Survivor Live: Morgan

Survivor Live: Morgan
Hosts: Dalton Ross and Jenna Morasca
Mystery Caller: Andrew Savage, Survivor Pearl Islands

On Being Voted Off
She really didn't see it coming. They all told her that it was between Lydia and Brianna. She believes Gary was protecting Brianna.

Gary's Secret
It sounds like they aren't believing Gary's cover story, which creates more distrust about him. What else is he lying about? Even to Morgan, his story and reaction were suspicious. Jenna thinks even his name sounds made up (Hawkins vs Hogeboom, she's right). Before Brian brought it up (Gary in the NFL) no one suspected a thing.

The Others
Rafe is well liked even if he's not much of an athlete. She thinks he'll be good at any puzzles that come up. She said that he did not know how to use flint to make fire (I thought Rafe was a real outdoors-man?).

Jaime was sick before the Tug of War. She really dislikes Brian, she called him a "big jerk." Lydia told them that she'll need a hip replacement soon.

Andrew Savage - Mystery Caller
He really likes Survivor Guatemala (no surprise there, would they have him on if he disliked Survivor Guatemala?). He likes Margaret to win it all. He still stays in touch with some of his fellow Survivors (the 5 Morgans). He recently moved to California and works as an attorney for Yahoo. Andrew Savage bio at Survivor web site.

What's Next for Morgan
She's working at Six Flags Great America in Chicago where she started as a dancer but moved up to the position of magician's assistant (she had to take a course for it). They are currently doing a Halloween show she described as Rocky Horror for kids.

Episode 2: Morgan Disappears

Morgan Disappears
official title: Man Down

Morgan, the magician's assistant and waitress, disappears at Tribal Council. Blake recovers enough to help Nakum win Reward and Judd is the hero at the Immunity challenge. I'm glad Morgan is gone. I want to see real people play this game and not aspiring actors and models looking to forward their pathetic, nonexistent "careers."

After the recap: at Nakum Blake isn't well. He says he has trouble breathing and eating and drinking doesn't help either (what else is there?). Margaret, the nurse, is worried about him. Brandon tells us in private, in reference to Blake, that sometimes "You just got to 'man up'." Over in Yaxha they're behaving like a happy family. Someone says that it doesn't look like Nakum is having fun. The women braid each other's hair and Stephenie tells us that 'we are family.'

Reward Challenge
Competition: Web of ropes over water
Reward: fishing gear
Sits out: Amy

Eight bags are tied to the web at various places around the web. Race style, one at a time a member of each tribe must run across a net bridge to the rope web, climb onto the web and retrieve a bag. Everyone must go at least once then anyone can go at it. If a Survivor falls of the web without a bag he/she returns and another goes.

After the first for each tribe get bags, Brandon (vs Gary) gets Nakum a bit of a lead. Margaret extends the lead as Rafe is unable to get a bag and then really struggles just to get back to his tribe. Judd promptly blows part of the lead by missing a bag himself. Morgan manages to get a bag for Yaxha, but Brianna doesn't. Danni and Brooke are successful as are Lydia and Jaime.

It is tied 7 bags a piece and Blake and Brian are dead even as they leave the starting line. It is close all along but Blake manages to eke out the win for Nakum!

The next day Nakum get up early (at "the butt crack of dawn" according to Brandon) and go fishing with their new fishing tackle. Blake (pictured) seems to be a little better but then has trouble breathing again later. In private, Judd rants to us about Blake - he does nothing in camp, he sleeps all the time so he is strong for the challenges, and Margaret just babies him "sit down, relax, drink some water." Judd finishes by saying that he'd like to be the hero for once. Danni tells us that she knows Gary was an NFL quarterback.

Over at Yaxha they scrounge for food. Rafe tells us they will try eating anything at least once, (finds grasshopper) "anyone want to eat a grasshopper?" Later Rafe and Gary find an ant nest. Some of them eat ants but not Stephenie, she says they are "nasty". Lydia, the magical fish monger, quietly goes out and gets a bunch of minnows using nothing but the lake, sand and a burlap sack (now that's what I call magic).

Immunity Challenge
Competition: tug of war in mud
Sits out: Brianna

First a group tug of war. They each have a rope around their waists attached to the main rope between the tribes. After 15 minutes there is no winner so it moves to individual tugs of war (tug of wars?). The first tribe to get 3 flags wins immunity. Anyone may compete and as many times as they want. There is a 5 minute time limit and at the end of the time who is ever closer will win the flag.

First up, Judd beats Gary. Then Brandon defeats Jaime . Then it's Judd versus Jaime. Jaime looks like he's going to win on a time out but then he relaxes and Judd makes a last second pull to win Immunity for Nakum.

At Yaxha they are bummed out, but the scheming begins. Rafe tells us it was a rough challenge. Stephenie (pictured) says that this game makes her a big bag of nerves. Gary states that he wants to keep the tribe strong so they don't lose another challenge again. Amy tells Stephenie that the men are thinking of voting her off. Stephenie is mad , she tells us that she's not leaving, she's the strongest woman in the tribe.

Brian asks Gary if he was in the NFL (Danni told Brian sometime during the immunity challenge). Gary denies it, following his plan.

The tribe seems to settle on voting off Morgan or Lydia. Brian clues Lydia in and she has a heart to heart with Gary and says that she contributes, can endure anything and is not ready to home yet.

Yaxha at Tribal Council
(paraphrased by me, not word for word)
Jeff Probst: Let's catch up a little. Stephenie how has your welcome been?
Stephenie: They have been very welcoming I feel like we're a tribe.
Jaime: She knows the game well, she's tough, more like a boy.
Jeff Probst: Lydia you would seem the least equipped physically to compete.
Lydia: I have what it takes to endure.
Jeff Probst: Morgan I'm really picking up a vibe of unity.
Morgan: Yes we're unified because we're honest with each other.
Jeff Probst: Rafe what are you basing your vote on?
Rafe: Keeping the tribe unified. Someone has to go, hopefully we can get over it and move on.

Time to Vote:
Morgan: 5 votes
Lydia: 1 vote

Jeff Probst: I'm confused, you say you're unified, but the person you voted off never saw it coming . . .

Morgan's final words . . . I didn't see it coming. . . I got to see Guatemala and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Alliances
Are little cliques are forming? Amy and Stephenie. Brian and Lydia.

Heroes and Villains
Brian (picrued) gets props from me for helping Lydia. I thought I would like Brandon but he's more like James-lite (the red neck in Palau). Judd has a few rough edges but I was glad he won immunity for his tribe. I wish Danni would get some more camera time.

Won Reward: Nakum
(fishing gear)

Immunity: Nakum

Voted Off: Morgan

Preview Episode 2

title: Man Down
CBS, 8:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005
Episode #1102.

from Yahoo TV:
When Blake's breathing becomes erratic, the tribe voices their concern; desperate for protein, Yaxha serves up ants for dinner, which does not sit well with Stephenie.

from the Survivor web site:
One Survivor is appalled when a nest of ants are served up for dinner in a tribe desperate for protein.

Lacking any sympathy for ailing tribemates, one Survivor starts complaining about the weak ones being lazy and getting pampered.

Leading into the second Tribal Council, one Survivor fights back when their work ethic is questioned by tribemates.

Predictions
I think the unsympathetic one is Brandon. He was kind of unsympathetic last week towards Bobby Jon when he was sick so I see it continuing. Some others say it will be Judd after his outburst at Tribal Council last week.

RealityTVworld is predicting that Yaxha win Reward and Nakum win Immunity. They also predict that Amy will be voted off. Blake is believed to be a red herring. The episode's title, Man Down, is a term sometimes used by police officers and Amy is a cop.

Winner Quotes

Winner Quotes
There is a belief held by many Survivor fans that in the first episode of a season Mark Brunett, the producer, intentionally puts in a quote as a hint to who the eventual winner will be.

This Season's Candidates
(from Survivor Fire, my rating in parenthesis - higher is better)

Bobby Jon: "Its not often I get a chance at a million dollars twice" and "now that I am back in the game, I feel a million dollars."


Jamie (6.25) "Like all the girls are crying on Stephenie because that's their hero. I didn't shed a tear myself. It was like I may win a million dollars but she is here."



Cindy (8.00) "We just want to get them off our tails. It's just like moving Seabiscuit. When you see your competition and it ticks in. I was just like; I thought I couldn't put one foot on the front. I was like running down the trail to the mud."

Brooke (7.00) "I am doing good. I am surprised I felt alright after 11 miles." and "Women have the endurance to last 40 days."



Judd (7.75) "I puked and I got up and I do what I have to do, man!"



Rafe (6.00) "The Leaders always go first" CUT TO: Gary Hodgeboom (7.00)

My Take
If Bobby Jon (or Stephenie) wins the million dollars then this is a real stupid bunch. He may last until the merge, but once it becomes individual immunity he should become a prime target. The Rafe quote is cited as evidence that Gary wins, but taken out of context it could mean Rafe wins. Of the remaining quotes, Cindy's is most credible. She's a zoo keeper and the race horse analogy is especially appropiate.

Survivor News Flash

Survivor News Flash

Jeff & Julie
Speaking of former "Survivor" stars, Jeff Probst said he and Julie Berry ("Survivor: Vanuatu") are still very much an item. Comparing the relationship to an "E-ticket at Disneyland," he said he's more in love than he was six months ago, although no wedding plans are yet in the works.

"We're just having a good time together while learning how to be a couple and stay special to one another," he said.

- from a column by Chuck Barney, Knight Ridder Newspapers 9/15/05


Calling Doctor Cohen, Mark Burnett, Doctor Cohen
Dr. Adrian Cohen, who's worked behind-the-scenes on every "Survivor" as the show's primary on-site doctor, says "Survivor Guatemala: The Maya Empire," which premiered last Thursday, is the most medically challenging one yet.

"It's probably the toughest one to date, and that's a big call," says Cohen, who prefers to be called "Ado."

- from a recent New York Post column

Note: Ado also worked with Survivor producer Mark Brunett on Eco-Challenge (also produced by Brunett).


Richard Hatch Update
The first Survivor winner, Richard Hatch, is still having tax problems. He was in court again recently facing charges of filing false tax returns in 2000 and 2001 by omitting income. Hatch is also accused of misusing (keeping for himself) $36,500 donated to a charity of his (Horizon Bound). Richard denies all charges and maintains his innocence.

If convicted of all charges he faces a maximum 75 years in prison and millions of dollars in fines. (I wonder if he could survive that?)

- summarized from an AP article 9/19/05

A Quick Guide to the Two Richard Hatches
Richard Hatch #1: actor (Streets of San Francisco, Battle Star Galatica), author
Richard Hatch #2: reality TV celebrity, tax defendant

Survivor Instinct

Survivor Instinct
Second Thoughts and Sudden Thoughts About Survivor

In general I liked the start of Survivor and I look forward to another interesting season. Reportedly they really work a lot of the Guatemalan and Mayan culture into the season which I enjoy. I prefer a two hour first episode, I think it gives more time to get to know the new players.

Stephenie & Bobby Jon
Should Stephenie and Bobby Jon have been given a second chance by being allowed to compete again on Survivor Guatemala? I don't think that it's right, they had their chance already. I like them both, especially Miss Stephenie (as Bobby Jon calls her), but it's unfair to the others. Yes, I know the two of them are obvious targets but their experience gives them an edge that the others just don't have. I think this was just a play for higher ratings which may have backfired (see below).

Ratings Down
The TV ratings for the first episode were supposedly the lowest in years. Why? Some people believe it has something to do with Hurricane Katrina. With a real tragedy, viewers don't want to see anyone pretend to be surviving when so many people are trying to survive for real. Also President Bush addressed the nation the same evening as the first episode which may have affected some viewers, although here (Philadelphia) it was on in its normal 8:00 p.m. time slot.

Other possible factors: Starting Early, most shows premier this week but Survivor premiered last week. Stephenie and Bobby Jon, this was a badly kept secret and I wonder if a lot of fans were turned off by this obvious ratings grab. Lack of Diversity, there has been some attention to the fact that there are no people of color on Survivor Guatemala (I guess Lydia, a Puerto Rican, doesn't count). Also it seems the contestants get younger each season and there are too many aspiring actors and models.

Gary's Secret Past
Gary Hogeboom was a quarterback in the NFL and he wishes to keep that a secret from the others. However Jeff Probst said in an interview that Danni recognized him (she is a sports journalist). How this plays out could be interesting. Does she confront him with it? Do the others believe his planned lie? "No, you're mistaken. I'm Gary Hawkens a land developer."

Survivor Live - What Gives?
On Friday the webcast of Survivor Live, the internet talk show, was un-viewable. The video stream was choppy and then just stopped altogether. I watched in previous seasons without this much trouble. And to make matters worse it's still not available on the web site (in previous years you could watch repeats online).