Survivor China - Starts Tonight.

[Disneyphile]

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

Anything really exciting happen?

[Motorboat Cruiser]

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.

[Disneyphile]

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.

[Ghoulish Delight]

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."

Man I'm hating this season.

[Ghoulish Delight]

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.

[Disneyphile]

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.

[scaeagles]

Yikes! Very interesting about Denise indeed. And pathetic.

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

[Ghoulish Delight]

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.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

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

[Stan4dSteph]

The challenges were really good this time around.