News: Mel's Maya Film; Probst Leaving?

Survivor News Flash
Mel Gibson to Produce Movie in Maya Language.
Mark Burnett Expects Jeff Probst Will Leave After Survivor 12.

Apocalypto
Actor and Producer Mel Gibson has revealed that his next independently produced movie will be set in the ancient culture of the Maya before the Conquest. It will be entirely in the Maya language (Yucatec dialect) and the actors will mostly be indigenous people with no European faces in the cast. He says the Maya culture is the background for a movie he describes as an "action adventure of mythic proportions." Filming will take place near Vera Cruz, Mexico. The movie is to be called Apocalypto. No production dates nor release date have been announced.
Apocalypto at IMDB.

Jeff Probst Leaving After-all?
Survivor Producer Mark Burnett has said that he expects host Jeff Probst to leave after his contract expires with the conclusion of Survivor 12. Also Burnett says that he favors a former female contestant as host if Jeff does indeed leave. Could he be referring to Jenna Morasca?
full story (at RealityTVworld)

Next Update: tonight or tomorrow, Survivor Live notes and comments.

Episode 7: Arrivederci Amy (merge)

Arrivederci Amy
official title: Surprise Enemy Visit

Summary: Yaxha win Reward and get a bird's eye view of the jungle along with a lot of chocolate. The two tribes enjoy an afternoon pool party before the immunity challenge. Nakum win Immunity and Yaxha vote Amy off at Tribal Council. After TC Jeff Probst announces Merge!

After the recap of last week's episode, Judd (first interview) kind of, sort of apologizes to Nakum for his outburst at Tribal Council last week. He says things like "If someone attacks me I'm not just gonna sit there and take it. I just blew up. I'm really a big teddy bear, I wouldn't physically hurt anyone." In private Jaime tells us that Judd would be a good person to be in the final two with. [Is this foreshadowing?] Over at Yaxha they talk about the wounds they got from the Big Ball challenge last week. Bobby Jon hurt his right shoulder and several of them have wounds where skin was scrapped off. Amy is self-conscious about hers and Brandon tells her "No, it makes you look tough." [I'm sure that's just what a woman wants to hear.]

Reward Challenge
Competition: Wrap Me Up, Wrap Me Down
Reward: zip line jungle tour and chocolate.
Judd sits out.

For each tribe, four poles are set up with a length of cloth wrapped around it (about a foot in width). At the first pole a Survivor wraps the cloth around himself then goes to the next pole where another Survivor joins in and they have to wrap the cloth around the two of them. Then it is on to pole three where another Survivor joins in and then on to pole four (you get the idea). Along the way a fifth tribe-mate can help them (the winder). Then the four have to unwrap themselves without help and cross the finish line.

Amy and Jaime were the Winders. They were about even through pole 3, but Nakum was the first to be done all four wrappings. However Yaxha passed them in the unwrapping stage as Nakum fell down. Yaxha win Reward!

I'm not a big fan of heights but the zip line cable ride through the jungle treetops looked like fun. Chocolate was waiting for them atop one of the platforms up in a tree.

Pool Party
Danni's (pictured) birthday is the reason for the Surprise Enemy Visit on Nakum. On the boat ride over to Nakum to invite them to a pool party, Gary politely asks them not to say anything negative. At Nakum's camp, Judd is all for a party (not surprising) but Cindy is reluctant. They all end up going back to Yaxha's pool. Danni gives them some chocolate and Stephenie is very happy. Bobby Jon tells us that it was all about a day of fellowship. [the fellowship of the pool?] Jaime was very quite and tells us he was figuring people out. He then prompts Nakum to leave and Stephenie was a bit upset, she wanted to stay longer. In confessional Jaime says that it made him sick to see everyone get along so well.

Immunity Challenge
Competition: Archeological Dig, race and puzzle.
Lydia sits out.

Twelve big pieces (about 4 feet by 3 feet) to a puzzle are buried in sand. Each tribe sends a player to collect a piece in turn, everyone must go once then anyone can go find a piece. Once all 12 pieces are gathered they must be assembled, they make a Maya calendar.

Cindy collected the final piece for Nakum at which point Yaxha were 2 pieces behind. Yaxha made up some time in the puzzle assembly stage but Nakum won Immunity.

Scheming at Yaxha
Amy tells us in private that she knows she's a target and in trouble. She thinks she has an out after she talks with Danni. Amy's only hope is to target Bobby Jon on the premise that he doesn't deserve it because he's played Survivor previously. Gary (pictured) tells Amy that he has to go along with the group but if she can get Danni to vote for Bobby Jon then she has his vote as well. Danni does talk with Brandon about voting for Bobby Jon. Brandon tells us in confessional that he has an alliance with Bobby Jon. In confessional Bobby Jon says that he really wants to make the jury and he'll feel real bad if he doesn't. So it looks like Amy or Bobby Jon at Tribal Council, who will it be?

Yaxha at Tribal Council
(paraphrased, not word for word)

Jeff Probst: It's day 18, Danni does it feel good to get this far?
Danni: Yes, but it would feel better if we weren't at TC.
Jeff Probst: Gary what has changed since last TC?
Gary: We are an even tighter group now.
Jeff Probst: It's day 18, Amy how has the experience been?
Amy: It's been the bomb, I love these guys.
Jeff Probst: Brandon is it difficult deciding who to vote for?
Brandon: Yes it is very difficult. It's hard to justify who deserves your vote. [Bobby Jon looks worried.]
Jeff Probst: Is it a dilemma for you Danni?
Danni: Yes, you have to balance the game with the word you have given others.
Jeff Probst: Bobby Jon how do you handle the dilemma?
Bobby Jon: I keep my word.

Time to Vote:
One vote for Bobby Jon is shown to Yaxha, but three are for Amy.

Jeff Probst's Final Thought
I am convinced that you are all really close and now you will have a new challenge. (Merge, new buffs [red I think] and Yaxha are to go directly to Nakum's camp. Yaxha's things will be moved over for them. They will need to decide on a new tribe name. What's the Maya word for argumentative backstabbers?)

Amy's final words:
I'm very proud that I got this far. I learned a lot about myself and made some great friends. I had a great time.

Alliances
The Merge came just in time for Gary because I'm guessing he was next on Yaxha to be voted off. Now the real question is will current Nakum hold together and pick off current Yaxha or will old Nakum reform and pick off old Yaxha? Or maybe something altogether different? [Check back, I'll deal with this in my next Survivor Instinct post.] Next week's episode should be very interesting.

Heroes and Villains
Jaime (pictured) was a jerk about the pool party. He may think he was really playing the game but pissing people off (Stephenie) is not the way to play Survivor. I'm glad that Danni finally got some screen time. She seems calm, cool and collected (and she's easy on the eyes). Judd tried to do some damage control but I don't think many of them were buying any of it.

Won Reward: Yaxha
(zip line tour of the jungle, chocolate)
Won Immunity: Nakum
Voted Off: Amy

Episode 7: As It Airs

As It Airs
Oct. 27, 8:00 pm ET GMT -4 hours
Survivor Guatemala, Episode 7
title: Surprise Enemy Visit

This post will be updated as Survivor airs tonight.
Some people just can't wait to know what happens on Survivor. If you're one of those people then this post is for you.

Judd first interview.

Reward Challenge
Type of Challenge: Race - Wrap Me Up, Wrap Me Down. Yaxha won reward. Chocolate and zip line tour of the jungle.

Immunity Challenge
Type of Challenge: Race and Puzzle - archeological dig. Nakum won Immunity.

Tribal Council
Danni first interview. Amy was voted off. Tribes merge!

Check back later tonight
for my usual, full length review / recap.

Fantasy League Picks

Survivor Fantasy League Picks

For what is worth, here are my picks for Survivor Fantasy League.

Rafe, Climbs Ruins.
Danni, First Interviewed Tribal Council.
Jaime, Climbs Ruins.
Stephenie, Climbs Ruins.

It looks like Yaxha will go to Tribal Council and I'm hoping Jeff Probst will question Danni first. She has been manipulating things and maybe Jeff has sniffed it out and calls her out on it. I have been getting some bonus points from Climbs Ruins and it's been from Nakum players.

Other Possibilities
If you're looking for First Interview bonus points then try someone from Nakum. After Judd's performance at Tribal Council last week it will probably be someone commenting on his outburst. I suggest Rafe and/or Stephenie.

Next Update: Tonight as the show airs and my review afterwards.
(I'm on the East coast, Survivor airs at 8:00 pm ET, GMT -4 hrs.)

Preview Episode 7

title: Surprise Enemy Visit
CBS, 8:00 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005
Episode #1107.

from the Survivor web site:
Fear threatens to ruin one castaway's ability to enjoy a reward.

An unexpected visit from the opposing tribe makes some of the other castaways uncomfortable about being friendly with the enemy.

A heart to heart ends with one Survivor telling another, "You can lie...But, I will track you down. I will find you!"

After a difficult Tribal Council, the castaways are bombarded with another big surprise.

from Yahoo TV:
When a tribe decides to visit the other tribes' camp, the castaways are weary of befriending enemies.

Commentary, Predictions and Possible Spoilers
It's no secret that Yaxha will visit Nakum, but why is a bit of a mystery. Part of the Survivor rules is that there is no contact between tribes other than the challenges (at least that's how it's been in the past). So why do Yaxha just show up at Nakum's camp? It is probably just the start of the Reward Challenge but you never know.

Fly Through the Jungle
Sometime during the episode the Survivors (or just some of them) will get a zip line tour of the jungle. These cables are strung high up in the jungle. Whether this is part of a competition or a reward remains to be seen. Note that Brandon and Lydia said in their bios that they are afraid of heights.

Predictions
The consensus seems to be that Yaxha go back to Tribal Council. Brandon is mentioned as a surprise eviction but it will most likely be Amy who is voted off. It is believed that Gary is just a red herring, he seems too close to Danni to be voted off. Also I don't see Gary voting for Brandon because all he thinks about is keeping around strength and athletic ability. (I wonder if Gary will change his mind after the merge when he finds himself up against younger, stronger guys for individual immunity?) One screen capture seems to point to Cindy sitting out of the Immunity Challenge. If Nakum find themselves at Tribal Council Cindy is the most likely to be voted off, however some people seem to think Judd is in danger as well.

Next Update: Thursday around Noon, my Survivor Fantasy picks.

Survivor Instinct

Survivor Instinct
Second Thoughts and Sudden Thoughts About Survivor

Stephenie's Smile?
Did you see Stephenie at Tribal Council while Judd was ranting? He was going on about competing and how winning is all that matters and Stephenie gave a little smile of approval (she got a brief close-up).

I take her smile to mean that she likes what Judd was saying, that she would like more tribe-mates like him. Stephenie seems to be the type of player that thinks Survivor is all about athletic prowess, she seems to forget about puzzle-like challenges that test brain power.

I will give her a little credit for playing the social aspect of the game better this time. But just a little, with the likes of Judd and Rafe on her tribe it doesn't take a master of the game to manipulate them.

Now, if Stephenie was smiling because she knew that Judd was self-destructing in front of the others then she is really playing the game well this time. Which is it? We should know in a few weeks.

Tomorrow Night: Episode Preview

Survivor Live: Margaret and Brian

Survivor Live: Margaret and Brian
Hosts: Dalton Ross and Jenna Morasca
Mystery Caller: Gervase from Survivor Borneo



On Being Voted Off
Margaret seemed resigned to her fate. She half ass-idly (is that a word?) said she and Cindy tried to get Rafe and Lydia to go along with an underdog alliance but only after prodded by Jenna.

Brian: He had a convoluted plan that would have saved himself and gotten Bobby Jon voted off instead. Basically he wanted Danni, Brandon and Bobby Jon to and split their vote on Amy and himself and then he, Gary and Amy would vote off Bobby Jon. It seems this plan never got of the drawing table as even Amy didn't think they would split their vote.

Judd Head
Margaret said that everything she did seemed to irritate Judd (she even gave him her beer and it didn't help). Here are a few words that she had to say about him: physically threatening, volatile, and aggressive. You didn't think she would have anything nice to say about him, did you? She also said that he would pace back and forth for hours at a time (that's the ADD, I guess). Brian only said that Judd wasn't even pretending to play for the others, which is a big mistake.

The Others
Margaret said that Bobby Jon, Brandon and Jaime were very respectful of women (unlike Judd). She also said that Judd and Stephenie seemed to empower each other. Stephenie was also the one who called all of the shots, like who would compete in challenges.

Brian: the Bobby Jon and Jaime confrontations are all about male testosterone and an Alabama-Georgia rivalry. Jeff Probst said that the pairs for the Reward Challenge would be random but they actually got to pick who competed. That's why Judd competed three times but Rafe didn't even compete once. Amy and Gary are close however he also said that he feels Gary, Danni and Bobby Jon have an alliance.

Something They Wished Had Been Shown
Margaret: one night while sleeping a tarantula feel on her and she flicked it off onto Jaime who freaked out [someone earlier said he was unusually scared of bugs].
Brian: 1. he and Lydia were real close and he wished more of them had aired. 2. One day he and Jaime were sitting around talking about the duckbilled platypus and Jaime was amazed by it - "You mean it's a mammal and lays eggs? Then what's a duck?" Brian: "Well, it's a bird."

Gervase - Mystery Caller
I like Gervase but he often talks a lot without saying much. However he had a few good points. Judd is destroying team unity. Gervase likes the double Tribal Council, he said it adds some spice to the game.

What's Next for Margaret and Brian
Margaret is back at work as a nurse but would like to go back to Guatemala to do some relief work.
Brian: Living in Manhattan and tutoring for the SAT.

Note: next week co-host Dalton Ross will be away so there will be a mystery co-host with Jenna Morasca. She also said she would wear a Halloween costume.