Week Two: The Battle of the Blurs.

Tonight’s episode featured little of our hometown girl but was full of Survivor deliciousness none the less. So let’s jump in. First we see Jalapenos tribesmen go hunting for termites. I’m assuming they watched a little too much Survivorman before coming to the show. On day seven there is no reason for eating bugs other than to fill your testosterone quota for the week. Sandy is right there with the guys, although she doesn’t partake in the wormy goodness as Stephen and Spencer do. Complete gross out moment for me.  

Cut to Timbira where Sierra has decided to tell Brendan that there is a hidden immunity idol at their camp. I think this is a bad move on her part…but even with the help of Brendan she still doesn’t find it. One of the best moments of the night was Erinn finding them on the beach digging a huge pit in the sand. This is where I’ve got to give Sierra a little credit: her quick thinking saved her butt. At least for now. Getting Erinn excited about a beach bonfire was brilliant TV. I wonder if she’s sitting at home thinking “I can’t believe I fell for that”! Also at this point I’m thinking there’s some sexual tension between Candace and Coach. But that flame is put out soon enough.  

Back to Jalapeno where SWV’s Taj  reveals her husband is Eddie George. Now this means nothing to me. I, like Stephen, have absolutely no idea who he is. Reality television is my sport. And all I’m thinking is “this is the chick that sang “I get so weak in the knees” somebody please recognize her!!” (You can thank me for putting that song in your head for the rest of the day later.) Anyway, bad bad move Taj. Now they know you’ve got money and that equals you going home.

Here comes the challenge.

The battle of the boobs, booties, and blurs begins! Why don’t they give these girls a decent swimsuit to wear? (I know the answer but I have to ask the question) It also makes me think they blur way more than they have too just to make us think we could be seeing something.  Sandy will not let Erinn go. The bathing suit battle is on and Jeff is loving it! He also mentions Coach is “dragging”…isn’t he a Soccer Coach?!
Jalapeno wins! And our Sandy survives another week! I’m excited for her and her tribe. They needed this.

An interesting twist on Exile Island tonight! Players exiled choose one person from the other team to join them and they can choose to return to different tribes after their stay! Plus there are hidden immunities at both camps. This will add a whole new level to secret alliances for sure. I love this change and am excited to see how it plays out.
Brendan is banished to Exile Island and he takes Taj with him. They talk about their respective tribes and a kinship is born. Brendan plays a good game by lying to his teammates about what happened on Exile. He’s smart not to give it away.

With Timbira headed to tribal council the castaways are getting testy. Candace is a “cancer” according to Coach. Interesting choice of words for him (see link at bottom of post). Candace seems to think Coach’s mouth will get him voted off. She’s in for a surprise when her entire tribe turns on her. She’s out and she had no clue it would be her.

And speaking of Candace- do you see a resembalance here? I sure do.

And finally I must share this interesting tidbit I found about “Coach” Wade. Ick.
http://tocantins.survivor.com/survivor-tocantins-cast/2009.02.19/reality-blurred-benjamin-wade-fired-as-college-soccer-coach.html  
 

I’ve already picked who I think will be the ultimate survivor. (we have an office pool going- it’s great when your job is to live, eat and breath television!) Now that we know the players better-who do you think it’ll be? Leave a comment and let me know!

Week 1: Let’s Not Forget the “Old Guy” Won the Last Season

Right away I’m excited to hear the “Survivor” theme music and meet the new castaways. “Survivor” is just one of my many reality addictions and I’m ready for a fix!

We see Jeff Probst riding in the truck with two obviously already separat groups of new castaways. The Red tribe (Jalapoa, or as I will refer to it, “Jalapeño”) on the left and the Black tribe (Timbira) on the right.

First impressions are everything, and the camera lets us in on what some of the castaways are already thinking. The “geek” seems to believe our local Survivor, Sandy, is “a strung-out old lady” and sure enough so does every other member of the Jalapeño tribe. More on that in a second.

The players have 60 seconds to grab everything they can from the truck to take to camp. Timbira goes for the water and beans (they’ve seen this show before) while Jalapeno’s players are grabbing heavy fruit and throwing it over the side of the truck. Jeff reminds them it’s no good busted. What were they thinking?

Then, in true “Survivor” fashion, Jeff tells the castaways two players will not make the four-hour journey to camp and the tribes are to vote immediately on their first impressions! Right away, my heart drops. There is no way they are already voting off Sandy! She’s our local gal. We’re rooting for her!

But she’s not so lucky: all of her fellow tribesmen vote for her. And in her words she “is pissed!” Timbira votes for Sierra. They seem to think she couldn’t handle the heat even in the truck ride. Sierra blames a 102-degree temperature and strep throat, which makes me wonder: would they really let her come on the show if she were that sick? Hm…

Then the twist! Jeff said they will not make the journey- not that they will not be in the game! Sandy stays! And so does Sierra. They get to take a helicopter to their respective camps. Once there, Sandy’s already crying. She’s overwhelmed with emotion. And she’s calling her tribe Jalapeno. She makes for good TV. Faced with finding an immunity idol or building shelter, she chooses the idol search. Can’t say I blame her.

Sierra, on the other hand, chooses to build shelter and forgo the idol search. She is still viewed as sickly and weak. She could have built the Taj Mahal and she’d still have a better chance staying on the island if she found the idol. The castaways arrive, hugs are given and apologies are made.

Sandy makes an excuse to go search for the idol. She finds a clue but doesn’t know what a “pace” is. I must say the editing of the show is not doing her any favors, but I still think I’d be rooting for her even if she wasn’t our hometown girl. We get to know the other castaways, and they do not disappoint. They are already proving that when a single camera is thrust into one’s face on an isolated island, anything can and will be said.

And we have our first naked moment when Tyson the Mormon sheds his clothes to get water. Somebody get that guy a “man tiara!”

To wrap it up… the first challenge is fought. Sandy leads her team in the challenge but Timbira prevails. They win immunity, saving Sierra one more time, and in effect, saving Sandy as well. Her performance does not go unnoticed. She may be the old lady, but she’s got strength that they all recognize.

Carolina complains about the mess after the challenge and I must agree with Taj — “Who cleans up the outdoors?”

Speaking of Taj, I wonder how her D-listed celebrity status will play out on the show. It’ll be interesting to watch.

In Tribal Council (which I’ve heard lasts hours but we only see about 15 minutes of) Jeff asks Sandy, “Are you a little crazy?” and she seems proud to say yes. Hilarious.

Jalapeño casts their votes for Carolina. Good choice. She was bossy but I can’t help thinking it was her voice. I don’t see how they could survive in one of the most isolated places on earth listening to it. Yet my husband is terribly disappointed that the hot bartender is gone. And Sandy is safe, until next week, anyway.

So what do you think? Leave a comment and let me know.