Survivor China - Starts Tonight.
 

8:00pm.

I will have to visit the web site and have a look at this seasons contestants. I need to post my always hilarious predictions for the first person voted off and the eventual winner. I think I have a perfect record of exactly zero correct picks and at least one of my "first off's" went on to win it all. Damn you Tom.

Hmm, I can't decide whose headshot I like better, Jaime's or Peih-Gee's. Guess I'll have to wait until I watch the episode and see who looks better in a tube top and swim bottoms to make my pick.

"Chicken"? This nickname thing is getting very old very fast.

We tend not to watch the previews. H makes her predictions during the opening credits of the first show. Her record is similar to Moonliner's, but it makes for fun viewing.

Ashley goes first chance they get. Somebody will recognize her, and they'll decide she doesn't need the money.

By the way, as usual, I can't get my mind around the fact that given my age, most people would assume I looked more like Chicken than anybody else in the group.

Ashley's strength may keep her around for awhile. If they're smart, the girls will keep her around to get a numbers advantage on the guys.

Going strictly by the online bios, I'd say the three most likely to leave early are Denise, "Chicken", and Leslie. Of course, I haven't seen them interact, so perhaps they are sufficiently charming and/or useful in person to stick around. If I had to put money on who would go out first, I'd pick Denise. Women have to be pretty to survive.

OK for the record:

Leslie: First off

Jean-Robert: Takes home the million


It's hard to pick the first one booted because it always comes down to who opens their mouth first. I went with the bible thumper to be the first to go just to save my sanity and with the poker player to win it all because I'm a degenerate sinner myself.

Time will tell..

Oh, and I will also speculate that the oh so buff James will keep with tradition and have all the swimming prowess of a large rock.

Thanks for the reminder.

I watched a TV Guide channel Survivor China Preview - was pretty cool. They didn't give anything away, of course, just showed a lof of the scenery.

Dang, CP's going out to a movie tonight and won't be home until likely after I'm asleep. Oh well, guess I'm watching it alone :(

I can't wait until the 'painting toys with lead paint' challenge.

That James is one buff dude.

The NY waitress got on my nerves faster than any other player in the history of Survivor.

Not sad to see chicken go.

I'm sure the Christian chick is going to get grief, but I would be extraordinarily uncomfortable bowing in a Buddhist temple regardless of what I was told it wasn't.

Chicken shot himelf in the foot with the whole, "I don't care/know, just tell me what to do and I'll do it."

I like James. He is so ripped and just plain quiet. If you don't open your mouth you don't annoy me.

Little waitress need to have someone tip her a clue on how life works in the real world.

Too true. I thought about him for my first out pick but in his pre-interview he said something about you just need to keep quiet at first. So much for that plan. Dolt. You either take charge and do it, or sit back and hold your yap. You DON'T say "I'm better at this than you but I'm not going to help, you do it".

Yes, it was a good move to get rid of Chicken. Who wants to put up with that kind of passive-aggressive BS for 39 days?

It's one thing to not constantly state your opinion, but when you're directly asked for it -- GIVE IT! Moron.

The NYC waitress gives every New Yorker a bad name. "People in NYC are not like this!" Ugh. What a bitch. I can't see her getting far in the game unless her tribe never loses.

Now that's the one part I just did not get. How does honoring another cultures beliefs/customs in anyway reflect on your beliefs? Do you really think your God is going to black mark you for learning about and experiencing the beliefs of others? That does not sound very christian to me.

Courtney - Uppity bitch
Chicken - What Steph said
Jean-Robert - full of himself, kinda douchy, but looks like he knew what he was talking about with Todd (flight attendant)
Todd - That dramatic B.S by Jean-Robert unnerved you? You're in trouble
Peih-Gee - OMG, shut the hell up!
Dave - reminds me too much of Thomas Haden Church's character in Sidways

I don't blame her. When there are specific admonishments against bowing down before idols, I can understand her hesitation. I don't know that she handled it very well, I imagine she could have just said from the outset, "I'm sorry, it is against my beliefs to bow to a statue like this, I'll watch but I can't participate," but I can definitely see where it crosses a line.

I believe that refers more to what's in your heart.

Unless, in your heart, you were worshipping the Buddhist idols rather than just showing respect for a different culture I think you and your future generations would be safe from eternal wrath.

Things differ with translation, but in any translation of the 10 commandments, #2 explicitly calls out "bowing down" and "worshiping" separately. ["Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them" , "You shall not bow down to them or worship them", "You must never worship or bow down to them", " nor bow down to it or worship it."] I personally would not have a problem with it, but I don't find it hard to understand where someone who does believe more strictly in the word of the bible would. Again, I think bailing half way through and crying about it was too much drama, but she certainly should have the right to excuse herself if she feels it's an action that she's not personally comfortable with.

I think the part posted by God shows why the mere act of bowing down before idols is prohibited regardless of what is in one's heart. God is a jealous, unsophisticated God, and he wants his props. The "Old Testament" is a bit of a patchwork on whether there is just one true God or just one true God for the Hebrews and the other gods can go f*** themselves. Plus, since it is firmly grounded within a context of warring cultures, these outward actions meant something back then just as they would today in tabloid culture. Thus we have Hannah and her Seven Sons refusing to bow down to the king to save themselves even though what was in their heart was clear.

I do have one question...
Why would you think that just because you were told to bring your luggage, that you would actually be allowed to TAKE your luggage? This was the 3rd or 4th season that began with, "Just the clothes on your back," senario. Why are the contestants so flipping surprised? Even Probst seemed to be a bit surprised that the contestants were not better prepared.

At the very least you're guaranteed to be doing some sort of lifting/rowing/swimming/climbing/whatever right off the bat, so luggage or not "no bra" doesn't seem like a good choice.

I don't think it says the "unsophisticated" part anywhere I know of. I suppose if I were all powerful and created the universe I might expect props without my creation worshipping other gods. However, free will and the new covenant and all that which I am certain no one wishes to read about.

I really didn't think she was overly dramatic as far as leaving the ceremony. She went in, saw what was happening, and made an emotional choice to leave, thereby setting herself apart from the others at the very beginning of the game. She didn't storm out in an angry fashion or express disdain or judge the others in the group for participating. She basically just said "I can't do that".

It wasn't just the bra. Ashley with her 20lb boots, the dresses and skirts that seemed great to travel in but not to go into the jungle in, the poker player's jeans that don't seem to fit right...

I get the feeling they're told to dress up. I know they are told very specifically what they're supposed to pack. I'm sure it gives the producers great amounts of delight to make them wear something fancy just to make them spend the next few weeks ruining it.

Well, like I said, in some parts of the OT, God is the one and only God. In other parts, he's the god of the Hebrews, and the existence of the gods of enemy cultures is acknowledged, and if you wear the wrong colors, you'll get a beatdown.

As far as Survivor goes, I didn't see this part, but the whole "Let's-all-bow-to-the-cute-Buddha-and-pretend-to-be-Asian" thing sounds incredibly misguided and patronizing/trivializing rather than respectful. I think she was right to punt on it for a number of reasons.

Zoolander!! Bwahahahahahah.

Geebus, way too many people who think they're strategic geniuses this season. It could work, but to pull that from the beginning like that when there's no actual social structure in place, you've got to be a really good actor and none of these people are.

Interesting twist with the immunity idol. I wonder how that is going to play out.

Also interesting will be to see if the poker player's strategy works, or if he will be voted out before he has a chance to become heroic.

It sure seems like another season with very mismatched teams.

As of now I am feeling pretty blah about the who thing. The team who keeps losing is just out and out annoying, whiney and a bunch of losers. There are only about 3 people I can stand on the team. Dave is NOT one of them. I would have loved to see him go tonight.

Jean-robert is another one I would like to see less of. He is the only one on the other team that bugs me. At least the waitress got less screen time tonight.

I think a true 'China Survivor' should involve what Sub Lagoon said, along with some quality mine and factory time. When contestants lose a challenge, then they must enter a 'Re-education Program', and can only get out by ratting out their relatives that have more than one child.

Does anyone else wish they'd just let everyone have some decent clothes already?

I finally figured that one out this week, when one of the chicks was in a little pink dress, carrying something heavy. I guess they think it's more appealing if they have that "boat crashed on an island" look, as opposed to wearing clothes that would work for their environment. I think it's dumb.

I'm also getting annoyed that they like to pick people who would be bad at surviving. How much better would this show be if they picked a bunch of people that are used to getting dirty, or know a thing or two about gathering food, and, oh yeah, maybe aren't batsht crazy. I'm worried this will go the way of MTV's Real World, which is now the Alcoholic Insane Bitch show.

No one wants to see football played by people who can't play. Why is this show otherwise? Stupid reality TV progression.

I disagree, to an extent.

I think it is much more interesting with a mix of personalities and abilities. I don't want to watch a bunch of people who are good at it (nor do I want to watch a comlete group of insane people, but not all of them are insane by any means). Some are good at survival skills, and even some of the best get voted off for various reasons (who was the former air force guy that Rob (of Rob and Amber) eliminated?) early on.

I think the show is more about social interaction than Survivor. The wilderness survival parts are completely secondary to me.

I'm going to give myself credit for my first to be sent packing pick. Leslie did indeed get kicked off at the first vote she was part of.

Jean-Robert is sooo the asshole. I'm fairly ticked that I now have to root for him just to keep my predictions alive....

Oh and props to James, on several fronts. First for spending several hours down at the library bookstore reading up on survival skills and second for the best quote of the season:

"People that pray the most sin the most, that's why they pray".

You da man James although I'm still wating to see how well you swim.

Really? I was actually enjoying James more when he kept his mouth shut. Finding out he's an intolerant jerk who makes snide comments about the Christian on the team- well, eye candy or not- he's a putz.

I really hope they get rid of the stupid waitress soon. Not only is she an eyesore with her skeletal figure, but she's annoying as hell. I've never liked her since day one, because of her rolling her eyes at the Buddhist ceremony.

Although, watching her try to hold that sword last week was rather entertaining.

Then you would be more interested in the reality minseries they run on PBS. Shows like "Frontier House", "Colonial House" etc. They take people and train them how to live like people of a particular time, THEN make them live that way for several months. You don't see a lot of the artificial creation of conflict or stupid "challenges". They do change it up a bit at times, but it always takes the form of something relevant to the purpose of the show, so in Manor House they threw a garden party (and invited the servants' families), or Frontier House where they had a wedding, Colonial House they had "The Company" that financed the colony demanding some sort of goods to make it worthwhile, etc.

They haven't done one in ages, unfortunately. Great shows though.

They did Ranch House, but it wasn't very good.

So glad Dave's gone. Now just need to get rid of Mr. Poker and Miss. Anorexiaand I'm liking things better. Though there isn't really anyone I like. That's typical. I don't typically latch onto any favorites until it gets down to 10 or so.

Funniest exit line ever -
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

I actually like Jean-Robert. He's Richard Hatch v2.0. I loved it when he was speaking Mandarin!

I will be so glad when Courtney is gone. She is just so emaciated it's disgusting. I can't believe they cast her looking like that. Maybe she lost some weight between the casting and the start of filming? Seems like it would be a safety issue.

Hooray for the booting of Crazy Dave! I would have done the same thing. If one person is irritating and antagonizing the entire tribe it's best to get rid of him/her.

Glad to see Dave go as well. And yes, Courtney needs to go...soon.

Is it me or are those hidden immunity idol clues painfully obvious? I'm surprised nobody has found it yet or, at least as it appears, haven't even bothered to search yet.

Our stupid DVR didn't record last night's show. :mad:

Anything really exciting happen?

Grrr. Aaron and James got royally screwed by that switch. I wish Erik had had the cajones to side with James and Aaron and vote off one of the chicks.

I guess I can't really blame them for the strategic move but their giggling about it really annoyed me.

One of the lamest twists I've seen on the show.

We finally got to see the most recent episode, and both Ken and are I ticked now.

I can't believe those bitches threw the challenge. So not cool.

I'm gonna say it...I think Survivor's finally jumped the shark.

If not jumped it, then they've a least obtained a shark, the ramps, some spectator bleachers, and are taking some practice runs on the motorcycle.

Exhibit A: Challenges. Giant chopsticks, a wok, fireworks? As pointed out on Best Week Ever, the only stereotype they missed was having the contestants tape the corners of their eyes back.

Exhibit B: The side conversations. I won't go so far as to accuse them of staging/scripting things, but every time that two people go off to talk, it really feels like they're being...encouraged...to do so, in a "Hey, why don't you two come over here and have a frank conversation about what you're thinking in the game right now." Way too many expository conversations going on.

Exhibit C: Cheeseball editing during challenges. What the hell is with the bizzaro cut-shots during any challenge with a projectile? Horrible.

On top of all that, not one person there isn't still mugging for the camera. Usually by this point they're all too hungry and preoccupied with the game to do that kind of posturing, but not this cast. They're all still trying to act for the cameras (and poorly).

At this rate I don't know if I'll have the stomach for next season. That's a sad thought.

But I'll stick around for the conclusion of this one and see if it gets better.

I feel sorry for James that he lost his opportunity to shove it right back in those bimbos' faces. I think they're going to get royally screwed for throwing a challenge, no matter how strategic it was. It's never worth it because, while most people probably wouldn't care, there's too high of a chance that someone holds the "honor of competition" in high enough regard that throwing a challenge = deal breaker. Though once thrown, James was totally justified in seeking revenge. Turn about is fair play. (See, Dave, THAT'S how you use "Turn about is fair play." effing retard.)

But as sorry as I felt for James, I was delighted that Todd's "brilliant" plan fell apart. As I surmised from his caving to Jean Robert's stupid "You're no flight attendant" crap in episode 1, he THINKS he's a strategic genius but he's actually a nimrod.

Todd: "Wait until tomorrow and I'll tell you what you've got in that tube.
James: "Umm, how about I open it now and find out that way because that's what I'm supposed to do."

HAhahaha!. Idiot.

Kudos to Courtney for calling Jean Robert on his douchebag "I'm a bad boy" comment. He's a douchebag. But was, "I really hate him" really the best you could come up with to convince people to vote for him? Really? Idiot. Of course, she was out-idioted by Todd and Amanda who actually were thrown off their game for a minute by "I really hate him." :rolleyes:

Man I'm hating this season.

And I continued to hate the season through the end.

I guess Todd deserved to win, though in a "At least he wasn't as retarded as everyone else" way. But as dumb and panicky as he was through the whole thing, I will give him credit for the best final tribal answers in the history of the show. He definitely got that part right. I personally thing Amanda played a better over all game, but she completely fell apart at the end, lying to Denise ("I won't write your name down") and giving the most pathetic, stupidly apologetic answers at final tribal. Weak.

So, Denise had already lost points with me for playing the pity card. Courtney's "sucks at life" comment was obviously bitchy and rude, but I agree with the underlying sentiment...the game is simply not about your personal circumstances, it's about playing the game period.

Well, for those who haven't heard, the story has had an interesting twist. So, she continued her sob story on the post-game show where she revealed that, far from going back to her lousy $7/hr. lunch lady job, she got demoted to janitor because of the distraction her celebrity was causing to the kids and had to work night shifts, losing out on time with her family. Mark Burnett, feeling sorry for her, gave her $50K.

Except that the superintendent of her school district had a different story. Turns out, before going on Survivor she applied for, and received, a promotion to custodian, which paid better with better benefits. She was granted a leave from that job to go on Survivor and was allowed to go back to the job no questions asked.

Denise has confirmed this. Her CYA response is that what she really meant was that she wanted to go back to being a lunch lady, but they wouldn't let her. Riiiight. Meanwhile, after initially saying she wasn't giving the $50K back, now she's saying she's donating it.

That's pretty pathetic.

I now see why Denise is in the position she is in life.

She was so whiny at the end about "all she has left", and then to make it worse by lying on national television and receiving money for that lie.

She's clearly irresponsible, and that was apparent once she started whining in the first place.

Bah.

Yikes! Very interesting about Denise indeed. And pathetic.

I really disliked this season. There was no one I gave a lick about.

Agreed, really disliked the contestants and I feel like the overall composition of the show took a turn for the worse. I was all set to call it quits...but then they went and announced the "Favorites vs. Superfans" season coming up next. Dang it, I can't not watch that.

Yeah, we're on for Favorites vs Superfans, but I don't think we'll watch a regular season again. Bummer.

The challenges were really good this time around.

It's over? Oh. I guess I fell a bit behind this season.

So what in the heck happened to the dude with TWO immunity idols? How did he not make the final three? Did he fall in the fire or something?

He didn't use 'em. With 7 people left, Amanda and Todd decided it was time to take him out. They were banking on him not using the idols. I can almost understand his decision not to. With 7 people left, that leaves 3 tribal councils that one can use an idol. If you make it down to 6, and you have two idols, voila, you're in the final 4 guaranteed. He was trying to make it to that point.

He kinda suspected. You could see he was thinking about using it, really considering it. But ended up not and went home with 2 idols in his bag.

Really dumb move. At that point, you use one. You've got a second one! Once you use the first, no one's going to screw with you again. Period. Really dumb move.

Doh!

Favorites?

STEPHANIE!!!! <*pant*> <*pant*>

Not again. She's already been on way too many times. And she spells it wrong too: Stephenie.

I have a feeling James will be coming back. Hopefully this time he won't be so trusting of his alliances.

But, but.... She's HOT! :D

I vote Sally, especially if she wears those socks again...

I'm right there with you on that. Haaaa-ought!

What was up with Jamie in the final tribal council? I just kept thinking, "Who are you and what have you done with Jamie?"

And then Jeff's weird question to Erik at the reunion show which basically boiled down to, "So Erik, you hittin' dat?" :rolleyes: