One of the biggest challenges for the producers of Survivor is that there is constant pressure to keep the game fresh. Much like Big Brother, there is always a worry that if they don't put twists in the game, the game will get repetitive and the ratings will go down. When it comes to adding twists, they try to do things like making people guess how they are going to compose the teams, how and when they will mix up the teams, and when the tribal merge will come. Survivor: Guatemala has been no different, with a very effective tribe rearrangement that has members of both Nakum and Yaxha scrambling to establish themselves on the new teams. It turns out that both tribes had people willing to break their original alliances in the first tribal councils with their new teams, assuring us that there would be plenty of mental scheming to go along with the physical pummeling each person has had to endure.
When Yaxha came back from tribal council, Brandon learned that he was the odd man out. He was the only person left in the tribe who had voted for Blake to stay. At first it would seem like he might be in trouble, because if he couldn't count on Bobby Jon to vote his way, whom could he count on? Brandon mentioned that the vote opened his eyes, and tried to get some information from Bobby Jon on what had happened out there. It was really tough for Bobby Jon to confront Brandon, and you could see it in the way he was trying to form an argument about what he did. Last week, Bobby Jon had said that he didn't think that voting Blake would have been the best idea, but he obviously changed his mind. He tried to explain to Brandon that he liked Blake, but since Blake could rub people the wrong way and it was just something that he had to do.
Although Bobby Jon and Danni were the ones who were ultimately responsible for voting Blake out with their votes, it was all masterminded behind the scenes by Brian. Amy called Blake the Golden Boy, but Brian said that he was platinum and he proved it last week. Brian said that they received a "get out of jail free" card, and now they had to focus on knocking off the members of the old Nakum tribe. I think it's safe to say that Brian has been one of the more popular Survivors this year, and his comments in the one on one sessions are the most enjoyable. The odds really changed in his favor now that Blake was gone, and he simply had to execute his plan once again.
At Nakum, they were happy that they didn't have to vote anybody out at tribal council, but that doesn't mean there was plenty of stuff to make you unhappy in the jungles of Guatemala, like the bugs. Some people thought that I was being too easy on Stephenie last week, but I have to say that I was never on the Stephenie bandwagon and I did mention that despite how much she says she is always on the less-abled team, she is often the cause of the problem. However, I do agree with everybody who said that Stephenie does a lot of complaining. When I said that the losing has taken a large toll on her, I didn't mean for it to sound as an excuse, and like we have mentioned before, she was not forced to go onto Survivor for a second time, so her problems are with the stress, with the losing, and everything else are something she has to deal with.
Stephenie reached a new level of complaining this week when she was talking about the buzz. She was complaining that the mosquitoes were biting her through her shirt. Did they really have to bite her through the shirt? Apparently, Steph didn't realize that there was a mosquito bill of rights and that they have recently ratified a constitution? The preamble goes thusly: "We the mosquitoes of the Guatemalan jungle, in order to form a more perfect swarm, buzz ears, suck blood, transmit malaria, and secure the blessings of ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United Insects of Guatemala." It's a landmark document, and they are just trying to secure their rights from the tyranny of people like Steph. Oh yeah, that and mosquitoes don't know whether you are wearing a shirt or not, so why should they stop sucking on your skin?
Comments (44)
I'll definitely miss Brian. We like Judd, though, he's funny. Ripley, not so much. I thought it was a pretty good episode. That Amy is one tough broad!
1 of 44 | Posted by geewits | Posted on October 24, 2005 1:50 AM
Bobby Jon, here is your straight jacket!
GO WHITE SOX!!
2 of 44 | Posted by America's Next Top Fan | Posted on October 24, 2005 6:43 AM
Wowzers! I loved this week's challenges. The Indiana Jones wrecking ball was great. Amy was full of heart (not to mention beef) when she came back after going down. No way they could get rid of her after that. But Brian was my absolute favorite. He was so funny and clever. Metro or homo? Who cares? He was awesome. Yeah who gives a dookie about Ripley? She seemed like a nice lady or whatever, but definitely not someone you invite to liven up your cocktail party. Kinda blah. Officer Doug Penhall from 21 Jump Street is a complete bufoon.(see Judd's employment history before he became a doorman here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0217938/ ) I couldn't stand listening to him talk repeatedly about being "a good sportsmanship." Arrgh!!! That would have been a perfect time for Ripley to say something along the lines of "It's a good sport you freakin' dumbass", but alas, she let that opportunity pass her by. I think Judd has serious problems and should lay off the sauce. However there is a certain likeability to him. I'm sure being deprived in Guatemala made everyone's tolerance lower and therefore more drunk than they would normally be (spoken like a true alcoholic, no?) Way to go Steph for pulling out "retarded" during Tribal Council after being lambasted for saying "gay" there last week. Right on girlfriend. How to win friends and influence people. I absolutely cringed during the Bobby Jon- Jamie "rooster off". That just looked so embarrassing. Way to show everyone that Southerners aren't stupid hicks. My kids called it the Turkey Fight. How appropriate.
3 of 44 | Posted by Liz | Posted on October 24, 2005 7:03 AM
Judd is a meathead. But I don't mind him nearly as much as I mind Steph these days.
I thought it was interesting that the vote for immunity wasn't revealed until after Yaxha voted. It could have caused a weird but amusing result. For example, if everyone had voted for Gary but he got immunity, then only his vote would count and the person he (the inteded oustee) voted for would be gone in his place. It didn't happen of course, but it would have been funny to see the reaction if it had.
4 of 44 | Posted by callygirl | Posted on October 24, 2005 7:15 AM
Liz, I am so glad someone besides myself caught Stephanie using the word "retarded". She has all the tact of a wrecking ball. Someone ought to pull her aside and tell her how politically uncorrect her vocabulary is. That Judd is a piece of work and I have a feeling his days are numbered. I was sorry Brian got voted off. I can always tune into Will & Grace and watch Sean Hayes (am I the only one who thinks they look (and act) exactly alike)?
5 of 44 | Posted by trixie | Posted on October 24, 2005 7:16 AM
personally, i thought the guy-on-guy action was a little anticlimactic. nothing much more happened than what we saw in the previews--i was kind of hoping jamie and bobby jon would end up throwing down.
judd is a spectacular jackass, but it was a no-brainer: margaret was the one to go. judd is the perfect patsy to carry into the merge: he has no strategy other than turning on his former teammates, his strength benefits the tribe, and his abrasiveness will guarantee either that he be an early target at the merge or that he be the perfect person to end up with in the final 2.
alas! poor brian. we'll miss your witty repartee. but you probably bet wrong in targeting bobby john instead of the more logical choices--amy, who, despite being the toughest survivor chick since twyla, has a serious injury, or brandon, the odd man out from the last week's vote. unfortunately, it looks like bobby john saw which way the wind was blowing and has allied with danni and gary. turns out all of that 'brian's a good ol' boy' stuff was a polite way of saying 'sorry, dude, but you're toast.' right now, danni and gary are in the catbird seat, with two handy but not especially clever country boys and a tough but lame city girl more or less at their mercy.
6 of 44 | Posted by jack | Posted on October 24, 2005 7:31 AM
"Turkey fight" thats hilarious!
Great recap!
7 of 44 | Posted by TV-OD | Posted on October 24, 2005 8:39 AM
Liz (#4) re: Judd's former occupation website . . . GOOD ONE!!!
8 of 44 | Posted by happygal | Posted on October 24, 2005 8:53 AM
So long Margaret -- no I will not miss her. Judd makes for a much more entertaining show anyway. He can be annoying but surprisingly the "I'm a good sportsmanship" thing just made me laugh. As well as his theory that Ripley was unhappy because she couldn't "graps" the fact that the original tribes were no more.
I can't believe they voted Brian out -- did anyone else find Jeff's comments (after Brian left) a little too snarky? I kind of thought Brian's tribe mates were sincerely trying to build him up before they voted him off so he coud feel OK about going. I didn't see it as a "build him up to slice his throat". Anyone else see it this way or am I just a pansy ass? Also, was surprised to see Rafe give immunity to Gary. I would have expected Rafe to play it safe and choose Amy -- an easily defensible strategy to ensure that they have to keep an injured player. I don't think that would have come back to bite him on the butt the way his Gary vote might once there is a merge. These folks have very sharp memories at this point in the game and payback is a bitch.
9 of 44 | Posted by too freakin funny | Posted on October 24, 2005 9:33 AM
steph isn't as much my favorite as she once was. this week's episode was really good. in all fairness, although i'm not crazy about her use of "retarded" it is a real word, and even used in that context doesn't necessarily mean retarded as in mentally challenged. retarded means slow. obviously she did, but it's stupid that we can't use the word "retarded" - it is an actual word that is technically value-free.
as for gary, lets get this NFL secret out in the open.
10 of 44 | Posted by cones | Posted on October 24, 2005 10:07 AM
For some reason, Rafe really cracked me up this episode. Gosh, I can barely remember now, but something about Judd interrupting him, barking at him to give an opinion, and Rafe meekly replying that he was trying to do just that. And then when Jeff told him he could choose who got immunity on the other team. The look on his face was priceless.
I don't think there was much to Brian leaving. They weren't going to get rid of another big guy, and I think it kinda served to create a balance after Blake getting the boot last week. I really like Brandon though, I think he's on the ball.
11 of 44 | Posted by chronic | Posted on October 24, 2005 10:36 AM
J-Unit, great recounting of the episode, but very little of the writing that makes the recap so enjoyable! Long night out? I actually look forward to the recap more than the actual episode, so, hey, let's get with it, this week should be full of opportunities to get snarky!
For the record: Margaret deserved to be booted out. Besides, I don't understand: what's with the "old" and "new" members of each tribe? When they switch tribes they switch allegiances. The old enemies become friends and vice-versa. Jeez, it's not as if they've known each other forever and have to see each other after the 39 days are up. Judd had it right.
12 of 44 | Posted by Tony A. | Posted on October 24, 2005 11:13 AM
I think Judd should say "Man" some more. He is truly a dipshit.
J-Unit
How about a Judd saying "Man" montage? It would be about 45 minutes long, but entertaining...
13 of 44 | Posted by Panic | Posted on October 24, 2005 11:42 AM
Geez. Another week commenting on Steph's vocabulary. Lighten up people, they are just words
14 of 44 | Posted by Carl C | Posted on October 24, 2005 12:52 PM
Just to clarify (I hate when people do this...) I pointed out the "retarded" comment knowing that it was going to turn into a excrement tornado for Steph after the "gay" thing of last week. I couldn't really care less. I'm down with the use of any words for all of their meanings. Even offensive ones. I however, who use these words in feeble attempts to be funny in places like this and gatherings where I know my audience, would probably refrain from saying them on broadcast television just to keep myself from looking like an uneducated gay retarded piece of Jersey white trash. Check the gay shit storm from last week, it's pretty amusing.
re words: (read in a whiny affected voice)Why don't you change your name to Sydney or Irving Manzarek? It's just a word.
15 of 44 | Posted by Liz | Posted on October 24, 2005 1:06 PM
I'm with Panic. Can we at least do a "man" and "damn" count for Judd? He had to have said "man" and "damn" at least 147 times. Special bonus points for "man"/"damn" combos, such as "Damn, man" and, my personal favorite, "man damn."
16 of 44 | Posted by NB | Posted on October 24, 2005 2:02 PM
If it weren't for Margaret, half of those fuckwits would be dead. She should have let them die. As for Judd, he really does represent the idiots of NJ well, doesn't he? Which is why I can see him getting along with fellow shit-for-brains Stephenie. She may have brawn, but she has no brains, which we saw time and again during challenges that require thought.
Oh, Brian, I shall miss you the most though. Your Jebus comment last week was one of the best ever. Why didn't they get rid of Gary Coochboon? The man brings nothing to the team. How could Rafe not vote to keep Brian in? He's such an ass- defending JubbJubb and then voting for Gary. He's a bad gay.
17 of 44 | Posted by Tootie | Posted on October 24, 2005 2:49 PM
If it weren't for Margaret, half of those fuckwits would be dead. She should have let them die. As for Judd, he really does represent the idiots of NJ well, doesn't he? Which is why I can see him getting along with fellow shit-for-brains Stephenie. She may have brawn, but she has no brains, which we saw time and again during challenges that require thought.
Oh, Brian, I shall miss you the most though. Your Jebus comment last week was one of the best ever. Why didn't they get rid of Gary Coochboon? The man brings nothing to the team. How could Rafe not vote to keep Brian in? He's such an ass- defending JubbJubb and then voting for Gary. He's a bad gay.
18 of 44 | Posted by Tootie | Posted on October 24, 2005 2:49 PM
Liz -- love the Doors reference. It is even funnier if you imagine Oliver Stone's voice, not Val Kilmer's...
19 of 44 | Posted by BigMax | Posted on October 24, 2005 3:31 PM
I'm so sad to see Brian go...his comments in the 'confessional' were priceless.
20 of 44 | Posted by mere2142 | Posted on October 24, 2005 6:26 PM
Loved the recap J-Unit ( even though I waited so long for it)! I think that Judd's incorrect grammar is hysterical and Bobby Jon's "southernisms" are too. He said something at TC about a "mouse being on the corncake hanging out of his mouth" and I said WTF does that mean? Good old boys are funny sometimes.
21 of 44 | Posted by Dana | Posted on October 24, 2005 6:36 PM
dude.. survivor is good buuuuuuuuut... check out Run's House on MTV instead! its not a competition show but its really entertaining and features Reverend Run from RUN DMC. WATCH every Thursday on MTV at 10:30 pm and click to MTV overdrive to catch up on missed episodes
22 of 44 | Posted by dmcluver | Posted on October 24, 2005 7:05 PM
Margaret was clearly way off base "diagnosing" Judd with ADD. I'd put my money on fetal alcohol syndrome and terminal dumbfuckitis.
23 of 44 | Posted by accountinator | Posted on October 24, 2005 8:51 PM
My biggest problem with Stephenie is her sense of entitlement. It's like she thinks she gets to win just because she's there, and doesn't have to do any work to achieve it. Who deicided she was the "stongest female in Survivior history" anyway?
I'm sorry to see Brian go, but better him than Bobby Jon. I LOVE Bobby Jon.
24 of 44 | Posted by Victoria | Posted on October 24, 2005 10:29 PM
I was sure Rafe would vote for the other gay guy in the team but he's sucking up to Gary for the merge I guess.
Brian will be missed. Best eye rolls since Coby. Margaret. Meh.
Judd is a toad and is on his way to be bumped.
And what is it with everybody thinking Steph is such a "winner" Honey. You havent won anything sweetheart. Move over.
25 of 44 | Posted by Tempest | Posted on October 25, 2005 12:23 AM
you know, tempest, i wasn't totally surprised that rafe didn't vote to protect brian, but throwing the vote to gary seemed a little pointless. maybe strategically, he wants to help gary make the merge; maybe he just didn't want to meddle; who knows. we only see about five minutes worth of tribal council, which is sometimes hours long, so maybe gary's name came up in the part we didn't see. if i was him i'd have voted to protect amy, since she's one of his former teammates and is probably physically the weakest player due to her ankle--he'd be protecting a possible future ally and making sure yaxha had to boot a stronger player at the same time. my guess is rafe did not want to influence the vote, which in itself might have been a wise move. too much power usually comes back to bite you in the ass in survivor.
26 of 44 | Posted by jack | Posted on October 25, 2005 5:59 AM
My favorite was when Brian cast his vote and said "this is where the 'outwit' part of the game happens" and he was the one who was blindsided, or, outwitted. THAT was great TV.
As for Judd, the man is a moron. I'm glad Margaret (what is with reality bitches that I hate being named Maggie?) is gone.
And these story lines are getting REALLY weak. Ooh the intrigue of Gary's Secret? Makes "Summer of Secrets" look like an absolute thriller.
Love the game, hate the players.
27 of 44 | Posted by Mullethead | Posted on October 25, 2005 11:52 AM
Wouldn't it be sweet if the DVD's featured the full tc's? I'd love to hear all of it and see how the editing changes your perception. I hadn't thought about it before, but what Jack said about why Rafe picked Gary to give immunity to made sense if you think about what might have been said that we didn't hear.
28 of 44 | Posted by Laura | Posted on October 25, 2005 12:01 PM
I agree about Jeff over doing it with the throat slice--and I also thought he was a bit extreme saying Judd was ready to go "strangle" Ripley--no wonder he seems so angry and bullish!
I guess it must my upbringing that makes me understand a guy like Judd--heck, he probably is a bully and a hot-head, but I still think he's got a good heart, despite his protests, and he's still the only survivor I'd wanna get with!!!! I'll have him doing "man and damn" in every combination!!! LOL!!!
29 of 44 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on October 25, 2005 12:56 PM
i admit to using "gay" and "retarded" the same way steph does...it does not make me a bad person (and yes, i have gay friends, and i consider my brother retarded although he has never been diagnosed).
Go AMY, LYDIA and STEPH!
30 of 44 | Posted by shelley | Posted on October 25, 2005 1:30 PM
Dang ol' Boomhauer, man, tell you 'bout myself woowee turn ons ladies and back seats man sunsets fast cars man, yup love that CK1 like catnip, turn-offs uhuh women golfers man love that Bob Dylan like a rolling stone what'd he say, brief man myself yup dang ol' internet man. Go www.click click click naked chicks yup that's all me uhuh on the next biography man.
Oh, that's Boomhauer's bio, rather than Bobby Jon's confessionals... and no, I can't tell the difference either.
31 of 44 | Posted by HicksPub | Posted on October 25, 2005 1:35 PM
Ps. I thought the BJ vs. Jamie Rooster fight looked like a tryout for a Rolling Stones cover band!!!
32 of 44 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on October 25, 2005 1:57 PM
HicksPub: LMAO! I LOVE Bobby Jon!
Can't wait till next week when Operation Quarterjerk is back on.
33 of 44 | Posted by Victoria | Posted on October 25, 2005 11:31 PM
"mentioning he was the kamikaze who broke the wedge, which I guess is what the kids are calling the butt sex now"
Good lord... I need to stop reading these recaps at night b/c I'm gonna wake up the house LMAO.
Great great recap and I'm definitely gonna miss Brian. *sigh*
Wish Steph would go already.. so tired of her constant complaining about her sucky tribe.
34 of 44 | Posted by Lisa | Posted on October 26, 2005 12:33 AM
Noooo! Brian was by far my favorite person this season. He brought the snark and I think he was easily one of, if not the, smartest people on the whole cast.
I like that Brian went out with class right to the end. He wasn't bitter or petty, he just said he was glad he got blindsided and they were playing the game. A good sport, Brian.
Maybe Brian will be back if they do another All-Stars... let's hope!
35 of 44 | Posted by Kathryn | Posted on October 26, 2005 8:50 AM
Can't wait to see Steph and Bobby Jon *make out*, when both tribes merge. Butt sex. ohhh my gaawwwwwwd!
36 of 44 | Posted by Trumpoline | Posted on October 26, 2005 10:11 PM
They do say hate is the closest thing to love . . . and he's probably lonely after losing his precious pee-buddy!
After the merge, I'm sure the first to go will be one of them--I'm banking on BJ, but I guess we'll see . .
37 of 44 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on October 27, 2005 10:15 AM
oops, I thought you meant Jamie and BJ, trumpoline . . . maybe a three-some then!?
38 of 44 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on October 27, 2005 11:36 AM
Yea, oops! I meant Jamie but I guess I was thinking about (Latino) Steph at that time. I hope BJ will stay as long as possible, because I'm from Texas, and also because he is hot (I'm a girl)! Can't wait for this week's recap.
39 of 44 | Posted by Trumpoline | Posted on October 28, 2005 5:25 AM
Since nobody has commented on it, did anyone else notice this in the 'Individual Immunity' challenge:
Jeff starts his description by saying, 'You will run out into the field ... and grab the bags with you letters in it ...'.
When the competition starts they pan back and accidently show both the starting point and where the bags are hanging. The distance is like 15 feet TOPS!!! It is almost close enough to allow the contestants to stand in the middle and just pivot on one foot. Untie a bag, pivot and put it on the table, repeat ...
After the initial shot they only show either the start point or the hanging bags point, never both as if to make it look like it is a long distance between them.
As short a distance as it was, they producers should have just started the challenge with the bags tied to the table itself.
Too me it is just funny what they try to do with the camera tricks. Makes me wonder about all the other things we perceive that are totally off.
40 of 44 | Posted by Myers | Posted on October 28, 2005 9:48 AM
No one has mentioned the too-numerous-to-count ass shots of our favorite sports radio host during the big ball challenge. Anybody else notice the (camera man's? editor's? director's?) continual focus on her butt cheeks?
41 of 44 | Posted by too | Posted on October 28, 2005 1:10 PM
Too, what a double standard too . . . on last nights episode, the only time they showed Judd in his undies (save the big wet butt shot) was when dannarexia was (kindly--I think) offering chocolate to the other tribe--I thought I was watching Austin Powers . . . first the bowl blocked him, then her waspish, waist, then the rest of her. then nothing . . . They need more female camera people, or nutty guys like me who think Judd is a stud!!!
and trumpoline, If you think BJ's hot, I guess I can stand him for a while longer, but I wonder if you like Jamie too? (Judd seems too ; )
42 of 44 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on October 28, 2005 1:30 PM
LOL. Danni has an impressive ass. Anyway, Jamie is...not too bad, but he doesn't seem like a nice guy. Judd, well, he looks like a jug. Enough said. ;D
43 of 44 | Posted by Trumpoline | Posted on October 28, 2005 5:28 PM
I can't load adobe on this machine
44 of 44 | Posted by wet butt | Posted on November 13, 2005 6:42 AM