Survivor South Pacific Season Finale and Reunion Show Blog Party

Survivors ready? It's the two-hour season finale followed by the reunion show! Alas, since it's Sunday night and CBS is a %$#, football has delayed the show. Sigh. I'm not sure when it is to start. I believe football was still on at 7:30 PM (I'm not fan). When I checked at 7:42 PM. 60 Minutes was on. So, I'll get this post up for 8 PM but the show won't be started then.

Once it does begin, I'll be updating this post with major events. But the real fun and active discussion can be found in the blog party comments. Stop on in and share your thoughts on the show!

8:33 PM ET and we're finally ready to start!

Duel time! They hve to hold onto a pole. Um. Okay. Brandon played a good pole dance, but Ozzy won. Ozzy is back in the game!

Immunity challenge -- it's building a high house of cards time. Ozzy wins!

Tribal Council --

Rick
Sophie
Rick
Sophie
Rick

Bye-bye, Rick!

Final immunity challenge has them racing through an obstacle course collecting five bags of puzzle pieces, first puzzle completed wins. SOPHIE WINS!

Tribal council time.

Ozzy
Albert
Ozzy
Ozzy

Bye-bye Ozzy!

In Los Angeles, here are the votes:
Coach
Sophie
Coach
Sophie
Coach
Sophie
Sophie
Sophie

Woohoo! My blog pool pick person actually WON!

Player of the season -- Ozzy by a landslide. Cochran was second, but not even close.

Next season -- new twist. Survivor One World -- two tribes, one island.

Thank you to all who have made this blog your Survivor home!

Survivor South Pacific 12/14 Episode Blog Party

Survivors ready? It's almost time for the show to start here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll be updating this post with major events. But the real fun and active discussion can be found in the blog party comments. Stop on in and share your thoughts on the show!

Tonight's penultimate episode will pit Edna against Ozzy in the Redemption Island duel -- it would be a hoot if she beat him, wouldn't it? Plus, we'll know who's going into the battle to name the sole survivor (on Sunday night).

Survivors ready?

Redemption duel time -- slide puzzle, hatchet to release a rope, more puzzle. Shocker -- Ozzy wins again. Bye-bye, Edna.

Albert wants Sophie out to better his own chances with the jury. Coach is leaning towards Brandon. Heck, they should shock him and vote COACH off this time! Or not. I am actually liking him which wasn't possible in his two prior seasons.

Immunity challenge time -- climbing, puzzles, releasing bags, raising flag, Nothing new. The winner also gets pizza. Oh geez. Brandon won immunity. He chose Rick to join him saying he's playing wuth his heart as per is father's advice and it's strategy.

At tribal, Brandon gives his immunity necklace to Albert. @@

Time to tally the votes:
Brandon
Sophie
Brandon
Sophie
BRANDON!!

Woohoo, the zealot is voted out! He'll go to Redemption to face Ozzy. 

Survivor South Pacific 12/07 Episode Blog Party

Survivors ready? It's almost time for the show to start here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll be updating this post with major events. But the real fun and active discussion can be found in the blog party comments. Stop on in and share your thoughts on the show!

Tonight is the family reunion show. However, what interests me the most is whether Cochran will survive!

Yep, product placement video mails from family.

Duel time -- there is a twist to the duel, to be told later. Uh-oh -- grappling hooks, bags, balls on a table maze. Sigh. Ozzy won. The twist is that the family members come out to greet each castaway, then Ozzy has to choose who will get to spend time with the loved one. Albert gets to spend time with his mother. One more person -- Ozzy chooses Coach with his brother, the last person chosen is Brandon to spend time with his father. They'll spend that time on Redemption Island.

Immunity challenge -- keep moving across a giant puzzle board. They flip a piece over, stand on it, cannot stand on it again, out of moves out of the challenge, last person standing wins. Coach wins. The Brandon/Edna antagonism carries on.

Tribal time. I really wish they'd keep Edna and get rid of Brandon.

Tally time!

Edna
Brandon
Edna
Edna
Edna

Sigh. That Brandon twerp gets on my nerves.

Survivor South Pacific 11/30 Episode Blog Party

Survivors ready? It's almost time for the show to start here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll be updating this post with major events. But the real fun and active discussion can be found in the blog party comments. Stop on in and share your thoughts on the show!

Time for the Ozzy, Dawn and Whitney duel! It's a balancing plates challenge. Dawn is out. Whitney is out. Both go to the jury. Ozzy remains in the game and on Redemption Island

Immunity challenge has one round bag tossing -- Sophie, Rick and Albert move on. Now the three are trying to break targets. Albert wins immunity and a massage! He decides to take Coach, and then wants to give up his reward to someone else as he can't take a third. He gives it to Cochran! Cochran's birthday is coming.

Ha! Cochran is lying about his birthday! It was six months previous! He has Coach wrapped around his finger.

Tribal. Oh, geez. Brandon is crying again. HE is the one who needs to go! If the Albert, Edna, Cochran and Coach vote doesn't get Rick out, they should switch to Brandon.

The tally:
Cochran
Rick
Rick
Cochran
Cochran
Cochran

Sigh. He's off to Redemption Island to duel Ozzy.

Survivor South Pacific 11/23 Episode Blog Party

Survivors ready? It's almost time for the show to start here on the East Coast. Tonight's show, if I'm not mistaken, is the "unseen clips" show, so I won't have any real updates on things like Immunity and such. The real fun and active discussion can be found in the blog party comments. Stop on in and share your thoughts on the show!

Survivor South Pacific 11/16 Episode Blog Party

Survivors ready? It's almost time for the show to start here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll be updating this post with major events. But the real fun and active discussion can be found in the blog party comments. Stop on in and share your thoughts on the show!

Just in case I disappear -- some fool hit a power pole at the end of my block. The power went out briefly, then returned. But who knows?

Redemption Island duel time! Ozzy, Keith and Jim balancing two vertical poles with a horizontal pole across the top. No one is rooting for Ozzy (except Petals). Jim is out, first member of the jury. Keith is out and in the jury. Ozzy wins and is stays in the game! Well, stays on Redemption Island, that is.

Immunity Challenge! They're balancing bowls of rice on their heads, crossing over teeter-totters and dumping the rice in bigger bowls. Um. Okay.

Sophie, my blog pool person, wins Immunity! Jeff promises them there will be a twist at Tribal Council tonight.

Whitney, Dawn, Albert, Cochran and maybe Sophie are thinking an Edna ouster.

The tally --

Dawn
Edna
Dawn
Edna
Dawn
Dawn
Dawn

The plan didn't fly, Dawn heads to Redemption. The twist is another immediate Immunity Challenge and vote. The challenge is one with questions. My gal Sophie wins AGAIN! The vote is on.

The tally --

Cochran
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney

That's it, Savaii sans Cochran is gone -- Whitney heads to Redemption.

Survivor South Pacific 11/09 Episode Blog Party

Survivors ready? It's almost time for the show to start here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll be updating this post with major events. But the real fun and active discussion can be found in the blog party comments. Stop on in and share your thoughts on the show!

Savaii folks lit into Cochran as expected.

Immunity is down to one winner this week. It's in rounds, first round is a coconut target shoot, second is cracking a coconut and filling mouth with juice, through an obstacle course and filling a tube with it.

Uh-oh for Cochran ... JIM won immunity!

Huh? Jim is saying he's going to give Ozzy his necklace and convince people to vote for Cochran? That would be silly!

8:22 PM and Tribal is starting? Hmmm ... 

Lots of big macho talk, but Jim kept his immunity necklace.

The tally:
Ozzy
Cochran
Ozzy
Cochran
Ozzy
Ozzy
Ozzy
Ozzy

Ozzy us out again to Redemption.

Whoa! Another immunity challenge! It's one where Jeff offers them food to skip the challenge. ALL of the old Upolu sits out to eat with only the three ex-Savaii compete. Jim was out first and snapped at Jeff. Heh. He annoys me. Whitney wins immunity.

Albert thinks Dawn is sneaky and more of a threat than Jim. Jim is the blatant target. Coach says Jim is a rhinoceros who can charge at you while Dawn is a snake -- both can kill you.

The tally:
Edna
Edna
Edna
Jim
Jim
Jim
Jim
Jim
Jim

Jim gets to meet up with Ozzy and Keith at Redemption. 

Survivor South Pacific 11/02 Episode Blog Party

Survivors ready? It's almost time for the show to start here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll be updating this post with major events. But the real fun and active discussion can be found in the blog party comments. Stop on in and share your thoughts on the show!

Are you ready for the merge?

Both tribes are at the duel. The winner of the duel will come back into the game. We're talking a tie-sticks to make pole, get three keys, open three locks challenge. OMG! Ozzy's stupid move worked and he won the duel! Goodbye, Christine.

The merge is on -- Ozzy bad-talked Cochran pre-duel and now hopes Cochran can "infiltrate" the other tribe. 

Coach called out Cochran on exactly why Ozzy went to Redemption. Cochran ended up admitting it all. He gave the idol back to Ozzy. Dawn, all of a sudden, decides to really team up with Cochran. This could be interesting.


Immunity challenge on. One man and one woman will win.

Dawn won for the women! And Ozzy was the male winner!

Now Dawn doesn't want to back up Cochran in a flip.

Tribal ...

Tally:

Ozzy plays the idol for Whitney (they think she's the target)

Keith
Keith
Keith
Keith
Keith
Rick
Rick
Rick
Rick
Rick
Rick


It's a tie.


Tally:
Keith
Keith
Keith
Keith
Keith
Rick
Rick
Rick
Rick
Keith


Cochran flipped! Keith is gone ... to Redemption Island.

Survivor South Pacific 10/26 Episode Blog Party

Survivors ready? It's almost time for the show to start here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll be updating this post with major events.

But the real fun and active discussion can be found in the blog party comments. Stop on in and share your thoughts on the show!

Christine wins another duel! Mikayla is history now.

Hmm ... Ozzy told Cochran that (worse case scenario) someone needs to beat Christine and he might hand off the idol to someone, beat Christine so he'd come back. Hmm ...

Meanwhile, Coach is getting Coachy praying and leading others on a wild goose chase for the idol he has. Oh my gosh, the praying worked! They miraculously found the hidden idol! @@

Immunity challenge's reward is a screening of Jack and Jill w/Adam Sandler.

Upolu wins! More thankful praying.

Since Cochran screwed Savaii's chances for immunity, all of a sudden Ozzy doesn't want to go to Redemption Island.

YIKES! Ozzy retrieved his idol and is once again saying he'll go.  Despite his tribe's disapproval, they do his bidding. He gives the idol to Cochran who does NOT play it.

Tally:
Ozzy
Ozzy
Ozzy
Ozzy

Ozzy goes to Redemption Island. Go figure.

Survivor South Pacific - Returning Castaways Ozzy and Coach Observations

Remember now, returning reality "stars" on some of my favorite shows aren't necessarily my favorite casting choices on said shows. I've seen these people already and, in some cases like this, I've seen them more than one season. Folks are dying (figuratively, not literally I hope) to get in on the more popular reality shows. So, why do we keep getting retreads? I don't really care if the producers "like" someone. They tend to like the contestants I tend to want to throttle. That would be figuratively, of course.

Case in point: Coach Ben Wade ...

Let me make this perfectly clear -- in his previous two seasons on Survivor, Coach Ben Wade did absolutely nothing to endear himself to me. He was whacko, wore odd clothing, had feathers in his hair, thought that he was "all that and the bag of chips," did poorly in competitions often whining about his back while all the time being under delusions of CIA (whatever) grandeur. 

When I heard he was returning this season, I prayed his tribe would pull a Redemption Russell and vote him out first. I had trouble facing the prospect of being annoyed by him for more than an episode, two at the most. But then something happened ...

Coach no longer seems to be playing the character this season and, instead, he's actually playing the game. He's doing better in challenges and not whining. He's not acting as whacky as in both previous seasons and ... get this ... he's kind of likable. Surprising, I know. 

Sure, every now and again, I see brief glimpses into the "old" Coach. But, for the most part, he's strategizing fairly well, thinking ahead, showing quasi-solid leadership abilities, and exhibiting a very shrewd understanding of both the game itself and his fellow castaways.

I can't believe I'm putting these words to paper (maybe because they're on my monitor, maybe I'm just being figurative once again), but if he continues in this vein, I won't mind if he wins. Yeah, you can hold me to that.

Then there's Ozzy Lusth ... 

In his first season on the show, I really liked Ozzy. He was the Jungle Boy who could jump up palm trees, swing from vines, spear a slew of fish in one outing. While his social game wasn't always the best, his work ethic endeared him to all. His good looks didn't hurt him any either. His abilities allowed him to remain after all of his tribe got the boot. He lost to Yul Kwon, an athletic thinking man kind of dude.


In his next outing (Micronesia), he realized his social game was lacking and worked a bit more on that aspect. However, he made the classic Survivor blunder of being voted out while possessing the hidden idol in his pocket. So, you'd think in this third shot he'd continue to work on his social game and not make any more stupid blunders. Not quite so ...


First off, with his Jesus hair, he seems to have developed a Jesus attitude. Nah, not that Jesus had an attitude, more like those who worship him. Nothing wrong with worshiping Jesus, mind you. But it seems like Ozzy thinks he's worthy of some sort of castaway worship because of his past deeds on the show. Okay, Nature Boy ... it's not happening for me.


He's still not playing a good social game, perhaps worse than his first outing on the show. Even his work ethic has slumped. He'll go out get a fish or two, then nap while the others are working. He has temper tantrums when things don't go his way or his minions don't bow or kowtow to his every whim. He found a hidden idol and, knowing that he's irked his whole tribe, he told them he has it in a fit of anger. Sheesh.


When I heard he was returning to the show, I really didn't mind. I enjoyed watching him in the first two seasons he was on. But now he irks me as much as the "old" Coach, but in a different manner. He's not entertaining me. He can go away.


There. I said it. (Sorry, Petals.)


Your thoughts?

 

Survivor South Pacific 10/19 Episode Blog Party

Survivors ready? It's almost time for the show to start here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll be updating this post with major events. But the real fun and active discussion can be found in the blog party comments. Stop on in and share your thoughts on the show! And ... I hope everyone enjoys the new digs! 

Ozzy, in his own little pity party, told his tribe (ex-alliance) that he has the idol. Meanwhile Runt Hantz has found the idol at their camp.

Time for the duel! Christine wins her 4th duel!

Coach worked on his Edna minion while Ozzy apologized to his tribe.

Immunity -- wheelbarrows, slingshots, coconuts and targets. Reward is a water slide area and picnic lunch.

Savaii wins immunity after a horrible start! Mikayla really lost any edge Upolu had by using the slingshot one-handed. Why she did it that way, I haven't a clue. But now Coach wants her out.

The tally --
 Mikayla
Edna
Mikayla
Edna
Mikayla
Edna
Mikayla


Mikayla heads off to Redemption Island and lemmings follow Coach.

Survivor South Pacific 10/12 Episode Blog Party

Survivors ready? It's almost time for the show to start here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll be updating this post with major events. But the real fun and active discussion can be found in the blog party comments. Stop on in and share your thoughts on the show!

Oh geez ... more Hantz runt crying.

The duel is on! They have to catch balls as they spiral down a metal "track." Christine wins again! I guess just as well ... I can never understand her rants. But they are fun to watch.

Albert found the idol clue, but couldn't find the idol. He told Coach and Sophie. Coach found it. He told the other two, but he's holding it.

Immunity challenge has them chewing off roasted pig with hands behind back -- they cannot eat it, must spit it in bin, most after a certain time wins. Reward is spices and bread. Savaii 22.12 pounds. Upolu 22.14. Upolu wins! They're excited to keep the meat, spit and all. Ew.

Ozzy wants Cochran to go, the others have their eyes on Elyse to weaken Ozzy.

Time to tally the votes --
Cochran
Elyse
Cochran
Elyse
Dawn
Dawn
Elyse

Elyse is voted out!

Survivor South Pacific 10/05 Episode Blog Party

Survivors ready? It's almost time for the show to start here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll be updating this post with major events. But the real fun and active discussion can be found in the blog party comments. Stop on in and share your thoughts on the show!

The duel -- Christine beat Papa Bear although it was very close.

The Immunity Challenge has three from each tribe bearing weight. Uh-oh ... two men and one woman from each. The reward is a rooster and two hens.

Savaii wins! And Dawn has really redeemed herself by holding onto 140 pounds (guys Brandon and Jim went out earlier loaded with 240) and being the last person standing.

Tribal Council time.

The tally --
Edna
Stacy
Stacy
Stacy
Stacy
Stacy

G'bye Stacy

Survivor South Pacific 9/28 Blog Party

Survivors ready? It's almost time for the show to start here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll be updating this post with major events. But the real fun and active discussion can be found in the blog party comments. Stop on in and share your thoughts on the show!

It's immediately to Redemption Island for the suel between Christine and Semhar. It's concentration and balance. Semhar goes all funky with some spoken word prayer. Christine wins! Bye Semhar.

Brandon admitted to all that he;s Russell Hantz's nephew. He tells them he hates to lie and Russell is NOT him.

Ozzy told Keith he had the idol. Keith told Whitney after promising to tell no one.
Baby Hantz continues to alienate the rest of his tribe with his odd behavior.

Immunity challenge ahead -- reward is coffee, tea, etc. Upolu wins ... and Coach is still doing so much better than his previous seasons.

The tribe wants to vote out Papa Bear, but tell Papa Bear it's Cochran. Papa Bear pretended he found the idol, made a fake one and told Cochran.

The tally --
Papa Bear
Cochran
Jim
Papa Bear
Papa Bear
Papa Bear

Papa Bear is heading over to Redemption to go up against Christine.

Survivor South Pacific 9/21 Episode Blog Party

Survivors ready? It's almost time for the show to start here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll be updating this post with major events. But the real fun and active discussion can be found in the blog party comments. Stop on in and share your thoughts on the show!

Semhar is miserable on Redemption Island. Too bad, so sad.

Ozzy found the hidden idol without a clue. He says he won't tell anyone. We'll see about that.

Brandon told Coach he's Russell's nephew. So they now pray together. @@

Christine found the clue to the idol, but hasn't a clue.

Immunity is mainly physical. Reward is blankets, pillows, a hammock. Savaii wins!

Brandon wants the strongest woman, Mikayla, voted out because she "tempts" him. That Hantz kid is whacked in an entirely different way than his uncle. Great Tribal Council!

The tally:
Sophie
Edna
Christine
Stacy
Christine
Stacy
Christine
Stacy
Christine

Christine was voted out.

Survivor South Pacific Season Premiere Blog Party

Yep, it's here -- a new season of Survivor! That way too cool Zoetawny made us a new blog logo for the season and Margo is running the blog pool.

The pool participants are as follows (randomly picked by Margo's Mom) --

Upolu Tribe
Albert - Jennasmom, Margo
Brandon - Zoetawny, Keith
Christine - JOEY, Ed
Edna - Glenn, Monty 924
Mikayla - Rbennie, Becky,
Rick - SueGee, Auntie Leigh
Sophie - Jackie, Delee,
Stacey - meb, Sharon S
Coach - Donna in AL, ML

Savaii Tribe
Dawn - PDXGranny, lynn1
Elyse - Buzzmaam
Jim - Pam, DKNYNC
John - Caraleigh, Nana in NW,
Keith - Terry in PA, Dora M
Mark - Lisanne, Donna in FL
Semhar - Sydney, Laurie
Whitney - Karen in CA, Lorraine
Ozzy - Teri, Petals

As the show airs here, I'll update this post with major events. The real fun is in the comments area -- please join us there!

Survivors ready?

Ozzy is on Savaii, Coach on Upolu chosen by ink colors in random eggs pick.

Redemption Island is going to work just like last season.

Hero challenge -- Ozzy against Coach. It's physical, wanna bet who wins? The reward for the winning tribe is "terra" (sp?) -- like potatoes and flint.

Shocker! Ozzy wins and his tribe was a big help. Coach's tribe just confused him on the puzzle.

Christine already put a target on her back by calling Coach and Ozzy "temporary" and then going off immediately to search for the hidden idol.

Meanwhile, the retired NYPD detective is gay. Interesting!

Immunity challenge coming!

Upolu wins immunity and Semhar probably sealed her fate. Very close.

For his own reasons, Ozzy is pushing for Cochran to go instead of Semhar. We'll see.

Tribal Council time ... time to tally the votes:

Cochran
Semhar
Semhar
Semhar
Semhar
Semhar

YAY! Cochran stays!

Even Ozzy voted her out after pushing for her to stay. The vote was unanimous with the exception of her vote for Cochran. Good.

Survivor South Pacific - Meet the Cast

Survivor South Pacific premieres this Wednesday night, just before the Big Brother finale. I guess we'll have a busy TV night, eh? It's time to take a gander at the cast through Jeff Probst's eyes --




Of course, he left out the two returning castaways -- Coach and Ozzy. I'm of two minds about this. I do NOT like returning reality folks in the games. I really don't. While I won't necessarily mind watching Ozzy once again as he's a cutie patootie, Coach just outright annoys me. Sigh. We'll see.



Once again, they'll be using the Redemption Island concept, too. Hmm.

Here are my quick takes on the other castaways:

Upolo Tribe:

Albert Destrade, age 26, currently residing in Plantation, FL. He's a baseball and dating coach, not the both at the same time I don't think. I don't know ... in reading his online bio he's coming off as way full of himself. Usually, if that's how they act on the show, I want them gone quickly. He ain't all that!

Brandon Hantz, age 19, currently residing in Katy, Texas. Surprise, surprise. He's Russell Hantz's nephew and he's an oil tanker crewman. He's very young for the game. He seems to want to redeem the Hantz name and let people know it's not a synonym for mean and nasty. Having his last name tattooed in two places on his body isn't going to help his case.

Christine Shields Markoski, age 39, currently residing in Merrick, NY. She's a teacher, a good thing of course. But, in reading her bio, she's coming off a bit too idealistic for me -- sort of like the world is full of sunshine and puppy dogs and winning Survivor isn't a case of deceit and backstabbing. Oh. And she says she "needs" the money. For me, in reality shows, that's a turn off. People who "need" money can't be wasting time being on reality television shows. I know I can't!

Mikayla Wingle, age 22, currently residing in Tampa, FL. She lists her occupation as a lingerie football player. Oh my. I didn't know you could make a living at that! She has also graced the cover of Playboy already at a young age. I'll try to keep an open mind about her until she does herself in with me. Oh. Did I say that?

Rick Nelson, age 51, currently residing in Aurora, Utah. He's a rancher and not to be confused with Ricky Nelson, son of Ozzie and Harriet. He compares himself with JT, but an older and better version. I think his physical game is going to be a good one. But how will he do with the younger folks? He's tried to get on the show 14 times before. Hopefully he won't disappoint me like Adam on BB.

Sophie Clarke, age 22, currently residing in Willsboro, NY. Okay, we're talking a real small town gal. Her graduating class had 28 students? Sheesh, I had more than that in each high school class! She's a smart one and would like the winnings to pay for medical school. (Now, that might be worth the risk of going on a reality TV show!). I kind of like her bio. Let's see how tough yet likable she can be both physically and mentally.

Stacey Powell, age 44, currently residing in Grand Prairie, Texas. She's a mortician. Well, that's different. Now, I want to like her just because she's an over 40 player. I know. I'm biased. But I feel I always have to cheer on those closer to my own age over the kids! What I don't like about her is that she compares herself to Vecepia. Oh geez, another Bible quoter on the show? Nothing against the religious folks, but I feel religion has no place on the show.

Edna Ma, age 36, currently residing in Los Angeles, CA. She's an anesthesiologist. (Score 1 for me for spelling that right the first shot!). Oprah is her inspiration and her pet peeves are idleness, liars and deception. Um. Um. What is she doing on the show?

Savaii Tribe:

Dawn Meehan, age 41, currently residing in South Jordan, Utah. Huh. Two castaways from Utah this year? She's an English professor with six adopted children. Survivor might be easier than raising six kids! Y'know ... I think I like this woman. She's a show fan and seems to understand the ropes.

Elyse Umemoto, age 27, currently residing in Las Vegas where she's a dance team manager. She was once the second runner-up for Miss America, too. Okay, guys ... here's your eye-candy. One of her pet peeves is "pretty girls wearing ugly shoes." Now, that attitude is going to crash and burn on the show!

Jim Rice, age 35, currently residing in Denver, CO. A medical marijuana dispenser? Well, that's new and different! He thinks he's the most unique person to ever apply to be on the show. Yeah, right. I get the impression he's going to think he's the alpha male when he ain't nuthin' but the puppy dog.

John Cochran, age 24, currently residing in Washington, D.C. He's a Harvard Law Student although definitely not to be confused with Johnnie Cochran. "Call me Cochran." Being the geeky sort I tend to be, I'd like to see this kid do well. I bet his confessional segments are going to be good! Can he win it all? I don't know. But I think he's going to be entertaining while he's there.

Keith Tollefson, age 26, currently residing in Edna, Minnesota. He's a water treatment tech. Hey, he could be MY pool boy anyday! Hummahumma! Er, ahem. I got carried away for a moment. Jeff Probst didn't seem too keen on him for the win. I just hope he sticks around for my own personal eye-candy entertainment.

Mark Caruso, age 48, currently residing in Forest Hills, NY. He's a retired NYPD detective. That alone makes me want him to go far -- add in the age and I'd like to see a winner! He seems like he's going to be very likable, but I don't know if being a "morgue detective" for 20 years and being from Forest Hills is going to translate to roughing it on the show.

Semhar Tadesse, age 24, currently residing in Los Angeles, CA. She's a "spoken word artist." @@ She's already reminding me of that past castaway who frittered all about some seasons back. She's an Oprah fanatic who's likely to find out she's no Oprah. I don't think I want to check out her poetry on YouTube. Next!

Whitney Duncan, age 27, currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee. She's a country music singer inspired by Elvis and Jesus. Huh. Did the latter have a record contract? Oh, wait. Elvis inspired her to sing and Jesus saved her. Will he have to save her from the lows in Survivor?

So, there's the cast. Do you have any early favorites going in? What do you think of Ozzy and Coach coming back?

If you want to be in on the blog pool, please reply in comments or email igorsant at aol dot com. Margo is kind enough to be running the pool once again. Let's give her a round of applause!