Survivor HvHvH - Sept 27/17 Premiere Episode

I'm Not Crazy, I'm Confident

They're on a boat... in Fiji... and it's beautiful.  The castaways are divided into three teams this season. Jeff welcomes them to the 35th season (say what?) of Survivor, and explains that they have been divided based on the positive traits most associated with them by others - this is how the world sees them:

Heroes - they are heralded for their courage, achievements or ideals.
-We meet Cowboy hat guy - Ben - former marine and family man (and my guy in the pool) - serving in the Marine corps he didn't see himself as a hero, it was just his job.
-Meanwhile Financial Analyst Chrissy tells the camera that she totally thinks she deserves to be on the heroes tribe because she had a career, took time off to raise her family and then went back to an awesome career - but she's not going to advertise that she makes a lot of money because she still wants to win a lot of money (oh yeah, you're a hero.)

Healers - win gratitude for their acts of service helping others heal their physical or emotional pain.
-Big buff dude, Cole, is a wilderness therapy guide, working with at-risk youth teaching them about nature and survival skills to help combat addiction. (He seems really nice.)
-Then Jeff talks to Dr. Mike who says he's a sex doctor (I said pardon?) He clarifies that he is a urologist and specializes in erectile dysfunction and male infertility... (uh, maybe he's the hero? Am I right?) This guy comes across as the biggest nerd - he tells the camera this is the biggest thrill in his life and though his kids think he's going to die, he's determined to rise to the occasion and win.

Hustlers - respected for their hard work ethic - get it done, no matter what, 100% of the time.
-We meet Ali, young attractive girl with big curly hair - she's a personal assistant to someone in YouTube (wow, YouTube stars have personal assistants now? crazy.)
-Then we meet Ryan, the bellhop, really slight guy wearing a turtleneck... in Fiji... A TURTLENECK people - what up with that?  He's hoping other people know how to build shelter because he's not going to be leading the charge physically, that's for sure. (He tells us he weighs 125lbs... what?)

Jeff then hands out their buffs - Heroes are Blue, Healers Yellow and Hustlers Red - and tells them their first challenge is to transfer as much stuff off the bigger boat they are currently on to their smaller boats anchored nearby.  The camera pans over the supplies - fruit, veggies... and a secret advantage (oooh.)  We also noticed, no live chickens this year - huh. 
Once Jeff rings the bell on the ship, that is their signal that everyone has to be in the water and they have to start rowing to shore. 
Once on shore they will have to tie up their boat then work as a tribe to lift one tribe member up high enough to light a torch off the lit cauldrons suspended 15ft up.  First tribe to get fire wins fire in the form of a huge fire making kit back at their camp.  Second tribe gets flint and the last tribe is SOL.

When Jeff says go it's pandemonium as they start chucking stuff overboard.  Someone on the yellow tribe starts asking "Who can Swim?" (Uh, this is Survivor, I hope you all can swim!) People are flinging themselves overboard and it's pencil-neck Ryan that ends up finding the secret advantage (by first impressions, he could probably use that) and he's so excited he can't even get it in his pants... (Darn you adrenaline!)  Jeff rings the bell everyone has to be in the water and heading to the beach.  The dawdlers are both Hustlers which puts their team way behind... and then they can't figure out how to row the boat to shore - they head the wrong way and one guys is paddling backwards (oy.)
-It's the Healers and Heroes in the running for the fire.  Healers gets it first just barely ahead of the Heroes... and Hustlers finally make it to the beach.

Jeff tells the Healers they'll have a big fire already burning on their beach, he gives the Heroes their flint and then tells them all they have maps in their boats so they have to paddle to their beaches... and the Hustlers were never heard from again.  (No, I kid... but Jeff did say they were still trying to figure out what show they are on.) Ali, the personal assistant, is feeling pretty nervous about her team at this point.

Healers are the first to their beach and we know it because there is a huge bonfire burning for them.  Social worker Roark (female) tells the camera that healers are team players in terms of how they approach their careers and she thinks this group will do well.  Nurse practitioner Jessica is crushing on Cole pretty hard (and who wouldn't, he's kind of dreamy with the curls and dimples and 8-pack abs.)
Then we see Joe, the smarmy probation officer with his pants falling down (I don't need to see that much of your red underwear dude), he was hoping to be on a tribe that he could manipulate.  When you're a healer you lead with your heart, not your head.  He's not a probation officer out there, he's there to win and they are all just his victims at this point (yeah, we don't like Joe already - he reminds me a lot of Spy-Shack Tony.)

Over on the Heroes beach everyone is working and it looks to be going really well, they are gathering bamboo and building a shelter... and then Lindsay says the hero cape has come off and she's thinking alliances (already?)  She approaches the very buff JP (he's a firefighter) about who they should align with - apparently it's a given that Lindsay & JP will align... they're thinking Cowboy Ben.  The other built guy, NFL player Alan, is sure he knows how people are playing the game with all his NFL experience, he's talking to Cowboy Ben (he's just wearing a cowboy hat, this is the ex-Marine) and they want to align with JP of course, keep it strong and Lindsay (oh yeah, she's a lifeguard and also very fit).  It's the old ladies on the outside, as the other two member of the tribe are Chrissy (the Financial analyst) and Katrina (Olympic swimmer) who are both in their forties (so ancient.)
-Ashley and JP are talking a lot and Alan is super suspicious - they are coupling up, he knows it... (wow, that paranoia struck quick.) Chrissy & Katrina (the Mom-Squad) go to get water and the other four take this opportunity to confirm that they're going to work together - Lindsay says that's what she wanted from the beginning (it's the first day, what beginning? Sheesh.)

Hustlers - Day 1
Fisherman Lauren was disappointed they didn't win but she's a no-nonsense, let's just get on with it person and she's building a shelter.  The rest of the tribe is helping, kinda, but they think they are hard working and getting stuff done... as they joke around with stick bugs.
Patrick is a big red-head with the start of an epic sunburn already - for some reason Ali thinks he's the guy to align herself with at this point and they agree to have each other's backs... though he's still uncertain about it.
Patrick openly wonders about who got the clue off the boat and Ryan looks like a deer in headlights... but he discretely takes himself off to explore his secret advantage.  He's found an Immunity Super Idol... which means, if his tribe is the first to go to tribal council, he can play this idol after all the votes are read and whoever he plays it for is safe.  The catch is that it is only good for the very first tribal council and if his tribe doesn't go to tribal, he has to secretly gift it to someone on the losing tribe.  This is potentially huge for this guy who is wearing a turtleneck in the tropics and not even sweating... He is like a human Chihuahua.

Healers - Day 1
We finally hear from Desi, female physical therapist, who is also happy with her healer tribe, if nothing else they should be able to communicate together well.
-Dr. Mike is determined to go look for a hidden immunity idol (too soon!) He makes a lame excuse of checking on the fire and then takes off to look for an idol.  Joe knows exactly what he's doing and then takes it on himself to confront Mike when he comes back.  He asks him what's in his pockets, (none of your damn business) is what I would have said but Mike, being nice, shows him he has some twine from the bandanas - Mike tells him that he knows what he's been doing and thinks he has an idol... it was passive aggressive and bully-type behaviour... it just felt threatening and it didn't help that Joes pants were hanging down his butt again - there is a drawstring for a reason.
Anyway - Joe and Mike say they respect each other (but neither one trusts the other as far as he could throw him.)

Hustlers - Day 2
Ryan has decided that he's going to trust Surf Instructor Devon with the knowledge of his secret advantage.  Ryan likes Devon because he is the opposite of him and he hopes that Devon will want to align with someone who is more strategically savvy than him (Devon is kind of pretty) - so he tells him about the super idol and Devon is so super happy that he's not going to be the first one out.  They agree not to tell anyone else and it seems these two have bonded.

Heroes - Night 2
Alan is watching Lindsay and JP laughing and talking and he's convinced that there is something going on there and he has to make sure everyone knows that these two are stronger together.  So he confronts JP and says he knows he has an idol and wants to see what's in his pockets - he turns out his pockets and tells him there is no idol.  Lindsay comes over and can't figure out what Alan is talking about (turns out Alan didn't see any idol but he's hoping to throw suspicion on JP and Ashley to get one of them out. What?)  He keeps pushing JP saying he doesn't believe he doesn't have an idol until he even shucks off his pants - to the skin (hello) - to prove he's not hiding anything.  (That was super weird and uncomfortable, I think Alan just made himself look bad, not the other two.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
First they have to run up a cargo net to the top of a platform then pull a heavy cart up the other side - they all have to get in the cart then ride it down, roller coaster style, into a pile of sawdust.  Then they have to choose a table maze - first tribe to it gets first choice, next can choose from the two remaining and the third team gets the last maze.  Then they have to work together to get the maze to the top of an even taller tower - once it's up there, two tribe members will have to work together to get three balls through the maze - last team to complete it will be going to tribal council. Hustlers are still playing for fire as well.  Oh, and Jeff said, this season Tie votes are back in...were they ever out? What is he talking about?

Anyway, they're off and pretty much neck and neck - I think the game was won or lost in the decision on which table maze to play.  The first tribe took what looked like the most complicated to me - a true maze/labyrinth looking table.  The next tribe took one that had bigger spaces but triangles and obstacles to manoeuver around and the maze that was left, was a single line down the middle - which looked the easiest to me... and that proved correct.  The Healers were left with this simple rail maze which of course was deceptive, it was difficult because you had to keep the ball straight down the middle or it would fall off the raised middle as it had small bumpers and then gaps along the sides.  But the Healers have steady hands and they're good under pressure - they get the first immunity.
Leaving Heroes and Hustlers neck and neck... they were both circling that third hole when Hustlers pulled out the second place immunity win.  Sending the Heroes to tribal council.  As Jeff is blabbing away, Chrissy quietly crumples to the ground and when they finally notice she's actually in distress not just being dramatic, she pukes on camera (nice.)  No one can say they didn't give their all.
And guess who is going to get Ryan's super idol?? Yup, the puker.

Heroes back at camp - Mom-Squad goes off to get wood or something (why are these two always going off together?) and Cowboy Ben seems kinda oblivious to the tension in his alliance - Alan doesn't trust Ashley and JP and they think he's off his rocker... but they still say they're all good.
-Later Alan  has Katrina approach him and he says no one's been talking to him about votes, they call Chrissy over and (why is Katrina yelling?) they think the four of them, including Ben, should vote Ashley out (because they always want to keep the guys... grr).
-Ben doesn't know why they didn't just leave things alone, go with the original plan, but now at least he and Alan have their choice of who they want to align with - JP & Ashley or the Mom-Squad.
-Oh, and when Chrissy is getting ready for tribal she finds the immunity super idol in her bag... wow, how lucky did she get?  She only knows she'll play it for herself if she has to, otherwise she's going to see how things play out.

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Chrissy says right away she felt like she didn't belong in this tribe, that the four main physical threats would band together leaving her and Katrina on the outs.  Katrina agreed that being older than the rest of the tribe did seem to put them at a disadvantage.
-Lindsay said day 2 1/2 things started to go sideways when Alan got it in his head that JP had an idol.
-Alan says he didn't accuse Ashley, it was Ashley and JP.  She tells Jeff that he even made JP strip off his clothes looking for this non-existent idol.
-Alan says you can deny deny deny, doesn't mean I'm going to believe you.
-JP wants none of it, he's all calm. Alan has a right to his opinion, whatever.  That does not sit well with Alan, he's trying to stir it up and JP is not cooperating.
-Chrissy says there was some concern that they could have a power couple in the tribe.
-Ashley says that is ridiculous, there is no "her and JP", they've had no conversations other than those right in front of everyone.
-Alan is all buggy-eyed - I just wanted everyone to know there is something more powerful than the tribe, within the tribe. Whether these folks believe or not, I know what I know. I'm not crazy, I'm confident. (Alan has to work on not bugging his eyes out when he's trying to convince someone he's not crazy - cause he definitely has the crazy eyes going on.)  Ashley tells him he's very silly.
-Ben says they are the heroes and shouldn't bicker about this, they should get on with it and hash this out later.
-Oh no, Mr Drama, Alan, throws it out that he'd like nothing better then to sit back with his feet up as they are talking about voting out Katrina or Chrissy but he had to make it known what was happening [with Lindsay & JP.]  Really, did you have to?
-Now Katrina & Chrissy know for sure they were on the block and Ben is trying to just do some damage control... but it's Time to Vote!
Tallying the votes:
No one has a hidden immunity idol to play at this point. Super idol is after the votes.

Votes:
Katrina - 1
Ashley - 1
Katrina - 2, 3, 4 - And it's Katrina... Oh, is Chrissy going to play the Super Idol???  Nope. Turns out she voted for Katrina too.  So it's the Olympic swimmer, who was the first voted out of the game.

That means: Andria S., Philip K. and Cara & Alex L. are out of the pool... but you get your $ back!

Next week: Chrissy and Ben may be the new power couple on the Heroes tribe. There is a budding romance on the Healers tribe between Wilderness Therapy Guide Cole and Nurse Practitioner Jessica (they do make a pretty cute couple) and an inevitable break up on the Hustlers tribe when Patrick shows his true crazy colours and drives Ali away.

Katrina's final words were boring - she was way too skinny to last long in this game - her face was almost skeletal already on day three - maybe this was a blessing in disguise for her.

So, there you have it, episode one was just an hour but the recap is long because we don't know who anyone is yet.  I think Alan is going to be the trouble maker, we'll see if they start mixing them up quickly with all these potential couples happening. 

Have a great rest of your week.

Coleen



 

Survivor HvHvH - POOL PICKS

Survivor 35 - Heroes vs Healers vs Hustlers
Tribe:  Levu	Heroes		Tribe:  Soko	Healers		Tribe: Yawa	Hustlers
Alan Ball	1. Jenn G.		Jessica Johnston	1. Cindi M.		Patrick Bolton	1. Bob L.
Age: 32	2. Lois L.		Age: 29	2. Brandon L.		Age: 24	2. Lindsay J.
NFL Player	3. Ethan G.		Nurse Practitioner	3. Katie L.		Small Business Owner	3. Kim H.
Ben Driebergen	1. Coleen T.		Roark Luskin	1. Kevin C.		Alexandrea/Ali Elliott	1. Shelley A.
Age: 34 - WINNER!!!	2. Cindi & Steve		Age: 27	2. Maria C.		Age: 24	2. Alexis G.
Marine	3. Elaine R.		Social Worker	3. Cindi C.		Celebrity Assistant	3. Stacey L.
John Paul/JP Hilsabeck	1. Shane B.		Cole Medders	1. Lorraine F.		Simone Nguyen	1. Trish J.
Age: 28	2. Sharon R.		Age: 24	2. Gillian H.		Age: 25	2. Tori K.
Firefighter	3. Susan H.		Wilderness Therapy Guide	3. Manny W.		Diversity Advocate	3. Jamie S.
Chrissy Hofbeck	1. Bryon L.		Joe Mena	1. Scott M.		Devon Pinto	1. Kevin R.
Age: 46	2. Roxanne S.		Age: 34	2. Lynne B.		Age: 23	2. Kim A.
Actuary	3. Jeff T.		Probation Officer	3. Robert L.		Surf Instructor	3. Lynne B. (2)
Ashley Nolan	1. Drew C.		Desiree/Desi Williams	1. Sunnie C.		Lauren Rimmer	1. Kim K.
Age: 26	2. Emily H.		Age: 27	2. Trish W.		Age: 35	2. Mike L.
Lifeguard	3. Tam J.		Physical Therapist	3. Yvette S.		Fisherman	3. Brittany & Sarah R.
Katrina Radke	1. Philip K.		Mike Zahalsky	1. Carol-Anne D.		Ryan Ulrich	1. Kim B.
Age: 46  FIRST OUT	2. Cara & Alex L.		Age: 43	2. Fraser G.		Age: 23	2. Susan N.
Olympian	3. Andria S.		Urologist	3. Julisa C.		Bellhop	3. Sheila G.

Survivor Season 35 - Heroes vs Healers vs Hustlers

Survivor Season 35 is starting next week - Wednesday, September 27, 2017.

Here's what CBS had to say on their website:

For Survivor's 35th installment, the new cast of 18 individuals will meet up in Fiji for their next big journey. For the first time ever, the tribes will be divided based on the positive traits most often associated with them by others. [first time ever?? Uh huh.]

What differentiates these three tribes? Well, the Heroes Tribe ("Levu") are used to being heralded for their high achievements. The Healers Tribe ("Soko") receive gratitude for their good work, and the Hustlers Tribe ("Yawa") must earn respect from others.

*Another season starting out with three tribes of six, we'll see if they mix it up as often as the last season to keep us all on our toes.

I'm doing the pool again and will be posting the recaps here starting next Wednesday.  Please stand by.

 

The Amazing Race 29 - Finale recap Jun 1/17

We're Going to Victory Lane

Last week was the shocking elimination of the Matt & Redmond in Seoul, South Korea - which left us with the final three teams racing for a million dollars:

Brooke & Scott: Philip K., Elaine R., Andria S., and Cindi C.
London & Logan: Bernice W., Cara & Alex L., Robert L., and Kevin R.
Tara & Joey: Shane B., Susan N., Emily H., and Shelley A.

Phil tells them all that for the final leg they will be travelling more than 6000 miles as they head to Chicago, Illinois... and as a bonus, they get to travel in prestige class (oooh, pods and champagne.)

Once they land in Chicago, they have to head to the pit at Chicagoland Speedway.
The teams head for taxis and Brooke & Scott made the best decision of the whole race, they gate-checked their backpacks so they only have their fanny packs to carry around today (genius!)

Brooke & Scott are the first team to the speedway and they read the route info clue - Start Your Engines.  They will suit up and one person will have to change a tire in under 40 seconds, then the other will have to drive that car one lap in under 48 seconds in order to get the next clue.
-Brooke is going to change the tire and Scott is going to drive (really? They're going to make her do something handy... oh wait, would she be able to drive fast?? Rock and a hard place on this one.)  She starts out with her usual "I can't do this" and the waterworks start... Scott is used to it by now, she'll get herself together and get it done.

-Tara & Joey get there and Tara tells him he has to change the tire, she can't do it - so that means mom is driving (Ohh, it's killing Joey he doesn't get to drive... but a million dollars) - Joey changes the tire in 38 seconds on his first try.  But it was just after Brooke's 4th try when she finally made it so Scott was the first one out on the track - he did not make the 48 seconds.
-So Tara got to go, and her first lap was over a minute (Ah, Mom!)

-London & Logan get there and she is changing the tire and he's all ready to drive.  It takes her a good four tries to make the time on the tire change. 

-Scott makes his 45 sec lap and they head in to victory lane where he and Brooke get to shower each other with champagne and, they get the clue to make their way downtown to the Monroe Street (EL)Station to find their next clue.  This time the clue is held by a construction worker looking guy - they have to notice his high vis. vest and red & yellow marked hard hat to figure it out.

-Logan got to make his first attempt - didn't make it.  Tara gets her 46 minute lap and they head for the station.  London & Logan still bring up the rear.

Monroe Street Station - Scott & Brooke took a little bit to figure out the guy had the clue but then when they open it, they have to solve three riddles to three Chicago downtown landmarks then head to each one to pick up a postcard (also from marked people) with letters on them that will spell out their next destination: Chicago City Hall Rooftop.  On the rooftop they will get the next clue from the city bee keeper (Yeah, that's right, beekeeper - who knew?)

-Scott & Brooke ask a local if she can help them, she does not look too enthused - but she lets them use her phone to figure out the riddles.  Tara & Joey show up and they also ask a local who helps them figure out the riddles with her phone.  They take off for the landmarks - Gothic water tower, drawbridge control tower and wedding cake fountain.
-Brooke & Scott checked a map and systematically set out on their route.
-Tara & Joey, as usual just take off for the farthest one first it seemed, but they were all finding the post cards... until we realize that Tara & Joey have one of the landmarks wrong (WHAT?)
-Oh yeah, London & Logan are there now and also running around collecting their postcards.

-Brooke & Scott figure out they have to head for the City Hall rooftop and she is running but so  slow, she's crying that she doesn't want to let him down but refuses to let him piggy back her (Argh! Lady, just jump on his back!).
-London & Logan get the rooftop clue but then they got on the EL train - These two end up getting to the rooftop last, even though they had the postcards before Tara & Joey.
-Tara & Joey figure out they were in the wrong place and actually find the right location and head for the rooftop as well.

Rooftop - Scott & Brooke the clue to travel by taxi to Wrigley Field Dogs and search for their next clue.  So this is a hot dog stand where they have to pick up 10 hot dogs, put them in a warming box and then deliver them to a rooftop overlooking Wrigley Field.  Once there they have to hand out the hot dogs and get two tickets to enter Wrigley Field from a past winning team Ernie & Cindy (oh man, I don't remember them at all - and actually I don't think any of the teams realized who they were either.)

Wrigleysfield dogs - Scott & Brooke pick up their hot dogs and head out - Brooke couldn't believe they didn't get to eat one (a sentiment shared by all, they must be pretty hungry.)

Tara & Joey get to the City hall rooftop and moving slowly and quietly (not to disturb the bees) they get the clue to head to the hot dog stand.
London & Logan arrive to City Hall and head up to get their clue (where were they? We've learned these last two legs that the train is never quicker than a cab - in Chicago and Seoul anyway.)

Scott & Brooke head up to the next rooftop and find the waiting Cubs fans hungry for some hot dogs.  They pass out the dogs and get the tickets, then take off for the marquis entrance to Wrigley field.

London & Logan try to take a cab from City hall but the driver refused to go anywhere without the actual address - so they had to jump out and find a different taxi to take them to the hot dog place (no luck for these two today.)

Tara & Joey had no cab trouble, they get to the hot dog place, get their box of dogs and head to the rooftop to deliver. 

Scott & Brooke find the clue box inside Wrigley Field and it says, Who's been keeping score? - As their final challenge, they will be utilizing the iconic hand operated scoreboard at Wrigley field.  From opposite ends of the park (one person in the press box, the other in the scoreboard) they will have to post their corresponding placement on each leg beside the destination cities that are posted on the board.  The press box person will use a one way radio to direct the person in the scoreboard as to what numbers to put where.  Once they have them all correct, they have to meet a home plate where the umpire gives them a book where they have to work out an equation using their placement numbers which will direct them to a section in the ball park where they will find their last clue - to the FINISH LINE - Milton Lee Olive Park.

-London & Logan have finally found a cab to take them to Wrigleysville dogs.
-Tara & Joey have delivered their dogs and Joey yells, "Go Red Sox!" and got a round of good natured boos from the Cubs fans.  They head for Wrigley Field entrance.

Scott & Brooke are getting all their numbers correct - they get the usher to check and they're heading to home plate.   They have to put in their placement numbers to figure out their next clue is in section 504 - then they are climbing to the nosebleed section to search among the seats for the clue.(Yeah, that wasn't a seat number, it's a section number, the clue could be on any seat - great.)

Tara & Joey have started their "Keeping Score" with Tara in the press box and Joey in the scoreboard - they didn't do them top to bottom like Brooke & Scott, Tara was doing them in order of the race so poor Joey was running up and down stairs... anyway, they got them all right as well and head for home plate.  Their section was 534.

London & Logan show up as Tara & Joey are heading to their section... London proves she is blonde by not being able to figure out initially that Logan can't respond to her through the radio... but they figure it out.

Here's How They Finished:

1) BROOKE & SCOTT!! What??? I know, right.  No one would ever had believed from watching them throughout this race that they were going to win - but there you have it.  Like I always say, teams that fight do better, keeps them on their toes.  I think they were able to figure out how to work together even though they were so different and let's admit it, while Scott was no saint, he does deserve props for getting through this thing without killing her. 
That also means that Philip K., Elaine R., Andria S. and Cindi C. have won our pool!  Congratulations all!
-Brooke says the race has made her a better, stronger person - the money is just gravy, the experience was priceless. 

2) TARA & JOEY - they had a tremendous race, just fell a little short but they will never forget the experience - couldn't have asked for better partners.  Joey is so thankful that she chose him.  She says this is one of her greatest accomplishments (besides the military and being a mom, of course.)

3) LONDON & LOGAN - you know, he is a really good-looking guy and she looks a hot mess - but in the end she was always positive, always up for anything and they worked very well together.  He says they're like family at this point... (I have hope they could be the love connection, someone had to be right? Maybe??)

Anyway. There you have it, another great Race - hopefully the team we all loved to hate winning didn't tarnish it too badly :)  In the end you have to give them props, Congrats Brooke & Scott.

- I haven't heard anything about whether or not the Amazing Race will be coming back next season.  With the world the way it is right now, maybe travel will be too costly and dangerous for Americans.  We can only wait and see I guess.

Happy Summer TV.

Coleen



 

The Amazing Race 29 - May 25/17 Episode Recap

As Easy As Stacking Cups

Last week, in Vietnam, we said goodbye to Team Fun when Floyd was overcome by heat exhaustion and couldn't continue - but now we're down to the final four who are competing to their spot in the finale.

Matt & Redmond were the first team heading out at 11:57pm and they read the clue that they are heading to Seoul, South Korea.  Once they land, they have to make their way to the Gang Nam District and search for their next clue - from the K-Pop girls. 
Matt & Redmond have only been beaten by Mom & Dad, so they hope that Tara & Joey go home this leg to make the final easier for them.
Scott & Brooke are inexplicably still there and she's being amazingly positive that they are going to make it to the finale. Admonishing Scott not to jinx it by talking about it.
Tara & Joey were able to persevere through the last leg which was definitely the hardest, they can keep it going.
London & Logan is the last team out and she is looking forward to getting her Gangnam style on.
Everyone is going to be together on the same flight.

Seoul, South Korea
-Flight lands and everyone runs for the cabs, except for the Boys - people have told them that the subway was the way to go... this could be a brilliant idea... or an epic mistake.
-The cabs are in traffic... but the Boys miss their connecting train... Noooo.

-Tara & Joey are the first team to the K-Pop girls and they get the clue to head by taxi to Hanyang University Olympic Gymnasium and search for their next clue.
-Scott & Brooke get the clue, followed closely by Logan & London... the boys are no where to be seen.

Olympic stadium and it full of tables with little kids... speed stacking cups. ROADBLOCK: Who stacks up?  Ho boy, this could be hard.  They have to complete a specific sequence of stacking and unstacking three cups, six cups, three cups - and get it done in less than 7 seconds to get their next clue (the record is less than 2sec.)
-Joey is going to do it for them.
-When Brooke & Scott get their she is so excited because she has a little cousin that does this and showed her how one time so Brooke is sure she has this - she wades in. (It's so weird to hear her say I can do this instead of wining that she can't... is that really Brooke? And then she is loud and shrill and oh yeah, that's her.)
-There is definitely a learning curve here.

GangNam District - the boys finally showed up and got the clue to head to the Olympic gym... but their cab driver takes them to the wrong University (WHAATT???)

-London & Logan get to the gym and Logan is going to do the cup stacking.  Brooke is almost there, and Joey's slowly getting faster.
-Brooke is the first one to make it in 7 seconds (What is happening here?  Is it opposite day?)
-Joey gets it right behind her and Mom & Dad head out too.  Logan was a quick study, he finished shortly after.

Brooke & Scott are first to the next task - where they have to Make Kimchi.
-Each team will have to make six servings of kimchi, which involved; mixing the spices then properly layering the spice rub throughout a head of cabbage. Once they got the okay it was prepared correctly, they had to pack it in ceramic jars and bury it in dirt. (Oh yeah, this one is nice and messy.)
-Brooke is being her crazy perfectionist self wanting to start the spice mix over because he put things in the wrong order (crazy lady, calm down, you're mixing it together, order doesn't matter.)
-Tara & Joey and London & Logan also get there and everyone is getting their Kimchi on and wondering what happened to the Boys... is it possible they are way ahead and already did this? Nope, their station is still clean & empty.

The Boys have finally made it to the cup stacking at the correct Olympic gym and Redmond is going to stacking some cups.

-The Kimchi's are being checked - each of the teams have to fix a few of the heads of cabbage but it's Mom & Dad that get theirs jarred and buried first - once they sampled some kimchi, they got their next clue. (I've never had it but I've heard it's an acquired taste.) Everyone is able to pretend it's good except London who's eyes nearly popped out of her head - ha!
-Everyone is heading to OGN Stadium to search for their next clue.

Redmond is still stacking cups... but he's almost there.  Once he gets the rhythm down, it's as easy as stacking cups.  And they are able to head for the Kimchi making.

OGN Stadium - all three teams get there at the same time and find it's another ROADBLOCK - Who's going to take control?  The person that didn't do the cup stacking will have to do this one... and it is playing a video game - Street Fighter V - against a master gamer.  They have to beat the master to get the next clue (Seriously? I'd be dead.) Oh, and they have a theatre audience watching and cheering them on, e-sports is a huge thing in Korea.
-Scott used to play this video game back in the day so he thinks he's got an edge over London who has never played and Tara who reverts to tech-phobic mom really quick here.
-They all just get trounced by the gamers - over and over again... but every 10 rounds they will get an advantage: first the gamer will have to start playing with one hand, then they will have to play blindfolded.  London is the first person to beat her blindfolded gamer, followed by Scott - and they get the clue to the PIT STOP: Gavit Some (a floating island/building on the river)  - they have to make their way to the rooftop and look for Phil at the mat.

Back at the gamer stadium - Tara is so completely unable to figure out the controls, she and Joey are getting mad at the gamer for not letting her win at this point (you just have to flail blindly, start pressing the buttons really, really fast... she's hopeless, the blind guy keeps kicking her butt.)  She was there so long that Matt & Redmond actually showed up.  She did not come all this way around the world to lose this race because of a video game - Joey would have happily kicked that gamer kids butt for real I think.

-Matt is diving right in to the video game playing but he doesn't do much better than anyone else did against the master gamer at first. 
-Tara is finally able to pull out a win against the blindfolded kid after 100's of matches. They head for the Pit Stop.
-Matt's gamer had to tie one hand behind his back and that's all Matt needed, he was able to win his match and they headed for the Pit Stop.

Here's How They Finished:
1) Brooke & Scott - (What is happening?) They have secured their spot in the final.
2) London & Logan - The polar opposites of Brooke & Scott - these teams were never in the top but they made it when it mattered.
3) Tara & Joey - That was her worst nightmare.
4) Matt & Redmond - **ELIMINATED** Well that was a shocker, these two were my favourite to win it all.  Taxis can so often prove the death of a good team, it's crazy.
-They were super bummed to go out that way, but super happy to have been partners and Redmond was proud of how he represented overcoming whatever obstacles you face in life.  (It was sad to see them go.)  So that took Bob L., Yvette S., Heather G. and Fraser G. out of the pool - so close guys.

Next week is the finale and they will be heading to Chicago for some race car action and Wrigley field baseball challenges.

Here is who is still in the running for our pool:
Brooke & Scott: Philip K., Elaine R., Andria S., and Cindi C.
London & Logan: Bernice W., Cara & Alex L., Robert L., and Kevin R.
Tara & Joey: Shane B., Susan N., Emily H., and Shelley A.

Good luck everybody!

Coleen




 

Survivor Game Changers Season Finale - May 24/17

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Okay everybody, it was three hours and I have to try and fit it all in and sleep tonight so here we go:

The show started out with six people still remaining in the game, and here are the people still in our pool with them:
Brad Culpepper: Elaine R., Bryon L., Coleen T.
Cirie Fields: Sophie S.B, Alexis G., Vikki Murray
Sarah Lacina: Julisa C., Mike L., Brandon L.
Tai Trang: Kim B., Andria S., Tori K.
Aubry Bracco: Roxanne S., Shelley A., Lee B.
Troyzan Robertson: Kim A., Krista H., Scott M.
Last week, Cirie tried to steal Sarah's vote by using the advantage that Sarah let her hold - Sarah, knowing full well it was non-transferrable set Cirie up and she fell for it, hook line and sinker. (Read the fine print Cirie).  Sarah ended up using her 'steal-a-vote' to get Michaela out.

Maku Maku - Night 35
We come back to fireworks at camp with Sarah angrily confronting Cirie, wanting to know who Cirie was referring to as a rat and Cirie came back at her wanting to know why Michaela had to go.  Well, Sarah felt betrayed by Cirie (as well she should) and so she took out her right hand man.  Cirie was playing damage control trying to tell her she was trying to save her by voting out Tai when Sarah wouldn't and Sarah does not believe that, Cirie messed up her plan for that advantage and could have screwed her whole game (but somehow, I think this is kind of what Sarah wanted to happen.)
-Cirie is the one who said no good deed goes unpunished because she has convinced herself she was actually trying to help Sarah... by stealing her advantage... (really?)  Cirie said Tai was the rat and tries to get Tai to corroborate her story about him targeting Sarah and Cirie telling him about the advantage but he straight out lies about it all. Of course Tai can't keep that up, when pushed he admits it all.  Sarah apologizes for not believing Cirie's story but the damage has been done, she knows she can't trust any of them (it is Survivor, you shouldn't be trusting anyone anyway.)

-Tai feels like he may have screwed up his game by trying to make a move on Sarah and having it blow up in his face - so he decides, in order to win back trust with Brad that he's going to tell him about his two immunity idols (WHAT?? NOOOO!)  Yup, that's what he does and immediately Brad is telling him not to tell anyone, and is going to manipulate Tai to do what he wants - before throwing him under the bus with his own idol. (Grr.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE # 1 - Day 36
There is a huge maze laid out with three puzzle piece stations hidden within - each person has to make their way through the maze, finding one bag of pieces at a time, bringing them out, then going back in - once they have all three bags, they can open them and get started on the compass rose puzzle.  First person to finish gets immunity and reward of an Italian dinner back at camp.
Off they go and, while it was not a blow out - Culpepper wins. (Great, as if he's not insufferable enough already)
-Brad also gets to choose two people to join him in the Reward, he chooses Troy with no hesitation and secondly... Sarah.  (Oh ho, that should have been pretty telling to Tai.)  Sarah is hoping to solidify her spot in the final especially after last Tribal she's not sure who is willing to work with her (I think you found your answer right there.)

Reward - While they are filling their faces, they agree to vote together and they agree that they should vote out Tai or Aubry.  Sarah says she thinks Aubry is more of a threat in the end and they agree, let's vote Aubry... but Brad throws in that he's going to make Tai play his idol... if he has one (oh, good save, sheesh.)

Brad comes back to camp guns blazing, at Tai. He sits him down and tells him what he's going to do, "We're voting out Aubry but you are going to play one of your idols for you and you are going to give me the other one because I don't want any funny business, do you understand?"  Tai does not like how he's being treated, he asks him if he's serious and Brad gets mad (like how dare you question me) Tai lost his control, his destiny lies with Brad now and he did it to himself.  (WTeverlovinF - I would have told him to go F&*^ himself)  but Tai is trying to get along, Brad's taken him to get the idols and shown them to Troyzan - then both guys are pressuring Tai to give an idol to Brad. I was proud of Tai, he said he had to think it through first and got out of there - so he didn't just give in... (I was so mad at Culpepper, he was so disrespectful to Tai it was pretty disgusting - every jock/bully stereotype proven right there.)  And Brad tells Troyzan after Tai leaves that he's not giving the idol back to him, he's going to vote him out next (ugh.)

Tai goes running to Aubry and tells her she has to help him, he tells her everything, that he has two idols and Brad is bullying him to give him one... but he wants to play with Aubry - she is leery but hopeful and then Cirie shows up and they clam up, no idol love for Cirie - she pleads her case to Tai that she is sorry about last tribal but if they want to have any chance of sticking around these three have to vote together - they rush her off and we're back to Tai crying and Aubry disbelieving that once again her game is in Tai's hands and he's having an emotional breakdown.

TRIBAL COUNCIL #1
Aubry says they concluded that Tai was the rat in their camp and Tai doesn't understand why all the heat was landing on him when this is a game of deceit and they have all been lying.
-Sarah and Brad both come at Tai, she says it's falling on Tai because he's not taking responsibility for his lies and Brad is just being a sanctimonious a-hole. (Can you tell I hate him now?)
-Jeff asked if Sarah was worried that the three that went on the reward would be viewed as a tight alliance - she says there are five people that are tight, meaning only Tai is on the outside (seriously? Sarah knows Tai has idols by the way, Troyzan told her, so I think she's just trying to egg him into playing one.) Plus, she still has the legacy advantage so they could all vote for her tonight, she's safe.
-Tai says people have tried to make deals with him and threatened him ... Brad rolled his eyes (I can't even) - Brad says buyer beware if you try to make a deal with Tai.

Time to Vote:
They didn't show how anyone voted.

Tallying the votes:
Anyone want to play a hidden immunity idol?

Tai is the first to step forward... and he plays the blue idol for himself, then he pulls out the red idol and plays it for Aubry.  (Brad is not happy but the jury is loving it.) Any votes for Tai or Aubry will not count.
Then Sarah gets up and tells Jeff she is going to play the Legacy advantage - any votes for Sarah will not count.
And then Troyzan, "Jeff," and the jury can't contain themselves - oh yeah! "I want to get on the immunity train and be final five." He also plays his idol so any votes for Troyzan will not count.

This is unprecedented, of the six people left, five of them have immunity and that means that Cirie is the only person that could receive votes, and by default she is the one voted out (even though there were no votes actually cast for her.)  So, the first person to be voted out ever, without receiving actual votes is CIRIE.  That takes Sophie S.B, Alexis G., Vikki M. out of our pool.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE #2 - Day 37
There is a mouse trap type apparatus on each station, they will have to transfer balls on small paddles through the different obstacles on the table and deposit them at the end.  The first person to get three balls through wins Immunity.  I'm not even going to go over it, Culpepper's hand eye coordination made this a blow out - he got three balls through when no one else could even get one... and then he's crying saying that one was for Monica - (give me a break. At this point I'm rooting for him to lose and I have him in the pool.)

-Back at camp, Brad thinks and acts like he's king sh*t of the world, he lounges back in the hammock as Troyzan and Sarah attend him (I wouldn't have been surprised to see palm fronds fanning him) but they agree that it's Aubry going next because Troyzan says she would be harder to argue against than Tai at the end.
-Aubry's not just rolling over though, she's talking to Tai and Sarah and telling them if Brad wins immunity again he is taking Troyzan to the end with him, which only leaves one other spot open.  If they work together and take Troyzan out, that leaves two open spots in the final for them to vie for.
-Sarah then talks to Tai to see how they stand - she says she's had his back and that's why she was so hurt when he turned on her - he understands and says he thinks they should vote out Aubry.  Okay, that's easy, that's what she was going to do anyway...
Then Brad messes it up by being he-man asshat and grinding Tai under his heel again - "if I let you stay you have to assure me you are voting whatever I vote. It's not hard.  Do you understand that?" (He's not deaf or stupid you douche nozzle) So now Tai no longer wants to vote Aubry because that's what Brad wants, he tells Sarah they need to flip on him and vote Troyzan.

TRIBAL COUNCIL #2
Everybody's been pitching everybody - Aubry knows she's on the block tonight and she lays out her proposal, that Brad & Troyzan will be two of the spots in the final three if one of them (Brad) wins immunity tomorrow - to make their odds better, they should take out Troyzan tonight.
-Tai said he is taking this argument into consideration.
-Sarah says she has to consider who she is willing to put on the jury and who they want to sit next to - and it could be different for all three of them.
-Jeff polled them if there were people they thought they could not beat if they went to the final three and everyone says yes, there are people they could not win against - except Troyzan, who is delusional in thinking that he could beat anybody. (What are you doing?  Even the jury was like, huh?)

Time to Vote:
Aubry votes Troyzan
Troyzan votes Aubry

Tallying the votes:
You know there are no hidden immunity idols left after last tribal.

Votes:
Aubry - 1
Troyzan - 1
Aubry - 2, 3 - and it's Aubry joining the jury in fifth position - taking Roxanne S., Shelley A., Lee B. out of our pool.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE #3
(Um, Brad is wearing a burlap sack tunic... what up with that?)
-They have to race through an obstacle collecting rings of keys and bags of puzzle pieces, including having to run up a large staircase, untying the key ring and sliding down a large water slide.  Once they have all three bags they have to untie them and start on the lighthouse puzzle - once they get all the pieces until the last assembled, they have to use the numbered tiles to unlock a combination lock box to retrieve the last piece and complete the lighthouse.  First person to have the lighthouse completed wins the final individual immunity.
I'm not even going to bother, they all gave it the good ol'college try but Brad Culpepper won the final immunity as well.  Which means b-bye Tai.  Brad says, "It's good to be the king." (gag.)

Back at camp Troyzan wants to just tell Tai it's him tonight and Brad says no, this is his island, he wants Tai to think he has a glimmer of hope and then he's going to give him what he deserves. (He's acting like such a jerk.)
-Tai knows that Brad feels like he's wronged him and will take him out tonight so he proposes to Sarah that they vote together against Troyzan and force a tie and take their chances making fire.  Sarah says she has to consider it but she's not good at making fire.  Tai is good at fire and he thinks he can beat Troyzan at fire so it's more of a risk for Sarah.
-I just have to throw in an aside here - Tai has a big wound on his head through this whole scene - where did that come from?  There's a bump with a bleeding hole in the middle, what? I guess he usually has the buff on his head but ouch. (And later it's not there... hmmm.)

Anyway, this was all just a red herring - there is no fire making. 
TRIBAL COUNCIL #3 - TAI is the last person voted out making the final three Brad Culpepper, Troyzan and Sarah!  Meaning Kim B., Andria S., Tori K are out of the running in our pool.

Maku Maku - Day 39
Troyzan thinks he played a good social game - uh huh, keep telling yourself that.
Sarah made moves that other people were scared to make, she made moves she was scared to make. She played like a criminal but she will be honest tonight to the police of the jury and hopefully they'll reward her honesty.
Culpepper thinks he's king of the world - he doesn't need the money, he just desperately wants to win (Please, no.)

FINAL TRIBAL COUNCIL
Jeff tells us in this season of Game Changers they are going to change up how they conduct the final tribal this time. They are going to focus on the three tenants of Survivor: Outwit, Outplay, Outlast and have a more open discussion between the jury and the finalists.

Starting with Outwit - the social part of Survivor - Zeke volunteers to go first and acts as champion for Sarah - she borrowed his jacket on day three and when he was blindsided she wore it every tribal after like a bad ass. She was instrumental in getting Sierra voted out and did it so well that Sierra had no idea and still willed her the legacy advantage - she controlled the game and he wishes her the best.
-Andrea pipes up with the emotional argument that Sarah made personal connections and made them feel gross when they realized it was all fake.  Sarah tries to say that it was real but no one is buying that especially Ozzy & Debbie who laugh meanly. 
-Ozzy says why should they trust what she's saying to them right now.  She says she was willing to do whatever she had to do to be sitting where she is right now.  Ozzy says he's played the game longer than anyone else (and he has 128 days, Cirie was next at 121) and he knows that you don't have to go as low as she did to win this game. (I do not think she went that low, this sounds like crybaby stuff to me.)  Ozzy then comes out as the champion for Brad and his style of gameplay - to provide and win win win win, and not have to get his hands dirty (but that still doesn't get you the win, does it Ozzy?)
-Cirie said they voted out Sierra because she appeared to be the brains of the operation, what did Brad do?  He said he made friends with JT which made him spill the beans about the vote at the double tribal and he was able to save Sierra (I gotta say, for a lawyer, Brad didn't make very compelling arguments, it was almost like he was over it at this point - you know I'm the best, it's beneath me to have to entertain your petty questions... or he was just exhausted.)  He was impatient with Michaela's questioning, giving her a whatever wave off at the end - Cirie, "Wow." (I know, right?) Brad just looked defeated after that.
-Andrea wanted to know how Sarah was able to make the personal connections and stay above the emotional side - Sarah said when she played the first time, she played like real-life Sarah and it got her nowhere. Her family and friends gave her permission to open the floodgates and do what she had to do out there. 
-Aubry wanted to know specifically how she could differentiate between real Sarah and game Sarah - she said it was her training as a police officer undercover, she has to be able to become people she is not - drug user, prostitute, she can become those people and then shut it off, that's what she has to do for a living.
And then Debbie tries to prove she's got a big brain and pipes up about the ends justifying the means, name checking Machiavelli and Lady MacBeth, you know you want to win but at what cost?  (What is the cost Debbie?  You all signed up for this game, she played it better and she's not losing sleep, that blood washed right off those hands.) Debbie says she has zero respect for her or her game play and her vote is for Brad. (Wow, that is bitter Betty alright, Sarah took her out and she can't get over it.) Michaela doesn't understand the emotional reaction to Sarah, she voted her out because she was the only person who could beat Brad (he looked shocked at that) she didn't take it personally (exactly.)
Michaela also throws Troyzan a bone, but it doesn't matter what he said, they all thought he was carried along by Brad and did nothing. (Baaah. Goat.)
-Andrea asked Brad why he never tried to make connections with people in the bottom like Michaela or Tai.  He said he and Michaela were just like oil and water, they didn't mix for some reason and Tai, he must have done something right because he told him he had two idols and then Brad tried to do everything he could to make him uncomfortable to make him play an idol or give one up (you do not get to paint yourself in a good light on that...)
Tai does finally make Brad listen to him, "Do you realize how you talk to people?" He said he told him what to do, tried to control him and threaten him and Tai said no, he was going to control his own destiny.  Brad is still trying to spin this like he was trying to manipulate the game and his idols and it was Tai's choice not to go along with his (obviously superior) ideas.
Hali piped up, "Did you just say that you used condescension as a strategy to control Tai?" He flails around some more but it falls flat - I was just trying to make a deal but everything has a price and the price was the idol (really? You should just stop talking.)
Zeke brings it back to Sarah, this ship had one driver and that was Sarah, she always knew the right way to vote because she was directing the right way to vote.

Outplay - Ozzy took up the gauntlet here saying Brad took this physically, he won five individual immunities and sacrificed his body to make it there - Ozzy was never able to make it but Brad deserves to. You are the master of your own destiny... blah blah blah.  Debbie agrees that the other two would not be sitting there without Brad. 
Sarah tried to make a statement - Brad is a professional athlete - and he kept interrupting her, she and Michaela asked him to let her finish her statement (but they are just girls) - she made her point - she had to rely on the tools that she had, Sierra told her about the legacy advantage and now she had to vote Sierra out and still get her to will it to her, she had to make moves quickly.  The emotional day Cirie made it across the beam, Michaela was on the sit out bench and there was the steal-a-vote advantage right there at her feet - no one else saw it but Sarah's attention to detail served her well, and she ended up eliminating Michaela with that advantage. (No one knew where that came from until now) Michaela even thought that was bad ass.

Outlast - they got a last appeal to the jury.
-Brad didn't think you needed to deceive and lie to win the game. He developed relationships and things got flipped upside down, he had to rely on his physical abilities to keep him in the game but he got there and (I swear he almost yada yada yada'd - Brad is done.) anyway, it was on honour and privilege to play with all of you.
-Sarah, you have to strike first in this game, the reason these two are sitting here instead of any of you is because I truly believed you could beat me.  I just hope you can respect the game play and how hard it was to play with 20 people at such a high caliber and be one step ahead at all times. Because I was the one person that was in on every vote.  The training I have to adapt to situations to save my life at work, is the same training I used to save my life out here.
-Troyzan - he knows where he stands, he just wanted to tell them how much he appreciated all of them and enjoyed having this adventure with them. I'm out.

Then they voted:
Ozzy & Debbie voted for Brad.
Zeke & Michaela voted for Sarah.

And back in the CBS Studio Jeff reads all the votes:
Brad Culpepper has a horrible moustache (what's up with that?), Troyzan looked better with the beard and Sarah looked really good... but I digress:

Votes:
Sarah - 1
Culpepper - 1
Sarah - 2
Culpepper - 2, 3
Sarah - 3, 4, 5... and SARAH is the winner of Survivor Game Changers! Making Julisa C., Mike L., and Brandon L. the winners of our pool.  Congratulations to you all! 

Sarah ran away from Jeff to hug her family and he's trying to give her the cheque, Hello, a little matter to take care of?? Her husband takes the cheque.

I'm not going to go over the whole reunion part - it's late - I'm tired. 

Brad did apologize to Tai for his treatment of him out there, he said he needed a snickers or something but he was sick at watching himself and wants to make sure Tai knew he loved him - they hugged it out.

Zeke is doing very well after the Trans-Outing heard round the world - he's got a lot of love in his life and he's working with GLAAD and writing for LBGTQ organizations and magazines and he thanked Survivor and CBS for allowing him to tell his story on his own terms and thinks that should be the model for how trans-people are treated in the media going forward.
Varner has owned up to his mistakes and is doing alright (though he's looking a little rough, gained some weight) but he's also gotten a new job and has written a book about overcoming shame (it's not about you Jeff. Ha.)

Next season, they will be back in Fiji and will divide the three tribes based on the positive traits most associated with them: Heroes (Marine, Lifeguard), Healers (Surgeon, Therapist), Hustlers (I said pardon? In this case they mean people that work hard and stop at nothing to achieve their goals, and then we meet the PA and the Bellhop, okay.)  Heroes vs Healers vs Hustlers

So there you have it, another season done and it was a pretty good one, I think.  Have a great summer everyone, I'll see you in the fall.


Coleen