"And did you hear me say Dragon Slayer at the end?"
I peed myself laughing when he said that.

Coach might be a sociopath but he reminds me of a former high school jock who doesn't seem to understand that in the real world, nobody truly cares if you use to date the hot chick. Nobody cares if you once bench pressed 300. Its people like him who don't seem to understand that its over so they act out to stay relevant.

He's stuck in the past!

Plus, he couldn't have been a huge nerd! He wouldn't be a coach.

Great recap as always, Schoonie.

This has probably been my favorite episode yet. Even though Sierra left, she did it in a blaze of glory, and did exactly what I hoped she would do. Coach and Debbie HAVE to be the next ones gone, there's just no other way the other four would keep them at this point.

By the way, do you watch the Ponderosa videos? I always love them because you get to see the other side of Survivor where they're all completely honest and just talk about what their strategy truly was. Apparently Sierra and Tyson have buried the hatchet. And best of all, they're all wearing feathers on their head at the next Tribal Council to make fun of Coach. I love it!

I don't think Coach is a sociopath or psychopath. Those people aren't hindered by things like pride and delusions of grandeur. He is just delusional and probably narcissistic. Besides, a sociopath would totally rock this game.

I still think there is some way that the Jalapao alliance can blow this. Did you notice that suddenly Coach is performing well in a challenge? Uh-oh.

The only possible way that Sierra and Erinn could save themselves was to align with Coach and Debbie, so, even though Sierra "owned" them, she blew her chance of manipulating herself into a higher finish.

I am an idiot. I neglected to set the VCR and missed what sounds like a great episode.

I'm a latecomer to Team Sierra, but I'll see if I can at least watch parts of the epi on the CBS website.

If JT is a vampire, please don't let him bite Coach...because then Coach will be immortal and I'll become suicidal...or homicidal. Could go either way...

cattyfan, you can watch full episodes on cbs.com. This one is definitely worth watching, just to see Coach dig his hole even deeper.

I also love the call out of Debbie's "supposebly" and the Ralph Wiggum comment after. I was hoping that you would pick up on that. How the hell is she the principal of children? If I lived in her town and had children I would make sure to send them to private school.

Props to Sierra, I wish she could have stayed awhile longer.

Couldn't understand why Erinn all of a sudden was on Sierra's side after all the nastiness between them?

oooh dexter ftw...

I would miss Coach when he leaves. I kinda like the fact that he's inevitable demise is being dragged out. Every week, he's losing hope. Realizing he is screwed.
In buddytv.com there's a guy there commenting, that's like 5% chance it is actually Coach. If it's not him, he's ridiculously good at impersonating him. I'm hoping it's him. haha

the one that I'm rooting for now, probably has no chance in hell of winning is Erinn. As much as I like J.T., I hope he goes before the final two/three. I'm hoping for a Stephen win and there's no chance he'd win against J.T. But I'm thinking he probably didn't because, everybody that's been interviewed seems really surprised that Stephen is as involved as he is with all the strategy. hmmm.. Taj ftw?

Leslie, if you hadn't said it, I was going to: called out on the "supposebly". A friggin' principal no less? Maybe a cable repair man, or the guy whose responsibility it is to lean on the shovel for the state highway administration, but an educator? Aaarrrgh!

Strategically though, it would have made the most sense to keep Sierra around, since a dead squirrel could get more votes than her at the final tribal.

Great recap Schoon! KICKED IN THE FACE!!! THIS IS BRUTAL!!!

Joey Tribbiani on Friends once had a debate with himself over whether there was such a word as "supposably" and decided that there was. They don't get much dumber than Joey.

Chibby, I think that Stephen could still win. Maybe everybody voted for him because they thought he was the nice guy who wasn't involved in the scheming and strategizing, a la Bob.

Thanks, leslie_pcc. I'll check it out later this week...'cause JEEPERS...missing and episode this great...It was BRUTAL...I felt KICKED IN THE FACE!

Coach is the Uncle Rico of Survivor. "How much you wanna make a bet I can throw a football over them mountains?... Yeah... Coach woulda put me in fourth quarter, we would've been state champions. No doubt. No doubt in my mind. "

Glad so many picked up on Debbie's misuse of English. Two of my biggest pet peeves: Supposably instead of supposedly and prolly instead of probably. Hard to believe she's a school principal.

Poor Erinn. I can't believe they don't have shelter for the Exilees. That just seems wrong. BTW, I've heard burlap is the new black.

I really don't understand all the hate for Sierra. I think she became a convenient dumping ground for everybody's excuses. They blamed Sierra for all ills, real and imagined. When I was a kid, we used to blame our dog for everthing.

I hope they take out Coach as soon as possible. He appears to have some strength and could have been sandbagging them in all the previous challenges. HATE

I think Stephen will win it all. He's definitely the puppet master pulling all the strings.

People still set the VCR? ;)

I was still disappointed that they got rid of Sierra.

I understand Stephen's reasoning, I suppose, although I think he saw her as a threat too-- because one thing I've liked about Sierra is that she's actually quite articulate (even if she may well have been an emotional mess out there), so I'm assuming she's not nearly as stupid as she let those people believe.

And she's damned gorgeous when she's relaxed and smiling (and clean...see the Ponderosa videos).

Apparently the hatred against her really started when the other Timbira discovered her alliance with Brendan and that he had the immunity idol. She'd been scheming against her own tribe and got caught at it and wasn't able to recover.

Coach is reminding me more and more of Michael Scott. Which is why I'm starting to believe that it's all an act --the true Coach came out during the challenge, when he finally made an effort to win.

I mean, the ONLY thing that will redeem him will be if he turns around suddenly and says "Gotcha!"

Which, if you think about it, would be amazingly cool.

Oh yeah, in the Ponderosa videos Tyson redeems himself somewhat -- he seems much less nasty, and he's funny as shit.

Getting rid of Sierra was an extremely stupid move. They JUST had the friggin survey challenge, for crying out loud! And Sierra was voted as the person who least deserved to win. Hey folks, I don't know about you, but that would be my first friggin choice of who I would want to sit next to at the end. Duh!

Coach is absolutely delusional. And a textbook narcissist. Here are the symptoms of Narcissism as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:

-Overreacts to criticism, becoming angry or humiliated
-Uses others to reach goals
-Exaggerates own importance
-Entertains unrealistic fantasies about achievements, power, beauty, intelligence or romance
-Has unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment
-Seeks constant attention and positive reinforcement from others
-Is easily jealous[12]
-Has a sense of extreme entitlement
-Is exploitative of others
-Lacks empathy
-Displays arrogant, haughty and proud behaviour.
-Uses denial mechanism to downplay own inadequacies or failings
-Uses rationalization mechanism[13] to justify self-centered behavior

Sound like anyone you know?

---Actually, Stephen in the Bible did say something to the affect of Lord forgive them, although he did not say it exactly the way Coach quoted. And you are right, "Lord forgive them, they know not what they do" was quoted by Jesus on the Cross. ---

Thanks for the great recap!!

Snootchey: Sounds like just about everyone on reality television to me. LOL

BTW, Schoonie, forgot to mention earlier that I LOVE your title, "More like Dragon S-liar. So very clever.

According to Tyson Sierra was getting a very favorable edit. When even JT doesn't like you there has to be something wrong. Her edit cannot be showing the true Sierra. JT was brilliant in how he played to coach's ego after blind siding Tyson. Erinn's vote for Stephen I think was twofold. First it was a plea/joke for Stephen not to send her to exile island again. Secondly it plays to her end game and the chance that if in final 2 she can garner Sierra's vote. I like Stephen, Taj, JT, and Erinn and will be happy if any of them win. I just can't take Debbie with her fake boobs and botox, and it goes without saying about Coach.

"Supposably or supposedly" (Seinfeld refference)
What a dumbass!

Cattyfan, What is a VCR???
Make sure that next week you turn off the 8-track player so you can hear your tv.

Coach's recap of his immunity victory was friggin priceless! It was like listening to one of my kids..."remember that time when I won the challenge?...that was cool! Remember when I said Dragon Slayer?...that was cool." It was 20 minutes ago you twit!

Can't wait for "Remember that time we voted Coach out?

I am sure, given that EVERYONE in camp can't stand her, Sierra has got to be more annoying then she comes off on the show. but what is three more days of annoying (yet HOT) Serria prancing around camp, when you are trying to win a million bucks. The Jals get rid of debbie and then they have things locked up. THey could go to the final three and then turn on each other and see who wins. But by voting out seirra, they still leave the door open for Erin to sway back. Granted that would put them 3 - 3 and they have the Idol but still it would have been smarter to keep sierra and loose dumbass deb!
I have thought for weeks that JT was pretty much just a country bumkin that was getting by on his physcal abillities a good attitude and stevens brains. But after his masterful handling of Coach after voting out Tyson I think that he is smarter then the show has let on. He better win his ass immunity from now on though, because any of these people left will pull a tyson on him in a heart beat.

I have watched evey season of survivor, except for last season, and I think that this group is one of, if not the best strategic playing groups that the show has seen...except for Coach and Deb!

Once again, Schoonie, great recap. My favorite new saying is "loose my/his/her shit."

There is no way Coach is faking. Two reasons:

1. Someone that is actually a good or funny guy would not make his college and soccer team think he was going for cancer testing instead of telling them he's going on Survivor.

2. His tattoos are real. Don't get me wrong I love tribal art, but on him...yeah it's like that Sarah Marshall quote Schoonie posted a few recaps ago.

Yeah, yeah...LOL Some day I'll make it into this century and get some of that fancy technology I hear so much about. Maybe I'll even splurge and get cable...

Oh, once Coach is gone everybody is going to miss him. Who will we laugh at then? Who will we ridicule? Who will we mock? Who will be the butt of our jokes? Debbie? No. She's too nervous and too wacko and too PMS-y to laugh at.

I hope COACH tells another pygmy story before he gets the boot.

I hope in the 2nd pygmy story the pygmies try to eat his penis and Coach has to fight them off to keep his manhood.

Oh, I hope the 2nd pygmy story also includes a pygmy vixen who tries to seduce Coach.

great recap as always

Good for Sierra, she went from "voted off" Day 1, to making it to the Final 7.

I was a little perplexed by them voting off Sierra only because Deb seemed like the smarter play because then they are set!! Taj and Erinn NOT voting for Sierra makes them seem like they are not on the same page as JT and Stephen (but as we know, that could have been discussed and wouldn't be in the edit). But as mentioned numerous times, Sierra must be unbearable for JT and Steven to be making her their first choice.

Like someone said about Erinn, if she flips, then 3-3 has a shot. (Steven making fire on Exile - tiebreaker foreshadowing anyone? maybe not) Erinn has to know that she is #4 out of the 4. Everyone HAS to know that JT wins against anyone (even though the obvious person doesn't always win - JT is about as much of a sure thing once in the final)

I think we also have a case where if Steven makes it to the final, he loses because he has to deal with the "Amanda" issue of being strategic and so good at it that no one knows how good you are, ergo no one gives you a jury vote. However, I think that Stephen will actually go so far as to speak in the finals so he will at least make his case.

I wouldn't be surprised that if (when) Coach goes next, that the ladies try to unite against the boys and blindside Steven...Erinn will orchestrate this and try to bring Taj to the finals....Erinn's only shot at winning.

I agree with you v_cap these are some of the best strategizers in a while. It makes for a much more interesting game. I think voting off Sierra was quite smart because it keeps Coach and Debbie warm and fuzzy for a blindside. If they had voted out Debbie there would be no blindside of Coach next week, or the first time he doesn't get immunity, whichever comes first. As grossly entertaining as Coach is his blindside will be priceless. It was awesome last episode when Debbie looked across at Coach and said "we've voted off all our own tribe!" Hee-Hee

The reunion show this year is going to be a blast. Coach is going to be tying himself in knots while he tells how lying to Sierra was part of his "honesty-integrity " BS.

While I was watching the thing with Coach and Debbie trying to sway Sierra and then lying about it later, I kept wondering "don't they know this is being filmed"?

And yes, I think Debbie is that stupid. Last week during tribal council when Debbie voted for Sierra she misspelled her name.

the survivor BB has a pretty good debate about Coach going. Apparently he has friends or is on there himself putting up some sort of defense of his achievements/made up stories. There's an alleged professor (whose grammar and spelling rivals Debbie's and makes me weep for the future) claiming he taught Coach trumpet, Coach was a champion trumpet player (despite official records listing some other guy as the winner), and that he (prof) has a copy of the award. He also claims to remember the kayaking trip because it was big news in their town when Coach returned.

Next he'll say he has seen the stuffed dragon head Coach mounted on his living room wall after he heroically slayed the fire-breathing dragon and won the hair of the fair princess. Dragonslayer!!!!!!!!!!

LOL real_atlanta_girl, stuffed dragon head! Now that's funny!

The only "proof" I have heard of so far to support Coaches lies... uh... I mean stories come from him. The first was a book he wrote. The second is news stories. If you go on a trip and the news team doesn't go with you, they are going to interview you for the data... so that just comes from Coach too.

This reunion show is going to be classic!

I saw the Ponderosa videos too, and I thought them mocking Coach was hillarious. However, in his deluded mind, I bet Coach thinks they're paying tribute to him. I can't wait to see if I'm right at this weeks tribal council.

@real_Atlanta_girl...WTF???? Some dude is claiming he taught Cooch to play the trumpet? Whaaaaaa???? And he remembers Cooch coming back from the kayaking trip because it was big news???? I thought only 3 people knew that story.

OK, Coach wins a challenge so I gotta give him props for that. Doesn't mean I can't still hate him.

You said it. Coach has definitely surpassed Lisi as the most heinous Survivor ever. She was annoying, but in a pretty non-threatening way, like that one friend everyone has who overcompensates and tries too hard to be cool and funny.

Coach, on the other hand, might actually be crossing the lines from being annoying to being a bad person. His lack of touch with reality is scary. It's like someone mixed the unawareness of Dreamz with the moralizing of Sugar, removed any sort of logic and skill those players had, and out popped Coach. (And hey, note the stupid nickname trait of all three? Maybe that's a sign).

At least Coach, unlike Dreamz and Sugar, has never been in a real position of power.

Reese, I cannot believe I forgot that only 3 people in the world knew that story. You can check out how some internet sleuths debunked virtually every one of Coach's claims. Start at page 24 of the Official Benjamin Thread. Tptprofessor joins in on page 25 with his claim that Coach won some trumpeting competition and did the solo kayak trip that was "all over the news." Tptprofessor also said he was scanning a copy of said award to post as proof but oddly never did...

Also check out this different account of the trip from his asshat brother's web site - "Ben embarked on a kayaking voyage along the Pacific Coast that would set a Guinness World Record for the longest distance ever traveled in a kayak at 6,132 miles, fraught with shark and whale encounters, boredom, loneliness and delirium. The trek ended when Ben was poisoned by drinking water he had purchased in a village that had apparently been stored in a gasoline drum. Near death, he was found floating in his kayak off the coast of South America by relatives of recording artist Linda Ronstadt who were navigating a yacht in the area. "

Seriously???? Relatives of Linda Ronstadt?

"fraught with shark and whale encounters, boredom, loneliness and delirium. The trek ended when Ben was poisoned by drinking water he had purchased in a village that had apparently been stored in a gasoline drum."

How did they store a whole village in a gasoline drum???

Oh...and delirium. That explains the whole thing.