What you've missed

Let there be Richard
Ten plus years ago (my god has it been that long) Mark Burnett captured lightning in a bottle. Taking an idea from Charlie Parsons, Burnett pitched this idea to several networks, and much like American Idol, most of the networks passed. Eventually the idea landed at CBS and it became a juggernaut. The Survivor phenomenon was huge for a while, but unlike other phenoms something amazing happened with it, it leveled off. Most things that are huge (see The Apprentice for both a reality TV and Mark Burnett tie in) don’t level off. They go from being huge to crashing, drawing numbers much more fitting of a UPN or cable channel. Survivor has gotten into a grove where it varies ratings-wise, but still delivers consistent numbers and eyeballs. Much of this was due to Richard Hatch. He seemed to be the only person that understood the game from day one. Much of Survivor’s success and the way the game is played is due to the foresight of the fat naked gay guy (thanks Rudy!).

And then there was Rupert
Pearl Islands brought us the lovable hippie with self-esteem issues. If you have ever read this blog before you know I’m not the biggest Rupert fan. He was great in the beginning, the stealing of the shoes was fantastic, but based on what happened later I think it was an aberration rather than a true trait of his. Rupert was a fascinating figure, but had an incredible edit, and had a sense of entitlement about the game, being the first (I believe) Survivor to claim that the game was his. I remember him almost coming to blows with Johnny Fairplay about voting for him. How dare someone do that? Rupert was the first Survivor that I openly heard people say they were done with the show because he got voted off. Never the less Rupert is one of a handful of reality TV alumnus that is instantly recognizable.

My god, it’s full of stars
Survivor 10 was the first of many times that the cast featured returning players. It stands unique in that it was the first time that players returned, and also in that it set the stage for returning players changing who they are. Boston Rob was an also ran in Maquesas, not making the jury. He was a character, which probably got him his spot, but much like his now-wife, he was a question mark for being on the show. It was one the most obvious examples of the right person not winning, and the fact that even seasoned (intentional) veterans let hurt feelings overpower what respect they should have for the game.

I missed it by “this much”
Survivor Micronesia, or Fans vs. Favorites, or half ASS (all star survivor) holds a special place in my cold black heart for several reasons, not the least of which were my conversations with Erika Shay, Lynne S. and others regarding this season before it happened, only to be left wanting. Anyway…this season showed that people are idiots. I’m not talking about ice cream scoopers giving away the game, but more about how being star struck makes you forget why you’re there. By the time you are on the beach and Jeff says, “Welcome to Survivor” you have already invested probably six months in the game from the time you sent in your app (unless you were found at a gas station in LA, but don’t get me started on that). Even pushing 40, six months is a substantial investment. You should have your eye on the prize. I’m guessing that neither the returning players nor the newbies knew what the swerve was for the season, so on the one hand they are all surprised. Still, in the game it would only be “fair” if everyone starts out with “all other things being equal”. The inequity, in my mind, comes from there must be a certain acclimation period before you are actually used to the fact that you are actually on Survivor, and you start just playing the game. Any new players had a major disadvantage. However if I was a non-returning player I would have done any and everything in my power to make sure a newbie won, even if it wasn’t me. They had their shot, it’s our time now.

And a troll will lead them
Using troll in the header is misleading. I love Russell. I think he is one of the best players ever, and also one of the worst. If you go back and read my blogs from his two seasons you will see that I felt he was his own worst enemy with some of his decisions. At the same time, there has never been a player that amazed me as much as he did. The idols, the power plays, coming from behind. It was shock, after shock, after shock. All the way until the end Russell was entertaining and shocking, with the topper being the shock that he didn’t win. I would have bet cash money that he was going to win, but I couldn’t find anyone to take that bet.

Again, really?
No, I’m not talking about bringing people back for the fourth time (I excluded Stephanie and Bobbie John’s retread), but rather who won Heroes vs. Villains. As much as I hate to admit it, Sandra does have a great strategy. Not one I would reward, but one that really works to the tune of 1.4 million bucks (accounting for taxes). This iteration of returning players was interesting because it had players that had played 18 or 19 seasons ago. Everybody could know everybody except Russell. This was an advantage for Russell as we’d see two seasons later, but was also a disadvantage as there were already alliances in place made outside the game. The interesting thing was watching a stud from season two (Colby) showing that ten years had slowed him, and that he had not kept up with the game since his last outing. The final three contained two of the best players ever, and the only two time winner. Once again hurt feelings overcame respect for the game and Parv. or Russell was robbed. If I was ever on the show the first night around the camp fire I would work in a conversation about winning, asking if there were two people, one who you liked but was just there, and one you didn’t like but played the game well, who would you vote to win. I would then try to quickly eliminate those who would vote for the friend (without throwing any challenges, because that is dumb).

Lets talk about THE MEDALLION OF POWER
Actually let’s forget it ever happened…next.

The third time wasn’t the charm
Rob v. Russell sounded like a good idea. I’m sure it did. However by placing them in separate tribes you never really got the head to head competition. Statistically Russell is still better than Rob, but we’ll see how this game shakes out. If you look at the two of them Russell and Rob really aren’t that different in how they play. If you look at Rob’s “betrayal” of Lex in All-Stars, it’s not that different than what Russell had done. Rob had a MUCH better social game. Russell played a much better strategic, manipulation game. Coming into this game both Rob and Russell had an advantage. They knew that they were going to be playing against newbs. That gave them a slight leg up. However, the main thing for this season was the prejudice against Russell. Much like being an unknown in HvV gave him a slight edge, being a known in this go round pretty much put a nail in his coffin before the game started. From day one it was a waiting game of when his tribe lost for when he’d go home. I don’t think he helped his cause at all, but he scrambled and tried to make do with what he had. The episode of his torch getting snuffed was engaging and right until the last second I thought Julie would flip. Honestly I think that would have been the better move for her, but we’ll see. Watching Russell break down and cry after losing at Redemption Island reminded me of the breakdown that Rob had in HvV. It made me respect them for the fact that they realized how lucky they are to be playing this game and what it meant for them. I don’t think Russell has a future in Survivor because people will always want to get rid of him first. He has, in my mind, replaced Rob C. as the best player not to win.

Redemption Island
I still don’t know what to make of it. On the one hand, the Russell Matt challenge was exciting, but it makes the show seem very busy. Maybe a 90 minute or two hour Survivor format is needed to accommodate all the extra stuff going on. I’m not sold on it yet, but I think it might work. I’d like it to be something that isn’t a given going forward, maybe it’ll happen, maybe it won’t. I think knowing beforehand (before the game starts) that there will be a RI changes the strategy a bit. I loved exile island and would love for it to return.

Lastly
A season with Russell and Rob would be bad enough, but adding in Secret Agent Man has left the remaining cast with little air time. Four episodes in a lot of the cast has not been fleshed out, hopefully this is not a cast of Purple Kellys. I fault Rob’s tribe for being star struck. A quarter of the way in his tribe should be figuring out how to hasten Rob’s exit, not how to keep him around. Obviously they are not winning challenges with him, losing him now will help them later. Any experience he’s brought has not translated into victories, their only victory being a thrown challenge. I do appreciate his gameplay this time, adapting his style, but I don’t think he has a shot at winning. As a three time player, I would be convinced to get rid of him as soon as possible. Do you really think the tribe would be weaker with Matt there instead of him. Right now I don’t have enough info to pick a winner other than to say I think it will be a woman from Russell’s tribe, but not one of his two girls.