Survivor: Cambodia, Second Chance - November 18 Blog Party

I hope you all brought snacks and tasty beverages! As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest! As always, the real party is in the comments area -- come join in on the fun!

Here's the latest post-merge blog pool update from the Lovable Lifeguard Laurie:

Abi-Maria Gomes - Nobody is stuck with her!
Ciera Eastin - chrob61, Jackie, Russ
Jeremy Collins - Brian, meb, Nickelpeed
Joe Anglim - Delee, Mother Guru, PDX Granny
Keith Nale - Tammy, gaylos, Margo
Kelley Wentworth - monty 924, Grandi, RENOthunder
Kelly Wiglesworth - ML, Sharon N, Indiana Jane
Kimmi Kappenberg - Glenn, Nana in the NW, Rbennie
Spencer Bledsoe - Ellen vdW, Nancerella, Terry is a Texan
Stephen Fishbach - Brenda, Matt, Rochelle
Tasha Fox - Donna in AL, Jennamom, Stephanie in Baltimore

Out
Vytas Baskauskas
Shirin Oskooi - Cheryl in NC, Kelly D, Sharon C
Peih-Gee Law - Becky, David, Joanie,
Jeff Varner - Donna in FL, Linda in MA, SueGee
Monica Padilla - ChicMC, Kelsey, sanra
Terry Deitz - Anonymouse, Merrilee, ORKMommy
Woo Hwang - Ed in Ohio, LafayetteLisanne, Laurie
Kass McQuillen - Donna NY, Marlo, Petals
Andrew Savage - Jennasmom, JoyzJenn, Silk

Survivor fans ready?

Kelley is super happy with her success in playing the idol at the right time. Her tribemates are congratulating her, but they're thinking quite differently. Fishbach likens them (Kelley, Ciera and Abi) to the Three Witches. Now everyone is on an idol search. Joe is still a big target despite the threat of witches. Kelley wants a big move made at the next tribal. She should probably hope her wish doesn't come back to bite her.

The Reward Challenge is very physical. They're divided into two teams vying for a Survivor Spa visit. They're building, climbing, going through mazes and obstacles, doing puzzles and more. It's a schoolyard pick with one person not participating. Abi was not selected. Poor Abi. The challenge was first played out in Brains, Brawn and Beauty -- thus, Spencer and Tasha have done this before..

Spencer, Tasha, Joe, Fishbach and Ciera win reward.

During Reward, Ciera tries to get them thinking Jeremy or Wiglesworth as targets. Back at camp, Jeremy finds a clue to a second idol to ensure his personal safety. And now he indeed has two idols.

I keep wondering what will happen if Fishbach, the unofficial narrator for the season, goes. Hmm.

Joe, Jeremy and Wiglesworth are targets as well as the Three Witches. Fishbach doesn't seem to be on the radar, nor is Keith.

Immunity has them balancing on triangular platforms in the water. Last one remaining upright wins. Jeff is offering a chance to earn an advantage and gets buoys in place. First one getting buoy wins the advantage. Fishbach wins. Spencer and Fishbach were the only two to go for it.

Back at the challenge, they've moved to the top of the triangular platforms. Quickly only four remain -- Joe, Abi, Wiglesworth and Keith. Keith is down. One foot will be next. Wiglesworth out. It's down to Joe and Abi. Abi out. Joe wins his third individual immunity and is the only winner of immunity since the merge.

The Group of Eight wants to split the votes between the Three Witches. It sounds like Kelley Wentworth is the actual target.

Fishbach's advantage is that he gets to "steal" another person's vote and vote his own vote in place of it. He tells us he doesn't need to use it tonight. He tells Wentworth that Wiglesworth is the target to shake the game up a bit. He also tries to get Jeremy and Spencer on the Get Wiglesworth Out Plan. I guess we'll see how this plays out.

It's time for Tribal Council. It's storming and they're freezing. Lots of talk of the voting block strategy which was Fishbach's brainstorming.

The tally:
Cierra, Wentworth, Wiglesworth, Ciera, Wentworth, Wiglesworth, Ciera, Wiglesworth, Wiglesworth, Wiglesworth.

It worked. Kelly Wiglesworth is gone.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - November 15, 2015

Good morning! Yes, I slept in once again. But it felt so darn good! Anyway, since it is Sunday morning (albeit a bit late), it's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way. Keep in mind, if you want television posts, I guarantee that I will have posts for both Survivor and Amazing Race as they air in the upcoming week!

My past week wasn't exactly a thrill a minute. I worked. I slept. I ate. I paid attention to Vincent, the cat. There was a big SNAFU with my Peapod grocery delivery this week, the likes of which I've never seen before. Nor do I ever want to see again! Only about a fifth of my order was delivered and I had to have a second evening delivery the next day. That delivery arrived late and things which were in stock for my real delivery were suddenly out of stock for the re-delivery. Grr.

The Plainfield Public Library Photo Competition exhibit and awards ceremony was held yesterday. I really didn't think I'd win anything this year when I submitted my photos. It wasn't a great theme for me. The theme was about Plainfield working, taking care of business, et al. I think the best photos of that sort of thing that I've taken, I've already submitted in past years.

That said, I was surprised to win third place. Yay!

So, now I have another paper check in hand. Oh gee ... I'll have to go to either Trader Joe's in Westfield or Park Beverages (for my favorite microbrew beer) in Scotch Plains as Plainfield itself has no branch of my bank. I love having an excuse to go to either of those places!

In weather, we had rain for the entire beginning of the week. Then it turned chilly with wind. I bought a new winter jacket last week, so I'm warm and comfy. I also wanted just a knit hat, beanie-type, to go under the hood of the jacket. My gosh ... look in women's at places and they all go nearly $20. I bought one for $3.99 in the mens department of Target. I'm not looking for fashion -- I just want warmth under the hood of the jacket. Sheesh.

Without further ado, it's onto the photos for the week. Click on an image and it will open in a larger form ...

Autumn's beauty

Once overnight freezes are commonplace, these flowers will be gone.

Crane at work

At least I had some entertainment this week as I waited for the train to work. One day the men would be cutting holes in the sides of the old (removed) railroad bridge for the crane to hook into. The next day they'd be cutting the bridge into sections so the sections could be loaded on flatbeds by the crane. Hey, I didn't say it was great entertainment! This coming weekend they're taking down the bridge on the other side of the Plainfield Train Station -- the Park Avenue Bridge. Then the process will be repeated once again.

I see dead people

The saga continues. Raritan Valley Line on NJ Transit. 

**CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK TO SEE THE REST OF THE PHOTOS**

The Amazing Race 27: November 13 Episode Blog Party

Hi, everybody! As the show airs here tonight, I'll be updating this entry with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area. Come join in on the fun!

Here's the latest blog pool update as per The Marvelous Margo:

Denise and James Earl #TeamAlabama - Becky, Ginniejulie, ORKMommy, Willie J
Justin and Diana #TheGreenTeam - Chauncey, Cherry Pie, Monty924, Nickelpeed
Kelsey and Joey #TheReporters - beachmom, ChicMc, David, Grandi in MD,
Logan and Chris #ThePaparazzi - Delee, PDX Granny, Rbennie, SueGee
Tanner and Josh #TeamTexas - Buzzmaam, chrob61, meb, ML
Tiffany and Krista #TheCheerleaders - Brenda, Brian, Cheryl in NC, Ed in OH, Nana in NW

Philiminated
TMZ girls (not in pool)
Adam and Alex #TheCousins -Anonymouse, DKNYNC, Jackie, Kelsey, Sharon C
Ernest and Jin #TheDancers - Glenn, Marlo, Nancerella, Russ
Jazmine and Danielle #TheTrackStars - Joanie, LafayetteLisanne, Margo, Merrilee
Cindy and Rick #ChacAttack - Donna in AL, Donna in FL, Jennasmom, Sharon N

Ready? Let's GO! 

Teams are flying to Krakow, Poland. They have a Travelocity product placement in buying their tickets. I prefer the gnome. 

Detour: Mine has them pushing salt in mines and pick up wood beams for fortifying mine walls. Music has them accompanying street musicians, then busking. 

Justin and Diana remain in the lead. They finished the mine task and are on their way to the next clue. They go through the Schindler Museum and reflect on the Jewish people killed in Poland under Nazi occupation.

Roadblock: Who can handle a big order? They have to prepare a tray from a list (written in Polish) and deliver it. 

Uh-oh. Team Texas is lost trying to get to the Detour. They make quick work of it.

Justin got the order right first time.

Pit Stop:
1. Justin and Diana -- Also won a trip to China. U-Turn ahead.
2. Kelsey and Joey
3. James Earl and Denise 

All of the teams have checked with someone else on the dishes. The girls are lost. She didn't even ask. Finally she checks with someone. Meanwhile, Chris is doing poorly. The Texans just finished the Schindler tour. Okay, they're there again. Josh is working with Tiffany. Whoops! Chris got it and now either the girls or the guys will be last.

4. Chris and Logan

Josh lets Tiffany go first with the platter of food.

5. Tiffany and Krista
6. Josh and Tanner

NON-Philimination! The boys are safe. Speed Bump for them ahead.

Survivor: Cambodia, Second Chance - November 11 Blog Party

I hope you all brought snacks and tasty beverages! As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest! As always, the real party is in the comments area -- come join in on the fun!

Here's the latest post-merge blog pool update from the Lovable Lifeguard Laurie:

Abi-Maria Gomes - Nobody is stuck with her!
Andrew Savage - Jennasmom, JoyzJenn, Silk
Ciera Eastin - chrob61, Jackie, Russ
Jeremy Collins - Brian, meb, Nickelpeed
Joe Anglim - Delee, Mother Guru, PDX Granny
Keith Nale - Tammy, gaylos, Margo
Kelley Wentworth - monty 924, Grandi, RENOthunder
Kelly Wiglesworth - ML, Sharon N, Indiana Jane
Kimmi Kappenberg - Glenn, Nana in the NW, Rbennie
Spencer Bledsoe - Ellen vdW, Nancerella, Terry is a Texan
Stephen Fishbach - Brenda, Matt, Rochelle
Tasha Fox - Donna in AL, Jennamom, Stephanie in Baltimore

Out
Vytas Baskauskas
Shirin Oskooi - Cheryl in NC, Kelly D, Sharon C
Peih-Gee Law - Becky, David, Joanie,
Jeff Varner - Donna in FL, Linda in MA, SueGee
Monica Padilla - ChicMC, Kelsey, sanra
Terry Deitz - Anonymouse, Merrilee, ORKMommy
Woo Hwang - Ed in Ohio, LafayetteLisanne, Laurie
Kass McQuillen - Donna NY, Marlo, Petals

Survivor fans ready?

Andrew is thrilled to have lasted until jury. He schemes with Jeremy to get out Ciera and Wentworth. Meanwhile, Ciera wants to convince Fishbach that it's time to make a big move -- get Joe out.

It's Rewards Challenge time! Two teams of six, paddle out to retrieve crates, stack them so no repeating colors on any side. Winning team goes to Survivor Cafe for sweet goodies. It's a schoolyard pick.

Tasha, Jeremy, Spencer, Fishbach, Abi, Andrew on one team, the rest on the other.

Keith, Ciera, Wiglesworth, Wentworth, Joe and Kimmi win. At the cafe, Ciera works the crowd. Keith decides to drive one of the tuck-tucks that delivered them around the beach and all have a grand ol' time. Meanwhile, Fishbach is all worried because he fears Joe is bonding with his alliance. He goes to his fellow stuck on the beach mates and convinces them that it's time to blindside Joe. Or, tries to convince them, that is. Andrew is very NOT convinced and this could backfire on Fishbach.

Immunity Challenge time! Balance a ball on a disk attached to a rope. At intervals, they have to move their hands to a different location on the rope. Keith and Jeremy did this in their season -- Jeremy was first out, Keith won.

Wentworth out, Ciera out. Wiglesworth out, Jeremy out. Abi out. Fishbach out, Savage out. Second round starts -- Kimmi out, Tasha out. Spencer out. After thirty minutes, Keith and Joe get a second ball on the disk.

Joe wins Immunity once again!

Joe, knowing that Fishbach was trying to get him out, gets the three bottom tier girls in on a plan to blindside Fishbach. Andrew tells his bunch and Jeremy isn't keen on getting out Fishbach.

If Savage doesn't watch it, he's going to get himself blindsided, I think! Nope, he backs down to Jeremy and it looks like Wentworth and Ciera are once again targets.

Tribal Council. Time for Jeff to instigate! Ciera calls out some for running the show -- Jeremy, Savage, Joe, Fishbach and Tasha.

The tally:
Whoa! Wentworth plays her idol!
Wentworth, Wentworth, Wentworth, Wentworth, Wentworth, Wentworth, Wentworth, Wentworth, Wentworth, Savage, Savage.

Savage is SO blindsided!

Misery on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre - A Review

The Broadhurst Theatre

Yes, I know that this blog is about television shows with a weekly photo post thrown in. But, as they say, "The Show Must Go On." I believe that saying has its origins in the theater. Today I'm reviewing Misery on Broadway with Bruce Willis and Laurie Metcalf in the lead roles as I attended the play on Saturday, November 7.

Spoilers be ahead -- you've been warned!

There are several reasons I was compelled to go see this when I really don't go to hardly any Broadway shows:

• I'm Stephen King's true Number 1 fan. Er, well. Okay. I'm just a huge fan of his work. I'm not a stalker. Really. I'm not.
• I like both Bruce Willis and Laurie Metcalf. I've enjoyed Bruce since his Moonlighting days and Laurie since she played Rosanne's sister, Jackie, on Rosanne.
• I found the book Misery to be one of my favorites -- I prefer The Stand, but that's a whole 'nuther story.
• The movie Misery was mesmerizing. I have it on DVD and now feel the need to re-watch it.

So, I decided I must go see Misery the Musical. Oh, wait. It ain't that. It's Misery on Broadway!

Another thing it isn't is Misery, the Hollywood movie. Nor is it Misery, the Stephen King novel.

I'm not saying that's such a bad thing. However, the play takes a much different approach than either the book or movie. It was a bit unsettling at first to be amused and giggling during the show. But then it seemed like a great adaptation to me -- making the show a dark comedy with moments of terror thrown in.

Before getting into the meat of this review, I should mention the stage set. It was a revolving affair. There were three sets altogether -- a wintry outdoor front porch set, a bedroom (where most of the action took place) set and a kitchen with hints of a staircase and another room set. Music, most often suspenseful, played as the scenes almost seamlessly rotated through the show. The lighting job was also superb with car headlights shining in the windows, thunderstorms and such.

The show is still in previews at the present time as they perfect things. With the exception of one incident when the curtain came down and they announced technical difficulties, it seemed quite perfected to me. That only lasted shut down for just a minute or two. But it was just before the hobbling scene and built the suspense for it as the audience knew what was coming! It wasn't an issue with the revolving stage set(s) as it was in the bedroom set. They picked it back up repeating the last few lines and action, going on from there.

Like Kathy Bates, who won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Annie Wilkes, stole the show from James Caan ... as does Laurie Metcalf steal it from Bruce Willis. Oh, she does it in a much different manner, mind you. She's outright hilarious at times in the role of Annie! I call it a brilliant performance and think she made the show entertaining, often funny and sometimes jump in your seat scary. Kudos to Laurie Metcalf!

Then there's Bruce Willis in the role of Paul Sheldon. Hmm. Well, he looks much different from the Bruce Willis we all know. His shaved bald head is now sporting gray straggly hair around the ears and back of the head and he has a scruffy beard. Of course, the beard fits in with the held captive bit. I've heard some negative things such as he used an earpiece to tell him his lines and he's flubbed lines. I didn't see an earpiece. I do think he may have flubbed a line or two, but recovered decently. The role of Paul Sheldon hasn't the lines to reign supreme like Annie Wilkes. I think he did okay with the role. He was funny at times, screamed well at other times.

A third actor, Leon Addison Brown, played the minor role of the sheriff. He did well, but we didn't see him a heck of a lot. He died quite expertly.

Overall, despite the humor in the show, the terror moments made the audience gasp and squirm. Once, Annie Wilkes smashed a manuscript down on Paul Sheldon's broken legs. I didn't expect that and actually jumped a bit in my seat. I think I felt the pain! The hobbling was done with perfection (after their "technical difficulties" show stop mentioned above). I don't really know how they did it. Yikes! When Annie shot the sheriff (but she didn't kill the deputy), people actually screamed with surprise. And, when Paul fought back against Annie, it was horrifying! Well played, well played.

The performance I saw received a standing ovation. So, I wasn't the only one really enjoying it!

A few notes on the Broadhurst Theatre:

• My seat was in the first row center of the mezzanine. I had a great view and was close enough to see details on stage, facial expressions and such. I hear the latter part of the orchestra section has the top of the stage obscured by the low-hanging mezzanine. Sucks to be them, huh?
• The theatre is NOT accessible as far as I could tell. There is no elevator. Going up to the mezzanine, I had to climb a gazillion steps. Bless handrails. Even the orchestra seating seemed to be at such an incline that trying to get a decent view seated in a wheelchair might be impossible.
• The legroom, or lack thereof, actually beat the Astor Place Theatre where I saw the Blue Man Group. I'm talking about the LACK of legroom. It wins the prize! While the seats themselves were comfy and spacious enough, my knees and feet were actually touching the mezzanine wall while I was sitting upright with good posture. Halfway through the show, I ended up shifting a bit sideways. I've had a DVT already. I don't want another.
• There was no intermission during the (over) 90 minute show, but there was a bar set up both upstairs and downstairs. Since they don't want you to take drinks to your seats, I guess people have to chug their wine. I didn't get a beverage.
• When I picked up my tickets at the box office in the morning for the 2pm matinee, I asked the agent/clerk/whatever when it would be best to return for the show. He said ten minutes before two. Hmm.
• I returned a half-hour before the show to find a line stretching almost to the corner of the block, thus confusing Matilda attendees. 
• While I ended up getting in line near the nearby Shubert Theatre (Matilda is there), it was only due to a fluke because a car wanted to cut through the line to get into the parking garage and there was no room for anyone to really move. It almost broke into fisticuffs between a woman theater-goer and the driver while an NYPD cop watched from the street. Nonetheless, I got stuck and ended up talking to the people around me, then just moved forward with them.
• Because they too were told to arrive ten minutes before the show and the line was so long (all ticket holding folks), the theatre filled up late and the show started late.
• One man in line was telling people we were in line for Obama, the Musical. They believed him. He and I discussed various possibilities for the show.
• The theatre staff was pleasant enough.
• Even considering its late start, the show did run overtime. Maybe that's one thing they need to work on while it's in previews. It's supposed to last 90 minutes. It ended up running about ten to fifteen minutes over that. I didn't really care about that.

A final note:
I'm not a Broadway show reviewer, nor do I even play one on television. I personally would go again to see this show if it were in my budget. Laurie Metcalf rulz!