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‘Survivor: Second Chance’ Jeff: ‘My Alliance Had a Conference Call Before We Left’

September 11, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV sent me deep into the Cambodian wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Second Chance” goodness. So, be sure to check back for exclusive interviews, photos, and behind-the-scenes tidbits. And, follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

Name: Jeff Varner
Season: “Survivor: The Australian Outback”
Finish: Tenth Place
Why You Should Remember Him: Jeff was eliminated from the game because of the old rule where tie votes are broken based on the amount of previous votes that were cast against the tied players.

Gordon Holmes: Now I hear you have a medical concern already?
Jeff Varner: I have COPD. I was diagnosed about six years ago. It’s never been an issue for me. Living at home I had one attack that sent me to a doctor. But, I never need the inhaler. I have no reason to use it. I run, I exercise. The second I got off the plane here and I couldn’t breathe. It’s so thick here with the heat and the humidity. It’s changed my voice, it’s a little raspier. Walking from one end of the camp to the other is a nightmare. Probst was concerned. Sort of on the D.L. he had a doctor walk me around the back. We went way back into the woods. He jogged with me on the beach and made me do all these tests. I thought he was going to pull me out. But when you can’t breathe a lot of other things happen. There’s this claustrophobia thing that settles in, it’s a panic attack kind of thing. I’ve had a couple of those this week.
Holmes: Where does it stand now?
Varner: The doctors cleared me. And Jeff thinks I can. I have to figure out the best way to use this to my advantage.
Holmes: Hopefully this long pre-game will give you a chance to get used to the weather.
Varner: Right. Oh, and another (expletive deleted) thing that happened is I fell in the bathtub when I first landed and dislocated my shoulder. Popped it back in myself. So, for the first four days here I couldn’t do anything. We’re doing swimming tests and everybody is watching. I’m pretending like I’m OK.
Holmes: What the hell, Jeff?
Varner: I know! I can’t breathe, I had the flu before I left. I had a 102 temperature. I did my prep and shopping and everything the day before I got on the plane.
Holmes: So, you’re allowed to have your inhaler in the game?
Varner: I am allowed to have that in the game. They’ve cleared that.
Holmes: How do you play that? Day one, you just tell everyone it won’t be an issue?
Varner: I don’t know. This group is looking for every little thing.
Holmes: Any reason to send someone home.
Varner: And so much is going on out there on that porch already.
Holmes: Speaking of…who’s winking at each other?
Varner: It’s almost become who’s not at this point. You can tell who the better players are by the ones who are completely stone-faced. But, there’s a lot going on. My alliance had a conference call before we left in case we got separated. Who are the early targets? Who do we lean toward? And, we’re all here but one, which is good.
Holmes: Mr. Coy. Who are we talking about?
Varner: Terry Dietz and Wiglesworth and Shane. So having him left behind sucks. Seeing his face is burned into my head. But, because we did all the legwork before that, I feel pretty prepared. And Kelly and I seem to be…we’re passing each other at the right times. She’ll say something and it’s exactly what I’m thinking. We were bringing Vytas in at the last minute. So, he’s on board. He knows to come to me and Kelly as soon as we hit the beach. Although we’ve not had a conversation this connects me to Ciera, which connects me to Monica, because of Ciera’s mother.
Holmes: It’s like Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.
Varner: Oh yeah, I’m sitting here doing all of this in my mind. We have that Cagayan four, they’re the target. It’s Spencer, Kass, Tasha, and Woo. They’re the only show here with four people. That’s a voting block right out of the gate. They find three other people? We’re (expletive deleted). So, it’s about capitalizing on that out of the gate.
Holmes: Bad news for the Cagayaners.
Varner: Kass is trying her damnedest to make us think that Spencer, Tasha, and Woo hate her. But, I’m sitting here watching them all smiling at each other. You don’t do that with someone you hate. And Tasha is hogging everything. She’s a hammock hog. Watch her spread out on the only place we have to lay down. She’s doing it now.

Holmes: There are quite a few San Juan del Surians here as well.
Varner: Well, I’m tight with Kelley Wentworth, which nobody knows.
Holmes: Holy crap.
Varner: Why would anyone suspect that? Why would I know her? She and I have been communicating for months and she’s hooking me up with Jeremy. I feel good with that group. I feel good with the “Blood vs. Water” group. The singles here are assets. Tremendous assets. Stephen, Peih-Gee, Abi-Maria…already. We’ve already connected. I feel like I’m set up really well.

Holmes: Everyone’s probably thinking, “Oh, Jeff and Kimmi!”
Varner: No. I’m playing that up. Kimmi’s one of my best friends out here. We’ve also talked. And my group out here they don’t know that I’m talking to other people. That’s my strategy. I’m not going to be a challenge champion.
Holmes: Especially with your bathtub gymnastics act.
Varner: (Laughs) I’m a (expletive deleted) nightmare. Sandra (Diaz-Twine) won this game without doing anything physical. So, I called her before I left because I knew I’m not in the shape these people are. And she just rattled off things and I wrote page after page. I think I have my hands in enough pies that it doesn’t matter how well I do in challenges.

Holmes: It’s been fifteen some years since you played. What do you think the other players will remember about Jeff Varner’s time in the game?
Varner: I don’t know. People love me and people hate me. I never understood that. I felt I played an honest game. I think I was a little beyond my time, maybe. “Survivor 2” was very survivalist and I was very strategic. People weren’t playing with me the way I needed them to. Starting the fight with Kimmi and Alicia (Calaway) was one of the things that I did. Gagging at Tina (Wesson) to get her to throw up. These ballsy things that nobody else had the guts to do. This group here? Eats, sleeps, and breathes like me. And I like that I’m being called up for pictures last. We’ll be out there and they’ll be like “Vytas over here, Joe lean down, guy in the blue do this…” It’s a sign to me that these people don’t know who I am. I’m sure they do, but fifteen years is a long time.

Holmes: I was pleasantly surprised that the fans voted you in. I was worried that recency bias was going to leave people like you and Fishbach on the sidelines.
Varner: It changes everything. I can’t jump off a pole for peanut butter because I’m not just letting myself down, I’m letting millions of people down. And that’s heavy.
Holmes: So, you feel the weight of the fans expectations?
Varner: Oh yeah.
Holmes: I never thought of it that way. Once the vote ended, I figured it’d be “Survivor” as usual. Almost two halves to the season.
Varner: When we had our first interview with CBS yesterday, they actually tapped into that. I cried. I’m a (expletive deleted). I don’t know where it came from. But there’s something there and it’s deep. And it’s going to get me far.

Holmes: “Survivor” has changed a bit in fifteen years. Are you on top of all the twists and whatnot?
Varner: Yeah, I’m not a Spencer who could probably rattle off the color of everybody’s underwear.
Holmes: Me neither. This is my job and I have to jump onto Wikipedia every couple of minutes to double check things.
Varner: I’m not that dude. I was for a minute. But, life goes on.
Holmes: Any guesses on twists for this season if there are any?
Varner: I think out of the gate whatever Jeff can do to break up pre-game alliances will be done. Kass is whispering around to everyone, “Double elimination off of the bat. Then we’re breaking into three tribes.” I don’t know if it’s the island talking to her or how she knows this. Maybe she overheard something. That’s her collateral. I don’t trust her as far as I can spit. And I’ve been reading a book on body language so I can understand people. Kass, there’s a whole chapter on people who have no body language. They’re liars, perfect liars. They believe their own (expletive deleted). If your feet don’t do anything, if you don’t do anything with your hands? Kass just sits there perfectly. There’s nothing there. Every word out of her (expletive deleted) mouth is a lie.
Holmes: You need to stick around for a long time. Win the whole thing if you can.
Varner: I’ll do my best. Spencer is a textbook everything. When you defy gravity, when your feet come off the ground and your toes point to the sky, you’re extremely confident. That’s all he does. He takes up a lot of territory, which means, “I own this place.” A lot of crotch framing which is, “I’m the boss.” He thinks he’s got this (expletive deleted) down pat.


Holmes: Alright, we’re going to play “Align or Malign.” In my hand I have nineteen cards featuring your competitors. You’ll go through them and tell me who you’ll align with and who you’ll malign. Trick is, you only get eight aligns.
Varner: I only get eight?!
Holmes: That’s the deal.
Varner: Why?
Holmes: Because if you got nineteen aligns you might be tempted to say wonderful things about all of these people.
Varner: Wow…I have more than eight.
Holmes: Too bad. The rules are surprisingly strict.

Varner: Kelly Wiglesworth is an align. She’s a good soul, she’s at peace. She’s from my hometown. We have a lot in common. We go way back in the “Survivor” franchise. I can tell by the look on her face that she thinks this pre-game (expletive deleted) is as much (expletive deleted) as I do. She’s a challenge champion.

Varner: People are going to target  Joe which is going to protect her. He’s the shield for her. He’s also a lot like her. He’s very feeling, emotional, sweet. He’s communicating to me here, non-verbally, in a way that makes me very comfortable with him. Align.

Varner: Same with Vytas. I can tell Vytas I have COPD. Align.

Varner: Ciera, the other day I had a panic attack because I couldn’t breathe. She wouldn’t give me the time of day. Wouldn’t make eye contact. The second she sensed something was wrong her hand went on my knee and she started comforting me. I like that. Align.

Varner: Kelley Wentworth…align. We’ll go far in this game together and nobody will see it coming. She’s the coolest chick of the group. Her sense of humor is randy. She’s a nasty little girl and I love it.

Varner: Terry…very loyal. He’s going to stick with me. I know that he and Vytas are together. I know that he and Kelly are together. Align.

Varner: Abi-Maria…align. You need your bitch in the group, she is out of control. She’s flipping around. She’s hysterical here. She’s a shield for me. I can be a little bitchy.

Varner: Shirin…align. She went through a lot in her last season. She overcame a personal obstacle and I feel like that is going to be my experience in this show. So, that’s going to bond us together.

Varner: Kass is a (expletive deleted) liar. She’s a strategist. She thinks she’s got it down. She’s making eye contact with everyone. She’s trying her best. That says desperation. Malign. She’s already shown everyone that she’ll make an alliance out in the woods and then come out and tell everyone.

Varner: Spencer…malign. He’s the winner of this game if you don’t get rid of him quick.

Varner: Woo…malign. I don’t even know why he’s here. My niece looked at him and said, “Why is Michelle Kwan running for ‘Survivor’?” Nice guy. He’s not these people. He’s his own thing. I just don’t think he should be here.  I find him boring.

Varner: Andrew I like a lot. But he’s desperate because he doesn’t know anybody here. He’s not in anybody’s group. I’ve heard through the grapevine that he is desperately looking for someone to align with. You’re making me malign him.

Varner: Monica keeps making eye contact with me like her body is something that is going to turn me on. She’s working it. I love how she’s trying to play me. I trust her…I think. You’re making me malign her, too.
Holmes: I’m the worst.

Varner: Kimmi has had a rough life. Her husband screwed her over. She’s had financial trouble. Her kids are sick. I want her to go as far as she can and I want to help her, but I’m not going to jeopardize my game to do it. Malign.

Varner: Jeremy’s body is sick. He’s in great shape. We’re going to get along well. But, malign.

Varner: Keith is an awesome dude. But, the very first night we were chosen, he came up on stage and I said, “Another old man!” He was offended by that, I could tell. Right off the bat I pissed him off. Malign.

Varner: Stephen knows everybody, knows everything. I also think he’s arrogant. He’s named an award after himself and gives it to people, who does that? Malign.

Varner: Peih-Gee…I think we’d work together well, but I think she’s hard to read. And she seems clumsy and oaf-y, sticking her foot in her mouth already. Malign.

Varner: Tasha is the biggest threat in this game. She’s mean. There’s a mean sort of thing coming off of her. Mean like “I’m going to kick your ass,” mean. There’s an energy coming off of her that I don’t want to align with.

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

“Survivor: Second Chance” will kick off with a special 90-minute premiere on Wednesday, September 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.

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‘Survivor: Second Chance’ Kass: ‘I’ll Write (Spencer’s) Name Down Any Minute’

September 10, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV sent me deep into the Cambodian wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Second Chance” goodness. So, be sure to check back for exclusive interviews, photos, and behind-the-scenes tidbits. And, follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

Name: “Chaos” Kass McQuillen
Season: “Survivor: Cagayan”
Finish: Third Place
Why You Should Remember Her: Kass earned her “Chaos” nickname by turning on her alliance and voting out Sarah Lacina. She also had a very dramatic come-from-behind win at the final four immunity challenge.

Gordon Holmes: Chaos Kass!
Kass McQuillen: Chaos Kass, that’s me.
Holmes: Is that nickname good or bad coming into a returnee season?
McQuillen: I think it’s just funny. I think it’s actually good in some ways because even though I’m the old lady mom out here, I definitely have shed that persona in my prior season. Nobody’s going to be looking to me to be the mother figure. And, I think I can clear it up with people. In Cagayan I played alone, I never had an alliance. So, it’s not that I’m disloyal. Everybody out here is disloyal. Every single person on this beach has betrayed someone. But me? I never had the chance to be loyal.
Holmes: I think you have to assume people are always working in their own best interest. You can plan for that. The best players can predict it. But what about the concern that you’re out here to wreak havoc?
McQuillen: If people think I’m just out to cause trouble…I think now everybody knows that I was never in an alliance. I was doing whatever furthered my game. I did everything I personally had to do to get further. If anybody asks me, I’ll tell them why I flipped. I think it’s come out since the game that everybody considered me number six when I flipped. I was never anybody’s right-hand person or main alliance.

Holmes: We have a group of returnees who have been through the process and who appreciate that the audience isn’t shown everything that happens. Could that work in your favor as far as getting people to come learn about the real you?
McQuillen: That’s totally going to work to my advantage. I know who I am and I know who I was when I played. I think a lot of people hang onto the character they played on TV. They’re coming in here wearing that. Especially people without life experience. This is an older cast. I think people are going to be more open to listening to people and getting to know them. Plus, we all have preconceived notions. But we all also have a piece of the story that wasn’t told. Every single person here feels like something was missing from their great “Survivor” story.
Holmes: Aside from the win?
McQuillen: Yes, not just the win, but I’m sure everyone here is saying, “I was screwed by the Outcasts, I was screwed by this.” Everyone has a chip on their shoulder. I know personally I’m a pretty easy-going person. I’m not one of the great troublemakers. I work around camp. I’m not worried socially. I just never got in on my season. The Brains tribe? We were all individuals playing. Nobody ever was cohesive together. Not even Spencer and Tasha. And when I got in with Tony (Vlachos)  and Trish (Hegarty) and Woo, I stayed there. That was what was working for my game.

Holmes: There are four Cagayaners here. The most out of any season. That feels like a disadvantage. I’d be worried people might make assumptions.
McQuillen: I think it can be a negative. For me, I don’t think it’s a negative. Everyone knows everyone from my season still hates me. I’m not considered part of the crew. Everyone knows Spencer and Tasha still harbor some resentment toward me. They’ve been very vocal on social media with their anti-Kass status. They’ve bonded over that. They’ve been a force. And they both shunned me. And Woo, I don’t think he’s a big part of the “Survivor” community. I like Woo. I counseled him to take me, not Tony. I always had his best interest in mind. I think Woo would trust me. And the benefit of having them here is I know their tells. I know how they play, I know what bothers them. I know what they’re prone to do as we get to day twenty. I like that. But I think Tasha and Spencer have the bigger target out of the four of us.

Holmes: Who’s going to be in trouble early?
McQuillen: I’d like to see Vytas go early. I’m thinking Joe is going to go early. Just look at him.
Holmes: Jooooooey Amazing.
McQuillen: He’s a specimen! Seeing him in person is like, “Wow, you’re an Adonis.”  But he stands out. We’ve got a lot of alpha males here. There are shorter alpha males, older guys. They’re going to want to get rid of the younger guys. Plus, Vytas has a lot of connections. I don’t think I’m a target. And if I am, there’s no valid reason for it. That’s just the way it goes. I didn’t do the pre-gaming that you hear about people doing. I don’t even know to what extent people did that.
Holmes: None of it?
McQuillen: I was so tight-lipped when I got to casting that when I saw J’Tia (Taylor) and Tasha, none of them knew I was going to be there. That’s how non-close we are. I was hoping J’Tia was going to be cast because we were pretty good friends. But, she didn’t make it. Maybe I direct messaged on Twitter like, “Hey, glad to see you’re here.” But, nothing.
Holmes: Were people receptive to it?
McQuillen: Originally I said I wasn’t in the mix when all of that started. I intentionally said I had a conflict and that I declined. I didn’t want to start playing the game. I have a life and to start playing two months before…
Holmes: How dare you have a life outside of “Survivor”?
McQuillen: I know! It’s ridiculous.
Holmes: Have you heard of any other pre-game shenanigans?
McQuillen: You hear about the “Blood vs. Water” and “One World” people. That’s narrowed down quite a bit. A lot of people who were in the mix didn’t make it. I think Shane and Terry were contacting a lot of people. And, I talked to Terry, but we talked about being in the Navy. In fact, I thought he didn’t like me after our conversation.

Holmes: We’re thirty one seasons into this business. Sometimes they like to switch things up. If there are any twists, what do you think they could be?
McQuillen: I’m sure it’ll be two tribes because there are twenty of us. I think we’ll have at least two double Tribals. I’m guessing they might narrow it down in the first day or two. Kind of like a “Heroes vs. Villains” start where it’s super physical and people are getting hurt. Then a double Tribal. Then randomly put us in three tribes. I’d like it if they’d switch us up a lot just to thwart that pre-gaming. I’ve always thought they’d play the game in reverse where it starts more individual. But that might be too much of a burden on the cameramen.
Holmes: Twenty separate crews running around an immunity challenge might be tough.
McQuillen: I don’t know if they’ll do that extra vote thing again cause it bombed.
Holmes: They probably liked how it worked out because it was such a big chain reaction.
McQuillen: Yeah, but it wasn’t a very big impact.
Holmes: Not in the big picture, but it was a great moment. It’s probably a thing where in the perfect situation it’s amazing and every other time it’s lame.
McQuillen: You really have to know what’s going on to use it correctly.
Holmes: And if Carolyn didn’t use her idol, it wouldn’t have made a difference. They already had the votes.
McQuillen: So wasted. But, are we surprised?
Holmes: Poor Dan. Talk about a  rough reunion.
McQuillen: Well actually, I think the “Worlds Apart” cast was much more civil. People were horrible in that season. They said mean things. A lot of people think I’m a villain, but what did I ever do personally to anyone? I voted you out. I didn’t say stuff about your family. Yet, my cast was horrible to me and still is.
Holmes: It’s tough to take home a win with that kind of negativity. How do you keep jurors on your side?
McQuillen: The first person on the jury will be a nice person, and hopefully I won’t have written their name down. Because they set the tone at Ponderosa. When you have an ego like Sarah’s at the time, just such a strong personality. When you blindside that person and you’re the person that she already didn’t like? It just adds fuel to that fire. And when that alliance started to fall like dominoes… Nobody likes to lose to me. Sarah and I have made up. Trish on the other hand…
Holmes: That’s a shame. It’s a game.  But, it’s real emotions and it’s real money.
McQuillen: I don’t have hard feelings toward the people. There are a couple of people in my cast who still despise me. Morgan (McLeod) never spoke to me again.
Holmes: Well, she’s young. Hopefully she’ll come around.


Holmes: Alright, we’re going to play “Align or Malign.” In my hand I have nineteen cards featuring your competitors. You’ll go through them and tell me who you’ll align with and who you’ll malign. Trick is, you only get eight aligns.

McQuillen: I’ll be hard pressed to find eight.
Holmes: (Laughs) Feel free to malign everyone.

McQuillen: Vytas…malign. There’s something about him I don’t like. He’s very calculated and false in his smiling and movements. He’s not a natural person out here. I have a really bad feeling about Vytas.

McQuillen: Jeff…align. I think he’s going to be whiny out here. He’s going to be complaining. He’s going to have a rough time with the elements. And he’d be great to take to the end.

McQuillen: Keith…I could align with Keith. I don’t think he’ll take charge. I don’t think he’ll be an alpha. And he’ll fall away in seventh or eighth place.

McQuillen: Peih-Gee…I’m going to malign. I think she’s smart. I think she’s scrappy. China was a much different environment. I think it’s going to be hard for her out here. I can already see her not understanding the island type of game. I think she’s very abrasive and would do whatever it takes to win, so I don’t want to be with her.

McQuillen: Kimmy…definitely align. She’s so annoying already. A vegetarian with a  leather purse reading Bill O’Reilly? Hails from New York but lives in Houston? She’s going to be insecure, she’s not going to be a challenge threat.

McQuillen: Stephen…I could align with Stephen. I don’t think he has the confidence to win the game and I think a lot of people are going to be gunning for him…or he thinks they will because of his relationship with Rob (Cesternino) and the “Survivor” community. He already lost the game at final two and I think he could do it again.

McQuillen: Joe…malign. He’s going to be gone early. I love Joe, but maybe he should take over as host.

McQuillen: Tasha…malign. I don’t trust her and she’s out to get me.

McQuillen: Ciera…malign. She’s too in bed with everybody in terms of the Monica, the Terry, the Vytas. She’s got too many connections.

McQuillen: Kelly Wiglesworth…I don’t think she’s even going to have an alliance. Malign. She’s not in the game. Her heads not here. It’s been fifteen years and she hasn’t watched a season.
McQuillen: Abi…I would align with her in a heartbeat. You can already tell she’s going to blow up on people. She’s already blown up on a couple of the staff here. And, she’s in a rough place in her life. She just broke up with her long-term boyfriend. She’s in her thirties. She’s probably looking to get married and have kids. She’s going to be a trainwreck. And I think she’d be loyal.

McQuillen: Woo…I’m going to say…malign. I’m going to throw him to the wolves. I can read him and it’d be nice to have someone on the other side. I might use him a little. He’ll understand and still vote for me because he still feels guilty.
Holmes: There’s that first juror you were looking for.
McQuillen: He’d be a great first juror. So would Joe…so would Keith.

McQuillen: Jeremy…he’s so physical…and he was loyal. I’m going to malign him. I just don’t see it.

McQuillen: Kelley Wentworth…malign. She’s too much of a physical threat to go to the end with.

McQuillen: Shirin…so annoying. But, I’ll align with her because she’s annoying. This older group is not going to put up with that and her social skills are kind of stunted I think. And for me to say that? That’s bad.

McQuillen: Monica…do not trust. Malign.

McQuillen: Savage…definitely align with him. I don’t think he’s going to be able to deal. He has the Jeff Probst link everyone is bitter about. He’s a millionaire already. No one is going to give him the money. He’s probably going to find an idol being best friends with you-know-who.

McQuillen: I’ll align with Terry. We were both in the Navy.

McQuillen: Spencer…MALIGN! I’ll write your name down any minute.

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

“Survivor: Second Chance” will kick off with a special 90-minute premiere on Wednesday, September 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.

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‘Survivor: Second Chance’ Andrew: ‘There’s Nothing Holding Probst Back from Throwing Everything at Us’

September 9, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV sent me deep into the Cambodian wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Second Chance” goodness. So, be sure to check back for exclusive interviews, photos, and behind-the-scenes tidbits. And, follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

Name: Andrew Savage
Season: “Survivor: Pearl Islands”
Finish: Tenth Place
Why You Should Remember Him: The leader of the Morgan Tribe was sent home after eventual finalist (and one of two returning Outcasts) Lil turned against him.

Gordon Holmes: You have always been one of “Survivor’s” great “What If?” stories with the whole Outcast twist. Put me in your shoes all these years later with you finally getting that second chance.
Andrew Savage: It’s surreal. I’m honestly not sure how it happened. The beautiful things about “Survivor” is the twists, the turns, and the blindsides. And there’s no greater blindside than the Outcast twist. If you think about 30 seasons of “Survivor,” how many twists and blindsides and how many folks were in the cross-hairs? It less about me, it’s more about the Outcast twist. The super fans were up in arms. They were screaming that Mark Burnett had jumped the shark. It was against the very fabric of “Survivor.” Once somebody is out, you’re out. You can’t bring them back in. So, I think me being on the “Second Chance” list is about redemption for the fans being vocal. Saying, “We didn’t like the Outcast twist. It happened, but you’ve got to give Savage a second chance because he was in the cross-hairs and he got bit in the butt by it.
Holmes: I’ve been doing this since Gabon. Every now and then I’ll ask Probst, “Who do you want back?” Your name always comes up.
Savage: I love that. You just gave me goosebumps.
Holmes: One of the criticisms about the “Survivor” Hall of Fame is how recency bias plays into it.  So, I was concerned that people like you who are interesting characters, but haven’t played in twelve years were going to passed over for newer names.
Savage: I was stunned. Twelve years ago I didn’t make the jury, right? And I’m on a list with some kick-butt folks. Many of them, final three…final four. The outcry of support and cheering for me was stunning. And frankly humbling. I was in awe of the super fans.

Holmes: If you and I arrive on the beach on day one. What do you think I remember about Andrew Savage and his gameplay?
Savage: I hope that you remember that I had a bunch of younger kids on my season. I was the oldest guy, I was 39.  And I didn’t tell a single lie. My tribe, we were the Morgan Five once Lil (Morris), and Nicole (Delma), and skinny Ryan (Shoulders) were gone. We loved each other. There was never a hint that anyone would vote for me because I always had their back. I have a great work ethic. I support people. I hope that’s what they remember. Twelve years later I’m still fit and I’m a decent guy.
Holmes: Decent guys don’t do as well these days.
Savage: That doesn’t really work in the new “Survivor.”
Holmes: I did the press for “Worlds Apart” and to set a baseline I asked, “Will you lie? Will you flirt?” And to a person, everyone there said they were fine with lying to get ahead.
Savage: It’s a totally different game.
Holmes: Where are you with that?
Savage: When I started “Pearl Islands” I was ready to lie, cheat, steal, do whatever it took. I landed on the Morgan Tribe and the five of us immediately bonded. Game over. I didn’t have to lie. If I were in a different situation, I’m happy to lie. In life, my word is my bond. I’m wired in a way that I don’t lie. This is not real life. Going into the “Second Chance” season I’m going to have to lie my butt off. The trick for me is being able to sense when others are lying.
Holmes: And how old are you now?
Savage: Fifty one.
Holmes:  Where do you get off being in such good shape?
Savage: (Laughs)
Holmes: I’m 38 and I’m a sweaty, gross mess out here.
Savage: My wife is ten years younger. She keeps me young.

Holmes: You’re the only Pearl Islander out here. Any concerns that you might end up on a tribe that has people from the same season?
Savage: I think it’s a disadvantage to be with people from your own season. Woo, Tash, Spencer, and Kass have a lot of baggage. Look at what Kass did to them. I think that’s a disadvantage. I like that I have a clean slate.

Holmes: Having twelve years away probably gives you a very different perspective than someone like Joe who was out here less than a year ago. What has that distance taught you?
Savage: At the end of the day, “Survivor” strips you of everything. It strips you to your core. You can only be who you are. Jonny Fairplay had this persona. But at the end of the day, there’s a lot of the Jonny Fairplay persona that is him. Outside of the game we’re friends, but inside the game I hate him. So, I’m just going to be who I am. I don’t have a choice. If you’re lazy in life you don’t come on “Survivor” and have a great work ethic. If you’re a (expletive deleted) in life you don’t come on “Survivor” and be a great guy. It doesn’t happen. So, I’m going to come in and give it everything I have and have no regrets. I’ve got regrets from “Pearl Islands.” And that’s what’s been tormenting me for twelve years. That’s why this is an epic dream.

Holmes: Who’s an early target?
Savage: A bunch of folks. I think Joe is an early target. I don’t know Joe at all. I loved him in his season. If he’s on my tribe he’s not going home. I’m going to do everything I can to keep him. I think he’s got a big heart. I think he’s a loyal kid. Physically he’s a stud. I looked at his bio, he loves playing sand volleyball. I’ve played for fifteen years. If you’re going to play sand volleyball, there’s something in you that is gold. I think Shirin is a target based on her last season. She’s a powerhouse in terms of being a super fan and she’s absolutely brilliant.
Holmes: You two also work for the same company.
Savage: She’s a Yahoo! executive. As am I. I don’t know her very well. She’s an engineer, I’m a lawyer. We’ve got 13,000 employees. It’s a huge campus.
Holmes: I went to Penn State and people are always saying, “Oh, you must know Tom.”
Savage: (Laughs) I think Kass is a big target. Chaos Kass. How can you trust her?
Holmes: That nickname is hard to overcome.
Savage: I think Terry’s a big target. He’s a pretty smooth operator and he’s a beast.

Holmes: There’s a lot of talk of pre-game alliances. Have you formed one? Have you heard of any?
Savage: I’ve heard of some pre-game alliances. I have not partaken. For me, I was voted out twelve years ago. I flipped off “Survivor.” This is b.s. I’m done. I’m not the typical “Survivor” contestant. It’s very incestuous. You’re part of the “Survivor” family and there are 400 of them and they hang out together. They go to charity functions. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but that’s what they do.
Holmes: (Laughs) Let’s be clear, Andrew Savage has no problem with charity.
Savage: (Laughs) Right. But I’ve got this amazing life going on. And I’m just not in the “Survivor” world. So, I don’t know anyone. You probably heard Brad Culpepper had made a list and he’d invited folks to his Tampa estate to hang out, drink, form alliances.
Holmes: Now that eleven people didn’t make the show, the laundry is being aired.
Savage: Well, when I heard about it I was angry because I didn’t get the call. (Laughs) But then I thought; that seems so stupid. It’s against the rules first of all. And then, you’re painting a big target on your back. I haven’t spoken to any of the nineteen. And that list is amazing, I can’t wait to get to know them.

Holmes: You experienced a big crazy twist. If there is one this season what do you think it could be?
Savage: Remember “Africa” where they switched tribes very early? I think there’s going to be a lot of twists like that. You’ve got two tribes of ten. That’s a lot to handle. My guess…based on nothing…is that there’s four tribes of five. You’ve got some studly women. Kelly Wiglesworth could beat most of the guys, even me. You could have a tribe of three women, two guys and they would not be at a disadvantage. If I’m Probst, four tribes of five, then a crazy swap to keep us on our toes. And the beauty of the “Second Chance” season is that everyone on this list has been through “Survivor” hell. The old saying is, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” There’s nothing holding Probst back from throwing everything at us. We should know better.


Holmes: Alright, we’re going to play “Align or Malign.” In my hand I have nineteen cards featuring your competitors. You’ll go through them and tell me who you’ll align with and who you’ll malign. Trick is, you only get eight aligns.
Savage: I love that! That’s very cool.
Holmes: You guys did a hundred pre-season interviews, so I was trying to figure out something unique.

Savage: I would say Keith…align. He’s a got a big heart, he’s good in challenges. He’s a couple of years older than me. But, I can trust him.

Savage: Jeff…malign. Don’t trust him. Body language. He has no love for Savage.

Savage: Kelley Wentworth…beautiful heart. Total stud. Her bio indicates that she has a lot of love and she’s loyal. Definitely an align.

Savage: Abi-Maria…love her. Big heart. Spitfire. She’s an align.

Savage: Peih-Gee…malign. She’s brilliant. Don’t get a good vibe from her. Haven’t talked to her. Don’t trust her.

Savage: Monica…doesn’t bring much to the table. Sweet girl…fellow lawyer. Probably not good in challenges. Probably a ride-the-coattails kind of person. I don’t see a lot of value there. Malign.

Savage: Spencer…love him. Genius. Great endurance. Captain of his cross-country team. That’s a tough sport. And he’s going to be, if I’m lucky enough, he will be my brains. My strategist.

Savage: Stephen…not a chance. Malign. His claim to fame is coming up with a brilliant idea and convincing you that it’s your idea. Next thing you know he votes you out.

Savage: Align with Joe. He’s a beast. And my take on Joe is he’s very loyal and trustworthy.

Savage: Love Jeremy…clearly an align. The reason I say that is because he’s a great athlete, he has two daughters, his luxury item in the past was a bracelet made by his two daughters which is my luxury item. My daughters made a bracelet for me. There isn’t anything I don’t love about the guy.

Savage: Let’s do some easy ones. Chaos Kass…malign. Enough said.

Savage: Kimmi…malign. Don’t see a lot of value.

Savage: Wiglesworth, kind of a wild card in my book. Word on the street is she’s not into alliances and likes to vote her heart. That doesn’t work in “Survivor.” I think she is clearly an incredible athlete.  She has my respect…so…align.

Savage: Vytas…don’t know the guy. Heard he had a strained relationship with Aras. I’ve heard that Aras and I have a lot of similarities. That tells me that Vytas and I won’t mesh too well. Malign.

Savage: Tasha…if I had more people to align with I’d put her on my side. But I’ll say malign cause I’m running out of people.

Savage: Terry…I don’t think he’s trustworthy. I think I’ve got to get him out as soon as I can. I just don’t trust him. Malign.

Savage: And Woo would be an align, but I’m maligning him because I don’t have enough. I think he’s a good guy, I think he’s trustworthy, I think he’s physically capable, but I’m running out of numbers.

Savage: My fellow Yahoo! Shirin…love her…she’s a genius. Align. She and Spencer will be hopefully my strategists. My weakness will be the strategies. I can handle the challenges. As super fans I need their eyes and senses…their chess mentalities.

Savage: Ciera…wild card. I heard she was on the Culpepper list. Wasn’t happy about that. Malign.

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

“Survivor: Second Chance” will kick off with a special 90-minute premiere on Wednesday, September 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.

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‘Survivor: Second Chance’ Brings Back Gross Eating Challenges

September 9, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV sent me deep into the Cambodian wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Second Chance” goodness. So, be sure to check back for exclusive interviews, photos, and behind-the-scenes tidbits. And, follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

There have been many twists and turns to “Survivor” over the years, but I have to admit that the original premise is still my favorite; a big group of strangers, shipwrecked on a deserted island and forced to create their own society.

This means scrounging for useful items among the boat’s wreckage. It means creating elaborate “S.O.S.” displays. And it definitely means having to eat weird things found in the area. That’s why every time I visit a “Survivor” location I make it a point to harass Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer about gross food-eating challenges.

Well, let’s file this next story under; “Be Careful What You Wish For.”

Little did I know that Mr. Kirhoffer had something up his sleeve for my latest visit. Well, maybe it wasn’t up his sleeve, it was probably scampering in the jungle somewhere. At any rate, he was going to make me put my money (or something worse) where my mouth was and eat something horrific.

So, what’s the big deal? I’m always looking for new ways to participate in “Survivor” activities. It helps me understand the players’ motivations.

But…

Fun Fact: You know how every elementary school has the smelly kid, or the kid who wets his pants, or the kid who cries when his mom drops him off? Well, I was the kid that was always throwing up.

That’s right. All anyone who attended Hanna Woods Elementary in the mid-to-late ’80s had to do was say the word “boogers” and I was sprinting for the bathroom. But, if Gervase could give it his best, so could I.

It was roughly 1,000 degrees out on the day we were scheduled to eat…whatever. As Parade.com’s Josh Wigler and I made our way to the challenge department, he asked me if this little event would count toward my 7-and-1 lifetime challenge record.

I hadn’t thought of that. With the previous day’s challenge victory under my belt, I was looking forward to at least 12 more months of bragging about my winning streak. I didn’t like Wigler’s question one bit.

“I don’t think it should count as a real challenge,” I said. “We’re not going to a real location with a cool set and Probst won’t be there.”

Whether or not Wigler bought my attempt to casually play it off was quickly rendered moot when we turned a corner and saw a well-dressed challenge location and a certain 40-time Emmy winner.

Who knew that Jeff Probst would demand to be present whenever I was about to do something potentially embarrassing?

The competitors; Mr. Wigler, “Entertainment Weekly’s” Dalton Ross, and myself were placed behind a table. On that table were three covered plates and to our sides were conveniently placed buckets. Apparently the buckets were there in lieu of a Hanna Woods Elementary School toilet.


The covers were removed and we were each greeted by a large, cooked scorpion. The tail had been cut off as that is the most dangerous part. Later, a production member also removed the claws.

As Probst gleefully discussed what we were about to endure, I was putting my plan in motion. I know this sounds weird, but I did my best to fill my mouth with as much saliva as possible. My theory was that it would dilute the terrible taste and make it go down quicker. It also made sense to try to take this monster in two portions. So, when Probst set us loose I was going to have to bite this thing in half.

My heart was pounding as Probst was building to his trademark line. I know what it’s like to run across a field or swim in the ocean. I have a good idea what it’s like to throw coconuts in a basket or dive into a mud pile. But, I had no idea what it was like to eat a scorpion.

But, when the man says, “Survivors, ready?” you don’t think. You go.

Well, he said it…and I did it.

And, right off the bat I made a mistake. I crammed the whole thing into my dumb, stupid face.

I’ve never been so mad at myself, but I wasn’t going to spit it up. I knew there was no way my stomach could handle the sight of mangled-up scorpion.

So, I chewed and chewed. And then a funny thing happened; I realized it wasn’t that gross. Later on, we came to the consensus that it was like eating soft-shell crab.

Not terribly unpleasant taste aside, this thing still needed to be swallowed. In the end I had to rock my head back like a duck in order to get it down. I cleared my mouth of any spare legs and showed my empty mouth to Probst.

Holmes wins…Wigler comes in second, Ross spits the remaining scorpion bits on a nearby camera.

In the end, I feel like the experience is much more mental than physical. If whatever was under the plate cover was moving, it’s possible I never would have touched it. And if the taste or smell was particularly bad I might not have had the stomach for it.

But the excitement between “Can I do it?” and actually doing it was awesome. Totally worth the twenty times I would brush my teeth immediately afterward.

And Mr. Wigler’s question? Yeah, it totally counts. Eight wins in a row, baby…

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

“Survivor: Second Chance” will kick off with a special 90-minute premiere on Wednesday, September 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.

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‘Survivor: Second Chance’ Abi: “I’m Going to Wait for the Right Time to Be the Villain”

September 8, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV sent me deep into the Cambodian wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Second Chance” goodness. So, be sure to check back for exclusive interviews, photos, and behind-the-scenes tidbits. And, follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

Name: Abi-Maria Gomes
Season: “Survivor: Philippines”
Finish: Fifth Place
Why You Should Remember Her: The Brazilian beauty is best known for her feud with alliance-mate R.C. Saint-Amour.

Abi-Maria Gomes: Does your mom still hate me?
Gordon Holmes: I told her you were a sweetheart, but she only knows what she saw on CBS.
Gomes: (Laughs)
Holmes: You’re in that Corinne Kaplan category of people that in the game are viewed as villains, but in real life are super cool.
Gomes: Well, I’m very competitive.
Holmes: Yeah, but everyone out there is competitive. Does the lack of food bring out a meaner side?
Gomes: There’s the gamer Abi and the real Abi. And when you put yourself through the game, I put on my “Survivor” hat. You can’t be 100% real out there or you’re going to be eaten alive by the other contestants. When it comes to being lucky enough to be one of the ones chosen to play, I wear that “Survivor” hat. But in the real world, that hat gets put away and I’m the real Abi. I’m a good, genuine person outside of the game. But inside the game? Battle time!
Holmes: What time is it? It’s game time.
Gomes: Game time! Boo yah! (Laughs) Gangster!

Holmes: When I was prepping the info for what people are remembered for, I kept coming back to your feud with R.C. (Saint-Amour).
Gomes: I feuded with pretty much everyone. (Laughs)
Holmes: This is true. But you and R.C. were aligned at one point. Are you worried that others could view the break-up of that alliance as you flipping on her?
Gomes: It happened really quickly. We immediately connected. We didn’t have a minute to even think if we were going to work well together or not. And when someone comes up to you and says, “We’re together, right?” You can’t say no. You’re shooting yourself in the foot. She approached me first. But then I started noticing that she was getting too close to (Michael) Skupin and that created a huge paranoia in me. I was the weakest link from the get-go. I had an injury day one from jumping from the boat. I tore my ACL. And she was super strong. I was like, “Oh (expletive deleted)! Is she going to turn on me?” I acted too quickly. It was a mistake and I let my emotions control my game. This time around I want to be in control of my emotions. And I want to be in control of my circumstances. I don’t want to let things like that happen so quickly. I’m going to wait for the right time to be the villain.
Holmes: Have you two made peace since then?
Gomes: R.C. hates me. I’ve tried to beg for forgiveness, I’ve tried so hard. But there’s so much one can do. It’s like a dance. You have to be at the same beat and the same rhythm. And when she starts talking (expletive deleted) about me and lying about my personality? That hurts me. I’m not what you saw on “Survivor.” Yes, I’m feisty. Yes, I’m sassy. And it’s hard for me to forgive and forget, but that’s due to me being a Scorpio. I’ve had a lot of growth, I’ve been working on myself. And I do know that I did her wrong.  But, I was playing a game.

Holmes: With any returnee season, pre-game alliances are an issue. Have you participated in any? Have you heard of any?
Gomes: I’ve heard of some. I choose not to participate in any. If people have contacted me, I’m like, “Sure.” I’m not dumb. I’m always open to it. But, I know that they don’t work. Over and over again you’ve seen people get burned. Francesca (Hogi) is a huge example. She had pre-game alliances with (John) Cochran and Andrea (Boehlke) before she went on her season and she was the first one voted out. I think everyone comes with two or three friends and then when they put their toes on the sand that’s out the window. People are here to win. And in a season like “Second Chance” we have gamers here. It’s going to be crazy.

Holmes: Coach Wade did a great job in “South Pacific” flipping people’s perception of him. You were the villain of the “Philippines,” are you hoping to flip things the way he did?
Gomes: That is an excellent strategy. And I’m definitely trying to redeem myself. However, I own the whole villainess thing. I think it’s cool to be a villain in the “Survivor” world. The best players are all villains. Most of the winners are villains. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. But, out there I’m going to try to turn it around and be funny and have fun with it. I’m not going to have an injury.
Holmes: Oh, you totally just jinxed it. That other ACL is done for.
Gomes: (Laughs) No, I’m not going to have an injury. Knock on wood. I’m going to kill at challenges and I’m going to connect with each individual out there. And behind their backs I’ll be talking a lot of (expletive deleted). And I’m going to give the producers what they want.
Holmes: Which is…?
Gomes: Some sassy, naughty, mean Abi.
Holmes: You’re going to make my mom furious.
Gomes: I love it! (Laughs)

Holmes: Does your reputation put a target on your back?
Gomes: I think it does put a target on my back. But, I’m going to use that to my advantage. In “Philippines,” there was one thing that was true; I was someone’s friend, but if you (expletive deleted) with me, you’re dead.
Holmes: That’s why I don’t (expletive deleted) with you.
Gomes: (Laughs) I do have an angel on my left shoulder and a devil on my right shoulder.

Holmes: You’re the only person from “Survivor: Philippines,” there are several people from “Cagayan.” There are several people from “San Juan del Sur.” Is that a concern?
Gomes: I know! Hopefully they don’t like each other. And hopefully they realize it will put a target on their back. I’m a very observant person, so hopefully that won’t be an issue for my game. The “Cagayan” people are Spencer, Woo, Kass, and Tasha. Ok…Woo is a cutie.
Holmes: He’s adorable.
Gomes: He’s so adorable! Oh my God. I totally want to charm him up and seduce him a little bit. I want his hair…and his abs…he’s so cute! Oh my God, I just wanna…like hug him.
Holmes:  Are you and Peter (Yurkowski) still together?
Gomes: No…we broke up.
Holmes: Oh, I’m sorry.
Gomes: Peter and I broke up. We dated for two years. But, I’m 35 and ready for the real thing. I don’t think he’s quite there yet. I don’t think timing is our side.
Holmes: How old is he?
Gomes: He’s 27.
Holmes: Yeah, that’s young.
Gomes: He’s young. He’s a great guy, I love him to death. I’m sure he loves me too.
Holmes: So, as a single woman, there are no barriers to you putting the moves on Woo.
Gomes: There are no barriers. I’m going to be flirting. And I have my eyes on Woo. We would have cute babies together, could you imagine?
Holmes: Adorable. But, that should be a secondary goal.
Gomes: Secondary goal!
Holmes: Primary goal is winning “Survivor.”
Gomes: I think he has a girlfriend though. Sorry…to his girlfriend.
Holmes: (Laughs) Villain!

Holmes: If there is a twist this season, what do you think it is?
Gomes: I’m sure that Jeff will be having tons of twists. Especially because we’ve been having this pre-game for 10 days now. We’ve spent time studying each other. I think it’ll be a schoolyard pick for tribes and I think they’ll be mixing up the tribes as much as he can. I don’t think he’s going to make it easy for us to build bonds.

Holmes: Alright, we’re going to play “Align or Malign.” In my hand I have nineteen cards featuring your competitors. You’ll go through them and tell me who you’ll align with and who you’ll malign. Trick is, you only get eight aligns.
Gomes: I like this game.
Holmes: Right?

Gomes: OK, Vytas and Kelly…they’re scary! They’re yogis.
Holmes: They can speak with their minds.
Gomes: (Laughs) I see them reading the same book. Winking at each other. And I like Vytas. I’ve been to his yoga class. We’re not friends, but I’d love to align with him. But, if he aligns with her that might be a problem for me. I’m not here to go home anytime soon. I want this badly. So, I’ll align. And Kelly reminds me so much of Denise (Stapley). Pre-game I see her walking around, stoic face. Very hard to read. And she’s going to get a lot of sympathy votes if she gets to the end. She almost won “Borneo.” She lost by one vote. So, I will align with her for a little while. Before she makes it far. I’ll align with her.

Gomes: Tasha…align. She’s a gamer. I don’t think she’s afraid of aligning with a villain. She likes Brazil. She does throw a few Portuguese words here or there.

Gomes: Monica…malign. She laughs like R.C.
Holmes: (Laughs)
Gomes:  She totally does!

Gomes: Woo? And his hair? Totally align! He’s my little ninja.

Gomes: Jeremy? What a nice guy. Totally align. He’s a firefighter from Boston. Super strong. He has some guns on him. Align.

Gomes: I have three aligns left! Ciera…malign. She voted off her mom. She’s ruthless. Can’t have two ruthless people in the same alliance. She’ll cut people’s heads off just like I will. I love her and she’s super cute.

Gomes: Kimmi…malign. Her boobs get people distracted.
Holmes: All boobs are distracting, Abi.
Gomes: (Laughs) I know!

Gomes: Joe reminds me too much of Malcolm (Freberg). So…malign. Malcolm called me a dementor. Go (expletive deleted) yourself.

Gomes: Andrew…align. He reminds me of Jeff Probst.

Gomes: Keith…malign. He’s weak. I don’t think he’s going to do well in challenges.

Gomes: Shirin…align. She was the Abi in her season.

Gomes: One align left…Jeff Varner. I love my gays.
Holmes: Another thing you and Corinne Kaplan have in common.
Gomes: He’s bitchy. I love it.

Gomes: Kass…malign. Can’t trust her.

Gomes: Spencer…malign. Too smart for his own good.

Gomes: Terry…malign. Military…micro-manager…too much of a leader. I’d be a no collar.

Gomes: Stephen…malign. He’s a know-it-all. C’mon.

Gomes: Kelley…malign. You’re too cute for your own good.

Gomes: Peih-Gee…malign. Her bitch face? My God. When she does her bitch face she looks like a frog. Dude, you’re a pretty lady when you smile. But when you do your bitch face? Annoying.

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

“Survivor: Second Chance” will kick off with a special 90-minute premiere on Wednesday, September 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.

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A Sneak Peek at the Second ‘Survivor: Second Chance’ Immunity Challenge

August 28, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (XFINITY)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV sent me deep into the Cambodian wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Second Chance” goodness. So, be sure to check back for exclusive interviews, photos, and behind-the-scenes tidbits. And, follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

It wouldn’t be a trip to “Survivor” without the traditional Press vs. Dream Team immunity challenge. (Note: The Dream Team is a bunch of tanned, buff, bad asses who run the challenges to make sure they’re safe, fair, and entertaining).

I’ve competed in seven of these challenges. The first one in Gabon was a humiliating, soul-sucking, heartache-inducing nightmare. The Dream Team treated me the same was a dog treats a freshly cut lawn.

So, I decided to win the next six.

(Yeah, it’s lame to brag about wins in an exhibition competition, but I truly have so little else. Let me have this.)

With my good name cleared, I’ve been looking for new ways to get motivated for the games, and this season the producers were nice enough to give me one…

The Hidden Idol

“Entertainment Weekly” writer Dalton Ross has been begging “Survivor” to hide an idol at an immunity challenge for years. They finally listened to him. And since it was his idea, they wanted him to test it out.

The way it works is; a clue is hidden at camp. If you find the clue, it will tell you exactly where the challenge idol is hidden. It’s up to the individual to figure out how best to retrieve it and stash it without anyone noticing.

So, the producers took Dalton aside and told him where the idol was hidden.

My mission was now clear; I was going to beat him to the punch, watch him like a hawk, and claim immunity for myself.

The Challenge

In keeping with the theme of Second Chances, this challenge was a mash-up of competitions that appeared in “Survivor: Samoa” and “Survivor: Blood vs. Water.”

For the first part, the teams will have to run up and over three A-frames. The first two A-frames are a medium height, while the third one is much larger. Three members of the team will need to do this while carrying a heavy rope.

Once they’re over the obstacles the players will use the three ropes to create a MEGA rope. They’ll attach the rope to the end of a crate, then pull it across a slanted course.

When the crate reaches the end of the course, the players will untie knots to open the crate, then use the puzzle pieces they find inside to complete a picture puzzle. The first tribe to complete the puzzle wins respect.

“Survivors, Ready?”

There were plenty of press members at the event so the challenge wouldn’t be straight up Press vs. Dream Team. It was Press vs. Press with Dream Teamers sprinkled in to even up the sides. I made sure to be on Dalton’s team.

We gathered at the starting mat and went over strategies.

Finally, “Survivor” host and Emmy-hoarder Jeff Probst said the magic words and we were off.

Getting up the first A-frame was a piece of cake, getting down wasn’t quite as smooth. You see, Dalton Ross was one of the people selected to carry a rope. As I scurried over the top, I didn’t notice that he had some slack dangling over the other side. On the way down my foot got caught and I was sent tumbling down buff over teakettles.

In fact, when it was over the medics told me they were about to stop the challenge to check on me. But I just popped back up as if nothing had happened so they assumed I was fine.

And they were right, I was fine. However, it did make me wonder why Dalton was trying to kill me.

The race up the second A-frame wasn’t quite as successful. I tried and lost my footing on the first attempt, and was about to fail my second attempt when none other than “Survivor” Hall of Famer and my occasional Press challenge enemy Parvati Shallow reached out for me. I grabbed her hand “Cliffhanger”-style and was able to get over.

The third A-frame (the much higher one) required us to climb one of the CBS cameramen like a ladder. Hey, whatever it takes.

By the time we were down, the other tribe was at work pulling their crate along the course. Uh oh.

Our crate team went to work, but wasn’t having much luck. At one point, Parvati even had to run up to the crate to fix the rope as it had gotten stuck.

The other team had a significant lead by the time Parade.com writer Josh Wigler and I had a chance to tackle the puzzle.

The puzzle was the same style as the one that gave Tina Wesson fits in “Blood vs. Water” where you have to place double sided poles in the proper order to create a picture. One of the rules states that you can’t create the image on the ground and then move it into the frame. So, it involves a lot of trial and error to get everything placed correctly.

Fortunately, Mr. Wigler and I were in the zone. We had puzzle pieces bouncing in and out of the frame at a furious pace. And, once we figured out how to do it two at a time, we were really in business.

It didn’t hurt that the commentary we were hearing from Probst was not very positive when it came to our opponents’ puzzle.

Slowly but surely we were able to complete the puzzle and bask in the sweet sounds of Probst declaring us the victors. It was hugs and high-fives all around.  I don’t know if seven wins in a row is a record, but it felt pretty good.

Quick Aside: Do you remember what my real goal was for this challenge? Because apparently I didn’t.

When the merriment was over, Probst approached Dalton and asked if he’d retrieved the idol. Dalton reached into his pocket and proved that he had.

Wow.

Nobody saw him do it. Every person on our team knew he had the clue and not one of the eight people saw him grab it. It was like the second after Probst said, “Survivors, ready? Go!” the thought of the idol popped right out of my head.

It’s going to be an interesting season.

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

“Survivor: Second Chance” will kick off with a special 90-minute premiere on Wednesday, September 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.

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‘Survivor: Second Chance’ Spencer: “People…Think Kass and I Are Secret Friends”

August 27, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV sent me deep into the Cambodian wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Second Chance” goodness. So, be sure to check back for exclusive interviews, photos, and behind-the-scenes tidbits. And, follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

Name: Spencer Bledsoe
Previous Season: “Survivor: Cagayan”
Finish: Fourth Place
Why You Should Remember Him: This “Young Lad” almost went the distance after “Survivor” host Jeff Probst (and…uh…someone else) went on record saying he had no chance to win.

Gordon Holmes: What’ve you been up to since Cagayan?
Spencer Bledsoe: I’m in a lull between school and work, so I’m a glorified bum. But soon I will be a trader in Chicago.
Holmes: Oh man, I aspire to be a glorified bum.
Bledsoe: (Laughs)
Holmes: You have the most powerful thing a Survivor can have, and that’s XFINITY Power Rankings experience.
Bledsoe: That’s true.
Holmes: Is that unfair to everybody else?
Bledsoe: I think it’s a little unfair. There’s no way you can brush shoulders with a great Power Ranker like yourself and not come out a genius for it.
Holmes: (Laughs) And you were a chess champion to begin with.
Bledsoe: Chess playing was great, but the Power Rankings took me to the next level. I’m just worried about the fierce competition of another Power Ranker in my midst.
Holmes: You’re referring to…?
Bledsoe: Ciera Eastin.
Holmes: Is this something you can bond over?
Bledsoe: Yeah, potentially. There are few things you can bond over more than being Power Rankers. I’m looking forward to playing with Ciera. Has anyone ever beat you?
Holmes: Tons of times; Charlie Herschel, Taj George, Dawn Meehan…
Bledsoe: So, it’s a recent streak.
Holmes: Yes, between that and the press challenge streak, it’s truly an embarrassment of riches.
Bledsoe: Have you done the press challenge yet?
Holmes: Not yet.
Bledsoe: Are you nervous?
Holmes: Horrified. But, I am every time. And it’s awful, because I won the first one and was like, “This is awesome! My life in complete!” And then it started building. And now it’s this six-challenge juggernaut.
Bledsoe: I had the opposite. Everything went wrong.
Holmes: You’re so lucky.
Bledsoe: (Laughs) So, really it can’t get worse. I’m playing Roger Federer and he only has one more set to win, so nothing’s stopping me.

Holmes: You are wildly popular, which based on your pre-game interviews was a shock.
Bledsoe: (Laughs)
Holmes: Does being a fan favorite put a target on your back?
Bledsoe: Yeah, just being recent and being from a very good season like “Cagayan” does put a bit of a target. I think it might be tempered by that pre-game perception that I was a kid who had no idea how to play. So, maybe there’s still some of that lingering. So, maybe if people don’t think I have social skill or self awareness that could help. And I think there might be bigger fish to fry here. For example, Joe could easily steal my thunder. Because he’s from a more recent season, a better looking guy, more athletic, potentially a more popular guy who could take some heat off of me.
Holmes: Well, in your defense, nobody is better looking than Joe.
Bledsoe: (Laughs) I’ve been told he looks like a Greek god. That he should be on the cover of a romance novel.
Holmes: There are so few of us.

Holmes: How do you think people in this cast will perceive you?
Bledsoe: I think more people perceive me as a huge fan, happy to be here. I think there will be the perception that I idolize some of these people. I can make that a positive. If I can be the understudy of someone with a big ego, if I can get under Terry Dietz’s wing and make him think that he’s taking this adoring fan along until it’s time to cut his throat? Then that’s perfect.

Holmes: Do you think you’ll be an early target?
Bledsoe: I think I could be if the tribe make-up is such that people want to get rid of me. I feel like I can work a lot easier here with a lot of the women than a lot of the men. I think a lot of the men probably would want to target me. The strategic people might see me in a threatening way. Or, someone might just want to take down a recent, popular player. And the average age of the guys is sky high.
Holmes: You got a problem with old guys?
Bledsoe: (Laughs) I hate old guys.
Holmes: Cause an old guy can kick your ass in the Power Rankings.
Bledsoe: That’s true. If I can make it work, if I can fit that son/understudy niche it could work out fine. But, if I am threatening to an older guy because we relate to different things, or he feels excluded, or I feel excluded, then it becomes a problem.

Holmes: Who is an early target?
Bledsoe: Anyone who has proved themselves to be a bad ally could be in trouble. I think Kass might be sweating it because she has shown to be disloyal, not a good challenge competitor, not very helpful to her tribe. And then I think that the more threatening players are. There’s a huge gap. There are players who are good and players who aren’t. And those who are good are really threatening players; Jeremy, Vytas, Ciera, some of these players are strong and have great reputations. It’s the people in the middle who probably feel safe.

Holmes: Eleven people didn’t come on this journey, and they’ve already been talking. Since you hopped on that bus there has been a lot of talk about pre-game alliances.
Bledsoe: I’ve tried to err on the side of underplaying that side of the game because I think it’s easier to recover from. When you’re Brad Culpepper and you’re going nuts, having Monica call everyone and hiring software engineers to write code to get you votes? If you’re going that hard pre-game? If you’re calling everyone incessantly, that’s hard to recover from. If you’re keeping it low-key, that’s easy to recover from. I’ve had six or seven people here that I’ve talked with frequently. With who I’ve said, “I trust you on some level.” I feel really good about Shirin, about Kelley Wentworth, Andrew Savage by proxy of some of those people. Stephen Fishbach, that’s a natural pairing. Tasha from my season. I really like Peih-Gee. And then I have people I have surface-level relationships with, just being friendly.

Holmes: There are four Cagayaners…is that correct? Cagayanees?
Bledsoe: That’s probably the lesser of the many evils you could come up with.
Holmes: And the worst is…?
Bledsoe: I think Rob Cesternino has done pretty much every imaginable pronunciation.
Holmes: Having three people from your season along, is that good? Bad?
Bledsoe: I like Tasha, we could be partners. But, it comes out in the wash because it could create a target because people expect to have us together. I think with someone like Kass it’s a negative because we’re not tight and people could suspect that we are. I think there’s definitely a strong, noticeable minority of people who think Kass and I are secret friends.
Holmes: Because that’s true.
Bledsoe: Yup! We’re thick as thieves. I don’t know what she’s thinking. I don’t know if she wants to immediately target me. But we’re not super tight. And given that some people think we’re tight, that hurts me more than it helps me.

Holmes: If there are any twists, what do you think they are?
Bledsoe: Hmm…do you think Jeff Probst has the gall to bring back Redemption Island?
Holmes: I can’t say.
Bledsoe: But you do know!
Holmes: I do. That’s what makes this job fun.
Bledsoe: (Laughs) I do know there is a school-yard pick for the tribes.
Holmes: How do you know that?
Bledsoe: I overheard Dalton (Ross) talking.
Holmes: OK. I’m neither confirming nor denying.
Bledsoe: (Stares at Gordon)
Holmes: I think I know Dalton a little better than that. Basically he’s the Terry Dietz to my Spencer Bledsoe.
Bledsoe: (Laughs)
Holmes: You’re trying to trick me after all we’ve been through?
Bledsoe: (Laughs)
Holmes: I’m not even mad, I’m proud.
Bledsoe: Don’t tell him, I’m going to try the same thing on him. But I do think the tribe division is the heaviest thing on everybody’s minds. We all thought we’d get some clue when wardrobe was decided by color schemes, but then we were told to wear something similar to last time. They could do something like men vs. women. I pray it’s not that. Maybe it’s an age thing? But, the numbers don’t seem to be there. Maybe it’ll just be you ten over here and you ten over there.

Holmes: Alright, we’re going to play “Align or Malign.” In my hand I have nineteen cards featuring your competitors. You’ll go through them and tell me who you’ll align with and who you’ll malign. Trick is, you only get eight aligns.

Bledsoe: Kelly Wiglesworth, she’s tough for me. I don’t know if I can align with someone frozen in a time capsule and doesn’t want to make an alliance. I think I’d have a hard time playing with Kelly because I wouldn’t trust her to not vote off some random person because they’re not helping with camp life even if it contradicts our strategic goals. So, malign.

Bledsoe: Jeremy…I like. We were competitors on Mr. Survivor.
Holmes: And who won that?
Bledsoe: I believe I did. So I imagine Jeremy is out to get me. I couldn’t blame him. I couldn’t deal with someone taking the greatest prize out from under me. So, I have to malign Jeremy before he maligns me.

Bledsoe: Monica is a pretty friendly person from the pre-game interactions. I’ve never talked to her. But at the same time, she seems to be smiling and nodding at everyone. I think she has a lot of strategic chops that we didn’t see in Samoa, so I’m going to malign her as well.

Bledsoe: Jeff Varner…I like. I think it’d be easy to relate to him over the fact that Kimmi is annoying as hell. So, I’ll align with Jeff.

Bledsoe: Vytas…Vytas and I have talked pre-game. But, I trust him, as Jeff Probst would say 0.0%.
Holmes: We’re going to hear about that forever, aren’t we?
Bledsoe: (Laughs) Yeah.
Holmes: You should just get the tattoo.
Bledsoe: Well when I win I’ll have to get a 100.0% tattoo.
Holmes: Nice.
Bledsoe: The thing with Vytas is I think he thinks people buy his (expletive deleted) a lot more than they do. Vytas will go up to and in a seemingly sincere tone say, “Hey man, I just want to go out there and have fun. I just want to make great friends. This is going to be awesome.” I think he thinks people are eating it up when they’re not. I think he could be someone I work with at some point, but I always trust Vytas to what’s best for Vytas. So, malign.

Bledsoe: I really like Peih-Gee. We had brief interaction, but I have a good vibe from her. I’m going to align Peih-Gee.

Bledsoe: Stephen I have a lot in common with. We’re both deep in the RHAP community. He’s someone kind of like Vytas where I trust him to do what’s best for him. But he’s smoother and would be a better ally, so I’ll align with Stephen.

Bledsoe: Tasha, I love Tasha. I’ll align with Tasha.

Bledsoe: Kass? Is there another category other than “Align” and “Malign”? Can we get an “Exterminate” pile? I guess I’ll just malign her.

Bledsoe: Shirin is my favorite person in this group. If I can get a positive Harry Potter word association from her I’ll consider it a successful season.
Holmes: The damn Dirty 30 and their pre-determined word associations.
Bledsoe: You didn’t like that?
Holmes: It did make me feel loved that they took the time to put something together. But, it defeated the purpose.
Bledsoe: I helped her with that.
Holmes: So, you’re to blame.
Bledsoe: Hardcore aligning with Shirin.

Bledsoe: Kelley I really like. We’ve talked a decent bit. I think she’s a better player than she got to show. I’ll align with her.

Bledsoe: Terry…I could go either way. A fun story is that Trish tried to force me and Terry into an alliance. She Facebook messaged me, “I don’t know much, but I know people. You can trust Terry (expletive deleted) Dietz. We’re (expletive deleted) Boston!” Even though he’s not (expletive deleted) Boston. I messaged him, we had a decent chat. He could be a guy who’s plopped out of “Mad Men” and if that happens, then me and the people I want to align with will not be a fan. So I’ll err on the side of maligning.

Bledsoe: Abi-Maria…again I could go either way. I could see her being tolerable. She is the most ridiculously chatty person ever and it will be annoying. It could work out to use her. But, again I’ll err on the side of maligning.

Bledsoe: Ciera, can’t go against a fellow Power Ranker. Align.
Holmes: The tightest bond you can possibly have.

Bledsoe: Woo…I like Woo. I think if I could align with nine people I would align with Woo. But, I don’t know where his head is at. And I’d like to reduce that Cagayan target. So, malign.

Bledsoe: Keith…I don’t have anything against Keith, but I don’t see a particular reason to align with Keith. He could be someone good to take to the end, because even if he played a good game I don’t know if people would respect him or credit him with it. But, I think early on I’m not going to be thinking that far ahead. So, malign.
Bledsoe: Kimmi, she hasn’t even spoken to me yet, but she seems extraordinarily annoying. She doesn’t seem very self aware to me. She doesn’t seem like someone who could bring in new people or bridge gaps, mend fences. So, I’m going to malign Kimmi.

Bledsoe: Andrew, I think he’s really solid. He has definitely a degree of wanting to play loyally which is extremely rare in the 31st season of “Survivor.” So, if I could play with him, I would align with him.

Bledsoe: Last one.
Holmes: And you’re out of aligns.
Bledsoe: You’ve got to take out the golden boy. So, I’m maligning Joe.
Holmes: Sorry, Joey Amazing.

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

“Survivor: Second Chance” will kick off with a special 90-minute premiere on Wednesday, September 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.

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‘Survivor’ Host Jeff Probst Aligns or Maligns the ‘Second Chance’ Cast

August 26, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV sent me deep into the Cambodian wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Second Chance” goodness. So, be sure to check back for exclusive interviews, photos, and behind-the-scenes tidbits. And, follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

Gordon Holmes: Alright, I hold before you a deck of twenty cards that feature the “Second Chance” contestants.
Jeff Probst:  I need a set of those!
Holmes: I need them for now, but you can have them when I leave.
Jeff Probst:  Those are super cool. Did you make them?
Holmes: I did. My fiancée is a teacher, she knows all about laminating things. So, the reason they are here is because…
Probst: You’re going to be a great dad. That’s a dad move.
Holmes: (Laughs) I can’t wait. Anywho, we’re going to play a game called “Align or Malign.”
Probst: Oh…I like it.
Holmes: You’re going to go through this deck and you’re going to tell me who you’re going to align with and who you’re going to malign. The catch is you only get eight aligns.
Probst: OK.
Holmes: It was very interesting when I did this with the cast.
Probst:  You did this with the cast?
Holmes:  Oh yeah.
Probst: Wow, you always have one unusual, clever idea.
Holmes: Gordon Holmes, unusually clever.
Probst: (Laughs)
Holmes: Alright, let’s do this…

Jeff Probst’s “Align or Malign”

Woo…malign. He just doesn’t make the cut as far as trusting that I could rely on him strategically and trust his advice.

Spencer…align. I would love to go all the way with Spencer. I trust his instincts and if he came to me and said, “This is what we should do.” I would believe him. I would think he was gunning for me, so I’d have to watch him.

Peih-Gee…malign. Peih-Gee has no shot to win. I know that. She’s going to annoy people. So, I might as well get ahead of that bus.

Shirin…malign, but with an asterisk. I only get eight aligns. I actually think Shirin is a really good person to align with because she is loyal and she does know the game. But, I only have eight choices and she’s not going to make the cut because she’s going to annoy other people and I can’t have that.

Monica…malign. She’s hot and she’s street smart which is a really great quality on “Survivor.” But, I do not think she can get deep enough and I wouldn’t trust her.

Jeremy…align. Jeremy and Spencer? I’m good to go. Jeremy is trustworthy, likable, great strategist. I’d know going into it that he wanted to take me out, but I’d be OK with that.

Vytas…in any other season I would align with Vytas, but in this season I’m maligning him. I think Vytas is one of our villains this season and I think trust is going to be a big issue for him.

Abi…malign. No way.

Kelly Wiglesworth…align. I’m putting Kelly Wiglesworth in my align…maybe it’s because she doesn’t watch television. Maybe it’s because she hasn’t kept up on “Survivor.” There’s something pure about her. She’s physically in great shape. I think I could manipulate her to trust me and just vote the way I tell her to.

Terry…oh, we’re getting down to it…Dietz…I’m going to malign. And the only reason is; I don’t think Terry really, fully understands how to play strategically. But Terry is super likable. I’d love it if he won.

Savage…align. Like Dietz he’s very good physically, very good strategically. And, I think I could take him out before he took me out.

Tasha…align. I love Tasha and if I lost to her I’d be OK with that. Super physical…really smart. And so eager to play that I think she’s a good leader.

Kelley Wentworth…malign. I just don’t have room for her in my alliance and I don’t trust her.

Ciera…align! She’s one of my favorites, she could win the game. I think she’s very underestimated by people who think she just followed along with her mother last time. But, I don’t see that at all. I see a girl who’s been through a lot. I watched her grow. She voted out her mom. She forced a tie, she’s here to play.

Joe…align. I really like him and I wouldn’t mind losing to him. I think he could beat me in challenges and like Jeremy, Spencer, and Savage I know he’d be coming for me and I’d be ready for it.

Stephen…breaks my heart to malign him. But, I don’t think Stephen trusts me and I don’t think I could get past that.

Kimmi…malign. Fun personality, not long for the game. I just can’t spend my time there.

Kass…malign. So glad she’s here, but not in my alliance.

That leaves me with Keith and Jeff Varner who I both love equally. But, I’m going to malign…Keith because I think I’d like playing the game with Jeff more. I like the way he sees people. I like his sarcastic point of view. So, Jeff Varner will be my eighth and final align.

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

“Survivor: Second Chance” will kick off with a special 90-minute premiere on Wednesday, September 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.

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‘Survivor’ Host Jeff Probst Breaks Down the ‘Second Chance’ Twists

August 25, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV sent me deep into the Cambodian wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Second Chance” goodness. So, be sure to check back for exclusive interviews, photos, and behind-the-scenes tidbits. And, follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

Strap your buffs snugly around your head or wrist (or go for the tube top look if you’re feeling saucy), because “Survivor” season is finally upon us!  “Survivor: Second Chance” will kick off with a special 90-minute premiere on Wednesday, September 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.

With a season made up of twenty returning contestants, you know there’s going to be some curveballs. So, I spoke to the man himself, “Survivor” host and Executive Producer Jeff Probst, to get an early look at the trials and tribulations he has planned for our returnees…

Idols in a Variety of Styles
“Usually the idols all look alike and are all very ‘Survivor’-ish. They are cast out of some sort of resin or something. You look at it and think, ‘This has to be an idol.’ This time, we’re making every idol different. One idol might look really polished and finished, and the next one might look like bits and pieces of leftover string. The next one might look like it’s made by a seven-year old as a craft project. Both of them will have the same power, but how do you convince somebody that it’s a real idol? Or will somebody get fooled and think it isn’t a real idol? Or, will someone make a fake idol thinking this is a season where they can sell it as real? The levels of gameplay with the idols should be really complicated because nobody is anticipating that an idol would not look like an idol.”

Idols Hidden at Challenges
“We’re also going to make finding the idols a little more difficult. Instead of finding an idol at camp, you’re going to find a clue. And the clue is going to say, ‘The good news is you’re very close. All you have to do is be courageous enough to grab it during your next immunity challenge.’ It will be sitting in plain sight, all you have to do is reach for it. So, while you’re participating in the challenge, and while you’re trying to help your tribe win, you’re thinking, ‘How can I get that idol and put it in my pocket without anybody seeing?’”

Shaking Up the Returnees
“We’re going to start with two tribes and then we’re going to switch it up a bit. We’re going to try to make it tougher to keep alliances together. It doesn’t mean they won’t. But we’re going to try to keep the game a little uneven. And I think they want that. I think they want the entire full-tilt boogie experience. That’s what we’re going to try to do without making it feel like a runaway train without any boundaries.”

The Return of the Double Vote?
“I can’t say. I liked it. I think it can work. The thing I really like about the extra vote is it’s uncertain if it’ll have any impact on the game. I like that. It’s a great advantage if you get the opportunity to play it. But, Dan played it and was voted out. So, it isn’t a foregone conclusion. I like adding layers like that that don’t have a certainty to their outcome.”

Second-Chance Challenges
“Once we had our list of 32 possible players, we had to start building challenges. We looked at the list and said, ‘Let’s make some assumptions. Maybe Joe will make it, maybe Wiglesworth will make it. Maybe Spencer and Ciera.’ Then we started picking challenges that they had participated in and started building them. Then you have to hope that they get voted in. Then you have to hope that they last long enough to play the challenge that you slated for them. From a thematic point of view, we were going for second chances as often as possible. In our very first challenge we’re doing ‘Quest for Fire’ which we did fifteen years ago. Kelly Wiglesworth will play again. I will say, ‘Kelly Wiglesworth did this fifteen years ago and she lost. This is her first second chance to change that history. And it’s not just challenges that they lost. Just that they participated in it. We still have to serve the big picture that is; which are the challenges we love and of them, which ones match up with our second chancers? And when it was over we said, if there are six or seven that pertain to our players, that’s great.”

Steps to Break Up Pre-Game Alliances?
“I don’t see pre-game alliances as a concern and I never have. Some producers on our show get really worked up about it and think it’s going to spoil the game. The players have no idea what the creative is, they have no idea what tribe they’re going to be on. It’s something I would do. I’d call some people. But if you don’t end up on my tribe, or if a better alliance comes up to me, now I’m in a bad spot if I promised you something before the game started. I’ve talked to a lot of former players and they say everybody calls everybody, then you get out there and it goes away. And if it doesn’t, if somebody has a pre-game alliance and they’re able to keep that together for 39-days? Nice job.”

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

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WWE Divas Champion Nikki Bella on the Divas Revolution, Cena’s Broken Nose

August 18, 2015

WWE Divas Champion Nikki Bella (WWE)

WWE SummerSlam is right around the corner and the Divas Revolution is heating up. With the infusion of new talent such as Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks, some would say that the Divas division hasn’t been this competitive since Lita and Trish Stratus main evented “WWE Raw.”

I spoke to Nikki Bella in the days leading up to SummerSlam and asked her about the three-team, nine-woman elimination tag match, her new competition, and the possibility of being the longest-reigning Divas Champion ever.

Gordon Holmes: I have a bone to pick with you.
Nikki Bella: Uh oh.
Holmes: I was on WWE.com searching for some kind of application to join Team Bella and I couldn’t find one.
Bella: You know what? I need to discuss this with Team Bella.
Holmes: I could be a huge asset to Team Bella. I can write press releases. I can do a ton of things. Please take it under consideration.
Bella: I will. I can’t believe I haven’t even thought of that. Because technically, Team Bella should be bigger than any other team…and stronger. It should be an army.
Holmes: Exactly, I’m glad we’re on the same page.
Bella: (Laughs) I love it.

Holmes: Alright, we’ve got this Divas Revolution going on with all of these talented youngsters coming up from NXT. You’ve got Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and the NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks. Now, I feel like you’ve made some big strides over the past few years to become a very talented in-ring performer. However, these Divas from NXT get all this time and they’re in main events, do they have an unfair advantage?
Bella: They’re fortunate. And by the way, thank you for the compliment.
Holmes: Well deserved.
Bella: They’re fortunate because not only do they get to be at this amazing facility at NXT, it’s like being at a division one college. They get TV on an amazing network, and then they have all this time. And let me tell you, over the years I have learned so much and I have grown in the ring. And the one thing I’ve realized is; some of my best performances are because I have time. I have so much time to tell a story that I can bring the people in. I can make them cheer and I can make them boo.  I think that’s been the one unfortunate thing for main roster girls is we have a lot of talented girls on the roster, but you never get to see it. When you get out there and they’re like, “Three minutes.” How do I get the crowd involved in three minutes and do a finish and have you buy it and believe it? You just can’t. And sometimes I’m working with girls that I’ve never even touched in the ring. I’ve known you for two years, but what do you do in the ring? These NXT girls get to practice together every day and that helps you become good. So, I hate to use the words, “unfair advantage, “ I just think they’re very fortunate. But, if that makes the Divas division better, then I am so for it, because I am having a blast with this Divas Revolution. It’s so fun to have the crowd so involved and to work with girls who are really good.

Holmes: If you had to rank the three newbies, what order would you put them in?
Bella: That’s so tough.
Holmes:  I’m not here to go easy on you, Nikki.
Bella: I know! When you look at Sasha, she’s the total package from looks, in-ring work, gear, personality, she’s the NXT Champion. Then you look at Charlotte; maybe she’s my number two because her dad is legendary, she has Flair running through her blood. She looks like her dad. She has his aura. When Charlotte comes out, she’s very much like Ric. She’s fancy in the ring. This is tough for me, because Becky is…I think, one of the best in-ring workers. Out of all of them, Becky…I think out of all three of the underdogs, I think they’d like to push Charlotte and Sasha. Not that she’s been left out, but she’s kind of a third wheel. But, she’s very good in that ring. And she’s one of the sweetest girls you’ll ever meet in your life. When I broke my leg and was coming back, she was the one girl that would bump for me and work really hard with me. In the end, she’ll probably be the one that shines. Because you know the one that’s not making that much noise in the beginning, watch in the end, she’ll be making a ton. I don’t want to rank them!
Holmes: Mwahahaha.
Bella: But I’d go Sasha, Charlotte, Becky. It makes me feel bad saying that because I like them all a lot.

Holmes: This kind of got brushed under the rug; but during the Wrestlemania pre-game show, Lita made a comment about a potential Bellas vs. Besties match at the next Wrestlemania. Would you and Brie be up for taking on Lita and Trish Stratus?
Bella: That would be a dream. I loved it because Lita was rocking a Brie Mode shirt on “Tough Enough” a few episodes ago. I would love for that to happen. If Brie and I took on Lita and Trish, that right there…if you’re a basketball fan, it’d be like getting on the court with Michael Jordan. Or getting on the field with Babe Ruth or Derek Jeter. For us, that would be legendary. I would love it. I hope it happens. I think it’d be an amazing match. So, cross your fingers.

Holmes: All ten are crossed. I have a beautiful fiancée who I love and adore. I’ve never had to sit by and watch as her nose is smashed in on national TV.
Bella: (Laughs)
Holmes: What is that like exactly?
Bella: It’s horrible!
Holmes: (Laughs)
Bella: I was like a mom freaking out when her kid gets hurt. I ran up to Gorilla and was like, “John’s nose is on the side of his face, why is he still wrestling?!” But, you know him. He’s so strong. I was with him in the hospital that night. He had emergency surgery. And, I was with him all week before I left for the wrestling shows. But, I’ve just never known anyone who heals like him. He’s 100%, and it’s crazy. He’s not lying. He’s fully healed. It was just really hard to watch. And then being at work and watching the replays, I was just like, “OK, I’ve had enough!”

Holmes: At SummerSlam you’ll be participating in a three-team, nine-woman elimination tag team match. What can we expect from Team Bella?
Bella: Um…victory.
Holmes:  (Laughs)
Bella: (Laughs) Right? Dominance, aggressiveness. The one thing about Team Bella compared to the other girls is that Brie and I have been here for almost nine years. Alicia Fox has been here for almost ten years. We have years on our side. Not only that, we have years together. The other teams have some new ones, you have some old ones. And, you’re looking at three very aggressive women. Fox is so athletic and so aggressive. And my sister has fire like I’ve never seen. So, I think we’re going to be very dominant in that match.

Holmes: Who do you like in the Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker match?
Bella: It’s so tough, because I will admit, and I know people will say, “No, Nikki!”, but I like Brock Lesnar.
Holmes: No, Nikki!
Bella: I know! He’s an amazing athlete and he broke the streak. But, Taker is legendary. Everything about him is amazing. I do hope Undertaker gets his revenge on Brock, but I’m a big Brock Lesnar fan.

Holmes: You have held the Divas Championship forever. You’re quickly approaching the record held by AJ Lee. What does it mean to you to be so close to eclipsing that record?
Bella: It’s been 262 days, but who’s counting, right?
Holmes: Precisely.
Bella: (Laughs) To me, it would be the feeling of what an Olympic athlete feels like when they win the gold. To set a record that makes you go down in history as the top of the top? It’d truly be an honor. It’d be a dream come true. It’s funny because there are a few things on my vision board that I look at every day and that’s one of them. That one, I put to be the top Diva. I put it on my vision board four years ago.  What can I do to get to that? And I get a lot of hate for it, and a lot of love for it. In that moment I don’t care what anyone thinks. All that hard work pays off, all those years of missing every family event pays off. All the blood, sweat, and tears pays off. I just would be so honored. I try not to think about it too much. I don’t want to get my hopes up and then I drop the title a week before it. But when it happens I’m going to pop a bottle of champagne and just reminisce about the last ten years.

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

Posted in General, Total Divas, wwe | Comments Off on WWE Divas Champion Nikki Bella on the Divas Revolution, Cena’s Broken Nose

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