Welcome to Part Four of my take on the new castaways! I've created a separate section for these on my sidebar (over there ---->) and you can get to all of my Survivor 15: China content by hitting the hyperlinked label at the bottom of any post about the season.
Keeping with my first name alphabetical order for these, it's James. He has one almost typical Survivor applicant job while his other job is something he really digs. You got it -- he's a bartender/security at nightclubs and weddings ... and a gravedigger! (Why can't I think of that profession and not think of the Dave Matthews song?)
The interesting part is, according to his video on the CBS site, he loves gravedigging. He started when he was ten years old working for his father, socialized very little while growing up. Being in the clubs has made him more social.
His bio itself is brief and to the point. In the bio, he mentions being athletically gifted, socially adaptive, and physically attractive. Hmmm ... with the exception of mentioning how strong he is ("Gravedigger, when you dig my grave...") in the video, he didn't mention anything about his looks. He thinks he'll adapt well.
Onto his favorites -- Ah, good. He lists Survivor amongst his favorite television shows. That always makes me feel better about a castaway. His outdoor activities include football, cooking, and drinking ... interesting, no? For cereal, he lists grits. I may be mistaken, but I don't think grits are a staple food in China.
My thoughts? Well, gee ... I don't know. He thinks he'll stay on well in the beginning because he's strong and they'll want him to win challenges. I think he's right. But, if he's that strong and does that well in challenges, that will put a huge target on his back going into the merge. I think I want to like him, but I don't think the others would let him get to the end.
Next up is Jean-Robert. Here's a guy with an interesting approach to the game. In his video he said he plans to approach it like a poker tournament (he's a professional poker player). He'll spend some time in the start analyzing his competition -- strongest, weakest, etc. Then he'll ally, but be ready to change his table.
He admits he's overweight and out of shape, but he thinks that the game is just as much, maybe more, of a mental game as it is a physical one.
In his bio, he certainly does seem to be a pro poker player as that's the majority of the bio. He thinks he's charismatic, fun, and loud. I found him a bit charismatic in his video, but hopefully he can control the loud aspect. If he's constantly loud at camp, they will get ticked off at him. He doesn't really list any qualities which would help him survive in wooded areas.
To his favorites -- Hmmm... no Survivor listed. His choices of cereal are Honeycomb and Corn Pops. That tells me he doesn't take things too seriously and enjoys life. (Remember, I have a degree in Psychological Cereal Indicators.)
His possibilities on the show? For some reason, he's reminding me a bit of Richard Hatch, but a smoother player. I actually like his approach and I'm sure we'll see his poker face and some bluffing along the way. I think he could make final four as long as he isn't too physically inept. He said he's overweight, but he doesn't look all that out of shape for me. He just might be my early favorite for the win. That may change down the line, but I'm gonna call it now.
Leslie has tried to get on the show for eleven seasons. I can't help but wonder why she didn't make it ten times and they took her on for this season.
In her video, I believe she mentioned she's a Christian at least eight times. That's not a really good sign for me. Although she said she's human and makes mistakes, she thinks it will give her an edge to have faith. Maybe, maybe not. She also thinks of herself as a professional interviewer which should help her get to know and get along with her fellow castaways.
Heading to her bio page, I see that she's probably very physically fit. She teaches fitness classes three times a week in addition to her radio host job. She thinks she energetic, passionate, and overwhelming. Overwhelming? That doesn't sound like a good quality to make it to the end when you're deserted with a bunch of strangers!
Over to her favorites -- Survivor is listed first and in caps, no surprise there! She enjoys camping, that's a good thing. Her cereal? Raisin Nut Bran. That tells me she likes to be regular. She might miss that being on the show.
I'm not getting Sole Survivor screaming at me about Leslie. I could be horribly wrong, but I don't see her making it to the merge. I predict an early goodbye to her, but at least she can boast she finally got on the show.
I'd say we're watching grass grow, but I think it's fake grass. Actually, Daniele had been sunning, Dick is asleep still.
Well, well, well ... look who's talking again! Of course one thing they mentioned (just before feeds were blocked) is that the show should have scheduled two cameramen in case they don't stay in the same room. True? I dunno.
They finally started talking again when Dick consoled a crying Daniele who wanted to go home. In a way, I can understand her feeling that way. I've thought in previous years that this stretch of several days with just the final two in the house and not knowing which will will is way too long.
I'm crying here, too. I want them to go home! The show should have had the finale last night instead of torturing me here for another two days!
Okay, I lie. I'm not crying. But this final two bit could definitely be shortened to two days without losing a thing.
Here are the happenings since last evening in that Big Brother House of Familial Affection and Devotion:
- Dick said Eric's jury question was about why each person here deserves to be in the final two. He said Amber doesn't deserve to be here, Dustin doesn't deserve to be here, Jen doesn't deserve to be here ... feeds blocked.
- Dick said Jessica's question was stupid and she said she didn't believe him. He said he doesn't care if she believed him or not.
- Amber told Daniele she was pathetic when she questioned her. (Um ... of the two, I'd say in levels of pathetic-ness, Amber has Daniele beat hands down. In my observations, Daniele's main problem is immaturity and she's spoiled. As time goes on, those might change. Amber's got serious issues which need more than time to heal.)
- Dick said that Amber was probably told the question and she most likely doesn't know the meaning of the word pathetic. Daniele doubts she (Amber) could spell pathetic.
- Their talk was interrupted when there was a fire in the oven -- the BB voice called for a fire extinguisher. There were no fatalities other than the taco shells.
- When the BB voice asked if all was okay and told them that their safety was their main concern, Daniele called out, "Liar!" The feeds blocked.
- Although they're talking, Daniele is still upset that Dick told the jury that he did all the dirty work. (Well, he did!)
- Apparently Eric asked Daniele to tell three reasons she shouldn't win. She only came up with one -- that wasn't going to attack him, wasn't going to campaign.
- Jen's question was "Why should I vote for you to win?"
- Dick once again told Daniele he didn't campaign against her and he's sorry she took it that way.
- Daniele said that because of him she had to play two games in the house. Doing the dirty work was HIS strategy and she had to cope with others about it doing damage control.
- Daniele told Amber she didn't want her vote -- it didn't matter.
- Dick was taken aback by Jen's question about why the jurors shouldn't be in the final two.
- Both Daniele and Dick think that Jessica was nasty in the questioning and her own strategy was to hang onto Eric.
- Dick said that Jessica's strategy had Eric gotten evicted before her would probably be to sleep all day.
- In the jury questioning, Jen said she didn't respect either of them as human beings. (Perhaps she respects them as some sort of marsupials? A plant form?)
- Jen said she didn't want to vote for either of them, but she has to vote for one.
- Dick thought that for the ShoToo time, they should sit around and trash their ex-housemates.
- Daniele baked cookies ... again. I swear that's the only thing she knows how to make!
- They trashtalked the others and, as a result, grew more of a bond as father and daughter. ;-)
There ya go ... they've now gone to bed for the day, er ... night.
The show is about to start here in the NYC area after a football delay. Remember, tonight's show is NOT the finale and we won't be seeing the jury questions. It's the season recap show and I heard there will be a focus on Dick and Daniele.
As it airs here, I'll frequently update this entry. Since I'm typing it looking at the television instead of my monitor and keyboard, there may be typos. I do that to prove I'm not a JackieBot.
Everyone is welcome to join in with comments.
Ah, the recap of the HOH part one comp.
Tonight the final two will take a look back at the most volatile, humerous moments of the summer.
Dick gives credit to Zach for turning his game on. Daniele made a more snarky comment. Now we see Donato celebrating again. Who woulda thunk it? Dick thinks he already won because he's improved the relationship with Daniele.
Daniele tells us it was worth it although she's hit the bottom many times. They have their feast and champagne. Dick is still stunned. Daniele thinks she's had the hardest time in the house emotionally over anybody. They show the start of the season when Dick came down the stairs all over again.
Into a montage of their bickering. Golly gee, I didn't like seeing this the first time around! The show then turned to a brief focus of them getting closer after the HOH comp part one.
In discussing who will win, they think each other will. Now it's into a montage of Evel Dick being evil to Jen. Jameka and Dustin are just ignoring it. He's waking Dustin up, then Amber ... all in his act to make them hate him and vote him out instead of Daniele.
A montage of good people and praying now. Jen walks through Jameka's prayer looking for a white belt for her bunny suit. Note Jameka is parying on Howie's "Jack Shack." Amber is praying, God bless you, God.
The Dick and Jameka shout fest with the clapping about the magical ping pong ball (POV choice) where she calls Zach a nobody. Zach looks down in his bunny suit. Yo mama!
Recapping Nick and Daniele, then onto the Eric and Jessica showmance ... er, romance. The move to Kansas recap conversation was kind of cute, but now it's to the smooching. Again.
In a promo, they mention they're looking for applicants for BB9. Who's game?
Jen is crying over her Memory Wall picture. Ah, the memories...!
The iced tea incident. I now realize that Daniele's voice in this reminds me of the Olsen twins on that old show.
Jen re-destroys Dick's cigarettes. The infamouse burn fight.
Tha Amber crying montage. The "hot mom" -- Jameka tells her she will be in a magazine. (Jameka doesn't mention it's probably MAD Magazine.) Now Amber is sure she has model potential. Now she's about to flip out on Eric... duck, Eric! Zach looks strangely incongruous wearing his bunny suit through this.
It's onto the fun things -- Zach streaking, Eric prancing in Jessica's dress. Jen and Eric wrestling. Onto the mysteries of the house. The mustard and hinky votes. They think Eric or Nick for the mustard, added Dustin in for the votes.
Talking about their plans for the the money, Daniele is coming across as positive (though she shows a different face on the feeds). Dick is happy.
Seaon finale Tuesday, America's Player revealed, jury questioning and the winner of BB8!
