'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - East Coast Update - 11/23 - Immunity

In an endurance challenge, Ozzy won the first individual immunity of the season.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - East Coast Update - 11/23 - Merge ON

The Merge went down instead of Reward. They have a huge feast and decided to live at the Raro campsite (no rats).

Erwin and Godwin Cho Spread the Karma

Fan favorite nice guys team, Erwin and Godwin Cho, from The Amazing Race 10 want to spread the good karma.

Early into the season, or perhaps even before the season but after the casting was announced, I found Godwin's blog, In Search of Godwin. At the time, I mentioned how intriguing he was just from reading the entries. The blog had been last updated in May, just prior to the brothers jetting off on the show. In the entries, there was no mention of Godwin and Erwin even applying to be on the show, but Erwin had been mentioned in a few entries. So, I put two and two together - there can't be too many brothers named Erwin and Godwin Cho living in northern California, right?

Well, the blog was updated Tuesday, dashing my hopes that they'd be on the next season All Stars show. After all, teams seem to have left Miami last week, so a blog update this week nixes that. (Grr.)

In the latest entry, Godwin wrote: "We ran the race without regrets. I believe we ran the race with integrity and dignity (aside from all my crying)." He then went on to link to a new business started by his brother and himself, A Little Karma. Erwin describes it as "Ebay with a conscience."

Inspired by the rewarding feeling they had from helping David and Mary Conley, they want to help others - good karma. From the entry: "alittlekarma.com is an online company dedicated to inspiring people to do kind things for others by performing “acts of kindness” funded by profits from the sale of unique art and clothing by other budding artists/entrepreneurs."

The idea is exactly the type of thing I'd expect from a ChoBro (or two). No, they probably didn't run the race well as they didn't have the cut-throat edge and were way too nice, but these two young men will always be winners. A gander at the company, or a look through the entries on the blog, say it all. Those Cho Brothers are really nice guys.

Happy Thanksgiving - TV Newsy Bits - Nov. 23, 2006

I hope everyone is having a great holiday full of food, friends, family, and fun!

A quick word about the image -- I first came upon this little fellow with just his tail and hind legs sticking out of a pumpkin some time back and took a series of photos. Because he so obviously knows the meaning of feast, I thought he was appropriate for today's entry!

Tonight is a new Survivor 13: Cook Islands and I'll be posting East Coast Updates as Reward, Immunity, Merge (?!), Boot, or any other important events happen as they air here on the East Coast. Late this evening, a full recap/review of the show will be posted.

Also on my viewing plans for this evening:

• C.S.I. has Roger Daltrey of The Who fame as a guest star. I had such a crush on him in the days of "I Hope I Die Before I Get Old." Of course, neither of us are old. And, he's older than I am, anyway.
• I'll be staying up late to watch Late Show with David Letterman as I always do, but I have to see his Mom's appearance and the yearly pie-guessing bit. His mother seems like such a sweet woman and I can't miss her!

In other TV Newsy Bits:

• Some spoilers are in this article about the next leg of The Amazing Race 10.
• Basic spoilers for tonight's Survivor 13: Cook Islands are here. (Nothing boot-related; not much more than they're showing in the commercials right now, but interesting nonetheless.)
• If you're a Letterman fan, mark next Wednesday night on your calendar. After a feud and a four-year (I think, maybe six?) estrangement, it's the return of Richard Simmons as a guest. I saw the episode which did in their relationship (so to speak) and, to be honest, I always laugh out loud when he's on the show. This one is a Don't Miss for me.
• Today I watched the Homicide: Life on the Street rerun on WGN. It was the "Requiem for Adena" episode from the fourth season. Huh. I forgot that Chris Rock made an appearance as a killer/rapist on the show. Dang, I wish that show had gone on a few more seasons. You can go back and it's still so darn good.
• The Reality TV World website is reporting that CBS has confirmed that the next edition of The Amazing Race will be an All-Stars season. (But, we knew that.) Confirmed racers, according to their site, are: Rob and Amber, Uchenna and Joyce (both teams from Season 7) and... get this... David and Mary Conley of Season 10. Yes, you heard me. Keep in mind that I'm just reporting what others are reporting. Supposedly Christie and Colin, and Charla and Mirna (both teams from Season 4), are still on for the season as I previously reported a while back. It's rumored that other teams include The Guidos from Season One - Bill Bartek and Joe Baldassare - and also Jill Aquilino and John Vito Pietanza from Season Three, still dating after all these years. Production began last week in Miami and sources have the new season slated to be aired in the first quarter of 2007, so we won't have to wait long at all!
• Meanwhile, the main page of the CBS website has links to applications to be on CBS' Pirates (don't ask me; I'll see what it's all about and report back at another time), Amazing Race 12, Big Brother, and Survivor. Here's your chance! Live dangerously! Go for it! I'll stay here and write about your adventures.
• Can't get enough Amazing Race? Reality News Online, known affectionately as RNO to us reality TV buffs, has transcribed the latest Insider videos from the CBS website.
• Secrets are to be revealed on next week's Heroes. This article has mild spoilers, but you know you want to look.

Holiday Television Programming: November 21 - 24

Can't you feel it in the air? It's the holiday season! Thanksgiving is in just a few days. Before you know it, there will be folks decking the halls and making snowmen. Holiday television programming, from specially themed shows of your favorite series to movies to tree-lighting, special concerts, holiday decorating tips, glorious foods, and beyond start this week.

Now, this isn't an all inclusive list of special programs, but hopefully it's a good representative of what's out and about for the next few days. On Friday night (or Saturday morning), a new list will take us into the next week. Bake up a batch of your favorite holiday cookies, sit back with a mug of hot chocolate and your gift list by your side... and check out what's on TV!

Tuesday, Nov. 21:

• Tony Bennett: An American Classic (NBC) 8 PM ET/PT
• Emeril Live (Food Channel) 8 PM ET/PT - Traditional Thanksgiving cooking
• Rachael Ray's Thanksgiving in 60 (Food Channel) - Thanksgiving cooking
• Holiday Home Solutions (HSN) 10 PM ET/PT

Wednesday, Nov. 22:

• Madonna: The Confessions Tour Live From London (NBC) 8 PM ET/PT
• American Eats (History Channel) 8 PM ET/PT - Holiday foods
• All Star Thanksgiving (Food Channel) 9 PM ET/PT
• Top Chef (Bravo) 10/11 PM ET/PT - Thanksgiving episodes

Thursday, Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving Day):

• Thanksgiving Day Parade (CBS) 9 AM ET/PT
• Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC) 9 AM ET/PT
• Forensic Files (Court TV) All day marathon
• Rachael Ray (ABC) 10 AM ET/PT - Thanksgiving-related episode
• National Dog Show (NBC) 12 PM ET/PT
• The Closer (TNT) Marathon beginning at 8 AM ET/PT
• Romancing the Bird (Food Channel) 11 AM ET/PT - Secrets of a moist turkey
• Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade Thanksgiving (Food Channel) 12 PM ET/PT
• Rachael Ray's Thanksgiving in 60 2 (Food Channel) 1 PM ET/PT
• Home Improvement (TBS) Marathon begins at 1 PM ET/PT
• I Love the Holidays (VH1) 3 PM ET/PT - Celebrities comment on the holidays
• An American Thanksgiving (CW) 4 PM ET/PT - Bryant Gumble
• Deal or No Deal (NBC) 8 PM ET/PT - 2-hour Thanksgiving show
• Full House (NIK) 9 - 10 PM ET/PT - Back-to-back Thanksgiving episodes
• Roseanne (NIK) 10 - 11 PM ET/PT - Back-to-back Thanksgiving episodes

Friday, Nov. 24:

• Meerkat Manor (Animal Planet) Marathon begins at 7 AM ET/PT
• DIY Holiday Wish List (HGTV) 7 AM ET/PT
• DIY Holiday Open House (HGTV) 8 AM ET/PT
• Christmas Room by Room Style (HGTV) 10 AM ET/PT
• Decorating, Holiday (HGTV) 11 AM ET/PT
• Forensic Files (Court TV) All day marathon
• Saved by the Bell (TBS) All day marathon begins at 12 PM ET/PT
• Without a Trace (TNT) Marathon beginning at 12 PM ET/PT
• Holiday Design on a Dime (HGTV) 12 PM ET/PT
• Divine Design Christmas (HGTV) 1 PM ET/PT
• A Very Merry Curb Appeal (HGTV) 6 PM ET/PT
• Shrek 2 (ABC) 8 PM ET/PT
• The Christmas List (FAM) 8 PM ET/PT
• Gift Show 2006 (HGTV) 8 PM ET/PT
• Holidays with Style (STYLE) 8 PM ET/PT
• Toy Fair 2006 (HGTV) 9 PM ET/PT
• Gift and Gear 2006 (HGTV) 10 PM ET/PT
• I Want That! TECH (HGTV) 11 PM ET/PT (Holiday geared tech goodies)
• I Want That! (HGTV) 11:30 PM ET/PT (Holiday gift ideas)

Check your local listings for times in your area and for local shows.