Survivor Fans vs Favourites - Feb 27/13 Episode Recap

There's Gonna Be Hell To Pay

Last week Phillip's Stealth-R-Us alienated Brandon and the Fans missed the opportunity of getting rid of Shamar, instead going with breaking up the Pretty couple alliance by getting rid of Allie.

Gota - Night 5
Fans come back from Tribal Council and pretty boys Eddie and Reynold go on the offensive.  Reynold tells them in a pissy tone that he has an idol and he was going to use it to benefit the tribe but he doesn't trust anyone there now, so it's his idol now, "Game on."
-Shamar - "I don't understand how it's game on now because your plan didn't work to vote me out..." and then he just goes off - he's in Eddie's face about voting for him, he's in Matt/the beard's face yelling at them that they all voted for him (and Matt didn't by the way).
-Laura wishes he'd realize they saved his ass and just shut up. (She needs to go tell him that, maybe he'd respect them more.)  Of course anytime someone tries to speak he cuts them off and just keeps berating them, even going off on Julia - no one is safe.  (Oh yeah, no one's having fun at the ol' Gota camp tonight.)

Gota - Day 6
-Reynold and Eddie are laughing about the 'Revenge of the Nerds' now putting them on the bottom.  Eddie thinks that he'd be next because Reynold is vital (gag, these two need to get over themselves.)  But Eddie thinks that Shamar is going to wear out his welcome on his own and he's not going to antagonize him.
-Sherri takes Shamar off on their own and she tells him that Reynold & Eddie are going to try and ruffle his feathers and he just needs to mellow out and let it go today.  It's part of the game and he doesn't need to help them win it.
-He doesn't play that way and he's over it.  For them to just sit there and lie (hold on, what were they lying about?  I think Shamar is a little delusional... he has done NOTHING around camp.) 
-Sherri owns several restaurant franchises so a lot of the people that work for her are young - she's used to dealing with people with Shamar's attitude.  She's really good at 'handling' him but I think she's got her work cut out for her reigning Shamar in.
-Shamar is disheartened by how people are playing the game and he's questioning if he should be there... Then they showed him carrying some wood! Hallelujah! Maybe some of it's sinking in.

Bikal - Day 6
All the Favourites are just laying around but Phillip - who's taking the opportunity to talk to the camera and tell us how well he takes care of himself - He says he's 54 and he works out, he plays basketball and the young guys think he's played pro ball... (Special Agent Michael Jordan now.)
-Corinne says of the six in Stealth-R-Us, Phillip and Andrea played together before and have a connection, Cochran and Dawn played together before and have that connection so it left Corinne and Malcolm who gravitated together and have gone out searching for the hidden immunity idol.   She thinks he's really smart and it doesn't hurt to have someone good-looking around. (Amen to that, sister.)
-Malcolm finds the idol (of course) and Corinne is super excited.  He's not enthused that she knows about the idol but at least they've had a good rapport and now he feels like he's got some power in this game.  They pinkie swear that they'll keep it between them.

Bikal - Day 6
-Phillip is wearing the fish basket on his head, apparently the breeze swirls around under it and cools him off - Cochran is in!  He's living out his fantasy of watching Survivor as he's playing it and being surrounded by beautiful girls in their underwear.
-Corinne is still talking to Malcolm about the idol off to themselves and it doesn't go unnoticed by Andrea - she brings their intense conversing to Cochran's attention who, let's be honest, was just talking to her boobs.  But Andrea learned from her last time playing that she has to always be thinking, and she doesn't trust Corinne.  She's planting the seeds with Cochran for them to take Corinne out next (wow Andrea, insecure much?) and bring in Brandon instead (she must really be threatened by Corinne to go for 'the crazy'.)
-Andrea approaches Phillip next with her idea to take Corinne out and he seems to be on-board... she is trying to be careful who she talks to so it doesn't get back to Corinne... then Andrea and Cochran are talking to Brandon and proposing they bring him into their alliance if he's okay voting out Corinne.  Of course he's okay with it - hello.
-Brandon tells the camera that he's not totally buying their assurances that he's safe, he feels like he's been done like this before and he can't blame them for lying to him because if they told him he was next he'd pee in the rice, he'd pee in the beans and he'd burn the shelter to-the-ground. (Ah, good to see you're so balanced - hide the Machete!)  He says he's going to try 150% at challenges but if his efforts aren't enough to keep him around,"there's going to be hell to pay at camp." (There is no winning with that guy, you try to pull him in and he thinks you're trying to take him out... Andrea has no idea what she's done.)

Gota - Day 6
-Shamar's in the shelter with Sherri, Laura and Eddie and he's telling them he wants to quit.  That his happiness is not worth a million dollars, he's not going to be the angry black man on Survivor.  He opens up about how difficult it was for him to adjust to regular life after coming back from Iraq, how he was so angry and in such a dark place that people were afraid to be around him (Okay, I'm pretty sure they are not doing psych evals anymore - really?) he feels like everyone threw him under the bus and it's pushing him back to the dark place. 
-Laura is mystified, being such a fan of the show, that anyone would quit the game.  She tells him she really wants him to stay.
-Sherri says she's just worried he's going to regret it if he quits (she tells the camera he doesn't realize what he'll do to himself if he quits.)  She finds the magic argument - says it would suck if he quits and they lose, that they would have to vote out another person and they'd be down two people.
-Well, you put it that way - Shamar respects loyalty and Sherri & Laura have been loyal to him, so for them he'll stay and play for them another few days. (Reynold and Eddie are both there on the outskirts, listening - I bet they went from really happy, to really bummed, really quickly.) (Shamar has a nice smile, he should do that more often... or he's got a thing for Sherri - that could also be it.)
-Reynold can't believe Shamar made himself out to be a hero by 'un-quitting' the game of Survivor - a game that 50K people would line up for hours to play. Whatever, Reynold's just going to play his game and Shamar is a factor of his game that he's just going to have to deal with.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE - DAY 7

Both tribes will race out into the water and out to a bamboo cage.  They will climb over the cage and drop into it where they will find a very heavy chest in the water - they must then untie the cage door and drag the chest all the way back to shore.  On shore, they must place the chest on a track and use a grappling ring to pull the sections of missing track into place - once the track is complete they must push the chest to the finish.  First tribe to get the chest on the finish platform wins immunity and Reward of comfort items - chairs, pillows, blanket and a tarp.

Mike tries to low five Shamar and he just ignores him - but to be fair, Shamar was wearing a diving mask, he may not have seen his hand... Mike looked a little miffed.

Off they go - and there are some strong and weak swimmers on both tribes - Laura being the slowest for the Fans, so much so that Reynold has to go back and drag her to the cage - they can't start working on the door and chest until everyone is in the cage.
-Fans want Shamar to work on the door but someone took the mask - he can't see - Eddie has the mask, he gets the door open (I can't tell if they are setting him up or if Shamar just really is the man of a million excuses.)
-Fans start dragging the chest out and get a lead on the Favourites who are having trouble with the door.
-Fans are working together well in the water but Favourites do catch up when they hit the sand and it takes all of them to roll the chest to the track. Malcolm tries to hook the next section but misses and, his aim-game nemesis, Reynold, gets their first section on the first try.
-Phillip gets the Favs first section - Fans - Eddie trying for their 2nd - and Malcolm gets the 2nd - Shamar then gets the 2nd section for Fans - it's Brandon and Eddie - they both make a few tosses... but it's Brandon who hooks it first... and the FAVOURITES win Immunity and Reward!

Gota - Day 7
-They are all standing around lamenting their loss again when Reynold starts telling Shamar that he's not discounting his... And Shamar goes off, "Don't talk to me, you're disgusting.  I have contacts, I needed the goggles, I told you that but you took them... you're disgusting." (Really, disgusting?)
-Reynold says, "Well, I don't know if that really happened." (What? Did you take the mask or not, yes, you did - good come back.)  Then he goes off with Eddie and they gossip like teenage girls about how immature Shamar is... (I think all of them having some growing up to do.)  Reynold can't believe that they would keep Shamar around any longer.
-Laura's worried that she's going to be a target because she sucked so much with the swimming today.  She's talking to Sherri and Matt/the Beard about who they should vote for; they need Reynold and Eddie to win challenges right now so that leaves Hope - but if Reynold gives her the idol they're screwed so they want to split the vote - girls vote Hope and the boys vote Eddie.
-Sherri shares this plan with Shamar and he's quickly doing the math - that would mean it's 3 Hope, 3 Eddie and 3 Shamar.  But Sherri has a way with him and he stays calm and seems like he's going to stay quiet and do what they say (Hmm, that seemed too easy.)  Sherri says, "hopefully our plan will succeed and it'll be Hope going home tonight."
-Shamar, Mr. 'I'm-not-playing-the-game' - goes and talks to Hope, commiserating with her being on the chopping block even though she hasn't done anything - he tells her he would vote Reynold but he has that necklace... (oh trying to draw it out... smart) then he tells her he's not voting for her tonight. In his mind he was trying to get her to vote for Eddie but...
-Hope goes and tells Julia that Shamar told her it was her or Eddie tonight.
-Julia then goes and tells Sherri, Matt & Laura that Shamar blurbed (blurted, the word is blurted, he didn't write a brief endorsement... but I digress) now they think Shamar is a total wild-card and he's not voting with them.
-So, now Laura is panicking that she could be going home and she goes to Reynold and proposes that she and Julia vote with the pretty people to take Shamar out tonight.
-Reynold, of course, is in.  He says he can guarantee three for Shamar if she can bring the other two votes and he's excited for an epic, epic Tribal Council. (This guy is too excited and too full of himself to win this game - just my prediction.)  He says if they send Shamar packing tonight, it'll be like Christmas.

TRIBAL COUNCIL

Reynold, a lot was said at last Tribal Council, any fall out at camp?
-Yeah, I don't know really what happened but all I heard was Shamar screaming at everybody.  I wasn't surprised, it's par for the course.
Shamar, once again on the hot seat and all surrounding your temper.
-Well, I was yelling at him about his being upset his plan wasn't working.  I don't know, my name comes up in everything - I'm the scapegoat for everybody.
Are you just misunderstood?
-Not this much.  These people just put out lies.
Who's lied about you?
-Reynold, he lies.
-Reynold - I don't know how I could be lying to him when I'm not allowed to talk to him.
Is that true Shamar, you won't even talk to him?
-Yeah, he's an evil person so I won't let him talk to me.
Well it is a social game.  Hope, what's your take on it?
-Well I talked to Shamar today and he told me I was 99% going home. But I should turn on my friends because Reynold won't give me the idol.
-Shamar - See that's a lie, she said she was going home and I told her it wasn't 99% sure she's going home.  Like I said, everybody here is like, let's throw Shamar under the bus.  I don't know why I come in smiling, whatever, it is what it is.
Matt, what is it about Shamar that he feels picked on?
-I think Shamar gets carried away with his attitude and he gets carried away really easily.  His personality is just rubbing people in the tribe the wrong way.
Julia, the whole time Matt was talking you were reliving a trauma, just shaking your head.
-Yeah, after the Tribal Council he felt attacked so he wanted us to justify what we said at Tribal and then he screamed at me again and again and again - "You're weak, you're a weak personality and you're projecting it on me..."
-Shamar - What? (Shamar I think honestly doesn't remember some of the stuff he says or he has a split personality.)
Shamar, did that not happen either?
-No, and that's the essence of the problem.  People take certain things I say and they embellish them to make them more because they feel a certain way (wow) and I can't do anything about that.  You know what I'm saying? (Is this a race argument he's making?)
Well so far you've had a beef with Reynold, Hope, Matt & Julia and I haven't talked to Sherri or Mike...
-Shamar - Axe them.
Sherri, what is it that this one guy is taking all the heat when he says he's not doing anything?
-Okay, I've known a lot of Shamars.  I get Shamar, he just rubs them the wrong way and once you cross him, you can't go back.  And they've crossed him, so in his mind, that's it.
-Shamar - That's exactly right.
Okay, so the other big thing is what came out at last week's Tribal Council and that is Reynold & Hope & Eddie and Allie being in a foursome.  Hope are you concerned about tonight's vote?
-Absolutely, after last week I know I'm on the chopping block.
So, if it's not you, who would you put the vote on?
-Honestly, I hate to go back to Shamar but he brings a lot of negative energy to the tribe and I just don't see it changing that much.
And Eddie, after last tribal, worried they see you as too charming, too fit, aligned with Reynold, flirting with Hope - he can't last.
-He feels like he has a target on his back.  Shamar's been trying to get him out since day one, as I have him, I'm not going to lie.  But I'm on the no talking list as well.
Oh, Shamar, he can't talk to you either?
-Yeah, but only because he's a follower of the guy I really don't like.
So Reynold, how big a factor is the idol?  You were very open here it is, I'm going to play it and then you didn't.
-It's going to be a poker game until it gets played or I get voted out... It's a poker game (That Reynold, not so good with the words... I think Reynold is... pretty.)

Time to Vote:
Eddie votes Shamar
Shamar votes Eddy

Tallying the votes:
Reynold does not play his idol (it's a poker game after all.)
Shamar - 1
Hope - 1
Shamar - 2
Hope - 2
Shamar - 3
Hope - 3
Eddie - 1, 2, 3
There is a three way tie!  Ooooh... I thought they might actually take the big man out... I'm a little surprised Shamar survived this vote.

RE VOTE
They can only vote for Eddie, Hope or Shamar
Shamar - 1
Hope - 1, 2, 3, 4... (Well at least I didn't have to worry too long about learning all the young blondes names.)  Hope is the 3rd person voted out.
And with Hope leaving that takes Shelley A., Kelvin H., and Julie T. out of the pool.

Next week: The Fans think they've hit rock bottom (they showed Sherri and Eddie arguing) but Mother Nature proves them wrong - Hurricane?  And there are rats all over them (ahhh!)

Hope is boring in her final remarks (I guess that's why we haven't seen much of her, she's a snoozer); she's just really really disappointed, she thought she was a strong player and feels she's leaving before her time but she had an amazing once in a lifetime experience and (zzzzzz oh, nodded off there.)

Have a great rest of your week everyone,

Coleen

Amazing Race 22 - Feb 24th Episode Recap

Loose Lips Sink Ships

The second leg of this Amazing Race opened in Bora Bora at 2:56am when Jessica & John read the clue to make their way by water taxi to Motu Toopua Nui (the sign for the water taxi they flashed said first boat is at 7:30am... so there will be some waiting and catching up.) Once at the place they must search the grounds for the wedding chapel where they'll receive a blessing from the priest.
-John & Jessica won both Express Passes last week and they had made a secret alliance with the five teams that were on the first flight that they would give the 2nd Express Pass to the next team to finish in the alliance.  John tells us that they are hinging if they give the 2nd pass to the next team in the alliance on their agreement not to talk about the alliance... if a team not in the five finds out about it, John & Jess are considering the agreement null & void (I can understand wanting to keep your options open until you know everyone better, but alienating 4 other teams... doesn't seem like a smart move to me, Albino Eyebrows (that's how I think of John.))  Oh, and they are bummed that everyone will be there by 7:30am (except the penalty teams - the Newlyweds and the Country Singers face a 3 hour penalty before they can start.)

-7:05am - Cancer cyclists Dave & Connor pulled John & Jessica aside to talk about the Express Pass pact they made and John tells them his conditions... he tells the camera it's mostly because he wants the other teams to have to suck up to him.  Connor tells the camera it's ridiculous  (I'm with you, I hope it bites John in the butt - Race Karma is coming for you.)
-The first flight teams are all gathered together: John & Jess, Dave & Connor, Twins Idries & Jamil, Mullet Chuck & Wynona, Pam & Winnie, leaving the other three teams there; Roller derby moms Mona & Beth, Hockey players Anthony & Bates and the You-tubers Joey & Meghan speculating... Mona says there has already been some sucking up going on to John & Jess.
-Chuck & Wynona have encouraged John's plan by offering to carry his backpack if he wants to change his mind and give the Express Pass to them (wow, no honour among that alliance apparently.)
-Mona says sucking up isn't her style but the next shot is her chatting up Jessica... Meghan says she won't suck up and the Hockey guys either... but we shall see.

-7:30am - the water taxis start to leave.  The Hockey guys realize that three teams didn't take off at the same time as the rest of them but they don't know who went home or where the other two teams are - they're happy to have two team guaranteed behind them all.
-Dad is choking up talking about Connor's cancer again - stop it!
-Anthony shows us his hockey teeth - meaning he is missing his front two teeth - ah yeah, that looks like home :)
-Idries & Jamil are nervous getting back in a boat - they don't like water (are you two serious?  Have you ever watched this show - I don't have high hopes for the boys when the inevitable swimming challenge happens.) But they are talking big, that they are used to being calm under pressure and nothing else will freak them out... right.

-John & Jess are the first on the dock, then the Hockey Players, Father & Son, Twins, You-tubers and Chuck & Wynona... everyone is off running but Wynona can't keep up - "We're old as dirt." She's lamenting that everyone else is younger and in better shape than her.

-Dave & Connor are the first team to the priest, he blesses them and they get the clue to the DETOUR - Pick a Pearl or Take a Trunk.
-In Pick a Pearl - half a mile off land, teams must dive in open ocean and untie lines of shells set up for them, then shuck the shells until they find two red pearls - once they have both pearls they must swim to the pearl farmer to receive their next clue (I know what the twins are NOT doing.)
-In Take a Trunk - wearing a diving helmet, they must dive to the bottom, retrieve a trunk, take it to patio umbrellas set up underwater, then remove all the contents of the trunk to set a table and make an underwater dining experience (this looks way easier) once they have everything in the proper place, the waiter will hand over the next clue.

-Dave & Connor decide to Pick a Pearl.  John & Jess, also picking pearls, Bates & Anthony (Hockey guys) everyone is picking the pearls (huh.)
-Joey and Meghan are picking pearls... Mona & Beth are going to Take a trunk because they think shucking oysters may be hard.  Pam & Winnie, Picking pearls  (that doesn't surprise me, pearls are expensive, Winnie'd be all over that.)  Then they show Idries & Jamil and they choose Pick A Pearl (WHAT??? Does the clue not tell them they are swimming?)
-And finally Chuck & Wynona get their clue and are picking pearls.

-Everybody's heading to Pick a Pearl - Dave & Connor are all proud they're in first place, but they forgot to pick up their fins and snorkel before jumping in the water taxi (First Rule of Amazing Race: Always read the clue fully! Sheesh.)  They have to go back.

-Bates & Anthony, John & Jess and Joey & Meghan are in the water diving for the pearls - they are amazed by how clear and beautiful the water is, but they agree it's a tough challenge.

-Mona & Beth are the only team doing the Trunks - neither of them have ever scuba dived before and they are a little nervous of open water (but the diving helmets are cool, I did something like that in Mexico - it was fun.) They quickly calmed down and got to the task at hand - drawing on their roller derby experience to be able to communicate with just looks and gestures to get the job done.

-At the Pearl diving - The Twins are petrified.
-Chuck is in the water and Wynona on the boat to open the shells... but he's not bringing anything up - she wants to change tasks.
-Joey & Meghan figured out a system where she got back on the boat and would open the shells as he retrieved them - no pearls yet.
-Dave & Connor get their snorkel gear and head back to pick a pearl.
-One of the Twins is saying the water it too deep, he's not getting back in - he wants to take a 6 hour penalty (OMG! Do the trunks - you have an air supply...) the other Twin wants to keep trying but I don't see him getting in the water either.
-Joey & Meghan find a pearl, Jessica & John find a pearl, Bates & Anthony find a pearl...
-Idries & Jamil - They argued for a little while longer but finally one of them said we are wasting time, we have to acknowledge our limitations and we can't do this... (So, not even a thought of trying the other task? Oh, I guess it's the fear of being underwater so the other task would freak him out more.) ... Jamil knows a 6 hour penalty will kill them so he gets Idries to agree to give it another try.

-Back at the beginning, the two teams that had to serve the 3 hour penalty from the first leg, Max & Katie and Caroline & Jen, are 10 minutes from leaving - they see that the first teams couldn't start until 7:30, so that puts them only 1 1/2 hours behind.

-Dave & Connor get back to the Pick a Pearl and they are consoling themselves that there are still 2 teams behind them... they get in the water.
-Pam & Winnie tried to gather all the strings of shells all at once and the weight was dragging them under - they start to panic... (well, that was well thought out ladies) they get back in the boat and are opening shells, complaining this is the worst challenge ever - "I hate the ocean."
-Chuck isn't giving the shells to Wynona, he's just opening them in the water himself... she's annoying, "Should I just get in? Chuck, Chuck?  I think I'm going to get in."  And she jumps in too... (Oh Sweet Jebus, now he's got to worry about her too.)
-Joey & Meghan were the first to find 2 pearls and head to the farmer.
-Dave & Connor are shucking them as they go in the water and making up time.
-Jessica & John find their second pearl.  Bates & Anthony have found 2 pearls.
-Chuck & Wynona and Pam & Winnie both have one pearl.

-Joey & Meghan get the clue to make their way by personal watercraft to Motu Tapu.  They have to swim out to jet skis, and follow a local map to a tiny island where they'll find their next clue.
-Dave & Connor have their 2nd pearl and are back in it.  All the two pearl teams are jet skiing away.

-Mona & Beth have set up their little picnic underwater and have a toast, when the waiter in a tuxedo swims over and gives them their next clue.  They found the whole thing Amazing (I bet it was way more relaxing too, since there weren't other teams breathing down their necks.)  They also head for the jet skis and Motu Tapu.

-The Horrible Newlyweds and the Country Singers are finally heading out - Max & Katie know one of them will be going home today and they're going to make sure it's not them (watch out pretty blonde girls, they're gunning for you.)

-Chuck & Wynona find their 2nd pearl.  Winnie & Pam are still complaining about the water and the Twins are still doing nothing, though they are in the water but still holding onto the boat... sigh.

-Max & Katie and Caroline & Jen get their blessings from the priest and decide to do the Detour together - they are going to Take a Trunk.  Max & Katie's strategy in doing the task together was to "keep their eyes on dinner."  They want to know where the girls are at all times.

-The Twins have doggy-paddled out to where the lines of shells are and one of them tries to dive down... nope.  They resort to pulling themselves down along the buoy line... then they start yanking the shells off one by one instead of untying the whole string (just shaking my head.  They had to say that they could remain calm in any situation, had to test the Race gods so early.)
-Pam & Winnie finally find their second pearl. And head for the jet skis.

-Max wants to stop pretending they want to play with the Country Singers, he thinks they'll throw them to the wolves at their first chance. The Country Singers feel pretty much the same way - working together is a necessary evil but they don't want to be friends.

-The Twins open the two shells they were able to retrieve and nothing - they're struggling - big time.

Motu Tapu - Joey & Meghan are the first team to the beach and they get the clue for the ROADBLOCK - Who's a well-balanced individual?
-One person will have to balance on stilts and kick a coconut across 30 metres of sand to the finish line.  If they fall off the stilts, the coconut can remain in place but they have to go back to the start.  Once the coconut crosses the finish line, they'll have to find the PIT STOP.
-Joey is doing it, also Jessica, Connor and Anthony.  (But seriously, stilt walking on sand?  Come on.)  Anthony proves that hockey players have wicked balance - the others are leaning forward and falling off and Anthony was on a breakaway - kicking that coconut to the goal.

-Winnie & Pam got lost on their jet ski... hopefully they are not just heading out into open water - Winnie jokes they were jet skiing their way back to California.

-Newlyweds and Country Singers are in the water and dragging their trunks, Jen & Caroline thought the helmets were cool - Katie just complained it was too heavy and smushed her face (NOT THE FACE!)

-Back on the island, Mona is stilting and so is Chuck - Wynona tells us he's in great shape from running up and down the aisles at Walmart. (These two are such red-necks, it's almost endearing.)
-Connor is right on Anthony's stilt heels but the hockey player is the first across, Dad & Connor are right behind then Jessica makes it across.  And it's a foot race across the island to find Phil at the mat.  Connor is in the lead followed closely by Bates & Anthony when Dad/Dave ruptures his Achilles' tendon... and he can't run, "I'm out."

-Back at Pick a Pearl - the Twins are still struggling - grabbing one shell at a time, dropping them without opening them... one of them had to be rescued by the safety divers.

-Back at the stilt walk Joey is proving unbalanced (Ha!)  Beth isn't having much more luck.  But the power of the Mullet reigns as Chuck crosses the finish line.  Chuck and Wynona take off for the Pit Stop but as usual Wynona holds them back - legs cramping up.
-Joey crosses the line on the stilts and he an Meghan take off running, knowing they can catch Mullet & wife.

-Pam & Winnie say they were brought up very Asian American, so their worst fear is a fear of failure.  They weren't coddled as children, instead of hugs and kisses it was, "what's wrong with your hair, stop getting pimples."  So when they couldn't read the map, it totally flustered them.

-Back at the underwater picnics - Max & Katie finished the task first even though the Country singers started first, but they're not far behind.  They all start swimming for the jet skis.

-The Twins tell us they grew up in a single family household and watching their mother struggle instilled in them the desire to do well.  FINALLY one of them suggests they do the second Detour... So with a "never give up" attitude they are going to do the Trunks.

-Pam & Winnie are still lost out on the water, finally they focus and figure out where they need to go.

-Mona finishes the stilt walk and the Roller Derby Moms run for the Pit Stop.

-Horrible Newlyweds, Max & Katie are on the jet ski and he's just flying.
-Country singers take off hell bent for leather after them.

-The Twins get to the trunk challenge and when they realized there was actually a helmet that allowed them to breath under water, it was all good (Seriously? I bet the kicked themselves so hard.)  They had fun with it.

-Pam & Winnie finally get to the island and Pam figures the stilt walk will be a piece of cake for her, "I'm so good at balancing." (Uh oh.) She meant she's used to walking in 4 in heels - yeah, this is not the same thing.  She falls off. Again and again.
-Newlyweds and Country Singers get to the island and Max and Caroline join Pam at the stilt walk.  They are excited to see another team is still there.
-Caroline grew up doing gymnastics so she enjoys anything "nimbly".  She does well with the stilts.
-Max just wanted to kick the heck out of the coconut but kept knocking himself off balance.
-Pam keeps falling.  Caroline crosses the line.

-The Twins finally finished the Detour and got the clue from the waiter.  They knew at that point they had to be in last place but they were hoping the next task people were having problem with or this was a non-elimination round.

-Pam is taking a breather - she's got a popped blister on her foot.
-Max crosses the finish line because Katie was there glaring at him and he knew he had to finish or she'd kill him.
-Pam & Winnie know they are either last or second to last, and they hope it's the latter.  Pam does well walking, it's when she kicks the coconut she falls.. but she finally makes it across the line... just.

-The Twins get to the island and Jamil does the stilts - they know this was a good lesson for their kids; you can never give up.

Here's How They Finished:
1) Bates & Anthony - Won a trip to London, England. Anthonly says he better put his teeth back in.
2) Dave & Connor - Connor is worried that he pushed his dad too hard and they hope he didn't actually rupture the tendon.
3) Jessica & John - John hopes Dave is out of the Race - it will give them more options on who to give the 2nd Express Pass to. (Good strategy, sure, but I don't like this guy.)
4) Joey & Meghan - Over-excited jumping.
5) Chuck & Wynona - He never blames her at all - gives her a big kiss - she's not happy they were out run by Richard Simmons with the short shorts and knee high socks (Ha, that would be Joey.)
6) Mona & Beth - yay.
7) Caroline & Jen - Lucky number seven.
8) Max & Katie
9) Pam & Winnie - at the back of the pack but still in the Race.
10) Idries & Jamil - ***ELIMINATED*** "We gave it our best effort.  We didn't achieve our goal but once the sting wears off, I think we'll be able to rest easy with that."  Even though their race was short, it was still the adventure of a lifetime - "it was awesome." (I bet after this, the Twins take some swimming lessons... or at least make their kids learn to swim - of course it would have been a better idea to do it before the Race.)

And with the Twins elimination, Susan M., Shane B., Jeremy N., Rachel R., and Cheryl J. are out of the pool.

Next week: Dave confirms his worst fear - he's torn the muscle and needs crutches.  And teams race New Zealand at full throttle! Joey, "I love New Zealand!" (Dirt biking across the Shire - looks like fun!)

Have a great week everyone,

Coleen
 

Survivor Fans vs Favourites - Feb 20th Episode Recap

Honey Badger

Last week we met the 10 new Survivors and were reacquainted with 10 old favourites... Oh yeah, and I was one of the first out of the pool because Francesca sucks at Survivor... She made history by being the only Survivor voted out first, twice.  Nice.

Bikal - Night 3
They return from Tribal Council and Dawn decides to try and speak reasonably with an obviously upset Brandon.  She is trying to explain their side of why they voted out Francesca but he's having none of it, he thought Francesca was one of the nicest women he's met in Survivor period and didn't think she deserved to be done like that. 
Dawn whines, "Don't be so mean, Brandon."
 "I'm a ____ honey badger, dude." He goes on to say he feels sorry for her because she's still going to lose. (Yup, Brandon has as much self restraint as I remember.)  He tells Dawn and Cochran to remember this conversation because they are still going to lose because of this stupid move [voting out Francesca.]  By the way, no one else is saying a word, but they are all watching & listening.
-Dawn goes off and cries. (Way to go 'lil Hantz, you made her cry.)  She's not used to people talking to her like that, it was a shock that he was so mean (oh lady, what part of the world do you live in?  Obviously she's never worked in customer service.)
-Brandon is still on a righteous roll.  He's talking to Erik, the ice cream scooper, who seems to find this amusing - Brandon says he's feeling a little revengeful and may have to go a little 'Russell Hantz' style on them. He feels his uncle's blood rushing through his veins and it feels goo-ood (oh this can not end well. But then, Brandon is usually all talk, he spouts off then repents in the light of day. We'll see if he does Hantz it up.)
-He says to the camera, "This is a game and I'm playing it dir-ty." He wants to go out with a bang.

Gota - Day 4
Fans are working around camp, we see people gathering wood and coconuts and boiling water and... Shamar, laying in the shelter, laughing at them.  He tells the camera he's staying in the shelter, conserving his energy.  He is avoiding getting into scuffles over water, no one seems to care about his hydration but him (way to be a team player Shamar.)  He says, once they see he doesn't care about the game he won't be seen as a threat. (WHAT?  That's the worst strategy ever! No one's going to resent having to feed, shelter and water you, oh no.)  And his laziness is not going unnoticed, Allie says he's a group joke.  "If we go to Tribal Council, Shamar's got to go, it's non-negotiable."
-Next scene is Sherri, the older blonde, telling Shamar that she wants him in her alliance with Laura (young blonde), Julia (one brunette), Matt (the beard) and Michael (the hipster.)  Shamar is all in (of course, she's not asking you to do anything and they'll take you along.)
-Sherri tells the camera that Shamar is her Phillip, she wants him to keep b*tching about water and annoying people, as long as he knows she's got him and they keep the numbers over the High School Clique that has formed with Reynold, Allie, Eddie and Hope.

Bikal - Day 4
Brandon has cooled off and is calmly talking to Cochran the next morning, admitting he was ready to sabotage everything last night but realizes that he doesn't want to be seen as a quitter and he has to play nice for his kids (WHAT? He has KIDS? I'm afeared.)
-Cochran tells the camera the frightening thing about Brandon is he has these moments of extreme rage which are almost immediately followed by unbelievable pleasantness.  Kind of like a sociopathic murderer (get him out!) The only thing Cochran can predict about Brandon is he's unpredictable.
-Phillip comes along and Brandon invites him over.  Brandon wants them to all be on the same page about who to vote out.  Phillip says he learned from Boston Rob, who used to just tell them who to vote, that he did that to restrict the flow of information.  Then he makes some analogy about a CEO making someone start at middle management... and Brandon gets it, "I'm middle management."  Phillip, "And the CEO don't call in mid-mgt unless there's something he wants to tell 'em."
Phillip tells the camera that he sees Brandon as totally narsistic (that's what he said. He meant narcissistic), someone who has no empathy for others - "I think that's, what someone called me last time, crazy."
-Brandon says it was good talking to you, to Phillip then goes back to camp and announces to everyone (Corinne, Brenda, Erik, Dawn) that Phillip is the biggest bully he's ever met in his life.  He's calling himself the CEO of the tribe, I'm on a need to know basis, you guys couldn't trust me because of my last season that's why you didn't tell me who to vote for and I have the feeling that's going to happen again. (One thing Phillip didn't learn was how Boston Rob made everyone feel like they were important to him... Phillip isn't capable of being that personable.)
-Brandon is ranting to the camera, "Special Agent Pink Panther thought he could pull his special agent tricks with me, and that's going to be his downfall in this game."
-Brandon is telling the crowd that Phillip is trying to Boston Rob them and he doesn't like it. They have to cut the head off the snake now (there's a Survivor staple phrase). 
-Dawn thinks there is still room for everyone (I wonder what colour the sky is in her world?)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE - DAY 5

Fans were surprised to see Francesca gone - Michael says they are obviously there to play, she went home first again, no mercy over there.

In this challenge - three people from each tribe will race out to a raft, then three other tribe members will pull the raft out to a platform, the raft three will then dive down where they'll find a cage and begin removing bamboo sticks which will release rings that float - once they have all 9 rings they will be pulled back to land and the remaining three tribe members will toss the rings and try to land them on three posts - first tribe to get one ring on each of their three posts will win Immunity.
In addition, they are playing for reward: Fishing gear, net, mask, flippers, hooks, line, basket...

Fans sit Laura.  And Shamar is a pouty baby when they are strategizing - do what ya'll want, I'll just pull (imagine the bottom lip sticking out and a shirt on his head - someone needs his diaper changed.)

Off they go: Erik, Andrea & Brenda are on the raft for the Favs - Julia, Sherri, and Hope for Fans.  Brandon, Cochran and Corinne are pulling and the fans catch up with Shamar, Matt & Eddie pulling (Fans have all the muscle pulling, seems smart).
-Now we'll see how the swimmers do - Erik and Sherri are in the water - the others are just retrieving rings.  The favourites are rotating going in the water and fans finally figure out maybe they should rotate too -  Favourites get all nine rings before fans even have 4...
-Favs are back to the beach and start throwing when the Fans finally get the 9th ring.(sending all the girls swimming didn't work out so well.)
-Malcolm gets one, two ... when the fans finally get back to land and Reynold is tossing - they get one - then they rotate Phillip and and Fans rotate Mike in... and Phillip gets their third post rung and FAVOURITES win Immunity and fishing gear.

-Reynold tells the camera he's thinking Shamar is a cancer, he's got to go (that is one of my favourite reality show lines, calling someone a cancer.) He's lazy, disrespectful and he ruffles feathers for no reason.  It's an easy vote tonight for Shamar.

Bikal - Day 5
Back at camp the victorious Favourites are happy and excited to break out the fishing gear.
-Phillip says he and Malcolm have to gather fire wood - while out gathering, Phillip tells Malcolm that Corinne is the Dominatrix (Malcolm says, perfect) and Phillip has Malcolm's name as the Enforcer - oh, he likes that too (yes, Malcolm knows how to get along, but he seems to genuinely find Phillip amusing.)  Phillip tells the camera that Stealth-R-Us has expanded in this season and the newest member is the Enforcer, (Malcolm is all proud, mugging for the camera.)
-Malcolm tells the camera he has no idea what's going through Phillip's head, he thinks he's running some sort of spy corporation, it's getting really ridiculous.
Then Phillip runs them down for the camera:
Phillip: The Specialist
Cochran: The Intelligence Attache
Malcolm: The Enforcer
Andrea: The Eliminator
Corinne: The Dominatrix (who is looking almost as lobstered as Cochran)
Dawn: True Grit
Malcolm says he can play along for a few days but if they're Stealth-R-Us the whole time he's going to hang himself.  "Phillip Shepherd is an insane person."

Gota - Day 5
Things are not so carefree over at the Fans camp.  Sucks to lose and they start dissecting where they went wrong.  The Favourites had muscle in the front, middle and rear - Fans stacked all the muscle in the middle. 
-Michael says their problem is they didn't have anyone take charge and just tell them what they were doing...
-This made Shamar lift his head in the shelter, say everyone had something they were good at... whatever. 
-Reynold calls him out, says his behaviour is unacceptable where he comes from. 
-Why, cause I have an opinion?
-No the pouting when you don't get your way, it's childish.
-Let it be childish then (imagine him saying this over and over as Reynold tried to make his point. Yeah, really annoying.)
-Allie tells the camera she never understood how anyone could throw a challenge until she lived with Shamar for 5 days - now she gets it.  She prays he goes home tonight.
-Back at the unacceptable/let it be childish confrontation - Shamar switches to, "What you going to do about it?"  Reynold, "I'm going to vote for you tonight."
-Shamar says you don't think I knew you were going to vote for me anyway, you're just making a scene to try to sway some more people but we'll see what happens at the vote tonight.
-Reynold decides to disengage and he, Matt and Eddie go to tend the fire - Shamar taunting him the whole time, "yeah, go talk about it."
"We have to go make the fire because you didn't do it."
"Shut Up." (Ugh! That is so disrespectful. Sherri, Y U Want to keep him around?)

Gota - Day 5
-Matt/the beard tells Reynold and Eddie that he can't wait to write Shamar's name down, he's totally with them on this.  Then Matt tells the camera that he and Mike have been tight and he knows his options are going with the High School Clique or voting with Sherri's crew, he hopes Mike will be with him however he decides to go.
-Mike, talking to Sherri, says they need to decide if it's Shamar or one of them (meaning the pretty 4) and she says it's definitely one of them.  Matt says even if they vote Shamar out they still have a 5 to 4 advantage and the High School Clique will still think he's with them.  Sherri says she believes that Shamar is acting out because he knows his name's on the block, once he survives the vote, he'll chill out (Really? I hope you're right lady, cause I can't stand 5 more TV minutes with that guy, I can't imagine how they feel, living with him 24/7.)
-Laura comes and joins them and Sherri asks her what's her feeling for the vote - Laura says one of the girls, she thinks Allie.  Of the pretty people she thinks Allie is the most strategic and the only one that's thinking.
-Sherri decrees it's Allie, unless she hears otherwise.

Reynold has decided to go look for a hidden immunity idol - he's searching in holes in trees and he finds it.  "This is too crazy!" Then he says a variation of that a few times... Reynold is a little excited.  He says he's trying to check himself so he doesn't walk into camp with a big grin on his face and an even bigger bulge in his pocket.

-Just before they leave for Tribal Council Laura notices the bulge in his pocket (what were you doing... looking at his pockets?) But he's all shifty trying to bunch up his swim trunks under the pants - yeah, why not just wear it around your neck next time?  Laura is a smart cookie, she knows he has an idol, but now she's worried that he'll pass it to Allie and screw them up (why does she think they know about the plan to vote out Allie?)

TRIBAL COUNCIL
[Jeff's comments are in blue] Michael what's it like to play a game for a million dollars with people you don't have much in common with?
-Matt & Sherri have families in common, they're married (to each other?- That's how it sounded) and they have children.  Then there's the foursome, Eddie & Hope and Allie & Reynold. (Reynold doesn't look happy to be called out as the foursome.)
So Allie, did you just become fast friends the four of you?
-Yeah, we're the same age group and have things in common - we weren't excluding anybody out, it was just like, something we would do on the outside.
(Laura looks like she felt excluded).
Shamar, what's your take on these four? (Oh this should be good.)
-Eddie & Hope seem like a couple and these two just seem like a part of the foursome. (Oh, I guess he really hasn't paid any attention and he can't be bothered to even make tribal council fun. For Me.)
Matt, concern you at all that there are four people that are openly saying they're similar so they hang out on the beach.
-Ah, no.  They sleep on the beach, maybe it's more comfortable for them than the shelter but I'm not overly concerned about them, no.  (For some reason, Mike and Shamar look pained by what Matt's said... why?)
Shamar, how's this experience been for you?
-Jeff, I'm 300lbs, I've had two scoops of rice and 3 coconuts since I've been here so I'm drained a bit, I've been trying to conserve my energy. (Reynold's look says 'whatever'.)
What's your background, is this what you're used to?
-No, I've done two tours in Iraq in desert conditions with little food.  The difference is there are leaders in the Marine corps and here everyone is individuals and no one wants to listen.
Mike, is that what happened today at the challenge, were there too many voices?
-Yeah, I knew while we were strategizing that we were in trouble. No one was making the decisions on who was the best pitcher, etc.  Then it got heated.
-Reynold - I think to win these challenges you really have to be one cohesive unit but I think people get frustrated with Shamar's critiques when Shamar sits in the shelter all day while we're all sweating, getting cuts and rashes.  If you want me to throw out 25 exact examples we'd be here all night, I'm not going to waste your time (Shamar is smiling, like this is hilarious.)
Shamar, you're laughing?
-Cause they can't give you 25 examples right now.
- Eddie - I can tell you that Shamar was in the shelter yesterday for 19 hours.
19 of 24 hours?
-Yeah, while we kept the fire going, made dinner, cut coconuts - we wanted Shamar to come out and hang out but it wasn't happening.
So, Shamar, were you in the shelter for the majority of the day?
-Oh yes, very much so.  I just feel like I'm a good scapegoat, you know, I've been outcast a little bit from day one.
Based on what do you think?
-I think I'm big and loud Jeff.  I'm just a big, loud guy.
Laura, what do you think of all this?
-Well, coming here tonight I was under the impression that we were voting as a family (on day 5? that's some quick bonding) but I did see something else go down.  I saw a bulge in someone's pocket.  I will not say who...
But you are looking directly at Reynold.
-And Reynold pulls it out (the idol, you dirty minds :)) - much to everyone's shock.  "Apparently my pants are too tight."  I thought we were also all voting together tonight...
-Laura - so why bring it to Tribal Council.
-Is that not Survivor 101, if you have a hidden immunity idol, you bring it to Tribal Council.
-Mike - agreed.
-Reynold - and it's really a shame because I'm playing right now to beat the Favourites.
And now, you're holding this massive target.
-Yeah. These things are pockets full of kryptonite. (Spin Doctors, holla). I mean, I'm going to play it tonight and be done with it.  (That made Shamar smile, because that is the stupidest thing to do!)  So good job guys, now no idol going to the merge. (Way to try and shift blame dumb*ss.)
Shamar, this is good news for you - someone has an idol now he's shown it, this thing has blown up.
-He deserves an Academy Award, he's tried to throw me under he bus (oh yeah, they are bringing out all the staple phrases tonight... come on, who's not here to make friends?).  I mean the whole four have tried to villianize me from day one and that's why I've taken a step back.  The people who know my heart will vote the right way and the people that don't like me will vote against me. (Oh, poor Shamar - pfft!)
Sherri, this game is now completely different.
-I'm just blown away at what's happening.  I'm voting the way I'm supposed to be voting.  That's all I'm saying.  I'm sticking with my vote... maybe.

And now it's time to vote:
Eddie - votes Shamar, thanks him for his military service, out here, not so much.
Sherri - votes Allie, you've got to go cause four is way too powerful.

Tallying the votes:
Time to play the hidden immunity idol... Reynold puts it back in his pocket (okay, maybe not so dumb.)
Shamar - 1, 2, 3, 4
Allie - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... and 6 - Allie is the first person voted out from the Fans tribe and she's not happy... well none of the pretty people are. 

Jeff tells them in order to win they have to get to the end, in order to get to the end they have to beat the Favourites and in order to beat the Favourites they have to Get it Together.

Next week:
Shamar has the Fans camp in chaos, yelling at everybody for voting for him and Brandon is making it not much better in Favourite town "I'll pee in the rice, I'll pee in the beans, I'll burn the shelter to the ground." (He is unstable man, I worry that they have stopped testing these people for mental competency before dropping them in the jungle.)

Allie's last thoughts: I had a lot more game to play.  This is so frustrating.  I've wanted this since I was 11 years old and I'm mortified beyond words that I got voted out 2nd.  I had such a good time playing - Arghh! It sucks.

Oh, and with Allie leaving we also say farewell (from the pool) to Irene N., Nenad M. and Andria S.  (Sorry guys.)

Have a great rest of the week everyone,

Coleen

The Amazing Race 22 - Premiere Episode Feb 17/13

Business in the Front, Party in the Back

Los Angeles, CA, Griffiths Observatory serves as the starting line to this season of the Amazing Race.
They show the teams having to run up the winding hillside to the observatory as Phil introduces them:
Everyone is smiling and running fine except...
Chuck & Wynona - The curly mullet and his bleach blonde wife - he's doing alright on the hill but she's struggling - this is my team everyone so they better not be out first (I'm just saying.) Married 15 years from Alabama - he says they are a cross between redneck and country (I don't think the distinction is very clear there) - he asks what's a mullet? but considers it his Samson hair, it is his power (I for one welcome our mullet overlords :))  He also loves taxidermy (ew).
Bates & Anthony - former and still professional hockey players with the Carolina Hurricanes - Bates never won the Stanley Cup but now he has a new goal - to win the Amazing Race.  They are physically fit and "super good looking", Anthony says while smiling with his hockey teeth (meaning he has no front teeth.)  (Hold on, there's a mullet and a team of hockey players, are we sure this isn't the Canadian Amazing Race?)
Mona & Beth - working moms from Colorado.  They are soccer moms and also Roller Derby Girls... they are going to kick some *ss on the race.
Max & Katie - Newlyweds from Buffalo, NY.  They've only been married 3 weeks so the Race is their honeymoon (and he's got to be letting her choose his clothes still cause that is a mighty hot pink and purple plaid shirt... yikes.)  She's super competitive, he calls her his bulldog... maybe the shirt was his idea, he seems like he would have rather had a traditional honeymoon and she wants to stomp some teams into the ground.
Dave & Connor - Father and son from Salt Lake City, Utah.  They are best friends and both are cancer survivors - son with testicular cancer and dad with prostate cancer... and they show them both riding bikes - I guess those areas are all good now. (Oh man, dad got all choked up talking about it... old man crying, gets me every time.)  Connor is in remission and is a professional cyclist (huh, does all the doping cause ball cancer - I can't help but draw the comparison to you-know-who.)
-They realize every day is a gift and will take that attitude while running the race.
Jessica & John - dating couple...(AH! He has no eyebrows... oh wait, they are just super blonde, creepy.)  They've been dating for 4 years, they've talked about marriage but he doesn't think they need to rush (4 years dude, that's not rushing) and she just wants to wear the white dress instead of the bridesmaid dress for once. (Oh yeah, that's going to keep coming up.)
Idries & Jamil - twins and doctors from Chicago - they are both OB/GYNs and it looks like they work together too - that's a lot of twin time. 
Pam & Winnie - best friends - tough girls who don't look like tough girls - they are single but not looking for love - one of them (I have no idea who is who) says, "Unless you have a million dollars taped onto your body, I'm not touching you." (Wow, way to have your priorities straight... I don't think I like her already.)
Joey & Meghan - U-Tube sensations from Hollywood - they have over a million follows on their U-Tube channel and they may be dismissed as the cute team but make no mistake, they are competitive "team cute, activate" (gag me.)
Matt & Daniel - best friends and firefighters from South Carolina - they have known each other and worked at the same station for years - being a team for so long and knowing that other person has
your back will really work to their advantage.
Caroline & Jennifer - country singers from Nashville TN - members of Steely Angels - they are single and looking for love in all the wrong places (how bout a couple geeky firefighters?  I don't think the Race is the place for you two to find love.)

They finally reach Phil at the top of the Observatory - he tells them they are going somewhere the Race has never been before and the team that wins the first leg of the Race will win the Express Pass as well as a second Express Pass they can give to another team.  That could be huge.  They have until the end of the 4th leg to make the decision to which team they will give the 2nd Express pass.
(There's the new twist this year - that could be interesting, kick starting the alliance making right away.)
-Their first clue is inside the all new *Product Placement* Ford Fusions in the parking lot... they have to run back down to the parking lot, choose a car and drive to the airport.  GO!

-Chuck wipes out with their packs and nearly takes out a roller derby mom with him - Wynona is bringing up the rear (sheesh, I don't have a good feeling about my chances - but I have to believe in the power of the mullet.)

-The car tells them they are heading to Bora Bora ... oh, so pretty.  The huts over the crystal blue water - Yes, Please!  There are two flights heading out tonight, only room for 5 teams on the first flight that lands 1 hour before the 2nd.  Everyone wants to be on the first flight (obviously.)

Los Angeles International Airport - Chuck & Wynona are the first team there (woo!) they get a shuttle to themselves.  The Twin Doctors (Idries & Jamil) and Asian girlfriends (Pam & Winnie) are on a shuttle together and the twins tell the girls they're delivery men then chuckle (clever) but Winnie's smart and she calls them on it - "Are you lying?" She thought they looked too smart - and they come clean and ask Pam to keep her pants on... ha, ha.
-Hockey players are flirting with the Country singers, oh, that could be a good match for the girls looking for love.
-Chuck & Wynona are first, then it's the Twin doctors, Asian girlfriends, Cancer Dad & Son, and Albino guy & Put-a-ring-on-it girlfriend are the 5 teams on the first flight.
-Pam & Winnie are working a strategic angle already with the two express passes in play they are all being nice to each other and playing get to know you in the airport.  They learn that Dad, Dave has a fear of heights and one of the twins is afraid of water (they are African American - just saying.) 

-Newlyweds are bummed to be on the 2nd flight with Hockey players, Country Singers, Roller derby, Firefighters and team U-Tube... they set out to go make friends and Max tells the camera Katie's like-ability factor is low (dude, this is your new wife) but she agrees, she doesn't have many friends in life and she doesn't care (can you say b*tch on wheels?) She put on her best fake face and suffered through so many horrible conversations, it was brutal. (OMG, she is horrible... this could be fun.)

First flight arrives in Tahiti, and they all get lei'd - the twins propose to all five teams there that they agree that the first team will just give the 2nd express pass to the second team that comes in - awkward crickets... then Dad Dave says it seems fair and then they all agree, it takes some of the pressure off - then they decree, first rule of flight one, you don't talk about the alliance of flight one. (We'll see if that lasts.)

First flight arrives in Bora Bora and they all run off the plane to the clue box on the the beach ROADBLOCK- Who's ready to take a giant leap towards a million bucks? 
-First they must sign up for one of six helicopter flights that can carry a maximum of two teams - then they must jump out of the helicopter in a tandem skydive while their partner takes a water taxi to the landing area where they'll reunite and receive the next clue (Skydiving?  I feel a little sick - but wow, what a view!  Bora Bora is gorgeous.)
-Winnie is going to do it, along with Jamil, Blond eyebrows (John?), Connor and Chuck/mullet (who is now if 5th place - Come on!)
-John and Jamil are on the first helicopter... and then John JUMPED OUT (I bet it was fantastic but it made me shudder to watch.)
-John lands and they get the clue to make their way by water taxi to Eden Beach - they take off running as Jamil is coming in for his landing.

-Connor is the next to go and Dave gets choked up talking about Connor's cancer again - he is so glad his son is so strong and he made it through cancer to have this awesome experience.
-Winnie jumps without issue but she's bitter she can't eat gross stuff so has to do the heights. 
-And when Chuck/the mullet jumps they play banjo music... Hahaha.

-John & Put-a-ring-on-it (Jessica) get to Eden beach and get the clue for another ROADBLOCK - Who likes to play in the sand? (The team member that did not do the first task must do this one.)
-They have to search under the 400 small sandcastles on the beach until they find a clue buried in the sand.  The catch is that they are under the scorching sun and every sandcastle they destroy they have to rebuild before carrying on.
-Jessica gets started and she's not happy.  It's HOT out there and it's so disappointing when there is no clue and you have to rebuild the castle.

-Flight #2 has arrived in Bora Bora and they are deciding who is jumping out of the helicopter.  Caroline, Anthony - Matt, Max - Mona, Meghan.  Mona screwed up when she signed herself up by skipping the 2nd space and starting at the next flight but Super B*tch Katie noticed and told Max to take the earlier space (Oh yeah, there is no hope of that chick making friends.)
-And they are jumping.  Roller derby moms are disheartened to be on the last helicopter as is Meghan, she doesn't want all the prep to be for naught if they go home first.

-Back at the sandcastle beach, Idries is spending too much time rebuilding the castles and not enough time digging in Jamil's opinion.  4 teams are digging now and none of them have found a clue yet.

-Caroline screamed all the way down while skydiving (that can't be good for the voice) but she tells us she's related to Daniel Boone and has the pioneering spirit, she wants to try it all.

-Chuck and Wynona are not at the beach yet because they can't find the marked path... they start harassing some poor local woman trying to grind her coconut - and we learn that Chuck is a shift manager at Walmart, he thinks this gives him experience dealing with all walks of life... uh, sure.  They finally see everyone else at the beach, "Oh shoot, we didn't go far enough."  And instantly Wynona is complaining at the backbreaking sandcastle building.

-Put a Ring on it/Jessica finally finds a clue and they are the first team to move on.  The clue tells them they have to attach an outrigger to a canoe then paddle one mile to the PIT STOP, the Motu Cafe.

Final teams are jumping out of the helicopter as John & Jessica tip over their outrigger canoe.  Apparently, the canoe is not very stable and they have to concentrate and remain balanced to remain in the boat... that seems almost cruel, can't they just catch a taxi to the Pit Stop?

-Hockey brothers are so alike, they are almost the same person - they do the same things, eat the same things - it's almost like they finish each others... sandwiches (Ha! And they're comedians too!)

Back at 'sandcastle hell', there are still 4 teams there when the hockey guys and country singer girls get there... Idries is miserable, Wynona is still complaining and Hockey brother Bates finds a clue right away (Oh, that is so not fair!)
-The rest of the teams start arriving and Super B*tch has to do this one... we'll see how she fairs in the blazing sun.

-Bates & Anthony are now paddling to the Pit Stop and all of the other teams are busy destroying and building sandcastles.  U-Tube guy is acting all crazy, jumping around to the ukulele - the heat hasn't broken him yet like it has Idries, Dave and Wynona.
-Dave says all the castles has been gone through and there still has to be 9 clues there - the only thing he can think of is that they didn't dig deep enough and, voila! he finds a clue!
-Roller Derby Mom Beth is the next one to find a clue - she's all quiet about it but inside was thanking Jebus!
-Dad & Connor are canoeing to the Pit Stop.
-Pam finally finds a clue in the sand.
-U-Tube guy/Joey is doing voices and constantly talking - further driving Idries mad - when U-Tube guy finds a clue and starts jumping up and down and shrieking at the top of his lungs - he is SOO Annoying!
-Idries & Jamil finally find a clue and then they have to deal with the boat and their fear of water... these two, I swear.
-Wynona is dreaming of vodka & cranberry after this when she finally finds a clue in the sand.
-The Twins are paddling the canoe when the outrigger starts to come undone and they are tipped in the water - one of them loses his glasses to boot.  Chuck & Wynona paddle on by.

-And then there were three teams left on Sandcastle Hell beach - none of them seem to be digging under the castles, just looking right on the sand... we have Country singers, Firefighters and Super B*tch Newlyweds... Max is the first one to suggest taking the penalty and Katie says she's in if they all take it.  So that is a 4 hour penalty and they will have to race to the Pit Stop to see who is last.
-Matt & Daniel agree cause they canoe all the time and Daniel's sure they'll win the canoe race.
-The Country singers and Newlyweds all agree, they can't do the sandcastles anymore - so another pact is born - and they take off running for the outriggers.
-Matt & Daniel are the first out.  Newlyweds next and the country singers... Firefighters tip the canoe and the others fly right by... uh oh.
-Firefighters are pouring it on to catch up and... they tip the canoe again.

Here's How they Finished:
1) John & Jessica - They win the Express Pass and a second pass to share with another team.  They did agree to give the 2nd pass to the next team in their alliance that came in but they also don't just want to hand an advantage to another team... John says, "we'll see how it plays out." (The Doctor's will hate you if you don't keep with the pact.)
2) Bates & Anthony - disappointed not to be first and get the Express Pass but, come on - #2 is great.
3) Dave & Connor - They are happy with team #3, they hope John & Jessica are going to stick to their word and give them the 2nd Express Pass.
4) Pam & Winnie - Yay
5) Mona & Beth - Ecstatic to come from last place to finish 5th.
6) Joey & Meghan - Over exaggerated excitement. (I have a feeling that is Joey's standard speed.)
7) Chuck & Wynona - to banjo music - Phil says he just has to talk about Chuck's hair, they've never had hair like that on the Amazing Race.  Chuck, "It's business up front and party in the back."
8) Idries & Jamil - It's better than last, they are just glad to be done the digging and rigging.
9) Max & Katie - Newlyweds/Super B*tch just seconds before...
10) Caroline & Jennifer - Phil tells both teams that they will serve their 4 hour penalty before the beginning of the second leg - so they will leave 4 hours later than the time they arrived today.
-Max & Katie think they are genius convincing everyone to take the penalty, in their diabolical minds they did what they needed to to service.
11) Matt & Daniel - **ELIMINATED** - they left it on the table and Bora Bora won.  They never thought they would lose canoeing and to be beat by two blonde girls, they are never going to hear the end of this in the firehouse.

And with Matt & Daniel leaving us first, Don T., Nenad M., Kevin & Elaine, Oliver W and Tommy D. get their money back.

Next week: Jessica & John flex their Express Pass power, putting Dave & Connor and the rest of the first flight alliance under a gag order, if breached the agreement will be null & void.  Connor is not happy. And Dave may have ruptured his Achilles... Bora Bora is proving really challenging or these teams are wimps.

Have a great week everyone,

Coleen

Survivor Fans vs Favourites - Premiere Episode Feb 13/13

She Annoys Me Greatly

Last night was the premiere of the 26th season of Survivor.  The show opened with 10 people in a boat in the Caramoan Islands.  We see the scruffy bearded dude who said it felt surreal, the Iraqi war vet with a cocky attitude, "this is nothing compared to war", a couple interchangeable blonds (great, I'm never going to figure out who's who) and a hipster type with the hat and horn rims.

-Flying overhead in helicopters are the competition, the returning favorites: Malcolm from last season (one of my favourites), Cochran, the survivor nerd (nice Probst), Dawn - who one of my friends said had horse teeth and I always thought of as bug-eyed - so she has become "horse & buggy", Brenda who was too cool for scrambling in her season, and Eric, forever the ice-cream scooper who made the stupidest move ever by giving a pretty girl his immunity idol and her voting him out.  Then we see they brought back some crazy - Brandon 'lil Hantz', Andrea - pretty blond farm girl, okay, she's not crazy but not really memorable either, Corinne - I have pretty much no recollection of her, but she looks like she was the b*tchy one and the King of the Crazy, Phillip "Former Federal agent" who thinks he learned from Boston Rob, oh, and Francesca, my girl in the pool - who was voted out first in her season with Philip - he memorably could not pronounce her name and she called him a crazy person - I like her, hopefully she keeps her mouth shut this time.

The Fans reach the beach and hipster dude is the first off the boat into shin-high water and promptly falls on his butt - oh yeah, we all saw that. The rest scramble off the boat with no problems and they go to meet Jeff Probst on their Orange mat.  Ooh, who is the cute dimpled one?  Probst has some dimple competition this year. 
Jeff tells them they will be playing against some of their favourite returning players this season and they all seem excited.  With no further ado the helicopters come in and kick up the sand all over the Fans. (Oh yeah, that was on purpose.)

The Favourites come off the helicopters and Jeff introduces them one by one - everyone is getting a reaction until Malcolm and that's probably because this was filmed right after the last season, they have no idea who he is (oh, he's a favourite, they'll learn.)
-Jeff even introduces Phillip as "former Federal Agent Phillip Shepard" - giving him his props.
The Marine on the Fans tribe says, "That's lunch meat right there and it's about to be chow time." (Ugh).

Jeff gives them their buffs and says, "Are we ready for a little challenge?" (Uh, yeah!)

REWARD CHALLENGE

Two people from each tribe will race through shallow water to retrieve a ring (like a life preserver), they must try to take it back to their designated pole while the other tribe tries to stop them.  To score a point they have to have one hand on the pole and one on the ring - first team to 4 points wins reward of flint (Fire is Life in Survivor) and 20lbs of beans.

And the 'getting to know you - size 'em up' challenge begins.
Erik and Dawn vs Shamar (Iraqi Vet dude) and Julia (the one dark haired girl) - Erik retrieves the ring but Shamar scares him into throwing it - the girls tussle a little and Julia gets the ring to Shamar - Erik has no hope of stopping the big boy - Fans get the first point.

Hope (one of the blonds) and Eddie (he's the cute dimpled one) vs Brandon & Andrea - Eddie gets the ring and throws it to Hope- kinda - Andrea grabs it - then all four of them are fighting over the ring and Brandon proves he's got solid little man strength by pushing all of them over to the Favourites pole and Andrea is able to touch - We are tied at 1-1
(Oh man, and Brandon is sporting some all new tattoos - dumb looking zebra stripes up one arm and the Confederate flag on his chest - I'm sure that's going to go over well.)

Next we have Sherry (older blond) & Michael (hipster) vs Phillip and Brenda - the favourites hang back and let the fans retrieve the ring then Phillip in on Michael and dragging it to their pole - the women are wrestling each other and Shamar yells, "Break her wrist!" 
Eerrch... record scratch... it goes really quiet... Jeff, "What?" 
"Uh, you know, break her hold, break her wrist." (Yeah, that's so not what he meant.) Uh-huh.
Back to the action, Phillip in the baggy red undies just pulls the whole mass of people and ring to the pole and scores the Favs 2nd point.

Matt, 'The beard' and random blond (Laura) vs Francesca and Cochran - no one runs for the ring - Cochran is told to cover the girl (of course) and Francesca takes on Matt, he tries to run by her but - oh no - she grabs that ring and takes control - you go!  Favourites get another point. 3-1

Malcolm (with the flowing hair) & Corrine vs Reynold and Allie (blond #4) - Malcolm and Reynold sprint for the ring but apparently Reynold can walk on water or something - he just flew down the course but it got much harder from there  - Malcolm dives at him and blocks his throw - then they all fight - epic battle between Malcolm and Reynold with lots of butt blurring as they both are losing their shorts - Erik from the sidelines: Fight naked! (uh, no thanks.)  Malcolm comes up the winner of the final winning point.
-Favourites win flint and the 20lbs of beans.

Gota (Fans) - Day 1
They get to camp and Shamar is very disappointed in his team.  He realizes he doesn't have control so he's got to do his best and inspire his teammates to do better next time.
-They are happy to find rice and a machete at camp - Shamar announces that shelter is nice but if they dehydrate they'll die... someone says they need a water crew and a fire crew... but they all just mill around.  Matt "the beard" figures shelter is pretty important to him so he gets started building and that really puts Shamar's nose out of joint (uh oh, trouble in paradise already.) Shamar says they are wasting their energy right now, they need fire man (but then he doesn't do anything to make fire.) 
-Matt says he's a shelter man, not a fire man, he's doing what he knows (in other words, you want fire, go make fire.) Matt tells the camera he's been busting his ass and he hasn't seen Shamar do one damn thing - he had higher expectations of a Marine.  Next we see Shamar sitting down on the bamboo frame Matt's built and they exchange words which culminate in a "Shut up" from Shamar. (I gotta say, I do not like this guy - at - all.) 
Reynold is worried they are doomed if they can't find some camaraderie around camp (Yup.)

Bikal (Favourites) - Day 1
The Favourites are carefully walking up the beach through rocks and they gives us a shot of Phillip's crotch in the red gonch (MY EYES! Was that really necessary?)
-Malcolm is the new kid on the block and he's glad he made a good impression with the challenge win - getting the final point and reward.
-Phillip says coming up the beach he feels like his father when he hit the beach at Iwo Jima - he was fighting for the Marine corps and they were ready (yeah, cause this is so much like WWII. Ah Phillip, looks like he has not changed.)

The Favourites just get right to building a shelter some are standing around but for the most part they are gathering the bamboo and working together.
Francesca tells the camera she was apprehensive about facing Phillip again - she stands by her initial assessment of him, that he is a crazy person - but she hopes being voted out first the last time she played makes her less of a threat and she won't be targeted early this time.

Francesca, Andrea and Dawn are talking about who they want to align with. They agree on Cochran... Then Andrea suggests Phillip (what?)... oh, and Brandon (Holy crap, that is the worst alliance I've ever heard - Andrea, go home, you're drunk!)  
Francesca says she was stuck in a horrible minority alliance the first time, this time she's just going to align with everyone.  She wants to prove this time around that she can play smart and be competitive, get along with people and be a serious threat in this game (hopefully she learns to keep her mouth shut and her head down.)
-Next scene is her approaching Phillip (why?) She tells him even though they didn't get along last time, she was never gunning for him and she hopes he believes that.  He can't even be bothered to look at her or respond (wow, that's rude.)  Phillip tells the camera he buried the hatchet with her a long time ago and feels she's stuck in a time warp. "She annoys me greatly." (Ha). He basically tells her, we're playing together this time, now leave me alone.

-Francesca tells the camera, "If I am voted off first this time, I will eat this rock.  It's not gonna happen. (Oh man!  Did she just curse herself?)

Gota - Day 1
The beard is still building and Shamar is still sitting back and watching.  A group of them are trying to build a fire and Shamar, determined not to go out for dehydration, sees where they are going wrong and decides he's going to be the big man and save the day - he tells them they have the wrong wood, the hole is too big - but he does participate in getting the fire going and then takes credit for it.  "I had to make it happen. It was like being in Iraq and having to get home - it just had to happen." (Did I mention I'm not a fan of Shamar so far?)
-Matt 'the Beard' saw the fire and was really happy, obviously they need fire.  He smoothed things over with Shamar -well they shook hands and Shamar was glorying in being the great fire starter.  I think it'll just make him that much more insufferable.

Bikal - Day 1
They are eating and Phillip is so happy with this crowd.  He says he's learned from Boston Rob and he's created his BR Rules: 1. get an alliance, rule 2 get an alliance within the alliance, BR rule 3 get rid of your alliance before it gets rid of you. In the end, you don't owe anybody anything, it's all about family.
-Phillip approaches Corinne first and tells her he wants to align with her, Malcolm and Andrea.  She's in, she loves it.
-He tells the camera he's playing a different strategy this time - he wants to find two people that can dominate the tribe and make sure they have the numbers so he's picked Corinne and he tells her her name is Dominatrix (she was all in until the nickname I think) then he brings in Andrea because he knew her to be a strategist, then the girls approached Malcolm and he doesn't look thrilled about Phillip but he's learned from last time - he says he's in.
-Then Phillip tells the girls he wants Dawn - he tells the camera he's being stealthy, undercover brother, in the background but running things.  They pull in Dawn, then Phillip tells Cochran's great big zit by his nose... I missed whatever he said... great big zit.
-Phillip has recruited six people out of the 10 - next it's Erik, there is something there that Phillip likes - He approaches the ice cream scooper and tells him he already has the numbers if he was not to pull him in, but he wants him in, as long as he doesn't get nervous. It's going to require him to trust him 100%.
-Erik is not impressed with Phillip's high-handed attitude and Phillip gets a little miffed - I don't want to bring someone to the party that doesn't want to come. Oh, and I'm just the errand boy, I was sent.  (Uh huh, he's not buying what the crazy is selling and Phillip doesn't like that.)
-Erik heard, "You're with me or you're out." He doesn't want to be with him. Phillip came at him with this Boston Rob style and he sees him as a combative loser and he wants him out. (Yup, Erik totally pegged Phillip, but he shouldn't have shown the contempt - I predict that may get him in some trouble.)

Gota- Day 1
Man, this is a long day - pretty boys Eddie (dimples and tight red shorts) and Reynold (older pretty guy) agree they are going to be targets (because they're just so darn pretty!) so they definitely need to stick together - definitely.  Reynold approaches Allie (one of the blonds) he wants to align with her because she's not the cutest but they get along.  Reynold knew the guys would want to align with him, that was a given - he thinks Allie was a not obvious choice and he feels good about it.  She agrees they are totally in it to the final two.  He tells her they have to be cool at camp, not make their alliance obvious - she agrees.

Gota - Night 1
-Eddie approaches his choice in a blond ally, Hope.  He thinks they are a perfect fit and she agrees they should stick together. Eddie tells the camera he thinks they are the two best looking people out there - (though he does have a speech impediment (just saying.)) They flirt some more and she asks who else is he thinking- Reynold is his boy and Allie will hang out with them (Eddie kinda makes my skin crawl a little... I think he's best when he doesn't talk.)

-Cut to the tribe all piled in the shelter, cuddled up for body warmth for the most part - except Reynold and Allie, who were doing a bit more than just sharing warmth, there was some romance going on and it did not go unnoticed.  Another blond, Laura, says they all know romantic alliances don't last on Survivor (Boston Rob & Amber excluded I assume.)

Bikal - Day 3
Favourites are baking in the sun and Cochran is burning to a crisp. He tries some self deprecating humor but he tells the camera he's actually in extreme pain and he feels like crying.  His feet were so burnt and swollen, he looked like he had Hobbit feet.  (I feel for you man.  Been there, not fun.)

Gota - Day 3
-Pretty people alliance is hanging out in the water - Reynold says a lot was communicated through his cuddle session with Allie last night - he wanted not to be the cliche of the cool kids hanging out - but it happened.  They are the cool kid lunch table and no one else will be invited.
-Four of the other tribe mates Sherry, older blond lady, Laura, mid-cute young blond, Michael hipster wannabe and Julia, the only brunette are discussing the "not just for warmth" cuddling last night and they agree they have to break up the couples. 
-Michael tells the camera he told the girls he was totally with them but he's leaving his options open - he wants to go where it's best for him.
-Michael gets along with Matt 'the beard' and he goes and tells him the ladies approached him for an alliance but he wants to stick with Matt and they decide who they want to align with.  Matt is playing the Penner and doesn't want to make a hasty decision.  If we win immunity we won't have to decide for a while (Arghh, you are going to lose your one friend bud.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
-They will have to race out in pairs up a four storey tower.  At each floor they will find 3 crates filled with sandbags - they will toss the crates over the side then slide down a fireman pole so the next pair can go up to the next level.  They cannot start throwing the crates out until both tribe members are together at the crates.  Once all 12 crates have been smashed, the remaining pair will gather all the sandbags and then one person will have to toss the bags into holes on a board.  First tribe to get sandbags in all six holes will win immunity.  And the Fans are also still playing for flint.

-Off they go - It's pretty even until the last pair has to go all the way up to the fourth level - Allie slows the Fans down so the Favourites have a bit of a lead.  Malcolm is tossing the sand bags and has 3 in the holes when Reynold starts throwing the sandbags for the Fans.  They tie it up and then Reynold and the FANS win the first Immunity Challenge.

Bikal - Day 3
The defeated Favourites return to camp and the best part was Cochran shrouded in Francesca's scarf (that poor guy).  Right away, Francesca and Cochran are in the shelter and she starts talking about voting out Phillip (oh lady, what are you doing putting names out there? She really should be keeping her head down...)
Cochran is playing it cool, says that Phillip hasn't been talking strategy, just giving them all nicknames.  Francesca says if not Phillip they could always do Corinne... but Cochran likes Corinne (I'm getting a bad feeling.)  Francesca tells the camera that she's suspicious of Corinne because she hasn't tried to talk strategy with her. 
-Brandon and Andrea come over to Corinne, Cochran and Francesca and there is big mouth Francesca telling them it's Phillip.  Oh, and Malcolm's there too.  She doesn't seem to notice Andrea stiffen at talk of voting Phillip.
-Andrea says she really likes Francesca and they spoke on day one but she hasn't really heard anymore from her (it's only day 3) so Andrea thinks she has more stability with Phillip and it's better for her to go that way.
-Andrea then runs to Phillip and tells him that Francesca is talking about voting him out, so Francesca needs to go.  Phillip says, of course.  To the camera he says he likes the idea of voting Francesca out first again.  You have to be like MAchiaVELLI! (I wish I could type it like he said it - awesome.) If you come at me once, I will burn your village, I will kill your aunts, uncles and all your children so none of your kind will exist again.  (Oh man, do we have to get Francesca some salt for that rock?)

-Eric and Brandon are in the water and talking about voting Phillip, Erik tells him that Phillip had approached him, said you're either with me or you're dead.  Erik wants him out, "he scares me."
-Brandon then talks to Francesca and tells her that Phillip had told Erik that he had numbers - What?  She is confused, how are Phillip and Corinne numbers? - this had made her nervous, she could be blindsided but she doesn't even want to talk about that possibility.

-Cochran is talking to Dawn and she says she's willing to take out Franny (really? Does she know you called her Franny?) Cochran thinks this could be a new Dawn (then he cracks up at his own play on words.)  They say they want to stay together and vote together but it's a numbers game at this point.

-Francesca has been spooked and she's now thinking they should split the vote between Phillip and Corinne, talking to Dawn, Brandon, Andrea and Erik (Andrea is the snake among you...)  Francesca is now totally paranoid (as you should be.)

-Brandon is talking to Brenda and Dawn and the girls don't think that Andrea is with them - Brandon tells the camera that he is more intimidated by Andrea than anyone else out there, she is talking to everybody (oh, does that mean he finds her attractive so she must be bad?)  It just so happens that he is right, she is talking to everybody and should not be trusted.
-Erik agrees and he goes to Francesca and tells her he thinks Andrea is playing both sides so he and Brandon think the five of them: Brenda, Brandon, Erik, Francesca and Dawn should vote Andrea and not tell Cochran.  Now I'm getting confused, there is so much scrambling! I hope they all know who they are voting for cause I sure don't.

-Cochran and the big zit (it was really noticeable again) tell the camera he feels kinda bad about voting for Francesca, it's almost cruel and he does have some morals. (Noooo! I don't want to be the first one out... say it ain't so.)

TRIBAL COUNCIL
They get their torches and get flame - Fire represents their life.
-Brandon, we're all chiefs, there are no Indians.  We're not going to get done like we were done last time.
Jeff: Oh, somebody is. Tonight.
-Francesca - it's never good to see someone you had an infamous fight with but Phillip has learned to pronounce my name.
-Phillip says he called her Francesqua instead of using an explicative (I think he meant expletive) he chose to mispronounce her name on purpose.  He said he was concerned about Francesca being very strategic early on in the game when she didn't need to be last time.
Jeff points out Francesca doesn't really have much experience in the game since she was the first person voted out last time.
-Thanks for bringing that up Jeff.  It's like you're saying I'm bad at Survivor.
No, you said that.  All I said was you don't have as much experience.
-You can look at it that way but she says everyone there is so smart and they know what they're doing so no one is really feeling very secure.
-They all agree they have all been feeling some paranoia.
-Andrea says she thinks they see her as bringing it to challenges and I do work around camp but sometimes that stuff doesn't really mean anything.
Jeff says one of the difference playing with returning players is that the game moves so much more quickly.  Even things said at tribal council can change the vote.
Cochran -Absolutely we've seen it happen with Boston Rob touching the shoulder of the person he wanted voted out at tribal council. There are back up plans and last resorts and that's the excitement of playing with returning players.  We're not spending the first three days trying to open coconuts and worrying about bathrooms, we're already playing the game and it's exciting.
*Then Malcolm reached over and put his hand on Cochran's shoulder! Haha, that was hilarious.

Time to Vote:
Francesca votes Andrea - this is a vote of paranoia but just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.
Andrea votes Francesca - you're going to be so upset with me but I'm voting for you because you are a huge threat. (How do you figure? She's not smart enough to keep her mouth shut.)

Tallying the Votes:
No one has a hidden immunity idol (oh are those in play?)
Andrea 1, 2, 3 (she didn't like that)
Francesca 1, 2, 3 (they are both nervous now.)
Andrea 4
Fran 4, 5... and 6 - Francesca is the first person voted out... again.  And I'm so bitter!  I really have to recap the whole season and I'm out already?  This has not been my day. 
And with Francesca leaving us first, Tori K, Kim B/Gail W. and myself will get their money back.

Next time on Survivor - looks like Brandon is bringing the crazy - Hantz style.  And we see Dawn crying... again.

Francesca - I cannot believe I got voted out first again.  At least I know how to deal with getting voted out first.  I guess I'm not cut out for Survivor and I'm no longer rooting for the favourites.

Overall, not a bad start to the new season.  Hopefully I'll be able to figure out the blonds on the Fans tribe before it's over.

Have a great rest of the week,

Coleen