Survivor 44: Blog Pool OPENS!

 

Survivor 44 premieres next Wednesday, March 1, with a two-hour show starting at 8PM ET/PT. The Lovely Lifeguard SueGee has once again graciously offered to run the blog pool for the show. She, but of course, rocks!

I want in! What do I do?

If you want in on the blog pool, you need to sign up in the comments of this post and this post only! Please don't try signing up on any other posts or Facebook or Twitter -- we might miss your comment.

Is there money involved in this?

Of course not! You needn't pay anything to get into the pool. You don't need to buy a pool pass or anything! Mind you, you don't win any money either. What you do win is bragging rights until the next season and the smugness that goes with it.

How does it work?

Lifeguard SueGee makes random picks for the castaways and the blog folks. You cheer on that castaway all season until they either win or get their torch snuffed along the way.

When is the cut-off for entering?

All pool requests must be in comments to this here post ONLY and submitted by Tuesday, February 28, 3pm ET. Be there or be square.

Survivor 44: Meet the Ratu Tribe

  

I've read and watched interviews with the castaways. Here I will be mentioning some pros and cons for each of them and my own opinion on how well they might do. Mind you, I could be completely wrong with said opinion!

Jaime Ruiz

Pros: Lifelong fan who, through the magic of the VCR in a Survivor-loving family, has seen every episode. Bonus points for not calling herself a superfan. Seems strong, has a solid game plan to work with an alliance of four.

Cons: Has a solid game plan to work with an alliance of four. You know how plans work out on these shows!

How will she do? I don't know. I think she'll last well past the merge but might make a target out of herself in her wanting to make fellow castaways her new best friends. If she succeeds at that, no one will want to sit next to her at the end.

Kane Fritzler

Pros: "Goofy Sasquatch" might do well for him. Claims he's there to play hard, not inspired by the prize -- more inspired by the win and being the Sole Survivor.

Cons: Another one declaring himself as "loud." That is SO not a good thing in my book! Seems to be pretty full of himself in the interviews.

How will he do? I feel he just might rub people the wrong way. Unless he's solid in challenges, he won't make it much beyond the merge. I could be wrong.

Lauren Harpe

Pros: Very determined to win this for her sons. Intelligent. Wants to be a quiet strategist. Quiet is good!

Cons: In her video spot she said she's "a educator." Um. That kind of let me down right there. She's AN educator. I hope she doesn't make me cringe with her grammatical errors throughout the show!

How will she do? I think she will be a strong player and, if she can have a relatively uneventful pre-merge, then kick it in gear to win challenges later on, she just might make final four.

Maddy Pomilla

Pros: Into having adventures. She does have good ideas about gameplay strategy after the merge and might be a strong contender. Yet she also says you can't really plan much ahead in the game. Very athletic. Hmm.

Cons: Way too bouncy for Brooklyn. She walks like a big galoot, albeit she is a rather small galoot. Quit her job to go on the show. Hmm. Most arrange some sort of time off. It's quite impulsive or foolish to just walk out of a job on a whim.

How will she do? She's another one I just can't tell. I do think she will either do really well or really poorly -- with no in-between.

Matthew Grinstead-Mayle

Pros: Another self-proclaimed "superfan." Eager about the challenges and has a lifelong love for swimming and the outdoors.

Cons: He's promising giggles. Giggles don't dictate a win!

How will he do? He thinks he will be the social butterfly who flutters through all the physical competitions. Hmm. I hope he realizes that not all challenges involve swimming! Oh, wait. He's a superfan -- he should know that. He'll probably make merge but out before final four.

Brandon Cottom

Pros: Athletic. Feels he will be a positive effect on the others as he tends to be a positive person. He seems very likable in his interviews.

Cons: For some reason other castaways tend to not like former NFL players in the game, thinking they don't need the money and such. He also has never been camping.

How will he do? If his physical threat aspect doesn't oust him early, it does look like he will have a great social game. He could be a contender.

To check out the other two tribes, head to these links - Meet the Soka Tribe and Meet the Tika Tribe

Survivor 44: Meet the Soka Tribe

 

   

I've read and watched interviews with the castaways. Here I will be mentioning some pros and cons for each of them and my own opinion on how well they might do. Mind you, I could be completely wrong with said opinion!

                 

Claire Rafson

Pros: She's been watching the show since the age of four -- peeping though the keyhole to watch it. She seems very resilient and determined.

Cons: I'm really not seeing any glaring cons. 

How will she do? Unless she's thought of as a threat either physically or socially, she should go far. To the end? Well, maybe.

Danny Massa

Pros: NYC firefighter in the Bronx, so should be in great shape. Lists himself as kind, passionate and determined.

Cons: Not sure if his plan of action going in without a plan is the best idea.

How will he do? He should do well. He seems very likable and should do well in challenges. I predict definitely will make it through the merge and a possible final four.

Frannie Marin

Pros: Meditates and does yoga. Hopefully that will help her.

Cons: Um ... thinks working in a nail salon has prepared her for being on the show. Enough said?

How will she do? I just don't know about this gal. She doesn't list any athletic endeavors. Easy early out.

Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt

Pros: Energetic, looks athletic enough, wants to do well on challenges. 

Cons: She says she's loud. Why must people be loud? Loud is not a great thing to be!

How will she do? She's pretty determined. She also has 40 patents, so I'm thinking she has to have inventive skills that could help out at camp. Unless her loudness comes off as being abrasive, she should go far. I'm not thinking sole Survivor for her, though. 

Josh Wilder

Pros: Ambitious, athletic, intelligent, cites Jeremy Collins and Avi as previous players he wants to be like. I think Avi was the first winner of Survivor New Zealand, so he must be a big fan although not saying superfan.

Cons: Another one who want to hide his real profession. 

How will he do? I think he could do well. He probably has one of the best backstories of all and it could garner him admiration from the others. He had a kidney transplant at nine and says the donor is responsible for his being alive, he had stomach cancer at 25 and had his stomach removed. He is cancer-free now. With that story, if they know it, if he makes it to the end, he will win.

Matt Blankinship

Pros: Apparently a big fan, has run a marathon, has previously applied to be on the show (so not a recruit!).

Cons: Says his failures give him an edge because he always gets on his feet and tries again. Um, dude ... that would mean you're destined to fail at this the first time! 

How will he do? I don't know. I'm pulling a blank on Mr. Blankinship! For some reason, I think he might not have the social game he needs.

To check out another tribe, click this link for Meet the Tika Tribe

Survivor 44: Meet the Tika Tribe

 

I've read and watched interviews with the castaways. Here I will be mentioning some pros and cons for each of them and my own opinion on how well they might do. Mind you, I could be completely wrong with said opinion!

Bruce Perreault

Pros: Older, watched the show since Season 1, raised in the foster system so should be chill compared to some, looks very fit, does not have the Warwick accent which can be distracting.

Cons: Thinks some may assume he's arrogant (there's often a reason when people assume that), claims he doesn't care about challenges and food rewards but is more interested in analyzing the other players and their social games (hmm), not into searching for advantages.

How will he do? Here's a guy who has a good possibility of doing well but might be his own worst enemy. I think he just might be a touch arrogant. If he rubs people the wrong way and doesn't fare well in the challenges, he could be gone pre-merge. 

Carolyn Wiger

Pros: Another one watching the show since its beginning. She's not going to lie or hide what she does in life. Wants to look for advantages (which can actually be a double-edged sword. Thinks she'll come across as goofy and no threat to others.

Cons: She seems to sentimentalize the backstories from other seasons. I can only hope she plans to compete and work hard in the challenges.

How will she do? Unless she has a physical side I'm not seeing, I can see her getting her torch snuffed early in the game.

Carson Garrett

Pros: Um. Um. Superfan, I guess. So, he says. Young. Healthy. Friendly.

Cons: Claiming superfan after watching for six years. In one interview he claimed to be a rocket scientist ... after two years of college. Seemingly quite delusional about his own self.

How will he do? I'd be surprised if he made it past the merge unless he's a big help around the camp. He isn't planning on telling the others how smart he is. I don't see why they would even care. He's a college kid, not a billionaire that others might think doesn't need the money.

Helen Li

Pros: Been watching the show for ten years which isn't bad at her age, seems to adapt to fitting in well with various cultures, thinks others will see her as friendly, bubbly and maybe an airhead.

Cons: I don't see her being strong in challenges. She says she has a horrible sense of direction. She thinks she's bubbly. 

How will she do? She could either be among the first bunch out or be the one people bring to the end thinking she has no chance of winning. One or the other -- I don't think she will be an in-between. I don't care for bubbly. 

Sarah Wade

Pros: Another fan since the show started (although she would have been very young for sure). She seems quite determined, plans to look for advantages and learn from others. Likes the outdoors and outdoors sports.

Cons: Not seeing too many. 

How will she do? Of this group so far, I think she might be the strongest socially and probably decent physically. She is determined and part of her inspiration comes about as her best friend died a few years ago and she wants to give life its all. 

Yamil "Yam Yam" Arocha

Pros: Has been watching from the 1st season when he was 13. Probably will have a good social game. He's confident of both his physical and mental strength. He has extreme weather experience.

Cons: He says he's loud. That can annoy people. I'm not as confident regarding his physical strength as he is. Well, he might be physically strong, but can he win challenges?

How will he do? I think he'll probably make it past the merge and maybe near the end ... but not to the end.

Survivor 44: It's Coming!

 

Yes, Survivor 44 is almost here! Its season premiere is Wednesday, March 1 at 8PM ET/PT. Once again, the season is set in Fiji. It seems like that's its home now. I do miss the seasons of the past when they set the show in places like Australia and Africa. But they don't consult me on these things! 

I will be delving into each castaway between now and when the show starts. However, I'll give you all a sneak peak at the tribes now ...

Tika Tribe

Soka Tribe

Ratu Tribe