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“Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X” (CBS)

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

We kick things off with a pair of boats raging across the Fijian coast. Each boat is filled to the brim with people who either love participation trophies or hate them.

We meet the Millennials first. (Because you know they wouldn’t wait.)

Taylor tells us that he’s the “Peter Pan type” and he’ll never grow up. I had that attitude too, but I traded it in for a mortgage.

Next up is professional gamer Mari. She refers to “Survivor” as “the game of games.” I can respect that.

Then, Zeke tells us how much he hates Twitter. (Ahem…@zekerchief)

From there it’s time to meet Gen-X. They’ll probably be bragging about their 401Ks and dental plans.

Chris explains that Gen-Xers actually listen and get up after they’re knocked down. He also intends to keep any Nerf balls that end up on his lawn.

Sunday is blown away by youngsters who play video games and take seven years to go to school. Oh, c’,mon Sunday. I’m a Gen-Xer and I did all of that stuff.

David explains how long it took him to become a writer. He thinks Millennials wouldn’t take that long to accomplish their dream, they’d just find a new dream.

Finally a handsome guy in a baseball hat, puka shell necklace, and baseball hat says something about…

39 Days, 20 People, One “Survivor” Blog

The boats arrive at a beach and each player is given a package with a buff in it. Ironically, the orange buffs go to people who are wearing orange clothing and the purple buffs go to people wearing purple clothing. Amazing.

Let’s take a look at these tribes…

The Vanua Tribe – Millennials (wearing orange)

Adam – 25, Homeless Shelter Manager
Figgy – 23, Bartender
Hannah – 24, Barista
Jay – 27, Real Estate Agent
Mari – 31, Professional Gamer
Michaela – 25, Vacation Club Sales
Michelle – 28, Missionary Recruiter
Taylor – 24, Ski Instructor
Will – 18, High School Student
Zeke – 28, Asset Manager

The Takali Tribe – Generation-X (wearing purple)

Bret – 42, Police Sergeant
Chris – 38, Trial Lawyer
CeCe – 39, Insurance Adjuster
David – 42, Television Writer
Jessica – 37, Assistant District Attorney
Ken – 33, Model
Lucy – 42, Dietician
Paul – 52, Boat Mechanic
Rachel – 37, Recruiting Director
Sunday – 45, Youth Pastor

Once they’re divided, Probst spills the beans about the season’s theme. They all seem amused. He asks if anyone wants to fess up to being the Millennial born in 1997, and Will puts down his blankey and raises his hand.

Seriously?! 1997?! The shirt I’m wearing right now is older than him.

Then, Paul admits to being born in 1963 and I feel a little bit better.

Probst asks Paul what it’s like to now be a part of the older establishment. Paul says this his generation didn’t get participation trophies.

OK, who had six minutes in the Participation Trophy Reference Pool? Pick up your prize. (Ironically, the people who lose this pool don’t get anything.)

Quick Aside: I’m smack dab in the middle of Jeff Probst’s definition of Generation X, and everyone in my t-ball league got a trophy.

CeCe then does her best to immediately alienate half of the game by saying that Millennials don’t work for anything.

Adam disagrees with CeCe and says the immunity challenges will show how hard the Millennials are willing to work to get ahead.

Reward Challenge Time: The players will dash around an area picking up items for camp. Some of the items are an either/or situation, meaning they can’t take both. Whatever they get back to their mat is property of their tribe.

The Survivors are ready…and they go.

During the chaotic scramble, Jessica finds a mystery envelope and pockets it before anyone notices.

Gen-X chooses fishing gear over a cage of chickens. The Millennials made the opposite choice. Whataya wanna bet they name one of those chickens “Chicken McChickenface.”

Before Probst sends them back to camp, he encourages them to work on their shelter immediately because some bad weather is headed their way.

Over at Millennial Manor, the kids are hard at work putting together their shelter. Who’s lazy now?

It looks like Taylor and Jay are immediately hitting it off. I’d be OK with a Joaquin/Rodney-level bromance from those two. High comedy. They also seem to be bringing Figgy and Michelle into their group as part of a hot-person alliance. A four-person cool kid alliance worked out really well in Caramoan if I remember correctly. (Ahem…)

Later on, Figgy wants to name one of the chickens, but she doesn’t want to name it Tai because then she wouldn’t want to kill it. Oh, so name it Philip.

Once the important chicken naming process is over, Figgy, Jay, and Taylor name themselves “The Triforce.” Personally I think that nickname Hy-rules. (I’ll see myself out.)

Hannah notices the pretty people gravitating to each other and is rightfully concerned. She tries to make inroads with Michelle.

Meanwhile at the old folks home, Paul gives a pep talk about how the Gen-Xers were going to win because they’re thinkers and workers. Then, Ken rains on his parade by saying they shouldn’t underestimate the youngsters. Way to bring the mood down, Mr. Model.

When the tribe starts working on the shelter, Jessica sneaks out to read her clue. Apparently it’s a “Legacy Advantage” that will help her if she’s still around on Day 36. If she’s voted out, she must will it to another player.

Fascinating.

Later on, Rachel and Dave butt heads a bit while building a shelter. The main argument centers around how long six inches is. I’m going to leave that alone.

Then we finally get to spend some time with David. He is a treat. He holds his ears while bamboo is being chopped, he freaks out when Kenny Amazing brings him a bug, and then he leads everyone to think that someone has found an idol, when they clearly haven’t.

David tries to start an immediate alliance with Bret and Chris. They seem to like him, but they’re freaked out by how hard and fast he’s pushing.

Back at the Millennial camp, the weather is clearly starting to pick up. So much so that it blows over their tribe flag. That’s never happened before. Their shelter isn’t in much better shape. But, rather than fixing it, they decide to go swimming. Don’t worry, they can complain to their teachers and get to do some shelter extra credit.

Will thinks the shelter is the worst in “Survivor” history which leads me to believe that he’s never seen “Survivor: All-Stars.”

The storm hits and it is a doozy. Welcome to the show, kids.

We meet up with Gen-X the next day and it is still pouring. CeCe refers to it as “a night of hell.”

Treemail arrives with a tarp and a letter from Probst. The note says that the storm is going to last longer, so they can borrow the tarp for a little while as a “gesture of goodwill.” I like the idea that Jeff went into his garage to rustle up a couple of tarps. Send them a casserole too.

Actually, that storm must’ve been horrific, because when have the producers ever offered anyone a “gesture of goodwill.”

The Millennials receive a similar message and are hard at work when Jeff shows up in a boat. That’s never good. He informs them that the storm has been upgraded to a cyclone and they’ve made the call to evacuate both tribes.

Wow. I know some people will have a problem with the evacuation, but you can’t put peoples’ lives at risk.

CUT TO: Footage of the cyclone destroying both beaches. Yikes.

In fact, when the Gen-Xers return the next day, they learn that a large tree has crushed their shelter.

But, using their Gen-Xy attitudes, they get back to work building their shelter. Everyone except for David, that is, who goes on an idol hunt. And not a very stealthy idol hunt as everyone sees him doing it.

Bret, Chris, Dave, and Jessica talk about reigning him in, which to me sounds like they want to work with him.

Things have a different tone over at Millennial beach where Zeke takes over as the foreman of the shelter committee. Not only that, but he builds a fire. Atta boy! The Zeke shall inherit!

Elsewhere, other people are noticing that the Triforce is working together. Hannah and Mari have a chat about it and dub their alliance the “Freaks and Geeks.”

Honestly, naming alliances is the only good thing to come from “Big Brother.” I fully support this.

Immunity Challenge Time: The teams will race under a wooden maze and untie two clubs. From there, they’ll continue through an obstacle course. However, they can use the clubs to smash masks and open up shortcuts through the obstacles. Buuuuuut…if they use the shortcuts, they’ll have to complete a larger puzzle at the end. First tribe to complete their puzzle wins immunity and flint.

We start off and Gen-X jumps out to an early lead when Chris blocks the Millennials from getting their clubs. Gen-X takes both of the shortcuts, which is ironic considering how they’ve been describing the Millennials.

The Millennials struggle through the first obstacle, so they decide to take the second shortcut.

David and Rachel are the first to start on their puzzle, but their puzzle will be larger than the Millennial puzzle.

David and Rachel eventually tag out to Jessica and Sunday, but it doesn’t matter because Figgy and Michelle destroy the puzzle and win it for the Millennials. Which is a good thing, because if they lost their parents would’ve raised hell at the parent/teacher conferences.

As we head to commercial, Chris tells us that Rachel and David are “on the hatchet” because of their puzzle performance. So, do you put something on the hatchet and then hit it with the chopping block?

Politicking around camp does center around David or Rachel. It seems like Bret, Jessica, and Sunday want to get rid of Rachel. But, Bret is worried that David has the idol.

David is freaked out because nobody will talk to him. He approaches Jessica and tells her that he’ll vote anyway she wants him to. She wants to know if he has an idol and he swears he doesn’t. She says that’s too bad because she would have made a deal with him if he did. Aw…that’s mean.

Later CeCe and Rachel seem to form some kind of little alliance because CeCe is in trouble. Wait, she is? Why?

That night at Tribal Council, everyone dips their torch into the campfire because fire represents something something…

Also, something must be wrong with my TV because it looks like Probst’s blue shirt is white.

Apparently Jessica is in bad shape because she has a bacterial infection in both of her eyes. Could be worse, could have a bug in your ear.

David says the last few days have felt like a year, but he doesn’t want to go home.

CeCe hates that someone has to be the first to go.

Chris thinks everyone, including himself, is paranoid and thinks they are going home.

Rachel knows she’s in trouble because everyone is being unresponsive. She also worries that she’s been too upfront and may have hurt peoples’ feelings.

Jessica believes there are idols and the game and she thinks people have been looking for them…especially David.

David knows he looks guilty and he wants to prove that he can be loyal.

Voting Time: No votes are shown. Huh…

JPro tallies and returns. We’ve got one vote for David, one vote for Rachel, one vote for Sunday, one vote for CeCe, one vote for Rachel, one vote for CeCe, one vote for Rachel, one vote for CeCe, one vote for Rachel, and the first person eliminated from “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X” is…Rachel.

Huh…so why was CeCe on the outs? Or did they just need to split it and she was lowest on the totem pole? Interesting.

Verdict: You know why I’m excited for this season? Because there are several people to root for; Zeke is adorable, Taylor is a fun goof, David is a likable trainwreck, Hannah is a dork queen, Adam is a superfan who doesn’t feel the need to reference the show every two seconds, and Michaela is my secret “Survivor” crush. Can’t wait for more.

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

Justin “Jay” Starrett (CBS)

XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X” needs. We’ll have interviews with all twenty of the new players to hold you over until the season starts. Then we’ll have full episode recaps, interviews with the players after they’ve been eliminated, and the return of the ever-popular “Survivor” Power Rankings. Follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news.

Name (Age): Justin “Jay” Starrett (27)
Current Residence: Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Occupation: Real Estate Agent
Hobbies: Skimboarding, fishing, and pretty much any sport.
Pet Peeves: I don’t like when people make plans or say they are going to do something and they don’t deliver.
Three Words to Describe You: Determined, intelligent and funny.

NOTE: Usually I get a good thirty minutes with each contestant before the game starts. However, this season I had to get through all 20 players in only two-and-a-half hours. So, these pieces will be short and hopefully sweet.

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING “SURVIVOR” PRE-GAME INTERVIEW FEATURES “BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN” SPOILERS

Gordon Holmes: You’re going to backstab with a smile. What’s the trick to sending people to the jury without making them hate you?
Jay Starrett: Honestly, I have to figure out the people first. (Laughs) The trick would be to keep the charm there and make sure you’re making strategic moves. You’ve got to do it when the time is right.
Holmes: So, if you’re in there with a gamer, they might respect a big move. While if you’re in there with someone who’s emotional, you have make them see your justification?
Starrett: Yeah. It depends on the type of person. If they’re a hardcore gamer, they’ll think, “Damn, he beat me. Respect.” If you’re working with a crybaby chick you have to say, “Aww…it’s OK. You’re still beautiful. Don’t worry.” (Laughs)

Holmes: So, it’s probably safe to assume that you don’t have any issues lying in the game.
Starrett: You want it short and sweet? Yeah, I’m OK with lying. I could be lying right now. (Laughs)
Holmes: Deep down you hate it. It tears you apart.
Starrett: I don’t even want to be here.
Holmes: You son of a…
Starrett: (Laughs)
Holmes: What about flirting?
Starrett: I’m comfortable. Being a bartender you have to flirt with everyone.
Holmes: Is anyone back home going to be upset if they see you flirting on CBS?
Starrett: A bunch of girls.
Holmes: Best answer ever. And, nobody will be upset when you bring home that million.
Starrett: Well, I’m not bringing it home for them. I’m bringing it home for mom.
Holmes: Your bio mentions that she’s been through some very tough times with her health. How does she feel about all of this?
Starrett: She is super supportive. She said, “If anything happens at home, nobody is calling you. You’re there to do this mission and you’re going to finish it.”

Holmes: How well do you deal with being lied to?
Starrett: If it’s a person I trust, which means nobody here, then it hurts. But this is “Survivor” and I’m prepared to be lied to.
Holmes: How about hunger?
Starrett: My friends tell me I need to eat after I work out for protein. But I’m fine without it. I can eat one time a day and be fine.
Holmes: Lack of sleep?
Starrett: I’ve never had that that bad. On “Survivor” you might have five days in a row where you don’t sleep because of the bugs or the weather. So, we’re going to see how I deal with it.
Holmes: How about extreme temperatures?
Starrett: No problem. I love board shorts.
Holmes: What about paranoia?
Starrett: I have thought about that. You’re out there and they might be talking (expletive deleted) behind my back. It might drive you insane, so you have to quiet down the volume.

Holmes: Any early thoughts on the cast?
Starrett: I’ve only seen a few of them, but some of the dudes are (expletive deleted) big, man. That one challenge where you have to pull a big guy off of the pole? That’s going to be difficult.

Holmes: If there is a twist, any guesses as to what it could be?
Starrett: Maybe no idols?

Holmes: If you could align with any past player, who would it be?
Starrett: Probably Woo (Hwang) because I know he’s honest. And he’ll go with the flow. If I tell him something, he’ll probably go with it.

Holmes: Lightning round time. Cats or dogs?
Starrett: Dogs.
Holmes: Beer or wine?
Starrett: Oh…I was going to say beer because I’m a man. But, wine is good too.
Holmes: Superman or Batman?
Starrett: Batman. By the way, Batman won.
Holmes: He did.
Starrett: (Laughs)
Holmes: He did! There’s no debate.
Starrett: If it wasn’t for that girl…
Holmes: If Lois Lane doesn’t step in, he’s a goner.
Starrett: Oh, and that stupid Martha twist.
Holmes: We’re way off topic. Meat or vegetable?
Starrett: Meat.
Holmes: Republican or Democrat?
Starrett: Republican.
Holmes: Books or TV?
Starrett: Books.
Holmes: Swimming or sunbathing?
Starrett: Swimming, all day.
Holmes: Many casual friends or one good friend?
Starrett: One good friend.
Holmes: Nice car or nice home?
Starrett: Nice home.
Holmes: Smart or funny?
Starrett: Funny.
Holmes: Parvati or Boston Rob?
Starrett: Parvati…she’s hot.
Holmes: We’re not debating that. Big TV or big vacation?
Starrett: Big vacation.
Holmes: Working alone or with a team?
Starrett: Alone.
Holmes: Dragons or unicorns?
Starrett: Dragons.
Holmes: Careful planning or fly by the seat of your pants?
Starrett: Careful planning.
Holmes: Jeff Probst or Ryan Seacrest?
Starrett: (Laughs) You know the answer. Ryan Seacrest, of course.

Don’t miss the season premiere of “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X,” Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 8pm ET.

Taylor Stocker (CBS)

XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X” needs. We’ll have interviews with all twenty of the new players to hold you over until the season starts. Then we’ll have full episode recaps, interviews with the players after they’ve been eliminated, and the return of the ever-popular “Survivor” Power Rankings. Follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news.

Name (Age): Taylor Lee Stocker (24)
Current Residence: Postfalls, ID
Occupation: Ski Instructor
Hobbies: Playing music, brewing beer, and snowboarding.
Pet Peeves: Wobbly tables, people not cleaning up their dog’s poop, loud chewing, slow walkers, selfies, forms without enough space for answers.
Three Words to Describe You: Spontaneous, inventive, and thinker.

NOTE: Usually I get a good thirty minutes with each contestant before the game starts. However, this season I had to get through all 20 players in only two-and-a-half hours. So, these pieces will be short and hopefully sweet.

Gordon Holmes: You’re a man who’s going to make “Survivor” history; good or bad. You’ve got to elaborate on that.
Taylor Stocker: Good, crazy, doing some awesome stuff, climbing trees, having a good time.
Holmes: I’ve seen some “Survivor” in my day and climbing trees is not making history.
Stocker: Dude, falling out of trees!
Holmes: I’ve seen some of that too. Maybe if you set some kind of height record.
Stocker: (Laughs) I’ll find the biggest tree and climb it.
Holmes: Promise me you will stay in one piece. I can’t have this on my conscience.
Stocker: Just for you.

Holmes: You’re going to be hard to vote out because you’re likable. Likable people get voted out all the time. Sometimes because they are too likable.
Stocker: I need to get in with a good crowd, and after the merge is when the good, likable people get voted out. I’ll be able to last until the merge, like Joe (Anglim), then I’ll have a hard time because I’m extremely fit and good at challenges. That’s going to be my biggest struggle right there.

Holmes: Do you have any issues lying?
Stocker: No, I have no problems lying.
Holmes: How do you react to being lied to?
Stocker: Typically, I’m pretty good. There are always people who can put on that actor face and lie right to you. They’re hard to read. But, if those people don’t have a bad side to them that you know about, what can you do? You have to play as hard as you can, and if you get voted out, you have to say, “Hey, I (expletive deleted) up.”

Holmes: How well do you deal with hunger?
Stocker: I can get pretty hangry. If I’m sleep deprived, I can be an (expletive deleted) sometimes. My temper is pretty short. If someone crosses me, I’ll rage out on them.
Holmes: How about extreme temperatures?
Stocker: I’m fine in cold, heat is my enemy. I deal with the cold all the time. The good news is; we’re probably going to be in a rainy season.
Holmes: How do you deal with paranoia?
Stocker: I don’t read into things too much. I’m going to make as many friends as I can. Try to get in as much as I can. And I’m not going to think about it too much because that can mess with your game.

Holmes: Is flirting something you’d be willing to do to get ahead?
Stocker: Oh yeah!
Holmes: Is there anyone at home that’ll be upset if they see you flirting?
Stocker: I really don’t think so. I’m not going to make an idiot out of myself by doing anything too extreme. And I’m pretty likable, so I don’t think I’ll have to work at it too much.

Holmes: Any early thoughts on the cast?
Stocker: There’s some good-looking people. Some strong guys I would get along with.

Holmes: If there is a twist, what do you think it could be?
Stocker: Early merges, something new they haven’t done before. Crazy stuff, hidden idols at challenges. Something new with idols maybe.

Holmes: If you could align with any past player, who would it be?
Stocker: I’d say Joe or Woo (Hwang). We have a similar way of thinking. So, I would know how they are going to think.

Holmes: Lightning round time. Cats or dogs?
Stocker: Dogs.
Holmes: Beer or wine?
Stocker: Beer.
Holmes: Superman or Batman?
Stocker: Superman.
Holmes: Meat or vegetable?
Stocker: Meat.
Holmes: Republican or Democrat?
Stocker: Republican.
Holmes: Books or TV?
Stocker: TV.
Holmes: Swimming or sunbathing?
Stocker: Swimming.
Holmes: Many casual friends or one good friend?
Stocker: One good friend.
Holmes: Nice car or nice home?
Stocker: Nice home.
Holmes: Smart or funny?
Stocker: Smart.
Holmes: Parvati or Boston Rob?
Stocker: Boston Rob.
Holmes: Big TV or big vacation?
Stocker: Big vacation.
Holmes: Working alone or with a team?
Stocker: Team.
Holmes: Dragons or unicorns?
Stocker: Dragons.
Holmes: Careful planning or fly by the seat of your pants?
Stocker: Flying by the seat of my pants.
Holmes: Jeff Probst or Ryan Seacrest?
Stocker: Jeff!

Don’t miss the season premiere of “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X,” Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 8pm ET.

Hannah Shapiro (CBS)

XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X” needs. We’ll have interviews with all twenty of the new players to hold you over until the season starts. Then we’ll have full episode recaps, interviews with the players after they’ve been eliminated, and the return of the ever-popular “Survivor” Power Rankings. Follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news.

Name (Age): Hannah Shapiro (24)
Current Residence: West Hollywood, CA via Brookline, MA
Occupation: Barista
Hobbies: Skiing, scuba diving, eating. I can hula-hoop and walk at the same time.
Pet Peeves: A pet peeve of mine is someone who likes to kill people. Not sure why, that’s just such a pet peeve of mine! Also people who stick their gum on public benches or fart in small elevators.
Three Words to Describe You: Nerdy, competitive, and weird.

NOTE: Usually I get a good thirty minutes with each contestant before the game starts. However, this season I had to get through all 20 players in only two-and-a-half hours. So, these pieces will be short and hopefully sweet.

Hannah Shapiro: I can’t believe I’m talking to you! I keep doing these interviews, and everyone I talk to I say, “I know who you are!” I love your interviews!
Gordon Holmes: Hannah, you’re only supposed to know me.
Shapiro: I was just kidding. I knew nobody else. I only read Gordon Holmes Power Rankings.
Holmes: There ya go.
Shapiro: I don’t even watch the show. I just read your articles.
Holmes: Like my mom.
Shapiro: Is that what she does?
Holmes: No, she actually watches. She gets furious whenever people can’t make fire.
Shapiro: (Laughs) I had to get my mom into “Survivor” so she would not just watch my season.

Holmes: We’re on a bit of a tight schedule, so if you can keep your answers short, I’d appreciate it.
Shapiro: Feel free to cut me off, I’m such a millennial that I don’t even know how to have a phone conversation.
Holmes: You can talk into this thing? I thought it was for texting.
Shapiro: I’m good in person. I can talk to people. But on the phone I never know if I’m interrupting or not.

Holmes: You cry when an authority figure yells at you. Do you consider Jeff Probst to be an authority figure?
Shapiro: (Laughs) I mean, in a way. It’s possible. I’m not afraid of authority figures. I worry that it gives the impression that I can’t lie. I can lie to an authority figure, it’s just my reaction. I remember I went to try to get out of a gym class in high school and the women yelled at me and I just burst into tears. But, I’m aware of it, so maybe I can use it to my advantage.

Holmes: You mentioned that you’ve seen men like you win the game. What did you mean by that? Because there’s always that societal thing where strong men are seen as heroes and strong women can be perceived as the b-word.
Shapiro: Yeah! And here’s the thing; I’ve been talking to friends about how “Survivor” is a sexist game. And it’s not that I think “Survivor” is a sexist game, it’s that society is sexist and “Survivor” reflects it. I think that men in society…in work environments are able to speak up and interrupt and get away with it. And when women do that, they’re bitchy and bossy. And I think all the rules that apply in the real world are reflected in “Survivor.” Men can be called strategic, where women can be called manipulative. Parvati (Shallow) is one of the greatest winners ever and she’s this manipulative black widow. So, I think “Survivor” is sexist in a lot of ways. I think men get away with a lot more when it comes to making moves. I did an improv show and I had a guy come up to me after the show and say, “Hey, maybe you should let the guy get his idea out first.”
Holmes: Oh…yikes.
Shapiro: And he singled me out in an improv troupe with like nine people and there were only two women. And tons of the guys were doing it. I’m used to being told “Shh…” I was a little kid and I was called a “Bossy little kid.” I don’t think dudes are called bossy.

Holmes: Are you comfortable lying in the game?
Shapiro: I am. I’m a writer, and while I feel like I might not have the best poker face, lying is sort of creative storytelling.
Holmes: What about flirting? Is that a tool in your tool belt?
Shapiro: Here’s the funny thing, no (expletive deleted)…that’ll be too long. I feel like a girl like Parvati or Anna (Khait) can talk to a guy and they’ll be like, “Was she flirting with me?” I actually think because I’m quirky and nerdy I get away with flirting a lot more. And I do flirt in my life. (Laughs).
Holmes: Is there someone back home who will be upset if they see you flirting?
Shapiro: No, I don’t have a boyfriend.

Holmes: How do you deal with being lied to?
Shapiro: I’m enough of a fan of the show, since I was fourteen, to know that people are going to lie to me.
Holmes: How well do you deal with hunger?
Shapiro: I’ve never really been hungry in my life. So, I guess we’ll see.
Holmes: How about sleep deprivation?
Shapiro: I’ve never been a good sleeper. I’ve been dealing with that my whole life. When my mom brought my brother home when he was a baby and he slept through the night, she thought he was dead because he was so quiet compared to me.
Holmes: Extreme temperatures.
Shapiro: I lived in Chicago when it was negative 40 and now I’m in L.A. So, I should be fine.
Holmes: Paranoia?
Shapiro: I’m definitely going to have to keep my neurotic side in check constantly. I think that’s going to be hard for me. I’m an over-thinker.

Holmes: Any thoughts on the other players?
Shapiro: I’ve only seen a few glimpses of them. But, I’m very aware of how I appear to them when I pass them. I’m aware that I seem nerdy and goofy. I’m going to play that up.

Holmes: If there is a twist, what do you think it could be?
Shapiro: Based on my casting, I think it’s some kind of liberals vs. conservative thing. Every time I mention how much of a liberal I am, eyes would light up in the room. I feel like with the election coming up that it makes sense.

Holmes: If you could align with any past player, who would it be?
Shapiro: The people I’d want to work with, I wouldn’t want to sit with at the end. I’m a big fan of (John) Cochran and Stephen (Fishbach). I think it’d be fun to play with superfans. Like (Jonathan) Penner just to hear him talk. Those are some of my favorites. But if I have to align with someone to take to the end, I’d want them to be pretty and stupid.

Holmes: Lightning round time. Cats or dogs?
Shapiro: Dogs. I’m allergic to cats.
Holmes: Beer or wine?
Shapiro: I like hard cider, so neither.
Holmes: Superman or Batman?
Shapiro: Spider-Man.
Holmes: You’re bad at this. Meat or vegetable?
Shapiro: Tuna…so meat.
Holmes: Here’s an easy one. Republican or Democrat?
Shapiro: I’m like even farther left than a Democrat.
Holmes: Books or TV?
Shapiro: I wanna write for TV, so TV.
Holmes: Swimming or sunbathing?
Shapiro: Swimming.
Holmes: Many casual friends or one good friend?
Shapiro: One good friend.
Holmes: Nice car or nice home?
Shapiro: Nice home.
Holmes: Smart or funny?
Shapiro: It’s the combo that gets me. I’m going to go with funny.
Holmes: Parvati or Boston Rob?
Shapiro: Parvati.
Holmes: Big TV or big vacation?
Shapiro: Big vacation.
Holmes: Working alone or with a team?
Shapiro: A team.
Holmes: Dragons or unicorns?
Shapiro: Dragons.
Holmes: Careful planning or fly by the seat of your pants?
Shapiro: Fly by the seat of my pants.
Holmes: Jeff Probst or Ryan Seacrest?
Shapiro: Jeff Probst, I’m not going to get in trouble.
Holmes: That last one was a test, and you passed.
Shapiro: Phew!

Don’t miss the season premiere of “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X,” Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 8pm

Rachel Ako (CBS)

XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X” needs. We’ll have interviews with all twenty of the new players to hold you over until the season starts. Then we’ll have full episode recaps, interviews with the players after they’ve been eliminated, and the return of the ever-popular “Survivor” Power Rankings. Follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news.

Name (Age): Rachel Ako (37)
Current Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Recruiting Director
Hobbies: Dancing, traveling and high ropes/high adventure activities.
Pet Peeves: I guess I would say bad manners.
Three Words to Describe You: Energetic, authentic, and fun!

NOTE: Usually I get a good thirty minutes with each contestant before the game starts. However, this season I had to get through all 20 players in only two-and-a-half hours. So, these pieces will be short and hopefully sweet.

Gordon Holmes: You’re hoping to meet your “twin flame” on “Survivor”?
Rachel Ako: I hope so! (Laughs) I’m so embarrassed.
Holmes: (Laughs) That’s why I’m here.
Ako: You know, my favorite season is when Rob (Mariano) and Amber (Brkich) met. I’d just love for it to happen to me. I have no idea who’s going to be on the island.
Holmes: When he said, (in a horrible “Boston” Rob impression) “Take care of her.” I melted.
Ako: (Laughs) I’m glad you watch, you’re awesome.

Holmes: You mentioned inspiring Asian-Americans to be confident and self-expressive. Is that a problem in the Asian-American community?
Ako: I’m not sure. I think sometimes we’re brought up to be conservative and maybe not speak out unless it’s really important. I would like to be myself, but in being myself maybe be bold and not passive. I should be assertive and it should be OK to speak my mind. And that’s against how some conservative Asian-American cultures are.
Holmes: Winning “Survivor” would be an excellent way to do that.
Ako: I’m in it to win it. I don’t expect to talk to you again for a long time.
Holmes: Let’s talk the day after the finale.
Ako: (Laughs) That’s right!

Holmes: Are you comfortable lying in the game?
Ako: Yes, I am comfortable lying if need be. I would love to see how far in the game I could get with integrity. You know, being selective with the words I say so that I’m not committing 100% to something that I know I’m not going to follow through with. However, I’m willing to take the integrity route, even if it’s the much harder route.
Holmes: What about flirting?
Ako: Gordon, I will be using all of my tools. And that is definitely one of them. That comes pretty natural to me.
Holmes: Is there anyone who will get upset if they see you flirting?
Ako: No, I’m single and ready to meet people. Even my dad has given me his blessing to do what I need to do.
Holmes: So you are totally twin flameless at this point.
Ako: (Laughs) There are none. And thanks for pointing out my loneliness. But yes, I’m hoping there are other people who are twin flameless out there.

Holmes: How well do you deal with being lied to?
Ako: In an ideal world, people should be authentic with each other. However, being lied to for a strategic reason, I understand. Lying for the sake of lying, that would lose my respect.
Holmes: How well do you deal with hunger?
Ako: The longest I went without food is a day and a half. Just water. It was hard. I had a breakdown. I didn’t think I was going to be able to get through it. But, once I got over that hump I had a spiritual experience after crying and breaking down.
Holmes: How about sleep deprivation?
Ako: Sleep is one of the most important things to me. So, that’s going to be tough. I’ll meditate if I can’t sleep because rain is on me. I’ll do what I have to do to get my zen…my own rest.
Holmes: Extreme temperatures?
Ako: Hot is fine. I lived in Las Vegas, it’s like an oven there. However, cold is a weakness for me.
Holmes: What about paranoia?
Ako: I don’t smoke weed because I don’t like the paranoia. I think it’s the worst. I rock myself like a baby and want myself to get down from the high. I don’t like paranoia.

Holmes: Any early thoughts on the other players?
Ako: I’ve only walked by a few of them in the hallway, and they look young. Like early twenties. I’m like, I hope they’re going to be OK. I don’t even have kids and I’m feeling motherly. But, I think they do a really good job of selecting personalities that are quite different from each other.

Holmes: If there is a twist, what do you think it could be?
Ako: A super idol. I’ve done some research and an idol that two different players could put together and possess and can be played after the votes are read. That could be powerful.

Holmes: If you could align with any past player, who would it be?
Ako: I really liked Parvati (Shallow). She seems like she tells it straight up. And she’s into women power. If there are some women who could survive with each other and take care of each other, she would be a good co-ringleader in that.

Holmes: Lightning round time. Cats or dogs?
Ako: Cats.
Holmes: Beer or wine?
Ako: Wine.
Holmes: Superman or Batman?
Ako: Superman.
Holmes: Meat or vegetable?
Ako: Vegetable.
Holmes: Republican or Democrat?
Ako: (Laughs) Neither!
Holmes: I’ll accept that. Books or TV?
Ako: Books.
Holmes: Swimming or sunbathing?
Ako: Swimming.
Holmes: Many casual friends or one good friend?
Ako: Many casual.
Holmes: Nice car or nice home?
Ako: Nice home.
Holmes: Smart or funny?
Ako: Funny all the way.
Holmes: Parvati or Boston Rob?
Ako: Boston Rob.
Holmes: Big TV or big vacation?
Ako: Big vacation.
Holmes: Working alone or with a team?
Ako: Working alone.
Holmes: Dragons or unicorns?
Ako: Unicorns.
Holmes: Careful planning or fly by the seat of your pants?
Ako: Careful planning.
Holmes: Jeff Probst or Ryan Seacrest?
Ako: (Laughs) I think they’re both heroes, but I’m going to go with Probst.

Don’t miss the season premiere of “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X,” Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 8pm

Ken McNickle (CBS)

XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X” needs. We’ll have interviews with all twenty of the new players to hold you over until the season starts. Then we’ll have full episode recaps, interviews with the players after they’ve been eliminated, and the return of the ever-popular “Survivor” Power Rankings. Follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news.

Name (Age): Ken McNickle (33)
Current Residence: Denver, CO via Hana, Maui
Occupation: Model
Hobbies: Anything outdoors (hiking, camping and fishing), music (playing and watching) and dancing.
Pet Peeves: Superficial connections and communication.
Three Words to Describe You: Driven, mindful, and perceptive.

NOTE: Usually I get a good thirty minutes with each contestant before the game starts. However, this season I had to get through all 20 players in only two-and-a-half hours. So, these pieces will be short and hopefully sweet.

Gordon Holmes: You’re a community activist, that seems like it would have a lot of applications in a game like this.
Ken McNickle: I spend six to eight hours every Saturday working with homeless people. A lot of them addicts, a lot of them people you have to be on your toes with. I don’t have any judgment toward them and I love working for them. It works toward my social strengths. I can read people and I’ll be able to confidently have eyes in the back of my head so I’ll always know what’s going on.

Holmes: Do you have any issues lying in the game?
McNickle: I was really competitive growing up. I was the youngest and the smallest in my family. So, you learn to tweak and bend the rules to make things work in your favor. You do what you have to do to get an edge over people who are above you.
Holmes: What about flirting?
McNickle: There are two kinds of flirts. There’s the type that consciously does it to manipulate or to get what they want. And, there are those who it’s their nature. And for me, it’s just my nature. So, I guess it’s inevitable that it’s going to happen.
Holmes: Is there anyone back home who’s going to be upset if they see you flirting?
McNickle: (Laughs) Everyone in my life knows that I’m a flirt by nature. Nobody is going to be surprised by it.

Holmes: How well do you deal with being lied to?
McNickle: It’s context. Nothing is black and white, there’s always a grey area. You have to understand where someone is coming from. I think that’s more important than the action itself.
Holmes: How well do you do with hunger?
McNickle: I’ve done five-day water fasts. I’ve done juice fasts. Hunger is a thought just like pain or frustration. If you learn to control your thoughts, then just about anything is possible.
Holmes: So you’d say the same thing for lack of sleep or extreme temperatures?
McNickle: Exactly.
Holmes: Nice, that’ll save us some time. How about paranoia?
McNickle: The best way to deal with paranoia, anger, frustration, any of these things you come across is to breathe. Breathe and remember this is why I’m here. This is what the game is about. This is not out of the ordinary. Keep your center calm.

Holmes: What are your thoughts on the other players?
McNickle: You watch people’s body language. You watch how they engage. You watch how they smile to the support and the producers. Are their smiles genuine and warm? Are they forced and contrived?
Holmes: Is there anyone you’re wary of?
McNickle: Not yet. (Laughs)

Holmes: If there is a twist, any guesses as to what it could be?
McNickle: The last few seasons I’ve been watching, the Beauty/Brains/Brawn seems very consistant. A lot of the questions they’ve asked me are about my modeling career. So, I’m wondering if that is going to be part of it.

Holmes: If you could align with any past player, who would it be?
McNickle: I’d probably say Ozzy (Lusth) or Yul (Kwon). They’re both strong, respectable men. They didn’t have to lie a lot to get to the end of the game. They got there by being physically strong and by manipulating the game and the situation around them. But not in the way that other more quick-to-lie people did. Tony Vlachos swore on his wife and his child to get ahead. You can do that, but in Yul and Ozzy’s case they didn’t have to do that. I think I’d work well with either one of those guys.

Holmes: Alright, lightning round time. Cats or dogs?
McNickle: Dogs.
Holmes: Beer or wine?
McNickle: Wine.
Holmes: Superman or Batman?
McNickle: Superman.
Holmes: Meat or vegetable?
McNickle: Vegetable.
Holmes: Republican or Democrat?
McNickle: Democrat.
Holmes: Books or TV?
McNickle: Books.
Holmes: Swimming or sunbathing?
McNickle: Swimming.
Holmes: Many casual friends or one good friend?
McNickle: One good.
Holmes: A nice car or a nice home?
McNickle: Neither.
Holmes: Smart or funny?
McNickle: Smart.
Holmes: Parvati or Boston Rob?
McNickle: Boston Rob.
Holmes: A big vacation or a big TV?
McNickle: Big vacation.
Holmes: Working alone or with a team?
McNickle: Alone.
Holmes: Dragons or unicorns?
McNickle: (Laughs) Dragons.
Holmes: Careful planning or fly by the seat of your pants?
McNickle: Seat of pants.
Holmes: Jeff Probst or Ryan Seacrest?
McNickle: Jeff!

Don’t miss the season premiere of “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X,” Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 8pm ET.

Michelle Schubert (CBS)

XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X” needs. We’ll have interviews with all twenty of the new players to hold you over until the season starts. Then we’ll have full episode recaps, interviews with the players after they’ve been eliminated, and the return of the ever-popular “Survivor” Power Rankings. Follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news.

Name (Age): Michelle Schubert (28)
Current Residence: Yakima, WA
Occupation: Missionary Recruiter
Hobbies: I love learning and reading and dancing. I seek beauty, adventure and adrenaline. I like nature, exploring, rock climbing, slacklining, and CATAN expansions. I also study dragons and the stars.
Pet Peeves: Windshield wipers on a dry window!
Three Words to Describe You: Hungry, hungry, hippo.

NOTE: Usually I get a good thirty minutes with each contestant before the game starts. However, this season I had to get through all 20 players in only two-and-a-half hours. So, these pieces will be short and hopefully sweet.

Gordon Holmes: First thing is first; how do you study dragons? They don’t exist.
Michelle Schubert: Oh my gosh, draw a quick picture of a dinosaur.
Holmes: Hold on. OK…done.
Schubert: Now draw wings.
Holmes: (Laughs) I see what you’re getting at.
Schubert: (Laughs) The word “dinosaur” was actually coined in 1852. What do you think people called them before that?
Holmes: This feels like a technicality.
Schubert: They called them dragons!
Holmes: Mind blown.
Schubert: Right? (Laughs) Marco Polo, who we learned about in school wrote about dragons. Take out that fantastical, mythical idea of them flying around like “Game of Thrones.” But really we have hundreds of accounts of dragons. Sometimes fire breathing, or at least they shoot sparks out of their nose or something. All of them said they were birthed with eggs. Normally a myth is, like, the gods threw a magical baby onto a rock and it shattered into a thousand dragons. But no, dragons always say that they’re born from eggs, and they live in swamps, and they eat large livestock.
Holmes: You take that kind of persuasive reasoning into this game and you’re a millionaire.
Schubert: (Laughs)

Holmes: Have you kept up with your cross country?
Schubert: A little bit. I run now for fitness and for fun, but not for competition.

Holmes: You want to bring eye-liner with you so you can stay hot on TV. 
Schubert: (Laughs) Yeah. But the thing is, a girl is not usually as strong as a guy. And we have other disadvantages. But, we have one major advantage; being a woman. You think through Biblical mythology, if you want to call it mythology, or Biblical history says that Samson, the strongest man who ever lived…Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived…David, the King of Isreal…they all had one downfall…women.
Holmes: Well put. I also like how you said, “Stay hot.” I admire that confidence.
Schubert: (Laughs) Yeah.

Holmes: Any issues lying in the game?
Schubert: I don’t lie in real life. I do think that’s wrong. But in a game for a million dollars where you’re supposed to outwit? I don’t think it’s wrong.
Holmes: How well do you deal with being lied to?
Schubert: I’m one of the most forgiving people I know.
Holmes: I think I know the answer to the flirting question based on our eyeliner discussion.
Schubert: Absolutely, but I think you have to be careful because you don’t want to put a target on your back if a guy thinks your faking or other people think there’s too much of a bond. Maybe it’s less flirting, but somehow showing interest. I think giving glimmers of hope is what a girl needs to do.
Holmes: Is there anyone back home that’ll be upset if they see you giving glimmers of hope on CBS?
Schubert: (Laughs) Um…no. There’s someone that I’ve been seeing recently, but he understands that it’s a game for a million dollars.

Holmes: How well do you deal with hunger?
Schubert: I fast semi-regularly in real life and I don’t think I’ll go longer in this game without food than I have in my fasting. So, I think I’ll deal with it fine.
Holmes: How well do you deal with lack of sleep?
Schubert: That’s going to be tough for me.
Holmes: How about extreme temperatures?
Schubert: I’m OK. I don’t like being cold, I don’t like being too hot. But, at the end of the day you can’t do anything about it. So, stay hydrated and cuddle up.
Holmes: How about paranoia?
Schubert: I do meditate, I do pray…so hopefully I deal with it better than others. I think you can tap into truth in the spiritual realm and the truth inside you with those techniques.

Holmes: If there is a twist this season, any guesses as to what it could be?
Schubert: Oh gosh…I don’t know. I hope there are twists. I love adventure and I love not knowing what’s next.

Holmes: If you could align with any past player, who would it be?
Schubert: I would think maybe…Coach…the Dragon Slayer…or…Parvati? Because even though they had drastically different games, they were actually very loyal to their alliance and even sacrificed for them.
Holmes: How could you possibly align with a dragon slayer?
Schubert: I know! I hate that he wants to kill dragons!

Holmes: Alright, lightning round time. Cats or dogs?
Schubert: Dogs.
Holmes: Beer or wine?
Schubert: Beer.
Holmes: Superman or Batman?
Schubert: Superman.
Holmes: Meat or vegetable?
Schubert: Vegetable.
Holmes: Republican or Democrat?
Schubert: Communist.
Holmes: Books or TV?
Schubert: Books, hand down.
Holmes: Swimming or sunbathing?
Schubert: Swimming.
Holmes: Many casual friends or one good friend?
Schubert: One good friend.
Holmes: A nice car or a nice home?
Schubert: A nice home.
Holmes: Smart or funny?
Schubert: Smart.
Holmes: Parvati or Boston Rob?
Schubert: Parvati.
Holmes: A big vacation or a big TV?
Schubert: Vacation.
Holmes: Working alone or with a team?
Schubert: Alone.
Holmes: Here’s an easy one; dragons or unicorns?
Schubert: Oh my gosh, dragons!
Holmes: Careful planning or fly by the seat of your pants?
Schubert: Seat of my pants.
Holmes: Jeff Probst or Ryan Seacrest?
Schubert: Oh, Jeff Probst!

Don’t miss the season premiere of “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X,” Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 8pm ET.