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ugot2bekidinmeny:
:waves: thanks Will!! :waves:

Jobby:

--- Quote ---Amanda gave the clue back because she wasn’t strong enough to stand up for herself.  It continues to be Amanda’s Achilles heel in life.  Standing up for her self.  I know she is watching this at home and frustrated once again because she could easily still be in this game if she had only stood up for her self and said, “I’m not giving it back.  I have it.  I’m not letting go.  You were foolish enough to set it aside and I grabbed it.  Now back off before I do one of my favorite high schools cheers and toss you over my back and down the stairs.”   But instead she was intimidated and obediently did as instructed by Colby.
--- End quote ---

Amanda, i'm proud of you no matter what!

RealityFreakWill:
Jeff Probst blogs 'Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains' episode 12

Rupert:  “There are no other heroes.”

Oh Rupert, I still love you, but after this season concludes you need shave the beard and create a new persona.  The one has grown tired. The lovable pirate who always puts integrity ahead of winning has served you very well and you will always be one of the most popular Survivors ever.  But it’s time for a change.  Listen, to be fair – I know I could take the same advice myself. Get me a new haircut, a different colored shirt and maybe some new dialogue, cause I’m sure the same argument could be made for me.  The Probst act has grown tired.

But, I’m the one writing the blog so that means I’m going to continue to focus my attention outward on everyone else… and leaving the inward thinking for my therapy sessions.

There were a few themes this episode.  Morality, hypocrisy and exhaustion. All three of them in full force.

It started with Rupert and Colby’s character assassination of Candice.

The reason we brought Candice back as a hero in the first place was because she stayed loyal to her alliance in the Cook Islands.  This time she is playing a different game.  Surprise, she wants to win.  But to listen to Rupert and Colby you’d think she had committed treason or some other terrible crime against humanity.

Colby: “Candice is so weak. She’s so pathetic.”
Rupert: “Self centered, greedy, manipulative. She killed us. Candice is a pitiful player.”

Really?  Isn’t she just playing Survivor like everybody else.  This exchange really stood out to me as a stunning example of what happens when you are tired and frustrated and looking for someone or some thing else to blame it on.  I don’t really think Candice is all those things anymore than I think Rupert is the savior he believes himself to be.  It’s all part of playing Survivor and the game is simply taking its toll on these intrepid but exhausted folks.

Case in point…

RUSSELL & RUPERT THE ARGUMENT
There is no doubt left in my mind.  The enormous emotional wear and tear of back-to back Survivors is severely impacting Russell’s game.  The man is flat out tired.  The kind of tired that makes you irritated just to be awake, but so tired you can’t fall asleep.  The kind of tired that lets you know you’re gonna bite somebody’s head off before they even say a word, you’re just waiting for them to so much as breathe… like a snake in the grass.  As a result, the microscopic filter system that Russell had been utilizing when in social situations is gone.

The ugliness that came out of his mouth while sitting across the fire from Rupert just made Russell one of the best candidates to take to the end because his chances of winning just took another nose dive. I’m not saying he can’t pull it out, but the odds are plummeting.   It wasn’t even so much what he said it was how he said it.  It was mean spirited, even for Russell.

I’m not making excuses for Russell when I say he’s exhausted.  He’s done a very good job of showing his true colors.  But I do believe that the emotional drain this show exacts is hard for the audience to truly understand.

The truly great players are “focused” on this game every single second of every single minute of every single day.  That kind of intense focus is so exhausting that once the game ends, many Survivors take months to get back to normal.  Think about it…you are in an environment that takes you out of your comfort zone, no creature comforts, where you cannot really trust anyone, where you have to watch your back at all times and on top of it all, you have to be thinking several moves ahead or you will lose the plot and your torch will be snuffed.

As I’ve said many times before, I’m eating and sleeping every day while we’re shooting and even I am exhausted at the end of a season.  I was a disaster after our back to backs in Samoa.  This game is nuts.  This season has been the most intense season we’ve ever had.  I’m amazed at the level of game play from these contestants.  We may never see something like this again.  It’s truly been a treat, but it’s taken its toll.  Look at their faces, their body language.

On my list of players that are still 100% focused on the game and only the game, there are four: Parvati, Sandra, Russell and Danielle.  All villains.  I know that offends everybody else left in the game but here’s my rational:

Colby is certainly a good strategist but his head has been in and out of the game this season and leaves him vulnerable.

Rupert is a decent strategist, but he gets too lost in the morality of what he deems to be appropriate behavior.  It’s wasted energy.

Candice is very smart but she doesn’t commit fast enough and it’s a fatal flaw.

Jerri just doesn’t have it in her DNA to only focus on the game.  Jerri will take time to enjoy a moment or stare at a sunset… I mean really stare at the sunset…and though it’s a great quality in life, it’s not one that works well in this game.

This doesn’t mean Colby, Rupert, Candice and Jerri can’t make it to the end and win. I’m only pointing out that right now there are four people who are truly focused on this game and with each passing day the toll of the game will make it harder and harder for each of them to focus.  Those who hold it together the longest have the best chance of winning.

FIRST IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
I continued to be amazed at how quickly people will step out of a challenge for food.  It happens season after season.  People voluntarily stepping out of a challenge for immunity. Nuts.  They always blame it on “I wouldn’t have lasted long anyway.”  But after 20 seasons I believe it is simply evidence of Maslows Hierarchy Of Needs: Physiological needs – breathing, food, water – will always win out.  Playing Survivor does not even make the top five.

Much like Russell can’t help himself from saying ugly things with true malice, when you’re as hungry as these guys are, the desire to eat overpowers the less immediate desire to win a game show and a million dollars.

Sometimes I understand that people believe in their alliance so strongly that they do not feel they are in danger so they take the food.  But Colby was a surprise.  I’m sure by now Donaldson figures I’m picking on him but I’m really not.  Well, a little.  But come on, this is Colby Donaldson.  There are expectations that come with being the original hero.  One of them is you never give up.  The Colby of old would have stayed in that challenge until his arm fell asleep, then held on as it turned blue and only would have given up when the doctors pulled him out due to gangrene setting in.  But the Colby of 2010 is tired.  He stepped out of another immunity challenge despite knowing he is a major target to be voted out.

Rupert & Parvati were the only two that hung in there.  Parvati represented the villains, and her job was to defeat Rupert so they could vote him out at Tribal Council.  Rupert knew his job – win the challenge so he could stay in the game.  He did an admirable job, finally falling out due to a momentary loss of concentration.  Sometimes that’s all it takes.  Rupert, for all of my making fun of you becoming larger than life, I admire your effort in challenges.

Parvati wins another immunity challenge.  Parvati is a player.  She fights hard on all levels and she always wants to win.  Always.

THE IDOL IS BACK IN PLAY
After Russell played the idol at the last tribal council it was put back in play and boy what fun it was to be able to read the clue to the contestants.  You could anticipate the craziness that was going to take place back at camp.

And whadaya know, Sandra the lippiest Survivor in history finds the idol.  The moment just after she found it – where she is trying to hide it on her person and then ultimately hides it in the jungle – is the kind of moment that makes all of us on the production side smile with glee and jump for joy.  Those real moments are fantastic.

But even better than the Sandra moment was Rupert deciding to put a rock in his pocket and pretend it’s an idol.  And it worked.  If not for this brilliant decision and subtle Emmy worthy performance, Rupert was a shoo-in to be voted out.  This gave him life and a chance to stay in the game.  Sometimes that is all you need.  A chance.

Rupert’s acting was a performance that nobody could appreciate more than Russell.  Ironic, given that Russell is the one that fell for it the hardest.  I’m telling you the man is exhausted.  But it was fun to see Russell fail, right?  It’s always fun to see the guy on top… drop.  It reminded me how many times Russell has been right in the past.  Not this time.  He is slowly crumbling and if he doesn’t get it together quickly and wake up, Russell will not make it to the end.

FIRST TRIBAL COUNCIL
Colby was on Candice again at Tribal Council.  I really don’t get it.  His lecture at tribal council was an admonishment.  Like a parent scolding their child for misbehaving.  It could be the wear and tear alone or it could be that Colby isn’t used to losing and is having a difficult time accepting it.  Either way it seemed misplaced.  Candice is not even top ten of the dirtiest players in this game.  If she were, she’d probably still be in the game.

THE AFTERMATH OF TRIBAL
Oh-oh.  Russell is not happy.

Russell:  “I’m not fully in control of this game right now.  But you know what, I’m gonna take control of this game so fast they’re not gonna know what hit ‘em.”

Russell …just woke up.

SECOND IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
I loved this challenge.  It’s exciting, it’s big and anybody can win.  Parvati continues to impress me.  I don’t know that Parvati and I would ever be great friends and I’m pretty sure she’d be a tough woman to date, but if I’m in a fox hole, with the enemy approaching, I’d be very confident in our chances if she was the one who had my back.  The girl plays to win… at everything she does.

Remember how I said Russell woke up.  Well, he is wide-awake now.  With immunity around his neck, he can now attempt to get back in control of this game.

Russell’s attempt to break up his own alliance is a huge move.  Big moves can cost you the game.  Big moves can also get you to the final.  They’re risky, that’s why they are big moves.  Russell wants to win and he’s afraid that he may get left behind.  This is what you call “going for broke.”  It will either work or it won’t, but there will not be any middle ground.

I appreciate the move.  Whether it works or not, Russell’s game play continues to be one of the big reasons this season is so good.  But he’s going up against Parvati and Parvati as stated earlier, does not back down, from anybody.

THE LOVERS SPAT
Russell and Parvati’s argument in the jungle was their first lovers spat.  Go watch it again.  They are behaving like a couple and they are arguing.  Even their language is different.  It’s the language of a couple.  I know a lot of you are laughing at my ridiculousness, but I’m serious.  I know they’re not a real couple per se, but their bond has gotten to a point where the language reflects something different from mere Survivor play.

WHAT A LOAD OF HYPOCRISY
Russell’s decision to bring in Colby and Rupert is a perfect example of the hypocrisy in this game.  Russell who moments earlier had sarcastically called Rupert, “the second coming of Christ” offered to align with him so they could take out Danielle.  First he approached Colby, who had no issue aligning with Russell.  Then he approached Rupert, the man who despised Russell so much he had called him a “disgusting terrible human being.”  They bumped fists like brothers, without so much as a word and just like that… they’re allies.

That’s Survivor.  Right there.  Leave your morality at home.  Save your speeches for the shower.  Here’s the thing though.  Russell’s move doesn’t surprise me at all.  He has always said, “I’m a villain who is playing a game.”  Rupert on the other hand has made his name and a decent living off being the morally superior one. You can’t have it both ways.  You can’t stand on a pedestal and proclaim yourself the most moral of all only to hop off the pedestal the minute a better situation presents itself.  Changing sides and changing your mind is fine – that’s basic Survivor.  But you can’t have it both ways.

Let me be really clear about something.  I do not root for Russell.  I do not root against Rupert. I do not root for or against anybody.  I merely observe and comment.  Russell makes no bones about how he plays.  Neither for that matter does Parvati or Sandra.  They play hard and they know it could cost them in the game.  What is annoying me (now I’m the one losing my mind!) is the holier than thou crap spewing out of people’s mouths.  Rupert just proved the point better than any rant I could ever make.  He’d team up with Russell right now if he thought it would get him to the end.  To repeat, there is nothing wrong with changing strategies, but the lectures about right v wrong have grown tired.

Okay, thank you.  I feel better now.  I think I need to go stand in a good rain storm.   Anybody wanna join me?

2nd TRIBAL COUNCIL
Wow.  I have to gather energy to continue because what happened at this tribal council was damn near historic.  A breakdown.  The wear and tear that I’ve been talking about this entire blog showed itself again.  Danielle has played so hard.  She has been so focused.  She has given tremendous effort.  But she lost it tonight.  While Parvati remained calm, Danielle panicked and it cost her.  She lost focus.  She took Russell’s bait and he got inside her head.  If only Danielle could have hit pause on the Tivo she could have gotten it back together.  But Survivor doesn’t have a pause button.  It goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on.  I would never criticize somebody for being tired.  It’s a result of playing a very difficult game.  It’s just the way it goes.  There was a showdown.  Russell won.  Danielle lost.

She played a heckuva game but she came up short.  See ya on the jury Danielle.

SOMETHING FUN
At the live reunion show in NY on May 16th, we are going to crown one Survivor the winner of the “Dumbest Move” in the history of Survivor.  You will decide who wins the trophy!  Cast your vote at:

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/vote/

See ya next week!

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/05/07/jeff-probst-blog-survivor-ep-12/

ugot2bekidinmeny:
Thanks again Will! :hugs:

ugot2bekidinmeny:
Jeff Probst blogs 'Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains' episode 13
by Jeff Probst
Categories: Reality TV, Survivor, Television
Image Credit: Monty Brinton/CBSSandra (to Rupert):  “Loose lips sink ships.”

And just like that, Rupert is gone and we are down to one remaining hero left in the game.

Colby.  Like the cowboys of old he stands alone, atop the mountain.  Weathered skin from years of being on horseback, he props a Winchester rifle against his shoulder.  This battle could get ugly.  Then again, the way Colby has played this year, he might just set the rifle down and surrender to the opposition.

It’s been an interesting season for Colby.  He was asked back for this season because he was the first and many (including myself) would say quintessential hero of this game.  But this season has been rough on Colby.  He has not performed up to his or anybody else’s expectations and yet here he is heading into the final episode with a one in five shot at winning the million dollars.  Colby is a great example of why you should never quit in this game or any other game.  You gotta be in it to win it.  He’s still in it.  He could still win it.

FAMILY VISIT

You know I love these moments.  I’ll always be a fan of love.   It was fascinating to watch the relationships between loved ones play out during the challenge.  It always reminds me these are real people who have signed on for an extraordinary adventure and an incredibly taxing game.  Rarely on Survivor do you see someone at their best.  Their loved one visit usually illuminates a part of their personality we don’t often see.

It’s clear that Parvati’s relationship with her dad Michael is solid.  He’s a proud Dad who loves his daughter.  They’re both competitive and Dad was doing his best during the challenge, but even in the end I think he was just happy to see that his daughter was healthy and still in the game.  That’s the love of a parent and it’s a beautiful thing.

Jerri’s sister traveled all the way from Germany to get to Samoa and it was clear how happy Jerri was to see her and hug her.  Jerri is obviously a woman who has worked hard on herself and strives to live her life a spiritual way.  Watching them in the challenge was fun because Jerri wanted to win but she also wanted to have fun competing on Survivor with her sister.  Whadaya know, she achieved both.

Colby’s relationship with his older brother was also revealing.  It’s the kind of relationship that only brothers can have.  You can yell at your brother in a way you wouldn’t yell at a sister or even a good friend.  Colby was clearly frustrated with everything about the situation (like he has been all season) and his brother Reid, was a very good sport about it.  That’s also indicative of a brother relationship.  When one bro senses the other is struggling, you give them some slack.

Russell’s wife, Melanie must be a strong woman because as we all know by now Russell is a major strategic game player who never takes his eyes off the prize. Even though I know he wanted to see his wife, he wasn’t going to let his emotions cause any hiccups in his game.  His entire time with his wife was spent strategizing and updating her.  Even their goodbye was about strategy, when he referred to Jerri’s choice of who to bring along on the reward.  Russell: “She screwed up.”

Rupert’s wife Laura has one of those faces that make you want to smile.  For all of the grief I give Rupert for being a bit over the top, when I see him with his wife, I can’t help but smile at the true love they seem to share.  It’s not her first time to the island and she has been a delight each time she has visited.  Their goodbye was out of a movie.  If their life is truly that romantic, that’s pretty kick ass.

But the one that got me and still gets me as I write this was Sandra’s visit from her Uncle, Fernando.  Their chat about the loss of her mother was extremely touching.  On top of that, Sandra’s husband couldn’t visit because he is serving in Afghanistan.  Her uncle was a wonderful substitute and while watching them play the challenge together you saw that they share the same sense of humor that Sandra displays daily along with the same absolute lack of concern for winning something as silly as a reward challenge.

THE CONSEQUENCE

When we get to this point in the game, our rewards usually come with a complication – a consequence.  Jerri was forced to choose two and only two couples to join her on the reward.  Without hesitating she chose Parvati and Sandra.  That left Rupert and Colby and Russell to go back to camp.  You don’t need a Magic 8-Ball to guess what happened next.

Russell, Rupert and Colby all started talking about what a dumb move Jerri made by not choosing them.  The truth is there is no good move when you’re in Jerri’s spot.  No matter whom you leave behind, they’re going to be upset.

So, Russell reaches out to make a deal with Rupert and Colby.  I love it.  A complete 180.  Is it real?  Will it last?  Can anybody trust anybody?  Ha!  That’s the greatest part.  Nobody can trust anybody and everybody knows it.

RUPERT’S SLEEP WALKING AGAIN

What the heck was Rupert thinking?  Was that ego that he wanted everybody to know he was working?  Rupert, nobody cares.  Was it anger that he wasn’t chosen to go on the reward?  Rupert, nobody cares.  It accomplished absolutely nothing and it certainly contributed to him being voted out and losing his shot at the million dollars.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
I can’t believe I am saying it again but once again Colby Donaldson was first out of the challenge.  If I had told you at the beginning of the season that the biggest letdown would come from our most celebrated hero, nobody would have believed me.  Yet, as mentioned earlier… Colby is still in the game and if he makes it to the final is probably the odds on favorite to win the money.  Crazy.

On the flip side – Rupert fights until he has nothing left.  He doesn’t quit because he thinks someone else might outlast him.  He doesn’t step out because he’s hungry.  He goes as long as he can and not a second less.  Once again he made it a long time in the challenge but came up…. short.

Parvati continues to impress, winning yet another challenge. I’m running out of ways to say it.  Win or lose this season, she’s in the Survivor Hall of Fame and will go down as one of the greatest to ever play.

PRE-TRIBAL

Wow.  They’re all losing their minds.

Sandra:  Rupert, loose lips sink ships.

Rupert:  Yes, they do.

Sandra:  Yes, they do and they just did.

Russell:  Are you with me or against me?

Sandra:  I’m against you, Russell.

Parvati:  Who invited Boston Rob back to the party. Are you with me or are you against me?

Russell:  What are you all doing… you’re being dumb.  Go ahead and keep playing around.  Holler out whatever you want, you’re diggin a deeper and deeper hole.

For a moment it was like an episode of Lost – nothing made sense.   Everybody was all over the map going into Tribal Council.  Just like I like it…

TRIBAL COUNCIL

And the craziness continued at Tribal Council.  What happened to these guys?  They’ve lost their bloody minds I tell you.  It was fantastic.

Parvati was the highlight: From her worthy impression of a cigar lounge, burlesque dancer, nightclub singer with a stoagie dangling from her lips to her 180 degree head turn toward Russell when asked about the “top villain” question.  It was all money.

The most telling moment was when Rupert asked Paravti:

Rupert: “You don’t think you’re the top villain?”

Parvati:  “Nope I don’t.  I’m a hero on the inside.”  Yeah.  Right.  Trust me, Parvati believes she is the top dog of the Villain tribe and that she is calling all the shots.  Likewise, Russell believes he is the top dog and calling all the shots.  If you’re Jerri, Colby or Sandra, this is great news because nobody wants to go to final tribal council with the moniker of “top dog” of the Villains.  Those heroes will eat that person alive.

BIGGEST MOVE: Sandra’s decision to play the idol will have consequences.  Had she not played it, nobody would have ever known.  By deciding to play it she revealed that she had kept a secret from everybody in her alliance and everybody in the game.  Curious to see how that plays out, but it was a big, risky and ultimately wise move.  The idol had no more use after tonight.

BYE BYE PIRATE MAN

Rupert lasted a long time in a very tough season and once again he came up… just short.

Thanks for the great times, Rupert.  You have served Survivor very well.

THIS SUNDAY

So, we now head into the final two-hour episode followed by the one-hour reunion show live this Sunday, May 16th from New York City.  There are 5 Survivors left.  One hero and four villains.  At this point I honestly believe it is anybody’s game.

COLBY:  If he makes it to the end, he wins.  Too many heroes on the jury that have too much animosity for the Villains.  Despite not earning it, Colby could soon be a millionaire.

SANDRA: She has to make it to the end with Russell and/or Parvati to have any chance.  Jerri and Colby will both beat her.

PARVATI: Could become the first two-timer winner.  She’s that good and has played that good of a game.

RUSSELL: Could become first time back-to-back loser.  He’s that good and that despised.  For Russell to win it will take a jury that appreciates great game play and let’s go of the social, which Russell simply doesn’t have.  One thing is for sure, he won’t have JT’s vote.  Probably won’t have Rupert’s either.

JERRI:  I think Jerri has a very good shot to win this.  If she gets to the final with the right person/people she just might get rewarded for all of her growth and overall pretty decent strategic game play.

See ya from NYC!

I’ll try to post a finale wrap-up blog later next week.


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