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Jeff Probst Gabon blog

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marigold:

Jeff Probst Myspace Blog:

Monday, December 01, 2008

Survivor Gabon Winding Down blog

I hope you all are enjoying Survivor: Gabon. As I said in the beginning, this season is a slow burn.. and the burn is in full force now.

I think you'll like the way this season finishes. It's definitely dramatic! And while I don't have any control over who wins, I do have an opinion. My own two cents, I think we have some people who would be great, deserving winners and we have some people I'd rather not see win at all. In fact we have some folks that if they do win will make it hard for me to give them the money! It's usually that way which is part of what makes the
show fun to watch. Rooting for, rooting against. It's all good.

This Thursday's episode is one of my favorites. Loved Ones. I love love. Some people don't dig these episodes, but I think we should do it every season. It makes you remember how important your relationships are when you go without them for a month!

Thanks for all of the really nice comments about winning the Emmy. I really do believe that I am one of the luckiest guys working in television. I am the face of a great show with an incredible team and I get way more credit than I deserve. It felt very nice to log onto the MySpace page and see all the congratulatory comments.

Glad you're digging the EW.com blog as well. It's fun to let loose with some lippy opinion. For the record, I am bringing extra security with me to the live show just in case Crystal or Marcus have decided my comments deserve a beat down.

Keep the comments coming, thanks for understanding that I usually can't respond to them, but I do read them and take them to heart. Most of them anyway…!

Jeff

Link: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=321751631&blogID=453209369&Mytoken=A2297341-F448-4D17-AEEB49170E1898EA329827832

bee1233:
I wonder who Jeff is talking about...My bet is on crystal.  She truly has done nothing.  My guess is the final three will be sugar, susie and crystal. 

sk8ter23:
Jeff Probst blogs 'Survivor: Gabon' (episode 12)

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/12/jeff-probst-blo.html

puddin:
Jeff Probst blogs 'Survivor: Gabon' (episode 13)
Dec 12, 2008, 12:02 AM | by Jeff Probst


 Well, as the year comes to a close, it's time to start looking at award-worthy performances. Here's my vote for Best Performance by a Duo in a Reality Competition Series About Adventure That Takes Place in Exotic Locations and is Hosted by a Dashing Fella With a Keen Way About Him.

Bob: (clearly distressed over lying to Kenny) If I win the next immunity I'll give it to you.

Kenny: (Long Pause) Okay.

And...scene.

I don't know who should win the acting award, but both Bob and Kenny gave stellar performances. I don't believe Bob was sorry for one second. He is playing the game. Just like Kenny. On the other hand, Kenny's sad "poor me" performance was so understated, so restrained that it almost warrants a spot at the final tribal council.

Bob was never going to give him the necklace, but damn, I do appreciate Kenny's bravado. Plead for the necklace while you're planning Bob's blindside. Awesome. Kenny is setting himself up for a major ass whuppin'...or a million dollars. I love this kid. Love him.

I miss Crystal already. I really do. She's fun to pick on, and she always, and I mean always, had something to say at tribal council. The woman was gold. Not bronze. Not silver. Gold. As in gold medalist.

Favorite moment of the episode: Crystal trying so hard to prove her physical prowess that at the end of the reward challenge she actually attempted to dunk a ball on a four foot goal...that she towered over...and still missed.

Second favorite moment: Watching Crystal try to make her way through the immunity challenge. We couldn't include every moment she went off the course, otherwise the challenge would still be going. To her credit, Crystal has always had a sense of humor about her lack of ability in challenges. Doesn't change the fact that she sucked. She did.

Side note: When Bob was choosing two people to join him on reward, I said, "Two's fun, three's a party." It was an innocent comment. My friend, Serena, felt there was a sexual connotation to the comment. I was appalled. Those kind of dirty and inappropriate thoughts simply do not occur to me. When I am hosting, I am focused. Laser beam precision. Tunnel vision. The thought that somehow I had a Freudian slip that would reveal the truth of what I'm really thinking about out there is simply silly. Now, had it been my other friend, Alexis, who said it, it might have some validity; she's a bit of a psych job, so in an odd way her thinking often makes sense. Yes, I know I Just mentioned two women in the same sentence. Doesn't mean anything. Okay, moving onto the next position, sorry I mean topic.

Sugar is a factor in this game. The sweet little pin-up model is very close to crying her way into the final. Who would ever think she would still be here this long? Not me. Never. How does it happen season after season? She wasn't even picked when they ranked their tribes. She wasn't picked! Then again, Bob was picked very late, so maybe all it means is that Marcus isn't as brilliant as he claims!! Ah-ha!!

Okay, fine. Another gross exaggeration on my part. Marcus actually had the highest IQ of everyone this season. If you want to know who had the second highest IQ, watch the reunion show. I think you will be surprised.

No, I've never taken the IQ test we give them. Because ignorance is bliss. No, I don't feel the need. Just back off. What? Why? That's crazy, I don't have anything to prove. I get paid whether I'm smart or not. Stop it. Go. Would you just go. I have to finish my blog.

Sorry about that. My inner voice – drives me nuts sometimes.

So, as we head into the finale, we are down to five: Sugar, Susie, Kenny, Matty, and Bob.

Sugar is in an excellent spot to make it to the final vote. I'll give her credit. She has done a very good job of staying in this game and staying out of the way. She's survived a record number of days on Exile, she handled the power of the immunity idol beautifully, and she has earned her right to be in the final five. She could easily make it to the final vote.

Susie is a question mark for me. She's riding coattails a bit, for sure, but she has done a good job of offering up her vote to the right people at the right time, and that has kept her out of the line of fire. Don't be surprised if she makes it to the final because everyone thinks they can beat her at the vote.

Matty is a favorite. Has been from day one. I'm so happy he's still in the game. I just like how he wears his heart on his sleeve. Can he win? Yes. Can he make it to the end? Very difficult. He's an obvious target.

Bob is another favorite of mine. Again, from day one. I like his straight-ahead approach, and I have a huge soft spot for Maine. Can he win? Yes. Can he get to the end? It's gonna be tough. He will probably have to win his way there through immunity challenges, otherwise I think they'll take him out. He has too many former tribemates on the jury.

Kenny - I cannot believe Kenny is still in this game. I would have lost my house betting against him making it this far. He has an uphill battle if he's going to win because he has made a ton of enemies. But if he gets to the final with the right person or people, it could happen. Kenny could win this game.

I'll say it right now. All things considered, I'm happy with this final five. There are three people I would be happy to see win and two people that if they win, I'll pretend I'm happy and quickly begin promoting next season.

Remember, the big finale is this Sunday. A two-hour finale followed by the live reunion show where all these knuckleheads will be back together, and you can see who looks good and who looked better on the island.

Now to prove to you that I read your comments, I will answer a few questions:

Where did Bob get the beads to make the immunity necklace…? You can bet I'll be asking him that at the reunion show.

Why did I throw Bob's fake immunity idol in the fire? Because that is what you do when someone plays a fake immunity idol! What, are you new? I totally understand that it was a work of art, and yes, it pained me to do it, but...is this an art exhibit or Survivor? Get over it. He can make another one. And if you want to see what's left of it, tune into the reunion show. Maybe I fished it out of the fire for him...or maybe I'll be wearing it around my neck...or maybe I'll just give it to Serena and call it a day.

Regarding loved ones – there is clearly no right or wrong answer. Those of you who hate the loved ones episodes have miserable lives. Those of us who cry and enjoy the loved ones episodes for their outpouring of emotion are beautiful, loving, wonderful human beings without whom the world would be a dark and dreary place. Welcome to the light, Dalton Ross.

To Dr. Zenith – thanks for the casting ideas, but I have to comment on the assertions that you and especially David Ellen (David, you made the blog!) continue to make: that we manipulate the game so that our favorites can win. Is the medication you're currently taking prescribed or do you buy it on the streets? If we could dictate who would win each season, then the following people never would have won: Tina in Australia, Vecepia in Marquesas, that soft-core porno dude in Thailand, Jenna in the Amazon, Sandra in Pearl Islands, Amber in All-Stars, Earl in Fiji, and Parvati in Fans vs Favorites! All of those just listed people definitely deserved to win because they played the best game, but that doesn't mean they would have been our first choice to win. We would have picked more "colorful" winners. Plain and simple. I'm kind of stumped that people still believe this stuff.

Oh, for the record, they don't have toilets or toilet paper, showers or soap, or make-up, or beds, or secret food stashes, or anything else that would make it more tolerable. The game is real. The game is hard.

To "JeffProbstRocks" – you can come over and watch Survivor at my house. Don't hate those poker chip-throwing friends of yours; envy is difficult, try to understand. That's what I do.

Once and for all – the final three vs final two debate. It's a matter of choice. Personally I believe that when you have three people in the final you have a better opportunity for a good winner because you cannot simply win the final immunity challenge and then take the least liked person with you to the final vote. For instance, had we planned a final three in Fans vs Favorites, Cirie would have won and everybody would have been happy. But we had a final two planned. So, David Ellen, if we were master manipulators, why not make it a final three and let Cirie win? Enough already. That's just my opinion. For crying out loud, get over it.

And for those of you who don't like us switching up the tribes because it screws you up in your Survivor pool, how about this...no switches next season. Straight Survivor. Is that what you want? Two tribes. No switch. One merge. Final 2. Okay, fine. Done. I'll call CBS and tell them I've made a decision. Just don't blame me when the dude from 'N Sync is hosting next season.

See ya Sunday at the live show!

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/12/jeff-probst-b-1.html#comment-142438920

marigold:

Jeff Probst blogs 'Survivor: Gabon' finale!

Preface: It's late. I'm beat. I mean wiped out. I'm sitting on my couch banging this out, so forgive me if it's not the most entertaining blog of the season. (For more on last night's finale, including who won, follow the jump.)

Bob wins!! I'm happy. I really think he deserved it. I love that he's 57 and our oldest winner — we need more people over 50 playing this game. I was a bit annoyed with Bob about one thing...during the show Bob was so long winded, always ready with another story about this or that. We get to the live reunion show and he's suddenly the shy girl in the corner with braces and a ponytail, who doesn't want to be there. Bob, you made it tough, but I'm still happy for you.

If Susie had won I don't know what I would have said or how I would have justified such a decision by the jury. Yes, Susie did a good job making it far enough to put her in a position to have a shot at the money. But to get three votes and nearly get a fourth vote from Randy really surprised me.

Equally surprising was that Sugar received no votes. Not one jury member thought she was worthy of a vote. I'm guessing there's a  "bitter Betty" pill going around in that bunch. They're mad that she had a hand in voting them out, and they're gonna show her by not rewarding her hard work. There is no doubt about it, Sugar played a pretty damn good game.

If this were a "fair" game, which it often is not – Sugar would have received a few votes and Susie would have none. To future Survivor contestants. If you make it to the jury, try to just let the anger and envy go and see the big picture. You got your ass kicked – no way around it – now quit being a baby and reward the person who kicked your ass by giving them your vote.

Tired update: My eyes are starting to close. Forgive me but it's been a long week.

Highlight of the night: Corinne. Case settled. She is a bitch and she loves it and she might be nuts and if she's dating somebody…wow, that must be a crazy life. Some highs, some lows, and some  "I gotta get out of here. She's gonna stab me in the face!" Corinne, you were great tonight, don't beat yourself up. You were funny and you secured your spot as Queen Bitch of Survivor. Congratulations.

Randy was also a bit of a let down on the reunion show. He has a very interesting story, which he shared with me before the show. But it was like pulling teeth getting him to share any of it tonight. It's okay, bro, I still love you, but you failed to live up to the standards you set while on the show. You went out with a bit of a whimper…but you got a lot of laughs and so in that sense I am happy to be your straight man.

Crystal, you earned my respect by owning your poor performance. Nicely done.

Kenny. Same thing. You earned major kudos by owning the fact that you got cocky and you got played. One question: Who was Kenny talking to? It was so odd, as he kept looking out to the audience or down to his feet or over to the side or anywhere but to me, the guy asking the questions. I still love ya, bud. Nice job. You proved me wrong. I thought you'd be voted out first or second.

Bob winning the Sprint Player of the Season – I think this was the most satisfying part for me because it says one thing very clearly: The person that the audience most liked…won the game. That's fantastic. I love it when that happens.

Okay, you guys want me to be candid – I am too tired to finish the blog. I'm sorry. I can't even spell check this thing. It's all a big blur.

I hope you will forgive me.

I have loved blogging with you guys. I have loved all of the feedback. So fun to have this exchange. Thank you for letting me air out some of my inner dialogue. With the money I saved, I just bought myself an iPhone.

Survivor: Brazil is going to be very different from Gabon. A lot of likable people and a very differently played game. I think you are going to like it.

Dalton, thanks for the space. Let's do it again next season.

I'll be sound asleep while most of you are reading this. Good morning.

Link: http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/12/jeff-probst-b-2.html?iid=top25-Jeff+Probst+blogs+%27Survivor%3A+Gabon%27+finale%21

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