Archive for October, 2014

‘Survivor’ Castaway Dale – Baylor Is ‘Spoiled and Lazy’

October 30, 2014

'Survivor: San Juan del Sur' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to go for “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” coverage with “all the fixin’s.” We’ll have Power Rankings with “Cagayan” fave Spencer Bledsoe, 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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You’ve gotta love a player that goes down swinging.

Knowing that his head was next on the chopping block, Dale threw a Hail Mary pass in the form of a weird trinket he’d found on the water well. Was it an idol? Of course not. Did he convince Jon it was an idol? Surprisingly, yes.

Did Jon take the bait and keep Dale around? No.

Jon and company simply split the vote and sent Dale packing anyways.

I spoke to Dale the morning after his elimination and had a chance to ask about his clever ruse, his feud with Missy, and how the game affected his relationship with his daughter…

Gordon Holmes: Last night Jon told Jaclyn that he believed that the idol you showed him was real. When you were out there, did you think you had him hooked?
Dale Wentworth: I was hoping I did. I talked to Keith and I said, “I think the vote is going to be three for me and three for you and if I play my idol, you’re going home.” I was about 99% sure they were going to split the votes between us. I was hoping and praying, but I didn’t have a lot of chance of staying.
Holmes: Were you close with Keith?
Wentworth: No, Keith and Missy were…Keith was very tied to Missy. I couldn’t make any inroads with him whatsoever.
Holmes: Did you show anyone else your fake idol?
Wentworth: No, I just did it with Jon. I knew Jon was tight with Missy. We did have a conversation with Jon and Jaclyn and Keith and we agreed to vote for Missy. That was the last conversation we had before Tribal.

Holmes: Was there ever an opportunity to make peace with Missy or to work with her?
Wentworth: I didn’t get along with Missy because Baylor spoiled that one. And, Kelley and Missy didn’t get along much either. Kelley and I both brought a lot of baggage into that tribe swap. It was five-to-two from the start. We had a talk as soon as we got to the beach that there was going to have to be a miracle.
Holmes: What was the root of the problem with you and Baylor?
Wentworth: Baylor and I never hit it off. Within three or four hours of the game starting, I was walking with Baylor and said, “Look, are you interested in forming an alliance?” And she just looked at me and said, “I haven’t decided anything yet. But if I do, I’ll come talk to you.” And she walked away. She had no interest in talking to me. I don’t know what her problem was. And I never really targeted Baylor. There were times where I petitioned to keep her around for alliances and stuff.

Holmes: What was your relationship like with Josh before the swap?
Wentworth: We got along real good. We were talking on the first day. Wes, Rocker, and I…I had a lot of alliances going.
Holmes: I asked that because I can’t get a read on how Josh feels about Baylor. It seems like he’d throw votes her way that were unnecessary.
Wentworth: Josh is playing an interesting game. You usually try to build loyalty up pre-merge. You’ve got your two or three alliance guys…and you go into Tribal and you say you’re going to vote that way, then you vote that way…so they can count on you. Then if you can carry your alliance through the merge, you’ll have loyalty built up. Josh isn’t going into a merge with a lot of foundation with his people.

Holmes: You were the only person to vote with Rocker when he was blindsided. Were they able to patch things up with you afterwards or was it clear that you were the next to go?
Wentworth: We patched it up. But patching it up on “Survivor” is just words. John, I don’t know why he did it, but we’d just seen Val come in and say she had an idol and we voted her out. Then the next day, John goes to the same people and told them he had an idol. Well, what’s the first thing you’re going to do? You’re going to vote that idol out. If he’d not told people he had an idol, he probably wouldn’t have been voted out that night.

Holmes: One of the storylines has been that Hunahpu was beating Coyopa in challenges because they had been eating more. Last night Probst traded Hunahpu a bag of rice for their comfort items. As someone who was on the losing end of so many challenges, do you think that was a fair deal?
Wentworth: Knowing there was a food reward coming up the next day, I would’ve made them go 24 more hours without food.

Holmes: OK, word association time. We’ll start with Rocker.
Wentworth: Misguided.
Holmes: Jon?
Wentworth: He’s a nice guy.
Holmes: Jaclyn?
Wentworth: Very friendly. Interesting.
Holmes: Keith?
Wentworth:  Whipped.
Holmes: Missy?
Wentworth: I said enough about her on the show. You can use those words. (Laughs)
Holmes: Baylor?
Wentworth: Spoiled and lazy.
Holmes: Josh?
Wentworth: A good guy.
Holmes: Alec?
Wentworth:  Gullible.
Holmes: Wes?
Wentworth: Underrated. That challenge he did was just amazing.
Holmes: We’ll finish off with Kelley.
Wentworth: Very proud to have her as my daughter.

Holmes: Kelley and I talked last week and she seemed very happy with how “Survivor” helped your relationship. Do you second that emotion?
Wentworth: Oh yeah. It’ll be something Kelley and I can share for the rest of our lives. What it did for us is priceless.
Holmes: Is this a situation where you can brag about lasting longer in the game, or would that be a huge mistake?
Wentworth: We still have a point of contention about who got voted out and why. That’ll be one of our arguing points for a long time. So, I won’t brag about that too much. (Laughs)

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

Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” on Your Computer

‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur’ Episode 6 Recap – Idolt?

October 29, 2014

'Survivor: San Juan del Sur' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to go for “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” coverage with “all the fixin’s.” We’ll have Power Rankings with “Cagayan” fave Spencer Bledsoe, 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: Tribes swapped, rice rationing stopped, and Kelley was dropped.

39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Let’s take a look at the tribes as they currently stand…

The Hunahpu (wearing blue

Alec – 22, Student
Jeremy – 36, Firefighter
Josh – 32, Actor
Julie – 34, Owner of Spray Tan Business
Natalie – 28, Crossfit Coach
Reed – 31, Broadway Performer
Wes – 23, Firefighter

The Coyopa (wearing yellow)

Baylor – 20, Student
Dale – 55, Farmer
Jaclyn – 25, Media Buyer
Jon – 26, Financial Assistant
Missy – 47, Owner of Cheerleading Gym
Keith – 53, Fire Captain

The fun starts off with new Coyopa after Tribal and Dale is not a happy camper. He says they slaughtered his daughter right in front of him. That’s a bit of a stretch, but it’s a fun little rhyme.

The next morning, he shows Jon the weird little medallion he found at the water well and tells him it’s an idol. Jon gawks at it like he just showed him a leprechaun.

Over at Hunahpu, Jeremy and Alec are wondering what Probst is going to ask for in exchange for rice. My money is on “Survivor” tattoos.

Jeremy doesn’t understand why they’re making the deal because they could win the next reward. Yeah dude, or go fishing, or catch those little crabs that are everywhere around your camp.

J-Pro shows up and gives them a hard time about how poorly they’ve been rationing. Reed says nobody spoke up about it because they didn’t want to put a target on their back. I like to think old Hunahpu was putting on weight.

Probst tells them that he wants all of their comfort rewards, their pots, their extra flint, and their souls.

And…they go for it without question. Worst negotiators ever. They could have at least had him throw in a blue button down shirt and some cargo shorts.

Reward Challenge Time: A blindfolded player from each tribe will climb through obstacles and retrieve bags of puzzle pieces. Once they have all three bags, they’ll use their hands to feel a completed puzzle. They’ll then have to recreate the puzzle with the pieces. Winning tribe gets a barbecue feast.

Oh man, I was hoping reward was going to be a giant bag of rice.

The tribes are allowed to put up anyone they want. Hunahpu chooses Reed while Baylor will go for Coyopa.

Not much to describe here except for Baylor constantly banging her head against the obstacles. See Missy, you’re not the only one to crack Baylor this season.

Reed figures out the puzzle and wins food for Hunahpu. So unfair, he has Spidey Sense!

Reed also gets to decide who goes to Exile, he chooses Julie, but Natalie wants to take her place. Huh…

Over at Coyopa, Jon, Missy, and Jaclyn are talking business. Jon thinks they’re have to target Keith if they lose immunity. Oy…

At Exile, Natalie wants to prove to Missy and Baylor that she’s still on their side. Not bad, but it’s really suspect to the tribe that you have to hang out with until the merge.

Baylor shares the idol clue and Natalie thinks the idol will be “awesome to have.” Well, she’s not wrong.

Meanwhile, Josh is super proud of his boyfriend for winning the reward. Jeremy, however, has a good point that if Val were around, they wouldn’t spend as much time together as Reed and Josh because they wouldn’t want to be viewed as a threat.

And then comes the rain…maybe Hunahpu can fashion their newly won rice into a tarp?

Oh…and Julie is losing it. Apparently she’s considering quitting…over rain…  Jeremy tries to give her a pep talk, but she’s not having it.

Alec shows some sympathy saying, “B—h, this is ‘Survivor,’ you signed up for this. Go home.” Oh, so that “b—h” thing is a family trait?

Immunity Challenge Time: Teams will race over a wall, then they’ll push a large cube through some posts gathering puzzle pieces as they go. First tribe to complete the puzzle wins immunity.

Julie will sit out for Hunahpu.

The Survivors are ready, and then they go. Hunahpu is off to an early lead after the wall, but Coyopa comes back and takes the lead when one of Jeremy’s puzzle bags gets stuck.

Jon and Missy start Coyopa’s puzzle while Reed and Josh eventually take puzzle duty for Hunahpu.

Aww…the couple that does puzzles together…

…wins together! Reed and Josh win immunity for Hunahpu.

Dale makes it a point to say that someone’s loved one is going home tonight. Yeah, cause he has a super real, not-at-all-fake idol. Right? Right, everyone!

Back at camp, Jon claims to suck at losing. On the contrary, my friend.

Dale offers to give his idol to Jon if he keeps him safe at Tribal. He’ll also trade him his huge nickel for Jon’s tiny dime.

Baylor, Missy, Jon, and Jaclyn decide to split the vote in case Dale plays his idol.

Jaclyn asks Jon if he thinks the idol is real and he toooootally does. Oh man. He’s so pretty.

Also, Jon is wearing a blue buff in his confessional…whoops.

That night at Tribal Council, Jon’s first answer is interrupted by howler monkeys. It’s probable what they were saying was more intelligent.

Dale thinks the vote is different than before because he knows he’s in trouble.

Jaclyn liked having Dale as an option. Missy didn’t like that answer. Oh man…Jaclyn is pretty too.

Baylor thinks she’s more loyal than Dale. Dale disagrees because Baylor flipped on Jaclyn.

Voting Time: Keith votes for Dale, Missy votes for Keith, Dale votes for Missy, and the rest of the votes are a mystery…until the credits.

J-Pro tallies and returns as only he can. We’ve got one vote for Dale, one vote for Keith, one vote for Missy, one vote for Keith, one vote for Dale, and the sixth person to be eliminated from “Survivor: San Juan del Sur – Blood vs. Water” is…Dale.

Verdict: Kudos to Dale for trying to make it interesting, but we knew he was a goner.

This has been a really weird season. Most of the people who were eliminated were bounced because of their own weird/bad strategies. Hopefully things pick up at the merge.

Who’s Going to Win? Jeremy has been my pick since day one and it looks like he’s going to survive the swap. But, this merge is gonna be crazy with the duos and other weird half alliances.

Power Rankings Results: Spencer and I both had Dale in spot thirteen. The current score is Team Spencer 49, Team Gordon 57.

Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter at @gordonholmes.

‘Amazing Race’s’ Keith & Whitney – Shelley & Nici ‘Were Being Kind of Nasty’

October 29, 2014

'The Amazing Race' (CBS)

Note: XFINITY is the perfect pit stop for “Amazing Race” fans. Every Monday after an elimination leg, we’ll have an interview with the team that was sent packing and the full episode. Follow @gordonholmes on Twitter for immediate updates.

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In “Survivor: South Pacific,” John Cochran felt like he was being bullied by the Savaii tribe. When given the chance he jumped ship and eventually sent Keith Tollefson and Whitney Duncan packing.

But, don’t feel bad for the duo, they found something much better than a million dollars…they found love.

Quick Note: I hate myself for writing that last line.

Anywho, fast forward a few years later to “The Amazing Race” where Shelley and Nici thought they were being bullied by “Team Nashville.” When given the chance, the mother/daughter team used their U-Turn and you know the rest.

I spoke to Keith and Whitney in the days following their elimination and asked about their run-in with Shelley and Nici, their unique style of communication, and when we’ll see them on “Big Brother”…

Gordon Holmes: I chatted with you two individually on a beach in Samoa before you two fell in love.
Whitney Duncan: Yes you did!
Holmes: So, it’s always kind of cool to have that picture of you two. These two are on this beach in the middle of nowhere and they can’t talk. But they’re going to fall for each other.
Duncan: Aww… That’s awesome.
Tollefson: You were there before it all happened.
Holmes: Not that I had anything to do with it.

Holmes: You delayed your wedding to run this crazy race. Has there been a wedding since then?
Duncan: Yes, we got married when we got back from filming in July. So, we’ve been married three months now.
Tollefson: Marital bliss.
Duncan: We just got a puppy too!
Holmes: What kind?
Duncan: We rescued him…he’s like a shar-pei…kind of a…
Tollefson: He’s a mutt.
Duncan: Yeah, he’s a mutt. But he’s a cute mutt.

Holmes: What exactly happened with Shelley and Nici after that challenge?
Tollefson: Everyone was trying to find the tannery where he had to bring our hides. Everyone is bringing their bikes back. The entire group came to the mat at the same time. When Nici got there, she basically ran right to her mother. I ran right to the guy that had the next clue. As soon as I get there, I’m about to hand her the receipt and she starts screaming and yelling at me. “We were here first!” And she grabs my shoulder and tries to pull me off the mat. And basically, I overreacted. I should have held my composure better. When she started pulling me off the mat, I yelled at her,“You’re not allowed to touch me. Don’t touch me.” And then she did it again. She was screaming in my face.
Duncan: She was screaming that his partner wasn’t there. I was carrying the bags. Basically, the guy wasn’t ready to hand over the clues yet. I wasn’t standing next to Keith. I’ll be honest; I wasn’t. I got there within a couple of seconds. I was standing behind them, they wouldn’t let me through. But the funny thing about the whole dang thing is there was no lead. Everyone was there. We literally got our clue within one second of each other.
Tollefson: We didn’t get an advantage by doing that. We made an enemy and whoever got to the U-Turn first was going to get the other team. Which is exactly what happened.  I would’ve thought; let’s U-Turn the dentists, they have a save and we have to get that out of play.
Holmes: Leave it to the “Survivor” guy to try to flush the idol.
Duncan: (Laughs) Exactly, right?

Holmes: If you’d beaten Shelley and Nici to the U-Turn, would you have U-Turned them?
Duncan: Emotionally I wanted to U-Turn Shelley and Nici. This is an ongoing thing. It isn’t the first time we’d dealt with them. Earlier that day they’d tried to get someone to not let us into the customs line. Shelley was going around saying, “Don’t let them through!” But, they were being kind of nasty. Strategically though, I think it was smarter to U-Turn Misti and Jim. And it wouldn’t have put them out of the game. It’d upset Jim and he’s so intense and scary, but it was very easy to say, “We’re not trying to make an enemy out of you, it was just to get the save out of the game.”
Holmes: As far as your reality TV nemeses go; where do Shelley and Nici rank vs. Cochran?
Duncan: The Cochran thing…it was so long ago. I have nothing against him. I think he made a dumber move than they did. It was a much bigger move in the game. I wouldn’t even call it a move. I don’t know, what do you think Keith?

Holmes: Did we lose Keith?
Duncan: Keith are you still there?
Holmes: I think we’ve lost Keith.
Tollefson: Wait, I’m back.
Holmes: We were talking about you when you were gone.
Tollefson: (Laughs)
Duncan: I knew something was wrong, I thought, “He’s letting me talk for way too long.” (Laughs)
Holmes: Well, that kind of leads into one of the things I wanted to ask you about. We didn’t get a great feel for your personalities on “Survivor.” But on “The Amazing Race” you were digging into each other and going at it. What was your family’s reaction to getting to see more of that side of your relationship?
Tollefson: They know us. It’s not us fighting. It’s just how we react to each other. We’re both extremely competitive. So, instead of being nice to each other, we’re just saying “What do you want to do? Tell me now, it has to be ‘yes’ or ‘no’.” It’s not as nice as Bethany and Adam where they’re like, “What do you want to do baby?”
Duncan: “I don’t know, honey! What do you want to do?”
Tollefson: (Laughs) It’s not a bad thing, we’re just a little more intense. I have a lot of respect for Whitney’s opinion, and I need it when I ask for it. I can’t be wishy-washy.
Duncan: He analyzes a lot more than I do. I’ll just make a decision.

Holmes: Alright, word association time. Let’s start with Kym and Alli.
Duncan: Competitors.
Tollefson: They’re staying away from the pack. They’re being smart.
Holmes: Adam and Bethany?
Duncan: Sweet. Gnarly…in a good way.
Tollefson: They’re really nice. Nothing bothers them.
Duncan: In real life we would hang with Adam and Bethany.
Holmes: Tim and Te Jay?
Duncan: They’re funny. They’re so funny.
Tollefson: Unique.
Holmes: Shelley and Nici?
Tollefson: Miserable.
Holmes: Brooke and Robbie?
Duncan: Hilarious.
Tollefson: Entertaining.
Holmes: Misti and Jim?
Duncan: Intense for Jim, sweet for Misti.
Tollefson: Jim controlled the situation…arrogant.
Duncan: He is kind of arrogant.
Holmes: Let’s finish with Amy and Maya.
Duncan: They’re really nice girls. Down to Earth.
Tollefson: They’re the girls next door.

Holmes: So, when are we going to see you two on “Big Brother”?
Duncan: (Laughs) Never.
Tollefson: I don’t understand the game well enough. It seems complicated. And I’ve had enough problems with two reality shows already.

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

‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur’ Power Rankings – ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ Edition

October 28, 2014

'Survivor: San Juan del Sur' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to go for “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” coverage with “all the fixin’s.” We’ll have Power Rankings with “Cagayan” fave Spencer Bledsoe, 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.

[xfinity-record-button id=”6034085997813089112″ program_type=”series”]

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 will determine the number of points the two players will earn. For example, if Keith is voted out this week, Spencer will receive 7 points and Gordon will receive 1 point. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Last Week: Spencer had Kelley in spot four, Gordon had her in spot five. So, the current score is Team Spencer 36, Team Gordon 44.

Spencer’s Score = 36

Any questions for Spencer? Drop him a line on Twitter: @SpencerBGM

  Gordon’s Score = 44

Any questions for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes

 1. Josh – Josh has put himself in a solid strategic foothold throughout the game, he has his loved one around as a buffer, and his tribe is winning. As long as Jeff’s price for rice isn’t “the most competent member of the tribe goes home,” Josh should find a way to maneuver forward.
  1. Keith – OK, I ranted about how much I hate tribe swaps last week, but I forgot to mention that it’s a pain to redo all of these graphics with the proper tribe colors. Cut me a break, CBS! Alright…Keith. He ended up on the right end of the vote last week and he’s still got an idol in his pocket. He isn’t going anywhere.
 2. Baylor – While Baylor has a remarkable double-digit number of votes cast against her without going home, she isn’t in nearly as much danger as it might have seemed at times. I see Baylor and her mother as being locked in with Jon and Jaclyn, with bodes very well for all four until the merge.
  2. Jon – As one half of last week’s swing vote and the strongest challenge competitor in a dead-in-the-water tribe, he’s got to be feeling good about his position. My only concern is that he might fall for Dale’s adorable little faux idol. Or that he might try to use the weird faux idol to barter with Probst for a karaoke machine so he can regale his tribe with his dead-on Jafar and Iago duets.
 3. Jeremy – The Grinch of San Juan Del Sur may have expressed displeasure at the tribe shake-up, but it honestly left him in a perfectly fine position. He’s surrounded by friends from his initial tribe, and continues to play better than just about anyone else.
  3. Jaclyn – So, did Jon and Jaclyn make the right choice last week? Buh… I don’t know. With Kelley gone, I can’t see this tribe winning many immunity challenges. But, it’s possible a merge is right around the corner. Missy and Baylor aren’t going to set any individual challenge victory records, so maybe that was the play? Keep the less threatening people around? I dunno…their strategy is weird. But, they’re so pretty. Pretty and weird. Pretty weird.

 4. Natalie – Natalie’s in a similar spot to Jeremy: Without a loved one and among allies. As long as she’s at peace with Julie, a savvy game player herself, no one should have a reason to target her – at least no one with the ability to do it successfully.
  4. Missy – Twenty nine seasons later and it still always comes down to food. Fortunately for Missy, Coyopa is going to have less and less mouths to feed as they get destroyed in the challenges.
 5. Missy – Keith and Dale can have all the idols (and fake idols) they want. The two couples on this tribe won’t likely split up, and can afford to split a vote for the time being.
 5. Alec – There’s a new swing vote in town, and he has sweet hair. So, what’s a little bro to do? Stick with the status quo and be the odd man out in the potential Keith/Wes/Josh/Reed post-merge alliance? Or, form a team of onesies with Natalie, Jeremy, and Julie?
  6. Julie – Since Rocker went down in flames, Julie has rebuilt her games and stood on her own two feet like she promised. The one person who’s brought her name up – Jon – is separated by the swap, leaving Julie relatively safe until the merge.
 6. Julie – If the former Coyopa bros take over new Hunahpu, Julie will probably be the least of their worries. If Jeremy and Natalie can win Alec over, they’re going to need Julie to keep the numbers. Either way, she’s making the merge.
  7. Keith – He’s got an idol. He’s yet to do “the dumbest thing in ‘Survivor’ history.” He’s seemed removed from his new tribe socially. I expect he might get votes. Frankly, I have no idea on Keith, so in the middle of my rankings he goes.
 7. Natalie – Things aren’t looking great for the last twin standing. She’s down in numbers and she’s surrounded by the former Coyopians she’s been cursing out at challenges. But, she’s got three things working for her; she may be able to flip Alec, Jeremy would probably be Team Josh’s primary target, and the merge is going to be crazytown with all of the competing pairs and alliances.
  8. Jon – For the same reasons as Missy and Baylor, he’s in a great spot. Even the howler monkeys have his back.
 8. Reed – Reed really needed the swap. He wasn’t voting with the majority, and if word got out that Josh was running the show at Coyopa, it would have put a target on his back. Now he and Josh might want to consider dialing back their challenge performances. They don’t want to come off as too much of a post-merge threat.
  9. Jaclyn – I’ve consumed my rock, made more palatable by some excellent seasoning tips from Francesca Hogi, and I’ve learned my lesson. I owe Jaclyn an enormous apology for slotting her at the bottom of my power rankings week after week. She’d been quiet. She’s still quiet; it’s working for her, though.
  9. Josh – It looks like everything is coming up Josh. He went through the swap and was not only reunited with his boyfriend, but he kept his most prominent soldiers by his side. If he can get through one vote, he should be good. It’ll prove that Alec is loyal to his Coyopa roots. But, if Alec swaps, Josh might be the first to go.
  10. Reed – Did Reed not learn his lesson from his fallen badass? You barter with Jeff, you’re going down, and you’re going out. We know remarkably little about him via confessionals, but taking him out to weaken Josh seems like a reasonable thing for a bunch of people without loved ones to do.
  10. Wes If Jeremy can swing the vote his way, Wes could be in for a rough run. Jeremy already has a beef with Wes’s dad. And, I’d bet that Missy isn’t the only person that knows about Keith’s idol. That’d be another reason to axe Wes before the merge.
  11. Alec – Alec’s predicament grows slightly worse with each successful, calculated stroke of his ego from Jeremy. A team of Davids – the old Coyopa – may have been able to beat a team of Goliaths that were throwing a challenge two weeks ago. But I’m not sure that this David can beat the sharp Goliaths on the new Hunahpu that outnumber him.
  11. Baylor – Dale seems like a slam dunk if Coyopa loses immunity. But, voting for Baylor seems like so much fun. Everyone’s doing it! When I order coffee at Starbucks, I tell them my name is Baylor just so they can know the joy of writing her name down.
  12. Wes – Wes has the worst of more than a few worlds. His loved one is still in the game, making him a sensible target, but Keith and his idol aren’t actually on the same tribe as him and therefore can’t bail him out. He’s tight with one and exactly on person on his current tribe – Alec, who’s now found a puppeteer in Jeremy.
  12. Jeremy – Oof…my big fear this week is the deal Probst makes for the rice has something to do with the immunity challenge. I’m worried Hunahpu is going to have to give Coyopa some kind of Medallion of Power-esque advantage and they’re going to pull off the win. I’m worried that Jeremy simply won’t have enough time to get Alec on his side. I worry.
  13. Dale – It’s all falling apart for Dale. He’s once again in a minority of one on his tribe, and the only other potential outsider (Keith) has an idol. His last-ditch effort to bluff with a fake idol could prove clever, but more likely than not it will just entice everyone on Coyopa but himself and Keith to split votes and flush it. Missy and Baylor won the battle when they voted off Kelley, and are now about to win the war.
  13. Dale – Seems like a pretty obvious bottom-of-the-pile pick. He’s not well liked on his tribe, he isn’t a big help in challenges, and he’s freaking out over food. His only hope is that Jon buys his faux idol trick. I don’t like his odds, but stranger things have happened.

Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” on Your Computer

‘Survivor’ Castaway Kelley – ‘I Don’t Know if (Baylor) Has Daddy Issues’

October 23, 2014

'Survivor: San Juan del Sur' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to go for “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” coverage with “all the fixin’s.” We’ll have Power Rankings with “Cagayan” fave Spencer Bledsoe, 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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I remember hating the “Blood vs. Water” concept when I first heard about it. But then, I sat in a tent in a buggy field in the Philippines and watched as Marissa was voted off because of her uncle’s braggadocios behavior.

Mind blown.

Last night it happened again. Kelley was in bad shape due to the tribe swap, but it was her own father who forced new Coyopa’s hand.

I spoke with Kelley the morning after her elimination and found out why they targeted her, why Drew said such nasty things about her, and what her relationship with her father is like now…

Gordon Holmes: This might be a bit before your time, but the Fresh Prince captured it best when he said, “Take it from me, parents just don’t understand.”
Kelley Wentworth: (Laughs) Oh my god. That’s good.
Holmes: It’s rough. I had a situation this weekend with my parents. And sometimes they just don’t listen.
Wentworth: They don’t listen!
Holmes: Tell me about it. Literally. Start from where you got a new buff and end when you had to take your dad for a walk to keep him from tackling Missy.
Wentworth: We drew the buffs and I saw who I was with and I was bummed out. One part of me wanted to play with my dad, I thought that’d be fun. But, the other two couples and the single I was with, I had no ties to them. And, I was trying to get Jon out before Drew, and he knew that. I knew I was in big trouble. And when we got back to camp everyone was all hunky dory and being nice to each other. Then the rice situation comes up. At Hunahpu our rice was pretty much gone. And Missy, who coined herself the “Rice Queen.” I mean, not really, that’s what I’m calling her. But she made the rice at every meal and Hunahpu was eating twice a day and Coyopa was only eating once. She started making the rice and my dad was saying, “Hey, we’re not going to be able to last the rest of this game if you make that much rice.” And you’ve got Baylor over there going along with her mom because she hates my dad for some reason. I don’t know if she has daddy issues or what the problem is. And that’s where it all started. I saw it escalating, so I took my dad away. We knew there was going to be a merge in a few votes and we don’t want to give someone a reason to vote for us.

Holmes: Why do you think they targeted you?
Wentworth: They know that I had alliances on the other side and if I had made the merge I would have gone back to them. I would have never gone with Missy or Jon if I had made the merge. And Jon had known that I’d thrown his name out there. And my dad has no alliances left, really. Maybe Josh?
Holmes: I didn’t see it coming. Did you?
Wentworth: I did. I knew it was between me and Baylor. And when I held up my vote I said, “May the best woman win.” And we all know that didn’t happen.
Holmes: Well played.

Holmes: In the first episode it seemed like the main alliance at Hunahpu was you, Jeremy, Natalie, and Missy with Keith kind of on the side. Was that how it stayed?
Wentworth: I was really close with Jeremy and Natalie. He was the person I’d gone to and we’d discussed getting rid of Jon. Missy was close with Natalie, but I wasn’t close to her. And Keith? I don’t know. He was living in his own world. I don’t know what that guy was thinking. He obviously didn’t vote with us.
Holmes: At this point, does anyone know that Keith has an idol?
Wentworth: There was speculation that he had an idol, but nobody knew for sure. I have a sneaking suspicion that Missy actually knew. I went to Keith and said, “What are you thinking?” And he straight up said, “Oh, me and Jeremy and Jon and Drew and one of the other ladies…we’re in an alliance.” So, I think he was really close with Missy.

Holmes: Things got ugly last week between you and Drew. And even in the exit interview, we do a word association here…
Wentworth: Oh, I can’t wait!
Holmes: Good. I appreciate the enthusiasm. But, when I said “Kelley” he responded with the B word. Why were things so heated between you two? When I asked him, he said it was because you were eating the same amount of food.
Wentworth: (Laughs)
Holmes: My girlfriend and I went to dinner Tuesday night and split an appetizer evenly, and I didn’t call her the B word.
Wentworth: (Laughs) I wouldn’t either! I think Drew and I are very different people. I grew up on a farm and I work really hard and I have for everything I have. And, I’m sorry Drew, but he works for his parents and he’s a mama’s boy. We’re just very different.  I’m sorry to hear he thinks I’m the B word. Drew and I will probably never be best friends.
Holmes: We’ve been talking for a bit, and you’ve yet to display any B-word behavior.
Wentworth: (Laughs) Aww…thanks!

Holmes: Alright, word association time. Let’s start with Jeremy.
Wentworth: Amazing. Good game player.
Holmes: Natalie?
Wentworth: I love that girl. She’s awesome.
Holmes: Jon?
Wentworth: Eh…a little bit clueless.
Holmes: John Rocker?
Wentworth: I didn’t mind John Rocker. I think he’s a cool guy.
Holmes: Jaclyn?
Wentworth: She’ll go wherever the wind takes her…that wind being Jon.
Holmes: Drew?
Wentworth: (Laughs) Um…thinks a lot of himself.
Holmes: You knew that was coming.
Wentworth: (Laughs) I know! I’m trying to be a little bit nice.
Holmes: Nice? That’s not what this exercise if for. Missy?
Wentworth: She’s been divorced three times, I don’t need to say anything more.
Holmes: Baylor?
Wentworth: Spoiled brat.
Holmes: Keith?
Wentworth: Also clueless.
Holmes: Julie?
Wentworth:  More than meets the eye.
Holmes: Reed?
Wentworth: A game player. I like Reed a lot.
Holmes: We’ll finish with Dale.
Wentworth: Love you, Dad. No hard feelings.

Holmes: That’s good to hear. So where are things between you and your father now?
Wentworth: Despite what I said last night, my dad and I are very close. This experience has definitely brought us closer. But, I think we both would have been better off playing on our own. It’s the truth.

Holmes: I heard a rumor that Jon does Disney impersonations.
Wentworth: Oh my, he does. I think Jon wants to secretly be an actor. He knows the words to like every Disney song. Some people found if funny. It was funny for one song and then it was really annoying. So, please no more Disney songs.
Holmes: I was going to ask which character he does best, but I’m thinking your answer would be “None of the above.”
Wentworth: Ugh…he was pretty funny doing “The Lion King.” He did all the characters; Timon and Pumba and whatever. But that was enough for me.
Holmes: So, he doesn’t have a killer Princess Jasmine?
Wentworth: Oh…I went to bed at that point. I could only listen to so many Disney songs.

Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter at @gordonholmes.

‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur’ Episode 5 Recap – Rice (Saving) Guys Finish Last

October 22, 2014

'Survivor: San Juan del Sur' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to go for “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” coverage with “all the fixin’s.” We’ll have Power Rankings with “Cagayan” fave Spencer Bledsoe, 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.

[xfinity-record-button id=”6034085997813089112″ program_type=”series”]

Last Week: Keith found an idol that jumped up and hit his shin, thanks to Hunahpu’s bad strategy Coyopa picked up a win, and the gutter was finally graced by Drew the bowled over kingpin.

39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Let’s take a look at the tribes as they currently stand…

The Hunahpu (wearing blue

Jeremy – 36, Firefighter
Jon – 26, Financial Assistant
Julie – 34, Owner of Spray Tan Business
Keith – 53, Fire Captain
Kelley – 28, Marketing Manager
Missy – 47, Owner of Cheerleading Gym
Natalie – 28, Crossfit Coach
Reed – 31, Broadway Performer

The Coyopa (wearing yellow)

Alec – 22, Student
Baylor – 20, Student
Dale – 55, Farmer
Jaclyn – 25, Media Buyer
Josh – 32, Actor
Wes – 23, Firefighter

The fun kicks off back at Casa de Hunahpu after Tribal, and contrary to what the preview editors would have us believe, Jon is doing some damage control. The blow up we saw last week was apparently Jon’s impersonation of Drew. Booooo…

The next morning, Alec is psyched to square off against his brother at Hero Arena.

CUT TO: Alec shocked when his brother doesn’t show up at Hero Arena.

Reward Challenge Time: No challenge, just buff droppin’.

For our new tribes we’ve got Kelley, Dale, Missy, Baylor, Jaclyn, Jon, and Keith on Coyopa. On Hunahpu we’ve got Reed, Josh, Alec, Wes, Jeremy, Julie, and Natalie.

Keith isn’t pleased to be the only person who isn’t in a pair on his tribe. But, being single was an asset last time.

Back at Hunahpu beach, Josh and Wes quickly learn that old Hunahpu hasn’t been rationing their rice. Yeah, but it’s cool because they have plenty of flint.

Jeremy doesn’t love the idea that Josh can bring Reed into his Coyopa alliance and take him out. That’s why I don’t like tribe swaps.

Later, Josh tells us that he and Reed are staying abstinent until marriage. So, Spider-Man isn’t getting any?

Over at new Coyopa, Jaclyn thinks it’s unheard of to have a loved one on your tribe. Yeah, it hasn’t happened in like less than a year.

Baylor doesn’t like watching Jon and Jaclyn get it on because she’s single. Dude, Keith’s right there.

She keeps a positive attitude though, saying she’ll get married some day and her mom will get married a fourth time. If Missy gets that fourth punch on her marriage card, the fifth husband is free.

Over at Hunahpu, Alec is encouraged because he thinks his tribe is more fit than Coyopa. Yeah, but which tribe has more divorces?

Jeremy and Natalie decide that Alec is their best bet for an alliance because he doesn’t have a loved one around.

It’s rice time over at Coyopa, and Dale is maaaaaaad about how much rice Missy is cooking. Kelley smartly takes her dad on a walk so he doesn’t follow through with his plan to march over there and smack the rice bowls out of their hands. Dale goes along, but he calls Missy a “self-centered, bossy b—h.”

It always comes down to food. Always.

Back at Hunahpu, everyone is starving. I’ve been to Nicaragua, I’ve been to where they camp. There are a billion little crabs running around out there. Instead, they plot to throw rocks at birds.

Seeing the error in that plan, they decide to negotiate with Probst again. He’s got to be loving this.

Immunity Challenge Time: The teams will dig in a pit looking for some keys. Once they have them they’ll crawl under a muddy obstacle. Then, they’ll unlock a gate and shake a basket on a pole until twenty bean bags fall out. First tribe to throw ten of those bags onto a swinging target wins immunity.

The challenge starts off and Coyopa is sloooooow. Hunahpu is at the pole shaking (grow up…) part before Coyopa even finds their keys.

Jeff Probst: “You’ve got to shake it, Coyopa!”

Hunahpu retrieves their bags and lands all ten shots before Coyopa even starts tossing.

After the win, Reed tries to make a trade with Probst for rice. He says they can discuss it tomorrow.

Seriously, they should have Julie negotiate. How could Probst say no?

Politicking at Coyopa has Keith really nervous that the couples could think he’s an easy vote. But he’s hoping the heat between Team Missy and Team Dale could keep him safe.

Dale starts working against Baylor, telling Jon and Jaclyn about how Baylor convinced the girls to vote for him early on and then stabbed them in the back.

Baylor tries to get back on Jaclyn’s good side. But Jaclyn isn’t thrilled with the way Baylor flipped to the guys during the first vote.

It seems like Keith is solid with Missy and Baylor.

That night at Tribal Council, Keith is happy to have some former teammates with him.

Jaclyn thinks it’s tough because if you vote someone out, their angry loved one will still be around.

Jon is psyched to have someone he can trust. He must also be happy to have an alliance with someone who isn’t trying to blow up the game kingpin-style.

Dale points out that Baylor turned the women against him in old Coyopa and then turned on them. He then calls Jon and Jaclyn the hottest couple in camp. Well, nobody’s debating that.

Missy wants to protect Baylor because she’s a mama bear. A mama bear who clubbed her cub in an immunity challenge.

Voting Time: No votes are shown for a second straight episode.

J-Pro tallies and returns. We’ve got one vote for Baylor, one vote for Kelley, one vote for Baylor, one vote for Kelley, two votes for Dale, and the fifth person to be eliminated from “Survivor: San Juan del Sur – Blood vs. Water” is…Kelley.

Wow, I did not see that coming.

Verdict: I hate tribe swaps. Hate, hate, hate tribe swaps. In a game that’s about creating a society and alliances, it bugs me that someone who’s playing a good game can have it tossed on its ear when they’re handed a new buff.

Not only that, but it makes challenge strength a detriment when it should be an asset until the merge.

That being said, the Blood vs. Water does add a very different dynamic to the tribe swap situation. Kelley wasn’t voted out because of the swap. She was basically the new Marissa and her dad is the new Gervase.

Who’s Going to Win? Jeremy is my pick, but he’s in a bad spot over at Hunahpu. If he can’t wiggle his way out of that, I’m moving over to Josh.

Power Rankings Results: Spencer had Kelley in spot four, I had her in spot five. So, the current score is Team Spencer 36, Team Gordon 44.

Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter at @gordonholmes.

WWE’s Dean Ambrose on Hell in a Cell: ‘I’m Looking to Raise the Bar a Little Bit’

October 22, 2014

WWE Superstar Dean Ambrose (WWE)

Vengeance has always been a prominent motivation in sports entertainment. Hulk Hogan spent his career battling turncoats like Paul Orndorff, Andre the Giant, and “Macho Man” Randy Savage. The Undertaker squared off against his evil half-brother Kane on several occasions. And, Shawn Michaels went toe-to-toe with his former Dudes with Attitude partner Kevin Nash.

So, when Seth Rollins betrayed his Shield brothers, it was only natural for Dean Ambrose to want to get back at him.

The main difference? While Hogan, Taker, and Michaels used legdrops, chokeslams, and superkicks to gain a measure of revenge on their rivals, Ambrose has employed ketchup, mustard, and green slime.

To each his own.

I spoke with WWE’s “Lunatic Fringe” in the days before his Hell in a Cell brawl with Seth Rollins and had a chance to ask him about living up to the Cell’s legacy, his path to WWE stardom, and what it’s like to be cheered after growing up a bad guy…

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


 

Gordon Holmes: This Sunday you’re entering Hell in a Cell with Seth Rollins. This match has a legacy of amazing, brutal bouts. How are you going to stand out?
Dean Ambrose: Going into anything like this, you want to put your own stamp on it. You want to do something that’s never been done before. I hate a formula. I hate stepping in the footsteps of those that came before me.  And Seth has the same mindset. Even though we’re enemies and opponents, and are going to be trying to rip each other’s heads off in the Cell.
Holmes: You’ve got a straight-up comparison that night as John Cena and Randy Orton are going to be having their own Hell in a Cell match.
Ambrose: The kind of guys that we are and you go back to the competitive chips we have on our shoulder. You go back to the attitude that we came into this company with? We’re going to blow anything they put up out of the water. You know what I mean?
Holmes: I do, looking forward to it.
Ambrose: (Laughs) If you know anything about me, you know that I don’t have any trepidation. I’m not going to walk into there shaking in my boots. It’ll be my first time and Seth Rollins’ first time. I’m not afraid to take a risk. And Seth Rollins isn’t afraid to take a risk. I don’t see anything that Seth Rollins can do to me, or the Authority, or the Cell is anything worse than anything I’ve been through. I’m looking to raise the bar a little bit. And it’s hard because the Cell is a lot higher than it used to be.
Holmes: Yes, this isn’t the Cell Mick Foley was tossed off of.
Ambrose: I don’t think people realize. It’s like 20-foot higher! Well, I don’t know the exact height. It’s significantly higher than the one (Mick) Foley fell off of. I think that was done to prevent anybody from trying to jump off of it again. Now, it’s quite literally impossible to jump off of. It’s hard to do anything new inside that thing now. But fortunately I’ve got a big toolbox of ideas, man. This ain’t my first time at the rodeo even though it’s my first time in the Cell. I’ve got a nice cache of little ditties that I can bust out. I’m determined to do something that nobody has ever seen before in the Hell in a Cell.

Holmes: I was watching this Steve Austin special on the “Monday Night Wars” and I’m seeing some parallels between his rise to the top and your rise. He didn’t seem like the fan favorite type, but people started taking to him. An opportunity was opened for him when Triple H was punished for the Curtain Call and an opportunity has opened for you with Roman Reigns’ injury.
Ambrose: There’s no confusing me and Steve Austin. (Laughs) There will never be another Steve Austin. As far as taking an opportunity like that….the thing I like about Steve Austin is his tenacity, his work ethic, and his…”Screw you, you’re not taking food off of my plate” thing. I’ve starved and lived on the road. And I’m not letting anyone walk all over me. That intensity…a lot of people they get so caught up in the grind here, so it’s hard to bring that 100% intensity every night. Steve Austin, you watch his old stuff, he never took a breath. Working Steve Austin must’ve been exhausting.
Holmes: I believe the saying was, “You have to bring a lunch.”
Ambrose: I love that. We’re a little thin right now and somebody has to step up to the plate. I’ve never tried to be anybody’s hero or favorite. I don’t see myself as that kind of guy. I’m not trying to step into anyone else’s spot. I’m trying to create my own and be irreplaceable. But, that opportunity that launched Steve’s career, it took a while for everything to come together. That’s that work ethic, taking advantage of a tiny opportunity. They want to put me in two matches a night? Three matches a night? A triple-threat tag? Another promo? Another thing? Another backstage? And now a dark match? Now a street fight? I’m going to keep going as fast as I can. That’s what a guy like that would do. I’m never going to have anything handed to me, and if I stop for two seconds, it will go away quickly. And I’m sure there are a lot of people who would like to see it all go away quickly. And honestly, I haven’t done anything yet. I’ve just made a lot of posturing and pretended like I was going to do something. Let’s be real here.
Holmes: But Sunday’s your chance to do something. Do you guys know if you’re the main event?
Ambrose: If…we’re not the main event, then somebody’s making a mistake. They’re going to regret it.

Holmes:  Hell in a Cell tends to be a feud ender. What’s next for you after you finally put Rollins down?
Ambrose: I came to a realization not long ago; I’m very passionate about what I do. This is all I want to do. I obsess over little things and I look ten steps ahead. And if it was up to me things would be planned out long in advance. I’m constantly plotting ahead like that. The reality is the WWE is this crazy world that’s constantly changing. You can’t prepare for tomorrow. The Pay Per View match already changed on us. You’re wrestling John Cena at the Pay Per View. Then I walk in Monday and we’re wrestling tonight. Things change like the wind. You’ve just got to take it one day at a time. And I could get hit by a bus tomorrow.

Holmes: You mentioned that you’re not anybody’s favorite. But if you listen to the audience, it sounds like you’re becoming a lot of people’s favorite. Are you ready for Dean Ambrose: Mr. Popular?
Ambrose: If that happened? Cool, man. It’s cool when people dig what you’re doing. I’m the kind of guy that thrives on negativity. That’s the kind of thing that has fueled me for my entire career. From the basement, to the gutter, to where I am today it’s been like that. The hatred of everyone and everything just spewing out. I’m older now though, I’m a little bit of a grown up. In any case, I never had a vision of being liked by so many people in the WWE Universe…oh…I can’t believe I just said that.
Holmes: (Laughs)
Ambrose: (Laughs) It’s so big and it reaches so many people. You’re meeting people and they bought all your shirts and they say you’ve really made a positive change in their life. And I’m like, “What? I’m just wrestling, man.” But people use you for inspiration to get through sickness or to do whatever. To me, it’s really cool. It makes you feel like you’ve accomplished a lot more, which is a new thing for me to accept any kind of praise. It’s not bad to be so popular. It could go away at any moment.
Holmes: You could get hit by a bus tomorrow.

Holmes: For the first time in a long time, there isn’t a defending WWE Champion who’s appearing at all of the major events. Does Brock Lesnar having the title upset people?
Ambrose: Every show, and we run a lot of them, doesn’t have to have a world championship match on it. Every “Monday Night Raw” shouldn’t have a world championship match. But, the champion not appearing at all? To me, it’s not nearly as big of a thing…I equate it back to the traveling world champions of the 70s or previous eras. You’re not going to see a world title match every week. I honestly think we give away too much stuff. We give away a lot of wrestling on TV and there’s so much time to fill. In a three-hour show, Brock Lesnar could really be used. I’m making up my answers as I go along here.
Holmes: As you’re supposed to.
Ambrose: You’re not going to see him much. He took the belt back to his castle and he locked it up in the attic. You’ve got to go a long way to get a championship match with him.

Holmes: We’re seeing a lot of new faces with the integration of the developmental program NXT. What’s the process like where you go from being a guy signed into company to making the big show as a WWE Superstar?
Ambrose: For me, it was much different than the guys today. I’m not familiar with the NXT process now. I was never on NXT television. I was an FCW guy. A Doctor Tom (Pritchard) era guy. It’s great now, they’ve got the Full Sail TV. NXT is like the most amazing opportunity. We were in this warehouse in Florida. We were locked away like the ugly stepchildren of WWE. It really pissed us off. It gave us this chip on our shoulders. We were like alright, “We can put on a better product than the main roster can. Screw them all.” We were putting on matches in developmental that were on par with anything that was on WWE television. For us, we were down there just sitting, chilling, training, making towns, learning. We were waiting. It can be a frustrating process. Just the wait. But, if you’re smart you take that time to learn, to ask questions. Nobody is perfect and you can always learn something.
Holmes: Who were you learning from?
Ambrose: Joey Mercury is like Yoda to me. He’s a guy who can really pick something apart and give you five ways to make it better in two seconds. He’ll always have good ideas. I always have crazy ideas. I’ll bounce them by Joey first and he’ll instantly call me out on something stupid. He’ll rein me in a little bit.

Holmes: What’s this I’m hearing about Dean Ambrose: Movie Star?
Ambrose: Yeah, they came to me and were like, “WWE Studios, we’ve got an opportunity for you.” And I said, “You want me to be in a movie? Get outta here! Yeah, I’ll do that!” I thought I’d just be a background bit player. I’d get to rest my body and be an extra in a movie. Then I found out I was the lead character. And my exact words to the studio guy was, “You realize I’m completely unqualified for this, right? I don’t know if somebody lied to you or what, but I’ve never acted before. I don’t know how a movie set works. I’ve never been on the set for a freaking Dunkin’ Donuts commercial.” It’s called “Lockdown” and it was a cool learning experience.

Holmes: So, say someone’s on the fence about ordering Hell in a Cell. Talk them into it.
Ambrose: You’re going to see one of the most outrageous spectacles of hatred and intensity when Dean Ambrose and Seth Ambrose finally get at each other. I promise you’re going to see something you’ve never seen before.

‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur’ Power Rankings – Tribe Swap Edition

October 22, 2014

'Survivor: San Juan del Sur' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to go for “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” coverage with “all the fixin’s.” We’ll have Power Rankings with “Cagayan” fave Spencer Bledsoe, 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.

[xfinity-record-button id=”6034085997813089112″ program_type=”series”]

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 will determine the number of points the two players will earn. For example, if Keith is voted out this week, Spencer will receive 5 points and Gordon will receive 1 point. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Last Week: Spencer Bledsoe had Drew in 7th place. Gordon had him in 14th. So, the current score is Team Spencer 32, Team Gordon 39.

Spencer’s Score = 32

Any questions for Spencer? Drop him a line on Twitter: @SpencerBGM

  Gordon’s Score = 39

Any questions for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes

 1. Josh – You can’t have a show without its narrator, right? Josh can do no wrong, and if the dark cloud of his old tribe didn’t do him in, I’m not worried about the inevitable risk in a swap.
  1. Keith – I don’t know this for a fact, but I’m pretty sure “Survivor” only does tribe swaps to make Power Rankings so hard. Now, my usual rule of thumb is that the challenge threats on the tribes that are down numbers are in trouble. But, this season that person might have a loved one on their new tribe. So, I’m not going to lean on that rule as heavily as I usually do. Anywho, Keith has an idol, so he’s probably fine.
 2. Jeremy – When Jeremy isn’t shouting in confessionals, he’s voting in the majority and remaining the social nucleus of his tribe. Hopefully that trend continues after this week’s shake-up.
  2. Missy – I’m thinking Missy is safe this week too. She’s probably the only person on good terms with everyone from the old Hunahpu. And, I don’t think anyone is going to be worried about her going on an immunity run.
 3. Natalie – Everyone’s favorite (remaining) twinnie achieved her goal of ousting the kingpin (Drew) last week, proving she has some pull. I trust Natalie’s social skills at this stage, particularly without a John Rocker to trash-talk.
  3. Baylor – It’s been a rocky start for young Baylor, but she seems like she’s going to be in pretty good shape at the tribe swap. If she ends up with her people, they can vote out someone from Hunahpu. If she’s in the minority, she isn’t as much of an obvious threat as someone like Josh or Alec.

 4. Kelley – The kingpin’s departure is an objectively sad affair. He entertained us with his masterful flint negotiation, timely challenge-throwing, and impeccable work ethic. One of San Juan Del Sur’s best characters will be missed. But not by Kelley. With her arch-nemesis ousted, things are looking up for Ms. Wentworth.
  4. Natalie – Oh, Natalie. Remember all those people you were calling…uh…bad words during challenges? Well, some of them are probably on your tribe now. You see, unlike “The Amazing Race” sometimes “Survivor” makes you switch partners. You’d better make nice with the Coyopans quickly.
 5. Keith – He’s got an idol now! We’re still waiting for Keith to do “the worst thing in ‘Survivor’ history” per the super tease at the end of the premiere, and it’s always possible he slips up and follows in the footsteps of Ole’ Johnny Rock. Still, Keith should theoretically be the author of his fate this week.
 5. Kelley – I’ll never quite understand why Drew hated you so much. All I could gather from the exit interview is that he didn’t like that you and he ate the same amount of food. How dare you? Your challenge this week is; if you can save your dad, should you? Last time, loved ones were a liability.
  6. Julie – Julie is like a twisted anti-Pinocchio; her lips grow every time she speaks the truth in confessionals. She’s a good narrator who just voted in the majority and could definitely be in a solid spot after the swap.
 6. Julie – It was so sad to hear Jon say that Julie doesn’t have a loved one. Everyone should have a loved one.  There’s gonna be so much turmoil this episode with the meltdown at Hunahpu and the tribe swap. She’s in a prime position to let the explosions happen, then sneak in to pick up the pieces. Also, let’s not forget that she voted for Drew, so that might mean she’s in with Team Jeremy.
  7. Baylor – With Alec keeping her in check and teaching her life lessons, Baylor’s days of “half-assing” it are surely over. She’s been solid week after week, and should have the finesse to get her bearings on a new tribe fast.
 7. Jeremy – Jeremy knew that Drew was going to throw the challenge last week. That’s why he sat out. What was the purpose of that? So he could get rid of Keith? To give everyone a reason to hate Drew? Anywho, I’m a little worried for him this week because he has an enemy (Keith) who has a family member in an alliance that has finally experienced some success.
  8. Jon – I may have Jon in the middle of the pack, but his stock is tanking fast. He was the only person to vote for Keith last week, which means he can’t have too many airtight allies, and his best bro Drew was just sent packing. Dude needs to make new friends fast.
 8. Josh – Tribe swaps tend to be bad news for the leader of the losing tribe. That’s you, buddy. Add that to the fact that it’s possible you might be paired with your fit significant other, and you might have an Aras/Vytas situation where we have a duo that’s just too physically imposing to keep around.
  9. Missy – I’m short Jon, but I’m long Missy. Missy made it through her first Tribal Council solidly, and her stock is only going up. Approaching the merge, it doesn’t matter much that she isn’t a challenge beast. It matters a lot that she is a social beast.
  9. Reed – Reed did not vote with Team Jeremy. He voted with Keith. Does that mean we might have a firemen/Broadway alliance? Hook and Ladder and Jazz Hands?
  10. Alec – This surfer bro couldn’t have found a better time to try a new beach; he looked to be slowly approaching the outside of Coyopa, so the swap could do him a lot of good.
  10. JaclynYou’ve got the numbers now, but were you instrumental in getting them? We really haven’t see enough of you to build a full picture of how well you’re playing. Are you riding Baylor’s coattails? Have you been making friends with Josh, Wes, and Alec? I simply don’t know.
  11. Reed – Reed’s another guy whose vote last week completely confuses me. To be fair, Josh once inexplicably voted for Baylor and he nonetheless emerged from the ashes. Hopefully Reed can climb himself out of a similar hole with Julie.
  11. Alec – Alec is a challenge threat and he won’t have anybody except his current alliance looking out for him. Jon and Jaclyn might be on his side due to Jon’s previous bro-liance with Drew, but Jaclyn and Alec were on opposite sides for a while.
  12. Wes – He’s been quiet as a mouse, and I fear that could be the calm before the storm. He had a decent thing going on Coyopa, but not a great one, and if he doesn’t land on a tribe with his idol-equipped pop, Wes could be in trouble.
  12. Dale – Everybody voted with the majority during the Rocker blindside except for Rocker and Dale. So, Dale’s clearly on the outs with old Coyopa. Right now he’s got to be hoping that he can separate himself from those youngsters and the age-old swap mentality of “Get rid of the challenge stallions” takes over. Quick Aside: I’ve been trying to get the nickname “Challenge Stallion” started for myself for years. It just won’t stick.
  13. Dale – Dale is probably the guy most grateful for a swap, and yet I still anticipate him walking on thin ice. He voted alone last Tribal, and to top it all off Brice Johnston dubbed him the season’s biggest “freak” recently on “Rob Has a Podcast.” If he isn’t careful his newest accolade will be “5th person voted out.”
  13. Wes – Right now, Wes’s worst case scenario is that he ends up on a tribe where Jeremy’s in control.
  14. Jaclyn – If I rank Jaclyn last and she stays one more time, I will eat this rock. And lose all hope that I, David, can beat Goliath – Power Ranking master Holmes. At the very least I’ll (probably) stop ranking her last.
  14. Jon – Whoa…Jon was last on my depth chart of “People I Expect to Have a Post Tribal Meltdown.” But there he is, chewing out his fellow Hanahpu peeps. He’d better hope he ends up on a tribe with Jaclyn and as many of her Coyopa pals as possible.

Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” on Your Computer

‘Survivor’ Castaway Drew – ‘I Definitely Said Some Things I Regret’

October 16, 2014

'Survivor: San Juan del Sur' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to go for “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” coverage with “all the fixin’s.” We’ll have Power Rankings with “Cagayan” fave Spencer Bledsoe, 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.

[xfinity-record-button id=”6034085997813089112″ program_type=”series”]

“Good morning, class. Welcome to “Survivor” 101, I’m your teacher Mr. Holmes. If you’ll crack open your books to page 12 we can get started.

“Rule #1: Don’t be lazy around camp. Your tribemates will hate that and it’s an easy thing for them to bond over. While you’re napping, they’re working and hating you.

“Rule #2: If you’re going to talk smack on someone, don’t do it close enough so they can hear you. Nicaragua is a big place. Find somewhere private.

“And Rule #3: Don’t throw challenges. Your tribe is going to lose eventually. Why risk it?”

In a season marked by some bad…bad gameplay, (I’m looking at you Rocker and Val) Drew took the cake last night with the spectacular way in which he drove Hunahpu to vote him out.

I spoke to the self-professed “Kingpin” the morning after his elimination and had a chance to ask him about why he targeted Kelley, why his view of his gameplay was so different from that of his tribemates, and why he made those…um…questionable…comments…

Gordon Holmes: Was last night’s vote a blindside?
Drew Christy: I definitely saw it coming. I knew that the girls were going to go against me. I kind of blew a couple things and was definitely a little delusional with the lack of food and sleep and water. There were a lot of variables out there, but I wasn’t ready to go home that night.
Holmes: We didn’t get to see much of what was going on at Hunahpu, so who did you think was on your side?
Christy: I thought Reed was on my side. Jon…I thought Keith was on my side. I thought Jeremy and Missy were borderline. I didn’t really know about the rest of them.

Holmes: Before the game starts, everyone thinks they’re going to dominate challenges and slit throats. Then you get out there and the elements knock you for a loop.
Christy: Absolutely. It had a big effect on me physically and emotionally. Up until day five I had exactly that attitude. I was going to kick some butt and take some names. I went too hard in the beginning. You’ll see me on the 3rd episode and they’ll show me sleeping a little bit because I was so dead.
Holmes: It seems like every season someone is called out for being lazy. From my couch I’m like, “Hey, don’t be lazy.” But, that’s easy to say from my couch.
Christy: (Laughs) I think that they show you what they want you to see. They didn’t show me opening coconuts for the girls, or going to the water well, or collecting fire wood and keeping the fire going all night. Building the whole shelter with just Jon and myself. They didn’t show a lot of that stuff. But, they did like to call me out for being lazy. I think in the heat of the day in Nicaragua when it’s like 110 degrees you just want to conserve your energy and try to live.
Holmes: But Alec called you out for your work ethic back home.
Christy: I think Alec and I are always going to call each other out. It didn’t take my by surprise. At one point I guess I could’ve been looked at as the lazy guy. I was just out there making friends and having the experience of a lifetime.

Holmes: Why do you think the women were against you?
Christy: I think I was threatening to them. I think I was strong in the challenges. Socially, I had things going on for me. They saw that if I had made the merge I would’ve been teaming with Jon and Jaclyn and my brother. I think that threatened people. I definitely made some detrimental mistakes. One, throwing the challenge. And being kind of delusional and a little bit overconfident…maybe very overconfident with some of the things I said and did. You live and you learn. You’ve got to move on.

Holmes: You were referring to yourself as a “Kingpin.”
Christy: (Laughs)
Holmes: Where did that confidence in your game come from?
Christy: (Laughs) I don’t know where that word came from either.
Holmes: (Laughs) Cause it’s pretty awesome.
Christy: I have no idea. I seem to be a different person. I didn’t have anything to eat for eleven days. I was dying of thirst. I hadn’t slept for more than 30 minutes that entire time. I was losing my mind out there. And when things didn’t go the way I wanted to, I kind of lost it. They put big personalities in the game for a reason. Hopefully I was entertaining.
Holmes: Was anyone leading you to believe you were in charge?
Christy: I don’t think so. I think I’m a king in my own mind.

Holmes: At one point you referred to the women as “B—hes.” Watching that back…
Christy: I wish they would have put some other dialogue out there. Everyone had something nasty to say about everybody else. That’s just the name of the game. You say some things you might regret later. I definitely said some things I regret.
Holmes: Did you know that Kelley was nearby when you made that comment?
Christy: I really don’t remember that at all. It was almost like a blackout. I was watching it like it was a drunken night type of deal and my friend was wearing a GoPro and he said, “This is what you did. Check it out.” (Laughs)
Holmes: So, what was your reaction watching it last night?
Christy: Oh…just shaking my head. The editors are going to show you what they want you to see. I get framed as the bad guy or the dumb guy. But, I think I was pretty cool, calm, and collected until day ten or eleven until I started to lose it. It was humbling to watch myself. I think my negative qualities got a little bit amplified out there. My biggest challenge out there was myself. Jeff said it right when he said, “Drew’s biggest problem is going to be Drew.” He was pretty right on point with that.
Holmes: I’m not comfortable with you complimenting Jeff Probst during this interview.
Christy:  OK, that was the only nice thing I have to say about him. (Laughs)

Holmes: Alright, word association time. Let’s start with Natalie.
Christy: Underrated.
Holmes: Jeremy?
Christy: A character and emotional. Calculating.
Holmes: Keith?
Christy: A good old southern boy.
Holmes: Missy?
Christy: She’s the mom. She wants to take care of everybody and cry.
Holmes: Julie?
Christy:  “Survivor” Barbie.
Holmes: Jon?
Christy: I called him The Hulk out there. His face looks like The Hulk. And he can do any Disney character, he can sing their whole performance. He was amazing with some of the things he can do. He’s really talented.
Holmes: Reed?
Christy: A fairy. (Laughs)
Holmes: Kelley?
Christy: B—h.
Holmes: Let’s finish with Alec.
Christy: He’s the man. No, his nickname is “Squirrel.” So I would call him squirrely.

Holmes: You targeted Kelley last night. You called her a “B—h” two seconds ago. What was going on there?
Christy: We just butted heads. I was eating the same size portions of food as she was and I was mad about that. I knew that she was underplaying herself. I knew that she’d seen every episode of “Survivor” ever. I knew that she knew a lot about the game and just really wanted Jon and I out. I didn’t like her for that reason.

Holmes: For Reed you said, “Fairy.” Just so we get the intent behind that; is that an inside joke between you two?
Christy: It’s for one of his dives that he made into the water. It’s an inside joke.

Holmes: Your brother is making quite a run at it over at Coyopa. I know you two are competitive, but you’ve got to be proud of him.
Christy: Oh yeah, I’m really proud of my brother. He kind of didn’t know what he was getting himself into going on the show. He definitely has made me proud. It’s something I won’t forget doing with him. Stay tuned in and watch that little squirrel go.

Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter at @gordonholmes.

‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur’ Episode 4 Recap – Hammock Havoc!

October 15, 2014

'Survivor: San Juan del Sur' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to go for “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” coverage with “all the fixin’s.” We’ll have Power Rankings with “Cagayan” fave Spencer Bledsoe, 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.

[xfinity-record-button id=”6034085997813089112″ program_type=”series”]

Last Week: Wes bested the old, a Twinnie trolled, and Rocker was rolled…

39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Let’s take a look at the tribes as they currently stand…

The Hunahpu (wearing blue)

Drew – 25, Sales Rep
Jeremy – 36, Firefighter
Jon – 26, Financial Assistant
Julie – 34, Owner of Spray Tan Business
Keith – 53, Fire Captain
Kelley – 28, Marketing Manager
Missy – 47, Owner of Cheerleading Gym
Natalie – 28, Crossfit Coach
Reed – 31, Broadway Performer

The Coyopa (wearing yellow)

Alec – 22, Student
Baylor – 20, Student
Dale – 55, Farmer
Jaclyn – 25, Media Buyer
Josh – 32, Actor
Wes – 23, Firefighter

Alec kicks things off after Tribal, saying it was cool to get rid of Rocker because they weren’t winning anyway. That’s what most head coaches do. Boot their biggest, strongest players. Well, Don Mattingly, at least.

The next morning at Hunahpu, Natalie finds the original flint! Drew wonders if they can trade their second flint back to Probst for the fishing gear. Yeah, Probst is known for his benevolence in these situations.

Also, some girl named Kelley said something. Is she a camera person?

Then we’re off to Hero Council…Arena…whatever. Coyopa claps when they see that Rocker is out. Julie says she’s cool with it because she didn’t love the way he played his game. Julie is smart. Rare are the “Survivor” champs who have threatened to knock someone’s teeth out.

Before the challenge starts, Drew asks if they can trade the flint for fishing gear. Probst won’t go for it because he didn’t keep the receipt.

Reward Challenge Time: Players will use grappling hooks to retrieve three bags of balls. They’ll then use a catapult to launch the balls into a series of baskets. First tribe to sink all their shots gets a choice between comfort items (pillows and blankets and whatnot) and campfire food.

Always a catapult, never a trebuchet.

It’s going to be Jon vs. Jaclyn. Dale taunts Jon telling him he throws like a girl. Ah…casual sexism.

The challenge is relatively close, with it coming down to the final basket. The drama is awesome with Jon eventually snagging the win.

Jon says that Jaclyn can take care of herself at Exile. Probst, for some reason, asks if that hurts her feelings. Uh…why would it?

Jon chooses Drew to go with her because he’s a big help when he isn’t sleeping.. So, those two have got to be in an alliance, right?

Also, Hunahpu picks the comfort items so they’ll have something to share with Drew. CAUSE HE LOVES TO SLEEP!

Back at Hunahpu, Julie says she’s glad she doesn’t have to deal with Rocker’s baggage anymore. She’s sad that everyone is anti-John Rocker. Uh…how is that new to her?

Drew thinks it sucks being on Exile because it’s so hot. Dude, you’re like 20 minutes from your beach.

He also lets us know that being a ladies’ man tends to work to his advantage. But, he’s not going to put the moves on his buddy’s girl. Meanwhile, CBS is hard at work blurring the back of Drew’s swim trunks.

He then tells Jaclyn that he’s going to throw the next challenge so they can get rid of the untrustworthy girls on his tribe. Man, rough episode for women.

We head back over to Hunahpu, where Keith is going on a little idol hunt. He digs around, but he eventually comes to the conclusion that Jeremy already has it. He tells Reed, Missy, and Natalie his theory.

CUT TO: Reed immediately ratting out Keith to Jeremy.

As you’d imagine, Jeremy is not psyched about this information.

Later on, Keith does some more digging…and finds the idol! Hilarious.

Over at Coyopa, Alec accuses Baylor of snatching the immunity challenge invitation. She says he’s acting like a woman. What’s with the sexism?! Et tu, Baylor?

Immunity Challenge Time: One person from each tribe will swim out, race up a platform, then dive into the water to retrieve rings. Once all four rings are back to the starting point, it’s a game of ring toss. Winner gets immunity, loser goes to Tribal.

Also, Jeff is wearing a black shirt.  Never plaid. Never paisley.

Kelley, Jon, and Jeremy will sit for Hunahpu.

The challenge starts off and it’s all swimmin’ and hoop ranglin’. Baylor give Coyopa a bit of a lead over her mother, but Reed is faster than Jaclyn.

Alec makes up a lot of time against Natalie and retakes the lead. Then Wes easily manages to maintain the lead over his father.

Our ring tossers will be Dale and Drew.

Drew is taking his sweet time. It isn’t subtle. Meanwhile, Dale manages to sink all four shots to win immunity for Coyopa.

When it’s all over, Drew tells us he did it because he’s the kingpin of Hunahpu. Oh man, can’t wait to talk to him tomorrow when he’s eliminated.

He also doesn’t care if they know he threw it because he’s a bada–. Yes, throwing challenges without telling people always goes over well.

Back at camp, Jon, Reed, Keith, and Missy are discussing getting rid of Julie. No! As in, no!

Drew doesn’t think there’s a reason to get rid of Julie. He thinks the most dangerous person is Kelley. Who?!

Jeremy says that he wants to go for Keith and everyone should have his back. Drew disagrees because Kelley is a mastermind. Kelley is a mastermind! Drew is a kingpin! Is it opposite day? Did the luxury item include meth?

Natalie thinks it’s stupid that Drew is afraid of the girls because they don’t have the numbers. Yup. OK, there’s some common sense. It’s not opposite day.

Missy and Natalie both want to target Drew.

Later, Drew says he wants to get rid of Kelley so “All of these b—-es don’t know what to do other than come to us.” Oy. So dumb. Also dumb is the fact that Kelley was close enough to hear it.

Drew then tells Missy that he doesn’t trust her enough to vote the way he wants her too.

In other news; Drew’s audition tape for “Heroes vs. Villains 2” is epic.

That night at Tribal Council, fire does this thing where it represents life. It’s kind of a ritual.

Julie thinks that Jon and Drew are BFFs. Jon might want to distance himself from that comment in the near future.

Drew believes they could have had better retrievers during the challenge. Oh, he can’t hit the ring toss post, but he can throw things right under the bus.

Jeremy calls out Keith for saying he has the idol. He thinks that’s crazy because they’re aligned. Well, now everyone knows they’re aligned.

Keith thinks Jeremy would target him if he had an idol. Jeremy says he wouldn’t target an alliance member with an idol. Um…Josh totally did.

Drew says he’s heard Keith’s name and Julie’s name at camp.

Kelley thinks they need to get rid of bad energy. She also noticed that Drew isn’t talking strategy with her.

Jon doesn’t know what’s going on. Yeah, file that under “Not Shocking.”

Voting Time: No votes are shown!

J-Pro tallies, returns, and smirks. We’ve got one vote for Julie, one vote for Kelley, one vote for Drew, one vote for Keith, one vote for Julie, two votes for Drew, and the fourth person to be eliminated from “Survivor: San Juan del Sur – Blood vs. Water” is…Drew.

No! Who will be king of the pins! (Or is “King Pinned” better?)

Verdict: Wow…Drew threw a challenge, four people got votes, and the main alliance is in turmoil. Hunahpu should go to Tribal more often!

Who’s Going to Win? If Jeremy can bring in Julie as his new fifth, he should be fine. However, tribe swaps always seem to ruin good games.

Power Rankings Results: Spencer Bledsoe had Drew in 7th place. I had him in 14th. So, the current score is Team Spencer 32, Team Gordon 39.

Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter at @gordonholmes.