Survivor – How did they pull this one off?
It is a valid question. How did three outnumbered tribesmen manage to eliminate a rival tribe of six players to be the last team standing … and Erinn? The trick was keeping an eye on the big picture. While Timbira got distracted by their own internal power struggles and feuds, the Jalapao three were able to carefully orchestrate their elimination one by one.
Going into tonight, I was feeling pretty confident that JT had wrapped this thing up. I even said so in Thursday’s review of Survivor. I’ve watched all but one season of Survivor, and I’ll probably go back and watch “The Amazon” just so I can stop having to asterisk my devotion to the show.
Generally, I’ve developed a pretty good feel for how things are going to play out, which is why I should probably be on the show. There comes a point where everyone is just going to act and react a certain way based on what’s been going down, leaving the only real wild card as the Immunity Challenges. With the social game direction established, it’s just in controlling those Challenges. So did JT do that?
Survivor Strategy 101: Whine, cry and lie … it actually works!
This is getting to be about the most annoying group of players I’ve seen in a long time. I have a new player that I think may just run away with the whole thing, and it’s more because of the crazy strategies the others are employing than any skill or merit this person has.
As expected, Coach and Debbie were on the ropes this week when Tyson was blind-sided last week and eliminated. Which would mean that it might be beneficial to try and approach Sierra, mend some fences and maybe try and take down the power players. But really, who are they right now? It’s not as clear which alliances are solid as it usually is by this point.
Reality Clack – Celebrity Apprentice, Survivor, Dancing With the Stars, American Idol
It was a week of controversy on some of the shows in the reality television genre. After all, there’s the Joan Rivers and Clint Black hatefest on The Celebrity Apprentice, not to mention the oddly-reasoned firings of two of the celebrities on the show. David Alan Grier’s very … um … eloquent exit from Dancing With the Stars is certainly one for the books.
Meanwhile, a fan favorite team was Philiminated on The Amazing Race and American Idol viewers voted yet another contestant into the dark crevice known as “you’re on the tour, but you ain’t the one” status. The tribe didn’t have to speak on Survivor as an injury made the decision for them. Let’s get right into the skinny!
Whoa … don’t tell me The Bachelor really did that! In a topsy-turvy grand finale show, Jason went out with a bang. Or, perhaps he’s just lucky no one had a shotgun. The finale of America’s Best Dance Crew was certainly much more predictable and satisfying.
Then there’s Coach from Survivor. What the heck is going on there? I don’t know. I’m just happy to see sort of normal folks running The Amazing Race. Heck, even the kids on American Idol aren’t as wacky as some of the full-fledged adults we’ve been seeing as of late. Hmmm … Tatiana and Coach, a match made in heaven?
Reality Clack – Survivor, American Idol, The Amazing Race, Hell’s Kitchen
I think this is my favorite time of the year for television. I have new scripted shows I enjoy like Lost and Heroes, but I have my reality television fix in, too. I need my reality fix. While I enjoy fiction, I’m also a people-watcher. And, what better medium is there to observe people than reality TV shows? Sure, I could just go sit in Washington Square Park and people watch. But it’s winter. My living room is much warmer.
Before you tell me that reality television isn’t really real, need I remind you that the way different people react in different scenarios is quite real indeed. With scripted shows, I can’t really find people I love to hate as I know it’s all the writers’ doing anyhow. Ah, it’s much different with reality shows! We see warts and all. I love it.
Survivor: Tocantins – Taj Johnson-George almost tells all
If you’ve got money or had some serious success in your life, the last thing you do on Survivor is admit it to anyone. Somebody apparently forgot to tell Tamara “Taj” Johnson-George that. While she didn’t come out and reveal her past as one part of Grammy-nominated trio SWV (”Sisters With Voices”), she wasn’t nearly as mum about her marriage to retired NFL star Eddie George. That’s called painting a giant target on your ass.
I think I understand why she didn’t reveal her association with SWV. Whenever I’ve talked about it with my friends, none of them seem to remember the group. “What? Who?” I had to check the SWV wiki page to remember any of their hit singles. “Weak” was the big one, and to Taj’s credit she’s definitely not that here. For her sake, hopefully her physical strength and prowess as shown in the challenge last night will keep her around at least for awhile. After that it’s all about alliances and strategy.
Reality Clack – The Amazing Race, American Idol, Survivor, The Bachelor, Celebrity Apprentice
Well, the CBS heavy-hitters in the reality genre returned this past week. Yes, I’m talking Survivor and The Amazing Race, not Big Brother. Last year’s winter version of BB was only due to the writers’ strike and that show continues to be a guilty pleasure of the summer. That’s just as well. When all three CBS reality series I watch are all in the same season, I go a bit bonkers trying to keep up with it all.
After all, it’s hard to keep up with the shows I’m watching now when you throw in the scripted shows, too. Dang. If only I could watch TV instead of working for a living!
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