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‘Survivor: Samoa’ Episode 10 Recap: The Fall of Galu?

November 19, 2009

Last Week: Russell was able to find another hidden immunity idol using only the dark side of the force. He used this idol to reverse boot Kelly. Laura vs. Russell…it’s so on.

39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Here are the tribes as they currently stand…

Aiga (Samoan for “Extended Family”)

Brett – 23 – T-shirt Designer
Dave – 38 – Fitness Instructor
Jaison – 28 – Law Student
John – 25 – Rocket Scientist
Laura – 39 – Office Manager
Mick – 33 – Doctor
Monica – 25 – Law Student
Natalie – 26 – Pharmaceutical Sales
Russell H. – 36 – Oil Company Owner
Shannon – 45 – Sales

We join up with Russell after tribal council, he’s comparing his performance to a Picasso painting. I’d describe it as reminiscent of his early Texan Evil Genius Period.

Dave saunters over and congratulates Russell on his impressive maneuvering. I suppose that’s a better strategy than just being bitter, but it’s pretty transparent. Meanwhile, Shambo is downright giddy that one of the 90210ers has been sent back to the Peach Pit.

The next morning the Easter egg hunt is on as Russell is trying to find his third immunity idol. No luck…yet.

At the same time, Shambo is trying to bring John on board to be a part of her alliance with Foa Foa. He doesn’t decide either way, but he agrees not to out Shambo as a Foa Foa sympathizer.

Reward Challenge Time: The tribe will break into two teams of five. One member will lie face down in a hammock-type thing. The other members will use ropes to guide them around a circle. The person who’s lying down will try to retrieve fifteen flags and place them into numbered slots in a log. The winning team gets to fly to another island and enjoy a feast. While they’re there they’ll get to take pictures with a Palm Pre (which would make a fantastic holiday gift).

The yellow team features Shambo, Mick, Monica, John, and Jaison while the purple team is made up of Dave, Brett, Laura, Natalie, and Russell. John and Natalie are chosen to lie in their teams’ respective cradles.

The yellow team has a bit of trouble early on as John accidentally drops a flag and knocks a flag out of his log. Natalie does an amazing (yet terrifying) job, dangling out of the hammock to retrieve and place the flags. It seriously looked like she was going to fall and split her head open. Fortunately, she managed to not die and win it for her team.

Russell lets us know that he intends to use the clue to find the immunity idol. Really? Why take the easy route now? He should try to find it blindfolded.

As the yellow team is flying to their reward, we’re treated to pictures that were taken with the Palm Pre. Amazingly, there aren’t any pictures of Russell and Laura laughing and painting each other’s nails.

Back at Aiga, Jaison and Mick are trying to work on Monica. Monica isn’t sure because she thinks Galu still has a six to four advantage. The guys say they’ve already got a Galu member on their side, but they won’t say the person’s name. Monica proves she isn’t an idiot by promptly figuring out that it’s Shambo.

Back at the reward, the magical Palm Pre coughs up two hints to the hidden immunity idol (is there anything it can’t do?!) Apparently the idol is hidden under a moss-covered rock.

When the yellow team arrives back at camp, the Easter egg hunt is back on. Dave and Laura are basically chasing Russell as he’s searching. Amazingly, they manage to lose Russell despite the fact that there’s obviously a camera man following him.

Sure enough, once Russell is alone he pulls a moss-covered rock out from a wall and uncovers his third hidden immunity idol. They must be buying those idols wholesale.

Immunity Challenge Time: The players will each throw a rock at colored tiles. For each tile that’s broken, a player will get a spear. They’ll then use a big crossbow-type contraption to shoot that spear at a target. The player with the spear closest to the center of the target wins immunity.

Jaison hits one tile, Dave hits one of Monica’s tiles, Mick hits one of his tiles, and Brett breaks two tiles. Everyone else misses. Shambo does not try to hide how pleased she is that Laura won’t be participating in the rest of the challenge.

The shooting portion is quick and relatively drama free. Mick gets his spear the closest, earning immunity. Shambo is downright giggly.

Back at camp, Shambo is breaking the news to Brett that she’s going to be voting for Laura. Poor Brett looks like he’s going to cry…like he lost his woobie.

Dave and Laura approach John about Galu’s strategy. I think John is growing frustrated with Galu. The fact that he called them “idiots” three times may have something to do with that.

Monica hatches a plan to tell Foa Foa that she’s voting for John. Her idea being that the four members of Foa Foa will vote for John, the five members of Galu will vote for Natalie, and Shambo will vote for Laura. Wow…so Galu doesn’t get that Shambo’s completely in bed with Foa Foa.

Whoa…sorry for putting that image into your head.

Meanwhile, Brett lets John in on Monica’s plan. John is of course displeased with any plan that causes Foa Foa to vote for him.

That night at tribal council, Kelly is wearing a pink button. Oh, now she’s trying to communicate.

J-Pro asks John how he’d feel about teaming up with Foa Foa. John smartly downplays the question.

Probst then lays out the math, explaining to Laura how the way she alienated Shambo has cost Galu their advantage.

Tie Break Rules: If there’s a tie, there will be a second vote where they can only vote for the tied players. If there’s a tie after the second vote, the other players will pick rocks. The person with the odd colored rock goes home.

Voting Time: Shambo votes for Laura, Dave votes for Natalie, and the rest are for Probsty to tally.

Probst asks if anyone has the immunity idol. Everyone looks at Russell, he stays seated.

One vote Laura, one vote Natalie, one vote Laura, one vote Natalie, one vote Laura, one vote Natalie, one vote Laura, one vote Natalie, one vote Laura…and the final vote is for Natalie! Tie game!

They’ll vote again. They can only vote for Laura or Natalie.

Voting Time Part Deux: Dave votes for Natalie, Jaison votes for Laura, and the rest are double secret.

One vote Laura, one vote Natalie, one vote Laura, one vote Natalie, one vote Laura, one vote Natalie, one vote Laura…and the third member of the jury is Laura! John turned. The looks on the Galu members’ faces are priceless. Shambo looks like a kid on Christmas morning who just got a Palm Pre.

Erik has the line of the night as he shakes his head and says, “So good!”

Verdict: The past three episodes have been golden. Everything since the merge has been awesome. My question now? Does anyone on Foa Foa know Russell has that idol?

Between this season and Tocantins, I wonder if this is going to spark an attitude where the dominant tribe heading into a merge isn’t going to mess around so much.

Who’s Going to Win? Dare I say it? Could Evil Russell walk away with this whole thing?

What Do You Think? Have you become a Russell fan? Can Foa Foa trust John? Is Galu done for?

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‘Survivor: Samoa’ Power Rankings Challenge: Week 9

November 18, 2009

The Rules: Each week, “Survivor: Tocantins’s” Tamara “Taj” George and your beloved “Survivor” recapped Gordon “Truth Seeker” Holmes will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of that Thursday’s episode will determine the number of points the two combatants will earn. For example, if John is voted out this week, Taj will receive 3 points and Gordon will receive 5 points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Samoa” Power Rankings Challenge Champion and be presented with the coveted Golden Probsty Award.

Last Week: Kelly was reverse booted thanks to Russell’s magic immunity idol finding ability. This stunner earned Taj 4 points and Gordon a pathetic single point. The current score is now Taj: 102, Gordon: 109.

Taj’s Picks:

Rank Last Week Contestant Comment
1 1 Dave: Dave made his first big mistake this week; he didn’t think of every avenue.  With Russell’s capabilities, he should’ve been prepared for him finding another HII.  There are cracks in his armor, but I like him.
2 2 Brett: This season is definitely the Russell H. show, but every now and then Brett will peek his head out for some air.  If Foa Foa continues to outsmart Galu he just might be in trouble.
3 3 John: See Brett!
4 7 Mick: I want to call him the “silent but deadly” type.  “Silent” but not so “deadly.”  Foa Foa is made up of some of the smartest people.  This is why they are surviving each week in the face of complete dominance.
5 10 Jaison: Jaison reminds me of myself at times.  We both look like we might do some serious damage at times in the competitions but really never do.  Lol!  I can throw someone around in the water and hold 100 lbs on my back, just don’t ask me to run two feet.  I would die, and so would Jaison!  He sucks at challenges, which makes him dependent on the rest of his tribe for help.  Not a good position to be in.
6 9 Shannon: It appears that Galu knows that Shambo is playing for the other team.  Luckily for her, the tribe is divided evenly now.   I want her to outwit her tribe.  They’ve never been very nice to my mullet-wearing Marine friend.
7 8 Natalie: Natalie is a little tough cookie with an incredible brave side.  I was so proud of the little southern belle for killing the rat and actually eating it.  She deserves to stay for that alone.
8 6 Monica: You’re seriously on borrowed time.  So please, whatever you do, don’t get comfortable.
9 5 Laura: Why are you being so mean?  Don’t you know that kindness will get you far in this game?  Clearly not!  You better keep winning challenges because I have a strong feeling Foa Foa wants to prove their loyalty to Shambo by scratching you first.
10 11 Russell H.: Darn, I love you!  You make me laugh so hard each week.  If you find one more HII I will personally give you a million dollars myself (don’t hold me to that, lol!).  Unfortunately, you are such a threat out there that the X on your back has grown into a permanent tattoo.  Continue to think one step ahead of Galu because they are right on your tail.

Gordon’s Picks:

Rank Last Week Contestant Comment
1 3
Brett: I’m pretty sure Brett is going to be around next week. But, I thought the same think about Kelly, so how can you trust me? I’ll stick him first because if Foa Foa manages to pull off another miracle, then I’d assume Laura or Monica will go.
2 4 Danger Dave: Danger, buddy…you’re telling me that you think a man who found an immunity idol without a clue wouldn’t try to do it again? I’m ranking you high because I don’t think you’re a target, but you need to step up your game.
3 5 Mick: In any other season, Mick would have been one of the first people picked off after the merge. Not so, in this bizarro season. I don’t think he’s playing a good game, I just think don’t think anyone is worried about him.
4 7 Shannon: Think back to the first time you saw our dear Shambo. Did you ever think she’d be the fulcrum that would bring down a dominant tribe? And yet, here we are…
5 6 John: Sometimes I feel like John, Monica, and Russell are the only ones playing to win. And since John isn’t in anyone’s direct line of fire, he may be the favorite to take the whole thing.
6 8 Monica: Last week they were either going to reverse boot Kelly or Monica. They went with Kelly. This makes ZERO sense to me. Destroying Laura’s power base isn’t as important as taking out physically strong players.
7 11 Jaison: I talked to the lovely Kelly this past Friday, and she confirmed my suspicion that Jaison has totally checked out. If I were Galu I’d still try to get rid of him just in case he realizes how close he is to a million dollars.
8 2 Natalie: Galu knows that Natalie is Russell’s second in command. If Russell lands immunity or finds the immunity idol, she’s likely to be Galu’s target.
9 9 Laura: Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago they were teasing the LauRussell cross-tribe alliance? Now they hate each other and the game hinges on an immunity idol Easter egg hunt. I bet that alliance is looking really good to Laura right now.
10 10 Russell: Has there ever been a turnaround like this is “Survivor” history? The most hated player has become the most beloved. It’s like when “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan turned on the nWo. If Russell survives this week, he could go all the way. But at this point that’s a big “if.”

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‘Survivor’ Castaway Interview – Kelly Sharbaugh

November 13, 2009

Take everything you know about “Survivor,” wrap it up in a neat little package, and throw it out the window. The rules simply don’t apply anymore. By all accounts, you cannot find a hidden immunity idol without a clue. Russell Hantz has…twice. After the merge, it should be your goal to vote off the strongest physical players in the opposing alliance, right? Then why are Brett and John still in the game while Kelly Sharbaugh was sent home? Worse than that, the poor thing now has to talk to me. I chatted with Kelly the day after her booting to find out if she knew Shambo had turned on Galu, what her strategies were, and what Russell is really like.

Gordon Holmes: How shocked were you when Russell stood up with the idol?
Kelly Sharbaugh: When Russell played the idol I was completely shocked.  I think we all were. Nobody knew he had it. He must’ve found it when we were at the reward challenge where we got the first clue.
Gordon: When he played the idol, who did you think was going home from Galu?
Kelly: It was definitely going to be Monica or myself, and I thought it was going to be her because everyone was targeting her.

Gordon: Did you have any clue that Shambo had turned on Galu?
Kelly: Oh yeah, for sure. She was on the outside of our tribe. From the beginning of the game she chose not to sleep in the shelter with all of us. Anything we did, she’d say we didn’t include her. It was clear from the first time that she went over to Foa Foa that she was going to flip. I tried to avoid her at all costs. There was probably a lot we could have done to keep her around, but it was so hard to be around her.

Gordon: I feel like we didn’t get to know you very much during the show. What strategies were you employing that we didn’t see?
Kelly: I’m a very good listener. I hung back. I was there to play a game, I wasn’t there to get camera time on the beach, or play a role. I think some people are.

Gordon: How strong is Laura’s grasp on Galu?
Kelly: Laura has a pretty good grasp on everyone. She’s very nurturing at heart. She was always making sure that everyone was taken care of. Everyone got along with her. I wouldn’t call it a ‘grasp.’ I think that, unfortunately, our tribe was so successful that we didn’t have to strategize as much. I don’t think it was one person leading the tribe. It was pretty mutual.

Gordon: I assume the plan was to pick off Foa Foa. Had there been any talk about strategy once they’re all gone?
Kelly: When Laura went over to Foa Foa, they discussed an all-female alliance with a final three of Monica, Laura, and myself. As the game progressed it seemed like that would be more difficult as Monica and Laura were being targeted. I think that we thought that once Russell was gone we’d be able to pull Natalie over.

Gordon: It seemed last night that Natalie was a little bit of a target. Did Russell hear that correctly?
Kelly: Yeah, we were trying to figure out what order. We knew that Natalie was Russell’s number one ally.

Gordon: Does anyone consider Jaison or Mick to be threats? For two big, strong guys, nobody seems to be worried about them.
Kelly: No, they really weren’t. I think Jaison was the least of our worries. As they showed on TV, he wants to quit. He wants to go home, he’s checked out. And physically he’s just wasting away. And Mick? I don’t expect much from Mick. He’d help around camp, but at challenges he couldn’t get it together. But, maybe that’s his strategy.

Gordon: OK, word association time…let’s start with John.
Kelly: A little bit cocky. The first time I saw him I thought he was a good-looking guy, but I have a history where good-looking guys always turn out to be tools.
Gordon: We totally do.
Kelly: (Laughs) You fall under that category?
Gordon: Well…I am a tool. So, I’m halfway there.
Kelly: (Laughs)
Gordon: Moving on…Danger Dave?
Kelly: His comedy and his wit got me through a lot.
Gordon: Laura?
Kelly: She’s kicking a— in challenges.
Gordon: Natalie?
Kelly: I have more respect for her after watching the show. Especially the rat thing.
Gordon: Rat murder is not something to respect, Kelly.
Kelly: (Laughs) It was the cutest stomping of an animal I’ve ever seen.
Gordon: Cutest rat snuff film ever. OK, let’s finish this up with our good buddy Russell.
Kelly: Russell was a creep. I don’t think I ever saw that guy sleep.

Gordon: Is there anything you didn’t get to express on the show that you’d like to say right now?
Kelly: Everything! At the end of the day I walked away from it well, I think I grew as a person. I think I showed myself what I could do physically and also that I could do them with dignity.

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‘Survivor: Samoa’ Episode 9 Recap: Russell Hanging On By a Thread?

November 12, 2009

Last Week: I go away for one week and all Hades breaks lose!  Everyone tried to vote off everyone else at one point. But in the end, Evil Russell used his hidden immunity idol when he didn’t need to and Erik didn’t use his when he should have. Welcome to the jury, Erik.

39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Here is the tribe as it currently stands…

Aiga (Samoan for “Extended Family”)

Brett – 23 – T-shirt Designer
Dave – 38 – Fitness Instructor
Jaison – 28 – Law Student
John – 25 – Rocket Scientist
Kelly – 25 – Hair Stylist
Laura – 39 – Office Manager
Mick – 33 – Doctor
Monica – 25 – Law Student
Natalie – 26 – Pharmaceutical Sales
Russell H. – 36 – Oil Company Owner
Shannon – 45 – Sales

We meet up with Aiga after tribal council and they’re busy discussing such important topics as how thick Brett would like the peanut butter to be on the chocolate chip cookies he wishes he was eating.

In more strategic talk, Laura thinks Russell is a fool for using his immunity idol. I disagree. When everyone knows you have the immunity idol, they’re going to be trying to think of a way to blindside you. Granted it’s just one less reason to get rid of Russell on a list of about forty reasons.

It’s the following morning and…HOLY COW, NATALIE IS NAKED. Oh wait…she’s wearing a flesh-colored bikini.  I shouldn’t type while I watch the show. OK, she’s fully clothed, but she did murder a rat with a stick.  I’m having mixed emotions about the last three minutes.

Reward Challenge Time: The tribe will be divided into two teams of five. The teams will have to run across the field to recover poles with colored coconuts on them. Once they have all of their poles they’ll have to arrange them on a rack to make a sequence of numbers. Then a blindfolded tribe member will have to use a Braille-type lock to solve a puzzle. The winners will go to a rock water slide and enjoy a picnic lunch with fried chicken and chocolate brownies. Jaison, Laura, Brett, Mick, and Russell make up the yellow team while Monica, John, Shambo, Kelly, and Danger Dave are the purple team. Since there is an odd number of players, Natalie will have to choose who she supports. If her team wins she gets to go on the reward. She chooses the yellow team.

The yellow team gets an early lead and gets all of their poles to the rack first. However, Danger Dave manages to tear through the puzzle part and get the correct numbers to Monica. Laura eventually gets her code from the yellow team, but it’s too late. Purple team wins reward.

Man, Foa Foa can’t win anything. Their loser stink might rub off on Brett.

After a break where my computer crashes, we join the purple team enjoying their rock slide. Kelly lets us know that she’s afraid of water slides, but she goes down anyways. Let that be a lesson to “Mika” from “The Amazing Race.” Water slides are your friends.

While the team is enjoying their donuts and sweet tea, they notice a scroll. The scroll lets them know that there is another immunity idol back at camp. The former Galutians decide not to let the Foa Foicans in on the secret.

Strategy is discussed amongst Galu. Shambo seems to be defending Russell. Kelly disagrees because she thinks he’s the most strategic player in the game. See…you let her talk and she’ll say something super smart. What’ve we been missing from her all this time?

We find Russell back at camp looking for the hidden immunity idol. And sure enough, he finds it without a clue. Evil…

When the former Galu members return from camp, Russell reveals his secret to Shambo. Her jaw drops to the floor. The two decide to use the idol to reverse-boot Laura.

Immunity Challenge Time: The players will use grappling hooks to retrieve puzzle pieces. The first three players to retrieve both of their bags will move to the final round. In the final round, they’ll have to figure out which of their two pegs goes into a wall. Each time a peg goes into the wall, a new piece will come out. First person to fill their wall with all of the pieces wins immunity.

Mick retrieves his bags in short order, followed by Shambo, and then Laura.

In the final round, Laura manages to tear through the very cool puzzle despite a slow start. Looks like Shambo and Russell’s plan will have to wait.

I love Shambo, but she’s not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree. She had a huge lead and couldn’t figure that puzzle out.

Back from the challenge, and it looks like they’re going to use the idol to reverse-boot Kelly. (Booo…I have her #1 in my power rankings!)

While the former Galutians are debating, Monica is worried that Russell may have the idol. Dave thinks that’s ridiculous. Underestimating Evil Russell? That’s Danger, Dave.

John knows that Russell found the idol before and could find it again. He then says, “I would assume that it’s here. I mean, it’s not rocket science.” C’mon, it’s sounds arrogant when he says it.

That night at tribal council, Erik makes his debut as a very annoyed looking member of the jury.

Jaison says he can’t find any cracks in Galu, but is hoping there’s “Another Erik” out there. Erik continues to look annoyed.

Russell lets us know that he hopes that some former Galu member will approach him with opportunities.

Dave says he picks who they’re voting for based on who’s the “Most dangerous.” Whoa…Danger Dave’s so darn dangerous he’s gonna vote for himself!

Voting Time: None of the votes are shown! Inconceivable! Russell must be using his idol…

Sure enough, Russell plays the idol. Erik stops looking annoyed and seems impressed.

The voting starts; seven votes for Russell which don’t count, followed by two votes for Kelly that do, and the second member of the jury is…Kelly. Wow, so Kelly’s “Survivor” legacy is nine episodes and about four minutes of screen time.

Shambo plays it like a champ, acting disappointed in front of Galu. Maybe Shambo is one of the brighter bulbs on the tree…

Probst lets us know that the hidden immunity idol will go back into play. Oh man, they’re gonna tear that camp apart!

Verdict: Wow, two awesome shows in a row. Everything since the merge has been gold. Hopefully they do a better job hiding the idol next time.

Who’s Going to Win? Why are you asking me? I’m the rocket surgeon who thought Kelly was the safest person in this game.

What Do You Think? Are you starting to like Russell? Are there too many hidden immunity idols? Can Russell overtake Laura?

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‘Survivor: Samoa’ Power Rankings Challenge: Week 8

November 11, 2009

The Rules: Each week, “Survivor: Tocantins’s” Tamara “Taj” George and your beloved “Survivor” recapped Gordon “Truth Seeker” Holmes will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of that Thursday’s episode will determine the number of points the two combatants will earn. For example, if John is voted out this week, Taj will receive 3 points and Gordon will receive 6 points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Samoa” Power Rankings Challenge Champion and be presented with the coveted Golden Probsty Award.

Last Week: Erik was voted out in a shocker earning Taj 5 points and Gordon 10 points. The current score is now Taj: 98, Gordon: 108.

Taj’s Picks:

Rank Last Week Contestant Comment
1 2 Dave: I like this guy because he does just enough to make you love him without making you feel like he is going to vote for you.  The guys have Shambo in their corner as long as they need her.  I want Dave to take it.
2 3 Brett: Brett is a quiet threat.  He brought up the rear in the challenge to win immunity.  I loved it!  If the guys can stick together until the final four, I can totally see Dave and Brett sitting side by side for the million bucks.
3 7 John: John is beginning to show his competitive side.  But he’s too easily swayed.  Russell had him wrapped around his fingers.  If the guys’ alliance holds true, poor John will probably be the first to go.
4 9 Kelly: Kelly is just following the pack.  I’m still waiting to see her come out of her shell.  I want to know why she has all of those tattoos.  I was hoping to see more mischief from her.  She’s safe for now.  Galu needs to take out the rest of Foa Foa or be picked off one by one.
5 8 Laura: This lady has to play her game a little more cautiously.  She’s picking unnecessary fights with Shambo and has created an alliance with Russell.  The person who now has a mark on his head.  She might become an easy blindside.
6 12 Monica: The only thing helping Monica stay in this game is the fact that her tribe is the dominant tribe.  But the guys on her tribe want to lose her immediately.  Hopefully, she’ll stop playing the baby role and step up to the plate but I doubt it.
7 6 Mick: I really want him to stay in the game a little longer.  I was very impressed when Foa Foa stepped up and was able to vote out one of the Galu tribe.  It made me think of me, Stephen & JT going into the merge down 6-3.  If they can work some magic, anything’s possible.
8 4 Natalie: Natalie seems like she might have made a cool friendship with the ladies of the Galu tribe.  The only problem with that is everyone knows that she and Russell have an alliance.  She should stay with the ladies of Galu to hopefully avoid being voted out sooner than later.
9 11 Shannon: She’s the leader of her tribe but the guys are calling her shots.  Laura will definitely aim for her head during the next tribal council for sure.  Shambo’s best bet is to really try to bond with her guys to remove the other girls.  Otherwise, she’ll be sitting on the jury.
10 10 Jaison: His days are numbered.  I loved him in the beginning but after his incessant complaining and ability to give up when things aren’t going his way, I just can’t stand behind him.  I wish him good luck but at the rate at which he’s playing, it’s just a matter of time.
11 1 Russell H.: I wish I could say I’m shocked that Russell impatiently offered his HII.  I wish I could say that I didn’t think Galu would catch on to his antics.  I wish I could say that he thought of everything and everyone in advance but I can’t because he didn’t.  When he gave up the HII he snuffed his torch himself.  If Russell isn’t voted out this week I will be shocked!

Gordon’s Picks:

Rank Last Week Contestant Comment
1 2
Kelly: What happened?! I go away from one week and the game is all topsy-turvy. Who’s safe? I don’t know, probably Kelly. Has anyone ever gone this deep in the show without saying more than three lines? She’s like a ninja.
2 3 Natalie: OK, so a lot of these picks are going to be based on how safe I think someone is rather than how well they’re playing, but don’t be mistaken, Natalie is playing a much stronger game then anyone realizes. She’s a sleeper.
3 1 Brett: How far ahead is our buddy Brett thinking things? He obviously planned ahead enough to know the Samoan word for “Extended Family.” I wonder how you say “Under the Radar” in Samoan?
4 4 Dave: Oh, sweet irony. Danger Dave is perfectly safe. Even if the other factions turn on the former Galu males (and I think the former Galutians are more likely to go after Foa Foaicans now), he’ll still be OK for a while.
5 8 Mick: Who would have ever thought Mick would be this much of a follower? It seems to be working for him though. He’s higher in the pecking order than Jaison and Russell right now.
6 9 John: What do you know? Brain Rocket Science Surgeons are pretty good at “Survivor.” John was smart enough to see which way the wind was changing and went with it. That’s a sign of a very smart player.
7 6 Shambo: Who was the only person who didn’t vote with the majority last week? Our beloved Shambo. If the 90210ers continue to hold their “Mean Girls” grudge, she could be on her way to eat with the art freaks. Too obscure?
8 11 Monica: I’m torn between Laura and Monica. The men know they need to get rid of one of them, and came close to getting rid of Laura last week before she won immunity. So, I’m picking Monica to last longer.
9 7 Laura: It’s weird to have someone with as much power as her this low in the rankings. I think it’s going to depend on if Galu starts working together.
10 5 Russell H.: Boy, the previews sure are acting like Evil Russell’s number is up. It’s for this reason, and this reason alone that I think he’s safe. But, I’m not willing to bet a ton of points on this, so I’m keeping him low.
11 12 Jaison: I said last week that he’d be the biggest merge target and I was kind of right. I think Galu might be thinking they can pick off Russell at any time now that he’s used the HII, but will need to get rid of Jaison before he starts winning challenges.

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‘Survivor: Samoa’ Power Rankings Challenge: Week 7

November 5, 2009

The Rules: Each week, “Survivor: Tocantins’s” Tamara “Taj” George and your beloved “Survivor” recapped Gordon “Truth Seeker” Holmes will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of that Thursday’s episode will determine the number of points the two combatants will earn. For example, if John is voted out this week, Taj will receive 7 points and Gordon will receive 9 points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Samoa” Power Rankings Challenge Champion and be presented with the coveted Golden Probsty Award.

Last Week: Elizabeth Kim was the last person voted out before the merge earning Taj 13 points and Gordon 12 points. The current score is now Taj: 93, Gordon: 98.

Taj’s Picks:

Rank Last Week Contestant Comment
1 1 Russell H.: This guy is crazy enough to pull off an upset and win the whole thing with his evil strategy. Naturally, I’m a fan of the cross-tribe alliance thing. I hope it works out for them. Someone should be able to do it successfully. Now that everyone is on their own out there I think someone might catch on to his antics.
2 2 Dave: This guy is the silent-but-deadly type. I think he is so low on everyone else’s worry meter that he could very well coast right to the finale. If he remains silent while pulling Shambo’s strings, I can definitely see him in the final four.
3 3 Brett: Brett is another low threat. The guys in the Galu tribe do not appear to be flashy but they are working the girls over in their tribe. For the first time, I want to see an all male alliance. The women are a little slow out there.
4 5 Natalie: Coast, coast, coast! Coast until you can’t coast anymore. Clearly, she’s not a strategic player but she has managed to keep her “dumb-ass girl” alliance with Russell. Even though Liz was clearly the stronger competitor her alliance kept her in the game. Good for you!
5 6 Erik: I love Erik. But his mouth is going to be the death of him. He might not be the first to go but unless he can win some new friends or use his HII when it counts, Russell might be able to pull off an upset and have him voted out.
6 7 Mick: He’s so sweet. He’s silent, but not deadly. There’s no way Galu will hold onto too many of the Foa Foa tribe. He just might be the last to go if he’s really nice.
7 8 John: He’s so lucky that his tribe is dominant. He’s safe because of the numbers. The only thing that can hurt him now is if Galu implodes and decide to get rid of their own before the enemy.
8 4 Laura: I think the only thing that will save her next week are the numbers and possibly Russell. She’s on the chopping block with Shambo but Laura’s tribe is dominant. By the looks of next week, everyone’s gunning for everyone. Laura should watch her back.
9 9 Kelly: This girl has to step it up. It’s time for some individuality. Otherwise, without immunity she could be the second or third jury member.
10 10 Jaison: Now he has a new lease on the game. He has to show some spunk and stop crying. He can’t keep complaining about how he hates losing. His whole tribe would be willing to vote him out to save themselves. He needs to show his athleticism in the challenges.
11 12 Shannon: I hope the guys can come together to save Shambo for the jury. She’s being used and doesn’t have a clue. Bless her heart. You have to love her.
12 11 Monica: Monica was saved last week by Russell’s illness. This week her own tribe is talking about getting rid of her. Since Galu has the numbers and the rest of Foa Foa doesn’t want to leave. I see them getting what they want by sending Monica home.

Gordon’s Picks:

Rank Last Week Contestant Comment
1 3
Brett: Yikes, merge week is the toughest to predict. So, instead of “Who’s playing the best game,” I’m going with “Who’s going to be here next week.” If the 90210ers team up with Foa Foa to go after the male portion of Galu, I think Brett will be safe.
2 6 Kelly: Going with the same logic as above; I think if the 90210ers are the target that Monica or Laura will be the first ones to go.
3 10 Natalie: As the member of Foa Foa who is the least likely to be an immunity challenge threat, I see Natalie as the safest from her old tribe. Jaison or Mick are sure to go way before her.
4 2 Dave: Same deal as with Brett. If the 90210ers team with Foa Foa, then John and Erik are more likely to be their targets. Dave’s safe for now.
5 1 Russell H.: I’d like to think that Russell wouldn’t be a big target heading into the merge, but you never know when people are going to try to flush out a hidden immunity idol.
6 13 Shannon: For as misguided of a game as I think Shambo has been playing, I think she’s safe for a while. She has the guys on her side and Foa Foa seems to be fond of her as well.
7 4 Laura: LauRussell doesn’t seem as likely as last week’s preview made it seem. She seemed to think of it more as a possible avenue than a definite plan of attack. I doubt she’ll go for it unless the Galu men make a move to get rid of Monica.
8 7 Mick: A strong male on the tribe with the least amount of people? Yup, Mick could be in a lot of trouble. However, I think Jaison is a bigger target than Mick is.
9 9 John: John has a strong voice within the male Galu alliance, and if he’s viewed as a threat by the 90210ers/Foa Foa remnants, he could be on the chopping block.
10 5 Erik: Does anyone on Galu know that Erik has the hidden immunity idol? If they do, Erik could be a blindside target.
11 11 Monica: The male Galu alliance (we need a better name for them, any ideas?) has been gunning for Monica for a while. This merge could be their best shot.
12 8 Jaison: The preview didn’t hint at Jaison. However, I have my PhD in “Survivor” history. And that advanced degree tells me the strongest player on the weakest tribe is often the first to go.

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‘Survivor’ Castaway Interview – Elizabeth Kim

October 30, 2009

Sometimes the key to survival is being strong in challenges. Sometimes the key to survival is being useful around camp. This year the key to survival is not crossing “Evil” Russell Hantz. New York attorney Elizabeth Kim learned this lesson last night when she was the third person to leave the game after getting on “Evil” Russell’s bad side. We spoke with Elizabeth and got her thoughts on Russell’s sexist comments, the Foa Foa blondes, and lawyer jokes.

Gordon Holmes: Hey, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Kim: Hi, Gordon. How are you?
Gordon: Terrible.
Elizabeth: Oh, sorry to hear that.
Gordon: I’ve have had the song “Poker Face” stuck in my head for two straight days.
Elizabeth: (Laughs) Ew…that is bad.
Gordon: How are you doing?
Elizabeth: Great!
Gordon: I heard a rumor about you.
Elizabeth: What’s that?
Gordon: Some big, burly guy on this reality show said that you’re so stupid, he can’t see how you can walk without falling down.
Elizabeth: I know, but coming from a chauvinistic pig, I’m not surprised.
Gordon: How does he think you got your three degrees?  Did you have to crawl up to the graduation podium to get them?
Elizabeth: I think so! He would think that. (Laughs)

Gordon: So, Russell seemed to make life difficult for your tribe with the water dumping and the sock burning. Did anyone have any idea he was up to those kinds of shenanigans?
Elizabeth: Absolutely not. Fortunately I wasn’t victimized by his pranks. But, you have to think that when someone as diabolical as that is in your tribe, who needs enemies? We don’t need Galu when we have a force to be reckoned with on our own tribe.

Gordon: I spoke with Ashley last week, and she made it sound like he was the nicest guy, sneaking them food and whatnot.  Did he treat you the same way?
Elizabeth: Oh please. Russell is slimy and I never trusted him from the get go. I treated him with kid gloves. That’s why I escaped being part of his “Dumb A— Girl” alliance because he knew not to deal with me in that manner. So, there was some modicum of respect that crumbled when I called him out. It’s hard because you want to find someone you can trust, and Ashley was looking for someone she could hang her hat with, and she just chose the wrong person.
Gordon: It’s too bad he wasn’t starting a “Smart A— Girl” alliance because you could have been the charter member.
Elizabeth: Again, Russell is a male chauvinist pig. He has a very vulnerable ego and he never wanted to feel like any woman was showing him up.
Gordon: You mentioned what happened when you called him out over the hidden immunity idol. Any idea he’d blow up like that?
Elizabeth: No, and when he did, I knew he had it. He flipped out. As soon as he did, any doubt that I had that he had it went out the window.

Gordon: I feel like we saw a lot of how you were reacting to situations. What moves were you making on your own that we didn’t see?
Elizabeth: I was trying to forge a yuppie alliance with Mick and Jaison. You saw my tribe members, they’re crazy. Ben is nuts, the blondes? Forget it. Russell? No way. My last hope was Mick and Jaison. But what I didn’t know was how Russell had brought them into his corner with the idol. That just made it so much more of an uphill battle.
Gordon: I see a flaw in your logic, because how can you trust an alliance made of lawyers?
Elizabeth: (Silence) I’m a lawyer myself, so maybe I’m biased.

Gordon: Moving on…Jaison seemed to have a rough time out there. Every time they cut to him he was complaining. He even gave up during last night’s challenge. Was he really like that all the time?
Elizabeth: It was worse than you saw. Team spirit was at an all-time low at Foa Foa. And this is where I give Russell credit because he continued to plow through it. But Jaison, for as big as he is, as strong as he looks, he was the biggest complainer. It was so much. It’s not like it’s a walk in the park for me either. But constantly losing and all the rain just cracked Jaison.

Gordon: Is Mick being a leader at all, or is he downplaying it?
Elizabeth: He was not a very effective leader. We chose him, but we overestimated how he would be. He didn’t lead at all. I don’t know if that’s part of his strategy, but we could have used some motivational speaking. He didn’t do that at all.

Gordon: OK, word association time. Let’s start with Natalie.
Elizabeth: Sweet.
Gordon: Shambo?
Elizabeth: Friendly.
Gordon: Laura?
Elizabeth: Hmm…b—h.
Gordon: Whoa…Jaison?
Elizabeth: Whiner.
Gordon: Russell S.?
Elizabeth: Leader.
Gordon: Russell H.?
Elizabeth: Chauvinist.
Gordon: Ben?
Elizabeth: Racist.
Gordon: OK, so what did you take…
Elizabeth: Wait, you forgot Ashley!
Gordon: OK, Ashley?
Elizabeth: Brat.

Gordon: So what did you take from your time in Samoa?
Elizabeth: Sometimes 100% isn’t enough. You can play the best game you can possibly play, but sometimes the deck will still be stacked against you. The way the numbers play out, the environment, and it’s just hard. It’s hard when it’s going against you. And that was very hard for me. I always like to think that I have control over my destiny and can do things to change the way things are going. But this game, under those conditions, there’s very little I could do. Again, we were down to five people and I tried to sway Mick and Jaison, but I underestimated the power of the idol. I think Russell was motivated to play the game because he had the idol. And if any one of us had had the idol we would have been in his shoes.
Gordon: Five years ago, could you have ever imagined yourself seriously discussing “The Power of the Idol?”
Elizabeth: (Laughs) Absolutely not.
Gordon: Elizabeth, thank you for your time, and I want to apologize for my terrible lawyer joke earlier.
Elizabeth: (Laughs) It’s OK, I get that all of the time.

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‘Survivor: Samoa’ Episode 7 Recap: The Rise of LauRussell?

October 29, 2009

Last Week: Russell Swan’s medical situation forced him out of the game, while Erik foolishly picked a fight with Foa Foa at tribal council.

39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Here are the tribes as they currently stand…

Foa Foa (wearing yellow)

Elizabeth – 33 – Attorney
Jaison – 28 – Law Student
Mick – 33 – Doctor
Natalie – 26 – Pharmaceutical Sales
Russell H. – 36 – Oil Company Owner

Galu (wearing purple)

Brett – 23 – T-shirt Designer
Dave – 38 – Fitness Instructor
Erik – 28 – Bartender
John – 25 – Rocket Scientist
Kelly – 25 – Hair Stylist
Laura – 39 – Office Manager
Monica – 25 – Law Student
Shannon – 45 – Sales

We meet up with Galu after tribal council and the guys are worried that Russell leaving has cost them their advantage in the men vs. women feud. Wait, what? I thought the 90210ers hated Shambo? They decide to get Shambo on their side then cut her lose when they’re down to the final five. An unidentified male Galu member even spouts the trite “Bros before hoes” catchphrase. “Bros before Shambos” is much more family friendly yet maintains the rhyme scheme. Just sayin’…

Fun Fact: Merriam-Webster’s Web site has an entry for the proper spelling of the plural of the word “ho.” Thank you, Internet!

The next morning at Foa Foa, the team is very excited that Galu has lost one of their strongest competitors. Russell (no need to call him evil anymore) lets us know that Liz was the next to go if it had come down to a vote.

Over at Galu the male plan involves electing Shambo the leader so she’ll trust them. Shambo seems less than overwhelmed. The tribe puts it up to a vote and Shambo wins. How does she have experience to lead a tribe? If I were a conservative this is where I’d make a Barack Obama joke.

As her first act in the leadership role, Shambo pledges to lead without being bossy. Dave lets us know that her regime is a façade and she is their puppet.  If I were a liberal this is where I’d make a George Bush joke.

Reward Challenge Time: Survival items are hidden under wicker pyramids. It’s basically a game of Memory. Each team will get to reveal two items at once. If they find two of the same item, they get a point. Or, the leader can choose to keep the item and forfeit the point. Four of the survival items are dummy items and do not have matches. The team with the most points wins a sailboat cruise. They’ll also get to send a tribe member to the opposing tribe’s camp.

Kelly, Dave, and Shambo will sit out. Brett will act as the leader for Galu since Shambo is sitting out.

Laura unveils two fire-starting kits. They forfeit the point and keep the kits.

Brett finds two mosquito nets. They decide to keep the point. Galu 1, Foa Foa 0.

John finds two cleavers, they keep the point. Galu 2, Foa Foa 0.

Through some super snazzy editing, I can tell who’s finding what. But, I do know Galu is winning.

Natalie finds two pots to bring the score to Galu 6, Foa Foa 4.

Monica finds two sets of eating utensils to win the challenge for Galu. They also managed to win a tarp along the way. Somewhere Russell S. is smiling.

Shambo chooses to send Laura to Foa Foa so she can keep her men strong for the next challenge. The 90210ers take this move personally.

WHOA! Kelly actually says something! She compares Shambo to a trailer trash woman who has married a rich person and doesn’t know how to act. ShamBASH!

Back at Galu, Russell and Laura bond over their religious backgrounds. He then pitches a cross-tribe alliance where Laura, Russell, and Natalie would end up in the final three. Russell even says he can spot a “Good Christian.” Forget what I said earlier, we’re gonna stick with that “Evil Russell” nickname.

Evil Russell also tells her to toss away the immunity idol clue. He claims Ben found the idol but never used it. Evil!

Meanwhile on the cruise, the Galutians are having a grand time. While they’re there they are treated to a delicious beef stew. Monica also tries to make up with Shambo.

At Foa Foa, Elizabeth is annoyed that Laura and Natalie are talking about their faith while she’s trying to start a fire. She points this out to Evil Russell who is less than sympathetic. At least, I think he’s unsympathetic. Maybe I misunderstood it when he said, “Liz is so stupid, I don’t see how she can walk without falling down.”

Immunity Challenge Time: Both tribes will paddle a boat out to get fish-shaped puzzle pieces. They’ll have to hook the puzzle pieces on fishing poles to retrieve them. Cute. They’ll then return to the beach to put the puzzle together. The first tribe to complete their puzzle wins immunity.

John, Monica, and Laura will sit out. In other news, Foa Foa has left their leadership necklace back at camp because they think it’s bad luck. Well, that’s what happens when you make a leadership necklace out of the tiki idol from the Brady Bunch’s trip to Hawaii.

Foa Foa jumps out to an early lead as Dave has a problem with his pole.

Grow up.

Galu manages to regain some ground as Jaison is too tired to push Foa Foa’s boat.

The puzzle portion does not go well for Foa Foa as they can’t quite figure it out. The trick was that the pieces didn’t go together like a traditional puzzle. There were supposed to be gaps between the pieces. Galu figured it out first and won yet another immunity. It probably also didn’t help that Jaison seemed to give up.

Politicking around Foa Foa revolves around Evil Russell debating between Elizabeth and Jaison. But, since they only showed him discussing this with Elizabeth, I’m going to assume that he’s not debating it that seriously. Bye, Elizabeth.

That night at tribal council, J-Pro calls the tribe out as one of the worst performing tribes in “Survivor” history. I’d assume they’re second worst behind Palau’s Ulong tribe that never won immunity.

Evil Russell thinks he can whip up on Galu after the merge. Jaison is worried that he’ll be voted out based on his performance in the challenge.

Voting Time: Elizabeth votes for Jaison, Jaison votes for Liz, and the rest are super secret. Jeff tallies…one vote for Jaison, two votes for Liz, and the sixth person voted out of “Survivor: Samoa” and the eighth person overall to go home is…Elizabeth.

Verdict: It’s nice to see that the last episode before the merge ended in the same manner that most of the other episodes have ended; with Galu smacking Foa Foa around in a challenge. That being said, there is a lot of uncertainty going into the merge as Foa Foa seems to be more solid alliance-wise than Galu does. This could be Tocantins all over again if they’re not careful.

Who’s Going to Win? Laura’s got some options now, but this whole male/female thing at Galu has me worried that the 90210ers could be on the outs.

Special Note: I’m going to be somewhere sunny next week with a pineapple drink in my hand. So, there will be no “Survivor” recap. I’ll be back in two weeks with my regularly scheduled recap and promise to think of you the whole time I’m gone.

What Do You Think? Who’s in trouble going into the merge? Should Jaison have been booted for bailing on the challenge? Is it wrong for Russell to use religion to get on Laura’s good side?

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‘Survivor: Samoa’ Power Rankings Challenge: Round 6

October 28, 2009

Welcome to “Pre-Show Smack Talk with Taj and Gordon”

Gordon: So, now that I have a commanding lead, I’m prepared to discuss the stakes of this competition.
Taj: That doesn’t seem fair!
Gordon: How about the winner gets to sing with S.W.V.?
Taj: I can think of a couple people who might have a problem with that.
Gordon: Fine…fine…how about the winner gets Eddie George’s 1995 Heisman Trophy award?
Taj: I can think of one person who would DEFINITELY have a problem with that.
Gordon: Alright, you drive a tough bargain. How about the winner of the “Survivor: Samoa” Power Rankings Challenge will receive the coveted Golden Probsty Award?
Taj: I love it!

The Rules: Each week, “Survivor: Tocantins’s” Tamara “Taj” George and your beloved “Survivor” recapped Gordon “Truth Seeker” Holmes will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of that Thursday’s episode will determine the number of points the two combatants will earn. For example, if John is voted out this week, Taj will receive 8 points and Gordon will receive 9 points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Samoa” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Last Week: Russell Swan’s medical problem forced him out of the game earning both Taj and Gordon 13 points. The current score is now Taj: 80, Gordon: 86.

Taj’s Picks:

Rank Last Week Contestant Comment
1 1 Russell H: Everyone thinks that Russell is evil and crazy. I like the guy! He’s a man after my own heart, at least the nice side of my heart. Lol! He’s playing the game like a pro. He’s sent more than half of his own tribe packing at will and now it looks like he’s creating a cross tribe alliance before the merge. I hope his works better than mine did. I don’t see him winning it all but I totally see him in the final four.
2 3 Dave: My heart aches for Russell S. and Galu. The passion and fight seemed to increase at tribal council. It seems like he will want someone like Shambo to be the new leader because she will be easy to manipulate. He will be calling the shots with Shambo as a cover. Great idea!
3 4 Brett: Quiet and cute. That’s all I have on this guy. He’s good in challenges but doesn’t really say much. There’s no reason to put him low on the list.
4 6 Laura: I have a love/hate relationship with Laura. She’s an older woman hanging in there. Naturally, I like her. I just want her to be creative. I want to see where the Russell/Laura alliance will go. I hope she doesn’t try to play the mother role with him.
5 14 Natalie: Natalie, Natalie, Natalie! Russell was definitely in your corner last week. He was ready to turn the whole tribe against Liz to save you. Do you ever wonder why? Your tribe is down to 5 people and you’re the weakest. Start thinking about the future girlie.
6 2 Erik: Does Erik understand choose your battles wisely? I was crushed when Russell S. had to leave the game. I was fired up and ready for battle right along with the Galu tribe. Did you hear me shouting it out? NO! He completely alienated Foa Foa by talking so much trash. Who cares what they were saying. They have 5 tribe members left. He’ll really need that HII once the merge happens.
7 9 Mick: Maybe Foa Foa should elect a new leader also. It’s as if Mick was medevac’d on the first day. His tribe loses everything. There are no pep talks for his tribe from him. Nothing! Bless his heart!
8 5 John: I’m ready for John to say something clever about science and physics for me. I want to laugh about something else other than him. He’s riding the wave of a strong tribe. I’m bored!
9 7 Kelly: See John but replace “science and physics” with something about her tattoos. Still bored!
10 10 Jaison: Jaison has been quiet for the past two weeks. Good for him. His tribe thinks he’s an asset for challenges that they consistently lose. Good for him. I’ll say more about him once the tribes merge. There’s really nothing he can do but wait at this point.
11 8 Monica: If Russell did not become sick would it have been over for Monica? Probably. I would’ve been torn after a week’s worth of rain knowing that Russell chose blankets for the girls. Hell, I was mad at all of the girls for choosing blankets & pillows over a tarp. What the hell is wrong with them?
12 12 Shannon: I really want her to pull a pimp move and outsmart her tribe but I know it will never happen. She’s too much of a sweet Marine. A really tough lady without an evil bone in her body.
13 11 Elizabeth: The only reason I have Liz at the bottom is because of her tribe’s losing trend. If Foa Foa loses again and if Russell has his way, she will be out of there for no other reason than she has three ivy-league degrees. She’s too tough and smart for her own good.

Gordon’s Picks:

Rank Last Week Contestant Comment
1 1
Russell H.: Last season it looked like Brendan was going to start a cross-tribe alliance with my lovely competition Taj, but it never really came to fruition. This season it looks like Russell and Laura might pull it off. I still don’t think Russell can win, but he’s five steps ahead of everyone else.
2 4 Brett: Yeah, Brett hasn’t said very much. But on the other hand he hasn’t gone off on a tirade against Foa Foa at tribal council. So, he has that going for him.
3 2 Dave: I’m not quite sure what to make of Dave and John acting like they want to align with Shambo. It can’t be real, can it? Either way, I like it because it shows they’re thinking outside of the box.
4 5 Laura: Russell S. called Laura a “Master Manipulator” when we spoke last Friday and from the looks of her pact with Russell H., he may have been dead on. If this doesn’t come back to bite her, she could be the dominant force in the post-merge tribe.
5 3 Erik: Erik is a strong, smart player. He has a hidden immunity idol and seems to be in good with the rest of Galu. However, that speech last week in front of Foa Foa was extremely short-sighted.
6 9 Kelly: I give Kelly grief because we don’t hear much from her, but being the middle person in an alliance can be a sweet gig. She’s not next on the chopping block, and she won’t be the first to go if there’s any kind of backstabbing.
7 7 Mick: What has Middle-of-the-Pack Mick done in this game? Sure he’s safe now, but he and Jaison have to be the favorites to be the first people voted out after the merge.
8 11 Jaison: I hope Jaison is feeling better now that the weather has improved. But like I said in Mick’s entry, I doubt he’s going to be around much longer.
9 8 John: So, John is smart enough to realize that they need to separate Laura and Monica, but not smart enough to see that Shambo would be a big problem when the tribe’s merge?
10 6 Natalie: Russell H. says she’s safe, but we’ve heard that song and dance from Russell before. I actually believe him in this case as I think he’s going to need her vote down the line.
11 10 Monica: She seems to be the low woman on the 90210ers totem pole. If John isn’t just playing Shambo (and I’m not convinced he isn’t) Monica could be the next to go.
12 14 Elizabeth: The choice between Elizabeth and Natalie boils down to Elizabeth being better at challenges and Natalie being in Evil Russell’s pocket. So, while Elizabeth may be more valuable now, Natalie will be more valuable later. My money’s on Elizabeth going first.
13 12 Shannon: I don’t understand how Shambo got this far in the game. The 90210ers clearly don’t like her and I’m pretty sure John and the other guys are setting her up somehow. If she can make the merge she could make a run, but I don’t see that happening.

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‘Survivor’ Castaway Interview – Russell Swan

October 23, 2009

The importance of the actual day-to-day act of taking care of yourself is often lost in “Survivor.” While the social maneuvering, alliance building, and backstabbing may be the show stealer, the fact that these people are surviving with so little (no pun intended) for so long must be appreciated. Russell Swan learned to appreciate that the hard way when he collapsed during a reward challenge and was taken out of the game. We had a chance to ask Russell what he remembers from that day (not much), why he took the leadership role seriously, and which of the Galu members is the dreamiest…

Gordon Holmes: So, I missed last night’s show. Anything interesting happen?
Russell Swan: (Laughing) I almost died…and I freaked my wife out. And that’s about it, Gordon.
Gordon: Jeff Probst said that you probably didn’t realize how bad it really was. Now that you’ve had a chance to watch it, what are your feelings on the incident?
Russell: You know, Gordon, that was just a huge shock. My brain has a completely different script in it in terms of what happened. I had no idea. This is what I remembered happening. I go through the maze, I take a knee to rest, Laura tells me to lift my side up, I lift my side up. I hit myself in the head and maybe knocked myself out. I’m laying there for about five minutes, and then they yanked me.  And I was pissed off, because “Why are you yanking me?!” Then I see on TV; I’m stumbling around, they’re pulling me, I’m laying on the thing. It was disturbing. I’m laying back, and my eyes looked like a dead person. My wife lost it. We both agreed that we shouldn’t let my daughter watch it.
Gordon: It was rough cause you were stumbling around, but you were wearing a blindfold so you’re supposed to be stumbling around! Nobody knew what was going on.
Russell: That happened to a person that I don’t know. That was not me, that was someone who looked like me. I have absolutely no memory of any of that. I don’t remember hearing anyone’s voice except for Laura’s. The only other voice I remember is Jeff saying, “Stop,” And I’m thinking, “Why are we stopping? Don’t tell me we lost the challenge.”  I guess if there are gaps your brain will fill them in.
Gordon: How long after they took you out of the game were you able to be up and about again?
Russell: This is going to sound strange, but in my mind it was only five minutes. But in reality it was more like a couple of hours. Apparently I was being a jerk to the medical staff because I didn’t understand why they were taking me out of the game. Having seen the show…now I get it.
Gordon: Jeff had mentioned that he watched you go through several stages: anger, denial, sadness. He also said that you were worried you’d be viewed as a quitter. Do you appreciate now that that isn’t the case?
Russell: I appreciate that now, but at the time, I thought it was because I was lying on my back for five minutes. What a wimp. I was thinking, “I’ve sent in eight applications to this show, and this is how it’s going to end cause I’m on my back for five minutes?!” I was in warrior mode, I wanted to go.

Gordon: As part of that leadership role, you punished Shambo for losing the chicken. How much of that was punishment and how much of that was strategy to get in close with the rest of the tribe?
Russell: Yeah, she’s on the outs. But, she had made a number of mistakes, not only the chicken, but losing the snorkel…which was huge. I had to show the tribe that there are consequences for actions. But some of that is strategy too. There are other people I could put up on the chopping block. But I’ve got a target on my back. Any time I can throw the light on someone else I’m going to do it.

Gordon: Now something that did throw the light on you was when you chose the bath and body gift basket over the tarp. How much grief did you get over that decision?
Russell: (Laughs) I’m going to tell you, the grief over that has been way too much and long lasting. It was a stupid decision, but it was strategic. In life, and we’re not playing “Survivor,” I’m choosing the tarp. It’s a no-brainer. But there were some very specific things that I saw that led me to that decision.
Gordon: How could you have possibly known it was going to rain for forty days and forty nights?
Russell: I never imagined that, it was supposed to be Samoa’s dry season. But it rained for a week straight. I’d hate to see that place when it’s the wet season.

Gordon: Yasmin seemed to be someone that you were willing to go to bat for, but you eventually voted against her. Was this a situation where you didn’t feel that strongly toward her, or did you think it would be a disaster to go against the others?
Russell: Yasmin was the strongest woman in the game, period. Every time she had to step up, she did. At that point my strategy is, “Let’s win every challenge so we don’t have to go to tribal council.” But, “Survivor” is a social game, and I need to be able to go back and see what the group thinks. I thought it was the wrong vote, but we’re playing a game.

Gordon: OK, word association time. Let’s start with Brett…
Russell: A sweet guy.
Gordon: Dave?
Russell: Smart as hell.
Gordon: Erik?
Russell: Warrior, my right-hand man.
Gordon: John?
Russell: Underwear model!
Gordon: Underwear model/rocket scientist/nuclear physicist…
Russell: Yeah, whatever. I don’t know about that guy. He’s cute. I’d probably try to hit on him.
Gordon: Oh, he’s adorable. But you’re getting me off track.
Russell: (Laughs)
Gordon: Kelly?
Russell: Oh, she’s a sweetheart.
Gordon: Laura?
Russell: Wow…master manipulator.
Gordon: Monica?
Russell: Sweetheart, I love Monica to death.
Gordon: Shambo?
Russell: Shambo is one of a kind. I will always keep in contact with Shambo.

Gordon: During tribal council last night, Erik made a very passionate speech. He said they were going to do what you would have wanted them to do, bringing it to Foa Foa, every challenge, every time. What was your reaction to seeing that you’re still a leader, even when you’re not there?
Russell: I loved that. At the end of the day, it is a game and the leader thing is somewhat contrived, but we are people and we’re really doing that. I took that role seriously at some point because I had to. And to see that they took that seriously, it was very cathartic and it really did mean something.

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