Hantz' nephew... much to the surprise of the tribe. 
-Sophie - I knew he was hiding something.
-Mikayla - I still don't trust him, he's a sneak.
-Brandon -  Now he feels like he's free to be himself - he loves God and he shouldn't be ashamed of not being like his uncle. (I think you're more like him then you care to admit.)
-Coach tells Brandon he's proud of him for being honest but then tells us it was a mistake, in his opinion, to tell the tribe.  He still thinks Brandon's a valuable asset in his alliance but he's not going to be able to trust him completely.

Savaii - Day 7
-Papa Bear [pronounced bay-ah] - knows there is a pecking order in their tribe - he feels he and Dawn are on the bottom due to their ages and Cochran cause he's the nerdy kid no one hung around with at school.  Papa Bear hasn't clicked with anyone and he knows every challenge is important, he's not safe.
-Ozzy has his 5 pretty people alliance but he has a brother-type thing with Keith, he trusts him and thinks at some point he'll share the fact that he has the hidden idol with Keith. 
And I guess this is the point because he just tells him. 
Ozzy: I have the idol.
Keith: Oh, sweet.
(Dude... where's my idol?...  Get it?  Yeah, that was bad, I'm ashamed :)
-And Keith promptly goes and tells Whitney that Ozzy found the idol. (So much for the bro-code.)
-Keith tells the camera that he's mad that Ozzy has the idol cause it gives him all the power in their alliance and he told Whitney because he wants her to trust him [Keith].  (Methinks Ozzy just lost himself the game - again.)

Upolu - Day 7
-Mikayla confronts Brandon - wants to know what he has against her - he tells her he doesn't like her and he's not the only one- but she won't let it go - he says she just doesn't understand that he's trying to apologize (by telling her you don't like her...?)  he starts getting defensive and then calls everyone together and has some weird little rant about Mikayla not having any alliances and then says he just wants to be kept out of the drama.  (Then stop creating it, dummy.) (I know a way to keep him out of the drama - vote him out!)
-Sophie says Brandon is a loose cannon - he's got these religious ideals but then, inherent in his bloodline, he's a devious jerk.
-Mikayla goes off crying and I feel sorry for her - she shouldn't have to suffer because of that little puke.
-And Brandon's off crying - I should have been able to control my temper but I failed - this is a constant battle for me, good & evil, good & evil... (um, don't they have psych evaluations before they can go on the show?  He worries me.)  (Okay, then he's sleeping with his hands on his chest under his shirt and it looks like he has boobs - I had to do a double-take... Hahaha, I bet he loves that shot!)
-Coach talking to Sophie - Brandon's laying it all out on the table has spooked his alliance and spooked Mikayla - Coach is greatly concerned - it is a different aggression than Russell but it is still aggression and they can see the 'Russell' in him.  She just hopes it doesn't bite them in the butt. (I'm waiting for someone to realize he's, dare I say it, 'the cancer in the tribe'... that is one of my favourite staples, I hope someone busts that one out.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
On Jeff's go - one tribe member will race across a floating bridge carrying a body board attached to a long rope, once they reach the platform they will grab one of the suspended bags then hang on to the body board as the rest of the tribe cranks a winch to pull them back to shore - once they have all 5 bags loaded into stand up basket type things the rest of the tribe must use grappling hooks to pick up the bags and get them to the top of a wall, then they must release the puzzle banners and arrange them hanging from the wall to form their tribe flag.  First tribe to get it right will get immunity and reward: coffee, tea, sugar, chocolate & cookies.  And another clue to the hidden idol.

Brandon & Ozzy are the two heading out on the course first - Red cannot feed the rope and they keep holding Ozzy back.  Papa Bear noticeably cannot keep up with the cranking of the winch.
Brandon is the first back and Albert heads out on the bridge.  Dawn is the next one out and she catches up as Albert is heavier and harder to pull in - Ozzy is out again against Mikayla and he takes back a pretty big lead now - But Dawn is slower on her second time out and Brandon takes the lead... now it's Ozzy & Albert neck and neck for the last bag - and Ozzy loses the board - Upolu has a small lead.  Moving on to the grappling hooks - Coach & Edna and Whitney & Elyse are hooking the bags - Upolu is the first to get all their bags - they get all their banners out before the red team even gets all the pieces up and they finish their flag -UPOLU wins Immunity, Reward and the clue.

-Jim says Papa Bear is their weakest link, he slows them down - he should have been the first to go. (Leave it to Jim to be talking smack - I think he's the most cunning & ruthless player there, plus he's smart enough to hide it... I think he may be the dark horse.)

Savaii - Day 8
Coming back from losing Immunity - they are trying to be positive but morale is down.  Ozzy says Dawn kicked ass today so they have to look at Papa Bear or Cochran - those not really helping them win challenges.
-Papa Bear and Cochran talking - they were put on the Barbie & Ken team and they don't fit in.  They both know they're on the chopping block and basically say, I hope it's you and not me. (Nice - no alliance among the misfits then.)
-Pretty alliance is talking and they decide it will be Papa Bear - but they'll tell him it's Cochran.  When Cochran comes to see what's going on Ozzy tells him and Cochran is not happy that his name keeps coming up.  Cochran views Redemption Island as prolonged failure (in his case, probably correct) and he's tempted to do some scrambling but he's already viewed as the nervous, neurotic scrambler... he just doesn't want to go home.
-Jim & Ozzy tell Papa Bear it's Cochran tonight and he doesn't believe them - He was a cop, he can read you guys - he knows he's on the block.  He decides his only hope is to find the hidden immunity idol so he walks through camp and RUNS into the woods. 
-Elyse - Uh, did anyone see that?  Papa Bear just sprinted into the woods.  She and Jim go spy on him as he's digging like a gopher... wouldn't it be wild if he found the idol?  (Especially if he found where Ozzy hid it - that would be AWESOME!)
-Papa Bear doesn't find it of course but he decides to make a fake one and try to make them think he found it.  So, he comes back into camp with a big smile and a bigger bulge in his underpants.  He goes and tells Jim he found the idol.  Jim's not sure if it's true but he thinks they may have to switch their voting.
-Cochran thinks it's an act and hopes the rest of the tribe sees through Papa Bear's charade but he also knows it's easy enough for them to just vote for him instead.
-Ozzy thinks it's incredibly funny to watch everyone scramble around thinking Papa Bear has the idol when Ozzy already has it.  He just hopes nothing goes wrong.

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Cochran, did you feel the heat after last tribal council?
-I'm trying to make myself more of an asset to the tribe - at camp and in challenges.  I think I proved today that my size isn't an impediment in challenges, I was winching with the best of them.
Papa Bear, what's Cochran's biggest problem - in this game?
-In my opinion, physically he's going to be a threat to himself.
Cochran, where is the leadership in this tribe?
-There are many layers of leadership - the obvious is Ozzy, we follow his lead in learning how to survive these elements.
Papa Bear, Ozzy the leader?
-Everyone wants to be the leader.  This is a game of A type personalities, none of these people sit on the couch all day (nice deflection)
What is your professional background?
-I am a retired NYPDetective
So you are a leader
-I am a leader but for some reason in this tribe, the 5 have taken control and I'm not a leader - I really don't have anything in common with them. (Cop out - if you were really playing the game, you'd find, or make up, some common interests... I'm just saying.)
Dawn, are you noticing people starting to group based on similarities, age, background?
-Yeah, I think any group is made up of similarities, community, and I think myself, Papa Bear and Cochran are the most on the outside but I see it shift throughout the day - I don't see it as locked.
-Papa Bear pipes up: Dawn (and her eyes bugged out of her head... oh, someone doesn't like confrontation) - You know we're not in their group, it's okay to say it because it's real (yeah, Papa Bear has had some therapy - feel your truth!)
Jim, you're not buying this.
-No, I think Dawn was right on.  Papa Bear knows he's on the chopping block tonight and I think his comments are meant to stir things up (wow, Jim has really white teeth.)
-I don't need to stir -I'm in the three- I'll be voted out- you need to worry, you're in the 5 (uh, okay.)
Jim, given any thought to the idol?
-Without a doubt - I see it as a very significant tool - but an idol played at this point is getting you 3 more days, that's the game - It's Survivor and you're surviving every day at a time.
Ozzy, you were voted out holding on to an idol - so what Jim says, getting you 3 more days is not necessarily true. (You have to be smart enough to know when to play it too.)
-Yes, it could change the game totally - I know when someone takes a walk, we're keeping our eyes peeled.
Cochran, think you can find the idol? (This guy needs to learn the power of positive thinking.)
-It's possible - I have to weigh the pros and cons of searching for the idol.  Obviously searching for individual immunity does not foster a culture of trust and is not a good way to avoid the chopping block (Burn!)

Time To Vote:
Jim votes for 'Cockran' - just in case Papa Bear has the idol.
Cochran votes for Papa Bear - you make me anxious (and he doesn't need help with that.)

Tallying the Votes:
No one plays the hidden immunity idol.
Papa Bear - 1
Cochran - 1
Jim - 1
Papa Bear - 2, 3, 4 - And Papa Bear is sent off to Redemption Island... and, from our pool, with him go Susan Nagai, Fred/Gary Moderow and Vikki Murray.

Next week - the new mastermind at Savaii is... Cochran.  He and Jim are cooking up a Survivor move to undermine Ozzy.  And over on Upolu, Brandon's paranoia is running rampant - he thinks Albert, Mikayla and Sophie are in on something and Sophie thinks he's just a little Russel Hantz (oh boy, he definitely should have kept his last name a secret - he went squirrely fast that one.)

Papa Bear's thoughts: any vote when it's against you is not fair - he doesn't think he deserved to be voted out he thinks Cochran should have gone and when he goes back in he's going to the Red team, he's not going back to the same team that just voted him out - he's not stupid.
Then he scares the cr*p out of Christine, coming up on her in the dark. Hahaha...

Have a great rest of the week everyone,

Coleen.

Amazing Race 19 - Sept 25, 2011 Premiere Episode Recap

Kindness of Strangers (Taiwan)

The 19th Season of the Amazing Race started out from a Buddhist temple in the foothills of Los Angeles - we meet the teams for the first time:
-Andy & Tommy - former Olympic snowboarders from California - they say they'll get it done. (This is my team in the pool - I hope grizzly Adams isn't as stoner dude as he looks.)
-Ethan & Jenna - previous winners of Survivor and dating for 7 years - his cancer's in remission and he's out to prove there is life after cancer.
-Laurence & Zac - Father & son adventurers from California - Zac sailed around the world solo at 17.
-Ernie & Cindy - recently engaged from Chicago - she's a control freak - oh great.
-Justin & Jennifer - Brother & sister from Georgia - she's a hot head - they yell it out (she agreed.)
-Bill & Cathi - married grandparents from Oregon - 40 years on a farm, they understand manual labour and are ready for the physical challenges on the Race.
-Liz & Marie - Twin sisters from Illinois - they can communicate without words (freaky barbie telepathy?)
-Jeremy & Sandy - dating couple from California - both previously married and using the Race, as he puts it, as a test drive to see if he wants to buy the car (isn't it buy the cow... charming.)
-Ron & Bill - domestic partners, flight attendants - from Southern California - they think their profession will be a big benefit and they know how to work together (I almost thought there was another set of twins here - these two are proof of people living together who start to look alike - yikes.)
-Amani & Marcus - Married 10 years - from Georgia - he's a former pro football player  - he misses competing and is in game mode, "We are going to win the Race."
-Kaylani & Lisa - former showgirls from Las Vegas, Nevada - they expect everyone to think they're dumb and to focus on their chests - but they say they're smart (the proof is in the pudding ladies.)

Phil welcomes them to the Race - there are going to be 12 legs on the Race and the first team to check in to the Pit Stop at the end of the first leg will win the Express Pass which can be used up to the end of the 8th leg to bypass any task they do not wish to complete - a huge advantage.

-First challenge is right there at the temple behind Phil - large rack of umbrellas - they have to find one with three letters that, when combined with the six letters on the top of the rack of umbrellas spells out their first destination.  The letters on the umbrella are TAI - combined with the other letters given (WAN & PEI) spell out their first destination: Taipei, Taiwan.  When the team guesses correctly, Phil will give them a set of keys to the marked cars and they can head off to the airport.  The last team to complete this task will receive a new penalty called a Hazard, which they must complete at some point during this leg.
-So, they just all grab umbrellas and show them to Phil who tells them all that it's not correct - no one seems to be really trying to solve the puzzle.  My snowboarder dudes start looking for vowels and are the first to get keys but I still don't think they know where they're heading.  Oh, they get in the Ford vehicle and the video display has Phil congratulate them on figuring out they're heading to Taipei, Taiwan.  (Boo, they should have had to actually figure it out... I love watching Americans try to do geography.)
-Former football player and his wife are next - and if she screams like that throughout - I'm wishing them gone soon.
-The Barbie twins and Ethan & Jenna are the next teams out - and everyone seems to have figured out it's Taipei, Taiwan - now it's just a matter of finding the umbrella with the right letters on it.
-The engaged and dating couples are next out and they show us more of Phil's video advising there are two flights - the first will accommodate 8 teams and the remainder will be on a flight leaving 20 minutes later.
-Domestic partners, grandparents and father & son are the next teams to find the right letters leaving the former showgirls and the siblings still searching... and it's the showgirls that will face a Hazard penalty.
-The snowboarders have to stop at a gas station to ask for directions to the airport.  They don't show anyone else asking directions until the Showgirls (Kaylani & Lisa) stop at a gas station as well... and we see a passport has fallen out of a vehicle and is sitting on the ground at the gas station (oh man!)
and one of the girls is complaining about sweating... I predict you'll have something else to complain about soon.

-They show teams start arriving at the airport and Ron & Bill are the first to the counter (flight attendants, I bet they know their way to many airports)  Ethan & Jenna are right behind them.

-Back in the showgirls car, Kaylani realizes she is missing her passport... and she thinks it must have fallen out at the gas station (well, at least she realized it rather quickly - or at least they made it seem that way.)
So they head back to the gas station - ask if anyone handed in a passport - no - and decide to head to the airport to see if another team picked it up... uh, you guys were last, why would another team have it.  (I would have looked harder at the gas station.)

-The first 8 teams are now checked in for the first flight (and my snowboarder guys were 7th even though they were the first to leave Phil - hopefully their navigation skills improve.)  Lisa & Kaylani go to the ticket counter and ask if anyone had turned in a passport (really?) Lisa is p*ssed and they start yelling at each other - We're going nowhere because you don't have a passport!

-Ethan & Jenna want to keep it a secret that they were both on Survivor (uh, you both WON Survivor) but the other teams are talking and Sandy recognized them - she tells everyone they both already won a million dollars - I heard, "Greedy!"

-Next thing you know, Kaylani is paged over the PA system and some guys found her passport in the gas station and brought it to the airport.  He said he tweeted that he had been randomly filmed for Amazing Race (he was the guy the snowboarders asked for directions) and he found a passport.  Someone responded to his tweet that they have no communication on the Race and he should take the passport to the airport or "her dream would die right there." (Oh, how Hollywood.  The guy didn't want her dream to die... and he could get on TV some more.)  So, social media saved the day for the Showgirls, but  I think could be the downfall of these types of shows - it will make it increasingly difficult for the show to keep the winner a secret in the end I think.

-The flights take off without incident.  When they all arrive in Taipei, they must make their way by bus to a financial district and instead of looking for a clue box, they have to figure out they are looking for a red & yellow electronic billboard that will show them their next destination (in Chinese characters.)

-The first flight lands and all the teams get on the bus.  Marcus doesn't plan on telling anyone he played professional football because people may see him as competition (no, they will think you have money and be less inclined to help you.)

-The second flight gets in and the bottom three teams are the twin girls, the showgirls and the grandparents... yup, no surprise there.  (I am all for girl power but it hasn't been promising for the all-girl teams yet.) Then, Bill & Cathi miss the bus... uh oh.  They are now in last place.

-First bus gets to the district and no one knows what they are looking for - everything is red & yellow.  The clue says to 'look up' but Ernie & Cindy are standing right in front of the billboard and have no idea that's what they're looking for.  (It's not striped, looks nothing like the old markers - red & yellow circles on a billboard... sheesh.)
-The snowboarders see a guy whose underwear showing under his pants is red & yellow and they ask him for a clue.
-Ethan & Jenna are right under the board... nope - Marcus is the first one to say, do you think the red & yellow balloons is it?  (Yes!) Amani, "no."
-And the siblings are fighting... ha ha, I had hoped they would be best of friends siblings but oh no, they are 'pull your hair'/'why-are-you-hitting-yourself' siblings.  Justin says it's hard enough to deal with the challenges of the Race, let alone the challenges of their relationship (and she just has a sour, sour face... I don't envy him racing with her - and we're 20 minutes in.)

-Marcus is sure it had to be the billboard and they show Justin & Jennifer - they decide to draw the characters.  They ask someone to translate it and a local tells them it says Taipei Confucius Temple.

-Ron & Bill see them all looking at the billboard and then it seems everyone figures it out - they all start getting the translation - Confucius Temple.  The second bus shows up and one of the twins thinks it could be the billboard but no, that can't be it.  The grandparents get there and are just frozen in place - 40 years on the farm did not prepare them for Taipei.

-The snowboarders are with Ethan & Jenna when they get the translation - Ethan says good enough for me and they take off but the Snowboarders are still doubting that is the correct clue. (Oh, come on!)

-The first 4 teams to the Confucius Temple - Sandy & Jeremy, Ernie & Cindy, Marcus & Amani and Justin & Jennifer get the clue to the ROADBLOCK: Who's ready to play telephone?
-Teams will use the payphone at the temple, call a given number and memorize the Confucius quote spoken to them without taking any notes.  If they can recite it word for word to the monk, he will give them their next clue.
-First, they have to find the telephone - and Ernie is laughing because all the girls are doing the task - Marcus, "cause all the girls like telephones." (Well, it shouldn't be physically demanding so strategically it makes sense for the girls to do it.)  Bill & Ron get there (oh, a girl won't be doing it for them) and Ethan & Jenna - Ethan is going to do it.

-Cindy is the first one to find the phone (she also speaks some Chinese but the monk wouldn't help her) - This is what she had to memorize: In all things success depends on previous preparation, and without such previous preparation there is sure to be failure.
-She does pretty well the first time - but not exactly so she has to try again (I'm not proud to tell you I had to rewind 3 times to get the whole thing correct just to type it above, and it was written on the screen.  I couldn't imagine having to remember it without writing it down.)

-Back at the billboard, the Snowboarder and the Father & Son team are finally willing to admit the sign is the next clue and they head out.
-The girls - twins and showgirls are still having no luck and the grandparents aren't even in the right area.   Bill is embarrassed, he used to be a teacher and Cathi used to be a principal, what would their students say?

-Back at the temple - no one is getting the wording exactly right... until Cindy's 3rd attempt (that they showed us) she finally succeeds!   They get the clue to travel by taxi to a riverside park and search under the bridge for their next clue - and Ernie & Cindy are the first off.  Jennifer & Justin are next, followed by Sandy & Jeremy.

-The girls finally figure out the billboard is the clue and get a local to tell them what it says - off to the Confucius Temple.

-Bill & Cathi have headed to the tallest building they could see and go up the elevator (uhh?) - nope.  She says this is way too hard - he says, "Well, colour me stupid." (yup.) 

-Bearded Snowboarder dude (Andy) is showing the effects of short term memory loss... I'm just saying.  Zac almost gets it - but not.

-Ethan finally gets it right and snatches the clue from the monks hand (wow, dude, it's not a pebble.)  The monk kinda raises his eyebrows - don't tempt Race Karma - reign in the frustration.

-Ernie & Cindy get to the bridge and at least this one if obvious - they get a Route info clue that they have to join a dragon boat racing crew (one person will paddle and one will have to set the pace with the drum.)  Once they successfully complete the course with their crew, the boat captain will give them their next clue.
-Cindy is going to do the drum and Ernie is rowing - as they head out she says, "I feel so Asian right now." (Which was funny because she is of Chinese descent.)

-Back at the temple - Amani, Zac, Bill and Andy complete the quote.  And the girl teams show up to do it.

-Back at the dragon boats, the other teams are now out on the water - Ernie & Cindy are the first one's done and they get the clue to head to the Pit Stop - The Martyrs' Shrine.   The last team to check in MAY be eliminated.

- Check out the memory on Kaylani, she gets the proverb right - the showgirls get the clue for their Hazard - they must go to a mall and check the 11th floor for their next clue.

-Liz (one of the twins) does not have great focus and can't get the wording right.

-The grandparents have now spent 4 hours not finding the clue to the temple.  They are now trying to find the actual district they should be in - (might have been a good thing to do first.)

-At the mall - Kaylani & Lisa find out that one of them must do an indoor bungee jump - leaping from the rafters into the atrium of the mall. (O.M.G.)  Kaylani is going to do it, she's bungee jumped off the Stratosphere before, and her harness started to undo - eek.  She does it without incident and says, "when I said I'd do anything for a million dollars, I meant it."  (Okay, kill that guy. No, well, I guess you didn't mean anything then did you?)

-Liz is stupid.  Bicker, bicker, bicker.

-When the teams get to the dragon boats, the crew all cheer - Marcus loved it, like coming down the tunnel in his football days.  Dad, Laurence, used to be a coxswain back in England so the drumming was right up his alley.

-The grandparents finally found the billboard and figure out they need to go to the temple.

-Trouble in twin-land.  "I'm going to break down so just shut up"... and she finally gets it!  They head for the dragon boats.

-Ron & Bill are just arriving at the dragon boats as Kaylani & Lisa get there and are so excited they caught up even with having the Hazard task.

-Cindi & Bill finally get to the temple and she is playing telephone.  They are such a cute couple - no arguing, just support.  She listens to the phrase and recites it correctly on her first try - awesome. 

Here's how they finished:
1) Ernie & Cindy - win the Express Pass - He says, "control freak Cindy on the Race is actually a good teammate."  To which she replied - "Which should have been obvious."
2) Jeremy & Sandy - Test Drive guy - but I liked this team.
3) Justin & Jennifer- (Siblings) All smiles at coming in 3rd.
4) Ethan & Jenna - Survivors
5) Amani & Marcus - Football guy
6) Laurence & Zac - Father & Son
7) Andy & Tommy - Snowboarder dudes
8) Ron & Bill - Flight Attendant/domestic partners
9) Kaylani & Lisa - rough start to the Race for the showgirls - they thought it was over but that's why it's the Amazing Race - it's not over until it's over.
10) Liz & Marie - Phil gets a huge double-mint hug from the twins when they find out they're not last.
11) Bill & Cathi - Last team to arrive, however, this is a NON-ELIMINATION leg and they will face a Speed Bump on the next leg.  Also, Phil tells us for the first time ever, they will have a Double Elimination on the next leg - (are you serious?  Grr, well, it will still be the first team eliminated will get their money back, the 2nd team will be SOL - sorry guys.)

Next week: Justin & Jennifer face off and they all find out it's a double elimination.

So, there you have it.  We're all still in the Race!  Have a great week everyone,

Coleen.

Survivor South Pacific - September 21, 2011 Recap

He Has Demons

Redemption Island - Night 3
The show finally opened on Redemption Island - and Semhar is sniveling - I feel abandoned by my team - I gave them every last strength and they sent me to Redemption Island. Figures. (Oh wah, get over yourself.)  Oh yeah, and then the poetry started... Redemption Island was made for someone like her - alone with a camera and the power of her words!  Showcasing her art to the world! 

Savaii - Night 3
Returning from Tribal Council - Cochran thanks them for keeping him but he tells the camera his 'fight or flight response to the threat of being voted out made him come off as an antsy paranoid nerd kid (well, everything you've done since you've been there has given that impression) he says he's going to bring on the cool and mellow (good luck with that.)
-Keith and Ozzy are talking by the fire, Keith hopes the challenges move into the more cerebral so Cochran can shine and Ozzy thinks Jimmy will be really good at puzzles too.  Keith agrees that they want Jim to stick around and the two of them make a plan to approach Jim about an alliance (what is with all the men making alliances - hello ladies - wake up!)

Upolu - Day 4
Coach is feeling good about his 5 alliance with the men and Sophie but Edna was the only one nice to him on day one and he can never have too many friends so he's chatting her up too.  The speculate if older ladies of the tribe (b*tchy Christine and the blind Stacey) have already found a hidden immunity idol - Edna thinks they may have since they stopped digging. 
Edna sees herself currently in the bottom of the pecking order and wants to align herself with a strong male such as Coach.  He tells her loyalty is often more important than strength (and I think the Dragon Slayer may have found his Dragon Lady... I'm just saying.  Though she is way smarter than him.)  He says the most honest thing I've ever heard him say, "I'm stupid in this game." Because he is always hopeful he'll find someone who'll play honorably - they say their together - fo sho.

Savaii - Day 4
The new era of Cochran - cutting coconuts without being asked to do so and without Mom's permission - but this is the new bad *ss version - then he goes and tells everyone look at the fruit of my labours - it's fun to be part of a well oiled machine.  (Dude, just shut up, the more you point it out the less it means anything.)
-Ozzy says he's going fishing but actually goes looking for the hidden immunity idol... and he finds it - who needs a clue when the production puts a rock over it in a tree - huh, how did that rock get up in that tree?  Then Ozzy goes on about how he's not going to squander the idol this time (we shall see, oh yes, we shall see.)

Upolu - Day 4
Coach and Brandon having a bromance (Coach covered him in his sleep so he would be cold... ahh, I wonder if there was spooning) - Brandon respects Coach and he wants to play like him, with honesty, but how can he do that if he doesn't even know who he is... So, Brandon shows him his Lil Hantz tattoo and BLOWS HIS MIND when he tells him he's Russell Hantz' nephew.  (I keep getting distracted because they are blurring Coach's crotch this whole time... he's wearing underwear but maybe the flap isn't that secure... if they didn't blur it I wouldn't even be looking there... sheesh.)  Anyway, Coach is nervous of Brandon now but he says he told him because they are in an alliance and he trusts him but he wants Coach to keep it on the DL. (Oh yeah, it's a test.)
-And then they pray together and man-hug.

Savaii - Day 4
The guys go out fishing - Ozzy, Keith and Jim and the women stay behind - calling out that they'll be doing laundry (Oh COME ON!  Setting women back 60 years on this tribe... where is my bug-eyed lady - get in there and whip them into shape.) 
-Jim is the poker/pot guy, he's putting into play his 3 plus 2 plan - the 3 strong guys and the two girls they like - Elyse and Whitney (the washer women back at camp) - Keith is happy enough to let Jim think he's in control - Jim goes on that he is the architect and proceeds to outline who he sees going home - obviously Cochran, Dawn and Papa Bear...(I can only hope Jim's hubris bites him in the butt.)

Upolu - Day 5
Michayla is right in there with the boys, she plays football, she's not a girly girl, she's in there fishing but she's in her underwear (as they all are.)  Brandon doesn't like her, she's too attractive and using her seductive ways - he calls her Parvati (Oh you poor deluded boy... Parvati would have chewed you up and spit you out by now.  I've never even seen Michayla flirt really.  It's not her fault you're attracted to her dude.)  He wants to get her voted out.
-Christine is obviously looking for the hidden idol again and everyone is nervous that she has it... but she finally finds the clue.  She's excited but not sure what to do - share with the tribe or no - (I think she should share, they already don't trust her.)

Immunity Challenge
4 members of each tribe with unwind ribbons from a large pole to release a key ring - they will then use the keys to release the other members of their tribe and those 4 must work together to move heavy crates across a platform until they can release the largest one - first tribe to get the largest crate on the separate platform wins immunity and Reward: blankets, pillows, hammock and mat - and  the winning tribe also gets a clue to the hidden immunity idol. 
Upolu sits Edna out - which surprised me a little - she's smart but she's also wee. 
-All the ladies are 'on the pole' (that is so wrong) oh, and Cochran :)  blue team gets into a rhythm and releases their key way before red - getting the mental giants of Coach and Brandon working on the puzzle.  Bug-eyed Dawn finally gets the keys but fumbles them slowly - finally Elyse releases Ozzy and their guys to work the puzzle.  Savaii makes short work of the puzzle, releases the crate just as Upolu finally gets it free and Savaii (Ozzy's team) wins Immunity, Comfort items and the clue has been hidden on their beach (but Ozzy already has the idol, so big deal.)

Upolu - Day 5
Returning from the challenge, Coach praises the women for working the pole (I can't help myself), Elyse tells the guys they did well too - that puzzle was not easy but, Christine (the b*tchy one - what's good shorthand? BO - B-One... yeah, Bone) is blaming the men for being slow on the puzzle.
-Out in the water with his alliance, Coach says he thinks they should split the vote 3-3 & 3 (huh?)  He figures Christine, Stacey and Michayla will vote together so he wants to cast: 3 votes for Christine, because she p*ssed him off on day one with the 'temporary player' remark and she's been searching for the idol all day.  3 votes for Stacey, because she and Christine are thick as thieves and if one of them has the idol he hopes to flush it out.  He also tells them Edna is loyal but she's on a need to know basis only.
-Brandon tells Coach he's not happy, he wants Michayla out because he's married and it makes him uncomfortable being around her.  Coach says he understands that but tells us it doesn't make sense to vote out their strongest female - he thinks Brandon has demons they don't know about (ya think? He's feelin' rape-y to me.)
-So right out in the open, the aligned 5 and Edna are talking about who they're going to vote out - they're telling Brandon they need Michayla for the challenges when Christine sends her minions over - Michayla and Stacey - Coach asks for privacy (really? Sometimes it feels like he really has learned nothing about this game even having played twice before) they want to know what's going on, and he just walks away.  Albert tries to cover - Coach is paranoid, doesn't trust any of the girls... blah, blah and now Michayla's freaking out - They don't think I'm trustworthy?  What the heck.
-Christine (Bone) jumps on Edna when she comes near her and demands to know what they were talking about - Edna, (bless her, could not lie her way out of a wet paper sack) - fumbles that they were talking Sophie at first.  Bone,"No they weren't.  Sophie was over there. You're messing up your story, real bad." (Oh man, she scares me - I do not think you want to be on Bone's bad side.)
-Bone's over talking to Brandon, Albert and the Marlboro Man to get a read on who they're voting for and Brandon is still pushing Michayla.  Makes no sense to anyone else but him - he's saying she's the biggest threat but everyone else knows at this point they need the strength.  Christine realizes she's on the block (get looking for that idol lady.)
-Brandon walks up to Coach and tells him he's voting Michayla, and Christine and Stacey said they were too.  He lied.  He tells the camera he doesn't like doing that but he doesn't trust Michayla and she will be going home tonight.
-Coach thinks these people are amateurs - he also knows Brandon is willing to risk everything to get the outcome he wants - Coach says you're either loyal or you're not, it's that simple..  He just hopes the people he's aligned with have the character he's judged them for (whatever that means), if not, there's going to be an *ss-whipping at Tribal Council tonight. (oo-oo-ooh)

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Jeff asks Brandon if he thinks he's made a good first impression.  He says yes, he's a good worker and has been nice and polite to everyone.
Coach, what do you think the first impression of you was? After losing the first challenge, pretty bad.  So, I felt a division happening right away but I tried to pick up the pieces to keep the tribe strong.  Coming to tribal tonight I heard Christine and Stacey were voting for Michayla (they all look around like - what? - and Brandon is all shifty) Don't look at me like I'm crazy cause Coach at Tribal lays everything out on the table.
Christine/Stacey-Did we talk to you?
Coach - No, you haven't talked strategy to me since day one.
Stacey - What you just said is not true - Christine: I never mentioned Michayla.  Stacey: We better let him finish before he lose his memory what he gonna say.
Coach - without being interrupted, like I said the gloves are off. (Brandon is loving this exchange)
So glad to have you back Coach. So good to be back.  (Huge eye roll from Bone) - But as I was saying, Survivor is a simple game, you find people that are loyal and you try to stick with those people.  I don't want to see Michayla go home tonight, putting a target on my back, but I want to see this tribe win the next challenge.
Michayla, does it make you nervous, there may be people talking about getting rid of you?
Of course it makes me nervous.  You never want to have your name come up - and you never want to be down numbers especially going into the merge - I don't get it.
Stacey, Coach just threw it out there and said you and Christine were voting Michayla.
They said they never mentioned Michayla and demand to know who he heard it from.  You're talking about loyalty (meaning someone lied to him.)
Brandon tells them all to simmer down.
Stacey - Simmer down nothing...
And Albert plays peace-maker - Talking about loyalty, Coach not naming his source is demonstrating loyalty (and hypocrisy, Mr Laying-it-all-on-the-table) but Albert does some fancy talking, assures the ladies he didn't say anything about how they were voting and then re-directs them by mentioning the hidden immunity idol.
Jeff asks if they've discussed it as a group, has anyone been looking for it.
Coach says Christine has definitely been looking for it.
Christine, Coach just threw you under the bus a second time (oh, is that the first mention of that reality staple?)
Christine - He's good at that.  Obviously, he's threatened by me.
Coach - Totally.
Christine, do you think this goes back to day one when you said, Mr Dragon Slayer, you're gone.
Christine - I think so. (She pantomimes boo-hoo rubbing his eyes) - I think he feels hurt that he's temporary.
Coach - I love this girl (she rolls her eyes - she's going to get stuck like that she's done it so much) Long Island attitude, I love it. (Oh stuff it long, haired, hippy freak!)
Jeff stirs the pot more - Michayla, why haven't you asked if  Christine/Stacey were voting you?(I don't think she's the sharpest knife in the drawer) - she just looks over at them and they pledge that they never said they were voting for her.
And Brandon puts up his hand to speak- (oh, you're an idiot) - I gotta come clean man - the truth is the truth - I told you guys [Stacey & Christine] to vote for Michayla.
-See, no votes were ever going to Michayla.  Coach looks gutted. The rest of Brandon's alliance looks pissed. Michayla has no idea what's going on.
Jeff asks Albert if he's worried the tribe looks to be in such disarray.  Albert (is the most articulate guy I've ever seen at Tribal Council I think) says they are all getting more information than they bargained for and people's character will creep to the surface no matter how they try to hide it (I don't think any of them will trust Brandon again.)

And it's time to vote:
They don't show us how anyone voted.

Tallying the votes:
No one has a hidden immunity idol
Sophie - 1
Edna - 1
Christine - 1
Stacey - 1
Christine - 2
Stacey - 2
Christine - 3
Stacey - 3
Christine - 4  Bone is the 2nd person voted off to Redemption Island.  That's what happens when you bad mouth the returning all-stars on the first day.
(Those ladies really needed to talk to each other and get on the same page, what's with the votes for Sophie & Edna?  I don't have much hope for the women this season - they don't seem to be playing smart at all.)

And with Christine on Redemption Island to face Semhar are: Drew Cowan, Cheryl Jennings and Jeff Thomson (but you're not out yet.)

Next week: The pressure is on Ozzy - and his tribe are starting to suspect he has the idol - Slimy Jim is not above searching his stuff (I bet you aren't.)  Brandon is persona non-grata and he's crying about his constant struggle with good & evil. (Well, you are the Devil's nephew.)

Christine's final thought: I know Coach had a heavy hand in the voting, he's a tool. (I think I kinda love her a little.)

And with that, I wish you all a great rest of the week,

Coleen

Survivor South Pacific - Premiere, Wednesday, September 14, 2011 Recap

I Need Redemption

The Premiere episode of the 23th installment of Survivor opened with a white helicopter coming in over the water and we see the two returning players:  Ozzy, now has really long bushman hair and Coach... is Coach... he's played twice before and is looking for redemption - he wants to prove that he can control his sense of self-righteousness and judgement of the others and prove that he can own this game playing with honour and integrity.  Ozzy, I'm sorry to say does not strike me as a mental giant - he says he's able to climb trees and catch fish but he didn't play with any strategy - this time he's more mature and hoping he can lock his hands on the million dollars.

We then see the newbies rowing in on bamboo rafts - on the red team we first see the typical pencil neck geek - pink button down and sweater vest -[John Cochran] tells us he is the most survivor-savvy player ever to play the game - never missed a single episode and once wrote a prize winning essay on Survivor (me- thinks this kid should have gone outside more.)
Hot, dark-haired chick [Elyse] says she's not outdoorsy but she is Native American so hopefully her ancestors will impart some wisdom (Uh, yeah, you hold your breath and wait for that to happen.)
Handle-bar mustache, stetson and plaid shirt - Rick Nelson is 51 yrs old and owns his own ranch - if you didn't train, learn to build fire, etc - you might as well spit in the wind. (Like him so far.)

Over on the blue team we meet the 44 yr old African American woman [Stacey] who happens to be a mortician and the mother of 4 children, she's keeping her eyes and ears open, "you think I'm sleep, I'm not sleep" (I should hope she's not sleep) "I'm goin be nosy as hell." (ooh, fun.)
And Brandon, is Russell Hantz' nephew, "it's like being related to Hitler."  He came out there to change the coarse of the Hantz' family name. (and he's not bragging he's related to Hitler.)

They all head into the Redemption Island arena in their tribes where Jeff welcomes them and then says their tribes are not yet complete - let's bring them in... the tribes start tittering, I wonder who it is and [Edna] the pant suited Asian girl turns to Brandon and says, "I hope it's not Russell." "Yeah, that would suck."  Brandon tells us he will never, ever tell them he's related to Russell - he's just got to keep his shirt on because he's got a tattoo on one shoulder that says Lil Hantz and one across his upper back that says Hantz (Yeah, right, you're going to keep your shirt on the whole time... I give it 2 episodes.)

They are all excited to see Ozzy and Mikayla, the lingerie football player, wants him on their team - he can climb trees and fish - they are less excited to see Coach - she thinks he's just going to be loony, he's just nuts.

Jeff starts stirring it up right away - lady in the front [Christine] says it's nice to see Ozzy and the dragon warrior (does a crane pose) Jeff, "Meaning?" - "They are temporary players." (Oh Lady!  Talking smack already - did you not see what happened to Francesca last season?)  Coach looks hurt already.
Jeff then calls on pencil neck geek, John - who goes into a monologue about how Jeff calls players he really likes by their last name, so he's hoping he'll call him Cochran...Jeff says, "Okay, we'll see if you live up [to the past players], Cochran." then he says both have played the game twice before, they have lots of knowledge and would be an asset - laying it out on the table that he is a total Survivor fan-boy and proving without a doubt that he is a total geek.

To determine which tribes Coach and Ozzy will be on they have to choose eggs with paint inside - Ozzy tries to smash his on his chest - Fail!  Coach just squeezes it in his hand and he's on the blue tribe - Ozzy finally gets his to break and smears it on his chest & hair - he's red.
Rick the Rancher is not too happy to see Coach's egg come up blue - "Dragon Slayer, there are no dragons.  Hell, he's over 40."
Cochran is giddy fricken' Ozzy is on his tribe.

Coach is not feeling good vibes coming from his tribe - Christine is looking daggers at him - so he's grabbed both cheeks and is holding on, it's going to be a bumpy ride.  It's going to take twice the Slayer charm to get through these first few days.
Ozzy is welcomed much more warmly by his tribe - and he's happy to be on red.

Jeff fills them in that they will be doing Redemption Island again this season (ugh, not excited about that...) and it's time for their first challenge.  But it's only Coach & Ozzy competing - they have to climb a pole, retrieve a wooden turtle, then dig and climb under a log, then move a pyramid puzzle from one table to two other tables, only one piece at a time and only smaller pieces onto larger pieces (my husband tells me this is the classic Tower of Babel puzzle but I've never done one - looks hard.)

Ozzy dominates until they get to the puzzle then he calls for help from the tribe, they start shouting instructions to him and Coach is also working on the puzzle - he's trying to get help as well but you can tell Ozzy finally figures it out and Coach is just totally lost.  With some help from his tribe Ozzy brings it home for Red - they win taro root (food) and flint (fire.)  Coach's tribe just walks away (aw, it's like kicking a puppy, he just wants to be loved) Edna is the only one that offers to help him with his stuff.  This treatment makes Coach face his biggest fear, you're going home first.

Red tribe - Savaii
They head to their camp and right away are looking to Ozzy to lead them - but Ozzy is laid-back surfer dude, let's just walk around some more.
Getting to know you - Cochran is a Harvard law student (named John[ny] Cochran... really).  Long blond haired girl is a singer/songwriter from Nashville [Whitney] and Big haired, big eyed chick [Semhar], her heart, her soul is poetry - they call her out and she lays down some weird poem (oh yeah, she is full of herself.)  But it works on Ozzy - he respects her passion (and she's easy on the eyes - she's going to put her back out if she sticks her chest out any farther - I'm just saying.)
Then Ozzy says they should just enjoy this and he suggests they all just go hang out in the water.  Everyone shucks down except Cochran, he's very thin and pale and doesn't want to get naked with the pretty people. (Come on, grow a pair already.)  So by the time he finally gets up the nerve to go in, everyone is looking cause he's all alone, doing a weird slow-mo Baywatch run into the water. (sigh, this kid is going to get eaten alive isn't he?)

Blue tribe - Upolu
Coach was afraid of the cold reception of his tribe but he's determined to face the fear and launches into a speech saying he's not a threat, he's not a strategic player (rolling my eyes - they all say that - it's never true) and he's sorry he lost the challenge but the good thing was he felt it was a group challenge (so it's also all your fault I lost.) 
Christine, the b*tchy one, suggests they all say their occupations to suss out who has building shelter skills.  Rick (cowboy hat/mustache) tells them he's a rancher (in case you couldn't tell.)  Tall, good looking guy [Keith] is a baseball coach (which made Coach light up, my brethren), mousy brown-haired girl [Sophie] just graduated college - Economics & Russian.  So Coach and her bandy back and forth some Russian - which they subtitled - IN RUSSIAN (yeah, we know it's Russian, we still can't understand it.)  And Sophie kinda makes fun of him to the camera - he's ready to show off what he has but you can't deny his experience, it's got some worth.
Christine, the b*tchy one, says she's going to look for firewood but that's just and excuse to look for a hidden immunity idol.  They all know what she's doing.  Coach says she scares him the most, with the 'temporary player' comment and now looking for the idol.  She's the first to go in his books.

Savaii
Ozzy's tribe is chilling in the water and Jim, slightly pudgy, frat-boy-ish guy is happy to see the hot young girls in bikinis (ugh.)  He tells them he's a science teacher but in reality he has an MBA, he's won over 40 poker tournaments and owns two medical marijuana dispensaries - but he's not going to tell them that... Why would I? (He's a slippery one, they better watch out for him.)
The retired NYPD detective,  grey-haired, bearded guy [Mark] tells them he's gay - asks them to call him Papa Bear (oh, he's cute - I think I like Papa Bear - so far.)  He says he's living his life free of what may hold him back, its not about being gay it's about surviving. 
Ozzy suggests they go get a fire going and once back on the beach says he's just as happy sleeping on the ground.  This doesn't sit well with short-haired, bug-eyed Dawn - she's the mother of 6 and is used to be organized and in charge, she is stressing out that they are not building a shelter - Ozzy is too 'Bob Marley' for her (oh lordy, she's my person in the pool - it's not boding well for me.)

Upolu
Coach asks Brandon about the tat on his neck (nothing says class like a neck tattoo) it says LOCO (nice) - Brandon says he's not proud of that tattoo, it means crazy in Spanish, he tried to act like Russell in school, he was a bully but now he's grown up a lot (he's all of 19 now) and God's #1 for him.  He thinks Mikayla is Delilah (there to tempt him into sin.)  She is just being herself, she's climbing trees, getting up on the shelter and working - Brandon is not comfortable around her, thinks she's flaunting herself... but he's kind of creepy stalker.  He says he grew up in the Church and he's a young married (at 19?) gentleman, he's not going to get into a situation that could lead him to trouble. (So, it's her fault that you find her attractive?... Brandon's still got a lot of growing up to do.)

Later that night - sitting out under the stars are Coach, Sophie, Brandon, Keith and Rick - Sophie burns Coach a good one - wish they had an astronomer to tell them stories about the stars, I mean, I'm sure Coach could do it but... (hehehe).  Coach takes it well (surprisingly) and then he brings it up that a strong 5 alliance will get them really far - they all seem to be up for it.  And Coach just proved his lie in the 'I'm not a strategic player speech' - he's setting up his strategy and feels he's sitting pretty.

Savaii - Day 2
WHAT is up with Semhar's socks?  She has on thigh high sport socks...  Where, what... My brain is broken.
Dawn's day doesn't start well - she's having a mini-breakdown (oh sweet jebus!)  Crying already.  Papa bear tells her to get it together, they're the older one's there and the youngin's don't need a reason to turn on them.  She says she's feeling old for the first time (well she is ... only 41, come on that is not old (sigh)).  Then Dawn goes to pull down a vine and as it snaps she falls - hard - on her butt on the rocks below - OUCH! (I had to watch it again - hahaha... but yeah, that must have hurt.)
More tears.  (Get it together lady or you will be out of there.)  She seeks council from the guru Ozzy, he's so calm and talks her down.  Mark is worried about her breaking down but he says he's going to stick by her as the other old guy (at 48).  Ozzy hopes she can get it together cause she could be a good ally but if not, she could be going home.
Semhar gives out sticks for them to clean their teeth - uh, don't you remember last year that woman getting an infection in her gum from 'brushing' her teeth like that?
Oh no, Cochran is going to but a finger off - he's attempting to open a coconut with a machete.  He does succeed despite his mother having forbade him to do it.

Upolu - Day 2
Brandon is out spear fishing with his shirt on like a shrug around his shoulders hiding his tattoos - he says he wants to do what his uncle never did - provide food for his tribe.  He catches a guppy and announces it to the world - He re-iterates that he's never going to tell them he's Russell's nephew - he doesn't want to be judged by his uncle's reputation.
- Close up on Sophie on day 2 (whoa - okay, now I'm the b*tchy one but, she possibly should have done something about the moustache before going out there) Oh, and I have those earrings :)  She thinks she's sitting in a good position but she has a gut feeling that Brandon is hiding something (huh, very perceptive of Sophie.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE (Day 3)
They have to move through a zigzagging pathway (crawl) - then through a web of coconuts - then they all must get over a wall  - one person then digs up a machete and cuts through 4 or 5 ropes to release a bunch of coconuts that 3 tribe members will then throw into a large net - first team to get enough coconuts in their net will raise their flag and win the first Immunity.  Jeff tells them the winning team will also get a clue to the hidden immunity idol.
Strategizing before they start and Semhar (red team) steps up to be a shooter at the end (oh boy.)
Off they go - at one point Cochran (red team) could not figure out how to even get a boost over the wall - Rick(blue team) the rancher cut through the ropes like they were butter - and they have a lead - they start shooting the coconuts - Mikayla(blue) is a good shot - football player - but Semhar proves to be the weak link, she keeps whining that she's so tired and is not making any baskets - they even ask if they can switch her out - nope.  It's very close though but the Blue Tribe - Upolu - WINS IMMUNITY!  Jeff tells them there is actually a clue hidden at their camp for the immunity idol - so they have to find the clue before they can find the idol.

Jeff talking to Semhar asked her what went wrong and she kept playing with her hair, doing the pretty girl thing, "yeah, I feel sorta bad."  Jim is making a disgusted shocked face behind her and Jeff calls him out - Jim says, "You only feel 'sorta bad', I feel sorta bad when I'm out of milk, I feel like crap now because we have to go and vote someone out."  Semhar did not like that.  Jim says to the camera, there is no reason to keep Semhar.

Upolu - Day 3
They are celebrating their win - Coach proclaims people either thrive or die out there and we are thriving! - but then they all quickly start looking for the clue to the hidden idol.  Stacey is looking under rocks, in holes in trees... and says to the camera she probably has already seen it... and the camera zooms in to the hole she was just poking around in and there is the clue - RIGHT THERE! Curled around a stick - she was right there - oh man - too scared to stick her hands in the hole, she missed it.

Savaii - Day 3
Semhar calls out Jim for making faces behind her back - says she feels terrible, and how can she trust him when she is down, when he just pushes her down even more.  He tries to defend himself, says he's sorry and didn't mean it (but he wasn't that sincere - about as sincere as she was when she felt 'sorta bad'.)  Fight - Fight!

So they start talking and it looks like it's between Semhar, because of the challenge debacle, and Cochran because he has absolutely no physical abilities at all.  (Yay, they aren't talking about Dawn's emotional break down at all.)  Old guard, Mark & Dawn are thinking Semhar.
Ozzy talking to the cool kids in the water and he is championing Semhar and throwing Cochran under the bus.  Jim is worried about Ozzy trying to keep the hot girl around for the snuggle factor.  Ozzy goes to Semhar and tells her she has to start working if she wants to stay - gets her out campaigning.  Jim tells Cochran that Ozzy is pushing for him and that triggers his crippling insecurities - Mark gives him a pep talk - Cochran is insulted that he could be the first to go when he's on a tribe with so many girls (oh really?  Don't be a sexist jerk buddy, I'm trying to root for you.)  Cochran's Survivor dream has turned into a nightmare.

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Jeff calls on Dawn first and she starts going on how she lost a lot of confidence in herself the first couple days because everything was so foreign to her and she couldn't get her feet under her (stop talking, don't cry...sheesh... did no one learn anything from watching Rob last season - you don't run your mouth at tribal council.)  She says it was like she had the flu but now it's gone (okay, finished strong - I think she saved it there.)

Jeff asks Elyse if anyone else is worried and she throws out Semhar, should be worried because of the way the challenge went and the conversation when they went back to camp.

He asks Jim what was that conversation and he gives the I Hate Losing speech - "I think the only good losers are the people that are good at losing."  [Semhar can pull some good faces herself - and holy, her eyes are huge!]

Jeff asked Whitney if she was glad it wasn't her and she said yeah, of course.  Then kicked her a bit - I thought I could do it but when Semhar was so vocal about her abilities, no one else had the opportunity to step up.

Jeff says Semhar, you're shaking your head - "I know this game, I know I'd be safe if I didn't step up and I take full responsibility for taking on something out of my league, however, I know I got heart and I'm going to give it all I got." (Yeah, doesn't mean you have skill or stamina though.)

Ozzy says philosophically he'd rather play the game with someone willing to step - that ability to harness your passion is a huge advantage in this game.

Dawn, who else may be worried - Maybe Cochran - based on just strength he might be another target.

Cochran says he understands they look at his glasses, his sweater vest and his pale skin and think he's useless but he flew through the web like a hummingbird, no one seems to care - had a bit of a stumble on the wall... They all nod - Was it that noticeable?  Yes!

Mark pipes up - and tells Jeff to call him Papa Bear (what is up with everyone telling Jeff what to call them this season - it's a bit presumptuous if you ask me - but I digress.)  Papa Bear tells Cochran that he second guesses himself too much and he needs to be given direction.

Semhar says she was relieved when Cochran's name came up, she's not going to lie.

Cochran tells Jeff he better not say it's time to vote right now - Jeff tells him it's their tribal council - he will let them talk as long as he wants - So Cochran shows a glimmer of lawyer-ess and makes an argument that Semhar stands by the water 10 hours a day - it's not strenuous work. 
-She interjects that she makes sure everyone has toothbrushes
-So you brought a couple sticks, it's not a huge job.
-It's a job no one had to tell me to do, that was my point.
-You make it sound like I wander around until someone tells me to get wood, but I'm on a learning curve right now and I'm an eager student, I'm building a knowledge base.  I learn it once and I do it. This is the culmination of 11 years of passion for this game and to be even a possibility of the first one voted off is just heartbreaking, and mortifying (going for the sympathy vote there.)  He says if he survives the vote he will do anything that needs to be done around camp - my eyes are open to people's perception of me.
-Semhar says this could work against him, he's so mesmerized by being in the game that he forgets how important it is to be that person that is working and doing things.
-He says he doesn't think it necessarily needs to be based on the past 3 days - And everyone jumps on that - What else can they base it on, they've only known him for 3 days, they have to base it on what they've seen so far (duh - what does he think, he gets fan-boy credits? Someone else has some growing up to do.)

Alright - So now it's time to vote.

Jeff tallies the votes: Semhar voted Cochran and everyone else voted Semhar - she is the first person heading to Redemption Island.

-Ozzy mutters he should have taught her how to build a fire. (That could have been helpful.)

Redemption Island - Semhar reads the rules that she has to win a dual to stay in the game - that sucks.  Then she composes a poem to the lantern that lights her nights of solitude (okay, my husband made that part up - but she could have.)  And with her on Redemption Island are Bryon Low, Lynne Brodie and Cheryl Bennett (you're not out yet though.)

Next week: Cochran messes up at a challenge (again) and remakes himself as a working machine around camp - Brandon's secret weighs heavy on him, doesn't like lying to Coach and it awakens the Dragon Slayer, "There's going to be an *ss whipping." (Oooh.)

So, that was the first long episode and longer recap - sorry, I'm a little out of practice.  But I'll get back in the swing of things soon enough. :)
Hope you have a great weekend everyone!

Coleen

Amazing Race 19 Pools ** WINNERS**

Teams	Pool Participants	Pool Participants	Pool Participants	Pool Participants
Andy & Tommy	Charlotte W	Coleen T	Bernice R	Hannelore/Sue
Ernie & Cindy	Kelvin H	Andria S	Miranne D	Fred/Gary M
Ron & Bill	Kim B	Lindsay J	Brenda E	Cheryl B
Laurence & Zac	Carol-Anne D	Shelley A	Laura H	Drew C
Jeremy & Sandy	Shelly P	Lynne B	Steve H	Roxanne S
Amani & Marcus	Susan N	Shane B	Cara L	Jeff T
Ethan & Jenna	Cheryl J	Bryon L	Katie L	Pat T
Justin & Jennifer	Sandy G	Ian G	Brittany/Sarah	Kim A
Bill & Cathi	Annemette J	Robert L	Bob L	Ozzy R
Liz & Marie	Elaine/Kevin	Krista H	Janine S	Denise R
Kaylani & Lisa	Bernice W	Lee G	Sharon R	Esther B

Survivor South Pacific Pool - WINNERS

WINNER	First out
Survivors	Pool Participants	Pool Participants	Pool Participants
Savaii
Dawn Meehan	Coleen T	Jeremy N	Karen F
Elyse Umemoto	Steve H	Lee G	Maddy D
Jim Rice	Jodi S	Bob L	Bernice R
John Cochran	Janine S	Lindsay J	Andria S
Keith Tollefson	Wendy E	Cara L	Kim A
Mark Caruso	Fred/Gary M	Susan N	Vikki M
Semhar Tadesse	Bryon L	Lynne B	Cheryl B
Whitney Duncan	Shelley A	Julie Teager	Jessica C
Ozzy Lusth	Laura H	Brittany/Sarah	Krista H
Upolu
Albert Destrade	Hannelore/Sue	Robert L	Ian G
Brandon Hantz	Shelly P	Carol-Anne D	Kevin C
Christine Shields-Markoski	Drew C	Jeff T	Cheryl J
Edna Ma	Nancy C	Mike L	Roxanne S
Mikayla Wingle	Suzanne M	Elaine/Kevin	Virginia D
Rick Nelson	Kim B	Ritch G	Tobi M
Sophie Clarke	Annemette J	Tori K	Gillian H
Stacey Powell	Sharon R	Katie L	Kelvin H
Coach (Ben Wade)	Ryan H	Charlotte W	Shane B