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

September 24, 2014

'Survivor: San Juan del Sur' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to go for “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” coverage with “all the fixin’s.” We’ll have Power Rankings with “Cagayan” fave Spencer Bledsoe, every Wednesday evening we’ll bring you a recap of the most recent episode, and every Thursday you’ll be able to watch the previous night’s episode and read an interview with the eliminated contestant. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for immediate updates.

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And…we’re off.

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

More like “U-dope-ia.” Am I right?

(Crickets)

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

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

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

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

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

Finally, Jeff says something about…

39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog

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

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

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

The Hunahpu (wearing blue)

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

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

The Coyopa (wearing yellow)

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

Fun Fact: I hate the word Hunahpu sooooooo much.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jaclyn thinks there’s a bro-lliance.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tags:jeff probst, survivor, survivor san juan del sur
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Official ‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur’ Pre-Season Rankings

September 24, 2014

'Survivor: San Juan del Sur' (CBS)

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

The mind boggles.

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

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

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


1. Jeremy – Firemen are the new beauty queens! We’ve got a team on “The Amazing Race” and three (count ’em!) on this season. Hook and ladder alliance for the win! Seriously though, Jeremy gets my pre-season jinx this year because he’s old enough to hang with the oldies, but young enough to get along with the kids. He’s deceptively athletic. He’s laid back. And best of all, I loved the way he deferred to his wife during his TVGN interview. That’s the kind of person who can blend and go far.	2. Val – The Foxboro duo are probably the most formidable Blood vs. Water pair ever. They both bring a ton of good qualities to the table. Val’s fit, she’s smart, and she’s got that special cop sixth-sense. She can read when people are lying. And, as a mother, she has to be patient. I expect good things from these two.

3. Reed – Listen up, Reed. I saw “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” on Broadway. I saw the Green Goblin and the rest of the Sinister Six sing “A Freak Like Me Needs Company.” I’m not happy about it. But, I’m not going to hold it against you. I know you just swung over my head, you didn’t produce, write, or direct it. So, why are you so high on this list? Well, as an aerialist, I’m thinking you perform well under pressure. You clearly know a thing or two about the game. And, I think your tribe is going to do well in challenges before the swap. You should have tons of options.	4. Kelley – Oh man, if you were to feed every “Survivor” bio since the beginning of time into a machine and had it pick out the perfect average one, it’d probably be Kelley’s. Pretty, blonde, athletic, in her 20s, hates lazy people, thinks she’s the next Parvati, claims to be “competitive” on three separate occasions. Don’t get me wrong, she not a bad pick to win this thing because she doesn’t have any obvious flaws, but…zzz…

5. Missy – I actually like Missy a lot. She’s going to be on a young tribe, but she deals with young people all the time. If she can turn off the coach part of her personality and relate to her tribemates as a peer, she should do well.	6. Dale – So, Dale is a hard worker who spends most of his time by himself. Sounds like a “Survivor” social disaster waiting to happen, right? Not necessarily. He isn’t going to be leading any alliances, but if he can keep his head down and get in with some movers and shakers he could be sticking around to the end.

7. Nadiya – Were Jet and Cord busy? Were the Globetrotters on tour? I kid, I kid…the Twinnies are fine, they just wouldn’t have been my “Amazing Race” first choices. OK, one of the things I don’t think anyone is talking about is the fact that their “Race” experience could serve them well in Nicaragua. They won’t be stressed out or overwhelmed by all the cameras surrounding them at all times. They’ll be used it. And, they’ve been competing in stressful competitions for years.	8. Natalie – I just thought of this; what if both of the Twinnies make it to the merge and then pull off some challenge switcharoo stuff like the twins in the movie “Moving”? What if they end up on opposite alliances, and then pretend to be the other twin to get intel? That’s it. Next time, cast an all-twin “Blood vs. Water.”

9. Julie – Johnny Rocker is a big dude with some big opinions. I’d imagine the woman who spends her life with him must know a thing or two about dealing with egos. I think a lot of people are going to underestimate Julie, and that makes her dangerous.	10. Wes – Oh…where do I start with you? You say you’re going to have women under your wing like Russell Hantz. Well, there’s only one Russell Hantz, kid, and it ain’t you. You seem like a nice guy and Russell’s strategy depended on him being a not-nice guy. Russell’s a cult leader. That requires a certain level of gravitas. You’re a little young for that. Your best bet is to play second fiddle to someone with a little more charisma.

11. Josh – Hmmm…Reed doesn’t think Josh has a very good poker face. That might not be a big deal, seeing as they spend so much time together and Reed has had time to learn the intricacies of Josh’s face. But it is troublesome. He’s also on a tribe with John Rocker and some other people who don’t strike me as Broadway fans. That’s equally troublesome.	12. Jon – Jon seems like a nice, athletic guy who will do well in challenges and make some friends and probably be the first one gone after the merge. Especially if Jaclyn starts pushing the “We need to win so we can start a family” narrative. Nobody wants to stand up against that at the final Tribal, so they’ll be gone long before then.

13. Alec – Just having Drew around is going to be good for Alec’s game. Alec seems like a less-threatening, less-arrogant version of his brother. So, as long as Drew is around, Alec should be safe. I don’t think he has the killer instinct to take this whole thing, but this Mini Me should do better than his Doctor Evil.	14. John – It’s easy to write John Rocker off because of his controversial comments. But honestly, most of the players will probably judge him based on how he presents himself in the game. Now, if he hasn’t grown a filter over the years and spews the same garbage, he might not last long. But, like him or not, the guy’s a world-class athlete and has experience performing in stressful situations. Does that mean I think he has a chance of winning? Well…honestly, I don’t. He doesn’t seem that psyched about being on the show. He doesn’t seem to give himself much of a chance of winning. So, why should I?

15. Drew – I can’t quite figure out who’s going to lead Drew’s tribe. I see Keith on the outs early, Reed, Kelley, Jeremy, and Missy are too smart to be the leader, Jon and Natalie are a little too goofy, and Julie is going to overcompensate for being John Rocker’s girlfriend by being super nice. So does Drew, the man who can “pull off the unthinkable with ease” step up? And does it drive everyone crazy? I’m thinking yes.	16. Baylor – I think the only young person I’ve ever picked to do well in this game was Sophie Clarke, and that’s because she’s an old soul. I think Baylor clearly has the athletic chops to do well in this game, but I don’t think she has enough life experience to top her older competition in the social game.

17. Jaclyn – The “Survivor” contestant Jaclyn thinks she’s most like is Jefra from “Survivor: Cagayan.” Let that one sink in for a minute. There have been over 400 Survivors to play this game, and she chose the one who had next to no impact on her season. That’s like saying the holiday you’re most like is Arbor Day. Or the Peanuts character you’re most like is Frieda. Or the pizza topping you’re most like is extra sauce.	18. Keith – Lookit that mustache! That’s a beaut! Not since the days of Rick Nelson have we seen something like that saunter into the game. Seriously though, I like him a lot more than I like Wes, but I worry that he’s only here because his son wanted to be on “Survivor.” Add that to the fact that’s he’s the oldest member of a young tribe and you have a recipe for an early dismissal. Of course, with my track record, Keith will probably win the whole thing.

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

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

Tags:jeff probst, john rocker, survivor, survivor san juan del sur
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‘Survivor’ Fave Spencer Bledsoe’s ‘San Juan del Sur’ Pre-Season Rankings

September 19, 2014

Spencer Bledsoe (CBS)

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

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

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

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

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

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


1. Jeremy – “This is a show about people from different walks of life.” Jeff Probst likes saying that more than “you’ve gotta dig deep.” He likes saying that more than he likes criticizing contestants’ challenge performances. He likes it more than screaming the last name of his newest chiseled man-crush (now taking bets on whether it’s “MISCH!” or “ROCKER!” this season). The point is that walk of life is key, and Jeremy is in an ideal walk of life to excel in “Survivor.” He is 36 years old. What’s the average age of his tribe? 34.2. He played arena football, so he will benefit from an athletic history, but now he’s a firefighter – someone stereotypically fit, community-oriented, and non-threatening. I would suspect he was engineered in a lab to be the perfect “Survivor” player if it weren’t for his completely organic likability. Maybe it’s just because I was in an alliance with someone named Jeremy, but this young lad is already aboard the bandwagon.	2. Kelley – Nothing about Kelley jumps off the page. She’s a sociable, attractive marketing manager who’s transitioned from small farm town to big city and joins the ever-growing club of players who list Parvati as the “Survivor” they’re most like. Yet, Kelley is as well rounded as reality contestants come, and I am high on her based on a simple tenet – “Survivor” casts a lot of nut jobs. Any given season, there are enough extreme personalities that only a handful of feasible winners remain. Kelley, in my opinion, is guaranteed to be one of them: I’d bet the farm that she turns out as balanced, even-keeled and personable as her interviews suggest. I don’t necessarily think we’re going to watch episode one and realize Kelley is the second coming of Kim Spradlin, but we’re also not going to watch episode one and realize Kelley is crazy. In “Survivor,” not being crazy is more than half the battle.

3. Val – You’ll notice a theme on my list: Pairs tend to land near the same ranking, particularly in strong “water” relationships like a decade-long marriage. Val probably informs a lot of Jeremy’s personality and approach to the game, and vice-versa. She comes off every bit as authentic and likable as her husband, and seems like someone anybody could feasibly relate to. In my eyes, Val is set up to be a ‘good-cop’ version of Tony Vlachos. One of Tony’s biggest strengths is that he sneaks up on you; he’s a loud, brash Jersey-talking personality, and it’s easy to write him off without realizing just how cunning he is underneath. (Absolutely necessary note: Gordon had Tony last in his Cagayan preseason Power Rankings). Val could be similarly underestimated. She isn’t an imposing physical force and her self-described squeaky voice won’t intimidate. But by season’s end, Val could prove herself a wolf in sheep clothing.	4. Reed – I can see it now: John Rocker’s lips quivering as he turns to face his tribe, his eyes glistening as he fights to be strong, to quell the salty, teary streams cascading down his cheeks and to escape the image of Reed manhandling him in a physical challenge – an image now seared into his mind. What’s so tantalizing is that this could very well happen; Reed is a gay New Yorker and former Broadway “Spider-Man” physically fit enough to best anyone in a challenge, even John Rocker. He’ll be indispensable to his tribe’s challenge efforts early on, and should be able to coast to the merge without hassle. Beyond fitness, I love his energy, I love that he’s a “Survivor” diehard and I’d love to see him win.

5. Natalie – There’s something to Nadiya and her sister. They’re more than just good television, they deserve to be taken seriously, and I think they could make a real run at “Survivor.” They might just enjoy the best of both worlds within the Blood vs. Water twist: They can call on superpowers of connectedness if and when they pair up, but also benefit from playing individually in the beginning. When Natalie says their blood runs thicker than others’, I believe her, and in an endgame situation the sisters are a lock to stay unified. Yet, they’ll get to play the early tribal phase of the game without the baggage of being attached at the hip. Split up, they promise to be both less threatening and less annoying than if they started together. Welcome to the season of the twinnies.	6. Nadiya – At first I was hard-pressed to choose one twinnie over the other, but then I realized Natalie has far more Twitter followers. Since Twitter follower count has nearly perfect correlation with “Survivor” skill, Nadiya takes the backseat to her sister.

7. Jaclyn – What I love about this couple is their purpose. Jon and Jaclyn have a compelling reason for playing “Survivor”: The money could make a tangible, meaningful impact on their potential plans of surrogacy. Most contestants vaguely say they’re playing “for the adventure/experience/competition/to find themselves,” but Jaclyn is concrete. She’s playing for the money, and she knows what she wants to do with the money. This doesn’t necessarily mean she’s better equipped to play than others, but I believe it does mean I can trust her to play for first. When others might play conservatively and let windows of opportunity come and go, I trust Jaclyn to go for broke and take her shots. It may not ever be a good idea to imbibe the principles of Reese Bobby from “Talladega Nights,” but in “Survivor,” it’s true that “if you ain’t first, you’re last.”	8. Jon – If you combined the three amigos from “Survivor: Caramoan,” I think the result would look a lot like Jon. He brims with positive, unassuming energy like Eddie Fox. His eyes shine with golden retriever puppy eagerness reminiscent of Reynold Toepfer. He even seems to bring the tact of former Power-Ranker Malcolm Freberg to the table, talking at length in his pregame interviews about the possibility of forming a couple’s alliance. Jon’s main hurdle could be that he seems too polished; people will fear him, both for his potential to team up with Jaclyn and for his physical and mental savvy. My unfortunate prediction is that despite having all the tools to win, Jon will quickly run out of allies willing to bro down with him post-merge.

9. Missy – Missy strikes me as an extremely youthful 47. She’s an ‘older’ woman who spends every day with 150 to 200 little monsters in a competitive cheerleading gym, and who I’m guessing is adept at interacting with people of all ages. She seems to have accomplished a lot in opening the gym and “being ‘on’ 24/7” to run it, as she puts it. I could imagine that experience segueing perfectly into “Survivor,” another environment that calls for being ‘on’ 24/7, and for that reason Missy is a favorite of mine.	10. Josh – I’ll preface this by saying I have no good reason for ranking Josh this low. None. But I have some bad reasons: The only thing worse than saying the “Survivor” you’re most like is Russell, Boston Rob, or Parvati is saying “there hasn’t been any one like me.” 424 people have played “Survivor” before you! Pick one!!! Despite this bio pet peeve, Josh earns forgiveness for playing Settlers of Catan, and should have a good mind for the game as the first member of his family to earn a master’s degree. His biggest weakness, ironically, could be the strength of his partner. I wouldn’t be surprised if Josh were ultimately voted out in an attempt to cut the legs out from under a threatening Reed, Baskauskas brothers style.

11. Alec – What strikes me in the Christy brothers’ pregame interviews is that Drew seems to dictate the conversation. The admittedly brief clips of video we have show Alec adopting a more eased, stereotypical younger brother role. He allows Drew to interject opinions and second-guess him while articulating himself calmly throughout. That isn’t to say Alec isn’t aggressive; he defends himself and owns his strengths. With so many type-A personalities on “Survivor,” however, Alec’s ability to restrain himself and listen more than he speaks could prove invaluable, and make him a dark horse with more social backbone than your typical 22-year-old.	12. Dale – A dogmatic advocate of hard work, I expect Dale to bring strong opinions to “Survivor”. He’s not in it for Twitter and Instagram; he seems to be playing for his relationship with his daughter, for a paycheck, and because he genuinely likes the show. You have to love a guy who goes back over a decade and references Big Tom as the player he’s most like. Dale is far older than the rest of his tribe, though, and he seems to be very no-nonsense and task-oriented. My fear is that he’ll march to the beat of his own vintage drum, and his tribe will be playing EDM. Dale’s upside is being a more likable Rupert who can provide outdoorsman skill and build a shelter that actually functions. His downside is being too set in his ways to enjoy that shelter for long.

13. Baylor – My people. This season has few near-college-aged players and few young, hot girls. While on another season Baylor might have more company in this respect, in San Juan Del Sur she’ll have to carry her demographical torches alone, and that’s my biggest knock against her. She may just have enough life experience from living through three divorces and following her musical passions to hit the ground running and keep up anyway. Baylor’s success, though, could depend on her being aggressive enough to rally those who are nearer her walk of life – Alec, Wes, Jaclyn, and Nadiya – and get an alliance started quickly.	14. Julie – This is a game about decision-making, and Julie is a woman who decided to date John Rocker. Being tethered to captain “speak English” can’t help her, but even so, if her cast mates give her a fair shot to integrate, I think Julie goes from thoroughly tanned dark horse to underestimated threat to win. She gets my kudos for her willingness to vote out her boyfriend; the precedent of the first Blood vs. Water suggests this is a game format much easier played individually. Add that Julie has a talent for reading people and making them feel comfortable in running her small business, and I think there’s a chance, albeit slim, that we’re looking at a breakout player.

15. Drew – “Really what’s at stake is there’s no surf boards here. And uh… I’m missing out on some surfing and some partying back in Florida, or New York, or wherever else I’d be. What’s at stake is really nothing.” Despite being the ultimate hypocrite and knocking the guy for his pregame interview, I do like Drew. I’ll be rooting for him to figure out that there are at least one million things at stake before he finds himself searching for waves at ponderosa.	16. Keith – Louisiana outdoorsman. Elder of the Hunahpu tribe. Long shot. I hope I’m wrong, but I get the sense this is an adventure Wes dragged his dad along for, and not one Keith has thought much about. He seems primed for a healthy father-son competition, and could be an early asset to his tribe (he mentions hunting and fishing a combined six times in his bio). Ultimately, though, I don’t envision him spearheading any strong alliances. None of his tribe mates are similar to him in age, love of cigars, or region of the country.

17. Wes – Like his dad, Wes is a hunter, fisher, and beer drinker with a colorful personality and a knack for humorous, southern accented sound bites. There’s a lot to like about Wes, and he’s a big “Survivor” fan to boot. But then there’s his bio answer to ‘”Survivor” Contestant You Are Most Like’: “Ozzy and Russell Hantz because I’ll dominate challenges and have girls under my wings making them think I will take them to the end.” Strike one, strike two, strike three and you’re out. This line shattered my faith that Wes will be skilled at the social game. On the other hand, it ignited my faith that he’ll be Zane Knight 2.0 – an entertaining early boot and fantastic “Survivor” character.	18. John – When ranking someone last, one must ask the critical question: Will this player be worse at “Survivor” than Kassandra McQuillen? I believe this is the man who could pull it off. But even if he can’t, John Rocker will have to overcome Rocker-sized obstacles if he wants to pull off a win. He’ll have to convince a jury to award $1 million to a former professional athlete – one whose public image puts any “Survivor” villain to non-shame. To top it all off, Rocker doesn’t even seem excited to play, calling a hypothetical win a “feather in the cap.” Now it’s time to take Jeff Probst’s words and pay it forward like Mike Skupin would: John Rocker has zero chance of winning this game.

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

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

Tags:blood vs. water, jeff probst, spencer bledsoe, survivor, survivor san juan del sur
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‘Survivor: San Juan del Sur – Blood vs. Water’ Cast Revealed

August 27, 2014

'Survivor' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY TV is the place to be for all sorts of “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” fun. On Mondays we’ll have Power Rankings with “Survivor: Cagayan” favorite Spencer Bledsoe. On Wednesday evenings we’ll bring you a recap of the most recent episode. And, every Thursday you’ll be able to watch the previous night’s episode and read an interview with the eliminated contestant. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for immediate updates.

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

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

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

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

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