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‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur’ Recap – Victory Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken

November 26, 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:  Reed proved Keith had a clue, Jon flipped along with his boo, and poor Jeremy had to bid the game adieu.

39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

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

The #Huyopa Tribe (wearing blue)

Alec – 22, Student
Baylor – 20, Student
Jaclyn – 25, Media Buyer
Jon – 26, Financial Assistant
Keith – 53, Fire Captain
Missy – 47, Owner of Cheerleading Gym
Natalie – 28, Crossfit Coach
Reed – 31, Broadway Performer
Wes – 23, Firefighter

#Huyopa Beach is all a buzz after last week’s Tribal shocker. Reed gathers Alec, Wes, and Keith together and tells them that they all need to stick together. Dude, you dug into Keith’s bag and outted his idol last week. None of this makes sense.

Meanwhile, Jacljon, Missy, and Baylor are trying to get back on Natalie’s good side. Jon tries to prove he trusts her by telling her that he has the idol she already assumed he had. (Wow, that was quite a sentence.)

Later that night, Natalie goes out and starts looking for the idol that was planted on the beach after Rocker was voted out. Wait, is that right? I need a scorecard to keep track of all of these idols.

Reward Challenge Time: The players will be split into two teams. One by one they’ll jump into the water, retrieve a key, then collect some puzzle pieces. Once they have all of the puzzle pieces, they’ll use the keys to unlock the base of a tower. They’ll then use the puzzle pieces to complete the tower. The first tribe to finish their tower will get to deliver baseball equipment to some youngsters. They’ll then get to watch them play a game while enjoying baseball food.

Quick Aside: Yay, I love the help-the-community rewards.

It’s Reed, Jaclyn, Alec, and Jon (Team Yellow) vs. Missy, Natalie, Baylor, and Wes (Team Blue). Nobody selected Keith.

The challenge starts off and it’s relatively close. Yellow eventually takes a slight lead, but it isn’t by much.

However, it takes the blue team fooooooooorever to unlock the base. Yellow finishes their tower quickly and wins reward.

Afterwards, Baylor cries because her mother hasn’t had a reward yet. Reed decides to give up his reward for Missy. Oh man, I’m gonna miss Reed when he’s voted out in 40 minutes.

We meet up with Jon, Alec, Missy, and Jaclyn as they’re handing over the baseball goods to the kiddos. It’s pretty awesome. Huge smiles for everyone involved.

Hilariously, Jaclyn is still in her bikini. Those kids are having quite a day.

Jon and Jaclyn are having a blast with the kids. Jon tells us about Jaclyn’s inability to have children, but it’s cool because they can adopt. Good attitude. I can picture Jon serenading those kids to sleep with his Disney tunes.

Back at camp, Reed spills the figurative beans to Keith. The majority alliance thinks Alec and Reed are with them, so they’re going to split the vote to flush Keith’s idol. Buuuuuuut, Reed wants to vote with Keith and bounce Jon. Keith seems into it.

Natalie and Baylor go idol huntin’. They dig around and…find it! This isn’t surprising though as the camera person pointed right at it.

The duo then discussed strategy and decided that Reed should be their next target. See, never give up reward…

Another Quick Aside: There are nine people left in the game and three idols. We could go into a Tribal where four people are immune.

Immunity Challenge Time: Each player will balance on a perch while holding a handle. Last person standing wins immunity.

The challenge starts and Probst brings out a plate of candy. Nobody goes for it. Alec tells Probst he’ll have to do better than that.

Actually, he won’t as Jon steps down. Dude, hold out for pizza or something.

Alec says the challenge is just like Jesus on the cross. Yeah…just like it, Alec.

Missy drops out next.

Jaclyn and Baylor jump down for chocolate chip cookies.

Chicken wings are  presented and Wes sprints toward them.

Keith thinks Natalie is the only one fighting for her alliance.

Wes admits to eating 58 chicken nuggets in five minutes for a contest. I wonder what he won, other than bad cholesterol.

Keith hangs in there until his feet become weird and purple. He smartly throws in the towel.

We’re down to Natalie, Alec, and Reed.

Alec’s out almost immediately.

For some reason, Wes brings up Probst’s nudity on “Two and a Half Men.” Wes admits to loving that moment. So, Wes and my mom have that in common.

After three hours, Natalie requests some food. Probst brings out wings, pizza, beer, and other goodies. She steps down giving immunity to Reed.

Politicking around camp has Reed continuing to target Jon. His plan is for the dominant alliance to split the vote, then him, Keith, Alec, and Wes to vote for Jon.

Jon doesn’t buy it though, he doesn’t think Reed will vote with them.

Jon says he won’t use his idol at Tribal because he thinks it should go to either he or Jaclyn depending on who goes the furthest.

That night at Tribal, Baylor thinks trust is difficult in the game. That’s deep.

Keith wonders if people feel comfortable and that’s why they’re not playing idols.

Natalie says an idol is a blessing and a curse because there’s pressure to use it at the right time.

Reed thought it was interesting to see who stepped down. He questions why Wes stepped down when he doesn’t have the numbers. Dude, chicken.

Keith thinks Reed should stick to the plan. Everybody freaks out after this statement. It’s like a record was scratched.

Jaclyn and Natalie whisper to each other, saying they don’t trust Reed.

Then everyone is whispering to each other. What the heck is going on?

Before Reed votes, he asks Jon if they’re still doing it. Jon says, “yes.”

Voting Time: No votes are shown. So drama.

As JPro tallies, Natalie urges Jon to use his idol. Probst returns and asks if anyone wants to play an idol and…

Jon plays his!

This encourages Keith to play his. He wants to use it for Wes, but Wes tells him to keep it. Oh man, Wes is a goner.

We’ve got three votes for Jon, two votes for Keith, one vote for Jon, and one vote for Keith. None of these votes count. We’ve got one vote for Wes and the tenth person to be eliminated from “Survivor: San Juan del Sur – Blood vs. Water” and the third member of the jury is…Wes.

Verdict: Wow. So…many…idols… Good on Reed though for trying to make a big move.

However, it’s odd that a season with so many big moments and interesting strategies just isn’t clicking.

Who’s Going to Win? Lookit Natalie! She’s survived Jeremy’s exit, she found herself an idol, and she’s tight with Baylor the perfect goat. This Twinnie could have a big winnie. (That was terrible.)

Power Rankings Results: Spencer and I both had Wes in spot seven. So, the current score is Team Farm Guy 79, Team Corinsanity 95.

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

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‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur’ Power Rankings – Misch Best Served Bold Edition

November 26, 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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Important Announcement: The “Survivor” Hall of Fame is honoring the show’s most iconic Tribal Councils.

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 Natalie is voted out this week, Spencer will receive four points and Gordon will receive nine points. 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 Jeremy in spot three, Gordon had him in spot nine. So, the current score is Team Farm Guy 72, Team Corinsanity 88.

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

Team Farm Guy’s Score = 72

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

  Team Corinsanity’s Score = 88

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

 1. Baylor – Last week Baylor actually received… zero votes. The apocalypse is here. I don’t see why anyone would want to take her out before Missy. I sense the move for Reed, Wes, Keith, Natalie, and Alec is to band together against the other four, but I also sense it won’t happen.
   1. Jaclyn – The Jasmine to Jon’s Aladdin was in the middle of things again this week and now that I’ve had time to think about it…I don’t hate the move to get rid of Jeremy. I mean, I hate it from the sense that I had picked Jeremy to win and it would’ve finally broken my stupid curse, but getting rid of Jeremy makes a JaclJon win much more likely.
 2. Jaclyn – Our power couple is living the swinging dream – surfing from alliance to alliance leading into the endgame. As long as they can stay afloat, and people need their votes, I like them to go far.
   2. Baylor – I can’t imagine a situation where a jury would give the win to Baylor. There’s simply no final-three combination that’s going to award her the prize. Well, maybe if she gets there with Keith and Wes after they murder the rest of the players.
 3. Jon – …And they have an idol.
   3. Missy – Missy, on the other hand, could win it. If people can ignore her train-wreck social game and focus on her big, bold moves, she has a chance. Not a good chance, but a better chance than Baylor.

 4. Natalie – Who cares if giving up reward is transparent? Who cares if Jon and Jaclyn saw through it? Transparent gestures can still carry weight, and although this one didn’t work, it gives even more proof that Natalie is one of the few left who is PLAYING.
   4. Jon – Hate on Jon all you want, but the fact remains that he and his girlfriend got rid of the game’s two most dominant players in back-to-back weeks. And, he’s still got an idol. If he and Jaclyn can figure it out so there’s some combination of him, Jaclyn, Missy, or Baylor at the end, they’re going to walk away with that million-dollar check.
 5. Missy – I’m actually way higher on muffin than many; she’s pulling strings, and whether or not she’s a good player she’s some of the better casting on the season. With Jeremy gone, we’re gonna need someone who can form a coherent sentence.
  5. Reed – Kudos to Reed for going from the bottom of the barrel to seemingly being a part of the new dominant alliance. However, he is nowhere near safe. He’s the most popular member of the new fivesome and his boyfriend is a well-liked member of the jury.
  6. Keith – Only talking to females when he passes them, Keith boasts a social game somewhere in between John Rocker and Shannon Elkins levels. With an idol, hopefully he doesn’t also meet John Rocker’s fate.
  6. Keith – It took some guts to hold onto your idol last week. But, the time for being shy with that thing is over. You need to figure out which way Jon and Co. are voting and counter it. I’m thinking the only people you can trust at this point are Wes and Alec. Make your move this week to bounce one of the dominant alliance, then you can pick up Natalie and possibly Reed.
  7. Wes – Wake up. Spit. Burp. #TacoOverload. Talk to women in passing. Spit. Wes’s simple “Survivor” life is in danger of coming to a screeching halt very soon.
  7. Wes – You or Alec need to win immunity this week. It’ll give Team Jonclyn one less person to target at Tribal and it will give you a better chance at correctly playing your dad’s idol.
  8. Reed – The sky is falling! Not only does Reed now speak on the show, but he seems… possibly… safe this week? After uniting with Jon/Jaclyn/Baylor/Missy to blindside Jeremy, that foursome is hardly in a position to immediately turn on him. And yet, the season’s first idol play could easily leave someone like Reed out by a few stray votes.
  8. Alec – See Wes.
  9. Alec –This ain’t no charity, now! If you’re bad at “Survivor,” you’re gonna go home eventually.    9. Natalie – “What the ___, Missy?” Thank you for so eloquently expressing exactly what I was thinking. Unfortunately for Natalie, when the leader goes, that person’s right hand often follows. I doubt she can work her way into the dominant alliance, but maybe she can inspire Keith to finally shake up the game with his idol.

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

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Cast Your Vote for the 2016 ‘Survivor’ Hall of Fame

November 24, 2014

article2016NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to go for “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X” coverage. We’ll have Power Rankings with “Kaoh Rong” champion Michele Fitzgerald and “Second Chance” favorite Shirin Oskooi, 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.

Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor:Millennials vs. Gen-X”

For the past six years, the “Survivor” Hall of Fame has honored the best and most memorable players in the show’s fifteen-year history.

The Class of 2010 included Parvati Shallow, Russell Hantz, Rob Mariano, Richard Hatch, and Sandra Diaz-Twine…

The Class of 2011 included Cirie Fields, Ozzy Lusth, and Tom Westman…

The Class of 2012 included Amanda Kimmel, Rob Cesternino, and Ethan Zohn…

The Class of 2013 included Kim Spradlin, John Cochran, and Jonny Fairplay…

In 2014, the “Survivor” Hall of Fame took a break to pay homage to some of the show’s best Tribal Councils. And thus, the  “Survivor: Borneo” Final Tribal Council, “Survivor: Micronesia” Episode 13 Tribal Council, and “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” Episode 10 Tribal Council were inducted into the Class of 2014.

The Class of 2015 included Jerri Manthey, Ben “Coach” Wade, and Rudy Boesch….

And now, it’s time to induct three new players into the “Survivor” Hall of Fame…

The Rules
Fifty percent of the vote will be based on the ballots of the “Survivor” Hall of Fame Executive Voting Committee. This blue-ribbon panel will consist of “Survivor” luminaries such as Host and Producer Jeff Probst, current members of the “Survivor” Hall of Fame, members of the “Survivor” press corps, and XFINITY TV’s “Survivor” Loud Mouth Gordon Holmes.

The other fifty percent will come from fans like you.

There are four ways to vote…

  • Facebook – Leave your three picks as a comment on the “Survivor” Hall of Fame Facebook page.
  • Twitter – Tweet your three picks to @SurvivorHall
  • Email – Send your three picks to survivorhofvote@gmail.com
  • Comments – Post your three picks in the comment section of this article.

Voting will end Friday, December 2, 2016 at 5 pm ET. Only one vote a day per voter will be counted.

Who’s Eligible?
Every former “Survivor” cast member is eligible except for…

  • Current members of the “Survivor” Hall of Fame – Parvati Shallow, “Boston” Rob Mariano, Richard Hatch, Russell Hantz, Sandra Diaz-Twine, Cirie Fields, Ozzy Lusth, Tom Westman, Rob Cesternino, Ethan Zohn, Amanda Kimmel, Kim Spradlin, John Cochran, Jonny Fairplay, Jerri Manthey, Ben “Coach” Wade, and Rudy Boesch.
  • “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X” Cast Members

Once all of the votes have been counted, we’ll unveil the members of the “Survivor” Hall of Fame Class of 2016 in the week leading up to the “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X” finale.

So, cast your vote today. And, follow the “Survivor” Hall of Fame on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-the-minute updates and breaking news.

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

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‘Survivor’ Castaway Jeremy – ‘Missy Doesn’t Make Good Decisions with Men’

November 20, 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 said it in my Power Rankings entry for Jon and I’ll say it again; every “Survivor” is a product of the last season the cast saw before they went on location. The last thing this group saw was Tony being rewarded for stabbing people in the back in “Survivor: Cagayan.”

So, maybe we should’ve seen last night’s jaw-dropping vote coming.

But we didn’t. Oh boy, we certainly did not see it coming.

I spoke with the victim of the blindside the morning after his elimination and asked him about the shocking Tribal…

Gordon Holmes: I don’t know if I’m emotionally ready for this interview.
Jeremy Collins: (Laughs) Me neither.
Holmes: You were my pick to take it all, you were playing a fantastic game…I hope you’re dealing with it better than I am.
Collins: I’m doing alright. I’m pissed off, but what are you going to do?

Holmes: Once I had a chance to get over the shock, this didn’t seem like a terrible move. You’re fit, you’re well liked, you’re a leader, you’re a threat. Jon can’t be faulted for taking you out. My question though revolves around his thought process. Is he a secret genius or is he just easily swayed?
Collins: Jon is very easily swayed. I think more than that, Jon was afraid of me. I was trying to tell him that we need to protect each other. We’re the two biggest, strongest people. When they come after us, we both have to be here. I don’t get it. He’s going to go in there with girls against four guys who are great in challenges. Keith and Reed are really good in challenges and Wes is really physical. I just don’t get it. I really don’t know what his thought process is.
Holmes: You got him to swap over from Josh’s side. Did you figure, we’ve got him, we’re taking this to the end, or were you worried that he could flop again?
Collins: I knew he didn’t want me there. He thought I could make a run at the challenges. But, once you make your decision you’ve got to stick with it.
Holmes: It’s funny because Jon was vital in taking out the games two strongest players in back-to-back weeks.
Collins: I think Jon just wanted to get me out because he was nervous that if we went to the end I’d get votes because of my story. Which is the worst thing I’ve ever heard. Josh said to him, “Are they going to give a million dollars to two actors or a firefighter with two kids?” So Jon wanted to jump ship to an alliance with two firefighters!
Holmes: (Laughs)
Collins:  One of them has two kids! It doesn’t make any sense.
Holmes: That’s one of those arguments that always comes up but never plays out at Tribal. People don’t vote for you based on your occupation. They vote for you based on your social game and your strategies.
Collins: That’s just what I’m saying. If you’re in the final three and someone comes up to you and says, “I’m poor, I’m homeless, I need the money.” You’re not going to get the vote. To say I’m a firefighter struggling to get by? I don’t know where that came from?
Holmes: C’mon now, firefighters are very cool. I don’t know where the “struggling” came from though.
Collins: I don’t know where the “struggling” came from either. Yeah, people like firefighters, so why go to an alliance that has two of them? I’m so frustrated still.
Holmes:  Me too!

Holmes: What do you think Missy’s thought process with that vote was last night? Because it seemed like you were close before the tribe swap.
Collins: I’m thinking the time away from me, when she was with Jon, I can only assume that they connected. I didn’t see it. She says, “My Jon Jon” and stuff like that. But, I didn’t believe that at all. I don’t know what her thought process was.
Holmes: But is she a secret genius?
Collins: No. (Laughs) There are no secret geniuses out there. Write that down.
Holmes: I’m writing everything down.

Holmes: Was last night a total blindside?
Collins: Total blindside. I didn’t think they had the numbers. I thought it was Nat that jumped ship. When they called my name I thought, “Nat did it.” And she was the only one I trusted. That hurt. I was in a fog walking out. For them to listen to Reed was stupid. And for Reed to do that was stupid. Reed was saying, “Vote with the couples.” Then he became a single and he decides to take out a single. There was a time when Reed was laying there and Nat was talking to him and I said, “Reed, I can’t tell you the plan now, but don’t worry cause you’re all set.” I was trying to tell him not to rock the boat. But Reed was kind of spastic out there when Josh wasn’t around. It was hard for me to talk to Reed.

Holmes: There’s a streak of bad luck for people who give up rewards.
Collins: I take notes on this show. And I always said you don’t give out rewards because it doesn’t work out. But, it can work out depending on who you’re playing with. If it wasn’t Blood vs. Water and I did that for Jaclyn, it would’ve worked. Jon was saying we can’t go with them and she just went along with it.

Holmes: Alright, word association. Let’s start with Keith.
Collins: Good ol’ boy.
Holmes: Wes?
Collins: Good kid.
Holmes: Baylor?
Collins: Spoiled.
Holmes: Alec?
Collins: The smartest guy he knows.
Holmes: (Laughs) Natalie?
Collins: My sister.
Holmes: Missy?
Collins: Missy doesn’t make good decisions with men.
Holmes: Well played. Jon?
Collins: Jon’s a cartoon character.
Holmes: I heard he does all manner of Disney impersonations.
Collins: You’ve got to see it! It’s kind of creepy. He does every person in “Aladdin.” When Robin Williams does every character, Jon does every character.
Holmes: Alright, that will have to be brought up during his exit interview. Jaclyn?
Collins: Sweet.
Holmes: Reed?
Collins: Reed is dramatic.
Holmes: Let’s finish with Val.
Collins: Val’s the greatest.

Holmes: You and Rocker had it out at that immunity challenge when you thought he was responsible for eliminating Val. That wasn’t the case. What’s your take on him now that it’s all said and done?
Collins: John Rocker is a solid individual. He’s a good, kindhearted dude. He’s one of the guys I’ll talk to for the rest of my life.

Holmes: I’ve been doing this since “Survivor: Gabon.”  Every year I pick a winner and every year I’m wrong. So, it can’t be that person’s fault. It’s gotta be something with me. If you have anything to say to me, anything to get off of your chest, I’ve allotted some time for you to do that.
Collins: (Laughs) I’m not done. I wasn’t done out there. I have unfinished business. So, when I get back on…and I’m gonna get back on…do not pick me.
Holmes: I will make you that promise. My heart will want to pick you, but I’m a man of my word.
Collins: (Laughs) I appreciate that.

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

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‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur’ Episode 9 Recap – Showstopper!

November 20, 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 got some tacos and ate them all, Jeremy was set up to take a big fall, but Broadway Josh took his final curtain call.

39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

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

The #Huyopa Tribe (wearing blue)

Alec – 22, Student
Baylor – 20, Student
Jaclyn – 25, Media Buyer
Jeremy – 36, Firefighter
Jon – 26, Financial Assistant
Keith – 53, Fire Captain
Missy – 47, Owner of Cheerleading Gym
Natalie – 28, Crossfit Coach
Reed – 31, Broadway Performer
Wes – 23, Firefighter

#Huyopa beach is a sad place after Tribal with Reed trying to keep a stiff upper lip. Jon feels bad because they “really led him on.” As opposed to a half-deception?

Keith calls JaclJon out for lying. He then lets us know that he wants to tell them to vote for him so he can play the idol and send one of them packing. He’d be better off mailing it to Rocker so he can have a matching set.

Reward Challenge Time: The players will be split into two teams. They’ll face off one-on-one on a balance beam. The first person to throw their opponent into the mud wins a point for their team. First team to five wins a trip on a luxury fishing yacht complete with sandwiches.

You know, cause rich people on yachts love their sandwiches.

Our teams are Wes, Missy, Jon, Jaclyn, and Keith vs. Alec, Baylor, Reed, Jeremy, and Natalie.

Round One: Reed bests Wes. Although in fairness, one of those guys is a Broadway dancer and the other is Wes.

Round Two: Natalie tops Jaclyn.

Round Three: Jon defeats Jeremy.

Round Four: Baylor beat Missy. Aaaaand, Missy didn’t bust open her daughter’s lip.

Round Five: Keith wins over Alec.

Round Six: Wes slapped mud into Reed’s eye. A disoriented Reed was then easy pickings.

Round Seven: Jaclyn tried to push Natalie off, but failed.

Round Eight: Jon won over Jeremy again.

Next round is for all the marbles…er…sandwiches.

Round Nine: Missy was aggressive… wa…as…aggressive, but was bested by her daughter again.

Before Jeff sends them off, Natalie gives up her reward to Jon and Jeremy gives up his to Jaclyn. Wow…those two are in it to win it.

Proving that no good deed goes unpunished, the yacht crew promptly decides to send Jeremy to Exile. Wah wah…

Back at camp, Wes tells Natalie that he doesn’t want to be blindsided. Natalie says she thinks they should target Reed next.

At Exile, Jeremy gets to watch as the yacht drives by. Now that’s just mean.

Jeremy hunts for the immunity idol, but as we all know, that idol is in Jon’s bag. Jeremy is a little annoyed that Jon never told him that he had it.

Later on, Jon realizes that Jeremy is going to figure out that he has the idol. See, good observation. Way to stay one jump ahead of the breadline…

One swing, ahead of the sword…

Immunity Challenge Time: The players will use their feet to release a bunch of blocks. They’ll then use their feet to stack these blocks. First person to place a flag in the middle of their blocks wins immunity.

Uh…not much to describe her except for some fancy footwork. Keith almost has it, but knocks them over. Reed comes close, but Baylor is able to pass him and win immunity.

Nice little challenge there. Way to go, Team Kirhoffer.

Back at camp, Reed thinks his number is up, but he’s going to wreak havoc on his way out. Leave ’em humming a tune!

Reed digs into Keith’s bag and finds his idol instructions. He shares this info with Jaclyn and Missy.

Keith notices the instructions are missing, so he’ll be tough to blindside.

Jeremy tells Natalie that Jon must have an idol. Jeremy confronts Jon about it, and Jon goes into full denial mode. Jon then goes to Missy, admits he has an idol, and says he wants Jeremy to go home soon.

Strange things are afoot at the Circle K.

That night at Tribal, Jeremy hopes that his alliance will stick together to the end.

Jaclyn thinks Natalie and Jeremy giving up their reward cements their alliance.

Reed doesn’t think giving up the reward was selfless because it bought them loyalty.

Jon thinks that someone has an idol. Way to go out on a limb there, champ.

Natalie thinks it’s scary if someone on the other side has an idol, but it’s also scary if someone in your alliance has one and hasn’t told you.

Natalie’s really growing on me. Go Nat.

Jaclyn thinks Keith and Wes have an idol because they seem confident. Good instinct.

This kicks off a fight where Jon accuses Wes and Keith of not respecting Jaclyn.

Reed is very happy that there’s a fight that doesn’t involve him.

Also, Alec was there.

Voting Time: Jeremy votes for Keith, Keith votes for Reed, Natalie votes for Keith, Alec votes for Reed, and the rest of the votes are sooper secret.

JPro tallies and returns. He asks if anyone wants to play an idol and…

…Nobody does.

We’ve got one vote for Keith, one vote for Reed, one vote for Keith, two votes for Reed, four votes for Jeremy, and the ninth person to be eliminated from “Survivor: San Juan del Sur – Blood vs. Water” and the second member of the jury is…Jeremy.

The Holmes Curse strikes again!

Verdict: Wow…just…

Wow. Did not see that coming.

Who exactly are we supposed to root for now?

In all seriousness though, major credit to Jon and Jaclyn. They had to know Jeremy didn’t really trust them anymore.

Who’s Going to Win? Reed voted for Jeremy. If he’s in with the new dominant alliance, he’s a natural third person to go with a pair and would be tough to beat at a final Tribal Council.

Power Rankings Results: Spencer had Jeremy in spot three, I had him in spot nine. So, the current score is Team Farm Guy 72, Team Corinsanity 88.

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

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‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur’ Power Rankings – Flatulent Fireman Edition

November 19, 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 nine points and Gordon will receive six points. 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 Josh in spot eight, Gordon had him in spot ten. The current score is Team Spencer: 69, Team Gordon: 79.

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

Spencer’s Score = 69

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

  Gordon’s Score = 79

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

 1. Natalie – The last time we saw a Natalie this quiet, she took down third place (S22). The time before that, she won the game (S19). Our twinnie has been a small presence, but every time she speaks, she shows strategic chops worthy of carrying on the tradition of her namesake.
   1. Jaclyn – She’s in the dominant alliance, her bae has an immunity idol, and she isn’t a challenge threat. She isn’t going anywhere.
 2. Baylor – Baylor has aspirations greater than simply taking the most crap from Alec; she’s going for records. The irony is that despite collecting votes quicker than Probst collects cargos, Baylor is in little danger. She’s under Missy’s protection, in the majority and out of the fray.
   2. Natalie – Natalie has taken a backseat since the merge, but that’s not always a bad thing. Jeremy’s taking all the shots because he’s the leader, meanwhile she’s working hard and making friends.
 3. Jeremy – All of the sudden, Jeremy has shifted from Grinch of San Juan Del Sur to dragon slayer of San Juan Del Sur. When he isn’t questioning why others are happy, he’s aggressively taking those happy people out. Jeremy is in control after slaying Josh.
   3. Baylor – “Naïve,” “Spoiled,” “Brat,” “Ugh,” and “Lazy” are five words that have been used in five different exit interviews to describe poor Baylor. And, that’s just the people who’ve left the game. Alec wants her to smell his farts, Keith wants to actively whoop her, and her own mother punched her in the face.

 4. Missy – Keith can bemoan her parenting all he wants, but Missy successfully lead her daughter toward a comfortable majority. As long as she doesn’t consume all the rice in the next three days, she should stick around.
   4. Missy – Everyone’s got to be wondering; how do I get to the end with Baylor and Missy? Seems like a guaranteed million-dollar check.
 5. Jon – They finally did it. Jon and Jaclyn planted their flag alongside team Jeremy; they picked a side. Time will tell if this couple blundered, but with the numbers still tight, I think they bought some short-term safety.
  5. Jon – I have a theory that every “Survivor” is a product of the last season the cast saw before they went on location. The last thing this group saw was Tony being rewarded for stabbing people in the back in “Survivor: Cagayan.” Jon, you might think you’re safe, but you’d better keep that idol close at all times. Beware the odd-numbered votes…
  6. Jaclyn – I like the Jaclyn that’s emerging – a decision-maker with the backbone to call people out for hovering around Jon rather than her. Speaking of howler monkey whisperer: He’s got an idol, and seems nice enough to use it should Jaclyn need it.
  6. Keith – I’ve given Keith’s use of the idol some thought, and I don’t think he completely dropped the ball. If he’s low on Jeremy’s list of people to boot, he could ride things out until that alliance is about to break up and sneak his way into a final three with a desperate duo. Is he thinking that far ahead? Probably not.
  7. Alec – Who says chivalry is dead? This charmer unfortunately found himself in the minority after the last vote, and is skating on thin ice. What used to be merely rubbing someone the wrong way might now be a “Survivor” death wish.
  7. Wes – I want Wes to make it to the end, just so his jury speech can start, “I’m a good kid, I haven’t been in jail yet.” Can he get there from here? That all depends on if his father is in a sharing mood.
  8. Wes – Despite the extent of his taco overload, Wes is on the verge of an even more extensive binge-eating session if he becomes the second juror. It’s nice that his dad has an idol, but with the way things are going Keith could just as easily give Wes a “whooping” as he could bail him out.
  8. Alec – Wow, did you guys blow it. As the lone single person in your alliance, you were a shoo-in to be in some couple’s final three. Now look at you; you’re going to be remembered as the guy who wanted to fart on Baylor.
  9. Keith – If we’re to expect a blindside this week, Keith might be our man. He’s done nothing with his idol so far (and it could have plausibly changed the game), and I fear that trend may continue one vote too long.
   9. Jeremy – Jon and Jaclyn have defected! Team Jeremy reigns supreme! Let the Pagoning begin! Well…not so fast. There’s still the outside chance that Keith could wake up and realize that he could put his alliance back in power with his idol. An outside chance. A waaaaaay outside chance.  But, it could happen.
  10. Reed – A Joshless Reed is ready to stir things up. He’ll “light this camp on fire” and search through bags before going down. I’m rooting for him to pull some rabbits out of hats, but so far in barren Nicaragua, I haven’t seen many rabbits.
   10. Reed – Reed’s Spidey Sense must be freaking out right about now. Why do I have him so low? Because he’s so well liked. If I’m Team Jeremy, I’d be worried that he’s the only one out of the guys who could weasel his way into any alliance cracks that could form in the coming weeks.

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

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‘Survivor’ Castaway Josh on Jon and Jaclyn: ‘I Knew They Were Lying’

November 13, 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”]

When Julie decided to call it quits last week, it seemed to throw a howler monkey wrench in Jeremy’s game. He was going to lose an important vote when he needed it the most.

But, a funny thing happened on the way to Tribal. The extra days gave Wes and Alec time to infuriate Jaclyn and change her vote, thus saving Jeremy and dooming Josh.

I spoke to the the latest ousted Survivor the morning after his elimination and had a chance to ask about Julie’s quit, Jacljon’s flip, and Wes’s…bodily functions…

Holmes: Alright, hard questions first; what is it about Baylor that makes people want to fart on her so much?
Canfield: (Laughs) Oh my gosh… Wow! Thank you, Gordon.
Holmes: I didn’t come here to lob softballs your way, Josh.
Canfield: (Laughs) Gosh…I think Baylor is young and because she’s a very young player, I think she’s a bit naïve to what’s actually going on. I think she was just scared the whole time trying to stay above water. She got votes at every Tribal Council.  And, she rubbed Wes and Alec the wrong way from the get-go. So, there was always a clash with them. And there were times where I was like, “Are they flirting? Or is it people being weird?” Mainly it was Alec and Baylor, it was very strange.
Holmes: So you’re trying to convince me that farting is a form of flirting?
Canfield: (Laughs) Wes farting, that whole thing…no…I don’t think that was flirting.

Holmes: Were you blindsided last night?
Canfield: No, I was 95% sure I was going home.
Holmes: So you knew that Jon and Jaclyn were going to vote with Team Jeremy.
Canfield: Yeah, it was that day really that I saw them switch, even though they were telling me to my face that they were going to vote Baylor that night. I knew they were lying and Reed knew they were lying. They were not very subtle. Before I went in, I told Reed I thought this was going to be goodbye. They had said they were voting for Reed, but I knew they were voting for me. So, we’ll know on that first vote if it’s for me that I’ll be out.
Holmes: If Julie hadn’t quit, do you think Jon and Jaclyn would’ve voted with you at the first post-merge Tribal.
Canfield: Yeah, I do. I said 80% that Jeremy would have gone that night and 20% would have been me. I still hold to that. I think we did have Jon and Jaclyn that night. Then Julie quit and that stirred things up.

Holmes: I keep hearing this rumor that Jon likes to sing Disney songs.
Canfield: (Laughs) It is true.
Holmes: As someone with a musical theater background, I feel like you’re the most qualified person to give us a critique.
Canfield: I always loved it. He has a decent voice and he’s very passionate about it. You can’t help but smile and laugh and have a good time. Maybe he has a career in it.
Holmes: So, you’re going to cast him in your next production?
Canfield: (Laughs) I wouldn’t go that far, Gordon.

Holmes: Keith has been carrying an idol since forever which could have saved you, saved your alliance, basically flipped the whole game. Did you know about it?
Canfield: I had no idea about it. It was really frustrating to find out because if they would  have used it, if we could’ve shown Jon and Jaclyn that we had it and could defend ourselves, that could’ve changed the whole game. I don’t think Keith had the foresight to understand what that meant. I think he though, “Yay, I can protect myself.”

Holmes: When you approached Baylor last night, you took a more stern tone than you usually see with someone trying to sway a vote. You told her that she owed you. What was the thought process behind that approach?
Canfield: That was intentional. I knew that Baylor was a lost cause. After the merge I tried to be like, “Hey, are we still good?” And she was so cold to me.  I knew Missy had got her claws in her. I knew she was young and impressionable, and I was going to go really strong. I’d already lost her, so either it’ll change what she’s doing, or she’ll keep voting with her mom. I wanted her to know I literally kept her in the game in the beginning rounds. I told her she’d be looked at as a villain if she does this. And, because she didn’t know a lot about the game I thought maybe it would scare her.
Holmes: She mentioned the time you voted for her. What was the rationale behind that original Baylor vote?
Canfield: She didn’t care about that. We were long past that. She brought that up again because she was trying to justify voting for me. The strategy behind that first vote was I was trying to do the Russell Hantz thing where you grab a girl and go for it. (Laughs) Baylor was that girl. It was an in-the-moment decision. We were all going to vote for Nadiya, and at Tribal, John Rocker looks over at me and points to Baylor. I thought, what if I use this and say, ”Oh, I thought you wanted me to vote for Baylor.” I knew Baylor wasn’t going home, we had the numbers. Then, people will never suspect that I made an alliance with Baylor because I was willing to vote her out. The vote happened, then I came clean with her immediately. I told her I did it for us. Now nobody thinks we’re together. We can’t play to each other. We can’t hang out with each other, but we have each other’s backs.

Holmes: Alright, word association time. We’ll start with Rocker.
Canfield: Big.
Holmes: Natalie?
Canfield: Crazy.
Holmes: Julie?
Canfield: Wah wah…
Holmes: Keith?
Canfield: Good ol’ boy.
Holmes: Baylor?
Canfield: Young.
Holmes: Missy?
Canfield: Yikes. (Laughs)
Holmes: Wes?
Canfield: Friend.
Holmes: Alec?
Canfield: Outspoken.
Holmes: Jeremy?
Canfield: Sad pants.
Holmes: Jon?
Canfield: Energy?
Holmes:  Jaclyn?
Canfield: Pageant girl.
Holmes: Let’s finish with some guy named Reed.
Canfield: Aww…love of my life.

Holmes: Going into this the popular opinion was; Reed is the strategist. He’s going to go in and rip it up. And Josh is just along for the ride. What’s it like to go in there and dominate?
Canfield: Yeah. When I was reading all the pre-press things and the people’s assessments…
Holmes: The press doesn’t know anything, Josh.
Canfield: (Laughs) Everyone’s going off of what they’ve seen and I was not very well liked. Which I was fine with because I knew what was going to happen. But, everyone thought I was going to be horrible. But, I got a chance to prove that I wasn’t horrible.

Holmes: I saw “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” on Broadway. If I ask Reed for a refund, will he think that’s funny or will he hate me?
Canfield: Um…I think he’ll be in-between. I think he’ll laugh. Just because you’re in a show doesn’t mean it’s a good show.
Holmes: I do know all the words to Mary Jane’s song “If the World Should End.”
Canfield: Oh, you do! There’s an inner geek in you.
Holmes: No, more of an inner theater person.
Canfield: A theater nerd! I love it! Gordon, you just went up in my book.

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

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‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur’ Episode 8 Recap – Will Someone Baylor Out?

November 12, 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:  Josh and Jeremy fought over Jaclyn and Jon, Missy treated her own daughter like a pawn, and Julie decided to quit…she’s gone.

39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

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

The #Huyopa Tribe (wearing blue)

Alec – 22, Student
Baylor – 20, Student
Jaclyn – 25, Media Buyer
Jeremy – 36, Firefighter
Jon – 26, Financial Assistant
Josh – 32, Actor
Keith – 53, Fire Captain
Missy – 47, Owner of Cheerleading Gym
Natalie – 28, Crossfit Coach
Reed – 31, Broadway Performer
Wes – 23, Firefighter

The episode starts off with Jon felling kinda uncomfortable with how deceitful he and Jaclyn are being. Welcome to “Survivor,” Gaston.

Right now he seems solidly in Josh’s camp, which is bad news for Jeremy.

Reward Challenge Time: Two teams will race to load heavy puzzle pieces onto a cart. They’ll then push that cart to a base. There they’ll build a temple with the pieces, then they’ll hoist a statue to the top of a wall. First tribe to get their statue to the top wins an afternoon at a taco bar.

It’s a schoolyard pick to decide the teams and we have Keith, Natalie, Wes, Reed, and Jeremy on team yellow vs. Jon, Jaclyn, Josh, Baylor, and Alec on team blue. Missy wasn’t picked, so she can’t win. That sucks. They should do that thing where she gets to bet on the winner.

The challenge starts and team yellow jumps off to a big lead. Maybe it’s because they didn’t pick teeny people like Jaclyn and Baylor?

The yellow team finishes their temple, hoists their statue, and wins reward.

They choose to send Jon to Exile Island because he’s a big guy and should do alright by himself. Wait, they want his vote, don’t they?

Next, we meet up with the winners at their taco bar. They actually let Reed talk, and he says that he feels bad because Josh has been dying for Mexican food.

Keith tells Jeremy that they were going to target Julie at Tribal, but he doesn’t buy it.

Wes goes to town on the food and ends up paying the price. Too many margaritas? Been there.

Back at #Huyopa, Josh tries to get back on Baylor’s good side. He does this by telling her that she owes him. Oh…you catch more flies with vinegar than honey? Wait, that’s not how that goes…

Baylor doesn’t think she owes him anything. Sure you do. Vote for him as often as he voted for you.

Meanwhile at Exile, Jon finds a clue that points toward an idol at Exile. He climbs around and…finds it! Team Jacljon! Hakuna Matata!

With everyone back from reward, Alec and Wes talk about how much they’d like Baylor to smell their farts. Seriously.

Keith gets in on it too, saying how much he’d whoop Baylor if she was his daughter because she doesn’t work hard enough. Jaclyn notices that the guys who need her vote aren’t being very nice to women.

Alec feels comfortable with his position though, because Jon trusts him and Jaclyn will do what he tells her. Famous last words?

Immunity Challenge Time: Probst will read out a series of symbols, the players will have to repeat them. If you get one wrong, you’re out. Last person standing wins immunity.

Round One: Jon’s out first. He’s followed by Reed and then Wes and Alec.

Round Two: Natalie goes immediately. Next we lose Baylor, then Jaclyn, then Keith and Missy.

Ooo…we’re down to Josh and Jeremy! The ringleaders!

On the next pick, Josh is out. Jeremy wins it.

Back at camp, Team Josh wants to target Baylor.

Buuuuut…Jaclyn doesn’t want to partner with Josh anymore because Alec, Wes, and Keith were being jerks. Oh man, poor Jon. Happy wife, happy life. Well, girlfriend…you know what I mean.

Later, Keith tells Missy that he’s gunning for Baylor because she doesn’t do anything around camp. Baylor doesn’t think it’s a smart move to tell someone’s mom that you’re going to vote for their kid. She’s not wrong.

That night at Tribal, Jeremy thinks he needed immunity because his head was on the chopping block. Josh feels the same way.

Jaclyn admits that her and Jon are in the middle. Jon says they don’t want to be the swing vote, but that’s how it keeps turning out.

Natalie feels protective of Jon because he’s a member of the original Hunahpu. Smart comment, Natalie.

Jaclyn admits that the guys in Josh’s alliance were rude to her when Jon was gone.

Missy thinks Wes and Alec act like they’re in a frat house. Keith points out that they’re not at the Hilton and that everyone has gas. Well, he’s not wrong.

Reed tells Jon and Jaclyn that they’re strong together and that they’ll be in trouble if they side with singles.

Jeremy disagrees, saying Team Josh will target Jon because he’s the biggest threat.

Voting Time: Alec votes for Baylor, Baylor votes for Josh, and the rest of the votes aren’t shown.

J-Pro tallies and returns. We’ve got one vote for Baylor, one vote for Josh, one vote for Baylor, one vote for Josh, one vote for Baylor, one vote for Josh, one vote for Baylor, one vote for Josh, one vote for Baylor, one vote for Josh, and the eighth person to be eliminated from “Survivor: San Juan del Sur – Blood vs. Water” and the first member of the jury is…Josh.

So…farting on people is a bad strategy.

Verdict: OK…the crime of this whole season is that we knew it was going to come down to Jeremy and Josh and one of them would have to go.

The thing is; other than those two who else is playing a good game?

Farting Wes? Sexist Alec?

Natalie who curses people out in challenges? Missy who scared Julie out of the game?

Keith who hasn’t once considered using his idol to help his alliance?

Jon and Jaclyn the flip-floppers? Baylor the one person every exit interview has talked trash about?

Maybe if non-factor Reed can step up we can see some interesting strategy, but otherwise…go Jeremy.

Who’s Going to Win? Dude, Jeremy.

Power Rankings Results: Spencer had Josh in spot eight, I had him in spot ten. The current score is Team Spencer: 69, Team Gordon: 79.

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

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‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur’ Power Rankings – Stinky Smooch Edition

November 11, 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 three points and Gordon will receive five points. 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 and Gordon both had Julie in spot twelve. The current score is Team Spencer 61, Team Gordon 68.

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

Spencer’s Score = 61

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

  Gordon’s Score = 69

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

 1. Baylor – Baylor has come a long way since being lost at the grocery store, scared and unable to find her mom. She’s now following her Missy’s lead, and securing a spot atop the Power Rankings.
   1. Jaclyn – So much has changed since Julie quit because she missed John Rocker, or she was caught hoarding food, or she didn’t like rain, or whatever. The world’s been introduced to “Too Many Cooks,” LeBron James has lost and found his mojo, and someone stole my idea for Dorito-flavored Mountain Dew. The one thing that hasn’t changed is how much the rest of the game will hinge on the next move of Nicaragua’s Hottest Couple.
 2. Jeremy – Things weren’t looking too pretty for Jeremy last week before purple Julie felt the last rain drop in the coffin. Probst said someone could have gotten a million dollar break last week, and with Jeremy’s hold over Alec, amongst others, the tide might turn once again this week.
   2. Jon – Julie’s quit was a nice little undercard match to set up this week’s main event. It’s a six-on five elimination match with the drama centering around which side JaclJon (Jonlyn?) will take. If I were them, I’d side with Jeremy and Co. because Jeremy is the only physical threat. But I understand why they’d be worried about being the last intimidating couple left standing.
 3. Keith – He may not remember birthdays. He may demand help picking up wood, per the previews. But as long as Keith doesn’t go home with an idol, we’re in for another week of laughs.
   3. Baylor – Nobody is truly  safe this week outside of the golden couple. Baylor’s only this high because somebody has to be. We might end up with a situation where idol fear causes one team to go after a less-likely target.

 4. Missy – Missy is a risky ranking. I’m jumping out on a limb and predicting that things will work out well for the Missy/Baylor/Jeremy/Natalie coalition, but truth be told, they’re all in the hands of Jon and Jaclyn. And that’s a scary place to be.
   4. Natalie – See Baylor.
 5. Natalie – Same rationale as Missy, only Natalie seems slightly more tightly tethered to Jeremy, and slightly less maneuverable.
  5. Keith – I’m starting to think that nobody knows Keith has an idol because this is the second week in a row where his alliance could’ve used an idol and nobody mentioned it. Is that good?  Yes and no. It’s good because he has a safety net if he feels threatened. It’s bad because he could put Josh’s alliance in the driver’s seat with one move and he doesn’t seem willing to do it.
  6. Jaclyn – We actually heard from Jaclyn last episode – twice! With she and Jon positioned as a power couple this week, expect lightning to strike again.
  6. Wes – Aww…poor Wes His dad forgot his birthday, then he bested him in an immunity challenge. It’s cool. You don’t want to look like too much of a threat.
  7. Jon – As swing votes, Jon and Jaclyn have taken over the narration duties of the show. Suffice it to say, I don’t think Morgan Freeman is sweating this one; his job is safe.
  7. Missy – All signs pointed to Julie being majorly creeped out by Missy last week. That’s bad. There’s nothing worse in this game than not appreciating how people perceive you. So, why is Missy so low this week? Because I’m thinking she’ll be the target if Team Josh wins the affections of J-Squared and Jeremy wins immunity.
  8. Josh – Josh is the guy who is continually, inevitably, perpetually shafted. He saves his rice on Coyopa only to show up at Hunahpu and have nothing to eat. He played his cards well – becoming effective mob boss in the early going – but is now ultimately left grasping for control. It’s all up to the woman who can’t speak and the man who talks to howler monkeys.
  8. Alec – So, I wrote out all of the options, and it looks like Alec is in real danger of being the odd man out. If Jon and Jac go with Team Josh, it’s a couples’ alliance and Alec doesn’t fit in. And, if J&J go with Team Jeremy, they don’t need Alec and he has no real foundation with them.
  9. Wes – He’s made the background his home, staying quiet thus far, but could catch a stray bullet if Jeremy wins the Jeremy-vs-Josh clash. Wes might just need to ask dad for that idol.
   9. Reed – Your worst-case scenario is Team Jeremy winning the love of JaclJon and Josh winning immunity. (Hey, remember when we thought Reed was the player and Josh was the tag-along?)
  10. Reed – With each passing day, an athlete like Reed becomes a higher nail to be pounded down. With each vote, the fact that he and Josh remain together will make others uneasy. In a very different sense than the fallen John Rocker, Reed is a ticking time bomb.
   10. Josh – Alright, if I were a betting man (and I totally am) I’d bet that the wonder twins will end up by Josh’s side. Here’s my reasoning; 1. Jon wasn’t that close to Jeremy on old Hunahpu, 2. The more couples there are around, the less dangerous it is to be in a couple. 3. Josh and Reed seem much more intimidating challenge-wise (and are thus bigger targets) than Jon and Jaclyn.
  11. Alec – Next episode looks like hard times for ‘basically a badass’ junior. His rudeness toward Julie last week at least reflected others’ outrage after the #TrailMixScandal, but the rudeness he’s teased to bring this time looks… ugly. Alec may find plenty of time at Ponderosa to be a meat collector as the first juror.
   11. Jeremy – The shame of the Jeremy/Josh showdown is it’s probably going to cost us one of this season’s two solid players. I’m hoping Jeremy can figure it out and break the Gordon-picked-me-to-win curse, but I’m thinking Josh has got him beat.

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‘Survivor’ Castaway Julie – ‘I Just Saw Straight Through (Missy)’

November 6, 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 can lie after swearing on your kids’ names, you can vote your mother out of the game, and you can make up a story about your grandmother dying and some “Survivor” fans will find merit in your actions.

You just can’t quit.

I spoke with Julie McGee, the latest in a too-long list of Survivors who have called it quits the morning after her exit from the game. We had a chance to talk about her decision, Missy’s love, and what it’s like to be Johnny Rock’s girlfriend…

Gordon Holmes: Now that you’ve had time to think about what happened, do you regret your decision to quit?
Julie McGee: No. I don’t live in regret. I try my best to make the best decision for my overall health physically and mentally. It was hard to make a good decision, but I was pretty confident in what was going on at the time. I wasn’t running from anything. It was nothing like that at all. I was just really at my breaking point. The rain storm that had happened really shook it out of me. I couldn’t get my head twisted back on right. And everyone being jerks to me, and John not being there, and the trail mix scandal…
Holmes: People being jerks to you…was that tied specifically to the trail mix scandal or were there things earlier that we didn’t see?
McGee: I guess mainly right towards the end I felt some vibes that people were unhappy and were being mean to me without talking to me. But, before that I did feel that once we came together and there were so many couples that I lost connections with people I may have had a connection with before.
Holmes: Did other people have food in their bags?
McGee: I have no idea, and I wasn’t going to question it. It’s not because I was sitting there as full as a tick. I had some crumbs in the bottom of my bag. I was the one scrambling at the merge dinner. Most of the guys were either throwing up because they ate too much or were rubbing their tummy because they were too full. I was scrambling to find a way to pack up all this food…Missy and myself.  We needed to get the stuff and get it down the mountain. Stuff it in your pockets, stuff it in your shoes. Whatever you need to do. And if you stuff some stuff in your shoes, then have it. For Jon and Jaclyn, when they’re sitting back not doing anything, they say I’m so selfish? Who says I need to pack up all this food and ration it out for you two and feed you whenever you’re hungry?

Holmes: Maybe this is just me, but it struck me as odd when Missy said she loved you. That’s not a word I’d be comfortable breaking out in front of someone I’ve only known for a few weeks. Did that strike you as odd?
McGee: Yeah, I just saw straight through her. I don’t know if it’s because she was feeling apprehensive about saying she really wanted me there. Maybe she was upset about the crumbs in my bag. She was really just putting it on. I really felt a connection with her, and I really felt sometimes like I could trust her. But, when we’re sitting there talking and I’m at my lowest point and she says, “You’ve got to stay for us. I’m your loved one now.” That kind of made it worse.

Holmes: The people that leave the game pre-jury don’t get to hang out with the jurors. They’re all taken away. Did you leave when you did in the hopes of getting to see John?
McGee: Not at all. At that point I thought that it was already done. When Jeff came down to speak to me, he asked me the same question. He said, “What if I tell you that he’s not there?” This is for me now. It’s for my sanity. It’s what I need right now. And if he’s not there, that’ll suck, but I’ve got to make this move.

Holmes: Quitting seems to be “Survivor’s” one unforgivable sin. What kind of feedback have you been receiving from the fans?
McGee: Oh…wow. (Laughs) I want to just throw my phone in a lake. It’s really 50/50 right now. I have some people who are really supportive and huge fans and I’m so appreciative of that. But of course you have the haters. You have the people that say I’m a loser, I’m a quitter, someone else could have had that spot. But they don’t know what I was going through. And I realized when I quit that I was going to have to go through this. I was somewhat prepared for the backlash.

Holmes:  As John Rocker’s girlfriend, I would imagine a lot of people think negative things about you before they’ve even met you. What’s that like to deal with?
McGee: It’s human nature to go with the masses and believe what you read. For me to know who John is and to know his heart…he is a giving, sweet, loving, funny guy. And I am not selfish. I’m very loving and I’m very giving myself. I’m a great person and I have lots of great friends and family. I wouldn’t be with someone if they were an ass or a loser. People think he was a pro athlete and he’s got this money, so he’s going to have this girl…he’s gonna take care of this trophy girl.  That’s not the case at all. It has really changed the way I see things. If something’s written up about a celebrity, you cannot believe what you see. You have to know firsthand. So, all these people that are judging me, judging John, they’ll probably never know us. But, we’re good with ourselves. We’re good people.
Holmes: I’ve interviewed everyone who’s left the game. And the feedback about him has been overwhelmingly positive.
McGee: Absolutely. That’s what you have to go on. Real experiences with people who’ve come into contact with him.

Holmes: Alright, word association time…
McGee: (Laughs) I was looking forward to this!
Holmes: As you should be. Let’s start with Alec.
McGee: Young and dumb.
Holmes: Keith?
McGee: Ripe.
Holmes: Wes?
McGee: Gosh…driven.
Holmes: Josh?
McGee: Ballerina.
Holmes: Reed?
McGee: Flexible.
Holmes: Jeremy?
McGee: Secretive.
Holmes: Jaclyn?
McGee: Blank…follower.
Holmes: Jon?
McGee: Genuine.
Holmes: Missy?
McGee: Sweet…problematic.
Holmes: Natalie?
McGee: Boss.
Holmes: Baylor?
McGee: Eh…young.
Holmes: Let’s finish off with Johnny Rock.
McGee: (Laughs) Loud and sexy.
Holmes: Do you call him Johnny Rock?
McGee: No. I call him Boo Thang, I call him Baby, I call him Sweetheart.
Holmes: Aww…
McGee: Aww… my mom does, actually. He gets worn out about people using his last name, but he has a nickname for her and she calls him that.

Holmes: What did you learn during your time on “Survivor”?
McGee: We’re so caught up in routines, so being in that situation opened up the way I see life and the way I see myself. Everyday…I know it’s a cliché…but it makes all things seem small. I feel such a strength in myself knowing how far I pushed myself. It’s done nothing but good things for me.

Holmes: I feel it’s a shame you left when you did. It seemed like you would have had some options once the game progressed a little.
McGee: I know.
Holmes: But, that’s easy to say from the comfort of my couch.
McGee: Well yeah, I think if I had another opportunity and it wasn’t a Blood vs. Water, I’d go at it differently and just play the (expletive deleted) out of it.
Holmes: So, given the opportunity you’d play again?
McGee: Believe it or not, yes.

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

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Posted in RealityTV, survivor, TV News | Comments Off on ‘Survivor’ Castaway Julie – ‘I Just Saw Straight Through (Missy)’

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