Survivor: Perfection

49 Comments

1. 1
   singleinmymind
   Posted March 12, 2011 at 9:05 am

   Looove Boston Rob and how he keeps his cool despite the stupidness of his alliance – really hoping he goes for the win this time! Hated the blatant product placement during the challenge – but loved that Hill Man offers to lick mustard off another man’s nose afterwards – the mind picture was really gross!

2. 2
   leenie
   Posted March 12, 2011 at 9:59 am

   HA, RUSSEL “came up short” How……ironic.

3. 3
   here4beer
   Posted March 12, 2011 at 10:31 am

   I vote for an Amazing Race team of Coach/ Philip.

   Best. Idea. EVER.

4. 4
   flyngdtchmn
   Posted March 12, 2011 at 10:50 am

   When I saw Russell start to cry an image of the Great Santini flashed in my mind bouncing a basketball off his head and taunting him about crying like a baby.

5. 5
   flyngdtchmn
   Posted March 12, 2011 at 10:53 am

   Oh, I forgot to say that it was a great recap Moorels. Thanks.

6. 6
   Chris Velazquez
   Posted March 12, 2011 at 12:50 pm

   This is the only episode I watched more than 15 minutes or so, just so I could see the little troll voted out, but then had to turn away because Mariano became freakig unbearable once more. I must say, Moorels, I absolutely disagree with you on Phillip and especially Mariano, whom I feel is as overrated as Hantz (the only times he does well is because he’s in an alliance full of morons) and has just as huge an ego and is almost on the same level of pure douchebag overload. But I absolutely agree with you about Hantz, and man is it so satisfying to see him kicked off second. It’s so nice and refreshing to see people with actual brains kick the overrated troll off, even though Ralph needs to shut it, he’s turning into the new Hantz.

   I did get such a huge sour note on Probst’s favoritism in letting Hantz run his mouth so damn much and letting his huge ego try to make excuses for himself. I am almost certain that Probst will once more let Hantz completely take over the reunion show despite the fact he was the second gone, and others will barely get a chance to talk. And fair warning to you and all, keep far away from the interview Probst did with Hantz recently. It’s such an overload of Hantz ego and Probst sucking up, brown-nosing, worshipping, drooling and wanting to make out with Hantz that you’ll need a barf bag or ten. I thought Probst had learned his lesson after the Heroes vs Villains reunion, but it seems he just can’t control his urges.

7. 7
   R.S
   Posted March 12, 2011 at 1:18 pm

   Well, I may be only speaking for myself, but the fact that makes Rob a lot more tolerable then Russel is that he actually knows how to play this game. Allying yourself with a bunch of morons is indeed a really good strategy, specially if you came back to the show with a big target on your back. Russel, on the other hand, after three seasons still could not figure it out what he did wrong. The man couldn’t even try to estabilish a social connection with the majority of his tribe to avoid been an early target! I hope people finally recognized that the man is an terrible, terrible player. Parvati and Sandra must be at home laughing out loud right now.

8. 8
   soapboxx
   Posted March 12, 2011 at 1:20 pm

   Oh boo-hoo boo-hoo you won’t have Ressell(Tricky Dick)Hantz to kick around anymore. The only thing the troll left out was the Checkers speech. Best Survivor ever! Watching that little bitch sob like a 12 year old Bieber fan locked out of a “Return to Canada” reunion tour was awesome! Please let there be a Coach/Phillip Amazing Race. Heck it will need to include a Probst/Ressell team. We’ll see how long Probst drools over him after dragging Ressell’s short ass all over Indonesia. Oh well now the troll can go home to Texas and reach up punch another female in the kneecap. Thanks for the recap Moorels.

9. 9
   itchy
   Posted March 12, 2011 at 1:41 pm

   Ah, so it looks like I’ll be able to enjoy this season after all. Well, it still lacks the magic (and survivorishness) of the earlier seasons, but at least that annoying troll is gone. His whole style of gameplay ruins the game, since it’s based on being annoying, not winning, or helping his tribe win.

   There’s going to be a shakeup pretty soon, since there always is, in which case Russell’s bit of info won’t matter much anyway. And Ralph had already (stupidly) told the others he had the idol, so it doesn’t really matter who knows.

   And I don’t get the Kristina love — she’s been floundering from the get-go, she apparently has no idea at all how to play this game. She keeps squandering all opportunities (including trying to swing Andrea, as you point out Moorels).

   Rob doesn’t bother me as much as Russell. Possibly because he’s funny without being insane.

   On the other hand, I hate the fact that Phillip is in the game. Why bother bringing in crazy people who don’t stand a chance in hell of winning?

10. 10
    cattyfan
    Posted March 12, 2011 at 1:45 pm

    “I will crush you with the power of a thousand gods. Unless I lose, then I will be your little brother after a checkers defeat.”
    Hahahahahahahhahah!!!!!!!!

    “I am more interested in more fantastic shots of Phillip hunting crabs with his spear.” Yup. All he needs is a Magic Helmet. Phillip might not be as stupid as people think, though. He was on the chopping block, and he very effectively set Kristina up to go instead. Well played (if it was intentional.)

    Also, I love having the phrase “falls short” applied to Russell.

    “Waaaaaaa! These people aren’t here to the play the game! Waaaaaaa!”

    No, Russell. Those people aren’t there to play YOUR game. Idiot.

    I was really annoyed Probst tried to sell Russell’s sobbing as “emotional investment in the game.” It was the pure and simple tantrum of a thwarted two-year old. He didn’t get his way, so first he cried, and then he threw a fit.

    He needs to STAY gone.

    I wonder if the producers declined to help him stay in the game because by the time that episode was recorded, they had caught wind of him leaking the information in past seasons.

11. 11
    flyngdtchmn
    Posted March 12, 2011 at 3:21 pm

    When Russell said that he has so much respect for the game does that include trying to BUY the title of sole Survivor his first go round?

    I realize that buying the title wouldn’t amount to pile of poo but it seems disingenuous of Russell to make that claim when he’s proven that he really doesn’t respect good gameplay or fair gameplay. He also went off on how “undeserving” Sandra was when she won her SECOND game of Survivor.

    Goodbye, Russell, you moron.

12. 12
    Drew Glindemann
    Posted March 12, 2011 at 3:51 pm

    Russell finding the idol is the worse thign ever for his gameplay, keeping phillip around only makes it mroe so. Rob is the uber paranoid type. He’ll trip himself up sometime around the merge

    Kristina will most likely beat matt based on editing

    With no russell as the scapegoat, Ralphs idol wont last logn and Steph and krista will make a surprise upset I bet

13. 13
    Snootchy Bootches
    Posted March 12, 2011 at 4:37 pm

    I think it was a very dumb move for Cooter to show he has the idol. What did he gain? The fact that he was keeping it secret was one of the only smart things he has done. Now he has either set himself up for a blindside or marked himself as the first of his group to go once they don’t need numbers.

    @cattyfan, the reason why the producers didn’t help Russell stay was because it is against the law. They have to play by gameshow rules and are required to submit all twists, challenges, etc before the season starts. I’m sorry but I just don’t understand all of the conspiracy stuff. But then again, there are people that think the holocaust was a hoax/conspiracy. So whatevs.

    Thanks for another great recap, Moorels!

14. 14
    carol
    Posted March 13, 2011 at 12:12 pm

    Survivor is not a game show, it is a ‘reality’ television show. The producers control everything. They know all of the challenges before hand, and since it is in a remote location, they have to have them all ready, they are the ones that decide when each one occurs. There is a lot more freedom with this at redemption island because it will always be two people.

    The producers mess with the show ever week. The way the votes are read by Jeff is never the order in which they are cast. It is always re-ordered for better tv. Plus, the editors can completely control which survivor is voted america’s favorite. They control who gets the most amount of screen time and which diary sessions are shown. That is directly messing with the outcome of the game.

15. 15
    Snootchy Bootches
    Posted March 13, 2011 at 1:13 pm

    Sorry, Carol, but you are wrong. Yes we refer to it as “reality tv” but what does it boil down to except a bunch of people competing for a prize which is exactly the definition of a game show. Legally, they have to abide by the same rules as game shows. They cannot choose which twist or challenge is going to happen. That all has to be disclosed BEFORE THE SEASON STARTS as has been stated several times by those involved in Survivor. In fact, other than one lawsuit in season 1 and Richard Hatch’s claims (which made no logical sense), there hasn’t been a peep. We are on season 22, so that would make TWENTY ONE seasons without an issue. Don’t you think that someone would have made a stink if it was so rigged?

    And changing the order in which the votes are read doesn’t change the votes themselves, does it?

    So in conclusion, for those who still don’t get it. Survivor isn’t rigged. The holocaust really happened. The moon walk wasn’t filmed in a hollywood sound stage. Thank you. And goodnight.

16. 16
    Mister Dangerous
    Posted March 13, 2011 at 2:15 pm

    RUSSELL HANTZ IS THE GREATEST REALITY STAR OF THEM ALL.

    Okay, now that I got that off my chest I LUVED the “Thanks for playing Hantz” title.

    Uh, if you’re going to throw money at Coach & Phillip from your bank account you’re going to need more than 2 bucks to spend time with Coach. Philip would probably take the $2 though.

    Regarding Russell’s crying. It was MAN CRYING. Don’t you know anything about men? Morels, if you weren’t such a bitter Betty you would know something about this but I have a strange feeling that you probably do. The thing that upset me most about this sequence was that Jeff did not go over and console Russell with some man love.

    At this point I’m rooting for Ralph. He’s like Russell-lite. Russell 2.0. Russell rebooted. Jeff Probst is already talking about Russell coming back. I don’t think he should. I think CBS should give Russell his own reality TV show. Thanks for the recap.

17. 17
    itchy
    Posted March 13, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    The only thing that tempers my joy at seeing that troll booted out is knowing how saddened you must be, Mr. D.

18. 18
    Mister Dangerous
    Posted March 13, 2011 at 3:42 pm

    Oh, Itchy. You are so wonderful.

19. 19
    carol
    Posted March 13, 2011 at 4:45 pm

    Bootches – if you notice ‘reality’ is in quotes. When the contestants leave the show they are never called a game show contestant but reality stars. Saying this is a game show is the same as saying the bachelor is a game show. Also, what are these game show laws that all game shows have to abide by? Where can I find these? Is there some sort of game show mafia that enforces them? Yes, they compete and have challenges so that makes it a reality game show not just a game show. When the survivors sign their papers they agree that if they disclose anything about the show they have to give back all of the money they earned plus pay a fine upwards of 1 million dollars. I’m pretty sure that most contestants cannot afford this nor would it be worth it. CBS and it’s parent company would not be good to piss off.

    I never typed that reordering the votes changes the show, it just shows that they change things to help with the viewer ratings. Plus, it also causes drama within the tribes. example – even if the last vote is for someone that is not voted out, it most likely will get read not only to cause drama for the tv viewers but to also create a drama back at camp when that person tries to find out why they were voted for. It has happened many times in past seasons.

    We will never know if Jeff would have let any other contestants talk as much as he let Russell talk, but he clearly did because it was Russell. Would Jeff allow any other contestant to spout off after putting out their torch?

20. 20
    Snootchy Bootches
    Posted March 13, 2011 at 5:43 pm

    Carol that “game show mafia” would be called the FCC (Federal Communication Commission). And you can call it reality tv or whatever you want but it doesn’t change the fact that the FCC defines a “game show” as a show where people use skill or knowledge to win a prize. Survivor qualifies under that definition. These rules governing game shows were created back in the 50s (or 60s?) when a quiz show was giving the answers to a contestant that the public liked. It was a big deal. They made a movie out of it. Anyway, because of that, the FCC frowns at those kinds of shenanigans.

    And you are the one who brought up the reordering of votes as proof that the producers are “messing with” the show every week. And you said this immediately after stating that the producers are in control of everything that happens. Yes, it causes drama… because it is a TV SHOW. Everything is edited to make it as entertaining as possible to the viewer. JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER TV SHOW. But it doesn’t mean that they break the law and cheat. It just doesn’t.

    Further, we have no idea if Jeff allowed Russell to talk more than any other contestant when voted off. We’ve only had ONE so far this season. And we have no idea how much they say. We only have what is shown in the program. For all we know, Francesca could have ranted for 7 hours but they wouldn’t have shown that because the show isn’t that long and, frankly, she wasn’t that interesting. Russell’s meltdown had entertainment value, so OF COURSE they were going to show a lot of it. Why? See above for that whole editing the show to make it as entertaining as possible bit.

21. 21
    Snootchy Bootches
    Posted March 13, 2011 at 5:46 pm

    Oh and one other thing… yes the players on Survivor sign a non disclosure agreement. However, it is illegal for them to sign a contract stating that they will do anything illegal or hide anything illegal. That sort of contract would not be binding. So if you think that all this rigging and illegal shit is going on and the contestants can’t say anything about it or sue over it, you would be sadly mistaken there too.

22. 22
    myfavoritesunglasses
    Posted March 13, 2011 at 5:50 pm

    @Carol — just building off Snooty’s last comment, Survivor’s liquidated damages clause is actually $5 million. However, any halfway decent lawyer will tell you that in the vast majority of cases, liquidated damages clauses aren’t held up by courts. Just because CBS puts it in their contracts to scare their contestants into keeping their mouths shut doesn’t mean that it’s enforceable. You don’t see them suing Russell for spoiling the last two seasons, do you?

23. 23
    Snootchy Bootches
    Posted March 13, 2011 at 5:55 pm

    Agreed, Sunglasses, in fact in the first season, someone leaked the results. That’s why they changed the format to waiting to reveal the winner. And even then there was no lawsuit against the blabbermouth.

24. 24
    carol
    Posted March 13, 2011 at 6:19 pm

    snootchy bootches – are you related to MB in some way? Changing the order of the challenges is not cheating because they are not passing little notes to the contestants saying exactly how to win the next challenge (which would be cheating and wrong, no matter who they saved, the would be crossing the line). They would just be hoping that the tribe could win. Generally the contestants on Survivor are not that reliable so it would be a huge gamble on the producers part. Yes, some contestants have kicked some major ass but on a whole, it is a gamble, things happen, people are sleep deprived, etc. I never said anything was illegal, it is a tv show that is shown for enjoyment so a little meddling by the producers is expected. Big Brother live feed can be pretty dull yet when edited it gets better (well, sometimes it does).

    Truth is, no one that has not been a contestant or worked on location for this show knows exactly what happens. They don’t show everything for a reason, it’s only a 44 minute show. And they have to spend a lot of time blurring out Phillip’s nasty pink undies (that editor should get a bonus for this and all past season).

25. 25
    Mister Dangerous
    Posted March 13, 2011 at 6:43 pm

    Uh, did any of you peeps ever think that the Russell “scandal” was producer created? You know that “scandal” came out during the off season and kept Russell’s name in the news during those long non-Survivor months. My problem with the “scandal” was that it was too convoluted and boring.

    These are much better Russell “scandals” for the future.

    “JT and RUSSELL caught in “love shack” outside of Vegas!”

    “Coach, Amanda and Russell in love triangle. Amanda says, I can’t decide which one is the better lover. The samurai or the leprechaun.”

    “Cirie and NaOnka in a cat fight over Russell. Both ladies claim he’s the only real man they’ve ever had!”

    Now, those are scandals I could follow.

26. 26
    leslilly
    Posted March 13, 2011 at 6:46 pm

    For the life of me, I cannot figure out who Andrea is! Senile much, Leslilly? I’ll have to go to their website to figure it out, lol.

    Great recap, btw!

27. 27
    leslilly
    Posted March 13, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    Okay, ANDREA! The chick who cried buckets over Jesus-freak Matt being voted off…and they had only been there a few days. WTF would I do without google? Each season, I must admit, I am making less and less effort to learn these idiot’s names. Unlike our beloved recappers, I don’t have to learn them – but it does make reading these easier.

28. 28
    JimmyT
    Posted March 13, 2011 at 11:02 pm

    I’m w/Bootches on this one, too. This show is basically a game show. Challenges need to be laid out ahead of time because to change them as the show unfolds to favor one individual or group would be violating FCC rules since that means that not all contestants would have a fair chance at winning the million dollar price. As with any game show, the producers are allowed to pre-tape, edit and otherwise manipulate portions of the show that do not affect the outcomes of the challenges/votes. That is where the Magical Elves work their magic. If they had as much control of the outcome as some seem to think then Fabio would NOT have won last season.

    As for the lunar landing, clearly it wasn’t a sound stage in Hollywood…everyone knows that it was shot in some hangar in Area 51

29. 29
    soapboxx
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 12:23 am

    @Mister Dangerous- Russell involved in scandal! After being stalked by an online Blogger known only as “Mr.Dangerous” Russell Hantz comes out of the shoe box in his closet and admits that his man love for Jeff Probst has been replaced by his new love for the afore mentioned Mr.D.
    @Carol? I think the original threat by CBS was at Sue. Either she or someone else from the first Survivor complained that they were swayed to change thier vote to keep Rudy in the game by a Production Assistant. The powers that be can skew voting in Survivor and Big Brother just by the leading questions they might ask in confessionals that we never get to see. Who knows? Who cares? I don’t as long as it makes for good TV.

30. 30
    itchy
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 1:14 am

    While Snootch is right in that this is a game show and must abide by certain rules, I’m guessing there is a certain flexibility in those rules.

    The original gameshow scandal, which resulted in the creation of these rules, involved the game show providing the answers to one of its contestants. That’s clearly become a no-no.

    On the other hand, there is no doubt tons of leeway for the producers/staff to manipulate this show, both in terms of making it more interesting to watch (reading the votes in a different order, for example), but also to make it more dramatic.

    It all depends on how specific the FCC rules are. Does the FCC clearly state that, in a confessional, the producers are not allowed to ask leading questions in order to steer the contestants toward certain conversations — and toward drawing certain conclusions, which affect their gameplay and decisions (and make the show more exciting to watch)?

    Does the FCC rules state that a cameraman, while following a contestant searching for a “hidden” immunity idol, is not allowed to, say, roll his eyes, or wink, or even clearly state, “Hey, Russell, it’s under the goddamned bridge already, let’s hurry this bitch up, I’m hungry”?

    And of course, the producers and editors control the editing of the show — they can clearly influence such nonsense as “America’s Favorite Player”.

    On some shows, they state clearly that the producers have a say in the decisions over who gets eliminated — Project Runway is a good example of that.

    But Survivor uses a different format, of course. So no, I don’t believe, in terms of the votes themselves, that the producers decide the results. And I don’t see how they could manipulate the challenges to make sure one contestant wins over another (otherwise, they surely would have made certain that Russell won the Redemption challenge).

    Anyway, I agree with soapboxx. I don’t watch this show, or any reality show, because I believe it any way reflects ‘reality.’ I watch them because they’re freak shows, because I enjoy watching a bunch of camera whores make asses of themselves. And yes, that includes Survivor too. Even if the producers chose the winner of this show, I’d still enjoy it. In fact, if I knew that it was entirely scripted, I might enjoy it even more.

31. 31
    Snootchy Bootches
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 4:41 am

    No, I am not related to Mark Burnett. What I am is an intelligent woman who uses logic and actual facts to figure out what is going on, not that tabloid that always has Bat Boy on the cover and talks about alien autopsies and other conspiracy theories.

    I will say this one last time to you, Carol, because I realize that you are resistant to facts and I won’t waste any more of my time with you. I’ll even put it in caps so that it is easier to read: THEY MUST SUBMIT ALL OF THE CHALLENGES IN ORDER AND ANY AND ALL TWISTS INCLUDING WHEN THEY WILL HAPPEN PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SEASON. Jeebus, can it be any clearer? And that goes for Big Brother too, because they have to fall under the same rules. And as far as having a witness, someone here on the gasm worked on one of those shows and verified it. I think it was Nads.

    Itchy, you do make a good point and my only response is that I doubt there is ever only one staff person in a location. I would imagine in addition to the camera man, there would have to be a sound guy or maybe a production asst or something. Having one guy say something where no one else will know could happen, but I doubt it would fly if another were there too. Someone would rat it out. And the fact that we have gone 21 seasons without even a squeak from any of the contestants tells me that it really isn’t happening. Someone somewhere would have talked. That lawsuit from season 1 was that when the contestants asked who they should vote for they were told “Vote with your conscience.” THAT was all that was said. The girl that sued said that specific phrase swayed people to vote for her instead of Rudy. But keep in mind that this sort of show didn’t exist until that season. They were the guinea pigs. I am sure a lot of mistakes were made that season just because they didn’t know entirely how things would go. But now, 21 seasons later, everyone knows how the game is played, both competitors and staff.

    And FINALLY, for fuck’s sake, the best proof of all that this show is not rigged is that Russell went home on this episode. If the show was rigged, they would have found a way for him to not get voted out or not lose on Redemption Island. In fact, the best way they could have rigged it was for him to get voted off second and then fix the RI duels to favor him so that he could garner public support by the time he rejoined the tribe at the merge. He could come black in glory having served his penance in RI and emerged a hero. But that didn’t happen. Because the show isn’t rigged.

32. 32
    itchy
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 4:52 am

    And no doubt the producers have been gnashing their teeth over that ever since. Because, yeah, if there was ever a chance for an awesome reality tv storyline, it would have been that one.

    Unless, of course, you buy into the theory that he finally got booted because the producers found out he was that spoiler.

    Just jokin’ Snootch! Lighten up! Here in France it’s sunny and Springtime!

33. 33
    Snootchy Bootches
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 5:09 am

    Oh, Itchy, I’m light! In fact, it is actually (sort of) sunny here in England too.

34. 34
    considerthis
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 10:01 am

    Comment #30 = SPOT ON.
    I went round and round with Snootch a few episodes ago in the comment forum. Myself, Santa, and the Tooth Fairy applaud her passion for defending Survivor and 100% belief that all things Survivor are completely with out a doubt (conspricy) above board.
    I tend to raise eyebrows while watching (NO that does not make me a conspirist) just a simple skeptic thanks. To itchy’s point would it be completely implausible for the sound guy to loudly whisper to the camera man – “Damn it’s 110 degrees out here – I wish Rob would just look in the F’in tree already”.

    Like I said orginally … Whatever your beliefs – Enjoy the Ride and On with The Show!!

35. 35
    Snootchy Bootches
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 10:26 am

    Considerthis, I in no way am 100% sure of anything in this life. And as you can see from my comment #31, I agreed that Itchy brought up some good points. I just felt it was unlikely based on the fact that no one in 21 seasons had indicated that was the case. And I don’t just mean contestants. What about ex-staffers? I can’t help but think that someone would have whispered about it. But that hasn’t happened. Impossible? Of course not.

    But I have no problem calling bullshit when it is suggested that this show (or Big Brother etc) are completely rigged. In this thread, there was the statement that the producers choose which challenge will be played each week etc. And that I have no problems with labelling as nearly impossible because it is against the law and would be too easy to prove.

    And I do absolutely enjoy this show (couldn’t you tell? lol) And those who want to shit on it and ruin the fun, irk me. If I felt that producers rigged the show, I wouldn’t watch. Ever. That is why I never bothered to watch shows like Laguna Beach or whatever they were called. If I want a scripted show, I’ll watch one.

36. 36
    itchy
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 11:07 am

    I’ve often wondered if the tribe switchups and whatnot are planned in advance — it seems to me that the producers throw those in when they become “necessary”, i.e., when one of the tribes clearly outweighs the others and, often enough, when they want to destabilize one or more of the alliances (if only in order to shake up the gameplay).

    But it’s hard to argue with Snootch’s basic point, that after 21 seasons, someone would have snitched if there were any real shenaningans. If only because assholes like Russell find it impossible to keep their mouths shut.

    I’m comfortable with assuming there’s a lot of grey in the way Survivor happens each season. But also that, in the end, the vote really does come from the contestants.

37. 37
    cattyfan
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 2:02 pm

    Probst has said in passing during interviews that on very rare occasions they change the order of challenges…but it’s been related to weather or because of a change with the contestants that no one can control, like an injury.

    Other than that, I’ve never heard anything about a change to the challenges.

    But I know from talking to past participants (like Kimmy) that the producers are able to change the course of things by asking certain questions during the confessional interviews and by planting certain ideas…and that they control the images the public sees through editing.

    They also change people’s careers for the bios. Kimmy was really a news anchor, but the producers didn’t want to say that. She had a part-time job as a bartender, so the producers listed THAT as her career. Not a game changer, but certainly a perception changer.

    I agree with itchy’s statement, “I’m comfortable with assuming there’s a lot of grey in the way Survivor happens each season. But also that, in the end, the vote really does come from the contestants.”

38. 38
    vallegirl
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 2:35 pm

    @itchy, in one season a while back they did let one entire tribe get decimated and when it was down to Stefanie just folded her into the other tribe.

    Snootchy’s right. The producers do not interfere with the normal course of the game to favor any player or rig challenges to favor a team. They may ask leading questions and craft storylines that only vaguely resemble what actually happened over the course of the season, like presenting Nick Brown in season two as a listless and lazy man instead of the helpful and likable person every other contestant said he was in interviews, but they legally cannot interfere with the challenges/vote while it’s being played.

39. 39
    itchy
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 3:24 pm

    That one was actually the first season of Survivor I watched, and it was awesome watching that happen — and Stefanie was pretty kick ass during the whole time too. After that season, I watched all of the earlier seasons in order. And I’m pretty sure it was only after Stefanie’s season that the producers began those pre-merge tribe shakeups.

    The thing I like most about reality television is how powerful a role the editing plays in the final product. I love the idea that the editors can take raw “real” footage and craft it into a coherent storyline. Sure, in a way it’s manipulation, especially in a game-show/competition type of reality show. But it’s also an important part of what makes the genre so fascinating.

    Anyhoo, can we at least agree that the Bachelor is fixed?

40. 40
    Snootchy Bootches
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 4:08 pm

    Wasn’t Kimmy the dingbat who cried about the chickens and acted like a complete airhead? The one with the long pigtails, right? How the hell did she get to be an anchorwoman?! Or am I confusing her with someone else?

41. 41
    Snootchy Bootches
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 4:10 pm

    Itchy, the Bachelor can’t be fixed because there is no prize. Oh wait… you mean the bachelor/ette is the prize? Really? SO not worth the bother!

42. 42
    carol
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    Snootchy – wow, way to channel Kanye West in your response. Maybe those across the pond don’t realize that typing in all caps is condescending and offensive. I get your point. I got it a while ago, and like you, we both are expressing opinions. It’s just a tv show, one that thankfully is still learning from their mistakes and knows how to make good tv.

    When will they start hiding fake immunity idols? That would be great, or ones that can only be used at certain points (ie – tribal #6 only). That would change the whole just blindly searching for the idol. Or an idol that can be used to ‘steal’ a reward challenge. Oh wait, they keep pairing rewards and immunity together. Hopefully that will change when the tribes get smaller and food is more important.

    In all honesty, the thing that pisses me off about this season over the others was not Russell (I might dislike him but he does make for some good tv) was that they were given all the tools to make a rock star shelter right from the start. When did that start? Remember back in the beginning when they were given nothing at all except their canteen and one personal item, those were good times.

    Marty (from last season?) just gave a talk nearby and he said that when he got home and was checked out by the doctor, he had intestinal worms, ewww.

43. 43
    Snootchy Bootches
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 4:18 pm

    Oh honey, I don’t channel Kanye West in anything. I just don’t suffer fools lightly. And if someone seems to not understand something. I try to make it as clear as possible as I think I stated right before I started with the caps. But you might have missed that part. It wasn’t in caps. So, anyway, like the cockroach says when faced with nuclear war… Whatevs.

44. 44
    cattyfan
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    Kimmy had pigtails. I don’t remember the chicken thing. Only the finger wagging arguement with Alicia. But Kimmy was nothing like her edit would suggest. She was very bright in person and a lot of fun to talk to. (I spent about an hour with her behind the scenes at one of her appearances.) And she said the argument with Alicia was really very short, and they made up and were over it within the hour after…but the edit suggested they remained enemies for the rest of the show.

45. 45
    Snootchy Bootches
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 4:56 pm

    Catty, I had to go look. I had the right person. And the finger wagging thing was about the chickens. But I might be confusing the airhead thing… that was a loooong time ago! When I was looking at the wiki about that season, it all came back to me. That was the Elizabeth Hasselbeck and sweet old guy (Kentucky Joe?) season. And the one where Michael burned himself up. That was my first full season as I came in half way through season 1. For some reason I thought it was somewhere in the middle, but I suppose after all these seasons, they run together.

46. 46
    vallegirl
    Posted March 14, 2011 at 5:09 pm

    No, Kimmy was presented as a total imbecile. But, also in that season as I mentioned, Nick Brown was also presented as a useless idiot when he was actually a Howard grad and Harvard law student at the time. Hell, he was the one holding the team together when Mike experimented with self-immolation, but all you saw was him standing on the beach. It was only on the periphery that you could see him comforting the women who were upset.

    And, itchy, the first tribal switch came in season 3. And as much as I hate assholes claiming to be saints and only turned into sinners via editing, there is some traction to that claim because while they can’t edit in something you didn’t say, they also can edit out so many mitigating factors. But still always seem to land on “biggest jerk wins,” on almost every show.

47. 47
    soapboxx
    Posted March 15, 2011 at 4:33 am

    “So, anyway, like the cockroach says when faced with nuclear war… Whatevs.”
    LMAO at Snootchy Bootches! I’m totally stealing that!

48. 48
    itchy
    Posted March 15, 2011 at 7:33 am

    Ah okay. I honestly don’t know how the rest of you manage to keep all this information about past Survivor seasons straight. For me it’s all in and right out again, like bad Chinese food. I can’t even remember who won last season.

49. 49
    Snootchy Bootches
    Posted March 15, 2011 at 7:39 am

    The memory is the first thing to go, Itchster.

    Actually, I have a fairly easy time remembering contestants if they were memorable. But if they weren’t, I have to google. I have big problems with which season though. They all sort of merge together into one big super-season. For example, I thought Elizabeth was on one of the middle seasons. I’d pick 7 or 8, if I had to guess. But she was on season 2. That season aired just before I got married to my husband (and possibly a few episodes after)… and we will celebrate our 10th anniversary this year!