Survivor: Game Changers - Season Premiere Blog Party

Everybody ready? We're in for a two-hour premiere. Woohoo! Got your snacks? Got your tasty adult beverages? It should be a good season with some really heavy duty competitors. As the show airs here on the east coast, I'll be live-blogging with all the major happenings. Refresh the page to see the latest news! But, as always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to see you there!

In case you missed the pool match-up post, here are the picks --

From that World Class Lifeguard Laurie:
Here's the pool. First week is free. Whoever loses goes on one of the teams with only one member.

NUKU
Andrea Boehlke - Indiana Jane, ML
Brad Culpepper - Brian, Sharon N
Cirie Fields - Leonia Hart, Terry is a Texan
Debbie Wanner - Glenn, tbc
JT Thomas - Carol C, Petals
Ozzy Lusth - KelseyNY, Margo
Sarah Lacina - Delee, Rbennie
Sierra Thomas - Becky, monty924
Tai Trang - Cheryl in NC, Sharon C
Zeke Smith - Janice from GA,

MANA
Aubry Bracco - Ed in Ohio, meb
Caleb Reynolds - Cheryl, MikesGirl
Ciera Eastin - DonnaNY, PDX Granny
Hali Ford - Buzzmaam, Nana in the NW
Jeff Varner - Donna in FL, Rochelle
Malcolm Freberg - Judi Sweeney, Merrilee
Michaela Bradshaw - David,
Sandra Diaz-Twine - Jennasmom, SueGee
Tony Vlachos - Jackie, Paula Bell
Troyzan Robertson - Donna in Alabama, Lifeguard Laurie

Survivor fans ready?  

34th season, 500th episode. Jeff is talking to them all on the boat. The tribes are separated to Mana and Nuku. The boat is loaded with supplies for them to take and each tribe has a raft. A massive tool kit is there underwater for the first to untie it. Ozzy goes after it and no one else seems interested. There's also a secret advantage laying on the deck. Caleb finally heads into the water. I think it was either Hali or Sierra who grabbed up the advantage -- a blond. Ozzy got the tool kit for his tribe. They also have the chickens.

Tony runs away from his tribe saying he's going to look for the idol. His tribemates don't chase him but they are thinking of him as a target. Except Sandra who thinks they need him. Caleb falls in with them. 

Ah, it is Sierra who found the advantage. She can only use it when 13 or 6 are left in the game. It's a Legacy Advantage -- so if she goes, she must pass it on. There are goats hanging around their campsite. But, as someone mentioned -- if you kill a goat, you'd have to kill Tai first. Zeke is enamored with Cirie, Ozzy not so much. He blames her for voting him out their last season together. Cirie tried to extend the olive branch but Ozzy isn't totally on board. Cirie finds out from Tai that Ozzy is hesitating. Eep.

Back on Mana, Tony builds an underground spy bunker near that water. They're all suspicious of him. Caleb is getting close to him. Now the others are talking about getting rid of either Caleb or Tony. But Malcolm catches on that it's Ciera spreading most of the talk. Should they target her? 

First Immunity Challenge -- raft to platform, keys, obstacles, back to beach, puzzle pieces, form a ship's wheel, raise flag. Flint is the reward. This year if there is a tie at tribal, there will be no re-vote. Rocks will be pulled!  

NUKU wins Immunity! 

The general consensus is that Ciera needs to go. I like that. Unfortunately, since that seems to be the consensus, it probably won't come to fruition. She thinks it's Michaela going, though. Hmm. Uh-oh. Michaela is ticked that the others told Ciera they were all voting her (M) off. She doesn't react well and might have killed her own chance to stay with her reaction.

Tribal Council Time ... 

The tally:
Michaela, Ciera, Ciera, Ciera, Ciera, Ciera ... six is enough. 

That's what she gets for voting out her mother! Bye, Ciera!  

Tony wants to form an alliance. He goes to Aubry. They want Malcolm, Caleb and Sandra with them. Sandra is cool with it.  

Over on Nuku, Tai is already befriending and naming the chickens. 

In the dark of night, Tony goes to work on his spy bunker. Troyzan and Sandra spy on the spy. He sneaks around to spy on them ... and now the love is gone between Tony and Sandra. She wants him out. He doesn't trust her anymore. 

Cirie is picking up that JT and Ozzy are getting tight. She's in the market for an alliance, but not with them. She goes to Sarah, but in confessional we know Sarah won't have her back. She goes to Zeke. He wants to work with her but considers it too dangerous to align with her because so many are gunning for her. Even Debbie doesn't trust her. 

Yikes! Sandra is going around bad-mouthing my boy Tony and pitting all of the others against him. Varner is loving it. Me, not so much. But Tony is fighting back. He has Malcolm on his sie and Caleb. We have a Sandra/Tony war going on.

Immunity Challenge time. Six of each tribe, ocean, balance beam, cage, retrieve heavy "snake" bag (over 400 pounds), rings, target. Reward is a fishing kit. Cirie sits out.

Nuku wins again. Mana almost got them after coming from behind. 

It's war time -- Sandra vs. Tony. Who will make it through Tribal? 

Tribal Council time.  

The tally:
Aubry, Tony, Aubry, Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony.

GAH! Sandra did it again! Tony is gone! 

Whoa ... dropping their buffs next week?