Jeff: Debbie, how will tonight’s vote change this game?
Debbie: It will change how this tribe behaves, and I do think it will be a surprise:
Well, you were right about that. It was definitely a surprise…
…to Debbie. That was about the only thing Debbie had right last night.
Wow. Timbira, you guys blew it. Brendan, Tyson, Sierra and now Debbie. Incredible. You guys absolutely blew it.
Debbie: “Now’s the time to make a move. I’m playing the game big time.” What?! Debbie, you were about…oh three weeks behind! The game has been playing you and the rest of the Timbira group for weeks now.
You knew it was bad when Debbie went so far as to approach J.T. and Stephen and say “I want to be with you guys.” I guess Debbie just didn’t realize that she had nothing of value to offer J.T. and Stephen. Nothing. Debbie is right, you do have to make a big move to win the game, Debbie just made her big move way too late.
The decimation of the Timbira tribe is one of the reasons this game continues to work. No matter how tight your alliance, there is ALWAYS somebody who is on the bottom of the totem pole and that person is dangerous because they are looking to move up by moving over to the other side. When Erinn turned, so did the game.
At the merge, what odds would you have given that the Jalapao three would even be in the game let alone in a position to be in charge? Granted there are still many things that can happen but Stephen, J.T. and Taj still in this game was something nobody would have predicted.
Crazy. And the best part is that there is no strategy to prevent these things from happening. It’s impossible. If I am the 5th person in a 5 person alliance and by joining 3 others I can become the 4th person, I’ve just moved up one full spot. Of course, I’m gonna make that move. I have nothing to lose and absolutely everything to gain. The longer you’re in the game the better chance you have at winning. Pretty basic.
PERSONAL SHARING: The Survivor Auction: Okay, let me preface this by giving my usual “if you don’t love love, then skip onto the next section.” For those of you new to these blogs, you should know this about me – for all of my ranting and raving – most of that is just for fun. I love love more than anything else in the world. I am always fighting to do a loved one challenge because I think it is good television and I love the Survivors getting an infusion of the one thing that can inspire them after 30 some days in the middle of nowhere.
It was so fun to be a part of Taj’s reaction at the Auction. We always wonder how things like the message from home will go – will we get the drama we hope for? Will we get big reactions? Will there be tears? With Taj we got it all and then some!
INSIGHT: After the auction was over, there was a bit of a celebration amongst the crew. We had carefully laid out how to play the loved one portion of the auction. The line “see you back at camp” was just subtle enough so as to not completely call attention to itself, but it was strong enough that the longer it lingered the more clear it became: “See-you-back-at-camp. SEE-YOU-BACK-AT-CAMP!” It shouldn’t even be something that the audience notices, but you guys like insight, so this is insight. We work hard to make sure we get the details just right – and when it pays off it’s an incentive for us to continue working hard. This one paid off.
Seeing Taj and her husband Eddie George on Exile Island was a great story. Here’s a guy who makes his living getting beat up playing pro football and yet even he is impressed with his wife and everything she has gone through. By the way, did anybody else notice how easily Eddie made fire? Hmm. Eddie George for season 19?
The other thing I liked about this episode is we had enough time to show you a bit of each Survivor’s relationship with their loved one. It reminds you that they are real people with real lives.
Talk about insight:
J.T.’s sister letting J.T. know that everybody wishes he was back home with the cows.
Erinn’s dad seeing his “girly girl” daughter surviving out in the wild.
Eddie George admitting “something about the wild is a bit of a turn on.”
Come on, this is good stuff. And then before you know it, the loved ones are gone and it’s …
… back to the game.
Debbie, Debbie, Debbie. Sitting around the campfire dictating to J.T., Stephen and Erinn how things need to go – man oh man. I give her credit for trying to strike a deal with an imaginary idol that she doesn’t have promising to give it to J.T. and Stephen if she ever ends up with it. No matter how much you like someone, there is NO WAY you can believe that promise. It just doesn’t happen, not with one million dollars within reach.
NO CHANCE she holds true on that promise. No chance.
INSIGHT: The Immunity Challenge – let me be clear about something. What Stephen did was jaw dropping amazing. We rehearsed that challenge several times. Our smartest guys practiced that challenge. Nobody came close to memorizing the numbers in one pass. Stephen was so far behind, much further than we even had time to show, that I wasn’t even paying attention to him. I thought J.T. had it in the bag. Stephen finally returns and like a mad scientist starts scribbling numbers down as fast as he can. I was checking my cheat sheet, I couldn’t believe he had it right. You can even see me double checking it again after he said he had it. I had to make sure I wasn’t missing something. Our crew was talking about that for a couple of days. Very impressive.
FINAL WORDS: I did something this blog and I hope you all appreciate it. Can you guess what it is that I did?
Now check out our exclusive deleted scenes and then read Dalton’s ‘Survivor’ TV Watch.
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Great blog Jeff! How’s the arm? Thought Taj might have ripped a tendon or two but your face at that moment was priceless!
Jeff – thanks for posting so quickly. Love your posts. And loved how you called out Coach tonight at tribal. Agree with you this is one of the best seasons ever.
YOU DIDN’T MENTION COACH! How could you resist “you know what THEY call me? The dragon slayer.”
You didn’t mention Coach.
I don’t know if I appreciate it as much as I wonder what it will take for people to start calling me Dragon Slayer in my office.
Didn’t say a single word about Coach, which is appropriate, because he’s become an irrelevant joke at this point, and will hang in only if JT or Stephen decide to backstab each other and take him to the final two because he knows everyone hates him.
JT and Stephen deserve to win, and unless there is an immunity upset, one of them most surely will.
wow you didnt mention Coach?!?! Congrats Jeff.
Woo Hoo….not ONE comment about Coach..that’s what you did (or didn’t do!!!!)
There was no mention of Coach in the blog. His face when Debbie was voted out was awesome. The “dragon” is close to being slayed.
You didn’t talk about coach, but I would have loved to hear your comments about “his assistant”.
Great Episode.
Hey Jeff, I’m thinking that what you didn’t do in this blog is go on and on about the roach coach. Fantabulous.
Yes, this episode was great. I loved the way George was so impressed with all that Taj was doing, dealing with bugs, spiders, scorpions. Tough guy that he is – ha ha ha.
I laughed at Debbie… wants to get in on the alliance than starts marching out orders, whom to eliminate. I knew she was gone if roach coach wasn’t.
You’re not kidding about Steven… he did some serious catching up and I still can’t figure out what he was telling us about how he memorized the symbols. Very impressive.
I enjoyed tonight’s show and couldn’t wait to read your blog. Especially about Debbie. That was too funny. When she said there would be a surprise.
I guess these folks haven’t learned to zip it when it comes to tribal council.
See you next week.
Jeff, at this point, do the other contestants know that Taj is married to a millionaire pro athlete? If they don’t, how lucky is it that Taj and Eddie got to hang at Exile, where no other contestants could see him.
Great reaction shot of Coach when the vote results were tallied. Your list of allies grows short, Mr. Wade.
Jeff,
Just out of curiosity, is there a reason why Coach brought his assistant instead of an actual family member? It seems kind of odd.
Thanks for not mentioning he who shall not be named (and i don’t mean voldemort!)!!!!
unfortunately, though, every post is now saying it. ugh.
Any thoughts that Coach didn’t bring family because he knows his BS would be found out as possible lies? That assistant coach follows & that dude worshiped Coach! Crap, can’t believe I just wasted a post on that d-bag!
Coach didn’t do anything this week. I wonder if he realizes Debbie turned on him or if he thinks its one of the others.
On another note, how is JT getting fatter out there? Maybe its the 50 food rewards he’s one, but he’s going to be the only one out there to gain 5 pounds.
Jeff, just wanted to say I appreciate your response about DVDs last week. I’d love it if you could make a remark to the powers that be about hopefully getting Africa and Marquesas (and all the others but those two especially) out there and soon!
Also, now that Dalton has posted one…it’s been a long time since we’ve had your season ranking. Any chance of one after the finale? I’d love to see if you’ve come around on the incredibly underrated Africa and Marquesas (can you tell I love those two seasons?). And I hope that Thailand is out of the bottom slot–sure, it’s not a great season but it’s not as bad as its reputation suggests.
Anyway, just another thanks for the blogging and bringing us the best show on television week after week for so many years. The last four seasons have really been a renaissance for the show, best block of four consecutive seasons since the first four.
Of all the times not to mention Coach! I really wanted to know why his loved one was his assistant coach—-his employee! It actually made me very sad. And I too loved “You know what they call me out here? Dragon Slayer!” I request an update, Jeff, with more Coach!
I just found out about your blogs, Jeff and I’m glad I did. Your saying exactly what I’m thinking!! And NO mention of Coach. Wow. I for one really appreciate it!! But it must have been very hard not to. Man, that guy is just too full of himself!! I was SO sure he was going to be the one to go tonight. I don’t get why they took out Debbie 1st?? They could get rid of her anytime. That freak needs to go NOW!! Hopefully he doesn’t win immunity next week.
I definitely had tears in my eyes during the Reward Challenge. Everyone throwing their money at Taj, so she could get the video of her family. And then she only needed $20. I definitely did not hear the “see you back at camp”, but when Taj put it together….priceless!! I’m starting to cry again, now!! I missed the very beginning so how many items went up before the last one?? I saw J.T. get his nachoes & Stephen get the hearts of whatever animal that was!!Was there a lot before that?? Anyway, great show and great blog!!
Hi Jeff. Your buddy Chris here who just because I love the game so much bugs you about the final 3 concept. Looks like you guys are going final 2 this time and THANK YOU! Imagine if you were going final 2 again – we would have known for about 2 episodes already that its JT STEVEN and TAJ. But since we’re playing classic Survivor, it’s hard to tell who is going to the finals. Cant wait for the showdown!
One day, I will win this show. I think that’d be the perfect start to the very exciting life I hope to lead. Thanks.
Great blog, and this family visit above all else proves it should ALWAYS be in the show.
I did notice the one thing you didn’t do this blog is mention Coach. Not a single mention and Ps. I am impressed.
Hey jeff do you get a live feed to watch when they are at camp OR do you watch the film every nite you are on location?Just like to know how much of the game you know when your at TC.
1 last thing at ponderosa we couldnt see sieera’s friends or familly on her ipod.They were blurred.Why is it someone we know?
Best line of the episode…
Stephen’s brother to Stephen after the greeting and comments on how each other looked.
‘Please, don’t eat me.’
Laughed my butt off. Loved them.
Jeff, I know what you did and please don’t ever do it again!!! I so want to know why Coach’s loved one was his assistant!! Would no family members come? Coach said he didn’t tell his school where he was going. So how did a coworker make his list of loved ones? Did the assistant coach believe that everyone called him the Dragon Slayer?? Coach is so much fun to hate!! Thanks for the blogs. You are the best host blogger!
Thanks for not mentioning Coach. At all. I know that was hard for you, but we appreciate it.
Hey – I own survivor.com. You know anyone who might be interested in buying it? Seriously. I lost my job recently and need some money.
A nice, wet photo of yourself and no Coach- the best Christmas present in May EVER.
Jeff, I love staying up late and reading your blog. It is total Comic Relief. I am not looking for hidden insight to the game, or to see if you and I are on the same page about the players, I can care less. I just want to laugh my arse off. So please ignore these people who have nothing better to do then to tear down your blogs and take what you say waaaay to seriously. Keep doing what you do best, and if that means you write about the person that everyone can’t stand, DO IT. I’m sure you have notice that those same hateful people return week after week to read you blog anyways. So keep writing those great blogs that make me laugh and pee my pants.
)
It makes me giggle every time I think about the 6:3 odds against Jalapao, and especially JT, who not only was the strongest and biggest target from Jalapao, but also the only remaining Jalapao not in the secret Exile alliance. And now look at where they are! JT and Stephen aren’t even sneaking by – they’re the ones everyone else views as in charge! (At least so far…) Heck, between the two of them, they’ve only had one vote cast against them total.
Sorry, here I am, giggling again.
I am really, really hoping for a Jala-3 Final 3, with a Stephen and JT final. I will be heartbroken if either one turns on the other.
By the way, who painted the steer head on the back of JT’s shirt? Heh, was that one of Debbie’s favors?
So happy and amazed by Stephen’s victory! I guess all those facts in his head keeps his balance all out of whack.
I enjoyed the loved one’s visit–and usually don’t. I think it was seeing Taj and her husband. From a game perspective, making Taj choose her husband or everyone’s loved ones would have been fascinating. But from a human perspective, I’m glad she got her loved one’s visit too. I predict a Taj/Stephen final two, Stephen wins. The men were smart to boot Debbie and eliminate a female alliance threat at five. Would the women have done it? Probably not. But I don’t know why more women don’t. It’s the only way a woman can win the game anymore. Back in the day, women could win, but recently, if a woman is sitting next to a man, the man wins.