tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post8717623300374436492..comments2024-03-19T05:50:19.572-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, "Banana Etiquette": Plan Voodoo child, pleaseAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-28659214479347693842010-03-29T18:09:52.484-04:002010-03-29T18:09:52.484-04:00Just a minor add: I don't think the Rob-led Vi...Just a minor add: I don't think the Rob-led Villain majority can be all that tight exactly because it's Rob-led. At some point, they have to get rid of Rob.alex s.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-69034649957034794502010-03-26T10:53:30.293-04:002010-03-26T10:53:30.293-04:00Gotta say that I love the night scene in which Rus...Gotta say that I love the night scene in which Russell tries to lay on the smarm and ingratiate himself with Rob, only to have Rob come right at him with the right hook. Russell has not experienced such aggression. It's interesting to see his eyes boggling as he rambles on in the angry monologue afterward, feeling threatened.Jim Teacherhttp://themultipurposesolution.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-82028665478061122762010-03-26T08:56:17.631-04:002010-03-26T08:56:17.631-04:00Pretty sensible. I agree that Tyson is still an id...Pretty sensible. I agree that Tyson is still an idiot my point being just there is a ton of things that went on in the hours and hours they were out there that we never saw. I think Tyson over thought his scenario, I don't think Russell persuaded him. And I am not saying Russell is not a great player, he is, I am just not one for hyperbole and sensationalism. I think Survivor Steve's blog at the end of Samoa really sums up my opinion of him. If you haven't read it you should check it out.J. Newman Grangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10452675746190549612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-12475359039937618982010-03-26T08:51:27.579-04:002010-03-26T08:51:27.579-04:00@ J. Newman
You mean to tell me that Tyson is goi...@ J. Newman<br /><br />You mean to tell me that Tyson is going to try and deflect some of the attention his way by claiming that Russell wasn't as smart as he seemed? I know they can tell a story with editing, but Tyson is still the idiot here. He's the one who changed his vote based on what Russell had said. He can twist that around any way he wants, but if Russell doesn't come talk to him, then chances are he sticks with the original split vote and he stays while either Russell or Parvati goes. Its also nice that he can offer advice on how he would play....from Ponderosa. <br /><br />The thing with all the immunity idols last year, was that I think by the end of it people just quit trying to put his name down because he just consistently had an idol, so while he may stumbled a little in playing them, the simple fact that he repeatedly found them was enough to throw everyone else off their game. <br /><br />Like I said previously, I don't know why we can't say that Rob and Russell are great players. Neither move was that groundbreaking but it was the best move at the time and they are the ones that led them. They should really align together and just take over the game. Of the people left, they are easily 1 & 2 at strategy.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05022623160699913156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-75734804178898316332010-03-25T22:33:20.200-04:002010-03-25T22:33:20.200-04:00Boston Rob has fallen prey to the Hunter phenomeno...Boston Rob has fallen prey to the Hunter phenomenon:<br /><br />"My problem was that I went camping with a bunch of knuckleheads."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-49720718315547091762010-03-25T18:27:26.925-04:002010-03-25T18:27:26.925-04:00I don't think that russel is that smart or cun...I don't think that russel is that smart or cunning. He is the one that everyone hates to hate and the show is designed to keep him around just so the they (including me) will keep watching hoping that they/I will see him voted offAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-759207170437055282010-03-25T15:20:46.563-04:002010-03-25T15:20:46.563-04:00This is a great link as well for a Tyson exit inte...This is a great link as well for a Tyson exit interview where he says that CBS edited it to make Russell look smarter than he seemed. Come on guys, got to be privy that out of the hours and hours of footage they have they can make it look a certain way and we all know CBS goes to sleep at night thinking of Russell...<br /><br />http://www.realitynewsonline.com/cgi-bin/ae.pl?mode=1&article=article11147.art&page=1J. Newman Grangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10452675746190549612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-50947263327293863592010-03-25T15:15:31.390-04:002010-03-25T15:15:31.390-04:00Whatever, we could debate it forever. It was a gre...Whatever, we could debate it forever. It was a great episode whether you like Russell or not. Problem I find with him is he really doesn't have a chance to win...Tyson summed it up perfectly: <br /><br />"The difference between Russell’s game-plan and what I would do is that I would stab somebody in the back, but I would do it so gently that they actually liked me for it, while Russell would come in with a sickle. And once he was done chopping the person in the back, he would cut them into little pieces. And then I don’t know what he would do with them, but he would make it super painful. And that, I think, is a very faulty way to play the game in that you’re not gonna win anybody’s vote. I was kind of hoping that Russell would stick around, but out of nowhere else to go, he would have to come to me."<br /><br />Even if Russell lasts longer than Rob I wouldn't consider him a better player anymore than I consider James a better player than Tom. So many factors play into these All-Star seasons.J. Newman Grangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10452675746190549612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-41805585080150899262010-03-25T14:56:45.754-04:002010-03-25T14:56:45.754-04:00Russell wasn't panicking when he played the id...Russell wasn't panicking when he played the idol, as Tyson said; he was sizing up the reactions of the Rob alliance. He must have seen something in Tyson's face to know Tyson had flipped to Parv and so he made his grand play to not only boot Tyson, but also secure Coach's vote (let's face it--Coach really IS that dumb).deznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-45400009267255346132010-03-25T14:37:10.877-04:002010-03-25T14:37:10.877-04:00Check out Tyson's interview on ew.com....Reall...Check out Tyson's interview on ew.com....Really enlightening. Let's you know the dynamics of it all (they knew Russell had the idol, Russell was panicking, Coach had already told them, etc, etc)J. Newman Grangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10452675746190549612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-75422508159427749722010-03-25T14:16:19.648-04:002010-03-25T14:16:19.648-04:00Tyson didn't get voted off because of a split ...Tyson didn't get voted off because of a split vote in Tocantins. He got voted off because JT's alliance decided it was a chance to get rid of him over Sierra and thus did.<br /><br />Boston Rob played his moves perfectly. Yes, what matters is Russell is still there,but not sure who he outsmarted in this instance since I think Tyson outsmarted himself (NOT BASHING Russell, just saying didn't think he did anything brilliant here).<br /><br />Tyson's vote was inexcusable. Voting for Parvati because Russell told him he was voting for Parvati made no sense in any way you look at it. If Russell had voted for Parv like he told Tyson, thats still 4 votes for Parvati. He would have 3 votes for Russell. There is NO WAY he is going home unless well, he did what he did. It was idiotic and I think its the dumbest move in SURVIVOR history in that he essentially voted himself out. Rob's face wasn't that of a man outsmarted, it was a face of realization that someone either couldn't count or was damn near idiotic.<br /><br />I give Russell the credit for having the cajones to give his idol way, but if Tyson does the sensible thing than Russell is peaced and we're all talking about how dumb a move that was.<br /><br />On another note, I have really come to respect Sandra's game a lot more. Staying low key and just voting where the numbers lie, especially in a game with this many egos, is pretty genius.<br /><br />*Don't take this as bashing Russell. The guy dominated his season. He should have won. He deserved to win. He is also (for the most part) good television. But a lot of things fell his way in Samoa and he made some questionable moves (getting rid of the idol for no reason. I am not as impressed with his ability to find immunity idols that season even if it was great television. Just not sure how he is any better than say a JT (who is so-so), who essentially did the same thing coming into a merge down a number of players (he only had 2 other members besides himself) and essentially got his alliance to the end. Oh yeh, and he won! I just think we sensationalize a lot of things and want everything new to be "the best ever". And lest we forget Vanuatu winner Chris who was the only guy left surrounded by an all girl alliance and somehow still won.<br /><br />Russell is fresh in our minds because his season was this year. Entertaining guy, really good in a down season, and whether or not he makes it far in this game or not I won't put some label on him. No one has seen him play (aside from Parv who had inside info from a casting friend). He better win or he'll be crying at the reunion again because if he ever came back a 3rd time he'd be gone very, very fast.J. Newman Grangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10452675746190549612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-91454160194745499142010-03-25T13:17:26.529-04:002010-03-25T13:17:26.529-04:00one of the beautiful things about survivor is that...one of the beautiful things about survivor is that a vote that happens this early in the game can totally change the entire way this shakes out. You have to assume had russell or parv gone down then the other one wouldn't be too far behind. It seems like those players that can manage to give themselves a couple extra days end up making noise. I think when this season is over we might look at this as the single most important vote of the 39 days<br /><br />-mjAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-13593509771045898332010-03-25T12:50:19.275-04:002010-03-25T12:50:19.275-04:00Here's why Tyson flipped: last time he played,...Here's why Tyson flipped: last time he played, he was told they were doing a split vote exactly like this, and then they secretly targeted him instead. He got paranoid because it was exactly this situation that cost him the game once before.<br /><br />And Russell probably remembered that. It takes a smart man to know exactly where the weakness is.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10032345969354207822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-71014537220711966202010-03-25T12:39:02.888-04:002010-03-25T12:39:02.888-04:00Stupid Russell luck saves him again. I mean who ch...Stupid Russell luck saves him again. I mean who changes their vote because the guy you’re voting for asks you to? And no, being great at easter egg hunts doesn’t make a great player. Rob is the great one and it’ll be a shame if Russ worms his way to the end again. Russell sucks.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13002328222814929732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-15175770447872895662010-03-25T11:13:05.232-04:002010-03-25T11:13:05.232-04:00Can we not just say that both Rob and Russell are ...Can we not just say that both Rob and Russell are good players? While the vote split is an obvious strategy it still takes a leader to really push it through. But his true success is because he has been able to captivate all these people (except Russell) into ignoring that he's easily the biggest threat on the tribe. He's not only a good social player but a major threat at challenges. <br /><br />Russell on the other hand seems to be the only one not worshiping at Rob's feet and for good reason. He recognizes him as the threat he is. You can call his move desperate or lucky, but in the end, his plan worked. Nobody from his alliance left, and one of Rob's did. You can't ask for a better outcome when down in the numbers than that. <br /><br />I'm guessing Russell feels he can be more risky with the idol considering his tribe is clearly dominating the challenges. Odds are he may not go to another tribal until the merge at which point Rob is probably target #1.<br /><br />I just think its silly to keep arguing about who is smarter. Rob pushed the best plan to both out the idol and vote off Parvati or Russell. Russell smartly figured this was probably the plan and went to work on someone he thought he could work over. They both chose the smart path given their respective positions. This time it happened to work in Russell's favor and I loved it. There is nothing better than seeing the Manning face at tribal council.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05022623160699913156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-66152212951674520302010-03-25T09:13:34.059-04:002010-03-25T09:13:34.059-04:00Seriously, every Survivor thread has to devolve in...Seriously, every Survivor thread has to devolve into a Russell argument?<br /><br />J, I will agree that what happened was more Tyson being dumb than Russell being brilliant. But you do have to give Russell a modicum of credit for approaching Tyson in the first place. I mean, Tyson wasn't going to be spontaneously dumb. Russell had to plant the seeds of stupidity in his head.Michaelangelo McCullarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14684146120271687293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-77303597063294528042010-03-25T03:51:02.621-04:002010-03-25T03:51:02.621-04:00one thing I wanted to add if you watch the voting ...one thing I wanted to add if you watch the voting confessionals. Russel walks up to the voting booth head down the entire time. He writes down a name never shows it never says anything to the camera. It is the image of a defeated man. He had no idea what was going to happen. His plea to coach was for a vote should it come to a revote. <br /><br />If Russel was truly truly a strategic genius, he should have done what Tyson thought he was going to do.<br /><br />Vote for Parv and not play the idol. Then he has a chance to go to coach or Tyson the next day and point out he still has the idol, if they want to vote for him again they would have to split the vote 3 and 2 if either flipped they would control the vote and if they knew they had a three strong secret block Russell could keep holding on to the HI and save it for the merge.<br /><br />That would be brilliant gameplay, what actually happened was he got lucky because Tyson overthought the entire thing.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08965717916375558077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-31612031664367849182010-03-25T03:10:02.118-04:002010-03-25T03:10:02.118-04:00I don't want to rehash the analysis above, but...I don't want to rehash the analysis above, but I have to say that both Rob and Russell made this an exciting episode to watch. I actually knew who was getting eliminated before I watched it and still it was a great tribal council. Without getting into the debate of who the greatest manipulator on Survivor is, especially when this season isn't over yet, I think that Russell needs to be given some credit for getting Tyson to change his vote. Tyson was not that dumb on his original season, and we can't keep saying that Russell's manipulations only work with dummies, unless everyone happens to be a dummy. Tyson was sort of on the outside of each faction anyway, so he was the perfect target to choose. <br /><br />I also agree that giving his HII to Parvati has won him Coach's support, which means he has 4 in his pocket to Rob's 4 and he just needs one person to flip. Depending on how the wind blows, Sandra could be the one to flip, especially if the merge is coming up and someone like Rob is a greater threat as an individual than not. If not Sandra, then I could see Jerri flipping.<br /><br />The Heroes tribe has been boring, but are finally showing brain power by keeping Colby over James. I think they were over doing the whole Colby is not mentally in it routine because I suspect that this will invigorate him, and if he can get to the merge, who knows what can happen, especially with Jerri on the other side.<br /><br />Amanda has got to go though. She was acting more like a friend than a competitor with James and has not contributed much value at all.<br /><br />I don't like that we still haven't heard much from Sandra or Courtney. Sandra has got to be manipulating things as much as Rob, or at least contemplating various strategies.<br /><br />I don't expect Danielle to have anything of worth to say, and it looks like she is the tag along with Russell and Parvati, so unless Russell goes next week, she is unfortunately going to be around for a while.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317568565085893849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-30914882636989686322010-03-25T03:07:46.170-04:002010-03-25T03:07:46.170-04:00Tried to post links to two videos that are up on C...Tried to post links to two videos that are up on CBS's website where Tyson explains his logic (one is his day after video, one is his full speech after the vote), but they didn't take, so here is the gist of what he said:<br /><br />Tyson knew that their group of 6 would split their vote (3 for Russell and 3 for Pavarti). From there, he believed Russell when he said he would vote for Pavarti. Tyson then assumed that Pavarti and Danielle would act in their self interests and vote for Russell. This would cause a 5-4 vote that would vote Russell out (assuming Russell didn't play the idol, which in my opinion, is a stupid assumption). Tyson wanted Pavarti to go first, so he decided to switch his vote at the last minute so it would end 5-4 against Pavarti.<br /><br />I am a fan of Russell's, but the truth is, he could not have known this specific event was coming. Russell took a risk and assumed they would simply vote Pavarti out, and the threats made against him were simply a way to flush the idol out while getting rid of Pavarti.<br /><br />What a bizarre turn of events.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12650253162452322581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-73727839920284777562010-03-25T03:00:50.804-04:002010-03-25T03:00:50.804-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12650253162452322581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-72954743823718568862010-03-25T02:45:21.221-04:002010-03-25T02:45:21.221-04:00You all are giving WAY too much credit in trying t...You all are giving WAY too much credit in trying to tease out his motivations and strategy. Here's the thing I have picked up by watching Tyson in Tocatins and in the outtake videos on CBS.com - he is vain, foolish, egotistical and not very bright, though he thinks he is. Russell played to his sense of vanity and stupidity by kissing his ass and making him feel "privileged" to his "shocking confession" and so dumb Tyson felt safe enough to disregard the group strategy and do his own thing, thinking that in the end it wouldn't matter. And for that, Tyson got to hang out at Ponderosa for an extra 20+ days.a_ugochi_enhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03584706696857537162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-78877319031024278062010-03-25T02:08:59.821-04:002010-03-25T02:08:59.821-04:00Wow, until the results of the Tribal Councils star...Wow, until the results of the Tribal Councils started coming in, I thought we were in for the most predictable episode ever.<br /><br />I think James would have been gone last week if it wasn't for the fact that JT has been so intent on getting rid of people with any iota of intelligence. Candice is very lucky to have won individual immunity, while Colby can thank himself for not demonstrating much in the way of brainpower.<br /><br />Despite the knighting of Coach at the hands of Russell in the previous episode, it was telling to see that Coach’s hate for Parvati couldn’t overcome his own warped sense of honour (i.e. his previous commitments to the hobbit's alliance).<br /><br />If anyone is interested, more of my thoughts on this episode can be found on blog where I go into detail about why Russell's tribal council success was really just 90% luck and 10% good strategy on his part. Click my username for the link.tribalismhttp://wordbribery.com/survivor-banana-etiquette/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-7507475033646651022010-03-25T01:47:32.249-04:002010-03-25T01:47:32.249-04:00The three tied votees wouldn't vote.
So it wo...The three tied votees wouldn't vote.<br /><br />So it would be five of the Robliance voting for whoever and Danielle voting for Tyson.<br /><br />Making it probably a 5-1-0 Parvati goes home vote.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00878228995860910818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-13281754566533461942010-03-25T01:43:49.714-04:002010-03-25T01:43:49.714-04:00I don't understand: what happens when it's...I don't understand: what happens when it's a 3 way tie between Tyson, Russell, and Pavarti. And Russell doesn't use his idol? Then it's a revote but aren't all 3 people tied eligible to be voted off? Making it an ongoing 3 way tie?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-12570771456294707912010-03-25T01:33:06.418-04:002010-03-25T01:33:06.418-04:00If I'm right, the final five (the Villains are...If I'm right, the final five (the Villains are getting to the merge with a majority, if there are any puzzle challenges for immunity before then) would be:<br /><br />Russell, Parvati, Sandra, Coach, and Danielle. Which makes F3 Russell, Parvati, and Danielle? Danielle wins because Russell is an ass, Parvati has already won, and Alan's pre-season prediction is right.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00878228995860910818noreply@blogger.com