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‘Survivor’ Castaway Ciera: “Sandra Is Literally a Wizard”

March 9, 2017

Ciera Eastin (CBS)

QUICK NOTE: XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your bug-eatin’, back-stabbin’, “Survivor” coverage. During the season we’ll have insightful weekly Power Rankings, exit interviews, and full episode recaps. Follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates.

Gordon Holmes: Ciera played too fast, Ciera named names…it felt like there was something we missed. Were you setting up sub-alliances? Were you digging Spy Bunkers™?
Ciera Eastin: (Laughs) It was hard for me to watch back and figure out what really happened. But I think it’s a couple of things. I’d just come off of “Second Chance,” like less than a year ago. And the first day everyone hit the beach running. It was crazy. I thought this would be similar. So, when I came in I wasn’t even playing full crazy Ciera. I was pretty mild. But, compared to everyone else, I guess it was too much. But, when Malcolm said I was the only one throwing out names, that wasn’t true. I thought everyone wanted Tony gone. Tony was looking for idols. He had to go. The scene where I walked to the well, they were already talking about Tony.
Holmes: I was there for that. I can confirm that.
Eastin: Right. And so for me, I joined in the conversation. I didn’t walk in and say, “Hey, this is what we’re going to do.” I think what sealed the deal for me was I said, “If we think Tony has an idol, we can go for Caleb.” And I think there were people in that group like Malcolm who wanted to work with Caleb. And Tony and Caleb were so close those first days. Tony and Caleb were gone one night. We woke up one night and they were gone, we didn’t know what they were doing. And so, I thought it was obvious.

Holmes: What was it about Hali’s “loose lips” comment that tipped you off?
Eastin: It was because I was under the impression that it was Michaela and not for those reasons. Everybody was saying she wasn’t doing great in the challenges and in the water she wasn’t the strongest. She was an outcast. People thought she had a little bit of an attitude. So “loose lips” isn’t why we’re targeting Michaela.

Holmes: When the six of you were at the water well, Malcolm pointed out Tony’s Spy Bunker™ hole. Did you have any concept that he could’ve possibly been digging a hole that an adult-sized man could hide in?
Eastin: (Laughs) No! We thought he was digging for idols. It made me think he had a clue because it was a weird spot to dig.

Holmes: When you got you buff on day one. How did you feel about the tribe alignment?
Eastin: I thought I was in trouble. It’s so hard to describe. So much of my play is on gut and feeling. And looking around I didn’t think I was going to click with a lot of these people. And looking at the other tribe, I thought, “Damn, those are my people.” I already have relationships with Brad, I know Sierra, I know Andrea. So, I was super bummed out of the gate. And at camp, nobody was talking to me. I think Malcolm didn’t talk strategy with me one time alone. So, I knew I was in trouble. When nobody is talking to you, there’s usually a reason.

Holmes: Did anyone on your tribe see Sierra pick up the legacy advantage?
Eastin: Nope, that was the first time I’d ever heard about it.

Holmes: Sandra is someone who when you watch her on TV…it’s hard to quantify why she’s a two-time winner. If I were trying to explain it to someone, I’d use the moment last night where they were asking for her opinion and she said something along the lines of, “You tell me who you’re targeting and I’ll tell you my thoughts.” Did your opinion of her change when you were out there?
Eastin: It only got better. I’ve always thought Sandra was the queen, but getting to play with her it gave me such a greater perspective on why she does so well. Sandra is literally a wizard. She says the perfect thing. And if she doesn’t say the perfect thing, people take it as a joke. It’s this thing where you can be a total (expletive deleted) and I’m not saying Sandra is, but you can make a snide comment and people view it as, “Oh, Sandra!” And when she says, “You tell me what you’re thinking,” that’s so simple and so brilliant. When you’re living day-to-day there and there are so many conversations, Sandra is constantly on.

Holmes: Word association time. Let’s start with Malcolm.
Eastin: Witty.
Holmes: Sandra?
Eastin: Queen.
Holmes: Michaela?
Eastin: Strong.
Holmes: Tony?
Eastin: Funny.
Holmes: Troyzan?
Eastin: Genuine.
Holmes: Hali?
Eastin: Know-it-all.
Holmes: Caleb?
Eastin: All American.
Holmes: Aubry?
Eastin: Unique.
Holmes: Let’s finish with Jeff.
Eastin: Handsome.
Holmes: You’re not wrong.
Eastin: We’ve had this conversation before.

Holmes: Let’s jump back into that. You called Hali a “Know-it-all.” Was there something we missed? Was there tension there?
Eastin: I really don’t hold grudges, it’s a game. So, in the game, Hali, for someone who wasn’t really in my opinion a Game Changer. And I get that Ciera’s opinion is not gold. But from my perspective, I didn’t remember her. But, she came in and she knew what to do with everything. She knew what to do with the fire, she knew how to do the food, she knew the best strategy for the game. Everything. But, at the time I was thinking, “You know we’ve all done this before, right?” It rubbed me the wrong way out there, but out of the game I have no hard feelings.

Holmes: Dude, I lost so many bets on the challenge last night.
Eastin: (Laughs)
Holmes: I said to everyone, everyone, “Ciera’s done this puzzle. She’s gonna bring it home for Mana.”
Eastin: You know what? I think lesson learned, if I ever play again, don’t bet on me to win any challenge ever. I’m terrible. I get such bad anxiety. But, I knew the concept and how it works. It took forever for both teams to do the puzzle. It took so long. I can’t tell you what happened, but I can tell you that I sucked.
Holmes: The hardest part is getting all eight of the spokes even. The press ran it while we were out there and Parade’s Josh Wigler and I managed to beat the puzzle in about four minutes. And last night, a former Survivor named Laura bragged that she beat it in three.
Eastin: (Laughs) She would! My mom is a freak of nature when it comes to challenges and puzzles. She says she’s going to win and she does it. She says I have to be positive, and even when I am I lose. And I heard her voice in the challenge last night, she said you have to create a skeleton key. The key is to make one spoke that fits perfectly, then match it across all of them. The problem was I made a key and it was perfect and when I was making the rest, one of them had to be reversed because one end had a thing sticking out. And when I went back to figure it out, that’s when we got scrambled.
Holmes: I said to your mom, “If you’re so great, why don’t you teach your kid?” And her response was that you don’t listen.
Eastin: (Laughs) I really don’t. That’s very true. If I ever go back I need to get in better shape and practice my puzzles. The social aspect I can navigate, it’s those dang challenges that get me.

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

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‘Survivor’ Ciera: “Day One I’m Going Zero to Sixty and I’m Staying at Sixty the Whole Way Through”

March 3, 2017

Ciera Eastin (CBS)

QUICK NOTE: The good folks at XFINITY sent me deep into the Fijian wilderness to bring you an exclusive look at “Survivor: Game Changers.” While I was there I conducted interviews with “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and the entire 20-person cast. I also captured exclusive photos and other behind-the-scenes tidbits. So, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates.

Name: Ciera Eastin
Age: 27
Hometown: Salem, OR
Previously Played On:
“Survivor: Blood vs. Water” – Finished 5th and Jury Member
“Survivor: Second Chance” – Finished 10th  and Jury Member
Best Known For: Voting out someone. I don’t remember who.

Gordon Holmes: We’ve been out here together three times in four years.
Ciera Eastin: That’s a lot.
Holmes: Is that an advantage or a disadvantage?
Eastin: The game is really fresh in my mind and coming off a season like “Second Chance” that was so fast paced…I think it gives me an advantage. I think I’m a little ahead of the curve. I’m ready for anything. “Second Chances” went from two tribes to three tribe to two tribes to voting blocs…I think I’m the most prepared.

Holmes: You have a reputation as someone who won’t just sit back and let things happen. You’re always swinging. Is that something you can play into or do you have to hold back?
Eastin: This time I have to switch it up a little bit. I really want to learn from both seasons. And I think one thing I’ve learned is if you’re on the bottom you have to fight and fight and fight. That Ciera will never change. I’ll create my own destiny. What will change is I want to cater more…I tend to get too emotionally invested in one character or one way of thinking, and then I close doors. So, when that way of thinking is gone, like Kass, I was close with Kass. When she was voted out I looked around and all of these doors were closed. I hadn’t been working on those relationships. So, this time I want to make sure I’m spread all over. So, Ciera is everywhere. You’ll still see the same Ciera, I’m here to win. I’d rather go home first then end up in third.
Holmes: Ciera, just win the thing.
Eastin: I know!
Holmes: Quit (expletive deleted) around.
Eastin: (Laughs) I’m really focused this time!

Holmes: What’s your take on this whole Game Changers thing?
Eastin: I feel like it’s a season for me. I look at some of these people and I don’t see how they fit in as a game changer. I kind of embody that. I adapt. And I feel like this season the game is going to be constantly changing. The pressure is on and everyone wants to live up to that title. Who’s the ultimate game changer?
Holmes: “Second Chance” was big move after big move. And I don’t think everyone who made it to “Second Chance” was an all-star. I don’t think everyone here is an all-star. There’s got to be something about, “I’m lucky to have this chance. If I don’t swing for the fences I’m not going to get another one.” Is that something you can play against? They’re zigging so I need to zag?
Eastin: I think one of my strengths is reading people. And you’re right, there are people here who have something to prove. I think it’s navigating through it. It’s knowing when you want someone close to you and when they’re a liability. I’m not threatened by anyone out here. I don’t think anyone is a bigger player than I am. I’m so confident.
Holmes: You seem very zen.
Eastin: It’s the calm before the storm. I know we’re getting close, so I’m really reeling it in and getting ready to explode. Day one I’m going zero to sixty and I’m staying at sixty the whole way through.

Holmes: What are your thoughts on this cast?
Eastin: Besides “Blood vs. Water” this is my favorite cast.
Holmes: Well, you’re biased because your favorite player was on that season.
Eastin: (Laughs) That’s right. My favorite player. But this cast is amazing. Such a variety…all the winners…people I’ve never seen play, the two random players we haven’t seen. I have no preconceived ideas of how they’re going to play. The legends like Ozzy and Sandra? And then people I’ve played with like Jeff Varner and Brad Culpepper. Last time I was looking around and Vytas was the only person. But now I’m looking around like, “Damn all these winners and Ozzy and Cirie!”

Holmes: Is there anyone you’re looking forward to working with?
Eastin: I really like Tai. He is…
Holmes: Adorable?
Eastin: He is adorable. But I also think he’s malleable. I can use that to my advantage. I’d like to sit with him in the end because I can say, “Hey, I brought this guy here and he played a role for me. I was the caller of the shots.” When you’re aligned with an Ozzy or a Malcolm it’s hard for me to be like, “No, it was really me. Believe me.” With Tai it’s easier to believe. I love Andrea. But, I’m trying not to get too…girly. I got in with Kass and was linked with her and Katie Collins in my first season…I don’t want it to be like Ciera and Andrea. But, I do really like her.

Holmes: Any early targets?
Eastin: I would love to see someone like Tony go early. Maybe even Caleb. Somebody big. I want to start the season with a big message. Like, Tony won one season, but big deal. We’re all big players and you don’t have an advantage over all of us. Everyone is here to play so you’d better up your game. I don’t want to get rid of a Cirie or like an Aubry. Well, kind of…I don’t want to send a message of, “Let’s send the weaker people home,” because I fit into the weaker category. But, I’d like to see someone big go home first.

Holmes: You mentioned the new players. How do you deal with Michaela and Zeke?
Eastin: They need to go home really early. They say it’s better the devil you do know than the devil you don’t know. And I’m kind of going off of that. We saw on “Heroes vs. Villains” when Russell Hantz came in and nobody knew how he played. He was a great actor. He got to say, “I don’t know why I’m a villain.”
Holmes: That is a terrible Russell Hantz.
Eastin: (Laughs)
Holmes: It’s more like “I don’t know whyyyy I’m a villain.”
Eastin: That’s better. But they could pull the same thing. “I was America’s sweetheart, I was really true to my alliance.” So, I’d rather get rid of them.

Holmes: A fifth of this cast is from Kaoh Rong. How do you play that?
Eastin: I know Caleb and Tai are close. Aubry and Tai went to the end together. It’s not a relationship like me and Varner where we didn’t really meet until our finale. These are people who spent time together. The only reason it doesn’t scare me is I think people who play with first-time players are a little naïve to the game. I think they’re going to come in thinking they can fool us. No, we’re second and third time players. We know this is fast-paced, so buckle up. I think they’re at a disadvantage with those relationships. They’re going to be early targets.

Holmes: You and Brad Culpepper were on the same tribe in “Blood vs. Water.” What’s your relationship like now?
Eastin: I hope I can work with Brad. I really do. I’m so iffy on him. I’m not sure if he’s going to want to work with me.

Note: At this point, a CBS representative and Jeff Varner walk by.

Holmes: Let’s hold up.
Eastin: Yeah, I definitely don’t want him hearing what I have to say.
Holmes: He does have pretty eyes though.
Eastin: Oh…he’s just handsome in general.
Holmes: I interviewed him in Cambodia and didn’t notice. I never thought I’d be flirting with Jeff Varner.
Eastin: (Laughs) You end up doing the craziest things out here.
Holmes: OK, back to Culpepper.
Eastin: We worked really well together on our tribe. We got along fine. The only reason he went home was because of that Caleb vote. And that wasn’t by my means. I’d love to work with him. I think he’d be great to work with. Not only does he have (expletive deleted) tons of money, he’s also not the smartest guy and he can rub people the wrong way. But, I have to feel it out because I haven’t talked to him in a long time.

Holmes: Alright, let’s make sure you’re ready for this game. I’m going to give you a reason someone might use to get rid of you. I’d like you to counter it. I’d hate for you to get caught by surprise.
Eastin: I appreciate that.
Holmes: Can’t trust Ciera. She voted out the woman that brought her into this world. Let’s get rid of her ASAP.
Eastin: That was dedication to my alliance. At that time my mom was on Redemption Island and I was part of a five-person alliance. I wanted to show that alliance how loyal I really was. I don’t think that was me being disloyal. And my mom knew she was going home. And she loves me no matter what, so don’t worry about us.

Holmes: Ciera is fearless. She could’ve hung out for a few more days, but she chose to pull rocks rather than coast. I want someone that’s going to follow my lead.
Eastin: I love that argument. I am like that. But, I want to play that way with you. I want me and you…you’re my person. I’ll fight tooth and nail to get us to the end. We’ll be the final three. And you pick the third person.
Holmes: So generous.
Eastin: But, I’ll make sure we get there.

Holmes: I don’t want to go to Tribal early and Ciera is not the strongest challenge competitor.
Eastin: I love that one. And that’s the one that worries me. But, I want you to know that if you can help me out early on, you’re going to be a big target after the merge. Everybody is going to be looking at you and trying to get you out. I can protect you. You take care of me now, I’ll take care of you later.

Holmes: There’s always talk of pre-season alliances in returnee seasons. Are you talking to anyone?
Eastin: I’ve definitely talked to a bunch of people. I really tried to stay away from, “Me and you to the end,” or “I don’t like so-and-so.” It’s been very generic. “I’m excited to see you.” I think Andrea is the one I’ve talked to the most, and I think she thinks we’ll work together. But, I’m not tied to any one decision.
Holmes: Have you heard of anyone else?
Eastin: Just the obvious ones like Tai and Caleb. Tai was just at Caleb’s wedding. Tony and Sarah are close. But nothing I’m not used to. And honestly, pre-gaming doesn’t get you far. You could be on different tribes.

Holmes: Is anyone trying to communicate during this pre-game lockdown?
Eastin: Troyzan is a total talker. And Brad Culpepper, his first season, the guy couldn’t keep his mouth shut. But, this time he’s being really good. I can see improvement in his game in that aspect. He’s very self-aware. I’m impressed. I smile at people when they smile at me. I don’t want to give anyone a reason to think I’m with someone.

Eastin: Are we going to play “Align or Malign”?
Holmes: Kinda. I hold in my hand a deck of cards. In this deck are your seventeen opponents. Michaela and Zeke have been left out because we don’t know anything about them. I’ll hand you three cards at random. You tell me who you’ll vote out first, who you’ll align with and eventually eliminate, and who you’ll take to the end. It’s basically next-level “Align or Malign.”
Eastin: Sweet! I like it better. Way to step up your game.
Holmes: The game evolves and so do I…and my gimmicks.
Eastin: (Laughs)

Round One: Tai, JT, and Hali
Eastin: First out is JT. I don’t want to make a Stephen Fishbach mistake. I don’t want to take the good guy to the end. He can charm a jury. He’s a good old country guy. And he’s already won. But, I think the jury will give someone a million dollars twice. Look at Sandra. I’ll align with Hali. I don’t want to take her to the end. She’s a sweet, likable girl. We’re competing for the same spot. She has a lot to prove because nobody remembers her. I’ll take Tai to the end because I can manipulate him and call his shots. And I think I’m a better speaker than him. I’d kill him. Murder him.
Holmes: So violent.
Eastin: Yes.

Round Two: Brad, Caleb, and Ozzy
Eastin: Caleb early. I want him gone early. I played with a “Big Brother” guy and he actually won “Big Brother.” And, I want to make a big statement early. Ozzy I’ll work with. He doesn’t seem socially savvy. I think he plays an old-school loyalty game and I like that in someone I’m aligning with. And I’ll take Brad to the end. Nobody wants to give someone who’s rich a million dollars. And he’s cocky and rubs people the wrong way.

Round Three: Sandra, Sarah, and Troyzan
Eastin: Sandra early. She can win for a third time. She has a personality that people don’t think she’s playing. She’ll go wherever the tide is going, so I can’t rely on her. She’d throw me under the bus. I’ll align with Sarah. I don’t know much about her. I’ll take Troyzan to the end for the same reason as Brad. He plays the opposite role. He has a lot of money. He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Round Four: Debbie, Jeff, and Sierra
Eastin: Debbie goes first. She reminds me of Monica Culpepper in the sense that she’s not very socially in it…if that makes sense. And, she’ll be someone that somebody wants to float to the end rather than myself. She needs to go. I’d align with Sierra…I love Sierra. I don’t want to sit next to her. And there can’t be two Sierras for too long. And then, I’ll take Varner to the end…out of these. But, he scares me. But, these are the cards I have.
Holmes: You have to play the cards you’re dealt, Ciera. In “Survivor” and in life.
Eastin: Thanks, Dad.

Round Five: Malcolm, Tony, and Aubry
Eastin: This is a hard one. Oh shoot…I’ll get rid of Tony first because I want to make an early statement and he’s kind of crazy and obnoxious. I’d align with Aubry, but coming off a season where she made it to the end says a lot for her. I don’t want to sit next to her. And I guess I’ll take Malcolm to the end…even though I wouldn’t want to. We play such opposite roles. So, I might have a shot in that regard.

Holmes: OK, we have two left so give me an old-school align or malign.

Round Six: Andrea and Cirie
Eastin: I malign Cirie. She’s too old-school for me. They don’t like the strategy talk. They like to shut it down. I don’t work that way. And I’ll align with Andrea because our brains work the same and we like the same people. And, I think I can trust her.

Don’t miss the two-hour season premiere of “Survivor: Game Changers,” Wednesday March 8, 2017 at 8 p.m. ET.

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

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‘Survivor’ Castaway Ciera: ‘Jeremy Has Too Many Little Minions Protecting Him’

December 1, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

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

Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor: Second Chance”

Some people are physical threats, some people are strategic threats, some people are social threats. However, the reason most people gave for being afraid of Ciera Eastin during  pre-game interviews was because she voted out her own mother.

There has to be more than that to it, right?

I spoke with the notorious mother booter in the days following the end of her second chance and asked her why she’s so dangerous, why she never targeted Jeremy, and what the deal was with the mysterious pre-game call she got from Hayden…

Gordon Holmes: Let’s start off with the early days of Bayon. You’ve got the bros teaming up together and you end up with Kass. What were the first few rounds like for you out there?
Ciera Eastin: Everything was pretty good because we were winning. I never really saw where people’s loyalties really were. I thought I did pretty well, I thought I’d be more targeted early on. But, we’ll never know because we never lost. I thought I had good things going on. I had a relationship with Tasha in those early days. I was talking to Kass. Kass and Tasha had talked and mended and wanted to work together. And, they didn’t show this, but me and Andrew Savage really liked each other. We talked about working together. I felt pretty good about it.
Holmes: Why did you think you were going to be an early target?
Eastin: Obviously my first season I was a little bit of a wild card or a crazy person.
Holmes: A crazy wild card person.
Eastin: (Laughs) I didn’t know if people were going to hold that against me. And in pre-game there was a lot of talk of pre-game alliances. Not one person reached out to me. It made me extremely nervous, like people didn’t want to work with me. What the heck is going on? But, I didn’t have a conversation with one person.

Holmes: When I was at Bayon beach on day two, you, Stephen, and Kass were chatting and I overheard you saying something about Hayden calling you and warning you not to trust Vytas. What was that all about?
Eastin: And Monica. The advice Hayden gave me were those two people. With Vytas, I kind of already knew that going in because me and Vytas are good friends, but he had something to prove, I think. He and my mom had that incident where my mom helped Tina with the puzzle. And he got all mad. I think he wanted payback. So, I knew he wanted to vote me out and didn’t want to work with me even though he would’ve acted like it. I knew I wasn’t going to work with him. I had to convince people that I wasn’t going to work with Vytas.
Holmes: Why did Hayden warn you about Monica?
Eastin: Hayden lives down there, the California life. And I don’t know if he’d heard something personally or her pre-game alliance or what. It was a phone conversation we had in my hotel room three seconds before they took my phone away. So, I really didn’t get to get into it a whole lot. He also told me that Jeremy and Terry were people I could trust.
Holmes: Was he going off of instinct or things he had heard?
Eastin: I know he had met and was friends with Jeremy  and Terry. He said he talked to them and they were good stand-up guys and they were loyal. And then, with Monica I know he said to steer clear of her because she’s a wild card and she has something to prove.

Holmes: At the one reward you said if anyone goes to the end with Jeremy, they’re gonna lose. Why wasn’t Jeremy targeted?
Eastin: The conversations I had…Tasha was involved in those conversations. And Tasha is extremely close with Jeremy. I knew if I said that the thought would go through her head. At least, she’d know if she got to the end with Jeremy, that I wouldn’t vote for her. But also, I didn’t want to throw Jeremy’s name out because I knew she would tell him. I knew she wanted Joe gone. She was very vocal about that. So, I knew it would make her happy that I was on board with that. I knew there was no way she’d go against Jeremy. But, I’d tell other people, “Hey, I want to get Jeremy out.”
Holmes: Was there ever any movement on that front?
Eastin: No way. When I was out there, people were set up around him to protect him. When I would tell Joe, he’d tell Jeremy. Jeremy has too many little minions protecting him.

Holmes: Did you know they were calling you “The Witches Coven” out there?
Eastin: No! I had no clue until I watched the episode. It’s pretty funny.
Holmes: I’m sure they meant that in the nicest way. You ended up partnered with Abi who can be…challenging…for people to handle. What was your experience like?
Eastin: Abi is extremely loyal and a little bit of a liability to have. But, as long as you’re on Abi’s good side you’re fine. If you cater to Abi, she’s fine and will be loyal to you. But if you do something Abi doesn’t like, you’ll have to do major damage control. She does go a little berserk…even if you do the smallest thing. Like one time I had a conversation that did not involve her. It didn’t even involve gameplay, I think it was about my family, and she thought I was going against her. She flat out called me out on it in front of a whole group of people. I had to be like, “Oh Abi, we were talking about our kids. That’s it.”

Holmes: My wife is not a “Survivor” fan, but she’ll occasionally ask what’s going on. When people were targeting you, I had a tough time explaining what exactly it is that makes you so dangerous. How would you describe it?
Eastin: I guess I would say that I am likable. Stephen said it very well when he said I have an innocent way about me. Especially out there I try to be a little bit more naïve. I act like I don’t know what’s going on when really I do. I think I’m a little underestimated. And I didn’t think I’d have that in my favor in this season because everybody got to see my first season. But, because we were winning early on, I got to develop really good relationships. I think if we’d lost early I could have had trouble. I’d say my biggest strength is socially. I love reading people. I come off extremely genuine. A lot of the time I am very genuine. And, I think I’m underestimated. And then finding the cracks and things like that, I really listen to what people are saying and watch what they’re doing. I don’t share a lot. I only share what I think is necessary. I’m good at leaving things out. Obviously I’m not a challenge beast, but I like to pretend like I am.

Holmes: If you get idol’d out, that’s got to suck. But in your instance, you were on the bottom and managed to swing the votes. So in a way, it’s kind of a victory. Does that make it any easier?
Eastin: It was nice watching the episode. I felt like it was a waste of an idol because he went home right after. But watching it back I like that I was viewed as making moves. I was a threat to people. That’s reassuring to me. It was a second chance and I did what I could. It was disappointing because it felt like I was making waves. When Wigles went home I pulled in Stephen and Jeremy and Spencer. The next week I pulled Spencer and Tasha and Joe in to vote Stephen. We all did what we were supposed to do. So, for me, I did it. I did get people to vote the way I wanted them to.

Holmes: Word association time. Let’s start with Kimmi.
Eastin: Does it have to be one word?
Holmes: Because you’re a super fave, you get as many words as you’d like.
Eastin: Aww…Kimmi is hard-working.
Holmes: Jeremy?
Eastin: All-American, maybe a little overly confident.
Holmes: Savage?
Eastin: Oh, I don’t want to be mean to anyone. I’d say Savage is emotional.
Holmes: Joe?
Eastin: Not the most strategic player, but extremely talented.
Holmes: Spencer?
Eastin: Spencer is so very smart. He’s like a little brother.
Holmes: Kass?
Eastin: Kass is incredible. She’s an amazing person. An amazing mom. Very entertaining.
Holmes: Stephen?
Eastin: He over analyzes, but he’s definitely my friend.
Holmes: Wentworth?
Eastin: Bad ass.
Holmes: She’s a rock star.
Eastin: Totally.
Holmes: Wiglesworth?
Eastin: Old school.
Holmes: Monica Padilla?
Eastin: Monica is hard…Monica is…underestimated.
Holmes: Terry?
Eastin: He’s just like a dad. He reminds me of my dad.
Holmes: Woo?
Eastin: He’s free-spirited.
Holmes: Tasha?
Eastin: Tasha is passive, she’s kind of dry.
Holmes: Keith?
Eastin: Tuk tuk!
Holmes: Let’s finish with Abi.
Eastin: Complicated, but fierce.

Holmes: What are our plans for the third chance?
Eastin: I just want to win! Bring me back until I win! I’ve learned something both times I’ve played. I’d definitely play again. “Second Chance” was way harder than my first season. All of the tribe swaps and the weather? It made it very difficult. But I had so much fun. I really want to come back.
Holmes: Alright, I’ll pull some strings and get you a season with no swaps and little condos on the beach.
Eastin: That’s be awesome. Do it.

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

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‘Survivor: Second Chance’ Ciera: ‘Monica…Malign. Sorry, Mom’

September 22, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

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

[xfinity-record-button id=”4814958312953183112″ program_type=”series”]

Name: Ciera Eastin
Season: “Survivor: Blood vs. Water”
Finish: Fifth place
Why You Should Remember Her: Ciera became the only person in “Survivor” history to vote out a family member when she sent her mother Laura Morett packing.

Gordon Holmes: You have this huge advantage over most of these nineteen people you’re about to victimize. I’m of course talking about your XFINITY Power Rankings experience.
Ciera Eastin: My Power Rankings background is going to be pretty huge for me. I Power Ranked Kass, Spencer, Tasha, Woo…I analyzed their game pretty intensely.

Holmes: Another advantage is you’re one of the few people who has a mother who has played “Survivor.”
Eastin: My mom is so stoked. She’s incredibly pumped. She basically told me, if you don’t win, I’ll still love you. Thanks, Mom!
Holmes: As far as worst-case-scenarios go, that’s pretty solid. She played with Monica Padilla in Samoa.
Eastin: I think I maybe met her. I’ve never talked to her. I know she talks to my mom. My mom could’ve told her, “Ciera and you are tight.” I don’t know.
Holmes: You have your mom brokering a deal?
Eastin: She could have.
Holmes: That’d be the best, you’re getting on the plane and Laura’s like, “Have fun, and keep Monica till final five.”
Eastin: (Laughs) Mooooom, I don’t want to!
Holmes: Not that you shouldn’t.
Eastin: We’ll see.

Holmes: You were a “Blood vs. Water” contestant. You played with second, third, and fourth timers, now you yourself are a second timer. Did you learn anything from watching them?
Eastin: I feel like I have such a huge advantage being that I’ve played with second timers. I’ve played with three winners; Tyson (Apostol), Aras (Baskauskas), and Tina (Wesson). I’ve played with older players, Tina and Gervase (Peterson). I’ve played with more recent players, myself and Vytas. So, I feel like I’ve been well-rounded in the game and had some really great mentors. And I grew up with a mentor. My mom is Ms. “Survivor.” I learned so much my first season, I want to attack this second game with the same stride that I had at the end of my first season.
Holmes: When you drew rocks, that was a big deal. I think people know you’re smart and you’re not willing to settle. That seems like a good thing in life and a bad thing for a season of “Survivor.”
Eastin: I can’t really use the whole, dumb Ciera, I’ll do whatever you want me to do thing. I have this reputation as someone who does these crazy things. So, that’s going to be a challenge.
Holmes: But, it wasn’t crazy. You were coasting to a fourth-place finish and you risked going out immediately for a chance at the final three.
Eastin: It was smart.  So, I’m looked at more as a calculated player than someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. I’m going to have to break that somehow or get someone to believe that I want to work with them and let’s make these smart moves together.
Holmes: Does that make you an early target?
Eastin: If definitely makes me an early target. I’m hoping there are more annoying people here so I can slide by not being the most annoying. Maybe being helpful. And if I can’t, I’m going to have to pull some magic out of my hat. I think my struggle is going to be early in the game. It’s all about making it to the merge. And after the merge you have more freedom to make big moves for yourself. And just because I made big moves, you should really want to work with me because I’m really trustworthy.
Holmes: I think it was pretty clear that you were making the best move for your game. And as long as someone is working in the best interest of their own game, you can play with them.
Eastin: Yeah.  I think something I definitely have learned is the thing where, you can’t trust anybody, but you have to trust somebody. So many of these people who have won have had early alliances that were formed and made it to the end; “Boston” Rob (Mariano) and Natalie Tenerelli, Russell Hantz and Natalie White, Tyson and Gervase. Every season these people meet early and they stick together. I think you need someone like that. I’m hoping I have that natural selection with someone, then we pick our thirds and fourths and extras together.

Holmes: What’ve you been up to since your time on the show?
Eastin: I did my Power Rankings, that was really fun. I’ve been home with my kids and my husband and living life. Nothing really exciting. This is a highlight for me. I’m really fortunate that I’m not working a Monday to Friday job. I get to watch my kids grow…which is a full-time job.

Holmes: It’s not a surprise you’re back.
Eastin: I thought that. I thought they’d have me back, I just didn’t know when.
Holmes: Is it better or worse to be in this situation where there are 32 potential players and you had to be voted in?
Eastin: It makes it really sticky when we know who we could be potentially playing with before we go out. It does open it up for pre-game alliances. I honestly, and you’re probably going to hear this a lot and it’s a lie, I really tried to stay out of it. You just never know what’s going to happen. You don’t know the circumstances. Half the people that could’ve been able to play didn’t make it. If I made a big pre-game alliance with Brad Culpepper, and he’s gone? What a waste of energy. There’s just so many twists. And if you have to break a promise, that could come back to bite you in the butt.
Holmes: Sure…
Eastin: (Laughs) I obviously knew Vytas, but it wasn’t a thing where we talked beforehand. It wasn’t like, “You, me, final two.” It was more like, “You’re good with me, I’m good with you. Let’s see how it goes.” I’m hoping everybody did the same.
Holmes: Probably not.
Eastin: Probably not. But if they didn’t, when we get out there I can use it as an advantage. I can say, “I know these people have a pre-game alliance.”
Holmes: Oh, you know people have pre-game alliances?
Eastin: Well, I’m assuming they do. And even if I don’t, I’m going to say they do anyway.

Holmes: Does it concern you that you’re one of only two from your season while Cagayan has four and San Juan del Sur has three?
Eastin: I think it is a concern. You can even tell walking around people kind of giving each other looks and glances. You can see where the bonds are already made. It’s either going to be a hard thing to overcome or it’s going to be easy because there’s such a lack of trust. I think you have to expose the bad history.
Holmes: Who’s making faces at each other?
Eastin: Definitely the “Blood vs. Water 2” people. Jeremy and Keith and Kelley are all sharing the same crossword book. They’re giggling.
Holmes: Do you think they’re writing notes in the crossword puzzle?
Eastin: I thought that!
Holmes: They totally did that in “Ocean’s Eleven!”
Eastin: (Gasps) I’m going to have to get a hold of that. Mission number one.
Holmes: I’ll distract them.
Eastin: But yeah, they’re friendly. The Cagayan people are extremely cold to each other, which I think is a strategy. They’re very aware of where they’re sitting. And with Vytas, I’m trying to be friendly. Smile, but not overly friendly. Find a balance.
Holmes: If there are twists, what do you think they will be.
Eastin: Ugh…there will be twists. Because we’re all second-time players, they’re going to totally screw with us. I hope it’s not Redemption Island. I hate that. When you’re gone, just go. Don’t haunt me.

Holmes: Describe your day one.
Eastin: Day one I want to be looking for hidden immunity idols. It’s a little risky, but it’s unexpected because everyone’s in the mix meeting people. If I’m kind of keeping my eyes open, normally you can find them in more monumental spots.  And I’ll figure out who I mesh with. In my season, there were people like Katie (Collins) where I just knew.
Holmes: Dude, Katie is the best.
Eastin: She’s like the best, smartest person on Earth.

Holmes: What do you think of Cambodia?
Eastin: It’s so hot. The rain has been refreshing. They’re quick little twenty minute rains. And then it’s hot as (expletive deleted) again.
Holmes: How hot?
Eastin: As (expletive deleted).
Holmes: Wait, Abi-Maria is right behind us.
Eastin: We need to be quiet.
Holmes: Right.
Eastin: Don’t give away my game. She’s probably wondering why I was screaming (expletive deleted).


Holmes: Alright, we’re going to play “Align or Malign.” In my hand I have nineteen cards featuring your competitors. You’ll go through them and tell me who you’ll align with and who you’ll malign. Trick is, you only get eight aligns.
Eastin: OK.
Holmes: You’re the first person to play this game.
Eastin: Ooo…so  I have to set the bar high.
Holmes: That’s right. Don’t (expletive deleted) up the rest of my day.
Eastin: (Laughs)

Eastin: I have Vytas…but he’s such an in-betweener for me.
Holmes: One or the other.
Eastin: Malign. Cause I think he knows me too well and I think he’s going to be after me eventually. I have to cut him before he cuts me.

Eastin: Shirin…align. I think I can beat her in the end. She confessed that she was a millionaire at the end of her season.

Eastin: Tasha…align. I think she’s smart. I think she’s a good competitor and I think I can beat her in the end. I don’t think she’d do enough strategically or socially.

Eastin: Andrew…malign. He already kind of annoys me. He thinks he’s funny when he’s not.

Eastin: Peih-Gee…align. I like her. She’s one of those people where she seems trustworthy and she hasn’t played in a while, so I think I could outsmart her.

Eastin: Abi…malign. She’s crazy. She’s crazy cat. She’s already bizarre. Really cute, really fun. I don’t think I could live with her for 39 days. And she seems like a loose cannon.

Eastin: Kelly…she’s one of these people where she needs to go early or she needs to be my number one. She gives me crazy vibes. I feel like I need to align because you need to keep your enemies closer.

Eastin: Joe…malign. He’s way too likable. He just had a big season. I want him gone early. And if there’s a fan favorite, I don’t want him getting it.

Eastin: Kelley…she’s from the Pacific Northwest so I want to align with her. Same concept, I think I’d really get along with her. She could be my Katie.

Eastin: Jeff…malign. No, get rid of him. Same thing with Andrew. They are trying to be funnier than they are. And I don’t think they’re strategically smart to the game because they haven’t played in a long time.

Eastin: Monica…malign. Sorry, mom.
Holmes: (Laughs) First you vote her out, then you malign her buddy.
Eastin: (Laughs) She seems conniving. Like a flip-flopper.

Eastin: Kass…align. It’s similar to Kelly Wiglesworth because she’s one of those people you need to be best friends with or she needs to go early.

Eastin: Kimmi…malign. She doesn’t seem like she’s going to make it. Her head is in the clouds.

Eastin: I have all these good people left!
Holmes: You knew what nineteen names were in there.
Eastin: Unfair!
Holmes: You have nobody to blame but yourself.

Eastin: Stephen…align. He played with Tyson. He actually married Tyson and Rachel (Foulger). I feel like I can use that relationship. I can say, “Hey, Tyson told me I can trust you.” Even though Tyson never told me that.

Eastin: Keith, no…malign. Nothing special about him. I don’t think we’ll click.

Eastin: Woo…I’d bet a lot of people would want to align because the mistake he made taking Tony (Vlachos) to the end, I don’t think he’ll make that mistake again. I wouldn’t want to give him the second chance. Malign.

Eastin: Terry…malign. He was huge in challenges. I think he’ll be surprised that maybe he won’t be that great this time. And I think a lot of people will want to be in an alliance with him. I think he’ll be like an Aras where he thinks he’s going to win, but he’s really not.

Eastin: Spencer is my last align. We’re coming in on a similar boat. Recent seasons with big reputations on the line. And he’s younger than I am, so I think I can manipulate him. “They’re going to be gunning for us, let’s stick together.”

Eastin: Jeremy…malign. I don’t have a reason why. There’s nothing hugely special about him. He does seem a little sneaky. On the island he wouldn’t have a lot to say, but in his interviews he would. I don’t like that. Own it wherever you go.

 

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

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

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‘Survivor: Cagayan’ Power Rankings – Who’s Most Likely to Win?

May 21, 2014

'Survivor: Cagayan' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to be for all sorts of “Survivor: Cagayan” back-stabbin’, torch-snuffin’ fun. Check back tonight for a full recap of the “Survivor” finale. Then, come back Thursday for an exit interviews with the new champion and the rest of the final four. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for immediate updates.

[xfinity-record-button id=”7054975368782091112″ program_type=”series”]

The Rules: Meh…no more rules. Ciera and I just ranked the people based on who is most likely to win if they get to the end.

Any advice for Ciera? Drop her a line on Twitter: @cieraeastin

Any advice for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
 1. Tony – There is a small element of luck involved in the game of “Survivor.” And Tony got very lucky. Finding 3 immunity idols is very rare and holding the power in the majority of the game is very rare. But he also showed major manipulating skills, social skills, and lying skills. He made big moves, and some very smart moves. He definitely has the best resume built up to win this game. But are people going to vote for the person who played the best game? Or the person they like the best? You just never know what kind of jury there’s gonna be.
   1. Spencer – If Spencer gets to the end, he’s a millionaire. Even with Tony’s amazing resume of big moves, people will respect that Spencer’s head was on the chopping block for weeks and that he had to win a million straight immunities to get to the end.
 2. Spencer – Well if I were in the jury Spencer would definitely have my vote. He has had his back against the wall for most of the game, he’s shown some definite social strategy and seemed to be very likable, won some immunity challenges, found an idol, AND it helps that the jury is made up of all his friends. Spencer’s struggle is not going to be getting the votes to win the million, it’s going to be getting to that final spot.
   2. Tony – The Jersey cop found idols by the bucketful, made mega moves, and maybe most importantly…had a blast doing it. I’m a big believer that you can lie your face off in the game as long as you own up to it at Tribal. If Tony comes clean, the only person that can beat him is Spencer.
  3. Woo – In my opinion Woo has not shown much strategic depth… yes he’s laid low and seems to be fairly likable but I’ve found him somewhat boring, and kind of unaware of the game…but that’s just me. If Woo makes it to the finals the only shot he has of winning is if the jury is bitter and is voting for “the nice guy”, or if him and Kass are the final two.
   3. Woo – Woo’s only shot at taking home the big prize is if he’s sitting next to Kass. If he’s sitting next to Spencer, he’s facing the king of the underdogs that everyone on the jury likes. If he’s facing Tony, he’s going to look like Tony’s puppet.

  4. Kass – Kass is least likely to win…because she flipped on her brains tribe early on, pissed some members of the jury off, hasn’t won an immunity challenge, and never seemed to call any of the shots. I just don’t see her having much of a jury speech either.
   4. Kass – How ironic is it that Kass wants Tony to be her Russell Hantz, when she is the one who paired smart strategies with a disastrous social game? Overall, I think Kass is our most likely runner-up. And odds are she’s about to learn that you can win over angry jurors, but you can’t win over jurors that actively dislike you.

Don’t miss “Survivor: Cagayan” this Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

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

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‘Survivor: Cagayan’ Power Rankings – All Idols, All the Time Edition

May 7, 2014

'Survivor: Cagayan' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to be for all sorts of “Survivor: Cagayan” back-stabbin’, torch-snuffin’ fun. We’ll have Power Rankings with “Blood vs. Water” competitor Ciera Eastin, every Wednesday evening we’ll bring you a recap of the most recent episode, and every Thursday you’ll be able to watch the previous night’s episode and read an interview with the eliminated contestant. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for immediate updates.

[xfinity-record-button id=”7054975368782091112″ program_type=”series”]

Quick Note: To spice things up between now and the finale, the two combatants will be playing for DOUBLE THE POINTS! (Exciting, right?)

The Rules: Each week our two combatants will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of the next episode (times two!) will determine the number of points the two players will earn. For example, if Woo is voted out this week, Ciera will receive 12 points and Gordon will receive 8 points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Cagayan” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Last Week’s Results: Ciera had Jefra in spot five. Gordon had her in spot six. So, the current score is Team Ciera 80, Team Gordon 87.

Ciera’s Score = 80

Any advice for Ciera? Drop her a line on Twitter: @cieraeastin

Gordon’s Score = 87

Any advice for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
 1. Tony –  Being that Tony has the special hidden immunity idol AND the regular hidden immunity idol…he’s still not going anywhere.   1. Tony – The only way Tony is leaving the game this week is if Woo lands on him after falling out of a tree. All jokes aside, getting rid of Jefra was the right thing to do last week. If he didn’t, he’d probably find himself in a situation where he’d have to win immunity at final four to avoid a Kass/Trish/Jefra alliance. 
Can He Win? Absolutely. If he can get to the end with some combination of Woo, Kass, or Trish, he probably has it in the bag (of tricks).
 2. Trish – Trish is playing the game a lot like Monica Culpepper in the sense that she is sticking with her alliance and not budging. But that strategy didn’t win Monica the title of sole survivor. Trish needs to make a move she can call her own if she wants to win.
   2. Trish – Fool me once, Tony? Shame on you. Fool me twice? Well…that remains to be seen. I’m betting Trish knows she can’t win against Latasha or Spencer, so she’ll be willing to partner up with Officer Blindside a few more times. But when they get to final four, she’ll have a decision to make.
Can She Win? Yes. I think Trish could probably beat Woo and Kass straight up. And if she reads that the jury is starting to turn on Tony, she could probably get the best of him too.
 3. Latasha – This girl is killin’ it in the challenges. Tasha is definitely on the outs, but she doesn’t seem to be the main target. According to Woo and Kass, Spencer goes and then Tasha.
   3. Kass – Good on Kass for figuring out that Spencer had the idol, but bad on her for not doing more to make peace with future jury members. Sarah, Morgan, Jeremiah, and potentially Spencer and Latasha are definitely not going to vote for her. That being said, she’s probably safe. 

Can She Win? I can’t see it. She has experience winning over juries, but not juries who’ve spent the past couple of weeks being upset with her.

 4. Kass –  Judging only by the previews for this week’s episode it seems like Kass is putting together a plan to try and get rid of Tony. Which I do love to see people trying to make moves, unfortunately for her Tony has the Idol and no chance of going anywhere. Kass could just be putting a huge target on her back for going against Tony.   4. Woo – I love Woo. He’s a funny guy.  He’s out there having a good time. He makes fun video game references. But apparently the jury feels differently. Jefra said his nickname around camp was “Weasel Woo.” Spencer clearly still holds a grudge over Clue-gate. He might’ve turned himself into quite a goat.
Can He Win? Nope. The people that hate Tony’s big moves know Woo was an accomplice. The people that like Tony’s moves will see Woo as just a pawn.

 5. Spencer –  He survived another week and I love it. Could his time be running out though? This could be his week if he doesn’t win immunity.   5. Spencer – I’m not sure who deserves the credit for last week’s blindside. Getting rid of Jefra was the right move, but who knows how much of that was influenced by Spencer convincing Tony that the women were gunning for him? Either way, Spencer isn’t going out without a fight. 

Can He Win? Totally. Spencer has been on the bottom for so long and has been such a victim of bad luck, if he can get to the end, he can take the whole thing.

 6. Woo – So far Woo has done a good job at playing under the radar. Winning challenges and being likable but not being too likable and not being a challenge dominator. With this hidden immunity idol in play I believe Tony would use it to get rid of a much bigger threat than Kass and that could be Woo.   6. Latasha – Welcome home, Latasha. Back in your cushy spot on the bottom of my rankings. I hope you’re not taking offense to always being last, because it’s actually a big compliment. Right now I think you’re the one person that nobody else can beat at a final Tribal Council. And the only way you’re going to get there is to go Fabio on the rest of the challenges.
Can She Win? If she can get to the end, she can’t lose.

Don’t miss “Survivor: Cagayan” this Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

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

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‘Survivor: Cagayan’ Power Rankings – Kass Hysteria Edition

April 8, 2014

'Survivor: Cagayan' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to be for all sorts of “Survivor: Cagayan” back-stabbin’, torch-snuffin’ fun. We’ll have Power Rankings with “Blood vs. Water” competitor Ciera Eastin, every Wednesday evening we’ll bring you a recap of the most recent episode, and every Thursday you’ll be able to watch the previous night’s episode and read an interview with the eliminated contestant. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for immediate updates.

[xfinity-record-button id=”7054975368782091112″ program_type=”series”]

The Rules: Each week our two 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 Woo is voted out this week, Ciera will receive 1 point and Gordon will receive 5 points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Cagayan” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Last Week’s Results: Ciera had Sarah in spot eight, Gordon had her in spot five. So, the current score is Team Ciera 57, Team Gordon 65.

Ciera’s Score = 57 

Any advice for Ciera? Drop her a line on Twitter: @cieraeastin

Gordon’s Score = 65

Any advice for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
 1. Woo – I thought that after Cliff left Woo would be lost. But Woo seems to be doing okay. He’s not a loud voice in his alliance and doesn’t seem to be “Russeling” too many feathers on either side. He won the immunity challenge and I could see him winning this week as well. Either way I think Woo will be safe this week.   1. Jefra – Quick Note:I don’t know how to base rankings around the new magic idol. My understanding is movie mogul Tyler Perry invented it, you can play it after the vote is read, and it gets you free admission and a small popcorn at the next Madea movie. However, not knowing who’s going to find it, I’m going to rank without it.

Close one for you last week, Jefra. But here you are now, safe and sound in the top spot in the rankings. Chaos Kass stunned the world and made you the least threatening person in the dominant alliance. Not only that, but you’re probably both Tony and LJ’s dream pick for the final three.
 2. Tony – Using your hidden immunity idol was a necessary move if you wanted to have any chance of not being picked off like flies moving forward. Giving LJ the idol gained you a TON of respect from your alliance and definitely from LJ.
   2. LJ – Aww…you protected Tony with your idol. Best friends 4-ever! However, it can’t feel good to be besties with someone who loves deceiving and has no problem making major moves. Tony does not want to go to the end with you, so you’ve got to figure out when it makes sense for him to cut you loose and do it to him first.
 3. LJ – Giving Tony your hidden immunity idol was a big statement. I have such mixed feelings on it. Because of your relationship with the Beauties and because you showed your alliance you’re trustworthy I think you are safe this week.
   3. Trish – It looks like the merge was just what Trish needed. Everyone has taken the heat off of her. Now she’s got to figure out who can she beat in the end. LJ and Tony are making moves. Woo is winning immunities. She might want to try to get some girl power going.

 4. Jefra – Letting other people do all the strategizing can definitely be a strategy in itself. And that seems to be Jefra’s game plan so far and she’s doing it quite well. Seeing her name written down this week might have lit a fire under her to start fighting a little more and I would love to see it.   4. Tony – Someone asked me last week how I thought Tony compared to “Survivor” Hall of Famer Russell Hantz. It might be too soon to have this discussion, but I think that’s a fascinating question. Hantz was a fearless player who lacked one key component; a social game. He’d pick fights when they weren’t necessary. Tony seems to be doing alright socially. A perfect example was him congratulating Woo as he fell out of the challenge. I could absolutely see this cast rewarding Tony with the big prize.

 5. Morgan –  Being the girl who everyone underestimates can be a great place to be, because no one will see it coming when you turn on the heat. Morgan does not really have anyone at this point but if she can hold on a little longer I’ll be rooting for her to turn on the heat and take it home.   5. Woo – With all the craziness that’s been going on the past few episodes, let’s not forget that Woo was solidly in Camp Cliff. Add his challenge prowess to his new-found standing on Team Tony and you might have an early target.
 6. Trish –  She showed great game by catching on to the little argument she overheard and then exploiting it. I give Trish all credit for the Kass flip. Tony has her back and LJ has heart. She seems to be in pretty great hands. She needs to stop being so confrontational though and lay low.   6. Latasha – So close, Latasha. You were about to be on top of the world. Then Chaos Kass went and roused some rabble. (Is that how it works.) Anyway, there are more attractive targets than you at this point if you can stay out of the limelight.
 7. Jeremiah – Jeremiah did show his loyalty this week to his new alliance members. But now that Kass has flipped no one knows what will happen. He is a huge social threat, and holds his own in challenges so if people are wanting to keep targeting the big treats Jeremiah could be hurting.
   7. Spencer – OK, for those of you who think Kass flipped because her woobie was hurt, check out my exit interview with Sarah where she admits that her, Spencer, and Jeremiah were already targeting Kass. That being said, this isn’t Spencer’s first time with his back against the wall. If he can stay in this thing, he’ll have some friends on the jury. But the question is, who can he work with?
 8. Kass –  Flipping on your tribe just got you from spot #3 to spot #6. Not a good move. One of two things could happen for you… you could have either just made yourself the perfect goat to take along for the ride, OR you could have just solidified yourself as too untrustworthy and the next to go.  8. Chaos Kass –  I didn’t love your move last week, but if you were on the bottom of the Aparri alliance you had to do something. Unfortunately for you, the game isn’t too kind to flippers. And in cases like John Fincher, revenge can come quickly. Also, the playing of both idols tells me that Team Tony wasn’t quite sure that you’d flip. So, how much can they trust you?
 9. Latasha –  Tasha was the voice in her alliance and that voice should have been keeping crazy Kass a lot happier. Now that she has lost her advantage with the numbers she needs to start solidifying relationships on the other side. And unfortunately it’s probably a little too late.   9. Morgan – The preview makes it look like Kass and Morgan are headed for a showdown, but there really isn’t a strategic reason to get rid of Morgan at this point. My bet is that the Team Chaos targets the immunity threats first.
 10. Spencer – Noooooooooooo. That’s all I can say about this. Spencer went from an amazing spot to an incredibly crappy spot. Which can happen so quickly in this game, which is why you have to be able to adapt. Hopefully Spencer can adapt and he won’t be leaving this week.   10. Jeremiah – Jeremiah, remember in Morgan’s entry where I referred to “Immunity threats?” I was talking about you. Get your idol-finding shoes on.

Don’t miss “Survivor: Cagayan” this Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

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

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‘Survivor: Cagayan’ Power Rankings: Tribe Swap Edition

March 18, 2014

'Survivor: Cagayan' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to be for all sorts of “Survivor: Cagayan” back-stabbin’, torch-snuffin’ fun. We’ll have Power Rankings with “Blood vs. Water” competitor Ciera Eastin, every Wednesday evening we’ll bring you a recap of the most recent episode, and every Thursday you’ll be able to watch the previous night’s episode and read an interview with the eliminated contestant. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for immediate updates.

[xfinity-record-button id=”7054975368782091112″ program_type=”series”]

The Rules: Each week our two 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 Woo is voted out this week, Ciera will receive 2 points and Gordon will receive 7 points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Cagayan” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Last Week’s Results: Ciera had J’Tia in spot fourteen, Gordon had her in spot fifteen. So, the current score is Team Ciera 24, Team Gordon 27.

Ciera’s Score = 24

Any advice for Ciera? Drop her a line on Twitter: @cieraeastin

Gordon’s Score = 27

Any advice for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
 1. Tony –  This week is difficult because I don’t have a whole lot to go off of cause of this whole tribe swap thing. Judging from the preview for next week it looks like one tribe has a lot of the brawn which is why I think if they are smart they’ll stick together for awhile. But that rarely happens so we’ll see. Tony does have the hidden immunity idol and the numbers so he should be okay this week.   1. Kassandra – Alright, let me get this out in the open first…I HATE TRIBE SWAPS! HATE, HATE, CAPS LOCK, HATE THEM! They punish people who are playing good games and they immediately put strong challenge competitors at a disadvantage before the merge. Teams are more likely to throw challenges so they can eliminate the other alliance’s strong players. HATE HATE HATE. Anywho, the swap is just what the Brainy kids needed. Kass should be safe for a while.
 2. Woo – Woo also has the numbers and seems to have built enough relationships that I doubt he is in any trouble this week.
   2. Lindsey – And another thing; TRIBE SWAPS MAKE POWER RANKINGS TOO HARD! We’ve never seen Kass interact with Woo. What if they fall in love? What if they start a blood feud? Bah…Lindsey will probably be alright too.
 3. Cliff – Cliff is a great asset to the challenges. He’s former Brawn tribe, and he’s close with Woo.
   3. Latasha – Kudos for making the right move last week in getting rid of J’Tia. It would have been a disaster to go into a tribe swap being known as the person who kept a rice tosser around. Now you’ve got some room to maneuver.

 4. Lindsey –  She is part of the numbers, all she needs to do this week is perform well in the challenge and lay low.   4. Trish – It looks like one of the tribes is very Brawn heavy. Probably safe to assume they’re going to stick together, but if not, Trish probably won’t be a primary target.

 5. Trish – She is the oldest woman on her tribe so she needs to start building an alliance fast before she gets left out of one.   5. Spencer – It was easy to be annoyed with Spencer before the show started. All of his pre-game interviews made him out to be an arrogant twit. But, he’s proven to be a very shrewd player. I even caught myself rooting for him. Keep up the good work.
 6. Latasha – I have loved this girl so far. She’s a fighter and she knows how to use people to get further in the game.
   6. Tony – The bad news for Tony is that it looks like his Cops R Us partnership is going to have to be put on the back burner. The good news is he’ll still be surrounded by tribemates and he’s still got an idol.
 7. Kassandra – Kass has Tasha and maybe Spencer?
   7. Woo – Who doesn’t love Woo? He’s good looking, funny, he’s got a great attitude, and his tribe has the numbers. Not only that, but his new tribe seems to be the stronger of the two.
 8. Sarah –  Having someone to all of the sudden having no one is no fun! Sarah is going to have to start fresh and build a new alliance to get her to the merge. I could see her sticking with the guys instead of the girls but I guess we’ll see. Whoever she goes with I believe she will be safe this week.  8. Cliff – A free throw immunity competition? Seriously? That’s like having Ciera compete in a “Trivia About People Who’ve Voted Their Mothers Out of ‘Survivor’” immunity challenge.
 9. LJ –  I definitely think LJ rubs people the wrong way and if he didn’t have the idol I could see him going home this week…but he does! So maybe his only ally Jefra will take the heat this week?   9. Sarah – Looks like you’re the only person who isn’t going to have a former tribemate around. Hopefully that won’t cause you too much trouble. Your lack of allegiances should allow you to sneak in with the dominant alliance.
 10. Alexis –  She is a girl on a tribe that the girls dominate…she does have Jeremiah but she seems to be stirring the pot a little. If the women are intimidated by the beauties Tasha and Kass could be wanting Alexis or Morgan out.   10. LJ – Like I said above, tribe swaps are bad news for challenge competitors on smaller tribes. That’s you, buddy. You’d better take that immunity idol with you everywhere.
 11. Jeremiah –  The bad blood between Morgan and Jeremiah I think will come to a head here. Jeremiah is smooth and likable and I could see the new tribe mates falling for it and trusting him.  11. Alexis – Looks like the Beautiful People are going to dominate the bottom of this week’s rankings. That’s because the Brawns have numbers and nobody is afraid of the Brains.
 12. Spencer –  I loved him last week. and I am rooting for him. He seems to have his work cut out for him though, but he definitely has some options. He has shown to be great in the challenges, a helper around camp, and has ties to Tasha and Kass. And Jeremiah whose not going to want to get rid of another guy.  12. Jefra – Could the Brawns split the vote for fear of Jefra or LJ having an idol? Definitely. Right now the only thing really working in Jefra’s favor is that fact that her tribe looks to be more physically dominant.
 13. Jefra –  Jefra needs to expand and charm her way into a new alliance to get her to the merge. She doesn’t bring a whole ton to the challenges, she seems to complain a little, and she doesn’t have the hidden immunity idol.  13. Morgan – Outside of a couple of Brainiacs, nobody needed a tribe swap more that Morgan. Now that she’s got it, here’s hoping she can use some of those smarts she’s shown to find a new alliance.
 14. Morgan – I don’t want to see this girl go. I loved that she called out Jeremiah in front of everyone last week. BUT that could have really gotten you into trouble now, because instead of having Jeremiah and Alexis wanting to work with you now Jeremiah wants you out! Better just focus on winning the challenge and convincing the girls to stick together.  14. Jeremiah – The question that will determine Jeremiah’s fate is; does his tribe care more about challenge strength or getting rid of threats and diminishing the Beauty tribe’s numbers? Ask Tyrone from “Survivor: Nicaragua” how that works out.

Don’t miss “Survivor: Cagayan” this Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

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

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‘Survivor: Cagayan’ Power Rankings: Better-Late-Than-Never Edition

March 12, 2014

'Survivor: Cagayan' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to be for all sorts of “Survivor: Cagayan” back-stabbin’, torch-snuffin’ fun. We’ll have Power Rankings with “Blood vs. Water” competitor Ciera Eastin, every Wednesday evening we’ll bring you a recap of the most recent episode, and every Thursday you’ll be able to watch the previous night’s episode and read an interview with the eliminated contestant. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for immediate updates.

[xfinity-record-button id=”7054975368782091112″ program_type=”series”]

The Rules: Each week our two 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 Woo is voted out this week, Ciera will receive 6 points and Gordon will receive 7 points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Cagayan” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Last Week’s Results: Ciera  had Brice in spot 10, Gordon had him in spot 12. So, the current score is Team Ciera 10, Team Gordon 12.

Ciera’s Score = 10

Any advice for Ciera? Drop her a line on Twitter: @cieraeastin

Gordon’s Score = 12

Any advice for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
 1. Tony – There ya go! Coming clean about being a police officer to Sarah was the right move, it gave you and her something to relate over AND something that means so much to Sarah that she swears on her badge to you. You’re planting seeds in peoples’ heads about not trusting others, making yourself seem so much more trustable, AND you have the hidden immunity idol!   1. LJ – He’s got an idol, he’s got the numbers, and he’s got an easy next target. He’s also good looking, he’s in great shape, and he’s on a tropical beach with Alexis… I hate my life.
 2. Sarah – Sarah is in a good spot. She seems to be holding her own in challenges and is fairly likable. Staying under Tony and letting him make the moves for a little while might be her best bet until she can get to the merge. Her biggest mistake could be trusting Tony too much though.
   2. Jeremiah – I’m pretty sure I knew what you were thinking when you were considering siding with Brice and Morgan. Either, you wanted to be in a dominant alliance of three instead of an alliance of two twos, or you wanted to stay on Morgan’s good side. I can see the merit in those two strategies (trust me). But, I think you made the right call. It’s simply too soon to make two serious enemies and alert the rest of the players that you’ve got some strategy chops.
 3. Latasha – You’re definitely the leader on the Brains tribe. And I’m liking you more and more. I’m normally all for girl power but in your case I think aligning with Spencer could be good for you. Your tribe looks to you when deciding who to vote for and that’s why you’re gonna be safe.
   3. Latasha – Alright, I’ve had a chance to rethink this J’Tia thing. She’s got to go. I know you can’t trust Spencer, but the last thing you want is to hit the merge being known as the person who let a rice tosser hang around. You’ve done J’Tia a solid, she got some extra days in the game. She might even get that Jeff Probst Patented Shoulder Massage for Rice Tossers on the way out. But, she is going to kill your credibility if you keep her for much longer.

 4. Jefra – Poor Jefra! That weather did not look fun, but I thought you did well this week. if she can continue building her relationship with Jeremiah and keeping her friendship with Alexis you will be in good spot. I would like to see a little more strategy to your game though, so far you don’t seem to be playing to win.   4. Alexis – Dodged her first bullet well. Trusted in her alliance and it paid off. Now she has to convince the guys that she’s more valuable then Jefra. I’d start planting the seeds that Jefra is too likable and might not be willing to slit throats when the time comes for it.

 5. Alexis – Same as Jefra only Alexis seems to be a third wheel, which is okay for now but come merge time could be bad. Alexis also needs to show more strategy.   5. Jefra – Jefra, darling…go watch “Survivor: Nicaragua,” then go watch “Survivor: One World.” Are you done? First of all, I’m sorry for subjecting you to that. Second of all, did you see the way people were making alliances within two seconds of reaching their beaches? That happens every season. You’re lucky you ended up on the right end of someone else’s strategy.
 6. Woo – Woo is the same as last week. Hasn’t done a whole lot but isn’t in any danger right now.
   6. Kassandra – OK, you guys survived a challenge, and you’ve avoided a Tribal Council. But is that best for you? Following the “Philippines” model, couldn’t it be better for you and Latasha to be the last two standing, get split up, then realign after the merge. Neither one of you would be viewed as a threat. Just something to think about.
 7. Trish – At this point it seems like whoever gets in with Sarah and Tony is going to be good for a while. Trish could be the one to do that, and would be smart to considering she seems to be the weakest on the Brawn tribe and needs numbers.
   7. Woo – I’m not big on preview reading, but Sarah approached Woo and said she wanted to throw a challenge to get rid of “him.” Now, the him could be Cliff or it could be Tony, but it’s definitely not Woo.
 8. Jeremiah – Jeremiah made the right move keeping Alexis over Brice. I think his relationship with Jefra is what’s going to get him to the merge. He pulled his weight around camp and in the challenges and is in with LJ and the girls. He has the numbers and should be good.  8. Lindsey – Again, mega uncertainty coming from the jocks this week. Lay low, Lindsey. This stuff always sorts itself out.
 9. LJ – You did find the hidden immunity idol this week and I think it’s awesome you didn’t let the weather stop you from bettering your position in this game. I think that Jefra, Jeremiah, and Alexis are closer than you think. And you being the oldest on your tribe definitely puts you on the outs. Since you do have the idol, and Morgan is still an easy vote out, I think you’re safe this week.   9. Trish – The good news for you is; apparently you’re not the low person on the Alpha Beta totem pole. This challenge throwing business might give you a chance to wiggle into the majority alliance.
 10. Spencer – Being the only guy on a tribe of women can be a blessing and a curse. The girls know they are really going to need you in some of the challenges and even around camp, therefore its not going to be easy to get rid of you.   10. Sarah – Wow, that’s quite a drop this week. You’re super perceptive, so you immediately know Tony is a cop. But then you can’t see through the lies he’s feeding you? And now you want to throw a challenge over it? I don’t hate the idea of challenge throwing as much as some people do, but this is a marathon, not a sprint.
 11. Cliff – The same as last week. Only he needs to distance himself from Lindsey and build a relationship with Cops R Us.  11. Cliff – It wouldn’t be a crime for Tony to have Sarah targeting Cliff when Cliff hasn’t done anything wrong. Nobody ever said “Survivor” was a fair game. I will say, if Cliff is voted out before we get a chance to watch him in a balancing immunity, that would be a crime.
 12. Kassandra – Kass I still think that you’re not in the best spot. You’re the weakest physically on the Brains, you don’t seem to be as close to Tasha as J’Tia, and Spencer seems to be smarter than you.  12. Tony – I’m a big fan of not lying unless you need to lie. And Tony’s telling some whoppers when he already seems safe with Sarah. Worst of all, Sarah seems like the type that would freak right out if she ever learned you were deceiving her. Keep that idol handy, buddy.
 13. Lindsey – Saying you wish you hadn’t put yourself in game of “Survivor”….would have easily been enough for me to vote you out. There are people who would die to be playing the game of “Survivor” rain or shine! Being lazy around camp, having Cops R Us after you, and comments like that are going to get you out of this game quick.  13. Morgan – You were kinda screwed before the game started, weren’t you? LJ didn’t trust you because you were hot, then he had time alone with the tribe to get them all on his side. Jeremiah isn’t going to do anything, Alexis and Jefra aren’t going to do anything. Morgan needs a merge.
 14. J’Tia – Pouring out 95% of your tribes rice and then trying to figure out how much rice you guys should cook for the day?! Wow. Some nerve this girl has or she’s just totally socially unaware. Either way she’s annoying people, she’s slightly crazy, and she does nothing for the Brains tribe in challenges. Should the Brains tribe lose she could easily be gone.  14. Spencer – I spoke with Brice last Thursday, and he told me that they had no idea that J’Tia had dumped her tribe’s rice. Maybe that’s Spencer’s play; threaten to spill the beans about J’Tia spilling the rice. (See what I did there?) Then Kass and Tasha would be more likely to get rid of her because nobody is going to trust a rice dumper and her alliance mates.
 15. Morgan – Morgan you need to start being a girls’ girl and quick!! Get those girls to see that they don’t want to be over powered by the guys and that their best move is to stick with a girls alliance, and if Morgan could do that she would not only be safe but she would be safe for at least a few weeks. If she cannot, she’s gone this week!  15. J’Tia – I feel bad picking on J’Tia. She actually seems very nice. Sometimes the stress of the game and the elements just gets to people. But, dumping rice has got to be like the “Survivor” scarlet letter. Imagine it’s the merge, and you’re Sarah, and you’re starving, and you hear that J’Tia had dumped her tribe’s rice and was now going to be a part of your tribe. How would that be acceptable?

Don’t miss “Survivor: Cagayan” this Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

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

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Ciera Eastin Accepts the ‘Survivor: Cagayan’ Power Rankings Challenge

March 4, 2014

Ciera Eastin (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to be for all sorts of “Survivor: Cagayan” back-stabbin’, torch-snuffin’ fun. On Mondays we’ll have Power Rankings with “Blood vs. Water” competitor Ciera Eastin, every Wednesday evening we’ll bring you a recap of the most recent episode, and every Thursday you’ll be able to watch the previous night’s episode and read an interview with the eliminated contestant. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for immediate updates.

[xfinity-record-button id=”7054975368782091112″ program_type=”series”]

The Rules: Each week our two 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 Woo is voted out this week, Ciera will receive 7 points and Gordon will receive 2 points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Cagayan” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Ciera’s Score = 0

Any advice for Ciera? Drop her a line on Twitter: @cieraeastin

Gordon’s Score = 0

Any advice for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
 1. Sarah – I love this girl so far. She performed great in the challenges and even pulled out the puzzle skills saving her tribe from Tribal Council. She obviously has great intuition and awareness to recognize that Tony is a fellow police officer. She might need to tone it down moving forward… maybe pull a Tyson Apostle and fake an injury early on to make her not too large of a threat.   1. Sarah – Blam! She’s in the heart of the dominant alliance on the dominant tribe, she killed that puzzle, and she got a memorable quote when she said she should’ve been on the Brains tribe. Love her. Wait, scratch that…LOVE HER.
  2. Cliff – My Rip City blood runs deep for Cliff Robinson. Since my state of Oregon and the Portland Trail Blazers love Cliff Robinson, I do too!!! Not to mention he obviously handles his own physically and seems to be even a social threat according to my girl Sarah. I loved the bromance between him and Woo, but he can’t put all his eggs in Woo’s basket, he needs to start working the rest of the brawn tribe or he could be an early boot.
   2. Woo – Why’s Woo so high on this list? Did he have a strong first episode? Not necessarily, but he’s harmless and well-liked. He should be super safe until the merge.
  3. Alexis – This girl is really using all the cards that she was dealt. She is using her good looks and her sweet personality to charm the men, and she’s also smart enough to know a girl’s got to have her BFF. Keeping Jefra close is a good move for her because not only do you need numbers this early on, but you don’t want the guys forming an alliance and getting rid of the women (trust me).
   3. Latasha – Well Latasha, you’re the big winner from last week’s Brain tribe disaster. J’Tia super owes you, Kassandra is sticking with you, and Spencer desperately needs you.  You’re in the best situation on the worst tribe. Kinda like being the smartest person in remedial math. It’s good, but I wouldn’t brag about it.

 4. Latasha – LOVED her desire to actually play the game!!! She made the right move keeping J’Tia over Garrett at this point, but being aligned with a loose cannon like J’Tia could bite her in the butt down the road.   4. Cliff – I think more people would be willing to believe that I’m an eighteen-year NBA veteran than would believe that Cliff is in marketing. Luckily for him, nobody seemed too offended by his ill-advised ruse.

 5. Spencer – I was pleasantly surprised by Spencer. Watching his pre-game interviews I really did not expect a whole lot from this guy, but so far he’s shown he can lay low, stay cool, and let J’Tia and Garrett make all the dumb moves. If he can get in with the girls this week I could see him making it far into the game.   5. Jeremiah – It’s tough to tell what’s going on with the Beautiful People. Will Jeremiah be drawn into a Brice-facilitated showmance with Morgan? If so, could you blame him? If not, does he pair with LJ and Alefra? Too soon to tell, but either way he’ll be here next week.
  6. Jefra – Jefra almost seemed like the black sheep of the Beauty tribe to me… I’m not sure why… and I could be speaking too early, but it was refreshing to see a girl being a girl’s girl vs. a guy’s girl. Like I said I hope her and Alexis hold their own… but we’ll see…
   6. Alexis – Again, not enough information to know what’s going on with the Beauties. Best for Alexis to see where the Morgan/LJ feud ends up and side with the winner.
  7. Woo – I don’t really have a whole lot to say about Woo… I like him and I am really rooting for him but I haven’t seen much strategy from him yet. If he just sticks to Uncle Cliffy and doesn’t start expanding his relationships he will be an early boot like Cliff.   7. Jefra – See Alexis.
 8. Morgan – This girl really surprised me. Within the first 5 minutes of the episode when she was almost caught looking for the idol I thought this chick was screwed for sure, but she thought quick and covered her tracks well. Kudos for that, Morgan. She’s definitely not going anywhere this week but if I were her I would start getting in with those ladies.  8. Tony – Sarah’s claim that you were a police officer was so weirdly specific that you probably should have just owned it. But, you did a fantastic job sniffing out the clue and locating the idol. It might not be the worst idea to use it to try to buy some allies.
 
 9. Tony – The decision to tell people you’re a construction worker and not a police officer was so pointless in my mind… it’s not like you’re Batman and you want to lay low and be Bruce Wayne…you’re a police officer. Not only that, you’re risking a lot considering you are with these people for possibly 39 days. Chances are you’re going to slip up and have to cover your lies. In the game of “Survivor” that’s just one more lie to worry about.   9. Lindsey – So, you’re in with the cool kids at the Brawn tribe, but you’re not doing enough work to get Trish off of your case. Might need to step it up a bit if you’re going to stick around.
 
 10. Brice – Brice showed he is aware of his surroundings, which sounds so easy, but early in the game when you’re getting to know people it’s easy to think the game hasn’t started. You’re busy just building your shelter and getting to know each other. He saw people pairing up and decided to get a pair of his own. I saw some over strategizing though, if he doesn’t reel that in he will be an early boot.   10. Kassandra – Tough call for you last week. You decided to keep J’Tia so you could be the #2 person in your tribe’s dominant alliance. However, that tribe is going to be decimated the next time immunity is up for grabs. You’d better hope John Kirhoffer has lined up a Scrabble or Trivial Pursuit challenge next.
 11. Jeremiah – Simple country boy with good looks is my kind of guy. With a good alliance he could be the one to beat. I put him this low because I don’t really have too much of an opinion on him yet.  11. Trish – Oh Trish, you came off way passive aggressive with your comment to Lindsey last week. And it seems like she’s got more friends around camp than you do. It’ll be bad news for you if the Brains tribe ever figures out how to complete a puzzle.
 12. LJ – He really rubbed me the wrong way. I don’t like how he talked about Morgan and he came off super cocky to me. Cockiness can be one of the BIGGEST mistakes you make in this game. I hope Alexis and Jefra use him for votes and then toss him to the side. He is safe this week, and I hope he redeems himself.  12. Brice – Brice the puppet master, who woulda thunk it? The first vote the Beauty tribe has to make should be an interesting one. The question is; has Brice successfully set himself up as the silent power behind Morgan’s maneuvering?
 13. Lindsey – I really loved this girl in her preseason interviews, and I am still hoping she pulls it together. Not helping out around camp is an obvious no-no. She could be in trouble because she seemed to have an attitude and maybe even a little lazy?  13. Morgan – Slick move by Morgan with her lie about the decision she had to make. And with Garrett gone, the only way it can bite her is if Trish says something. Now she’s moving on to getting revenge on LJ. The Brains tribe meltdown should work in her favor, as the other tribes might be more likely to get rid of their stronger players.
 
 14. Trish – I feel like these people are making some of the most obvious mistakes ever and Trish is another example of one. Calling Lindsey out for not helping out around camp was not smart. Even if she wasn’t helping it is too early in the game to start making enemies. She clearly feels the need to speak her mind and that could get her sent home if the Brawn tribe loses.  14. LJ – David made the mistake of not immediately making peace with the person he sent to camp. LJ needs to learn from that. It may sound weird, but you’re the old guy on a young tribe. You need to get on Morgan’s good side quickly.
 
 15. J’Tia – She showed signs of being a little unstable. She made so many bad choices so early on. Her only good choice was aligning with Tasha. One thing I hope she learned is that the game is not over until your torch is snuffed. Crazy things can happen at Tribal Council. She gave up so fast to me, throwing the rice in the fire was a sign of defeat, when she should have been making things happen to save her spot in the game, not pissing everyone off.  15. Spencer – You’re down, but you’re not out. If you’ve got the chops you claim to have, you’ll be able to convince Kass and Latasha that J’Tia is simply too unhinged to drag to the end.
 16. Kassandra – I would be very surprised if the Brains won this week, and if they lose I think Kass is the next to go. I really appreciated her sticking with the girls, “GIRL POWER.” But I HATED that she told J’Tia that she may be the next to go. Survivor 101, you never tell the person being voted out they are the next to go. That could have really blown up in her face. Also I believe Spencer has shown way more game than her and the Brains need a guy for the challenges, and Kass is just dead weight.
  16. J’Tia – Wow…that was just…wow…I can’t even…like, seriously…can we all agree that…I mean…I just…wow.

Don’t miss “Survivor: Cagayan” this Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

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

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