Survivor: David vs. Goliath - Blog Party! - October 3

I still might have some problems with tonight's live blogging as I get used to who's whom in the cast. I put up a cheat sheet with names and images at this link. But I won't really be able to access it while blogging and watching the show. For those who originally had Pat in the pool, that post has not been updated. You have someone new as listed below.

Here's the blog pool news from Lifeguard Laurie herself (she rocks!) --

Here's the pool. Same rules as before, nobody goes home the first night. They each get added to other teams (randomly).

Team David
Bi - Auntie Leigh, Janice, nana in the nw
Carl - DonnaNY, MikesGirl, tbc, Delee
Christian - ChicMc, Judi Sweeney, Sharon C
Davie - CherryPie, KelseyNY, Robin Allard
Elizabeth - Dennis Comfort, marthalight, Skyriverblue
Gabby - Cheryl in NC, Krysta Gibson, Rochelle
Jessica - Dr_Celine, ML, Terry is a Texan
Lyrsa - Buzzmaam, jennifer, Petals
Nick - Brian, Jennasmom, Paula Bell, Silk

Team Goliath
Alec - Carol C, Jean, Rbennie
Alison - Cher C, Jenna G, Renee
Angelina - Donna in FL, Margo, Vicki Volk
Dan - Donna in Alabama, Laurie Miles, SueGee, Marlo Lee
Jeremy - Andi L, Jackie, monty924, PDX Granny
John - Bizaro22, Indiana Jane, Nickelpeed
Kara - David, Karen in CA, Sharon N
Mike - Ed in Ohio, meb, Tammy
Natalia - Glenn Allen, Merrilee, TS14Fan
Natalie - Brenda, ITCHY, Nora

Out
Pat -  Team members moved to other teams 


Survivor fans ready?


Previously on ... Dan and Kara showmance and idol and the medical evacuation of poor Pat. Nineteen are left. Who will be voted out tonight?


The David tribe is wet and miserable ... and missing Pat's leadership skills. Goliath isn't doing too well with the horrible rain and wind either. On David, Christian is sort of liking Nick and Nick knew he was the target had Pat not had to leave the game. They're forming quite a bond. An alliance? Hmm. They're the Mason-Dixon Line alliance.


Whoa! Due to the unrelenting rain, David gets tree mail with a fire-making kit and tarp. 


Over on Goliath, Dan thinks he's living the dream. His idol is right in his jacket. He thinks he can trust Kara and Natalia, the two who know about it. All of the others are noticing that Dan and Kara are a couple, despite it's so early in the game. Natalie (not to be confused with Natalia) gave Kara a heads-up. Natalia thinks she, Kara and one other girl have the guys wrapped around their finger. Meanwhile, Jeremy finds Dan's idol and tells Mike. So, now they're bonding.


On David, Davie thinks he's going to fill the role of provider. Instead of food, he finds an immunity idol!  


Also on David, they're talking about possibly getting rid of Lyrsa first. It was Carl pushing the agenda. Elizabeth, her closest buddy, warns her. Supposedly, Carl thinks she's the weakest person. Lyrsa thinks she is NOT the weakest and now really wants Carl gone.


They're having fun on Goliath, frolicking in the ocean. But Natalie thinks they're all acting like they're in high school. John thinks it might behoove him to work with her as no one would suspect them. He warns her that she, as the oldest in the camp, is the first target. She's determined to drop some Natalie Napalm if needed. I don't think she's helping her case. Jeremy doesn't think so, either. He tries to talk to her. She's like a brick wall. Now he too wants to target her.


Time for the Immunity Challenge. Jeff tells Goliath that Pat was medically removed from the game and the storm was a cyclone.


One person from each tribe climb ladder, boat, puzzle pieces, wobbly table while solving block puzzle. The Reward is fishing gear with a first time ever actual fishing pole.


Goliath has a huge lead as Bi is having trouble building the ladder to climb. They catch up at the puzzle, but then start to screw that up. It's very hot and they've been out there for over an hour. Goliath wins Immunity and Reward!


David is down. Bi tries to tell them that they're going into these things with a negative mindset -- they're so small, the others are so big. It looks like many still want Lyrsa out. Elizabeth thinks they should get Carl out. Wait ... now she's thinking they should get Jessica out because she's close with both Carl and Bi. Gabby wants her buddy Christian to vote out Jessica. Christian and Nick (Mason-Dixon) ponder making a big move.


It was a dark and stormy Tribal Council ...
Not raining in the rather neat temple. I guess they just like to film storms.

Jeff goes for his Probsting questions, first about the storms. Lyrsa says she knows she's a target tonight. Jeff asks if they're reevaluating the formula for the vote. They indicate to Jeff that the vote is organized. Do they go with the needs of the tribe? Hmm. 

Carl obviously votes Lyrsa. So does Davie. 

The tally:
Lyrsa, Jessica, Lyrsa, Jessica, Lyrsa, Lyrsa, Jessica, Jessica, Jessica

Jessica is voted out! Davie and Carl are stunned.

Survivor: David vs. Goliath - Will Pat Cusack be "back"?

I'll admit it. I had early pre-season hopes that Pat Cusack would win it all this season. I liked his story. After all, the stories of the folks cast on reality shows (at least ones I watch) are becoming more to the forefront each year. And, Pat's story was noted by Jeff Probst as the impetus to the whole theme for this season.

Heck, I even like where the guy grew up and currently lives as it's my own childhood stomping grounds where relatives still live. (And, I might add that Watervliet NY has Ted's Fish Fry, amazing stuff!)

His accident on last night's premiere was definitely a freak occurrence. All he was doing was riding in a boat back to the camp and off camera. I guess it's lucky that it happened to him rather than someone who isn't quite as solidly built.

I read this article online as I, having undergone severe back issues and surgery as of late, was curious about his prognosis. Thankfully, it seems like he's made a good physical recovery since the show filmed. However, with the word "compression" in the diagnosis, I'm thinking he might have suffered a compression fracture. While that is definitely an injury that will heal, the pain is incredible. It's no wonder most of what happened until he woke up in the hospital is a blank to him. 

Just looking at who Pat is, I think the psychological pain might be more enduring than his back injury. He says in the article that he would have been safe that night at Tribal Council as the consensus was that they would vote out Nick. Pat had redeemed his bossiness bit by the inevitable result of a sturdy shelter built. Nick, though he had his own sad story, irked his tribe mates by being lazy around camp. 

Now, I doubt that Jeff Probst will ever read this. But I think, if anyone deserves another shot to be on Survivor, it's Pat. I'd like to see him have a shot to really play the game, not be offed by a rogue wave. If he does come back, perhaps bubble wrap during boat transports in typhoons might be a viable idea.

Let's see Pat Cusack play the game! What do you think? 

Survivor: David vs. Goliath -- Season Premiere Blog Party

What a night we have ahead of us! It's the 90-minute season premiere for Survivor followed by the 90-minute season finale of Big Brother 20! And, that will be followed by live backyard interviews by Ross and Marissa on Facebook Live. I hope y'all napped some.

There are 20 castaways, so tonight's live blogging might be a bit rough as I get used to who's whom in the cast. I put up a cheat sheet with names and images at this link. But I won't really be able to access it while blogging and watching the show.

Here's the blog pool news from Lifeguard Laurie herself (she rocks!) --

Here's the pool. Same rules as before, nobody goes home the first night. They each get added to other teams (randomly).

Team David
Bi - Auntie Leigh, Janice, nana in the nw
Carl - DonnaNY, MikesGirl, tbc
Christian - ChicMc, Judi Sweeney, Sharon C
Davie - CherryPie, KelseyNY, Robin Allard
Elizabeth - Dennis Comfort, marthalight, Skyriverblue
Gabby - Cheryl in NC, Krysta Gibson, Rochelle
Jessica - Dr_Celine, ML, Terry is a Texan
Lyrsa - Buzzmaam, jennifer, Petals
Nick - Brian, Jennasmom, Paula Bell
Pat - Delee, Marlo Lee, Silk

Team Goliath
Alec - Carol C, Jean, Rbennie
Alison - Cher C, Jenna G, Renee
Angelina - Donna in FL, Margo, Vicki Volk
Dan - Donna in Alabama, Laurie Miles, SueGee
Jeremy - Andi l, Jackie, monty924, PDX Granny
John - Bizaro22, Indiana Jane, Nickelpeed
Kara - David, Karen in CA, Sharon N
Mike - Ed in Ohio, meb, Tammy
Natalia - Glenn Allen, Merrilee, TS14Fan
Natalie - Brenda, ITCHY, Nora
Thank you!

Survivor watchers ready? Let's GO! 

We're going through introductions and the theme itself. They're in Fiji, 39 days, 20 people, one Survivor. 

It's not who has the advantage, it's what is the advantage. 

Christian and Lyrsa (David) were chosen as the weakest on the David tribe by the Goliath Tribe.

Goliath has to choose their strongest -- Alison and John. 

They have a challenge ahead -- three stages, David gets to pick which one Goliath will take. They're obstacle course type things. They also chose their own course. The Davids won! Christian did the slide puzzle in about five seconds. It turns out that he wrote algorithms for slide puzzles in college. The Goliaths had a cube puzzle. The physical parts were pretty even. But he chose the right puzzle!

Ah, Mike White. I was a fan when he was on The Amazing Race. It turns out that Dan, the SWAT cop, lost over 100 pounds. He's already agog at Kara and even has a dog named Kara, albeit pronounced differently. She likes him, too. After all, they're both beautiful people! 

Over on the David tribe -- Pat says he can build the shelter as he swings a hammer every day. Others are gathering palm fronds. Christian seems to be taken a bit aback by Pat's direction as are some of the others. Uh-oh!

Goliath is having issues in building a shelter. (Maybe they would like a Pat!) Natalie is giving the orders there and now has a fresh target on her back. 

On David, the shelter is going well and at least Pat is working hard. Jessica and Carl (I think) build an early alliance. Already people are starting to want to work together. Elizabeth and Lyrsa? Oh my. Christian and Gabby have an early nerd alliance. 

Back to Goliath -- The wrestler of many names is playing as himself, John. Continued animosity towards Natalie for sitting there and barking out orders. Mike wants to go look for an idol. They all wonder where he is and they think he's out there looking for a hidden idol. So, now he also has a target on his back. They know he's wealthy, successful and was on TAR. Natalie, of all people, tells Mike he put a target on his back by looking for the idol. He feels foolish. 

Their first night was rough, heavy rain. The Kentucky lawyer wants to scheme while Elizabeth and others were commenting how much they care about people. Nick, the lawyer, is already getting on the sites of others because he isn't working. They're grateful that Pat's expertise did make them a good shelter. 

Angelina on Goliath is looking for an idol along with another gal. Oh noes! Now they're all looking for idols! The SWAT cop Dan found it and shared the news with Kara and Natalia. 

On David, Davie caught an octopus! Then it rains again. And then Jessica cries. Bits on domestic abuse from Bi after Jessica mentioned her mother's problems. Nick tells the others he lost his mother to a drug overdose three years ago. He says he has always been quiet about it. 

Okay, an hour into things and we have the first Immunity Challenge. Obstacle course, sandpit, machete, ladder second tribe has to untie knots to release flag, ends in a puzzle. Also playing for Reward -- flint. 

Whoa! Pat slows down John from Goliath! Goliath got the machete advantage. It's raining as they all work on the puzzles. The Goliaths narrowly win the first Immunity Challenge. 

Stormy, stormy. Oh geez! Pat is down! Medics are helping him. The boat they took back to the camp slammed on a rock, injuring Pat's back. He's gasping through an oxygen mask telling Jeff they can't pull him. The medics are concerned about spinal damage/fracture.

The medics, rightfully, decide to pull him from the game to get him to a hospital. Poor Pat. He was the impetus for the show theme this season. Plus, he's from my childhood stomping grounds. Horrible. I hope it wasn't fractured. I know back issues! 

No tribal council tonight as they lost a member. They get a flint anyway. 

A blurb at the end of the show says he's recovered fully.

Survivor: David vs. Goliath: Castaway Cheat Sheet, Blog Pool

Jeremy Crawford
Age 40
Originally from Clover, SC
Current: New York City
Attorney 

Goliath Tribe
Blog pool -- Andi l, Jackie, monty924, PDX Granny

Christian Hubicki
Age 32
Originally from Baltimore, MD
Current: Tallahassee, FL
Robotics Scientist 

David Tribe
Blog pool -- ChicMc, Judi Sweeney, Sharon C 

Alec Merlino
Age 24
San Clemente, CA
Bartender 

Goliath Tribe
Blog pool -- Carol C, Jean, Rbennie 

Elizabeth Olson
Age 31
Originally from Fort Worth, TX
Currently Longview, TX
Kitchen Staff

David Tribe
Blog pool -- Dennis Comfort, marthalight, Skyriverblue 

Carl Boudreaux
Age 41
Originally from Beaumont, TX
Currently: Houston, Texas 
Truck driver 

David Tribe
Blog pool -- DonnaNY, MikesGirl, tbc

Pat Cusack
Age 40
Originally from Cohoes, NY
Currently: Watervliet, NY
Maintenance Manager 

David Tribe 
Blog pool -- Delee, Marlo Lee, Silk 

Natalia Azoqa
Age 25
Irvine, CA
Industrial Engineer 

Goliath Tribe
Blog pool -- Glenn Allen, Merrilee, TS14Fan 

Bi Nguyen
Age 28
Houston, TX
MMA Fighter 

David Tribe
Blog pool - Auntie Leigh, Janice, nana in the nw 

Angelina Keeley
Age 28
Originally from Sparks, Nevada
Current: San Clemente, CA
Financial Consultant 

Goliath Tribe
Blog pool -- Donna in FL, Margo, Vicki Volk 

Kara Kay
Age 30
San Diego, Ca
Realtor 

Goliath Tribe
Blog pool -- David, Karen in CA, Sharon N 

Nick Wilson
Age 27
Williamsburg, KY
Public Defender

David Tribe
Blog pool -- Brian, Jennasmom, Paula Bell 

Davie Rickenbacker
Age 30
Originally from Orangeburg, SC
Currently Atlanta, Georgia
Social Media Manager

David Tribe
Blog pool -- CherryPie, KelseyNY, Robin Allard 

Lyrsa Torres
Age 36
Originally from Puerto Rico
Currently Boston, MA
Airline Agent

David Tribe
Blog pool -- Buzzmaam, jennifer, Petals 

John Hennigan
Age 38
Los Angeles, CA
Pro Wrestler 

Goliath Tribe
Blog pool -- Bizaro22, Indiana Jane, Nickelpeed 

Natalie Cole
Age 57
Los Angeles, CA
CEO Publishing 

Goliath Tribe
Blog pool -- Brenda, ITCHY, Nora 

Gabby Pascuzzi
Age 25
Originally from St. Augustine, FL
Currently Denver, CO
Technical Writer

David Tribe
Blog pool -- Cheryl in NC, Krysta Gibson, Rochelle 

Mike White
Age 47
Originally from San Diego, CA
Currently Los Angeles, CA
Filmmaker 

Goliath Tribe
Blog pool -- Ed in Ohio, meb, Tammy 

Dan Rengering
Age 27
Originally from Lake Butler, FL
Currently Gainesville, FL 
S.W.A.T. Officer

Goliath Tribe
Blog pool -- Donna in Alabama, Laurie Miles, SueGee 

Alison Raybould
Age 28
Originally from Leawood, KS
Currently Chapel Hill, NC
Physician

Goliath Tribe
Blog pool -- Cher C, Jenna G, Renee 

Jessica Peet
Age 19
Lakeland, FL
Waitress

David Tribe
Blog pool -- Dr_Celine, ML, Terry is a Texan

Survivor: David vs. Goliath - Jeff Probst Cast Assessments

Yes! It's almost here! The season premiere is Wednesday at 8pm ET/PT leading into the season finale of the best Big Brother seasons in years! 

Entries into the blog pool will close tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon PT or 3pm ET. If you haven't signed up yet and wish to do so, please sign up only on THIS LINKED POST. Requests on this post you're presently reading or others might not be noticed.

As for this season's cast -- on a personal note I find it very interesting that Jeff Probst is mentioning one castaway as the impetus for this season's theme. Pat Cusack. No, I don't know the man. But, dang. He's from Watervliet, NY. That's family stomping grounds for me. You don't see many folks from Watervliet out and about outside of that area. My father worked for years at the Adirondack Steel Casting Company in Watervliet. Many relatives worked at the Watervliet Arsenal. I believe both are long gone these days. My still favorite fast food place ever in my life started in Watervliet -- Ted's Fish Fry. They remain there and in several locations around that area. Unfortunately, there are no Ted's Fish Fry locations where I live now.

Onto Jeff's cast assessment videos --

Survivor: David vs. Goliath - Blog Pool OPENS

Yep, it's that time! The season premiere is Wednesday at 8pm ET. I ask that people who want in on the pool PLEASE sign up by the deadline listed at the bottom. Every season we have stragglers and it's usually regulars on the blog who really should know better. One of these seasons, we're going to say no and it could very well be this one.

The Lovely Lifeguard Laurie 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 to 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 -- 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 Laurie 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 and submitted by Tuesday, September 25, 3pm ET. Be there or be square.

Survivor: David vs. Goliath - Hyping it!

Since the Big Brother live feeds are probably down until the show airs tomorrow on the West Coast (yes, the Wednesday eviction is taped) ... what better time to start in with Survivor?

Next Wednesday night, September 26, we'll have a full night of television starting with the Survivor: David vs. Goliath premiere and ending with the Big Brother 20 season finale.

Yes, there will be a blog pool for the show -- Lifeguard Laurie has once again volunteered her services! Please do NOT sign up for the pool on this post. I will open the pool sign ups on a post just for that task. That should be Friday morning.

Without further ado right now, let's go to some videos!