The show tonight here on the East Coast is going to start nearly a half-hour behind schedule due to the US Open. When it starts, I'll start a live-blogging post. Since I got hit by a porn spambot, I had to turn on word verification once again -- I apologize.
In house news, there's not too much going on since they slept away most of the day so far, but here's the skinny:
- Dick is giving Zach the cold shoulder, but not the nasty.
- Zach can't stop telling Jameka how much he hates Dick. He told her that if he wins HOH, he's taking Daniele to the final two.
- Jameka exercised and keeps working on her crafts plate she started with the kit from the other night.
- Daniele is being congenial to both Zach and Jameka. Dick is being congenial to Jameka.
- Jameka and Zach are certain that today is 9/11.
- Jameka and Zach don't know that the eviction of Jameka will take place Tuesday -- they're still thinking Thursday.
This is my third installment on the new castaways for Survivor 15: China. I know I'm rather slowly muddling through this, but I swear I'll have my cast thoughts up before the season premiere! Previous castaway thoughts can be found here. And here.
Let's get it started!
Oh, my. Erik has one of the longest bio sections I think I've ever seen for a contestant on the show. He's been a pauper, a prince, and a king! Er, okay. I made that up or stole it from an old song.
After reading his 1000 word (or more) bio, I come away with he's a rock musician, has done modeling, is a Christian, and was sidelined from his track star status due to a broken leg.
He thinks he's "genuine, honest, sensitive, competitive, a problem solver, athletic and sometimes, a perfectionist." Well, he does, does he? In his video on the CBS site, he adds another quality -- he's good-looking!
I don't know. I usually end up getting turned off when folks go on about how handsome or attractive they think they are. Yeah, when they do that, they often are attractive, but narcissistic ways are often a hint at other behaviors which annoy me.
So, let me move on to his favorites list. Maybe he can redeem himself with me and be something more than eye candy. He likes outdoor activities, always a good thing for Survivor, but he doesn't list the show itself. He enjoys The Beatles and Led Zepplin -- odd tastes for his age bracket. Hmm. For his cereal, he likes Cinnamon Toast Crunch. That shows he's young at heart, but thinking a bit beyond Froot Loops.
His chances? He's a puzzler to me. I think on the physical level, he'll do fine. But something just isn't sitting right with me about him. In his video he said he didn't want to come across as arrogant. Y'know, I think that just may be it. I think he might have an alpha male thing a'goin' on. I predict out before mid-pack targeted as a threat by the others. Of course, I could be wrong!
Next I'm taking a closer look at the youngest Survivor contestant ever, Frosti. I don't think you can understand how hard it is for me not to make Frosty the Snowman references. Dang, almost impossible.
First off, although he sounds good and seems very capable ... how did he get on the show? I thought the minimum age was 21 and he's only 20. Since his estranged father isn't on the show (keyword: Donato), I'm not sure how he's there, not at all.
Getting past his age and his name, I checked out his bio page on the CBS website. He does seem to have quite a background for the mere child he is. Oops, I didn't want to mention his age again. He's smart, athletic, well-traveled, and more. That Parkour stuff (read at the bio link) might be a big plus for him in the game.
I checked his video and, except for him mentioning his age so much (oops), I thought he came across as eager and personable. In his bio he says he's creative, dynamic, and determined.
In his favorites, he doesn't mention Survivor as a TV show, but does mention Jack Kerouac as an author. Hmmm. He enjoys his Frosted Flakes, but I sort of suspected a cereal with a sugar punch for him.
I don't know. I kind of like this kid. He has spirit in his video and could have what it takes. A helpful hint for him -- don't go around talking about how you're the youngest castaway ever. I think he could last a long, long time.
Next is Jaime. Not to be catty, but I don't think I'll like her much on the show. When I watch an introductory video and the person goes on about how catty other girls are when it comes to her -- it sets off red flags in my mind. It comes across as an "I'm better and prettier than you could ever dream to be" state of mind. Perhaps she'll get together with Erik.
In her bio page, she looks better than in the video. She's a college senior on an academic scholarship (has the brights!) who works part-time as a waitress throughout the school year (has a work ethic). She thinks she's friendly, energetic, and candid. In the video she mentions that she tends to bottle up the frustration until she "goes redneck" on folks.
A look at her favorites reveal that she's a fan of both Survivor and David Letterman. I might have to change my opinion of her! A Letterman fan? Cool. Uh-oh. She lists multiple cereals -- Rice Krispies Treats, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch. She's fickle! Ack! Plus, they're all cereals geared to the child within.
Y'know, I'd love to say for the Letterman nod, I'll like her in the game. But I just can't do it. I think she may last a while, but I think that there will be issues with playing well with others or attitude.
Here it is going for nearly 4:30 PM here on the East Coast -- Jameka and Daniele just got up. Zach and Evel Dick are still in bed. Not together, of course!
Now, THAT is something they should do something about next season!
G'morning! I just wanted to get a post up here addressing some of the conspiracy controversies, grassy knolls, and mistaken ideas about the final HOH comp for the season.
First, let's address the HOH comp -- it's the last one of the season. Zach will be playing even though he's the most current Head of House. If they do it like previous years, it will be in three rounds. But, in this final one, the current HOH does indeed get to compete.
Now to the grassy knolls and conspiracy theories ...
The letter Dick received from his son Vincent as part of his HOH package was pre-screened by the production staff. I watched as Dick talked to Daniele about the "secret code" he thought was in the letter. The key "code" was Vincent saying "I'm a suckster now." That is NOT code, although Dick and Daniele clearly think it is! I understood it right away. What Vincent meant by that is that he's frequenting/addicted to the survivorsucks.com site. They're a great site for both Survivor and Big Brother. Despite the "sucks" name, it's kind of like jokersupdates.com -- it's a good site for show fans.
And, frequenters of the site often just refer to it as "sucks" and when Vincent says he's a suckster, that's all it means. It's not referring to anyone in the house like Dick thinks it is.
On another note unrelated to the show ...
I want to make mention of a great loss to the TV Squad family. On Thursday talented writer Adam Finley was killed in a bicycle accident in Minneapolis. He was only 30 years old. Adam welcomed me when I came aboard as a writer there and his writing and choice of subject matters was intelligent, clever, and witty. He will be missed. My condolences go out to his family and friends.
What a difference a day makes, en? Last night Zach had it all planned out and today his plans have all gone awry with the Donato Duo overturning the game once again.
Here are the events of the day from inside that Big Brother House Crushed Dreams and Ultimate Teams:
- Once again, Evel Dick went for the "hate" move. While this isn't a strategy I like and I'm really not sure how it even works for him, he goes back to that when he thinks he can intimidate folks, shake up their concentration or game, or wants to be the one chosen to evict over Daniele. He planned to do his thing to Zach this time. Zach isn't all that easily intimidated and can control his temper. Not the best target for Dick's ire attack.
- Apparently the Diary Room person wanted him to tone down his Dick Attack -- one word couldn't be used, there could be consequences for his actions. He thinks they panic too easily.
- Zach continued to get closer to Jameka, something aided when he told her he had been a theology student.
- Zach pep-talked himself a lot. He told himself he always chokes in comps and he can't do that today.
- Dick had gotten up around six, but found a lockdown was in effect in prep for the POV comp -- so he couldn't smoke. Uh-oh. The way to make an antsy adrenaline-filled dude even more antsy and adrenaline-filled!
- Jameka prayed.
- Zach prayed.
- They prayed together.
- Dick and Daniele did not pray.
- Dick (apparently forgetting his hate-fest for Zach for a moment) borrowed Zach's HOH CD player to play his own short-reign CD which he hadn't listened to as of yet. Air guitar and dancing. This guy needs Guitar Hero!
- Daniele, on the other hand, was very nervous almost to the point of looking ill.
- The comp started late, as is the usual for the house -- doesn't matter what season, I don't think I've ever seen a comp start at the pre-announced time!
- It finally started about 2:30 their time and the feeds were blocked for almost two hours.
- Then the news came in shortly after the feeds returned. Daniele had won the Power of Veto once again.
- Dick is beside himself with glee ... once again.
- Jameka apologized to her family via the live feed cams.
- Jameka's fate is sealed. She's the only one to put on the block to replace a Donato as Zach is the current HOH. The sole vote will be cast by a Donato.
- It sounds like Dick may have come in second.
- Zach told Jameka he hates Dick -- hopes he wins the money and kills himself. Oh, my!
- Zach told Dick that Daniele carried him (Dick) through the game.
- Dick keeps saying that Zach is racist because he once said "that's very white of you." Now, I never personally heard Zach say it, but others (looking at Dick and whistling while thinking of Amber) have said worse.
- Jameka is using her time left before going to sequester to talk to everyone -- Daniele, Dick, and Zach. She wants to know their strategies, what happened during certain incidents, alliances, etc. She thinks she will bring the knowledge to the rest of the jury -- but it's possible this year the jury might not all be sequestered together and, if they are, game talk is forbidden and handlers are there to enforce that. At least, that's the way it's worked in past seasons.
The show tonight here on the East Coast is going to start nearly a half-hour behind schedule due to the US Open. When it starts, I'll start a live-blogging post. Since I got hit by a porn spambot, I had to turn on word verification once again -- I apologize.
