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'Survivor: Cagayan' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to be for all sorts of “Survivor: Cagayan” back-stabbin’, torch-snuffin’ fun. We’ll have Power Rankings with “Blood vs. Water” competitor Ciera Eastin, every Wednesday evening we’ll bring you a recap of the most recent episode, and every Thursday you’ll be able to watch the previous night’s episode and read an interview with the eliminated contestant. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for immediate updates.

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Quick Note: Unfortunately, Ciera had to cancel her participation at the last minute. So, this week’s picks will be pulled from a “Survivor: Gabon” coffee mug.

Another Quick Note: To spice things up between now and the finale, the two combatants will be playing for DOUBLE THE POINTS! (Exciting, right?)

The Rules: Each week our two combatants will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of the next episode (times two!) will determine the number of points the two players will earn. For example, if Woo is voted out this week, Ciera will receive 10 points and Gordon will receive 8 points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Cagayan” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Last Week’s Results: Ciera had Tasha in the 3rd spot, Gordon had her in the 6th spot. And, due to the new rules, we’re doubling the points. So, the current score is Team Ciera 86, Team Gordon 99.

Ciera’s Score = 86 Any advice for Ciera? Drop her a line on Twitter: @cieraeastin	Gordon’s Score = 99 Any advice for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
	1. Tony – Team TV is marching to the final four unless Tyler Perry has another magic idol that negates all other idols. (Don’t get any ideas there, Probst.) Right now the only thing that can stop Tony is Spencer making it to the end. He’d better hope the next immunity isn’t a chess tournament.
	2. Trish – If there were a “Survivor” SAT, I think a good analogy would be Tony is to Trish what Tyson is to Monica. It may seem like Tony and Trish aren’t that close and that Trish is mad that Tony keeps going behind her back, but I’m betting they’re much closer than we’re seeing.
	3. Kass – Did Kass make the right move last week? If her plan is to go to the end and hope that the jury views Tony the same way past juries have viewed Russell Hantz, then she’s probably in for a rude awakening. It doesn’t seem like Tony has nearly as much heat as Mr. Hantz had in Samoa and…well…other Samoa. And even if he does, the third finalist will probably get more votes than Kass.
	4. Woo –  Here’s my pitch, CBS…Woo goes to different needy schools and entertains the kids while Spencer looks on and makes snarky comments. It’ll be like “The Odd Couple” meets “Extreme Makeover: School Edition.” It’s a license to print money.
	5. Spencer – Probst said Spencer had no chance of winning “Survivor.” I had him ranked 17th out of 18 players for this season. And yet, here he is…two immunity wins away from a million-dollar check. Unfortunately, I think that’s the only way he can get there, because the others would be foolish to keep him around.

Don’t miss “Survivor: Cagayan” this Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes

'Survivor: Cagayan (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to be for all sorts of “Survivor: Cagayan” back-stabbin’, torch-snuffin’ fun. We’ll have Power Rankings with “Blood vs. Water” competitor Ciera Eastin, every Wednesday evening we’ll bring you a recap of the most recent episode, and every Thursday you’ll be able to watch the previous night’s episode and read an interview with the eliminated contestant. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for immediate updates.

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Last Week: Tony found another idol, while Spencer blew his dough. Latasha won immunity, and Jefra had to go.

39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Let’s take a look at the tribe as it currently stands.

The Solarrion Tribe (wearing black)
Kassandra – Attorney, 41
Latasha – Accountant, 37
Spencer – Economics Student, 21
Tony – Police Officer, 39
Trish – Pilates Trainer, 48
Woo – Martial Arts Instructor, 29

After our latest blindsidey Tribal, Trish tells Tony that she understands why he did what he did because Jefra was going to target him. Kass, however, isn’t thrilled with being in the dark on two different votes. She’s sick of Tony’s condescending tone and calls him a jerk.

Tony tries to apologize, but she won’t accept it, just saying, “Good for you.”

Kass is just scoopin’ up those future jury votes.

The next morning, Tony shares cop stories with Woo and Spencer, saying he’s been shot at three times. Cops always have the best stories. Nothing cool ever happens at my desk.

Kass overhears these stories and thinks Tony was talking smack about her. Spencer knows Tony wasn’t talking trash, but chooses not to clear up the situation. Smart.

Later, Kass tells Tony that she’s going to vote for him and that he should play his idol. He tells her that she’ll go home if she votes for him.

Then, Tony admits to having a “special” idol. Kass doesn’t buy it. Yeah, because one guy having two idols is ridiculous.

Reward Challenge Time: The tribe will break into two teams of three. They’ll throw beanbags at the opposing team’s wall/puzzle. After one tribe’s wall is completely knocked over, they’ll race to put their own wall back together. First team to complete their wall wins a trip to a local elementary school where they’ll be bringing school supplies to kids.

Aww…I love these kinds of charitable rewards. They should do more of them.

Alright, we’ve got Tasha, Trish, and Tony on one side (Team T!) and Woo, Kass, and Spencer on the other.

The Survivors are ready, and they go.

The first round is pretty even with Team WooKaSp getting all of the blocks down first.

Spencer and Latasha both pull puzzle duty.  Good call sending out the brainy players.

Latasha jumps out to a big lead, but Spencer manages to DIG DEEP and pass her to win.

At the reward, Spencer admits that he doesn’t like kids. But as the day went on his heart grew three sizes and broke the heart-measuring device.

Afterwards, Woo put on a martial arts/basketball exhibition. And it was adorable. Way to be, Woo.

Later on, Kass puts together a plan to flush Tony’s idol. But which idol, Kass? He couldn’t possibly have a second magic one.

Spencer seems into it, but Woo’s on the fence. Well yeah, Spencer should do any move that saves his skin at this point.

On the way back to camp, Woo tells Kass that he’s in. Interesting…

Tony asks Woo if there was any strategy talk. He tells them that Kass and Spencer are targeting Tasha. Tony doesn’t buy it because that’s a bad move for Spencer.

You know, it’s fun to paint Tony as a hyperactive dolt. But, that’s not even close to accurate. He’s super sharp.

Immunity Challenge Time: Players will race out and count the number of items at six different stations. They’ll then use those numbers to complete a combo lock. First person to unlock a club and smash a tile wins immunity.

Why do they bother having these challenges? Just give the necklace to Latasha.

The challenge starts off and it’s hard to tell who’s doing well.  Kass is the first to think she has all six numbers. She doesn’t. Neither does Tony, Spencer, or Woo. Latasha and Trish don’t have it right either.

The counting continues for 40 hours. (I’m bad at counting too.) Eventually Spencer wins it and is awarded Latasha’s necklace.

Back at camp, the voting block of Tasha, Woo, Spencer, and Kass decide to split the vote between Trish and Tony.

Latasha does a good job of playing up that she thinks she’s a goner, but Tony doesn’t buy it because she isn’t scrambling. Tony tells everyone he’s going to play his idol in case Tasha has one.

Later on, Kass and Latasha both compare Tony to “Survivor” Hall of Famer Russell Hantz. This makes Kass consider keeping Tony around because he’d be a good person to take to the end. Sorry Kass, you’re not Natalie White. Natalie had a social game.

That night at Tribal Council, Latasha hopes people realize Tony is a threat.

Tony admits that he’s worried because Tasha wasn’t scrambling. And for that reason, he brought his Bag of Tricks(TM).

Tasha thinks Tony is a much bigger threat than her.

Tony believes his alliance is tight and loyal to each other.

Kass disagrees because they’re getting so close to the end. She then admits that tonight’s the night to flush one of Tony’s 30 idols.

Woo thinks they should flush the idols because Tony can dictate who stays and goes. Psst…he’s in your alliance, Woo.

Tony hopes his alliance sticks together and that Latasha goes home.

Kass thinks it’s fun to fantasize about the final three, but you have to get there first. She hopes tonight is a blindside.

Voting Time: Tony votes for Tasha, Spencer votes for Tony, Tasha votes for Trish, and the rest of the votes will have to wait.

J-Pro tallies and returns. When asked if anyone would like to play an idol, nobody does. DUN DUN DUN!

We’ve got one vote for Tasha, one vote for Tony, one vote for Trish, one vote for Tasha, and the thirteenth person to be eliminated from “Survivor: Cagayan” and the sixth member of the jury is…Latasha.

Verdict: The choice seemed obvious. It’s clearly time for threats like Spencer or Latasha to go…but it was still mega stressful! I don’t think Kass is playing a good social game, but she’s thinking of all the angles. Between her and Tony, this season has been way cray.

And way awesome.

Power Rankings Results: Ciera had Tasha in the 3rd spot, I had her in the 6th spot. And, due to the new rules, we’re doubling the points. So, the current score is Team Ciera 86, Team Gordon 99.

Who’s Going to Win? If there is a Natalie White this season, it isn’t Kass…it’s Trish.

Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes