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‘Survivor’ Castaway Peih-Gee: ‘Abi Is Like a Rabid Chihuahua’

October 8, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: We’re going to be bringing you all kinds of “Survivor” fun this season including episode recaps, exit interviews, and Power Rankings with Jenn Brown and Max Dawson. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

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To paraphrase a little from “Hoosiers,” there are two kinds of crazy in the world. One where the person strips naked, runs out in the snow, and barks at the moon. And the other is where the guy does the same thing in your living room. The first kind doesn’t matter, the second kind you’re forced to deal with.

Abi-Maria was barking in the middle of Peih-Gee’s living room.

I spoke to the most recent victim of Hurricane Abi the morning after her elimination and asked her about life with our favorite Brazilian dragon, Varner’s meltdown, and unique jewelry designs…

Gordon Holmes: Tribe swaps, man. What a trainwreck.
Peih-Gee Law: (Laughs)
Holmes: I feel like I don’t have a great grasp on a lot of the things that happened last night. Let’s start with Varner giving Wiglesworth the high sign after the challenge. What exactly happened there?
Law: I was so out of it after the challenge from the sun and everything that I missed half of it. Varner basically just blew up everybody. I think when Tasha called him out he panicked and said, “Why are you picking on me? I saw Woo talking to Savage, Peih-Gee was trying to make deals with him.” He just called out a bunch of people, and that’s what put him in the hot seat. Woo was like, “I don’t know if I want to work with him. He’s being crazy. I want to go with Savage/Tasha now.” And at that point, I was like, why is Varner calling me out?  I’m his ally. It really should have been Jeff that night.

Holmes: How close were you with Woo? Did that start after the swap or were you close before that?
Law: Woo was my best friend out there. Woo and Kelly Wiglesworth. After we voted out Vytas, I thought about it some more and I really regretted being in an alliance with Abi.
Holmes: Why would you possibly regret that?
Law: (Laughs) Why would anyone feel that way? So, I was going to try to get to know them a little bit better. Let’s start working on the shelter more. And I was able to bond with them from that. Wiglesworth is amazing. Her and I got along really well together because we’re both hard workers. We also bonded over our mutual dislike of a certain tribemate.
Holmes: Maybe if you hadn’t stolen that tribemate’s bracelet, she would’ve been in a better mood.
Law: Well, I am a jeweler.  I wanted to steal it and copy it because it was so beautiful. It was really difficult getting accused of something you didn’t do and then have someone go around and tell everybody you’re a thief. I know it’s a game, but I don’t think that was strategic. That was just her being herself.
Holmes: I like the idea that you would risk your standing in a game for a million dollars over a bracelet that was worth a fraction of that.
Law: (Laughs) And you know what else? The same thing happened to her on her first season. Maybe she would think the same thing happened here and someone put her bracelet in my bag.
Holmes: I thought it would be funny when I put her bracelet in your bag. I didn’t think it’d blow up like this.
Law: (Laughs) That was you the first time also!
Holmes: Yes, in the Philippines. You cannot trust me around camp. You’d think CBS would learn this.
Law: The only good thing that came out of Braceletgate is that it drew a lot of attention to me being a jeweler.
Holmes: You can use this to further your career. The glass is half full.

Holmes: When you guys got to Angkor, you had the numbers. When Savage and Tasha flipped it, was there ever any talk of working out differences and keeping old Ta Keo solid or was Abi long gone by then?
Law: It was always going to be Savage and Tasha. It wasn’t until after the challenge that we were talking about going for Varner. Me and Woo were really tight. And, after the challenge Woo didn’t trust Jeff. And I’d ask Woo, “Where’s Savage? Is he looking for an idol?” Woo would run off, find out, then come back and tell me what he saw. So, I really trusted Woo at that point. I needed to keep Woo happy and if he really wants to go for Jeff, this is what we have to do. It really should have been Jeff. Savage and Tasha were saved by his meltdown. And it wasn’t until I talked to Abi and she said, “I’m never voting with you guys. I’m just totally going to be Tasha’s pawn.” Which is essentially what she said. She made it clear that we’d lost her, so if I vote out Jeff I’ll lose two people. It’s really my own fault. If I said nothing and let Jeff go, he’d 100% be the one going home. They didn’t show it, but right after I was voted out, Tasha yelled out, “It shouldn’t have been you tonight. It should have been Jeff.” Anyway, it was my own fault. It would’ve only bought me three more days. And you never know what can change in three days.
Holmes: The next day they split into fourteen tribes.
Law: Seventeen tribes of one would have been ideal.

Holmes: I really, genuinely like Abi-Maria. Outside of the game, she’s delightful. I have a theory that in the game as long as I’m cool with her, she’ll be cool with me. Based on what I’m seeing, that theory is wildly inaccurate.
Law: I’ve never interacted with Abi-Maria in her home territory. So, I have no idea what she’s like in her normal life. She could be the most amazing person. So, any comments I make are strictly from in the game. She turns into Mr. Hyde when she’s on “Survivor.” She’s literally turned around and bit everyone she’s worked with in the butt. Even Varner, who told me over and over again, “I’ve got her, I can control her. She’ll be easy to get rid of.” I said, “That’s the problem. Everybody is going to think that and she’s going to make it through to the end.” She jumped ship to Tasha who was petting her a little bit more. Suddenly she’ s Tasha’s pet. She’s not Jeff’s pet. I think it’s a mistake to work with someone like that.

Holmes: When the decision was made to get rid of Shirin, was that strictly a numbers thing because they had Kelly, Terry, Abi, Woo, and Jeff?
Law: Yeah. Varner had the numbers already. He was gunning for Spencer. And Shirin was trying to get out Varner. And then Varner rallied everyone against her. The vote that night should have been Abi. Terry, Wiglesworth, Woo, everyone had agree to vote out Abi-Maria. They didn’t show it, but Terry and Abi had a fight also. She accused him of assaulting her when he’d just said a few choice words. She came back crying. They didn’t show that because they want Terry to look like America’s hero.
Holmes: Was that before or after he went to her when she was crying on the beach?
Law: Before. They were all set to vote her out, then the big fight happened and she decided to jump ship because Shirin didn’t come comfort her. And I get why they made it look like Terry was the only one who came to talk to her, but really everybody talked to her that night. She just arbitrarily picked Terry. So, they had an extra number and that was it.

Holmes:  Alright, word association time. Let’s start with Terry.
Law: I have a couple of things prepared.
Holmes: That’s not how this works.
Law: (Laughs) Terry was America’s dad. Dad jokes, dad stories, dad bod.
Holmes: Wiglesworth?
Law: Earth mama. I loved her. One of my best friends out there.
Holmes: Wentworth?
Law: She’s a cat. She’s long and sleek and she keeps landing on her feet.
Holmes: Woo?
Law: A ninja spy. He reported everything to me and was one of my best friends.
Holmes: Varner?
Law: He’s that friend with the awesome new car who takes you out for a ride and you’re like,  “Yeah, I wanna go for a ride in your car!” But once you’re out there he starts going really fast and crazy and you get really scared.
Holmes: Shirin?
Law: Shirin is the shiny new car that Varner is driving that crashed.
Holmes: Spencer?
Law: He’s an earnest, smart, intelligent kid. I love him.
Holmes: Vytas?
Law: I wish I’d kept Vytas around.
Holmes: Savage?
Law: In the words of Shii-Ann (Huang), Savage  is Captain America with his perfect teeth and his perfect life…as he’ll be quick to tell you.
Holmes: Tasha?
Law: Tasha…dressed like a leprechaun.
Holmes: Let’s finish with your buddy Abi.
Law: (Laughs) I thought very long and hard about this. Abi is like a rabid Chihuahua. She yapped too much, was irritating and mad all the time.

Holmes: I heard a hot little rumor that you tried to sneak some contraband into the game.
Law: (Laughs) Well, I’d prepared a couple of things. I’m a jeweler, so I had some earrings that I had gold-plated and I set with some pearls and other gemstones. They were little fishhooks. And I also had a little piece of flint. I wrapped it in some fishing line and twine and sewed it onto a cardigan that I was wearing. It was like a button closure. It got taken away.
Holmes: Sneaky, sneaky.
Law: People say it’s cheating, but people bring in reading glasses that start fire. I just brought in a jacket where the button can start a fire. I don’t see what the difference is. But, I’m designing a whole line of survival jewelry. I already took an order for the fishhook earrings. So, look out for my line of survival jewelry.
Holmes:  Hey, life gave you lemons, and you’ve made hilarious jewelry with them.
Law: You’ve got to work with what you’ve got.
Holmes: And Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer has said, “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.”
Law: I wasn’t cheating! (Laughs) But I was trying.

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

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‘Survivor: Second Chance’ Episode 3 Recap: Angkor Management

October 7, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (XFINITY)

Quick Note: We’re going to be bringing you all kinds of “Survivor” fun this season including episode recaps, exit interviews, and Power Rankings with Jenn Brown and Max Dawson. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

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Last Week: Abi and Terry’s unlikely friendship was a “Small Wonder.” Stephen continued to be “The Single Guy.” And Jeff showed Shirin “Who’s the Boss.”

39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog…

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

The Bayon Tribe (wearing pink)
Andrew – Pearl Islands
Ciera – Blood vs. Water
Jeremy – San Juan del Sur
Joe – Worlds Apart
Kass – Cagayan
Keith – San Juan del Sur
Kimmi – The Australian Outback
Monica – Samoa
Tasha – Cagayan
Stephen – Tocantins

The Ta Keo Tribe (wearing teal)
Abi – Philippines
Jeff – The Australian Outback
Kelley W. – San Juan del Sur
Kelly W. – Borneo
Peih-Gee – China
Spencer – Cagayan
Terry – Panama
Woo – Cagayan

We kick things off at Casa de Ta Keo and Spencer is psyched to still be around. He tells everyone that’s he’s committing himself to making the team stronger. Peih-Gee does some foreshadowing by saying that things can change overnight.

Terry is equally psyched to finally have a social game. However, he does the cabbage patch while saying this. C’mon…least socially acceptable dance next to the Macarena, right?

The next morning, Probst gathers the tribes. Both groups say they’re happy with how things are going. Oh man, Probst is loving this. He tells them to drop their buffs because two tribes are splitting into three.

The bad news? The mysterious third tribe, known as Angkor, will have to start from scratch and build a new camp.

Savage is freaked out because he doesn’t have the best history with big twists. Well, he isn’t wrong.

They pull new buffs and we’ve got Abi, Tasha, Jeff, Woo, Andrew, and Peih-Gee on Angkor. Kelley, Ciera, Joe, Keith, Terry, and Kass on the new Ta Keo. And Kimmi, Jeremy, Kelly, Stephen, Spencer, and Monica on Bayon.

Andrew is freaked out because he’s surrounded by former Ta Keons, Spencer is relieved to be surrounded by former Bayonians.

Fun Fact: There will be idol clues at the Bayon and Angkor beaches. Ta Keo won’t receive one because Kelley has the Ta Keo idol.

Over at Angkor beach, there’s no food, no rice, and no sympathy for Savage. The former Ta Keo folk immediately agree to get rid of him if they lose immunity. Maybe they can bring him back as an outcast.

Meanwhile at actual Ta Keo, Terry is giddy because of how strong they’ll be in challenges. He’s not concerned about being behind in the numbers because they have SuperJoe. What if the challenge involves being ugly, Terry? How will Joe win that one?

Later on, Kelley tells Joe that she isn’t really working with Terry. She throws him under the bus saying Terry has been looking for the idol non-stop. Sneaky sneaky!

At Bayon, the former Bayonians have also decided to band together. Stephen likes this because it means he’ll be able to beat Rob Cesterino’s “All-Star” record.

Spencer tries to get close with Jeremy by sharing a genuine conversation. Well, as genuine a conversation as you can have while you’re trying to get on someone’s good side.

At Angkor, Tasha tells us that she knows how to fight because she was on Luzon. She forgets to mention that she also learned how to live without rice thanks to J’Tia.

Tasha takes Abi aside and tells her that she has a place with old Bayon at the merge. She tries to make a similar deal with Jeff.

In fact, they tell Jeff they can get him all the way to the jury. Well, that’s a heck of a deal…the jury…

The next day at Bayon, Kelly saves everyone from a scorpion. Aww…I miss Mike Holloway.

Later on, Stephen tells the rest of his alliance that they need the idol to maintain their advantage. They look around and Jeremy manages to find the clue. But is it for one idol like most people would find or for forty idols like Val would find?

Immunity Challenge Time:  The tribes will push a cart around a course while gathering keys and collecting chests full of puzzle pieces. They’ll then have to take the cart apart so they can fit it and the chests through a wall. From there, they’ll put the cart back together and transport the puzzle pieces to the end. The first tribe to complete the puzzle will win immunity.

Fun Fact: This challenge first appeared in “Survivor: Cagayan.”

Another Fun Fact: I watched the Dream Team do a test run of this challenge and the puzzle took foooooorever.

We start off and it’s pretty even up until the wall, although Ta Keo has a slight lead.

Jeremy manages to easily pocket the idol.

Ta Keo is the first through the wall with Bayon and Angkor tied for second.

Joe and Kass take on the puzzle for Ta Keo. Eventually Peih-Gee and Tasha and Spencer and Monica pull puzzle duty for their tribes.

Woo and Jeremy tag in, but it’s too late to pass Ta Keo. They win immunity.

The puzzles continue to be close, but Bayon wins it. Hmm…so the tribe with no supplies and no shelter lost? Shocker.

Before we can hand out idols, Tasha catches Jeff motioning to Kelly and yells, “We’ve got a rat!”

Probst asks her about it and things break down. It’s hard to follow, but Jeff says that Savage made a deal with him, then a deal with Peih-Gee. Woo wonders why nobody made a deal with him.  He seems frustrated that he’s the last to know.

Back at Angkoria, Savage, Peih-Gee, and Woo go for a little walk. Savage tries to make the case that they won’t win immunity without him and they should target Jeff. Peih-Gee thinks he makes a good case because he’s a lawyer. But, you can’t trust him because he’s a lawyer.

Abi approaches Tasha and asks if they’ll target Jeff. She thinks he’s too unpredictable. Whoa…when Abi calls you unpredictable…

Later, Abi tells Peih-Gee and Woo that she’s voting with Savage and Tasha no matter what because she knows she’s on the bottom of the old Ta Keo.

Peih-Gee goes to Savage and Tasha and tells them that she wants Abi gone.

Then, Jeff tells Abi that he’s cool with getting rid of Peih-Gee. What the what?!

Finally, Abi tells Abi that she wants Abi gone.

OK, that last one didn’t happen.

That night at Tribal, Tasha and Savage learn about that Tribal Council ritual of fire meaning life.

Peih-Gee thinks that Savage and Tasha would usually be in trouble because they were on another tribe.

Jeff didn’t feel like he was a rat for motioning to Kelly. Tasha disagrees.

Varner admits that he’s heard many names thrown around the camp including himself, Peih-Gee, and Abi. He says Tasha and Savage are now on the top of the heap.

Abi thinks she’s the one going home based on the conversations around camp that she wasn’t involved in.

Peih-Gee wants to be with people she trusts.

Varner has no idea what’s going on tonight, but he reiterates that Savage and Tasha are in charge.

And Woo was there.

Voting Time: Peih-Gee votes for Abi, Abi votes for Peih-Gee, and the rest are lost to the magic of editing.

Probst tallies and returns. We’ve got one vote for Abi, one vote for Peih-Gee, one vote for Abi, one vote for Peih-Gee, one vote for Peih-Gee, and the third person voted out of “Survivor: Second Chance” is…Peih-Gee.

Note: Varner, Abi, Tasha, and Savage all voted for Peih-Gee.

Verdict: Wow, that was a wild one. I don’t love the idea of one tribe having to start from scratch, but what could you do?

Who’s Going to Win? Jeff’s still my pick, but that blow-up was amateursville. Fortunately, his ability to adapt kept him alive.

Power Rankings Results: Oh man, my Power Rankings were just BLOWN UP! Jenn had Peih-Gee in spot fourteen, Max had her in spot sixteen, and I had her in…gulp…spot four. The current score is Team Jenn 31, Team Max 29, and Team Gordon 19.

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

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‘Survivor’ Host Jeff Probst Breaks Down the Tribe Expansion – Idols, Camps, and More

October 6, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (XFINITY)

Quick Note: We’re going to be bringing you all kinds of “Survivor” fun this season including episode recaps, exit interviews, and Power Rankings with Jenn Brown and Max Dawson. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

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SPOILER ALERT! A picture of five of the six new Ta Keo members is hidden in this interview somewhere. If you don’t want to know who they are, you might want to click away.

We’ve seen tribes go from four to two, we’ve seen them go from three to two, and we always see them go from two to one. But this Wednesday we will witness the first-ever tribe expansion when we go from two to three. So basically the new tribe (Angkor) is like the Colorado Rockies and the Miami Marlins.

I had a chance to talk to the man himself, “Survivor” host and executive producer Jeff Probst, about this twist and what it’ll mean for the eighteen remaining Second Chancers.

Gordon Holmes: Hearing “Drop Your Buffs” is either someone’s biggest fear or their greatest wish. Nobody is indifferent.
Jeff Probst: You’re absolutely right.  Three of the most powerful words in the game and it all comes down to luck.  This is definitely a shot to the gut for a couple of people who end up on a tribe that is certainly at least perceived as weaker.  For another Survivor this is the change they were hoping for as it gets them out of a situation in which they felt on the outside.  And for one other…it’s more of the same.  From one bottom to another.   It changed up the game quite a bit.  You can NEVER get comfortable on “Survivor.”  Never.

Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor: Second Chance”

Holmes: Going from two tribes to three tribes has never been done before. Will the Angkor tribe get some kind of advantage or will they have to start camp from scratch?   
Probst: The Angkor tribe is starting from scratch.  Same supplies that were waiting for them on the beach on day one, but without any of the supplies they were able to get off the boat at the marooning.  It’s a MASSIVE set back.  All their energy now has to go to building a new shelter which could hurt them at the immunity challenges.
Holmes: Yikes, that’s harsh.

Five of the Six Members of the New Ta Keo Tribe (and a mystery person behind Kelley) (CBS)

Holmes: Kelley already has the Ta Keo idol. Will there now be clues at both the Angkor and Bayon beaches?  
Probst: Yes, there is still a clue at Bayon and a new one is waiting for them at Angkor.

Holmes: Vytas and Shirin are two pretty big names to go home early. Are they high-up on the list for the “Third Times a Charm” season?  
Probst: Ha!  No plans for a “third-chance” season but yes it was a bummer to see them go.  When we put this idea together we knew that every week it would be a painful loss as everybody is great.  But when you think about it, that’s all you could ever ask for in a season! It’s only getting started…

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

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‘Survivor’ Power Rankings Round 2: Triple Tribes Edition

October 6, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: We’re going to be bringing you all kinds of “Survivor” fun this season including episode recaps, exit interviews, and Power Rankings with Jenn Brown and Max Dawson. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

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The Rules: Each week our three 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 three players will earn. For example, if Kass is voted out this week, Jenn and Max will each receive eighteen points and Gordon will receive ten points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Second Chance” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Last Week: Jenn had Shirin in spot seventeen, Max had her in spot thirteen, and Gordon had her in spot fifteen. So, the current score is Team Jenn 17, Team Max 13, and Team Gordon 15.

Important Note: These rankings are not based on who is most likely to win the entire season. Players tend to rank the players based on their safety in the next episode.

Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor: Second Chance”

Jenn’s Score = 17

Any questions for Jenn? Drop her a line on Twitter: @jenncantdance

Max’s Score = 13

Any questions for Max? Drop him a line on Twitter: @fymaxwell

Gordon’s Score = 15

Any questions for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
 1. Terry: I’m going to preface this with the fact that since there is a tribe switch-up happening next, I have no clue what to do here because I have no idea who is on what tribe. So… this is just…uh…I’m completely guessing on this (expletive deleted). Terry is great. He is strong. He is a guy’s guy. No one is going to be voting out the strong guys at this round in the game.   1. Jeff: Varner is Cochran in confessionals and Will Sims in challenges. If Jenn can make Terry her #1 for no other reason than he reminds her of her dad I can make Jeff Varner #1 just because he’s so much fun to watch on TV.
  1. Kelley: Oh good, a tribe swap. And this isn’t the traditional three-becomes-two or even a Spice Girls merge where two become one. This is two turns into three? Who’s safe? If you have the numbers now, what’re the odds you’re going to end up with enough of your alliance to keep you safe? Bad news all around. As Kelley’s the only person packing an idol, she’s the only one I feel comfortable ranking first.
  2. Kelley: She still has an idol and has been going alright so far. I think she is just fine for this next vote. Hopefully.
  2. Jeremy: Even when Jeremy is crying he’s angry. That’s what I love about him. I also love that he has the good sense to go off and do his crying in private to prevent himself from slipping up and spilling the beans about Val’s pregnancy. Everything Jeremy is doing is motivated by strategy. And yet he’s not coming across as a gamebot. That bodes well for him.
  2. Keith: A tribe swap is perfect for someone as easy-going as Keith. Even if he lands in a bad numbers situation, he won’t offend anyone enough to be their first target.
  3. KEITH NALE: Everyone loves Keith and he is surprisingly a beast in challenges. There is zero chance in hell that he is going home at this tribe swap and if he does I’m not doing Power Rankings anymore because what’s even the point without Keith this early? Sorry, Gordon.   3. Kelley: Kelley sold out Shirin and Spencer faster than Dimples sold out the Dirty 30 after fans started complaining about the nasty tone of our season. Where was this Kelley in San Juan Del Sur? How great would it have been to have heard her say to Missy, “You won’t see me talk to my dad for the rest of the day. In fact, if you want, I’ll never talk to him again. Ever. For the rest of my life.”
  3. Ciera: OK, worst case for Ciera is if she ends up on a tribe with either all the bros from old Bayon or all Ta Keons. Otherwise, she’s pretty safe. There’s no reason to target her with Vytas doing down dog at Ponderosa.
  4. Andrew: Again, see Deitz. I don’t think the strong dudes are going anywhere.
   4. Terry: The good news: Terry overcame one of the biggest deficiencies in his game to win the allegiance of an excluded tribe member. The bad news: Terry’s now saddled to a Brazilian Dragon.
  4. Peih-Gee: She’s another one of those people where there isn’t a strong reason to get rid of her first. She’s just gotta stay cool and leave everyone’s bracelets alone.
 5. Jeremy: Jeremy is in the boat with Deitz and Savage. Can you imagine if the tribe swap happens and it’s Terry, Andrew, Keith, Jeremy, Tasha, and Joe all on one tribe? I would feel so sorry for the other tribes. I think all six of those listed above are smooth sailing straight to the merge. And then the merge will happen and then all hell will break loose. It’s gonna be great.
  5. Keith: I just want at least one great Keith confessional per episode. Is that too much to ask for?
  5. Jeff: Varner’s playing some next-level “Survivor” at this point. Right now, he’ll be able to work with any of the other seven Ta Keo folks he ends up on a tribe with. And, he’s done it subtly enough that others won’t run to the Bayonians and scream that he’s a threat.
 6. Tasha: See Above. Plus she seems to not have made any waves yet. Seems to get along with people. This should be fine.
  6. Tasha: One day Tasha will tell the story of how she met the love of her life to a rapt audience. “He was standing on the beach wearing nothing but a manbun and he was leading our entire tribe through a series of yoga poses. He was the most beautiful thing I ever saw…” She pauses, dabs at the corner of her eye, and then sobs uncontrollably. “I’m sorry, it just that he’s…he’s my everything.” Everyone within earshot will clutch their hearts and sigh, except for Stephen, who will interrupt to ask if anyone knows where the bathroom is.
  6. Kimmi: Kimmi’s still on this show? Everyone in pre-game was worried about how annoying she’d be, but annoying doesn’t send you home first anymore. In fact, it will often get you dragged to the end. She should be fine.
 7. Woo: I just don’t get Woo. I like how he straight up was like “NO” to Spencer and Shirin last episode though. Tells me he’s not putting up with facades and (expletive deleted). That should help him out a bit.   7. Monica: I once heard Purple Kelly tell the story of how she got on the show. “I was walking around at a mall and someone came up to me and said ‘You’d be great on ‘Survivor!”” she explained. Then, without missing a beat, she continued, “Clearly they were wrong.” Monica may have worn purple on Galu, but she is no Purple Kelly. LET MONICA SPEAK.
  7. Kelly: There have been more twists and turns in Kelly’s first six days than in her entire stay in Borneo. However, she’s been handling it like a champ. Her alliance is back on top and if they all end up scattered in six different directions, she’ll have some time to plan her next move.
 8. Ciera: What is even the point of ranking the following four people when we have seen nothing from them yet?
   8. Joe: Deleted Joe confessional: “Before I left for Cambodia Mike and I talked about changing up my strategy so that I don’t run into the same problems that I had after the merge in ‘Worlds Apart.’ So instead of just being amazing at challenges this time I’m also going to be amazing at camp. That should eliminate any thoughts about me being a threat, right?”
  8. Monica: Not much to go on when it comes to Monica. With all the chaos in this upcoming episode, I’d imagine that’s good news for her.
  9. Monica: Was she even in the last episode?
   9. Spencer: By surviving last week’s council, Spencer became the Shirin to Shirin’s Max. But don’t count The Lad out quite yet: Spencer is at his best when the odds are stacked against him. Just pray he doesn’t end up with Kass after the swap.
  9. Abi-Maria: I’ve been seeing the smile Abi gave to Shirin in my nightmares all week. Super creepy. My life goal from now on is to stay on Abi-Maria’s good side. Anywho, she probably won’t be anyone’s first target at a swap unless she stabs someone in the face over a real or perceived slight.
  10. Kimmi: See “Monica Padilla.”
   10. Ciera: Every week when I type out the names of the castaways to do my Power Rankings I always end up one short. Every week I forget the same person.
   10. Kass: I can’t believe how high Kass is in my rankings. I never thought I’d see the day. But, she seems to be getting along famously with her Bayon tribemates. And after the swap, if she can keep those good vibes flowing, she won’t be an obvious target. Well, unless she lands on Spencer’s tribe, but he’s got bigger problems than her.
 11. Kelly: Apparently Monica, Kimmi, Ceira, and Kelly are just not going to exist for a couple episodes. Whatever.
  11. Kelly: Head back to camp, I got nothing for ya.
   11. Stephen: Only Spencer needed a tribe swap more than Stephen. Now that he’s got it, he should be the town crier to warn everyone else about the Challenge Stallion alliance. Of course with Stephen’s luck, he’ll end up on a tribe with Joe, Jeremy, Savage, Tasha, Keith, and Biff Tannen.
 12. Joe: Joe. You made hammocks for everyone and then caught a bunch of fish AND THEN WON THE CHALLENGE. STOP. STOP IT. STOP. YOU ARE PUBLIC ENEMY #1 AND IT’S EPISODE THREE.
I think he’s fine for now, but if he makes it to the merge, I think he’s doomed.
(Sorry, I still love you, though.)		  12. Kimmi: There’s no way that they’d let Kimmi go home without first giving us some big, sloppy, finger-wagging, over-the-top, Lawn Guyland moments, right? RIGHT?
  12. Spencer: He won’t get a completely clean slate with the tribe swap, but odds are he’ll have more Bayons around him than Ta Keos. He should act like the Ta Keo alliance is much closer than it really is to turn the Bayons against them.
  13. Stephen: Dude is talking too much. Making himself a target. Questioning the motives of a man who misses his pregnant wife. Come on, Fishbach. You’re not playing with a bunch of intellectual and strategy-always Spencers. You’re playing with four macho men, who don’t have time for your (expletive deleted). If the tribe swap doesn’t put you in the graces of people like Spencer and Kelley and Ciera, you’re digging yourself a hole and probably going home.   13. Woo: Woo went from Alec Christy Mouthbreather to Drew Christy Badass in the blink of an eye last week. I know that a lot of people were impressed by the way that the Weas rebuffed Shirin, but let’s be honest: all he really did was turn down an opportunity to make a big move™ for the illusory safety of an alliance that’s being led by a disloyal power-drunk Fred Flintstone look-alike.
  13. Tasha: Oh man, I hope this tribe swap doesn’t cost Tasha her 9:30 Joe-ga class.
  14. Peih-Gee: Something about her just stirs up controversy. Maybe it’s just Abi. I’m not sure. But if she’s on a tribe with Abi and Varner I think she could be going home soon. She is just going with the tribe votes, making no moves on her own. That can carry her to the merge, hell to the end, but I don’t see it happening. However her hair looked flawless last episode.
   14. Stephen: At this point it’s obvious that we’re being set up for a Stephen versus Andrew showdown. But is Stephen the new Ryan Shoulders or the new Lill Morris?
  14. Terry: Kudos to Terry for showing some compassion to Abi and making a new bestest buddy for life. But, what’s he going to do now that his freshly reunited alliance is about to be torn apart? Maybe he can fit into Jeremy’s plans.
  15. Jeff: I love me some Jeff Varner. That move last week was just perfect. I’m just afraid that if he ends up on a tribe with the folks at the top of the list he will be in trouble.
   15. Andrew: Andrew is using the hammer and nails and other tools that Bayon won at the last challenge to build a locker so that he has something to shove Stephen into.
  15. Jeremy: Alright, you’ve probably noticed that the challenge threats are at the bottom of the rankings. That’s because swaps can ruin the importance of challenge dominance. People become less concerned with winning and more concerned with getting to the merge with their buddies.
  16. Spencer: Spencer you got so lucky, but this could easily happen again next week.
   16. Peih-Gee: Peih-Gee is slippery. In episode 1 she got caught stealing from her fellow tribe members and yet her name never came up at council. In episode 2 she got caught expletive deleted-talking Abi and yet somehow the vote came down to Spencer and Shirin. No, I don’t really think for a second that Peih-Gee stole Abi’s bracelet. Nor do I think that she should have been targeted for her social faux-pas. I am, however, starting to wonder why she is in the middle of nearly every Ta Keo argument.
   16. Andrew: Oh…the bitter irony if the same man who brought down by the Outcasts twists was brought down by the first-ever tribe expansion. I won’t feel too bad for him, he still has his model/law student wife.
 17. Abi-Maria: Abi. You gotta chill out. I will be shocked if you make it to the merge if you keep this up. Unless someone gets just as crazy and is like, “(expletive deleted) let’s take her to the end.”
  17. Abi-Maria: Abi has Terry’s protection…for now. We all know that Terry is a man of his word. But will he be able to keep his word the next time Abi Abis?
   17. Joe: Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe…you need to wait for a season with Redemption Island to come back.
 18. Kass: I think she is going to go soon. Even after that “she has feelings” edit.
  18. Kass: Kass.
  18. Woo: Challenge threat, possibly down in numbers after the swap. Sonic might be gone-ic.

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‘Survivor’ Castaway Shirin: ‘I Got Caught Red-Handed Coming for Varner’

October 1, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: We’re going to be bringing you all kinds of “Survivor” fun this season including episode recaps, exit interviews, and Power Rankings with Jenn Brown and Max Dawson. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

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You know when you say something that seems funny in the moment…but in hindsight…it comes off really badly? Remember this from my pre-game interview with Shirin?

Shirin Oskooi: As much as I was looking forward to doing the Power Rankings for this season, I know that I’m a lock for next season.
Gordon Holmes: Oh, are you? You think I invite first boots to do the Power Rankings?
Oskooi: (Silent Stare)
Holmes: (Laughs)
Oskooi: Excuse me?!

Yeah, I’m the worst person ever.

I had the chance to beg forgiveness from Shirin the morning after she was eliminated from the game. When we were done I asked her about her best buddy Spencer, Varner’s crazy moves, and sharing a beach with a Brazilian dragon…

Shirin Oskooi: Homie G!
Gordon Holmes: Remember that hilarious interview we had in Cambodia where I said that really funny thing about first boots not being invited to do the Power Rankings?
Oskooi: I do indeed remember that. I remember that vividly.
Holmes: The good news? Second boots totally get invited to play all the time.
Oskooi: (Laughs) That’s fortunate then because I’m totally doing Power Rankings next season. I cannot wait.

Holmes: To get to the bottom of this whole mess, I feel like we need to go back to the first immunity challenge where you weren’t able to go back to the beach before Tribal. What was the alliance breakdown at that point?
Oskooi: So, on one side you had solidly Spencer, Kelley, me, and Abi. On the other side was Vytas, Woo, Terry, and Wiglesworth. And they 100% believed that they had Spencer, but they didn’t. And in the middle were Varner and Peih-Gee. Peih-Gee wanted to work with that side, but Terry and Vytas would not give her a deal. That’s why she came our way and voted with us even though Abi was always pretty crazy toward her. And, Varner was supportive of that decision because he wanted to light a fire under the butts of the old-school people. I think it’s pretty open now that he had a pre-game alliance with Terry and Wiglesworth. And he was willing to sacrifice Vytas  to light a fire under their asses for them to start playing the game harder.

Holmes: I floated the theory to Probst that Varner voted with you guys to throw you off of the scent of the old-school alliance. That’s some third-level, Jedi-mind-trick gameplay.
Oskooi: Totally. And the other thing that’s brilliant about what he did is; he now has every single person in that tribe wrapped around his finger. Everybody knows they can work with Varner. Other people have made it clear that they’re not willing to work with people outside of their original alliance. Wiglesworth, for example, refuses to have conversations with the other side. She’s in her little world, working hard around camp, or chatting up Terry and Woo. Otherwise she doesn’t want to play the game. She wants to play “Survivalism.”
Holmes: What’s Terry’s mindset?
Oskooi: Same thing with Terry. He’s talking with a few people, but he has his views of the game. You get some strong dudes, and maybe somebody who’s good at puzzles and that’s it. He had his pre-game alliance. He wasn’t willing to break that. He wasn’t willing to make deals with anyone on the other side of the fence. Varner has shown everyone that he’s willing to work with anyone. But, my take on Varner’s game is that he’s been too public about being the middleman.
Holmes: How does he get away with that without being slapped with the “flipper” label?
Oskooi: That is my question precisely. What you didn’t see last night was I got sent home because I got caught red-handed coming for Varner. He told me he wanted to get rid of Spencer after we got rid of Vytas. And everybody was pretty sick of living with Abi, so everybody else wanted her. So, all of the sudden the two people we’re choosing between were in my alliance. So, I went to the other side, to Terry and those guys and said, “Varner screwed you over, he’s about to screw us over. Why don’t we get rid of him? He’s playing the middleman.” And instead of going with it, they stuck with him and ratted me out. And Varner said, “If she’s gunning for me, I’m going to take her out.”

Holmes: Abi-Maria is a delight in person. However, when you put a buff on her head she goes insane. What is life like with Abi-Maria?
Oskooi: She needs therapy. And what it comes down to is we were playing “Survivor,” it’s rough conditions and she’s kind of like a wild bear, running into your camp, ravaging everything. Lashing out at the people. And after your camp gets ravaged a couple of times, you start building up walls and figuring out ways to protect yourself from the wild beast. And anytime you put up one of those walls, she then has a total meltdown and starts sobbing and says everyone is attacking her. When really they were just defending themselves. There’s the problem, she doesn’t see how she’s attacking people and she’s doing it non-stop. And if you defend yourself, she sees it as an attack. She runs off crying and makes all these crazy claims.
Holmes: You’re always supposed to keep an eye on the people on the bottom of your alliance.
Oskooi: Gamewise, I should have comforted her, but I was emotionally drained from having to deal with her the three first days. Going after her to comfort her would be like going after a wild bear that had just attacked everybody at your camp.

Holmes: I look at someone like Abi and think; this is the Phillip Sheppard to my “Boston” Rob. But, is she too erratic to keep by your side?
Oskooi: First of all, when you see “Boston” Rob do what he does with Phillip, that’s like, “Do not try this at home, kids.” That is a very special skill. Second of all, Abi is no Phillip Sheppard. She’s not one to march to anyone’s orders. She views the world in her own very special way. And you can’t anticipate that world view because it switches constantly. If I were to give it an analogy, I would harken to Harry Potter and call her, Fiendfyre. She’s wild, uncontainable, destructive, constantly jumping from one person to the other. You cannot put a leash on Fiendfyre, it will do what it wants.
Holmes: Never enough Harry Potter analogies.
Oskooi: (Laughs) To think anyone can take her to the end as a shield is insane. However, she does have the potential to be the greatest goat in the history of this game.

Holmes: Last night Jeff Probst compared your interaction with Will on “Worlds Apart” to your interaction with Abi. To me, that’s like comparing apples to trucks. What was your reaction when he said that?
Oskooi: I’m with you on that. It’s such a stretch. There’s no comparison whatsoever. I was viciously attacked by multiple people including the dead fish. And those attacks were deeply personal and rooted in prejudice. In this case Abi was the one attacking everybody, lashing out at everybody. And, she feels like she’s the victim when people don’t allow her to attack them. Was she upset? Yes. Was I upset in my season? Yes. Was that the thin thread of comparison? Yeah. In terms of what caused those emotions, I’d say in my case it was rational and in her case it was rooted in delusion and not understanding the world around her.

Holmes: I don’t know if you know this, but we do a word association here.
Oskooi: (Laughs) I’ve heard!
Holmes: I’ll give you a name, you give me the first couple of words that pop into your head.
Oskooi: Yup!
Holmes: Right off the top of your head. We’ll start with Vytas.
Oskooi: Theon Greyjoy. That just popped into my head, by the way.
Holmes: Alright, liar. Feel free to expound on these not-at-all-premeditated terms.
Oskooi: (Laughs) Theon was smarmy, arrogant, a little bit slutty.
Holmes: Spencer?
Oskooi: Tyrion Lannister. He’s smarter and more strategic than everybody. But because of appearances people don’t want to admit it. And people treat him unfairly.
Holmes: Woo?
Oskooi: Hodor! Because Hodor. (Laughs)
Holmes: (Laughs) Well played. Varner?
Oskooi: I love him. Queen of Thorns. Snarky, strategic…
Holmes: Wiglesworth?
Oskooi: Selyse Baratheon, the wife of Stannis. She’s dour, doesn’t really understand the game, but marches to order.
Holmes: Wentworth?
Oskooi: Arya Stark because she blends in and tries to be unseen. But, now that she’s got an idol, should anyone come after her, she’s got a Needle in her pocket.
Holmes: Peih-Gee?
Oskooi: Ellaria Sand. She’s sassy and does not take (expletive deleted).
Holmes: Terry?
Oskooi: The Mountain, because he’s a brute. He’s strong and doesn’t really see the game for what it is.
Holmes: Abi?
Oskooi: Joffrey, I don’t think that needs explanation.
Holmes: He’s a beloved character, I’m sure you meant that in the best way. Do you have one for yourself?
Oskooi: I do. I am Oberyn Martell, the Viper. I also have one for Shane (Powers).
Holmes: Shoot.
Oskooi: The honorary cast member for season 31.  Shane is Syrio Forel because he’s quirky as all hell and slays.

Holmes: Always looking for positives, which is tough when you’re second out. I’d say last time the players thought you were annoying. This time you were too strategic. Any other positives?
Oskooi: I got to do my life dream twice. That’s pretty exciting. And I was voted in by fans. That’s great. Being voted out second, at least I got to play the game with people who appreciated me and didn’t vilify me for things like love of the game. I made some incredible friendships. A very close friend in Spencer. It was healing to put season 30 behind me and move on to something positive.
Holmes: And you get that second life dream when you get to do the Power Rankings.
Oskooi: It’s more like my first life dream, I just never thought I could achieve it.
Holmes: Most people use “Survivor” as a stepping stone to do the Power Rankings.
Oskooi: I’m in a select group, it’s pretty incredible.

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

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