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‘Survivor’ Challenge Producer Spills Some Challenge Secrets

September 8, 2010

If I were a “Survivor” contestant, I’d probably hate John Kirhoffer.

As the man behind all of “Survivor’s” immunity and reward challenges, Kirhoffer is the reason why Ace Gordon was smacked in the face with a watermelon, why Tom Westman had to cling to a pole for twelve hours, and why Ashley Trainer had to try to drink a disgusting sea slug smoothie. He can make a contestant’s life a living hell.

But, seeing as I get to sit on my couch and watch and laugh, I’d say I love John Kirhoffer.

I had a chance to speak with “Survivor’s” Challenge Producer during my trip to San Juan del Sur this past summer to find out which reality show stole his “Eat Weird Things” idea, who his dream contestant is, and what he’s got in store for the Nicaragua contestants.

Gordon Holmes: “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” featured all classic challenges. Did that give you an opportunity to reload and come up with some new stuff for Nicaragua?
John Kirhoffer: Yeah. I loved “Heroes vs. Villains.” That was one of my favorite seasons ever, for the record. And it was a good opportunity to do all classic challenges and to bring back our favorites. This year we’ve endeavored to try all different challenges. So, in old vs. young we have…mostly new challenges.
Gordon: Mostly?
John: (Laughs) There are a couple of classic challenges. My boss Mark (Burnett) loves classic challenges. So there are some classics, and some are reminiscent, but the vast majority are brand new.

Note: At this point a CBS representative had become enthralled with the interview process and decided to ask her own question.

CBS Representative: How do you incorporate all of the local flavor into the challenges?
John: Whenever we come to a location we study the history and the culture and the environment. The art department, the production designers start putting those elements in.
Gordon: Like this season’s Conquistador theme?
John: The Conquistador theme, we want to go with this theme because it’s very Nicaraguan. So, you’ll see this theme in the production design and then in some of the challenges. We always find out about the local sports and historic and cultural things and incorporate that into the challenges. Whatever country we go to we always use their history and culture in the production design and as inspiration for the challenges.
Gordon: Does the Nicaraguan terrain provide any advantages or disadvantages for creating challenges?
John: We’re doing the majority of the challenges down by a beach. There are some beautiful areas in there with some swamps, jungles, big trees. So yeah, it does help.

Gordon: Are there any contestants that you’re excited for this season?
John: I’m a huge NFL fan, so seeing Jimmy Johnson out there is exciting. Other than having Gene Simmons from KISS out there, Jimmy Johnson is about as big as it gets for me.
Gordon: Which NFL team do you pull for?
John: The Green Bay Packers.
Gordon: Oh, so you might be a little hard on Jimmy then?
John: (Laughs) No, he’s a legend.

Gordon: Speaking of legends, what can you tell me about “The Dream Team”?
John: The Dream Team are twenty young men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 who test and rehearse all of the challenges. They are my production assistants. And when they’re not testing challenges they’re working in the art department painting things, helping move things, assisting the carpenters. And they are a force of young men and women who are here to learn about making television. And one of my proudest achievements in “Survivor” for the last 11 years is that there are over 30 former Dream Teamers in full-time positions in this crew right now. And, a couple dozen more than that are out working in television. One of my Dream Teamers has an Emmy, he won an Emmy last year for cinematography, Marc Bennett (“Out Of The Wild: The Alaska Experiment: What Did I Sign Up For?”).
Gordon: Do you get part of their salary?
John: I get 25% of their salary for life. I’m like an agent. (Laughs) No, I don’t get anything. I get their eternal love…I hope.
Gordon: Is being a Dream Teamer the best summer job ever?
John: I would’ve killed to be a Dream Teamer when I was in college.

Gordon: My personal favorite challenges are the endurance challenges. It used to be, “Here, stand on this post and we’ll see you in twenty hours.” Are we going to be seeing anything like that in “Survivor: Nicaragua”?
John: You will not see anything that lasts twenty hours, but you will see some endurance challenges.

Gordon: My second favorite challenges are the “Eat Weird Things” challenges.
John: (Laughs)
Gordon: Will we be seeing anything like that this season?
John: We have no “Eat Weird Things” scheduled for this season. We try to give it a break every once in a while. If you follow the show, we try to give the auction a break. It’s a staple of the show, but we want to give it a break. The “Eat Weird Things” challenge was great in the early days before “Fear Factor.” We came up with that. But, it also was generated with, “Here are things that indigenous people actually eat to survive on.” It was not just what can you eat without vomiting. And what happened was after about six seasons or so, we went to all these different regions, and it started to get repetitive. “Oh, they eat the same kinds of spiders here, they eat the same kind of bugs here and the same kinds of roaches.” Then we tried smoothies. We put them in a blender. But, we’re giving that a break this season.
Gordon: I don’t know if my recorder picked that up, but that was the sound of my heart breaking.
John: (Laughs) My aunt, too. She’s like, “Tell me they’re going to eat something weird! I love it when they eat weird stuff!”

Don’t Forget: “Survivor: Nicaragua” premieres Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. And yes, the rumors are true, “Survivor” is NOWonWED.

More “Survivor” Fun: Meet the La Flor and Espada Tribes, check out our Pre-Season “Survivor” Rankings, and see what new twists “Survivor” has in store for us.

Tags:jeff probst, Jimmy Johnson, john kirhoffer, survivor, survivor nicaragua
Posted in Fall TV Preview 2010, survivor, TV News | Leave a Comment »

‘Survivor: Nicaragua’: The First (Unofficial) Challenge

September 6, 2010

Interviewing the cast of “Survivor” before the game starts is a little frustrating. Sure, you get a good look at what the players are like in their everyday lives, but it’s tough to get a grasp on what they’ll be like once the game begins. When you ask about their in-game strategy you’ll often get something generic like…

“I’m going to hang back and see how things iron out.”

“I’m going to do what needs to be done.”

“I’m going to play things by ear.”

So, I decided to thrust them into the game a few days early with my unofficial “Survivor” challenge.

The Challenge: During the interview process, I am given biographies for each of the new contestants. Each biography includes the player’s name, age, occupation, hobbies, and other fun tidbits. Seeing as information is so valuable in the game of “Survivor,” I asked them how they’d get me to share the biographies if we were in the game together.

[iframe http://xfinitytv.comcast.net/tv/Survivor%3A-Nicaragua/106509/1560920262/The-First–Survivor–Challenge/embed 580 476]

Verdict: I didn’t pick an official winner after the challenge, but I’m pretty sure Kelly Bruno would have had little trouble flirting the bios out of my hands, and Brenda asking me to use the bios to teach her how to read was both adorable and innovative. But, I can guarantee that if anyone had knocked me down and swiped the bios, I’d have done everything in my power to vote them out first.

I also had a chance to ask “Survivor” host and three-time Emmy winner Jeff Probst how he’d handle our pre-game challenge…

[iframe http://xfinitytv.comcast.net/tv/Survivor%3A-Nicaragua/106509/1581097212/Jeff-Probst-on-the-Pre-Game-Challenge./embed 580 476]

Verdict: Yeah, I’d definitely vote that guy out first.

Don’t Forget: “Survivor: Nicaragua” premieres Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. And yes, you read that correctly, “Survivor” is NOWonWED.

More “Survivor” Fun: Meet the La Flor and Espada Tribes, check out our Pre-Season “Survivor” Rankings, and see what new twists “Survivor” has in store for us.

What Do You Think? How would you have convinced me to share the player biographies? Who’s your pre-season pick?

Tags:jeff probst, Jimmy Johnson, survivor, survivor nicaragua
Posted in Fall TV Preview, survivor, TV News | Leave a Comment »

‘Survivor’ Announces Alliance with Stand Up to Cancer

August 17, 2010

“Survivor: Africa” winner and cancer survivor Ethan Zohn appeared on CBS’s “The Early Show” this morning to announce the launch of “Survivor’s” new initiative to raise money for Stand Up to Cancer.

Zohn, who recently overcame Hodgkin’s lymphoma, sat down with Fancast afterward to discuss this exciting new alliance, his own battle with cancer, and how “Survivor” fans can join the team.

Gordon Holmes: Former “Survivor” players teaming up with cancer survivors to raise money for cancer research seems like a perfect fit.
Ethan Zohn: Yeah, pretty cool huh? For so long the “Survivor” family has been raising money for other charities, as they should, because the brand is so powerful and there are millions of fans that can help raise money. But, this is exciting because it’s the first real long-term initiative that “Survivor” is doing. It’s the first reality show, the first show to sign up for Stand Up to Cancer. It’s just awesome to be able to leave a legacy like this that will last long after the television show is off the air. The show’s great, don’t get me wrong, I love it. But it’s just a game and this is real life. We’re making an impact and we’re going to save lives.

Gordon: Now, you yourself had a fight with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and if I remember correctly, you kicked its ass.
Ethan: I did! I kicked its ass, man! This last year of my life pretty much sucked. But I got through the stem-cell transplant. And I got some good news in April that the cancer was in remission.
Gordon: Excellent.
Ethan: The reason I mention the stem-cell transplant is because that is some really incredible modern medicine and science, and that’s really where the money raised by this initiative is going to go. It’s going to go to cancer research to get these new therapies out of the laboratories and to the patients as quickly as possible.

Gordon: What kind of support can we expect to see from your “Survivor” brethren?
Ethan: It’s awesome that all of the television-show Survivors are coming together. We shot a PSA, we have people like Rupert (Boneham), Jenna Morasca, Jerri (Manthey), Boston Rob (Mariano), Russell (Hantz), Colby (Donaldson)…everyone came together to make an impact and help find a cure for this dreadful disease.

Gordon: Earlier this year we lost “Survivor: Palau” contestant Jenn Lyon to breast cancer. Does that add special meaning to this project for you and the rest of the “Survivor” family?
Ethan: Yeah, that really is what sparked everyone to get this going. This is really in her honor. I live each day in her honor, and this is a way that everyone can give back. She’d be really proud of us, I know she’s really proud of us right now.

Gordon: I understand that there’s a special donation page that “Survivor” fans can visit to donate money and show their support.
Ethan: It’s standup2cancer.org/survivor. You can go there and join our tribe. You don’t have to donate to join our team. I’ll be blogging there, other Survivors will be sharing their stories as well. We produced a special limited-edition “Survivor” buff and 100% of the proceeds from donations and sales of the buff, all that will go to cancer research.

Gordon: Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but I’ve heard that the lovely Jenna Morasca had a hand in helping you overcome your challenging year.
Ethan: (Laughs) Who was that? What’s her name?
Gordon: Jenna Morasca? I believe she won “Survivor: Amazon.”
Ethan: Oh, I know her, chocolate and peanut butter, right?
Gordon: Yeah, that’s her.
Ethan: Jenna has been a rock. She dropped her whole life and was there for every doctor’s appointment, pin prick, chemotherapy treatment. Without her, it would have been a horrible situation. She definitely gave me the power to make it through it.

Gordon: “Survivor: Nicaragua” is right around the corner. Have you been following it at all?
Ethan: I saw the announcement of the cast. And, I like the concept of old vs. young. That’d kind of be like me vs. Jenna. It’s going to be exciting. I love the show.
Gordon: Who’s your early pick?
Ethan: Of course I’m going to lean toward the guy who could rival me for the best hair on television, Jimmy Johnson. (Laughs) It’s going to be a battle to see who’s got the better hair.
Gordon: I don’t mean to brag, but I got to see Jimmy Johnson a couple of days into the game and…well…I don’t know how well his hair holds up.
Ethan: (Laughs) Oh really? Alright, maybe I’ll switch my pick.

Gordon: You mentioned the PSA that is planned, are there other promotional stages you can share with us at this time?
Ethan: Yeah, eventually we’re going to get as many Survivors as possible doing stuff. We’re going to be doing fun events across the country that people can get involved with. You know, it’s not just a one-time thing. This is a year-round initiative. People can get involved whenever they want, they can raise money whenever they want.

Gordon: Earlier we discussed the “Survivor” family, and it really is more than the 39 days you spent in Africa. There are tight bonds between the different seasons, and it’s become a very close-knit community. What does it mean to you to be a part of this extended family?
Ethan: It’s incredible. When I was on “Survivor” I don’t think I understood the magnitude of the show and the actual power that it had. But ten years later to be a part of this movement is unbelievable. And now that we can all come together it’ll be unstoppable. We have millions of fans and everyone on the show is so excited to do this. And “Survivor,” granted it’s just a game, but it’s exciting to be a part of something so special.

Tags:Ethan Zohn, survivor
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‘Survivor: Nicaragua’ Preliminary Rankings

August 11, 2010

It took months of begging and pleading, but the Fancast higher-ups eventually agreed to send me to Nicaragua to cover the 21st season of “Survivor.” Apparently they had two reasons for relenting. First, I’d be able to bring you exclusive interviews with the cast and crew, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, and other first-hand tidbits. And second, they enjoy it when Jeff Probst berates me (which he did…often).

To kick off our look inside “Survivor,” I’ve ranked this season’s players based on what I saw of them in the days before the start of the game.

NOTE: This preliminary ranking, while informative, will not count toward this season’s Power Ranking score. (Speaking of which, be on the lookout for one of my personal favorite villains as this season’s Power Rankings opponent.)

So without further ado, let’s see who’s in it for the long haul, who’ll be called for jury duty, and who’ll be forgotten by the time the reunion special airs.

#1 Marty – When I first sat down with Marty I thought, “This guy is right in my ‘Survivor’ wheel house. He’s physical enough to be useful early on, he’s not too strong where he’d be an obvious boot after the merge, and he seems cunning enough to come up with some sound strategies.” So, Marty is my pick to take home the million. The bad news for Marty? When I went out to “Survivor: Gabon” I picked Michelle Chase…and she went home first.

#2 Kelly B. – Kelly’s prosthetic leg won’t be a factor physically during her time on “Survivor.” She’s already proven that she can successfully compete in athletic competitions while wearing it. That, and I barely even noticed it during our time together. It’s not a big deal to her, so it quickly won’t be a big deal to her tribe mates. However, it could affect her game if people are afraid to go to the finals with someone who has such an inspirational story.

#3 Yve – I think being successful in “Survivor” requires having several different weapons and knowing when to use them. Nobody has more weapons this season than Yve. She’s on the older tribe, but she’s only 41 and can still relate to the younger tribe. As a mother of two, she could easily slip into a mother role with some of the younger players (ala Tina Wesson). If that doesn’t work, she’s also quite beautiful and could use her feminine wiles to keep her around. I think she’s definitely one to watch.

#4 Judson – It’d be really easy to write “Jud-weiser” off because he’s a good-looking, goofy guy. But while I was talking to him, I couldn’t help but think, “Here’s an easy-going fellow on a tribe full of alpha males.” While Benry, Shannon, and Sash are jockeying for position at the top of the tribe, Judson can just coast for a while.

#5 Alina – I worry that Alina might be trying to play a character and isn’t being herself. I think she can survive in the game and may even make a run for it, but she’s going to have to curb the faux tough girl exterior. The pleasant, easy-to-talk-to young woman I met didn’t click with the “Don’t call me the girl next door” rhetoric that was in her biography.

#6 Tyrone – I was told about the young vs. old twist the night before I met the players. My first instinct was, “The young tribe is going to decimate the older tribe in challenges.” That was before I met Tyrone. He’s built like a WWE action figure and is arguably the most physically fit competitor in the game. Add to that the fact that he’s smart, he’s a motivator, and he has more life experience than his younger counterparts and you have an extremely dangerous player.

#7 Jane – Quick Jane Story: I did a bit with the players where I asked them how they’d get me to share the cast bios with them if we were in the game together. Jane simply said, “I’d tickle you, then take them.” I laughed, then continued on with my questions. At the end of the interview, she charged me, tickled me, and snatched the bios away. The whole thing took all of three seconds. Fortunately, I snatched the bios back before she could read them. But, that little incident proved to me that Jane is clearly evil and willing to do anything to get what she wants. It’d be foolish to underestimate her.

#8 Shannon – The La Flor tribe has a powerhouse line-up of young studs. However, they also have a powder keg of alpha males. When the inevitable clash of egos takes place between Shannon, Benry, and Sash, I’m putting my money on Shannon to be the last man standing. Why? Because I think he can relate to Chase and Judson.


#9 Jillian – I’m not sure exactly what to make of Jillian. She’s obviously very fit physically and will be able to handle the Nicaraguan wilderness. But, she also told me she’s not afraid to speak her mind. She’ll need to keep that instinct in check if she wants to stick around. If not, she could be an early boot. I’m putting her in the middle of the pack for the time being.	#10 Benry – My buddy Benry seems to pride himself on being a player. Which is fine…in real life. On “Survivor” when somebody is looking for a reason to get rid of you it could be just what they need to sway some female votes to go their way. If he can avoid getting stamped with that label, he could go far.


#11 NaOnka – I think NaOnka is going to surprise a lot of people. Physically she’s got the goods to hold her own in any immunity challenge and she has the outdoor experience to handle 39 days on a beach. If she can get in with a solid alliance she could go a long way.	#12 Chase – Chase is big, Chase is strong, Chase is very likable. What Chase isn’t is a big fan of “Survivor.” He might not be prepared for the non-stop mental toll all of the paranoia takes on your psyche.

#13 Jimmy J. – If Jimmy Johnson was just a celebrity who wanted to extend his 15 minutes, I’d say he was dead in the water. But, Jimmy has wanted to be on “Survivor” since the day it premiered. And, Jimmy confided in me that he’s going to tell people to take him to the end because he can’t possibly win. Seems like a good strategy. His main problem? Sandra used that exact same strategy last season and won. Sorry, Jimmy.

#14 Holly – Holly has a lot of public speaking experience, being a pageant consultant and the wife of a politician. Now, maybe I’m reading too much into this, but it seems like society has trained us to find both of those pursuits to be somewhat disingenuous. If she starts dancing around with her words, she could find herself out of the game quickly.


#15 Jimmy T. – I’m not sure if there’s a way to put this nicely so I’m just going to say it – Jimmy T. doesn’t quite know when to be shut up. He can get on a person’s nerves quickly. He’s a nice guy and obviously knows a great deal about “Survivor,” but I could see him being sent home if he starts to annoy the rest of his tribe.	#16 Brenda – I love Brenda. Adore her. Anyone who claims to be “As deceptive as a Decepticon” in her interview earns serious points with me. However, the same thing that makes me adore her is what’s going to have the older tribe gunning for her. Her youthful enthusiasm is going to put a major target on her back.

#17 Kelly S. – Kelly is a very sweet girl, but she’s lived a charmed life. If I’m on her tribe and I’m listening about how she was the captain of the cheerleading squad and is currently going to school in Hawaii, I’d probably be thinking that this young lady doesn’t need a million dollars. Besides, with the way her life is going, she’ll probably win the lottery several times.

#18 Dan – Oh, Mr Connected! I love me some Dan Lembo. Couldn’t ask for a nicer, more welcoming guy. I wish he was my next-door neighbor and we grilled together every Sunday. That’s why it’s a shame his time in Nicaragua is going to be so brief. If the older tribe falls behind and they have to make choices based on physical prowess rather than people they like, he’ll be one of the first to go.

#19 Wendy – Not many people know this, but the Survivors get to see each other before the game starts. On the flight over, while waiting for their press interviews, while they’re having their pictures taken. Now, they’re not allowed to talk to each other, but that doesn’t mean they’re not reading the other players’ body language. What was the most common thing I heard from the players about Wendy? “The cowgirl has to go home first.”

#20 Sash – The worst thing about living in a post-Russell world is that there are sure to be some imitators. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you my pick for Russell 2.0. Sash told me he was going to manipulate thoughts, smash dreams and about a dozen other things straight out of the Hantz Playbook. Fortunately, I don’t think tribes are going to fall for it any more. If they see someone acting too Russell-like they’re going to send him packing.

More “Survivor” Fun: Check out our exclusive cast interviews and learn about this season’s new twist, the Medallion of Power.

Tags:jeff probst, survivor, survivor nicaragua
Posted in Fall TV Preview 2010, survivor, TV News | Leave a Comment »

‘Survivor: Nicaragua’ to Introduce the Medallion of Power

August 9, 2010

Hot on the heels of their wildly popular “Heroes Vs. Villains” season, the crew at “Survivor” isn’t planning to rest on their laurels. They’re coming out swinging with some new twists and innovations that are sure to spice up their 21st trip into the wilderness…

The Young Vs. Old Experiment – This season the twenty competitors will be split up based on their ages. Players thirty years and younger will become members of the yellow La Flor tribe, while those that are forty years and older will be a part of the blue Espada tribe. In order to keep the younger tribe from decimating the older tribe in immunity and reward challenges, the competitions have been engineered to require strategy as well as physical prowess.

The Medallion of Power – No, the Medallion of Power isn’t what Princess Adora used to transform into She-Ra, it’s a way for a tribe to gain an advantage. One Medallion of Power will be available during the game. If a tribe has possession of the MOP and chooses to play it, they’ll receive a distinct advantage (like a head start or a puzzle clue) in the following immunity challenge. However, once the challenge is over the MOP will transfer to the opposing tribe.

“The whole idea is to create some conflict and a dilemma,” said “Survivor” host Jeff Probst. “What do you go for? If immunity is on the line do you play for the advantage, or are you cocky enough, like the young people could be, and say, ‘We don’t need the advantage, we can take them without it.’”

[iframe http://xfinitytv.comcast.net/tv/Survivor%3A-Nicaragua/106509/1558346759/-Survivor-%3A-The-Game-Before-the-Game/embed 580 476]

Russell-Proof Idols – Russell Hantz’s turn-the-camp-upside-down-looking-for-hidden-idols strategy in “Samoa” and “Heroes Vs. Villains” saved him from a few early exits. However, fans were nearly unanimous in their distaste for the ease in which these hidden immunity idols were discovered. The “Survivor” team has heard your concerns and has reacted by making the idols much more difficult to uncover.

“Survivor: Nicaragua” premieres Wednesday, September 15, 2010 on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.

More “Survivor” Fun: Meet the members of the La Flor and the Espada Tribes.

Even More “Survivor” Fun: Xfinity TV sent “Survivor” Know-it-All Gordon Holmes to Nicaragua to get a first-hand look at the filming of the latest edition of “Survivor.” Be sure to check back for exclusive interviews with the cast and host Jeff Probst, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, and Gordon’s personal (and somewhat muddy) account of what it’s like to compete in an actual immunity challenge.

Tags:jeff probst, Jimmy Johnson, survivor, survivor nicaragua
Posted in Fall TV Preview 2010, survivor, TV News | Leave a Comment »

‘Survivor: Nicaragua’ Contestants Revealed – Meet the Espada Tribe

August 9, 2010

The contestants for the 21st season of “Survivor” were unveiled by CBS this morning. The twenty players, who will compete for a million dollar prize, have been divided into separate tribes based on their ages. Contestants under the age of thirty will compete as part of the yellow La Flor tribe, while those who are forty years and older will join forces as the Espada tribe.

To view the members of the La Flor tribe, click here.

Name: Jillian Behm
Age: 43
Current Residence: Erie, PA
Occupation: Emergency Room Doctor

Jillian is a national-caliber cyclist and prides herself on being able to hold her own against the best male and female riders.

Watch Jillian’s Interview

Name: Jane Bright
Age: 56
Current Residence: Jackson Spring, NC
Occupation: Dog Trainer

Jane is an accomplished dog trainer and runs her family’s 134-acre farm. She enjoys water skiing, snow skiing, and showing her dogs.

Watch Jane’s Interview

Name: Tyrone Davis
Age: 42
Current Residence: Inglewood, CA
Occupation: Fire Captain

When Tyrone isn’t leading his fire fighters through dangerous situations, he teaches a spin class, snowboards, dances, and writes songs.

Watch Tyrone’s Interview

Name: Wendy DeSmidt-Kohlhoff
Age: 48
Current Residence: Fromberg, MT
Occupation: Retired Army Officer

Wendy ascended to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army. In her 22 years of service she oversaw nearly 200 nurses in her clinics.

Watch Wendy’s Interview

Name: Holly Hoffman
Age: 44
Current Residence: Eureka, SD
Occupation: Swim Coach

Holly splits her time between being a volleyball official, swim team coach, a pageant consultant, and a campaign manager for her husband’s political career.

Watch Holly’s Interview

Name: Jimmy Johnson
Age: 66
Current Residence: Islamorada, FL
Occupation: TV Sports Broadcaster

The two-time Super Bowl champion has been trying to get on “Survivor” for years. He was originally slated to compete in “Survivor: Gabon” before a medical condition took him out of the running.

Watch Jimmy’s Interview

Name: Dan Lembo
Age: 63
Current Residence: Watermill, NY
Occupation: Property Management

Known as “Mr. Connected,” Dan claims he’s going to lie, cheat, and steal to get to the end of “Survivor.” Dan’s also known to date much younger women…maybe he’s on the wrong tribe?

Watch Dan’s Interview

Name: Marty Piombo
Age: 48
Current Residence: Mill Valley, CA
Occupation: Wine Industry Executive

Marty rose to the top of the corporate world as an executive at Yahoo! He feels the dirty political moves that are necessary to rise in business will serve him well in “Survivor.”

Watch Marty’s Interview

Name: Yve Rojas
Age: 41
Current Residence: Kansas City, KS
Occupation: Stay-at-Home Mom

Yve isn’t your ordinary married mother of two. She spent her 40th birthday sitting topless by a pool and enjoying a quarter-pound hamburger.

Watch Yve’s Interview

Name: Jimmy “Jimmy T.” Tarantino
Age: 48
Current Residence: Gloucester, MA
Occupation: Fisherman/Government Seafood Inspector

“Jimmy T.” was the winner of the first-ever CBS/Sears “Survivor” Online Casting Call. His hometown was instrumental in rocking the vote and earning him the coveted slot in the game.

Watch Jimmy T’s Interview

More “Survivor” Fun: Check out some of the new twists in store for the “Survivor: Nicaragua” contestants.

Tags:jeff probst, Jimmy Johnson, survivor, survivor nicaragua
Posted in Fall TV Preview 2010, survivor, TV News | Leave a Comment »

‘Survivor: Nicaragua’ Contestants Revealed – Meet the La Flor Tribe

August 9, 2010

To view the members of the Espada tribe, click here.

Name: Judson “Fabio” Birza
Age: 20
Current Residence: Venice, CA
Occupation: Student/Model/Musician

Judson is a self-professed goof ball who surfs and plays drums for his band, Space Funk Odyssey.

Watch Judson’s Interview

Name: Kelly Bruno
Age: 25
Current Residence: Durham, NC
Occupation: Medical Student

Kelly hasn’t let the fact that she lost her leg to a birth defect stop her from doing anything. Today she is a medical student and a world class disabled tri-athlete.

Watch Kelly B’s Interview

Name: Shannon Elkins
Age: 30
Current Residence: Lafayette, LA
Occupation: Business Owner

Confidence has never been a problem for Shannon. His “Survivor” audition video started with him saying, “I hear it’s your tenth anniversary. Well here’s your present. My name’s Shannon.”

Watch Shannon’s Interview

Name: Ben “Benry” Henry
Age: 23
Current Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Bar Owner

“Benry” prides himself on being a player, and is confident that he can manipulate any woman into doing whatever he wants them to do. However, he has a younger sister, so he’s careful not to go too far.

Watch Benry’s Interview

Name: Matthew “Sash” Lenahan
Age: 30
Current Residence: New York, NY
Occupation: Luxury Real Estate Broker

“Sash” believes his career has perfectly prepared him for “Survivor.” In his job he has to “manipulate people’s thoughts and dreams while crushing the competition.”

Watch Sash’s Interview

Name: Brenda Lowe
Age: 27
Current Residence: Miami, FL
Occupation: Business Owner

This former Miami Dolphin cheerleader isn’t just another pretty face. Brenda owns her own paddle boarding company and is the assistant to a CEO of a music licensing company.

Watch Brenda’s Interview

Name: NaOnka Mixon
Age: 27
Current Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Physical Education Teacher
Don’t be fooled by NaOnka’s smiling exterior. She may get to play around and be a kid in her day job, but she’s prepared to be a cunning competitor once the game starts.

Watch NaOnka’s Interview

Name: Chase Rice
Age: 24
Current Residence: Charlotte, NC
Occupation: NASCAR Jackman/Country Singer
Chase isn’t concerned with the attention he may receive from female contestants. As a NASCAR pit crew member, he’s been dealing with female fans (known as “pit lizards”) for years.

Watch Chase’s Interview

Name: Kelly Shinn
Age: 20
Current Residence: Mesa, AZ
Occupation: Student
As a former captain of her high school cheering squad and homecoming queen, Kelly is used to being the center of attention. Now the pre-med college student spends plenty of time outdoors hiking, surfing, and paddle boarding.

Watch Kelly S’s Interview

Name: Alina Wilson
Age: 23
Current Residence: Downey, CA
Occupation: Student/Model

Alina hopes people make the mistake of writing her off as a pretty girl. She believes she was made for “Survivor” and is prepared to have “wars.”

Watch Alina’s Interview

More “Survivor” Fun: See what twists and turns the “Survivor” crew has in store for the new contestants.

Tags:jeff probst, survivor, survivor nicaragua
Posted in Fall TV Preview 2010, survivor, TV News | Leave a Comment »

‘Survivor: Nicaragua’ Twist Revealed

July 28, 2010

The 21st season of the hit reality competition “Survivor” will be a battle for the ages (or more accurately a battle between the ages) as a tribe of younger players will be squaring off against a tribe of older players.

The tribe wearing yellow buffs will be known as La Flor and will consist of ten players who are under thirty years of age. While the blue tribe, which will be known as Espada, will be made up of ten players who are forty years and older.

“Survivor: Nicaragua” will premiere on CBS on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 8 p.m. ET.

Tags:jeff probst, survivor, survivor nicaragua
Posted in Fall TV Preview, Fall TV Preview 2010, survivor, TV News | Leave a Comment »

‘Survivor’ Host Jeff Probst Picks the Best Players of All Time

May 21, 2010

There’s been a lot of talk this season about which players are the best of all time. I have my opinions and you have yours (and I invite you to post your opinions in the comment section below) but nobody has seen more of the game than “Survivor” host, two-time Emmy winner, and owner of several sweet baseball hats, Mr. Jeff Probst.

I had a chance to get Mr. Probst’s thoughts on this sure to be hotly debated topic. What follows are his picks for the five best Survivors to ever wear a buff…

“Boston” Rob Mariano: If I had to choose, Boston Rob is the guy I’d put my money on every-single-time. He’s a great strategist, great at challenges, can build an amazing shelter, can start fire, and only plays to win. He’s the only guy that didn’t win but still got the money…and the girl.

Parvati Shallow: Hard to deny her ability. Parvati is such a good flirt that even when you’re not interested, she can lure you in. She uses her looks and charm to hide her amazing strategic abilities.

Sandra Diaz-Twine: Her simple strategy of “As long as it ain’t me” is an easy one to understand but very difficult to execute. There is nobody better than Sandra at staying out of the fray. It’s amazing how she can disappear within a group of people.

Russell Hantz: Russell has some work to do on his social game, but his aggressive style of play, his ability to control others, often through intimidation, and his never-say-die attitude has been impressive to watch. He’s so strong that I think if Russell plays a third time… he’ll probably be voted out first.

Cirie Fields: She went from a woman who sat on the couch at home watching “Survivor” to being one of the best players to ever play the game. She uses her charm effortlessly to sway the vote. She was sent home early in “Heroes Vs. Villains” but that comes with the territory when you’re a threatening player.

What Do You Think? Who are your picks for the best players of all time?

More “Survivor” Fun: Check out my interviews with Russell Hantz, Sandra Diaz-Twine, Parvati Shallow, and Jerri Manthey.

Tags:boston rob mariano, cirie fields, jeff probst, parvati shallow, Russell Hantz, Sandra Diaz-Twine, survivor, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
Posted in survivor, TV News | Leave a Comment »

‘Survivor: H.V.V.’ Runner-Up Interview: Russell Hantz

May 20, 2010

Russell Hantz will never win “Survivor” because he has no social game.

Gordon Holmes will never play first base for the St. Louis Cardinals because he can’t hit a major league curveball…or fastball…or change up…

Both of the above statements are true, but you’re not going to see me lobbying Major League Baseball to have them put the ball on a tee.

That’s what drives people crazy about Russell. He’s never wrong, the circumstances and the people around him are wrong. If he can’t win “Survivor” (which for years has been considered a large social experiment) without a social game, then the rules should be changed so what he excels at is rewarded.

I had a chance to chat with the man many consider to be the biggest villain in “Survivor” history to discuss how he’d like to see the game change, which player he thinks might be better than him, and why Sandra burning his hat was different than when Russell burned Jaison’s socks.

Gordon Holmes: Good morning, Mr Hantz.
Russell Hantz: Hey, how you doing?
Gordon: Good, how are you?
Russell: I’m fine.
Gordon: You’re in a much better mood then when I talked to you after “Survivor: Samoa.”
Russell: Oh, I’m still pissed off now. It might seem like I’m in a better mood, but I’m more awake now.
Gordon: It seems like you’re more at peace with what happened this season as opposed to last season.
Russell: Well, I’m not at peace with Sandra winning. Even Jeff asked me, he said, “What if Parvati had won?” I would have been OK with that. But, like I said at the live show, “There’s a flaw in the system.” And not only do I say that, but America says that. Cause they give me the vote at the end of the day. I lie, cheat, and steal to get to the end of the game. That’s how I play. I play aggressive and America loves it. How many people have such aggressive play as me and get fan favorite at the end of the day?
Gordon: You have back-to-back Player of the Season awards now. Since that award is voted on by the audience, does that mean more to you than the title of Sole Survivor?
Russell: It does to me because it makes my point. Mark Burnett and Jeff? I’m trying to make a point to them.
Gordon: But “Survivor” was designed to be a social game.
Russell: The only reason they said, “You don’t have a social game” is because it’s a weak jury. There’s three criteria on the sign; it’s outwit, outlast, and outplay. And in my opinion, the reason people talk about the social game is they have to give themselves a reason not to vote for me. But they didn’t vote for me because I hurt their feelings, because I kicked you when you were down. And if you can’t deal with it, then you shouldn’t even play the game. What can I do?

Gordon: If you had the opportunity to play this game from scratch, because obviously you can never play “Survivor” again because people will be gunning for you. But if you could go back, and nobody knew who Russell Hantz was, would you pay more attention to the social aspects?
Russell: No.
Gordon: No?
Russell: No! I will play the game the same every time. Well, not exactly the same, but I’m going to play aggressive. And how can people say my social game is bad when everyone does what I tell them to do? Even in 19 (“Survivor: Samoa”) I had them all eating out of the palm of my hand. In 20 (“Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains”) I looked at Jerri like I was the mob boss and said “Danielle,” and she voted for her! What is that? Is that a bad social game? No, it was so good that when she got to Ponderosa, (where jury members wait for the next tribal council) that she realized what happened and she got her feelings hurt. You’re dealing with weak people. And hopefully in Season 21, I hope I changed the game for the better, I hope it’s like the first season where they voted for Richard Hatch. I hope that they vote for the person that played the game the hardest.

Gordon: You and Rupert had a fight where you called him “The second coming.”
Russell: (Laughs)
Gordon: In hindsight, what purpose does something like that serve?
Russell: Everybody asks me, “Would you change something? Why did you do that to Rupert? Why are you that mean?” You know what? America likes the way I play. I play aggressive. I’m not going to change the way I play for nobody. It serves my purpose. Everybody’s like, “Oh…you need to be nicer. Maybe just push them down. Why do you need to knock them out and then kick them?”
Gordon: (Laughs)
Russell: (Laughs) To be honest, man. In Samoa it was easy. It was easy. It’s almost laughable that Natalie won, that’s a joke. This season was amazing. The people were strategic players. Everybody. Even people that didn’t make the jury. It was tough.

Gordon: Speaking of strong players, Parvati really stepped up.
Russell: She competes with me. She is probably better than me, only because there is that social aspect. Now, I hope that I’ve changed that. I didn’t get one vote this year, but I got the Player of the Year vote. But Parvati’s social game is as strong as my strategic game. Her social game is by far the best in the game. She can make things happen socially. I make things happen strategically. When we aligned it was like the dream team. It looked like we fought all the time, but she’d calm me down. I’d be pissed off and she’d be like “Russell, calm down.” I didn’t play two times, I played one time, but I played for 80 days.

Editor’s Note: “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains” was filmed shortly after “Survivor: Samoa.”

Gordon: I was going to ask you that. What kind of toll did that take on you both mentally and physically.
Russell: If I had two back-to-back seasons like “Samoa” it would have been easy. But doing “Samoa” then doing “Heroes Vs. Villains” to play with these people that were that strategic, that were that good, I was mentally exhausted. I was whipped. And for me to say I was whipped, it’s pretty amazing. I’m a strong guy, and I don’t think I can get beat down by anybody. I just can’t. I never thought I could. But this game is tough. And hey, I did my best. And I was losing it at the end, I was making bad decisions.
Gordon: It seemed like it was easier for people to get under your skin toward the end, like with the dissension between you and Parvati.
Russell: It looked like I was getting rid of her, and she was getting rid of me, but I was so messed up that it was too my advantage cause she helped me stay in the game.

Gordon: Did working with Parvati make you think that maybe a better social game is a good way to not only get to the end, but to win over the jury?
Russell: For sure, but the thing is, and me and you are talking about Parvati right now, but we didn’t win. Sandra did, remember her?
Gordon: Indeed I do. Did you know Sandra was gunning for you?
Russell: I knew she was gunning for me and I kept telling her, “Why are you doing that? Just play with me!” It was weird to me because I wanted to play with her and she didn’t want to play with me. This is a fact, I played twice. And guess what? When I write someone’s name down, they go home. Every time.

Gordon: What’s your relationship with Sandra like now? It seemed like there was some animosity last night.
Russell: The game’s over, she’s a wonderful lady. She has a wonderful family, I’ve met them all. It’s a game, we played the game, and it’s over. It’s a tough game and now it’s over. For me it’s over. They can still be pissed at me. I don’t know how Sandra feels toward me, she was after me the whole time. I thought if I brought her there I’d win cause she’s a weak player…which she was. Same thing happened in season 19. Maybe I’ll never win.

Gordon: During “Survivor: Samoa” you mentioned a few times how you wanted to square off against the best players in “Survivor” history.
Russell: I know who the best players are because I played with them, we’re on the same (expletive deleted) tribe. I don’t know if I can say that.
Gordon: Say whatever you want. Go crazy.
Russell: And that’s rough. It was just me and Parvati against the world. Trust me when I say I didn’t think I could do anything.
Gordon: You had your back to the wall, down three to six against the Boston Rob alliance.
Russell: At one point I said to her, “I don’t think I can save you.” That’s when I made the move to Tyson to save her. But then I gave her an idol to save her. And people ask if I had a romantic fling with her, and no I didn’t. I was trying to save my alliance. I’m trying to save my people. I don’t care if it’s…James or Randy, I have to save my people. In Season 19 I brought Foa Foa to the finals; me, Mick, and Natalie.

Gordon: If someone had gotten the best of you and sent you to the jury, would you be able to vote for them to win the million?
Russell: I’m the kind of guy, you can stab me in the back, and in the end I’m going to vote for you.

Gordon: I’m excited, we didn’t get to do word association last time because we were under a bit of a time crunch. So, let’s start with Parvati.
Russell: She’s charming.
Gordon: Jerri?
Russell: Jerri was trustworthy out there.
Gordon: Colby?
Russell: Colby is a baby.
Gordon: Rupert?
Russell: Rupert is crazy.
Gordon: Coach?
Russell: Coach is honorable, and he really is.
Gordon: Tyson?
Russell: Tyson is just a jokester.
Gordon: Courtney?
Russell: Courtney is a sweetie. She’s just amazing. She’s a sweet little girl.
Gordon: JT?
Russell: JT… (Laughs) Like I like to call it, my dumb-a– girl alliance.
Gordon: Sandra?
Russell: Sandra was weak.
Gordon: Boston Rob?
Russell: A hell of a player.

Gordon: Do you appreciate the irony of Sandra burning your hat in light of what you did to Jaison’s socks?
Russell: That was pretty…uh…you see the thing is when you look at it Russell burned Jaison’s socks and now Sandra is burning Russell’s hat. But I burned Jaison’s socks as a strategic play because I knew if I could control the way he felt I could control the way he thought. Well, she burned my hat when the game was over. It was just me, her, and Parvati going to the finals. The game was over. That only shows me that she’s a vindictive person.
Gordon: Have you spoken to Jaison recently?
Russell: Aw no…Jaison’s pissed.
Gordon: Still?
Russell: I need to get some Fruit of the Loom sponsors to send him a box of socks or something. But who’s Jaison really? Jaison?

More “Survivor” Fun: Check out my interviews with Sandra Diaz-Twine, Parvati Shallow, and Jerri Manthey.

Tags:boston rob mariano, jeff probst, rupert boneham, Russell Hantz, survivor, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
Posted in survivor, TV News | Leave a Comment »

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‘Survivor: H.V.V.’ Runner-Up Interview: Russell Hantz

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