'Survivor: Caramoan' (CBS)
Quick Note: We’re going to be bringing you all kinds of “Survivor” fun this season including episode recaps, exit interviews, and Power Rankings with Michael Skupin. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.
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Last Week: Gota kept stomping challenges like a caffeine-fueled Godzilla, Phillip and Corinne’s disagreement was becoming an alliance killa, and Baskin Robbins is down to 30 flavors because Bikal finished off vanilla.
39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog
Let’s take a look at the tribes as they currently stand…
The Bikal Tribe (wearing purple)
Cochran – Harvard Law Student, 25
Corinne – Pharmaceutical Sales, 33
Dawn – English Professor/Power Rankings Champ, 42
Michael – Event Planner, 44
Phillip – Chief Executive Officer of Enter Software Sales, 54
The Gota Tribe (wearing orange)
Andrea – Entertainment Host and Writer, 23
Brenda – Paddleboard Company Owner, 30
Eddie – Firefighter/EMT, 23
Erik – Comic Book Artist, 27
Malcolm – Bartender, 25
Reynold – Sales, 30
Sherri – Fast Food Franchisee, 41
The post-Tribal festivities kick off with everyone congratulating Michael for getting to stick around. Well, that’s unique. Congrats on being the dude we decided to vote off last.
Corinne, however, is ecstatic that she gets to keep her new BFF. I find it endearing that she can’t talk about him without mentioning how much she loves his homosexuality.
Phillip pulls Dawn and Corinne aside to let them know that he threw last episode’s challenge. However, Dawn and Corinne don’t believe him because they have functioning brains in their heads.
He then claims that he made the call to throw the challenge during the actual challenge. I love that. It reminds me of when people used to ask “Macho Man” Randy Savage if wrestling was fake. He’d say something along the lines of, “When I win it’s real and when I lose I’m taking a dive.”
Quick Aside: If you hate this recap, it’s because I wanted you to.
The next morning, Dawn is a little worried because her game fell apart the last time there was a merge. This is totally different, Dawn. In “South Pacific” you were in an alliance with Cochran…oh wait…
Over at Gota beach a big ol’ boat shows up with a note and a key. The note says to gather all their business because they’re going on a trip to Mergeville: Population 12.
The boat takes the Gotians to Bikalia. The new tribe ponders their tribe name during the merge feast and comes up with “Enil Edam” which supposedly means “new beginning.” Malcolm lets us know that that’s a fib, it’s actually his mom’s name backwards.
Oh man, dude loves his mom. No wonder Twitter is all goofy for him.
Quick Aside: As terrible as the tribe’s name is, the flag looks amazing. Kudos to Erik and his painting skills. My question? What’s with Michael signing it in the middle of the mural? I’d vote him out right there.
Later, Phillip pulls Andrea aside to let her know what time it is. He wants Corinne gone soon because he thinks she’ll side with the fans. All the fans aren’t gay, Phillip.
Corinne and Malcolm discuss strategy and they’re pretty sure they have Eddie, Reynold, Erik, and Michael on their side. They decide to go for Sherri first, to give them a 5-to-6 advantage, then blindside Phillip.
Immunity Challenge Time: Players will EAT GROSS STUFF!
Quick Note: Every time I see Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer, I bug him about the lack of “eat gross stuff” challenges in recent seasons. I’d like to think this challenge is something of a belated Valentine to me.
Another Quick Note: Now if I could just get them to toss the immunity necklaces in exchange for an immunity championship belt. Yes, I know I complain about this every season.
Round One: Andrea, Sherri, Corinne, Erik, Eddie, and Malcolm have to eat two live beetle larva. Somewhere Gervase is smiling. The first three to finish are Andrea, Malcolm, and Eddie.
Round Two: Phillip, Reynold, Dawn, Cochran, Brenda, and Michael have to eat the same thing. And…Cochran kills it! He’s done in like two seconds. We’ve found his gift. Phillip and Michael also advance.
Round Three: Andrea, Malcolm, Eddie, Cochran, Phillip, and Michael have to eat shipworms, which are apparently something weird from the clam family. It’s pretty gross. I’m pretty psyched. Malcolm, Eddie, and Cochran advance.
Fun Fact: Andrea with a shipworm residue mustache isn’t nearly as endearing as when she had cake smeared all over her face during “Redemption Island.”
Round Four: Eddie, Malcolm, and Cochran have to eat a balut, you know, that weird embryo thing. The best part is Eddie saying, “Why?” Cochran tears through it again! Malcolm also advances.
Final Round: Cochran and Malcolm will have to eat pig brains. And…Cochran does it again! Cochran wins immunity! He’s going to Wrestlemania!
Back at camp, Phillip wants to split the vote between Eddie and Reynold in case there’s an idol. Corinne would rather target Sherri (like she discussed with Malcolm). Phillip doesn’t like this idea because he wants to make a statement.
Cochran doesn’t care who goes home, but he doesn’t like that Corinne and Phillip are at each others’ throats.
Later, Corinne tells Dawn that she’s sick of Phillip being Phillip and she wants him gone. Uh-oh…that didn’t work out so well for whatshername last week.
CUT TO: Dawn telling Cochran what Corinne is up to.
The remnants of Stealth R Us Too discuss what to do about Corinne’s gross misuse of company time. Their plan is to outsource votes from Erik and Sherri. Sherri likes the idea of not going home, but can’t stand Phillip. While Erik is excited to be a part of two teams’ plans.
That night at Tribal Council, Michael thinks a fan will probably be going home.
Corinne doesn’t think the fans should feel helpless. If someone comes to her with a good idea, she’ll listen. Her alliance must love hearing that.
Reynold thinks there are eight favorites and they can’t all be on top. Good point.
Andrea is more paranoid this time because everyone is good at lying.
Sherri thinks the fans don’t have a shot. Wow…Negative Nancy…
Reynold doesn’t think the vote will be a big shocker, but he thinks some shockers are on their way.
Voting Time: Phillip votes for Corinne, Corinne votes for Sherri, Andrea votes for Corinne, Michael votes for Sherri, and the rest of the votes have gotsta wait for tallying.
JPro tallies and returns, we’ve got five votes for Sherri, six votes for Corinne, and the ninth person to be eliminated from “Survivor: Caramoan – Fans vs. Favorites” is…Corinne.
“Boooo!”
Verdict: “Boooooooooooooo!” I love me some Corinne. And Probst didn’t say she was a member of the jury. “Boo” a third time.
The thing is; the vote wasn’t a shocker. Either Phillip or Corinne had to go. Maybe the big takeaway from all of this is that Malcolm isn’t as smooth as he thinks he is. He was pretty sure Erik was on his side.
Who’s Going to Win? I’ve been picking Erik, and he’s in good shape, but is he savvy enough to know when to make a move? Cochran’s the one who’s killing it right now.
Power Rankings Results: Mr. Skupin and I called it. We both had Corinne in spot twelve. So, the current score is Team Skupin 95, Team Lightning Punch 115.
Any questions? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
Tags: jeff probst, survivor, survivor caramoan, survivor fans vs favorites
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