More Whatnot

Last Week: Shambo got into a bizarre fight with Danger Dave over chicken preparation. She wanted him to go, but the Foa Foa Four decided to target John. The Foa Foa Four went behind her back and made a deal with Dave to send John to the jury.

Some people think chicken soup is good for making you feel better when you’re sick. Last week we learned it’s also good for fracturing alliances.

39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Here is the tribe as it currently stands…

Aiga (Samoan for “Extended Family”)

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

CBS is promising Russell’s most shocking tribal council maneuver ever. At this point, the only thing Russell could do that would surprise me is to figure out a way to vote Probst out.

We meet up with the tribe as they return from tribal council. Shambo is not pleased that she was left in the dark regarding the John vote. Russell tells her that John had been gunning for her and they did it so she wouldn’t have to break her vow never to vote for John. Shambo shrugs it off saying she would have voted for Dave anyways. Man, she takes that chicken stuff seriously.

The next morning, Jaison sidles up next to Monica and Brett to discuss strategy.

Quick Aside: Brett is like the “Survivor” Ninja. He’s been out there for like a month now, but you never see him.

Jaison asks them who they’d vote for if they were on the jury. They inform him that they might vote for Russell because he’s played such a strong game. Jaison is offended by this because he thinks he and Russell have had an equal say in what’s been going on.  Wow…Russell’s got him fooled.

Jaison drops the bomb that Russell already has a lot of money. The “Survivor” Ninja says this could affect how he votes. He then throws a smoke ball on the ground and disappears.

Another Quick Aside: I don’t like the idea that you vote for someone based on how much money they have. At the end of the day, it’s a competition. Vote for someone based on how well they play the game.

First Immunity Challenge: Um…it’s literally a game of bowling. One ball, two throws, ten pins.  Way to go, creative team. Oh well, at least they’re not running out to get puzzle pieces, then putting that puzzle together. The players will be randomly paired off to compete in a single frame.

Opening Round: Shambo defeats Natalie, Russell eliminates Brett, Jaison beats Monica, and Danger Dave nails a strike to bounce Mick.

Semifinal Round: Shambo bests Russell while Jaison beats Dave “Gutter” Ball.

Final Round: Shambo throws two gutter balls, Jaison does slightly better hitting three pins to win his second straight immunity challenge.

Back at camp, Dave realizes that he’s the lowest man on the totem pole. Monica goes to bat for him, trying to talk Russell into bouncing Shambo. She even refers to it as “planting the seed.” She’s like an adorable junior Russell.

Russell seems more interested in the Shambo idea then you’d think he would be, even going so far as to discuss it with Dave.

Shambo doesn’t seem too concerned with this. During a strategy discussion, she even refers to herself as “The Sham with the Plan.” That’s it, after that nickname I’m on board with Shambo going home too.

That night at tribal council, Shambo says she was more blindsided than John was during the last vote. Probst thinks she’s trying to work the jury. I’m not sure Shambo knows there is a jury.

Dave explains his strategy of telling people that he’s a good person to take to the finals. Russell says he agrees with this, and the game now comes down to sticking with people you can beat. Ominous music plays as Mick and Jaison look over at Russell.

Voting Time: Shambo votes for Danger, Danger votes for Shambo, and you know the drill with the rest. One vote for Shambo, three votes for Dave…and the fifth member of the jury is…Danger Dave.

The next morning, Russell tells the rest of Foa Foa that the biggest threat is Brett. Wait, who?

Russell thinks Brett is far too likable to keep around. Has Russell just now started reading the Power Rankings?!

Mick pulls Russell aside to tell him that he’s a little worried about Russell’s comment the night before about who he wants to take to the finals.  Have we learned nothing?! Never challenge Russell or you’re going home John-style!

Second Immunity Challenge: The players will run out into the ocean to retrieve a bag. They’ll then return to the beach and try to catapult the bag into a bin. They’ll then swim out to get their next bag and continue the process. The first person to get three bags in their bin wins.

Not much to describe in this one. Brett gets out to an early lead and doesn’t give it up. Brett wins his first immunity.

Back at camp, Monica realizes that she’s taken Danger Dave’s place as the new low person on the totem pole. Monica and the “Survivor” Ninja chat with Mick and try to convince him that Russell is going to take Shambo and Natalie to the final three.

Monica and Russell have a conversation where Monica claims that Jaison told her that Russell has the idol. She also says that Natalie told her that Russell makes a lot of money.

And…Russell snaps. He goes after Natalie for spilling the beans to Monica. She denies it. Russell then goes after Brett to find out how they found out about the money. He rats out Jaison.

It’s getting ugly at Aiga camp.

Russell lets us know that he feeds on being angry, and that if he feels any kind of threat at all that he’ll play his immunity idol.

Tribal council starts…and Russell stands up and puts his hidden immunity idol around his neck! Russell is the king!

Russell lets us know that the idol doesn’t put a target on his back. Monica disagrees.

Monica and Russell are going back and forth to the point that I think Monica is going home and is mouthing off because she has nothing to lose.

Russell thinks that if Monica had played the game from the beginning the way she played it that day, that she’d be in a better position.

Mick says he isn’t naïve and knows that only one of them can win the million dollars.

Voting Time: Russell votes for Monica, Monica votes for Russell, and the rest blah blah blah… Probst asks if anyone wants to play the idol. Russell does not.

One vote for Monica, one vote for Russell, one vote for Monica, one vote for Russell, one vote for Monica, and the sixth member of the jury is…Monica.

Verdict: This season is top five…easily.

Who’s Going to Win? I’m still liking Natalie at this point.

What Do You Think? Was Russell’s idol move brilliant or stupid? Where does this season rank for you? Could anyone beat Brett against a Galu-heavy jury?

Last Week: Russell found his third hidden immunity idol, Shambo and the Foa Foa Four managed to get John to jump from Galu, and Laura was given a one-way ticket to the jury.

39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Here is the tribe as it currently stands…

Aiga (Samoan for “Extended Family”)

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

We start off with everyone returning from tribal council. Shambo lets us know that “Madusa has been dethroned.” Man, with Laura gone who’s Shambo going to hate?

John tells us that he thinks he made the correct move because Russell promised to vote out one of the Foa Foa Four next. Luckily for John, Russell always keeps his promises.

The next morning, the players are treated to a tree mail that contains $500 for each of them. It looks like it’s time for the “Survivor” auction.

Reward Challenge Time: Um…it’s the auction. The players are given money to bid on food, mystery items, and whatnot. Bidding is in increments of $20.

First item is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Natalie shows her negotiating skills by starting with $200. Nobody challenges her and she wins.

The next item is covered. John, Jaison, and Dave all bid, but Shambo wins for $240. Probst raises the lid to reveal sea noodles and slug guts with a little bit of parmesan. Somewhere Madusa must be laughing.

The next item is also covered. Dave and Jaison bid, but Monica eventually wins for $340. Monica fares better than Shambo, as she scores a full roasted chicken.

Next up is an advantage for the next immunity challenge. John starts by bidding “A hundge.” I don’t approve of that as slang for a hundred. Jaison takes one for the team and bids $500 to take the advantage.

Next up, Mick goes all in for a cheeseburger, fries, and a beer. Jaison is saddened.

The next item up for bid is a clue to the hidden immunity idol. John wins it. For some reason Russell didn’t bid.

Up next we get an auction for a shower. Natalie wins for $120. The “Survivor” editing team shows some class by playing sexy music as she disrobes. What, no wolf whistle sound effect?

Next up, we get a piece of apple pie. John takes it for $300. He’s given an option to eat his pie, or give four pieces of pie to four other players. John asks how everyone feels about this offer. They agree that they all want pie. John doesn’t think anyone will vote him out over pie, so he keeps his slice. Russell lets us know afterward that John should’ve tried to bribe him with pie.

After the challenge, John takes his clue and starts looking for the hidden immunity idol. For some reason he doesn’t find it.

We later meet up with Shambo who is apologizing to the chickens. Apparently the chickens are scheduled to become a meal. You should never get too emotionally attached to your lunch.

Shambo the Chicken Whisperer has specific cooking plans for her buddies. Danger Dave tries to give his two cents, but she rudely lets him know that she doesn’t want to hear it. I guess we know who Shambo is going to hate next.

Dave and Shambo have a heated back and forth that I’m not going to go into detail on. Trust me, you don’t want to hear about Shambo ranting about her P.M.S.

You’re welcome.

That night, Shambo seems to be having a bad dream. The “Survivor” editing team has a ball with this, crafting a Coach-esque montage of her tossing and turning spliced with footage of the deceased chickens. She lets us know that God gave her a message that Dave should be the next person to go home.

Quick Thought: Are you there, God? It’s me, Gordon. Could you focus on the war in the Middle East, starving children, and the recession, then worry about “Survivor?” Thanks, you’re the best!

Immunity Challenge Time: Each player will have to hold up a heavy log with a knotted rope . Every three minutes, the players will have to move down a knot. That will lessen the leverage and make the log heavier. The last person to hold on to their rope wins. Jaison’s advantage is that at any time he’ll get to move his hand up two knots.

Jaison uses his advantage before anyone has been eliminated. Shambo is the first one eliminated 21 minutes into it. Russell is out shortly after her. Once they move to the final knot, Monica and John are quickly eliminated. Brett is the next to go…

Wait, Brett’s still on this show?!

After that, Mick and Natalie are eliminated leaving only Jaison and Dave.

The two exchange menacing glances, but the two-knot advantage is too much for Dave to overcome. The rope slips out of Dave’s hand and Jaison wins immunity.

Politicking around Aiga starts off with the Foa Foa Four backing Shambo’s dream.

However, John pulls Russell aside to discuss strategy. John and Russell agree that Mick should be the next to go. While discussing strategy, John mentions that they can play the idol. Russell tries to play like he doesn’t have the idol, but John isn’t buying it. Russell eventually fesses up and says they can both use it.

Congrats, John. It never turns out well for people who confront Russell about having the idol.

Sure enough, next up we see Russell explaining to Danger Dave that he wants to take John out next.

Jaison and Mick are discussing the John strategy. They both want John gone, but are worried Shambo will flip.

What? Shambo teaming with Danger Dave and Monica? No way.

That night at tribal council, Russell and Shambo have a bit of a disagreement when Shambo thinks the day was peaceful and Russell thinks there was some strategizing going on.

Dave says he did his best to be peaceful with Shambo. Shambo says she’s voting against someone who doesn’t deserve the million dollars.

Russell thinks the person who is going home will be shocked. Shambo doesn’t think they’ll be shocked at all. Danger Dave gets the line of the night saying if the vote goes the way he expects he’ll be shocked.

Voting Time: Shambo votes for Dave, John votes for Mick, Dave votes for John, the rest are secret. One vote for Mick, one vote for Dave, four votes for John, and the fourth member of the jury is…John.

Madusa is giddy as she says, “She (Shambo) has no idea what happened.”

Verdict: Wow, I guess John should’ve shared the apple pie.

Jaison and Mick are right, Shambo is a loose cannon. According to Laura, the 90210ers were never really mean to Shambo. And from what we were shown, Dave didn’t deserve the level of attitude Shambo was giving him. People who take perceived slights to that level are dangerous. If Russell’s not careful, something like this could derail his grand plan.

That being said, this season has been awesome since the merge.

Who’s Going to Win? I think Natalie is looking good right now. Literally and figuratively.

What Do You Think? Is Shambo too sensitive?  Should Dave have gone home instead?  Does Russell have what it takes to win the whole thing?

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

39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Here are the tribes as they currently stand…

Aiga (Samoan for “Extended Family”)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Whoa…sorry for putting that image into your head.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Here is the tribe as it currently stands…

Aiga (Samoan for “Extended Family”)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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