Survivor - Nicaragua - season 21 thread

Thanks, Patrick!

DVR is all set and ready to roll! 

Looks to be a few interesting contestants - Jimmy Johnson seems to be an odd choice ... I miss Hantz already.

Can't wait for the new season and more luscious tropical HD beauty shots.

There's one of those "Preview" shows hosted by Parvati set to air tonight...on the TV Guide Channel...which I don't get.  8pm ET.

We'll never know for sure...but I think Jimmy Johnson's celebrity factor will likely take him a long way into the game...unless he really comes up as weak in the challenges and in helping around camp.  I was surprised we didn't get a sense of him drifting into more of a leadership position than what we were shown.  I would have thought that the others would have naturally thought, "well, he's a celebrity (and a coach)...he must know what to do.  He's been on TV before."  The power of celebrity--and its effect on others--is not to be underestimated. 

Damn!  Missed this.  Usually there is a lot more

online hype about Survivor's premier episode.

I will have to go online tomorrow morning and

watch it on the CBS site.  I'll program it into my

Tivo moving forward.

I hope Coach Johnson lasts a while because I am pulling for him. I don't know if he's going to make it very far. His physical ability to withstand the environment may be an issue down the road. Also, the whole celebrity status thing is definitely going to make him a target. Still, he's a good speaker and he has the ability to lead people without coming off as an annoying know it all.

Wendy's rambling speech at tribal was classic. Just a bizarre personality.

It's amazing to me that after 20 seasons, you have people still making the same mistakes out there in the social game. Ego is such a hard thing to overcome I guess.

Going off topic but did anyone catch the commercial for the upcoming season of Amazing Race? I don't think I have laughed as hard as I did seeing the scene where the watermelon slingshot backfired and launched the watermelon right back at her head and exploded on impact.

Dennis Hopper & Holly

Santana & Brenda

Conan & Jill

Emperor Augustus & Shannon

Geri & Jane

Winnie Cooper & Yve

Chet from FvF & Jimmy Johnson

Was OK with the episode.  Every season, non all stars, it always takes me a couple episodes to get into it from learning the new people.  Fabio is a moron, was funny when he picked up the crab. 

Loved Probst's barely contained annoyance when Wendy did her "Can I say just one more thing?" during TC.

...and there's a longer clip of the TAR clip online from CBS.

CBS has the hidden immunity idol clue online here:

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/photos/Hidden_Immunity_Idol_Clue_1/

Just watched the show online.

No really strong nor positive first impression of the 

Survivors this year -- though I say the same exact

thing at the start of every game.

....and who wasn't happy that "chatterbox" was voted off first?!

Looking forward to the rest of this season. One of

my favorite shows.

(I miss Russell)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronald Epstein 

(I miss Russell)

Russell needs be on every season, eh Ron? 

The Constant Contestant. It would never be dull with him there, I'll tell you that.

Coming off All-Stars this season the first episode was a HUGE disappointment, but things definitely picked up tonight in the entertainment department. So far I'm finding a majority of the contestants insufferable, but none more than Nanookie or whatever the hell her name is. Little miss attitude needs her ass booted off that island fast!!!

Why the hell would somebody bring $1600 alligator shoes with them on Survivor? Goofy.

Na and Fabio may go down in history as two of the dumbest contestants -ever-

That guy lived in his own little world.  If you didn't know his age you would swear he was in high school based on his level of maturity. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Sun 

This show has been on for over 10 years, but they are still able to find people who just aren't all that bright in terms of projecting themselves in a light that doesn't offend others enough to put their names on the parchment at tribal council.  Weird.  I guess there will always be people who don't see how they appear to others, and are in their own head space most of the time.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Sun 

Yeah, I know, I'm just impressed that Survivor producers are able to find them in the slew of video entries for the show.

I don't know if you're a fan, Patrick...but you should see the cast assembled for this season's Hell's Kitchen (which premiered last night).  It seems like they went out of their way to look for the functionally psychotic. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Frezon 

 

I don't know if you're a fan, Patrick...but you should see the cast assembled for this season's Hell's Kitchen (which premiered last night).  It seems like they went out of their way to look for the functionally psychotic. 

And that's getting to be a problem with these shows. These people are just caricatures. And now we have the "Russell" effect. Filling shoes with sand and dumping them in the water? What's up with that?
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry*P 

 Filling shoes with sand and dumping them in the water? What's up with that?
 

Exactly.

I was wondering what was going through Jimmy Johnson's mind when he was having his one-on-one with her after her "confession."  It looked like he kept himself at an arm's length! 

I thought contestants were only allowed one pair of shoes so how come he had the $1600 pair and then the sneakers they showed him walking around in at camp?

Luxury item?

I took note Fabio/Jud said he had an "extra" pair of socks (the ones swiped by the Naonka (sp?)).  I certainly could see them being allowed two pairs of socks. 

If you ask why people don't present themselves well on Survivor despite viewing previous seasons, remember the incredible stress they are under.  These people are cold, tired, bug-bit, sleep-deprived, hungry and thirsty most of the time and are involuntarily surrounded by abrasive, unlikable strangers.  Most people can maintain a good front when they're rested and fed, but you make em hungry and sleep-deprived and all kinds unattractive personality traits come to the forefront.  I always admire the people who keep it together thru all this and manage to keep their emotions in check and head in the game. 

And some of these people are just worthless people.  They don't present themselves well on Survivor because they more than likely don't present themselves well in day to day life.  I love the show and I'm always entertained by the interesting people they find.  If there were 20 people like me on the show you wouldn't have much drama, or viewers for that matter.

I think the "Russel Effect" is really people sitting at home and laughing as one seemingly "smart" person goes through the game and up-ends it because of the stupidity of most of the other contestants.   It was surprisingly refreshing to see someone, good or bad, at least seriously gameplan and completely outwit others.

The show is supposed to be Outlast-Outwit-Outplay and until Russell it had been several seasons since someone really played the "outwit" card.  Lots of people outplayed others, hangers on lasted until the end, but the smart game was really lacking.

I'm in for the season, it's fun, but there are about 4 people who need to go home.  Like right away.  Which makes this less fun when you feel as though you know a large group of people who have no shot to make it to the end.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_Tk 

And some of these people are just worthless people. 

Exactly. In the preview for next week's episode Nanookie makes a comment that shows you what a piece of shit she is.