No sense in burying the lead. It finally happened. You all got your wish….
…Coach is gone.
You’ve been complaining about him for weeks on end. The universal energy you all put out there to get rid of him worked.
Now be honest… are you truly happy? Is life better now?
Or do you think you might miss him just a wee little bit? Be honest.
Listen up ’cause I’m gonna give you a dose of truth that will either having you nodding in agreement or vowing to never watch the show again: Coach was without question the most dynamic character this season. Nobody was even a close second.
Thinking Coach is a great character doesn’t mean I think he’s a great guy. It also doesn’t mean I think he’s a punk. My personal feelings about Coach are irrelevant; I’m only talking from a show point of view. He was, in the words of Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn, “money.” Absolute money.
Love him or hate him, Coach provided more memorable moments than anybody on the show in years. He is an absolute must if we ever do another all-stars and if you saw him on the street you wouldn’t be able to help yourself. You’d approach him so fast you’d lose your shoes.
Let’s review his farewell episode, shall we?
Just when you thought Coach couldn’t provide any more fantastic moments…Coach gets sent to Exile Island.
The exchange between Coach and Erinn was one of the best of the season. Upon watching the episode and seeing what Coach said in interview and to J.T. (which I am not privy to during the show) I actually do not think Coach was trying to upstage Erinn. I think Coach was worried about making fire and living on his own. I think he was worried that he might look bad and so decided to avoid doing anything at all and instead turn it into a positive “choice.”
Coach’s speech on Exile Island will go down as one of the most fantastic in the history of our show. Coach Wade talking about himself in the third person was so good I am speechless. I cannot express how much I enjoyed it. Absolutely brilliant.
ADVICE: Young actors in Hollywood, take the Coach Wade monologue and use it as your audition piece for any and every thing. Wanna get an agent? Lay that on them. Wanna book that commercial? Give them a yuppie version of Coach Wade. Wanna meet Spielberg? Get to work on Coach Wade and it just may happen. You can’t go wrong with Coach Wade.
You guys think I’m putting you on. I really do think you could do a show with Coach Wade. Word for word, moment for moment, Coach Wade is one of the most entertaining guys on television today.
I’m surprised CBS hasn’t already signed him to his own show. “Weekends With Coach Wade.” Or of course the more dramatic, “By day he’s a former soccer coach and part time conductor. On the weekends he is ‘The Dragon Slayer.” No need for writers or actors. It’s all about Coach and his life and it’s all there.
Yes, I am serious. I miss Coach.
The immunity challenge couldn’t have been much better. Talk about a classic Survivor challenge. Unreal. Love it. It was so good I am laughing as I am writing this – sheer joy. It started with Coach’s long walk in from Exile and the insincere hug from Stephen. Ah, this game can be so brutal.
The challenge itself was really good. I love challenges that are simple in concept but demanding in execution. That challenge was definitely demanding. Very hard on your feet. I tried it myself. It hurts. A lot. It was a very hot day as well.
But Coach’s dramatic fall from grace was one of the most memorable performances ever. If there are any award shows honoring reality stars, Coach has to be nominated and he is a shoo-in to win. Name anybody on any reality show this year that has been more compelling than Coach? Nobody, I tell you, nobody! Long Live Coach Wade!
And like any Emmy-worthy episode of Survivor, it ended with what else…a poem from Coach Wade. In case you missed it:
With friend and foe we march to the battle plain
Some to seek success others to seek fame
We play with honor for the love of this game
And with armor or without we will toil in vain
So that someday someone somewhere will remember our name.
Coach, I assure you, nobody will ever forget your name. You left your mark on Survivor. I hope it is not the last we see of you.
Okay, so where are we now? Our final four:
J.T. – If he gets to the final two he probably wins…unless he goes up against…
TAJ – This would be quite a show down. Two of the most well liked people in the game.
STEPHEN – Best bet is to go up against Erinn, who he could probably beat.
ERINN – A long shot due to her betrayal – hard for her to get votes from the former Timbira members on the jury. Might be smart to take her all the way to the end.
You know how this works…Sunday May 17, 8-10 p.m. our final 2 hour episode. 10-11pm the live reunion show. If you’re in the central time zone it’s one hour earlier across the board.
I hope you enjoy it. As always it’s been a pleasure chatting each week. Thanks for all your feedback, positive… and negative! I wouldn’t want it any other way!
Now, check out a new two-part episode of Survivor Talk, featuring Jeff Probst as Josh Wolk’s special guest. Jeff talks Coach (surprise!) and previews the finale. Then, check out an exclusive deleted scene and click over to read this week’s Survivor TV Watch recap by Lynette Rice (filling in for the vacationing Dalton Ross).
Comments (1-30) of 536 Add your comment
Argh, I’m trying to interpret your comments on the final four. I’m assuming JT doesn’t make it? That just breaks my heart.
Coach, Coach, Coach…hmmm…Well, I can’t disagree with you, Mr. Probst.
At least JT was well-fed during his time on the show!
No, no, no, no, no. Coach is not fascinating TV. He’s an irritating, self-conceited idiot. Since you love him so much, why don’t you start a show with him and leave him OFF ALL-STARS. Got it. NO ALL-STARS. Maybe your casting director should get you some more interesting people to work with. Sounds like you’ve gotten bored with people that are actually grounded in reality.
you know why Survivor is the best reality show on Tv for so long and you, Jeff, are the heart of it? it is because you really care my friend. and this cannot be faked so congratulations and let’s get going this way.
xo C.
Jeff, I agree with you completely – Coach was straight money. I love JT but the show will not be anywhere near as entertaining without Coach. Look forward to seeing him on the next All-Stars, but please don’t forget to bring the assistant coach along with him. Long live Tyson and the Dragon Slayer!!!
I will not miss Coach, even a little (sorry Jeff!). However, I will grant you that he was “Good TV”–from a producer’s standpoint. Actually, there were several times I really thought he was a plant. It was how I reasoned that he made it as far as he did.
It seemed to me Jeff, you were fed up with him and maybe didn’t believe all his ailments (I don’t know what to think about that). Which brings up a question–if a player has a chronic disease (asthma), are they allowed to bring medications with them (inhalers)?
One more question: Jeff–are you going to wear the necklace Regis and Kelly gave you!?! LOL
Catch you in the fall!
“Coach was without question the most dynamic character this season. Nobody was even a close second.”
I’m a big Coach fan but I still say the best character of the season was Tyson. Both of them are must-haves on an All-Star edition (and I’m hoping S20 is–Lynette Rice be damned, it better not be the final season).
But that really was one of the greatest send-off episodes ever. I wanted Coach to make it to the finale but not win–not because I don’t like him, but because the Dragon Slayer wouldn’t be as much fun if he actually lived up to what he was saying and won the game. To see Coach win would overwrite everything that made him such a great character.
Coach or no Coach, I’m looking forward to the finale (and at least we’ll get jury speeches from him and Tyson, and I’m sure they’ll deliver). Final two with a seven-member jury for the first time in six seasons is the most exciting thing to happen to the show in a long time. Keep it this way! Please! (Having 16 is always a welcome touch as well.)
I know, I know, I’m a broken record but I have to throw this in there as always–Jeff, please tell the powers that be to get Africa and Marquesas on DVD! Such great seasons. Still can’t believe they opted to release Vanuatu ahead of them. What a waste.
And one last request, Jeff–please give us a ranking of every season with explanations (and maybe every winner as well if you can) after the finale! Thanks!
I think I will miss Coach. He reminded me of that nutty uncle that everyone has. You see him at family reunions. You make nice by asking how his job is, wife, kids. But on the way home you start laughing your a$$ off! Should be a great episode Sunday. I can’t WAIT to hear what question Coach asks the final 2.
I am so glad Coach is gone. I think there should be a Coach and Dick from Big Brother show. Now that would be good TV.
Wow, call it the “It’s all about Coach” Episode. I was hoping that Erinn Coach and Taj would somehow see that Stephen and JT are probably a shoe in for the final – a blindside of Stephen would have been epic. HOWEVER, I think I would have puked to have listened to that poser, Coach for another round. It’s going to be bad enough when he has his moment on the jury. Probst, I can understand why you love Coach’s camera time – nobody could be that god-awful in real life, could they? I think you should consider a “Survivors you love to hate” season – he would be first pick. Hatch might make second and there have been a few other snakes as well – but, again to your point, few as memorable.
Aah, I so will miss Coach–I think I am among the 10 people that actually liked him and yes, he made for excellent TV. At least, he made it till the almost end of this season. Kept everything interesting. Jeff, you always seemed to enjoy his off the wall “stuff” at tribal and your prodding of his character cracked me up!! Thanks for all the years of hard work and I hope you keep on signing on for more seasons of the ultimate reality show. I have watched every episode from the beginning when Hatch won. Oh how different it is now. It is funny to realize there are survivors being cast now on the show that were little kids when this all began…long live the Dragon Slayer-he deserves the $100k.
I thought JT and Stephen were the most entertaining-city boy and country boy. It will be interesting to see how this pans out. Coach was very irritating and turned out to be a whiner like…Sierra. These two should have a great time at Ponderosa!
Brendan was my fav character this year. I hope you ask the people who voted him out if they regretted it all. Mainly JT who brendan said he wanted to win. not that jt needed brendans help
The problem with this whole season is that you built it around Coach. And it’s not that people hate him like people hated Hatch. Hatch was interesting and smart. Coach is delusional and boring. Making us sit through long stretches of this sanctimonious blowhard was really too much to ask. You know the show is in trouble when you would rather watch an ad than listen to one more second of Coach! The blame on the failure of Coach as a character on the show is entirely on the heads of the producers who didn’t realize how he would come across to the viewers. Not only that, but once you did realize, you kept trying to convince the viewers that they were wrong or not being “honest.” Were you channeling Coach by any chance? The viewers have the last say. Don’t try to convince them that they’re wrong! Did you really need to show two segments of Coach on Exile? Really? Really?
I don’t love this final four set up. For Taj or Stephen to win the mil over JT, he has to be voted out in this last round before final three, otherwise they’re cooked. Everybody likes JT and respects him. I’ve been waiting for Stephen to double-cross him, in order to have a shot at first. Maybe this vote, Stephen would have engineered a blindside of JT – who knows? He won immunity so it’s a moot point. Surely Stephen realizes he won’t win the jury against JT, or even Taj? They are more well-liked than he is, and he’s also secured an enemy in Coach.
I would just hate to see the three of them, Taj, Stephen, and JT, in final three, because we know who will win and who will be second and who will be third. I’m hoping somebody gets smart and pulls one last stunt before the finale. I don’t mean to say I don’t want JT to win, it’s just that I don’t want to sit at home and watch him grab the prize because his alliance wasn’t crafty enough to take it from him.
I certainly didn’t want Coach to win but I’ll miss the delusional, dramatic, mysogenistic, well-meaning New Age bastard. He was always a hoot and I cant wait to see what he says/how he behaves at the reunion. Should be brilliant!
Jeff… you totally nailed it. Coach Wade is TV Gold! Talking about himself in the third person was a great Bob Dole (circa 1996) moment!
Jeff? You are trying to make us feel guilty about about not liking nutbar Coach? Like, seriously??
Jeff, great show tonight…not a fan of Coach at all but I certainly understand the entertainment value he’s provided this season. That being said,it gets a bit old when so much focus is given to one individual. I think you are a terrific host – have been a huge fan of yours and the show since the beginning. Would love to see you write a book on your overall experiences and behind the scene insights throughout the various seasons. It would be a surefire bestseller! Looking forward to Sunday’s finale!
I have never posted to anything but Coach was too priceless to ignore. He’d be great for the credit card commercials that do “priceless” moments. I LOL every time Coach opened his mouth this entire season. He was great comedy–but glad he isn’t going to win the $$.
Hey Jeff, just because you love Coach doesn’t mean we have to. Obviously your obsessed about him, sorry but we don’t share the same point of view on the guy. He’s scrum, he knew he was on a TV show and put it on thick. So thick, it was theatric.
Leave it to Probst to kiss Coach’s ass, ignoring the fact that it was Taj’s (completely insincere) pleading that got him off the pole to begin with.
I knew full well that Coach was a great character and I’m sad to see him go. You must bring him back. Where’s our next full all-stars, with Coach, Terry, Shane, Sugar, and Twila? Hey, here’s a crazy thought: What about Michael Skupin and Kelly Wigglesworth? That’s to say nothing of an all-winners edition.
Thank you for giving Eddie George a confessional. The visiting loved one should have prominence!
Jeff…I loved to hate Coach, for a little while, then I just started to hate him, then even to hate to hate him.
Jeff, people don’t like phonies. Lie in the game, fine, that’s the game. Lie to us in confessionals, lie on internet websites, no…different story.
If it’s not part of the game than he’s just a liar. And liars aren’t to be respected, even if we can exploit him on national television for ratings purposes. This man was a psycho. Anyway, we’ll agree to disagree.
Love ya Jeff…Hope you’ll be on the Stern show again soon.
Well said, George. I started flipping the channels when coach started one of his monologues.
I just watched the Pondersa clips with Coach. He doesn’t get it that he was weak and didn’t survive and that he never had the power.
Jeff, I am a Coach lover! I miss him already. The only other Survivor I love more is Boston Rob, my all-time favorite. I did not find Coach annoying, as a matter of fact, I’d do him in a hot minute! Seriously, think about it, most people are boring. I would never be bored with Coach. He’d always be full of surprises and interesting tales. I love his literary quotes. We’d be a match made in heaven because I’m quiet, like being entertained and like tats, long hair and macho dudes! I think I’m in love!!!!! Best season in such a long time. Rooting for JT now. Damn that little snake Stephen! Can’t wait for Sunday. Love you too Jeff, just not as much as Coach or Boston Rob.
Coach = Michael Scott
Are you familiar with the phrase “over exposure”? Because that is what Survivor did with Coach…to the point of triggering a gag reflex at the soaring eagles and soaring music during the long shots of him on Exile. It took all my dedication to Survivor (since season 1) to keep from changing channels, tonight.
I look forward to seeing Coach in Season 24.
Sorry Jeff. Coach was entertaining, but annoying as hell. He had his time, now I never need to see or hear from him again.