Posts Tagged ‘Russell Hantz’

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Survivors Speak: Who’s the Biggest ‘Survivor’ Villain Ever?

April 12, 2010

Nobody does villainy quite like “Survivor.”

Be it venomous jury speeches, burning an opponent’s footwear, or lying about the well-being of your loved ones, “Survivor’s” villains have proven that all’s fair when it comes to outwitting, outplaying, and outlasting.

So, in the spirit of this season’s “Heroes Vs. Villains” theme, we’ve reached out to some of the show’s top names to find out who they think are the biggest villains in “Survivor” history.

“Richard Hatch, Rob Cesternino, then me, that’s how I’d rank them.” Jon “Jonny Fairplay” Dalton – “Survivor: Pearl Islands” and “Survivor: Fans Vs. Favorites”

“The most vile villain of all time? Russell (Hantz) may have it hands down. He’s an amazing player.” Debra Beebe – “Survivor: Tocantins”

“It’s a toss up between Russell (Hantz) and Jonny Fairplay.” Todd Herzog – Winner of “Survivor: China”

“I think Todd Herzog. And it’s a travesty that he isn’t on the Villains team. I wanted to put him in a wig and send him in my place.” Courtney Yates – “Survivor: China” and “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains”

“I’d have to say Courtney (Yates) is the most vile villain of all time. No, she’s the most beautiful villain of all time.” Stephen Fishbach – “Survivor: Tocantins”

“I’d like to give the credit to Randy (Bailey) because that was more personal. But for me, Jonny Fairplay was the worst villain.” Susie Smith – “Survivor: Gabon”

“Hands down, I have to give it to him…I’m not a hater. I give credit where credit is due. And Russell (Hantz) to me is the biggest villain I’ve ever seen.” Cirie Fields – “Survivor: Panama,” “Survivor: Fans Vs. Favorites,” and “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains”

“It’s gotta be Jonny Fairplay. I mean, who lies about their Grandma passing away?” Dan Kay – “Survivor: Gabon”

“In my mind, it’d be Corinne (Kaplan).” Matty Whitmore – “Survivor: Gabon”

“Jonny Fairplay.” Chris Daugherty – Winner of “Survivor: Vanuatu”

“You’d have to say Russell (Hantz) after this past season.” Coby Archa – “Survivor: Palau”

“I’m going to go all the way back to Susan Hawk. To me, she was as cutthroat as it comes.” Erik Cardona – “Survivor: Samoa”

“I’ve got to go with Richard Hatch. He’s a trend setter. He came up with the whole philosophy on how to play ‘Survivor.’ He came up with the alliance and he won. And I still love him to death even though you want to hate him.” Jerri Manthey – “Survivor: The Australian Outback,” “Survivor: All Stars,” and “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains”

“I would totally have to say Russell Hantz for all-time biggest villain, hands down!  He has ice in his veins.” Tamara “Taj” George – “Survivor: Tocantins”

“It would be hard to think of villains on ‘Survivor’ without mentioning Jonny Fairplay, who I believe was the first person who ever went on ‘Survivor’ with the intention of being ‘the villain.’  However, for me, as a viewer I never experienced anything like the emotion I felt watching Richard Hatch win the first ‘Survivor.’  Seeing Richard prevail with ‘Survivor’s’ first million dollar prize was not unlike watching Darth Vader prevail over Luke Skywalker and Han Solo at the end of ‘The Empire Strikes Back.’  Though America may not have been rooting for him at the time, Richard’s strategic, manipulative, and emotionless style of play became the blueprint for how future Survivors (and specifically future ‘Survivor’ villains) would play the game for the next ten years and beyond.” Rob Cesternino – “Survivor: The Amazon” and “Survivor: All Stars”

On the Other Hand: Survivors Speak: Who’s the Biggest ‘Survivor’ Hero Ever?

More “Survivor” Fun: Check out my exit interview with Benjamin “Coach” Wade and “Survivor: The Amazon” winner Jenna Morasca’s latest article.

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‘Survivor’ Castaway Interview: Benjamin ‘Coach’ Wade

April 9, 2010

Russell Hantz is a fascinating “Survivor” character. He’ll stab someone in the back and smile as he does it. If you hate him for it, he doesn’t care. If you love him for it, he doesn’t care. As long as it gets him closer to his goal of being known as the “Michael Jordan of ‘Survivor,’” he’ll do it.

On the opposite end of that spectrum is Benjamin “Coach” Wade. Despite what you may think of his game play, he always thinks he is doing the right thing to uphold his integrity and honor.

I spoke with Coach the morning after he was voted out and got the opposite of what I expected. Usually when I talk to Coach we discuss the game and enjoy some lighthearted banter about the amusing way he is portrayed on the show. This time however, after we discussed Boston Rob, Russell, and the actual game, he opened up about how difficult his appearance on “Survivor: Tocantins” has made aspects of his life, and how he hopes appearing on “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains” will help change the public’s perception of him.

Gordon Holmes: There seemed to be some back and forth over Russell’s vote last night. In the end, he voted for Courtney. Do you think he was still on your side, or was that vote meant to sway your jury vote?
Benjamin “Coach” Wade: I think Russell was just playing for my vote on the jury. After watching the episode last night I think that he really wanted me out, and once he started that ball rolling he couldn’t stop it. I think a heart-to-heart talk we had made him realize that he should stay truthful, and maybe he went back, but at that point the damage had been done.

Gordon: Your farewell confessional was cut off somehow by the CBS feed, which is a shame because it seemed like you had something colorful to say about your former teammates.
Coach: Isn’t that a travesty? I think on every cable it was. After I saw that I laughed out loud. I had said, “I hope they’re all wiped off the face of the planet.” (Laughs) It was pretty funny. I think I was upset because I was blindsided and I thought there was no need for it. That day Courtney and Sandra had come up to me and said, “Let’s vote Russell off.” And even though I was grieving for Rob and I was grieving for Tyson, I really felt like I could not betray the new alliance. I don’t know if you caught it, but during the episode I was calling it the Forced Alliance of Five, the Forced Five. I didn’t want to be in that alliance, but I wanted to be true to my word. That’s why I was ticked. I was true to my word even though I didn’t want to be.

Gordon: People seem to be loving this season, but I’m finding it to be a bit of a disappointment. I think the best seasons of “Survivor” require some quality nicknames and poetry.
Coach: I went down there prepared. I actually had nicknames based on Arthurian legend for every person in the game from Sugar to James to myself. I really wanted to up my game because I had such a hard act to follow from the first time around with the Dragon Slayer. I had all the stuff I wanted to do. So unfortunately you didn’t get to hear the nicknames of Sir Galahad, Guinevere, Morgan le Fay, and the Lady of the Lake. I knew I wouldn’t be the best strategist, I know that I’m not conniving, my mind doesn’t think in those dishonest ways. I just wanted to bring something that I can bring which is creativity and a little bit of fantasy.

Gordon: Last week I spoke with Boston Rob and he felt that your vote for Courtney was taking the easy way out. Do you disagree?
Coach: It was something I agonized over. Russell was bullying me, so to speak. Rob was sweating me. I had two girls on each side trying to get me to jump to their side. When Jerri jumped it made it impossible for me vote for Russell because it would have been a four-to-four tie and we would have had to draw rocks, and there was a chance that I may have gone home. Not a way to leave the game. So with that going around in my head, I started going on a quest to vote out the weakest player. I saw with Tyson gone that it would be a downward spiral. I made that plea, literally begging the two powers, Rob and Russell, to meet in the middle. It could be construed that I threw my vote away, but I didn’t, I made an impassioned plea for the tribe to be intact. And it wasn’t a subtle, minced words kind of way.

Gordon: After Rob was voted out, he gave you a hard time. He wouldn’t hug you and he called you a “Little man.”  Did that stick with you at all?
Coach: It makes me think of a quote, and it’s not a slam at Rob, he just wanted to exact some revenge. I remember Jacinto Benavente said, “You meet the warrior when in battle, but it is not until victory that you meet the gentleman.” My exit, both times, very chivalrous. Even to people who slit my throat, I’d turn around, smile, and say, “The best of luck to you and it’s been an honor playing this game.” I think that it was sad that Rob did that because I fought for him all day long and someone like Jerri who votes for him gets a hug. It didn’t seem fair, didn’t seem just. I think it reflected more on his character than it does mine.

Gordon: Now that you’ve had the opportunity to see the full spectrum of Russell’s abilities between “Survivor: Samoa” and “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains” what are your thoughts on his game play?
Coach: I definitely respect the way he plays the game. I think he’s a ferocious player. Constant energy, constant motion. He was someone who was in it to win it. I think that he is a very good player. He brings an element; I bring a poetic element, he brings a vicious element and it’s what makes the game great. It’s the cast of characters and the variety that really makes the show interesting. As much as I’d love to be sour grapes, I’ve got to respect how he played the game.

Gordon: Earlier in the season you seemed very upset about some comments Sandra had made at tribal council. Afterward, you had a heart-to-heart with Tyson (and it was very nice to see that side of Tyson) where you seemed to have some doubts about playing the game. My question is, were you seriously considering quitting the game at that point?
Coach: I never was considering leaving. But, just to give you a little more detail as to what was going on, last year the things that I hold dear to me, my honor and integrity, really took a beating. If you search for “Coach Wade” on the Internet, the first things that come up are “Crackpot, crook, and liar.” And I’m none of those. I lost my job and even some of the people in the inner circle of my friends would ask, “Is this really you?” So, I faced a lot of adversity. My parents stopped watching the show; it drove a wedge between my parents and I. And I went through a very tough time in my life. I talked about that in my exit interview last year.
Gordon: Did you make an attempt to change your image during “Heroes Vs. Villains?”
Coach: For my second time back I really wanted to change that, I really wanted to go out for redemption. So, when Sandra made that comment and Jeff smirked at me and rolled his eyes and said, “Oh, Coach is going to be the leader again,” in that split second I grieved for the first season and everything that had happened in my life. You don’t spend 13 years as a college soccer coach and have it taken away, literally over night, and not have some type of emotional damage done by that. But at the same time I thought, no matter how hard I try, I’m such a polarizing character that they’re going to cast me in the same light and it doesn’t matter how much good I do out here, or how well I do in the challenges, they’re just going to paint me as a jerk. Which, they didn’t. But at that point I thought they were going to do that. And so I came back to the tribe and I was really having a pity party.  I was actually doing that to kind of wake up the producers. Because it started out with me cussing out the cameramen and the producer who was on site. They were in Brazil, and they know all the good I did, and they know all the one-on-one counseling I did, and they know that I didn’t eat any food because I wanted to keep the tribe strong, and none of that made the edit. I said “You guys know what you’ve done to me, and screw you guys.” I was pissed at first and then it became emotional. There were just all kinds of emotions that went into it, and it was raw and it was real.
Gordon: Did Tyson’s talk help pull you out of that?
Coach: Tyson talking to me, I’ve always known that side of Tyson, and that’s why I love him like a brother. It was really great for him to say that, because he was like, “Wake up, you are different.” Even though he was telling me to conform, I thought I’m not going to conform for anybody. I am an individual; God has created me as such, and let’s rock and roll the rest of this game. No matter what happens I’m going to be the warrior that I set out to be.
Gordon: Do you feel better about how you were portrayed in “Heroes Vs. Villains?”
Coach: I think I’ve found redemption. So to answer you, yes.

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‘Survivor: H.V.V.’ Episode 8 Recap: Who Outsmarted Russell?

April 8, 2010

Last Week: The Houston Astros upset the Boston Red Sox by a final score of 5 to 3. Russell Hantz picked up the win over starter Rob Mariano with Jerri Manthey getting credit for the save.

39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Here are the tribes as they currently stand…

The Hero Tribe (wearing noble blue)

Rupert Boneham – 45
Colby Donaldson – 35
Amanda Kimmel – 24
James “JT” Thomas Jr. – 25
Candice Woodcock – 27

The Villain Tribe (wearing devilish red)

Sandra Diaz-Twine – 34
Danielle DiLorenzo – 28
Russell Hantz – 37
Jerri Manthey – 38
Parvati Shallow – 27
Benjamin “Coach” Wade – 38
Courtney Yates – 28

We meet up with the Villains after tribal council and the Dragon Slayer is peeved. He thinks that voting out Boston Rob will destroy the entire tribe. He doesn’t comment on how his lame-duck vote had a hand in sending Rob home.

Coach also worries that the Villains may not win another challenge. I think he’s right.

The following morning we meet up with JT as he’s searching for the hidden immunity idol. JT, doing his best Russell Hantz impression, digs in the mud and eventually manages to uncover the idol. As JT is cleaning off the idol, he is discovered by Amanda.

JT smartly fesses up immediately. He returns to camp and shares the idol with the rest of the camp.

We later find out that it wasn’t a coincidence that Amanda discovered him. Candice and Amanda knew if he found it by himself he’d try to hide it. They don’t trust him a bit.

Back at the Villains camp, Jerri worries that they’re going to die if they don’t eat soon. Fortunately for her, tree mail offers “The Best Meal Yet.” Everyone reads this to mean that it’s merge time.

With twelve players left? Do they watch this show?

In an interesting bit before the challenge, the Heroes assume there’s an all-girl alliance due to the fact that Boston Rob was voted out. JT even says “Hang in there” to one of the males (probably Coach) on the Villains team. Russell loves the fact that they think he’s an innocent party.

Before announcing the challenge, Probst has a bit of fun with the tribes saying, “Everybody drop your…expectations.” Everyone fell for it, reaching for their buffs before he could finish the sentence.

Oh J-Pro, you scamp.

Reward Challenge: Single members from each tribe will square off. They’ll roll a ball down a lane in an attempt to knock over ten pins. Each player will have two attempts. The person to hit the most pins wins a point. It’s kind of like bowling.

No, it’s exactly like bowling. Seriously.

First team to three points wins a delicious dinner of pizza and beer.

The Villains discuss who they should sit out, eventually deciding on Sandra and Courtney. This doesn’t seem like a super smart move; now Sandra and Courtney will have to participate in the immunity challenge.

Round 1: Parvati throws a gutter ball while Rupert hits three pins. On the second throw Parvati tosses a second gutter ball. One point for the good guys.

Round 2: JT takes out six pins with his first throw while Danielle tosses her team’s third straight gutter ball. JT misses with his second shot while Danielle completes her Parvati impersonation with yet another gutter ball. Another point for the good guys.

Round 3: Russell throws the Villains’ fifth straight gutter ball while Colby misses with the ugliest shot of the day. No lie, this thing bounced more than it rolled. Russell’s next throw hits five pins while Colby’s only hits one. One point for the bad guys.

Round 4: Coach and Amanda both knock over five pins with their first throws. Coach’s second throw takes out one pin, while Amanda’s takes out two. Heroes win reward.

Quick Question: Was I the only one rolling (no pun intended) with the dramatic choral music playing over the last round of “Survivor” bowling?

During the reward meal Amanda offers a toast to, “The best team on ‘Survivor.’” She immediately contradicts this statement by saying she doesn’t want to get overconfident.

Meanwhile, Rupert is doing his best to hammer his “Fantastic Five” catchphrase into my head.

If I’m ever on “Survivor” (and believe me, I’ve been angling for that) I’m naming my alliance the “Thunder Fire All-Star Demon Destroyers.” If you’re interesting in joining this alliance, leave a comment below explaining how you’d be an asset to the team.

We meet up with the Villains back at their camp and Jerri is livid. She’s doesn’t think Boston Rob would have let them sit Courtney and Sandra out before an immunity challenge.

For her next trick, Jerri does her best Russell Hantz impersonation by calling Sandra and Courtney weak players to their faces. And just like last week, for some reason Sandra has a problem with being told she sucks.

An annoyed Sandra later tells us her ideal boot order which is: Jerri, Coach, Danielle, and Russell. OK, maybe that wasn’t a boot order, she just hates all of those people.

Later we meet up with Sandra and Courtney as they discuss their next strategy. Sandra decides to do her best Russell Hantz impersonation by planting a Russell Seed in Russell’s ear. The Russell Seed she has in mind? That Coach is gunning for him.

Quick Aside: When one tribe dominates the air time, it’s obvious which side is losing immunity. So, I’m betting five “Survivor” points that the Villains are headed for another loss. Who’s in?

Immunity Challenge: Teams will be belted together in pairs. They’ll have to go over and under a series of obstacles to retrieve a flag. First pair back gets a point for their team. First team to two points win. Because there’s an odd number of players, one race will be one on one.

The Villains will sit Jerri and Danielle.

Round 1: Russell and Sandra vs. Amanda and Candice – Wow…this challenge is muddy. Amanda and Candice win this round easily as Sandra really struggled.

Round 2: Coach vs. Rupert – Coach jumps out to an early lead, but Rupert is able to catch up with him about midway through. Coach is just barely able to get to the finish line first.

Round 3: Courtney and Parvati vs. JT and Colby – Well…this hardly seems fair. Although, teeny Courtney could easily glide under the obstacles. But yeah, my first instinct was correct. The cowboys finish first. Kind of like “The Amazing Race.” CBS synergy at its finest.

And…you owe me five “Survivor” points.

Morale is down at the Villains camp, but Coach feels like the Dragon Slayer is coming into his own. He’d like to get rid of Russell, but thinks he needs to keep the tribe strong for challenges.

He also refers to his alliance as “The Force Five.” Man, those Survivors really love their alliteration.

Russell lets us know that he doesn’t trust Coach and it’s time for him to go home.

Not-so-quick Aside: OK, there’s a lot of talk about Russell being the best ever, and I’ll admit he’s entertaining, but his tribe is being decimated in challenges. Voting out Coach seems like a really shortsighted move. Of course, this decision may be easy to make from the comfort of my couch.

Danielle argues my not-so-quick aside point in the very next scene. She wants Courtney gone. Great, now I have to deal with the fact that Danielle and I agree on something.

Russell doesn’t like getting an opposing view point from a member of his dumb a– girl alliance, so he storms off.

Seriously.

Eventually, Russell comes around and decides that they will need Coach for the next challenge, and they can eventually vote him off whenever they want.

OK, good. We’re all in agreement.

That night at tribal council, J-Pro makes the point that the Villains are in some trouble when it comes to challenges. Jeff also points out that fire is hot and water is wet.

Courtney knows she isn’t good at challenges. J-Pro counters by asking why they’d vote out strong players like Tyson and Rob. Courtney states that she didn’t vote for Tyson or Boston Rob. For some reason Probsty isn’t getting Courtney’s very reasonable argument and continues to press his point.

Courtney also thinks that Coach wanted the stronger players in the reward challenge so they’d lose immunity.

Throw a challenge?! That’s not the warrior spirit.

Coach wants Courtney to be more confident in challenges and to say, “I want to do that cause I can beat that challenge!”

Courtney responds with an adorable, “Thanks, Dad.”

I take it back, keep Courtney on forever.

After all of that, Russell says he wants to keep the tribe strong and keep trust in place.

Voting Time: Coach votes for Courtney, Courtney votes for Coach (and calls him a lunatic), and the rest will have to wait until the next paragraph.

Probst reads the votes: two votes for Coach, three votes for Courtney, one vote for Coach, and the ninth person voted out of “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains” and the first member of the jury is…whoa…Coach.

I’m going to assume that Russell voted for Courtney as a way to keep Coach’s jury vote. He didn’t seem surprised at all by the result and Danielle (who had been pulling to vote out Courtney) voted for Coach.

Verdict: I’ve never been a big fan of Sandra’s game play, but she knew exactly how to play Russell. Well done. That being said, if the Heroes come back people are going to use this episode as a counterpoint in the great “Russell Hantz is the Greatest Player of All Time” debate.

Who’s Going to Win? Yow…I thought the Heroes were dead in the water. Now they’re only one immunity win from erasing the Villains numbers advantage. Blah…and my pick Jerri is getting into it with members of the Villains tribe. I don’t know what to think. So…let’s go with…uh…Parvati?

Power Rankings Update: Both Rob Cesternino and I had Coach in spot nine so it’s a draw. The current score is now “Survivor” All Stars 65, Team Gordon 91.

What Do You Think? Will the Villains ever win another immunity challenge? Did Russell make a huge mistake? Can the Heroes complete their comeback?

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‘Survivor’ Power Rankings – Amazon and All-Stars Alumnus Rob Cesternino

April 5, 2010

The Rules: Each week a member of our “Survivor” All-Star team and your beloved “Survivor” recapper Gordon “Truth Seeker” Holmes will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of the next episode will determine the number of points the two combatants will earn. For example, if Jerri is voted out this week, Fancast’s “Survivor” All-Star Team will receive 7 points and Gordon will receive 8 points. At the end of the season, the person (or team) with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Last Week: Samoa’s “Good” Russell Swan underestimated Samoa’s “Evil” Russell Hantz and it cost the “Survivor” All-Star team dearly. Russell’s picks only racked up two points, while Gordon’s bet that either Russell or Boston Rob was going home scored him eleven points.

Before the Battle: Nobody saw this coming. After being humiliated two seasons in a row, Gordon has managed to build a huge lead over the “Survivor” All-Star team. That’s why they’ve sent in their big gun – the man Jeff Probst referred to as the “Smartest player never to win,” Mr. Rob Cesternino…

Gordon Holmes: Rob, thanks for taking part in the Power Rankings. What’ve you been up to since we last saw you on “Survivor: All-Stars?”
Rob Cesternino: In 2006, I co-founded a small new media production company and have been busy writing and producing several different series for the web.  I’m also happy to say that later this summer I’m going to be getting married to my longtime girlfriend, Nicole.  In my spare time, I do a podcast about “Survivor,” “LOST,” and a bunch of other shows at www.robHASaWebsite.com.

Gordon: The previous “Survivor” Power Rankings players have left you with a hefty 26-point deficit to overcome. Do you resent the other players for putting you in such a deep hole?
Rob: I would like to thank the other Survivors for the opportunity to be a hero.

Gordon: What was your take on the Boston Rob vs. Russell showdown?
Rob: I really loved watching the Boston Rob vs. Russell battle this season.  The thing that was great about it was that it was almost like this mini “cold war.”  Normally on “Survivor,” two people butt heads and one is gone by the end of the episode.  It was really fun to see it go on for several weeks on the show.  Though Russell may have been fortunate at times (especially with the Tyson vote), I think Rob became so infatuated with Russell he lost sight of the big picture.  If Boston Rob tries to get Parvati out last week, he surely would have kept Coach’s vote and possibly could have been able to convince Jerri to vote with him.  At worst, he’d have a 4-4 tie instead of being voted out.

Gordon: You’re known as the “Smartest player never to win ‘Survivor,'” what strategies would you have employed if you were on the Villains squad?
Rob: This is a difficult question for me since Parvati has pretty much stole my strategy of using all of my sex appeal.  With all of these major egos at play, I honestly believe the best strategy is just laying low.  These power players are going to target each other (See Rob and Russell) and after they all take each other out, the real game is going to begin.

Rob Cesternino’s Picks
All-Star Team’s Current Score: 56

parvati #1 Parvati: Parvati is the Survivor your wife or girlfriend loves to hate.  She may not ride coattails, but her game is set up very nicely with Russell taking 100% of the bullets for their alliance.  A few weeks ago on my podcast we talked about who is the greatest Survivor of all time.  If Parvati can keep it going and pull this thing out, she will become the undisputed heavyweight champion of all time.
russell(2) #2 Russell: Russell Hantz’s “Survivor” strategy is about one thing – chaos.  Whether it’s burning socks, hiding machetes, voting out strong-willed players, or creating confusion with the immunity idol – once Russell senses the fear in people he presents himself as someone who can be their savior.  Love him or hate him, the guy is so much fun to watch.
amanda #3 Amanda: We’re at the midway point in the game and Amanda is in a great position and in no danger of going home – what else is new?  I won’t be surprised at all to see Amanda making another speech to a jury who won’t vote for her.  Amanda is one community college debate class away from being one of the top players of all-time.
jt #4 J.T.: J.T. has flipped back and forth a number of times and has somehow managed to not become a target.  Furthermore, nobody seems to be worried about the fact that he’s already won the game.  If the Heroes can pull out a few more immunities before the merge, J.T. could make a serious run at two “Survivor” titles in three seasons.
rupert #5 Rupert: Did you notice last week how desperately Rupert wanted to take a break from the game during the reward challenge?  Do you think that Richard Hatch was ever looking for a break from thinking about the game?  Rupert’s in a good position for now but does anybody believe that Rupert’s got a plan past voting against the Villains at the merge?
danielle #6 Danielle: Three things we know about Danielle:  1.  Danielle is an alliance with Russell and Parvati.  2.  Danielle makes me happy I have an HDTV.  3.  Danielle isn’t getting voted out anytime soon.
jerri #7 Jerri: This is the third time I’ve watched Jerri play “Survivor” and last week’s vote was hands down the biggest strategic move she’s ever made.  As viewers, I know we were all sad to see Boston Rob go, but I’m very excited to see what Jerri 3.0 does next.
colby #8 Colby: I was glad to see Colby come back to life a little bit this week.  Nobody likes to see a depressed cowboy.  He wasn’t exactly LeBron James in the reward challenge this week, but in the land of airballs, he who makes two baskets is King.
coach #9 Coach: Poor Coach.  First Jerri hurts his feelings by deciding to go with Russell and then Boston Rob breaks his heart and calls him a “little man.”  Coach’s best move would be to start telling more crazy stories and stop thinking so much.  Seriously, Coach just pick one player and vote however they say to.   Being wishy-washy is a great way to get yourself in trouble on “Survivor.”
courtney #10 Courtney: I really felt like Courtney was in a great spot only two weeks ago, but now without Tyson and Boston Rob, she certainly will be feeling some heat.  Courtney is always a liability in the team challenges but that liability becomes a strength after the merge when immunity threats will be targeted.  Also, she’s a good person to keep around because she won’t eat too much of the tribe’s food.
sandra #11 Sandra: I went back and forth between Courtney and Sandra for this spot, but in the end, I just thought that Sandra was more likely to tell Russell off to his face.  Through one and a half seasons Sandra has done amazingly well on “Survivor” by seemingly doing everything wrong.  She’s a liability in the challenges and she makes no secrets about who she doesn’t like.  Apparently she knows something because she’s not only won the game but she’s never even received a vote at tribal council.
candice #12  Candice: My reason for putting Candice in this spot is only because she looks like a lock to go home should the Heroes go back to tribal council.  Though I was surprised to see her on this season, I actually have been impressed with how hard she is playing the game.  She’s been on the outs since day 1 but she’s been trying to make something happen the whole game.  I’m one fan who hopes that she can figure it out.

Gordon Holmes’s Picks
Gordon’s Current Score: 82

russell(2) #1 Russell: All hail the King of Samoa! That being said, I have to wonder if he’s setting himself up for an encore of last season’s finale. The people outside of his alliance (and even some of them in it) really seem to hate him. Could he be turning Parvati into Natalie White Version 2.0?
jt #2 J.T.: I think J.T.’s social missteps early in the season could come back to haunt him. But, he has to be the safest person in this game right now. The Heroes can’t afford to drop a single challenge at this point.
danielle #3 Danielle: It was nice to see Danielle talk a little strategy last week, but I have a feeling from my interviews with Boston Rob and Tyson that nobody is really taking her seriously. In a game where all of the big players have targets on their backs that might not be such a bad thing.
rupert #4 Rupert: I’ve given Rupert a lot of grief this season for his seemingly grumpy disposition, but I’ll give him credit for realizing that the time for politics within the Heroes tribe is over.
amanda #5 Amanda: Every season Amanda sticks around and makes it to the latter stages of the game, and every season I’m left shaking my head. It’s like that Justin Bieber kid. Sure, he’s popular, but nobody can really explain to me “Why?”
colby #6 Colby: With Colby tearing up challenges it felt like 2001 all over again. Almost made me want to bust out my Destiny’s Child and Lifehouse CDs. The Colbster (still hate that nickname) probably bought himself some time in case the Heroes go back to their challenge-dropping ways.
parvati #7 Parvati: Why do I have Parvati ranked so low? Because I don’t think the Jerri/Parvati feud is behind us. Could Russell vote Parvati out to appease the Dragon Slayer and the lovely Lady Slayer? I doubt it, but he did vote out Outlaw Ben to appease Jaison last season…
jerri #8 Jerri: OK Jerri, you made your move, now you have to stick with it. No more of this wishy-washy, back-and-forth, fear-of-commitment stuff.  Russell has voted people out for lesser slights than the ones you were dishing out last week.
coach #9 Coach: I’m putting Coach in the same boat as Jerri. They need to watch what they say around Russell. He has no problem booting anyone who questions his authority. And if Coach lets Boston Rob’s “Little Man” slight from last week’s tribal get the best of him, he could find himself in trouble.
sandra #10 Sandra: Russell wasn’t exactly subtle when he let it be known that he wasn’t happy with Courtney or Sandra’s challenge performances. If they’re both next on the chopping block, I can see Sandra tossing Courtney right under the bus. And with Courtney’s teensy frame, I’d assume finding room for her under a bus wouldn’t be too difficult.
candice #11 Candice: Unfortunately for Candice, she’s in the do-or-die position in the Heroes tribe. Either they win immunity or she’s on her way out of the game. She needs a merge in the worst way.
courtney #12 Courtney: Why a Villain in the last spot? Because losing Tyson and Boston Rob in back-to-back weeks is challenge death. Why Courtney in the last spot over Sandra? Because I think Sandra is more likely to play nice with Russell.

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‘Survivor’ Castaway Interview: ‘Boston’ Rob Mariano

April 2, 2010

The Boston Rob vs. Russell feud had it all. A fierce showdown between two savage competitors, the scorn of a beautiful woman, the betrayal of a conflicted Dragon Slayer, strategies, counter-strategies, and a powerful idol.

I’m not quite sure how Hollywood expects me to shell out $17.50 for a ticket to the remake of “Clash of the Titans” when CBS is giving it away for free.

Find Out How Boston Rob Got Creamed

Unfortunately for Boston Rob, in the end the Troll got the best of the Puzzle Master. I spoke with Rob Mariano the morning after he was voted out to find out why he has respect for Russell, why he lost respect for Coach, and what really happened when he passed out…

Gordon Holmes: Now that you’ve had a chance to see Russell play in both “Survivor: Samoa” and “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains,” is Russell someone whose game play you can respect or does he go too far?
Rob Mariano: You know, parts of his game I do respect. He’s entertaining as can be, I’ll give him that. He made some big moves that wouldn’t necessarily be how I’d play the game. Some of the things I do respect, and part of the things I wouldn’t do.
Gordon: Which parts would you have veered away from?
Boston Rob: You know, the unnecessary sabotaging of his own team to try to make them weak. I don’t necessarily agree with that. It’s a strategy that’s never been done before. But me, I like to keep my team strong to try to win challenges and to keep my alliance strong.

Gordon: It looked like you knew your time was up. What was your first hint that you were in trouble?
Boston Rob: The morning after Tyson was gone there were problems. We had a five-on-three advantage, and the three people, even thought they got away with one, were really cocky about it. I could pretty much figure out that something wasn’t right.

Gordon: It seemed earlier on in the season that you were annoyed with Coach. You were playing games with him, trying to get him to climb the tree. But then as the season progressed you seemed to accept him more. What was your relationship with Coach before the final vote?
Boston Rob: I had a good relationship with Coach. I think he’s a good guy, he’s an interesting guy. His stories, you know, some of them I don’t know how true they are, but I give him the benefit of the doubt. Some of them may be embellished a bit.
Gordon: Maybe a bit.
Boston Rob: Yeah, but he was a good friend out there. He said he wanted to play this game with me, but at the same time I watched him in Tocantins and not everything he said was honorable.  But, in the game of “Survivor,” who is 100% honorable? So, we had a good relationship up until when I looked at him right before tribal council and I could tell he wasn’t going to do what he said he was going to do. I lost a little bit of respect for him. But in hindsight, now that it’s over I’m not going to hold it against him.
Gordon: When you were voted out, Coach got up to give you a hug and you didn’t give him one. You called somebody a “Little Man,” but I wasn’t sure if you were talking to Russell or Coach. I assumed you were talking to Coach, because Russell must know he’s a little man.
Boston Rob: (Laughs) I was talking to Coach. He wanted instant forgiveness and I wasn’t going to give it to him. It’s one thing to stand up on national TV and say you’re honorable and loyal, and it’s another thing to proclaim it over and over again and then do the exact opposite. He voted for Courtney, is that more honorable? No, I think he took the easy way out.

Gordon: Earlier in the season you passed out. Could you take us back and tell us what you remember?
Boston Rob: That’s hard because I don’t remember much of it. I remember I was walking out of camp. I was aggravated because we were having trouble with the shelter. And I was dizzy, I was having headaches all day. I actually sat down, I didn’t actually fall down. And I felt out of breath, and I remember lying down. The next thing I remember is the doctors were around me and Probst was there. I don’t remember Jerri coming up to me, I don’t remember any of that. I don’t remember passing out because I was pretty out of it at that point.

Gordon: At the beginning of the show you jokingly stated, “I’m a Villain?” Everybody had a pretty good laugh at that, but as the show went on it seemed like you were taking care of your tribe and dominating in challenges like a Hero would.
Boston Rob: I wouldn’t say that I’m a Hero, what you saw was really happening though. I was doing what I could for my team to help them to win. The contrast of that is Russell who is doing what he can to make sure the team doesn’t win.  The bottom line is you have to win immunity challenges to get far in the game. So yeah, that was me. Just because you’re a Villain doesn’t mean you’re not a competitor or a team player.

Gordon: There’s a sandwich place down the street that punches my card every time I buy something. I fill up my card and they’ll give me a free sandwich. Now, you’ve been on five different CBS reality shows. Does CBS punch your card every time you appear? Cause I’m thinking you’ve got to be pretty close to them just giving you a million bucks.
Boston Rob: I think the true odds are one-in-sixteen or twenty? (Laughs) It depends on the amount of contestants there are. (Laughs) I’m doing the best I can, man.
Gordon: So it’s fair to say in the next ten or fifteen years at the latest.
Boston Rob: I hope so. I’ll play them till I win, and maybe even after that. (Laughs)

Gordon: Is it different playing the game now that you’re a dad? Do your priorities change at all?
Boston Rob: No. Before I decided (to go on the show), there was a lot of talk within my family, between myself and Amber, but once the decision was made to go you have to put that to the side. Almost use it as a motivation to do well, but don’t let it change your decisions or how you play.

Gordon: Alright, word association time. Let’s start with Sandra.
Boston Rob: Risky.
Gordon: Parvati?
Boston Rob: Flirtatious.
Gordon: Coach?
Boston Rob: Coach is…I want to say honorable, but I think he took the easy way out.
Gordon: Randy?
Boston Rob: Angry.
Gordon: Tyson?
Boston Rob: Regretting what he did.
Gordon: Danielle?
Boston Rob: Who’s Danielle? Oh…Danielle…non factor.
Gordon: The glowing words you receive from Jeff Probst?
Boston Rob: Friend.
Gordon: Jerri?
Boston Rob: Conflicted.
Gordon: Russell?
Boston Rob: Opposite.

Gordon: Jerri brought up “Survivor: All Stars” which I’m assuming involved the situation where you asked Lex van ben Berghe to vote out Jerri over Amber. Did you think something like that could come back to haunt you?
Boston Rob: Of course. I mean, everybody out there has a past. Everybody at some point, with the exception of maybe Danielle, was thinking they were a threat to go home because of something they’ve done in the past. Indirectly, I guess I’m the reason Jerri was sent home. Whether she harbors ill will from that, I don’t know. I’d like to think that she’s a bigger person than that, but everybody has a past.
Gordon: Did you give Amber grief about that last night?
Boston Rob: No, absolutely not.
Gordon: You’re a better man than I am, Rob.
Boston Rob: (Laughs) Thanks, buddy.

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‘Survivor: H.V.V.’ Episode 7 Recap: Boston Creamed?

April 1, 2010

Fun Fact: My backup headline was “Boston Robbed.”

Last Week: We were treated to a special double elimination episode. The Heroes chose the depressed cowboy over the injured grave digger while Russell did his best Buster Douglas impersonation by shocking the world and knocking out Tyson.

39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Here are the tribes as they currently stand…

The Hero Tribe (wearing noble blue)

Rupert Boneham – 45
Colby Donaldson – 35
Amanda Kimmel – 24
James “JT” Thomas Jr. – 25
Candice Woodcock – 27

The Villain Tribe (wearing devilish red)

Sandra Diaz-Twine – 34
Danielle DiLorenzo – 28
Russell Hantz – 37
Jerri Manthey – 38
“Boston” Rob Mariano – 33
Parvati Shallow – 27
Benjamin “Coach” Wade – 38
Courtney Yates – 28

We meet up with the Villains the morning after Russell’s tribal council jaw dropper and Boston Rob admits that he’s shocked for the first time in his “Survivor” career. He senses a tremor in the force.

He isn’t concerned with Danielle because she’s “Dumb as a bag of rocks.” However Parvati and Russell worry him. He’s also worried about Team Russell’s confidence. Surely, somebody in his alliance must be flipping for them to be so giddy.

Courtney gets a chance to finally talk some smack referring to Russell as a “Bandy-legged, little troll.” I missed you, Courtney. Welcome back.

Meanwhile, Russell gives the female members of his alliance their orders: get to Jerri. Russell’s minions achieve their objective getting Jerri alone. Russell lets us know that Jerri now respects him due to his bold move.

Jerri worries that her fear of commitment is keeping her from joining with Team Russell. I’m not touching that one.

Parvati thinks Jerri is jealous that no man has ever saved her at tribal council. I’m trying to figure out where immunity idols rank on the “How to Impress a Lady” scale. I’m assuming it’s higher than flowers and lower than ironing.

Over at Casa de Heroes, Rupert lets us know that Colby needs to step up in the next challenge. Colby vows to prove that the Heroes made the right decision.

Reward Challenge: Three members of each team will race into the water to get a ball. They’ll try to shoot the ball into a basket while members of the other team try to tackle them. First team to score three baskets wins. Winning team gets a romantic picnic by a tropical waterfall. Wow, that’s probably ranked higher than ironing…

The Villains will sit Courtney, Sandra, and Parvati.

First Round: Rupert, JT, and Colby vs. Rob, Russell, and Coach – Colby misses two wide-open shots. Coach follows that up by throwing the ugliest air ball ever. That’s bad news for someone who gives athletic advice for a living. Colby eventually score for the Heroes.

Second Round: Colby, Amanda, and Candice vs. Danielle, Coach, and Jerri – Jerri and Colby have a bit of a back and forth which was nice for old-school fans. Candice eventually wins the point for the Heroes.

Third Round: JT, Rupert, and Colby vs. Russell, Rob, and Coach – Russell and Rupert are really throwing down, but that’s all the excitement there is as Colby scores quickly. Heroes win reward.

We meet up with the Heroes at their picnic. Candice finds a clue to a new immunity idol, but they all decide to read it later.

Rupert is upset because they weren’t thinking about the game until the clue was found. Apparently they were the “Fantastic Five” until the unveiling of the clue.

The “Fantastic Five” can’t concentrate on the meal, so they break down and read it. I take it the Heroes are allowed to open at least one present on Christmas Eve too.

Back at the Villains camp, Russell continues to work on Coach and Jerri. He even offers them a top three spot with him.

Jerri seems sold, but she wants the Dragon Slayer on board. Coach says he’s “Honor bound” to stay with Jerri and he’ll go the way she goes. However, Coach is hurt that Jerri said she trusts him and Russell equally.

Oddly enough, Jerri brings up the issues she had with Boston Rob during “All Stars.” Boston Rob should have taken that into account six years ago. A true strategist would have known that would come back to bite him in 2010.

Immunity Challenge: A member of each team will race across a net and up a rope ladder to retrieve a bag. When they return, another member of the tribe will go until six bags have been returned. In the bag (say it with me) are puzzle pieces. First tribe to finish their puzzle wins immunity.

Jerri, Danielle, and Russell will sit out for the Villains.

Rupert and Parvati start off and are neck and neck. They return with their pieces and Courtney (her first challenge in forever?) and Candice head out. Candice drops her bag, giving the Villains a bit of a lead. Coach and Colby are up next with Coach maintaining the team’s advantage. Parvati and Rupert are back out, with the Villains still winning. Courtney and Candice take their second turn with Courtney having serious problems climbing the ladder and Candice charging ahead for the Heroes. Colby and Coach finish up, with the Heroes enjoying a large lead.

During the puzzle portion, Boston Rob’s celebrated puzzle skills aren’t enough to overcome the Heroes’ head start as Amanda and JT are able to finish the puzzle first. The Heroes win immunity.

Coach lets us know that Courtney was the weak link and she should go home. Well that hardly seems fair, she might not remember what a challenge is.

Back at the Villains camp, Russell tells us that their challenge performance was one of the most pitiful things he’s ever seen. He even tells Boston Rob that they should take out Sandra or Courtney…with Sandra and Courtney sitting right there!

Russell’s right. He is the king.

For some reason, Courtney and Sandra take offense to this.

Coach and Rob sit down to discuss strategy. He wants to blindside Parvati or get rid of Courney. Boston Rob makes a case for getting rid of Russell.

Next up, Team Russell is discussing strategy. Russell wants Rob gone. This isn’t shocking. All of Team Russell is down with this except for Coach. Coach eventually relents and agrees to vote with the alliance.

Rob lets us know that the way to get someone to do something is to find out what they hold dear and to use it against them. For Coach that’s his loyalty. Coach proves Rob right by telling us that he feels terrible because he thinks he was forced into giving his word to Russell.

That night at tribal council, J-Pro tells the Villains that they used to be dominant but the Heroes have found five players that will get things done. Mercifully, he does not refer to them as “Fantastic.”

Coach isn’t concerned because “At the dawn of every morning, hope springs eternal.” He’s like the Villains’ poet laureate.

Boston Rob doesn’t think the tribe is working well together and that voting out Tyson was a mistake. Russell disagrees; he could’ve taken anyone out of Rob’s alliance but chose Tyson because he was bad for tribe chemistry.

Russell and Rob have a bit of a back and forth. Boston Rob thinks his version of loyalty is different than Russell’s. Russell agrees because he doesn’t think Boston Rob would have the guts to put his neck on the line like Russell did for Parvati. Nice to see them agree on something.

Meanwhile, poor Jerri is sitting between them, trying not to make eye contact with either of them.

J-Pro puts Coach on the spot asking where his level of trust is with Russell and Rob. Coach smartly dodges the question, begging the guys to put their egos aside and become a team.

Voting Time: Boston Rob votes Russell, and the rest of the votes aren’t shown.

J-Pro tallies…and reads; one vote Rob, one vote Russell, one vote Rob, one vote Russell, one vote Rob, one vote Russell, one vote Courtney, and the eighth person voted out of “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains” is…Boston Rob.

Coach stands up to get a farewell hug from Rob and is DENIED! Boston Rob says, “You’re a little man,” but it’s unclear if he was talking to Russell or Coach. Maybe it was Coach, because I’m sure Russell knows he’s little.

Verdict: Kind of expected more fireworks from the final Russell vs. Rob blow out, but it was still a good time. This season has been great so far, but I’m a little concerned there might be a post-Rob lull. Here’s hoping the goodness keeps coming.

Who’s Going to Win? Russell’s on a roll, but judging by Courtney and Sandra he might be making the same mistakes he made last season. If Russell’s alliance is going to make it to the end, the most likable member might take the million. Right now that’s Jerri.

Power Rankings Update: Bad news for the All-Star Team. Samoa’s Russell Swan had Boston Rob in the second slot while I had him in spot eleven. The score is now All Stars 56, Team Gordon 82. Hoping to get the All Stars back into the game next week is the man Jeff Probst once called “The smartest player never to win,” Rob Cesternino.

What Do You Think? Did the Villains make the right choice? Can the Heroes stage a comeback before the merge? Was Rob talking to Coach or Russell when he said someone was a “Little Man?”

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‘Survivor’ Power Rankings – Samoa’s Russell Swan

March 31, 2010

The Rules: Each week a member of our “Survivor” All-Star team and your beloved “Survivor” recapper Gordon “Truth Seeker” Holmes will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of the next episode will determine the number of points the two combatants will earn. For example, if Jerri is voted out this week, Fancast’s “Survivor” All-Star Team will receive 5 points and Gordon will receive 4 points. At the end of the season, the person (or team) with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Last Week: Both the Villains and the Heroes were forced to visit J-Pro at tribal council. Tyson Apostol was sent home for the Villains after what could be considered one of the dumbest moves in “Survivor” history while James Clement’s leg injury made him too much of a challenge liability for the Heroes to keep around. This earned the “Survivor” All-Star Team twenty nine points while Gordon racked up seventeen points.

Before we lay some smack down, let’s check in with one of “Survivor: Samoa’s” most popular players, the former leader of the Galu tribe, Russell Swan.

Gordon Holmes: Russell, here’s something I’ve always wondered; is it hard to get back into a daily routine after being out there so long?
Russell Swan: Absolutely! I remember being in the LAX airport after flying back from the South Pacific and being completely freaked out.  The noises, the smells, all the people, it was unnerving.  Going back to work was funny because I had lost so much weight, so people were looking at me like I was a zombie.  It was a trip.

Gordon: You were forced out of “Survivor: Samoa” after passing out during a challenge. Was it rough to see them use that same challenge again in “Heroes vs. Villains?”
Russell: It was very hard watching that challenge again.  I almost walked away from my tv, but at the same time I was glued.  I kept expecting one of the players to fall down and die. My heart was racing! It was freaky.  And to be honest, to see the challenge completed by other people bothers me.  It makes me feel weak or something.  I guess I feel like I should have completed that challenge not them.

Gordon: You’re commonly known as “Good” Russell, how are you feeling about the “Heroes vs. Villains” performance of your counterpart “Evil” Russell?
Russell: Mini me aka Russell Hantz is doing what he does best.  His ego is just as big as it was last season, but I must say his game play is tight.

Russell Swan’s Picks
All-Star Team’s Current Score: 54

parvati #1 Parvati: Bell Biv DeVoe already warned us, “Never trust a big butt and a smile.” In this case, you have to go northward for the correct body part(s), but the smile is just as deadly.  She’s got troll man (Russ H.) wrapped around her finger.  She is in true Parvati form, and when she is, she is tough to beat.  That girl is poison!
bostonrob #2 Boston Rob: He is being a great Hero, which is somewhat confusing.  I think his overly aggressive play can come back to haunt him.  Personally freaked me out when he hit the turf, but glad, unlike me, he got back up to live another day.
sandra #3 Sandra: Man, she has been noticeably absent, which makes her even more dangerous.  That tongue still cuts to the quick, but she’s managed to keep herself in deep check.  Watch out y’all, my homegirl is on the prowl!
russell(2) #4 Russell: Mini me is back to his old tricks.  You know, talking about him is like trying to decide if you are going to kill a bug.  It looks disgusting, but yet, it’s part of nature.  Oh well, gotta give it up to him staying true to his formula.
jerri #5 Jerri: She’s still hot, and she’s still in the running.  I just think that she’ll have a hard time trying to hurdle Parvati.  Did I tell you that that girl is poison? Anyway, if Jerri can keep it together, my girl will vamp her way to the mil.
jt #6 JT: He has gone off his own reservation which is NOT a good look for him.  I think JT is his own enemy, and will end up beating himself.
amanda #7 Amanda: I really, really, really like Amanda, even though I’ve never met her.  There is just something about her spirit that is extremely endearing.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean jack for her game.  I think she already made herself vulnerable with her ties to “The Body” James.  She may have been burned as he went down in flames.
colby #8 Colby: I am really confused by my man Colby.  Granted it’s been some years, but mentally he just seems to be absent.  I hear “Taps” playing faintly in the background.
coach #9 Coach: I guess my man is getting in touch with his feminine side because he is definitely not in game mode.  I think he needs a good swift kick in the butt to get him going.  If he doesn’t get his act together, he’ll be gone.  The slayer is no more.
courtney #10 Courtney: The self-professed lame player is doing what she does best: being lame.  Nuff said.
rupert #11 Rupert: His toe is shot which I think is going to be his undoing.  It’s hard to be that larger-than-life player when you’re walking wounded.
danielle #12 Danielle: Her eyes smolder, and she seems focused, but I just don’t feel her social game is going to be strong enough to carry the day.  I must confess I just can’t feel where she is going and that’s why she is near the bottom of my list.
candice #13 Candice: Who? Who the hell is Candice? I mean, I really don’t want to offend her, but when she is voted out, people will be wondering the same thing I will:  who was Candice?

Gordon Holmes’s Picks
Gordon’s Current Score: 71

jt #1 JT: Kudos to James for admitting that he was hurt and letting his alliance off the hook for voting him off. Now the Heroes need to step it up if they’re going to do anything before the merge. JT needs to tap into some of that Tocantins challenge mojo.
parvati #2 Parvati: Here’s a question for “Survivor” fans: Was Parvati pretending to be shocked when Russell gave her the idol to make Russell look better in Coach’s eyes? If so, “Bravo.”
rupert #3 Rupert: Rupert and the Heroes made a tough call, but the right call in sending James home – even James agreed. Their next course of action has to involve winning some immunity challenges. Which leads me to wonder how Rupert’s toe is doing. He’s obviously getting around, but could it cost his team?
jerri #4 Jerri: As Boston Rob vs. Russell rages into Round 2, the other Villains are in prime positions to choose their spots.  If Russell is to get the best of Rob, he needs to get two people to jump. Coach could be one, and if Tyson is to be believed, Jerri could easily be the other.
coach #5 Coach: Once again, the true power in the Villain tribe sits with the Dragon Slayer. Was Russell’s speech enough to sway him? Boston Rob had better hope not. I wouldn’t be surprised if Coach’s next vote determines who dominates the rest of this season.
courtney #6 Courtney: It’s to be assumed during a season of big personalities that some players will get lost in the shuffle…but Courtney? I’m going to make the plea to CBS again that they should release a “Best of Courtney, Tyson, and Randy’s Unseen Sarcastic Comments” DVD once the season is over.
sandra #7 Sandra: Sandra could find herself in some serious trouble if Russell can somehow pull off another miracle. She has not been very subtle at all with her knocks on the King of Samoa.
danielle #8 Danielle: Danielle’s on Team Russell? News to me. Has she done anything this season besides look good in a bikini? If she Ambers her way to victory I’m going to kick my TV.
colby #9 Colby: Colby dodged a bullet last week. He’d better repay his fellow Heroes by going all out in the next immunity challenge. However, if he really has checked out, they may be better off without him.
amanda #10 Amanda: James being sent home probably destroyed Amanda’s game. What’s the point of keeping her around now? Tom Westman thinks she has Rupert on her side, but even Rupert has to know they need to start winning some challenges.
bostonrob #11 Boston Rob: Mark my words, if the Villains lose immunity either Boston Rob or Russell is going home next. The Villains are beyond the point where they’d vote off immunity liabilities and the beach is way too small for the both of them. So who gets the boot? My head says Russell due to Rob’s numbers advantage. But I’ll never count out Russell. So I’m ranking them both low.
candice #12 Candice: I think Candice’s time has finally come. I don’t think anybody really trusts her and the Heroes can’t afford to lose any more challenge strength.
russell(2) #13 Russell: What can you even say about Russell anymore? He pulled off another miracle and made Tyson look beyond foolish. However, he’s still down five votes to three. Can he pull another rabbit out of his Houston Astros hat? I’m thinking no…but I’ll never count him out.

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‘Survivor: H.V.V.’ Episode 6 Recap: The Best Tribal Council Ever?

March 24, 2010

Last Week: The Dragon Slayer questioned his allegiance to Robert of Beantown after the King of Samoa presented him with a powerful idol. While in the Heroes camp the Champion of the Brazilian Highlands rejoined Rupert the Bearded Pirate and turned on Palau’s Fighter of Fires.

This Week: Jeff Probst claims we’re in for one of the greatest tribal councils ever. We shall see, Mr. Probst. We shall see…

39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Here are the tribes as they currently stand…

The Hero Tribe (wearing noble blue)

Rupert Boneham – 45
James Clement – 32
Colby Donaldson – 35
Amanda Kimmel – 24
James “JT” Thomas Jr. – 25
Candice Woodcock – 27

The Villain Tribe (wearing devilish red)

Tyson Apostol – 30
Sandra Diaz-Twine – 34
Danielle DiLorenzo – 28
Russell Hantz – 37
Jerri Manthey – 38
“Boston” Rob Mariano – 33
Parvati Shallow – 27
Benjamin “Coach” Wade – 38
Courtney Yates – 28

We meet up with the Heroes after tribal council where James offers Colby an apology hug. Colby declines.

Candice tells us that she voted for Tom for fear of upsetting James’s alliance. That’s smart, but if she’d voted against them she could have scored a sweet James apology hug.

Meanwhile, the Villains are sleeping soundly. Well, all of the Villains except for Boston Rob and Russell. Russell tries to make peace with Rob, but Rob lets him know that the rest of the tribe is still mad at Russell for searching for the immunity idol. They do however come to an agreement on one thing: they’re gunning for each other.

Boston Rob vs. Russell is on!

Wait a minute, Boston Rob vs. Russell and Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels in the same week?! I know it’s not Christmas, but it sure feels like it.

Quick Aside: Join me for a live chat with WWE Superstar Matt Hardy this Friday at 2 p.m. ET.

The following morning the Heroes are greeted with vague tree mail that doesn’t hint as to whether the next challenge is for reward or immunity.  When the Heroes arrive at this mysterious challenge, Parvati seems to be very happy that James is still around. Micronesia alliance, anyone?

Immunity Challenge: The players will be playing against their own tribe for individual immunity because both tribes will be going to tribal council.

Dun dun dun…

Each person will be attached to a long rope that is threaded around obstacles. The first person from each tribe to reach the end will receive immunity. After both tribes have competed, the winners from each tribe will compete again to try to win their tribe a delightful picnic that they’ll enjoy during the other tribe’s tribal council.

Fun Fact: Tyson won this challenge in Tocantins.

The Heroes play first and James is a total gamer, barreling through the course with a bad leg. Candice, JT, and Amanda manage to get through the beginning section first, with Candice finishing the second half first to win immunity.

JT lets us know that Candice was the only thing keeping Colby in the game.

As Candice retrieves her stylish immunity necklace she gives J-Pro a hug. Now Colby has two reasons to be jealous of Candice.

The Villains are up next and Boston Rob and Tyson are tearing through the course. Boston Rob and Tyson are the first two through the initial section with Boston Rob pulling ahead during the second half and winning immunity.

As Rob accepts his necklace he doesn’t get a hug.

In the final round Candice and Rob stay neck and neck for a while, but Boston Rob eventually takes the lead and wins it for the Villains.

Boston Rob is a challenge monster.

Back at the Villain camp, Boston Rob and his alliance (which seems to include Coach, Sandra, Jerri, Courtney, and Tyson) are pointing toward voting for Parvati for fear of Russell playing the immunity idol.

Coach lets us know that he’s being pulled in two directions, but he’s a man of his word and that he’s voting for Parvati. We’ll see if he sticks to that.

Later, Boston Rob tells Russell that if he doesn’t have the idol that he’d better go get it. Russell claims not to have it, to which Rob replies, “It’s been real.”

Seriously, who do I talk to at CBS about getting those two permanent immunity? Watching them butt heads is better than cherry-flavored Starburst jelly beans.

Russell isn’t buying Rob’s ploy. He tells Danielle and Parvati that Team Boston Rob is trying to flush the idol out and are going to vote for Parvati. His plan is to vote for Tyson and give Parvati the idol.

Back at the Heroes camp, Colby is frustrated that James had a better challenge performance than he did. Colby tells everyone that he knows he’s going home and there doesn’t need to be any drama over it. He wants to give the Villains as little actual information as possible at tribal council.

Wait, why would he care what info the Villains get if he’s going home?

Even with Colby’s proclamation, the other Heroes are debating keeping Colby around. One of the worries over James (aside from his obvious leg injury) is the fact that he’s been eating a lot of the tribe’s bananas.

Tip for Future “Survivor” Contestants: It always comes down to food. Always.

Amanda shares these concerns with James. She wants him to stop swiping bananas and to prove that he’s physically able to compete.

So, they decide to have a little immunity challenge of their own. James and JT decide to race down the beach in an obvious ode to the training montage in “Rocky III” (minus the half shirts and awkward hugs).   Unfortunately for James, the result is not pretty. JT even turns around and does the Apollo Creed running backward trick.

Back at the Villains tribe, Boston Rob tells his alliance that they need to split their vote between Russell and Parvati. This will force a three-way tie and then they can pick off the other member of the Parvati-Russell alliance.

Russell tries to stir it up a little more by telling Tyson that he’s going to vote for Parvati. Tyson seems intrigued by this, and is considering voting for Parvati too.

That night at tribal council, J-Pro asks Jerri how “Survivor” has changed since she originally played. She says that now actual survival takes a backseat to the gameplay. And back then you could buy a newspaper and a quart of milk for a nickel.

I may have made up that last part.

Probst asks the same question of Boston Rob who responds by saying there weren’t any hidden immunity idols in his day.

Rob then says that nobody knows who has the idol. Sandra disagrees saying, “We all know who has it.” She also tells Russell that if he doesn’t have it, he’d better go find it.

Voting Time: Parvati votes for Tyson, Jerri votes for Parvati, and Boston Rob votes for Russell saying, “Welcome to the big leagues.” Coach votes for Parvati, Courtney votes for Parvati, and Sandra votes for Russell saying “You need to get in the ocean and wash your a–.”  The rest of the votes aren’t shown.

J-Pro asks if anyone has the idol…the camera flips around…and…we get a…commercial.

A crummy commercial?  Now I know how Ralphie felt.

OK, we’re back and Russell has decided to play his immunity idol…but not for himself. He tells Coach that he’s staying true to his team and gives the idol to Parvati.

Parvati seems genuinely shocked. That makes two of us.

Two votes for Russell, four votes for Parvati that don’t count, two votes for Tyson, and the sixth person voted out of “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains” is…Tyson!

The Villains are stunned.

Wow…Boston Rob welcomed Russell to the big leagues, and Russell took Rob’s best pitch out of the park.

During Tyson’s farewell, he admits that his booting was all his fault. If he had voted for Russell he would have easily beaten Russell in a tie breaker. But, it’s not all bad as he admits that he’s still awesome.

Another Quick Aside: The worst part about having both Tyson and Randy out of the game so early? Now I have to count on Courtney for all of my snarky comments. I have faith in you, Courtney.

The Heroes make their way in next, and they are not pleased that they have a front row seat for the Villains’ hot dog buffet.

The foot race is brought up, and James admits that he was schooled by JT. Amanda says that could be a big deal if the next challenge involves running.

James says that Colby was one of the best players when he was growing up. Colby takes offense to James inferring that he’s old. James continues his anti-Colby sentiment saying Colby’s Superman costume is really a fat suit. For some reason Colby doesn’t take offense to that.

James continues with his monologue, complaining about the confusing banana etiquette around camp.

Fun Fact: I’m thinking of naming my fantasy baseball team “Banana Etiquette.”

Afterwards, Colby admits that he has been disappointed with his performance in challenges.

Voting Time Part Deux: James votes for Colby, Colby votes for James, and the rest of the votes are on the down low.

One vote for Colby, three votes for James, and the seventh person voted out of “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains” is…James.

As James walks away, JT tells James to have a shot for them. James responds by saying, “I’m going to be good and drunk in the next five minutes.”

The Heroes, ladies and gentlemen. Models for America’s youth.

Maybe I shouldn’t talk. I’ve downed an entire bag of Starburst jelly beans while writing this recap.

Verdict: One of the best tribal councils in “Survivor” history? Easily. Russell is an evil genius. And if that show of team unity is enough to get Coach to swing to Russell’s side, then Russell is a double genius.

Who’s Going to Win? Russell vs. Boston Rob can’t last forever, and when it’s all settled, the people who are left are going to want to get rid of the winner. I think Jerri will be left, so I’m sticking with her.

Power Rankings Update: Bobby Jon Drinkard picked both of the booted players, earning the All Stars 29 points while I had Tyson in spot 6 and James in spot 11 earning myself 17 points. The current score is All Stars 54, Team Gordon 71. See…maybe I can cough up a big lead two seasons in a row.

More “Survivor” Fun: I had a chance to ask a bunch of former and current players who their picks are for the Biggest Hero in “Survivor” History. Also, don’t miss Fancast’s exclusive commentary from “Survivor: The Amazon” winner Jenna Morasca.

What Do You Think? Was that one of the best tribal councils of all time? Was keeping Colby a smart move? Are you on Team Boston Rob or Team Russell?

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‘Survivor’ Power Rankings – Palau and Guatemala’s Bobby Jon Drinkard

March 23, 2010

The Rules: Each week a member of our “Survivor” All-Star team and your beloved “Survivor” recapper Gordon “Truth Seeker” Holmes will create separate power rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of the next episode will determine the number of points the two combatants will earn. For example, if Jerri is voted out this week, Fancast’s “Survivor” All-Star Team will receive 6 points and Gordon will receive 1 point. At the end of the season, the person (or team) with the most points will be named the “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains” Power Rankings Challenge Champion.

Last Week: JT switched sides yet again and helped to send “Survivor: Palau” winner Tom Westman packing. This earned the “Survivor” All-Star Team one point while Gordon racked up eleven points.

Ooof…two weeks without “Survivor” is too much. And if the previews are to be believed, we’re going to be treated to a double elimination episode. But, before we get back into the Power Rankings battle, let’s catch up with this week’s contender; “Survivor: Palau” and “Survivor: Guatemala” favorite Bobby Jon Drinkard.

Gordon Holmes: Thanks for stepping up to the Power Rankings challenge, Bobby Jon. What’ve you been up to since Guatemala?”
Bobby Jon Drinkard: After “Survivor” I did the opposite of what most people do.  I moved from Los Angeles back to my home state of Alabama.  I had been tinkering in the television and modeling industry in LA for a while, and after “Survivor” I was ready to get a job and settle down.  Currently, I work in public relations in workforce development for the State of Alabama, and I also host a television show in Alabama that airs on Alabama Public Television called “On The Job.”  I also have a brand new niece, which arrived a few months ago, so life is going really good.

Gordon: Good to hear. How have you been enjoying “Heroes Vs. Villains” so far?
Bobby Jon: I’m really enjoying it.  When you played with people that are out there, it’s fun to watch how they play the game again.  Also, by this point, I have had a chance to get to know some of the other cast members that are currently playing, so it has been really fun, watching this season.

Gordon: Was it rough to see your Palau buddies Stephenie and Tom go so soon?
Bobby Jon: Yes it was.  Especially after losing Jenn Lyon, I really wanted to see someone represent Palau really well.  However, they may have gone a little early, but both Tom and Stephenie represented themselves and Palau very well, and to me that can go further than the money can sometimes.  Tom and Stephenie represent that “old school” “Survivor” that we don’t get to see that often anymore, which was before all of the immunity idols, exile islands, etc. They played when you just bare knuckled the odds that were thrown at you, and played the game, and may the best man/woman win.  I miss those days.  To be honest, I think Stephenie and Tom were exiled from their tribe before they even hit the beach, that’s not a bad thing…just another day in “Survivor.”

Bobby Jon Drinkard’s Picks
All-Star Team’s Current Score: 25

bostonrob #1 Boston Rob: Let me say that I’m “enjoying” watching Boston Rob play the game.  Rob is literally bringing that “old school” survivor mentality to the game, and that’s what the game needs.
amanda #2 Amanda: For whatever reason, Amanda does a great job of making friends, and an even better job of not making enemies.  She knows what battles to pick, and when to talk and when not to.  That can be very helpful on down the road.
courtney #3 Courtney: We haven’t heard a whole lot out of Courtney so far this season.  This is not necessarily a bad thing.  She doesn’t draw a lot of attention to herself, but she seems to always be aware of the latest developments.  Call it what you want, but she seems to be in a good place right now.
colby #4 Colby: I think things are going to turn around for Colby.  He’s scrappy, and he’s loyal.  You can’t win “Survivor” alone.  You’ve got to have some help.  Colby would be a great alliance to do this with, and I think someone on the Heroes tribe is going to pick up on this.
russell(2) #5 Russell: His game play is strong – bottom line.  His moves are so strong, that at times it can be a bit of a distraction.  Remember…you can’t win “Survivor” by yourself.
jerri #6 Jerri: Yeah, Jerri might make an enemy or two out there.  But guess what?  She’s always playing the game, and I think her tribe underestimates her.  That’s a good thing for her, but probably a bad thing for them.
sandra #7 Sandra: FYI – if Sandra doesn’t talk to you then you’re probably going home.  One thing about Sandra is you always know where you stand with her.  If you’re in control of the game, someone like Sandra can be very valuable on down the road, and if you don’t latch on she can work against you.
rupert #8 Rupert: Like it or not, Rupert knows how to play “Survivor.”  It seems like he’s the one pulling the strings over on the Heroes tribe.  If he makes it to the merge I believe those strings are going to get a little shorter.
parvati #9 Parvati: Parvati has a unique advantage.  She doesn’t have to approach a lot of people about the latest developments of the game…people approach her.  Parvati is the GM of “Survivor,” because she “always” knows what’s going on.  If she didn’t have a big target on her back she would be ranked higher.
jt #10 JT: JT is in a pickle.  There are too many shot callers on the Heroes tribe, and ALL of them want JT to be in their alliance.  All of the flip-flopping he’s had to do has now become a distraction, and topic of tribe talk around camp. Making it to the merge, and forming a new alliance will be JT’s power play.
danielle #11 Danielle: Danielle is strong in challenges, works hard around camp, and is good at the social game.  Danielle is a natural leader, and I think she’s good at it.  However, she’s not doing it in “Survivor.”  I think she would be surprised how much people would listen to her, and how she could control the game if she did take a leadership role.  To stay in the game she’s going to have to do something…
candice #12 Candice: Candice has everything going for her to go far in the game, but she seems a bit lost and confused at times.  Candice is another one if she can make it to the merge, and form a new alliance she will be safe for a while.  But the clock is ticking for her on the Heroes tribe…
coach #13 Coach: I like Coach.  I’ve totally bought into the whole Warrior Alliance, Dragon Slayer, etc., and I really dig it.  But in a game of “Survivor” especially, an “all star” version, a lil dose of “Coach” goes a long way.  I really hope he goes deep into the game, but I’m afraid he’s getting set up for a blindside.
tyson #14 Tyson: Tyson can be trouble if he makes it to the merge.  The guy is an endurance freak when it comes to immunity challenges.  What sucks for him is everyone on the island knows it.  I don’t think he will be around much longer.
#15 James: If James didn’t have a bummed leg, he would probably be ranked a lot higher.  I think this could have been his year.  He’s another one that his fate in the game, lies in making a new alliance at the merge.  Unfortunately, if his leg doesn’t heal his time will be up very quick.

Gordon Holmes’s Picks
Gordon’s Current Score: 54

jerri #1 Jerri: Jerri’s playing a phenomenal game. She seems to be going with the flow and flying under the radar. She’s a cinch to hit the merge, where she won’t be seen as a threat, leaving her plenty of room to maneuver.
rupert #2 Rupert: I think Rupert’s solidly in the dominant alliance in the Heroes tribe. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s dead in the water once the merge happens, but he’s super safe for the time being.
danielle #3 Danielle: Whose side is Danielle on? She was one of the first people Russell approached when the game began, but we haven’t seen much from her since then.
sandra #4 Sandra: She’s safe, but only because the Villains have such a big number advantage over the Heroes right now. If the teams were even she’d be an obvious choice to send home.
coach #5 Coach: With the Villains being as dominant as they’ve been, Coach’s next vote could shape the rest of this game. Will he choose the King of Samoa who knighted him or the Puzzle Master who he hopes to emulate? I’m thinking he sides with Boston Rob.
tyson #6 Tyson: I think Tyson will vote the way Coach votes and will be safe for a while. Also, Tyson has a golden opportunity to sit back and make subtle moves while the alpha males in his tribe battle it out.
jt #7 JT: JT was a challenge monster in Tocantins, but that hasn’t really translated into success for the Heroes. Add that to the fact that nobody trusts him anymore after all of his flip-flopping and JT is in bad shape. I think he’s safe for now, then gone after the merge.
colby #8 Colby: Voting Colby off would be tribe suicide for the Heroes right now. That doesn’t mean the Heroes won’t do it. It would just be the next in a series of pretty questionable moves.
russell(2) #9 Russell: It looks the Boston Rob/Russell feud is finally going to blow up. My bet is that Team Boston Rob has to know that Russell has the idol and will plan accordingly. That’s bad news for Russell and worse news for his closest buddy…
amanda #10 Amanda: There’s a lot of talk about James or Colby going home on the Heroes side, but why are they keeping Amanda around? Could she take the hit due to Colby being such a challenge asset?
#11 James: Has anyone had a rougher time in “Heroes Vs. Villains” than James? Not only is his tribe being decimated and his leg is hurt, but his reputation is going to suffer due to the Stephenie blow up. Here’s hoping he can rebound and redeem himself.
courtney #12 Courtney: If the Villains decide to wait to have their Rob/Russell smackdown, Courtney might be a good choice to send home. She rarely participates in challenges, and doesn’t seem to be doing that much around camp.
bostonrob #13 Boston Rob: I’m betting that Parvati goes home for the Villains as Team Rob assumes Russell will play the immunity idol. However, I’m not confident in this bet, so I’m ranking Boston Rob low just in case Russell pulls off another miracle.
candice #14 Candice: If the Heroes are debating between sending Colby and James home, Candice could be a compromise. The Heroes need Colby if they ever want to win another immunity challenge and James is the head of his alliance so he isn’t going anywhere. This could leave Candice the odd person out.
parvati #15 Parvati: There’s a good side and a bad side to somebody in your alliance having an immunity idol. I have a feeling Parvati is going to experience that bad side when Team Boston Rob tries to flush out the idol.

More “Survivor” Fun: I had a chance to ask a bunch of former and current players who their picks are for the Biggest Hero in “Survivor” History. Also, don’t miss Fancast’s exclusive commentary from “Survivor: The Amazon” winner Jenna Morasca.

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‘Survivor: H.V.V’ Episode 5 Recap: The King Gets a Dragon Slayer

March 11, 2010

Last Week: Coach wept over things Sandra said, Sandra crept over to where Russell was searching for the immunity idol, and JT leapt over to Tom and Colby’s side and booted Cirie in the process.

39 Days, 20 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Here are the tribes as they currently stand…

The Hero Tribe (wearing blue)

Rupert Boneham – 45
James Clement – 32
Colby Donaldson – 35
Amanda Kimmel – 24
James “JT” Thomas Jr. – 25
Tom Westman – 45
Candice Woodcock – 27

The Villain Tribe (wearing red)

Tyson Apostol – 30
Sandra Diaz-Twine – 34
Danielle DiLorenzo – 28
Russell Hantz – 37
Jerri Manthey – 38
“Boston” Rob Mariano – 33
Parvati Shallow – 27
Benjamin “Coach” Wade – 38
Courtney Yates – 28

We start up with the Heroes returning to camp after tribal council. Colby lets us know that JT is a real American hero, just like G.I. Joe.

JT tells everyone that the vote wasn’t personal and that he was just trying to make the tribe stronger. Rupert and his toe don’t buy that explanation for a second.

The following morning, the Villains are found on the beach participating in some “Dragon-Slayer Chi.” His words, not mine. True to form, Coach takes it very seriously. Courtney and Sandra do not.

Everyone participates except for Russell. Russell is busy practicing his Find-the-Idol Chi. And true to form, he finally finds the hidden immunity idol.

Reward Challenge: Schmergen Brawl is back, baby! Between this and last week’s challenge, it’s like a clip show of challenges that have injured players.

In Schmergen Brawl, three players from each team will fight over balls. Once they have a ball, they’ll toss it to their teammates who are standing on platforms. Those players will then try to shoot a basket. First team to score two baskets wins a trip to Chocolate Island or something weird like that. Jerri almost bursts into flames at the mention of chocolate.

J-Pro tries to entice them with a little chocolate, but the Heroes aren’t into it, they want to rumble. Probst takes offense to them turning down his generous offer and lets them know that the challenge won’t start until he gets to say a few of his catchphrases.

Angry Probst.

The Villains will sit out Amanda, Courtney, and Parvati. Colby will sit out for the Heroes.

Round 1: James does a very good job getting the balls to his team, but he goes down after a rebound attempt. Medical is brought in and James’s leg is in bad shape. Medical eventually pulls him out of the challenge.

Play starts back up with Amanda quickly scoring for the Heroes.

Round 2: JT and Rob get into it a couple of times with neither guy gaining an advantage. Eventually Tyson scores for the bad guys.

After the play Rupert smashes Jerri face-first into the retaining wall. It didn’t look intentional, but it did look violent.

Round 3: JT smartly figures out a strategy where he can use the ball to knock the Villains’ shots out of the air. However, he can’t stop Jerri from getting to her chocolate. She hits the winning shot for the Villains.

After the challenge, Medical decides to splint James’s leg up to see if he can walk. I’m sure this is all Stephenie’s fault somehow.

Meanwhile, the Villains are having a ball at Chocolate Island. Everyone is so busy eating they didn’t notice Augustus Gloop falling into a river in the background.

After the gorging, Coach, Tyson, Boston Rob, Jerri, and Sandra discuss strategy. It looks like Russell and Parvati are going to be in a bit of trouble the next time the Villains lose immunity.

Back at chocolate central, Russell admits to Parvati that he’s found the idol. They plot to make a move to get Coach to flip.

Russell approaches Coach in an attempt to bring him into the fold. Coach is touched that Russell trusts him enough to share the idol. Coach displays this by kneeling in front of Russell. Russell responds by “knighting” Coach.

Seriously.

At the Heroes camp, Amanda points out that this could be the second time James goes home because of an injury. Then she cries and says, “If James doesn’t come back, what am I going to do?”

And…why is she on the Heroes tribe again?

Fortunately for Amanda,  James limps his way back into camp. And fortunately for us, we don’t have to listen to her cry anymore.

Candice is less emotional about the injury, noting that James should be the next to go if they lose immunity.

Immunity Challenge: One person from each team will call out orders. The other players will be blindfolded. The blindfolded players will have to retrieve ten puzzle pieces. First tribe to put their puzzle together wins immunity.

The Villains will sit out Tyson and Danielle.

Jerri calls for the Villains (flashback to Australia) while James and his leg will call for the Heroes.

Hilarity ensues as the players stumble all over the course. Rob in particular takes a nasty shot to the midsection. Eventually the Heroes win the puzzle retrieval portion but not before James loses his voice (this isn’t his week).

Unfortunately for the Heroes, their trouble with puzzles continues as the Villains manage to complete the puzzle first and win their second straight immunity challenge.

Back at the Heroes camp, the players have come to the conclusion that they’re terrible at puzzles. See, the Heroes are observant. Too bad there isn’t an observing immunity challenge.

Politicking revolves around James’s alliance wanting Tom to go home because he confuses them during challenges.

Wait…what?

Tom and his alliance want James to go because…you know…he can barely walk.

JT, in his effort to be trusted, tells both sides he’s voting for the other team’s guy. Colby sees right through this.

That night at tribal council, J-Pro tells us that his niece could beat James in a race right now. James disagrees. Wow…CBS, make this happen. James yelling at Probst’s niece would be ratings gold.

After that exchange, James accuses Tom and Candice of losing the challenge for them.

Tom thinks James is being kept around because he’s loyal to his alliance, not because he can help in challenges. Tom also thinks he’s going home unless some “good people” do the right thing.

Voting Time: Tom votes for James saying “All mass, no class” and the rest are kept secret.

At least if Tom gets voted out he can snag a sweet job writing for Hallmark.

J-Pro tallies the votes, then reads them; two votes for Tom, two votes for James, one vote for Tom, and the fifth person voted out of “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” is…Tom.

Verdict: Wow, voting out Tom while they’re getting killed in challenges seems like a really bad move. JT and James’s alliance could have voted out Candice and kept their numbers if they were determined to keep James around. That being said, the season has been very entertaining so far.  I can’t wait until we get to see the Villains finally throw down.

Who’s Going to Win? I’m going to stick with Jerri. I’m thinking she goes where the Dragon Slayer goes. And he’s in a good spot right now.

Power Rankings Update: “Survivor: Vanuatu’s” Scout Cloud Lee didn’t do the All-Star team any favors. She had Tom in the first position while I had him in the eleventh spot. That makes the current score All-Stars 25, Team Gordon 54. Who’ll step up for the All-Stars next? Bobby Jon Drinkard from “Survivor: Palau” and “Survivor: Guatemala.” I can’t blow a big lead two seasons in a row…right?

More “Survivor” Fun: I had a chance to ask a bunch of former and current players who their picks are for the Biggest Hero in “Survivor” History. Also, don’t miss Fancast’s exclusive commentary from “Survivor: The Amazon” winner Jenna Morasca.

Note: “Survivor” will be preempted by basketball next week. So, the Power Rankings will return on Tuesday, March 23.

Stupid basketball…

What Do You Think? Can Russell trust Coach? Should the Heroes have picked Tom over James? Are “Survivor” challenges getting too violent?

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