Friday, November 11, 2005

Episode 9: Bobby Jon Makes the Jury

Image Hosted by ImageShack.usBobby Jon Makes the Jury
official title: Secrets and Lies and an Idol Surprise

Summary: Judd wins Reward although everyone gets something to eat (Judd also won a clue to the location of the hidden immunity idol). Jaime won Immunity and the plan was to vote Gary off, however he found the hidden Immunity Idol so Bobby Jon was voted off instead; he is the first member of the Jury.

After the recap of last week's episode, the night after last week's Tribal Council they all get on Jaime about the "no class" topic. Judd tells us that other than the food camp life is great. Stephenie and Judd are talking and she says that they have the numbers they just have to stick together. Bobby Jon in confessional says that he really needs the Immunity Idol like right now; there's no breaking the "Magical 6" [also known as the Axis of Evil].

Reward Challenge
Competition: Giant lawn dart game with arrows.
Reward: Food for everyone and winner get a clue to where the Immunity Idol is hidden.

Each Survivor got one chance to throw an arrow (using a Maya throwing stick - atlata (sp?) at a target on the ground some distance away. The closer to the target, the better food the Survivor won.

Judd went first and got real close. No one was able to get closer so he won the best food - lobster and steak. Jaime went last and earned fourth place. He then said that he would like to eat last since his outburst at Tribal Council. Of course Jeff Probst allowed it so everyone but the top three moved up in the food eating order.

Here's the eating order:
Judd (surf/turf), Cindy (chicken), Danni (spaghetti), Stephenie (hamburger), Gary (slice pizza), Rafe (ham cheese sandwich), Bobby Jon (baked potato), Lydia (fish), Jaime (ramone nuts).

Image Hosted by ImageShack.usJeff Probst then told Judd (pictured) he could select two of the others to join him at his table to share their food and join in on the open bar and dessert menu. Judd chose Bobby Jon and Stephenie. As Bobby Jon says in private, Gary looks anguished as they enjoy their food and beer. Gary says the right thing - I'm enjoying watching you have a good time - but in private tells us it was hard to do.

Judd stumbles back to camp with the rest of them (overnight he vomits). The next day he shares the clue with Stephenie - the Immunity Idol is in the open and above the ground. However Judd then tells the others that it is at ground level (the liar!).

Image Hosted by ImageShack.usJaime (pictured) works Rafe and then Rafe tells us that Jaime is paranoid and he doesn't trust him. Stephenie also says that Jaime is paranoid and that he could ruin their entire plan. Gary tells Jaime he will vote however the 6 do - he doesn't have much choice.

Immunity Challenge
Competition: 3 stage obstacle course that tests balance.

Round 1: Untie 2 boards as they cross a balance beam. First four across move on.
Stephenie (despite falling once), Gary, Jaime, Rafe all move on.

Round 2: Use the 2 boards on 2 parallel horizontal ropes to cross a span. First two across move on.
Rafe and Jaime move on. Gary the former pro athlete falls twice.

Round 3: Cross a span using two ropes - one for the feet and one for the hands. First one across wins Immunity.
Jaime wins Immunity as Rafe falls off into the water. [I can't believe Rafe got this far considering how badly he did on the web-rope competition earlier.]

Image Hosted by ImageShack.usScheming is Free
Stephenie (pictured) tells us that the plan is for Gary to be voted off because he is a physical threat and always in game mode. She said she would consider Jaime but he won Immunity. Gary talks with Stephenie ("look me in the eye") and she tells him that Bobby Jon is the target (she's lying too!). Bobby Jon talks with Judd and Jaime and tells them that Stephenie is ruthless and will lie. They tell him they know that already and to relax - he's not going home at Tribal Council.

Gary secretly follows Judd out into the jungle and notices him looking up. Gary, being no dummy, figures out that Judd was lying when he said the Immunity Idol was on the ground. Later we see Gary return to camp and it looks like he is holding and hiding something.

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

Jeff Probst: Danni do you trust these people?
Danni: It's scarry and a numbers game; you can't really trust anyone.
Jeff Probst: Do you agree Rafe?
Rafe: Yes, paranoia is setting in.
Jeff Probst: Gary how does lying figure into the game?
Gary: Everyone is different, up to themselves whether to lie or not.
Jeff Probst: Have you lied?
Gary: No I have not lied. [that's a lie]
Jeff Probst: Judd how about you, have you lied?
Judd: No, not up to this point, I have not lied. [they're all a bunch of liars]
Jeff Probst: Cindy do you trust anyone?
Cindy: I trust them more than I thought I would. In this game it's hard not to lie. I'm sure we'll all be liars by the time the game is over.

Jeff Probst: before you vote, Jaime would you like to give the Immunity necklace to anyone?
Jaime: No sir, I think I'll keep it.
Jeff Probst: Now if anyone has found the Immunity Idol and would like to use it now is the time to reveal it.
Gary turns it in!
Jeff Probst: Time to vote. You cannot vote for Jaime or Gary.

Time to Vote
:
Stephenie gets 2 votes, Cindy gets a vote, but Bobby Jon gets 5 votes and is the first member of the Jury.

Jeff Probst's Final Thought
It's clear from this Tribal Council that the next phase of the game will center around lying. Just remember you'll be lying to the Jury.

Bobby Jon's final words:
I was really surprised at Tribal Council . . . I really wanted to win, but everything happens for a reason . . . it was an amazing adventure.

Alliances
The best chance of breaking up the Axis of Evil is if Danni makes it to the final seven. So, sorry Gary you have to go next. Danni has the best chance of getting the weaker players and outcasts within the Axis of Evil of turning on Stephenie, Judd and Jaime.

Image Hosted by ImageShack.usHeroes and Villains
Way to find that Immunity Idol Gary - I had you on my Fantasy team. Jaime wasn't as evil this episode and Stephenie was a little more likable too. Judd was obnoxious again. I'd hope none of those three win. I'd really like Danni (pictured) to win but the odds are really against her.

Won Reward: Judd
(Judd shares drinks and dessert with Bobby Jon and Stephenie)
Won Immunity: Jaime
(Gary turned in Immunity Idol at TC)
Voted Off: Bobby Jon

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Episode 9: As It Airs

As It Airs
Nov. 10, 8:00 pm ET GMT -5 hours
Survivor Guatemala, Episode 9
title: Secrets and Lies and an Idol Surprise

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. Note: you may need to hit the refresh/reload button on your browser to see the updates.

First Interview: Bobby Jon.

Reward Challenge
Type of Challenge: Throwing arrow at target on ground. Judd won reward.
Reward: food and clue to hidden Immunity Idol.

Immunity Challenge
Type of Challenge: balance. Jaime won Immunity.

Tribal Council
First Questioned: Danni. Bobby Jon was voted off.

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.
Gary, Climbs Ruins.
Judd, Climbs Ruins.
Stephenie, Climbs Ruins.

Congratulations Survivor Slackers!
The Survivor Slackers have climbed to second place in the Private Tribes Leaderboard of the official CBS Survivor Fantasy game.
Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us
Survivor Slackers
1. ws_skeet, 1728
2. qu4ttro, 1708
3. golfshot62, 1708
4. treekafka, 1600
5. bbqking76, 1495
6. ocean19, 1286
7. Bakseeda, 1080
8. Tyler-Bigman, 916

I'm glad you guys invited me to play with you. I just hope I'm not holding you back too much (I'm Bakseeda).


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 -5 hrs.)

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Preview Episode 9

title: Secrets and Lies and an Idol Surprise
CBS, 8:00 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005
Episode #1109.

from the Survivor web site:
One Survivor deceives the others by giving them the wrong clues to where the hidden Immunity idol rests.

Several Survivors become angry after one overindulges in a Reward.

One Survivor secretly follows a tribemate on a hunt for the hidden Immunity idol and soon finds out that the tribemate is not to be trusted.

from Yahoo TV:
The tenth castaway is voted off.
[really, these used to be helpful]

Commentary, Predictions and Possible Spoilers
Speculation is that the Reward Challenge will be a balance competition and Immunity Challenge will involve throwing. Bobby Jon is most likely to be voted off and Gary wins Immunity. Some people are also speculating that Gary finds the hidden Immunity Idol. Judd is thought to win the Reward Challenge (in a balance contest?). If you hadn't guessed, Judd is believed to be the one that gets drunk (again). Jaime and Danni have also been mentioned as being voted off.

Next Update: Thursday (around noon ET), my Survivor Fantasy Picks

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

News: Final Set, Survivor OnDemand

Survivor News Flash

Sunday Final for Guatemala
CBS has announced that Survivor Guatemala's final episode will air Sunday December 11. It will be the traditional two hour final followed by an hour reunion show. This is the sixth straight Survivor to end on a Sunday rather than its normal Thursday evening time slot.

Survivor on On Demand
Starting in January CBS will offer several prime-time shows, including Survivor and Amazing Race, for viewing on Comcast's ON DEMAND service for 99 cents an episode.

Monday, November 07, 2005

Survivor Live: Brandon

Image Hosted by ImageShack.usSurvivor Live: Brandon
Hosts: Dalton Ross and Tom Westman from Survivor Palau

On Being Voted Off
Brandon didn't really try and work anyone to stay, that's just not him [did he know about Survivor before he played]. He's not one to be a "snake" and ask people to stay. He was just focused on winning immunity. Anyway Judd and Cindy wouldn't budge and change their votes.

Jaime
"I respect Jaime," Brandon. Jaime is the victim of some bad editing. It looked like he was rubbing it in (that Brandon was going to be voted off) but he really was just leveling with Brandon. However Brandon did say that Jaime isn't a quick thinker and his mouth often gets him in trouble.

The Others
Stephenie runs the show, but she whines a bit. There were a lot more incredible women out there like Danni, Amy and Margaret. Danni was like a sister. Jaime offered to try and get her vote off but Brandon didn't want him to. Brandon was stunned at the Judd-Margaret blow-up at Tribal Council, he didn't know that stuff was going on. Judd wasn't eating much maybe that had an affect on his actions.

Axis of Evil Pecking Order
The way Brandon sees it, this is the hierarchy:
1. Stephenie (she's really running things), 2. Judd (he really gets along well with Stephenie), 3. Rafe, 4. Jaime, 5. Lydia, 6. Cindy.

What's Next for Brandon
He's just working on the family farm. He would like to travel some more. This was the first time he was on a plane and out of the country.