Survivor: Ghost Island - Blog Pool & Season Premiere Blog Party

It's here! A season made up purely of Survivor superfans and delving into the ghosts of the mistakes made by previous castaways! As tonight's two hour long season premiere airs, I'll keep up with things the best I can live blogging. It's hard in the beginning until I get to know the cast, so please bear with me. Refresh this page to get the latest news!

Lifeguard Laurie is once again in charge of the blog pool and here are the random picks --

Naviti
         Angela Perkins - monty924, Karen JC
         Bradley Kleihege - SueGee, Nana in the NW
         Chelsea Townsend - David, Merrilee
         Chris Noble - Petals, Ed in Ohio, ChicMc
         Desiree Afuye - Bizarro22, Karen in California
         Domenick Abbate - Donna in Alabama, Janice
         Kellyn Bechtold - Glenn Allen, Margo, Delee
         Morgan Ricke - Nickelpeed, Cheryl in NC
         Sebastian Noel - Indiana Jane, Shannon
         Wendell Holland - Skyriverblue, Jennasmom

Malolo
         Brendan Shapiro - Martha Light, Rochelle
         Donathan Hurley - Becky, Terry is a Texan!
         Jacob Durwin - Auntie Leigh, Jackie
         James Lim - TS14Fan, Krysta Gibson
         Jenna Bowman - Brian, Judi Sweeney
         Laurel Johnson - Judi Sweeney, PDX Granny
         Libby Vincek - tbc, jennifer, Laurie
         Michael Yerger - Sharon N., Tammy
         Stephanie Gonzalez - Donna in FL, Kristen from Ohio
         Stephanie Johnson - Brenda, Rbennie
  
Survivor fans ready?

The graveyard for bad decisions. The new bunch have to find the idols and other things to survive the mistakes of the past. Jeff tells them that one bad decision can haunt them forever. They will have the chance to reverse the curse of a previous bad decision. Right decision at the right time.

They must select one person to represent their tribe. Malolo -- chose Brendan. Naviti chose Chris.

Must pick the person best to do the physical part -- Michael and Lairel for Malolo. Sebastion and Desiree for Naviti.

Dig up keys, solve puzzle.

Less rice than any previous season, will have fishing kit. Winning tribe gets a shelter building kit, loser has fishing gear taken away. If the leader thinks the puzzle person isn't going to make it they can forfeit giving up eggs and flint. 

Naviti forfeited. They keep their fishing gear. Malolo gets the shelter. Did Chris blow his game by calling the forfeit? 

I realize I'm being quiet. They're all introducing themselves to each other as they get shelters together. Chris and Sebastian have bonded early as have Dohnathan and Laurel on the other tribe. Domenick, I think it is, has already rubbed people the wrong way with his construction direction -- Sebastian and Chris have him in their sights.

Jacob, worried that he'll be a target, makes himself a target by going off to search for an idol. 

When Dom hears that Sebastian mentioned his name as a possible target, he automatically assumed it had something to do with Chris. Y'see, when Jeff asked the tribe at the challenge if Chris made a mistake by forfeiting it, Dom was the only one who said he did. 

Time for the first Immunity Challenge -- racing over a net bridge, loosen ropes, pull sled, puzzle. Ghost Island is in play. Someone from the losing tribe will be sent there.

NAVITI wins Immunity! Plus they get a flint. Naviti gets to choose who from Malolo to Ghost Island -- they choose Jacob. He is also immune from being voted out at the first Tribal. 

Jacob is at Ghost Island. Many original Survivor relics. He gets a clue to follow the fire. Game of Chance - a secret advantage or lose your vote. He gets a secret advantage -- Legacy Advamtage. Sierra made an error with it. Jacob can restore the power by willing it to a person on the other side. He tells us he will will it to Morgan and reverse the curse. 

Dhonathan wants Gonzalez out and vice versa.

First Tribal Council. Time for Jeff and his Probsting questions to get them riled up. Hmm. Gonzalez gets up and whispers to one guy and whispers all around. Dhonathan isn't whispering and seems sure he's the target.

The tally:
Dhon, Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Gonzalez ...

Gonzalez is the first person voted out! Good. She was pushy and arrogant. She might be physically stronger than Dhonathan, but I like their decision. 

Meanwhile, Dom goes looking for an idol in the dark. And ... he finds one! It's the idol Andrea was voted out with in her pocket. Can he reverse the curse? 

Morgan received the Legacy Idol. She knows Sierra blew it by talking. Jacob makes a fake idol and hopes it can pass it off as found on Ghost Island.

Jacob returns to his tribe. He's surprised that Gonzalez is gone. He shows them his fake idol. He tells them he will play it at the next Tribal no matter what because he doesn't want to be "Idol Guy." He thinks they believe him. They don't -- they think they'll play along with him and vote him out. They aren't really sure, though.  

Dom tried to make amends with Chris, but is leery. Dom decides to make a fake idol and put it with the note to get Chris's trust. He even promises to give him the (fake) idol if he needs it. Now Chris is leery and doesn't trust him. 

Ohh .. no Reward Challenges. It's the Immunity Challenge. Water and shooting baskets. Reward is chairs, pillows, blankets and sending a loser tribe person to Ghost Island. Angela sits out.

James can't go under enough to release buoys. Dhonathan just sat there. Now he's trying. He got them!

NAVITI wins their second Immunity. They send Dhonathan to Ghost Island. 

Dhonathan is on the island. He got a dud message smashing his urn. Back at camp, James tells them the loss is on him. But, of course, they still want Jacob out. Stephanie works on Jacob. What a fool! He trusts her and tells her the idol isn't real, plus he tells her the Legacy Advantage went to Morgan. Fool. He deserves to go home. Now she wants to work with him. Hmm. Jacob told her that he wants to target Michael. Hmm. Now they're talking flipping the vote. But Michael and Brendan are worried there might be a flip.

Tribal Council Number Two for the night. More whispering.

The tally:
Michael, James, Jacob, James, Jacob, Jacob, Jacob.

Jacob is gone. 

Whoa -- drop your buffs next week?!?!

Celebrity Big Brother: Season Finale Blog Party

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll be updating and live-blogging away the best I can. Refresh the post to get the latest news!  As always, the real party is in the comments area -- join on in!

ALERT! ALERT! - Survivor: Ghost Island starts up next Wednesday! The blog pool is open but you need to sign up for it ONLY ON THIS LINKED POST. Requests not on that post WILL be missed. And, I don't think y'all know how annoying it is that every season people regularly in the pools want in after the deadline. If you want in on the blog pool, go to the post and sign up before the deadline. Please! The deadline is Tuesday.

Of course, we start out with a recap. Julie, thankfully, must have thrown out that awful boxy red dress she wore for one live show. Dressed in black, she's looking good!

We're to the continuation of the HoH comp they showed starting last night. Ross is determined to win despite the fact that it's a rather athletic comp -- balancing on suspended in the air skis that wiggle and jiggle and tickler ...er, ahem. 

Not surprisingly, Marissa is out first. Then Ari is down.  Ross tells Mark he's safe, won't nominate, won't backdoor. Mark doesn't really buy it. About the fourth time the deal was offered, Mark went down. Deal is on and Omarosa is ticked that she doesn't know the details.

Ross tells us he wants to be next to Mark in the final two because he can beat him. Yes, I think so.  He tells Ari that they need Omarosa out and that he will have to nominate her (Ari). He admits to making a deal with Mark. He lies to her and tells her, while alone together, that he wants a final two with her.

So, Ross does indeed have final twos with three of the four others remaining in the house. That kind of thing can work for him or bite him in the butt.

Nominations time - He nominates Ari and Omarosa. Omarosa put him up twice. Ari -- running out of people to nominate. 

Final Veto Comp -- It's a take on their usual Comic Book comp with them in a harness on a line comparing sensational chamster news stories and putting day dates on them. Marissa goes, then Mark. Then Ross followed by Ari. (Hmm ... this is NOT the order that they randomly chose on the live feeds yesterday!) Omarasa was last ... at least in this edited show.

Marissa are the only ones who got all right. Omarosa did the worst.
Marissa 12.31, Ross less than half her time.

ROSS WINS THE POV! 

In the veto meeting, Ross lets the nominees talk.
Ari - Won't campaign against Omarosa
Omarosa - Goes all sappy on Ari and is Nice Omarosa, loves Ari.
@@
Ross does NOT use the veto. 

Live eviction time! 
Ari - Loves all. Hopes the world knows her better now. Played a fair game, loves Omarosa and proud of her. But she wants to keep playing.
Omarosa - Glory to God and on and on. Prayer power. Gives a political kind of statement about uniting under God.

Votes to evict:
Marissa - Omarosa
Mark - Omarosa

Oh my. I had figured they'd let Ross evict her on the tiebreaker. Omarosa is OUT. She is Nice Omarosa, even tells Ross he's done an amazing job. I'm not going to blow by blow the talk with Julie, but it's definitely Nice Omarosa indeed.

Final HoH comp. All compete. Cash it Out. Social media battles with former chamsters, must decide which of the six former is posting an incorrect stateent. Six battles. 

1. Only Marissa gets a point.
2. Everyone gets a point. 
3. Everyone gets a point. 
4. Everyone gets a point.
5. Everyone gets a point.
6. Ross, Mark get a point.

Tiebreaker -- Ross, Mark and Marissa 
MARISSA IS THE FINAL HOH!
She will evict TWO housemates, thus choosing who is in the final two with her.

I predict Ross. How about you? 

They all can plea their cases.
Mark - Nice words about CBS, all are amazing, a joy and a pleasure.
Ari - You are amazing, do what's best for you.
Ross - Friend for life, no matter what, I love you.

Marissa evicts ... wouldn't be standing here if not for Ross, evicts ... Mark and Ari. Both were very upbeat with Julie and neither expected Marissa to choose anyone but Ross. Lifelong friends and all. 

Actually, the evictions this season have been very refreshing compared with regular hamsters. Perhaps age had almost as much to do with that as did the "celebrity" status. 

Jury comes in. Chuck, Keshia, Shannon, Metta, Brandi, James. The three evicted tonight join them. They will get to question oss and Marissa.

Brandi - What do you two regret the most about how you played. Marissa - had to make some moves to protect Ross and my game. Ross - Naive on day two, thinking I could keep my word, must pivot.

James - Was it important to stay true to your word or do what you have to do. Ross - Have to be able to pivot, as power shifts must change, choose a ride or die, but remain true to your character. Marissa - Genuinely meant what I said at the time. I adore and love you, James.

Shannon - Marissa: Why should you win over Ross? Marissa - Came up with great ideas, picked the right person. (She goes on but isn't making much sense to me.) Ross - Loves the show, relationships with people and winning when your but is on the line. Playing with compassion and kindness. 

Omarosa - How did strategy change and what is the biggest lie? Marissa - Strategy didn't change, lie to Chuck about him being the target. Ross - Didn't change strategy, didn't tell the WHOLE truth at times, but no real lies. 

Speeches:
Marissa - Didn't plan speech. True to Ross and their friendship. Even if I lose, I win.
Ross - Love the game, watched ALL seasons. played hard. Won comps. I proved I am a champion. Proud to be with all of you.

Put in the key of the person you think should win.
Chuck first - voting for the one who played the straightest game.
Keshia - Most up front
Shannon - Vote more honest with me
Metta - Close eyes and picks
Brandi - Voting shadiest person in the house
James - Speeches changed how I will vote
Omarosa - Voting for the person I love so much and wasn't gunning for me
Ari - Most honest game all season
Mark - Love you both, one person from day one. 

Votes are locked and Julie asks the jury questions. Shannon says Ross and Marissa stabbed her in the back. Remember, the jury was not sequestered so they've seen the show and possibly the live feeds. Oh, they show Brandi's goodbye to James. Heehee! 

Julie is pulling the keys:
Mark - Ross
Ari - Marissa
Omarosa - Marissa
James - Marissa
Brandi - Ross
Metta - Ross
Shannon - Marissa
Keshia - Marissa

Bummer in my mind. MARISSA WINS. Chuck also voted Marissa. 

Favorite Houseguests not in order -
Shannon, James, Ross

ROSS wins that at least! 

I voted Metta for that because he was entertaining in the house. I thought of voting Ross, but thought he'd likely win the season.

Thanks to the people who donated to help me out with the time and effort on the coverage of the season!

See you Wednesday for Survivor: Ghost Island? 

Celebrity Big Brother: Live Feeds, PoV into Sunday - Feb. 25

Dreaming it's a sunny day?

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Down to the Line Chamsters:

• Yesterday was boring for them until it wasn't.
• It was boring for us and then became more boring.
• Well, not necessarily boring, per se.
• We had Critter Cam. 
• Okay ... so, here's the skinny on what went down ...
• We know, despite the athletic ability needed, Ross won the HoH comp that was teased about in last night's taped television show.
• We also know that he nominated Ari and Omarosa.
• His target is Omarosa.
• Of course.
• Hey, had she won, you just know that she'd be targeting Ross!
• Omarosa knows she's in trouble. So, she goes into trying to cast suspicion and doubt on Ari -- someone with whom she previously got along.
• That only strengthened the bond between Ari and both Marissa and Ross.
• Omarosa worked her way closer with Mark.
• But, if nominations remain the same, it's too little, too late.
• Only Marissa and Mark can vote to evict in that case. Ross would have to break a tie. Buh-bye Omarosa.
• They all had to start packing as, no matter who gets evicted, it's the last night for all of them in the house.
• We got a taste of the production voice, not to be confused with the BB piped voice in the house.
• Production (Heath?) told them the veto would be played one by one and they'd each be sequestered in separate rooms.
• That set Marissa off -- "I don't like that! We're stuck alone for HOURS!"
• They did a random pick for playing order which actually went out over the live feeds -- that may be a first.
• It went from first to last -- Ross, Ari, Omarosa, Marissa, Mark.
• Then we had Critter Cam.
• For hours.
• When it was all said and done, ROSS won the Power of Veto!
• So, he is not only the deciding tiebreaker vote, he holds all the power.
• I'm sure it will be bye-bye Omarosa.
• Not that she'll go out without trying her Omarosa best to stay!
• I am seeing, unlike the friction between Brandi and James that is an outright dislike, although they've targeted each other from the start -- Omarosa and Ross are probably going to be friends after this.
• Who woulda thunk it?
• But back to the house ...
• Immediately, Omarosa steps up her Smear Ari Game, putting Ari in tears.
• Ross and Marissa console Ari.
• Even Mark, the closest with Omarosa at this point, felt bad for Ari.
• Ross and Marissa practiced Final Two speeches.
• Hmm.
• Omarosa told Mark that she heard (three separate times) that he was playing for second place.
• He denied it.
• Oh, yeah. He just might not know it.
• But if he makes it to the final two against anyone remaining, he's second place.
• Well, maybe Marissa and Mark? Hmm. I still think he'd probably be second.
• Tons of small talk until they went to bed.
• It's kind of looking like Omarosa just might be accepting her fate. 

Random picking for PoV order

HoH and PoV winner!

Catching a nap before the comp

Celebrity Big Brother: Saturday Season Review Show Blog Party

Greetings! I expect tonight's show to be a review of the season or one of those "never seen before" clips shows. It's to end with the start of the HoH comp which, in actuality, went down late last night. While it was blocked to the live feeds, the results are in my most recent live feeds update.

I won't be actually live-blogging tonight's show due to (1.) it's probably a clips show and (B.) my back is really being evil today. However, I probably will jump in with what details we get on the HoH comp.

So, this one is for you -- anyone who wants to hang out in the comments. I'll probably have a few comments of my own! 

They're starting with a recap. 

They promise the start of the HoH and the chamsters "look back on the season." Oh! And never seen before footage! 

Heh. A segment on Mark's cleaning addiction matches a recent live feeds screen cap I posted and captioned: "Sir Cleans A Lot." 

Many clips later, we have the start of the HoH. The yard is a winter scene at Mount BB. They're on suspended in the air ski type platforms. It's snowing. They're moving all around. 

And, there we go.

Celebrity Big Brother: Live Feeds, HoH into Saturday - Feb. 24

Somebunny is the new HoH?

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of One More Night:

• Critter Cam after the live show ended.
• Extended Critter Cam.
• Followed by ... Critter Cam.
• When the feeds finally returned, we have a new HoH.
• Annnd ... it's ROSS (once again).
• He apparently made some kind of deal with Mark not to put him (Mark) on the block.
• The numbers have dwindled so much that there isn't much choice.
• I think his strong bond with Marissa keeps him from putting her on the block unless he has to do so.
• He is (currently) planning to put Omarosa and Ari on the block.
• Ross's target (once again or still) is Omarosa.
• He says ANYONE but Omarosa needs to win the veto.
• Anyone.
• But not Omarosa.
• I dunno.
• Omarosa has proved to be pretty good at comps.
• She's better than Marissa at them and better than Mark most of the time.
• Aha! Ross says his deal with Mark is that if he wins the veto, he must use it to save Ari and that he will vote Omarosa out.
• Despite all the scheming and wheeling and dealing, they all are getting along together just fine.
• They're also neater than the normal hamsters.
• Mark, James, Metta and Brandi were the most housekeeping chamsters this season.
• One thing I've caught onto that differs from the "normal" hamsters is that this crowd actually cares about the perception of the public more. They're definitely more interested in not making total idiots of themselves on national television and the Internet.
• They're all asleep now.  

Once again, he's HoH

Sir Cleans A Lot

Watch out, Ross!