Rain is a double-edged sword on Survivor. It gives and it takes. Read the full post.
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probst please tell mark or whoever is in charge of survivor DVDs (or Itunes) to release seasons 3,4,5 and 6
2 of those seasons are Great (africa and marquesas)
one was possibly the best season of survivor (after micronesia of course) that season is amazon
then thailand wasn’t the best but still great to have
these 4 are missing survivor seasons every other season is on dvd or itunes i need those 4 to rewatch.
thanks
Great insight Jeff! I don’t think it was “lame” at all to cancel he challenge considering the circumstances. It looked like it was a very scary situation. I’m glad Russell is ok. Having said all that–this is the weirdest group of people I can remember. Is anyone besides Russell playing the game over at Foa Foa? They all seem to be ready to just let the chips fall where they may. And Erik’s crazy outburst at TC just seemed to make no sense. I think the rain has made everyone crazy! Thanks for the great blog, Jeff.
I agree with most posters, “Hey, you almost saw a fellow contestant die. Let’s talk about it over a Meat Lover’s Special!” Seriously, that was the least that could have been done for everyone else. They all were suffering so nobody would have been put at an advantage or disadvantage.
As someone who has applied to be on the show many times (and I will keep applying until: 1, I am accepted; 2, I am dead; or 3, the game stops taking place), watching Russell leave the way he did was heartbreaking. As much as he gave of himself in the challenges and around camp, you have to admire the way he played the game. Having your body fail you when your desire is sky-high, that is a bad way to have to leave. As for the decisions to halt the challenge and not proceed with the votes, I personally think this was the only way to go, under the circumstances. Obviously, I wasn’t there, but I think the “group funk” that Probst mentioned was well on it’s way to happening. The issue with Russell deflated them all, I don’t care what they say. But the site of Probst stirring the pot at the group Tribal Council and getting their competitive juices flowing again was classic! Awesome way for him to redirect the contestants’ focus.
Good Luck Kevin.
Jeff: I think you did the right thing all around. It is better to be safe, then sorry. I think it was good to cancel tribal counsel. This didn’t seem like a “normal” medical. At the third time he went down, and laid there with his eyes open, and not responding, I was afraid he had died..which was really scarey. No tv show rating is worth the loss of human life. Love the show and will continue watching!
If he did die, for sure they wouldn’t have shown it. Probably would have canceled the whole season from that point.
Personally I thought both teams should have been able to have pizza. Both teams deserved it just for suffering through the horrible weather. I think the audience would have let that one slide.
Probster, I love it when you get authoritative! Yelling at the tribes to stop the challenge, then sending them back to camp after Russell was down for the count. AND after watching the consequences of starvation and dehydration – denying them pizza! Marry me!!
Oh, and I don’t mean for this to sound cheeky, but could anyone explain how someone can be dehydrated after 5 straight days of pouring rain?
HA HA. i wondered the same thing. wouldn’t the body just absorb a lot of water? couldn’t they just open their mouth to the sky?
I was wondering the same thing. Why is no one using leaves to funnel any of this rain? Or trying anything at all? So many lazy contestants this year…
Cos rain water is (generally) not potable (ironic I know) and the presence of rain made it difficult for the contestants to collect water from other sources
The Survivors drank the rain on All Stars and none seemed worse for wear.
ever read ‘rime of the ancient mariner’?
Actually, no I haven’t. I’ve always struggled with reading historical verses. The language is a challenge to me.
then download the Iron Maiden song version of it…”water, water everywhere and all the boards did shrink. water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.”
I think that they were talking about the sea water in rhyme of the ancient mariner. Rain water is drinkable – not that great but drinkable.
I presumed Rime of the Ancient Mariner would have referred to sea water too, not rain water. Still kind of puzzling to me. I always thought rain water was drinkable.
Rain water IS absolutely drinkable, if you have the brains to drink it.
I would think the rainwater on Somoa would be eminently drinkable. If you are living in a polluted area have acid rain or something that would be another matter.
It is possible to drink one’s own urine to stay alive, I think drinking rain water is fine…from one of the rainest states in the union [Hi Shambo from Renton;)]
Thank you R. I was remembering a group of people here in Idaho who got lost in the desert in 105 degree temperatures, and were saved by doing just that. I love Shannon.
Kudos to the medical team, great job. Jeff continues to be the man. He is the best host ever. If Regis ever leaves, he should cohost with Kelly.
kelly would look great in the pouring rain!!
nah, they would just pixelate her anyway – which reminds me – are the DVD’s exact from the season – pixel’s and all? Is there other stuff that gets edited out for time that is included in the DVD’s?
This was actually my favorite episode this season. Great drama, some hilarity mixed in (Shambo discussing votes with Eric and John was classic). From a technical aspect the music at Tribal Council was absolutely intense. Great all around episode with real heartfelt moments and actual fear. Kudos to the team.
I agree. When Eric told Shambo to “lock it” I KNOW she is going to tell everyone who they planned to vote for.
I had to laugh too when Erik also said “a hug and a kiss is not locking it”…lol!
I’m stoked to see Shambo get in an alliance. I hope to Dog she keeps the ole gob shut till the next Tribal
I know it may sound almost kinda sorta the same, but what dude actually said was ‘a pound of the fist is not locking it’. Not ‘a hug and a kiss….’. Just so you know…q-tips work wonders.
That whole conversation was about the funniest “Survivor” vote convoy I’ve ever seen. Why couldn’t they just say, “Vote for Monica?” LOL
Jeff,
How long did the contestants keep their blindfolds on when Russell was getting medical attention. It seemed like a long time, but it was hard to tell with the cuts. I know you were focused on Russell, rightly, but I wonder how the other survivors felt hearing the medical situation unfold without seeing it.
I agree that Jeff should have let them all have pizza – after having a player pass out from lack of water and food, it would only make sense to allow them to have a real meal. You disappointed me on that one Jeff
Jeff – love your blog! Thanks for the insights! What I love most about you as host (yeah, ok that rhymed…) is that you own the moment and feel comfortable in your role with the show that you can make immediate (or what seem to be immediate) executive decisions like stoping and cancelling the rest of the challenge. I have no problems whatsoever for how the rest of the day was handled. While it is the game of Survivor, at the end of the day these are peoples’ lives and that has to come above anything else. I think you and the production team were right on by not having a vote that night. That really would have put everyone over the edge after what they had been through over the last 2 days. It’s funny that you mention how calm the medical crew was because as I was watching I was screaming in my head why don’t they DO something??? I realize there wouldn’t be a team of knuckleheads there, but wow, were they calm! I’m glad Russell is OK. I’m sure that was very scary for everyone.
Russell was my favorite contestant. I was sorry to see the state he was in as it almost made my heart stop, too. As for the pizza, both tribes should have shared it as it was not their fault that the challenge was canceled.
As a perennial Survivor viewer, I am a bit disgusted with how older folks are portrayed, ie, weak. Next Survivor, why don’t you put together a crew of older folks with only a few young ones? This voting out based on age is getting old. I am 51 and although I could never help win anything that didn’t reward guile and wits, I wouldn’t last long with a group of puppies who are physically stronger as they would discriminate against me. Rudy was the only “oldster” who has ever made it to the end. Let some of us old folks play, OK?
While I’m at it, I also want to complain about the fact that no one from the stae of West Virginia has ever made it onto the show. Most folks in WV camp a lot, hunt a lot, fish a lot, and some are even quite attractive. How ’bout it?!
Rudy was not the only oldster who made it to the end — that science teacher, in his late 40′s or 50′s, won just a few seasons ago!!
Also the firefighter. While he wasn’t “old” in his 60s or 70s, he wasn’t in his 20s or 30s either.
Oh yeah, that firefighter dude was tough! And all grey/white hair, right? I would like to see more late 30′s and up contestants, though…
I went to high school (Go Stanners!)with the “firefighter dude”, which makes him 45 now. Which was 41 or 42 at filming, I think.
And don’t forget Survivor Africa. Kim Johnson was runner up. A good looking grandma.
Tina who won Australia wasn’t exactly a youngster. Neither was bowtie Bob.
Hey Kim, is that you? From Survivor Africa? Well I can hope. I agree. Some of the seasoned contestants have been the most intertaining. Remember Rudy? The challenge when they had to listen to the history, and then go to stations, and answer questions? He kept saying “I don’t know”. I was laughing hysterically. Here’s a marine who can’t remember a story. Well, I didn’t know whether to attribute it to the fact that he was elderly, or that it wasn’t the kind of thing that he gave a crap about. But I laughed, and loved it. And I hope it’s you.
Well, yes you obviously remember Rudy. You mentioned him. Excuse my brain fart.
Jeff,
I teach high school American Government in Ohio and have never missed an episode. I love this show because as a teacher I am interested in people and as a social studies guy I like politics. I see your show as politics on an island, and it rarely disappoints. I tell my kids that all the time, by the way.
One question: Ever considered a “Survivor: U.S.” in any one of our gigantic and desolate National Parks? I think that would be pretty interesting. We’ve seen lots of islands and jungles. How about some never-before-seen American Outbacks?
You are the man.
Steve from Cleve
But what would they eat? Can’t fish or hunt in a national park.
That actually occurred to me later. Think folks would have a problem with the Survivors taking out a buffalo? : )
How about a Survivor: Frost Bite- and do a Survivor in Alaska, the Northwest Territories, or SIberia. Probably not a possibility, but it would be fun to watch.
But in Survivor:Frostbite, there are no bikinis. Or shirtless guys, for that matter.
It’s been mentioned since the beginning, but the ratings would suffer because they can’t have scantily-clad young women running around on the beach.
The solution was to have a hot tub area for the survivors.Hmm sounds kind of cushy-maybe a natural hot springs area.
They do have sanctioned hunts in national parks based upon animal populations. Don’t know if they could work out a show in one, but the hunting/fishing isn’t the biggest roadblock.
Bobby, I’m late in commenting, but I have to say, Survivor Africa, which was the best, had no beach, and no scantily clad young women running around on the beach. I do think it would have been much better if, when Frank, and Brandon had their reward movie, it had been The Ghost And The Darkness, rather than Out of Africa. Frank would have been pooping his pants for the rest of the season. Those Scantily clad young women aren’t necessary. As a matter of fact, after watching Jenna, and Heidi, I decided the show was becoming a joke. I did like the comment by Rob. “Probst, give the girls some chocolate”. But then, Rob was one of the most colorful people ever to be on Survivor. I love the first 7 seasons. I wish the producers would get a lot more inventive. All these suggestions should be read, and considered. Some of them are pretty darned good.
How about Survivor:Indian Reservation? Could give some $ to the tribe. I think a desert would be beautiful and interesting but then there would be limited water challenges.
I mean the Indian tribe of course:)
D Actually here in Idaho we have a lot of desert areas that would give huge challenges, but would also be very accessable to the camera crew. It’s a thought. And the weather is just as unpredictable. Our favorite saying is…In Idaho, if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute. I have gone to my front door, and seen the rain pouring, and gone to my back door, and NOT A DROP! I think it would be a Probst dream. I don’t think we are going to convince them, but it’s fun to dream. Right?
Survivor: Ghost Town