The Rules: Each week a member of our “Survivor” All-Star team and your beloved “Survivor” recapper Gordon “Truth Seeker” Holmes will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of the next episode will determine the number of points the two combatants will earn. For example, if Jerri is voted out this week, Fancast’s “Survivor” All-Star Team will receive 7 points and Gordon will receive 8 points. At the end of the season, the person (or team) with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.
Last Week: Samoa’s “Good” Russell Swan underestimated Samoa’s “Evil” Russell Hantz and it cost the “Survivor” All-Star team dearly. Russell’s picks only racked up two points, while Gordon’s bet that either Russell or Boston Rob was going home scored him eleven points.
Before the Battle: Nobody saw this coming. After being humiliated two seasons in a row, Gordon has managed to build a huge lead over the “Survivor” All-Star team. That’s why they’ve sent in their big gun – the man Jeff Probst referred to as the “Smartest player never to win,” Mr. Rob Cesternino…
Gordon Holmes: Rob, thanks for taking part in the Power Rankings. What’ve you been up to since we last saw you on “Survivor: All-Stars?”
Rob Cesternino: In 2006, I co-founded a small new media production company and have been busy writing and producing several different series for the web. I’m also happy to say that later this summer I’m going to be getting married to my longtime girlfriend, Nicole. In my spare time, I do a podcast about “Survivor,” “LOST,” and a bunch of other shows at www.robHASaWebsite.com.
Gordon: The previous “Survivor” Power Rankings players have left you with a hefty 26-point deficit to overcome. Do you resent the other players for putting you in such a deep hole?
Rob: I would like to thank the other Survivors for the opportunity to be a hero.
Gordon: What was your take on the Boston Rob vs. Russell showdown?
Rob: I really loved watching the Boston Rob vs. Russell battle this season. The thing that was great about it was that it was almost like this mini “cold war.” Normally on “Survivor,” two people butt heads and one is gone by the end of the episode. It was really fun to see it go on for several weeks on the show. Though Russell may have been fortunate at times (especially with the Tyson vote), I think Rob became so infatuated with Russell he lost sight of the big picture. If Boston Rob tries to get Parvati out last week, he surely would have kept Coach’s vote and possibly could have been able to convince Jerri to vote with him. At worst, he’d have a 4-4 tie instead of being voted out.
Gordon: You’re known as the “Smartest player never to win ‘Survivor,'” what strategies would you have employed if you were on the Villains squad?
Rob: This is a difficult question for me since Parvati has pretty much stole my strategy of using all of my sex appeal. With all of these major egos at play, I honestly believe the best strategy is just laying low. These power players are going to target each other (See Rob and Russell) and after they all take each other out, the real game is going to begin.
Rob Cesternino’s Picks
All-Star Team’s Current Score: 56
 |
#1 Parvati: Parvati is the Survivor your wife or girlfriend loves to hate. She may not ride coattails, but her game is set up very nicely with Russell taking 100% of the bullets for their alliance. A few weeks ago on my podcast we talked about who is the greatest Survivor of all time. If Parvati can keep it going and pull this thing out, she will become the undisputed heavyweight champion of all time. |
 |
#2 Russell: Russell Hantz’s “Survivor” strategy is about one thing – chaos. Whether it’s burning socks, hiding machetes, voting out strong-willed players, or creating confusion with the immunity idol – once Russell senses the fear in people he presents himself as someone who can be their savior. Love him or hate him, the guy is so much fun to watch. |
 |
#3 Amanda: We’re at the midway point in the game and Amanda is in a great position and in no danger of going home – what else is new? I won’t be surprised at all to see Amanda making another speech to a jury who won’t vote for her. Amanda is one community college debate class away from being one of the top players of all-time. |
 |
#4 J.T.: J.T. has flipped back and forth a number of times and has somehow managed to not become a target. Furthermore, nobody seems to be worried about the fact that he’s already won the game. If the Heroes can pull out a few more immunities before the merge, J.T. could make a serious run at two “Survivor” titles in three seasons. |
 |
#5 Rupert: Did you notice last week how desperately Rupert wanted to take a break from the game during the reward challenge? Do you think that Richard Hatch was ever looking for a break from thinking about the game? Rupert’s in a good position for now but does anybody believe that Rupert’s got a plan past voting against the Villains at the merge? |
 |
#6 Danielle: Three things we know about Danielle: 1. Danielle is an alliance with Russell and Parvati. 2. Danielle makes me happy I have an HDTV. 3. Danielle isn’t getting voted out anytime soon. |
 |
#7 Jerri: This is the third time I’ve watched Jerri play “Survivor” and last week’s vote was hands down the biggest strategic move she’s ever made. As viewers, I know we were all sad to see Boston Rob go, but I’m very excited to see what Jerri 3.0 does next. |
 |
#8 Colby: I was glad to see Colby come back to life a little bit this week. Nobody likes to see a depressed cowboy. He wasn’t exactly LeBron James in the reward challenge this week, but in the land of airballs, he who makes two baskets is King. |
 |
#9 Coach: Poor Coach. First Jerri hurts his feelings by deciding to go with Russell and then Boston Rob breaks his heart and calls him a “little man.” Coach’s best move would be to start telling more crazy stories and stop thinking so much. Seriously, Coach just pick one player and vote however they say to. Being wishy-washy is a great way to get yourself in trouble on “Survivor.” |
 |
#10 Courtney: I really felt like Courtney was in a great spot only two weeks ago, but now without Tyson and Boston Rob, she certainly will be feeling some heat. Courtney is always a liability in the team challenges but that liability becomes a strength after the merge when immunity threats will be targeted. Also, she’s a good person to keep around because she won’t eat too much of the tribe’s food. |
 |
#11 Sandra: I went back and forth between Courtney and Sandra for this spot, but in the end, I just thought that Sandra was more likely to tell Russell off to his face. Through one and a half seasons Sandra has done amazingly well on “Survivor” by seemingly doing everything wrong. She’s a liability in the challenges and she makes no secrets about who she doesn’t like. Apparently she knows something because she’s not only won the game but she’s never even received a vote at tribal council. |
 |
#12 Candice: My reason for putting Candice in this spot is only because she looks like a lock to go home should the Heroes go back to tribal council. Though I was surprised to see her on this season, I actually have been impressed with how hard she is playing the game. She’s been on the outs since day 1 but she’s been trying to make something happen the whole game. I’m one fan who hopes that she can figure it out. |
Gordon Holmes’s Picks
Gordon’s Current Score: 82
|
#1 Russell: All hail the King of Samoa! That being said, I have to wonder if he’s setting himself up for an encore of last season’s finale. The people outside of his alliance (and even some of them in it) really seem to hate him. Could he be turning Parvati into Natalie White Version 2.0? |
|
#2 J.T.: I think J.T.’s social missteps early in the season could come back to haunt him. But, he has to be the safest person in this game right now. The Heroes can’t afford to drop a single challenge at this point. |
|
#3 Danielle: It was nice to see Danielle talk a little strategy last week, but I have a feeling from my interviews with Boston Rob and Tyson that nobody is really taking her seriously. In a game where all of the big players have targets on their backs that might not be such a bad thing. |
|
#4 Rupert: I’ve given Rupert a lot of grief this season for his seemingly grumpy disposition, but I’ll give him credit for realizing that the time for politics within the Heroes tribe is over. |
|
#5 Amanda: Every season Amanda sticks around and makes it to the latter stages of the game, and every season I’m left shaking my head. It’s like that Justin Bieber kid. Sure, he’s popular, but nobody can really explain to me “Why?” |
|
#6 Colby: With Colby tearing up challenges it felt like 2001 all over again. Almost made me want to bust out my Destiny’s Child and Lifehouse CDs. The Colbster (still hate that nickname) probably bought himself some time in case the Heroes go back to their challenge-dropping ways. |
|
#7 Parvati: Why do I have Parvati ranked so low? Because I don’t think the Jerri/Parvati feud is behind us. Could Russell vote Parvati out to appease the Dragon Slayer and the lovely Lady Slayer? I doubt it, but he did vote out Outlaw Ben to appease Jaison last season… |
|
#8 Jerri: OK Jerri, you made your move, now you have to stick with it. No more of this wishy-washy, back-and-forth, fear-of-commitment stuff. Russell has voted people out for lesser slights than the ones you were dishing out last week. |
|
#9 Coach: I’m putting Coach in the same boat as Jerri. They need to watch what they say around Russell. He has no problem booting anyone who questions his authority. And if Coach lets Boston Rob’s “Little Man” slight from last week’s tribal get the best of him, he could find himself in trouble. |
|
#10 Sandra: Russell wasn’t exactly subtle when he let it be known that he wasn’t happy with Courtney or Sandra’s challenge performances. If they’re both next on the chopping block, I can see Sandra tossing Courtney right under the bus. And with Courtney’s teensy frame, I’d assume finding room for her under a bus wouldn’t be too difficult. |
|
#11 Candice: Unfortunately for Candice, she’s in the do-or-die position in the Heroes tribe. Either they win immunity or she’s on her way out of the game. She needs a merge in the worst way. |
|
#12 Courtney: Why a Villain in the last spot? Because losing Tyson and Boston Rob in back-to-back weeks is challenge death. Why Courtney in the last spot over Sandra? Because I think Sandra is more likely to play nice with Russell. |
Tags: boston rob mariano, jeff probst, rob cesternino, rupert boneham, Russell Hantz, survivor, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
More Whatnot 
Leave a comment