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? 

Survivor 33: Millennials vs Gen-X Season Premiere Blog Party

Who's ready for the season premiere? I know I am! Even though I groan about them calling the Gen-X castaways the "old ones," I've been thinking. At my age, if I were to go on the show, I'd just want to camp. I wouldn't mind roughing it so much. I'd cook. I'd clean. But those challenges would kill me. I might be too old for Survivor, but I'm too young to die!

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll be live-blogging with the major events. As with any season premiere, I'm sure to be a bit lost about who is whom as the show unfolds. My apologies in advance with that! As always, the real party is in the comments area. Please feel free to join in on the fun!

Here are the blog pool matches the Lovely Lifeguard Laurie randomly chose:

Millennials - Vanua Tribe 
Adam Klein - Brian, Kelsey NY, Sharon N 
Jessica Figgy Figueroa - Donna in Alabama, Laurie 
Justin Jay Starrett - Becky, Jackie, Shayne 
Mari Takahashi - cwcamper, Marthalight 
Michaela Bradshaw - Donna in NY, Krysta G, Pinky 
Michelle Shubert - Ed in Ohio, Nickelpeed 
Taylor Lee Stocker - Donna in FL, Janice from GA, Stephanie in Baltimore 
Zake Smith - Beachmom, monty924 
Will Wahl - Cheryl, Indiana Jane 
Hannah Shapiro - David, meb, Terry is a Texan 

Gen-X - Takali Tribe 
Bret LaBelle - Brandi Peralta, Judi Sweeney, Skyriverblue 
Ciandre CeCe Taylor - Anonymouse, Merrilee 
Chris Hammons - Cheryl in NC, Jennasmom 
David Wright - Buzzmaam, MikesGirl, Sharon C 
Jessica Lewis - Cupcake, Jean, Petals 
Ken McNickle - Dolores in Hollywood, Margo, Russ 
Lucy Huang - Delee, ML 
Paul Wachter - ChickMc, PDX Granny 
Rachel Ako - Glenn, Lanell from TN 
Sunday Burquest - Brenda, Kristen from Ohio, SueGee

Survivor fans ready? 

A pretty introduction to Fiji and these castaways don't know what they're getting into! They're arriving on two separate boats and don't know a generation war is coming. One great thing about this show so many seasons in is that, while the images change, the theme music remains the same.

Jeff meets them all. They randomly choose buffs that aren't so random. Jeff announces the Gen-X vs Millennials theme. Will, the youngest, tells them he's still in high school, left it to play the game. The Gen-X people are already saying Millennials have everything handed to them.

Both tribes scramble to get provisions on their maps.  Whoa! Looks like Jessica from Vorheesville found an idol clue! Millennials took the chicken, left the fishing gear. Jeff warns them that it's cyclone season, the danger is real and they need to get their camps built.

Over on Gen-X, it looks like Ken wants to be the leader. All of them are going on about having a better work ethic than the kids. The clue Jessica found is a "legacy advantage" -- if she's still around on Day 36, she'll receive an advantage in the game. Cool.

Kids: Taylor, Jay and Figgy are already working on an alliance. Hannah is already feeling she doesn't fit in. Michelle and Jay have already made a bond. An alliance? Not sure yet! 

Older Kids: Rachel is turning some people off with her odd controlling and a bit condescending ways. Bret notices that David is scared of everything. David is paranoid that Ken and Paul might have found an immunity idol. David is trying to bond with Chris and Bret, but it seems to be backfiring a bit. 

The Kids: Their shelter sucks, but they want to go swimming. A storm is moving in. Now it's time for them to panic! When they all took shelter in their shelter, it cracked under their weight. When is a shelter no shelter? When the Millennials build it! Heh.

The Older Kids: Their shelter wasn't AS bad as the kids, their shelter wasn't completed before the storm. Jeff sent them a tarp as it would never stop raining. The Kids also got a tarp from Jeff. He wrote that he wants them back eventually.

Uh-oh. As they're building with the tarp, Jeff shows up. He tells them the storm is now a cyclone. Due to the ominous weather, for the first time in 33 seasons, they have to evacuate the castaways. The Kids have to grab their personal items and their chicken and go. 

Jeff heads over to share the news with the Older Kids. 

They were evacuated for three days and came back to horrific camp damages. 

Older Kids: Cool. Ken found a big walking stick bug and David (the scaredy cat) even held it. David thinks he needs an idol to keep him safe and goes off on the hunt while the others build a shelter. They're not happy about that. 

Kids: Zeke directs the building of the new shelter much to his own surprise. He also helps to make fire. I'm impressed with these unlikely events! He's from Brooklyn -- as he says, outside is the subway. Hannah sees the alliance forming with Figgy, Jay and Taylor. She decides to work on an outcast alliance. And, she's getting takers!

Time for the first Immunity Challenge. They have to return their tarps to Jeff. They have to make choices that will help them at either the front or back end of the challenge. They have shortcuts throughout an obstacle course, but every time they use one it adds ten pieces to the puzzle they must complete at the end. 

They first have to untie clubs from an overhead "rack" of limbs. It's a scramble. Millennials not taking shortcuts. Gen-X is taking the shortcuts. Hopefully their puzzle players are good. Millennials took one shortcut, so have ten less pieces.

MILLENNIALS WIN IMMUNITY and Reward (flint). 

Older Kids: Bret seems down on Rachel and Sunday for screwing up the challenge puzzle. It looks like people want to vote out Rachel. David thinks it's him going home. He tries to worm his way in. He tries to work Jessica. He tells Bret and Chris he doesn't have an idol either. They don't really trust him. Bret is sure he has an idol.

Time for Tribal Council and Jeff's probsting questions. Eep. Jessica has a bacterial infection in both eyes due to blowing sanding.

The tally:
David, Rachel, Sunday, Cece, Rachel, CeCe, Rachel, CeCe, Rachel, Rachel

Rachel is voted out.   

Big Brother 18: Season Premiere Blog Party

Yes, it's a sure sign that summer is here! Tonight is the season premiere of Big Brother 18. We've checked out the new hamsters and we're ready for this! I am expecting four returning hamsters, as well. But, since they've kept them (and exactly their roles in the game) under wraps, only the new hamsters were included in the blog pool.

Tonight's show is two hours. The season premiere continues with another episode (eviction? who really knows?) tomorrow at 9pm ET/PT. The live feeds don't get turned on until after tomorrow's show airs on the West Coast. So, we're talking 1am here in the good ol' East Coast time zone!

Here are the random picks for the blog pool as we head into this:

Tiffany Rousso - meb, SueGee, David, Jessica UNderwood

Natalie Negrotti - Sharon N, Jackie P, QuixoticElf, Orkmommy

Jozea Flores - Sasha, Merrilee, Tammy, Petals, JonMD1267

Bridgette Dunning - Brian, Indiana Jane, Caela, Chauncey, Paula Bell

Paulie Calafiore - Joel, Chacha, Sally, Ed In Ohio, Buzzmaam

Glenn Garcia - Sharon C, uncartie, Dennis Comfort, Delee, Donna in Alabama

Bronte D'Acquisto - Jean in Tampa, elee86, Russ, Cheryl, Donna in FL

Zakiyah Everette - Tilde, Jo C, Jenng326, Ayana, jennifer

Corey Brooks - Fred aka TwoBlackAces, Barbara B. W., Dierdre, Cheryl in NC

Paul Abrahamian - Jackie, Arf Barf, WolfpackRed, chrob61

Victor Arroyo - Helenann2K, RBennie, Janice, Monty924

Michelle Meyer - Rich, Chase, Glenn, Anonymouse

As the show airs, I'll be live updating the happenings right here -- refresh the page to get the latest! As always, the real party is in the comments area. Come watch and talk about the show with us! And, but of course ... bring snacks and tasty beverages.

From inside the empty house, Julie Chen warns us to fasten our seatbelts as it will be a bumpy ride. One hamster will go home tomorrow night. There are four stowaways secretly tucked away in the house. New comps.

Into cast promo clips as they find their keys.

Finally, all the intros done and the hamsters are on stage in front of the house. The craziest summer vacation ever. Natalie, Victor, Michelle and Paul go in first. Next is Bronte, Zakiyah, Glenn and Paulie. Last are Corey, Bridgette, Jozea and Tiffany.

Champagne all around as they introduce themselves to each other. Let the lies begin. It seems the Victor is smitten with Natalie, but Natalie is smitten with Corey. They catch on that there's only twelve of them and think they can expect the unexpected.

Julie promises them twists. She tells them they're not alone -- there are four stowaways in the house since they first moved in. They haven't seen them, but will compete for the half-million dollar prize.

The first one to pop out is Nicole from BB16. Then James from BB17 comes out of a trunk. I'll enjoy watching him! Next is Da'Vonne also from BB17! Last to pop out is Frank Eudy from BB14. (Thankfully, not FrankIE. I couldn't take that again!) He cut his hair and doesn't even look like himself.

Already the new hamsters want the return hamsters out. The returnees feel the pressure. Jozea, Paul and Zakiyah seem to be forming an early alliance.

Paulie confesses that he's Cody's brother. Paul seems right through it with the timing. Now, will Tiffany reveal? Not yet. But Da'Vonne is onto her.

Uh-oh. Julie tells them this summer they will play in teams of four that they will pick for themselves. The first comp of the summer is about to start.

The backyard has four huge rockets and an aerial feel about it. The teams, each former player will be on a different team and they get first pick. Opposite sex, next player picks the next player.

Not really in this order:
James - Natalie, Victor, Bronte
Nicole - Corey, Tiffany, Glenn
Frank - Michelle, Paulie, Bridgette
Da'Vonne - Paul, Zakiyah, Jozea

At stake -- cash, punishment and safety. "Ride the Rocket" -- if all four fall off, eliminated. First team out, Have Nots. Second, Mystery Land with a mystery punishment. Third team, Cash City - ten grand to be split between them. Winning team, Safetyville -- safe from the next two evictions.

The rockets are only moving slightly when a storm moves in.

Tiffany falls off first, then Glenn. Nicole isn't too happy. Then she falls off. It's only Corey left on that team on the rocket.

Michelle, Bridgette and Frank go down. So it's just Paulie there for that team.

Zakiyah and Da'Vonne both go down. Paul down. Jozea is down. Their team are Have Nots.

James is down. Natalie is down. The birds go on them. Bronte is down. Paulie is out and his team is in Mystery Land. Corey is down.

Victor, James, Natalie and Bronte are safe!

Julie bids them adieu and reminds them that one will be leaving the game. The newbies are still conspiring against the returning hamsters. Da'Vonne tries to work her way in with her team and the "vets."

The winning team wants to come up with a name. Paulie's team calls themselves Category Four like the storm. Glenn, etc. are Freakazoids. Paul and those folks are Big Sister. Victor's team settles on Team Unicorn.

Tiffany (and Petals) think that Michelle is Nicole's sister. Michelle confronts Tiffany and asks if she's Vanessa's sister. Tiffany admits it to her. They pinky swear that Michelle won't tell.

Julie appears, calls them to the living room and has them sit by team. Team Unicorn won't compete in the next comp -- Hit the Road, three rounds. Only one team will be vulnerable, then they compete individually against each other.

The backyard is done up like a beach. Round up -- build a fifteen piece pyramid sand castle. It's a bit complicated; reminding me of a Survivor challenge.

Category Four is SAFE. Lots of friction between Paul and Da'Vonne. On the other hand, Corey wants to work with Nicole. Da'Vonne is already all emotional. Sigh.

Round Two has them working together (the teams) must build a sandcastle puzzle -- there are decoy pieces that won't fit and only one solution.

Team Big Sister is safe.

Tomorrow night will show the third round tomorrow with Nicole, Corey, Tiffany and Glenn competing against each other.

Survivor: Kaoh Rong Season Premiere Blog Party and Pool

Survivor fans ready? The new season makes its premiere tonight! As the show airs, I'll update this entry with the major happenings -- refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area. Please join us there. We like snacks.

Before the show gets going, that Lovable Lifeguard Laurie has made the random picks for the pool. I realize a few people asked too late. Lifeguard Laurie has been kind enough to offer to put the three latecomers and first booters into the pool after tonight's boot.

Here's the match-ups:
Chan Loh - Brains
Elizabeth Markham - Donna in FL, Terry is a Texan
Peter Baggenstos - Jackie, Tammy
Neal Gottlieb - Merrilee
Debbie Wanner - meb, Rbennie
Aubry Braco - Jennasmom
Joseph Del Campo - Grandi, Petals

Gondol - Beauty
Tai Trang - Margo
Nick Maiorano - Laurie
Anna Khait - monty924 , SueGee from the Left Coast
Michele Fitzgerals - Brian TCC
Julia Sokolowski - Indiana Jane, Nickelpeed
Caleb Reynolds - Ed in Ohio, Stephanie in Baltimore

To Tang - Brawn
Kyle Jason - Nana in the NW, Sharon N.
Darnell Hamiltonn - JoyzJenn, Paula Bell
Jennifer Lanzetti - David
Alecia Holen - Becky
Scot Pollard - Delee, Pinky
Cydney Gillon - Leo Lionharted, PDX Granny

Let's all have a great season!

All three tribes scramble to snag supplies before abandoning ship. Jeff promises us the most grueling season ever. So far, as we're still going through the start-up welcome stuff, Debbie seems quite bizarre and annoying to me. Brawn all seem to fit in well together, Brains not as much. The Beauty tribe is trying to figure out Tai. He's defensive of trees, y'know.

Okay, Brawn is starting to split a bit. The guys aren't liking "Blondie" -- I think that's Alecia. I'm not good with the names yet. Darnell wants to work with Cydney. She isn't as committing, I don't think.

Over in Beauty, the chickens escape. They get two of them back while Tai impresses the girls with his gentle approach. The girls are also liking Caleb because they know he was solid to his alliance through BB.

In Brains, Debbie seems to have designs on Joe. Poor Joe. Liz and Neal don't care for her. And, unfortunately, they're deciding that Joe and Debbie are the "geriatrics." It's sad that they're already targeting due to age. If they target Debbie due to weird, that's fine by me.

In Beauty, Tai is searching for an idol and ripping up trees to do so. Yikes! The others realize what he's doing and now he's likely to get targeted. He did apologize to the trees.

Now Brains is in a segment on the heat there. Heck, are they going to even have a challenge? The show only has 20 minutes left to go! Aubry is dehydrated. Maybe we'll just have a med-evac. Maybe it's anxiety. We'll see.

Nighttime. Eek. Jennifer has a bug in her ear!

Okay, I've been informed tonight is 90 minutes. They'll have time.

Treemail. But Jennifer's ear is bleeding and the bug is still in it. Aha! The bug crawled out and she's herself once again!

And, it's time for the Immunity Challenge. Swim to a boat, one person dive down for paddles. Eventually they can solve a puzzle or test their dexterity. Reward is a massive fire-making kit. Second tribe to finish gets a flint.

Uh-oh. On the first dive for paddles, Darnell lost the dive mask and that's setting them behind from the start. Beauty is the first tribe with all the paddles. Beauty and Brains are now competing with Brawn as the first two tribes have trouble getting their boat in the cradle. They're putting on their wheels. Beauty is now in trouble.

Brains goes for the puzzle and is in the lead. Brawn chooses puzzle. Beauty is struggling to move their boat on the track. They also go for puzzle.

Brains Tribe wins Immunity and Reward! Beauty wins the second place! Brawn will go to Tribal Council tonight.

It looks like they're going to target Darnell. Now, Alecia might have blown it by hinting she might have an idol. Stupid girl. Cydney also wants to keep Darnell because she knows he's in her corner.

Tribal Council time. Darnell admits losing the goggles, but claims he will bring it. Alecia thinks she's a mental giant. Oh my. Darnell goes to tears. His heartbreak tale might save his butt.

The tally:
Alecia, Darnell, Alecia, Darnell, Alecia, Darnell.
It's a tie.

They have to revote -- Alecia and Darnell can't vote and the others can only vote for them.

Darnell, Darnell, Darnell. He's the one out tonight.

The Amazing Race Pool OPENS!

Oh my goodness -- for some bizarre reason deep within my own whacko mind, I was under the impression that The Amazing Race was making its season premiere next Friday, after Survivor's Wednesday premiere. Oh noes! It's THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12 sat 8pm ET/PT! My apologies for not getting the cast posts and pool posted before. Over the next few days I'll post on the cast. But, let's get this pool in motion!

For those interested, the Survivor: Kaoh Rong pool opening post will go up Wednesday, February 10 -- please come back to sign up for that pool on its own post.

The Magnificent Margo is once again in charge of the blog pool! We all know how much she rocks!

Here's how the blog pool works --

• Blog readers are randomly matched with a team
• They can cheer on that team until the team gets Philiminated or win the million!
• There is no wagering! We're playing for the bigger stuff of life here -- bragging rights!
• If you wish to be in on the pool, please sign up in comments in THIS POST ONLY. If you ask on another post, it could be inadvertently missed.
• The cut-off for getting in on the pool will be Thursday, February 11 by 6pm ET.

The Amazing Race 27: Season Premiere Blog Party

Are you ready for a whirlwind race around the world with all brand new teams? I am! As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll post the major happenings. It's not easy for me to get all the names right in the beginning, so please bear with me. Refresh the page to get the latest. As always, the real party is in the comments area. Come join in on the fun!

If you want in on the blog pool for the season (run by the Magnificent Margo), please enter on this post linked here. Please don't ask on this season premiere post because your request might be missed. The team Philiminated tonight (if there is one) will not be included in the blog pool. The cut-off for joining the pool is Monday!

Let's GO, teams!

They're starting off on Venice Beach in California. The first destination is Rio! The team who wins a bike race (after a cab) wins the only ticket to the first flight. The others are all on the second one, a half-hour later. The team who wins this leg also wins an Express Pass. Once again, FitBit monitors have worked their way onto a show.

The bikes turn out to be water bikes. That's an interesting twist on it. Justin and Diana won the first flight ticket. The alpha male team came in last -- they broke their bike. Some of the female teams are getting a bit catty. Hmm.

Justin and Diana go for the Fast Forward which seems like it's hang-gliding.

The other teams go for the helicopter trip which will end in them having to answer a question.

Uh-oh. Due to wind conditions, the Fast Forward can't be done. Justin and Diana have to head back to the helicopters. They're going from hero to zero here. They'll be in last place. Aw, he's in tears. They're the team who has done their own replica of the race down to proposal under the Northern Lights.

Detour -- Beach soccer-volleyball or Sidewalk. Score against pro soccer players in a volleyball game or do a slide-puzzle which matches the mosaic walk.

No Roadblock this week. It's onto the Pit Stop from the beach.

Pit Stop -
1. Josh and Tanner (the alpha males) won. They get the Express Pass and, once they use it, they must give it to another team.
2. Jazmine and Danielle (best friend atheletes)
3. Cindy and Rick -- the doctor and dentist married couple
4. James Earl and his mother. (Eep ... warned you about the names!) DENISE!
5. Logan and Chris (dating)
6. Alex and Adam (the little dudes)
7. Ernest and Jin (the dancer dudes)
8. Kelsey and Joey (the dating news couple)
9. Justin and Diana. He cries again.
10. Tiffany and Krista (Cheerleaders)

Uh-oh. Phil comes to visit the last team just as they finish the puzzle. It's the TMZ gals -- Kelly and Shevonne -- PHILIMINATED!