Survivor Fans vs Favourites - April 3rd Episode Recap

Blindside Time

Last week Corinne & Phillip were gunning for each other... yet they voted out the non-entity of Julia.

Bikal - Night 19
-Returning from tribal council the favourites congratulate Michael on... them not voting him out (?) Yeah, it was kind of weird. 
-Corinne tells the camera she did her job, she got her gay, tribal was beautiful.
-Then Phillip pulls Dawn & Corinne aside and shares his secret - that he threw the challenge and he goes on to elaborate about how he wasn't pulling the rope in fast... Corinne knows he's full of crap, but she doesn't even bother calling him on it, what's the point?
-Dawn doesn't even believe him, she's embarrassed for him and doesn't understand why he just didn't admit he blew it (oh, you're thinking like a rational person, no, no, there's none of that in Phillip's head.)
-Corinne says yes, he's a loyal alliance member, but he is so coo coo for cocoa puffs that there is no question that Phillip has to go.

(Okay, I paused the frame right here and saw a bad editing error - while they were showing Phillip dancing by the fire, Sherri is sitting on the chair behind him... SPOILER!  She's currently on the other team.)

Bikal - Day 20
-The Favourites are anticipating a merge at any time now, Corinne is talking big like all the Fans are not smart players (except Michael, of course), and Phillip is still dictating that they can't go off and have one on one conversations (still ham-handedly trying to control them), when Dawn gets all emotional and decides to go get water and have herself a little cry.  She tells the camera it's silly that she cries so much but this is about the point when her game fell apart last time and the thought of what a million dollars can do for her family [she has SIX kids!]  She knows you can't just sit back and let the game happen to you, you have to made decisions and be a leader, those are the people that win. (Well, she's speaking sense, let's see if she can back that up.)

Gota - Day 20
They see a boat coming in to shore, "Oh my god, we've been saved!"

-The guy on the boat hands them a note to gather everything they'll need for the rest of their time in Caramoa cause they'll need it when they go to their new home!
(I can't help notice that Brenda has a tensor bandage on her knee and is hobbling around... Oh yeah, and Brenda is still there, though I don't think she's ever had a one on one with the camera.)
-They all load up on the boat and sail on over to Bikal - Surprise! We're merging!

-At Bikal, they are all excited to have made it to the merge and everyone is being super friendly much to Reynold's delight.  Then Andrea pulls out the key they were given to open a big trunk full of food, wine and their new buffs - Merged colour is green!
-As they feast they discuss a new name, Phillip wants Stanley (I'm sure it's some dead relative) but they decide on Enil Edam, which means 'new beginnings' (but really, Malcolm fills us in, he just wanted to name the tribe after his mom, Madeline - Enil Edam is Madeline backwards... now that's what Boston Rob would do!)
-Corinne, of course, thinks this is the dumbest name ever, she doesn't know how to pronounce it and it's got too many syllables. (I've come to realize Corinne has nothing nice to say about anything, but she's also pretty witty.)

-Phillip is happy to be reunited with Andrea and demands a hug from 'his girl'.  Then he fills her in, that Cochran, himself, Dawn and Andrea are a tight four, whatever else happens.  Corinne will likely go for the Fans now, but they just have to make sure the strong male Fans are taken out.
-Andrea isn't too worried yet, they are still eight Favourites to four Fans so this first vote doesn't matter too much.  But now that they are merged and it's become individual, people are hungrier and they start to try and make their moves and scramble - that's when anything can happen.
-Corinne is filling Malcolm in on Phillip's antics and how horrible he's been to her.  She's worried though that they don't have the numbers to take him out.  Malcolm tells her he's got four votes with Reynold, Eddie and (probably) Erik.  Corinne throws in that she has Michael so they potentially have a voting block of six. If they can keep their numbers together through the first vote they could take over this game. (Uh oh, don't get ahead of yourself.)
-Malcolm tells the camera he's not been happy with this passive plodding game he's been playing with the Favourites, he's itching to make his move (just as Andrea predicted.)
-Corinne suggests that Sherri is probably the best person to take out first and keep everyone happy.  Malcolm agrees, says "[Sheri's] weird, you'll see, it's uncomfortable playing with her." (oh, really?  Yeah, I guess she is a little intense.)
-Corinne tells the camera, thank god for Malcolm, in a five minute download they have each other up to speed, they've both been working while apart and now they have their game plan back together.  Corinne says they are going to vote together on the first vote then blindside the Favourites and take out Phillip.  She's never been involved in a blindside. "I think it's time; blindside time."

Enil Edam - Day 22
-Tree mail: Can you stomach the stress of tribal council.  Have you bitten off more than you can chew (Oh, no....)  Dawn keeps interjecting, Yes, Yes!  She's excited for an eating challenge but the rest of them clue her in, we're going to be eating gross stuff.  Yeah, no one is looking forward to it now.
-Reynold is particularly dreading it, eating disgusting things is his one weakness (yes, he said his one weakness, I rolled my eyes.) He guesses it's fitting, the time he needs personal immunity the most it's going to be the thing that is hardest for him (because it is all about him after all.)
-Eddie is true to form, complaining that eating disgusting things is going to hurt his chances of hooking up with girls after this is over.
-Cochran hears that and thinks it would be the exact opposite for him, this could add a bit of a wild streak to him, make him seem a little more dangerous - this could be exactly what his love life needs (haha, you gotta love Cochran.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
-They will take part in a Survivor classic - they will race to get down some local delicacies.  They won't always know what it is, it won't be pleasant but these are things that are eaten out there every day (eeek...  I'm feeling queasy for them already.)  They will square off in a series of elimination rounds until only two remain.  Winner gets immunity necklace and everyone else is nauseous and vulnerable at tribal council tonight.

-First round of six line up at a table with covered plates... Erik sees his cover moving a little... Jeff says the first three will move on to the next round.  So this round is Andrea, Corinne, Sherri, Erik, Eddie and Malcolm.
-Reveal: It's those huge white grubs with the red/black heads... beetle larva, Gahhh! 
GO - they all throw them in their mouths and start chewing, Eddie's gagging but they are all going for it... Andrea is the first one finished, then Malcolm and... Eddie!  Which eliminates Corinne, Sherri and Erik.

-Second round - Reynold, Brenda, Phillip, Michael, Cochran & Dawn
-Reveal: And it's the same thing the first round ate, more beetle larva.  Dawn has one in hand and is ready to go - Whoa! Jeff tells her to put it down and wait. "For?" (Him to say go!  She's so focused her brain's not working.) GO!  Cochran proves he is dangerous, like a boss!  He's the first one through, followed by Phillip and finally, chokingly, Michael.  Eliminating Brenda, Dawn and Reynold.

-Third round: Andrea, Cochran, Phillip, Michael, Eddie and Malcolm (I'm rooting for Andrea all the way, she's the only girl that made it through.) Again, three of them will move on to the next round.
Reveal: Ship worms - they are a slimy pile of grey grossness - Jeff says they are the termites of the sea, they will bore through ships... Phillip says he loves that they're slimy, it just wets his appetite (whatever, crazy pants.)
GO!  Malcolm and Eddie were able to just swallow the bunch whole, it seemed, and then Cochran just beat Phillip and Andrea (she looked crushed - her mistake was chewing. Shudder.)

-Fourth Round:  Cochran can't believe he's in this company with Malcolm and Eddie - they belly up to the bar and get a look at:
Balute! It is a duck embryo, still half in the shell but you can see the feathers, beak... Eddie just says, "Why?" 
GO!  Cochran proves he is the MAN! (at eating gross stuff) and it's between Eddie and Malcolm - Eddie is gagging and trying to literally push it down his throat with his finger... Malcolm joins Cochran in the final.

-Final round: Malcolm vs Cochran - It's a real David and Goliath battle - and they are eating: Pig Brains. (At least it looks cooked.)
GO! It's a close one but COCHRAN pulls out the win!  (I clapped, it was awesome!) He did some much deserved celebration dance/shadow boxing and then had his lifelong dream realized as Jeff put the individual immunity necklace around his neck and patted him on the shoulder!  (It was so cute, he won one for all the geeky smart kids, who apparently can eat lots of gross things.  I'm so proud of him.)

Enil Edam - Day 22
-They return from the Immunity Challenge and Cochran apologizes for his somewhat obnoxious victory celebration but he is very aware that it was unlikely to ever happen to him again.  He finally knows what victory feels like and he tells the camera it was twice as nice because it was him, the little pipsqueak, against Malcolm, the golden god of the tribe.
-Malcolm says he likes Cochran, he's happy for him, but, since he doesn't plan on keeping him around for very long, he's glad it happened now so he can check on off his bucket list (oh, so magnanimous of you... it's a good thing Malcolm hasn't shown that side of himself to anyone out there... hubris will get you ousted faster than you can say, "How's my hair?")

-Malcolm talks to Eddie and tells him he's got Corinne and Michael with them and Reynold and Erik ... just solidifying that they are still together. Malcolm thinks he's got all his troops in order but everything is still fluid, he hopes they remain in order.  He's glad he has Corinne in his corner, cause she's a fighter.

-Phillip is talking to Corinne and he says he wants to split their vote between Eddie and Reynold.  Corinne tells him she's never a fan of the split vote, she proposes that they take out Sherri since even the Fans don't like her, make the first vote easy then make a bolder move on the next one.  Phillip says the problem with that is that he wants a big fish to go home on the first vote and make a statement.
-She knew this was going to happen - she wants to avoid the conflict, keep the boys happy so she can use them - but Phillip is adamant and refuses to listen to anything she says - She tells the camera, if she wasn't already going to turn, that sealed her fate.

-Corrine goes and talks to Andrea, Dawn and Cochran and tells them she wants to vote Sherri and thinks they should all band together and just tell Phillip this is how we're voting, like he always does to her.
-They don't teally care if Sherri goes, but Cochran doesn't really understand why Corinne doesn't want to target Eddie and Reynold.  His real fear is that, if they don't vote together, it will show the Fans that they are a dysfunctional group and there are cracks they can try and exploit to tear them apart.

-Corinne goes and talks to Eddie & Reynold and tells them she is in for getting rid of Sherri tonight, they confirm it would be Malcolm, Erik, Eddie, Reynold, Corinne, Michael and she thinks she can get Dawn as well. Corinne tells them how much she hates Phillip and wants to throat punch him everyday.  Let's clean house!
-Reynold is ecstatic to be presented with the opportunity to join the Corinne/Malcolm counter-alliance and take out Lord Phillip of the High Shelter.  Of course, if the vote goes as they hope tonight, Reynold sees this as things finally getting back to the proper order with him in the alliance that is calling the shots (that's where he always thought he belonged after all. Lord save these conceited fools from themselves.)

-Dawn & Corinne are off talking and Corinne bulldozes on ahead telling her they want to vote Sherri tonight and then next vote take out Phillip because he treats everyone like they are stupid and she lays out the numbers which freaks Dawn out...
-Dawn tells the camera, here we go again, Corinne wants to break up their Favourites alliance.  Last time she played, when she came into similar information, she didn't share it with anybody, she can't fall into that same mistake. (She's going to run to Phillip isn't she - Damnit!  Why didn't anyone go talk to Brenda, remember her?  I don't think anyone even realizes she's still playing.)

-Thankfully, Dawn ran and spoke to Cochran instead and laid it out, Corinne has positioned herself with the Fans to give her the numbers, take out Sherri tonight then blindside Phillip next vote -which would put the rest of the Favourites in her sites as well.
-Cochran didn't think Corinne had a strategic bone in her body but now he realizes she is poised to take over the game post merge. 
-They have Brenda and can get Sherri to vote with them which would then force a tie vote tonight.  Cochran's got to come up with a plan or this could be devastating to his game and the game of his allies.
-Cochran goes and tells Andrea that Corinne approached Dawn and said she has the numbers to take out Sherri tonight and blindside Phillip next vote.  If they come up on the wrong side of the numbers in this they are screwed.  They start counting their votes, if they can get Sherri and, Andrea's thinking possibly the wishy-washy Erik, they could take out Corinne.  She's feeling like a little blindside herself.

-So it's Andrea that goes to Phillip and tells him Corinne's building her own little army and planning to start taking them out - Phillip says, basically, I told you so.  He's so in for taking Corinne out tonight (and it's weird, it's like Andrea is the only person he actually listens to and respects, she's the Crazy Whisperer.)

-Phillip tells the camera that she thinks she can take the Specialist out of the game?  He's the one that brought her into the alliance in the first place.  He will not allow Corinne to take control of this game.
-Phillip tells Sherri if she wants to go further in this game, she'll vote Corinne tonight and prove to him he can use her vote (my gosh, this guy does not know how to win friends or influence people.)  Sherri hears him, and she wants to stay in the game, but she can't stand Phillip, he's so arrogant. (so she sounds like she's still up in the air.)

-Andrea goes to Erik over by the new tribe sign and he just tells her to just point at the name [of the person they want him to vote for] - she points at Corinne and he nods. (Huh, that was easy - Erik's strategy seems to be not to talk to anyone if he can avoid it - okay, been working so far I guess.)
-Cochran is worried that his fate now rests with the desperate Sherri, and Erik, the ice cream scooper who has proven himself to be incompetent in playing this game.
-Malcolm sits down beside Erik and asks if he's okay. Erik says, sure. And Malcolm says, "so we vote Sherri tonight."  Erik nods, but then tells the camera he has no idea what's going on.  Andrea told him Corinne, now Malcolm tells him it's Sherri - he suddenly sees himself as a swing vote and just wishes he knew what he was going to do. (Oh boy.)

TRIBAL COUNCIL
So, since the switch, only Fans have been voted out. Michael, is it fair to assume that is going to continue tonight?
-I think it is a fair assumption, it's been pretty clear that the Favourites are going to be sticking together.
Corinne, you've played before so you know that the Fans feel pretty helpless.
-Yeah, it's bleak, but a situation is never helpless.  I'm not about problems, I'm about solutions. If you come to me with a good idea, I'll probably listen. (Malcolm likes that but Phillip just covers his face and shakes his head.)
Dawn, Corinne is saying she's open, does that worry you?
-Well, there are twelve of us and we won't all make it to the final three. So it makes sense that we are all trying to further ourselves in the game.
Cochran, does it concern you that Corinne is open enough to say talk to me, that could be opening a door.
-That's one of the good things about her that she is so open and honest about it.  If she said she wasn't open to it, that would make me more suspicious. (She looks flattered... you shouldn't.)
Reynold, so what do you do?
-If you've played before you know if you're not on the top of the eight person powerhouse you won't make it to the end.  With the Fans still here, they still have four chess pieces to use, now's the time to make a move.  Reynold's not counting the Fans out yet.
Erik, Reynold makes a good point, not everyone can be in the top of an alliance of eight.
-Right, well that's just the way the game goes, there is always going to be someone on the bottom that's desperate to get in with someone else.  That's pretty much the dynamic that's going on right now.
Andrea, it's good news bad news that you've played before, you know at some point someone's not going to tell you the truth and it might be tonight.
-Yeah, I'm way more paranoid this time around because I know a lot of these people are very good at lying and deceiving.
Corinne, do you agree with that?
-She quotes Mike Tyson, "Everyone's got a plan, until you get punched in the face." She says no matter how comfortable they may seem, every one of them is waiting to get punched in the face.
Sherri, is there anything you can do if you are a Fan at this point?
-I think the fans don't have a chance.  She totally believes that.
-Reynold says there is a lot bubbling beneath the surface that hasn't even been touched on this tribal council.  He doesn't think this vote will be a shocker but there could be some shockers on the way (Dude, you just have to stop talking.)

Alright, with that, it's time to vote:
Phillip votes for Corinne - says she's one of the most selfish people he's ever met in his life (pot calling the kettle black)
Corinne votes Sherri - says, basically, she's not there to make friends.
Andrea votes Corinne - says she's dangerous and she hopes everyone does what they said they were going to do.
Michael votes Sherri - he's just trying to stay alive another day.
Erik....yeah, they don't show us how he votes.

Tallying the Votes:
No one plays a hidden immunity idol.

Sherri - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (the counter-alliance is looking pretty pleased with themselves... until Jeff pulls out the next vote...
Corinne - 1, 2, 3, 4 (what's this?) 5, 6... and the final vote is CORINNE!
Whammy!  She's been involved in a blindside now... and she looks like she's going to cry.  Ha ha, it was beautiful!  Malcolm is not happy.  Sherri is very happy.  (Survivor karma always bites the cocky in the butt.)

And with Corinne leaving tonight, Jessica C., Ritch G., and Kevin & Elaine R. are out of the pool.  But it was beautiful!

Next time - it's time for Malcolm to make a move, they thought they cut off the head of the snake, but he's still there apparently, pressuring Dawn.  And Eddie flirts his way back with Andrea... don't fall for it lady!

And Corinne's final thoughts: she didn't really care about any of these people, she's going to just think of this as 22 days in a beautiful place where she met some people. (Oh yeah, she's seething inside.)

Have a great short week everyone,

Coleen

Amazing Race 22 - March 31/13 Episode Recap

Be Safe and Don't Hit a Cow

Last week I was disappointed that horrible honeymoon couple Max & Katie skated on a non-elimination leg, but this week they will face a Speed Bump, we'll see if they can redeem themselves.

Still in Botswana, Bates & Anthony are the first team to head out at 5:39am.  The clue tells them to drive themselves to the Boro Village and find their next clue. 
-Being first out, having a lead, it's all new to them (but I'm sure they can get used to it.)

-Pam & Winnie are the 2nd team to depart at 6:11am - they know you have to be smart and you have to be strong.  Their strong suit is their smarts and they feel they race better alone, so they want to avoid the pack and continue to make smart decisions. "This show should just be about us, let us race alone and we'll be fine." (They were joking - but could you imagine, what a snore-fest.)

-Chuck & Wynona had their earliest finish last week and head out 3rd at 6:17am - they run for the cars and Wynona's complaining that Chuck's going to wear her out before they get started (come on lady, suck it up!)

-Joey & Meghan start out at 6:23am and they do a little Keystone Cops, running off in different directions (oh you crazy kids!)

-Caroline & Jennifer next at 6:28 and we learn that they credit their faith for keeping them grounded (Oh sweet Jebus. They have god on their side, how can they lose?) They really are thankful to God for them getting this far.
-Roller Moms 6:37am - they're not sure where the cars are parked.
-Max & Katie 6:49am - they're also not sure where the cars are - they are upset with how badly they are under performing in the Race so far.  Wandering aimlessly, Max says this is stupid [they can't find the car] and she says, "You're stupid."  Then he says, "I know." (REALLY? Wow, she's horrible to him and he seems okay with it - it must be love.)

-The Hockey Brothers have stopped at the office of the camp they stayed at overnight to ask directions - the ladies tell them the road is bad and they might get lost so they should go with someone else.  Anthony isn't feeling very confident, it's hard being in front without someone ahead to follow and cheat off of (well at least he's honest.)
-Pam & Winnie and Chuck & Wynona encounter skinny cows on the road - Pam says they don't look like California cows - Wynona tells Chuck to be safe and don't hit a cow - Wynona also says, "there is just a smell about Africa.  It smells like a big ball of dung." (Wow, the whole continent huh?)

-Joey & Meghan have stopped at a gas station to ask for directions.  He says they have been getting stronger as a team but directions still screw them up - especially being from the GPS generation, getting directions from people is, like, so hard. "Oh my god, what do we do?  It's just so confusing." (Imagine wildly gesticulating arms with that last sentence and you've got Joey.)

-Caroline & Jennifer are enjoying the sites, God has really blessed them... until they get pulled over for speeding (Jebus, take the wheel!)
They are confident that they can sweet talk their way out of a ticket but the pretty blond thing didn't work - they are getting written up... as the Roller Moms drive on by.  Jen & Caroline now have to go to the police station and pay 920 pula (approx $100) - the policeman waves, "Have a nice day." (Ha ha) The blondes, "Yeah, thanks a lot!"

-Max & Katie have still not found the car.  Katie, "Instead of running around like an idiot, stop and think where you parked it." (Seriously lady?  You were with him when he parked it, use your great big brain and figure it out - sheesh!) Finally he tells her to just stop ragging on him, if she thinks it's so easy she can do all the extra stuff from now on.  (Hey! Max does have some balls) they find the car and she sits and pouts in the back seat.

-Bates & Anthony successfully found the clue box (way to go boys, all on your own and everything) they get a clue to a Roadblock and a Fast Forward - they are going to do the FF (obviously) "Have some fun on the waters of the Okavango Delta!"  They have to make their way to the riverbank - which is right there - passing signs that say 'Danger Crocodiles, Do not swim'.  And the FF says both of them must stay up on water skis for a mile up the river.  This gives them pause - last time Bates tried to water ski he couldn't get up out of the water - Anthony says he can do it and they are going to give it a try. (Do or do not, there is no try!  I believe the force is strong in these two :)
-On the boat, Bates asks the guy what the crocodile situation is like, he says there's nothing, they checked last night.  Bates response, like my own, was: A lot can happen between now and last night (amen, brother.)
-Off they go, and Bates gets up, oh, oh, it's touch and go, he's pretty wobbly but finally he gets his center and they are water skiing on a river in Africa (how cool is that?)

-Pam & Winnie are still driving and getting worried that they are way out in the middle of nowhere, then they turn a corner and, there they are (phew!)  Pam gets so excited when she sees the FF but quickly realizes the only other team there must have done it.  They read the ROADBLOCK: Who wants to go up a creek without a paddle? (No one, I'm guessing.)  They must use a traditional hollowed out canoe made from a single tree to transport two goats upstream to a nearby goat pen, then travel back down river to receive the next clue.
-Winnie says she's going to do this one.  First they have to go collect two baby goats, Pam sits with them in the canoe and Winnie must stand up in the back and use a pole to push them along.  Winnie's finding it difficult and so is Pam when the goats start peeing all over her leg (Welcome to Africa, ha, ha, ha.)

-Meanwhile the Hockey Brothers have successfully water skied a mile up the river so they stop and then they show a crocodile on the river bank (it'd be scarier if they didn't show the safety jet skis also following them...) but they won the FF on their first try - the boat will then take them farther up river and they will be driven to the Pit Stop.  As they get going again, the guys in the boat show them the crocodile on the bank - "What were we doing in the water?" "Well, now we can say we swam with crocodiles!" (Holy, I'd be changing my drawers.)

-The Country Singers get to the police station to pay their speeding ticket and find out that they won't take American money, it has to be pula (still feeling blessed?)

-Chuck & Wynona get to the Roadblock, figuring the Hockey Players did the FF, Wynona is going to tackle this Roadblock (and they've already shown us it's going to go badly.)
-And it starts badly from the beginning with Wynona having trouble catching the goats, then one of them escapes when she expects it to just walk over to Chuck... (what kind of country girl is she?)  She figured it would act like a dog.  And she isn't confident standing in the boat so she's going to try and do it from her knees (uh oh.)
-Roller Moms get there and Beth (? I think) is doing it.

-Joey & Meghan are lost. They are driving through trees to the river, and a bunch of little kids surround the car waving at the camera... they have to turn around, they're in the totally wrong place.

-Max & Katie, in the car he's being positive, "We're doing good." And Miss Sour Pouty face says, "I believe the correct term is doing well." (I think my fist would look well hitting your face!  I dare you, correct my grammar again!)

-Back at the police station, Jennifer is trying to find somewhere to exchange money.  A guy tells her it's just up the road but she would have to drive and she can't leave Caroline there so she gives him the money to do the exchange... then, almost as an afterthought, asks him to please come back. (Wow, that is really trusting of her, but she has Jebus on her side, what could go wrong?)
-She tells the camera this could be a huge mistake, apparently they won't let Caroline leave the police station so this, hopefully, nice man has offered to exchange money for them... She gave him a hundred dollars and hopes that she will see him again.  "This is such a nightmare."

-Next thing they show is Max & Katie passing the 60 mph sign, she warns him to slow down... and he gets pulled over by the same cops that got the Country Singers.  While Max is out getting the ticket, Katie is bad-mouthing him to the camera, "He's supposed to be the man but he can't find the car and now he gets a speeding ticket. He's just digging his own grave." (I just can't even... this is her new husband - she is unbelievable.)

-Back at the police station, Jennifer is certain they are in last place when their Good Samaritan comes back with the money (belief in mankind restored!) he gets a big ol' hug for his troubles, "Thank you, you are so nice."

-Bates & Anthony are sunbathing in the boat, showing us some man-candy as they get to cruise on to the pit stop.  Bates says, "can't get much better than this, sitting here in my underwear, enjoying the scenery - and Africa looks nice as well." (Ha ha, cheeky bugger.)  They get to shore and get in the truck heading for the Pit Stop.

-Back at the Roadblock, Pam & Winnie have made it upstream to the goat pen, delivered their babies and are hoping heading downstream will be easier.
-Wynona is whining that the boat's not going where she wants, Chuck is trying to direct her on what to do but he can't help her and she is the type to get frustrated and give up (great.  You better suck it up lady, I'm not ready to be out of the pool yet.)
-Beth & Mona are having a tough time with it too - Beth is also trying to do the poling while kneeling in the boat and it just doesn't give you the same leverage.  Mona is trying to help direct her but they have a little bicker as well - it's probably doubly as hard being in the boat and being allowed to help.

-Joey & Meghan are still lost - and have to ask directions again... we'll see if they can figure it out this time.  Driving places is going to be the death of them.

-Caroline & Jennifer make it to the Roadblock and before Jen even finishes reading the clue - Caroline is in the goat pen, "OOHHH, I LOVE GOATS!" and they scatter. (Chill out lady, you're freaking them out.)

-Chuck & Wynona have finally made it upstream and delivered the goats, now she's trying to take them back ... bicker, bicker.

-Caroline finally grabs two goats and they get in the canoe, Caroline is poling from the middle and Jennifer is sitting in the back with the goats (we'll see how that works for them.)
-Pam & Winnie pass the country singers as they come in - "How cute are those goats?" (Really? Actually, I just realized there are still a lot of girl-only teams on the race - you go girls!)
-Beth & Mona haven't made much progress, they see the Country Singers are there and Mona tells Beth she's got to stand up and do it like the locals... she's up.

-Pam & Winnie get the next clue, Route Info - they must take a water taxi up the river, then take a safari taxi to the Royal Tree Lodge Game Preserve to get their next clue.  They feel like they're in an adventure movie in the water taxi, flying up the river (after the canoe, I bet.)

-Speaking of the canoes - Wynona is about to ram the Roller Moms and, since neither Beth or Wynona have any control they can't steer away, Beth gives them a little push... Chuck wasn't too happy they were playing roller derby on the water (oh come on, you nearly rammed them broadside... it was not as dramatic as he played it up.)
-Caroline is doing pretty well with poling the canoe, she says in her everyday life now she doesn't do a lot of this stuff but growing up she used to be more of a tomboy - she's loving these hardcore challenges, it's like reliving her childhood.

-Max & Katie get to the police station.
-Joey & Meghan are still totally lost.

-Chuck & Wynona finally make it back and get the Route info clue.
-Mona & Beth and the Country Singers both deliver their goats at the same time and the Country Singers pass them leaving the goat pen - Caroline is good at poling the boat and Jennifer is so glad that she did this one.   In the other boat, Mona is really not happy that Beth did this one.

-Winnie & Pam and Chuck & Wynona are enjoying their water taxi ride up the river.  Once on land, Winnie is again complaining about all the poo everywhere (princess, Pam got peed on, you can step in a little poo.)  Chuck is sure that ride didn't make the hairdo look too good (I don't think it hurt it any, it never looks very good.)

-Caroline & Jennifer get back and get the Route info clue.  Beth & Mona are right behind them.

-Back at the Police Station, Max & Katie are leaving (they must have had the correct currency) when Max backs into a pole... the one and only thing anywhere near them... he hits it. (Hm, maybe she does have a point, after all she must know him better than I do.) They are just going to keep going (what else can you do?) She says maybe she should drive and he says he'd  be more than happy to have her drive, it's so stressful (oh no, I'm sure in her mind it's the man's job.)

-Meghan & Joey are still driving aimlessly, she's now praying that they find the place, when they spot another team and are following them (doesn't matter where they are going - they are just happy to have found someone!) They see Max & Katie as being sent by God to guide them (sure) Joey is praising Jesus!
-Katie is glad to see them too, at least they're not last.  Max says if they get beat by them [Joey & Meghan] they should be going home anyway (Really?  They beat you last leg.  Just saying.)

-Max & Katie get to the Roadblock and see they have to complete their Speed Bump first. 
SPEED BUMP: they have to finish beading a skirt (looks like a short hula skirt but with beaded stings instead of straw) then take part in a traditional seduction dance (which consisted of shaking their butts like there's no tomorrow.) Once the dancers have decided that they have made the right moves, they can continue racing.

-Joey & Meghan, meanwhile, can start the Roadblock - figuring it's a physical challenge, Joey is doing the poling - they hope they can finish it quickly and overtake Max & Katie completely.

-Pam & Winnie have arrived at the next clue pouchy-thing - and get the clue to the:
DETOUR: Brains or Brawn - will require them to use two of Botswana's most used animals, horses or donkeys.
In Brains: they must go on a horseback safari searching for 10 animal cut outs.  Then using only their memory, they must put tiles representing the cut outs in order as they appeared on the ride to get the next clue.
In Brawn: they must stack wood on a traditional sand sleigh, then using a dangling carrot, they must persuade a team of four donkeys to drag the sleigh 1/2 a mile to a camp.  Once they've delivered their allotted wood, they'll get the next clue.

-Pam & Winnie, after saying their strength is their brains, decide to do brawn. (Just shaking my head, I would never work with donkeys given a choice, and I hate horseback riding.)  They pick a pile of wood and start dragging it over to the sleds.
-Chuck & Wynona - going Brains. (See, they're not just pretty faces.) They can't write anything down so they are going to keep shouting out and repeating what they see. "Zebra, buffalo, kudu..." Wynona don't sing like the country girls but she's making a song out of it.
-Country Singers and Roller Moms get to the Detour and they both decide to do Brawn. (I wish I could read the clue, because I just can't understand why anyone would choose that one.)

-Back at the Roadblock - Joey is having trouble in the canoe, he almost falls over standing up so he kneels down and is using the pole like a kayak oar (that's not right.)  He says it's working a little bit (not enough.)

-Speed Bump - the ladies take Max & Katie into a little hut one at a time and put some red paint on their faces (Katie hated that - Not the Face!)  "I don't really know what was going on in the hut."

-Detour - Pam & Winnie cannot get their donkeys to move - the back ones want to go but these two stubborn asses in the front... Country girls show up along with the Roller Moms and they haven't moved an inch.  Right away Pam & Winnie feel the anxiety and pressure of other teams and decide to switch tasks (why they chose this one is still a mystery to me.)
-Caroline has no trouble getting her asses moving (ha) she is talking sweet to them and just starts pulling them along, and they go.  Mona is also taking charge of the donkeys and they are moving... I think Winnie and Pam were just too timid, show them who's boss and they go!

-Max is proving that he is a white boy trying to shake his tail feather, it's in the hips, man... Katie's not much better but they get the okay and start the Roadblock - when he reads 'who wants to go up a creek without a paddle' he knows it's got to be him, he's had experience with that so far.  Let Miss Bossy pants sit back and tell you how it's done.
-Oh, and Joey has them going in circles - he's useless at the boat thing.

-Winnie & Pam are up on the horses and are excited they changed tasks, this feels like fun.  Zebra!
-Chuck & Wynona have the first 5 animals, Wynona's singing her song and now Chuck has to remember the next 5.

-Joey & Meghan finally delivered their goats and are just starting back when they pass Max & Katie (he made up a lot of time for them).

-Caroline & Jennifer are moving along well with the donkeys until their sled gets stuck on a tree (way to direct it Jennifer!)  Allowing Beth and Mona to overtake them.

-Chuck tells the camera it's always been his dream to come to Africa to hunt, all the trophies (he is a taxidermist remember) he has are domestic US - he'd love to have a kudu or a lion (oh, stop, yes I eat meat but I don't like hunting for sport... la la la) Back on the trail, Chuck is remembering his 5 and Wynona is complaining her backside is getting sore (she's almost as bad as Katie, just not as sour-faced.)

-Joey & Meghan finish the Roadblock and head out for the Detour on the water taxi.  Max & Katie are right behind them.  In the boat Katie says they just have to beat Joey & Meghan, they have to kill it in the Detour or they are done.

-Roller Mom Beth is using her loud Roller voice to keep the donkeys moving but when they get to the camp they can't get them to stop.  Mona has to try and hold them in place and let Beth unload the wood.
-Caroline & Jen have a similar issue.  They try to stop the donkeys and one of them shies and almost kicks Caroline... eek! A handler comes over to hold the animals and they unload.
-Roller Mom's get the clue to make their way to the river bend and find the Pit Stop.  Country Singers are right behind them.

-Chuck & Wynona finish the ride and quickly get their tiles in order... they were a little iffy on the last one - hippo with a bird on it... no hippo, must be the bird - and they are right!  Get the clue to the Pit Stop.
-Pam & Winnie are commenting on how pretty their horses are and they miss one of the cut outs (uh oh - they can't do brain or brawn, what's left?)  When they see the last one, hippo with the bird on it, figure it must count as two... not realizing they only saw nine.

-Joey & Meghan get to the Detour clue and decide to do Brawn - they take off running as Max & Katie pull up - they also choose brawn. (Head to head battle.)

-Pam & Winnie put their tiles in order and they are incorrect - "oh my gosh, we have to go back to the beginning?" (Yup! So pay attention this time!)

-Joey & Meghan have the same issue Pam & Winnie did with the donkeys, they are not forceful enough.  Katie doesn't have that problem - she gets those things moving, they know who's wearing the pants!  Joey is slapping the donkey in the face with the carrot - no go.
-Finally they change so Meghan is leading and they get the donkeys moving - they try to pass Max & Katie and get their sled stuck on a tree... could be because Joey is a spaz and keeps running up beside the donkeys so they shy sideways into things (he just gets so excited, I don't think he can control himself.  Or, he's just not so smart.)

-Meanwhile, Pam & Winnie have gone through the ride again and, I believe, have made the same mistake - again.

-Max & Katie get to camp just ahead of Joey & Meghan, they are all unloading their wood and Katie says again if Joey & Meghan beat them in a brawn test they deserve to go home (if only...)

-Pam & Winnie missed the Ostrich again (because of course they couldn't have missed one the first time) so instead of trying again, they decide to switch tasks again and take off to do donkeys - (goodbye girls.)

-Joey & Meghan unload their wood faster and get the clue just before Max & Katie - they all take off running.

Here's How They Finished:
1) Bates & Anthony - they won $7500 each (a total $15K). This is their 3rd first place finish but they aren't taking anything for granted, they know the other teams are coming for them.
2) Mona & Beth - there is lots of jumping up and down and screaming when they hear they are team #2
3) Caroline & Beth - Girl Power on the Mat today!
4) Chuck & Wynona - They are good to go! Don't count us out. (I think Wynona thought they would have finished higher.)
5) Joey & Meghan - just ahead of...
6) Max & Katie - Phil plays with them a little, gets them all on the mat together and says, "just not your day... but you'll have to muster a little more strength because you are not the last teams to arrive." "What?" (That's what I said...)
7) Pam & Winnie - **ELIMINATED** They are proud of how they ran the race, they can't feel too bad, they got see and do so many amazing things - they are choosing to focus on the positives.  And we didn't see them cry, Pam said "Crying is for b*tches" and I guess she meant it.

So, with Pam & Winnie leaving the Race, Susan N, Kim A, Fred & Gary M, Alexis G and Shelly P are out of the pool.

In Two weeks (so they must not be on next week): They go from Botswana to Switzerland and revisit the cheese rolling challenge... in the SNOW! (OMG) And Wynona goes over the edge, whining while rock climbing, but what else is new?

Hope everyone had a great Easter,

Coleen

 

Survivor Fans vs Favourites - March 27 Episode Recap

Tubby Lunchbox

Last week they mixed up the tribes with all the young pretty people on the new Gota tribe and the not-so-young, not-so-pretty people on Bikal.
But it seems it's still Fans vs Favourites on the tribes, and with each of the new tribes having 4 favourites to 3 fans - we bid adieu to Matt/the Beard.

Bikal - Night 16
Returning from Tribal Council and Julia says she nearly wet herself she was so scared it was going to be her going home.
-The Favourites (mostly Corinne) apologize to the remaining 2 fans, Michael and Julia, for having voted out Matt.  Phillip makes it sound like it was by his grace they were spared but Corinne goes to Michael later and tells him she will do whatever she can to keep him there (she loves her gays.)
-Michael tells the camera he's going to do whatever he needs to do to garner favour and make the Favourites want to keep him around to the merge.
-Corinne is prepared to dump one of her own to keep Michael, ideally that would be Phillip but she doesn't think she can make a move that big this early in the game.
-Phillip is watching Corinne very carefully.  He sees her having conversations with others, especially Michael, and she's not disclosing what was said [to him].  He finds this unacceptable and pulls Cochran away to tell him he wants Corinne gone. Next.
-Cochran speaks logic to Phillip, his concern is that when they get to the merge and meet up with their old tribe mates they won't trust them because they turned on one of their own, core six. (You can see that penetrated the fog in Phillip-land, he got that.)
-So, Phillip says if he can't get rid of Corinne, it'll have to be her new gay friend, as she calls him.  Then Phillip, gets right in Cochran's face, "This is me being a Federal agent, I don't trust that woman."  (Alrighty then.)

Bikal - Day 17
Tree mail: the strong must bear the weak if you hope to compete but winning will be oh so sweet. (something like that anyway.)
-Cochran is optimistic that there is a place for them in the challenge, they have lots of weak.
-Phillip says anything to do with the upper body, upper back, shoulders, without being arrogant (too late), I'm almost certain I can win it. (Oh boy, there you go shooting your mouth off.)
-Corinne can't believe his delusional bravado, "like, oh my god."
-And Phillip goes on about his power lifting and how it makes you really strong without looking super beefy (dude, just stop.) Then he tells the camera that he honestly believes that he is stronger than anyone out there (on either tribe.)
-Next scene is Phillip challenging Cochran to an arm wrestle... then getting Cochran to use two hands, then getting Cochran to use all his weight against Phillips one hand and he was able to keep it off the ground so now Phillip thinks he's super man - Cochran is happy to oblige making Phillip feel young again (I guess) if it helps him get pumped up to win the challenge - why not.
-Phillip says his assets of the will of a lion and the determination of a gorilla ... blah, blah, blah - I lost my will to keep listening to the pathetic old man.

REWARD CHALLENGE
They will each be wearing a belt that will be clipped to a rope so they will be moving together as a tribe - in addition they will each be carrying a 20lb sand bag - starting at opposites sides of an oval track set up in shallow water, they will race to try and catch the other tribe (I remember this challenge, they've done it before).  If someone gets tired and can't continue they can give their weight to another tribe member and bow out (that's when the fun begins.) 
Reward: taken to nearby island where they will go to a Survivor coffee bar with lots of baked goodies.
-Gota's strategy is to have stronger people at the back to run anchor and Bikal/Phillip wants himself out front because he believes he can go faster than anyone and doesn't want to be stuck behind them (sheesh.)
-Off they go and Phillip takes them out at a run, Gota is just walking it to start, they are okay letting the other team tire - and that's exactly what happens - Phillip is pooped.  Corinne wants to keep running so Phillip runs a couple steps - nope, "Let's just walk it, the women will tire." (WHAT? I'm sick of him being such a sexist, those little girls would be running rings around him if they weren't all stuck behind him.)
-Bikal is asking Phillip if they can run, Gota is picking up their pace and is catching up to them. Phillip tries to run but finally admits he can't do it, he's tired (oh no, the lion and gorilla have let him down, it couldn't be his fault.) They try to run and Phillip stops them, when the weight comes to him he won't be able to go on... (What weight?  No one is going to give you their weight. - I think Phillip should drop out... he won't do it.)  Dawn, Julia and Cochran drop out, giving their weight to Corinne and Michael - Gota is breathing down their necks. Phillip falls and that's all she wrote. 
GOTA wins Reward because Phillip's ego wouldn't let him do what was right for his tribe. (Of course in his mind it's HIS tribe.)
-Dawn sums it up: Phillip has put himself in this role of leader but he's just so arrogant, he sees all of his strengths and none of his weaknesses.

REWARD
Gota - they are so excited about the food - Andrea tells the camera it was nice bonding more with the Fans.  They have never won a reward so it was good to see them enjoy it and have a good time.  Andrea's strategy is to get to know the Fans, make sure they have good memories of their experience before she has to vote them off, so hopefully they'll vote for her in the end.
-Reynold is a bacchanalian so this reward was right in his sweet spot - celebrating and enjoying life and bonding with the favourites (seems everyone is on the same page) ... he's talking really fast, caffeine and sugar kicking in... with Malcolm as well, he's kissing everyone on the head, telling them he loves them (oy.)
-Malcolm tells the camera that this new Gota tribe is one big happy family, all they do is win challenges and celebrate but he knows that he could be in trouble when it comes to voting time, no one wants to go to the end with him, he figures he's got to make his move soon - he's getting all his pieces in line to take over this game.

Bikal - Day 17
And let the excuses begin - Phillip is now old and tired, the other team had the advantage from the beginning (huh, quite the change of tune.)
-Corinne blames the whole thing on Phillip, "You tubby lunchbox." (Ha ha) She's yet to see an ab or pectoral muscle on him, he's 10lbs of potatoes in a 5lb sack (oh man, she's mean, but he kind of deserves it.)  She says everyone sees his true colours though and she hopes maybe they'll be open to taking him out.
-She goes and vents to Cochran, she says she could have taken everybody's weights and won he whole thing herself.  Cochran agrees that Phillip has an inflated sense of himself being the strongest man in the world... but he's trying to placate her.  He sees how Corinne and Phillip hate each other and knows that this fracture in the Favourites on this tribe could be a death sentence.
-Corinne doesn't want to play with Phillip anymore but Cochran is going to push for one of the Fans to go - even that isn't a certainty though because Michael seems capable of wheeling and dealing, he's become quite close with Corinne.  And Julia is almost a non-entity, he'd say she has a vanilla personality but that is doing a disservice to the flavour vanilla (ouch.)  No one is clamouring for Julia except... Phillip, for some reason he has taken to Julia and he's giving her tips on being a double agent if they go to the merge, he wants her to get in with her old tribe mates, report to him and not go back to them... sigh.
-Phillip is patting himself on the back with the job he's done grooming Julia to be his double agent, she then tells the camera she's not intimidated by Phillip, she'll play along to get along at this point but she recognizes that he's going to destroy the unity of the tribe by driving everyone crazy - so why not get rid of him. (Oh burn!  Corinne is cozying up to the wrong Fan.)

Gota - Day 17
They are back from the Reward and Malcolm is making his move on Reynold.  Malcolm believes that the four young alpha males, meaning Reynold, Eddie, Erik and himself, are going to be the first four targets after a merge - Malcolm wants them all to stick together.  Reynold says he's on the same page but he's still a little leery of Malcolm, then in the next breath he says they are the same though and he discloses to Malcolm that he has another hidden immunity idol. (This guy does not learn. Does he have blond roots?  Come on!)
-Malcolm now knows that he can trust Reynold, he went overboard telling him about the idol (he also knows he's smarter than Reynold too, cause Malcolm didn't reciprocate.)  Malcolm is now the only person in the game that knows where both immunity idols are and he can't wait to take control of the game. (Yeah, the cocky, not so attractive.)

Bikal - Day 19
-Vanilla (Julia) approaches Dawn (Horse & Buggy) to 'talk'.  Julia tells her that Phil has been talking to her and it seems he wants to take her along to the merge, which she is fine with, but she's feeling kind of bullied and wonders what would happen if everyone just overthrew Phillip - What's stopping people from doing that?
-Dawn thought that Julia wasn't very aware of the game but she's impressed to find out she's thinking more than she thought.  Dawn doesn't commit anything to Julia and assures her she won't tell anyone about their 'talk', then she runs and tells Phillip (What? Oh man! Julia and Corinne have got to get together.)
-Dawn tells Phillip that Julia asked her how she felt about her (Julia) working with Phillip, if it would be good for her long term.  Phillip says she's an idiot, that he specifically told her not to say anything to anyone.
-Phillip tells the camera he's given Julia every chance but she's managed to make a number of Foo Paws (translation: faux pas) in terms of Survivor play. Phillip gave her information to test her, she failed, but she won't know that until she's walking away with her torch out.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
Three members of each tribe will paddle out into the ocean and dive down to retrieve a statue, they'll then bring it back to shore and place it at the base of a tower.  Then three other tribe members will use a grappling hook to retrieve keys - once they collect all 5 keys they will unlock the tower and pull the statue to the top (tower is on an angle, statue is on a platform attached to a winch.) First tribe to finish wins immunity.

Off they go - Brenda, Erik and Eddie for Gota, Michael, Dawn & Corinne for Bikal.
-Gota gets off to a quick start and Bikal is off course... then Gota goes off course and Bikal catches up... they both clip the boat in and jump in the water, they get their statues but they are heavy and it's a struggle to get it in the boat... Bikal almost flips again and they are behind.
-Gota has Reynold using the grappling hook and it's Phillip using the hook for Bikal.  Reynold is fishing in the keys quickly - he's up 4 when Phillip finally gets 1 - Phillip gets up to 3 keys when Reynold gets their 5th key - they unlock the tower and GOTA wins Immunity!

(You know, the division of the tribes sucks - they are in no way fair or even... they might as well have left them as they were - we are again watching one tribe win over and over again.)

Bikal - Day 19
Returning to camp after losing - again - Phillip pulls Cochran aside and tells him he has a confession to make... immediately Cochran is wondering what that could be... Phillip says they could have won that challenge if he wanted them to but he can't have Julia around at the merge...
-Cochran can't believe this guy, does he believe his own line of BS?  Of course they had to throw a challenge because these fans are so threatening, that's why Phillip couldn't throw a grappling hook.  It's complete crap.
-Phillip, "had I wanted to win, I would have thrown it differently," blah, blah, blah.  Cochran says you can't make up this level of delusion, that's why he likes playing with Phillip. He honestly believes at this point that he threw the challenge on purpose. (I'm impressed with how composed Cochran is this time around, he's able to remain objective and he's quietly wrangling Phillip, good for him.)
Cochran lets Phillip go on about a lion taking out the cubs (whatever) then reigns him back in, "we're still in for splitting the votes right?" (Just in case one of them has an idol - but they don't)

-The Favourites are in the shelter and Cochran says they want to split the votes, Dawn is in, but Corinne is NOT.  She doesn't think they need to do that and at this point she wants to keep Michael with them through the merge so she wants to keep him comfortable and happy.
-Phillip is not willing to bend his game play to anyone else's agenda and he gets hot under the collar - throws down the 'Boston Rob would never do that'... or something like that - he thinks Corinne is just looking out for her own selfish needs and not putting the Favourites first (wow, this guy is a piece of work.) He walks off in a huff and Cochran and Dawn follow him.  Phillip tells them that Corinne is no longer in their alliance, he's not going to be bullied by her (says the biggest bully out there) he's going to cast his vote for Michael because that's what BR (Boston Rob) would do.
-Corinne comes up on the three confabbing and Phillip is having none of it, he doesn't like it when people don't let him do whatever he wants to do, how dare she interrupt their conversation.  She tells him he's being mean, he says he's not, just go away. (Argh, I can't believe this guy!  You are not anywhere near as charismatic as as Boston Rob, he would never talk to someone on his tribe like that.) King Phillip needs an ugly awakening.
-Cochran is worried that this feud between Corinne and Phillip is going to come to a head and it will become apparent why they can't play this game together.

TRIBAL COUNCIL
So Michael, 19 days in, this tribe in a state of despair, is it hard to keep morale up?
-Of course, it brings out a bit of tension in the tribe when the morale is low.
Julia, if it's still Fans vs Favs, you have a reason to be tense, why would anyone else be tense?
-The Favs do have the numbers so I know they are looking way past this tribal council, they have their game and their alliances and I see why they would be tense as well.
Now I'm connecting the dots, Corinne, does the tension among the Favs come in whether we keep Michael or if we keep Julia?
-Absolutely, going into a possible merge is a really serious thing.  You don't want to screw something up here and regret it down the line.
-Phillip jumps in - I just want to add that it's about understanding the process.  Corinne and I may clash on some points but we're actually talking about the same thing, just the process of getting there is a little bit different.
Dawn, have you seen Phillip and Corinne try to come to an understanding?
-Seen it, felt in, been in between it - but I feel like the conflict is okay if we have the same goal in the end and we stay committed.
(Oh, they are trying to reign Corinne back in... I don't think she likes that much.)
Let's talk about today's challenge - did well on the first half, fell apart on the second half.  Phillip you put yourself in that hero role, again...
-I don't really see it that way, I was in the role that they had already seen me in 3 times previously and I had prevailed.
Who really lost this challenge?
-I would say I lost the portion...
Okay, that's what I'm talking about.  The guy who says 'give me the ball' is the guy that says count on me.
-But I am also the guy that carried the statue from the boat by myself while the other tribe took three men to do it - maybe that tired me out  All you can do is move on and look forward to another day....blah, blah, blah... that's what winners do.
So Michael, you lose another immunity challenge, you're back at tribal council, how do you pitch yourself to these 4 so they keep you?
-I didn't start today - I started when I landed on the beach.  I've been working really hard to make them comfortable with me so they will want to move forward with me.
Cochran, Corinne was very vocal last Tribal about liking to work with the gays.  Could that work against Michael?
-Yeah, if people perceive him working solely with Corinne that could work against him.
-Corinne pipes up - look this has been grossly exaggerated. I've only known him for a handful of days and sure I do think it's neat that he's gay but a twosome alliance this does not make. (Phillip finds that interesting.)
-Michael says he's ready to get to the vote, he wanted to vote as soon as they lost the last challenge, he's like a cat hanging on to a tree wondering what's going to happen and he's ready to find out (nice try - but Jeff won't be rushed... he's still got some questions.)
Julia, how bout you? How comfortable are you that you will survive tonight's vote?
-I thought I was going to play the game one way but things changed and I had to play another way but maybe I was too comfortable and maybe it will hurt me tonight (what? I couldn't be bothered rewinding - who cares what she said - vanilla, vanilla, zzzz).

Now it's time to vote:
They didn't show how anyone voted.
No one had a hidden idol to play.

Tallying the votes:
Michael -1
Julia - 1
Michael - 2
Julia - 2
Michael - 3
Julia - 3
It's a tie.

REVOTE - Michael and Julia don't vote.
Julia - 1, 2, 3... It is JULIA leaving us tonight.  (Who?  I know right.)
And with Julia leaving Janine S, Sunny C and Karen S are out of the pool.

Next week: it's the merge and they have a disgusting eating challenge (oh great, I love watching people gag.)

Julia's final thoughts: This game was so different than I expected going into it.  It was hard playing against veteran players who knew the game inside and out and then be at their mercy.  She didn't like being at the mercy of other people.  But she had a wonderful experience yada yada. (B'bye, can't say I'm sad we didn't really get to know you.)

Have a great Easter long weekend!

Coleen

Amazing Race 22 - March 24/13 Episode Recap

Scorpion King Hunter

They showed us a brief recap of the tearful Dave & Connor resigning from the Race last week which allowed the struggling Mullet/Chuck & Wynona to remain in the Race despite coming in last.

Pam & Winnie are the first team to head out on this leg at 10:40pm, they get the clue to make their way from Hanoi, Vietnam to Maun in the Kalahari Desert.  They need to figure out that they have to fly to Botswana - once there they have to sign up for one of three flights that will take them to the National Park on the edge of the Kalahari Desert.
-Pam & Winnie are hoping this first place finish means they are getting into a rhythm on the Race but they know they have to keep sharp especially since they U-Turned Joey & Meghan, Jazz Hands/Joey is going to be gunning for them.   They use the Internet at a hotel and figure out they are heading to Botswana.

-Newlyweds Max & Katie are the next team to head out at 11:34pm, they want to keep the fact that Katie has a doctorate and is really smart a secret, "Big hair, big brain." (What? Why would it matter?  I can't stand these two.) Max is proud they proved how smart they were by also using the computer at the hotel to figure out they're going to Botswana (watch out everyone, they're ready for brain surgery.)

-Roller Moms/Mona & Beth are heading out right after them at 11:37pm - they are trying to figure out what country Maun is in by looking at a map... they have to know where they want to go or the security at the travel agency won't let them inside.  Beth says they are one of the three remaining all-girl teams on the race and people are starting to realize they are good at everything, "oh, that sounded very arrogant, we're not good at everything." (No big hair, big brain?)

-Hockey Brothers are next out at 11:39pm - Anthony thinks Maun is in Kenya... (might want to double check.)  They believe they are working well together and they are enjoying spending as much time with the Country Singers as they can - 12 out of 10 Bates rates them (oh boys).  Now they want to break from the middle of the pack and move up.

-Country Singers/Caroline & Jen are next out at 11:46pm - they are so excited to be heading to Africa.  They say their ultimate final three is; themselves, Bates & Anthony and Max & Katie (ugh.) Caroline says Jenn has a baby crush on Bates (ooh) - and they also think Maun is in Kenya.

-Pam & Winnie are the first team to the travel agency and they give the right password - Botswana - to be let in.  They find out the first flight is at 10:45am, so everyone will catch up again.
-Max & Katie get to the travel agents and get in no problem.
-Mona & Beth get there then ask people on the street if they can use their smart phone to look up Maun.
-Caroline & Jen get to the travel agent and say Kenya - the guy won't let them in - then Katie (who is inside) tells them it's Botswana and they are allowed entry (when did this friendship happen?  Is it just the pretty blonds banding together?)
-Roller Moms find out their destination is Botswana on the smart phone and head inside.
-Hockey boys show up and say Kenya - but Caroline sticks her head out and tells them it's Botswana (Wow, there is a lot of co-operation going on this leg so far... they better be careful or they'll be targets too - of course that wouldn't cross their minds, they're the pretty people after all, who could want them out?)

-Joey & Meghan are 6th to start out at 12:47am - they weren't popular in high school and this [U-Turning] feels similar, but it's okay, they can't keep us down, we'll come back. (You go Geeks!)

-And finally Chuck/the Mullet & Wynona start out at 3:26am - they were shocked they were U-Turned they didn't think they'd be seen as a strong enough team to warrant it - but they aren't ready "to throw in the towel or get divorced or nothing" - they're going to keep doing their best.

-Joey & Meghan are happy to find out they are on the same flight as everyone else, that's what they wanted, an even playing field.

-Chuck & Wynona at the travel agency just start randomly guessing countries, Kenya, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey... No, no, no, no... Chuck asks to borrow the cab drivers phone and finally Boats-Wana? Yes!

-Chuck & Wynona found out it was Joey & Meghan that U-turned them, they have hard feelings.  At the airport, Joey & Meghan decide to go talk to them and try to smooth it over but hell hath no fury like a Red-neck scorned.  Wynona, "What was it, eeny, meany, miney, moe - Chuck and Wynona gotta go?" (Ha! She's a poet.)
-Joey goes and talks to Pam & Winnie and the Country Singers to find out what prize they stole from them (trip to Whistler) and he comes  back with the impression that it was a group decision that they were going to be U-Turned - the rest of them better watch out now! (They sound like cute little cartoon characters, I can't take them seriously.)

-All the teams board the flight to Maun, Botswana and Chuck says they have got to get on the first charter flight otherwise he fears the other teams will get so far ahead they won't be able to catch up.
-Flight lands in Maun and the Country Singers are the first team to the sign up board, followed by the Hockey Players - these two teams get the first flight at 9am.
-Max & Katie and Joey & Meghan get the 2nd flight at 9:15am and Mona & Beth, Chuck & Wynona and Pam & Winnie are on the third flight at 9:30am.  Chuck is upset but really dude, it's only 15 minutes, think positive.

9am - Country Singers and Hockey Players are flirting on their little plane ride and enjoying the sites - "We saw elephants."
9:15am - Joey is scared of the little plane and Max & Katie are their usual sour-pusses, wished they could have enjoyed the safari with anyone else.
9:30am - Chuck says, "This is where the Lion King was made right here." Which has Beth laughing, it's a cartoon.  Pam says, "You know it's a cartoon right?" "Yup." (Somehow I don't think he got it.)

-First flight lands and they get the clue which tells them to drive themselves up the road and look for markers to get the next clue.
Country singers are following the Hockey brothers in the cars, four heads are better than two I guess.

-Second flight lands and Joey & Meghan and Katie & Max run for the cars. 

-Hockey Brothers and Country Singers come upon a line of Kalahari bushmen and a log with clues in jars.  Bates says they may be overdressed (as the bushmen are in loincloths only.) 
The clue: ROADBLOCK: Who feels like making a new friend?
-Bates says he does and then Phil tells us in this task they will have to go digging for scorpions with the bushmen - once they unearth the poisonous creature, the bushman will put it in their jar and lead them to a stump where they'll find their next clue. Bates takes off running with his three guides. 
-Caroline also chooses her group and they start off but one of them spots a lion in the brush nearby and runs away, climbs a tree - she doesn't know what to do, "Do I climb the tree with you? Wow, you can really climb." (Ha ha, the bushman's not dumb, he's safe up the tree and the lion can have the tourist for lunch.)

-Joey and Max are going to be hunting scorpions for the next group.  But Joey is petrified of scorpions, "why did I say I'd do this?"
-Bates is the first one to get his scorpion, the bushman holds it by the stinger and Bates lets it pinch him, not too bad... Anthony says he likes being pinched... by the country singers. (So cheesy.)
-Caroline's from Texas so she's used to scorpions but she doesn't really want to dig for it with her hands.
-Max has a glove on which he was smart enough to bring because he anticipated he'd have to touch something nasty (I see, the theme for Max & Katie is being sanctimonious about their smarts, so unattractive.)
-Joey is high pitched squealing, "With my hands?  I'm only 21, I don't want to die."
-Roller Moms arrive and Mona is going scorpion hunting.
-Bates gets back with his scorpion and guides in tow - the clue tells them to give their Bushmen a ride so they all pile in the back of the SUV and take off down the road.
-Caroline has found her scorpion - one of the Bushmen catches it and puts it in his mouth to calm it down (warm, dark place I guess) so she can hold it on her hand... briefly.  That's enough, she puts it in her jar and takes off.

-Wynona and Pam are going to be making new friends by searching for the scorpions - neither of them is very happy about it but Wynona has only done one Roadblock to Chucks 5 so she has to get her count up.  Pam just doesn't like bugs.

-Caroline & Jennifer take off in their SUV with the Bushmen in the back, "Hi guys!"
-Everyone else is still digging for scorpions.  Mona is the next one to find one and her guy puts it in his mouth as well, she thinks it's cool, drops it in a jar and off she goes. (Yup, she's a mom.)
-Max finally unearths a scorpion and can't believe when the guy puts it in his mouth, he's got his mouth hanging open then quickly shuts it, just in case.  He gets the scorpion in the jar.

-Roller Moms and Max & Katie take off with their Bushmen in the cars and Meghan is wondering where the heck is Joey. (Well Meghan, he's currently having kittens while the Bushmen catch him a scorpion, he's doing a pee-pee dance, "I don't want to touch that thing." (Oh come on! No one wants to touch it.) Joey is 'super drama man' but he finally gets the scorpion in the jar.

-Bates & Anthony get to the next clue box and read the clue to the DETOUR: Fire or Fowl.
-In Fire: they must walk to a nearby village with their Bushmen and learn how to make fire with two sticks, zebra manure and dried grass.  Once they have a flame, they must light the elder Bushman's pipe to receive their next clue.
-In Fowl: they must go hunting with the Bushmen by setting a trap to catch a Guinea Fowl.  First, they have to figure out how to construct the trap using sticks and string, then they must act like a guinea fowl and trip the trap to get the next clue.

-Bates & Anthony decide to do Fire.  While following their guides, they teach them the calls of several wild animals... with the first one, they say, "Hopefully this isn't a rhino mating call."
-Caroline & Jennifer get to the Detour and decide to do Fire as well. They walk off making strange bird calls.

-Joey gets back to Meghan and they load their Bushmen up in the car, the Bushmen are laughing, with, I assume, a translator, in the car, "He was very afraid."

-Bates & Anthony are trying to make fire - and it's hard.  Caroline & Jennifer get to the fire village as well and they are also not having much luck in the fire making.

-Mona & Beth are having a great time laughing with their Bushmen in the car, meanwhile, Katie is complaining about the smell. (You can see, she doesn't want them near her, what a Princess and by Princess, I mean stuck up b*tch.)
-Both these teams decide to do Fire as well and take off for the village. Katie, "My God, they stink."

-Back at scorpion central, Pam has finally unearthed a scorpion.  She says she wanted to run away so bad but she watches him put the thing in his mouth and then he puts it on her hand... she's just frozen - then they finally put it in the jar for her. (Phew.)
-Wynona also, finally finds her scorpion and there is no nonsense with her - put the darn thing in the jar and lets go.
-Pam & Winnie take off with their Bushmen and Chuck & Wynona were not far behind.

-Back at the Fire making - Bates & Anthony are the first team to get smoke... and finally flame!  They light the old guy's pipe and the living mummy gives them their next clue (I'm serious, that guy was made of beef jerky.) The clue tells them to make their way on foot, with the Bushmen, to the next Pit Stop.  It's a Safari camp on the river, looks nice. 
-Before they leave they pause to give Caroline & Jennifer some pointers, once one of them gets to the bottom of the stick, the other should start right away on the top.  Seeing their lack of progress, Hockey boys think the Country singers might want to switch tasks.

-Roller Moms and Max & Katie arrive at the village and have to start trying to make fire.
-Joey & Meghan get to the Detour clue and they are also going to try and make fire.
-All the teams are struggling with the fire making - Max thought, being in cigar sales, he'd be good at lighting the pipe but he's never had to make fire with sticks and poop.

-Winnie & Pam say they feel like they're smuggling Bushmen with them crammed in the back of the car (ha). They get to the Detour and decide to do Fowl.  They know that making fire from scratch is really hard, because they watch a lot of TV (I know, right!?)
-The Bushmen are teaching them bird calls and Pam says, "This is like Sesame Street on crack." (Ha! Pam's on fire tonight with the one-liners.)
-Chuck & Wynona get to the Detour clue box and they decide to do Fowl as well, they want to catch themselves some dinner.  Chuck's favourite thing to do is hunt and fish so this is something he can do.

-Back at the Fire making fiasco - teams are finally starting to think about switching... but no one does - yet.

-Pam & Winnie get to the Fowl area and their Bushmen show them how to make the snare.  Then it's their turn.  They are nervous to see Chuck & Wynona show up, they figure Chuck probably does this stuff in his spare time - brush his teeth, make a snare...

-Finally, Caroline & Jennifer decide to switch tasks and that spurs some others to follow - Joey & Meghan and the Roller Moms - Max & Katie though are going to try it a little longer (because god forbid there be something they cannot do.)

-Back at the Fowl, Chuck tells us he used to trap animals for money after high school - he'd get up, set traps, trade the catch in at the fur exchange - Wynona says she didn't know that about him. (Really? Haven't they been together 12 years?  These two do need to communicate more.)
-Pam & Winnie complete their snare and catch Winnie's hand - not surprising, they have an eye for detail these two - they get the clue to the Pit Stop.

-Max & Katie finally decide to switch tasks, they are having no luck with the fire and she's starting to snipe at him - yup, time to switch.

-Chuck is worried they are in last place but Wynona encourages him that he's good at this and then they see the Country Singers, U-Tubers and Roller Moms show up - that gets him moving again. They watch the Bushman do his little show and trip his trap, Wynona does it too and they get the clue to the Pit Stop.

-The rest of the teams are finding building the snare a little challenging - Caroline gets fwapped in the head as does Roller Mom Beth - they have to counterbalance the stick with the egg... Joey & Meghan, however, are both children of carpenters and they can knock out a building challenge.  Katie is taking control of their snare, she knows better about everything don't you know.

-Joey & Meghan enjoy the dramatic reenactment of the catching of a guinea fowl and they get the clue to the Pit Stop.
-Caroline & Jennifer finish as well and take off.  They are so glad they finally switched tasks, that fire was not happening for them.

-Max & Katie do their dramatic snaring of the hand and their trap doesn't work... (uh oh, how did that happen, they have such big brains?)  They have to start again.

-Mona & Beth are doing their guinea fowl impressions and their snare works, they get the clue to the Pit Stop.  Max & Katie see them leave and know they are in last place... or are they.

-Mona & Beth break the first rule of The Amazing Race - Read Your Clue!  They decide, instead of proceeding on foot as the clue says, to run back to the cars (since driving is faster.)

-Max & Katie finally finish the snare correctly and take off running for the Pit Stop.
-Mona & Beth see all the cars are still there and take off running for the Pit Stop.

 Here's How They Finished:
1) Bates & Anthony (Hockey Brothers)- won a trip to Thailand.  They are happy to be back up at the front of the pack.  They feel like they're just getting stronger, or at least their body odour is (ew.)
2) Pam & Winnie - They feel as one with their Bushmen.
3) Chuck & Wynona - Tell us something good Phil! And he does.  Chuck keeps grabbing Wynona's head and trying to kiss her - (trying too hard dude, that looked so awkward, I worry for them.)
4) Joey & Meghan - he tries to high 5 the Bushmen... uh, whatever.
5) Caroline & Jennifer (Country Singers) - Phil plays match maker with the Bushmen, the girls said they were looking for love and they found it. (Um, I'd be a little worried the Bushmen would actually try to keep them.)
6) Mona & Beth - They are all smiles, at least they're still in it.
7) Max & Katie - They are the last team to arrive - (come on Phil, say it) but he has good news for them, this is a Non-Elimination leg (crap!) and they are still in it, though they will have to face a Speed Bump next leg. 
-She's all sweetness and light, "of course we're up for it Phil" but underneath you know she's seething.  Max says today they made a stupid mistake but tomorrow someone else will make a stupid mistake we just can't let it be us again.
Then they acted human.  Katie says their honeymoon is continuing in Africa and Max says, "Yeah, that tents going to be rocking." (Oh, I shudder to think they will be parents one day.)

Next week: Chuck & Wynona are up a creek, she's got to paddle a canoe and he can't help her, much to his total frustration - And it all comes down to donkeys - yikes, working with animals is never easy on this show.

Have a great week everyone!

Coleen

 

Survivor Fans vs Favourites - March 20th Episode Recap

Operation Thunder Dome

Last week we saw the epic meltdown of Brandon Hantz... he terrorized his tribe to the point where Jeff had to step in and call an impromptu tribal council at the immunity challenge where the Favourites unanimously voted for Brandon to leave.

Bikal - Day 13
-The Favourites returned to camp united but worried about the pep talk Brandon gave the Fans - he gave them hope.
-Phillip is, of course, upset about the 'severe amount of damage he did to myself'. 
-Corinne couldn't believe the vitriol Brandon spewed about her, she had no idea he hated her, but besides that, he screwed over the people he did like on the tribe, he spilled everyone's rice & beans.
-Phillip tells the camera, what is wrong with Brandon takes professional help, not even The Specialist can tell you what's wrong with that guy.
-Phillip & Corinne are a little angry with that no one stepped up to counter what Brandon had said about them (um, no one was going to volunteer to be the target of his venom, come on!) Corinne wanted someone to say, we like these people, we don't like him... (they all voted for him, didn't they?  I think she's expecting a little too much from these people who are, ultimately, all in it for themselves.)
-Phillip gives a 'rah rah' speech, that they are the better tribe, one of them is going to win - then he tells the camera he's getting back to his plan, "Operation Thunder Dome" to take down Corinne. "She's motivated by evil." (Whaat?)
-Cochran is glad Brandon was able to fly over the cuckoo's nest and escape, now they are just left with Phillip (who, while also crazy, seems to be relatively harmless.)

Gota - Day 14
Treemail - tells them they will all celebrate together...
-Reynold knows he and Eddie are not going to change their lot among their current tribe, he is hoping that something is going to shift in the game.

Reward Challenge(?)

Michael how did the drama of what went down yesterday [Brandon's meltdown/departure] affect your tribe?
-It was good to feel something good together (they just saw it as a win I guess) instead of feeling the rain, the hunger - It was good to feel something positive together.
Matt did that change momentum between this group of six?
-We've definitely been bummed out losing so many challenges and we  thought it must be great over in the Favourites camp with food and comfort and them being one happy family.  So to see that wasn't the case... I feel bad for Phillip, he may appear crazy but I wouldn't want someone spilling the beans and rice, that's true craziness - I actually feel bad for you guys.
Phillip, what do you notice different with Brandon gone?
-"It was just harmony, we actually had a regular night's sleep."  Phillip said he was always sleeping with one eye open wondering what Brandon was going to do.
So, 14 days in, both tribes feel good about the unity you have now - Well, it's all about to change.  Jeff has them throw in their buffs - they are switching tribes.
-Jeff got everyone to pick an egg, and on his go they smashed them somewhere on their body - if they were filled with orange paint they are Gota, purple paint, they are Bikal.

New Tribe split:
Gota: Eddie, Sherri, Reynold, Malcolm, Andrea, Erik, Brenda (young,pretty people... and Sherri (ha)).
Bikal: Mike, Matt/the beard, Julia, Corinne, Phillip, Cochran, Dawn (not so young, not so pretty... this doesn't seem random or even.)

Jeff starts asking them how they feel:
Cochran says the game has started anew.
Matt/the beard, says he's psyched about this tribe, he likes all the these people and he's happy to be changing things up a bit (wait until Phillip tries to give him a Stealth-R-Us name... Oh Please let it be The Beard!)
Corinne says she's overwhelmed - she has to get to know new people (you just blew her game out of the water Probst, what do you want her to say?)
Brenda's take on her new tribe, they are strong (yeah, you have all the young guys) they appear to have an advantage.  She is happy. (No Shit.)

Jeff tells them they will have a new bag of rice starting out with their new tribes and a new flint - And he sends them home to start the game anew.

-Reynold tells the camera he couldn't be happier.  He was close to breaking but it's like a whole new life, whole new chance, whole new game for him and Eddie now.(Quite the bromance going on with these two.)

Gota - Day 14 
Young pretty people bonding easily - they can't see themselves losing at anything, they are the gods. (Seriously?  Eddie even said they were all the good looking people, implying that of course they are going to win? Ugh. That is so disgusting.)  But Eddie does, probably accurately, believe his chances of going farther in the game just dramatically increased.
-First order of business for Reynold & Eddie, who know they are again the minority as there are 4 favourites to their 3 fans, is informing Malcolm and Erik that their tribe had been trying to vote them out since day two and Sherri was with the other people so they are with the Favourites if they want to vote her out.
-Erik isn't drinking the kool-aid - he's getting immediate red flags from Reynold especially - sees him as a used car salesman, beautiful baby blue eyes, talking the talk but it's not all it seems.

-Sherri is pretty much doing the same thing with the girls, she's telling Andrea & Brenda that Eddie is a great guy when he's not with Reynold.  Reynold is the biggest salesman and she'd be happy to see him go.  She also told them that Reynold played his hidden immunity idol but he's also been out looking for another one.
-Andrea can't believe they are being so open, she thanks her for giving them all this information.  Andrea is still thinking Fans vs Favourites though, I don't know how far it'll get Sherri.

Bikal - Day 14
This tribe is also now 4 Favourites and 3 Fans - Corinne loves the gays (her words) so she's so happy to have Michael on the tribe, she says if she could she'd turn her back on all of them and align with the gays but she knows no one in her original alliance will turn. (seriously? Did she just out this guy on national television?)
-Phillip has decided to approach Julia as he sees her as an uneducated young girl that he can manipulate (he did call her smart, just not college educated like himself.) He tells her she can go far in this game if she's able to make it to the merge and is willing to make bold moves.  He's not bringing her in, but he's planting the seeds because he feels it will bear more fruit with her than the two men.
-Julia's no dummy, she knows what he's up to and she is frankly interested - it's hard going into this situation down in numbers so she's willing to listen.

Gota - Day 14
-Malcolm and Andrea are now comparing notes - he tells her the guys totally slammed Sherri and Andrea agrees there is a definite divide.  She also lets Malcolm know that Reynold had an idol, played it because he was so paranoid and is looking for another one.
-Malcolm can't be happier that the dysfunctional fans told them everything and even down in numbers are not a cohesive group.
-Andrea had a dream that Malcolm has an idol so she asked him and he denied it - but he does have an idol - he tells the camera he's an accomplished liar when it comes to women so he thinks he pulled it off. (Oh Malcolm, don't douche out on me now.)

Bikal - Day 14
Wow, this is a long day.  Julia is talking to Michael, asking him how he feels.  He says they seem nice, he's happy so far.
-Phillip tells Corinne he had a quick chat with Julia telling her she could have a chance past the merge if she came with them.
-Corinne doesn't think they need a flipper - she says Phillip is the worst federal agent she's ever met (met a bunch have you?) What cases has he cracked?  Is that the reason the country is such a mess? (Ha ha, didn't he tell us last time he was in janitorial services... oh, maybe that was his army service.)
-Corinne goes and tells Dawn that Phillip has already talked to Julia about flipping - Dawn's just glad he's with them but they don't think he can be left alone - Corinne, "He needs a warm glass of shut-the-hell-up." (Ha ha, love it.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE - DAY 16
Two members of each tribe will race to roll a big square crate back to the starting line, when the next couple can go.  Once they have collected all six crates, they must use them to build a staircase that spells Fans vs Favourites up the side - first tribe to finish correctly, wins Immunity.
-For some reason Bikal sent Phillip and Julia first against Erik and Eddie - Gota is showing how much stronger they are... every Gota pair is much faster and they maintain a crate lead.
-Then Bikal screws up somehow and has Phillip going out three times, once twice in a row (ha, does that sentence make any sense?) But anyway, Gota has all 6 crates and can start on the staircase, while Bikal still has two to collect - with Phillip grousing the whole time.
-Malcolm is directing Gota, getting the blocks moved into the right positions, they are very heavy and starting with the top one is smart.
-Julia tries to get Bikal doing the same thing but Phillip is countermining everything she says, he won't move anything unless it's right... bringing Bikal to a standstill.
-Bikal finally starts getting one crate in place (and it's wrong) when GOTA wins Immunity!

-Jeff says, that was pathetic.  Phillip agrees, "Sure was."  Mike looks mad that he's on a losing tribe, again. (Oh, and Dawn was crying - surprise.)

-Phillip gives us some rambling pearls of wisdom about superior men waiting for the right time - which is what he has to do with Corinne.  Right now Favourites must dominate, so he'll have to keep Corinne - for now. (No more Operation Thunder Dome - might you say, we're Beyond Thunder Dome?... Great, now I have Tina Turner stuck in my head.)

Bikal - Day 16
The defeated return to camp and Phillip makes a speech, as he is wont to do - we gelled here in camp and had the intention to kick some ass but some days the better team wins (yeah, he's not listening to himself, he just called the other team the better team, sheesh) He rambles on about it just being their day today but ours will come...
-Corinne has a voice over that people think Phillip is the leader because he does these outrageous things and none of them say anything - she says she knows he's not the leader and she doesn't have to listen to him, so let him make his speech, whatever, doesn't matter - on a scale of one to being beside a crying baby on an airplane annoying, he's being beside a crying baby with diarrhea on an airplane annoying.  It's the most annoying situation you can be in but there's little she can do about it because he will vote with her and he's not going to flip. 
And he's still talking - we can hold our heads high, everyone gave 110% blah, blah, blah.

-Later, Matt asks Phillip what he's thinking.  "In terms of the vote?" (No, he just wants you to tell him how you feel about him... come on!)  Phillip says he thinks 'the girl's gonna go. (She has a name - Julia - he seems to have very little regard for women.) 
-Matt agrees, says he wants to make it to the merge (he'll do whatever they want.) 
-Mike comes over, "Is it plead our case to Phillip time?"  Phillip says 'the girl's got to go.  She got flustered.  That's evident cause we got it wrong and she's got to pay for that (WHAT? Phillip second guessed her and got it wrong... sheesh he really does have no self awareness.)
-He tells them they are a better asset going forward, strengthwise - going to the merge, they'll be counting on them (oh, so now you want all of them to be flippers... give them names Phillip, come on!)
-Then he tells them he still operates Stealth-R-Us (SRU) (oh, is he going to do it?) and when he inducts someone into SRU, he gives them a name.  He won't tell them who is in it but their test will be (Oh jebus) If someone else in the tribe approaches them and tells them to do something, unless Phillip tells them otherwise, they are to do it.
-Matt just says understood but Mike wants a bit more clarification (come again?) Phillip says there are two controlling factors, they set it up that way on purpose in case one of them is voted out they can continue SRU (what shit is he spouting now?)
-Matt/The Beard tells the camera he was trying to keep a straight face with Phillip but he wanted to bust out laughing at this SRU stuff - Matt says he's going to do what he needs to do to stay in the game and make it to the merge - if that means kissing Phillips butt he's going to do it.
-Phillip tells them they are to keep this talk between them and if they pass the test they will get their names and join the other six members of SRU (oh, gave a little away there).

-Matt & Mike then talk to Julia and tell her no one is talking to them, they don't know how the favourites are voting.  She hoped they would want to vote one of their own out and come to them looking for a vote but that doesn't seem to be happening so she wants them to all vote together and she suggests they vote for Dawn (hey, what did Horse & Buggy ever do to you?) The boys are fine with that... (Cause they are voting for you!)
-Matt says as long as it ain't him going home he just don't care who he votes for.

-Corinne is now talking to Matt & Mike, saying she likes them and she would be with them if they had started the game together but everyone is playing Survivor so you just don't know.  She asks them who they are voting for.
-Mike says, you tell us who to vote for and we'll do it.  Corinne and Cochran are there now and they are all very cautious in what they are saying to each other.  Talking about idols - Matt says he doesn't have one but if he did he'd play it.

-Cochran tells the camera he's fairly sure a Fan will be going home tonight and he likes the idea of voting out Julia, however, Matt & Mike seem to be a tight couple and he's leery of leaving a power couple together in the game.  Cochran doesn't think Matt has an idol cause he's reeking of desperation at this point, but you never know.  He thinks it's between Julia and Matt right now but if an idol is played it could be him or Corinne or Phillip. (Oh no, they are gunning for the power player of Dawn.)

-The Favourites are all talking about who they are voting for, Dawn wants to take Matt out but Phillip says he's thinking 'the girl' (does he really not know her name or is it beneath him to call her Julia?) because he thinks the guys can be turned.
-Corinne agrees that it should be Julia - besides the fact that Julia is just plain boring, Corinne blames her for them losing the challenge.  Corinne believes that Matt doesn't have an idol - plus she's just happy her gay is safe (I'm sure Mike's going to love that you call him that.)
-Ew, they showed Matt twisting his beard into his single dreadlock - gah, that thing is nasty!

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Matt, when you guys finally came together and there are now fans with favourites, what was that like for you?
-I was super stoked, I'm a big fan of Cochran, Phillip and Dawn & Corinne. I couldn't be happier with this group of people.
Julia, the obvious question, four favourites, three fans, are the fans in trouble?
-I think it would be silly to think we aren't in trouble, the favourites do still have the numbers, there is still a little bit of a divide.
Michael is the sense that you, Matt or Julia are going home tonight?
-100% yeah, one of us is going home tonight.  No question in his mind.
Corinne, have there been bonds made that make it hard to vote someone out?
-Absolutely, you know I always like to play with a gay (wow, she just throws that around, I don't know that Matt or Mike liked that very much) she says she likes the fans very much and there are at least three people she'd replace them with in her alliance (Phillip didn't like the sound of that.) She struggles with the fact that this decision tonight isn't necessarily a fair one.
Phillip, what's the currency to decide who should we keep tonight?
-#1 thing he's looking for, are you loyal, are you trustworthy and can you do challenges.  And when we get to the merge, if I ask you to do something, can you do what I ask you to do.
Corinne, how do you assess who to get rid of, you're in a great position with four favourites.
-I'm not going to mince words, I'm paranoid about the hidden immunity idol and, sure it looks good 4 against 3, but it only takes one idol to send one of us home. I don't think one of them has it but we're not going to tell them who we're voting for because that's dangerous.

Then they talked about Matt telling her he doesn't have the idol, and if he knew any of them had the idol he'd have told her.
She says she believes he doesn't have it but it's not that simple.
Phillip says he's very concerned about the idol too so they are going to base this vote on whether they have the idol or not, so if you have it, you're going to play it, if you don't, you're probably going home. (I love how he just dictates what the fans have to do... someone else is going to go Brandon on him, I betcha.)

Cochran, how do you decide who to keep?
-Obviously they don't want to keep losing cause that will give the other tribe more time to bond - and they are like the 'Bold and the Beautiful' group over there, Cochran doesn't see himself as being able to penetrate that group so they have to look at loyalty and trust in a merge situation but it's not an enviable choice right now because they really are all good options.

Okay, time to vote:
Julia votes for Dawn
Matt votes for Julia - I hope it's you, not me tonight.
Mike votes Julia - I'm just hoping to see one more day.

Tallying the votes:
No one plays a hidden Immunity Idol. That pleases Corinne and Phillip.
Julia 1, 2
Dawn 1
Matt 1, 2, 3, 4... And it's the BEARD!  Oh, Mike lost his boyfriend and the beard is no more. 
-With Matt leaving, that takes Jeff T, Mike L and Jenn G. out of the pool.

Next week: Phillip talks the talk but can't walk the walk [when it comes to challenges] and Malcolm makes a move, aligning with the pretty boys? He can't wait until he's controlling the game. (Hmm.)

Matt's final thoughts:
He came into the game knowing his social game is his strong point, he got along with everyone, no one thought he was too gnarly with the beard and tattoos, he put it all out on the table and he doesn't regret anything. (Boo, boring.)

Hope everyone's been having a great week,
Coleen