Survivor

Obviously the producers didn't agree with me, but I was expecting Andrea to get disqualified from the water balancing challenge because her right big toe was straddled across the dividing bar.

But the blind side was fun!

Yay blindside! Usually when they do one of those two-tribals episodes it's to burn off two obvious boots in a row and get onto something (hopefully) interesting, so we were pleased they turned the tables on her. The face-falling moment during the vote reading is always gold.

Reynold needs to shave the pornstache.

Geez Louise, TWoP is blowing up with the Dawn hate after last night's episode. TWOP Pendleton had to step in and say "Cool it with the death threats and the nasty comments about her appearance, 'kay?"

I don't get it, myself. I don't like Dawn, but that's because I find her annoying. All this "AAAAGH YOU TREACHEROUS BITCH!" stuff is making me roll my eyes. She's playing the game, folks.

I just hope Cochran wins. I love that guy.

Wait... you're saying that there are people on TWOP who will hate on someone because of some perceived slight and blow it way out of proportion?!?

Believe it ... or not! :)

Brandon has been banned from the finale

Thank glub for that.

Russell's tweet: You stopped Brandon from going but guess what you can't stop me!! @JeffProbst That's what's wonderful about this country lol

Does Russel really think that CBS can't keep him out of the finale? Idiot.

Hah! The reunion is usually a bit of a snore, but that might just make it a bit more interesting if he actually does show up.

that might just make it a bit more interesting if he actually does show up.

I hope he's completely ignored during the show. Then, if he tries to make a scene, a couple of very large, burly security people can carry his idiot ass out of there.

Satisfying finale. Cochran was getting the winner's edit the whole way through, though we thought someone might throw a vote Dawn's way.

I guess this was filmed last May and June (giving Brenda enough time to be extremely pregnant by now) which means they've been waiting ages to find out who won.

Yeah, as soon as they showed how pregnant Brenda was, I was stunned at how long there is between end of filming and broadcast.

I was very happy with Cochran's win. I thought he played well and was strategic without making enemies (hence the unanimous finale). Sherri was delusional. I kinda wish they'd go back to the two person final tribal council. Dawn was a basket case throughout the season - I'm not surprised she got no votes.

I was absolutely horrified by Brenda's request to Dawn for her to take her teeth out. That's just fucking mean.

I think that's the first time they haven't brought all the season's cast back onstage during the reunion show. (I realise they were in the audience though.)

I think that's the first time they haven't brought all the season's cast back onstage during the reunion show.

Did they explain why they did that? I missed part of the show right after the announcement of the winner. Was there any reason other than the barring of The Loathsome Hantz? And was Uncle Russell there? I didn't notice him in the audience, but I wasn't paying close attention.

I also assumed the stashing the pre-jurors in the audience was probably to cover the lack of Brandon, though honestly, we kind of liked that Probst didn't have to spend gobs of time fishing for something to say to the people who were on the show for a total of five seconds.

It also apparently made Corinne very angry, which is always a plus.

I was absolutely horrified by Brenda's request to Dawn for her to take her teeth out. That's just fucking mean.

Amen. I wonder if this will shut up some of the TWoPpers who kept harping last week about how saintly Brenda is and what a mean old ugly bitch Dawn is. *pause* Nah, probably not.

It also apparently made Corinne very angry, which is always a plus.

Ooh, I didn't know that! Bonus!

She was furious and enraged!

Oh for the love of...Gervase, you've had 13 years to take swimming lessons, why did you not take any swimming lessons??

This family stuff plus Redemption Island again (ugh) seems needlessly complicated.  And so far I can't remember who half of the actual returning castmembers are.  

Rupert: We get it, you are selfless and heroic.  

Colton: Go away.

ETA: Ha, I just clicked on that old link to Corinne's twitter feed and she *just* posted another dig about half the cast not being up on stage for the reunion.  Oh lady, you silly.

So many tears in this episode.

I really wish there was some way to get Rupert to go away forever. Are there Survivor fans out there who were pining for him to come back?

That counting scene with Culpepper (and I HATE that he's getting the last-name treatment from Jeff) was awesome. Quite a few people actually lose because they seem to forget how to count, so good on him for eventually figuring out that 5>4. He had some other hilariously labored metaphor in the episode that I can't remember. But I still hate that guy and want him out, even though he'll probably be entertaining. I hated the "4 guys and 1 gay guy." (He knows that because of counting.)

Colton you asshole, good job! I wanted Jeff to quit talking cos I didn't want him convincing Colton to stay.

Both Rupert and Colton gone in the first few episodes? The producers must have been furious. I read somewhere (probably on TWOP, although I don't go there much any more) that Probst didn't want either of those two on the show, but was overruled.

It occurs to me that I've never seen one of the Redemption Island visits before now. (The previous RI seasons had cast members I refused to watch.) Can't say that I like it very much. Is it popular with the fans in general?

I don't think it's very popular, no. Personally, I don't like it. If a contestant is voted out, let him/her be gone, already.

I feel dumb for admitting this, but I felt desperately sorry for Colton when he was crying. Tears are my Achilles' heel.

Bye, Colton, you big idiot. I would love to know what Caleb sees in him, because none of us can.

I was fascinated with Aras' and Vytas' duelling childhood interpretations, with both of them feeling threatened by the other for different reasons. Those two need to go hug it out.

CBS spoiled the episode with their commercial that showed them saying they were drawing rocks -- which didn't take place until 53 minutes into the episode, for the love of pete -- so that took all the suspense out of it. Nice one, guys.

Probst's commentary has been getting more clunky and annoying than usual. What the heck was the point of him saying he didn't see what Caleb sees in Colton? Neither do any of us, but yeesh, at least pretend Caleb had some value in being on the show other than being engaged to that dingus.

I'm not sure who I am rooting for at this point but I'm glad we seem to be mostly free of "under the radar" types, who are so very boring.