survivor philippines | More Whatnot

Posts Tagged ‘survivor philippines’

‘Survivor: Philippines’ Recap: Of Rice and Men

October 24, 2012

'Survivor: Philippines' (CBS)

XFinityTV is blowing up their coverage of “Survivor: Philippines.” Every Monday Jeff Probst and I will tackle a wide variety of topics with the “Survivor” Question of the Week. Every Tuesday I’ll be squaring off against “Survivor: One World” favorite Kat Edorsson in this season’s Power Rankings challenge. Every Wednesday briefly after the show we’ll have a full episode recap and every Thursday we’ll have an interview with the latest eliminated player. Follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for all the updates!

Set Your DVR to Record “Survivor: Philippines”

Last Week: Matsing was rebuffed and split, Dana got sick and quit, and Dawson was voted out and tried to swap spit.

39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Let’s take a look at the tribes as they currently stand…

The Kalabaw Tribe (wearing red)
Carter – Track Coach, 24
Denise – Sex Therapist, 41
Katie – Student, 22
Jeff Kent – Former MLB Player, 44
Penner – Writer, 50

The Tandang Tribe (wearing yellow)
Abi-Maria – Business Student, 32
Artis – Computer Engineer, 53
Michael – Professional Speaker, Author, and Coach, 50
Lisa – Former ‘Facts of Life’ Star, 49
Malcolm – Bartender, 25
Pete – Engineering Graduate, 24
RC – Investment Banker, 27

Our evening kicks off with the Kalabaw Nation returning from Tribal Council. Katie realizes that she’s up some kind of foul smelling creek without an implement that will help her navigate her boat. She talks to Denise and tries to convince her that Penner has the idol and should be the next to go.

Over at Tandang, Pete is annoyed with Skup for eating all of the tribe’s rice. “Survivor” always comes down to food. Always.

Also, Skup has been eating the rice without cooking it which sounds horrific. Does it even digest?

Reward Challenge Time: Three members from each tribe will try to push a giant wicker ball into their opponents’ goal. First tribe to score three points wins a trip to a hut that is filled with sandwiches, brownies, and other goodies.

RC and Artis will sit for Tandang.

Round One: Pete, Skupin, and Lisa vs. Penner, Carter, and Denise.

We start off and Lisa hits a big takedown on Denise! How do you like them Facts of Life!

Oh…and Penner has his arm in a very…sensitive…part of Skup’s body. We’re about to hit TV-MA territory here in a second.

Things eventually grind to a halt, with everyone holding someone else in position. Apparently this went on for a full hour.

Rather than continue the challenge, Penner and Skup start negotiating. Skupin offers to trade the reward for the rest of Kalabaw’s rice. Penner wants to make this trade happen because he’s confident he can catch some fish.

Artis thinks this is a terrible idea and says so in an unnecessarily tense matter. Yikes.

Kalabaw accepts this deal and the challenge is off. Honestly, anytime Skup can finish up a challenge without losing a limb, he’s gotta go for it.

Wow, that seems like a dumb move by Kalabaw. Tandang gave up something they didn’t have while the red tribe gave up their rice.

Afterwards we meet up with Kalabaw enjoying an impressive luncheon spread. While they’re eating, Penner realizes that letters from home are over on a separate table. Cue the sad piano music…

Back at Tandang, Artis is still ticked off over the lack of reward sandwiches. Abi isn’t thrilled about it either. RC uses this obvious tribal division as a way to try to motivate Skupin. She’s gotta do something.

Later at Kalabaw, Penner fails on his promise to catch some fish. The tiny specimens he returns from the ocean with are barely bigger than a McDonald’s hashbrown. Ozzy Lusth he ain’t.

Immunity Challenge Time: One member from each tribe will launch balls into a field while the other players try to catch them in a net. First tribe to score five wins immunity.

Skup and Abi will sit for Tandang.

Lisa and Denise will launch balls for their respective tribes.

Round One: Penner catches a ball.

Round Two: Pete and RC both catch balls.

Quick Note: How is Jeff Kent not awesome at this challenge?

Round Three: No catches.

Round Four: Jeff Kent catches one. Shows what I know.

Round Five: Jeff Kent catches another one. I’ll shut up now.

Round Six: Jeff Kent catches yet another one. Kent, I get it!

Skup tells Lisa to shoot them toward Malcolm.

Round Seven: Malcolm catches one.

Round Eight: Malcolm snags another one.

Jeff Kent covers Malcolm now. We’re tied at four points apiece.

Round Nine: Malcolm gets the best of Kent and catches a third ball. Tandang wins immunity.

Fun Fact: Denise still hasn’t won a challenge.

Politicking at Kalabaw centers around Katie vs. Penner. The argument against Penner is that they’re worried about what he’ll do after the merge. However, Katie obviously isn’t much help in challenges.

Carter thinks taking Penner to the merge is a good idea because all of the eyes will be on Penner. Hey, Carter’s thinking!

Wait, Carter isn’t thinking. He literally turns to Penner and says, “Penner…what do you want to do, Katie or Penner?” Really? Why don’t you just ask him how to spell his name? Seriously, even the monkeys that were grooming themselves around camp were shaking their heads.

Either Penner didn’t hear it or he was playing it off.

Later, Penner tells Katie that Denise is the next to go. Katie doesn’t buy it.

That night at Tribal Council, Denise and Katie both think they’re in trouble. Denise because she’s the new girl and Katie because she’s isn’t good at challenges.

Penner says he didn’t say he was vulnerable because he wants to seem confident.

Jeff Kent says every vote will be a blindside because everyone likes each other.

Penner agrees, because the votes aren’t personal, they’re strategic.

Jeff Kent thinks “Survivor” sucks because the game is a mix of surviving the elements and blindsiding your friends. He’s seen this show, hasn’t he?

Voting Time: Katie votes for Penner, Penner votes for Katie, and the rest of the votes remain a secret. Unless you ask Carter, cause he’ll straight up tell you.

Some tallying takes place. We’ve got one vote for Katie, one vote for Penner, one vote for Katie, and the seventh person to leave “Survivor: Philippines” is…Katie.

For some reason, Katie doesn’t take advantage of this chance to make out with Jeff Probst.

Verdict: Another interesting episode, but it’s getting too easy to predict the booted players. Thank goodness it looks like the merge is next. We’ve been waiting too long for this Tandang explosion.

Who’s Going to Win: I hate to jinx Malcolm more than I already have, but he is in an amazing position. He’s the Tandangian with the least amount of heat on him. Not only that, but he has an idol and is probably about to reunite with Denise. Team Malcolm FTW.

Power Rankings Results: Blam! Kat and I called it as we both had Katie in spot twelve. The current score is Team Kat: 80, Team Awesome Thunder: 85.

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

Tags:jeff kent, jeff probst, jonathan penner, Lisa Whelchel, michael skupin, survivor, survivor philippines
Posted in RealityTV, survivor, TV News | Comments Off on ‘Survivor: Philippines’ Recap: Of Rice and Men

‘Survivor: Philippines’ Power Rankings: Round Five

October 23, 2012

'Survivor: Philippines' (CBS)

The Rules: Each week Kat and Gordon will create separate Power Rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of the next episode will determine the number of points the two players will earn. For example, if Artis is voted out this week, Kat will receive 10 points and Gordon will receive 9 points. The person with the most points at the end of the season will be crowned the ‘Survivor: Philippines’ Power Rankings champion!

Last Week: Kat killed it last week. She had Dana in spot fourteen and Dawson in spot thirteen for a total of twenty seven points. I was right behind her with Dana in fourteenth and Dawson in twelfth for a total of twenty six. The current score is Team Kat: 68, Team Awesome Thunder 73.

Set Your DVR to Record ‘Survivor: Philippines


Kat’s Current Score: 68 Any advice for Kat? Drop her a line on Twitter: @KatEdorsson	Gordon’s Current Score: 73 Any advice for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes

1. Malcolm: Champ, Champ, Champ!! And the crowd goes wild!! Really enjoying watching Malcolm strive for victory within his new tribe. During the immunity challenge Malcolm proved to be a great asset and in addition to this, Pete tells Malcolm about his idol solidifying an alliance within the remaining six tribe members. His chances are looking great right now!	1. Malcolm: Welcome back to the top, Malcolm. You probably would have been in good shape no matter which buff you pulled out of the bag, but Tandang is probably the best situation for you. Add an idol to that equation and you’ve got an impressive turnaround in the game.

2. Lisa: Nothing out of the ordinary to say about Miss “Facts of Life”. She is my “Survivor: Philippines” Lamb and I can’t tell you how important it really is to cruise under the radar at this point in the game. Still looking beautiful!	2. Pete: Wow, I was a little shocked at how quickly Pete spilled the beans to Malcolm. Malcolm doesn’t need to know that you guys have the idol. He just needs to know how to vote.

3. Pete: Right now, Pete seems to have his tribe wrapped around his fingers. Believing Malcolm has joined his alliance, Pete seems to be sitting pretty. However, can someone please tell the man the “pink hoodie” has already been trademarked…by me!	3. Abi-Maria: Are we seeing a situation where Pete is going to make all the decisions while fiery Abi takes all the bullets? That’s a good way to get to the end, but not a good way to win.

4. Abi-Maria: Her alliance and her idol will get her far, but pulling a “Hantz” will never give you the win. People have to eventually like you. Hopefully she will warm up soon, if not there is no hope! With her temper she would be great to take to the finals!	4. Jeff Kent: The power struggle in the red tribe is over and the Kalabros have won. Although, I’ll have to rename them now that Denise is on board. However, if Penner is already making moves toward some kind of returnee alliance with Skup, Kent will have to nip that in the bud. I bet he’ll have the votes he needs, too.

5. Penner: How I love these three amigos! This tripod containing Penner, Carter, and Jeff Kent is fantastic, no offense, ladies, but I’m happy to see some strategy going on. I’d like to see how Penner wiggled his way out of being the first boot to now the strongest alliance with an idol and my favorite Denise!	5. Carter: We haven’t heard much from Carter on the show, but Dana had sure heard more than enough from him. That makes me wonder if he doesn’t have a great grasp on the way people view him.

6. Jeff Kent: Jeff is making the moves and playing the game! Pulling Denise in was great strategy and just their luck, two girls were eliminated!	6. Lisa: Mark my words, Lisa Whelchel is going deep into this game. If Tandang hits the merge with numbers (and it looks like they’re gonna) she’s going to coast for a long time. Tootie would be so proud.

7. Carter: Good Morning Sweet Carter, welcome to “Survivor”!! How in the world did he get to the safety zone! He could possibly have a shot at this game! Did you see how fast he hit that immunity challenge; they probably could have won if Katie wasn’t dragging that tail! I have high hopes for this kid if he makes the merge for individual immunity. However, his only downfall seems to be how gullible he is. This kind of a player might need a second round of “Survivor” to really understand the game. “Survivor” is mentally challenging, don’t forget! But it’s nice to finally meet you!	7. Denise: Denise is going to have to walk a bit of a tightrope. It’s probably pretty safe to assume that Katie is going home the next time Kalabaw loses immunity, but then what? Can she relate to Kent and Penner better than Carter? She’d better hope so.

8. Denise: This is my hands-down favorite woman in this game, and I believe she will come out harder and stronger than any competitor because of how self motivated she is. She never complains, keeps her head up, and is given her spot on Kalabaw that she so rightfully deserves. She has an alliance with Malcolm with an idol plus she has been invited to the three amigos alliance making it a newly found quad. So, I believe she will be safe and continue to play this game.	8. Penner: Oh boy, it looks like Penner and Skupin might share loving looks during this week’s immunity challenge. Not smart. Whenever it looks like you’re cozying up with the enemy it never turns out well. (See Elrod, Matt)

9. Michael: Skupin, you’re still my favorite and I love how big of a competitor you are! But, with Pete with the upper hand you might need to look out! As of now the tribe remains strong and I’m hoping to see if Malcolm comes to you with some new information to cause a flaw and give you and RC a fighting chance!	9. Artis: Malcolm pulling the yellow buff was great for him, and less great for some of the other guys. If Pete trusts Malcolm enough to share the whole gameplan, what does he think of Artis? And, what’s going on with Artis flipping out in this week’s challenge?

10. Artis: I still stand by how I felt last week. Artis might be on the strongest tribe which could be the only reason why he is still in this game. Let’s say it together . One, Two, Threeeee “SOCIALIZE!!!” Please before you’re out of this game!! Outwit, outplay, outlast!! Play the game and hurry!	10. Michael: Now that Malcolm’s playing for Team Tandang, the young ‘uns can send Skup packing without really losing any challenge strength. The only thing working in his favor right now is how badly Abi wants to boot RC.

11. RC: Come on RC, do something! Anything! What a shame, RC is a great competitor and I’m sad to say but I think she’s a goner. Abi gives her the stink eye if she even looks at Malcolm which means they will be coming for her if their tribe loses this week. It will be RC hands down. Pete and Abi are in control and these are the times I feel lucky to have been blindsided because feeling isolated in “Survivor” like “TroyZan” is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.	11. RC: Sorry, RC…I can’t imagine Malcolm being “booty blinded” twice in the same game. You need a merge in the worst way.

12. Katie: You’re so cute and I’m happy I was able to hear you speak last episode, but your tribe is targeting you as their weakest link. And, you’re the only girl because let’s face it; Denise is not a chick, she’s a beast and she’s rolling with the fellas!	12. Katie: Dana’s illness really turned the tide of this game over at Kalabeach. If she sticks around and Dawson is right about Denise joining the ladies, then the Kalabros are in the minority. From there it’s up to Penner to pick the right person to protect with his idol. Instead, Denise joins the guys, and Katie and Dawson are lined up on the chopping block. I’ll be sorry to see my fellow Delawarean take the long, lonely walk.

Watch ‘Survivor: Philippines’ every Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Tags:jeff kent, jeff probst, jnoathan penner, kat edorsson, Lisa Whelchel, michael skupin, survivor, survivor philippines
Posted in RealityTV, survivor, TV News | Leave a Comment »

What Is the Most Endearing ‘Survivor’ Moment? Jeff Probst Answers (Kinda)

October 22, 2012

'Boston' Rob Mariano (CBS)

Set Your DVR to Record “Survivor: Philippines”

This Week’s Question: What is the most endearing moment in “Survivor” history?

Gordon Holmes: This might be a tough one to pick considering “Survivor” has a much better romance track record than “The Bachelor.” But, when “Boston” Rob Mariano asked Lex Van den Berghe to save Amber Brkich during “Survivor: All Stars” it seemed like much more than him looking out for an alliance member. A happy marriage and some wonderful kids seem to prove that point. I’d put Tarzan Smith’s loved one visit with his wife and the friendship between Richard Hatch and Rudy Boesch as close seconds.
Jeff Probst: Ah…this one is really tough to answer because I find small moments all the time on “Survivor.” Moments when people have their own individual triumphs, often while simultaneously losing a challenge or being blindsided at Tribal Council. Everybody who plays has a different adventure they are seeking and it is so personal it is often hard to share their “moment” but I think the vast majority of our players would tell you they had a moment that moved them and often changed them.
Holmes: So your answer is…
Probst: Not ducking the question, but I’d be here all day writing the answers and I have a talk show to work on!

What’s Your Most Endearing Moment? Send your answers to me on Twitter: @gordonholmes

Tags:boston rob mariano, jeff probst, richard hatch, survivor, survivor philippines
Posted in RealityTV, survivor, TV News | Comments Off on What Is the Most Endearing ‘Survivor’ Moment? Jeff Probst Answers (Kinda)

‘Survivor’ Dawson Has Harsh Words for Jeff Kent, Loving Words for Jeff Probst

October 19, 2012

Sarah Dawson and Jeff Probst (CBS)

Set Your DVR to Record “Survivor: Philippines”

Several months ago, Sarah Dawson and I were enjoying a delightful conversation in a charming gazebo located in the scenic Caramoan Islands. Then a picture frame fell off the wall and cracked her over the head. It was the first time I’d ever tried to murder a “Survivor” contestant.

Later, Sarah Dawson was enjoying a comfortable stay in the game of “Survivor.” Her tribe had a nice winning streak going and she was in the middle of a female alliance. Then Denise joined her tribe, her buddy got sick, and she was voted out.

One minute you’re fine, the next you’re wondering what the hell just happened.

I spoke with the quirky Kalabawian the morning after her elimination and had a chance to learn about how she used Jeff Kent’s secret, how Dana’s illness impacted tribe dynamics and the touching embrace she shared with Jeff Probst…

Gordon Holmes: Morning, Dawson. How are you doing?
Sarah Dawson: Well, my torch got snuffed, so I’m a little less on fire today. But I’m still blazing.
Holmes: Well, I’ll make your day a little better. I promise in no way will you be injured during this interview.
Dawson: (Laughs) I was wondering! Is he going to come in and throw a vase at my head?
Holmes: I wouldn’t dream of it. Any injuries you suffer in the next ten minutes will have to be your doing.
Dawson: Thank you.

Holmes: This might cheer you up; I think we have something in common. I think we both have a crush on Jeff Probst.
Dawson: I know I have a crush on Jeff Probst. You want to go to his house?
Holmes: I wouldn’t take it that far. I wouldn’t run up to the man and hug him and plant a kiss on his cheek after being voted out.
Dawson: (Laughs) I recommend it highly. It is the experience of a lifetime. Seeing the look on his face…he didn’t know if I was going to go crazy because of the intensity in my eyes. He’s thinking, “She’s going to go crazy, or she’s about to hump my leg.”
Holmes: For the sake of them keeping their rating, I’m glad you refrained from humping his leg.
Dawson: I would’ve done it classily, you know.
Holmes: Is there a classy way to do that?
Dawson: You know, bring me back for another season and I’ll give some demos.

Holmes: My first instinct when you were walking with your torch was that you’d turn around and out Jeff Kent’s baseball past. Why did you keep that secret?
Dawson: I’d watched Jeff Kent play for twelve days and I watched his social game. And, I gave him tips on his social game because it was so lacking. I knew if I didn’t out him he’d probably go down anyway.
Holmes: What was wrong with his social game?
Dawson: He didn’t socialize.
Holmes: Ah yes, a key component of a social game.
Dawson: If Kent finds a speck of dirt on his cowboy boots he’ll go out and pout about in on the beach for a day and a half. I tried to help him, but he didn’t want to work with me. I don’t want him to lose because he’s a millionaire, I want him to lose because his game wasn’t that good.

Holmes: Here’s an idea I had; what if you’d approached him and said, “Look Jeff, I know you don’t want to partner with me, but the second I’m voted out I’m going to out you.” It’d be like some hardcore “Survivor” blackmail.
Dawson: I actually did do that. You have to be in the mindset of being out there and hungry. At the point I was in the game, my brain wasn’t working on all cylinders. I didn’t want to out him, but I did blackmail him. But I didn’t take him down because I want him to be voted out, not because he has money. You’re going to go home because of your social game.
Holmes: So, he knows that you knew?
Dawson: Absolutely. That’s why he targeted me.

Holmes: Before Dana went down, did you try to bring Denise into your alliance?
Dawson: Denise was on board with a four-woman alliance. We were actually going to take out Carter. Once Dana left Katie and I lost a lot of leverage. And, the guys knew we were coming after them.
Holmes: Katie voted for you last night. Was that a blindside?
Dawson: No, Katie can’t blindside me. I knew she was voting for me and I begged her not to. I said, “I’m a huge fan of the show. If we’re going to go out, let’s go out big. Let’s make this a tie, let’s pull rocks, that hasn’t happened in years! And, if they kick me out, you’re going next.” Unfortunately I couldn’t convince her.

Holmes: Let’s do some word association. We’ll start with Dana…
Dawson: Badass.
Holmes: Jeff Kent?
Dawson: Awkward.
Holmes: Denise?
Dawson: Awesome. I love Denise.
Holmes: Carter?
Dawson: Who?
Holmes: Carter?
Dawson: Who?
Holmes: Gotcha. Well played… Katie?
Dawson: Delaware.
Holmes: Something wrong with Delaware?
Dawson: No, nothing’s wrong with it.
Holmes: I was going to say, Wilmington represent.
Dawson: (Laughs)
Holmes: Let’s finish this off with Penner.
Dawson: Oh man…brilliant player. In one word he’s masterful.

Holmes: Early on it looked like you guys were gunning for Penner. Was that in the cards?
Dawson: We never really targeted Penner. He actually isolated himself from us. He was so obsessed with the idol that he wouldn’t engage with us. He wouldn’t spend any time with us. He didn’t even know the girls’ names until day three. He kept calling me “sweetheart.” He kind of brought that on himself. Jeff Kent wanted him out.

Holmes: I’m super psyched we’re finishing this interview with you in one piece.
Dawson: Yes! In one piece and no one else has been kissed yet today. If you talk to Probst you can tell him I’m available all afternoon. We can finish what we started.
Holmes: He is a married man.
Dawson: I know. And I meant to ask him about that on the island…you know…if that was still going well.
Holmes: That’s terrible.
Dawson: No! I wasn’t hoping for something else…but…you know. You can’t blame a girl for dreaming.
Holmes: You’re only human.
Dawson: And so is he.

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

Tags:jeff kent, jeff probst, jonathan penner, Lisa Whelchel, michael skupin, sarah dawson, survivor, survivor philippines
Posted in RealityTV, survivor, TV News | Comments Off on ‘Survivor’ Dawson Has Harsh Words for Jeff Kent, Loving Words for Jeff Probst

‘Survivor’ Castaway Dana: Jeff Kent ‘Fights Directly Against What I Fight For’

October 18, 2012

'Survivor: Philippines' (CBS)

Set Your DVR to Record “Survivor: Philippines”

The “Survivor” producers tempted fate and it bit them.

When you host a season where you invite back players who had been medically evacuated it’s bound to result in someone being carted off. Dana Lambert was that someone.

(Poor Dana never got to visit Tribal Council, but at least she got to wear Jeff Probst’s jacket.)

I spoke with Dana the morning after her elimination episode and had a chance to discuss her medical concerns, her relationship with Jeff Kent, and which member of Kalabaw is a “chauvinist”…

Gordon Holmes: Good morning, Dana. How are you?
Dana Lambert: I’m doing good! Way better.
Holmes: Excellent. You did not look so good last time we saw you.
Lambert: Yeah. (Laughs).
Holmes: People were concerned because they don’t do a follow-up on the show. So please, walk us through everything that happened.
Lambert: Well, I pretty much started the game sick in my stomach. I was definitely hanging around the bathroom there in the beginning. And, it just started going downhill. Everything I ate would come back up. And then living off of coconut didn’t help. I felt that sickness the whole twelve days I was there. And, I’d get to challenges and I’d say, “C’mon Dana, suck it up and kick ass in this challenge.” I’d try to hide the sickness as best I could. But there in the end it just all came to a head. There was no way to hide it anymore.
Holmes: Did they find out if it was an infection?
Lambert: After I left the game I went to a clinic in the Caramoans. I spent a day there getting fluids. It was basically dehydration. And then I spent some more days in Manila in the hospital getting more fluids. It was pretty bad news.

Holmes: There was some concern before the season started about how you, a lesbian, would get along with Jeff Kent, someone who donated money to Prop 8 in California. What was your relationship like?
Lambert: You know, I wish I would have known that. I don’t know if I would have treated the situation any differently if I’d know that he makes so much money. Because he fights directly against what I fight for. But, I also believe that you don’t change people’s minds by being a jerk to them. I feel like we got along pretty good on the island. He’s kind of a southern boy and I respect him a lot. I felt like just him knowing who I was and what kind of person I was, maybe it opened his mind. I don’t believe in homophobia. I don’t believe that people are scared of gay people. I believe that they’re basically just (expletive deleted). They just don’t want to accept it because maybe they’ve never been around it. So, I think it was good for him, he got to be around me. He knew that I was a pretty normal girl. Maybe he took something from that. Maybe all gay people aren’t so bad after all.
Holmes: It seemed like you two were getting along pretty well.
Lambert: Actually, when I first got to the island, Penner asked if I wanted to be in his alliance. But then Jeff and I started talking and we clicked automatically. That was until he turned against me and decided he was going to write my name down if there was a chance. That’s when I asked, “Why follow the guys when I can lead the girls?”
Holmes: So there was talk of booting you if Kalabaw went to Tribal?
Lambert: I don’t know. For Jeff, he was saying let’s use your name as a decoy but really try to get Dawson out first. As soon as he said that I realized that it was no longer me, Dawson, Katie, Jeff, and Carter against Penner. I could begin to see that he had a different route. I knew that physically they still needed me in challenges. So they were going to keep me around as long as they needed me.

Holmes: Dawson knew that Jeff Kent was a former Major League Baseball player. Had anyone else picked up on that?
Lambert: I had no idea. And she did not tell me and I wish she would have. I would have approached that situation differently last night. I would not have approached him with it, I would have approached everyone else. He already has millions of dollars. Why do we need to give him another million? But, it wasn’t my choice.

Holmes: Alright, let’s do some word association. We’ll start with Carter.
Lambert: Chauvinist
Holmes: Penner?
Lambert: Awesome. Super awesome man.
Holmes: Jeff Kent?
Lambert: Hard worker.
Holmes: Denise?
Lambert: Strong woman.
Holmes: Dawson?
Lambert: Upbeat to a fault.
Holmes: Katie?
Lambert: Genuinely sweet…but weak around camp.

Holmes: Just to jump back into that…Carter’s a chauvinist?
Lambert: Carter was definitely playing the male game. Whether or not he was in our alliance, when it came to challenges Carter’s thought every single time is that he wanted to sit all of the girls. And I know it probably has a lot to do with his age, but he definitely has that thing where women are weak, men are not. He just didn’t have any faith or trust in women that they could compete as hard as he could. I like Carter, but he did piss me off quite a few times.
Holmes: That’s a shame, because if I need to remember a non-illness Dana moment on “Survivor,” I’m going to be the way you killed it in that diving challenge.
Lambert: Yeah, I guess after reading plenty Twitters and comments, I guess I can swim after all. (Laughs) I think honestly, if I had to go against RC racing she would have kicked my butt. But, underwater I’m pretty comfortable.
Holmes: I think RC would kick most people’s butts.
Lambert: Yeah, she was a badass in that challenge.

Holmes: Russell Swan was eliminated in “Survivor: Samoa” due to a medical issue and it really seemed to haunt him. You’re in a very similar situation. Have you been able to find peace with the way you left the game?
Lambert: If I had to make the same decision again, I would. But, it was upsetting because I felt like me being sick the whole twelve days…I felt like my bubbly personality that I wanted to get across to people…I felt like I didn’t get a chance to get it across. I think maybe I could have even done better in challenges. It’s just not fair, but it’s how it happens sometimes. And you just can’t beat yourself up about it. It is what it is.

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

Tags:dana lambert, jeff kent, jonathan penner, Lisa Whelchel, michael skupin, survivor, survivor philippines
Posted in RealityTV, survivor, TV News | Comments Off on ‘Survivor’ Castaway Dana: Jeff Kent ‘Fights Directly Against What I Fight For’

‘Survivor: Philippines’ Recap: Matsing’s Swan Song?

October 17, 2012

'Survivor: Philippines' (CBS)

Set Your DVR to Record “Survivor: Philippines”

Last Week: RC was set up, Malcolm let Matsing down, the Kalabros invited Carter in, and Russell was voted out.

39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Let’s take a look at the tribes as they currently stand…

The Kalabaw Tribe (wearing red)
Carter – Track Coach, 24
Dana – Cosmetologist, 32
Dawson – Insurance Sales, 28
Katie – Student, 22
Jeff Kent – Former MLB Player, 44
Penner – Writer, 50

The Matsing Tribe (wearing blue)
Denise – Sex Therapist, 41
Malcolm – Bartender, 25

The Tandang Tribe (wearing yellow)
Abi-Maria – Business Student, 32
Artis – Computer Engineer, 53
Michael – Professional Speaker, Author, and Coach, 50
Lisa – Former ‘Facts of Life’ Star, 49
Pete – Engineering Graduate, 24
RC – Investment Banker, 27

This episode starts, as most episodes do, at the super sad Matsing camp. I’m pretty sure when Denise and Malcolm made a final-two alliance, this isn’t what they had in mind.

Malcolm swipes my joke by saying he didn’t expect to be around this small a tribe until Day 39. Of course, he made that joke about six months ago. Let’s call it a wash.

Denise thinks they’re going to be split up and sent to the other tribes. I think she’s probably right. I was debating the merits of pretending like they hate each other. Then people wouldn’t be worried about them coming back together at the merge. Just a thought.

The next morning, mail comes in the form of an invitation to a reward challenge. Malcolm is worried that they won’t be coming back to camp, so he and Denise go on a mad hunt for the idol.

They aren’t having any luck. Denise even says “I’m clueless” in a non-ironic away. Finally, Malcolm figures out that the emblem on top of the rice is the idol. He’s beyond excited and they share their “Spaceballs” handshake.

Reward Challenge Time: Players will square off in one-on-one battles. Each player will be holding an idol on a post. First person to knock off their opponent’s idol wins a point. If both idols are knocked off, the first idol to hit the ground loses. First tribe to five wins a selection of coffee, cookies and other goodies.

Before the challenge starts up, Probst does indeed split up the rest of Matsing. They pull buffs, with Malcolm ending up a Tandanger and Denise joining the Kalabaw Nation.

Round One: Jeff Kent bests Malcolm. Poor Malcolm never wins.

Round Two: Artis beats Dana.

Round Three: Katie tops Lisa.

Round Four: Skupin wins over Penner without mangling himself.

Round Five: Denise dives in and nails RC’s idol.

Round Six: Pete defeats Carter.

I’m running out of words for “beats.”

Round Seven: Dawson grabs Abi’s hair, but still loses. Abi thinks Dawson should play like a man and not a…uh…witch that starts with a B. Ooo…snap.

Tandang leads 4 to 3.

Round Eight: Malcolm throws his own idol high in the air so he has time to knock down Kent’s! That’s actually pretty brilliant. Tandang wins reward.

Back at camp, Malcolm is super psyched to have an immunity idol, a new family, and some breakfast cookies. Aww…poor Angie missed out.

RC, however, isn’t as pleased because she thinks Peter and Malcolm will become BFFs. Her next move is to try to use her feminine ways to get on his good side. Speaking of Angie…

Later, Pete spills the tribe dynamics to Malcolm. Even going so far as to tell him that they have the idol. It’s nice to see that poor Malcolm won’t just become fodder.

Denise looks like she’s in good shape too. Katie wants to bring Denise on-board as part of her Kalababe alliance. I guess that’s the good part of joining a tribe with even numbers.

In other news, Dana is in pretty bad shape. It seems like the cold is getting the best of her and she’s feeling sharp pains in her stomach. Medical and Jeff are eventually called in. And that’s not a quick trip from base camp to the Kalabaw beach. It’s like an hour by boat. So, she must’ve been in agony for a while.

Fun Fact: The doctor refers to Dana’s mid section as her “tummy.” I’m almost positive that isn’t a medical term.

It’s decided that her stomach is irritated, but they don’t know if it’s an infection. He thinks she can stay in the game, but they’d check on her in another 12 hours.

Jeff asks her if she’d like to stay in the game, but Dana’s had enough. The rest of Kalabaw comes out to wish her well on her way out.

A medical evacuation on the medical evacuation season? How cliché. And she didn’t even wait until the sixth episode…

Immunity Challenge Time: The players will race through a series of obstacles. Then they’ll untie ropes to release a drawbridge. From there, they’ll chop through a piece of rope to release lettered bamboo puzzle pieces. First tribe to complete their phrase wins immunity.

Abi will sit out for Tandang. She lets us know that she’s only competed in two challenges. Look out, Courtney Yates. Someone’s coming for your record.

Tandang jumps out to big lead. Kalabaw is behind due to Katie’s problems with some obstacles.

Kalabaw makes up some ground at the drawbridge, but Tandang is still in the lead.

Malcolm cuts through the ropes and Pete and Lisa pull puzzle duty.

Kent has trouble chopping through the ropes, so Penner tags in. They release their pieces and Penner and Dawson go to work on their puzzle.

Lisa figures out the phrase and Tandang wins it by a single second. Wow. That was ridiculously close.

Back at Kalabaw beach, Katie feels bad for letting her tribe down. It probably didn’t help that Probst drew attention to it forty times.

Dawson doesn’t think she should worry though, because Denise is the obvious boot.

Kent shows everyone how wrong Dawson is by bringing Denise into the Kalabro alliance. I guess I’m going to have to rename that quartet.

Politicking around camp comes down to Katie or Dawson. Both have targets on their backs because of how badly they did in the challenge.

Later, Dawson starts messing with Jeff Kent by bringing up sports. She says that football is better than baseball. That’s pretty funny, although she’s very wrong.

Kent thinks she might know something about his previous career, and that’s a reason to get rid of her.

That night at Tribal Council, five people are visiting the Tribal set for the first time. That’s amazing.

Penner thinks it’s bad luck that they’re going to lose two people in two days. And, he thinks they would have won if Dana was around.

Katie owns up to how badly she did in the challenge. She hopes everyone remembers how well she did in previous challenges.

Dawson thinks Denise should stay because she’s a competitor.

Jeff Kent is going to vote for the tribe’s weak link.

Voting Time: Oooo…no votes are shown. I’d bet that means it’s five votes to one.

J-Pro leaves for a bit, reads a few votes, then returns. We’ve got one vote for Denise, three votes for Dawson, and the sixth person to leave “Survivor: Philippines” is…Dawson.

As Dawson takes her torch to Probst, she somehow resists the urge to turn around and yell, “He’s Jeff Kent! He played second base in the World Series! He’s super rich!” Instead she gives Probst a hug. Can’t say I blame her…

Verdict: Alright, now we’re talking. Nice to see Kalabaw finally make their way to Tribal. Also nice to see Denise and Malcolm not become their tribes’ obvious boots. Good times.

Who’s Going to Win: Call me crazy, but I really like Lisa. She isn’t rubbing anyone the wrong way. She knew the right thing to say about Matsing. Instead of saying they were decimated, she said that Malcolm and Denise must be survivors. If mergeville is right around the corner, she’s the least aggressive member of the dominant alliance.

Power Rankings Results: Kat killed it this week. She had Dana in spot fourteen and Dawson in spot thirteen for a total of twenty seven points. I was right behind her with Dana in fourteenth and Dawson in twelfth for a total of twenty six. The current score is Team Kat: 68, Team Awesome Thunder 73.

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

‘Survivor: Philippines’ Power Rankings: Round Four

October 17, 2012

'Survivor: Philippines' (CBS)

The Rules: Each week Kat and Gordon will create separate Power Rankings. The ranking of the person who is voted out of the next episode will determine the number of points the two players will earn. For example, if Artis is voted out this week, Kat will receive 10 points and Gordon will receive 5 points. The person with the most points at the end of the season will be crowned the ‘Survivor: Philippines’ Power Rankings champion!

Last Week: We both pegged Russell Swan as last week’s boot, so we both received 15 points. The current score is Team Kat: 41, Team Awesome Thunder 47.

Set Your DVR to Record ‘Survivor: Philippines


Kat’s Current Score: 41 Any advice for Kat? Drop her a line on Twitter: @KatEdorsson	Gordon’s Current Score: 47 Any advice for Gordon? Drop him a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes

1. Michael: You know, I love Skupin. Normally returning players have a huge target on their backs, but I think Skupin is playing a really smart game. Plus, his tribe is strong so he is in a great position right now.	1. Pete: Pete’s little trick with the immunity idol clue was twelve shades of hilarious. Abi clearly wants to hate R.C. even though everyone’s favorite hoop roller hasn’t done much to deserve it. So, pushing her in the direction she already wants to go probably isn’t going to do anything but help cement their alliance.

2. Lisa: Lisa has come so far. Plus, her hair looks amazing in all that rain! I believe the “Lamb” scenario will play a big role for Miss “Facts of Life.” She is definitely under the radar.	2. Penner: One minute he’s clearly the first Kalaballer to go. The next, he has an idol and he’s in an alliance with Jeff Kent and Carter. If it does come down to a battle of the ladies vs. the gents, I’m betting on the team with the idol.

3. Pete: Peter is becoming quite the gamer. At first I didn’t think he had it in him, but how he framed RC with the clue for the idol was genius. He’s really creating drama and it’s fun to watch.	3. Abi-Maria: With your immunity idol in one hand and your fiery temper in the other, you might be the perfect person to take to the end of the game.

4. RC: The drama between RC and Abi is FANTASTIC!! I think these two are going to be each other’s own worst enemies, but RC is really strong in competitions. She has that going for her. I hope she can pull through!!	4. Lisa: Let this be a lesson to Russell Swan; luck plays a huge role in “Survivor.” If casting had told Lisa to wear a blue shirt she’d be long gone by now. Instead, her yellow attire landed her on a tribe that had enough time to turn on each other before their first Tribal.

5. Abi-Maria: Good for her for finding the idol. I don’t have much else to say other than I think she needs to prove her worth to her tribe otherwise she could be in trouble just because they find her annoying.	5. Artis: My big concerns for Artis headed into the game were; how he’d react to the elements and how his tribe would react to him. Going on what we’ve seen of him (which admittedly, hasn’t been much) he seems to be doing well on both counts.

6. Malcolm: Malcolm is great. I don’t know what will happen to him and Denise now that Matsing is down to two people, but he is physically strong and really smart so I hope he can go far.	6. Jeff Kent: Alright Jeff, I know you’re smart enough to know that an alliance of three is at least one short, right? The question is; who is the fourth?

7. Denise: She is one of my favorite players this season. Another triple threat – physical, strategic, and social. I just hope that the quick demise of Matsing isn’t her downfall.	7. Carter: Welcome to the show, Carter! Now that you’re a member of the Kalabros, it’s time to start thinking about a post-merge strategy. As the challenge stud, you’re going to be in trouble if you guys are down in the numbers. Time to start looking into some side deals.

8. Penner: You can tell Penner is on his third time playing this game. He is just a cut above the rest of his tribe. He seems to have pretty good alliances, but he better watch out because on “Survivor” you never know what can happen.	8. Katie: OK, this is where I pick Katie as the Kalababe to join the Kalabros. Why? Because I think Dana’s a goner due to her illness and I think Katie has a better relationship with Kent and Penner (Kenner?) than Dawson does.

9. Jeff Kent: Jeff was amazing in the last challenge. If he can keep that up his tribe can’t afford to get rid of him.	9. Michael: If anything, Michael deserves credit for breaking his four-episode streak of injuring himself.

10. Artis: Artis kind of rubs me the wrong way. Sometimes on “Survivor” you have to vote off the people that you don’t want to hang out with. Unfortunately, I think the first time Tandang loses Artis will be going home because Artis just rubs his tribe the wrong way.	10. RC: It’s been quite a fall from frontrunner to possible next boot for RC. Right now, her best bet is trying to get to Lisa and Artis and convince them that partnering with such a loose cannon might not be the smartest move.

11. Carter: I think the guys alliance on his tribe is the strongest so that makes him safe for now, but I don’t know how long that will last. We’ll see.	11. Malcolm: So…what’s next for Matsing? Do they do a total tribe scramble? That could work in Malcolm’s favor. He’d have room to maneuver. But, if they decide to split him and Denise up and send them to already existing tribes, they’ll probably be in some serious trouble…

12. Katie: Katie needs to make some moves. It looks as if Matsing won’t be around for much longer so that makes her a prime target if Kalabaw doesn’t win at challenges. She needs to step up her game.	12. Dawson: Right now the biggest thing Dawson has going for her is the fact that she knows about Jeff Kent’s previous career as a baseball player. However, if I were Penner, that fact would want me to keep him around even more. Who wouldn’t want to face a multi-millionaire in the finals?

13. Dawson: Same as Katie. She could be in trouble if Kalabaw doesn’t keep winning in challenges.	13. Denise: There’s also the possibility that we could see Denise and Malcolm as a tribe of two. They did it in Palau. If that happens and they lose again it might come down to a fire-making challenge. And, they’ve shown time and time again that Malcolm is a fire-makin’ fool.

14. Dana: I saw the previews for this week. It looks like Dana is really sick and has a huge decision to make. I’m really hoping she stays because I really like her and think she is an awesome competitor. But, she didn’t look good.	14. Dana: Dana is as sick as a dog in a promo they’ve been playing. Normally it wouldn’t be smart to assume she’s out of the game, but the promo makes a point of having the medic say she can stay in the game if she feels up to it. I doubt they would have shown that tidbit if she was going to stick around.

Watch ‘Survivor: Philippines’ every Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Tags:jeff kent, jeff probst, jonathan penner, Lisa Whelchel, michael skupin, survivor, survivor philippines
Posted in General, RealityTV, survivor, TV News | Comments Off on ‘Survivor: Philippines’ Power Rankings: Round Four

Will There Ever Be a Cold-Weather ‘Survivor’ Season? Jeff Probst Answers…

October 15, 2012

'Survivor: Redemption Island' (CBS)

Set Your DVR to Record “Survivor: Philippines”

This Week’s Question: Which twist are you pitched the most?

Gordon Holmes: This is another easy question. Whenever someone learns that I cover “Survivor” their follow-up response is inevitably, “Why don’t they ever shoot in a snowy climate?”
Jeff Probst: Yep, I get snowy climate a lot.
Holmes: Sorry folks, I don’t want to live in a world where “Survivor” doesn’t feature bikinis in some form.
Probst: It seems quite unlikely that will ever happen.
Holmes: What other pitches do you get?
Probst: I also get, “Why not an international version with players from all over the world?” The reason that won’t happen is we only have the rights to do an American version. I also get, “How ‘bout a season of only those who were voted out first?” Huh?

Which Twist Would You Like to See? Send your answers to me on Twitter: @gordonholmes

Tags:jeff probst, survivor, survivor philippines
Posted in RealityTV, survivor, TV News | Comments Off on Will There Ever Be a Cold-Weather ‘Survivor’ Season? Jeff Probst Answers…

‘Survivor: Philippines’ Castaway Russell: ‘I’m Just Mad…Humiliated’

October 11, 2012

Russell Swan (CBS)

Set Your DVR to Record “Survivor: Philippines”

Usually “Survivor” exit interviews involve the castaway and I discussing what went wrong with their game, who stabbed them in the back, and how tough the conditions were. We share some laughs, they do some word association. Lather, rinse, repeat.

This won’t be one of those interviews.

I spoke with Russell Swan the morning after he was eliminated from “Survivor: Philippines.” We didn’t discuss his relationship with Malcolm and Denise, his Tribal Council debate with Angie, or his brief alliance with Roxanne. In fact, no other players’ names came up. We really didn’t talk about anything other than the psychological effect a game that’s played under the worst conditions in front of millions of people can have on someone…

Gordon Holmes: I feel like if you play this game with the same people in the same place 100 different times you’ll get 100 different outcomes. Was what happened to Matsing? Just a run of bad luck?
Russell Swan: Gordon, this is going to sound weird. I’ve had some anxiety about these interviews and what I feel comfortable sharing. I will be the first confess that I’m having a tough time. This has had a tremendous effect on me. It’s hard to focus on those type of typical questions. The only thing I can say is; this experience was very different from the first one. The impact the first time was physical. This time it’s psychological. And, it seems clear to me that the best thing for me to do is be introspective and think about if there are things I can learn about myself. Hopefully in time I’ll be able to talk about the game.
Holmes: I understand.
Swan: But right now, Russell needs to take care of Russell.

Holmes: OK, let’s go wider with this. Going into the game I spoke with you, I spoke with the other returnees. All three of you came into the game under similar circumstances with the medical evacuations. And you were unique in that your elimination in Samoa really seemed to stick with you. You said a couple of times that you kept asking yourself, ‘What if?” Now that you’ve played again and were voted out, does that make things better? Does it make it worse?
Swan: That’s a very good and interesting question. And that’s the crux of this whole thing. I have to say my short answer is that I’m not sure. And that’s all because what happened this time is so much more complex. Because, let’s face it, I’m an object of scorn and ridicule to some extent. Which is fine. If you don’t go into this thing with your eyes open that that’s within the realm of possibility, then you’re a fool. I get that. Just because you can intellectualize about that doesn’t make it easy. I’m not in an intellectual place right now. It’s having an impact, which is difficult.
Holmes: What’s the reaction been like from your family?
Swan: Last night before the show came on I told my daughter, “Look, I’m going to get voted out.” She asked me why, and the way she asked me was like, “Why would they vote you out, Daddy? You’re OK. I love you. Why don’t others want you around?” And I basically said that my tribe loses the challenge and votes me out. But she could discern that there were still other people in the tribe. And she said, “If there’s still going to be other people, why are they voting you out?” And then she started to cry. It just hit me that this is a pretty profound thing. We had a conversation that was very good, it bonded us in a very special way that I don’t want to share because it’s very personal, but it’s tough to have to see my daughter upset over this thing. So, it was one more thing that piles onto the scorn and the ridicule.
Holmes: Does it give you some solace that your real alliance, the people you’re spending your life with, care so much about you? Does that help put things in perspective?
Swan: Oh, absolutely. And Gordon, that’s the one thing I’ll say that there is always a silver lining. And one of those things was the special moment I had with my daughter. The other one is I really do appreciate my life. Not to say that before “Survivor” that I didn’t appreciate her, but when you feel like you have nothing else and no soft place to land, and you can go to this person and you know that they have your back and they want you to be better, that’s just such an amazing thing. My real tribe loves me and they have proven it. I will never have to question that.

Holmes: You mentioned “scorn and ridicule” earlier. What have you been experiencing outside of the game?
Swan: You know; Twitter, Facebook. Some of it has even been in my face walking down the street. It’s probably not unlike some of the other folks in the past have received. But I’ll be on my way to the office and the guy across the way on the train platform will say, “You suck!” Some of it’s been quite aggressive to the point where if I’d been able to get to the people it might not have ended well. It’s not easy. I’m a person, I’m a human being. Jeff’s right, I’m not Superman.
Holmes: I always say it’s easy to be on your couch and be well fed and say, “Yeah, Russell should have done this.”
Swan: That’s right. If I’m not mistaken, you’ve run a challenge or two.
Holmes: Yeah. A few times.
Swan: You know that those things are ballbusters.
Holmes: That they are.
Swan: And that’s just the physical. The physical is easy. I wanted to do well. I wanted my tribe to do well. I wanted to last longer than I did before. I wanted to make the merge. And I do wear my heart on my sleeve. What happened in Tribal a couple of times is the antithesis of what I believe. I don’t believe in tearing people down. But, that’s the nature of the game.

Holmes: You went in with a blueprint for what you wanted to do. You didn’t want to be a leader, you were going to hang back, you were going to stay hydrated. A lot of the things you said you weren’t going to do, you ended up doing. Is that part of being in the game? Is that something within yourself that you have to deal with?
Swan: I don’t know. Again, I don’t know. Right now, I’m in “Survivor” mode. I’m just mad, pissed, humiliated. That’s where I’m existing right now.

Holmes: I love “Survivor.” I’ve been watching from day one. But at the end of the day it’s just a game. We’ve spoken a few times, I don’t know you personally, but you’ve always been a nice, approachable guy.
Swan: Thank you.
Holmes: This interview has been kind of heartbreaking. I hope you’re able to find some solace in all of this. It’s not worth beating yourself up over. It seems like you have a fantastic life and a great family.
Swan: Absolutely. And I appreciate that.
Holmes: A lot of people leave the show and it’s changed their life for the better. I hope you’re able to eventually find a good place for this.
Swan: I’ll get there, Gordon. If nothing else, I don’t want people to think I’m going to jump off of a bridge.
Holmes: Do not jump off a bridge. I can’t emphasize that enough.
Swan: (Laughs)
Holmes: We’re both Philly guys, if you’re going to jump off a bridge you call me.
Swan: (Laughs) I certainly will, dude.

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

Tags:jeff probst, russell swan, survivor, survivor philippines
Posted in RealityTV, survivor, TV News | Comments Off on ‘Survivor: Philippines’ Castaway Russell: ‘I’m Just Mad…Humiliated’

‘Survivor: Philippines’ Recap: The Little Tribe That Could

October 10, 2012

'Survivor: Philippines' (CBS)

Set Your DVR to Record “Survivor: Philippines”

Last Week: Penner pitched an alliance to Jeff Kent, Abi-Maria threw RC under the bus, and Matsing tossed their cookies.

39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

Let’s take a look at the tribes as they currently stand…

The Matsing Tribe (wearing blue)
Denise – Sex Therapist, 41
Malcolm – Bartender, 25
Russell – Environmental Attorney, 45

The Tandang Tribe (wearing yellow)
Abi-Maria – Business Student, 32
Artis – Computer Engineer, 53
Michael – Professional Speaker, Author, and Coach, 50
Lisa – Former ‘Facts of Life’ Star, 49
Pete – Engineering Graduate, 24
RC – Investment Banker, 27

We start off with sad times on Matsing beach. The rain is pouring down and nobody is talking. Things have gotten so bad that Malcolm can’t even start up the tribe’s fire. He’s not totally down though, he thinks all it’ll take is one win to turn things around. You don’t even need a win, just don’t be last.

Russell’s plan is to mount a comeback. That’s a hell of a plan. My plan is to be good at everything and to never die. We’ll see how those turn out.

Over at Tandang, the rain can’t damper Pete’s good mood. Apparently he’s going for a Hantzian, let’s-make-some-chaos type of game. For his first trick, he plants the immunity idol clue in RC’s bag. This stratagem serves two purposes as it infuriates Abi while amusing Pete. Well played.

Meanwhile at Kalabaw, Penner, Kent, and a skinny, blonde dude decide to do some fishing. Penner and Kent eventually bring the guy into their alliance. Then the guy actually gets to speak! The lower-third graphic identifies him as “Carter.”

At camp, Katie, Dana, and Purple Dawson realize that the boys are plotting against them. Their plan is to make it to the merge, then start up some “One World” girl power with the other females.

Back at Matsing, Russell sums up the tribe’s problems as being stuck with “A smoker, a lunatic, and a beauty queen.” Sounds like a sitcom pitch to me!

Russell’s also concerned because nobody has approached him to discuss voting strategy. Realizing that his number is probably up, he starts hunting for the idol. Just now…like five days after he found the clue.

Denise catches him searching, but he denies what he’s up to. Later, her and Malcolm dig through his stuff in an attempt to find it. They have no luck.

Over at Matsing, RC tries to have a chat with Abi, but she’s not having it. It’s like a weird Springer episode. RC tries to get some info out of Pete, but he denies everything. This is pretty awesome. I kinda want Tandang to lose so we can see them at Tribal.

Immunity Challenge Time: One player from each team will put a pot of rice on each end of a yoke. They’ll then put the yoke over their shoulders and carry it over a weird obstacle. From there they’ll put the pots into holders and head back. Then, the next person will go. Once they have six pots in place, one player will swing a small demolition ball in an attempt to destroy the pots. First tribe to smash all six pots win immunity and a steak dinner. The second tribe wins immunity, veggies, a pot, and spices. The losing tribe gets a relaxing evening by the fire with talk show host Jeff Probst.

Katie, Dana, and Dawson will sit for Kalabaw, while Lisa, RC, and Abi-Maria will sit for Tandang. Soooo sexist.

The challenge starts off and Carter immediately drops a pot. No, I’m not going to make a Carter/pot joke. But, feel free to make your own.

Matsing has a bit of a lead thanks to Malcolm. Do you believe in miracles?!

Tandang eventually catches up and is the first to start swinging the demolition ball. Matsing is right behind them. Artis is swinging for Tandang while Malcolm swings for Matsing.

Kalabaw catches up and Kent, of course, is in charge of hurling the ball.

Artis does a fantastic job and the Tandangers win it.

Matsing and Kalabaw are neck and neck in the battle for second place. Both sides had several near misses, but eventually Jeff Kent managed to pull off the victory.

Quick Aside: The editing on Kent’s final hit was amazing. There was slow-motion footage of the ball knocking the pot over but it didn’t break. Then, when the ball swung back it smashed the pot. No lie, we loudly cheered in my living room. “Survivor” is the best show ever.

And true to form, Russell has another fit after the loss. The frustrated returnee walked over and smashed the remaining pot. He then started talking to God. He even slipped up and called Jeff, “Lord.” Oh c’mon, if Jeff was the Lord, “Survivor: Nicaragua” would’ve never happened.

And, as we’ve discussed before, God doesn’t care who wins “Survivor.” But if he does, he clearly isn’t a Matsing fan.

Also, Tandang and Kalabaw were greatly amused by the blow-up. This isn’t Russell’s day.

Back at camp, Malcolm seems a little torn between keeping Russell’s strength or Denise’s loyalty. I don’t believe him. No way he votes against Denise.

Denise is worried that Russell has the idol, so she and Malcolm decide to make Russell feel like he’s safe. Oddly enough, he seems to buy it.

That night at Tribal Council, Jeff Probst punches Matsing’s loyalty card. Two more visits and they get a free ice cream.

Russell thinks it’s OK to expect excellence from himself. He doesn’t say if it’s OK to freak out when you don’t get it.

Malcolm owns up to failing on the demolition ball portion of the challenge.

Denise thinks she should stay because she’s a physical player and has a strong social game.

Malcolm thinks he should stay because they can’t wait for a twist, they need to win a challenge.

Russell thinks he should stay because he’s no slouch in challenges and that he has a strong social game. Surely, the others saw Kalabaw and Tandang laughing at him, right?

Russell and Malcolm both think that Denise can’t be beat at the final Tribal. They might be right.

Voting Time: Russell votes for Malcolm, Malcolm votes for Russell, and the rest…well, there’s only like one other vote, and we don’t get to see it.

Jeff tallies three whole votes and returns. We’ve got one vote for Russell, one vote for Malcolm, and the fourth person to be voted out of “Survivor: Philippines” is…Russell.

Verdict: That challenge was awesome. I was literally on the edge of my couch. And frankly, it was fun to see a good, old-fashioned Ulonging.

That being said, a tribe of two is probably too small. Whether Denise and Malcolm are split up or there’s a full tribe reshuffle, it’ll be interesting to see how everything shakes out.

Who’s Going to Win: Could Lisa Whelchel win “Survivor”? As a non-dominant member of the dominant alliance in the show’s strongest tribe, she has to have a serious shot, right? That would totally blow my mind.

Power Rankings Results: Ooo…a tie. Kat’s getting good at this. We both pegged Mr. Swan as this week’s boot, so we both receive 15 points. So, the current score is Team Kat: 41, Team Awesome Thunder 47.

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

Tags:jeff kent, jeff probst, jonathan penner, Lisa Whelchel, michael skupin, russell swan, survivor, survivor philippines
Posted in RealityTV, survivor, TV News | Comments Off on ‘Survivor: Philippines’ Recap: The Little Tribe That Could

More Whatnot

Posts Tagged ‘survivor philippines’

‘Survivor: Philippines’ Recap: Of Rice and Men

‘Survivor: Philippines’ Power Rankings: Round Five

What Is the Most Endearing ‘Survivor’ Moment? Jeff Probst Answers (Kinda)

‘Survivor’ Dawson Has Harsh Words for Jeff Kent, Loving Words for Jeff Probst

‘Survivor’ Castaway Dana: Jeff Kent ‘Fights Directly Against What I Fight For’

‘Survivor: Philippines’ Recap: Matsing’s Swan Song?

‘Survivor: Philippines’ Power Rankings: Round Four

Will There Ever Be a Cold-Weather ‘Survivor’ Season? Jeff Probst Answers…

‘Survivor: Philippines’ Castaway Russell: ‘I’m Just Mad…Humiliated’

‘Survivor: Philippines’ Recap: The Little Tribe That Could

Archives

Categories

Posts Tagged ‘survivor philippines’

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Archives

Categories