Jeff starts off his blog with a major spoiler. Head after the jump to read on.
Betsy is gone. Major bummer. One of the most likable people on our show in a long, long time. More on that later.
First, regarding the ongoing conversation that this blog generates…let me say this: I love your comments. It’s one of the best things to emerge in recent years. I thank Dalton Ross of Entertainment Weekly for giving me the opportunity to chat with you guys. I should also note that people in television whose job it is to deal with unhappy viewers have a tested theory that people who “don’t like” something write in about 90% more than those who do. So a blog full of negative comments is not unusual and while your comments absolutely get my attention, I do take into consideration, there are people who feel differently.
Okay, let’s get to it… another feisty episode for sure, eh?
Jaison is so well spoken. We don’t often have contestants that can state their case with such efficiency. However, I’m not sure his attitude is flexible enough to win this game. He has very strong opinions, which he vocalizes often and he has a hard time letting others be who they want to be. I think Jaison is approaching this game like a courtroom trial. I state my case. You state yours. A judge decides. Only problem, it doesn’t work that way out here.
My wish for Jaison would be for him to laugh a bit more, get a little dirty (actually get dirty), and try to let some of the smaller stuff go, because he is a strong presence and could last a long time.
Russell finds the idol. Oh man you guys hated that, right? But come on. The dude found the idol with no clue. Let me repeat that…he found the idol with no clue. He told them he was looking for it. He dug in front of them. Nobody even questioned it. “Booh-yah.”
Jaison certainly did not like the fact that Russell was in possession of the idol, but Jaison HE found it. He got off his ass and found it. Like him or not, the dude hustles. Also, unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, I can’t make Russell go home faster or stay longer. “It is what it is. It will be what it will be.”
PERSONAL INSIGHT: As Jaison walked away from Russell (who was holding the idol) he said in reference to the idol, “We’ll discuss it later.” This is what I’m talking about Jaison. There will be no discussing it later. Russell has it, you’re not getting it. This is not a conference room where you two will negotiate a fair and just settlement. He owns it and now he owns you. He does. You better change that and quickly.
SHOW INSIGHT: The Immunity challenge was called Schmergenbrawl. It came to be a Survivor challenge in a rather interesting way. Two seasons ago, our grip department (the guys who move all the heavy stuff) created a game they called Schmergenbrawl. They played it on their off days. It was very basic. There was a collection of different balls: football, rugby ball, soccer ball, basketball, etc. There were two trashcans about 15 feet apart. Each time you tossed a ball into the can you scored a point. It became a phenomenon on location culminating with a full-day (a day off) 15-team tournament that included bleachers, an announcer, lots of beer, and a total downpour. Yes, we do have some fun during our 39-day shoots on location.
It was so popular we started looking at it as a possible challenge. After a few modifications from our challenge department, it became one of the most physical challenges in the history of Survivor. In addition, Ben is thrown out of the challenge making more Survivor history and Mike Borassi is evacuated. Talk about epic. Whoa.
Back to the challenge…let me be really clear. The contestants were playing very aggressively and when I gave them the warning I was really clear. No more cheap shots. Tripping someone by putting your leg a foot in the air is a cheap shot.
SHOW INSIGHT: Ben was mad at me. He felt other people were doing things “just as bad as me.” He felt I was picking on him. I wasn’t. He just happened to do it right in front of me after I warned him. In case you’re wondering, I didn’t lose a moment’s sleep over the decision. It was a punk move. And yes, I am a bit worried that Ben might want to kick my ass, because he could. Of that there is no doubt. Tough dude. In fact, in case Ben is reading this, I should let you know that my house is on the market and the house that is supposed to be mine on the “Stars of Hollywood” map is actually owned by Ryan Seacrest.
I love Borassi. Man, I hated to see him go. The guy gave it his all. He really did. He was out there throwing down with all the other guys, some of them 30 years younger. He’s a good guy and it’s a bummer he had to be evacuated, but he was in trouble. Our medics don’t mess around. They don’t want to take anybody out of the game, but if a contestant’s vital signs are not good, they’re gone. We gave Mike about an hour to get stable and he wasn’t getting any better. Tough way to go, but he went out fighting.
Foa Foa is in trouble. This is probably the fastest that any tribe has been down 3 members in the history of the game. Galu is living the high life. Things are so good that the only thing they have to complain about is Shambo. When Shambo is your biggest pain in the ass, life ain’t too bad.
Shambo cracks me up. She is so sincere and so unaware. I love that she said, “Do you want the good news or the bad news?” Good news? Shambo, there wasn’t any good news. You came up empty handed with the fishing and you broke the gear. I love her. I know she bugs some viewers, and the entire tribe of Galu, but I still dig her.
Yasmin is her own story. Wow. Never before have I seen a monologue like the one she delivered to the Foa Foa tribe. Like a Mary Kay saleswoman. She had the best of intentions but nobody wanted what she was selling. And with those shoes, all she needed was a pink Cadillac. Anybody?
Yasmin: “And Ben, I’d like to talk to you in private…” I couldn’t wait for that moment. Yasmin and Ben in private. Bring it. Man, I love America. For the record, I am watching their conversation again as I write this blog. It’s sick, twisted, disgusting, disappointing, disturbing, uncomfortable, and completely compelling. Amazing Race should put them together as a pair for next season.
PERSONAL INSIGHT: I know my comments often frustrate you, so let me explain how I look at moments and people like this… I just observe. I’m a human being on this planet living just like you. People like Russell, Ben, Yasmin – they live here too. People fascinate me. We are all doing what we think is best for us at any given moment. It’s easy to judge. Others and ourselves. I do it all the time. When I first met Russell I said to everyone else in the room, “That guy is pure evil.” But he’s on this show, he’s doing what he’s supposed to do – which is play Survivor how he sees fit – and I respect him in that sense. Making up a story about Katrina is downright despicable but so is lying about your dead grandma. “It is what it is.” You can get mad at me or you can join me in taking a step back and just listening and observing and hoping that karma catches up and people get what they deserve. Then again, it is Survivor and sometimes karma takes a vacation.
Ben was looking for attention, at least that’s my take. He likes conflict, likes to challenge the norm. He certainly got it in this episode.
TRIBAL COUNCIL. I know, I know, the high-five between Ben and Russell made most of you scream. I get it.
CASE IN POINT: Regarding just “taking in” what people give you rather than getting all “up in arms” about it…. Ben’s comments to me at Tribal about “I didn’t know we were playing by your sissy rules.” In spite of the deep sigh you saw me give, they really didn’t get to me. What does get to me is not having enough time in tribal council to show everything that goes down. Ben and I went at it quite a bit that night. He may be able to beat me up, but in a game of Q and A, he’s all mine. But alas we only have a few minutes for Tribal so you only get the meat.
Say goodbye to Betsy. Too soon. Betsy was the only one who really understood Ben. She told the tribe everything they needed to know but nobody listened. Betsy’s gone. A nice woman, a true Survivor fan, and already a fan favorite. A lot of people told me they were already rooting for Betsy to win. Have faith, the game is long. Other rootables will emerge.
MOST UNCOMFORTABLE MOMENT: Ben shooting his imaginary gun at the “bad cop” Betsy. Now that was just wrong.
See you next week to discuss… The Russell seed.
More Survivor:
‘Survivor: Samoa’ recap: Attack of the Crazy Lady from Outer Space
Comments (1-15) of 910 Add your comment
Love you and love your blog. Congrats on a well deserved Emmy last weekend too. My only wish is that we could see some more of Galu and get to know them a little too.
I knew Betsy would go quickly. The tribe is all about “winning the challenges,” which they translate as, “get rid of the over-30s ASAP.” But it does no good to have strong, quick players who can’t pull together as a team and get the job done.
I am actually warming up to Russell. He’s there to have fun and “prove” that he can win, and by golly, he’s succeeding so far. Evil? Sure! But fun to watch. It’s not like he’s eating babies.
I agree with Studiorose. It frustrates me to see stupid blonde bimbos who lay around all day stay on the show when interesting people like Betsy get sent home based on their age. The same bimbos made snide remarks about Shambo not catching fish…at least she tried!
I agree with you completely Lu. I can’t wait for the season when the blonde bimbos go first. I mean that Ashley, does she have any brain cells at all and she was just rude when she was talking to Betsy, wouldn’t even look at her.
i second what you said!
MEMO TO ASHLEY AND NATALIE: The only thing you will add to this season is to be stupid enough to be a part of Evil Russell’s dumb girl alliance. Congratulations on finding your fame!!
That’s right! Betsy was smart, observant, fit, and would have been really fun to watch – a good player for sure. Seems like they need to add a few more people in their 30s at least to the cast so that the ‘old’ folks don’t always get the immediate vote off.
I totally agree, CJ. More over 30 and fewer blonde bimbos would make for a MUCH more fun game!
I think you over estimate the tribe. When we learned the producers picked the teams, I assumed it was to make them well balanced, because indecisive often picks indecisive, just from body language.
I am now VERY sure the picked the tribes so that Russel would last in the show for ratings. He is on a team that he can more easily control. Given what the producers must do to profile contestants I am quite sure they knew how to create a tribe for Russle to abuse. Not as big a “fix” as choosing what routines contestants use in America’s Got Talent, but this show is managed and edited for entertainment. I don’t feel sorry for anyone because they should all know they are rats in a guided experiment.
I have to tell you… that Idol was hidden to be found early.. Russel looked in a logical place.
But this is my prediction.. Russel is going to eat this tribe for a few weeks, and then the merge comes and the other tribe takes him out. And we all cheer just like the “script” hopes it will happen.
Yeah, I pretty much think your thoughts are bullshit and just conjecture. Especially the scripted loss of Russell. I don’t like him, but he could very well win it all.
Probsty has it right – they’re all people looking at the world with their own framework trying to make the best choices they can for themselves. Let’s watch them fail and succeed – that’s what it is all about.
With all due respect to your thoughtful comments… Russell was placed on a team with a police officer and a lawyer. I cannot believe two educated people like that let him get away with the Katrina story and didn’t paste him to a wall over obvious inconsistencies in his story. Wait for it, in fifteen years, long live Survivor, we’ll get some mook claiming to be a September 11 orphan. Life has taught me that there’s not much certain segments of society won’t stoop to for a million bucks. As for the Immunity Idol; I don’t know, I guess it’s all in the editing. I do know that I’d never make on Survivor because even if by some miracle I managed to finagle the Idol out of Russell’s monkey paw there is not enough money in the world to entice me into wearing the thing after he secreted it down among where the wild things are in those filthy grey underpants of his.
“I do know that I’d never make on Survivor because even if by some miracle I managed to finagle the Idol out of Russell’s monkey paw there is not enough money in the world to entice me into wearing the thing after he secreted it down among where the wild things are in those filthy grey underpants of his”
FUNNIEST….COMMENT….EVER!!!
Betsy and Marisa were both smart and were on to Russell, and Russell was smart enough to take them out. Wish they could have stayed.
Too bad they weren’t smart enough to keep their mouths shut to Russell
First off, Hey Jeff, congrats on the Emmy from my sister Lou and I! I know you have a quadrillion fans and even though you say you read these and I write about 20 times a year, there is no way you can remember all of us fans no matter how much we dream that you can! LOL! But my sister and I are truly your biggest fans and can’t wait for the first rain storm!
Now, down to business! Your blog rocks as usual and I have to agree with Studiorose and Lu’s comment here. It’s like get the older ladies off first. It’s not just your show; it’s CBS! We’re not what make ratings. But Betsy was awesome! It sucks that she is gone. And what you said about the haters writing in, so true. They maybe writing in because their passion of hate is so strong but man, the passionate lovers of Survivor and you are here to and we know that that hate is what keeps them coming back! We come back because we love the show and they come back because they are so angry that anyone could actually like the ER or crazy Coach that they have to be here. How many people have ever found the idol before a clue? NONE! How many people watch Survivor and know that there is usually an idol on the campsite? EVERYONE! Go Russell. Evil, sickening, gross in his nasty underwear, everyone hates him but there he is getting the attention of everyone! Hey up goes the ratings and another Emmy on your shelf! The show rocks as usual, you rock and the positive fans rock!My only suggestion…Longer Tribal Councils or a two hour show! WOOHOO! Survivor forever!
Another awesome episode in what is feeling like an awesome season. Cheers Jeff!
>>> I wish we did get to see more of tribal, I always hear contestants talk about “what a long tribal” and “that was brutal” and we never get to see ANY of it!! (perhaps a new behind the scenes special hint hint
) I hope Shambo gets it together man, she’s putting the nails in her own coffin one by one, but I have faith, just when you think there’s no hope…BANG! Surivior twist!! I also hope the preview of next week is just you guys messing with our heads? I like Jaison and want to see him to the end but don’t like his odds against Russell, the guy’s just too good! I know you can’t tell us what happens when the other team finds there’s no idol waiting for them at the end of the clues, and whether the idol is even any good to Russel since it was “supposed” to be for the other team, but it’s gonna be awesome to watch it all play out.
>>> Ashley is still my girl
and I notice nobody in fanland is really paying attention to her. I hope that means something good
>>>Thanks for the blog dude.
Yes, please put the whole tribal out on the website. That would be AWESOME.
I would love to see the whole tribal council! Maybe Survivor should set up something like Big Brother has with Real player. I’d totally subscribe to that.
I SO agree – behind the scenes at Tribal! What a great idea!
Jeff, are you reading this?? Behind the scenes at Tribal is a GREAT idea!!
hey jeff – love the blog as always!
but that wasn’t the first time someone has been kicked out of a challenge on survivor? or is thailand THAT forgettable? (all i really remember is “THE ATTACK ZONE CLAY!” and the monkey, so you can’t really be at fault, but still.)
sad to see betsey go.
ER is actually growing on me – at least he has a strategy. though his idol won’t work, which cracks me up. ben, however, is just the world’s biggest a-hole jerkwad. all he wants is attention and he doesn’t seem to have any strategy. horrid horrid horrid.
when do we get to see more of galau?? do they still exist?
I was wondering about the Rob (Robb?) vs Clay incident too. I’m sure Rob was evicted from a challenge, but I’ve been known to be wrong before. What of it Jeffy?
Why won’t his idol work?
Maybe he means because Galu is being given the clues to it so it’s technically theirs? It’s unprecedented, so no one really knows.
Hi jmw, stephanie thinks that the idol won’t work becuase it’s supposed to be the idol for the other team, but ER found it with no clues, and maybe he can even tell someone on galau where the other idol is located, and that would make this season even better, sorry to see Besty go I really liked the fact that she seen thought ER bullcrap.
That would be the best – if the idol was no good b/c it was for the other team. And ER does not tell someone to get the one at their camp.
Annie: c’mon Galu is given clues AFTER russell found the idol…
If that’s it I call that cheating from the producers c’mon, Russell find the idol THEN they decide it’s the idol from the other team, unless each team have some logo that could proove that the idol is indeed from the other team, the fact Galu got clues AFTER he found the idol proove looks very convenient to me…
Jeff didn’t even ask if anyone had the idol and wanted to play it last night – since last night was the first time anyone got any clues, the producers wouldn’t have thought to ask if anyone had already found it. Too bad – it would have been a perfect chance to get rid of Russell and the ultimate blindside!
Nope. It’s Rusell’s idol. Remember in China? James got the two idols, each from both camps.
Jon is right. The idol is rightfully ER’s. There will be an identical idol at the other camp in a very similar spot.
Robb didn’t get evicted,only censured.He probably would have if he’d broken the rules again.But that was much earlier in Survivor’s run,and I don’t think they were as strict back then.
I am 20 years old and have been watching survivor since epsiode one season one. I love this game, and I just want to say Russel while not the genius he thinks he is, is at the very leave amazingly entertaining. It’s people that russel that keep me addicted season after season. Don’t let the haters on here make you think the average survivor fan hates the guy. Trust me when i say the average fan wants MORE guys like him not less.
oh and I thought didn’t find betsy all that likable. jaison was alot more likable then her.
I agree with you, it’s good to see characters like Russel, I don’t expect him to win. People that don’t like him are just watching the show like they are seeking to befriend with the cast, you are not. Russel is like the ultimate challenge, look if you want to win survivor you have to get past him, that’s even more interesting, ppl who don’t like him will still watch secretly hoping to see his end come one day anyway.
But still until now, he has proven, he has the will, he has the guts, and he has the game. His strategy might be a little unstable but hey he runs the show, he more ore less decide who loose their head, but hey he isn’t just sitting there watchin it happen, he is busting his ass in the challenges!
Some people don’t like him because they would loose against him…
And wait for this week poll of the week’s best player, he is gonna win it, with a large margin…
It’s survivor, you have to survive the jungle, & you have to survive Russell to win this season… there should be a guy like him every season, & he is not pretending to be, like “hihihi i’m gonna so much do it”, he put himself in a good position to be here a long long time, maybe in the last 3, tho I don’t see him winning, he is gonna have so many ennemies at the end lol!
I and most other do not like a show that is centered around 2 or 3 people. The best seasons are those that give insight into every character (part of the reason why 16 > 20), and Russell would be an amazing character if he were shown in smaller doses.
Everyone I know was unimpressed with the premiere because they didn’t feel like they got to know anyone. Tonight’s episode featured Galu for a total of about 4 minutes, if that.
It is disappointed to go back to this kind of editing, especially after a season like Gabon, or even Tocantins (even though they played up Coach to the max, we still got to know most people).
I’m seriously loving Russell. Finding the Idol WITHOUT a clue?!? That guy is eipc! And you just KNOW it is going to come crashing down around him soon and it will be amazing to watch!
I’m fine with Mike leaving, he was getting on my nerves!
Yasmin was getting twisted up over nothing! Ben had every right to stop her during the challenge. To say she should have been given “extra protection” because she is a woman is just sexist!
Ben’s Kool-Aid and Ketchup sandwich comments really got to me. My mouth dropped when I heard him say that, even more than the amount my mouth dropped when the Idol was found WITH NO CLUES!
How come you guys aren’t doing 2 challenges each episode? What’s with these combined Immunity/Reward challenges? Usually you just have one of those on the first episode, but then you start splitting them up! This time the first episode had two challenges, and the second had one. It was weird!
I don’t think him finding it was so epic…I have always wondered why more people didn’t do it. Yes, it is sometimes hard to find, but if it is at camp (and lately it has been) it is in a tree, a hole, or in something that the Survivor people put there (like a sign).
He just did what people should have been doing for the past few seasons
Thanks for bringing that up I know that I wasn’t the only one who noticed only one challange, I thought that was wierd, and i didn’t like it. Also i thought Ben’s comments were uncalled for, and a little racist.
Thanks for only saying the same thing 79 times. 80 would be pushing it….
Jeff – Congratulations on your Emmy, truly well deserved. Another great episode…Survivor is certainly covering new ground this season.Very disappointed about Betsy, she was one of my favorites. I think the truly evil one is Ben. He is not playing a game, he’s just beating up whomever he can both physically and verbally. That was no “trip”, it was a full out kick.Evil Russell may be despicable but he has a plan (and it’s working…) Can’t wait to see these guys get their comeuppances (and in Ben’s case, hopefully sooner rather than later)! Go Jaison!
Ben is a disgrace to men everywhere. I don’t know what his parents did while raising him, but they did a VERY poor job in instilling the idea of respect for his fellow human. This is ESPECIALLY evident in his dealings with women. I live in L.A. too & can’t wait for the moment when I see him face to face to tell him what a scumbag he is. This is a small town, not run by men only & he better watch his chauvinistic, disrespectful, and dare I say racist (considering his ‘ketchup’ & ‘ghetto’ comments about Yasmin – whatever the heck ketchup has to do with ghetto????) dumb self around these parts!!!!!!!!! He will get an earful. I dislike him way more than Russell, who is incredibly offensive, because Russell at least seems to have one iota of intelligence.
I have to agree, Russell was more likable this episode, probably because he didn’t sabotage his tribe (Ben did that for him with chopping in the middle of the night…talk about dangerous), and he found the immunity idol with zero clues by using logic. It’s rare to see contestants take what they’ve learned from watching prior seasons and apply it to their own.
Two questions for Jeff. One, no Exile Island, in favor of the tribal visit/council spy? Two, I heard something about Russell’s idol being no good to him, but only to Galu members? There was nothing in the clue that was read later to say that, it seemed more like China in this case, where whoever found the idol got it.
Hmm…so does Russell try to get himself sent to Galu if Foa Foa wins, and then find -their- idol too? If so, will he have the spidey sense to play them?
Congrats on the second Emmy Probst – amazing what a difference a week makes. I actually now enjoy seeing Russell playing the other members of the tribe.
Hi Jeff!
So, it was an episode that left mixed feelings for me. When first watching it I quite had a dislike feeling, but I might rewatch it on cbs.com and have different thoughts. It still sucks to see Betsy go either way. And Mike as well. Earliest evacuation ever.
Ben is someone I really dislike. He appears to be a racist and I don’t like his attitude. And that also reminds me of something. I don’t think him being kicked out of the challenge is the first time that happened in Survivor history. What about Thailand episode 3? Jed, Robb, I think, and a couple others from Sook Jai?
Russell Hantz, I feel, is taking up way too much air time, and some people, like Dave and Kelly, haven’t really been shown at all yet.
His finding the HII also kind of irked me. My thought then was “Out of anyone it just has to be him?!”. But it’ll be interesting to see what happens with that. Right now I am hoping next week, Jaison’s newly formed alliance will take out Ben first, and Russell H later. Jaison and Swan are two of my favorites right now. I’ve also kind of thought about a possible Ulonging for Foa Foa but I don’t really see it happening.
Well, that’s all for now. I’ll tune in next week!
I’m guessing because it was late and I was tired I forgot to finish my thought when I said “I hope tyou guys are messing with our heads in the preview”. They made it look like Jaison was rallying against Russell, but I’m hoping it’s against Ben. I like Jaison I’m not ready to see a Russell/Jaison conflict… that’ll come later.
Love your blog Jeff. I think you could take Ben. He’s all talk and a punk to boot.Congrats on your well deserved 2nd Emmy. You are one of the reasons I’ve. watched every episode.
Jeff, your blog is an absolute gift to Survivor fans. I’ve been a fan since the very first episode (Richard Hatch… strangely compelling) and can count on one finger the number of times I’ve missed the show.
Like you, my wife and I are fascinated by the people on Survivor. They never fail to provoke conversation. For example, what about Betsy the cop spotting Russell for the rat fink he is while ALL the rest of his tribe fell for his shtick? Anyone who has ever watched Cops or similar shows knows that police officers typically have a highly refined sense of what’s false and what’s true, as Betsy demonstrated.
And why do Survivors seem constitutionally incapable of keeping mum and not confessing to someone, anyone, that they’ve found the immunity idol? Season after season we see Survivors do this when there is almost no compelling reason to do so. Revealing your possession of the idol simply informs your competitors that they absolutely, positively MUST blindside you if they are to neutralize the idol’s power.
And FWIW we’d like to see longer tribal councils, too. It’s so obvious there is plenty of content that gets left on the editing room floor, so to speak.
Totally dig Russell… He is on a mission and I want to see him reach it. Let the weak players show through!