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‘Survivor: Second Chance’ Abi: “I’m Going to Wait for the Right Time to Be the Villain”

September 8, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV sent me deep into the Cambodian wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Second Chance” goodness. So, be sure to check back for exclusive interviews, photos, and behind-the-scenes tidbits. And, follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

Name: Abi-Maria Gomes
Season: “Survivor: Philippines”
Finish: Fifth Place
Why You Should Remember Her: The Brazilian beauty is best known for her feud with alliance-mate R.C. Saint-Amour.

Abi-Maria Gomes: Does your mom still hate me?
Gordon Holmes: I told her you were a sweetheart, but she only knows what she saw on CBS.
Gomes: (Laughs)
Holmes: You’re in that Corinne Kaplan category of people that in the game are viewed as villains, but in real life are super cool.
Gomes: Well, I’m very competitive.
Holmes: Yeah, but everyone out there is competitive. Does the lack of food bring out a meaner side?
Gomes: There’s the gamer Abi and the real Abi. And when you put yourself through the game, I put on my “Survivor” hat. You can’t be 100% real out there or you’re going to be eaten alive by the other contestants. When it comes to being lucky enough to be one of the ones chosen to play, I wear that “Survivor” hat. But in the real world, that hat gets put away and I’m the real Abi. I’m a good, genuine person outside of the game. But inside the game? Battle time!
Holmes: What time is it? It’s game time.
Gomes: Game time! Boo yah! (Laughs) Gangster!

Holmes: When I was prepping the info for what people are remembered for, I kept coming back to your feud with R.C. (Saint-Amour).
Gomes: I feuded with pretty much everyone. (Laughs)
Holmes: This is true. But you and R.C. were aligned at one point. Are you worried that others could view the break-up of that alliance as you flipping on her?
Gomes: It happened really quickly. We immediately connected. We didn’t have a minute to even think if we were going to work well together or not. And when someone comes up to you and says, “We’re together, right?” You can’t say no. You’re shooting yourself in the foot. She approached me first. But then I started noticing that she was getting too close to (Michael) Skupin and that created a huge paranoia in me. I was the weakest link from the get-go. I had an injury day one from jumping from the boat. I tore my ACL. And she was super strong. I was like, “Oh (expletive deleted)! Is she going to turn on me?” I acted too quickly. It was a mistake and I let my emotions control my game. This time around I want to be in control of my emotions. And I want to be in control of my circumstances. I don’t want to let things like that happen so quickly. I’m going to wait for the right time to be the villain.
Holmes: Have you two made peace since then?
Gomes: R.C. hates me. I’ve tried to beg for forgiveness, I’ve tried so hard. But there’s so much one can do. It’s like a dance. You have to be at the same beat and the same rhythm. And when she starts talking (expletive deleted) about me and lying about my personality? That hurts me. I’m not what you saw on “Survivor.” Yes, I’m feisty. Yes, I’m sassy. And it’s hard for me to forgive and forget, but that’s due to me being a Scorpio. I’ve had a lot of growth, I’ve been working on myself. And I do know that I did her wrong.  But, I was playing a game.

Holmes: With any returnee season, pre-game alliances are an issue. Have you participated in any? Have you heard of any?
Gomes: I’ve heard of some. I choose not to participate in any. If people have contacted me, I’m like, “Sure.” I’m not dumb. I’m always open to it. But, I know that they don’t work. Over and over again you’ve seen people get burned. Francesca (Hogi) is a huge example. She had pre-game alliances with (John) Cochran and Andrea (Boehlke) before she went on her season and she was the first one voted out. I think everyone comes with two or three friends and then when they put their toes on the sand that’s out the window. People are here to win. And in a season like “Second Chance” we have gamers here. It’s going to be crazy.

Holmes: Coach Wade did a great job in “South Pacific” flipping people’s perception of him. You were the villain of the “Philippines,” are you hoping to flip things the way he did?
Gomes: That is an excellent strategy. And I’m definitely trying to redeem myself. However, I own the whole villainess thing. I think it’s cool to be a villain in the “Survivor” world. The best players are all villains. Most of the winners are villains. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. But, out there I’m going to try to turn it around and be funny and have fun with it. I’m not going to have an injury.
Holmes: Oh, you totally just jinxed it. That other ACL is done for.
Gomes: (Laughs) No, I’m not going to have an injury. Knock on wood. I’m going to kill at challenges and I’m going to connect with each individual out there. And behind their backs I’ll be talking a lot of (expletive deleted). And I’m going to give the producers what they want.
Holmes: Which is…?
Gomes: Some sassy, naughty, mean Abi.
Holmes: You’re going to make my mom furious.
Gomes: I love it! (Laughs)

Holmes: Does your reputation put a target on your back?
Gomes: I think it does put a target on my back. But, I’m going to use that to my advantage. In “Philippines,” there was one thing that was true; I was someone’s friend, but if you (expletive deleted) with me, you’re dead.
Holmes: That’s why I don’t (expletive deleted) with you.
Gomes: (Laughs) I do have an angel on my left shoulder and a devil on my right shoulder.

Holmes: You’re the only person from “Survivor: Philippines,” there are several people from “Cagayan.” There are several people from “San Juan del Sur.” Is that a concern?
Gomes: I know! Hopefully they don’t like each other. And hopefully they realize it will put a target on their back. I’m a very observant person, so hopefully that won’t be an issue for my game. The “Cagayan” people are Spencer, Woo, Kass, and Tasha. Ok…Woo is a cutie.
Holmes: He’s adorable.
Gomes: He’s so adorable! Oh my God. I totally want to charm him up and seduce him a little bit. I want his hair…and his abs…he’s so cute! Oh my God, I just wanna…like hug him.
Holmes:  Are you and Peter (Yurkowski) still together?
Gomes: No…we broke up.
Holmes: Oh, I’m sorry.
Gomes: Peter and I broke up. We dated for two years. But, I’m 35 and ready for the real thing. I don’t think he’s quite there yet. I don’t think timing is our side.
Holmes: How old is he?
Gomes: He’s 27.
Holmes: Yeah, that’s young.
Gomes: He’s young. He’s a great guy, I love him to death. I’m sure he loves me too.
Holmes: So, as a single woman, there are no barriers to you putting the moves on Woo.
Gomes: There are no barriers. I’m going to be flirting. And I have my eyes on Woo. We would have cute babies together, could you imagine?
Holmes: Adorable. But, that should be a secondary goal.
Gomes: Secondary goal!
Holmes: Primary goal is winning “Survivor.”
Gomes: I think he has a girlfriend though. Sorry…to his girlfriend.
Holmes: (Laughs) Villain!

Holmes: If there is a twist this season, what do you think it is?
Gomes: I’m sure that Jeff will be having tons of twists. Especially because we’ve been having this pre-game for 10 days now. We’ve spent time studying each other. I think it’ll be a schoolyard pick for tribes and I think they’ll be mixing up the tribes as much as he can. I don’t think he’s going to make it easy for us to build bonds.

Holmes: Alright, we’re going to play “Align or Malign.” In my hand I have nineteen cards featuring your competitors. You’ll go through them and tell me who you’ll align with and who you’ll malign. Trick is, you only get eight aligns.
Gomes: I like this game.
Holmes: Right?

Gomes: OK, Vytas and Kelly…they’re scary! They’re yogis.
Holmes: They can speak with their minds.
Gomes: (Laughs) I see them reading the same book. Winking at each other. And I like Vytas. I’ve been to his yoga class. We’re not friends, but I’d love to align with him. But, if he aligns with her that might be a problem for me. I’m not here to go home anytime soon. I want this badly. So, I’ll align. And Kelly reminds me so much of Denise (Stapley). Pre-game I see her walking around, stoic face. Very hard to read. And she’s going to get a lot of sympathy votes if she gets to the end. She almost won “Borneo.” She lost by one vote. So, I will align with her for a little while. Before she makes it far. I’ll align with her.

Gomes: Tasha…align. She’s a gamer. I don’t think she’s afraid of aligning with a villain. She likes Brazil. She does throw a few Portuguese words here or there.

Gomes: Monica…malign. She laughs like R.C.
Holmes: (Laughs)
Gomes:  She totally does!

Gomes: Woo? And his hair? Totally align! He’s my little ninja.

Gomes: Jeremy? What a nice guy. Totally align. He’s a firefighter from Boston. Super strong. He has some guns on him. Align.

Gomes: I have three aligns left! Ciera…malign. She voted off her mom. She’s ruthless. Can’t have two ruthless people in the same alliance. She’ll cut people’s heads off just like I will. I love her and she’s super cute.

Gomes: Kimmi…malign. Her boobs get people distracted.
Holmes: All boobs are distracting, Abi.
Gomes: (Laughs) I know!

Gomes: Joe reminds me too much of Malcolm (Freberg). So…malign. Malcolm called me a dementor. Go (expletive deleted) yourself.

Gomes: Andrew…align. He reminds me of Jeff Probst.

Gomes: Keith…malign. He’s weak. I don’t think he’s going to do well in challenges.

Gomes: Shirin…align. She was the Abi in her season.

Gomes: One align left…Jeff Varner. I love my gays.
Holmes: Another thing you and Corinne Kaplan have in common.
Gomes: He’s bitchy. I love it.

Gomes: Kass…malign. Can’t trust her.

Gomes: Spencer…malign. Too smart for his own good.

Gomes: Terry…malign. Military…micro-manager…too much of a leader. I’d be a no collar.

Gomes: Stephen…malign. He’s a know-it-all. C’mon.

Gomes: Kelley…malign. You’re too cute for your own good.

Gomes: Peih-Gee…malign. Her bitch face? My God. When she does her bitch face she looks like a frog. Dude, you’re a pretty lady when you smile. But when you do your bitch face? Annoying.

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

“Survivor: Second Chance” will kick off with a special 90-minute premiere on Wednesday, September 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.

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A Sneak Peek at the Second ‘Survivor: Second Chance’ Immunity Challenge

August 28, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (XFINITY)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV sent me deep into the Cambodian wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Second Chance” goodness. So, be sure to check back for exclusive interviews, photos, and behind-the-scenes tidbits. And, follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

It wouldn’t be a trip to “Survivor” without the traditional Press vs. Dream Team immunity challenge. (Note: The Dream Team is a bunch of tanned, buff, bad asses who run the challenges to make sure they’re safe, fair, and entertaining).

I’ve competed in seven of these challenges. The first one in Gabon was a humiliating, soul-sucking, heartache-inducing nightmare. The Dream Team treated me the same was a dog treats a freshly cut lawn.

So, I decided to win the next six.

(Yeah, it’s lame to brag about wins in an exhibition competition, but I truly have so little else. Let me have this.)

With my good name cleared, I’ve been looking for new ways to get motivated for the games, and this season the producers were nice enough to give me one…

The Hidden Idol

“Entertainment Weekly” writer Dalton Ross has been begging “Survivor” to hide an idol at an immunity challenge for years. They finally listened to him. And since it was his idea, they wanted him to test it out.

The way it works is; a clue is hidden at camp. If you find the clue, it will tell you exactly where the challenge idol is hidden. It’s up to the individual to figure out how best to retrieve it and stash it without anyone noticing.

So, the producers took Dalton aside and told him where the idol was hidden.

My mission was now clear; I was going to beat him to the punch, watch him like a hawk, and claim immunity for myself.

The Challenge

In keeping with the theme of Second Chances, this challenge was a mash-up of competitions that appeared in “Survivor: Samoa” and “Survivor: Blood vs. Water.”

For the first part, the teams will have to run up and over three A-frames. The first two A-frames are a medium height, while the third one is much larger. Three members of the team will need to do this while carrying a heavy rope.

Once they’re over the obstacles the players will use the three ropes to create a MEGA rope. They’ll attach the rope to the end of a crate, then pull it across a slanted course.

When the crate reaches the end of the course, the players will untie knots to open the crate, then use the puzzle pieces they find inside to complete a picture puzzle. The first tribe to complete the puzzle wins respect.

“Survivors, Ready?”

There were plenty of press members at the event so the challenge wouldn’t be straight up Press vs. Dream Team. It was Press vs. Press with Dream Teamers sprinkled in to even up the sides. I made sure to be on Dalton’s team.

We gathered at the starting mat and went over strategies.

Finally, “Survivor” host and Emmy-hoarder Jeff Probst said the magic words and we were off.

Getting up the first A-frame was a piece of cake, getting down wasn’t quite as smooth. You see, Dalton Ross was one of the people selected to carry a rope. As I scurried over the top, I didn’t notice that he had some slack dangling over the other side. On the way down my foot got caught and I was sent tumbling down buff over teakettles.

In fact, when it was over the medics told me they were about to stop the challenge to check on me. But I just popped back up as if nothing had happened so they assumed I was fine.

And they were right, I was fine. However, it did make me wonder why Dalton was trying to kill me.

The race up the second A-frame wasn’t quite as successful. I tried and lost my footing on the first attempt, and was about to fail my second attempt when none other than “Survivor” Hall of Famer and my occasional Press challenge enemy Parvati Shallow reached out for me. I grabbed her hand “Cliffhanger”-style and was able to get over.

The third A-frame (the much higher one) required us to climb one of the CBS cameramen like a ladder. Hey, whatever it takes.

By the time we were down, the other tribe was at work pulling their crate along the course. Uh oh.

Our crate team went to work, but wasn’t having much luck. At one point, Parvati even had to run up to the crate to fix the rope as it had gotten stuck.

The other team had a significant lead by the time Parade.com writer Josh Wigler and I had a chance to tackle the puzzle.

The puzzle was the same style as the one that gave Tina Wesson fits in “Blood vs. Water” where you have to place double sided poles in the proper order to create a picture. One of the rules states that you can’t create the image on the ground and then move it into the frame. So, it involves a lot of trial and error to get everything placed correctly.

Fortunately, Mr. Wigler and I were in the zone. We had puzzle pieces bouncing in and out of the frame at a furious pace. And, once we figured out how to do it two at a time, we were really in business.

It didn’t hurt that the commentary we were hearing from Probst was not very positive when it came to our opponents’ puzzle.

Slowly but surely we were able to complete the puzzle and bask in the sweet sounds of Probst declaring us the victors. It was hugs and high-fives all around.  I don’t know if seven wins in a row is a record, but it felt pretty good.

Quick Aside: Do you remember what my real goal was for this challenge? Because apparently I didn’t.

When the merriment was over, Probst approached Dalton and asked if he’d retrieved the idol. Dalton reached into his pocket and proved that he had.

Wow.

Nobody saw him do it. Every person on our team knew he had the clue and not one of the eight people saw him grab it. It was like the second after Probst said, “Survivors, ready? Go!” the thought of the idol popped right out of my head.

It’s going to be an interesting season.

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

“Survivor: Second Chance” will kick off with a special 90-minute premiere on Wednesday, September 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.

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‘Survivor: Second Chance’ Spencer: “People…Think Kass and I Are Secret Friends”

August 27, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV sent me deep into the Cambodian wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Second Chance” goodness. So, be sure to check back for exclusive interviews, photos, and behind-the-scenes tidbits. And, follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

Name: Spencer Bledsoe
Previous Season: “Survivor: Cagayan”
Finish: Fourth Place
Why You Should Remember Him: This “Young Lad” almost went the distance after “Survivor” host Jeff Probst (and…uh…someone else) went on record saying he had no chance to win.

Gordon Holmes: What’ve you been up to since Cagayan?
Spencer Bledsoe: I’m in a lull between school and work, so I’m a glorified bum. But soon I will be a trader in Chicago.
Holmes: Oh man, I aspire to be a glorified bum.
Bledsoe: (Laughs)
Holmes: You have the most powerful thing a Survivor can have, and that’s XFINITY Power Rankings experience.
Bledsoe: That’s true.
Holmes: Is that unfair to everybody else?
Bledsoe: I think it’s a little unfair. There’s no way you can brush shoulders with a great Power Ranker like yourself and not come out a genius for it.
Holmes: (Laughs) And you were a chess champion to begin with.
Bledsoe: Chess playing was great, but the Power Rankings took me to the next level. I’m just worried about the fierce competition of another Power Ranker in my midst.
Holmes: You’re referring to…?
Bledsoe: Ciera Eastin.
Holmes: Is this something you can bond over?
Bledsoe: Yeah, potentially. There are few things you can bond over more than being Power Rankers. I’m looking forward to playing with Ciera. Has anyone ever beat you?
Holmes: Tons of times; Charlie Herschel, Taj George, Dawn Meehan…
Bledsoe: So, it’s a recent streak.
Holmes: Yes, between that and the press challenge streak, it’s truly an embarrassment of riches.
Bledsoe: Have you done the press challenge yet?
Holmes: Not yet.
Bledsoe: Are you nervous?
Holmes: Horrified. But, I am every time. And it’s awful, because I won the first one and was like, “This is awesome! My life in complete!” And then it started building. And now it’s this six-challenge juggernaut.
Bledsoe: I had the opposite. Everything went wrong.
Holmes: You’re so lucky.
Bledsoe: (Laughs) So, really it can’t get worse. I’m playing Roger Federer and he only has one more set to win, so nothing’s stopping me.

Holmes: You are wildly popular, which based on your pre-game interviews was a shock.
Bledsoe: (Laughs)
Holmes: Does being a fan favorite put a target on your back?
Bledsoe: Yeah, just being recent and being from a very good season like “Cagayan” does put a bit of a target. I think it might be tempered by that pre-game perception that I was a kid who had no idea how to play. So, maybe there’s still some of that lingering. So, maybe if people don’t think I have social skill or self awareness that could help. And I think there might be bigger fish to fry here. For example, Joe could easily steal my thunder. Because he’s from a more recent season, a better looking guy, more athletic, potentially a more popular guy who could take some heat off of me.
Holmes: Well, in your defense, nobody is better looking than Joe.
Bledsoe: (Laughs) I’ve been told he looks like a Greek god. That he should be on the cover of a romance novel.
Holmes: There are so few of us.

Holmes: How do you think people in this cast will perceive you?
Bledsoe: I think more people perceive me as a huge fan, happy to be here. I think there will be the perception that I idolize some of these people. I can make that a positive. If I can be the understudy of someone with a big ego, if I can get under Terry Dietz’s wing and make him think that he’s taking this adoring fan along until it’s time to cut his throat? Then that’s perfect.

Holmes: Do you think you’ll be an early target?
Bledsoe: I think I could be if the tribe make-up is such that people want to get rid of me. I feel like I can work a lot easier here with a lot of the women than a lot of the men. I think a lot of the men probably would want to target me. The strategic people might see me in a threatening way. Or, someone might just want to take down a recent, popular player. And the average age of the guys is sky high.
Holmes: You got a problem with old guys?
Bledsoe: (Laughs) I hate old guys.
Holmes: Cause an old guy can kick your ass in the Power Rankings.
Bledsoe: That’s true. If I can make it work, if I can fit that son/understudy niche it could work out fine. But, if I am threatening to an older guy because we relate to different things, or he feels excluded, or I feel excluded, then it becomes a problem.

Holmes: Who is an early target?
Bledsoe: Anyone who has proved themselves to be a bad ally could be in trouble. I think Kass might be sweating it because she has shown to be disloyal, not a good challenge competitor, not very helpful to her tribe. And then I think that the more threatening players are. There’s a huge gap. There are players who are good and players who aren’t. And those who are good are really threatening players; Jeremy, Vytas, Ciera, some of these players are strong and have great reputations. It’s the people in the middle who probably feel safe.

Holmes: Eleven people didn’t come on this journey, and they’ve already been talking. Since you hopped on that bus there has been a lot of talk about pre-game alliances.
Bledsoe: I’ve tried to err on the side of underplaying that side of the game because I think it’s easier to recover from. When you’re Brad Culpepper and you’re going nuts, having Monica call everyone and hiring software engineers to write code to get you votes? If you’re going that hard pre-game? If you’re calling everyone incessantly, that’s hard to recover from. If you’re keeping it low-key, that’s easy to recover from. I’ve had six or seven people here that I’ve talked with frequently. With who I’ve said, “I trust you on some level.” I feel really good about Shirin, about Kelley Wentworth, Andrew Savage by proxy of some of those people. Stephen Fishbach, that’s a natural pairing. Tasha from my season. I really like Peih-Gee. And then I have people I have surface-level relationships with, just being friendly.

Holmes: There are four Cagayaners…is that correct? Cagayanees?
Bledsoe: That’s probably the lesser of the many evils you could come up with.
Holmes: And the worst is…?
Bledsoe: I think Rob Cesternino has done pretty much every imaginable pronunciation.
Holmes: Having three people from your season along, is that good? Bad?
Bledsoe: I like Tasha, we could be partners. But, it comes out in the wash because it could create a target because people expect to have us together. I think with someone like Kass it’s a negative because we’re not tight and people could suspect that we are. I think there’s definitely a strong, noticeable minority of people who think Kass and I are secret friends.
Holmes: Because that’s true.
Bledsoe: Yup! We’re thick as thieves. I don’t know what she’s thinking. I don’t know if she wants to immediately target me. But we’re not super tight. And given that some people think we’re tight, that hurts me more than it helps me.

Holmes: If there are any twists, what do you think they are?
Bledsoe: Hmm…do you think Jeff Probst has the gall to bring back Redemption Island?
Holmes: I can’t say.
Bledsoe: But you do know!
Holmes: I do. That’s what makes this job fun.
Bledsoe: (Laughs) I do know there is a school-yard pick for the tribes.
Holmes: How do you know that?
Bledsoe: I overheard Dalton (Ross) talking.
Holmes: OK. I’m neither confirming nor denying.
Bledsoe: (Stares at Gordon)
Holmes: I think I know Dalton a little better than that. Basically he’s the Terry Dietz to my Spencer Bledsoe.
Bledsoe: (Laughs)
Holmes: You’re trying to trick me after all we’ve been through?
Bledsoe: (Laughs)
Holmes: I’m not even mad, I’m proud.
Bledsoe: Don’t tell him, I’m going to try the same thing on him. But I do think the tribe division is the heaviest thing on everybody’s minds. We all thought we’d get some clue when wardrobe was decided by color schemes, but then we were told to wear something similar to last time. They could do something like men vs. women. I pray it’s not that. Maybe it’s an age thing? But, the numbers don’t seem to be there. Maybe it’ll just be you ten over here and you ten over there.

Holmes: Alright, we’re going to play “Align or Malign.” In my hand I have nineteen cards featuring your competitors. You’ll go through them and tell me who you’ll align with and who you’ll malign. Trick is, you only get eight aligns.

Bledsoe: Kelly Wiglesworth, she’s tough for me. I don’t know if I can align with someone frozen in a time capsule and doesn’t want to make an alliance. I think I’d have a hard time playing with Kelly because I wouldn’t trust her to not vote off some random person because they’re not helping with camp life even if it contradicts our strategic goals. So, malign.

Bledsoe: Jeremy…I like. We were competitors on Mr. Survivor.
Holmes: And who won that?
Bledsoe: I believe I did. So I imagine Jeremy is out to get me. I couldn’t blame him. I couldn’t deal with someone taking the greatest prize out from under me. So, I have to malign Jeremy before he maligns me.

Bledsoe: Monica is a pretty friendly person from the pre-game interactions. I’ve never talked to her. But at the same time, she seems to be smiling and nodding at everyone. I think she has a lot of strategic chops that we didn’t see in Samoa, so I’m going to malign her as well.

Bledsoe: Jeff Varner…I like. I think it’d be easy to relate to him over the fact that Kimmi is annoying as hell. So, I’ll align with Jeff.

Bledsoe: Vytas…Vytas and I have talked pre-game. But, I trust him, as Jeff Probst would say 0.0%.
Holmes: We’re going to hear about that forever, aren’t we?
Bledsoe: (Laughs) Yeah.
Holmes: You should just get the tattoo.
Bledsoe: Well when I win I’ll have to get a 100.0% tattoo.
Holmes: Nice.
Bledsoe: The thing with Vytas is I think he thinks people buy his (expletive deleted) a lot more than they do. Vytas will go up to and in a seemingly sincere tone say, “Hey man, I just want to go out there and have fun. I just want to make great friends. This is going to be awesome.” I think he thinks people are eating it up when they’re not. I think he could be someone I work with at some point, but I always trust Vytas to what’s best for Vytas. So, malign.

Bledsoe: I really like Peih-Gee. We had brief interaction, but I have a good vibe from her. I’m going to align Peih-Gee.

Bledsoe: Stephen I have a lot in common with. We’re both deep in the RHAP community. He’s someone kind of like Vytas where I trust him to do what’s best for him. But he’s smoother and would be a better ally, so I’ll align with Stephen.

Bledsoe: Tasha, I love Tasha. I’ll align with Tasha.

Bledsoe: Kass? Is there another category other than “Align” and “Malign”? Can we get an “Exterminate” pile? I guess I’ll just malign her.

Bledsoe: Shirin is my favorite person in this group. If I can get a positive Harry Potter word association from her I’ll consider it a successful season.
Holmes: The damn Dirty 30 and their pre-determined word associations.
Bledsoe: You didn’t like that?
Holmes: It did make me feel loved that they took the time to put something together. But, it defeated the purpose.
Bledsoe: I helped her with that.
Holmes: So, you’re to blame.
Bledsoe: Hardcore aligning with Shirin.

Bledsoe: Kelley I really like. We’ve talked a decent bit. I think she’s a better player than she got to show. I’ll align with her.

Bledsoe: Terry…I could go either way. A fun story is that Trish tried to force me and Terry into an alliance. She Facebook messaged me, “I don’t know much, but I know people. You can trust Terry (expletive deleted) Dietz. We’re (expletive deleted) Boston!” Even though he’s not (expletive deleted) Boston. I messaged him, we had a decent chat. He could be a guy who’s plopped out of “Mad Men” and if that happens, then me and the people I want to align with will not be a fan. So I’ll err on the side of maligning.

Bledsoe: Abi-Maria…again I could go either way. I could see her being tolerable. She is the most ridiculously chatty person ever and it will be annoying. It could work out to use her. But, again I’ll err on the side of maligning.

Bledsoe: Ciera, can’t go against a fellow Power Ranker. Align.
Holmes: The tightest bond you can possibly have.

Bledsoe: Woo…I like Woo. I think if I could align with nine people I would align with Woo. But, I don’t know where his head is at. And I’d like to reduce that Cagayan target. So, malign.

Bledsoe: Keith…I don’t have anything against Keith, but I don’t see a particular reason to align with Keith. He could be someone good to take to the end, because even if he played a good game I don’t know if people would respect him or credit him with it. But, I think early on I’m not going to be thinking that far ahead. So, malign.
Bledsoe: Kimmi, she hasn’t even spoken to me yet, but she seems extraordinarily annoying. She doesn’t seem very self aware to me. She doesn’t seem like someone who could bring in new people or bridge gaps, mend fences. So, I’m going to malign Kimmi.

Bledsoe: Andrew, I think he’s really solid. He has definitely a degree of wanting to play loyally which is extremely rare in the 31st season of “Survivor.” So, if I could play with him, I would align with him.

Bledsoe: Last one.
Holmes: And you’re out of aligns.
Bledsoe: You’ve got to take out the golden boy. So, I’m maligning Joe.
Holmes: Sorry, Joey Amazing.

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

“Survivor: Second Chance” will kick off with a special 90-minute premiere on Wednesday, September 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.

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‘Survivor’ Host Jeff Probst Aligns or Maligns the ‘Second Chance’ Cast

August 26, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV sent me deep into the Cambodian wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Second Chance” goodness. So, be sure to check back for exclusive interviews, photos, and behind-the-scenes tidbits. And, follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

Gordon Holmes: Alright, I hold before you a deck of twenty cards that feature the “Second Chance” contestants.
Jeff Probst:  I need a set of those!
Holmes: I need them for now, but you can have them when I leave.
Jeff Probst:  Those are super cool. Did you make them?
Holmes: I did. My fiancée is a teacher, she knows all about laminating things. So, the reason they are here is because…
Probst: You’re going to be a great dad. That’s a dad move.
Holmes: (Laughs) I can’t wait. Anywho, we’re going to play a game called “Align or Malign.”
Probst: Oh…I like it.
Holmes: You’re going to go through this deck and you’re going to tell me who you’re going to align with and who you’re going to malign. The catch is you only get eight aligns.
Probst: OK.
Holmes: It was very interesting when I did this with the cast.
Probst:  You did this with the cast?
Holmes:  Oh yeah.
Probst: Wow, you always have one unusual, clever idea.
Holmes: Gordon Holmes, unusually clever.
Probst: (Laughs)
Holmes: Alright, let’s do this…

Jeff Probst’s “Align or Malign”

Woo…malign. He just doesn’t make the cut as far as trusting that I could rely on him strategically and trust his advice.

Spencer…align. I would love to go all the way with Spencer. I trust his instincts and if he came to me and said, “This is what we should do.” I would believe him. I would think he was gunning for me, so I’d have to watch him.

Peih-Gee…malign. Peih-Gee has no shot to win. I know that. She’s going to annoy people. So, I might as well get ahead of that bus.

Shirin…malign, but with an asterisk. I only get eight aligns. I actually think Shirin is a really good person to align with because she is loyal and she does know the game. But, I only have eight choices and she’s not going to make the cut because she’s going to annoy other people and I can’t have that.

Monica…malign. She’s hot and she’s street smart which is a really great quality on “Survivor.” But, I do not think she can get deep enough and I wouldn’t trust her.

Jeremy…align. Jeremy and Spencer? I’m good to go. Jeremy is trustworthy, likable, great strategist. I’d know going into it that he wanted to take me out, but I’d be OK with that.

Vytas…in any other season I would align with Vytas, but in this season I’m maligning him. I think Vytas is one of our villains this season and I think trust is going to be a big issue for him.

Abi…malign. No way.

Kelly Wiglesworth…align. I’m putting Kelly Wiglesworth in my align…maybe it’s because she doesn’t watch television. Maybe it’s because she hasn’t kept up on “Survivor.” There’s something pure about her. She’s physically in great shape. I think I could manipulate her to trust me and just vote the way I tell her to.

Terry…oh, we’re getting down to it…Dietz…I’m going to malign. And the only reason is; I don’t think Terry really, fully understands how to play strategically. But Terry is super likable. I’d love it if he won.

Savage…align. Like Dietz he’s very good physically, very good strategically. And, I think I could take him out before he took me out.

Tasha…align. I love Tasha and if I lost to her I’d be OK with that. Super physical…really smart. And so eager to play that I think she’s a good leader.

Kelley Wentworth…malign. I just don’t have room for her in my alliance and I don’t trust her.

Ciera…align! She’s one of my favorites, she could win the game. I think she’s very underestimated by people who think she just followed along with her mother last time. But, I don’t see that at all. I see a girl who’s been through a lot. I watched her grow. She voted out her mom. She forced a tie, she’s here to play.

Joe…align. I really like him and I wouldn’t mind losing to him. I think he could beat me in challenges and like Jeremy, Spencer, and Savage I know he’d be coming for me and I’d be ready for it.

Stephen…breaks my heart to malign him. But, I don’t think Stephen trusts me and I don’t think I could get past that.

Kimmi…malign. Fun personality, not long for the game. I just can’t spend my time there.

Kass…malign. So glad she’s here, but not in my alliance.

That leaves me with Keith and Jeff Varner who I both love equally. But, I’m going to malign…Keith because I think I’d like playing the game with Jeff more. I like the way he sees people. I like his sarcastic point of view. So, Jeff Varner will be my eighth and final align.

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

“Survivor: Second Chance” will kick off with a special 90-minute premiere on Wednesday, September 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.

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‘Survivor’ Host Jeff Probst Breaks Down the ‘Second Chance’ Twists

August 25, 2015

"Survivor: Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV sent me deep into the Cambodian wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Second Chance” goodness. So, be sure to check back for exclusive interviews, photos, and behind-the-scenes tidbits. And, follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

Strap your buffs snugly around your head or wrist (or go for the tube top look if you’re feeling saucy), because “Survivor” season is finally upon us!  “Survivor: Second Chance” will kick off with a special 90-minute premiere on Wednesday, September 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.

With a season made up of twenty returning contestants, you know there’s going to be some curveballs. So, I spoke to the man himself, “Survivor” host and Executive Producer Jeff Probst, to get an early look at the trials and tribulations he has planned for our returnees…

Idols in a Variety of Styles
“Usually the idols all look alike and are all very ‘Survivor’-ish. They are cast out of some sort of resin or something. You look at it and think, ‘This has to be an idol.’ This time, we’re making every idol different. One idol might look really polished and finished, and the next one might look like bits and pieces of leftover string. The next one might look like it’s made by a seven-year old as a craft project. Both of them will have the same power, but how do you convince somebody that it’s a real idol? Or will somebody get fooled and think it isn’t a real idol? Or, will someone make a fake idol thinking this is a season where they can sell it as real? The levels of gameplay with the idols should be really complicated because nobody is anticipating that an idol would not look like an idol.”

Idols Hidden at Challenges
“We’re also going to make finding the idols a little more difficult. Instead of finding an idol at camp, you’re going to find a clue. And the clue is going to say, ‘The good news is you’re very close. All you have to do is be courageous enough to grab it during your next immunity challenge.’ It will be sitting in plain sight, all you have to do is reach for it. So, while you’re participating in the challenge, and while you’re trying to help your tribe win, you’re thinking, ‘How can I get that idol and put it in my pocket without anybody seeing?’”

Shaking Up the Returnees
“We’re going to start with two tribes and then we’re going to switch it up a bit. We’re going to try to make it tougher to keep alliances together. It doesn’t mean they won’t. But we’re going to try to keep the game a little uneven. And I think they want that. I think they want the entire full-tilt boogie experience. That’s what we’re going to try to do without making it feel like a runaway train without any boundaries.”

The Return of the Double Vote?
“I can’t say. I liked it. I think it can work. The thing I really like about the extra vote is it’s uncertain if it’ll have any impact on the game. I like that. It’s a great advantage if you get the opportunity to play it. But, Dan played it and was voted out. So, it isn’t a foregone conclusion. I like adding layers like that that don’t have a certainty to their outcome.”

Second-Chance Challenges
“Once we had our list of 32 possible players, we had to start building challenges. We looked at the list and said, ‘Let’s make some assumptions. Maybe Joe will make it, maybe Wiglesworth will make it. Maybe Spencer and Ciera.’ Then we started picking challenges that they had participated in and started building them. Then you have to hope that they get voted in. Then you have to hope that they last long enough to play the challenge that you slated for them. From a thematic point of view, we were going for second chances as often as possible. In our very first challenge we’re doing ‘Quest for Fire’ which we did fifteen years ago. Kelly Wiglesworth will play again. I will say, ‘Kelly Wiglesworth did this fifteen years ago and she lost. This is her first second chance to change that history. And it’s not just challenges that they lost. Just that they participated in it. We still have to serve the big picture that is; which are the challenges we love and of them, which ones match up with our second chancers? And when it was over we said, if there are six or seven that pertain to our players, that’s great.”

Steps to Break Up Pre-Game Alliances?
“I don’t see pre-game alliances as a concern and I never have. Some producers on our show get really worked up about it and think it’s going to spoil the game. The players have no idea what the creative is, they have no idea what tribe they’re going to be on. It’s something I would do. I’d call some people. But if you don’t end up on my tribe, or if a better alliance comes up to me, now I’m in a bad spot if I promised you something before the game started. I’ve talked to a lot of former players and they say everybody calls everybody, then you get out there and it goes away. And if it doesn’t, if somebody has a pre-game alliance and they’re able to keep that together for 39-days? Nice job.”

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

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‘Survivor’ Castaways Sierra and Rodney on Why They Didn’t Vote for Mike

May 22, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

Quick Note: Just because the season is over, doesn’t mean the fun is over. Check out our interviews with “Survivor: Worlds Apart” champ Mike Holloway and finalists Carolyn Rivera and Will Sims.  And, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

Watch Every Episode of “Survivor: Worlds Apart”

Sierra Dawn Thomas: (Groggy) Good morning…
Gordon Holmes: Good morning.
Thomas: (Laughs)
Holmes: You certainly sound bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Thomas: (Laughs) Rough night…rough night.
Holmes: I assume you were hanging out, reading poetry, talking about your feelings…
Thomas: A little bit.

Holmes: Rodney, let’s start with you. How much weight did you lose out there? It didn’t really occur to me until the finale how emaciated you were getting on those final days.
Rodney Lavoie: Oh dude, I looked like a crack head. I was at 147 pounds exiting. And my natural weight every day is like 185-190. But, when I came into the game I tried to do a little strategy. Instead of putting on weight, I tried to cut down a little bit, so I think I was around 180.

Holmes: It’s cool that I’ve got you two together because you were the ones that didn’t vote for Mike. What was the rationale behind your votes?
Lavoie: Ladies first, baby.
Thomas: Aww…the reason I didn’t vote for Mike was because I was with him from day one and what I saw wasn’t strategic. I watched this guy pretty much lose it. He was fine and then there was this day where he got paranoid and just lost it. He was running between people, there was no strategy when it came to his social game. Yeah, he was an amazing physical threat, but that’s all I saw him as. Mama C., she was keeping up with all the guys, winning immunities, being the oldest person, being the last woman in there, she was holding her own. And she did, in my eyes, have a better social game. She was our mom out there and that’s why I thought she deserved my vote.
Holmes: Rodney, how about your vote for Will?
Lavoie: My vote for Will was because I played the game with a lot of pride, a lot of loyalty. And the reason I made it as far as I did was the big move I made at the merge. When Sierra and them blindsided me with Joaquin, it lit a fire under my ass. I realized that I was on the bottom of this (In His Mike Voice) “Blue-coller strong.”
Holmes: (Laughs)
Lavoie: I had to make a move. I took Will and said, we’re going to let Mike run the ship, but we’ll let him run it for a little bit then we’ll take out Joe, Jenn, Hali, and Shirin. I call it, then what happens? They all go on the jury. And then when he flips we start our Axis of Evil. But, I also had my blues. And the way I got Sierra and Dan back over is the love letters. People don’t understand that those love letters at the auction they mean more than what you see when you’re sitting on your ass watching from home. Sierra loves her family just like how I do. She read those before every challenge. And I give Mike props because he was on top of my game. He knew that I was out there and making moves, but he blew it up at the wrong time. That’s bad strategy. Was he smart for knowing that information? Yes. Was he horrible for doing it right when we got our love letters? Absolutely.
Thomas: (Laughs)
Lavoie: I give Mike props because he’s a challenge beast. His back was against the wall and he said  (expletive deleted) you guys, I’m winning this.
Holmes: For the record, feel free to throw in as many impressions as you want.
Lavoie: (Laughs) Alright, brother. I gotcha.

Holmes: Sierra, how did you and Dan come back together after he was berating you when Lindsey was eliminated?
Thomas: So, I was in a very vulnerable place coming back from that Tribal. I was blindsided, I thought I was going home. And then for all of them to tell me how they feel about me was really hard. Any other day I maybe could have handled it, but in that situation it was really tough. It strained mine and Dan’s relationship. With time it got better.  He apologized about 100 times when we were out there. There came a point where I got really annoyed  and I said, “If you apologize one more time I’m going to kill you. I get it. You’re sorry.” But with time it got better. I had no choice. I could be a girl and play with my emotions or I could buck up buttercup and play the game.
Holmes: For the record, feel free to say “Buck up, buttercup” as often you like.
Thomas: (Laughs) You got it.

Holmes: Going back to Mike’s move with the letter at the auction. Dan’s take seemed to be that you’re expected to lie in the game, but Mike’s move seemed personal. Did Mike’s move seem like a game move or did it seem personal?
Thomas: At the moment it felt a little personal. But that was Mike’s game. He was out of control all the time. I couldn’t expect any more from him than to do that. He was wild and doing all of those things. It didn’t feel personal to me because I was like, “I don’t care, I’m dropping my $20.” He should have just stuck with it. It was weird when he was wishy-washy about it.
Lavoie: It’s the same thing as Carolyn promising me. They make it seem like I’m a crybaby, whiny person, but Sierra told me straight up, “I’m not giving you no reward. I’m not giving you shit.” And that’s alright, but Mama C. promised me twice. And when you promise someone something…it’s like at Christmas when you promise your kid that a toy truck is going to be under the tree. And then I go there and the toy truck isn’t under the tree…not once, but twice. Don’t promise me if you’re not going to keep it. But Mike made a promise to Dan, and Dan (In His Dan Voice) “Loves his wife, Erin.”
Thomas: Oh my gosh, I thought that was Dan on the phone.
Holmes: So good!
Lavoie: We all are going for this advantage, and Shirin came up with the bright idea that we could all get our love letters if we put the game on pause. Mike, could it have been good gameplay for him? Of course, but this is a social game. It don’t matter how many immunity necklaces you have because that only keeps you safe for one week. It’s the bonds you build that will take you to the end. That’s why me and Sierra were in the top five.

Holmes: Probst did that gimmick last night where he asked how many votes Rodney would have gotten at the final Tribal. And it looked like you would have done better than Carolyn or Will. Do you think when Mike chose to stick with Carolyn it was because he thought you’d be harder to beat in front of the jury?
Lavoie: Mike will explain it to you, but yeah. With the impressions I got everybody laughing. And I was struggling. I couldn’t wait to get to the final Tribal to be able to tell my case. But what you saw was Jenn Brown pointing to the jury and everyone was exploding and going nuts when she said, “Mike Holloway this, Mike Holloway that. Mike Holloway is God. If you don’t vote for him, you’re stupid.” And what happened? She raised her hand and said she’d vote for me. Everyone was like, “Whoa, why is Jenn Brown going to vote for Rodney?” This is coming after Mike gets the hero edit. So, if I won the edit would have been different. If Sierra had won the edit would have been different.

Holmes: At final six the alliance decided to target Carolyn. She was able to save herself, but why was the decision made to go after her if she wasn’t going to be a big threat at the end?
Thomas: She was a threat to me. That’s why I thought she had to go. That’s why I voted for. The whole time I played this game I thought, “Who do I want to be with at the end.” And in my eyes that was not Mama C. I thought we could get rid of her, we struck, but she had the idol.
Lavoie: That was the point in the game where those two promises got personal for me. Me and Mama C. were in a really strong alliance. She voted with me every single time.

Holmes: Was there any talk of keeping Tyler in as he had an immunity win and could have matched up with Mike?
Lavoie: I love Tyler outside of the game. Inside the game I did not see him as a threat of all. All he did was stay very quiet. He didn’t want to strategize with me. He’d always told me (In His Tyler Voice) “Hold that thought, and we’ll get back to it.” Bro, we’re about to have a Tribal. What do you mean, “Hold that thought”? In that case, he went home because he held that information about Carolyn’s idol. You don’t share that with me and  Will? I proved to Tyler my loyalty. Who was on the bottom after Joaquin was blindsided? Me and Tyler. I told Tyler, “Me and you just got screwed over. Now I’m on the bottom with you.” And then, Tyler gets caught with Joe when Joe tries deep throating the clue. And you know what the clue is and you tell Mike exactly what the clue said? And then Mike finds the idol? Those two things right there…that’s just really bad gameplay if you ask me.
Thomas: Tyler was so silent it was creepy. He was so quiet.  This person is playing a great game and he has amazing strategy and he’s going to do something big at some point. He’s not a great athlete, so that part didn’t scare me. But, I just thought he had more up his sleeve. Like Rodney said, you would go to talk to him and he’d be like “Shh…we’ll talk later.” And he’d never talk to anyone. It was so weird. It freaked me out.

Holmes: Alright, word association time. Let’s start with So.
Thomas: Intelligent.
Lavoie: Malcolm’s girl.
Holmes: Vince.
Thomas: Feathers.
Lavoie: Misunderstood.
Holmes: Nina?
Thomas: I saw her as happy.
Lavoie: Sweetheart.
Holmes: Lindsey?
Thomas: My boo.
Lavoie: Firecracker.
Holmes: Max?
Thomas: Intriguing.
Lavoie: The beard.
Holmes: Joaquin?
Thomas: Baller!
Lavoie: Bash bro. Or you can put bromance.
Holmes: Kelly?
Thomas: Sneaky.
Lavoie: Lovable.
Holmes: Hali?
Thomas: (Laughs) Space cadet.
Lavoie: Surfer…dude.
Holmes: Joe?
Thomas: Amazing.
Lavoie: We kind of call him MacGyver Joe.
Holmes: Jenn?
Thomas: Spitfire.
Lavoie: Alcoholic.
Thomas: (Laughs)
Holmes: Shirin?
Thomas: Smart.
Lavoie: Super fan.
Holmes: Tyler?
Thomas: Creepy.
Lavoie: Captain Morgan.
Holmes: Dan?
Thomas: Manties.
Lavoie: Harry Potter’s Grandfather.
Holmes: Will?
Thomas: Who? Just kidding…lovable.
Lavoie: Loyalty.
Holmes: Carolyn?
Thomas: Mama C.
Lavoie: Savvy.
Holmes: Let’s finish with Mike.
Thomas: Snickers.
Lavoie: Texas rattlesnake.

Holmes: This was a season that featured a lot of “Survivor” fans, but you two hadn’t seen much of the show going in. Where are you with the show now?
Lavoie: Last night, getting that birthday cake and celebrating my birthday for the twenty five millionth time now…having Jeff Probst giving me a signed picture of him with his hair slicked back, looking like a GQ model, he hands me a birthday cake, everybody singing “Happy Birthday” on national television, that’s something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. It’s the best reality show of all time. It’s something you can pop in the DVD and think “Holy (expletive deleted), this is something that will go down in the history books.”
Thomas: I’m grateful. It’s amazing. I’ve made genuine relationships with every one of my castmates. To me, that’s worth more than the money. It’s an amazing game and I got to go far in it.

Holmes: I know you guys are super busy today, thank you so much for your time.
Lavoie: (In His Mike Voice) “Thank you! I can’t wait to spend the million dollars! We’ll go to Texas!”
Holmes: I will never get tired of that.

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

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‘Survivor’ Finalists Carolyn and Will on Dan’s Edit, Mike’s Choice and Shirin

May 22, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

Quick Note: Just because the season is over, doesn’t mean the fun is over. Check back for exit interviews with the “Survivor: Worlds Apart” final five.  And, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

Watch Every Episode of “Survivor: Worlds Apart”

Gordon Holmes: I’ve heard a rumor that you and your Dirty 30 buddies might be a bit hungover.
Will Sims: Nah…I’m fine.
Carolyn Rivera: (Laughs) I’ll admit I’m a little hungover.
Holmes: I appreciate the honesty, I’ll try to ask these questions in a low, calm voice.

Holmes: Carolyn, it was somewhat surprising when Mike chose you over Rodney. We’d been hearing that most people wanted to go to the end with Rodney and Will. Do you think he was trying to impress the jury by taking someone who is strong, or do you think he was secretly worried about Rodney?
Rivera: I think he took the people that he felt deserved it the most, honestly. I think what he did is he put it in our hands. He didn’t vote for me because he knew that Will and Rodney were voting for me. He wanted to go to a fire challenge and whoever wins deserves to be there.

Holmes: Will, I’m sure you’re going to get this question a lot today, and I’m sorry if this is uncomfortable…
Sims: No, let’s do it!
Holmes: Alright, whatever happened to those sandwiches you promised on day one?
Sims: (Laughs) We got wraps. I didn’t have enough ingredients to make bread, so I made wraps.

Holmes: Now, of course what I was getting at was your confrontation with Shirin. Take me back to when you were told people thought you might be lying about the snacks. How did it get so heated?
Sims: Multiple people came up to me, it wasn’t just Tyler, it was Dan as well. And, they were saying,  “Shirin is saying awful things about you.” She was saying awful things about me and Dan the whole game, you guys never saw that. They said I was hiding food, and that set me off. Here I am making this kind gesture…we’re all out there starving. And I shared my food which was gone in one day and you’re going to question me about it? I just went off.
Holmes: We were given the impression that it was Mike, Shirin, and Jenn who were questioning the snacks. How did you react toward Mike and Jenn?
Sims: I was going off on Mike and Shirin at the same time. You guys didn’t see that. I’m yelling at Mike and I’m yelling at her. It looks like Mike just came in and saved the day. That’s not how it happened.
Holmes: And Jenn?
Sims: Jenn wasn’t anywhere around at all.
Holmes: Why did it go to, “You’re not a woman, you don’t have a soul, your family doesn’t love you.” Instead of “You’re calling me a liar, and that’s (expletive deleted).”
Sims: It got to that level on the way she was treating certain people. Shirin was not the nicest person out there. I know some of you drink the Shirin Kool-Aid and that’s fine, you’re going by what you see. We were living in that moment.
Holmes: Well yeah, I know Carolyn was the nicest person out there.
Sims: Yeah, that’s why we call her “Mama.”
Holmes:  I was just checking to make sure you’re still there.
Rivera: (Laughs) Yeah, I’m still here.
Holmes: At the end of the day, it’s still a game. Was there ever concern about losing Shirin’s potential jury vote or had that ship long since passed?
Sims: Oh, that vote was gone at the split. I knew when she came to Nagarote.
Holmes: What has the reaction been like from fans?
Sims: I’ve gotten a lot more positive than negative. Everybody that’s come up to me on the street, the first thing they say is, “Can I get a picture?” And then, “I didn’t like Shirin either.”

Holmes: Carolyn, this was a big one for me; would you have played your idol if Dan hadn’t played his double vote? I was wondering if that tipped you off.
Rivera: I knew that my name was on the chopping block that day. The funny thing about the whole idol thing is that I only brought it to Tribal on two occasions. I was planning on using my idol that day. What I didn’t realize was that every single person except for Mike was going to be voting for me. I knew I was going to get votes, I was shocked by the number of votes. I wasn’t going to be the one that went home with an idol in her pocket. But when Dan played his advantage, I was pretending to be really scared because I didn’t want them to know I had the idol. Then I did the drama and waited a few seconds before playing it. I really enjoyed that moment.
Holmes: As did I.
Rivera: (Laughs)

Holmes: It seems like you both bonded with Rodney really quickly after the merge. How did that come about?
Sims: I clicked with Rodney from day one. Something about us, we vibed. At the the merge he was the first person to talk to me. He went and talked to Mike and I had talked to Kelly before the merge. Mike took me down to the river and that’s how that happened.
Rivera: It was kind of the same thing. I saw that he was from Boston, I was from New York.  It’s a bit of a rivalry, but I knew it was that northeast thing. We clicked from the beginning. We stuck together. Will and I clicked when I went to Nagarote beach. We knew we were going to stick together. That’s how we became the Axis of Evil. (Laughs)
Sims: (Laughs) I’d forgotten about that. We were the Axis of Evil!
Holmes: That is a hell of a nickname.
Rivera: I love it.

Holmes: When you made the call to target Tyler, was it ever discussed that it might be worth it to keep him around in hopes that he could beat Mike in a challenge?
Rivera:  Tyler was not as much of an immunity threat as Mike. Mike was clearly going to win those. But, Tyler was more of a threat from a likability factor. Sitting next to him in the end would be a problem.

Holmes: It’s ironic that you two are paired together today, cause you’re our karaoke singers.
Sims: We sang a lot! They would always say, “Quit singing, we don’t have the rights.”
Rivera: (Laughs)
Sims: But we’d sing all the time. We had a great time.

Holmes: Carolyn, I feel like you might have been hosed on this Second Chance thing.
Sims: She did get hosed, don’t say she might have been.
Holmes: Carolyn was hosed.
Rivera: Thank you.
Holmes: You weren’t allowed to campaign, your big moment with the idol didn’t happen until midway through the vote.
Rivera: It wasn’t meant to be. They’d better bring me back soon. I’m ready. Everybody knows I should be there.
Sims: We’re coming back for “Heroes vs. Villains.” I’m a villain and she’s the hero.
Holmes and Rivera: (Laughs)

Holmes: Alright, word association time. Let’s start with So.
Rivera: Great person.
Sims: Beautiful.
Holmes: Vince?
Sims: Unconventional.
Rivera: His own person.
Holmes: Nina?
Sims: Sweet.
Rivera: So genuine.
Holmes: Lindsey?
Rivera: Strong.
Sims: Feisty.
Holmes: Max?
Sims: A good guy.
Rivera:  Gamer.
Holmes: Joaquin?
Rivera: New York connection.
Sims: Charismatic.
Holmes: Kelly?
Rivera: Kelly is real.
Sims: Strong.
Holmes: Hali?
Sims: Bubbly.
Rivera: She was always smiling. I’m not good at this when I’m drunk in the morning.
Holmes: No wrong answers here. Joe.
Sims: Amazing!
Holmes: I’ve heard that.
Rivera: Joey Amazing! I would say he’s Macgyver.
Holmes: Jenn?
Rivera:  Fiery.
Sims: The real deal.
Holmes: Shirin?
Rivera: I will say that she is her own person.
Sims: Liar.
Holmes: Tyler?
Sims: Schemer.
Rivera: Friendly.
Holmes: Dan?
Sims: Misunderstood.
Rivera: Straight forward.
Holmes: Sierra?
Rivera: Darling.
Sims: Delightful.
Holmes: Rodney?
Rivera: Feisty.
Sims: The truth.
Holmes: And we’ll finish off with Millionaire Mike.
Sims: The champ!
Rivera: He’s the winner.

Holmes: Dan had a really rough reunion. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. I don’t think Dan’s a bad guy at all...
Sims: He’s not.
Holmes: Yeah, I truly don’t. I just think he got a hard lesson in reality TV. What state of mind was he in last night after the reunion?
Sims: He’s pissed. He’s upset. It seems like he got ambushed a little bit. I think they did him wrong. It was very uncomfortable for us to watch. It seemed like they had an agenda to make Dan look bad and eat his words. Cause Dan’s not that guy. Most of Dan’s comments were taken out of context. Dan’s not a woman hater, Dan’s not a misogynist. He’s not degrading women. Dan was one of the nicest guys out there, he’s just brutally honest. He’ll give you the shirt off his back, but if you push him he’s going to push back.
Rivera: I think that Dan…I don’t think it’s malicious intent. He has a very strong personality. He’s been trying to get on the show for ten years.
Sims: Fifteen.
Rivera: Right. He wanted to be remembered and some of those things may have played into how he played the game.

Holmes: Moments like Will and Shirin’s confrontation and Dan and Mike’s letter fiasco have kind of overshadowed a lot of the excitement this season.
Rivera:  I really don’t want this season to be remembered as the season of fighting. It’s so annoying to me that that’s what people see it as. I think we have a close-knit cast. I think most of us will be friends for a long time. And there were so many funny, positive stories. That’s the way I want people to remember it.
Sims: I had a ball. I went to the end with the best in the game. I was happy to be there. Mike is LeBron James, Mama C. is Kobe Bryant, and then me…being me. (Laughs)
Rivera: (Laughs)
Sims: I can take a shot too.
Rivera: That’s true, you didn’t get there for nothing.

Rivera: Gordon, I have a bone to pick with you.
Holmes: Uh oh, what did I do?
Rivera: Every single picture you took those first three days, I was either mean-faced…you get all the young girls smiling and looking like a million bucks. I’ve got my rolls in my stomach, and my mean face on.
Holmes: In my defense, I was at White Collar beach for a little over an hour and you spent most of the time in the shelter.
Rivera: Oh, really?
Sims: I have a bone to pick too. You didn’t show my pictures until my wife sent you something on Twitter.
Holmes: I didn’t have much of you, because when I was at No Collar, you were off on the beach looking for the idol.
Sims: Well, you should of followed me. (Laughs)
Holmes:  Alright, when I come out for “Heroes vs. Villains 2,” when you see me I want big smiles and dramatic poses.

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

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‘Survivor’ Champion Mike – “Rodney Played a Great Game. A Scary Game”

May 21, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

Quick Note: Just because the season is over, doesn’t mean the fun is over. Check back for exit interviews with the “Survivor: Worlds Apart” final five.  And, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

Watch Every Episode of “Survivor: Worlds Apart”

Mike Holloway: (Singing) Gordoooooooon.
Gordon Holmes: Aww…that’s the first time a millionaire has ever sung my name.
Holloway: Oh man, I’ll sing it from the rooftops, buddy. How are you?
Holmes: I don’t have a million bucks, but I’m feeling like a million bucks because I got to watch you take home the big check.
Holloway: I appreciate it, you should feel like a million bucks. Didn’t I hear that you’re getting married?
Holmes: Yes, sir.
Holloway: Dude, that’s worth a million dollars. Finding a good woman to put up with our (expletive deleted).
Holmes: She’s worth way more than a million bucks. And she puts up with so much (expletive deleted). Can I get a happy dance for that?
Holloway: Dude! I just got up, I’m doing a happy dance right now.
Holmes: Are you the only person I’m talking to today that doesn’t have a hangover?
Holloway: People were trying to buy me beers and shots, but I knew we had interviews today.  But, some people got a little…on the side of not sober last night…we were blindsiding sobriety.
Holmes: This is the part of the interview where CBS begs us to talk about “Survivor.”
Holloway: No, this is your time and my time, brother.

Holmes: Alright, Rodney vs. Carolyn. I was under the impression that a lot more people liked Rodney then they were letting on. So, were you worried that Rodney might sway some votes or did you want to take Carolyn along because it’d seem like you were taking someone strong?
Holloway: Taking nothing away from Carolyn or Rodney, I felt like I could beat either one of them in the finals. But, the fire decision was to show the rest of the jury, “Hey look, we’ve been out here so long and these guys are taking 50 minutes to make a fire.”
Holmes: (Laughs)
Holloway: (Laughs) I had to show the jury, I couldn’t tell them. It’s like Dan, I couldn’t tell Dan that he was on the bottom. I had to show him. But the decision to take Carolyn over Rodney was that Rodney had turned a page in the game. Rodney had started being very humorous. And at the end of the game in “Survivor,” humor goes a long way. And I don’t think Rodney’s getting enough strategic respect for the game that he played.
Holmes: Agreed.
Holloway: He put together an alliance of people that he should have never been able to pull. When I left the game, I was like, “Oh Rodney. Rodney, Rodney, Rodney.” But then I watched his moves from the edit and pairing that with the experience of being there, and he played a great game. A scary game.

Holmes: When I talked to Dan about your move at the auction, his argument seemed to be that his lies were strategic, and your move with the letter was personal. Where did you stand on that move?
Holloway: The auction move strategically was brilliant. Socially it was like getting a hangman’s noose, putting it over a tree, getting on your horse, and letting the horse ride off with the noose around your neck. I was really upset with myself that I did lie. In that moment I went back on my word.
Holmes: Before the game we talked about lying and you said that your family is your family and the players aren’t.  I think we used the term “Harder Mike.” You were going to lie.
Holloway: Yeah.
Holmes: It’s so different once you depend on these people, they become your family.
Holloway: I went into the game on the fence about whether I wanted to be a hero or a villain. You can play both.  It’s not something that I’m proud of. That particular lie…but my Mom told me, “You’ve got to do whatever you have to do to win this game. You’ve committed yourself to play this game. If you’ve got to lie, cheat, steal, backstab to win the game.”

Holmes: When Will and Shirin had their confrontation, you came to Shirin’s aid. Was there any part of you that was thinking, “Well, as long as they’re not yelling at me” or did you have to step in?
Holloway: No strategy there. I was abused as a child. It’s in my bio. I was sexually molested as a child. That kind of stuff hits home for me. It’s a hot-button issue. I heard what was going on from very far away. So, I was running into camp, and if it was going to blow up my game or not, I didn’t care. That’s a young lady right there being attacked, not just by one person, but by the other people there as well…just sitting there. And it’s tough because a lot of people have never dealt with a situation like that before and it’s easy to just step back. But, there were people that I stood up for in the game, and thank God for my two beautiful angels, Shirin and Jenn Brown. They stood up for me at final Tribal. Before that those girls had a special place in my heart. But for that reason alone, they will always have my respect.

Holmes:  Your mom got to play a little bit last night when she steered you the wrong way in the challenge. When you got home did you let her off the hook or did you keep quiet?
Holloway: My mom was so beside herself. She thought she had ruined my whole game. When I got back home I said, “Mom, what are you talking about?” I got to that first medallion so quick that they weren’t able to focus. I grabbed that thing…Gordon, I grabbed that first medallion…we can ask Jeff Probst to go back and check the tape, I guess.
Holmes: I hear he does that now.
Holloway: (Laughs) Apparently he does. But I let my mom off the hook. I broke down in front of her and let her know that I won that challenge convincingly. She’s so awesome. When she came out there she was 100% selfless. She gave me everything I needed in that moment to make it the rest of the game. She gave me such an advantage in that challenge.

Holmes: Alright, word association time. Let’s start with So.
Holloway: Stunningly gorgeous.
Holmes: Vince?
Holloway: My friend.
Holmes: Nina?
Holloway: Amazing woman.
Holmes: Lindsey?
Holloway: Firecracker…fireball.
Holmes: Max?
Holloway: Professor…wait…astute, intelligent, massive gameplayer.
Holmes: Joaquin?
Holloway: My bro!
Holmes: Kelly?
Holloway: My bae.
Holmes: Hali?
Holloway: You can have a PhD in Hali Ford and still fail the test.
Holmes: Joe.
Holloway: Joey Amazing.
Holmes: Jenn?
Holloway: (Laughs) My little hero.
Holmes: Shirin?
Holloway: Lifelong friend.
Holmes: Tyler?
Holloway: T-Freddy…sit there and look pretty.
Holmes: Dan?
Holloway: Love you, Dan…but go postal, brother.
Holmes: Sierra?
Holloway: My boo-boo
Holmes: Rodney?
Holloway: Misunderstood, amazing dude.
Holmes: Will?
Holloway: Will got the call 12 hours before we started filming. He’s a lovable No Collar.
Holmes: Let’s finish with Mama C.
Holloway: Challenge beast.

Holmes: You won the million, my mom has a huge crush on you.
Holloway: (Laughs)
Holmes: But do you have a Rodney impression?
Holloway: Oh man, no…YOU’D BETTER RELAX, BRO!
Holmes: (Laughs)
Holloway: That’s all I’ve got. Rodney is so good at impressions that I would never try to jump on his train.

Holmes: When we were out there you and I  talked about a dude from Texas who played the game, dominated challenges, and lost. Now we’ve got a guy who did that and won. So, now who’s the best player from the Lone Star State?
Holloway: Kim Spradlin.
Holmes: Oh yeah…excellent point.

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

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‘Survivor: Worlds Apart’ Finale Recap – Lone Star?

May 20, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

Quick Note: Just because the season is over, doesn’t mean the fun is over. Check back for exit interviews with the “Survivor: Worlds Apart” final five.  And, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

[xfinity-record-button id=”7116600190773202112″ program_type=”series”]

Previously on “Survivor: So? So long. Vince? Vamanos. Nina? Ni-nope. Lindsey? Tattoo ta-ta. Max? Meh. Joaquin? Bro down. Kelly? Cop rocked. Hali? Hasta la vista. Joe? No. Jenn? (Expletive Deleted), Jenn. Shirin? Snuffed clean. Tyler? Punted. And Dan? Edited out…

39 Days, 18 People, 1 “Survivor” Blog…

Let’s take a look at the tribe as it currently stands…

The Merica Tribe (wearing purple)
Carolyn – Corporate Executive, 52
Mike – Oil Driller, 38
Rodney – General Contractor, 24
Sierra – Barrel Racer, 27
Will – YouTube Sensation, 41

Alright, let’s wrap this business up!

We start off after last week’s crazytown Tribal with Rodney telling Carolyn that he’s upset with her because she didn’t tell them about her idol. However, Carolyn doesn’t feel too bad about it because they VOTED FOR HER.

Reward Challenge Time: The players will race under a net, then they’ll slide tiles through a target. After that they’ll use a machete to carry the tiles across an obstacle course. They’ll then use the tiles to figure out a combination. First person to open their lock and raise their flag wins time with their loved one and an advantage in the next immunity challenge.

Wait…this is a loved-ones challenge? Oh man…cue the tears…

Carolyn’s husband is out first, adorable…

Mike’s mom is out next. Equally adorable!

We meet Rodney’s dad, and hilariously, Rodney calls him “Bro.” Our Boston buddy also breaks down a little bit which is odd considering this happened…

“My father would see me crying, and he’d be like, ‘Are you bleeding? No? Then get the (expletive deleted) back up. You (expletive deleted).’ That’s how I was taught. There are no tears. One of the guys said that 80% of the people cry on this show. You’re not going to see a single tear out of me.” – Rodney (About Two Days Before the Game Started)

Rodney goes on to explain that his time in the game has helped him get over the death of his sister. That’s awesome. Good for him.

Sierra’s dad is next and he’s even taller than her! A family of giants!

Finally we get to meet Will’s wife. She still thinks he’s cute despite 30-some days in the wilderness.

The challenge starts off and Will has an early lead…wait, what?

Mike’s the first one to complete the tile sliding portion. He’s followed by Will, Rodney, and Sierra.

From there, Mike destroys the obstacle course portion. He figures out the combination and wins reward.

Back at camp, Mike’s mom Deborah is making herself at home. The Texas twosome goes for a walk and Mike fills her in on what’s going on in the game.

In a cute moment, he lends her his Texan swimwear so they can go in the water together. I adore Mike’s mom.

Later on, Mike and Deborah are allowed to spend time figuring out the next challenge. It’s a blindfold maze. She tries to lead him through the maze, but she makes a few mistakes. She feels terrible about this and is worried that she just screwed up his game.

Could you imagine? That’d make Thanksgiving awkward.

Immunity Challenge Time: The players will be blindfolded and placed in the middle of a maze. They’ll have to find four medallions and then the immunity necklace. First person to retrieve the necklace wins immunity.

We start off and there isn’t much to describe except for stumblin’ and a-bumblin’.

Mike is the first one to retrieve a medallion and he maintains that lead throughout the whole thing. Rodney even tries to help Sierra and Will, but it doesn’t matter. Mike wins immunity.

It wasn’t even close.

Quick Aside: I hate the challenge advantages. That was awful and boring.

Back at Merica Beach, Carolyn and Sierra approach Mike about getting rid of Rodney. Mike says he’s fine either way and isn’t writing Carolyn’s name down. But, he doesn’t like that everyone was working together in the challenge against him.

Sierra tries to mend fences and says she’ll vote with Mike. She swears 100% on her father’s love. C’mon, Sierra. Mike doesn’t work with percentages that low.

Later, Mike tells Rodney that the women are targeting him. Rodney counters by saying that Sierra has a better shot of beating Mike at final three.

That night at Tribal Council, Dan looks really annoyed that Mike has immunity.

Mike knows he’s the swing vote. But, he doesn’t trust anyone to get him to the final three.

Rodney says that he swore his vote on his sister’s life. Father’s love vs. sister’s life…yikes.

Sierra says she’s playing hard and she’s been second place behind Mike many times. Probst calls her out, saying she might be pointing out that she’s a threat.

Will says Mike’s out if he doesn’t win the next immunity. Way to keep him on your side there, buddy.

Also, Will says that’s a 150,000% certainty. Now there’s a percentage Mike can understand!

Voting Time: Rodney votes for Sierra, Sierra votes for Rodney, and the rest are secret.

Probst tallies and returns. We’ve got one vote for Sierra, one vote for Rodney, one vote for Sierra, and the fourteenth person to be eliminated from “Survivor: Worlds Apart” and the seventh member of the jury is…Sierra.

Wow…I thought Carolyn was an obvious first boot.

Immunity Challenge Time: Players will untie knots to open a gate. Then they’ll race to the top of a tower to retrieve a key. Once they have the key they’ll slide down a giant slide and climb to the top of structure to retrieve a bag of puzzle pieces. Then they’ll do it again. Once they have all three bags, they’ll have to put together a light tower puzzle. First person to complete their puzzle wins immunity.

Mike gets an early lead, but Will and Carolyn are right behind him.

Will and Carolyn are dragging, Rodney eventually passes them.

Mike is the first to retrieve all three bags. He goes to work on his puzzle.  Rodney isn’t too far behind. Carolyn and Will catch up as well.

Carolyn does well with the puzzle, but Mike’s lead was too much. Mike wins immunity.

So, the winner of “Survivor: Worlds Apart” by a vote of seven to one is…Mike.

Before we head to commercial, everyone congratulates and hugs one another. Will, Carolyn, and Rodney even ask to put the necklace on Mike. That’s nice.

Then, Mike treats us to some happy dance! Even better!

Politicking around camp starts with Rodney and Will wanting Carolyn gone because you can’t win the game against a Mama. Ummm…Missy is someone’s Mama.

Mike tells Carolyn that he’s not going to vote for her because his Blue Collar compadres turned on him. He wants Carolyn and Rodney to have to build fire as the tie-breaker.  He tells Carolyn that she should start practicing. Lucky for her the tie-breaker isn’t clever impressions.

Like it matters, any combo of this final four will lose to Mike.

That night at Tribal, Mike says he was moved by the others wanting to put the necklace on him at the challenge.

Rodney and Carolyn both appreciate that they’re in danger.

Mike says they’re both threats and it says a lot that they got this far.

Quick Aside: Dan is making so many exaggerated faces that he’s probably going to owe Eliza Orlins royalties after the show.

Voting Time: Caroyln votes for Rodney, Rodney votes for Carolyn, and the rest are super secret.

JPro tallies and returns. We’ve got one vote for Rodney, two votes for Carolyn, and the final vote is for…Rodney.  We’ve got a tie.

Tie-Breaking Challenge: First person to build a fire high enough to burn through a rope gets to stay. Loser joins the jury.

We start off and Mama C’s flint breaks six minutes into it. Probst has a back up for her. Eventually Rodney needs a second flint too.

I wonder if those are the flints Wes lost in San Juan del Sur…

Forty five minutes later…ho boy…Rodney finally gets fire…kinda…no…it’s out.

Fifty three minutes later…Rodney gets fire again…and so does Carolyn!

They race to place wood on their fires…and Carolyn wins it!

So, the fifteenth person to be eliminated from “Survivor: Worlds Apart” and the eighth and final member of the jury is…Rodney.

As Rodney’s saying his farewell testimony, he says that he’s going to make Mike pay for making him do a fire challenge.

The next morning, the threesome is greeted by the traditional Day 39 brunch.

Wow…the final three is one from each collar. Hakuna Matata.

They each talk about how their collarness led them to the end. Mike says he has a battle waiting for him. Yeah…too many votes are going to be thrown at him.

That night at Tribal, Joe bats lead-off. He claims his vote is open at this point. He tells Will he won’t vote for him unless he owns his game. He tells Mama C. that she has to show how she outsmarted people. Then, he says Mike has to prove that he did things other than winning immunity.

Joe, he won like a billion immunities. Give him a break.

Hali asks Carolyn if being in the mother role has been a disadvantage. She says she embraced the mother role because everyone was younger than her.

Rodney goes next. He asks Will how he kept things real. Will says that he knew he was going to be the underdog. He tried to make friends and was very giving by sharing his snacks. He says he has a relationship with everyone except Shirin.

Shirin agrees.

Rodney then asks Carolyn what moves she made. She says she axed Tyler because she couldn’t beat him. She also admits that she was one of the few people who voted for Dan. Well played, Carolyn.

Tyler is batting clean-up. He asks Mike about his social game because he feels like Mike became paranoid toward the end. Mike says he wanted to do better socially than he did, but he thinks he failed.

Dan agrees.

Tyler then tells Carolyn that he’s heartbroken because she stabbed him in the back. She says Tyler was her most difficult vote, but “Survivor” makes you do things you’re not proud of if you want to get to the end.

Sierra asks Will which trait he would want that the other finalists have. Will says he likes how Carolyn analyzes things and he likes Mike’s work ethic.

Jenn doesn’t have problems with anyone. She then tells the jury that they’re bitter because Mike did better than they did. She says a vote for Mike proves that the voter is a fan.

Dan goes next. He tells Mike that Colby proved that winning immunities doesn’t win you the game. He claims that Mike didn’t care about the jury. Mike says his biggest regret in the game is losing Dan’s trust. He says he’s sorry and he hopes that they can be friends. Dan thinks that’s the most honest thing Mike has said to him since the auction.

Finally, we get to Shirin. She’s very proud that she was able to stand up to Will during his attack. But, she was very moved that Mike came to her aid. She then admits that she made her first million by the time she was 25. She says Mike doesn’t have her vote, because she’s voting for who played the best game and Carolyn is still in it.

She says Mike is like a howler monkey because he’s loud and will rip you apart if you get in his face. She thinks Carolyn is a hidden stingray who will sting you dead if she needs to. She points out that Carolyn was on the winning side of every vote.

Um…what about the Sierra vote?

EDIT: I stand corrected, Carolyn did vote for Sierra.

Finally, she says Will was a dead fish that they dragged in with their nets.

She wraps it up by quoting Sue Hawk. C’mon, Shirin. You can go more obscure than that.

My Thoughts: I’m still pretty sure Mike’s gonna win this, but Carolyn did a heck of a job.

Voting Time: Jenn votes for Mike, Rodney votes for Will, Sierra votes for Carolyn, Dan bangs his head against the voting podium because he’s soooooooo torn, and the rest will have to wait till we get to Los Angeles.

We meet up with Probst in the City of Angels and he’s ready to read ’em. We’ve got one vote for Mike, one vote for Will, one vote for Carolyn, two votes for Mike, and the winner of “Survivor: Worlds Apart” is…Mike.

Verdict: Lindsey called it. A Blue Collar won the whole thing.

Overall, this season had all of the strategy, backstabbing, and craziness that I love from “Survivor,” but it was overshadowed by some ugliness.

Mike’s a solid winner, but this season will probably end up in the middle of the pack for me.

Power Rankings Results: Josh and I had Mike and Rodney in the right spots for four points. While Reed only had Mike in the right spot for two points. So, the final score is Team Josh: 88, Team Reed: 94, Team Gordon 96. Thanks again to the Broadway Betrothed for being such awesome Power Rankings competition!

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

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CBS Announces the Fan-Selected Cast of “Survivor: Cambodia – Second Chance’

May 20, 2015

"Survivor: Cambodia - Second Chance" (CBS)

Quick Note: XFINITY TV will be sending me deep into the wilderness to bring you all kinds of “Survivor: Cambodia – Second Chance” goodness. Before the season airs, I’ll have all manner of behind-the-scenes interviews, images, and more to share. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute news and info.

Watch Full Episodes of “Survivor: Worlds Apart”

For the first time in the show’s fifteen-year history, the fans were given the chance to select the cast of “Survivor.” Over 10 million votes were cast on CBS.com and the results were read during the “Survivor: Worlds Apart” finale.

The cast of ten women and ten men is made up of former competitors who have only ever played once before and have never won the game…

Name: Kelly Wiglesworth
Season: “Survivor: Borneo”
Finish: Finalist
Why You Should Remember Her: In the season of “Survivor” that first captured America’s imagination, Kelly went on an impressive individual immunity run (four straight wins!) and was the victim of Sue Hawk’s legendary “Rats vs. Snake” speech.
Name:  Kimmi Kappenberg
Season: “Survivor: The Australian Outback”
Finish: Twelfth Place
Why You Should Remember Her: Kimmi accidentally let Tina Wesson know that a member of her tribe had previous votes against him. That tribe member was…
Name: Jeff Varner
Season: “Survivor: The Australian Outback”
Finish: Tenth Place
Why You Should Remember Him: Jeff was eliminated from the game because of the old rule where tie votes are broken based on the amount of previous votes that were cast against the tied players.
Name: Andrew Savage
Season: “Survivor: Pearl Islands”
Finish: Tenth Place
Why You Should Remember Him: The leader of the Morgan Tribe was sent home after eventual finalist (and one of two returning Outcasts) Lil turned against him.
Name: Terry Deitz
Season: “Survivor: Panama”
Finish: Third Place
Why You Should Remember Him: Terry won five consecutive individual immunity challenges and was the first person to have a “Whaaaaambulance” called for him.
Name: Peih-Gee Law
Season: “Survivor: China”
Finish: Fifth
Why You Should Remember Her: Peih-Gee threw a challenge in China by tossing away a piece of the puzzle and then laughed about it. Classic.
Name: Stephen Fishbach
Season: “Survivor: Tocantins”
Finish: Finalist
Why You Should Remember Him: “The Wizard” orchestrated the show’s first-ever cross-tribe alliance but received no votes at the final Tribal Council.
Name: Monica Padilla
Season: “Survivor: Samoa”
Finish: Seventh Place
Why You Should Remember Her: Monica was offered a spot at Russell Hantz’s side at the merge, but she decided to stick with her eight-person Galu alliance. This ended up being a mistake when the Foa Foa four managed to overcome those steep numbers.
Name: Abi-Maria Gomes
Season: “Survivor: Philippines”
Finish: Fifth Place
Why You Should Remember Her: The Brazilian beauty is best known for stabbing her alliance-mate RC Saint-Amour in the back.
Name: Vytas Baskauskas
Season: “Survivor: Blood vs. Water”
Finish: Tenth place
Why You Should Remember Him: The brother of “Survivor: Panama” champ Aras Baskauskas made a strong showing for himself, but was quickly voted out after the merge when the brother pairing was deemed to be too powerful.
Name: Ciera Eastin
Season: “Survivor: Blood vs. Water”
Finish: Fifth place
Why You Should Remember Her: Ciera became the only person in “Survivor” history to vote out a family member when she sent her mother Laura Morett packing.
Name: Spencer Bledsoe
Season: “Survivor: Cagayan”
Finish: Fourth Place
Why You Should Remember Him: This “Young Lad” almost went the distance after “Survivor” host Jeff Probst (and…uh…someone else) went on record saying he had no chance to win.
Name: Tasha Fox
Season: “Survivor: Cagayan”
Finish: Sixth Place
Why You Should Remember Her: With her back against the wall, Tasha pulled off three consecutive immunity challenge wins.
Name: Woo Hwang
Season: “Survivor: Cagayan”
Finish: Finalist
Why You Should Remember Him: Woo probably would have won “Survivor: Cagayan” if he had chosen to take Kass to the final two over eventual winner Tony.
Name: “Chaos” Kass McQuillen
Season: “Survivor: Cagayan”
Finish: Third Place
Why You Should Remember Her: Kass earned her “Chaos” nickname by turning on her alliance and voting out Sarah Lacina. She also had a very dramatic come-from-behind win at the final four immunity challenge.
Name: Jeremy Collins
Season: “Survivor: San Juan del Sur”
Finish: Tenth Place
Why You Should Remember Him: Jeremy had a very impressive run in the game, but he might be best remembered for sending his wife to Exile Island after beating her in the opening challenge.
Name: Keith Nale
Season: “Survivor: San Juan del Sur”
Finish: Fourth Place
Why You Should Remember Him: Keith accidentally got his own son voted out of the game when he tipped Jon off by urging Reed to “Stick to the plan.”
Name: Kelley Wentworth
Season: “Survivor: San Juan del Sur”
Finish: Fourteenth Place
Why You Should Remember Her: Kelley and her father Dale ended up on the losing end of a family feud that pitted them against Baylor and Missy.
Name: Joe Anglim
Season: “Survivor: Worlds Apart”
Finish: Tenth Place
Why You Should Remember Him: “Joey Amazing” was a challenge stallion and he crafted the most impressive fake immunity idol this side of “Runaround” Bob Crowley.
Name: Shirin Oskooi
Season: “Survivor: Worlds Apart”
Finish: Eighth Place
Why You Should Remember Her: Shirin got back at Will after his tirade by not allowing him to read his letter from home.

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

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Posted in RealityTV, survivor, TV News | Comments Off on CBS Announces the Fan-Selected Cast of “Survivor: Cambodia – Second Chance’

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