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My Two Cents: Gordon Holmes’ ‘Survivor: Second Chance’ Ballot

May 13, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV will be sending me deep into the wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Second Chance” goodness. Before the season airs, I’ll have all manner of behind-the-scenes interviews, images, and more to share. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

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I’ve been asking myself about a million questions about the “Second Chance” vote, here are five of them…

1. Will fans vote for villains? Do I want to see “Chaos” Kass and Abi-Maria stirring the pot? You bet I do. Will others voters be wary of rewarding their bad behavior? Possibly. I hope not.

2. How powerful is the casual vote? I tend to break fans into two groups; the hardcore fans who can remember every challenge from every season and the casuals who just think of the show as a welcome diversion. Odds are if you’re reading this article, you’re probably a hardcore fan. And if you are, I’ve got bad news for you; the casuals outnumber the hardcores…by a lot. Need some proof? Who do you think was the “Player of the Season” in “Survivor: Philippines”? Penner? Malcolm? Denise? No offense to my favorite “Facts of Life” cast member, but the casual fans said it was Lisa Whelchel.

3. How strong will the recency bias be? Preeeeeeetty strong. I assume recency bias is the reason why Colby Donaldson and Rudy Boesch aren’t in the “Survivor” Hall of Fame. There are “Survivor” fans who are old enough to drive who were one year old when Kelly was the victim of Sue’s legendary speech.

4. How many people from each season should return? It seems like the Worlds Aparters would have an advantage if all five of them were voted on, but I disagree. Odds are if you have Shirin and Mike on one tribe and Joe, Carolyn, and Max on the other, it’s going to cause serious problems. The game doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The other fifteen people know that the #Dirty30 are close. They’d all be immediate targets for fear of them getting to the merge together. For this reason, I’m limiting my votes to two people per season.

5. Have  they ever participated in the XFINITY “Survivor” Power Rankings? Hey, you have your criteria, I have mine.

Kelly Wiglesworth – “Survivor: Borneo”: Thirty two names stand before us with the chance to return to “Survivor.” Of them, if CBS were to give me one Golden Ticket to hand out to ensure someone makes the final cut (and believe me, I asked for one), I wouldn’t think twice before handing it to Kelly Wiglesworth. Bring her back!
Jeff Varner – “Survivor: The Australian Outback”: I’m sorry, Kimmi. Of the sixteen people who participated in “Survivor: The Australian Outback,” six (six!) have already been invited back. So, I’m only voting for one person from that season. And since you spilled the beans to Tina back in the day, it only seems fair that Jeff gets the nod.
Andrew Savage – “Survivor: Pearl Islands”: As a victim of the notorious “Outwit Outplay Outcast” twist, Andrew definitely falls into the “deserves a second chance” category.
Shane Powers – “Survivor: Panama”: Do you really need me to explain this vote? It’s a crime that it’s taken this long to bring this man back. Shane is smart, charismatic, and funny. Go vote for him now…and everyday…several times a day.
Terry Dietz – “Survivor: Panama”: People have been dying to have Terry back ever since he won 37 consecutive immunity challenges in Panama, and I’m all for it. Add to that a possible showdown with Aras’s brother Vytas and the storyline can write itself.
Peih-Gee Law – “Survivor: China”: She giggled as she gleefully threw a challenge, she had no problem going toe-to-toe with human “Masters of the Universe” action figure James, and she put up with the horrible Chinese weather. Give this woman a second chance. And while we’re at it; why no Frosti?!
Stephen Fishbach – “Survivor:  Tocantins”: You know why I’m excited to have Stephen back on the show? Because of the challenge where you had to memorize the math symbols. Stephen did it in one pass! “Survivor” needs more of that kind of outside-the-box thinking. That, and I have this thing about finalists…
Natalie Tenerelli – “Survivor: Redemption Island”: Some of you out there are going to disagree with me on this one, but I love the idea of someone who has never had their torch snuffed coming back. I’m talking about your Jenna Morascas, your Michael Skupins, and your Natalie Tenerellis.
Stephanie Valencia – “Survivor: Redemption Island”: I’ve always liked Stephanie. But don’t take my word for it…

“I think Stephanie could have been ten times better than Parvati.” – Russell Hantz – 2011 “Survivor” Hall of Fame Ballot
Jim Rice – “Survivor: South Pacific”: I’ve been beating the Jim Rice drum for years now. The man is smart, he’s creative, and he isn’t afraid to speak his mind. He has the highest possible ceiling and the lowest possible floor. He could be out first or win the whole thing.
Mikayla Wingle – “Survivor: South Pacific”: It’s a shame that Mikayla’s “South Pacific” edit basically consisted of Brandon Hantz’s creepy comments about her. Mikayla is genuinely hilarious, personable, and has the potential to be a real individual immunity threat.
Sabrina Thompson – “Survivor: One World”: Another finalist insta-vote. Also of note, Sabrina could have won the whole thing if she wasn’t partnered with one of the most dominant players ever.
Abi-Maria Gomes – “Survivor: Philippines”: Abi-Maria is the best kind of villain; an unpredictable tornado inside the game and a pretty cool person outside of it. And maybe if I vote for her she’ll send some Xi Cocktails my way.
Vytas Baskauskas – “Survivor: Blood vs. Water”: Ah…poor Vytas. He had all the potential in the world until I picked him to win his rookie season. That endorsement was enough to jinx what should have been a promising contender. As a way to make amends, Vytas has my full support. (And, I’ll be sure to pick someone else to win this season.)
Ciera Eastin – “Survivor: Blood vs. Water”: Ciera voted out her mom. Need me to repeat that? She voted out her mom. My sister is still mad about something dumb my mom said on Facebook. And she had the guts to pull rocks. I won’t even confront my neighbor whose dog keeps pooping in my yard.
Spencer Bledsoe – “Survivor: Cagayan”: Why must we continue this dance? I want Spencer back in the game. You want Spencer back in the game. Put Spencer back in the game immediately. Imagine how much better he’ll be now that he knows not leave idol clues laying around for the Woos of the world to find them?
“Chaos” Kass McQuillen – “Survivor: Cagayan”: Why do we need the chaotic one on this season? Because she’s our greatest villain in a post-Russell Hantz world. Vote for Kass.
Jeremy Collins – “Survivor: San Juan del Sur”: See Vytas.
Max Dawson – “Survivor: Worlds Apart”: Joe’s a shoo-in, Mike (if he doesn’t win “Worlds Apart”) is a shoo-in. But Max? Where Max ends up is going to tell us a lot about the vote. He didn’t last long, he made a rookie mistake, and casual fans weren’t given much of a reason to like him. That being said, Max is a cool guy. He knows the game. And given a second chance, he can probably squeeze in twice as many Keith Famie references.
Shirin Oskooi – “Survivor: Worlds Apart”: Admit it, you want to see Shirin geek out when she meets Kelly Wiglesworth as much as I do. Also, we never really got to see Shirin moving and shaking. From the So elimination on, she was on the bottom of the game. Let’s see what she can do when she has some room to maneuver.

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

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‘Survivor’ Power Rankings Round 11 – First-Chance Edition

May 12, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

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

[xfinity-record-button id=”7116600190773202112″ program_type=”series”]

The Rules: Each week our three combatants will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of the next episode will determine the number of points the three players will earn. For example, if Carolyn is voted out this week, Josh and Reed will each receive one point and Gordon will receive two points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Worlds Apart” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor: Worlds Apart”

Last Week: Josh had Tyler in spot four, Reed had him in six, and I had him in seven. So, the current score is Team Josh 79, Team Reed 87, and Team Gordon 88.

Josh’s Score = 79

Any questions for Josh? Drop him a line on Twitter: @joshuacanfield

Reed’s Score = 87

Any questions for Reed? Drop him a line on Twitter: @thereedkelly

Gordon’s Score = 88

Any questions for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
 1. Carolyn: She betrayed her closest ally Tyler this past week.  Was it the smartest choice at this point?  Would Tyler have done the same to her soon?  Regardless, she is killing it in this game.  She’s strong in challenges, has made big moves, and still has the idol.  If the others let her in to the Final, she will win the whole thing. #yeahbaby   1. Carolyn: I love that she made the push with Mike to take out the threat, Tyler; wise on her part.  Wondering if anyone else knows about her idol now.  She has several viable options and in addition to that idol.  Without an act of overconfidence, I don’t see her going home this week.
  1. Will: Oh man, Will’s such a lock to go to the end of this game. Seriously, why bother going to immunity challenges? Why go to Tribal?  Just jot down your vote on a spare piece of paper and let Rodney deliver it.
  2. Will: The best goat this season.  I can’t think of one reason that a jury member may vote for him. #golden
  2. Will: Are we just to assume that he is so ensconced in numbers and such a non-threat that he’s just going to sail to the FTC?  It’s always fascinating to me to watch this particular archetype get so far along season after season.
  2. Carolyn: Mama C stabbed her biggest ally in the back last week. Good move? Well, if Mike loses one of the next immunity challenges and they can finally send him home, she’s a genius. If Mike can run through a Tyler-less field and get to the end, she’s going to regret it.
  3. Sierra: She needs to do something, anything, so that she can have content in her FTC speech. #ghost
   3. Sierra: Wondering who is going to align with her to take advantage of her eager vote.  I feel like she is constantly poking around the edges, trying to find her way into a solid sub-alliance.
  3. Rodney: For the love of all that is good with “Survivor,” will someone please bring a birthday cake to the finale? Can Probst lead the audience in a chorus of “Happy Birthday”? I felt terrible. And in spite of his crushing disappointment, at least he was trying to come up with a way to trick Mike into not playing the idol.
  4. Rodney: Poor, sad, angry birthday boy seems to be the man that everyone looks to for decisions, which is really strange to me.  How did he get this position?  By being the loudest, or maybe the most sexist?  Perhaps.  Whatever the reason, it’s worked and he is in the final six eyeing FTC. #loudleader
   4. Rodney: Besides seeing him pout over it being the worst Birthday ever (which I don’t know how any other BDay could top one being celebrated during a game of “Survivor”), we didn’t see much from him in this episode.  Not sure if that means there could be a lot of him coming up in a boot episode or if he goes even deeper.
  4. Dan: Everyone is afraid of Dan’s advantage and this next Tribal is the best time to use it. It turns an even vote into an odd vote and as we’ve discussed before, odd votes are the best time to make moves. If I’m Dan, I pick my two partners and make my move now. If it works, the next vote will be final five and you’ll already have the numbers.
 5. Dan: He is paranoid after votes have been cast his way.  He will make some (more) mistakes this next episode as he tries to do anything to get the focus off of him.  #treadingwater
  5. Dan: I feel people (like Carolyn) would be smart to align with him to capitalize on his advantage and then sit next to him at the FTC.  He needs to start advocating to others the benefits of him being the perfect goat if he’d like to make it to the FTC.
  5. Sierra: So, the consensus among the exit interviews seems to be that most people want to go to the end with Rodney and Will. Makes sense to me, although, I think the jury might like Rodney more than they’ve been showing. But what about Sierra? It seems like she might not get points for her gameplay, but she’s been a prominent part of the Ladies Couch. The jury likes her. If Mike wins immunity, I’d target her.
 6. Mike: He successfully fractured the alliance by playing his idol and sending Tyler packing.  This guy is hanging on for dear life, and will do anything to stay in the game. #lastchance
  6. Mike: He is playing a balls-to-the-wall game right now because he has to and he caused the majority alliance to cannibalize one of their own.  As much as I love rooting for him as an underdog story, I’m not sure if he’ll make it past this week or next.
  6. Mike: Forget the “Second Chance” vote, Merica Mike can win “Survivor: Worlds Apart.” But, he’s gotta be perfect. He needs to find an idol or go on a perfect challenge winning streak, because anyone who decides to throw him a bone and vote with him is playing for second place.

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‘Survivor’ Power Rankings Round 8 – ‘Galaxy Quest’ Edition

April 22, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart"/"Galaxy Quest" (CBS/Dreamworks)

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

[xfinity-record-button id=”7116600190773202112″ program_type=”series”]

The Rules: Each week our three combatants will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of the next episode will determine the number of points the three players will earn. For example, if Carolyn is voted out this week, Josh and Reed will each receive one point and Gordon will receive two points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Worlds Apart” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Last Week: Everybody knew Joe was a goner so they all had him in spot ten. The current score is Team Josh 68, Team Reed 72, and Team Gordon 73.

Quick Aside: Why is Gordon going with a “Galaxy Quest” theme for his rankings this week? Because there’s talk of bringing the movie back as a TV series and because it’s awesome.

Another Quick Aside: What is “Galaxy Quest“? It’s a 1999 movie that is basically “The Three Amigos” in space.

Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor: Worlds Apart”

Josh’s Score = 68

Any questions for Josh? Drop him a line on Twitter: @joshuacanfield

Reed’s Score = 72

Any questions for Reed? Drop him a line on Twitter: @thereedkelly

Gordon’s Score = 73

Any questions for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
 1. Carolyn: Still poised and ready for something exciting.  The other tribe mates better watch out, this one could win it all.  #MamaCisheretostay   1. Carolyn: I’m glad she’s utilizing the people around her like Rodney.  It’s always nice to have multiple ways to the end and she seems like she is doing a great job at trying to set those up.
  1. Sierra is Gwen DeMarco (Lieutenant Tawny Madison): Gwen was bummed out that all her character would do is repeat what the computer said. Well, that’s pretty much what Sierra is doing at this point. This strategy could get her to the end, but if she wants to win the whole thing, she’s going to have to shake things up.
  2. Sierra: She’s the ideal person to take to the final.  She hasn’t done much in the game, and she’s not as annoying as I suppose Dan and Will are.  #ridemycoattails
  2. Sierra: Girl seems to be nestled deep into some numbers.  It would take quite a shake-up to change this currently, which is never outside the realm of possibility on “Survivor.”
  2. Carolyn is Tommy Webber (Lieutenant Laredo): In much the same way that Sarris revealed that the actors weren’t really members of a space expedition crew, Shirin revealed that Carolyn might be the most dangerous person in this game. Now, this wasn’t as shocking to Mike as it was to Mathesar,but it’s important to have out there.  And, I’ll bring this shaky analogy full circle by saying that Carolyn could be driving this ship.
  3. Mike: Mike is likeable, strong, and has made moves.  Everyone knows this.  He’ll be a target soon, but if he makes it to FTC, he will end up with a check for 1 million.  #winnersedit?   3. Will: Is sailing along, not really making any waves (well, except for when he rolls listlessly down a slide like a dead body and splashes into the water).  Looking forward to hearing more of his thoughts via this upcoming outburst at Shirin.
  3. Dan is Guy Fleegman: Guy’s character was the “red shirt” that was sacrificed during planetary excursions to up the danger factor. That could’ve been Dan. He arguably should have been gone a long time ago. Like Guy, Dan was able to scramble and find a role for himself on the show. He’ll never be the star, but he could easily be there in the end.
  4. Dan: I’m just really done watching Dan on my TV every week.  Is that bad? Sorry.  It’s just every time he opens his mouth I cringe.  Still, there is no reason to vote him out, except for one’s sanity.  #drivemetoinsanity
   4. Dan: I’m at the point where I kind of cringe every time he starts talking.  He’s a perfect goat, if you can stand aligning with him all the way to the end.
  4. Will is Mathesar: Throughout the entire movie, Mathesar seemed like a charming, yet naïve guy. However, toward the end he flipped out and went off on Sarris. Well, if the previews are to believed, Will’s about to flip out on Shirin.
 5. Will: I’ve got nothing to say about him, because that is all we see him doing. #blank
  5. Mike: Is running his game like a boss.  It gets a little risky though when people see that too clearly.  He needs to negotiate this balance carefully, especially now that Rodney’s hackles are up.
  5. Mike is Jason Nesmith (Commander Peter Quincy Taggert): He might drive his castmates crazy, but he is the star of this show. He claims to see the threats of Rodney and Carolyn coming, but what is he going to do about them? An odd-numbered vote is usually the best time to make a big move. Could he bring Jenn and Shirin along with Dan and Sierra?
 6. Shirin: I love people who claim to be the most knowledgeable about “Survivor” while playing, it obviously means they’re not.  It’s arrogant, and if you are communicating that with other players, then you don’t know as much as you thought about this game. #Jeremy2.0
  6. Tyler: I often wonder what the other castaways think of Tyler at this point.  He always seems to be pretty in the loop and up on conversations.  Others must pick up on that.
  6. Shirin is Brandon: Nobody loves “Galaxy Quest” more than Brandon. And when he gets excited about it, other people find it annoying. In the movie, Jason eventually realizes that Brandon’s enthusiasm and knowledge are valuable and uses them to save the day. Could Shirin play a similar role for Mike?
 7. Jenn: Poor, sad, Jenn.  I really liked her pre-merge, and then she spiraled downhill.  Just because you are outside the numbers, doesn’t mean you should just give up.  We have all seen players who are on the outs, come back and make it to the end. #dontbeboring
  7. Shirin: I absolutely love how hard she is playing this game.  She’s running numbers and trying to shake things up, because she has to.  I can both completely appreciate and empathize with this.
  7. Tyler is Sir Alexander Dane (Dr. Lazarus): Dr. Lazarus was a mild mannered alien who would occasionally erupt in a fit of rage. Sure, destroying Sarris’ minions was impressive, but so was tackling Mike into the water after winning a Dove bar. However, while Dr. Lazarus was constantly in Commander Taggert’s shadow, Tyler’s challenge prowess is no longer a secret.
 8. Tyler: I just can’t see the rest of the tribe letting such a threat like Tyler stay in this game.  He’s sneaky, he has alliances, he wins immunity, if I was playing with him I’d be writing his name down. #undercovermastermind
  8. Rodney: I like that he’s trying to run sub-plots with folks.  I hope he can keep his explosive outbursts in check long enough to keep pushing forward to actualize these plans.
  8. Jenn is Fred Kwan (Tech Sergeant Chen): Fred was one on of the most reliable members of the cast, but he let his emotions get the better of him. That’s Jenn. She proved with her idol play that she has the will and brains to go a long way, but she’s letting the situation get her down.
 9. Rodney: I’m actually really enjoying him.  I’ve gone through phases with him, but now I’m really excited to see what he does.  Will he be able to complete his vendetta against Mike? #abonetopick
   9. Jenn: It’s rough and demoralizing when you’re out of the numbers and likeable people around you are slim pickings; I get it.  That being said, as a fan, it’s hard to stomach all the talk about quitting.  Many times though people want to keep a person like this around over someone who is fighting to stay (i.e. Shirin).
  9. Rodney is Sarris: Everyone else is playing characters, but Sarris is the realest dude out there. Rodney is the looming threat in this game for the dominant alliance. The question is; will Mike’s idol be the Omega 13 that saves the day? (Also, Sarris did a solid Fred impersonation at the end of the movie.)

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‘Survivor’ Power Rankings Round 5 – Corporate Merger? Edition

March 31, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

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

[xfinity-record-button id=”7116600190773202112″ program_type=”series”]

The Rules: Each week our three combatants will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of the next episode will determine the number of points the three players will earn. For example, if Carolyn is voted out this week, Josh and Reed will each receive one point and Gordon will receive three points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Worlds Apart” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Last Week: Josh had Joaquin in spot ten, Reed had him in spot twelve, and Gordon had him in spot nine. The current score is Team Josh 47, Team Reed 52, Team Gordon 53.

Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor: Worlds Apart”

 

Josh’s Score = 47

Any questions for Josh? Drop him a line on Twitter: @joshuacanfield

Reed’s Score = 52

Any questions for Reed? Drop him a line on Twitter: @thereedkelly

Gordon’s Score = 53

Any questions for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
 1. Carolyn: Still making great choices with who she sides with.  I like her gameplay.  She has the idol, and most likely won’t have to worry about being a target at the beginning of the merge. #smartplay
   1. Carolyn: Is ruling from the middle right now.  She seems to have social sway within her tribes (both of them pre-merge) and an idol.  She needs to use her relationship with Tyler to her advantage while not being outfoxed by him.
  1. Jenn: This merge is a total mess. On one side you’ve got four No Collars (Jenn, Joe, Will, and Hali) where Jenn is packing an idol…
  2. Sierra: Did Sierra make the right choice?  I’m not sure, but we’ll find out as time goes by.  She now has Joe and Mike’s trust, so she is doing really well. #alwaysoptions
  2. Jenn: Ms. Thing has an idol that (as far as we know) no one knows about yet, plus she’s got some strong relationships coming into the merge.  Executed properly, these things add up to a lot of chips to play with in this game.
  2. Kelly: On the other you’ve got four Blue Collars (Kelly, Mike, Dan, and Sierra) where Sierra has just been brought back into the fold and Kelly is totally safe because she’s made ties to both sides.
  3. Jenn: Jenn is nestled safe in her No Collar alliance now and she has the idol, so as long as she doesn’t piss anyone off, other players will target Joe before her. #keepstrong
   3. Kelly: It’s nice when people are bending over backwards to help you win a challenge.  I feel like this undercover cop has got lots of options right now.
  3. Carolyn: And in the middle you’ve got two White Collars (Carolyn and Tyler) where Carolyn is toting an idol of her own...

  4. Kelly: Mike threw a challenge for her, and she must feel secure about that.  She won’t be the first target at the merge regardless if she is in the numbers or not. #loyalty
   4. Hali: Not too concerned for Hali at the moment.  She’s nestled herself under others who appear to be bigger threats to go after and her vote would be a useful one.  If it ain’t broke…
  4. Sierra: And finally, you’ve got two floaters in Shirin and Rodney who could go either way. (Note: I needed to call out our floaters to complete my thought, but in no way do I think they’re safe enough to put this high.)
 5. Hali: Hali should be fine.  No one feels threatened by her, and there will be no reason to take her out.  #sittinpretty
  5. Sierra: Sometimes it’s smarter to stick with people you have the history with even though they get on your nerves; it may not be particularly fun, but it’s part of the game.
  5. Hali: OK, back to actual ranking. Gold star to Hali last week for reaching out to Shirin after Max’s elimination. Carolyn might not have thought much of shunning Shirin back then, but every vote is going to count this week.
 6. Will: What will become of Will?  Who knows.  Joe, Jenn, and Hali are still his tight alliance.  He’s at the bottom, but at the merge, this isn’t a problem. #anotherchance
  6. Tyler: Politically he lost a bit of ground last episode.  He now needs to reconnect with Carolyn and make sure to capitalize on the use of her idol while further cultivating the relationships around him.
  6. Will: Will made it to the merge where sucking at challenges can be a plus. He’s someone who needs to start thinking of an endgame now. I don’t know if there are many jurors who are going to be impressed with his game at this point.

 7. Dan: The Blue Collar 5 are still around and I think Mike will want to use him for numbers.  Dan won’t win this game, but he may stick around a little bit longer. Someone get this man a lotto ticket, because he is lucky in this game.  #lucky1
  7. Will: He’s no power player right now, but he does seem to at least be in a group of numbers from his No Collar days.  They need to make it a majority or he could be in trouble.
  7. Dan: You’re a lucky man, Dan. If Joaquin and Rodney had a little more “Survivor” experience, I bet they could’ve offered you up to Sierra and she’d be on their side now.
  8. Joe: He worked his bun magic last week and stuck around, now he will be reunited with his No Collars.  With his charm, he just may be able to gain the numbers he needs.  Perhaps Carolyn, Shirin, and Tyler? #showusthepower
  8. Shirin: It’s going to be a little rough for Shirin right now.  She needs to make her vote an asset quickly or her socially awkward moments may be the death of her game.
  8. Shirin: Nobody needed this merge more than Shirin. And now that it’s here she has a million options. If I’m her, I’d let people come to me, figure out who’s going to win the next vote, and then stick with them for a bit.

 9. Mike: I worry a little bit for Mike this week.  He could be the target of another alliance once the merge lines are drawn.  He seems to be the obvious leader of Blue Collar, and as I found out last season, this often means you’re the one to go. #watchyourback
  9. Mike: Is at the head of a shaky alliance.  His reconnection with Kelly feels like it is an important and necessary one for his game.
  9. Tyler: The silent assassin ended up on the wrong side of the vote last week. Fortunately, the merge will erase all of that. He’s not out of the woods though, as he’s still a physical threat. (Well, he is literally in the woods all season.)
 10. Shirin: She played being on the bottom perfectly.  She realized there was a reason she was disliked and she calmed down.  She may get a second life as the merge will open up new possibilities for her.   #secondchances
   10. Dan: I don’t really see him having a ton of ability to jump social circles, so his best bet is to try to ride along with his alliance as they pick up some numbers.
  10. Joe: Joey Amazing dodged a bullet last week. And with his challenge prowess, he’s never not going to be a target. I think the biggest indicator for how far he’ll go and how strong his alliance is if Jenn uses her idol to help the No Collars at the next Tribal.
  11. Tyler: He was on the wrong side at the last tribal treehouse, but he still has an ally in Carolyn.  Will he be able to get back in some numbers?  He drops the most in power this week. #top2bottom
  11. Joe: Merge time is dangerous to all-around threats. I’m personally hopeful that Joe will reconnect with his No Collar compadres (plus a few additions) and be able to continue on deeper into this game.
  11. Rodney: I was tempted to put Rodney last seeing as he’s clearly on the outs with Mike and the Blue Collars, but the merge is going to open some doors for him. Yeah, he targeted Joe, and yeah all of Nagarote was making fun of him last week and…wait…is it too late to put him last?
  12. Rodney: I’m sure he feels betrayed by Blue Collar, but he has to realize that it was his own fault.  Actually, I don’t think Rodney would ever believe anything was his fault, that’s asking too much of him.  #hotheadwithoptions

   12. Rodney: It was a referendum against power couples last two votes and because of this, his brosef is now gone.  Overconfidence in this game can be a very dangerous thing.
  12. Mike: I think this week will turn into a No Collar vs. Blue Collar showdown. I don’t know which side the White Collars will join, I don’t know which side the floaters will join. But, I do know the No Collars have an idol.

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‘Survivor’ Castaway Lindsey – Rodney Is a “Two-Timing Scumbag”

March 20, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

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

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One week it looks like you have an awesome girl power alliance with a Boston-based fourth and the next you’re screaming at people and threatening to feed them their own jaws.

“Survivor” is kind of awesome that way.

I spoke to Lindsey the morning after her elimination to get her take on the logistics of her jaw-eating plan, what happened at Blue Collar, and why people thought she might have an idol…

Watch Every Episode of “Survivor: Worlds Apart”

Gordon Holmes: I thought you, Sierra, Rodney, and Kelly were running the show at Blue Collar. That obviously wasn’t the case. When did things split up?
Lindsey Cascaddan: For a little while we were a core four.
Holmes: Was it Rodney’s comment about women should  hold themselves to a higher standard that broke things up?
Cascaddan: You have to kind of choose not only who you’re going to play with, but also the type of person you’re going to play with. And I just wasn’t willing to play alongside Rodney and come home and have to explain that. I don’t want my friends and family to say, “You didn’t stick up for women, you didn’t stick up for humanity as a whole. What’s wrong with you?” And the Blue Collar tribe, Rodney aside, we kind of all came to that conclusion. Nobody wanted to go home and say I worked with Rodney. But, I think a couple of people decided to work with him because at the end of the day, who’s going to vote for a guy like this?
Holmes: If he is rubbing everyone the wrong way, it seems like he’s the dream person to take to the end.
Cascaddan: Right.

Holmes: I enjoyed our time together in Nicaragua, but I have to call you out on this; how can you feed someone their own jaw? They won’t have a jaw.
Cascaddan: (Laughs) You know, I think there are a couple of lines that just came so unfiltered because of exhaustion and starvation and…you know…you’re right. But, I stand by the fact that if I was his mother, I would’ve broken it and fed it to him for breakfast.

Holmes: Last week it seemed like everyone had an issue with Mike. Did you notice that Mike and Rodney were patching things up and seemingly getting along?
Cascaddan: No, Rodney and Mike weren’t pow-wowing around camp. Kelly, Sierra, and I sat Mike down at one point and said, “Dude, you’ve got to chill. We haven’t lost. Our camp is running flawlessly. You have to just take a couple of breaths and stop yelling at everybody.” And I think that Mike did the smart thing and adjusted his game. He didn’t want to piss people off all the time. But Rodney and Mike weren’t pow-wowing around camp.

Holmes: When you were discussing the fire with Mike, he was really offended by your statement that God hadn’t been tending to that fire. Have you received any feedback about that comment?
Cascaddan: I actually have not. I did get one email and all it said is “I hope you’re ready for what’s coming because of the comment.” And I’d like to reach out to that person and say, “Nothing has come to me because of that comment.” It wasn’t there to offend any religious people. It was there to say, “That’s great that you have God. We all can have God, and maybe we all do. But that’s not why the fire is being tended to. It’s being tended to because I’m tending to it.”

Holmes: Put me in your shoes for that challenge where you’re tied to a person who’s obviously injured, but you can’t even raise your buff to get a look at how serious it is.
Cascaddan: It was pretty awful. I asked her immediately after she was hit if she was OK and she said, “Yeah.” So we literally brushed it off and kept going. When I heard, “She’s bleeding,” we didn’t know who they were talking about. Kelly didn’t even know she was bleeding. It wasn’t until Jeff was like, “Blue team take a knee. Medics come in.” I asked if she was hurt and she said, “No.” Then she asked if I was hurt and I said, “No.” I think we just had so much adrenaline that when they said it was Kelly it was terrifying. You’re blindfolded, you’re wondering how bad it is. You’re also in the middle of a challenge and your game is on hold because your partner in crime is hurt. This is not good. And even in a challenge for chickens…chickens seem really important on day nine or day ten of not eating. So, I had concern for Kelly and our team.

Holmes: Did you ever think you’d become best friends with a barrel racer?
Cascaddan: I didn’t. But, I’m so happy I did. I love Sierra. I’m so Team Sierra. I can’t even tell you how much I love her.

Holmes: Help me understand Dan. One minute he’s making a savvy move and the next he’s calling everyone stupid for the way they’re building a shelter.
Cascaddan: Dan as a game player is extremely Switzerland. He’s right in the middle, he doesn’t want to have an opinion on things. He doesn’t want to form an alliance that’s actually an alliance. His outward opinion and what he said going into Tribal was, “I’ll vote for anyone who isn’t me. As long as I don’t go home, I don’t care.” I think that Dan is such a fan of “Survivor” that he doesn’t play as player, he plays as a fan. It’s really difficult to work with him. It’s difficult to play any kind of logic with him. He is funny and he is a good guy. He’s a great husband. But, he’s a little bit maddening.

Holmes: They split the vote last night between you and Sierra. Did they have a reason to think you had the idol?
Cascaddan: I played hard. I looked for the idol every single day. And for the most part, nobody else looked for the idol unless they were with me. So, they had every reason to believe that I had the idol. And if I had a clue I would’ve had it. I was relentless.
Holmes: Sometimes the clues will be found hidden in a reward. Were you looking through them?
Cascaddan: We searched high and low whenever we got a reward. The first time we kind of knew it wouldn’t be on our one little fishing gear. But, we still looked. And then when we got the comfort, I looked at that huge pile of stuff and said, “It’s in there, I’m going to find it.” I ripped apart that whole thing myself. And I’m telling you there was no clue.

Holmes: Alright, word association time. Let’s start with Kelly.
Cascaddan: Quiet, in the middle…funny…but kind of irrelevant.
Holmes: Mike?
Cascaddan: Hard-working, annoying, funny, and he’s very blue collar.
Holmes: Dan?
Cascaddan: Dan is…annoying. (Laughs) He’s maddening. He’s extravagant.
Holmes: Sierra?
Cascaddan: Beautiful, smart, funny…she’s perfect. She’s what Rodney would say is an “angel.”
Holmes: She holds herself to a higher standard.
Cascaddan: (Laughs)
Holmes: Let’s finish with Rodney.
Cascaddan: Rodney is gross. He’s all for himself. He’s a two-timing scumbag.

Holmes: Did you learn anything about yourself during your time out there?
Cascaddan: I learned a lot about myself. As a mom and someone who runs her own business…as a daughter…I just learned that being away and being kind of lost and being with strangers and…really being alone. You’re around these people, but you’re really alone. I found out what was really important to me. Being away from my daughter was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Hands down. And I learned that ultimately in my life it is more important to stay true to who you are than to win a million dollars. I think that mindset is something that not a lot of people can say that they have. I really am a strong woman and I am proud of that.

Holmes: You were my pick to win.
Cascaddan: I know!
Holmes: And my pick always loses.
Cascaddan: (Laughs) You jinxed me! Jerk!
Holmes: And I feel terrible about it. So, I’m going to make the standard deal where if you play again…
Cascaddan: I promise you’ll see me again.
Holmes: And when we do, I’ll pick someone else.
Cascaddan: Yes! Do that.

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

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‘Survivor’ Power Rankings Round 3 – Blind Man’s Buff Edition

March 17, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

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

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The Rules: Each week our three combatants will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of the next episode will determine the number of points the three players will earn. For example, if Tyler is voted out this week, Josh and Reed will each receive one point and Gordon will receive eleven points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Worlds Apart” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Last Week: Josh had Nina in spot 15, Reed had her in spot 14, and Gordon had her in spot 16. So, the current score is Team Josh 25, Team Reed 27, and Team Gordon 30.

Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor: Worlds Apart”

Josh’s Score = 25

Any questions for Josh? Drop him a line on Twitter: @joshuacanfield

Reed’s Score = 27

Any questions for Reed? Drop him a line on Twitter: @thereedkelly

Gordon’s Score = 30

Any questions for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
 1. Tyler: I’m putting Tyler on top because he and Carolyn were the ones who had the confessionals about Shirin being “annoying and obtrusive as a howler monkey”, and Max and Joaquin were not given screen time on the matter.  He is still in the best spot with every member of his tribe, including the outsider Joaq, as Tyler calls him. #Joaq+Tyler
   1. Tyler: We see him heavily involved in the goings-on within the tribe. He’s in an alliance, he’s supervising an idol hunt, and he’s narrating for us.  I feel he’s in a pretty good place as of now.
  1. Carolyn: OK, in three-tribe seasons there’s always a swap after the fourth Tribal. (See: “All-Stars,” “Philippines,” and “Cagayan.”) And ranking swaps IS THE WORST. Carolyn, you’re this high because you’re the only person we’re sure has an idol.
  2. Joe: Even though he made the wrong decision about the strategy of the challenge, his tribe didn’t blame him or even care, all they did was try and make him feel good.  This says a lot about Joe, everyone wants to be on his good side.  He is shown providing for the NC’s while others are out surfing.  He is controlling this tribe right now, no doubt. #MalcolmOzzyKiminone
  2. Carolyn: Feels nestled into numbers on her tribe and has an immunity idol.  She has a bit of a buffer between her and Ponderosa, but she needs to get out and idol hunt with the rest of them!
  2. Hali: It drives me insane when people get on me for having someone like Hali so high in the rankings. I’m not saying she’s going to win, I’m saying she is sooper safe this week. She ain’t goin’ nowhere.
  3. Hali: I think Hali has Jenn beat in the tight 3 alliance simply because I could see Hali maneuvering into another secret alliance once a swap or merge happens.  Other tribe members will want to approach her and get her in their numbers.  She will have options throughout this game. #surferbabe
   3. Joe: Catching lizards is no easy feat and of course he knows ASL!  What can this man not do?  He benched Nina, they lost, and it wasn’t his fault in their eyes.  He’s doing fine right now.
  3. Jenn: See Hali.

  4. Rodney: Rodney let too much of himself show in this last episode, and that’s not a good thing.  He’s short-tempered, arrogant, and has a hard time seeing other people’s POV.  But that being said, I don’t think this hurt his game play because it was made clear that the people he was frustrated with are the two who are at the bottom of the tribe.  The girls of Blue Collar are on #TeamRodney at this point.
   4. Max: Not a ton from our neighborhood “Survivor” expert this week, though I know that doesn’t mean he’s not up to things.  Keep on truckin, sir.
  4. Sierra: Things are getting ugly over at Maison Blue. Sierra and Kelly are the only ones who’ve managed to stay out of it. That’s a good place to be.
 5. Max: We didn’t hear or see a lot from Max this week, but I think it’s safe to say that he is in a good position.  I’d put him right in the center of the pecking order of his tribe and honestly, that is the best place to be pre-merge.  Sometimes those who are too visible in the beginning have the biggest targets on their back come merge (ex. the writer of this post). #middleground
  5. Sierra: Feels the way Lindsey does about things, has her back, but primarily lets Lindsey do the dirty work in confronting Mike.  I like it.  It’s smart.
  5. Max: Not much from Max last week. But that’s probably not a bad thing. He’d better hope his pre-challenge quips didn’t rub anyone the wrong way if there’s a swap.

 6. Sierra: The justification of putting Sierra this high is that she is the less outspoken between her and Lindsey, so if it came down to one of them going home, the focus would be on Lindsey.  These two girls are clearly tight with Rodney, and most likely with Kelly in their numbers, they are just fine. #justfine
  6. Kelly: What is it with us Kellys getting such quiet edits?? lol.  I do enjoy her when her confessionals get airtime.  I like how she stands back and lets others implode; solid gameplay happening.
  6. Shirin: What does it tell me that Carolyn didn’t go on the idol hunt? Well, Shirin and Max aren’t stupid. They’d notice her not hunting. So, she must’ve told them she has it. However, Shirin needling Joaquin might cause her trouble if Joaq finds some buddies after a swap.

 7. Lindsey: She has a mouth on her, that’s for sure, and while it makes great TV, I’m not so sure that her strong opinions will keep on being enjoyable to the people around her.  I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with her once a tribe swap happens. #truckermouth
  7. Hali: Quite frankly I have no idea how these girls had the energy to surf, but then again it’s only day seven.  Her relationships with the majority on her tribe can take her far in this game.
  7. Kelly: You said something last week! Hooray! Someone’s got to make sense of the terrible gameplay going on at Blue Collar Beach.

  8. Carolyn: You weren’t out looking for the idol with your entire tribe?!!!  What?!!  How do you not realize that by staying back at the camp it looks like you are comfortable?  She should have been out searching with everyone else, then there would be no reason to suspect she has the idol.  #rookiemistake
  8. Jenn: Has a good relationship with Hali and Joe, and let’s face it, relationships are everything in this game. A threat to her would be a tribe swap. Surfing anyone??
  8. Rodney: I was worried that you were the only one sparring with Mike, but apparently that isn’t the case. Lindsey stepped up in a big way during her little fire diatribe. If we’ve got a Rodney/Lindsey/Sierra/Kelly alliance, that’s a foursome that could go a long way.

 9. Jenn: Not sure about Jenn right now.  She’s obviously fine for another treehouse Tribal if her  team keeps their losing steak, but I worry about her future in the game.  She needs to hang on for dear life to Joe and Hali and find some good allies once the swap/merge takes place. #surferbabe2
  9. Lindsey: Is the mouthpiece for her tribe’s discontent.  This usually inkles a person feels comfortable enough to speak for the majority, that is if the situation doesn’t turn on them before they realize it.
  9. Lindsey: Oh…Lindsey. The…uh…the fire thing… It’s not cool to make fun of someone’s religion. That’s the kind of thing that could come back to bite you.
 10. Kelly: The #PurpleKelly edit right now for sure.  Still don’t know enough about her and her dynamics within the tribe to accurately assess her situation.  What I do think is that she is not on the bottom.
   10. Shirin: I’m getting a bit nervous for her as she seems to be getting on her tribe’s nerves. Behavior at camp can play a huge part in how long you stick around in this game.
  10. Dan: I have friends I’ve known for 20 years whose mothers I’m comfortable calling “(Expletive Deleted).” Would I say that to someone like Rodney after knowing him for a week? Probably not. Other than that, kudos to you for working to fix your disastrous first couple of days.
  11. Mike: Mike this is “Survivor” not your worksite.  It’s a social experiment, and if you have watched any of this show before you know that you can’t boss people around or tell them how they are supposed to be playing this game.  If you want to work hard, do it, but don’t push that on anyone else.  Calm down, and you’ll be fine, keep up the captain role, and torch snuff. #Dale
  11. Mike: Eek.  I get nervous for him with his complete lack of self-awareness.  You’re never going to “win” in those confrontations with tribe-mates.  Just smile and agree.
  11. Tyler: Everyone thinks Tyler is the man over at White Collar. I don’t believe it. I think there’s still a very solid Carolyn/Shirin/Max alliance and if Joaquin went out next, Tyler would be right after him.
  12. Joaquin: Everyone, including him, keeps saying that he is on the outs of his tribe, but from this episode it seemed as if Shirin was on the bottom.  Will this hold up?  Not sure, but he’s getting close to Tyler which is smart, and he’s essential in helping the WCs win challenges, I’d keep him around. #leaningout
   12. Rodney: His hot-headedness will be his undoing in this game.  Chill out, bro. He needs to deescalate and disengage, but I don’t think he can help himself.
  12. Joe: What?! Why is golden Joe so low? Because I only have one rule I stick to during swaps; the dominant challenge competitor in the tribe that is down numbers is always in danger. Now, this is less of an issue with three tribes, but I’m not risking it. Joe is in big trouble if there’s a swap.

 13. Shirin: I was hoping that Shirin’s quirkiness would help her in this game, but it’s gone the other way and her tribe just seems annoyed by her.  Not a good sign when your alliance members are saying that you would be next to go.  She needs to go invisible for a little bit so that the attention can go back on Joaquin. #monkeysex
   13. Dan: Treading water in his tribe, just trying to stay afloat.  His biggest savior is other people’s ridiculousness drawing the focus off of his awkwardness and rough edges.
  13. Mike: I blame myself. When Mike and I sat down before the game started I should have looked him in the eye and said, “Don’t ask people to vote you out.” Maybe a new tribe will give Mike a chance to reset.
 14. Dan: He’s desperately trying to fit in, but he doesn’t.  If he wouldn’t try so hard he could easily get the target on Mike and off of himself.  I don’t think he has the self-awareness to do this. #keepquiet
  14. Will: Looks like he’s really working to show his allegiance to his tribe, but he comes across as a shifty character to them and they’re uneasy … rightfully so.
  14. Joaquin: Remember when Joaquin wanted to keep So because she was better at challenges? How many challenges has White Collar lost since that Tribal?  Anywho, Joaq needs a tribe swap in the worst way.
 15. Will: I wouldn’t doubt the No Collars losing immunity again, once you’re on a losing streak it’s hard to stop unless someone “throws” a challenge (ex. the writer of this post’s tribe).  He is outside the numbers and it’s his own fault for when he voted out Vince instead of Jenn. #fourthout
  15. Joaquin: Tension rise between he and Shirin.  He’s hunting like crazy for the immunity idol and doesn’t care who knows it. This wreaks of desperation and isolation, two very unwanted things in this game.
  15. Will: Do-or-die time for you, buddy. If No Collar loses the next challenge, you’re done. If they win and there’s a swap, you’ll have plenty of room to maneuver.

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‘Survivor’ Power Rankings Round 1 – “Hey, Girl” Edition

March 3, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

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

[xfinity-record-button id=”7116600190773202112″ program_type=”series”]

The Rules: Each week our three combatants will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of the next episode will determine the number of points the two players will earn. For example, if Tyler is voted out this week, Josh will receive two points, Reed will receive five points, and Gordon will receive thirteen points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Worlds Apart” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor: Worlds Apart”

Josh’s Score = 0

Any questions for Josh? Drop him a line on Twitter: @joshuacanfield

Reed’s Score = 0

Any questions for Reed? Drop him a line on Twitter: @thereedkelly

Gordon’s Score = 0

Any questions for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
 1. Joe: Joe is in a great position on his tribe.  He seems to be the one the rest of the tribe looks to for the final decision.  I think we will see a lot of Joe this season.
   1. Joe: I’m still placing him up top because of all of his skills he’s shown us early on.  My continuing reservation with him however is that he may be “too good” at everything (making fire, being liked by others, solving puzzles, etc.) and that can quickly ruffle other competitors feathers… cough*Vince*cough.
  1. Max:  Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer thinks Max is an “armchair quarterback.” Well, the bearded-one didn’t go three-and-out in his first Tribal. He’s got a solid alliance and he and Shirin are apparently giving new meaning to the term “Survivor Buff.”
  2. Tyler: Possibly the one who convinced Shirin and Max to vote So.  He was the go between in the tribe, and for that I put him on top of the White Collars.
  2. Shirin: The fact that she blew the puzzle and still didn’t appear to be on the block bodes well for her social game.  Early on she took the initiative and reached out to Carolyn to form an alliance, they linked up with Max, and then in turn they pulled in Tyler, thus giving them the majority – all very good things for her right now.  2. Shirin: You know who else was going to go with the 50-piece puzzle if they had a lead? Me. So, I’m not going to go too hard on Shirin for making that call. Now she’s got numbers and her alliance has the idol. Give this woman a tarantula to eat and she’ll have a perfect setup.
  3. Jenn: I liked Jenn much more than I thought I would from pre-game.  She seems to be in the best position as far the woman go on No Collar.  Athletic, level-headed, and gets along great with the both sexes.  Joe, Jenn, and Hali for a long-term power alliance, very possible.
   3. Carolyn: I’m liking how perceptive she is.  Her head is up and she is clocking every little thing that her tribe mates are doing.  This is crucial in this game, and ultimately it led her to the hidden immunity idol.  The fact that she didn’t play it telegraphs to me that she’s feeling a high level of trust right now among her alliance.
  3. Carolyn: She found an idol while others were looking for it and used it to lock in Tyler’s vote. Yeah, baby!

  4. Max: Didn’t hear from him as much as I had hoped with White Collar going to the first Council, but he would easily be safe if in his future were back-to-back Tribals.
   4. Max: Currently it feels like he’s part of the movers and shakers on his tribe.  Getting snuggly into the numbers is something he appears to have done very nicely.  Well done, sir.
  4. Lindsey: Not many people could headbutt a bamboo pole and keep going, but Lindsey’s double tough. Seems like she’s safely in the Blue Collar’s dominant alliance, too.
 5. Carolyn: Finding an idol on “Survivor” – Awesome.  Finding an idol in the first three days – Epic.  Finding an idol without a clue based on what other tribe members are doing – Priceless.  5. Tyler: He too appears to be in the numbers and is now also armed with the information of where the hidden immunity idol is.  It will be interesting to see what he does with this combination of things.  5. Sierra: My big problem with the opening twist was that even if you picked the “Honest” option, it didn’t guarantee that your tribe would believe you. It was smart of Sierra to sow that seed of doubt.

 6. Rodney: I’m surprised at myself for putting him this high on the list, but I get the sense from his tribe’s dynamics that he’s actually in a pretty good position if he doesn’t blow it.  6. Jenn: Got some good camera time taking us through her thought process.  To me, this shows that she is considering things strategically.  However, if she isn’t a bit more careful in her dealings with the boys on her tribe, it all may come to a head in a way she may not desire.  If she doesn’t soothe Vince’s insecurities, she will likely have to pick sides very soon.  6. Jenn: There was a valuable lesson hidden in the “Survivor” premiere; base your alliance on more than hair accessories. I wouldn’t worry about Jenn too much though, it Joe and Vince do throw down, she’ll be able to work with the winner.

 7. Sierra: No reason not to like her.  I can’t imagine the guys on Blue Collar voting her out anytime soon.  7. Lindsey: We’ve been shown her growing closer to Rodney for a reason.  Also, I see good camaraderie happening with Sierra and Kelly too.  To me, she feels like she is in a good place right now.  7. Kelly: Kelly was present in the most recent episode of “Survivor.” I’m assuming she’s safer than Dan.


  8. Hali: I like Hali.  I think she is going to team up with Joe and Jenn.  I’d root for that the whole game.
  8. Rodney: Looks like a beast in challenges.  Who doesn’t want that around for a while?  Seems to be making good inroads with others on his tribe and also was shown initiating a play to potentially take out Dan if the opportunity arises.  Spot the weakest link and point it out to others – a solid move.  8. Mike: Hehehehehehehe…heh… heh…heh… All anyone at basecamp would talk about while I was at “Survivor” was Mike eating that scorpion. Good times. Here’s hoping he doesn’t regret being buddies with Dan as much as he did munching that arachnid.


 9. Shirin: The fact that Shirin wasn’t ever brought up as a potential castaway to go home after she underperformed at the challenge, says a lot about her social game.  Watch out for this one, we may see her at the FTC.  9. Sierra: Besides seeing her and Lindsey briefly involved in a set-to with Dan over the shelter, there’s not a lot to go on here.  But that moment did show us that it looks like she will be in the majority on her tribe.  9. Rodney: He made some friends and he targeted Dan, not a bad first three days for Rodney. The big question I have is; which one of Harry Potter’s grandfathers is Dan supposed to be like? Lily’s father or James’s father?
 10. Vince: I have to say I enjoyed watching him and his paranoia in the first days when his tribe wasn’t even going to see Jeff.  He may be a bit of a loose cannon this season, but for now, his tribe really needs him.
   10. Kelly: Came across slightly as the voice of reason with undertones of casual leadership during the shelter building snafu.  She’s got the maturity needed navigate the pressure of these types of situations.
  10. Hali: We didn’t see much from Hali the rule-breaking lawyer, but she doesn’t strike me as the No Collar’s first boot.
  11. Lindsey: Not much from her this episode, but I have no fear we are going to get a lot from her in the future.  At least I hope so.
  11. Mike: His positivity and happy-go-lucky attitude can go a long way in this game, so can his staring fire, solving puzzles, and winning for his tribe.  He seems on the side of the numbers, but yet still he takes a moment to comfort Dan too.  Smart.  Oh, and Mike, take it from me – a guy who tried to eat anything and everything on that island – you’ve got to cook those scorpions first.  11. Joe: Startin’ fires! Buildin’ shelters! Destroyin’ puzzles! Nobody had a better first episode than Joe. So, why is he so low in my rankings? Because I don’t think this Vince thing is over just yet.
  12. Mike: A scorpion?  Really?  I may start calling him Mindless Mike.  It didn’t even make sense why he ate it.  Bad choices.  We are going to see a lot more bad choices from this one.
   12. Hali: Too soon to tell.  Haven’t heard a ton from her and I don’t particularly have any reason to see that as a bad thing right now.  Can’t imagine her not settling into the numbers.  Keep on doing your thing, gurl.
  12. Will: I’m picturing the final Tribal Council where an angry No Collar juror tears Will apart for failing to deliver those day-one sandwiches. Poor Will.

  13. Kelly: One of the few castaways that I don’t have strong feelings about.  She could stay, she could go.
   13. Vince: Yikes. That conversation with Jenn shows the audience that Vince is ruled by his emotions.  Players like this make me nervous because they’re great when they feel loved, but super unpredictable when they feel insecure.  People tend to lash out at things that threaten their ego; in Vince’s case that threat feels like Joe.  He does has his physicality going for him right now though.
  13. Tyler: Tyler might not appreciate how close he came to being the first one out. Max, Carolyn, and Shirin wanted So to be their fourth when Tyler wasn’t ready to commit to an alliance. He’d better wake up because he’s on a tribe with some serious players.
 14. Will: I have Will this low because he is not as physically in shape as the other members of his tribe, and that could easily be a reason to cast votes his way.  14. Will: I kind of feel right now for Will that no news is good news.  14. Vince: Ah Vince, nobody blames you for falling for Jenn. She’s delightful. However, I will blame you or not being cool when Super Joe was starting fires in a single bound. Joe is a much better ally than opponent at this point.


 15. Dan: Based on what we saw this episode, Dan would be the first to go if his tribe goes to the treehouse.  He’s a great character for the show, but as far as surviving, I don’t think he has long.
  15. Nina: Spent more time on her knees in the challenge than she did moving forward.  This could be overlooked if her social game was a good one, but from the looks of the preview, that sadly seems to be on its knees too.
  15. Joaquin: Joaquin said “Survivor” is “the same (expletive deleted) over and over” and he’s right. Alliances are made on day one and people caught in lies are quickly sent home. He’s not a goner though, with the three-tribe format, he just has to make sure the White Collars don’t come in last.

 16. Nina: We saw the preview where she flips out on her tribe, a possible sign that she is at the bottom of the No Collars.
  16. Dan: When you have someone saying “he’s the one person that doesn’t belong” to the camera, you know it’s been said to other people on the tribe.  This mentality can spread like wildfire early on.  His outbursts over the shelter combined with his age difference and strong opinions could be just enough to send him to Ponderosa – that is if someone else doesn’t dig their own grave first.  16. Nina: If the trailer is to be believed, (and often it isn’t) it looks like Nina could be in some serious trouble. If there’s one thing the laid-back No Collars won’t stand for, it’s someone harshing their buzz. (Is that how you use that term? I’m old.)


  17. Joaquin: Will White Collar lose immunity for the second straight time?  I think it’s very possible.  As a member of Coyopa, I know how easy it is to fall into a losing steak during the game.  Joaquin lost the other half of the deceitful duo, and I don’t think his tribe will be happy with him still being around.
  17. Joaquin:  There is so much mistrust of him as a result of the shady business with So, in addition to his oddly surprising lack of ability to lie convincingly.  He was on the outside of the numbers for the vote and with tribes this small, there is no place to hide.  If they lose again, I think he’s a dead man Joaquin.  17. Dan: White Collars might not know how to start a fire, but they know better than to refer to other people’s ideas as “stupid.” As an older guy on a younger tribe, Dan needed to hang back. Instead he might’ve earned himself some alone time with So.

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

March 3, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

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

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There were a lot of things to get excited about during my visit to the “Survivor: Worlds Apart” set in Nicaragua. There was a cast full of gamers, the return of the killer three-tribe format, and a calm cove that is perfect for water challenges.

While I was out there, I had the opportunity to check out a special test run of the season’s first water-based (and second overall)  immunity challenge.

Watch the Premiere of “Survivor: Worlds Apart”

To start, five members from each tribe will gather on platform. The first member of each tribe will dive from the first platform and swim to a second. Once they’re on the second platform, they’ll take a ball and run it along a rope. The rope twists and turns around the obstacle that is attached to the second platform. Once they’ve gotten the ball over the obstacle, they’ll climb the obstacle themselves and jump into the water.

From there, the players will have to maneuver the ball over, around, and through a floating obstacle.


Then they’ll swim the ball to the final platform. Once they’ve placed the ball in a basket, the next member of their tribe will start the course. When all five of the balls are in the basket, the tribe will have to shoot them, basketball-style into a floating goal. The first two tribes to sink all five shots wins immunity.

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

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‘Survivor’ Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer Explains Which Puzzle Was Faster

March 2, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

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

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I had a chance to speak with Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer shortly after “Survivor: Worlds Apart’s” first immunity challenge. While we chatted, I asked him about the Blue Collar puzzle peeking, which puzzle was faster, and which collar he thinks he’d wear…

Watch the Season Premiere of “Survivor: Worlds Apart”

Gordon Holmes: I loved the first challenge with all of the decisions. Where did that idea come from?
John Kirhoffer. Jeff asked for it. He said the first challenge really has to show how these class structures think. How will the White Collars do it differently from the Blue Collars differently from the No Collars. Actually in Season 10 in Palau we did a challenge with a choice, where they ran into a supply dump. It’s an immunity challenge, so if you get to the end you can have immunity or you can take this big jug of fresh water or a box that has a fire-making kit. You can take what you want, but if you don’t get to the end first, you don’t win. We thought that would make some controversy, and sure enough it did. You had people yelling at each other. It rippled through the first half of the season.
Holmes: Are we going to see more of these decision-based challenges?
Kirhoffer: Not to that degree. But, Jeff would like them to make decisions more often. There will probably be more dilemmas at rewards.

Holmes: Probst said this is the most tested challenge you’ve ever done. Why?
Kirhoffer:  Jeff says a lot of things.
Holmes: What’s his deal?
Kirhoffer: (Laughs) Actually, we spent a lot of time on those puzzles. We took them to everybody. Everybody on the Dream Team, everyone in the art department, everybody in accounts…
Challenge Production Member Chris Millhouse: Medical.
Kirhoffer: The medical department. Chris went around to everybody with those puzzles. Annoying people in the middle of their workday. Yeah, I can stop doing accounting in the middle of the day for twenty minutes to do your silly puzzle. And then today, what was the time on those puzzles? It wasn’t twenty minutes.
Millhouse: Yeah, the whole challenge didn’t take 20 minutes.
Kirhoffer: All three puzzles averaged 20 minutes
Millhouse: Red team took about seven minutes.
Kirhoffer: Wow. That was the quickest I’ve ever seen that puzzle.
Millhouse: A girl in medical did it in five minutes.
Holmes: We’re talking about Joe killing that puzzle?
Kirhoffer: Yeah.
Holmes: I’m not a good judge of how long it took me to do it in the press challenge, but it felt like forever.
Kirhoffer: Yeah, you know how it goes. And most people did it like you did it, “Where’s this next one go?” And Joe was just zoned in. It’s like he had Spider-Man vision.
Holmes: It hurt my soul to see how well he did it.
Kirhoffer:  (Laughs)
Holmes: Blue Collar got some help with the puzzle. They did some peeking. But, you’ve said before, “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.” However, all three tribes weren’t doing the same puzzle. I feel like if I was behind and saw one of the tribes doing a puzzle that could be copied, maybe I’d go for that.
Kirhoffer: So put it pretty succinctly when she pointed out that No Collar finished and they didn’t take the puzzle apart. They didn’t care that the tribe next to them was going to look over. And that’s on them. Now there’s a conspiracy theory, maybe it’s paranoia, that the White Collars think the No Collars left it up because they’re ganging up on them.

Holmes: What can we look forward to this season challenge-wise?
Kirhoffer: Our next challenge will be a water challenge. Weather permitting. We have a couple of really fun water challenges coming up. We have a couple of things we haven’t seen yet. I can tell you their names. We’ve got “Houses of the Hole-y,” which has a really cool, larger-than-life puzzle at the end that has a lot of holes. We have a challenge coming up in episode six that is probably the challenge I am most excited for this season called “Air Raid.” All we can tell you is it’s big, fun, lots of energy, it has a real “Wow” factor to it.
Holmes: You need to do a challenge with a Police title for me.
Kirhoffer: We’ve had to have had one, “Don’t Stand So Close to Me”?
Holmes: Like “Truth Hits Everybody” and it can be a blindfold challenge.
Kirhoffer: I love The Police too.

Holmes: I know you’re sick of this. I don’t care. Are we going to see an “Eat Something Gross” challenge?
Kirhoffer: We’ve been looking. But people don’t eat a lot of gross things here. We made “Survivor” smoothies, which are gross, but I’m not sure if it played. When you see Jeff put the stuff in…it’s pretty gross. It might be a miss this year.

Holmes: What do you think of this cast?
Kirhoffer: Oh, this cast is awesome! I love Blue Collar Mike, I think he’s great. What do you guys think?
Millhouse:  I like So Kim.
Kirhoffer: You’re in love with So Kim.
Millhouse: I’m not IN love with So Kim.
Kirhoffer: It’s day three, so I haven’t seen much. But I’m expecting a lot from Kelly. I think Kelly’s going to be great. (Laughs) I even like Rodney.
Millhouse: (Laughs)
Kirhoffer: He’s built like Russell Hantz, he sounds like “Boston” Rob, he’s got some intensity. And Max Dawson, there are so many armchair quarterback who have dissected the show. And he’s the ultimate armchair quarterback. Good to see him out on the field.

Holmes: It’s kind of amazing how the tribes have embraced these White Collar, Blue Collar, No Collar roles.
Kirhoffer: I love it. We batted around a lot of different themes. We’d already done the Blood vs. Water twice and other things. We had a lot of ideas, then Jeff sent us a couple we weren’t crazy about. And then he passed that one down. We’ve toyed with Liberals and Conservatives and things like this, but everybody on the creative team immediately got behind it. And even on day one, everybody understands that these are three class structures in America. But, we all have a different view of what they are. Hopefully we’ll get some passionate water cooler talk.
Holmes: Probst says he’s No Collar. Do you buy that?
Kirhoffer: Not for a minute. The other day he said, “Everybody on this crew is No Collar. Kirhoffer, you’re no collar.” And I said, “By my definition, I was surfing at 6:30 this morning and I could’ve stayed in, but I had to get out because I have a piece of paper that tells me what time I have to be at work.” So, I guess that makes me Blue Collar. I’m middle management around here.

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

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Official ‘Survivor: Worlds Apart’ Pre-Game Rankings

February 25, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Worlds Apart” scoop! I delved deep into the Nicaraguan wilderness on a mission to bring you all kinds of stuff including behind-the-scenes tidbits, pre-game interviews with the cast, insights from “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer, a look at the first Tribal Council, and much more. I’ll be cranking out this goodness daily in the weeks leading up to the premiere, so be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates on all of this season’s “Survivor” fun.

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Remember when Michelle Chase overcame a rough beginning and went on to win “Survivor: Gabon”? Or when Tony Vlachos was the first one voted out of “Survivor: Cagayan”? Me either, but I certainly predicted those things would happen.

So, with my horrific track record in mind, I present to you the “Survivor: Worlds Apart” preseason rankings.

Note: These rankings were written after the pregame interviews, but before the game actually started.

Secondary Note: Betting on the “Survivor” Preseason Rankings is frowned upon.

 1. Lindsey: Sorry Lindsey, you’re going to be the recipient of my “Worlds Apart” preseason curse. Why?  Because I think she’s got what it takes to control the game and get to end without being viewed as a big threat. I also think she could be a sneaky-good challenge competitor.
  2. Shirin: This woman is willing to cut off her hair and set it ablaze in order to win this game. That is twenty different types of awesome. However, she’s on the most combustible tribe. I’d bet that Nina or Will is the first No Collar gone. I’d wager that Dan is the first Blue Collar sent packing. But, there are too many savvy players on the White Collar tribe to accurately guess how things are going to go down.
 3. Max: With all the strategists on the roster this season, I’m thinking there’s no way someone wins by playing under the radar. No, this jury is going to reward a big-time player who makes big-time moves. Max is a big-time player.
  4. Kelly: I like Kelly a lot. Sometimes you just click with someone. She worries me because she’s going to lie about her occupation for some reason. But, if she can make that work, she could make a serious run at it.
  5. Joe: I think in a regular season of “Survivor,” Joe would be a top contender. He’s smart, he’s athletic, he isn’t going to ruffle (or rustle) many feathers. But, there are too many strategists that are going to be afraid of this guy to let him get too far.
  6. Jenn: I love me some Jenn. She’s a ton of fun. She’s very smart. But possibly more importantly, she’s pretty good at hiding how smart she is. That might not be a bad strategy with so many big game hunters playing.
  7. Mike: The same things that are going to make Mike a big, entertaining character are probably the same things that are going to send him home shortly after the merge. He’s going to need a solid alliance if he’s going to make it to the end.
  8. So: Of the three major threats in the White Collar tribe (Shirin and Max being the other two) So is the one I see having the toughest time fitting in. But, since she’s a challenge asset, she should have time to maneuver if she isn’t able to secure an early alliance.

 9. Rodney: I think the biggest misconception people have gotten from the pregame interviews is that Rodney is a jerk. I didn’t get that impression at all. He strikes me as more of a lovable Eddie Fox-type. If there’s a tight Blue Collar alliance, he could surprise all of us.
  10. Joaquin: People look at Joaquin and think he’d be better suited to be the villain in a romantic comedy. I’d argue that people like Max or So think he’s the perfect person to be sitting with at the end.
 11. Hali: Hali seems like she’s on the perfect tribe with youngsters like Jenn and Joe. But, for some reason I get the vibe that she could play too hard too fast.
  12. Tyler: Tyler’s a tough guy to get a read on. That’s not a good thing in this game. People will be wary of teaming with him. I also question his killer instinct.

 12. Will: I tried to talk myself into a Will win. That somehow in a season of players, a likable guy who doesn’t know the game that well would be the perfect foil. But in the end, I just couldn’t do it.
  14. Vince: A lot of people are going to look at Vince and think, “This guy is a goofball just like Coach.” Well, Coach wasn’t a goofball and neither is Vince.  I don’t know if he has the social game to go the distance, but anyone who underestimates him is going to be sorry.

 
 15. Sierra: Sierra’s kind of like a tall, female, mega-hot Will. They’re both very nice, very likable people. But, they’re going to be playing checkers while everyone else is playing 3-D laser chess. 
  16. Carolyn: I know it didn’t play out this way in “Cagayan,” but you’ve got to think that with six-people tribes, challenge prowess has to be important. I think if Carolyn can get to the merge, she can make some serious noise. But she’s a likely first target for the White Collars.
 17. Nina: I’m not sure where Jeff Probst gets the impression that Nina won’t be able to handle the elements, but I do agree that she’s likely the first No Collar to be sent packing. And sadly, it’s through no fault of her own. But as the oldest member on a tribe of free spirits, it’s not looking good for her.
  18. Dan: Dan really knows his “Survivor” and he’s been waiting for years to get the chance to play. But, he’s probably the least athletic Blue Collar and I worry that he’ll have trouble connecting with his tribemates. However, with my track record, it’s likely he’ll win the whole darn thing.

Don’t miss the 90-minute premiere of “Survivor: Worlds Apart” on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 8 pm ET on CBS.

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