The Amazing Race - Sept 29, 2013 Premiere Episode Recap

We're Not in Oklahoma No More

Last night was the first episode of the new season of the Amazing Race - the teams started at an old west movie ranch (huh?) coming in by stagecoach among fake shootouts... (weird.)

And we meet the teams:
Chester & Ephraim - Former NFL teammates from Houston Texas. Ephraim told Chester he should play football so he made him who he is today :)
Rowan & Shane - Theatre performers from Charlotte, North Carolina - make their living in a production called the Queen of Bingo, in which they both dress as bingo ladies (oh sweet Jebus.)
Tim & Marie - Exes from Morristown, NJ - they don't get along but they still hang out. (They seem like a powder keg these two.)
Leo & Jamal - Cousins from Southern California, known as the Afghanimals - cause they are Afghan and [party] animals (ho-boy.)
Ashley & Ally - LA Kings Ice Crew teammates from Long Beach, CA. They like sparkly things. ('Nough said.)
Travis & Nicole - Married ER physicians from Atlanta, Georgia - they are a team at home and at work and think they'll be formidable on the Race.
Hoskote & Naina - Father & Daughter of Indian descent from California - father knows best and he'd like her to have an arranged marriage - she's a modern woman and will do what she wants (hmm.)
Tim & Danny - Oil plant workers from Oklahoma - they're small town, work long hours, but need the money for a sick wife's medical bills and their children.
Brandon & Adam - Childhood friends (The bearded wonders) from California - by their own admission they are a little off kilter.
Nicky & Kim - Major League Baseball wives from the mid-west - (brunette barbies) but they have personalities, they tell us.
Jason & Amy - dating, from New England - they are competitive and compatible - she makes sure we know she's smart (we'll see if she's book smart or if she can apply the smarts in the Race.)

Phil tells them that in just a few minutes they will be taking off for South America. The team that wins the first leg will win an Express Pass for themselves and one to give to another team before the 5th leg of the Race.

-The first clue is just a phone call away - they have to run to the product placement Ford Hybrid cars and make a call to the other side of the world to get their instructions... off they go!

Iquique, Chile - they have to drive to the LA Int'l airport - they're warned there is limited space on the first flight. Once in Chile they have to look for Javier (the guy on the phone.)

-Leo & Jamal are just trying way too hard with the Afghanimal thing - seriously dudes, dial it down.
-Tim & Marie are fighting already - she's telling him to drive faster from the backseat, he complains about how shrill her voice is and she calls him dumb. (That's going to get old fast.)
-Tim & Danny - Okies get lost trying to find the airport and the woman they try to ask for directions doesn't speak English... (language barrier already and they haven't even left California.)

On the first flight we have Leo & Jamal, Chester & Ephraim (way to go boys, they are my team in the pool so I'm biased), Rowan & Shane, Tim & Marie (did I mention her hair is blond on top and bright pink on the bottom - and I think she pulls it off), blond barbies Ally & Ashley, brunette barbies Nicky & Kim and finally the married doctors Travis & Nicole.

Just missing out by the hair of their chinny chin chins are Brandon & Adam (which I'm sure will be quickly called Duck Dynasty, how could they not?), Hoskote & Naina, Jason & Amy and Okies Tim & Danny - they will arrive 2 1/2 hours after the first flight.

Getting to know you in the airport and the Afghanimals make their (wild and crazy guy) moves on Ally & Ashley - going for the eye candy, how original. We'll see if this proves to be an alliance or not.

On with the Race - once they land in Chile they have to make their way by taxi to some remote place where Javier will hand them their next clue.

-When they arrive at the airport, Afghanimals are yelling, "my wife is pregnant," to get through the crowd, others are yelling, "We're in a Race" - but it's the doctors, with Nicole speaking Spanish that get the first taxi.

The second flight is just heading from Santiago and these later four teams seem discouraged already.

The first seven teams are seeing some paragliders as they are driving in the taxis and Chester & Ephraim sum up how they feel about that: "Oh Hell, NO!"

-They get the clue to a ROADBLOCK: Who is good at follow the leader? One team member must follow their partner in a car while they paraglide from the rugged cliffs. Once they reunite on the beach (landing site) they will get their next clue.
-The clue is a little tricky, whoever says they are good at following the leader means they are driving and the other person is doing the paragliding. Oops.

-Dr. Travis is the first one gliding and Nicole explains to the taxi driver in Spanish what they need to do - speaking the language has been invaluable to them at this point.

-Former NFLer Chester has to glide since Ephraim volunteered to follow the leader (yup, they were tricked).

The rest of the teams get to the ROADBLOCK and they all fall victim to the switcheroo - the only team that freaks out though are the Baseball wives, well the one that has to paraglide is of course terrified of heights - her name is Kim and she is worried about her son Spidey (really? you names your son Spidey?) but finds strength in making him proud.

-Four teams have let their cabs go so they're stranded until they can get other cabs. Jamal gets a guy to order two taxis for himself and Ashley but when they come Marie takes his, he's not happy and calls her a b*tch (nice) - but four cabs came anyway so they are all headed for the beach.

-Nicole and Ephraim end up being let out of their taxis pretty far away from the landing zone which allows Rowan & Shane to reunite first and get the clue to make their way to Muelle Prat and search for their next clue. But soon everyone has landed and reunited - they are all looking for Muelle Prat.
And a lot of them speak Spanish - Leo is speaking like a local.

2nd flight has just arrived - One of the bearded ones speaks Spanish as does Smarty-pants Amy - (I think it's all the Californians actually, which makes sense.) These four  teams are going to be competing hard not to be the first team eliminated, you can see how much more stressed they are.

Muelle Prat: The Doctors are the first team to the next clue box and it's another ROADBLOCK: Who's got both oars in the water?
- They have to choose a heavy, cumbersome, row boat and search the harbour for one of 3 specific fishing boats from which they must collect 5 fish. Once they deliver the fish to the fishmonger they'll get their next clue.
-Whoever did the paragliding must be the person to row the boat, so Travis is the first out and apparently he hasn't rowed a boat in years (it shows.)

2nd flight is arriving at the paragliding - and all of them are tricked by the clue - the Okies are the last to arrive.

Back at the rowing - Leo and Jamal read the clue wrong and Jamal gets in the boat (Leo should have). Jamal can't even stay seated, he's a train wreck trying to row.
-Travis finally finds one of the boats and gets his fish.
-Rowan is also in a boat...  he quips, "They don't call me "rowin'" for nothing."

-Travis is the first to get the next clue - it's a picture of a beautiful building - the Municipal Theatre of Iquique. It is the Pit Stop for this leg of the race - the first team will get the Express Passes and the last team will be eliminated.

-Marie & Tim reading the Roadblock clue tells us they have to make their way on foot to the Pit Stop... as we see Travis & Nicole get into a cab (OH NO! Always be reading the clue!)

-Everyone in the boats is having a heck of a time rowing, especially the girls, those boats are big, and cumbersome.

-Travis & Nicole arrive at the Pit Stop and are told - they are the first team to arrive, however, the clue said they had to make their way on foot and they took a cab.
Phil, "What is the first clue of the Amazing Race?
Both: "Always read the clue." (Ha! Exactly!)
-They have incurred a 30 minute penalty... the longest thirty minutes of their lives. (Couldn't they take the cab back and then come back on foot? Didn't they use to have that option? Maybe not anymore.)

-Back at the Rowing: Finally someone realizes that Leo should be the one in the boat and Ashley tells him. "CRAP! JAMAL! COME BACK!"

-Tim has collected his fish with Marie shrilly yelling at him of course, and they get the clue to the Pit Stop... with Travis & Nicole still having 19 minutes on their penalty.

-Back at the paragliding, the bearded one (Brandon) has a false start, he doesn't keep running, he jumped, and they bailed (oops).

-Back at the boats, Rowan is the next to get the clue to the Pit Stop.  Chester finally finds a boat to collect the fish from but there are only 4 fish left, so he has to find another boat to get one more. Jamal is still trying to get the boat back to switch places with Leo. Kim collects her fish, Chester sees her and gets one from that boat and Ally finally finds a boat, it's just getting to it.

-Leo & Jamal finally switch spots and they seem most upset that they let girls beat them (the Afghanimals are sexist? No.)

-Back at paragliding - Jason, Hoskote, Tim and finally bearded Brandon get up in the air. His original misfire has landed Duck Dynasty in last place (that's gotta hurt.)

-Leo gets to a fish boat but it only has 2 fish left - he's still searching.

-The paragliders are all landing and meeting up with their partners... but where is Naina? She's still in the taxi, allowing Brandon & Adam to make up one place.

-Ally gets all her fish and then Leo finally comes in with 5 fish.
 　
-When Naina finally gets to the beach her father blames her for waiting too long at the launch site, then wants to know what the hold up was... (typical dad.)

The second flight start arriving at the rowing - Tim & Danny see the sea lions and say, "Holy, what's that?" (Oh, Oklahoma). The guys are hitting the row boats, Jason rowed crew in school so he's tearing it up - Oklahoma Tim - not so much, they have motors on their boats back home (Oh, and that is a good deal of butt crack, thank you CBS censors for the blurring.) Bearded Brandon is struggling with the rowing and Adam starts yelling at him to pick it up when Hoskote & Naina finally show up.

-Brandon finds one of the boats that is out of fish and it flusters him - he's not sure what to do now. (Oh, he's obviously not the brains of the operation.) Tim, having collected his fish points Brandon in the right direction (oh, that was nice.)

-Naina & Hoskote misread the clue to this Roadblock and she thinks she's the one that has to perform the task (uh oh.) She is having a hard time rowing (come on Dad, figure it out...) Naina decides to re-read the clue to make sure she knows the names of the boats she's looking for... and she finally realizes Dad should have done this, she's got to go back. Dad blames her for the mistake... which kinda was her fault. And he's rowing in the dark as she cries on the dock. The adventure didn't even begin for them, but she is so proud of him.

　
　
Here's How They Finished:

1) Nicole & Travis -Nope. Read your clue!- 30 minute penalty.
1) Tim & Marie - fighting exes come in first proving that the teams that fight tend to do well - always on edge keeps them sharp I guess - so these two win the Express Passes.
2) Nicole & Travis - they are very disappointed in themselves for not using their doctor's attention to detail - they vow to shape up.
3) Rowan & Shane - BINGO!! (I have a feeling the Bingo thing is going to be a recurring theme.)
4) Chester & Ephraim - My NFL boys
5) Nicky & Kim - Baseball Barbies
6) Ally & Ashley - Hockey Barbies
7) Leo & Jamal - Afghanimals
8) Jason & Amy - Smarty pants and "I rowed crew in college"
9) Tim & Danny - Sweet Oklahoma boys.
10) Brandon & Adam - Bearded wonders - Double high fives.
11) Hoskote & Naina - ** ELIMINATED ** It ended for them way too soon. Naina didn't get to have the transformative experience with her father she was hoping for, he still thinks Father Knows Best (which he may, but I still feel for her.)

And with Hoskote & Naina leaving: Bryon L, Kevin & Elaine R, Jenn G, Krista H, and Roxanne S. are out of the pool, also way too soon.

　
Next week: Teams crack up (breaking up rocks or is that salt?), and strip down, (into cold salt baths) with the boys ogling all the girls in bikinis (of course.)

It was a good start to another great season of the Amazing Race, I for one can't wait to have another armchair tour of the world. 

Have a great week everyone,

Coleen.

Survivor Blood vs Water, September 25, 2013 Episode Recap

Rule In Chaos

Last week we started the new season... and it's a twisty one so far.  Returning players and their loved ones found out they were going to be playing against each other and then Rupert, Candice and Marissa ended up on Redemption Island by the end of the episode.

This episode opened on Marissa arriving at...
Redemption Island
-She's still pissed that her tribe punished her for her uncle's buffoonery.  But she fills Rupert and Candice in on the whole thing.
-Rupert was just happy it wasn't his wife joining them.
-Candice hits the nail right on the head by telling Marissa the real reason she's there is because she called out Brad in front of everyone and he didn't like it.  So perceptive of Candice, but Marissa doesn't seem to get it.  They all agree that Redemption island is a bunch of people sitting around pissed off.

Galang - Day 4
We see all the returning players in a massage train... everyone that is, except Colton.  He thought this zen, yoga thing would be appealing but after 3 days he's over it.  He doesn't want to play with these people he wants to get to Caleb - so with that in mind he starts trying to stir it up.
-He tells Tina that [Laura] Morett came to him and tried to throw her under the bus (uh, no she didn't) and Gervase and Aras just shut Colton down.  They don't want to hear any of his stories or start planning 8 steps in advance - that's how you get in trouble.
-Colton tells them he doesn't care about winning challenges, he'd voluntarily go to tribal council. (That did not sit well.)
-Aras had hoped Colton saw how he played before and he'd changed but you can only fake it for about 3 days, then your real personality emerges.
-Colton makes fun of them to the camera, "Strategy, what is strategy?   We are a unit, we are zen... we are STUPID!"

Tadhana - Day 4
-Brad is out spear fishing and teaching some of the guys to use the Hawaiian sling - teach a man to fish the whole tribe eats... or something like that.
-Tyson's girlfriend Rachel realizes that being a woman in this tribe means she's in the minority so she's trying to stay ingratiated with the guys... but this does not sit well with Laura's daughter Ciera.
-Ciera is telling Tina's daughter Katie? that she thinks Rachel has an alliance with John trying to put a target on John... a target with who? You and Katie better start sucking up there are only 3 girls left on your tribe (maybe she's not so good with math.)

Tree Mail - tells them it's time to make their way to Redemption Island to witness the duel and see who goes home for good.

Redemption Island
Half the Galang tribe starts crying when they see that their loved one is still there and safe - Gervase looks confused but not too broken up that Marissa was gone (not even an inkling that your behaviour contributed to that?)

When the duelists enter Marissa gives a dead-eyed stare to her tribe and Jeff let's her speak.  She tells Gervase that the reasoning they gave for voting her out was his celebrating winning the challenge and rubbing salt into their wounds.  He says he's going to rub a lot more. Brad is all puffed up at that (calm down - I can smell the football testosterone through the TV.)

Jeff says one of the twists in this season is the loved ones have the option of taking the place of their loved one on Redemption Island (huh, yeah, I hope Marissa isn't holding her breath.) Gervase says, "Handle your biz." (Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside doesn't it? Ha!)

For the challenge they will have to use a long pole to maneuver a wooden spool through a channel (maze-like), when they get to the top of the channel they have to place the spool on a small platform at the top and get another one.  To make it more challenging, the metal channel is on a spring so if you hit the sides, it will wobble and the spools may fall.  The first two to place all 10 spools will remain in the game.  The first person to finish will be able to decide who gets a clue to the location of a hidden immunity idol (ooh.)

Off they go: Rupert rushes through the first time but the wobble causes the spool to fall - the girls get the first two placed properly... Candice and Rupert are neck and neck placing the 8th spool but his
stack is very crooked and then it falls (Laura is heartbroken, Gervase is laughing... I'm realizing, I don't really like that guy.)
CANDICE is the first to stack all 10 spools.  MARISSA is the second person to stack her 10th spool - which means RUPERT is the first person out of the game. (Ahh, ooh, huh, Rupert - I'm okay with that.)
-He says he has no regrets, this is a great game, he loves Survivor but he loves his wife more.  (I think Laura needs to win... if only so we never have to see Rupert's tie-dye again.)
-Rupert's buff goes in the urn, Candice gives her husband John the clue to the hidden immunity idol and Marissa actually smiled (the biggest shocker of the whole thing.)
-And with Rupert leaving, Andria S., Krista H. and Shelly P. are out of the pool - but they get their stake back.

Tadhana - Day 4
-Back at camp everyone congratulates John on how well Candice did (sucking up for a look at the clue perhaps?) John is just glad that he can stop feeling guilty, she kicked serious butt.  He's just sorry that Marissa beat out Rupert because she is so mad at them still.
-The Penis-alliance is discussing this new twist of the loved ones being able to switch at Redemption Island and Vytas asks who do they think would be the most likely to switch that would weaken the other team - Tyson - so Rachel should be the next one they vote off.
-John doesn't really want to see that happen because he doesn't want Tyson going up against Candice at Redemption Island.
-When it comes to the hidden immunity idol, the guys are glad that one of their 'guys' got the clue - John reinforces that they are 5 strong so as long as he can find it, they can hold on to it to the merge and use it to help them.
-John tells the camera that he's going to try and keep it quiet if he finds the idol. (No group snipe hunt.)

Galang - Day 4
{sad hulk music playing} Laura says she's surprisingly okay with what happened, she doesn't have to worry about Rupert anymore and she's not so much a target anymore either - she's no longer two, it's just her.
-Colton can't stand the kumbaya middle school supportive crap, he doesn't mind some sitting around telling campfire stories, but that's all they want to do.  This isn't YMCA camp where you talk about
improving yourself - I want to improve myself by winning a million dollars.
-Next we see Colton, the snake, planting his seeds of dissent all over - declaring to Gervase that Laura Morret is a threat and needs to go - telling Monica that Tyson said he wanted to get rid of her - telling Tina that Gervase is on board to get rid of Aras but he just doesn't want to write his name down... none of this is true.  Colton hopes he can kill the Zen and get this party started (in his opinion.)
-Kat is all paranoid seeing Colton talking to Tina, she knows how ruthless Colton can be, she doesn't want him to turn against her because she knows that Colton thrives on the drama - and it's sick.

-Kat goes and talks to Colton (what? why?) and tells him that Tina was freaked out because he was trying to overly strategize with her.  And Colton runs with it, demanding "What did she say?"  (KAT! Why didn't she just leave well enough alone, she knows what he's like.)
Colton tells the camera he hopes this whole camp erupts into chaos because if there is one thing he knows, it's that he can rule in chaos.
Anyway, Colton runs off, grabs Tina and tries to make a big deal out of what Kat said Tina said and threatens Kat with Redemption Island. Tina is just flabbergasted, is this what the next 35 days are going to be? (not if you vote him out!)
-The rest of the tribe is staying out of it. Colton wants to make some big announcement about not wanting to be a b*tch and the rest of them tell him they can care less about his petty dramatics. (Exactly!)

Tyson finds Colton interesting, he was supposed to be out there to show them all he'd changed but it only lasted a day or so - he's going to end up overthinking himself out of the game.
-Colton hopes they lose the challenge tomorrow so these people experience tribal council and realize this is a game, not National Lampoon's Horrible Vacation. (Uh, dude, they have all played before, I think you need to be walking a little more softly and put the b*tch stick away.)

Galang - Day 5
-Colton feels the shift in the camp against him the next day.  He asks Monica if they are against him and she tries to tell him to just cool it.
-Next we see Monica, Aras, Tina, Tyson and Gervase talking about Colton's gameplay.  Tyson says Colton plays by getting people to turn on each other, "If Colton tells you one of us is targeting you, come ask us."  Aras says this does not need to be a game of fear.  Colton is just a gay Russell Hantz - he's a bully.  And the anti-Colton alliance is formed. (Yay!  Please vote him out soon.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
Three members of each tribe will be tied together at the waist then they must roll another tribe member in a barrel to a series of flagpoles. At each flagpole the person in the barrel must get out and collect (untie) a bag of balls - once they have collected all four bags of balls the remaining tribe members must roll the balls up an alley to get the balls to stick in recessed holes in a triangle pattern at the end.  First tribe to get balls in all six of the target holes wins Immunity and Reward of a lot of fishing gear.
-Galang sits Kat.
Katie and Laura M. are in the barrels - that would be the worst - they stay pretty close together through the ball collecting - but Tadhana starts the bowling first - we have Hayden vs Gervase - they go back and forth but it's Gervase who gets the final ball in first and GALANG wins immunity again.  Gervase gives a tribal yell, "MARISSA!! That's for you baby."  (Too little, too late.)

Tadhana - Day 5
Back at camp they are rehashing their loss and Brad let's loose, he can't wait to have a physical challenge so he can body slam Gervase (oh, the salt rubbing is working on Big Boy Brad.)
-The 5 guys are talking about which girl they are going to vote out and everyone but John is on board with Rachel because of the possibility of Tyson taking her place and weakening the other tribe.  John doesn't want Tyson competing with his wife so he defends Rachel saying if Tyson doesn't take her place then they have weakened themselves more by voting out Rachel over one of the other girls.
-Vytas is wondering if John has more allegiance to the guys or to Rachel (he allegiance is to his wife - hello) it worries him.

Vytas tells Katie it's Rachel and she asks if John was okay with that - huh, Vytas is now even more leery of John now.  And the mark to tell Rachel is Ciera.
-John goes and tells Ciera that they're voting for Rachel but they are going to tell Rachel it's Ciera - so now Ciera is freaking out if he has the hidden idol and saves Rachel that Ciera will go home.
-She runs and talks to Katie who is on the same page so the girls are thinking of voting for John.

-John tells Rachel they are voting for Ciera.  He doesn't want the guys to have any doubt about him so he's sticking to the plan.  But it's too late, they are all doubting him - especially when he keeps going off on his own to look for the idol.  He didn't share the clue and keeps disappearing, he's starting to look sketchy to them all.
-Vytas is starting to think that maybe they should blindside John now.

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Let's talk about the men vs women ratio, are you guys talking about this?
-Ciera says she definitely feels vulnerable when the guys go off in the boat and there is only the three girls left.
Hayden, are you relating to this?
-I understand where they are coming from, the guys have kind of bonded and that's just the way it is.  Not to say there is anything going on or what not. (Ugh, I hate the "or what not." What does that even mean?)
Katie, so what do you do?
-I think we're still just trying to figure this out. (Oh wishy-washy, you need to be playing - hard!  I think these girls are done for.)
John gets a clue to a hidden immunity idol from his wife - Caleb, is it fare to think John has a little target on him?
-Yeah, based on the history of Survivor and immunity idols, you're always a target.
-Brad pipes in -and there is the assumption that he's already found it.  He's got to figure out if it's best to tell the tribe or not.
John, also whoever you vote out is going to be trying to take your wife out as well.
- Yeah and there is also the possibility of whoever we vote out, their loved one could potentially take their place and try to beat Candice (I think the lightbulb just went on for Rachel.)
-Hayden agrees it's twisted - we could potentially weaken their tribe by voting somebody out here tonight.

It's time to vote:
John votes for Rachel
Ciera votes for John
Tallying the votes:
No one plays a hidden immunity idol (John doesn't have it yet.)
John - 1, 2
Ciera - 1
Rachel - 1, 2, 3, 4.... So the guys stuck together and Rachel heads off to Redemption Island.

Next week: they tease that Tyson may take Rachel's place and Colton may crumble - there are tears and he breaks ranks and goes sits on Caleb's lap at the duel (No More Drama!)

Rachel wasn't hugely surprised to be voted out of her male dominated tribe but she interpreted the voting as them splitting the vote between herself and John so she thinks things may change if the guys are breaking up (it was actually just the other girls that voted for John.)

In summation - it was a little bit of a surprise to have Rupert be the first to 'leave' leave - Colton has shown his true colours again and it's refreshing that his tribe is having none of it - and the newbies are boring, the all man alliance sucks (in my opinion.)

Have a great rest of your week everyone,
Coleen.
 

Survivor Blood vs Water - Premiere episode (Sept 18/13) Recap

Blood is Thicker Than Anything

The show opened with the dramatic graphic of blood dripping into water and spreading delicately... then the music starts and lush green islands come into view.  We see the 10 pairs of castaways being driven to 10 different locations, each pair made up of a returning Survivor player and a loved one.  What they don't know is that they will not be playing together, they will be competing against each other.

Gervase - he was in the very first season of Survivor (really? I remembered him, kind of, but didn't believe he was in the first season - but I looked it up and huh, they're right) he played 13 years ago when his niece, Marissa, was only 9 years old.
-He says he believes he can definitely win it this time.
-She thinks it's cute that after 13 years he thinks he's going to win - she's just focused on herself winning. 

Kat - (blond bob haircut, big blue eyes) Her instability in Survivor One World cost her the game but with her boyfriend, and Big Brother winner, Hayden by her side, they hope to go all the way.
-Hayden says Big Brother was basically Survivor in a house (so, not Survivor at all.) In terms training, he's going to be more prepared  than anybody else who hasn't played this game. (He may be able to play the social game, but being out in the elements and hungry is a whole different animal.)
-Kat says he's already won a show before, this is her game, it's her time.

Laura - (dark hair, big brown eyes) she was a mother to her tribe when she played before but now she's going to have to split that focus with her daughter Ciera also playing the game.
-Ciera says their ability to balance each other out will really be an asset to them.  Laura says nothing is harder than seeing someone you love suffer (she may have a hard time with this then.)

Rupert  - he has played Survivor for 100 plus days (three times already) but he's never made it to the end.  His wife Laura is hoping to be the first member of the family to win the game. (Ugh, I gotta say I was not enthused to see Rupert back, especially not with the wife in tow.  I still have the horrible mental image of him nearly eating her face when they kissed so sloppily in one season when she came to visit) And of course they are holding hands.
-He's returning for his 4th time - Laura says this has always been his thing, "Rupert, Rupert, Rupert."  And he says, "Now it's time for Laura." Yeah, it's sweet but we prefer the pirate edge.

Colton - he made some controversial comments in Survivor One World then left with a mysterious ailment and few fans.  He's hoping his fiancé Caleb will provide him with the maturity he needs.  Colton's goal is to show people the new Colton.  Caleb is worried about how Colton's been perceived, he hopes this is a big redemption for Colton.

Candice - (long blond hair, played in the Cook Islands) she's there with her husband and they are both doctors and pretty (ugh).  She says they could be perceived as a threat because they are young and successful - he says they know being young and athletic that they are going to have big targets on their backs. (Yes, you're perfect, we get it.)

Monica - Former NFL wife, played for herself in One World but now she's sharing the spot light with her former NFL player husband Brad Culpepper - (I'm sure she's used to that...) and she says it right away - she's used to being Brad Culpepper's wife but when it comes to Survivor she's the veteran here.  He says he'll play second fiddle to Monica (yeah, we'll see how long that lasts).

Tina - winner of the Australian outback, she hopes to do well with her daughter Katie by her side.  Tina says their love transcends this game but their family is very competitive ... Katie would love to beat her mother at her own game. (That could be interesting.)

Tyson - (tall skinny blond guy) he was blindsided in one season, famously voted himself out in Heroes vs Villains (really? I vaguely remember that) now hopes to redeem himself with this longtime girlfriend Rachel by his side.  He feels this time he's in a pretty good spot.  He says the newcomers aren't going to be prepared and he's going to slit their throats.
Rachel says Survivor was always Tyson's thing, she never thought in a million years she'd be out there but there she is. (I hope she's there to win!)

Aras - winner of Exile Island (still have no memory of this guy - that's pretty bad) - is returning with his brother Vytas (and this is my guy).
-Vytas tells us he used to be a heroin addict and he's spent a year in prison (oookay, then...) Aras still has a lot of resentment towards him. (Sheesh).
-Aras says Vytas was pretty abusive to him when they were younger so he always tried to beat him at things he could.


Now we've seen everyone tromping into the jungle or on the beach, they get a scroll that tells them they will be spending the first night alone together right where they are.  Let the whining begin - there are ants and crabs and bugs... oh my!

Next morning they all congregate on the beach in front of Jeff Probst and he welcomes them to the 27th season of Survivor.
-Jeff says they are going to be experiencing this game with their loved ones but they will not be playing with them... they will be competing against their loved ones.  (You can see the shock waves go through them all.) Rupert's wife, Tyson's girlfriend and Colton do not look happy.
-Jeff asks if anyone is looking forward to taking on their loved one and more than half the hands go up.  Tina's daughter gets called out and she says she thought her mom would feel the same.  Tina says it's going to be one of the hardest parts of this season when the tribes comes together for challenges and you see your loved one might not be there.
-Jeff asks former NFL player Culpepper (oh, it's last name already for the football dude, I think Jeff's a fan) how he's going to feel seeing Monica voted out.  Brad says on the surface he wants to beat her at every challenge but underneath, say if they win a tarp, he's going to be thinking that she should have the tarp...
-Marissa pipes up, "You better not be on my team saying that."  And you can see the look on his face, he's not happy that someone called him on his running of the mouth.  He realizes that he answered with his heart and not his head and the response from the other players made him realize that was a stupid move. (I think Brad is pretty... put the game face on man and shut your trap, oy.)

Jeff divides them into returning players (Galang/yellow) and new players (Tadhana/red) then Jeff shocks them again by telling them that both tribes are going to vote someone out right now. (WHAT?  Holy crap, didn't see that coming.)
-They each get a tablet and a pen, so they are going to vote right out in the open - Colton is pretty sure it's going to be him but in true Survivor fashion it's the ladies that fare the worst right off the bat. 
-New players unanimously vote out Laura, Rupert's wife (see, 4 times returning is too many, there is Rupert backlash) and the Returning players vote out Candice but a much more split vote, most siting that they don't know anything about her.

So, Laura and Candice go stand over by Jeff and their respective husbands are both ready to take on everyone that voted for them... then Jeff tells them they are not yet out of this game because Redemption Island is in play this season (boo, I'm not a fan of the Redemption Island but maybe it'll work better this time.)  Everyone voted out of the game will go to Redemption Island and compete in a duels for a shot to get back in the game.

And the twists just keep on coming... Jeff says he's going to put the blood vs water to the first test and offers Rupert the chance to change places... he doesn't even finish explaining and Rupert is charging through everyone to get to Laura - (Whoa there big boy, let him finish.)  If Rupert changes places with Laura, she'll join his tribe and he'll then have to compete in the duels. Tina is telling him not to do it but he's doing it no matter what.  So Laura is now on the Galang tribe. Tina is ticked, she understands the emotion behind it but he just went and weakened their tribe.  Rupert, as usual, thinks he's invincible and will win all the duels (maybe he will, but he's no spring chicken anymore.)

Jeff makes the same offer to Candice and John and they are a bit more level-headed and discuss it (briefly) she tentatively says she thinks she can beat him, John says she has a better chance than he does (what? No she doesn't.) and Doctor Good-looking sends his wife back to battle the tie-dyed pirate on her own. (There's some 'looking out for number one'-edness for you.)  I think John regretted his decision right away, he teared up when she walked away.  I think that made him look bad but I think his tribe was relieved, he kept them strong. 

Galang - Day 1
-Gervase didn't want to play with Laura, he wanted to play with Rupert.  They show Laura trying to open a coconut and nearly chop her hand off (eek).  Aras tells her he really wished her husband was there right now (nice) and she says she knows she's a disappointment - oh no, he didn't mean that (right).  Laura knows she's going to have to work hard and try to prove to this people that she's an asset and they want to keep her around.
-Tyson gets a fire going, he learned from Boston Rob (BR rules coming back again?)  They knew to focus on making fire so they could boil water and having drinking water and be able to eat - then to start on the shelter.  They are looking good right now... and then they show Colton holding bamboo between his legs and sawing it towards himself  (oh no, no, that's not right.)
-Monica is not happy that both times she's gotten to play this game, Colton has been out here.  She was very hurt by him the last time and she confronts him, asking if she can trust him or if he's going to stab her in the back again. (Really?  You're going to do that on day one?  They are not so smart these Culpeppers.) And what's Colton going to say?  Of course he tells her what she wants to hear and they hug it out (I think I sprained my eyes I rolled them so hard.)

Tadhana - Day 1
-They are all busy building a shelter, the boys are splitting bamboo, the girls are weaving palm fronds - and Brad Culpepper is running at the mouth again (I think this guy likes to be on TV cause we are seeing a lot of his jabbering.)  He feels like he needs to address his blunder about the tarp and his wife - he promises them he will be going 100% in all the challenges and if they think he's not they can vote him out (Please, just vote him out now, he's annoying me already.)
-Marissa doesn't trust him, she's keeping her eye on good ol' Brad. 
-Brad, meanwhile is putting his 'hit the ground running' strategy in play and in his mind that is establishing an alliance right away and being a pretty boy football player, that means getting the 5 men all together (yeah, why would you need women? - oh, I know, because the all-guy alliances never work out.)  But he approaches pretty doctor John first.  John is not shocked that the football player wants to keep the locker room together but he also thinks Brad's being so vocal and putting himself out there are the leader could bite him in the butt later. (We can only hope.)
-Brad moves on to Big Brother Hayden, he's on the full-on recruiting circuit - next he's bro-mancing Caleb who's not buying it. Caleb knows Brad's game but he'll go along if it will shut him up. 
-Then it's on to Vytas and Brad says the John Cochrane's and weaker girls, those are the one's that win Survivor now (you mean the smart people?) so he wants to keep all the strong guys together.
-Then he gives us some football math holding up his fingers - 4 against 9... wait I have 5 against 9... (I can smell him thinking about it from here.)  He has a group of 5 guys, that's the majority in a tribe of 9.  (I think Brad should just stop talking before he hurts himself.)

Tadhana - Day 1
-They are desperately trying to make fire - Brad is getting smoke but no flame.  Vytas and Ciera are watching but, other than holding the bamboo steady, aren't much help.  We get to know a bit more about both of them though.  Ciera was a teen mom, 17 and pregnant in high school but now she's married and has another child.  Vytas comes clean about his past as well, laying it out there that he was a former heroin addict and went to prison at 19 - Aras was the golden child and Vytas was the wild one - he is hoping doing this together with his brother will help to mend their relationship a little more.
-Vytas' strategy is that this is a game based on trust and he hopes by being so open and letting them in, they'll be able to trust him more. (Well I hope it works cause you're my great, scruffy, yoga-teaching hope.)

Galang - Night 1
-They are sitting around the fire and trying to bond a bit - Colton lays it out that he's from the Deep South and he's not accepted for his lifestyle even within his own family... and he loses it, not just a little crying, full on sobbing (that's a little uncomfortable).  All the women comfort him and Monica hopes he has changed... but then again, it is Colton Cumbie.

Redemption Island - Day 2
-Candice is busy machete-ing coconuts that she is pretending are the heads of the people that voted for her (oh, that's healthy.)  Rupert is just sitting back and watching her work.  She had her feelings hurt by the tribe voting her off and now she is extremely annoyed having to be out there with Rupert alone because he is not doing anything.  She's gathering the wood, tending the fire, getting the water, boiling the water, making the rice and he's just enjoying the spoils of her work, it's infuriating her (well don't make him food or get him water then, sheesh.)  His strategy this time around is to save himself for the duels, if she wants to expend all her energy around camp he's more than happy to let her, but he's not going to kill himself at camp. (I'm not impressed with the new lazy Rupert.)

Day 3 - both tribes get tree mail and it gives them hints about today's challenge, let's them know there will be water involved and a puzzle at the end so they start to strategize, who's a good swimmer, who's good at puzzles.
At Tadhana, Ciera says she knows her mother is good at puzzles but she's better and Tina's daughter feels the same way so they are going to put those two girls against their mothers on the puzzle portion of the challenge.
At Galang, Gervase says it doesn't matter if you have a lead or not, it's the puzzle that will win them the challenge and their thinking is the same on that side, Laura and Tina know their daughters will be doing the puzzle so they are ready to take them out.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
First Jeff asks Galang how they're doing and they say they have fire, it's all good.  Jeff asks Tadhana if they have fire and they all lie, of course we have fire. Vytas, "We have so much fire, we can share it if you want."  Hayden tells the camera, of course they have fire, they know what they're going, we don't cause we're a bunch of... meatheads. (I'm starting to like Hayden, a lot.)

For the challenge: They have to swim out and scale over a few obstacles to a boat tied to an anchor.  Once at the boat they need to dive down and untie knots to release the boat then, once everyone is in the boat they have to paddle back to the beach where the three tribe members waiting there can get started on the puzzle (the box of puzzle pieces is in the boat.)
The puzzle is a ship's steering wheel.  Once the wheel is complete they have to use it to raise their flag and send their loved one's to Tribal Council.

Off they go and Tyson is starting out strong for Galang all by himself. Tadhana is showing them up with their teamwork though, helping each other over the obstacles and they take the lead.  Gervase is proving that he still can't really swim and Aras has to help him to keep him from drowning.  The new players have a huge lead at this point with Gervase performing horribly.  The returning players finally get everyone to the boat and both tribes start to paddle back ... well the new players paddle back, the returning players are paddling in circles (oh that is embarrassing.)  Tadhana has a huge lead getting started on the puzzle when Galang finally makes it to shore - but the veteran Moms prove that the older ladies know how to puzzle - they get that wheel together in no time, while Katie especially struggled, she still had no idea what was going on, it seemed, when Galang raised their flag and won immunity.

-Galang cheers that they won and Gervase is yelling, "Don't let that fool you!  Don't let that fool you!" (what are you doing?) Marissa just gives him a 'talk to the hand'. Colton is crying because he's worried about Caleb being in jeopardy. (I don't like the weepy Colton, but then I didn't like the mean Colton either...)
-Brad Culpepper takes notice of Gervase's "in your face" type celebrating of their win and he doesn't appreciate it - "Hey buddy, your loved one may go home." (Uh oh.)

Tadhana - Day 3
-Brad is talking again, our loved ones have fire, lets be happy for them - we all gave 100% - puzzle makers, it was a tough puzzle, don't  beat yourselves up about it.  Blah, blah, blah.
-Katie is nervous, she knows she's one of the reasons they are going to tribal council tonight.
-Then they start talking about Gervase and Marissa starts cutting him down - she knows that his behaviour pissed people off and they are going to correlate her with him. 
-Coach Brad again, "when we win, let's not gloat."  They are celebrating sending a loved one home in his opinion. (Whatever, I'd like to see you guys not celebrate when you win.) 

-They five guy alliance is thinking they are golden and they discuss who they are going to stab in the heart tonight.  Brad says he's a little spoiled on Marissa right now because of Gervase's behaviour (really? that's convenient since I think Brad has been sour on her since she called him out in the first 5 minutes when he made the stupid remarks about wanting his wife to have the tarp.)
-Caleb throws Katie into the mix as well since she was just useless with the puzzle (that makes more sense to me, vote someone out for what they did, not because you don't like their loved ones behaviour.)

-Vytas knows the girls are aware the guys have bonded since they are not being very subtle about it so he also wants to try and forge some bonds with the women as well.  He goes over and tells Rachel that the guys are voting Marissa and he then tells Marissa that because of the puzzle thing, it's Katie.

-Brad is still talking to the camera, "we have to think who can we vote out that will potentially affect the other tribe" (I think a daughter over a niece, but maybe that's just me.)

TRIBAL COUNCIL
(Jeff Probst's remarks are in blue.)

Hayden, what's been the hardest part of the first three days?
-Trying to get fire.
So you guys were lying to me today.  You don't have fire.
-Yeah, we were totally bluffing.

Ciera, you had to talk to your mom about her experiences out here, how is it different?
-It's completely different.  I've never been this hungry, something is trying to claw it's way out of my stomach.  It's really rough.

Culpepper, you're three days in and you're obviously struggling.
-It's been very challenging not having fire.  If we had fire we could get fish and cook and get strong for challenges.

Caleb, how does having loved ones on the other tribe change this game?
-It really does complicate it.  We don't know what's going on in each others tribes, we just have to trust each other and believe they'll do the right thing.  But right now, they're doing their thing and we're doing our thing.

John, moments into day one your wife is the first person voted out.  Any regrets about not stepping up to take her spot?
-I have a lot of guilt about that decision.  As a husband it's something I really struggle with (then he chokes up - aw, don't cry pretty doctor boy) I feel like she's over there thinking that I just let her go, let her down and didn't stand up for her.  I hope she's not thinking that, but it's something I've been struggling with a little bit. (I bet one of those coconuts did have his name on it.)
So what's the impact on you knowing that whoever you vote out tonight  will be competing against your wife and Rupert?
-Today's challenge proved the other tribe isn't going to pull any punches so my vote tonight is going to be based on who I think will make this tribe strongest going forward.  Now if there is an added advantage that I think Candice can kick whoever's butt, then that's great too.

Culpepper, where do you see this game going, the Blood vs Water?  What are you already thinking about?
-I thought it was an interesting dynamic today when they lost - I don't know why they were celebrating so much when one of their loved ones is going home.

Who was celebrating, who stood out?
-Gervase.

Marissa, you're shaking your head at your own uncle.
-Yes, I look at them as veterans, older, wiser and I expected them to handle it with grace. (Do you know your uncle?)

Vytas, does it work against you if your loved one behaves in this way?
-Of course, someone who's just gloating in our face, just adds insult to injury.  I guarantee with this twist that the other team is worrying when we go to tribal council because they know when they face us again, one of their loved ones will be gone.

Marissa, concerned about what Vytas said?
-Yes, because I'm guilty by association.  I wish Gervase would have piped down so I'd feel a little less vulnerable right now.  I feel like people should be judging me by my attitude, my performance, not my loved one.  It comes down to our tribe, not what their tribe is doing.  Wait until we get to the merge and then decide if you want to judge me by his actions. (Very well said, she had Vytas and Caleb looking at Brad, but Coach Brad has his mind made up I think.)

Katie, where are you at for the first vote? 
-The fear is they are going to judge off the challenge and the puzzle-makers, of which she was one, fell down at the challenge.  She wouldn't be surprised if they voted her out for one bad performance.

Brad says they should be worried but they're not voting solely on the performance of the puzzle- makers (and he glances right at Marissa... I gotta say, I'm really not a fan of Brad.)

Time to Vote:
Katie votes for Marissa.
Marissa votes for Katie.

Tallying the Votes:
Katie - 1
Marissa - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... that's enough.  (I'm feeling some righteous anger for Marissa, that's really not fair for her.)  She throws a glare over at the guys and Vytas and Hayden guiltily look away. (Oh yeah, you know.)

Jeff also throws them some flint to take back to camp - we'll see if Big Man Brad can manage a fire with the flint.

So, Redemption Island again - no one has actually left the game yet.  Next week we'll see if Candice, Rupert or Marissa is the first casualty of the game.

Also next week:  The old Colton is back, and we'll see if weepy was better than the bully.

Have a great rest of your week everyone,

Coleen
 

AMAZING RACE 23 - POOL PICKS

Amazing Race 23
Ally & Ashley	1. Lois & Dave L.		Nicky & Kim	1. Janine S.
LA Kings Ice Crew	2. Karen S.		Baseball Wives	2. Andria S.
	3. Nenad M.			3. Annemette J.
	4. Jessica C.			4. Tori K.
	5. Alexis G.			5. Sue S. & Hannelore M.
Brandon & Adam	1. Patty F.		Rowan & Shane	1. Rachel R.
Childhood Friends	2. Bernice R.		Theater Performers	2. Cheryl J.
	3. Don T.			3. Shelly P.
	4. Denise R.			4. Donna P.
	5. Susan N.			5. Bob L.
Chester & Ephraim	1. Kim B.		Tim & Danny	1. Ian G.
Former NFL Teammates	2. Coleen T.		Best Friends	2. Katie L.
	3. Jeremy N.			3. Chandra K.
	4. Robert L.			4. Shelley A.
	5. Carol-Anne D.			5. Shane B.
Hoskote & Naina	1. Bryon L.		Tim & Marie	1. Pat T.
Father/Daughter	2. Kevin & Elaine R.		Exes	2. Miranne D.
	3. Jenn G.			3. Lee G.
	4. Krista H.		2ND PLACE	4. Cara & Alex L.
	5. Roxanne S.			5. Cindi C.
Jason & Amy	1. Ozzy R.		Travis & Nicole	1. Laura W.
Dating	2. Sharon R.		Married ER Doctors	2. Ivor B.
	3. Sandy G.			3. Fred & Gary M.
WINNERS	4. Vikki M.		3RD PLACE	4. Karen F.
	5. Lindsay J.			5. Jeff T.
Leo & Jamal	1. Drew C.
Cousins	2. Michelle L.
	3. Lynne B.
	4. Heather G.
	5. Kim A.

SURVIVOR - BLOOD vs WATER - POOL PICKS

Survivor Blood vs Water
GALANG		TADHANA
Tyson Apostol	1. Tori K.	Rachel Foulger	1. Lee G.
Age: 34	2. Jenn G.         WINNER!	Age: 33	2. Sue S. & Hannelore M.
Tocantins / Heroes vs Villains	3. Donna P.	Tyson's Girlfriend	3. Ryan H.
Aras Baskauskas	1. Kim A.	Vytas Baskauskas	1. Michelle L.
Age: 31	2. Kevin & Elaine R.	Age: 33	2. Alexis G.
Panama winner	3.  Katie L.	Aras' Brother	3. Coleen T.
Rupert Boneham	1. Andria S.	Laura Boneham	1. Heather G.
Age: 49	2. Krista H.	Age: 44	2. Bryon L.
Pearl Isl, All-Stars, Heroes v Villains	3. Shelly P.	Rupert's Wife	3. Bernice R.
Candice Cody	1. Nenad M.	John Cody	1. Susan M.
Age: 30	2. Mike L.	Age: 30	2. Jodi S.
Cook Isl, Heroes v Villains	3. Lois & Dave L.	Candice's Husband	3. Jeremy N.
Tina Wesson	1. Don H.	Katie Collins	1. Roxanne S.
Age: 52	2. Ian G.	Age: 25	2. Carol-Anne D.
Australia winner, All-Stars	3. Janine S.	Tina's Daughter	3. Lynne B.
Colton Cumbie QUIT	1. Cheryl J.	Caleb Bankston	1. Cindi C.
Age: 22	2. Sharon R.	Age: 26	2. Shane B.
One World	3. Cara & Alex L.	Colton's Fiance	3. Marla L.
Monica Culpepper	1. Vikki M.	Brad Culpepper	1. Karen S.
Age: 42	2. Wendy E.                 2ND	Age: 44	2. Laura H.
One World	3. Annemette J.	Monica's Husband	3. Jeff T.
Laura Morett	1. Susan N.	Ciera Eastin	1. Fred & Gary M.
Age: 43	2. Kim B./Gail W.	Age: 24	2. Julie T.
Samoa	3. Shelley A.	Laura's Daughter	3. Robert L.
Kat Edorsson	1. Gillian H.	Hayden Moss	1. Ritch G.
Age: 23	2. Ivor B.	Age: 27	2. Tamara J.
One World	3. Virginia D.	Kat's Boyfriend	3. Bob L.
Gervase Peterson	1. Kevin C.	Marissa Peterson	1. Drew C.
Age: 43	2. Chandra K.               3RD	Age: 21	2. Steve H.
Borneo	3. Jessica C.	Gervase's Niece	3. Lindsay J.