'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Updates - Season Finale

The show is starting on time here for a change. As it airs, I'll update this post with the more important events. My full review will be posted late tonight on TV Squad. Please feel free to jump in with your thoughts in comments!

Amanda won reward -- a personal feast. She can choose to share with one or two others (it's a feast for one). She invites Todd to share it.

They've gone for the memory walk and, after the commercial, immunity will be up for grabs.

Todd is the first out for immunity. Courtney is out of it. Denise is out. Amanda wins immunity!

Denise was voted out -- the spoilers were right on final four and final three.

"I would have won if I stayed in the game," said Denise. Well, duh. That "if" ruins it all, huh?

It will be a final three facing the jury once again.

Todd won Survivor China! Four votes for Todd, 2 for Courtney, 1 for Amanda. We know that Erik was the Amanda vote. Denise voted for Courtney. Since JR said well-played and you stole a million dollars, I'd guess he was a Todd vote.

I know many of the readers here didn't want Todd to win, but of the three remaining he was my choice for the win.

On the reunion show, James won the 100,000 from show fans. Mark Burnett stepped up to the plate and gave Denise 50,000 because she lost her lunch lady job and is working (unhappily) as a janitor.

New season-- select few superfans of the show versus favorites from previous seasons. Jeff says at least one is from Survivor China (James, I bet).

'Survivor 15: China' East Coast Updates 12/13

As the show airs here on the east coast, this entry will be updated. A full review will be posted late tonight on TV Squad.

Happy belated birthday to commenter Nana! You share Frank Sinatra and my younger brother's day!

Thanks to Courtney, Denise won reward. She chose Courtney and Todd to accompany her on an overnight trip to the Great Wall of China.

Amanda won immunity.

Peih-Gee was voted out.

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Updates 12/06

The show has started here on the East Coast. I'll update this post with important events (immunity, boot, etc.) as it airs. So, please refresh the page for the latest and definitely let me know what you think of the episode!

My full review is posted over on TV Squad.

Family members are being teamed up with them for the Rewards Challenge. Denise and her husband Robert won Reward -- a boat trip, meal, and phone call. Denise had to pick two others to go with them -- Todd and his sister, Amanda and her sister. The family members of the chosen will spend the night. The family members of those not on Reward go home immediately.

Peih-Gee win Immunity.

Not a shock ... Erik was voted out.

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Update -11/29

I'll be updating this post with the major events of tonight's show as it airs on the east coast. My full review of the episode is posted on TV Squad.

Stop on back!

UPDATE -- They were held after at Tribal Council due to a Reward Challenge, not a second vote. Peih-Gee won reward and chose Erik and Denise to accompany her on a private jet trip to a temple.

Erik won individual immunity. Amanda wants to blindslide James.

And it worked. He thought Peih-Gee was the target and they blindsided him. He didn't use the idol because he didn't see it coming. Peih-Gee voted Todd, James voted Peih-Gee, all the rest voted for James.

'Survivor 15: China' - 11/22 Clips Show

Zoetawny made a special graphic for tonight's Survivor. It's not a regular episode -- it's clips and unaired stuff about the remaining castaways.

So far the most interesting comment was Courtney saying her strength in the game is that she's not a strong player. Um, okay.

A brief shout out to Sydney, home from her honeymoon adventures! Welcome back!

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Updates 11/15

The show has started here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll be updating this entry with the latest news including the boot at the end of the show. My full review will be posted later tonight on TV Squad. I look forward to reading your comments about the show!

Erik, Frosti, Amanda, and Courtney won reward -- an overnight cruise.

Denise, Todd, Courtney, and James chose to eat instead of trying for Immunity.

Peih-Gee won immunity.

Frosti was voted out. Aw.

Although it's over, it's not. Jeff said they weren't heading back to the camp as they had more business to attend to, cut to credits. It's a to be continued kind of thing, I guess.

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Updates - 11/08

The show has started here on the East Coast. This post will be updated with major news as it airs. Everyone is welcome to comment!

Jean-Robert, James, Todd, and Amanda won Reward -- a dinner in a Chinese village. They also got something to read when they get there, but we're in commercial.

It was the last clue to the hidden idol which only Jean-Robert didn't know about and is meaningless at this point.

Courtney won Immunity!

Jean-Robert voted out.

My review will be posted on TV Squad later tonight.

UPDATE - That review is up and running!

'Survivor 15: China' - 11/01 Show - East Coast Updates

The show has started here on the East Coast. I'll be updating this post with important events as they air, so please return here for the news. As always, comments are welcome! My full review of tonight's episode will be on TV Squad later tonight.

UPDATE -- James found the second hidden idol. Alas, Jaime just peeked in his bag and found both hidden idols. Uh-oh.

UPDATE -- Merge is on, black buffs, will use Fei Long camp, feast and Chinese cultural performances

UPDATE -- Frosti won the first individual Immuniy.

UPDATE -- Bwahahaha! Jaime pulled out the blank plaque thinking it was the hidden Immunity Idol -- she got voted off.

My Survivor review for TV Squad should be up at this link around midnight. I apologize for the delay, but it was out of my hands.

'Survivor 15:China' - East Coast Updates - 10/25

The show has started here on the East Coast. As important events occur, I'll update this post. My full show review will be posted on TV Squad later tonight. Please feel free to leave comments -- I love to get your impressions as the show airs!

UPDATE -- Reward: Fei Long won and kidnapped James. They get to go to an island for a tea room visit.

UPDATE: James gave Todd the hidden Immunity Idol clue (after Todd approached him and offered to save him with it). It is in the bat etching on that frame which they keep showing. Amanda (who knows about it) and Todd were working to get it when Frosti jumped in to help. Now they have to trust Frosti. Todd gave James the idol and said they (ZH) must lose immunity and save himself. The plan is for him to vote off Jaime and get the second idol, too.

UPDATE: Immunity - gross food week - despite plans, Zhan Hu won Immunity.

UPDATE: Sherea is voted out (spoilers had it right).

My review of this episode should be published on TV Squad before midnight (ET).

TV Newsy Bits - Sunday, October 21, 2007

I've decided his name must be Roofus. His fellow roof companion cat (four stories up) seems to have vanished, but Roofus still watches the birds daily from his perch in the sky. I believe he's part of the group of feral cats living in the area near the train station. That isn't the best of life a cat can have, for sure. A few months ago one of the feral cats in that area was diagnosed with rabies and a gang of big-headed strays roam the night.

I can't save them all -- I have my own two elderly cats saved from that sort of life as kittens. As I watch Roofus, I don't think he could ever adjust to a home. He comes and goes from the roof at will apparently getting up there through a condemned building on the block. Oh, well. I think the roof is safer for him than the city streets. Unlike my own cats who would probably fall off, he seems to know its boundaries. After all, I first spotted him and his companion about a year ago.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• Has Grey's Anatomy jumped the shark? This news article explores that very possiblity.
• I was watching last night's rerun of Without A Trace on CBS. The key missing character was played by the same young man who plays West this season on Heroes. Uh-oh. I think type-casting has affected my mind. I wanted him to remain vanished without a trace.
• Ellen DeGeneres took a few days off after the big Iggy Dog fiasco. I don't think she wanted the death threats to the folks at the dog rescue and I'd imagine she's horrified at how everything has gone. Me? I still think that while rescues do fantastic work, sometimes things should be looked at on a case by case basis rather than no shades of grey. My own family always had pets when I was very young. None of us kids ever would have harmed any size pet -- they were a part of our family.
• I watched The Next Great American Band on its premiere night this past Friday. I think I'll be following the show as my Friday night television watching is a bit of a vast wasteland. This coming Friday (10/26) I'll be sitting in to review the show for TV Squad for the regular writer as he'll be on vacation. After that, I think I'll be reviewing it weekly here. Anyone interested?
• Letterman's in reruns this week. Grr.
• Survivor's most recently ousted Aaron was interviewed by Fans of Reality TV. He said he was cast because he happened to meet someone who asked him to try out for the show. He seems to think that Amanda and Todd are the true Survivor fans of the game.
  

Today's music non-sequitur:
"The reason you're cool is because you're from the old school.
All the critics love you in New York."
-- Prince "All the Critics Love You in New York"

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Updates 10/18

The show has started here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll update this post with important events. Please refresh the page for the latest.

Um ... so far, no important events, but it has started! ;-)

UPDATE: Messages came by boat -- each tribe picked two from the other tribe who will compliment them. Fei Long chose Sherea and Frosti. Zhan Hu didn't think. They didn't realize they would lose two of their own -- chose James and Aaron thinking they'd have seven people and would vote out Aaron.

UPDATE: Immunity Challenge -- Fei Long won, but it was thrown by Zhan Hu by Jaime and Peih Gee. They want to vote out either Aaron or James thinking their end game will be stronger after the merge.

UPDATE: Aaron is voted out.

My review of the episode is up over on TV Squad.

TV Newsy Bits - Friday, Oct. 12, 2007

It's just a duck. A duck at the park. It refused to catch fish for me, but was willing to eat bread crumbs.

Here are the TV Newsy Bits for today --

• If you live in the vicinity of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and you're a fan of The Office -- I have cool news for you! The Office Convention will be held the weekend of October 26-28. You can find out more about it here, but it sounds like quite the event. Al Roker will be there reporting for The Today Show, even.
• If you're a soaps fan, you might want to check out the exclusively on the Internet show Coastal Dreams. It takes things a step further and provides interactivity the TV soaps just can't do.
• Reality News Online has an interview with Dave Cruser, cast off of Survivor China just last night. Whoa, he's one smug dude. But I noticed that a commenter here on this blog ("Survivor" I believe was the blogger name used) called his nudity in that one challenge exactly right. "Unless it’s your orientation, having a crazy naked guy running at you is definitely going to make you think twice. And it did. If you have a naked guy running at you, you’re going to be that much less ready. Hence the skipping to make things jiggle."
• I still think Dave was annoying, but I think I'd be personally peeved more at Sherea -- especially if I had to work harder to cover her slacking.
• The Celebrity Spider has an expanded promotional bit on next week's Heroes -- mild spoilers within.
  

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Update 10/11

This post will be updated as the show airs here in the east -- major events including the boot.

So far, just Sherea and Dave fighting in one camp while Courtney and Jean-Robert go at it in the other.

Cool rewards challenge! Both tribes had to meet at Tribal Council for it, don't think it's a double ouster tonight. Fei Long won -- get a fisherman to teach them to fish, spices, vegies, and they kidnap Dave. Dave? That's odd.

Dave gave Todd the clue. Todd's racking them in, eh?

Another cool challenge for Immunity and Fei Long wins.

Dave was voted off after much discussion -- it was between him and Sherea. He voted for Sherea, but it seems the rest voted for him to go.

UPDATE - My review of this episode is up at TV Squad. Come visit!

TV Newsy Bits, Bloggy Stuff, and Tonight's 'Survivor' Blogging Plans

Sometimes I just take photos of odd things. I liked the symmetry of the windows and mismatched gravel piles at this urban warehouse.

Once again this week, I'll be putting up a Survivor 15: China East Coast Update post for tonight's episode. That post will be updated as important events air here in the NYC area and comments are surely welcome! Later this evening my full review of the episode will be posted at TV Squad.

I'd like to extend belated birthday greetings to blog reader and commenter ORKMommy! I hope it was a great day full of family, love, calories, and gifts!

Also -- welcome back from Vegas, Nana in the NW. No, you better not tell us. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. ;-)

On a sadder note, my condolences go out to blog reader and commenter MEB on the loss of her best friend. Hang in there.

In TV Newsy Bits:

• A personal reminder to me and any fans of the show -- Law and Order: Criminal Intent is now on USA at 10 PM on Thursdays.
• In NYC News -- Although Chuck Scarborough isn't my favorite anchorman, I'm kind of getting into watching the local news at 7 PM on WNBC. I don't care all that much for all of the celebrity gossip shows at that hour and if I work late, the timing is good.
• The My Name is Earl folks have a new video online called Respect the Meat. It doesn't want to embed properly here, but you can check it out there.
• Don't forget to stop by the Grey's Anatomy blog discussion post if you watch that one!
  

TV Squad: Survivor Review, Kid Nation and More!

My review of tonight's Survivor China episode is up over at TV Squad. You can also check out my review of last night's Kid Nation, plus I wrote an article about foreign actors and actresses getting work on shows here using American accents.

Hey ... wasn't tonight Grey's Anatomy? It seems quiet!

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Update - 10/04 Show

Keep tuned here (and join in with your comments!) as this post will be updated as events occur on the East Coast!

Rewards Challenge -- Thanks to the women, Zhan Hu won their first challenge. Reward was comforts including a kerosene lantern, kerosene, blankets, and a tarp. They kidnapped Leslie.

Immunity Challenge -- Zhan Hu won, despite spoilers to the contrary! It will be Fei Long going to its first Tribal Council.

Leslie was voted out. Courtney and Leslie voted for Jean-Robert to go, the rest voted for Leslie -- 6-2. Todd and Courtney seemed very reluctant to vote for her to leave, but did.

Tonight's 'Survivor 15: China' Blogging

I'll be putting up an East Coast Update post which will be updated with important events (Immunity, the boot) as the show airs here in the NYC area. Later on this evening, a full review will be posted over on TV Squad. I'll post that link when I have it.

Please feel free to stop by the updates post and share your thoughts on the show!

'Survivor 15: China' - Spoilers Post Link!

I have a post up on TV Squad with major show spoilers for Survivor 15: China. ONLY go there if you want to know

I also ask that the spoilers aren't brought up in the comments on any of the show posts I may make here because I realize a lot of people don't want to know!

'Survivor 15 China' - Ashley Hits the Interview Rounds

The most recent Survivor castaway hit the interview circuit ... well, online, anyway. They're no longer on Letterman, not even standing over in the Hello Deli. Of course, if you've ever seen the Hello Deli, you might not want to stand inside there, either!

Reality News Online (RNO) has an interview titled They Were Scared Sheep Out There - An Interview with Survivor: China's Ashley Massaro.

In that one, i thought it most interesting how much she talked about how the tribe made a mistake in eliminating Chicken. She seems to take her own ouster as the logical decision for the tribe while Chicken's she can't rationalize at all.

In the Buddy TV Exclusive Interview with Ashley Massaro, I picked up a few more intriguing bits. Hmmm ... she thought Jonny Fairplay was a "funny character." If memory serves, wasn't he a wrestler, too? She once again went on about how Chicken shouldn't have flown the coop -- er, got booted from the coop, that is.

The Reality TV World interview with her finally asked a few different questions. They asked how she got cast on the show and got a rather roundabout answer -- "It was basically a joint decision because I work for WWE. I needed to do some arm-wrenching to go because that meant I was going to be off the air with them for a long time. But it all worked out great and they let me go." Huh? Joint decision between whom? Was she recruited? Did she apply? That's certainly confusing, isn't it? It didn't answer the question "how did you end up being casted on the show" for me.

When asked if she thought she was on the weaker tribe, she defended Zhan Hu saying that she liked the tribe. But she also would have liked to have James on it (probably instead of Dave, I bet). She also said that Jaime told her and Sherea about the clue (existing, not the clue itself) for the hidden Immunity Idol. She says she has a feeling that Fei Long's Todd Herzog is going to do well on the show.

Tonight's 'Survivor 15: China' Review Up!

My review of the show tonight is up and running over at TV Squad! I hope you enjoy it!