Survivor: Game Changers - April 5 Episode Blog Party

Everybody ready? Got your snacks? Got your tasty adult beverages? As the show airs here on the east coast, I'll be live-blogging with all the major happenings. Refresh the page to see the latest news! But, as always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to see you there!

It sounds like tonight will be another evening of twists and turns -- Exile Island, the dropping of buffs once again and the return of a castaway. With the last, we don't know if it's someone from this season or another or whether they're there to stay or not. Oh my.

Here's the updated pool from the best pool lifeguard ever, Lifeguard Laurie:

NUKU
Aubry Bracco - Ed in Ohio, meb
Jeff Varner - Donna in FL, Rochelle, DonnaNY
Michaela Bradshaw - David, Jackie
Sandra Diaz-Twine - Jennasmom, SueGee

MANA
Brad Culpepper - Brian, Sharon N
Debbie Wanner - Glenn, tbc
Hali Ford - Buzzmaam, Nana in the NW
Sierra Thomas - Becky, monty924
Tai Trang - Cheryl in NC, Sharon C

TAVUA
Andrea Boehlke - Indiana Jane, ML
Cirie Fields - Leonia Hart, Terry is a Texan
Ozzy Lusth - KelseyNY, Margo, PDX Granny
Sarah Lacina - Delee, Rbennie
Troyzan Robertson - Donna in Alabama, Lifeguard Laurie
Zeke Smith - Janice from GA, Paula Bell

No more fire!
Ciera Eastin
Tony Vlachos
Caleb Reynolds
Malcolm Freberg
JT Thomas 
 
Survivor fans ready?

Sandra tells the others that JT had to go because he "betrayed" them and, due to him, they lost Malcolm. (So, vote the next strongest out? Hmm. As long as it's not Sandra!)

At his camp, Tai found another idol. Hopefully he will keep this one to himself!

Immunity Challenge time? Nope. Jeff tells them to drop their buffs. Their switching things up again. Orange and blue buffs. Debbie is without a tribe -- has no buff! 

I'll have to catch up with who's on what tribe during this. It's back to Mana and Nuku again.

Debbie goes to Exile Island, returning to the game at the next Tribal, joining the tribe which loses a member. No, she won't have a pony to keep her company.

Brad and Troyzan are the only two guys on their tribe with five women. Troyzan doesn't want to "get bamboozled by women" again.

Varner and Sandra are kind of on their own in their tribe. She vows the"queen stays queen." Well, not if Zeke and Ozzy get their way! Andrea thinks that, although they're targeting Sandra, she thinks Tai needs to go. Tai wants to get Sandra out but is concerned that he might be a target. He looks for a similar placed idol at the new camp and ... he's got it!  

Debbie's Exile Island is actually a yacht! It's fully stocked with food and beverages, even alcoholic ones. A boat pulls up and it's ... Cochran!

He's there to be an Exile sounding board and advisor on strategy. Well, that's different. How can one offer her advice? She knows everything and has done everything? Yes, Cochran, she's over-confident. He tells her she should pander to people like Brad. He also gives her an Advantage Option.  

She can pick from three options -- fake idol materials, extra vote or advantage for tribe in next challenge. She goes for the extra vote. 

Varner tries to bond with Zeke. Zeke wants to convince him that Tai is the target, not Sandra. Varner isn't 100% that he's not being fooled, but it's his best bet. He reports back to Sandra. But Sandra is a lot more dubious about the others wanting Tai out more than they want her or Varner out.

Now it's time for the real Immunity Challenge -- dive, race through monkey bars, retrieve puzzle pieces, puzzle. 

Sierra, Cirie, Aubry work on the puzzle for Mana. Mana wins Immunity!

Nuku - Tai, Sandra, Varner, Zeke, Andrea, Sarah, Ozzy ... go to Tribal. And, they get Debbie after Tribal.    

Although Varner believe Tai will go, Sandra goes to work on Ozzy. Uh-oh -- Ozzy talks to Andrea and is quasi-buying Sandra's ideas that the three -- Debbie, Tai and Sierra -- are more dangerous. Dang -- Tai tells Varner they're all voting for Sandra.

Tribal Council time -- Sandra tells Jeff Probst that she thinks she's going tonight. Oh my. Tai whispers a name to Sandra and it's Ozzy. Will that vote go down? The others are all whispering about voting out Tai.

The Tally -- Tai doesn't play one of his idols!

Tai, Tai, Sandra, Sandra, Sandra, Sandra

The Queen ain't remaining Queen!   

The Amazing Race: Blog Pool Match-Ups!

Lifeguard Sharon C. has made the random blog pool picks for this season's The Amazing Race. She's new at the game of guarding, but seems to have made some great matches! May the best team win! Remember, the show will air tomorrow night (Thursday) at 10pm ET!

Shamir/Sara - Indiana Jane, Jenna's Mom
London/Logan - Delee, Sharon N
Seth/Olive - ML, Cheryl in NC
Brooke/Scott - Chrob61, Becky
Tara/Joey - SueGee, Willie J, Monty924
Becca/Floyd - Janice, Brian
Liz/Michael - Judi Sweeney, Dolores in Hollywood, Ed in Ohio
Matt/Redmond - MerriLee, Jackie
Jessica/Francesca - Brenda, David, Sharon C
Vanck/Ashton - Nickelpeed, Donna in FL

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - April 2, 2017

Good morning! Since it's Sunday morning, this is my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I took along the way. If you're here for Survivor -- you can find any Survivor posts I make at this link right here.  The Amazing Race season premiere was this past Thursday. While it looks like it's going to be a good season with its strangers teaming up twist, I saw that the ratings are way down. I would blame that on the late night (10pm) time slot. You can find any posts I make about the show at this link -- The Amazing Race.

I'd also like to remind folks that the cut-off for joining the blog pool for The Amazing Race is TUESDAY. You would need to sign up on this linked post to get in on the fun! Please don't sign up on this post you're reading now -- your request might be missed.

Since I've been so far posting about television in my weekly off television topic photo post, I might as well continue. Tonight is the season finale, two hours worth I believe, of The Walking Dead. I'm looking forward to that one! And, the series finale of Bates Motel should be coming up soon. But, when that kicks in, Fargo returns for a new season! Unfathomable pinheadery!

Okay, to life stuff. Um, it was a week. It rained a very cold wind-driven rain with temperatures just above freezing for much of the week. I really didn't take many photos at all. The weather didn't cooperate with me much when I was out and about. And, I lucked out with getting rides to work quite a bit. 

I found out my across the hall neighbor Joe is not moving out. He's in the hospital. His niece is in the process of moving in to take care of him upon his return home. Her furniture is nicer than his, so they discarded a lot of his. I noticed they kept his favorite recliner! They've been scrubbing and cleaning over there. I hope Joe is okay with the changes they've made when he gets home.

Healthwise for myself, I don't have any new news. I'm still awaiting insurance approval and the set-up dates for the vascular surgery on both of my legs. I still have extreme swelling and pain when I stand for any period of time. Elevating them helps. But Vincent the Cat thinks the couch pillow on the chair near my computer is for HIM to rest upon! No, Vincent, it's so I can elevate my legs! Sheesh! What a spoiled cat!

Oh, well. Onto the few photos I took this week ...    

Gull Patrol

Gulls keep watch over a parking lot in Bridgewater, NJ.

Down, but not out

The snow tried to kill them. Heavy cold rains tried to keep them down. But the daffodils, although not really perky, continue to fight for survival. Berckman Street, Plainfield.

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

The Amazing Race - Blog Pool OPENS!

Come one, come all! The Amazing Race Blog Pool is now OPEN!

 Okay, here's how the blog pool works:

• Names are matched up randomly with the teams.
• You get to cheer on your chosen team until they're Philiminated or win it all.
• If your chosen team is creepy, fights, fusses or cries a lot, we won't hold that against you personally.
• Not much, anyway.
• Heehee
• There is no wagering of monies.
• The winner(s) of the blog pool retain bragging rights until the premiere of the next season while we all bow to them and lament on what could have been.

How do you get involved? Sign up right here on this post! If you're posting anonymously, you need a sign off name on your comments. We don't care if you're a boy named Sue, we have to know something other than anonymous. The cut-off for entering is this Tuesday, April 4, 8pm ET/5pm PT. 

REMEMBER - YOU NEED TO SIGN UP ON THIS VERY POST YOU'RE READING! If you sign up on another post or the Facebook page, your request might be missed.
We have a new lifeguard this season -- I'd like you to all welcome Sharon C! Please don't test her patience by running with scissors around the pool!

And, here are the teams that we'll be cheering on:

Shamir Arzeno, age 28, Bronx, NY -- Banking Firm Associate
Sara Fowler, Age 27, Baltimore, MD -- Luxury Real Estate Agent

London Kaye, age 27, Brooklyn, NY -- Street Artist
Logan Bauer, age 27, Navarre, FL -- Orthopedic Device Rep

Seth Tyler, age 37, Seattle, WA -- Police Officer
Olive Beauregard, age 24, Providence, RI -- Firefighter

Brooke Camhi, age 36, Lynbrook, NY -- Lawyer
Scott Flanary, age 34, Charlotte, NC -- University Recruiting Manager

Tara Carr, age 38, New Milford, CT -- U.S. Army Officer
Joey Covino, age 46, Boston, MA -- Police Sergeant

Becca Droz, age 26, Pittsburgh, PA -- Rock Climbing Instructor/Barista
Floyd Pierce, age 21, Highlands Ranch, CO -- College Student

Liz Espey, age 24, Maryville, MO -- Auctioneer
Michael Rado, age 37, Pittsburgh, PA -- Butcher

Matt Ladley, age 25, Steamboat Springs, CO -- Professional Snowboarder
Redmond Ramos, age 28, Fremont, CA -- Motivational Speaker

Jessica "Jessie" Lynn Shields, age 28, Howland, OH -- Police K9 Officer
Francesca Piccoli, age 33, Banning, CA -- U.S. Army

Vanck Zhu, age 28, Saint Paul, MN -- Investment Research
Ashton Theiss, age 25, Fort Worth, TX -- Real Estate Agent

The Amazing Race - Season Premiere Blog Party - March 30

Are you ready for this? For the first time ever, TAR took on single racers and they will pair as strangers. Heck, some probably will get along better than some of those with previous relationships!

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll be live-blogging it the best I can. The first few episodes are rough because it's so easy to confuse the names until I get them down. Of course, the real party will be in the comments area ... please join in on the fun!

The teams haven't been officially announced as yet. Tomorrow night, I'll list them in the blog pool opening post. We have a new lifeguard this season -- Sharon C -- I'd like everyone to give her a big welcome aboard! Please sign up ONLY on the pool opening post I'll post Friday night. Requests put in elsewhere may be missed!

Let's go! 

They're starting in Los Angeles, will travel nine countries.  Phil tells them they will pick their teammate. First they have to go to the luggage store -- gives them directions by number of blocks and terms like "northeast" and "southwest." They have to pick up a bag with a Panamanian (?) flag?

At least one has grabbed a bag with the wrong flag. We're getting intros to each as they go for them. It was Joey with the wrong bag. He thinks no one wants to be his partner now. He's a police sergeant.

They're standing in the order they arrived.

Seth chooses Olive.
Matt - Redmond
Shamir - Sara
Brooke and Scott

I'm not keeping up with these ... more on tomorrow's post.

The first clue is in the luggage, two flights, Phil will take Jessie and her partner to the airport because they didn't pick each other. The game's only Express Pass is in one of the pieces of luggage. Becca and Floyd have the Express Pass.

They're headed to Panama. And, after arrival, it's on to the canal. 

Seth and Olive get to the clue first.  They head to Zamboa Tower -- Detour. Shoot or Scoot. In a canoe-thing, they have to either shoot down two targets or scoot along the river in a "sprint."

There is no Roadblock. Seth and Olive are heading towards the Pit Stop first. Floyd and Becca did shoot and just finished. Whoa, Matt and Redmond got Scoot on the first shot!

Pit Stop --
1. Seth and Olive
2. Becca and Floyd
3. Matt and Redmond
4. Brooke and Scott

The other teams are still doing the Detour or not there yet.

5. Shamir and Sara
6. Joey and Tara
7. Vanck and Ashton  
8. Logan and London 
9. Jessie and Francesca
10. Kevin and Jenn -- 2 hour penalty for not completing the Detour (shut down due to dark)

10. Michael and Liz beat Kevin and Jenn!

Kevin and Jenn have been Philiminated. 
  

The Amazing Race Starts TONIGHT - Casting and STUFF

It sounds like we're in for quite an amazing season this season on The Amazing Race! The website on cbs.com has the first seven minutes of the show online. Even after watching that, we're not sure of who teams up with whom. The majority of the cast seem quite strong. But we have some variations between the strengths. The bios online at the website delve into each racer. However, an awful lot is going to hinge on the partners.

Of course, a blog party with live blogging of the episode will happen tonight. I hope to see many of you there! As for the blog pool? I'd like you to all welcome this season's pool lifeguard -- Sharon C.! We should be finding out the teams tonight. Tomorrow night (Friday), I will put up a list of the teams in a blog pool sign up post with a cut-off a few days before next week's episode. We usually don't do one until after the first team is eliminated. This season we don't even know the teams yet!

Survivor: Game Changers - March 29 Episode Blog Party

Everybody ready? Got your snacks? Got your tasty adult beverages? As the show airs here on the east coast, I'll be live-blogging with all the major happenings. Refresh the page to see the latest news! But, as always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to see you there!

Will we see another blindside tonight? I would so love to see Sandra go just to see how she would react!

Here's the updated pool from the best pool lifeguard ever, Lifeguard Laurie:

NUKU
Aubry Bracco - Ed in Ohio, meb
Jeff Varner - Donna in FL, Rochelle, DonnaNY
JT Thomas - Carol C, Petals
Michaela Bradshaw - David, Jackie
Sandra Diaz-Twine - Jennasmom, SueGee

MANA
Brad Culpepper - Brian, Sharon N
Debbie Wanner - Glenn, tbc
Hali Ford - Buzzmaam, Nana in the NW
Sierra Thomas - Becky, monty924
Tai Trang - Cheryl in NC, Sharon C

TAVUA
Andrea Boehlke - Indiana Jane, ML
Cirie Fields - Leonia Hart, Terry is a Texan
Ozzy Lusth - KelseyNY, Margo, PDX Granny
Sarah Lacina - Delee, Rbennie
Troyzan Robertson - Donna in Alabama, Lifeguard Laurie
Zeke Smith - Janice from GA, Paula Bell

No more fire!
Ciera Eastin
Tony Vlachos
Caleb Reynolds
Malcolm Freberg 
 
Survivor fans ready?

JT is against a rock and a hard place. He knows he told Brad that Sierra was their target thinking they'd vote out Sandra. Instead, it was Malcolm, JT's closest ally and one of the strongest players on his tribe whose torch got snuffed. Sandra's mad. He ends up finding a clue and pursuing the hidden idol. He's got it and says he'll tell no one ... as it should be.

Reward Challenge - grappling hook, retrieve, again balancing a ball through obstacles, slide puzzle. Winning tribes - 1. PB&J sandwiches, cookies and milk. 1. PB&J sandwiches. Debbie is doing horribly on this one!

TAVUA wins first place! NUKU wins second place.

Debbie blames Brad for the loss because he decided positions. Cue to replay: Debbie saying, "I'm very good at balance." Brad replies, "Then you balance." Ha! 

Sarah and Troyzan are quasi-bonding. Sarah tells him they need to work on trust and that she's looking for an idol. Troy has one, but doesn't tell her and now is reluctant to use it right away. 

Debbie goes on a rant about Brad to Hali and thinks she (Debbie) ZOOMED across the balance beam and Hali being slow. Um. Alternate facts, methinks. Tai tells us he thinks Debbie is a "crazy lady." Well, duh. Debbie tells us that she doesn't go on rants, she works out physically and has a calm approach. Sheesh. She wants to take out Brad. I would suggest they hide any knives in camp.

Oh my. JT and Michaela are rubbing each other wrong. Sandra decides to eat all the sugar because she knows JT will blame Michaela. Varner knows it was Sandra. 

Tai is worried about the tension in his tribe. He doesn't know where he stands. He thinks that he needs another idol and, sure enough, finds a clue.

Immunity Challenge time -- Race up and over tall wall, work together to roll big cube, keys, sandbags across balance beam, giant slingshot to knock down five targets. First two tribes are safe. Cirie sits out. Debbie is being a jerk. But I expected that.

MANA wins Immunity! TAVUA wins Immunity! 

JT thinks they should target Michaela, mainly because she stole the sugar. Will Varner tell him? Sandra thinks they need to target JT because it was his fault Malcolm went. Um. WHY AREN'T THEY TARGETING SANDRA? 

Tribal Council. JT claims he had no idea Malcolm would go. Michaela trash-talks JT. JT says he's sick of babysitting. It sounds like Michaela is the target of most. 

The tally:
Michaela, JT, Michaela, JT, JT

Whoa! Varner flipped and voted out JT!

Sandra and Michaela fist bump. Aubry is shocked. Sandra also 'fesses up to taking the sugar.

I feel bad that JT is out. I still would love to see Sandra blindsided. But, I've gotta say ... well-played, well-played.  

A teaser for next week has them dropping buffs again, Exile Island and a returning castaway (whether cameo or not, we don't know). JT tells us he felt confident and didn't bring his idol to Tribal. Maybe he can earn some $$ selling it on eBay?

The Amazing Race: Lifeguard Wanted! (And Casting ...)

Greetings, Amazing Race fans! While it seems like forever since the last season, this one sneaked up on us. The premiere is this THURSDAY night at 10pm ET. Yes, Thursday, not Friday. I like that although I'm not too keen on the late hour.

Another change is instead of teams with previous relationships racing, it's all total strangers. That should shake things up a bit!

We will have a change here on the blog -- Margo is going to sit out Lifeguard duties on the blog pool this time 'round. We don't usually kick in the pool until after the first team is out since we barely get to know them. And, this year, they won't even know themselves for the first team gone! So, we're talking about throwing together the pool by next Tuesday or so. As I post this, the cast has been announced, but not the teams. We've seen snippets on promos, but that's it.

I'd like to get a volunteer to lifeguard the pool here this season. The position entails:

• No wages. No health insurance. No 401K.
• But, you'll certainly have my undying gratitude!
• And you can help yourself to the eats and drinks!
• You can blow a whistle if you own one.
• Randomly matching up blog readers who want in with the teams.
• Of course, you can throw your own name in there. Randomly, mind you!
• My name also automatically goes in.
• Updating the pool as teams get eliminated.

I would definitely prefer that the volunteer is someone who has been a regular commenter on the blog and has taken part in previous blog pools. But, other than that, you don't even have to have your summer body for a bathing suit! I will accept the first person who replies to this post and meets my strict criteria listed above for this lofty but not lucrative position.
😸