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‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur’ Episode 1 Recap: How Do You Spell Relief?

September 24, 2014

'Survivor: San Juan del Sur' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to go for “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” coverage with “all the fixin’s.” We’ll have Power Rankings with “Cagayan” fave Spencer Bledsoe, 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=”6034085997813089112″ program_type=”series”]

And…we’re off.

Things kick off with everyone’s favorite host, Jeffrey Montgomery Probst in a sweet chopper high above San Juan del Sur.  The pairs of new contestants are below him trying to figure out how flint works. Quick thought; if you go on this show without knowing how flint works, you probably should have signed up for “Utopia.”

More like “U-dope-ia.” Am I right?

(Crickets)

Jaclyn is worried that everyone is going to hate her and Jon because they seem perfect. So that’s why everyone hates me…

Controversial MLB pitcher John Rocker lets us know that people call him a homophobic bigot. Well, he says he isn’t a bigot. Oh, but he doesn’t dispute “homophobic”?!

Reed and Josh manage to catch some crabs right off the bat. Josh says the Reed gave him flint as a gift. See, someone gets it.

The Twinnies Nadiya and not-Nadiya say a quick prayer, then they get to work not making fire.

Keith and Wes immediately lose the striker for their flint. Sounds about right.

Finally, Jeff says something about…

39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

We start off with the duos arriving at Redemption Island a random arena.

Everyone has a good laugh as Keith and Wes admit that they lost their striker. Everyone also makes a mental note not to let them near the machete.

The tribes split up and take sides. Here’s what we’re working with…

The Hunahpu (wearing blue)

Drew – 25, Sales Rep
Jeremy – 36, Firefighter
Jon – 26, Financial Assistant
Julie – 34, Owner of Spray Tan Business
Keith – 53, Fire Captain

Kelley – 28, Marketing Manager
Missy – 47, Owner of Cheerleading Gym
Natalie – 28, Crossfit Coach
Reed – 31, Broadway Performer

The Coyopa (wearing yellow)

Alec – 22, Student
Baylor – 20, Student
Dale – 55, Farmer
Jaclyn – 25, Media Buyer
John – 39, Former MLB Pitcher
Josh – 32, Actor
Nadiya – 28, Crossfit Coach
Val – 35, Police Officer
Wes – 23, Firefighter

Fun Fact: I hate the word Hunahpu sooooooo much.

John Rocker says it’s like the Civil War, brother vs. brother. Hmmm…I wonder if Johnny would be a confederate or a union soldier. Keith recognizes Rocker and hopes he isn’t an “ass” anymore.

Reward Challenge Time: One person from each tribe will race through a wooden box and untangle a rope. They’ll then unhook a ring. They’ll use the ring to lasso a platform. They’ll do this process twice. First person to retrieve both platforms wins flint and beans. The loser of the challenge will be sent to Exile Island.

The blue tribe wins a rock/paper/scissors to decide who they will have compete. They pick Jeremy. Unfortunately, that means he has to square off against his wife.

The challenge starts off and there isn’t much to describe except for two people climbing around a box. Jeremy wins it easily. Someone just earned some time sleeping on the couch time when he gets home.

Jeremy gets to send someone from his own tribe to keep Val company. He chooses Keith…you know…the dude who was part of the team that lost their striker. I’m now questioning Jeremy’s intelligence.

We meet up with the blue crew at Hunahpupu Beach and Jeremy feels terrible about beating his wife in a challenge. It’s a challenge, dude. A game. I beat my girlfriend in Yahtzee and you didn’t see me crying about it…much.

Later, Jeremy, not-Nadiya, Missy, and Kelley decide to form an alliance. Missy says as someone who’s been divorced three times, that you have to trust your gut. What was your gut telling you the first three times?

Over at Copacabana, actual-Nadiya points out that they have a young tribe. Might not be good news for Dale.

When Dale’s getting water, he notices a weird emblem on the lid. It isn’t an idol, but he keeps it in case he’s in one of those old Sierra games like “King’s Quest” where you’re supposed to pick up everything that isn’t nailed down.

Coyopa has two crews working on fire. You’ve got the young-uns doing the old scrubbing technique, and Dale alone with his glasses. He breaks the glasses in half so he can use two lens at once. Sure enough, it works. Go Dale.

Over at Exile, Val and Keith both have to pick an urn. Val’s urn has an immunity clue inside, while Keith’s note is blank. She doesn’t share the clue with him, telling him it’s just generic stuff about camp. He doesn’t seem too concerned about it.

That feels like a mistake. Why wouldn’t you try to start something with Keith? You could then have an ally in Wes when you get back to camp.

Quick Aside: Couples should have a safe word they can use when they have a secret. Like if Val got back to camp and said, “Wes, we should align. Keith told me to tell you “Apricot.”

Later, they bond over the fact that Jeremy, Keith, and Wes are all firefighters. That’s not fair. If I’m on “Survivor” what are the odds I’m out there with Dalton Ross and Dru Moorhouse?

Back at Hunahpu, Drew is really playing the martyr over the work he’s putting into the shelter. Settle down, dude.

Julie doesn’t like the fact that Drew thinks he’s in charge. She says that she’s used to it because Rocker is type-A as well. In other news, “Duh.”

Over with the yellow fellows, Wes outs Rocker as a former MLB relief pitcher. John tries deny it, but it doesn’t hold. He asks Wes to keep it to himself. Rocker says that that he might target Wes because he knows his secret.

Also, Wes thinks there are five letters in “Rocker.” He swallowed the flint striker, didn’t he?

The next morning, Josh is having some kind of issue with his eye. C’mon, if military tough guy Shamar can live with an eye issue, so can you! Oh wait, Shamar quit over a grain of sand.

Next up, Jon tells us about his father, a “Survivor” fan who has an inoperable brain tumor. That’s terrible, buddy. I hope he’s on his couch watching you right now.

Immunity Challenge Time: Teams will race to the top of a giant tower. They’ll use a rope to scale the first part, pegs to scale the second, and imagination to scale the third. On top they’ll find a puzzle. First tribe to complete the puzzle wins immunity and flint.

The Survivors are ready, and they go. Things are pretty even during the early going. John has rope duty for Coyote, while Keith will throw for Hapapupu. John gets it first and yellow has a  lead. Drew takes over with the rope and finally hooks it for the blue crew.

The yellow crew has no problem with the pegs portion, but the blue team is starting to catch up.

For the final level, Rocker literally lets people climb him like a ladder to get to the top. Finally he leaps up himself. Impressive.

Yellow starts work on the puzzle with blue only a few people behind. They eventually reach the top of the tower.

With Julie leading the way, the blue team figures out the puzzle and wins immunity.

It’s all hugs and high fives back at casa de blue. Keith’s very impressed with how well the camp came together in his absence. Jeremy brings him aside and tries to start up a firemen alliance. Here’s hoping for a better name than “Fireman R Us.”

At Coyopa, Val immediately starts looking for the immunity idol.

Meanwhile, Dale calls actual-Nadiya, “Natalie.” Who the hell is Natalie? Actually, I think I’m going to retire that joke because it’s confusing me.

Wes, Dale, and Josh all want to target Nadiya because they’ve seen her backstab people on “Amazing Race.”

Later, Nadiya tries to make an alliance with Josh. She also calls him a girl. He doesn’t like that.

Val, Jaclyn, Nadiya, and Baylor realize they need one guy to jump. Nadiya is sure that Josh is with them. They decide to target Dale because they’ll get flint at Tribal.

Baylor doesn’t care who she votes for as long as she votes with Josh.

That night at Tribal Council, fire equals life. Seriously.

Rocker is bummed that they’re at Tribal. He doesn’t think there’s an obvious obnoxious person to vote out. Is that like poker where if you can’t tell who the mark is, it’s you?

Nadiya isn’t ready to make the decision and she’s going to vote based on attitudes and what they’re bringing to the team.

She also says that “Survivor” is so different from “Amazing Race” because “Survivor” doesn’t give you a map and tell you what to do. Also, “Survivor” is totally awesome.

Val thinks it’s stressful because she hasn’t had time to form relationships. She then says that she had time to find things at Exile. Uh…that probably wasn’t smart.

Jaclyn thinks there’s a bro-lliance.

Dale points out that he sacrificed his glasses to start fire.

Wes thinks that Josh is the most liked member of the tribe.

Nadiya says that she thinks Josh is one of the girls. Probst asks if it’s because he’s gay. Nadiya says she’d never have a straight guy be her “girlfriend.” Is that reverse homophobic? heterophobic? I’m lost. Let’s move on.

Voting Time: Rocker votes for Nadiya, Nadiya votes for Dale, and the rest are sooper secret.

J-Pro leaves and shows us that he still has mad tallying skills even twenty nine season later. We’ve got one vote for Nadiya, one vote for Dale, one vote for Baylor, one vote for Dale, one vote for Nadiya, one vote for Dale, one vote for Nadiya, one vote for Nadiya, and the first person to be eliminated from “Survivor: San Juan del Sur – Blood vs. Water” is…Nadiya.

Verdict: THANK GOODNESS! I was scared to death of having to recap after the merge with Nadiya and Natalie wearing the same color buffs. Bullet dodged.

Otherwise, first episodes tend to be a lot of getting to know eighteen people at once. Can’t wait to see where it goes.

Also, why would Josh vote for Baylor? What’d we miss?

Who’s Going to Win? My pre-season pick Jeremy’s got a solid alliance. I’m sticking with him.

Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter at @gordonholmes.

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Official ‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur’ Pre-Season Rankings

September 24, 2014

'Survivor: San Juan del Sur' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to go for “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” coverage with “all the fixin’s.” We’ll have Power Rankings with “Cagayan” fave Spencer Bledsoe, 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=”6034085997813089112″ program_type=”series”]

The first “Blood vs. Water” season was like nothing we’d ever seen before. The crazytown rules made for some impossible to anticipate results. Who ever thought they’d vote out someone in an attempt to make their loved one take their place at Redemption Island? Who ever thought having a loved one would be a liability? Who ever thought someone would quit in an effort to stop their loved one from taking their place?

The mind boggles.

And here we are, preparing for a second “Blood vs. Water” that has no Redemption Island, no returnees, and more men than women due to a last-second medical evacuation.

Fortunately, as last season’s 17th place finisher Spencer Bledsoe and 18th place finisher Tony Vlachos will tell you, I don’t have a high standards to live up to with my pre-game rankings. So by all means, take the following statements with a truckload of salt.

Note: Betting on XFINITY “Survivor” Pre-Game Rankings is frowned upon.

  1. Jeremy – Firemen are the new beauty queens! We’ve got a team on “The Amazing Race” and three (count ’em!) on this season. Hook and ladder alliance for the win! Seriously though, Jeremy gets my pre-season jinx this year because he’s old enough to hang with the oldies, but young enough to get along with the kids. He’s deceptively athletic. He’s laid back. And best of all, I loved the way he deferred to his wife during his TVGN interview. That’s the kind of person who can blend and go far.
   2. Val – The Foxboro duo are probably the most formidable Blood vs. Water pair ever. They both bring a ton of good qualities to the table. Val’s fit, she’s smart, and she’s got that special cop sixth-sense. She can read when people are lying. And, as a mother, she has to be patient. I expect good things from these two.
 3. Reed – Listen up, Reed. I saw “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” on Broadway. I saw the Green Goblin and the rest of the Sinister Six sing “A Freak Like Me Needs Company.” I’m not happy about it. But, I’m not going to hold it against you. I know you just swung over my head, you didn’t produce, write, or direct it. So, why are you so high on this list? Well, as an aerialist, I’m thinking you perform well under pressure. You clearly know a thing or two about the game. And, I think your tribe is going to do well in challenges before the swap. You should have tons of options.
   4. Kelley – Oh man, if you were to feed every “Survivor” bio since the beginning of time into a machine and had it pick out the perfect average one, it’d probably be Kelley’s. Pretty, blonde, athletic, in her 20s, hates lazy people, thinks she’s the next Parvati, claims to be “competitive” on three separate occasions. Don’t get me wrong, she not a bad pick to win this thing because she doesn’t have any obvious flaws, but…zzz…
 5. Missy – I actually like Missy a lot. She’s going to be on a young tribe, but she deals with young people all the time. If she can turn off the coach part of her personality and relate to her tribemates as a peer, she should do well.   6. Dale – So, Dale is a hard worker who spends most of his time by himself. Sounds like a “Survivor” social disaster waiting to happen, right? Not necessarily. He isn’t going to be leading any alliances, but if he can keep his head down and get in with some movers and shakers he could be sticking around to the end.
 7. Nadiya – Were Jet and Cord busy? Were the Globetrotters on tour? I kid, I kid…the Twinnies are fine, they just wouldn’t have been my “Amazing Race” first choices. OK, one of the things I don’t think anyone is talking about is the fact that their “Race” experience could serve them well in Nicaragua. They won’t be stressed out or overwhelmed by all the cameras surrounding them at all times. They’ll be used it. And, they’ve been competing in stressful competitions for years.
   8. Natalie – I just thought of this; what if both of the Twinnies make it to the merge and then pull off some challenge switcharoo stuff like the twins in the movie “Moving”? What if they end up on opposite alliances, and then pretend to be the other twin to get intel? That’s it. Next time, cast an all-twin “Blood vs. Water.”

 9. Julie – Johnny Rocker is a big dude with some big opinions. I’d imagine the woman who spends her life with him must know a thing or two about dealing with egos. I think a lot of people are going to underestimate Julie, and that makes her dangerous.
   10. Wes – Oh…where do I start with you? You say you’re going to have women under your wing like Russell Hantz. Well, there’s only one Russell Hantz, kid, and it ain’t you. You seem like a nice guy and Russell’s strategy depended on him being a not-nice guy. Russell’s a cult leader. That requires a certain level of gravitas. You’re a little young for that. Your best bet is to play second fiddle to someone with a little more charisma.
 11. Josh – Hmmm…Reed doesn’t think Josh has a very good poker face. That might not be a big deal, seeing as they spend so much time together and Reed has had time to learn the intricacies of Josh’s face. But it is troublesome. He’s also on a tribe with John Rocker and some other people who don’t strike me as Broadway fans. That’s equally troublesome.
  12. Jon – Jon seems like a nice, athletic guy who will do well in challenges and make some friends and probably be the first one gone after the merge. Especially if Jaclyn starts pushing the “We need to win so we can start a family” narrative. Nobody wants to stand up against that at the final Tribal, so they’ll be gone long before then.
  13. Alec – Just having Drew around is going to be good for Alec’s game. Alec seems like a less-threatening, less-arrogant version of his brother. So, as long as Drew is around, Alec should be safe. I don’t think he has the killer instinct to take this whole thing, but this Mini Me should do better than his Doctor Evil.
  14. John – It’s easy to write John Rocker off because of his controversial comments. But honestly, most of the players will probably judge him based on how he presents himself in the game. Now, if he hasn’t grown a filter over the years and spews the same garbage, he might not last long. But, like him or not, the guy’s a world-class athlete and has experience performing in stressful situations. Does that mean I think he has a chance of winning? Well…honestly, I don’t. He doesn’t seem that psyched about being on the show. He doesn’t seem to give himself much of a chance of winning. So, why should I?
  15. Drew – I can’t quite figure out who’s going to lead Drew’s tribe. I see Keith on the outs early, Reed, Kelley, Jeremy, and Missy are too smart to be the leader, Jon and Natalie are a little too goofy, and Julie is going to overcompensate for being John Rocker’s girlfriend by being super nice. So does Drew, the man who can “pull off the unthinkable with ease” step up? And does it drive everyone crazy? I’m thinking yes.
  16. Baylor – I think the only young person I’ve ever picked to do well in this game was Sophie Clarke, and that’s because she’s an old soul. I think Baylor clearly has the athletic chops to do well in this game, but I don’t think she has enough life experience to top her older competition in the social game.
  17. Jaclyn – The “Survivor” contestant Jaclyn thinks she’s most like is Jefra from “Survivor: Cagayan.” Let that one sink in for a minute. There have been over 400 Survivors to play this game, and she chose the one who had next to no impact on her season. That’s like saying the holiday you’re most like is Arbor Day. Or the Peanuts character you’re most like is Frieda. Or the pizza topping you’re most like is extra sauce.
  18. Keith – Lookit that mustache! That’s a beaut! Not since the days of Rick Nelson have we seen something like that saunter into the game. Seriously though, I like him a lot more than I like Wes, but I worry that he’s only here because his son wanted to be on “Survivor.” Add that to the fact that’s he’s the oldest member of a young tribe and you have a recipe for an early dismissal. Of course, with my track record, Keith will probably win the whole thing.

Don’t miss the 90-minute premiere of “Survivor: San Juan del Sur – Blood vs. Water” on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at 8 p.m. ET

Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter at @gordonholmes.

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‘Survivor’ Fave Spencer Bledsoe’s ‘San Juan del Sur’ Pre-Season Rankings

September 19, 2014

Spencer Bledsoe (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to go for “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” coverage with “all the fixin’s.” We’ll have Power Rankings with “Cagayan” fave Spencer Bledsoe, 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=”6034085997813089112″ program_type=”series”]

Predicting “Survivor” is not a perfect art. You try to line up people who you think have the attributes necessary to make a run at the million, but there are just too many variables to account for everything.

Sometimes the honorable, potential challenge stud tries to sneak beef jerky into the game and is promptly shown the door.

Sometimes the school teacher who just wanted a CBS-funded vacation goes on a challenge streak.

And sometimes someone like Spencer Bledsoe, a person that “Survivor” host and executive producer Jeff Probst thought had a 0% chance of doing well in the game, dominates and almost wins the whole thing.

(Not that I’m making fun of Mr. Probst, I had the chess champ ranked 17th out of 18.)

So, it only seems fair that since Mr. Bledsoe proved us wrong during last season that we give him an opportunity to show us how it’s done…

  1. Jeremy – “This is a show about people from different walks of life.” Jeff Probst likes saying that more than “you’ve gotta dig deep.” He likes saying that more than he likes criticizing contestants’ challenge performances. He likes it more than screaming the last name of his newest chiseled man-crush (now taking bets on whether it’s “MISCH!” or “ROCKER!” this season). The point is that walk of life is key, and Jeremy is in an ideal walk of life to excel in “Survivor.” He is 36 years old. What’s the average age of his tribe? 34.2. He played arena football, so he will benefit from an athletic history, but now he’s a firefighter – someone stereotypically fit, community-oriented, and non-threatening. I would suspect he was engineered in a lab to be the perfect “Survivor” player if it weren’t for his completely organic likability. Maybe it’s just because I was in an alliance with someone named Jeremy, but this young lad is already aboard the bandwagon.
   2. Kelley – Nothing about Kelley jumps off the page. She’s a sociable, attractive marketing manager who’s transitioned from small farm town to big city and joins the ever-growing club of players who list Parvati as the “Survivor” they’re most like. Yet, Kelley is as well rounded as reality contestants come, and I am high on her based on a simple tenet – “Survivor” casts a lot of nut jobs. Any given season, there are enough extreme personalities that only a handful of feasible winners remain. Kelley, in my opinion, is guaranteed to be one of them: I’d bet the farm that she turns out as balanced, even-keeled and personable as her interviews suggest. I don’t necessarily think we’re going to watch episode one and realize Kelley is the second coming of Kim Spradlin, but we’re also not going to watch episode one and realize Kelley is crazy. In “Survivor,” not being crazy is more than half the battle.
 3. Val – You’ll notice a theme on my list: Pairs tend to land near the same ranking, particularly in strong “water” relationships like a decade-long marriage. Val probably informs a lot of Jeremy’s personality and approach to the game, and vice-versa. She comes off every bit as authentic and likable as her husband, and seems like someone anybody could feasibly relate to. In my eyes, Val is set up to be a ‘good-cop’ version of Tony Vlachos. One of Tony’s biggest strengths is that he sneaks up on you; he’s a loud, brash Jersey-talking personality, and it’s easy to write him off without realizing just how cunning he is underneath. (Absolutely necessary note: Gordon had Tony last in his Cagayan preseason Power Rankings). Val could be similarly underestimated. She isn’t an imposing physical force and her self-described squeaky voice won’t intimidate. But by season’s end, Val could prove herself a wolf in sheep clothing.
   4. Reed – I can see it now: John Rocker’s lips quivering as he turns to face his tribe, his eyes glistening as he fights to be strong, to quell the salty, teary streams cascading down his cheeks and to escape the image of Reed manhandling him in a physical challenge – an image now seared into his mind. What’s so tantalizing is that this could very well happen; Reed is a gay New Yorker and former Broadway “Spider-Man” physically fit enough to best anyone in a challenge, even John Rocker. He’ll be indispensable to his tribe’s challenge efforts early on, and should be able to coast to the merge without hassle. Beyond fitness, I love his energy, I love that he’s a “Survivor” diehard and I’d love to see him win.
 5. Natalie – There’s something to Nadiya and her sister. They’re more than just good television, they deserve to be taken seriously, and I think they could make a real run at “Survivor.” They might just enjoy the best of both worlds within the Blood vs. Water twist: They can call on superpowers of connectedness if and when they pair up, but also benefit from playing individually in the beginning. When Natalie says their blood runs thicker than others’, I believe her, and in an endgame situation the sisters are a lock to stay unified. Yet, they’ll get to play the early tribal phase of the game without the baggage of being attached at the hip. Split up, they promise to be both less threatening and less annoying than if they started together. Welcome to the season of the twinnies.   6. Nadiya – At first I was hard-pressed to choose one twinnie over the other, but then I realized Natalie has far more Twitter followers. Since Twitter follower count has nearly perfect correlation with “Survivor” skill, Nadiya takes the backseat to her sister.
 7. Jaclyn – What I love about this couple is their purpose. Jon and Jaclyn have a compelling reason for playing “Survivor”: The money could make a tangible, meaningful impact on their potential plans of surrogacy. Most contestants vaguely say they’re playing “for the adventure/experience/competition/to find themselves,” but Jaclyn is concrete. She’s playing for the money, and she knows what she wants to do with the money. This doesn’t necessarily mean she’s better equipped to play than others, but I believe it does mean I can trust her to play for first. When others might play conservatively and let windows of opportunity come and go, I trust Jaclyn to go for broke and take her shots. It may not ever be a good idea to imbibe the principles of Reese Bobby from “Talladega Nights,” but in “Survivor,” it’s true that “if you ain’t first, you’re last.”
   8. Jon – If you combined the three amigos from “Survivor: Caramoan,” I think the result would look a lot like Jon. He brims with positive, unassuming energy like Eddie Fox. His eyes shine with golden retriever puppy eagerness reminiscent of Reynold Toepfer. He even seems to bring the tact of former Power-Ranker Malcolm Freberg to the table, talking at length in his pregame interviews about the possibility of forming a couple’s alliance. Jon’s main hurdle could be that he seems too polished; people will fear him, both for his potential to team up with Jaclyn and for his physical and mental savvy. My unfortunate prediction is that despite having all the tools to win, Jon will quickly run out of allies willing to bro down with him post-merge.

 9. Missy – Missy strikes me as an extremely youthful 47. She’s an ‘older’ woman who spends every day with 150 to 200 little monsters in a competitive cheerleading gym, and who I’m guessing is adept at interacting with people of all ages. She seems to have accomplished a lot in opening the gym and “being ‘on’ 24/7” to run it, as she puts it. I could imagine that experience segueing perfectly into “Survivor,” another environment that calls for being ‘on’ 24/7, and for that reason Missy is a favorite of mine.
   10. Josh – I’ll preface this by saying I have no good reason for ranking Josh this low. None. But I have some bad reasons: The only thing worse than saying the “Survivor” you’re most like is Russell, Boston Rob, or Parvati is saying “there hasn’t been any one like me.” 424 people have played “Survivor” before you! Pick one!!! Despite this bio pet peeve, Josh earns forgiveness for playing Settlers of Catan, and should have a good mind for the game as the first member of his family to earn a master’s degree. His biggest weakness, ironically, could be the strength of his partner. I wouldn’t be surprised if Josh were ultimately voted out in an attempt to cut the legs out from under a threatening Reed, Baskauskas brothers style.
 
 11. Alec – What strikes me in the Christy brothers’ pregame interviews is that Drew seems to dictate the conversation. The admittedly brief clips of video we have show Alec adopting a more eased, stereotypical younger brother role. He allows Drew to interject opinions and second-guess him while articulating himself calmly throughout. That isn’t to say Alec isn’t aggressive; he defends himself and owns his strengths. With so many type-A personalities on “Survivor,” however, Alec’s ability to restrain himself and listen more than he speaks could prove invaluable, and make him a dark horse with more social backbone than your typical 22-year-old.
  12. Dale – A dogmatic advocate of hard work, I expect Dale to bring strong opinions to “Survivor”. He’s not in it for Twitter and Instagram; he seems to be playing for his relationship with his daughter, for a paycheck, and because he genuinely likes the show. You have to love a guy who goes back over a decade and references Big Tom as the player he’s most like. Dale is far older than the rest of his tribe, though, and he seems to be very no-nonsense and task-oriented. My fear is that he’ll march to the beat of his own vintage drum, and his tribe will be playing EDM. Dale’s upside is being a more likable Rupert who can provide outdoorsman skill and build a shelter that actually functions. His downside is being too set in his ways to enjoy that shelter for long.
  13. Baylor – My people. This season has few near-college-aged players and few young, hot girls. While on another season Baylor might have more company in this respect, in San Juan Del Sur she’ll have to carry her demographical torches alone, and that’s my biggest knock against her. She may just have enough life experience from living through three divorces and following her musical passions to hit the ground running and keep up anyway. Baylor’s success, though, could depend on her being aggressive enough to rally those who are nearer her walk of life – Alec, Wes, Jaclyn, and Nadiya – and get an alliance started quickly.
  14. Julie – This is a game about decision-making, and Julie is a woman who decided to date John Rocker. Being tethered to captain “speak English” can’t help her, but even so, if her cast mates give her a fair shot to integrate, I think Julie goes from thoroughly tanned dark horse to underestimated threat to win. She gets my kudos for her willingness to vote out her boyfriend; the precedent of the first Blood vs. Water suggests this is a game format much easier played individually. Add that Julie has a talent for reading people and making them feel comfortable in running her small business, and I think there’s a chance, albeit slim, that we’re looking at a breakout player.
  15. Drew – “Really what’s at stake is there’s no surf boards here. And uh… I’m missing out on some surfing and some partying back in Florida, or New York, or wherever else I’d be. What’s at stake is really nothing.” Despite being the ultimate hypocrite and knocking the guy for his pregame interview, I do like Drew. I’ll be rooting for him to figure out that there are at least one million things at stake before he finds himself searching for waves at ponderosa.
  16. Keith – Louisiana outdoorsman. Elder of the Hunahpu tribe. Long shot. I hope I’m wrong, but I get the sense this is an adventure Wes dragged his dad along for, and not one Keith has thought much about. He seems primed for a healthy father-son competition, and could be an early asset to his tribe (he mentions hunting and fishing a combined six times in his bio). Ultimately, though, I don’t envision him spearheading any strong alliances. None of his tribe mates are similar to him in age, love of cigars, or region of the country.
  17. Wes – Like his dad, Wes is a hunter, fisher, and beer drinker with a colorful personality and a knack for humorous, southern accented sound bites. There’s a lot to like about Wes, and he’s a big “Survivor” fan to boot. But then there’s his bio answer to ‘”Survivor” Contestant You Are Most Like’: “Ozzy and Russell Hantz because I’ll dominate challenges and have girls under my wings making them think I will take them to the end.” Strike one, strike two, strike three and you’re out. This line shattered my faith that Wes will be skilled at the social game. On the other hand, it ignited my faith that he’ll be Zane Knight 2.0 – an entertaining early boot and fantastic “Survivor” character.
  18. John – When ranking someone last, one must ask the critical question: Will this player be worse at “Survivor” than Kassandra McQuillen? I believe this is the man who could pull it off. But even if he can’t, John Rocker will have to overcome Rocker-sized obstacles if he wants to pull off a win. He’ll have to convince a jury to award $1 million to a former professional athlete – one whose public image puts any “Survivor” villain to non-shame. To top it all off, Rocker doesn’t even seem excited to play, calling a hypothetical win a “feather in the cap.” Now it’s time to take Jeff Probst’s words and pay it forward like Mike Skupin would: John Rocker has zero chance of winning this game.

Don’t miss the 90-minute premiere of “Survivor: San Juan del Sur – Blood vs. Water” on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at 8 p.m. ET

Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter at @gordonholmes.

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Posted in General, RealityTV, survivor, TV News | Comments Off on ‘Survivor’ Fave Spencer Bledsoe’s ‘San Juan del Sur’ Pre-Season Rankings

‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur – Blood vs. Water’ Cast Revealed

August 27, 2014

'Survivor' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to be for all sorts of “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” fun. On Mondays we’ll have Power Rankings with “Survivor: Cagayan” favorite Spencer Bledsoe. On Wednesday evenings 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.

Last year, the crew behind the hit reality show “Survivor” took a handful of former players, paired them with a loved one, and threw 5,000 twists at them. The concept was called “Blood vs. Water” and it seemed like a disaster on paper. In reality, the mix of strong personalities, interesting strategies, and unexpected moments resulted in one of the best seasons of all time.

Now they’re rolling the dice again with a couple of  major changes. First of all, none of the castaways have ever played the game before. And second, the Redemption Island component, which had resulted in tears, arguments, and Colton Cumbie straight up quitting, has been tossed aside. When you’re voted out at Tribal Council, you’re done.

“Survivor: San Juan del Sur – Blood vs. Water ” Premieres Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

The cast for this upcoming season was released by CBS this afternoon and includes a controversial former MLB pitcher, like a dozen firefighters, and a duo that “Amazing Race” fans will find very familiar…

Name: Drew Christy
Age: 25
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Alec’s brother
Current Residence: Winter Park, FL
Occupation: Traveling Sales Representative in the family business
Personal Claim to Fame: I seem to pull off the unthinkable with ease.  People will ask me, “How did you do that?”
Three Words to Describe You: Adventurous, spontaneous, and goofball.
“Survivor” Contestant You Are Most Like: Fabio or Malcolm because they are athletic, smart bros that know how to manipulate people and situations to advance themselves.
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  I have always watched and thought about what it would be like to be out there.  The experience is worth more than the million dollars to me.
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I am emotionally and physically strong.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole “Survivor”: I am likeable, manipulative, and a winner.
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One? It’s going to be an experience we can look back and remember forever.  Win or lose I’m proud of my brother.
Name: Alec Christy
Age: 22
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Drew’s brother
Current Residence: Winter Park, FL
Occupation: Student at Florida Gulf Coast University
Personal Claim to Fame: Going to college and excelling in school and sports.  I was very mediocre in high school as far as my performance in the classroom.
Three Words to Describe You: Athletic, outgoing, and charismatic.
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  Winning the million dollars.
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I have no fear.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole “Survivor”: I am smart, determined, fit, and have skills that could help me win the game.
What Does It Mean to You to Play Survivor with Your Loved One? Playing “Survivor” with Drew is awesome because we are very competitive, so it will be exciting to see who can last longer. Sharing this experience is going to be incredible as we both compete against one another and support each other at the same time. It’s going to be interesting to play a game where it could literally go either way, and you never know who will go further in it.
Name: Keith Nale
Age: 53
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Wes’s father
Current Residence: Shreveport, LA
Occupation: Fire Captain
Personal Claim to Fame: My wife and kids.
Pet Peeves: Loafers
Three Words to Describe You: Easy going, fun loving, and hard working.
“Survivor” Contestant You Are Most Like: Rudy because I’m older and wiser.
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  Winning the million dollars and spending time with Wes.
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I’m a great swimmer, hunter, fisher and I’m a hard worker.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole “Survivor”: I will have a good social game, I’ll be good at challenges, and I work well with others.
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One?  We are both very competitive with others and with each other.  I am looking forward to sharing and living out this experience with my son. Can’t wait to show him the old man still has it!
Name: Wes Nale
Age: 23
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Keith’s son
Current Residence: Shreveport, LA
Occupation: Firefighter
Personal Claim to Fame: Becoming a firefighter like my dad.
Three Words to Describe You: Athletic, winner, and crazy.
“Survivor” Contestant You Are Most Like: Ozzy and Russell Hantz because I’ll dominate challenges and have girls under my wings making them think I will take them to the end.
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  Winning the money so I can get out on my own and to prove to all those who said I could never get on the show, much less win it.
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I can provide food for my tribe.  I can climb trees and I’m strong as an ox.  I can also start fire easily and can talk to people and lift their spirits if they’re having a bad day.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole “Survivor”: I know how to play the game better than anybody.  My social game would get me all the way because I’m great at making friends.  I have the gift of telling people what they want to hear.What Does It Mean to You to Play Survivor with Your Loved One?  Getting to play with my loved one is going to be awesome.  I’m sure my dad will impress me with everything he does and how he will play his social game.  It will be more fun playing the game of “Survivor” with him because I will have somebody on the island that I could 100% trust when things get tough or when big moves need to be made.
Name: Josh Canfield
Age: 32
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Reed’s boyfriend
Current Residence: New York, NY
Occupation: Singer, Actor, Writer
Personal Claim to Fame:  Writing and directing my first musical in London and being the first person in my family with a Master’s degree.
Pet Peeves: Idiots, loud Americans in foreign countries, most audition waiting rooms, people who will only see one side of an argument, and many more.
“Survivor”Contestant You Are Most Like:  There hasn’t been anyone like me.  I’m going to pave my own way.
Reason for Being on “Survivor:  After each episode I watch from home, I say “I want to do that!” The challenges, the mind games, the pushing your body to its limits, it all gets me so excited!
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor:  I can make fire, I’m very organized and detail focused which would help in numerous challenges.  I’m also strong and have a lot of endurance.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole “Survivor:  I have the stamina to make it through the challenges, I have the mental grit to get past the mind games and the gutsiness to make the big moves when they need to be made.  I am “Survivor.”
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One? I’m so excited that I get to play with Reed!  This will be a memory that we will share for life.  Having someone to go through this with who can help you find strength when you really need it will be invaluable in this game. I’ll be stronger having Reed by my side…it also helps that he’s great to look at as well.
Name: Reed Kelly
Age: 31
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Josh’s boyfriend
Current Residence: New York, NY
Occupation: Broadway Performer/Model/Aerialist
Personal Claim to Fame: Having raised over $130,000 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to date via my personal fundraising group Team Yellow Bucket.  I also cook a really great steak and I am an experienced hugger.
Three Words to Describe You:  Perfectionist, outgoing, overachiever.
“Survivor”Contestant You Are Most Like: Yikes.  Hopefully I will be unlike anyone thus far (in a good way), but if I had to pick: Malcolm Freberg and Stephenie LaGrossa for their hyper-competitiveness and athleticism; Bob Crowley for his nerdy science knowledge and ingenuity; and Lisa Whelchel for her faith.
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  I’m dying to play this game.  You can never truly know what your limits are until you push them.  I’m tired of watching others do it and I’m ready to experience it for myself firsthand.
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”: I’m good at maintaining a positive mindset, I’m resourceful and I’m physically fit.  I’m not a quitter, I enjoy being outdoors plus I can make fire.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole “Survivor”:  I’m a people-person who is physically tough, smart, well-spoken and strong willed; that last characteristic makes me a fighter until the end.  I can lie when needed, I love to compete and I excel under pressure.
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One? Having the chance to participate in this adventure together, not to mention the joint lessons I’m certain we will take away from it, will not only strengthen, but help fortify our relationship for the future.  I’m really excited about getting to do such a once-in-a-lifetime thing with the guy I love.
Name: Missy Payne
Age: 47
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Baylor’s mother
Current Residence: Dallas, TX
Occupation: Owner of a Competitive Cheerleading Gym
Personal Claim to Fame: My business is a HUGE accomplishment.  I was never a cheerleader, never had taken out a loan before 1998 when I opened the doors and certainly had no idea what it would take to be “on” 24×7 with really no “off” hours.  I have a new respect for restaurant owners because my business takes blood, sweat, and tears just like that profession.
Pet Peeves: People who conform to a standard without knowing the facts, people who play the victim, snoring, poor hygiene, bad teeth, infidelity, valet parking in the Highland Park village.
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  Experience a once in a lifetime opportunity with Baylor and to win the million dollars!
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I’ll bring compassion, determination, leadership, respect, athleticism, sense of humor, the ability to dispute resolution and analyzation.
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One?   Playing the game with Baylor whether we are on the same tribe or not will be an unforgettable experience due to our duo determination, competitive edge, and ability to never give up.  We are a dynamic duo and have a lasting positive effect on people who we come in contact with.  Together, we can accomplish anything and usually succeed at any challenge set in front of us.
Name: Baylor Wilson
Age: 20
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Missy’s daughter
Current Residence: Nashville, TN
Occupation: Student at Belmont University
Personal Claim to Fame: I am most proud of winning the Cheerleading World Championship in 2009 in Orlando, FL with my competitive cheerleading team.
Pet Peeves: My biggest pet peeve is someone who has no passion or desire or goals.  Another is probably slow drivers.
Three Words to Describe You: Entertaining, determined and passionate.
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  I want to compete with myself, first and foremost to be an all-around better me.
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I am athletic, strong-willed and competitive.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole “Survivor”:  I believe that I am secure and confident enough in myself to not let others’ attitudes, comments, or situations affect me.
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One?  It means more than anyone will ever be able to understand or grasp. The level of commitment and love my mom and I have before going into this journey is already ridiculously high, so knowing we will have each other through this game of “Survivor,” I believe our bond and trust can never be broken. Even if we’re starving, miserable, and literally fighting to survive.
Name: Natalie Anderson
Age: 28
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Nadiya’s twin sister
Current Residence: Edgewater, NJ
Occupation: Crossfit Coach and Physical Therapy Student
Personal Claim to Fame: Being on “The Amazing Race” twice! Getting kicked off first on All-Stars!
Pet Peeves: Girls who can’t do anything for themselves, lazy people and dumb people.
Three Words to Describe You: Crazy, strong, and confident.
“Survivor” Contestant You Are Most Like: Tony, but hopefully not as insane.
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  The million dollars! Also, winning “Survivor” makes you a certified bad ass!
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I am physically, mentally, and emotionally strong.  I am very strong willed and do not give up!  I work well with people and feel like I would be a good tribemate.  I know I will pull my weight with the camp chores and not be a burden to my tribe.  Physically, I will be able to hang with the guys and be an asset in the team challenges.  Also, I love the ocean and if I had to choose one place to spend the rest of my life, it would be the beach.  I’m a true island girl!
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One? Getting to be on “Survivor” with Nadiya means so much to me.  No matter what we are doing, Nadiya and I have so much fun; whether we are working together or competing against each other!  Doing something this intense and getting to share it with my twinnie is something I will never forget.
Name: Nadiya Anderson
Age: 28
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Natalie’s twin sister
Current Residence: Edgewater, NJ
Occupation: Crossfit Coach, Project Coordinator Bridge2Peace
Personal Claim to Fame: Being on “Amazing Race” twice, (woohoo) but getting kicked off first. (boooooo!)
Pet Peeves: Stupid girls that rely on boys.
Three Words to Describe You: Badass, crazy, and carefree.
“Survivor”Contestant You Are Most Like: A mixture of Sarah and Cliff
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  Show me the money, honey!
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I can thug it out!
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole “Survivor”: I think I will be the sole “Survivor” because of my physical and mental resilience.  My ability to stay positive in situations and being a strong, resourceful and vital teammate/tribemate is going to enable me to make it through this game!
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One? Playing “Survivor” with Natalie is so exciting, it’s the ultimate adventure and test to our relationship! Being separated from Natalie while playing the game is going to push us to our limits!  I can’t wait!
Name: Jeremy Collins
Age: 36
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Val’s husband
Current Residence: Foxboro, MA
Occupation: Firefighter
Personal Claim to Fame: I am proud of making it to the professional indoor football league without playing college football.
Pet Peeves: One-uppers and know-it-alls.
Three Words to Describe You: Athletic, straight forward, and smiley.
“Survivor” Contestant You Are Most Like: I always liked JT and James but I think Tyson (the third time he played) is similar to how I would have played.
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  The million dollars but I also feel my personality, body type and mind set is perfect for this game.
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I will help out around camp gathering wood for fires or shelter and getting coconuts.  I will also be a monster at physical challenges.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole “Survivor”:  I believe my whole make up is prime for this game.  I don’t need to eat much, I am athletic, and I am likeable.  I also can make people feel like I like them even if I don’t which will help in blindsides.
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One? Playing with my loved one would be stressful and emotional.  I know it is going to be tough out there and I will worry about my wife being hungry, cold, and tired.
Name: Val Collins
Age: 35
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Jeremy’s wife
Current Residence: Foxboro, MA
Occupation: Police Officer
Personal Claim to Fame: My family.
Pet Peeves: Liars.
Three Words to Describe You: Competitive, loving, and loyal.
“Survivor” Contestant You Are Most Like: Monica and Taj.
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  Winning!
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I have mental toughness, I’m strong and I’m patient.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole “Survivor”: I have the mental toughness.  I respect the game.  You need to respect the game to play it.  I know how to play the social game and will pay attention to opponents’ advantages before they realize them and use them as options.
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One?  I am excited to play the game with Jeremy but our game will probably be different and that will be hard because I may have to change my game and go against my gut based on his instinct. Playing with a loved one brings emotions to the game right from the beginning. You have to watch their back just as much.
Name: Jon Misch
Age: 26
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Jaclyn’s boyfriend
Current Residence: Waterford, MI
Occupation: Financial Assistant
Personal Claim to Fame: Winning a Big 10 championship at Michigan State University.
Pet Peeves: People with too many pet peeves.
Three Words to Describe You: Outgoing, unpredictable, and intuitive.
“Survivor” Contestant You Are Most Like: Hayden.  I feel my personality is a lot like his and he’s also an athlete that uses his head.
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  The experience and the competition.  It’s unique and completely social which would be fun to experience.
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I can build a fire from scratch, debone/gut a fish, catch lizards, and lift things up and put them down.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole “Survivor”: I have very good social and physical skills.  I can read people well and I’m good at telling them what they need to hear.
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One? Playing with Jaclyn is an incredible opportunity.  I’ve learned in the past that experiencing adversity with others can build the relationship you have together (if you do it correctly). Since there is no experience like that of “Survivor,” there’s no telling the amount that can be gained by triumphing through the challenges that present themselves on a daily basis, let alone those found in treemail!
Name: Jaclyn Schultz
Age: 25
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Jon’s girlfriend
Current Residence: Las Vegas, NV
Occupation: Media Buyer
Personal Claim to Fame: Winning the title of Miss Michigan USA 2013, the first pageant I ever competed in and using the platform to be the first woman to ever come out with having MRKH syndrome (born without a uterus) on an international scale. MRKH syndrome affects one in approximately 4,500 women around the world.
Pet Peeves: Waiting in line.
Three Words to Describe You: Spontaneous, loyal, and versatile.
“Survivor” Contestant You Are Most Like: Jefra
Reason for Being on “Survivor”: To challenge myself socially, mentally, and physically.  Also, to win the million dollars to be able to adopt and have a surrogate to start a family.
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I am a survivor in my everyday life because I was diagnosed with a life-altering syndrome at 16 and didn’t let it destroy me.  Being told I wasn’t “normal” and could never have kids was the last thing I wanted to hear at that age.  I’ve learned to try and turn every negative into a positive and that life will always throw hard things at you, but it’s how you handle those obstacles that matter the most.
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One? Jon and I get to experience something that only three or four couples ever have. Blood vs. Water seems to be so much harder than playing as an individual because we have to learn how to maneuver through this social and physical game together. Our sole purpose of being on this show is to challenge ourselves, but to also win to start a family by adoption or surrogacy.
Name: John Rocker
Age: 39
Current Residence: Atlanta, GA
Occupation: Former Major League Baseball Player
Pet Peeves: Rude, lazy, selfish people and traffic.
Three Words to Describe You: Intense, self-motivating, and responsible.
“Survivor” Contestant You Are Most Like: Jeff Kent because we have a similar background as an MLB player.  We have a strong understanding of teamwork but are also very driven to attain individual success though Jeff is a bit more subdued than I am.
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  To have an extremely unique life experience and to immerse myself in high-level competition and like I’ve done my entire life, figure out a way to be the best.
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I have world class athletic abilities and leadership skills.  I have the ability to read people and morph my personality in a way that lets me mesh with people from all walks of life.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole “Survivor”: A relatively significant part of “Survivor” depends on athletic ability and I spent more than a decade of my life physically competing at the highest level.  I still retain much of that physical ability as well as the mental toughness that is required.  I also possess a high quality of outdoor survival skills which will be valuable to those around me as well as leadership skills and the ability to influence people and easily make friends.
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One?  To me, playing “Survivor” with my loved one means having the opportunity to engage in a very unique experience together.  Life is about creating new experiences which many times can bind individuals together on a more intimate level.  I am hoping that “Survivor” will do this for Julie and me.
Name: Julie McGee
Age: 34
Relationship to Significant Castaway: John’s girlfriend
Current Residence: Atlanta, GA
Occupation: Model/Owner of Spray Tan Business
Personal Claim to Fame: Creating my company True Glow Spray Tan.
Pet Peeves: People that take life too serious, road rage, arrogance, and super demanding people.
Three Words to Describe You: Loyal, determined and positive.
“Survivor” Contestant You Are Most Like: Colleen Haskell because I think we both are extremely sweet to others around and by this she was able to make allies without being manipulative.
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  The experience and for the possibilities of future “Survivor” shows.  I would love to compete more than once.
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I am the most observant person.  I’m told by everyone that knows me that I can figure out someone’s state of mind and intentions within minutes.  I’ll bring that strong instinct to the game to help my team win.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole “Survivor”:  I am super determined when I put my mind to a task.  I am not one to look for help, if I need something, I make it happen.  I believe I could be one of the last few on the show.
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One? The game will allow us to use the difficult nature of the experience to dig deeper into our relationship.  I know it will be challenging both physically and mentally but I’m happy to be sharing this new journey with John.
Name: Dale Wentworth
Age: 55
Relationship to Significant Castaway: Kelley’s father
Current Residence: Ephrata, WA
Occupation: Farmer
Personal Claim to Fame: Watching my kids grow to be responsible adults.  After that, being a self-employed farmer all my life and being able to support my family while doing it.
Pet Peeves: People who never return phone calls.
Three Words to Describe You: Active, outgoing, and adventurous.
“Survivor” Contestant You Are Most Like: Big Tom…I have to side with a farmer!
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  To spend time with my daughter on a new adventure and the challenge of seeing how far I can go in the game.
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I’m a self-starter that can get along with most anyone.  I work hard and I am very good at using my hands.  I’ve built homes, repaired all sorts of equipment, and I am not afraid of hard work or getting dirty.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole “Survivor”:  All my life I have been faced with everything possible; weather, breakdowns, etc.  My family and I can usually find a way to improvise a way to survive and still be able to achieve my goals.
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One?  To be given the opportunity to play this game with my daughter is almost indescribable. I am looking forward to being able to watch her in settings that I may not get to see again and hopefully watch her excel in them.  I’ll have to move past the image of her being my “little girl” to her having grown into a confident proud woman, one that can handle herself in any situation that life can throw at her, and know that she will come out on top, or at the least, throw some “mean punches” on the way as she will never quit trying, no matter what.  I think we will build a deeper and stronger bond together after playing “Survivor.”
Name: Kelley Wentworth
Age: 28
Relationship to Significant Castaway:  Dale’s daughter
Current Residence: Seattle, WA
Occupation: Marketing Manager
Personal Claim to Fame:  Moving out of a small town with very little opportunity of “making it” on my own.  I’ve never asked for money or help and moved my way up to the position I’m in now.  I’ll never stop trying!
Pet Peeves: Lazy people, overconfidence, not sticking to your word, bad drivers ,and angry people (get over it already!)
Three Words to Describe You: Competitive, reliable, and stubborn.
“Survivor” Contestant You Are Most Like:  Parvati – she’s a strong, intelligent woman who did what she had to do to get to the top.
Reason for Being on “Survivor”:  To win, of course! I’d also like to prove to myself and my dad that I can do it.  To push myself and never give up in the toughest situations.
Why You Think You’ll Survive “Survivor”:  I grew up on a farm so I’ve seen and done it all.  I’ve fed cows, cleaned up poop, driven a tractor, hauled fire wood, and the list goes on.  I’m also very competitive and would never give up in a challenge.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole “Survivor”:  I’m competitive and I’ll never back down.  I’ll always keep trying to move to the next step and I’m not afraid to fib a little or hurt people to be at the top.  Everything I’ve ever tried to do in life I’ve succeeded so I know I can do this too.
What Does It Mean to You to Play “Survivor” with Your Loved One? There is no perfect word to describe how it would be to play “Survivor” with my Dad. We’ve had many ups and downs over the past few years and I would love for this unique opportunity to improve our Father/Daughter bond.  He is truly the only person I would want to do this with!

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‘Survivor’ Runner-Up Woo – ‘I Thought They’d Vote for Kass to Spite Me’

May 23, 2014

'Surivvor: Cagayan' (CBS)

NOTE: Check out our interviews with “Survivor” winner Tony Vlachos and runners-up Spencer Bledsoe and Kass McQuillen. And, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for immediate updates.

Gordon Holmes: I’m not an expert on women. Any woman I’m ever dated will tell you that. But I’ve got to believe that if you say you’re going to propose to someone on national television, you have to do it.
Yung ‘Woo’ Hwang: Have I popped the question? I have not. I’m still waiting for the opportune time. But when that time comes around it’s going to be a beautiful day.
Holmes: Do you have to win a million dollars first?
Hwang: Absolutely not. But, sometimes it’s necessary to take care of yourself before you jump into something major like that. I want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row.
Holmes: That’s very commendable.
Hwang: Thanks!

Holmes: So, last night Probst asks who would’ve voted for you if you’d taken Kass to the end. What’re you thinking about when all of those hands shot up?
Hwang: Man, Gordon…Probst asks, “Did Woo make a million-dollar mistake?” And you’ve got all your family and friends watching. And all the hands raised. You don’t even need to turn around, you just feel the vibration. It put chills up the back of my neck. I made the decision based on what’s going to get me to the million dollars. It didn’t go my way. Hats off to Tony.

Watch Every Episode of ‘Survivor: Cagayan’

Holmes: Did you think at the time that Kass could have possibly beaten you if the jury knew you went back on your word to Tony?
Hwang: I think if I was lined up with Kass and she had taken me, I think I had a good shot. But taking Kass was a move that I didn’t think the jury would respect. I didn’t make any critical major moves. I didn’t think they’d respect that. I thought they’d vote for Kass to spite me.

Holmes: Spencer called you a dog and said Tony was the master. That couldn’t have been fun to hear. Do you think some of that was residual resentment from the clue incident?
Hwang: Yeah, I’m sure that had something to do with it. But I think he was also bitter. I made a decision that wasn’t in his favor and that probably hurt his feelings and he grew some resentment toward me. I think it was a culmination of my Ninja Stealth Mode and not following through on some of the moves I was considering. But, kudos to him. It’s a game and he’s a major player.

Holmes: We don’t get to see much that doesn’t involve gameplay. That’s why it was so cool to get to see the great moment with you at the school.
Hwang: I appreciate that very much. What a cool experience. When I got called to do the show I felt very blessed. Right there I felt like I accomplished a lot. But being an ambassador for “Survivor” and getting to give back to the country, the Philippines, was something I will cherish forever. Forever. It was one of the greatest experiences I was ever involved with. To walk in the classrooms and hand them things that can help them better themselves educationally…wow.

Holmes: Alright, word association time. Let’s start with Trish.
Hwang: A loving, hilarious mom.
Holmes: Kass?
Hwang: Wonderful, a very genuine person.
Holmes: Lindsey?
Hwang: A cool chick. She’s like a bro-chick. She can pound a couple of beers with you, give you a high-five.
Holmes: Tony?
Hwang: A passionate individual.
Holmes: Tasha?
Hwang: She’s a beast. Athletic.
Holmes: Sonic the Hedgehog?
Hwang: Ninja Stealth Mode…Woo Hwang!
Holmes: Spencer?
Hwang: He has a great future. Smart kid. He has a lot of drive.

Holmes: I enjoyed you because it looked like you were having a blast out there.
Hwang: Gordon, you’re playing this game…and you’re on the set with the man. The four-time Emmy award-winning man, Jeff Probst. Just to beon the same stage with Jeff…I couldn’t be any happier. And making a fire, getting dumped on by rain, and you see Jeff and he brings you back to life. I was taking every day as I do with my life. I live in the moment and make the best of it. I move forward with a smile on my face.

Holmes: The hardcore fans like to talk about the best this and the worst that. Taking Tony last night is probably going to put you on the Worst Moves Ever list. Going forward, how do you come to peace with that?
Hwang: I’m never going to regret anything I do in life because I think everything happens for a reason. That’s not a cliché. Everything you do will dictate the course of your life. My decision was based on me feeling like I’d be able to beat him. It didn’t work out in my favor. But, people are saying, “Hey Woo, you’re an inspiration to my children. I want to be like you.” And “I’m going to go out on my next missionary trip and be like you.” Being able to touch people’s hearts is like a million bucks.

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

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‘Survivor’ Castaway Kass – ‘I’m Lacking the Social Skills…I Admit That’

May 23, 2014

'Survivor: Cagayan' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to be for all sorts of “Survivor: Cagayan” back-stabbin’, torch-snuffin’ fun. Check out our interviews with “Survivor” winner Tony Vlachos and runner-up Spencer Bledsoe and keep checking back for the rest of my exit interviews with the  final four. And, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for immediate updates.

Gordon Holmes: You told your husband that your strategy if you got to the end would be to point out that when men make big moves they are applauded and when women make big moves they are vilified. Do you think this would have swung people you had personal issues with like Trish or Morgan?
Kassandra McQuillen: I’m not sure those particular people would have been won over. Because sometimes hate blinds people to logic. I would like to believe those players who pre-game said they were going to play and blindside and the usual stuff would have taken a look at themselves. They’d say, “You’re right. I said I was going to do this stuff and you did it to me. And I called you a bitch. But because Tony did it I call him a great strategist.” So, I would have owned my game and made that argument. The jury obviously didn’t reward integrity. It would have been great to see what would have happened. But, the Ponderosa effect was pretty strong.
Holmes: I saw that…and it was tough to watch. People weren’t talking to you. And I’m a big believer that it’s a game, and let’s all shake hands when it’s over. But, feelings get hurt. Were you able to mend fences at all?
McQuillen: I’ve talked to everyone except Morgan. She will not acknowledge my existence. And that’s fine, she’s a few years out from high school and is still living in that world. The people at Ponderosa were terrible to me. I still sympathize with them. It’s hard to go out of the game. But I look at it as; I got to play “Survivor” which is something I always wanted to do. How does Kass get on “Survivor”? It’s crazy.

Watch Every Episode of ‘Survivor: Cagayan’

Holmes: Your highest profile move was the jump after the merge. Something like that is going to make you a lot of enemies. I was asking people in their exit interviews and it sounded like you were never able to win people back over.
McQuillen: I did speak with Spencer and Jeremiah, they asked if we could work together. But people were so mad and so blindsided, they didn’t speak to me for days. Tasha did not speak to me for six days. I wanted to talk to her, we were tight. I wanted to explain why I did what I did. And I wanted to work with her again, but she wouldn’t speak to me. And a day in “Survivor” is like a year in your life. You’re giving up your game if you’re not speaking to people. And if you get blindsided like I was on day three, you can say, “That sucks and I don’t want to play with you kids anymore.” Or you can suck it up and start playing. You can say, “I’m not going to trust you, but I can use you.” I wish that Tasha and I would’ve been able to communicate. By the time she came around I had already solidified a gameplan to go with some brawns.

Holmes: Jeff Probst said he’d be interested in bringing you back. Strategically, I thought you were rock solid. Socially, you weren’t able get those jury votes back after the merge blindside. If you go back, what did you learn that can be useful?
McQuillen: Well, I’m lacking the social skills. I admit that. If I were to play again I would try to participate more in small talk. I’d be more vocal in the daily life. I was very quiet around camp. Strategically it’s all in my head anyway. I also think when I set foot on the island and saw my tribe, there were two groups that immediately bonded. Spencer and Garrett and Latasha and J’Tia. That left me with David. It was an uphill battle for brains. My god… (Laughs) Terrible tribe, but a great tribe. I love all the people.
Holmes: The best worst tribe ever!
McQuillen: (Laughs) Doomed from the start. We had no minions. We had six people who wanted to run the game. It was a disservice to have a tribe of all strategists.

Holmes: The past few years they’ve been letting the players tweet during the game. What has your experience with that been like?
McQuillen: I never had Twitter before. I have better things to do. I think Twitter is the playground for the hateful. It’s a place where people can come and say whatever they want. I don’t know what kind of person you are if you’re sitting at a phone looking up a reality contestant so you can call them the c-word on Twitter.
Holmes: Yikes.
McQuillen: You have to keep perspective that the people who are saying these things…it’s a projection of who they are sitting in their mom’s basement obsessing over a TV show that’s on once a week. I’ve receive a lot of hate, I’ve also received a lot of love. I’m getting tweets from women who are very happy with my gameplay and that I’ve called people out on the double standard. I was approached by two women…who are older than me at 41, if you can believe that.
Holmes: Oh, you’re so ancient.
McQuillen: Hey, 40 is the new 70 on “Survivor.” Right?
Holmes: Did Jeff offer a walker at a reward challenge?
McQuillen: Yeah! Gosh, I’m surprised they didn’t come out and dye my grey hairs. It’s funny out there; you don’t think you’re old. But you go on “Survivor” and all these people say, “You could be my mom.”

Holmes: Well, I saw a 41-year-old pull off one of the most impressive come-from-behind wins I’ve ever seen on “Survivor” last night. That has to inspire the oldies out there.
McQuillen: That was great. I gave those boys a head start.
Holmes: That was very giving of you.
McQuillen: “Fifteen minutes, I’m gonna give you boys.  Then I’m coming for you.”
Holmes: (Laughs)
McQuillen: And if that final puzzle had a few more cogs…
Holmes: I don’t think people appreciate how generous you are.
McQuillen: (Laughs) No. I’ve got to get to the puzzle, that’s the problem.

Holmes: We weren’t expecting a family visit at final four. Next thing you know, your husband is on your beach. What’s going through your mind at that point?
McQuillen: Jeff had told us we weren’t getting one when we were down to six.
Holmes: He’s the worst.
McQuillen: He said, “Maybe it’s not in the cards.” So we gave up on it. And then that boat pulled up. Spencer’s sister got out first, and I saw someone in clean clothes who was pale. I thought, “That is not a producer.” (Laughs)
Holmes: (Laughs)
McQuillen: I definitely think it showed that I’m a person. I did that challenge and he was talking to me the whole time. Jeff and everyone else had written me off. That was great. And to wear that necklace and to be there with my husband to see it was wonderful.
Holmes: So the lesson here is; Jeff Probst is the worst.
McQuillen: He’s a bit of turd.

Holmes: Alright, word association time. Let’s start with Tony.
McQuillen: Bumbling.
Holmes: Sarah?
McQuillen: Wow…I like her outside the game. Confident.
Holmes: Morgan?
McQuillen: Immature, entitled.
Holmes: Spencer?
McQuillen: Evolving.
Holmes: Woo?
McQuillen: Kind-hearted.
Holmes: Latasha?
McQuillen: Fierce.
Holmes: Trish?
McQuillen: Jealous.

Holmes: You’re sooooo old at 41 years old. What do you take from this experience? When you get to be our age you’re pretty set in your ways.
McQuillen: I don’t think it changes anything. It’s a great story to tell my grandkids someday. I’m a fan. I always wanted to play. It’s a small part of your life. I’m not going to be some career “Survivor” person. I don’t run around hashtagging myself and making t-shirts. I love the game, I loved playing the game. And I feel very proud to be on this season which was a great season.

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

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‘Survivor’ Castaway Spencer – ‘I Had a Goal to See the Right Person Win’

May 23, 2014

'Survivor: Cagayan' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to be for all sorts of “Survivor: Cagayan” back-stabbin’, torch-snuffin’ fun. Check out our interview with “Survivor” winner Tony Vlachos and keep checking back for the rest of my exit interviews with the final four. And, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for immediate updates.

Gordon Holmes: You…damnit…you…
Spencer Bledsoe: (Laughs)
Holmes: I get your bio and you’re such a little…
Bledsoe: (Laughs)
Holmes: It’s all, “Yeah, I’m like John Cochran, but I don’t suck.” And, “Everybody else is gonna get their butt kicked because I’m so good at chess.”
Bledsoe: (Laughs)
Holmes: I’m thinking this kid is dead in the water. And then, you go on and become the fan favorite. What the heck is your problem? What’s wrong with you?
Bledsoe: It’s pretty ironic, right? I think you thought it and saw it. Casting thought it and saw it. And most sane people who were reading that bio thought it and saw it. Like my mom said, I was setting myself up to be the first one out. I had no idea what I was getting myself in to. So, I guess the benefit of that is I can only surpass expectations.
Holmes: (Laughs)
Bledsoe: And luckily I did.
Holmes: Was this all a ploy to punk Jeff Probst…wait do kids still say ‘punk’?
Bledsoe: (Laughs)
Holmes: To troll Jeff Probst?
Bledsoe: No. I would never troll Jeff Probst.
Holmes: Cause that I can support. I’m on board with that.
Bledsoe: I would never troll Jeff Probst. That said, Jeff Probst is definitely fun to mess with. During casting I found it really fun to rile him up and antagonize him. We had a lot of healthy sparing matches.

Holmes: You are a “Survivor” super fan. So am I. My first season that I went out for was “Survivor: Gabon.” I remember when I was on the way there, I was really concerned that I would see something that would make me hate it.
Bledsoe: Like being disillusioned with it?
Holmes: Exactly. Like if Probst was a jerk, or I’d find out it was totally fake. Did you have that concern?
Bledsoe: There were so many other things that I was worried about, so I wasn’t concerned. Luckily, that wasn’t something I needed to worry about. It’s not fake. Jeff Probst is not a jerk. He has a temper, but he’s a nice guy overall. “Survivor” is as real as you think. It was in no way a letdown getting to live it out.

Holmes: Back when Jefra was thinking about flipping, you had an idol that nobody knew about. That could have tipped the scales over to your alliance. Why didn’t you make that move?
Bledsoe: I think it was a moment where I saw the opportunity coming and going and in “Survivor” that happens a lot. I think in that moment I assessed the situation and said it might be risky to act. And I underestimated the risk of not doing anything. I wish I had been quicker on that gut instinct that was to come clean and share the idol.
Holmes: Do you see that moment in your dreams? Do you wake up in a cold sweat?
Bledsoe: (Laughs) Yeah, that and the final four immunity challenge. I see those in my nightmares.

Holmes: I talked to Jeff last week and he said you’d be someone they’d definitely be interested in bringing back. What do you take from this experience that you can apply next time?
Bledsoe: Instincts would be first and foremost. When you have a thought bubble come by, act on it. I was worried about taking a risk. I don’t think I fully realized that not only are risks necessary. But if you don’t seek out the right risks that you’re going to end up with the risk of doing nothing. So, taking more calculated risks. Also, focusing on the short term. In that obnoxious bio I said I could see my win ten moves in advance. What I should have been doing more is focusing on the next three days. And I wouldn’t take it to the extreme and have an “anyone but me” strategy like Sandra (Diaz Twine). But some people plan too far in advance.
Holmes: We also need more chess analogies.
Bledsoe: Yeah! The only good one was I told Tony that we were all his pawns.

Holmes: As a “Survivor” fan you must’ve loved the final two.
Bledsoe: Yeah, but part of the benefit of a final two is when people know there’s a final two. Because then they can’t make these final-three deals and just go securely to the end. I think the final two being a surprise took away some of its draw.
Holmes: Because instead of having a fourth person on the outs, they should be thinking about who they can trust in their three. I thought you played it as best as you could. Did you think at any point Tony was going to turn on Woo and keep you?
Bledsoe: Yeah, it felt a little like I was making something out of nothing, and part of that was because of Tony’s clever bluff that he could use his idol at final four. But, at the time I thought he was considering it. I thought it make sense. But, in retrospect, I’m not sure if he was giving it too much serious consideration. I think that while I thought it was a no brainer, I think Tony had a more accurate read on Woo and that he could rely on his sense of loyalty to take him to the end. That’s something I didn’t see coming.

Holmes: Before the season starts, everyone is asked which former player they’re like. Most people say Parvati Shallow or “Boston” Rob Mariano. But after your speech last night, apparently you’re David Murphy from “Redemption Island”?
Bledsoe: I was like David Murphy meets Erik Cardona or something. I think if you’re a fan and you’re in the position to care about who wins, why not try to influence it? People might say it’s not the role of a juror, but I had a goal to see the right person win.

Holmes: I have an interview with Kass later on that I anticipate will be very lively.
Bledsoe: Yeah. You can bet on it.
Holmes: So what is real-life Kass like?
Bledsoe: Wow…real-life Kass. Kass is introverted. She’s very much in her own head and sometimes you don’t know what she’s thinking because of that. You have to dig and make an effort to get to know Kass. I think Kass is probably a much nicer person than a lot of people think. I think she has a lot of really good qualities. I think she gives a good first impression. When I first met her I really liked her. She’s an interesting lady. I think circumstances just really brought out the worst in her as far as day-to-day living and some of her more villainous qualities coming out.

Holmes: Word association time. Let’s start with Trish.
Bledsoe: Sweetheart.
Holmes: Morgan?
Bledsoe: Misunderstood.
Holmes: Jefra?
Bledsoe: Feisty.
Holmes: Woo?
Bledsoe: Loyal.
Holmes: Kass?
Bledsoe: I’ll say confused.
Holmes: Latasha?
Bledsoe: Fierce.
Holmes: Tony?
Bledsoe: Sharp.

Holmes: As “Survivor” fans we like to talk about the best this and the worst that. Woo’s move to take Tony to the end has got to been seen as one of the worst ever, very reminiscent of Colby Donaldson taking Tina Wesson to the end of “Survivor: The Australian Outback.”
Bledsoe: Oh yeah.
Holmes: Where do you think it ranks?
Bledsoe: Worst move ever? I would say…it’s way up there. Maybe top five. I can’t remember how big of a goat Keith (Famie) was perceived, but it has to rival that.
Holmes: Keith was viewed as quite the villain, but he didn’t do much wrong. That was back in the days where Richard Hatch was a bad guy for starting an alliance. Because that’s so evil.
Bledsoe: Yeah, evil alliances, which are now the lifeblood of the game.

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

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‘Survivor: Cagayan’ Winner Tony – ‘Hey Russell, This Is How You Win the Game’

May 22, 2014

'Survivor: Cagayan' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to be for all sorts of “Survivor: Cagayan” back-stabbin’, torch-snuffin’ fun. Keep checking back for the rest of my exit interviews with the final four. And, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for immediate updates.

Gordon Holmes: Here is your winner…and NEW ‘Survivor’ champion…
Tony Vlachos: (Laughs) (Makes excited llama noises)
Holmes: (Laughs) Congratulations, buddy.
Vlachos: Thank you, I appreciate it.
Holmes: What’d I say? I said I didn’t want to talk to you until after the finale.
Vlachos: And here I am!
Holmes: Here you are a million dollars…heavier? That doesn’t sound right…
Vlachos: Ah…it sounds good. (Laughs)

Holmes: Last night when Woo made the…big decision…do you think he knew he giving you the win or did he think the loyalty play would be able to sway the jury?
Vlachos: You know what, Gordon…I was out there with the guy for 39 days, and there were times where his real life came out and dropped in there. And lucky for me that was one of those moments. He couldn’t distinguish his real life from the game. And, honesty and integrity is what Woo is all about. He didn’t realize that it was just a game and he shouldn’t have stuck to that. It was just luck. I just got really lucky.

Holmes: Kass had done such a job of poisoning the jury. He had to have known that taking her would have been a slam dunk for him. Was he saying that it was worth it to keep the million to keep his honor?
Vlachos: I don’t think he looked at it that way. I’m sure any reasonable person wouldn’t have made the move if they’d looked at it that way. We heard that people like Spencer thought Woo was following Tony. So, I rode that a little bit. I told him the jurors don’t respect him because he hadn’t made any power moves. This is your last chance. I explained something to him that could have been feasible to someone like Woo. I think I pushed the right buttons at the right time.

Holmes: I thought you had it in the bag as soon as he chose you, but the jury was giving me some serious second thoughts. What’s going through your mind when it seems like you’re staring down the barrel of a bitter jury.
Vlachos: I said, “Ohhhh snap.” (Laughs) I can’t argue with these people. I’ve gotta sit here and put my sourpuss face on. I’ve got to look sad. I’ve got to be apologetic. I just sat there and took it. But that’s what I pitched to Woo, I told him there were a lot of bitter jurors out there. So he thought, “Maybe this is the right move to take Tony.”
Holmes: I’m not sure what the rules are with the winnings and all, but are you allowed to buy Spencer a drink? Because I think you owe him one.
Vlachos: I think I owe him a lot more than that.

Watch Every Episode of ‘Survivor: Cagayan’ Online

Holmes: Trish had a very emotional moment when she asked if it was worth it to swear on your father’s grave. You said it was.
Vlachos: You know what, Gordon? Going into the game that wasn’t my strategy. When I swore to Trish about my family, and my kids, and especially my deceased dad, my heart was in the right place. It really was. That’s what I was telling Jeff. My emotions were running high out there. That’s why it’s so believable. Not because they’re gullible, but because I was genuine when I made those promises. Now what happened at the end of the night was, I can not keep that promise. And you saw with LJ where I had to come up with some scheme where he had to break the promises first. That’s why I lied about Woo having the idol. Once LJ told me he was a threat, I made it sound like he wanted to turn on the alliance first.

Holmes: I can’t imagine what it must be like going from the filming of “Survivor” to nine months after and not knowing if you’re going to win the million. Was that driving you insane?
Vlachos:  You know me, I’m a patient kind of guy. (Laughs)
Holmes: (Laughs)
Vlachos: You can only imagine. Every time I watched the show, especially toward the end. Every time I mentioned the construction worker thing they’d show the jury. And I’m thinking, “Oh my goodness. I think I’m done.” It was nerve wracking. It was tough, but it was all worth it.

Holmes: I’m going to give Rob Cesternino credit for this, because I think that’s where I heard it first; odd numbers are where you should make big moves because you need less votes. Were you thinking that way? Because the odd votes were LJ, then Jefra, then Trish…
Vlachos: It just happened to be like that. There’s nothing textbook about “Survivor.”  You go in there with a paper strategy, you’re going to lose the game. Everything has to be situational. I was making the moves I had to make at the time I had to make them.

Holmes: The social media aspect is very new to “Survivor” and nobody has really owned it the way you have. You have the #teamtv and the comic illustrations. What’s it been like being such a big presence online?
Vlachos: Everything I do, I try to go big with it. I was trying to have fun. I get a lot of backlash. Listen, don’t sit there and knock my game. You don’t know what it’s like to play a game with such high stakes. Anything goes. You’re not trying to play the most honest game, because that doesn’t work on “Survivor.” So, a lot of people tell me I’m a bad cop because of the Sarah thing, and people can have their opinions. It’s a natural instinct for people to not root for the aggressors. You’re not going to root for a lion hunting down a gazelle.
Holmes: Well put.

Holmes: You were compared to Russell Hantz on a few occasions. I’ve disagreed with this because while you’re both very aggressive, Russell didn’t have a problem kicking people when they’re down, while you seem more personable. What’s your take on that comparison?
Vlachos: I love the way Russell played the game. He played an aggressive game. His mind was always in the game. That’s the game I wanted to play. The difference is how we are as people. Russell had a social game, but he’s not a personable person. He’d say, “I’m gonna crack you and I’m going to send you home.” I’m not like that. Look at the end result. I won over a likable person like Woo. There’s no way you’re going to give me a million dollars after I’ve backstabbed you if you didn’t like me and respect me as a person. That’s the difference between Russell and I.
Holmes: Also, one of you is running around with a million-dollar check.
Vlachos: Oh man. (Laughs) That’s the truth.  Russell takes his cheap shots at me. I say “Hey Russell, you know so much about playing the game, so how come you never won it?” I guess now I can say, “Hey Russell, this is how you win the game. You’ve got to be a good person. And you’re not a good person so you’re never going to win.”

Holmes: Word association time. Let’s start with Woo.
Vlachos: Honorable.
Holmes: Trish?
Vlachos: Sweetheart.
Holmes: LJ?
Vlachos: Threat.
Holmes: Jefra?
Vlachos: Sweetie.
Holmes: Latasha?
Vlachos: Beast.
Holmes: Cliff?
Vlachos: A man of stature.
Holmes: That is accurate. Spencer?
Vlachos: Brilliant.
Holmes: Let’s finish with Kass.
Vlachos: Llama.
Holmes: I’m going to be speaking to Kass in a little bit. Do you have any tips for me?
Vlachos: (Laughs) She’s delusional. Whatever she tells you, just humor her.

Holmes: You’ve been through a lot, you’re richer, you’re famous, you saved a life. Most important question though; where’s the Tyler Perry idol?
Vlachos: It’s right next to my baby’s crib. I’m waiting for Tyler Perry to call me so he can sign it.

 

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

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‘Survivor: Cagayan’ Finale Recap – Million-Dollar Mistake?

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 Thursday for my interviews with tonight’s big winner and the rest of the final four. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for immediate updates.

Previously on ‘Survivor’: David never got out of the batter’s box, Garrett was gorgeous then gone, Butterfly Brice was bounced, J’Tia was J’Tossed, Cliff fouled out, Lindsey left, Alexis was aliminated, Sarah was stabbed in the back, Morgan was muted, LJ was 86’d, Jeremiah became a model jury member, Jefra was jettisoned, Tasha was trounced, and Trish was the latest Kass-ualty…

39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Let’s take a look at our final four…

The Solarrion Tribe (wearing black)
Kassandra – Attorney, 41
Spencer – Economics Student, 21
Tony – Police Officer, 39
Woo – Martial Arts Instructor, 29

Things kick off after last week’s Trish shocker. Tony admits to voting out his buddy because she was too much of a threat to take to the end. However, he feels terrible because she hadn’t done anything to defy him.

Tony refuses to discuss the full power of the magic idol. But he hints that it guarantees him final three. Why stop there? Tell them that it gets you six extra votes and a duffel bag of Lunchables.

Quick Aside: No idea why my brain went to a “duffel bag of Lunchables.”

The next morning, Kass thinks that it was a mistake to get rid of Trish because everyone hated her. Really? Every exit interview says differently.

And then…it’s family visit time? What?!

Kass’s husband, Spencer’s sister, Tony’s best friend, and Woo’s cousin show up on the beach. Tony is very upset that his wife didn’t leave the baby behind to fly forever to get to the Philippines. Why, so he can swear on her in person?

Woo lets us know that the million-dollar win will allow him to propose to his girlfriend. What’s with waiting on reality TV wins to make big life decisions? I’m looking at you Team Brenchel.

Kass tells her husband that she’s going to make a play for the women jurors. She thinks that if she made the same moves as a man she’d be a strategist, but as a woman she’s regarded negatively. Normally, she’d have a point, but people of all sexes hate her because she’s mean to them.

Immunity Challenge Time: Players will be perched on a pole in the ocean. They’ll use a bucket to retrieve water. They’ll pour the water into a chute to get a key. Then they’ll take the key back to the beach to unlock puzzle pieces. First person to finish their puzzle wins immunity.

Kass might as well drop out of all of the challenges Richard-Hatch style. She’s everyone’s dream final two.

The challenge starts off and Tony is really uncomfortable with the length of the pole.

Oh, grow up.

He gets over his fear of heights and starts dominating. He’s the first one to retrieve his key. However, he won’t jump into the water because he can’t swim. Wait, what?! Who goes on the show without knowing how to swim?

Tony’s the first one to the puzzle, Spencer is right behind him. Woo eventually joins them.

Meanwhile, Kass has to climb down because her rope got tied up with her key. ‘Wacky Sax’ should be playing in the background.

She eventually figures it out and makes a go for it. She’s gets to the beach and blows through the puzzle and wins?! Meanwhile in Delaware, I’m picking my jaw up off of the floor.

Back at camp, Kass is psyched that she can get rid of Spencer and go to the final three with two brawns. Oh…final three you say?!

Tony, meanwhile, is bummed that he’ll never win a challenge. Dude…just wait!

Spencer takes Tony aside and tells him that he thinks there’s a final two. He figures it out because of how J-Pro didn’t say his usual final-three spiel. So smart.

He makes the argument that Tony will be a target at final three if Spencer is gone.

Meanwhile, Woo is stressed out because Spencer is still making moves. Also, Woo doesn’t remember how the final four tie breaker will work. Oh Woo…you’re so pretty.

That night at Tribal Council, Kass says that her husband’s voice helped inspire her to win.

Spencer doesn’t want to leave the game two days short of his dream. He also thinks Tony will be a target at final three if he’s gone.

He then says he’d take Tony to the end if he won final three immunity.

Hmm…

Probst thinks Woo hasn’t offended anybody. Dude, they call him “Weasel Woo.”

Woo claims that he’s been a player and that he’s had a part in all the big moves. Smart.

Kass thinks she has a better chance against Woo than Tony. Seconded.

To this, Tony replies, “Oh snap.”

Voting Time: Kass votes for Spencer, Spencer votes for Woo, and the rest of the votes are none of our darn business…until a little later.

Probst tallies and returns. You know how he does.

Before the votes are read, Tony shares the real rules of the idol, admitting that he’s going home if he has three votes. Such a good narrator.

We’ve got one vote for Spencer, one vote for Woo, one vote for Spencer, and the fifteenth person to be eliminated from “Survivor: Cagayan” and the eighth member of the jury is…Spencer.

Gah…heck of a game, Spencer Spencer the Pain Dispenser.

It’s high fives all around at camp, but they’re all bummed that there’s a final three. Well, Kass isn’t too bummed because she’s everyone’s pick to take to the end.

Later on, she tells Woo that she’s going to take him to the end if she wins. He says he’ll take her too. He then says he’d be stupid to take Tony to the end. Well, at least Woo is better at this than Colby.

Immunity Challenge Time: Players will race out into the world’s biggest maze in the search of medallions. Once they have them all, they’ll use cogs to create a contraption that will raise a flag. First person to raise their flag gets to take Kass to the end of the game.

The challenge starts off and there isn’t much to describe except for maze navigatin’. Tony and Woo are pretty much following each other. Kass is blazing her own path.

Woo is the first one out with all four medallions. Tony is right behind him. Eventually Kass joins them.

Woo finally figures it out to win immunity, literally a second in front of Kass. Wow. Epic challenge.

Kass seems really sad for someone who thinks she’s aligned with Woo.

Quick Aside: I’m going to give Kass credit for how hard she’s competed this episode. She really stepped up.

Another Quick Aside: Tony’s not so good at the puzzles, is he?

Back at camp, Woo and Tony go for a stroll. Tony tells Woo that he should go with the loyalty he learned through martial arts and take him to the end. Not bad.

Kass reminds Woo that Tony wants to get to the end with her because she’s beatable. She says he’s like Fabio from “Survivor: Nicaragua” because he hasn’t upset anyone.

“Survivor: Nicaragua”? Never heard of it.

She then says that Tony made the moves and the jury knows it. Solid argument.

Seriously, Woo’s best bet is taking Kass. We all agree on this, right?

That night at Tribal Council, Woo is happy to be in the final two. Thanks for the heads up on that one, Woo.

Woo also thinks Tony voted out Spencer because he was being loyal. That’s one way of looking at it.

Tony is glad that he stuck with Woo. He was loyal to Woo, he hopes Woo is loyal back.

Kass feels sick because she doesn’t have control over her own fate. She also thinks Woo keeping Tony could cost him the money.

Probst asks Woo to break down Tony and Kass’s pitches, Woo declines and says he just wants to vote.

Voting Time: No votes are shown, cause there’s just the one. You know…for the drama.

J-Pro gets the vote…cause you don’t tally one vote. The sixteenth person to be eliminated from “Survivor: Cagayan” and the final member of the jury is…Kass.

OK, so Woo isn’t better at this than Colby Donaldson.

What’s the sound of a million dollars flying out the window? Wooooooooooooo…

Anywho, it’s all hugs and kisses back at camp. Tony should buy Woo something pretty when this is all over. Although, CBS rules might not let him.

Woo says he made that move because the jury will respect it. Yes, while they’re shaking their heads and smacking themselves on the forehead.

The next morning they’re greeted by the day 39 feast…and a clue. Tony snags the clue…and fortunately it doesn’t lead him to his 100th idol. It just leads to a mirror and a scale.

Later on, Tony tells us he hopes he can win so he can buy a pink chandelier. So, it’s a marriage vs. a pink chandelier. This show is weird sometimes.

Oh wait, Woo wants to help his disabled mother with the money. That’s much better.

That night at Tribal Council, we learn the jurors did not kill Kass.

Tony wants to tell the truth for all of the moves he made. He says it was nothing emotional, just strategy. He also thanks Woo for giving him the shot. Not bad.

Woo said it was a game of lies and he did his best to honor his codes of conduct. Oh…that’s never good. Everyone always thinks everyone lied. Own it.

Then, Woo says his mother was an inspiration to him through her heart attack. Am I a jerk for thinking that was a ploy for a sympathy vote?

Sarah bats lead off. She gives Tony grief for swearing on his badge. She then asks Woo who he’d vote for between Tony and her. Woo says he’d vote for her.

Jefra says she’s not bitter, but she wants Tony to own his game. She then rips into him. OK, so Jefra doesn’t know what ‘bitter’ means.

Tony says he didn’t backstab her because she was targeting him. He admits thinks he was a good player and half a villain. I can’t wait till he returns on “Heroes vs. Half-Villains.”

Morgan thinks it’s fitting she was on the beauty tribe. Aww…never change, Morgan. She wants to know how Tony kept men loyal without breasts. He says he offered people food and water and did everything he could to keep them.

I didn’t hear anything after “breasts.”

Morgan then says she respects Woo’s move.

Jeremiah doesn’t like that Tony swore on his wife and kids. However, he’s cool with it if Tony doesn’t have a wife and kids. Tony admits that he does. Doh…

Tasha wants to know how Tony kept people loyal. Tony says he explained all his big moves to his people. And if they lied to him, they were gone. He then says Trish never did anything wrong.

She then asks Woo why he aligned with Tony. Woo says he was the odd man out, so he had to adapt to the game.

LJ asks Tony, “Who are you?” Tony says he was afraid of LJ and that’s why he got rid of him.

Kass thinks Woo gave the power back to Tony after finally wrestling it away. Woo says he kept Tony because he’s trying to be honorable.

Kass thinks Tony deserves the money more than Woo does. Woo doesn’t think Kass deserved to be there.

Trish wants to know whose idea it was to blindside her. Woo says it was his because they couldn’t beat her.

She then goes right off on Tony. She says that nobody trusted him, they only trusted her. She then gets really upset because Tony swore on his father’s grave.

She asks if it was worth it to him to swear on his father’s grave to win a million dollars. He says, “Yes.”

Cold blooded, Tony.

Spencer finishes it up, telling Woo that he’s like a dog. He says that Tony was Woo’s master and that he had a shot to take the biggest goat in “Survivor” history to the end.

Woo says it isn’t honorable to take a goat. Spencer disagrees.

He doesn’t ask Tony any questions. He does, however, tell the jury that Tony played much harder than Woo. He also says Tony was responsible for all the big moves. He begs the jury to vote for Tony.

Ooo…Redemption Island flashback.

I’ve got to admit, this wasn’t the slam dunk I thought it’d be. Woo stayed the course with his honorable talk which I’m not a fan of. Tony fumbled a bit. He should have owned his villain-hood.

Voting Time: Spencer votes for Tony, Tasha votes for Woo…and no other votes are shown.

So…Tony 8, Woo 1? They would’ve shown more votes if it was closer.

We meet up with J-Pro back in Los Angeles. We’ve got one vote for Tony, one vote for Woo, three votes for Tony, and the winner of “Survivor: Cagayan” is…Tony.

Verdict: An amazing season stuck the landing with the right winner. I’ve got nothing else to say about it. Awesome.

Power Rankings Results: I totally won. Special thanks to Ciera Eastin for being a fantastic competitor this season.

Also: Check back tomorrow for exit interviews with Tony, Woo, Kass, and Spencer!

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

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Posted in RealityTV, survivor, TV News | Comments Off on ‘Survivor: Cagayan’ Finale Recap – Million-Dollar Mistake?

It’s Time for ‘Survivor: Cagayan’ Finale Bingo!

May 19, 2014

headline

Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday that I was predicting that Spencer and Tony would be the first ones eliminated from “Survivor: Cagayan.” And now here I am, prepping a finale bingo that features the two of them heavily.

So, cozy up in your spy shack…

Take your most comfortable karate stance…

Hide your clue in your pants…

And get ready for some chaos…

Cause it’s bingo time!

(more…)

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