Survivor: Philippines -- The Familiar Faces

Three returning players - Russell, Jonathan and Mike

You know me. I'm generally not a fan of returning players on reality competition shows. I'm just not. That said, I really don't mind these three players returning. All were medically removed during their own seasons and I don't mind them getting a chance to try again.

Good Russell -- Remember that? There were two Russells in his season and we had to differentiate between them. One was Hantz, Evil Russell. The other was this Russell, Good Russell Swan. Until dehydration got the best of him, I enjoyed his gameplay. He came across as a decent guy and was good in challenges. While Hantz and his various relatives have gone on to unduly inundate our television screens, this is the first we've heard of Swan since his season. I'm definitely interested in seeing how well he can do. He's 45 years old now and still full of muscles.

Jonathan Penner -- This is actually a third shot for him. He was on Cook Islands, finishing sixth. Then he was on Fans vs. Favorites/Micronesia in 2008. It was in the latter season he was hauled away with an infection in a wound on his knee. I'm not as keen on him getting another shot at this as he's already been on two seasons. But, the dude can be entertaining, witty and is intelligent. Thus, I'll allow him to return this season. Yeah, you know it's all up to me. Right? He's 50 now, no spring chicken.

Mike Skupin -- Now, there's a blast from the past! It was eleven years ago in the Australian Outback when Mike passed out in the campfire suffering severe burns and smoke inhalation. It was only Day 17 at that time. He's someone who, without a doubt, deserves another shot at the game. He was also the one who speared a wild pig and drew outcry from so many folks. Nonetheless, I want to see what he does with his second shot at the game. He's 45 now and probably still bears the scars of his last attempt.

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And then we take the good, the bad and The Facts of Life ...

While I think Jo would be better at roughing it in the woods than Blair, we get Blair. She says that she's been a super fan of the show since its inception. I'm of two minds about her appearance as a castaway. It will be interesting to see a child actor grown up without an arrest record. But, then again, I'm already a bit leery about her being a bit too religious. Mind you, I have nothing against religious folks ... except when they constantly live and breathe religion on competition reality shows. We'll see. She's no school girl any more at 49 years old.

Jeff Kent, retired baseball player

Okay, I don't know him, not at all. I'm not a big team sports follower and only "know" players on local teams such as the Yankees or Mets. But I'm including Jeff Kent here as I'm sure somebody out there would consider him a "familiar face." He's retired, but only 44 years old. I would think that he'd be great at the challenges where they have to throw stuff or bat stuff!

Another thing I like about all five I've listed in this post -- they're not kids! It's great to see that people over 40 do exist.

I know we exist in the real world.

What do you think of these castaways? Like the ones coming back? Have you a clue who the baseball guy is? 
 

Big Brother 14: Live Feeds Friday into Saturday - Sept. 14-15

Ian makes a final two deal

Yep, it's that time of the season. It's time to watch the paint dry in the house. While this season's dynamics are a bit different due to Dan's Mist and his rather radical moves, it's still watching paint dry for the most part. Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Fool Me Once, Shame on You; Fool Me Twice, Shame on Me; Fool Me a Gazillion Times and I'm Just a Simple Fool Tool:

• Just to remind you -- both Ian and Danielle dropped in the endurance, allowing for a Dan win.
• Danielle definitely dropped due to Dan's Mist.
• Dan is taking credit for the Ian drop. But I'm not so sure Ian didn't drop of his own volition thinking he could nail the next two rounds.
• With Danielle, we saw an obvious, albeit incredibly stupid, deal with Dan.
• Oh. And, before you ask ... I have no clue when Part Two of the final HoH will be held. I'm figuring sometime today, but don't know day or evening.
• Okay, back to the house now. 
• BB woke them up early yesterday and then blocked the live feeds with trivia.
• Oh my! A secret game is being played? The HoH comp continues?
• Nope.
• It was a champagne breakfast and, I imagine, reflection on hamsters wished to the cornfield.
• Ian is going hammock cold turkey. He hasn't had backyard access since the day before the live show.
• Thus, he flogs his shoulders with his stuffed snake instead of wild rocking.
• It isn't the same.
• Danielle cried some more after re-reading her HoH letters.
• Dan didn't seem affected.
• Ian seemed genuinely sympathetic and offered her his teddy bear.
• Dan seriously wants to convince (or have Danielle convince) Ian to throw the second part of the HoH comp to Danielle.
• If Ian does that, I'll have to revoke his privileges in the Jackie's Favorite BB Hamsters Club.
• That would, of course, give Ian NO CHANCE WHATSOEVER to win the final HoH.
• I don't think he's misted that much, do you?
• Dan told Ian that he's mad that Danielle is being so "sour" over the Shane move. After once again telling Ian that he wants to be with him at the end, Dan said he'd like to be the one to evict Danielle (as HoH winner).
• Ian said he's sorry, but that's not going to happen.
• In other words, he will not throw the comp to Dan.
• Good.
• Both Dan and Ian think that Frank is probably one of the most bitter jury members ever.
• Y'think?
• Unfortunately, I do think that both Danielle and Ian still believe that Dan will take them (respectively) to the final two.
• I'm thinking he'd go for Danielle over Ian, then tell the jury how he played for both of them and should win.
• With Ian, Dan doesn't have as strong as an argument for the win.
• As he's done all season, Dan will do what's best for Dan.
• Danielle told Ian she'd like to be the one to vote Dan out (as HoH).
• C'mon Ian ... don't fall for either of them. PLAY for the win, don't throw anything. You know better!
• Sorry. I got carried away there for a moment.
• Danielle also told Ian she "carried Dan all season."
• Um. Okay.
• Ian seriously thought he was going to get evicted instead of Shane. Well, yeah ... we could tell by his hyperventilating!
• There were some electrical problems in the house with the refrigerator down, the storage room door not opening, etc.
• Ian thought perhaps a zombie apocalypse had gone down and they were abandoned.
• Oh my ... that would make a good movie ... reality show contestants locked away from the world as the world ends and they don't know it!
• They napped.
• They toilet-papered Ian like a mummy.
• Dan put Ian and Danielle in boxes.
• They napped.
• They argued over whether Britney pushed the reset button.
• They mocked Frank.
• They played odd question games.
• They napped.
• Dan played Robot and did many strange things.
• Danielle asked Ian if Boogie said she was ugly.
• Oh, come on, Danielle. Get some self-esteem. While I'm not a Danielle fan, she (with the exception of being so gullible to Dan's Mist) isn't bad at the game. She can pull off wins. She is pretty -- would be prettier if she'd get rid of those incredibly fake arched eyebrows and stop picking at pimples -- but she is indeed a very pretty young woman. Maybe she should go Jenn's route and stop living for approval from men. I don't know.
• She deep down knows Dan has played her like a fiddle, yet the Mist still works on her.
• Sigh.
• On a side note -- if I were Dan's wife and he ever looked at me quietly with that smile on his face, I'd bonk him over the head with a frying pan.  

They slept (note Ian's ally bear in bed)

They slept some more

They slept even more

Oh noes! The bear and snake have been nominated!

Big Brother 14: Live Feeds Final HoH Round One - Endurance Comp Updates - Sept. 13

Since THIS is the post that most normal non-nocturnal folks want to see, I'm leaving it first for the daytime hours and will just make a few notes on what's happened since the comp end:

• Danielle lied to Ian and said she slipped.
• Ian went to Dan and asked him how he got her to drop.
• Dan just laughed, said he misted her and said they'd talk later.
• Ian went on mumbling about the mist.
• Danielle cried.
• Dan told Danielle they need to think of a way to have Ian throw the second round to her.
• I certainly hope Ian doesn't fall for that!
• Danielle cried some more.
• Although Ian is upset about it, I think the name of the comp is perfect for the situation and what's led up to it: Hook, Line and Sinker.
• Heehee.
• Ian told Dan he threw the comp and just said his foot got caught in seaweed.
• Apparently this is news to Dan and not a misted Ian.
• I can only think he threw it because he figures he'll do better on the questions round.
• Dan told Danielle that Ian told him he would take Danielle to the final two.
• Danielle proceeds to tell Ian how much she hates Dan.
• Keep in mind, Ian knows Dan got her to drop.
• I'm not sure when the second round will be, but enjoy the action from the first round ...

Dan misted Danielle into dropping, he wins round one

12:24 AM ET -- Danielle drops. Stupid, stupid of her. Dan wins Round One.

12:20 AM ET -- Dan swears on Chelsea. "It's about duty. It's about being a coach. It's about bringing you to the final two so you can win."

Dan trying to mist Danielle into dropping

12:15 AM ET -- Dan asked Ian for four quick minutes.

12:12 AM ET -- Producer sent Ian in the get his mic. Dan is trying to deal something to Danielle. She shook her head no. I can't hear what he's saying whispering with the machinery. He's trying to mist her in the fog! He keeps staring at her and she's basically ignoring him.

12:10 AM ET -- Dan and Danielle still in, both looking fairly strong. Danielle seems to be taking more hits on the wall face or side on while Dan is taking them with his back. That might hurt her in the long run.

11:56 PM ET, Dan and Danielle left hanging

11:49 PM ET -- Ian out. :-(

11:47 PM ET - Cool. It not only rains on them, slams them against a wall, but it dunks them in a moat, too. All three still in. All have heavy duty gloves.

11:35 PM ET -- The feeds finally came on. All three are in the comp, hanging in the rain, slamming into a wall. I will update this post as the comp continues, so refresh the page to get the latest!

Finally ... the feeds are up!

Big Brother 14: Live PoV Meeting, Eviction & HoH Round 1 Start Show Blog Party - Sept. 13

This is it. Well, to be honest, it's the start of it. Tonight's show will show Danielle's nominations, the PoV, the eviction leading to the final three and the start of the final HoH, Round 1. 

That should be an endurance comp. After the show ends here on the East Coast, I'll set up a post following the endurance comp live as it plays out on the feeds. Everyone is invited to join and/or peek in.

Hopefully tonight's TV only viewing audience can expect the unexpected. I hope I can see what I hope to expect to see. :-) That's all I have to say about that. As the show airs here, I'll update this post with the major events. So, please refresh the page to see the latest. Of course, the real fun is in the comments area. Come join the party!

Cool. They're going to have a jury house segment wedged in tonight!

Dan wants her to put him and Ian up. Okay. She does. Key order: Shane. (Duh)

Jury house, Ashley is Zen. She has a dream board where she put Frank as HoH. Ha. It's Britney! Then Frank arrives! He and Britney argue.  Joe's there.

Power of veto comp time. It's science related with a molecule puzzle and houseguest pictures. Danielle wins the power of veto!

Dan mists Danielle. "Hey, save me with the veto." Zoom. He has a final two deal with both Danielle and Ian. He swears he'll save Shane.

Veto meeting -- Ian praises the Quack Pack and asks to give this dog his day. Dan talks coaching. Danielle chooses ... personal game, SAVES DAN! Dan is the sole vote.

Ian and Shane get to talk. 

Dan votes to evict SHANE!

Danielle is in shock. Ian is dazed and confused.

The final three are Danielle, Dan and Ian.

Whoa ... where's the HoH comp part one? Hmm ... if they have it on the feeds, I'll set up a separate post.

Big Brother 14: Live Feeds Quickie - Sept. 13

Now it looks like Danielle will indeed use the veto to save Dan. Shane will go up in his place and ...

... get this ...

... it sounds like Dan (the sole vote at that point) will vote out SHANE. I only quickly went through flashbacks of today. I didn't catch if Danielle knows Dan's plans. I don't believe she does, but I might be wrong on that.

Oh my. Too good to be true. But that's what he told us. Dan knows he can't lie to US. The mist can't go via modems.