'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: Some stuff happened, there were some challenges, some other stuff happened, then Malcolm took Tribal Council and shook it like a damn Etch-A-Sketch.
39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog
Let’s take a look at the tribe as it currently stands…
The Enil Edam Tribe (wearing green)
Andrea – Entertainment Host and Writer, 23
Brenda – Paddleboard Company Owner, 30
Cochran – Harvard Law Student, 25
Dawn – English Professor/Power Rankings Champ, 42
Eddie – Firefighter/EMT, 23
Erik – Comic Book Artist, 27
Malcolm – Bartender, 25
Reynold – Sales, 30
Sherri – Fast Food Franchisee, 41
The fun kicks off after Tribal with the Stealth R Us Tooers congratulating the Amigos on their major league move. In fact, with Phillip gone, Stealth R Us Too decides to shed their name. We’ll have to wait to redub them, but I like the ‘80s movie theme that the Amigos kicked off. I’m trying to think of a way to make “The Breakfast Club” work. Maybe “The Goonies”?
Malcolm knows his work is far from done and he needs to bring some more people over to his side. Why bother? Just find two more idols.
The next morning, some girl named Brenda has a bit of a breakdown because of the chaotic Tribal Council. I’d give it a .2 on the Meehan Scale.
Later, tree mail arrives in the form of $500 for each contestant. That can only mean…
Reward Challenge Time: It’s the “Survivor” auction, baby!
Malcolm is determined to save his money for the immunity challenge clue that is always offered. Meanwhile, Eddie might bid on some magic beans.
Probst offers up a beer and some nuts and Malcolm immediately wins it for $20. What? Did you not just hear yourself?!
Reynold wins a secret item for $180. He’s offered the chance to trade it for a second or third secret item. He sticks with the original one and gets a slice of pizza. The other items were the rest of the pizza and a coconut.
Sherri then gives up $500 for the rest of the pizza.
Dawn buys a roasted chicken for $500.
Malcolm bids $480 for “information about the game.” It turns out to be a clue for a buried immunity idol. OK, now I feel better.
Note: Nowhere in my “Survivor” coverage contract does it say I have to be impartial.
Andrea wins a secret item for $280. It ends up being spaghetti and meatballs. However, if she gives it up she can win rice and beans for the tribe. She gives up the spaghetti. Good girl.
The immunity challenge advantage is up next and Cochran wins it for $340. Wow, the one guy who doesn’t need it. Couldn’t Eddie have gone all in?
Brenda wins a secret item for $300. It ends up being pig brains. Her day isn’t getting better.
Letters from home are offered for $20, everyone is in except for Dawn, Malcolm, and Sherri because they are broke.
Eddie wins the last secret item for $200. It’s a giant jar of peanut butter that the entire tribe has 60 seconds to eat. Too bad Jenna Morasca and Heidi Hamels weren’t favorites this season.
Things get emotional back at camp when everyone sits down to read their letters from home. Even cold-blooded Cochran sheds a tear or two.
Meanwhile, Reynold and Malcolm start making moves toward Sherri. She thinks the Amigos might be too powerful for the former Stealthers to defeat.
That night, Malcolm sneaks out to dig for the immunity idol. Andrea swings by and ribs him by saying, “I love the smell of fresh dirt.” Love her.
Then, Andrea sets up camp to keep an eye on him. He doesn’t want to dig in front of her, so the both of them just stand there.
CUT TO: Later in the day, both of them still standing there. Hilarious.
Immunity Challenge Time: Players will hold onto a rope that is connected to a heavy log. As time goes on, they’ll move further down the rope. Last person holding their rope wins immunity.
Cochran’s Auction Advantage: At any point in the challenge, Cochran will be allowed to move his hand back up two places on the rope.
This advantage doesn’t worry Eddie because Cochran is…well…Cochran.
Cochran smartly uses his advantage immediately after they’ve slid down two knots. No reason to wait past that.
Brenda is the first one out. She’s followed by Erik. Is it my imagination, or was Erik good at challenges five years ago?
Sherri’s quickly out after they move to the last place on the rope. She’s followed by Malcolm and Andrea.
Dawn’s next out after yelling, “Mother!” I know she knows the word that follows. I’ve heard her say it.
Reynold’s the next casualty, and we’re down to Cochran and Eddie.
Eddie holds it as best he can, but he eventually succumbs to the impressive challenge prowess of “Stone Cold” John Cochran.
Back at camp, Malcolm is frustrated because the girls won’t let him hunt for the idol. His backup plan is to convince Sherri that he already has it. He promises to take her to the end, and it seems like she’s into it.
Meanwhile, Reynold starts working on Erik. Erik plays along, but he lets us know that he’s undecided.
The former Stealthers are going to split their votes between Malcolm and Reynold, however Cochran is worried because Erik voted for Phillip last time.
Andrea thinks Erik would be dumb to flip on them. Good thing Erik doesn’t have a history of making dumb moves. Ahem…
That night at Tribal Council, Michael and Phillip make up the first-ever all-bald jury.
Andrea is nervous about people flipping, but thinks it would ruin the flipper’s game.
Sherri isn’t sure where she sits with the favorites.
Dawn hopes Sherri doesn’t think she’s on the bottom. Oh, but Dawn didn’t say she wasn’t on the bottom…
Andrea is 80% sure that Malcolm found the idol and is nervous that she’s a target.
Voting Time: Reynold votes for Andrea, Dawn votes for Reynold, Cochran votes for Malcolm and mocks Malcolm’s hand kissing gesture, and the rest of the votes are secret.
Probst asks if anyone would like to play an idol…and nobody does.
We’ve got one vote for Reynold, one vote for Malcolm, one vote for Andrea, one vote for Reynold, one vote for Malcolm, one vote for Andrea, one vote for Reynold, one vote for Andrea and…one vote for Malcolm. Three-way tie.
Voting Time Again: None of the revotes are shown.
We’ve got three votes for Malcolm and the twelfth person to be eliminated from “Survivor: Caramoan – Fans vs. Favorites” and the third member of the jury is…Malcolm.
Verdict: “Mother!”
Who’s Going to Win? I don’t like to write anyone off unless they’re playing a disastrous social game, but what is up with Reynold and Eddie? How could they let Cochran win the challenge advantage? Have they seen this show?
Anywho, I’ve been picking Erik, but he hasn’t been showing the same challenge fire he showed in Micronesia. I’m thinking Cochran’s my fave now unless someone else realizes how dangerous he is at this point.
Power Rankings Results: Michael Skupin and I both called it by having Malcolm in spot nine. So, the current score is Team Skupin 122, Team Lightning Punch 139.
Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
Tags: jeff probst, survivor, survivor caramoan, survivor fans vs favorites
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