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My Player of the Season Endorsement

In a little over 24 hours Survivor: South Pacific will be over. The drama will commence and it will all be said and done. Predictions will hold true or be proved false. One person will be crowned the sole survivor. With that said; who do i believe deserves the title of Sole Survivor and Player of the Season?

Coach Wade

What makes a good player? A lot of things. I think alot of what we have to look at is how that player played for themselves. Coach is the prime example of what the Player of the Season should be.

Many people in the fan community frown upon returnees because of their assumed advantage. But for Coach his journey was different. he had to fight for his right from the get go. He didn't have a bunch of mindless idiots on his tribe who were just ready to let him take it to the end. Coach's welcome wasnt a positive one at first. He was called out on the spot. He lost the first challenge for them. And even Rick professed his distaste for the Dragon Slayer even before he entered the game. The perception of Coach was something he had to work against to be successful. And he did. He changed the perception of him. In a matter of days he switched his seemingly dire situation into a power position with nearly everyone on his side. His strategy mirror that of BRob last season but frankly i think it is better. I say it is better because it is not as obvious and abrasive. Coach finessed his way into alliances with every person on the 6 person group without alienating them in the process. Therefore he was important to every person in the game. Genius strategy and undeniably amazing social game.

To me the most important thing when we look at returning players is their growth. Have they learned from their past seasons and can they improve? Coach has. He has grown and learned more than any other returning player. Coach his first two seasons was a character. This season he is the definition of a player. A good one at that. He knew what went wrong the last two times and what needed to be fixed. He put together a perfect mix of all his attributes. Combining and adding to his last two performances. For someone who was portrayed as a Dragon Slayer that people never took seriously to turning into a legitamate force in the strategic and social aspects of the game is spectacular. He should be rewarded for it. He has shown what i want to see in returnees. The same can't be said for Ozzy who just stuck to the same old tune. Coach played the game. And he played it better than anyone out there this season. A deserving Player of the Season and hopefully a very deserving Sole Survivor. Jeff Probst agrees.

"My vote would go to Coach"

-Jeff Probst- Insider TV

Everyone should go vote for Coach until it blocks you from doing so. Give him the recognition and acceptance he deserves after three seasons. You should vote both of these ways:

Text the number 4 to 99888 as many times as you can

And go to this link and vote for Coach http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/player_of_the_week/post

Also spread the word to vote for Coach by using #CoachFF on twitter and directing people to vote for him!

Survivor: South Pacific- Will Honor + Integrity = Victory?

Its here ladies and gentlemen. Its time for finale week. To be perfectly honest it has flown by. It surely doesn't seem like the season should be this close to ending. Personally i would love for it to stretch out a bit. I suppose we can now all get closure as to who will win this season of Survivor. And for me the question of the season will be the following.... Will honor + integrity = victory?

Over the three season arch of Coach Wade we have had this mantra shoved down our throats. Constantly. Anyone and everyone who has watched Survivor somewhat religiously MUST know this phrase. Never before have we been placed in a position to really ask the question whether it will really work. Can Coach's theory of iron sharpens iron bring him to the elusive title of Sole Survivor? I'm still not quite sure. I now have faith that Coach has the guns to take the victory. But the last couple weeks can do nothing but put doubt in my mind. Do i believe he deserves the title? YES. No doubt in my mind. He has grown beyond belief and has had to overcome so much to place himself in such a spectacular position. Nearly perfecting the social game that his foes like Russell Hantz can't dream of doing. His performance overall should be rewarded. The word Survivor is perfect for what he has had to do this season from the get go. But will he end up being rewarded for his game?

Will keeping this prayer circle together pay off?

I have had full confidence in every move made by Coach. Until the last two votes as i stated last week. In two tribal councils Coach has taken out the two biggest goats that he should have taken to the end. My assumption was that Coach, showing such growth in the game player area, would smarten up and go with the goat. But sadly my assumption was wrong. Why did he go with iron sharpens iron instead of the easy route? The simple answer is that that is just Coach. His Survivor style and his life motto is the same really. We can't really expect him to change it. Its more than a strategy. It's his philosophy. I can't help but think he feels so comfortable either way he goes that he would rather keep his philosophy intact. I hope his comfort is proven true.

His sacrifice is commendable. He clearly went with the tougher option as of now and has stuck to what he said he would do since Tocantins. Bring the strong to the end. Right now it is lining up to be a final 3 comprised of Coach, Albert, Sophie. With the outside chance of Brandon ending up there. Now my personal hope is that we will have a miracle and Edna will win the RI duels. Albert will get ousted by a competitive Sophie and an easily swayed Rick along with Coach just looking nice beside them. Then we have a Sophie mess up in an immunity after she blindsided he final 2 partner which sends her home. Which would most likely leave us with a Brandon, Edna, Coach final 3. Unanimous vote maybe? Maybe a few thrown in there for Edna because she beat Ozzy and what not. I realize this is not all that likely but a guy can dream can't he?

If Coach ends up in the final 3 with Albert and Sophie then we have a few options. I am worried for Coach. He will however finally get to make the argument he has yearned for at final tribal since he first played. We have had the narrative of good will prevail. That honor and integrity will lead to victory. I however am worried the second best will win. That person being Sophie. She has played a decent game but is so clearly 2nd to Coach's game play. As a returnee Coach may not be able to survive that stigma when he goes against decent opponents. He needs goats to assure his victory. I don't believe Coach doesn't have a chance though. We may find ourselves with one of the first real 3 way splits in final tribal. It is much like elections to political offices. You have the Republican and Democrat nominees. Then you have the disgruntled loser of the primary *cough* Ron Paul *cough* that decides they don't like the nominee so they run as a third party or a write in. Which inevitably gives us a third option. And a viable third option. So then you have one parties supporters splitting their votes onto their nominee and some onto the third party yahoo (i mean most of the time that term is appropriate). Which in turn makes the end result be that the party that was not split will win. This is my hope for Coach in Survivor. He is the solid party. You either vote for him as the returnee or you vote for the other side. They buy what he is selling or they dont. The split would be with Sophie and Albert. With Sophie of course being the presumed nominee. Albert may steal a vote or two for support from her thus giving the victory to Coach. I guess the less politically knowledgeable people may not understand but it does fit quite well. So Coach could very win without having a real majority of the 9 jurors. We could have a winner with less than half of the votes. This is how i see it going down if Sophie doesn't end up winning. Please and thank you.

If you don't know who these people are then you probably didn't understand that whole last paragraph much... or at least don't care.

We wont have to wait long to see if this happens. In mere days we will see who is crowned sole survivor. Who will return from RI? Who cares. I believe it will be non-consequential. If it is Ozzy and he happens to get to the end then can he win? Sadly yes... but i prefer not to dwell on that sickening option. I will be back with a fan favorite blog on Thursday or Friday before the Sunday night finale. Until then i'll be crossing my fingers!

p.s.... i hope this splitting of the votes doesn't occur in our presidential elections next year. So Trump and Paul please just stay out of it!

p.p.s... Get on the Coach bandwagon and realize true transformation by joining this official coach fan page on FaceBook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/officialbenjamincoachwadegroup/

Survivor: South Pacific- The Tide Not Taken

Some would say all good things must come to an end. This may even be the case when it comes to Survivor. The characters we grow to love, the alliances we root for, the seasons we watch, and one day the show itself. This season soon will come to an end and it sure has been a good one. But on this past episode we had a couple things come to an end. As a super fan i can't help but enjoy Cochran's enthusiasm for the game and everything it is. He is what we Survivor nerds wish we could be- well hopefully for us future Cochran's it will go a lot better than it did for him. The happy little family that was called Upolu will now have to end itself. What have these new set of circumstances brought us viewers? What do we have to look forward to? And most importantly what does this mean for the players themselves?

The Survivor fan community has been bursting at its seams over the past couple weeks with talk of Cochran's move. Was it good or was it bad? It all culminated in this last episode. Cochran gets snuffed just like many thought would happen. But was this really a bad move? I don't see it that way. You may through out jargon like "the ends didn't justify the means" ans what not. But in Cochran's mind the move he made did nothing but help him. It really makes since. He actually enjoyed his last days. REALLY ENJOYED. He got what he wanted out of the move. From what he was informed of he was 6th with an alliance that he didn't feel in tune with. Sure that wasn't quite reality since they all wanted him as a goat but they didn't let on to that fact to him. So Cochran lands in 7th place how he wanted to. As we saw from episode 1- his agenda was to make an impression on the show that raised him. That he devoted his life into. It can't be denied that Cochran did make an impression and a BIG one. He will always be remembered for his move. Good or bad. I think Charlie Sheen would call that winning in this case.

"There is a tide that comes in the lives of men, that when taken, leads to great fortune, but when omitted, all the rest of their lives are bound to shadows and misery."

This was a quote from Coach this episode. Many probably wrote it off as goofy Dragon Slayer quotes but i think it was genius placing by the editors. It really was the story of the move. . To be with Cochran or not to be with Cochran. That is the question Coach had to ask himself. This quote is of course from the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. Act 4, scene 3, lines 218–224 to be exact. This really shows Coach's deep analytically centered mind when it comes to the strategy he takes. Also proves his philosophical air we see time and time again. To refresh your memory; Coach was referring to the move of who to take out at tribal council. Does he take the tide to go with Cochran as a major goat to the finals or does he let it pass by, or be omitted to adhere the quote he retorted. Did he wrongly let the tide pass and will the rest of his life (game) be bound to shadows and misery (losing)?

Did you let the right tide pass?

At this point it is a tough one to call. Up to this point i have been in 100% agreement with the moves Coach has made. But this time i have a hard time doing the same. I believe Coach did what the quote insists. I think this was the tide he should have taken. And on that tide was his lock on the million dollars. Now i am not saying he will not win. But he surely made it a lot harder on himself by making the move he made. He should have taken out Rick. In all actuality i believe he should have taken out Albert but sadly he won immunity. Rick was the logical second best option for Coach. Rick may be "loyal" but he is loyal to the 5. If he believes he has a better chance or got a better argument from the Sophie and Albert duo then he would surely go. The decision to take out Cochran instead of an Upolu has set in place the final 3. Yes it still contains Coach who is the constant in all final 3's with the information we have been given. But he has made the road to the million dollars and title a lot harder once he gets there. How does he get to the end with any form of goat duo? He doesn't unless Cochran returns. He no longer has enough numbers to take out the side of Albert and Sophie. Not guaranteed numbers at least. I don't think this was a fatal mistake made by Coach. He won't leave anytime soon. You have Edna who is on the outs, Rick who is alienated from Albert, and Branden who is widely known as a parasite. With that line up it seems logical we finally have the iron sharpens iron final 3 Coach has wished for for three seasons. And that is in Albert and Sophie. Can he win? Yes. Will he win against them? Yet another impossible prediction.

We will see over the coming weeks whether this all hold true. A surprising exit or untimely blowup may cause the tides to shift and we may find ourselves with a different mixture at the final 3 then we had imagined. It's Survivor so anything is possible. OH and how can we not discuss this before the airing of the next episode.It is going to be Ozzy vs. Cochran. This is surely the duel of the season. Some believe it will be a complete blowout and the humiliation of Cochran will be finished. But wouldn't it be the best story arc of Survivor history if Cochran did indeed win and eliminate Ozzy? The self proclaimed nerd that was chastised and joked about for his horrible lack of challenge prowess vs. the ego maniac hippie who is known for nothing more than being the best challenge competitor in the history of reality television? That is a cataclysmic pairing. IF Cochran pulls off a win it will be the most humiliating blow to Ozzy and his reputation and it will surely make Cochran the happiest little nerd man on the face of the planet... EVER. That's what we have to look forward to more than anything this next episode. I can't wait to see what is on the other side of THIS new tide.

Don't drop that ball Cochran.

Survivor: South Pacific- NO Big Moves

Yet another double tribal on our hands this episode. But the difference between this week and last week is that this one was a TRUE double tribal. This was what I love about double tribals. We see the same amount of strategy. And we also get the added benefit of shock in the eyes of the castaways when they have to vote out another person on the spot. Not to mention having to compete in an impromptu immunity challenge. How could you not prefer this pure format when compared to the ridiculous smashing of 6 days into one episode? I surely know I do. I have a lot to say about this episode. Most of it centers around the move that in the end was not made. On the Survivor fan groups on FaceBook the move of Albert, Sophie, and Cochran to stay with Coach is being heavily criticized. Many of us fans love to just see big moves. It makes for exciting television, that can not be denied. The phrases "wimping out" or "drinking the Coach kool-aid" are being used over and over again to describe what they did, or rather didn't do. What was wrong with the move? Nothing I say. Nothing. And that's just what I want to defend in today's blog.

This is the group that they should stay with. Plus Sophie of course. Albert and Sophie are the keys to this move that is being debated. Of course with Cochran being the added number to pull it off. But my argument is that, for Albert and Sophie, staying with Coach was undeniably their only real option this round. "But they were targeting Edna, not Coach" you say. If you believe that phrase then I'm sorry to say you are quite naive and you don't understand the game or social dynamics in the least bit. A vote against Edna is a vote against Coach. It's like a man and his dog (sorry Edna but it just works). You may not harm the man directly but killing his dog is almost as bad if not worse, since they will be alive to stew in their juices of anger towards you. Edna is Coach's dog. His loyal companion that will be by his side no matter what. If Albert and Sophie had gone against Coach at this moment then they would make an automatic enemy out of him. And with an idol in his pocket no less. This couples with the fact that Jeff told them their would be a twist at tribal, makes going against him a bad move. You don't try a blindside like this when you don't even know how it will all go down. Most expected, naturally because of Cochran's fandom, a double tribal; so to vote a mans best friend out to only leave him with an idol to play at the next vote after he was basically blindsided is just idiotic. The next argument for them staying is easy to see. Options. If they vote out Edna they no longer have the option of going to the end with Coach, who once again holds the idol. Why would you risk that option just t get out a lap dog? Even Albert knows that Edna is no threat to win the game. Options are always important in the game of Survivor. Coach realizes that. He has his options. And obviously Sophie and Albert realize they need him as one of theirs. Sure we can say Coach will not go with them to the finals. But that's what we see. So far Coach has not broken a deal with them. Why would they flip just to go to a final 5 with the most likable person in the game, Dawn, who has won immunity, Whitney, and Cochran who obviously has shown that he doesn't mind flipping in a heartbeat? That doesn't sound like a good option. What they did was stay with three Upolu jury goats, Rick, Brandon, and Edna. Not to mention Cochran would be in no position to pull a move since he wouldn't have enough numbers that way. Looks like a good scenario as opposed to the toss up of the other side. Arguably they should have taken out Coach and his peeps a long time ago. That way they could cement their dominance and lead an alliance. But they didn't. So tough luck on their part. We also have to remember how utterly transparent Albert has been in his scheming. This leads me into a more broad discussion. Not just about this move but about Survivor in general. There are two big phrases that were resonating in my my head after this episode was over. The first primarily pertains to Albert and Cochran. That phrase is that just because you know strategy doesn't mean you have what it takes to pull it off. Both of those people are prime examples of it. Cochran is a self proclaimed student of the game. He knows all the ins and outs of Survivor. He knows exactly what moves could be made at certain times and how to play it. Albert is a brilliant man. I think he has shown that. He knows what he has to do to win. But the problem is that not everyone can pull it off. Both of them fall in that category. In Cochran's case it's his social ineptitude. It doesn't matter how many master plans you can come up with if people won't be willing to go with you in carrying out the plan. For Albert its his horribly painful translucent gameplay. It's worse than Cochran's skin. While what Albert may want to do is not all that bad, he can't keep it quite enough to pull it off. We have seen multiple times this season where he wanted to do something but others caught wind and he had to abort his mission. I think all us wannabe castaways can learn from this. Just cause we know the game inside and out doesn't mean we will succeed if we ever get the chance to try and put it in action.

Sorry Albert... you just can't pull it off.

The second phrase may tick the viewers and fans off quite a bit. Survivor does NOT reward big moves. We see Cochran, Ozzy, and many others throughout Survivor history saying the opposite of this time and time again. But isn't that just not true? What are big moves good for? Pretty much nothing. All these "big moves" do is put you on the radar of everyone remaining in the game. It makes yourself an enemy of whoever you did wrong. What Survivor rewards is a series of small moves. Little maneuvers that get you in the best position possible. Look at it this way. You shouldn't have to make a big move. If you have to make a big move it is because you made a series of little bad ones. I don't believe I have heard such an incorrect phrase uttered so many times on Survivor. Whenever we catch ourselves saying "Survivor rewards big moves" we need to ask ourselves a couple questions. Why do we need to make a big move? What position are we, or the people we are suggesting make a big move, in? Survivor only needs big moves if we make it necessary to do so. Next week we will sadly get a break from Survivor. We will have an episode but nothing new. Well no knew boots at least. What we will have is some bonus content about the events so far and a much needed recap. In honor of the recap episode I will be recapping the season so far through my eyes for the next blog. Should be interesting. And we can only imagine how the weeks following will all play out and who will become the Sole Survivor.

Survivor: South Pacific- You Made Your Bed... LAY IN IT

The double boot episode is now in the books. Yes i said BOOT. Now this is a little thing i know but something is getting on my nerves as of late. People in the Survivor fan community are referring to the snuffing of a torch as an eviction. Eviction? Are we in Big Brother? It is a petty and non-consequential difference but yet is still irritating. Survivor and BB may be lumped together but could not be more different. That's a whole different blog so i won't delve into it. Either way we had to people get their torches stunned in this episode. I must first say before i get down to anything serious. I HATE DOUBLE BOOT EPISODES. Hate may be a strong word but i can't stand them. They are placed there to speed up the show and in this case speed up the pagonging of the Savaii members. We don't get any in depth back stories as to why what happened happened. No real explanation or scrambling can be shown. It appears people lay down and die or nobody really bit at their pleas whatsoever. We get challenge, quick talk, tribal and then challenge, quick talk, tribal. Not my kind of ideal Survivor episode.

With that said we saw some interesting things this episode even with the rushed format. We were not shown much to point to much going forward in the game but we learned a lot about the two tribes once again. Principally the Savaii members. We saw the psychological state of Savaii first and foremost. Prior to this episode we saw a stark difference in all of them compared to now. What is the difference?

Sure it doesn't make sense but its freaking hilarious

After Cochran's betrayal they became new people. Well to be perfectly honest i don't think they changed per-say. They just showed more layers of themselves. The layer they showed was a layer of hypocrisy. And lunacy for one. Both of those wrapped in one. We have ourselves the infamous bitter jury. When they returned to camp we saw the ridiculous insults being thrown at Cochran by Whitney and Jim. The Savaii are classic examples of what i hate with people in Survivor. Once they are not in control they just throw hissy fits and are angry. You know what i say to Jim/Whitney/Ozzy and even Dawn for not going against them? YOU MADE YOUR BEDS SO LAY IN THEM! This is a conclusion that the Savaii members are not willing to accept. They got what they got because of how they behaved to him prior to him going against them. And to call Cochran's move a betrayal is a misrepresentation. He simply walked out of a group he happened to be standing next to. Dawn should have done the same thing.

The behavior of the Savaii is very interesting this episode. We saw their attitudes turn upside down. They go from being cocky in their position of what they saw as powerful. Then they all of a sudden have to fight for their lives and act like they are the victims. What Brandon said at tribal council was dead on. They would have done the same thing! They would have voted Upolu out if they could have! But they didn't succeed so now they cry. Whitney's claim that they have been vilified is ludicrous. If she or Jim have been vilified it is their own doing. Is Dawn being seen as a villain or a bad guy? No she hasn't. And she hasn't because of the actions she made. Whitney and Jim were viewed that way because of actions they made. We must hearken back to the days of Panama: Exile Island and call the WHAMBULLANCE!!!!

Very close body position. If only it were your beds you were laying in.

The game will very soon begin winding down. With the groundwork laid for the path to victory for someone i want to make some assumptions for how i think it will all play out. First let me say i believe Redemption Island will be non-consequential. The returnee will once again be voted out and/or not win the game. I find one common denominator in the final 3 scenarios. That common denominator is Coach. Whatever the final three is it will more likely than not contain him. I don't see any Savaii members making it to the finals. An outside chance of Cochran making it is possible but will be brought as the goat to the slaughter. I have to think of how Coach would play it. Who will he essentially pick to go to the end with? He has the power to choose so we have to see what would be his best shot in his eyes. If we look towards that then the only logical final 3 scenario would be Coach, Edna, and Brandon. Coach knows his biggest threat to the title would be the Albert and Sophie duo. If Coach is smart he will realize they are his only formidable challengers and take them out. Which i think he will do sooner rather than later. I have 3 possible 4/5 place scenarios. We may have a Rick and Cochran fill those spaces. With either being able to slide in and out of the final 3 to replace Edna or Brandon. Either one of them would still be good options for Coach who pulls the strings as of now. If we have any of those people in the final 3 then who wins? I think its safe to assume that we have a landslide Coach victory. With Edna universally lacking respect for her tribe mates, Brandon being the go to crazy outburst kid, Rick being the non-existent man that we don't have to worry about (editors would have played him a bit more if he had indeed won), and Cochran who wont get a vote from either side except maybe Dawn or Brandon if Brandon isn't there with him. If this all plays out correctly then we have one deserving winner on our hands. Goodbye until next episode where we may see some of this come to fruition.

Go ahead and climb the tree to find the title of Sole Survivor

Survivor: South Pacific- How to Play the Game

We just witnessed a landmark Survivor episode conclude. Yup. At least for me it will be one of the best merge episodes of all time. For a number of reasons i must write it down in the history books of Survivor. Never before in a season have i had such a happy feeling through a two episode block. The only two episode block that comes close is when Russell was voted out then in the very next episode cried as he lost his one and only duel. There is a lot to be learned from this episode on how Survivor should and shouldn't be played.

In an attempt to not bury the lead i will get to what i'm sure all of you are buzzing about. Was Cochran's move a good one and do we like it? Yes and no. From a game perspective it was really useless in my eyes. When you look at the two tribes he had no real hope. His place on Savaii was VERY clearly on the bottom rung. Sure he flips to a solid six but how is that really worse than his position on the other side? It isn't. I must say i am proud of the move Cochran made in the game. I don't admire it as a game move. But i admire it from the point of view as a human being. What would it say about him if he stayed with Savaii and handed them the game after they threw proverbial crap at him the entire game? This move didn't put him in any grand position but he got to stand up for himself. Keith got what was coming to him. Savaii's entitlement (using Whitney's words against her) makes me sick. They expect him to stay 100% to them when they clearly established his 6th man place on their tribe? That's naivete in it's worst form.

Karma is a biznatch.

As i said in the first paragraph of this blog, the two tribes are demonstrating how and how not to play Survivor. Or any social game for that matter. On Upolu Coach has led his tribe to play Survivor the way you should. Through his leadership he has crafted an alliance that seems, so far, impenetrable to the opposition. Why is this? To me i see it a certain way. When you look into why they are so tight you have to look at Coach. And look at the hierarchy. Is there a real hierarchy thats visible to the naked eye? The answer is no. Within this big group of six you have your little subsections. You have the pair of Sophie and Albert. You have the Coach and Edna duo. We have the odd sensei and student relationship between Coach and Brandon. Next we get the trio of Coach, Albert, and Sophie. Some may say this is fractured. But taking a closer look what do these "fractures" have in common? Each one of them has a member intertwined in another pair or trio. It may seem confusing but to keep such a large group intact that needs to happen. BRob did it last season. He had little subgroups within the big group of six. Coach is doing it equally brilliantly this time around. Everyone feels comfortable within the group because each of them think they have a majority share of it. So in a sense this "fractured" group becomes more cohesive. Theoretically Sophie shouldn't betray Branden or Edna because it sabotages her relationship with Coach and that majority. We can't give anyone credit for this but Coach. He has his hands in ALL the cookie jars. Everyone's game is dependent upon him being with them. It is a genius perfection of the social game. Much like Boston Rob did; Coach has control. Whichever subsection he decides to go with WILL succeed.

Strength in a mix matched alliance?

On the other side of the coin we have the Savaii tribe. Led by Ozzy they are showing exactly how NOT to play Survivor. Ozzy and his tribe simply don't understand the game. They make an un-calculated move that doesn't benefit them. Why did they feel they had to make a move like this? They over thought it. Plain and simple. To me Savaii is teaching us how not to play the game. Over the course of the pre-merge game they so painfully made the pecking order obvious. There was an established hierarchy among them. With Cochran being ostracized as the 6th. This was the fatal mistake made mostly by Ozzy and Keith. Dawn, Whitney, and Jim are equally responsible to going along with it. Sure they can say they have their 5 or their four. But where is the 6th? Where is Cochran? They left him hanging in the wind and expected him to want to just settle for 6th with the people who put him down. Ozzy and Jim called him a coward for essentially breaking free of his oppressors. In Survivor you need numbers that feel secure within the group. Nobody wants to settle for 6th. Savaii made the mistake of not saving face and acting as if Cochran had some type of stake in the tribe. If they had, then maybe Keith wouldn't be on Redemption Island and we wouldn't have been taught such a great Survivor lesson.

DISASTER.

For all of us super fans. For all of us hopefull future castaways. And for all of the past players in the game. Learn from Coach's and Upolu's game this time around. They are showing us how to play the game. Heck, even learn from Cochran. Don't just let yourself be treated like crap when you can do something about it. I suppose thats a lesson for life, not just Survivor. But most of all try and learn what not to do from the Ozzy and the Savaii tribe. After an episode that entertained and taught us more than we could ask for i can only look forward to the future of this game.

Survivor: South Pacific- The Three C's

Oh yes everybody. The merge is a'comin!!! I figured its only fitting to analyze the game thus far. Most of the time in Survivor there are key players when it comes to this point. Survivor: South Pacific is no different. Coming into this season many opinions were already formed of the possible players. Mostly, these opinions stuck with many. But to me i see a grave difference in the pre-game perception and the actual reality we have before us. There are three key players in this game. For whatever reason they either polarize or play pivotal roles on our t.v. screens. I call them the Three C's.

The Three C's are arguably the most important people in the game right now. The fate of everyone else hinges on their actions. They are none other than Coach, Cochran, and Cocky... er Ozzy. Okay; Ozzy doesn't start with a C but every word to describe him comes with a C. Whether it be cocky or challenge-whore. As much as he wants it to start with an s, like strategist or smart, that is not the case. The other two, Coach and Cochran, are there for obvious reasons.

Each of these people have played very different games. One person has proved me right. One has disappointing me to no end. And the last one has so pleasantly surprised me that i think he may win the WHOLE thing.

Lets start with the negative shall we. The first negative is Cocky...ugh Ozzy. This time around he wants so badly to change his image to a different type of player. But he is the one that is week by week proving my original opinion of him right.. He is just out to play with the hot ones. Cough *semhar,elyse,whitney* cough. He is playing a horrible game. Not to mention he threw his game away on an assumption. A correct assumption but a stupid and useless action. He effectivly put himself in danger of leaving the game to take out who? Christine? OH YA! And if he and his minions payed any attention they would know that she would most likely flip to their side! Way to go Challenge-whore. Oh and being a challenge-whore doesn't really matter since the duels are trivial games of throw a ball and balance a stick. His "challenge prowess" wont help him much if at all out there. Not to mention he gave away his idol to his one real possible enemy, Cochran. Why not give it to Keith or Whitney? His REAL allies. Or better yet why not hold onto it since even Jeff says there is no rule against going to RI with an idol and it still being valid when you return. This was a horribly miscalculated, no, NON-CALCULATED move that just summarizes Ozzy as a player.

Whine more Ozzy...you just voted yourself off the island.

Speaking of idols being handed to people lets move on to the person who disappointing me this season so far, Cochran. Being such the huge nerdy fan that i am i couldn't help but root for him in the beginning. But week by week he is making it harder for me to do so! Why has he failed to position himself in a favorable position? Shouldn't such a student of the game be able to overcome his physical "handicaps" and weasel his way into an alliance and not have his head on the chopping block every tribal council? I'm sorry but Cochran is one lucky dude. The position he finds himself in, with an idol and in the merge, is not any of his doing. Believe me, CBS wouldn't pass up the opportunity to show him making big moves if he had any. Cochran has slid into this position by everyone else either messing up, Ozzy, or hatching a plan to save him, Jim. For such a self proclaimed Survivor genius why hasn't he been successful in saving his own butt? Or why hasn't he even tried?

I hope your thanking them... AND the baby in the last picture.

That leaves one more. We can call him the Big C. It's Coach. My perception, like many, was different coming into South Pacific. I like to see myself as one to not be ignorant to peoples change and the facts. That's why i can't help but LOVE Coach this time around. His game this time is genius. He has showed to all of us that he has grown by leaps and bound since the last two times he has played.We see the Dragon Slayer in a different form. A REAL dragon slayer. Coach's control is undeniable. His game is what many people need to learn how to immulate in a certain sense. SOCIAL GAME. That seems to be what Coach has perfected. If it wasn't for him effectively changing people's perception of him then he wouldn't be able to rule the roost like he is right now. The people he is playing with are not idiots. Its just that Coach's game is that much better.

I have heard alot about this recent episode when it comes to Coach. Well to be specific, the prayers. I have seen people say he is a hypocrite because he prayed for the idol and the whole "get down on your knees" segement. I too am a believer like Coach. It wasn't that he was praying for the idol. He was praying for his team. Praying for the tribe to come together. Prayer wasn't being used as a way to coerce people into anything. It was simply prayer. Out their in such people are so emotionally worn down. Faith, whatever kind you have, is essential to getting through the game. And guess what? The faith Coach, and I, have is bringing his tribe together after all they have been through. And having great succes in the game thus far. If that's not proof that God exists then i don't know what is.

The new and improved Coach.

With merge being this next episode i have bets on people who could win. I am only comfortable putting money on one person. And that's Coach. Nobody else has their fate in their own hands. And nobody else seems to be in the position he is. Can Coach become the Sole Survivor this time? I'm convinced he can and will be. Regardless of the end result; he has shown a great transformation and impressed me forever. With that said he will be getting my vote for Fan Favorite when the chance to vote arises. Can't wait till we see the Three C's pan out in the coming weeks. I have a sneaking suspicion i may be right about it all.

Survivor: South Pacific Premiere Turns the Tides

Finally the new season has begun! This year is a new era of Survivor for me. In every way it really feels like that. We are now in the Redemption Island era of Survivor. It's inception created a new type of show. At least they have tried to do that. Having just moved away from home and life being a completely different thing now makes everything change. Including the way i watch and when i watch. But enough of that randomness. I have mixed feelings about the premiere. I loved it but i was surprised at how much my opinion turned on it's head. With that said let's get started.

As it started i was all ready to root for Savaii. But then we had that darn hero challenge. First of all why is it called a hero challenge? I thought it was a lame attempt to hoist the returnees higher and higher. Anyways... about the challenge. I was all conflicted to begin with. I can't stand Ozzy but he was with Savaii. I will always root for Coach over Ozzy but he was with Upolu which i originally wasn't fond of with the bios and pre-season stuff. I ended up rooting for Coach because of Ozzy. Needless to say i was disappointed by the result. What was most interesting were the reactions of the tribes. This was the first time we saw interaction between the tribes and most importantly the interaction between them and the returnees. This was the first cementing of my opinions of these new tribes and which returnee i would back. I found myself very disappointed in the way Coach was accepted. I did like, however, the little kindness that Edna showed him. It gave us the first glimpse at the new Coach. Of course Ozzy was accepted excitedly and my food started to come up faster than it went down. I can't handle that.

The two tribes did some redeeming of themselves in my eyes and one lost some ground also. If you read my last blog you will know that i was on team Savaii. And that i was very against the Upolu. Now these tables have started to turn a bit. I wasn't liking the Ozzy love on Savaii and they strike me too much to be like the dumb Ometepe. At least to many of them do for my liking. Upolu i found myself liking alot more than i thought i would. Even people like Albert and Mikayla didn't rub me the wrong way like i thought they would. I was pleasently suprised with all of them. I know find myself split. I am not rooting for one tribe whatsoever. Just for individuals on each tribe. As long as the outcomes are in those certain peoples favor im all for both tribes getting equal tribal council time.

Lets just jump ahead to the meat of the episode. The Semhar vs. Cohran show is what it became. I must say this made me very very nervous. Nervous for Cochran that is. I'm a super fan and i too wrote an English paper on Survivor so i love super fans like him. My first impression is that he is so severely nervous. I think alot of this came from the fact that the game means so much more to him. It is his dream that he doesn't want to get ended to quickly. Understandable. This has clearly affected him. He needs to work on the line of social politicking with his tribe. I think he was doing more damage than good when he really didn't need to. Now Semhar was my least favorite from this tribe so i was happy to see her go. Ozzy's protection of her was ridiculous. To answer Jim's question of why he had a reason to protect her - HE THINKS SHE IS HOT! Look at the people he surrounded himself with. Elyse, Whitney, and Semhar? He also said having three girls is good for them. Ya it is for Ozzy cause he is one of the few Survivors that doesn't mind getting action all dirty on an island (see Micronesia). I thought her attempt at "politicking" was so very pathetic. Her conversation was so utterly awkward that it didn't work. Everything she said in her defense even at tribal just didn't make sense or had little to no worth. I was so pleased with the result at the end of the episode. Semhar leaving and Cochran being set up for an amazing story line if he should win.

I realized a lot on the tribe dynamics this episode. The lines seems drawn in the sand. Well at least drawn with a semi-permanent pen. Ok a pen that had water spilled on it making it run. The lines are still fuzzy for Savaii but a few key things were shown. The "weak" seem like they will prevail for them. By the weak i just use this to what Ozzy would describe as weak since he is the one dividing it. Its because of Ozzy and his polarizing challenge prowess focused persona that this issue is as prevalent as it is. Dawn and Papa Bear are smartly sticking together because they know they are the weaker older people and if they get rid of each other then they are the next target. They of course will wrangle in, and already have, Cochran for obvious reasons. And Jim also seems to be going that way because he proclaims himself that he believes he is obviously weaker. He showed this even more by being on the Cochran bandwagon and even driving it. Whitney and Keith seem to be on the edge and even Elyse. This is bad for Ozzy. He needed to keep Semhar. I think this was the end of his game. If Semhar stayed then Cochran would have left and therefore cementing his place and as Jim said "clout" in the tribe. Now he gave in and gave up his chance to win the game in my opinion.

Each episode i will have someone that i feel deserve the player of the week award. I never thought i would say this but this week it goes to Coach. Yes Coach. He played a brilliant game this week. Everything he did surprised me and he already got redemption in my eyes. Coming into the game i thought he had no chance. But he played an absolutely great social game this week. His tribe was pretty much anti returnee and now he curried some favor. He put himself in an alliance with a strong group which is something i couldn't expect him to do. The one thing Coach lacked in past seasons was his social game. Burt this time he truly has learned. It's evident that he got the right mix of everything he said he needed. I am so happy that he was able to harness his experience and take advantage of it. He positioned himself to be safe for quite some time i believe. He has a good alliance and some are clearly on the outs. And even within his alliance he has some people that could leave before him. He could capitalize off of the Branden and Russell connection which will surely come out. And he even has Edna who isn't in his five but he has already established some connection with. I think we may be seeing Coach for some time. I am excited that this is the case. Go to this link to find fellow Coach fans in a group that is supported by Coach and he talks to the fans on there also. I am an admin with a couple others on the site. http://www.facebook.com/groups/officialbenjamincoachwadegroup/

Coach using his charm to make up for the first two go around

So going into next episode a lot of things will be weighing on my mind. Will Upolu succeed in winning another immunity. Will the Savaii "weak" prevail if they go to tribal council? Will Coach maintain the great game he is playing at this moment? Will Cochran regain his confidence and hit the ground running? And will the Hantz secret come out like we wall know it has to some time? These are the questions to think about for the next episode. What do you think will happen?

Castaway Spotlight: Benjamin "Coach" Wade

Coach Wade

Coach's CBS Bio for Survivor: South Pacific-

Benjamin "Coach" Wade (39)

Current Residence: Susanville, Calif.

Previous Seasons: “Survivor: Tocantins” and “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains”

Benjamin Wade, more commonly known as "Coach," is returning to Survivor for a third try. “The reception for me, when I step on that beach and am chosen to be on a tribe, I’m just going to kill ‘em with kindness.” He still owns his eclectic persona that viewers love from previous seasons, but the symphony conductor, men’s soccer coach and pastor promises that, “Coach 3.0 is going to be different than any time you’ve seen him.”

Coach believes that it is his experience and his leadership that make him an asset to his tribe, but he’s reevaluating his strategy this time around. “I’ve got to come out here and I’ve got to be confident but not arrogant, strong but not intimidating, I’ve got to be humble but not weak, I’ve got to be honorable but not self righteous.”

What does he think of Ozzy, his competition? “He is a great warrior in challenges, he’s great at survival, he’s going to be a tough competitor on the other tribe.”

The Dragon Slayer is back for a third shot at the title of Sole Survivor. Who is going to be the big dragon this time around? And does he have a shot at winning the game finally?

I can't believe the infamous Coach the Dragon Slayer is back again. I don't hate coach but i just think it is ridiculous. Personally i just find him as entertainment. He is really a non-player in Survivor. He really does nothing when it comes to the game itself. BUT i do like that Coach has a good heart and i like that about him. A man with that amount of passion is intriguing. I, however, do not like the over the top persona he puts on when really i am sure we would love him without that stuff. I hope he calms it down but i doubt he will.

I am pretty confident of one thing with Coach and Survivor. No matter how many times he plays the game he will never win it. I'm not saying he can't make it far but just that he has no shot at ever winning the game. The tribe placement for Coach is a little bit of a moot topic. I think he will be received in the same way on both tribes. He is on Upolu and he will just have to make the best of it. He needs to keep the entertainment up and be supportive overall. Being the tribe cheerleader i think is the best option for Coach. Make them like you but don't threaten them. I don't know what will happen with Coach. He could literally place in any position in the game except for Number 1. We will see.

Castaway Spotlight: Ozzy Lusth

Ozzy Lusth

Ozzy's CBS Bio for Survivor: South Pacific

Oscar “Ozzy” Lusth (30)

Current Residence: Venice, Calif.

Previous Seasons: “Survivor: Cook Islands” and “Survivor: Micronesia”

Ozzy Lusth may be a surfer from Venice, Calif. but he takes the game of “Survivor” seriously. “I’m here to play in a humble way, but I’m also here to win.” This will be his third time playing Survivor, and he believes the game has made him a stronger person. “For the last two seasons, I feel it has really changed me for the better. And, I’m looking for this last, this third experience, to really be the end to it all, the redemption.”

Not only has Ozzy matured as a player, but he has also transformed his personal life. Born in Mexico, Ozzy takes pride in his heritage and his community. In 2009, he started the non-profit organization, MexicoSkateProject.org, to help grow the popularity of skateboarding and build skate parks in every town or pueblo in Mexico.

What does he think of Coach, his competition? “Honestly, I’m actually pretty excited that Coach is here. He can be a polarizing character but I think that he respects the way that I play the game, and I respect the way he

No! We know have the official word on the two castaways returning. What does everybody think so far about them? Well i sure know how i feel!

Personally i have a beef with Ozzy. When i first watched him originally in Cook Islands the first time around i was a fan of course. But after I re-watched Micronesia and Cook Island i am anything but an Ozzy fan. I think he is a horrible player. His social game is horrendous and does little to nothing. In Cook Islands all he did was win challenges and just sat in the shelter not doing anything game play wise. I don't think he is a good example in for people watching him. I won't delve into things because if you know you know and if you don't then maybe it's better that way. My distaste for him in Survivor was just intensified by people's love for him and me not understanding where it was all coming from. I WILL be rooting against Ozzy.

For how well he will do this time around of Survivor: South Pacific? We will have to see. His tribe placement is with the Savaii tribe which makes me angry because i love the Savaii tribe right now and i don't want him to get his claws on them. I am not sure how Ozzy will do on this tribe. When i look at the tribe we see alot of strong males and very strong females. At first glance you would say "yay! These are his people!" but i think it is a bad thing for him. This tribe has an abundance of people to be male leaders and they also have plenty of strength. This lessens Ozzy's importance to his tribe. Being the leader, provider, and challenger helper has been his M.O. for Survivor and while he may have learned more and will actually play the game he will always be seen as that. And with the tribe he is on it will only be seen as a threat and getting rid of him may not be seen as a problem. The flipside of the coin is that these personalities may like him alot and keep him around. I'm hoping for the first of those two scenarios.

Castaway Spotlight: Sophie Clarke

Sophie Clark

Sophie's CBS Bio for Survivor: South Pacific-

Name (Age): Sophie Clarke (22)

Tribe designation: Upolu

Current residence: Willsboro, N.Y.

Occupation: Medical Student

Personal claim to fame: I won Prom Princess at my small rural high school where my graduation class was 28 students.

Inspiration in life: I am skeptical of lionization of any one person. I do admire, however, Albert Schweitzer. He came from a well-off family and yet chose something much less grand with his life than he could have. True humanitarian. True passion. True dedication.

Hobbies: Cooking, scrabble and reading.

Pet peeves: Smart women who pretend to be dumb, particularly if they wear a lot of eye makeup, and people who walk slowly in cold weather.

3 words to describe you: Purposeful, resilient and shrewd.

SURVIVOR contestant you are most like: I relate to Russell’s determination to win at any cost, Stephen’s intelligence, Stephenie’s competitiveness and Susan’s trueness to character.

Reason for being on SURVIVOR: To win money! I have been bragging to friends for way too long about how easy “Survivor” is and how good I would be. I would like to have the freedom in Med. School to choose my specialty based on passion and not money and the potential to more quickly pay my debts.

Why you think you’ll “survive” SURVIVOR: I am strong and athletic (play soccer, softball and basketball) and I am an extremely good skier. I am “Outdoor Emergency Care” certified and can thus deal with unexpected and extreme situations with a calm approach. I am a leader and always ready and eager to step up!

Why you think you will be the sole SURVIVOR: I am tough, smart and driven. People will trust and like me even though they should not. I will piss people off, yet be convincing and heartfelt enough at the end to make them give me the money. I will mess with their minds and beat their bodies! I think it might actually be easy.

The final newbies castaway i will be writing about is Sophie! I didn't save the best or the worst for last.

I think Sophie is one of the most real people that have been cast on the last several seasons. I mean look at her. She is just average looking. She doesn't have some huge caricature about her. And you know what? I LOVE it. She seems like a nice and normal girl. Being perfectly honest she seems a little socially awkward. But she seems like a girl that once she gets to know you she is crazy and fun. One thing i love about her is her eclectic choice for survivors she is like. "I relate to Russell’s determination to win at any cost, Stephen’s intelligence, Stephenie’s competitiveness and Susan’s trueness to character. " , is what she said. I think it's perfectly put. Those qualities are the best from each of them. I really hope she does well.

As far as how well she will do in Survivor i am just crossing my fingers. Her tribe placement is beneficial for her though. She is on a tribe with Coach who isn't a guy that will plow over "weak" physical players. She is also on the more "mature" tribe. She is young but i think she is worlds above the other young people in maturity and intellect. The biggest road block for her i believe will be her social skills. She was basically almost home schooled. She had 25 people in her graduating class which translates to less than the classes that home schoolers attend one or twice a month for stuff. If she can jump over that hurdle and maybe capitalize on her schooling similarity with Edna then she could go far in her tribe. It could go either way and if she uses all those attributes from the people she stated and maybe throw in some Parvati or Cirie social skill she should be fine.

Castaway Spotlight: Semhar Tadesse

Semhar Tadesse

Semhar's CBS Bio for Survivor: South Pacific

Name (Age): Semhar Tadesse (24)

Tribe designation: Savaii

Current residence: Los Angeles

Occupation: Spoken Word Artist

Personal claim to fame: My poetry on YouTube.

Inspiration in life: Oprah because she is inspirational and loving. She makes a positive contribution to so many lives. She is a successful business woman and a world wide teacher.

Hobbies: Writing/performing poetry, dancing and watching Oprah.

Pet peeves: Liars.

3 words to describe you: Silly, flirty and sensitive.

SURVIVOR contestant you are most like: Fabio, because he was silly and underestimated.

Reason for being on SURVIVOR: For the money, change and challenges.

Why you think you’ll “survive” SURVIVOR: I’m a people person. I can make friends with almost anyone. I would bring laughter, positivity and my knowledge and experiences from living in Eritrea.

Why you think you will be the sole SURVIVOR: I think I'll win Survivor because I'm the girl that no one would expect to. I’m slick and sweet.

The final newbie member of the Savaii tribe! I must say i am so suprised how much i like the Savaii tribe and Semhar is just another one to add to that equation.

Now i will say that Semhar is probably my least favorite out of the Savaii tribe but i certainly do not dislike her. She may be a pageant queen but thats not what she is defined by. I find her occupation very intriguing. If you have ever watched or listened, i suggest watching, a Spoken Word competition or a solo artist you know how amazing it is. They are extremely talented and have impeccable control over words. Semhar is a castaway that could make for interesting t.v. If you watched her interviews you will see that she said she is not used to the survival aspect and that scares her. Hopefully we don't have a quitter on our hands. My biggest beef with Semhar is that she compared herself to Fabio. For Fabio to even be mentioned makes me want to throw up on my t.v. screen and to be like him only makes me want you to be voted off faster. I'm banking on the fact that she just likes Fabio and is nothing like him.

I am not sure exactly how Semhar will do on her tribe. I'm thinking not super well. Out of the mix of her tribe i think she will be near the bottom of the totem pole and if her tribe goes to tribal too many time too fast she may not live very long in Survivor lore. No Phillip i am not talking about you. You don't own the phrase Survivor lore. ANYWAYS. She, like many other vulnerable castaways, needs to bank of getting people against the returnees. I feel her tribe is strong enough that getting past a tribal or two could mean a ticket close to the merge or at least time to solidify herself n some type of deal. If she happens to get voted off, which i think will occur, she will be fine at Redemption Island. I don't consider her to be a liability from the first glance but i think the time being alone on an island in the dirt having to provide for herself will be disheartening and may affect her duel performance. No matter how she does i will be interested in seeing her play the game.

Castaway Spotlight: Rick Nelson

Rick Nelson

Rick's CBS Bio for Survivor: South Pacific

Name (Age): Rick Nelson (51)

Tribe designation: Upolu

Current residence: Aurora, Utah

Occupation: Rancher

Personal claim to fame: My family and my ranch.

Inspiration in life: My grandfather. He built a very large ranch with his own determination and sheer willpower.

Hobbies: Team sorting, hunting, riding and playing on my horse.

Pet peeves: Quitters and lazy people who don’t keep their word.

3 words to describe you: Outgoing, strong-willed and self-motivated.

SURVIVOR contestant you are most like: J.T. He played a great game and won. He is country, strong-willed, a great competitor, good to get along with, not a quitter and true to his word in the end. I’d like to think if you put 15 years on him, he would mirror me - except I’m better.

Reason for being on SURVIVOR: It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to prove that you can survive with next to nothing for 39 days and be one of 23 people in the world to be named “Sole Survivor.” (And a million dollars would be nice).

Why you think you’ll “survive” SURVIVOR: I’m used to living out in the elements on a daily basis. I’m a hard worker. I can build a fire, shelter and I can hunt and fish. I’m easy to get along with, always have a positive attitude and a lifetime of little tricks to make life nicer while camping in the dirt.

Why you think you will be the sole SURVIVOR: After applying 14 times, I am driven and very determined to win the game. I will stop at nothing!

Sear's has given us another older man that has some questionable facial hair. Well to credit Rick his is a little more tolerable. Will he be better than Jimmy T? Let's hope so!

Howdy Rick! I really don't mind Rick. He seems like a very real guy. That's what i like about this cast. It seems like we have REAL people and not all Hollywood wannabees. I guess the only problem with Rick is that he could be a bore. I don't see a massive amount of entertainment out of him. A very dry man i think. I did like his little monologue about hating the Dragon Slayer though. That was good so if he keeps up that type of humor i could see him being worthy of our t.v. screens. Like a lot of people in this cast he is a super fan. He has applied 14 times and i only wish i was old enough to apply for 14 years. So kudos to him for finally making it on.

How will Rick fare in the South Pacific? It is a little hard to tell. When i have talked about this cast i have said that this tribe will favor the older and more mature people an that they should succeed as long as one person doesn't flip because of blinders thinking they need the strength. I was sorta hinting at Rick. Something about a country boy makes me think if this was to happen it would be him. But hey this maturity divide may not even occur so this whole point could be moot. I am not overly worried about Rick. He hates the Dragon Slayer and the sadly for him he is on his tribe. BUT i think this will be good for Rick. He should go ahead and exploit that to buy himself some time if needed. If Rick gets voted off he will have to go to Redemption which i don't think will be that bad for him. I don't think he can go racking them up but he could win a few if needed. I am eager to see how Rick will evolve as a castaway.

Castaway Spotlight: Mark Caruso

Mark Caruso

Mark's CBS Bio for Survivor: South Pacific-

Name (Age): Mark Caruso (48)

Tribe designation: Savaii

Current residence: Forest Hills, N.Y.

Occupation: Retired NYPD Detective

Personal claim to fame: I was a NYCPD Morgue Detective for 20 years and I retired with honors from the mayor and police commissioner.

Inspiration in life: My deceased Aunt Mary, who brought us to her home, raised us and gave us a great life.

Hobbies: Gym and all that goes with it, spending as much time in the sun as I can and meeting new people/making new friends.

Pet peeves: Know-it-alls and people with “I am better than you” attitudes.

3 words to describe you: Funny, sarcastic and lovable.

SURVIVOR contestant you are most like: I haven’t seen anyone like me.

Reason for being on SURVIVOR: I want to experience being stripped of life's luxuries that we all take for granted and survive with the bare essentials.

Why you think you’ll “survive” SURVIVOR: I am attentive and caring and have listening skills that can be supportive to my team and others. I love to work hard and have proven throughout my life that I will be a leader.

Why you think you will be the sole SURVIVOR: People tend to like me because I am an honest person even though I am sarcastic and an “in your face” man. I am considered a real person heart, mind and soul.

Well i guess we have a daddy bear in this cast. At least that's what Mark calls himself. Should make for a very interesting cast member.

Right now i am a fan of Mark. He seems like a fun guy and i think he could very well be a fan favorite if he makes it deep enough in the game. I don't really see him being a player but no doubt he will be a presence in the tribe. A positive presence at the least. I think everyone will fall in love with him or love to hate him because he may get on some peoples nerves.

With Mark and the game i don't think the two will come together with tons of success. I don't see him as a someone who will try to really play the game much. I think he will be the cheerleader on his tribe as long as he is there and just go with the majority. The reason i feel he may have to fight an uphill battle is he is one of the two older people on his tribe. If he can work his way in and exploit the returnees then he may be fine. Again with him and Dawn they need to win immunity alot. Hopefully for his sake some of the young guns on his tribe are really annoying and the majority is willing to take them out.

Castaway Spotlight: Brandon Hantz

Brandon Hantz

Brandon's CBS Bio for Survivor: South Pacific-

Name (Age): Brandon Hantz (19)

Tribe designation: Upolu

Current residence: Katy, Texas

Occupation: Oil Tanker Crewman

Personal claim to fame: My little boy, Elijah.

Inspiration in life: Jesus, because he died for me.

Hobbies: Shooting my guns, hunting and eating crawfish.

Pet peeves: When I order some food and it’s not the way I want it or they forget my hot sauce.

3 words to describe you: Headstrong, bold and clever.

SURVIVOR contestant you are most like: Probably Colby, Johnny Fairplay, Russell and Brandon.

Reason for being on SURVIVOR: Financial freedom and to show everyone there is more than one side to the Hantz family other than being mean.

Why you think you’ll “survive” SURVIVOR: I’m very strong and I can hunt. I like fishing and swimming and I can build.

Why you think you will be the sole SURVIVOR: I’m very handsome, smart, cunning, manipulative and funny.

You have got to be kidding me. Any regular reader knows i hate Russell as a player and a Hantz relative will be no different.

I am not saying i will hate him just because he is Russell's nephew. He is completely different person it seems. My problem is he should never have been cast in the show! In bold on the application for Survivor is says that if your relative has been on the show or even has gotten to the final stages of casting YOU CAN NOT APPLY! But they let him on anyways. This shows that CBS has made a lame attempt to keep around the Hantz fans for ratings. I understand it but i think its horrible on the shows part to change the rules just for him. I will never be able to truly support him because he shouldn't be there in the first place. I mean even look at his bio for CBS and his EW interview. He seemed uninterested in being on the show and didn't care that much. He would never have applied or have been cast if he wasn't a Hantz. It looks like CBS just approached him to keep the Hantz franchise alive. His answers on his bio went about like this " I’m very handsome, smart, cunning, manipulative and funny." I mean he just listed names on the who are you like part. No explanation whatsoever. Frustration.

I am not sure how well Brandon will do. He needs to keep the Hantz name out of it that's for sure. His heart doesn't seem in it quite yet but that could change i suppose. We better see him be a follower and not a leader. Not sure which side he will side with. If he makes it far into the game i find that him being related to Russell will be a liability. It will always be, "can i beat russell and win" and i think he will slip to someone eventually and it will be the ultimate betrayal. For you to lie about who you even are in the most simplest of terms is something people will not take lightly. It will be interesting to see nonetheless.

Castaway Spotlight: Dawn Meehan

Dawn Meehan

Dawn's CBS Bio for Survivor: South Pacific-

Name (Age): Dawn Meehan (41)

Tribe designation: Savaii

Current residence: South Jordan, Utah

Occupation: English Professor at Brigham Young University

Personal claim to fame: Adopting our six children.

Inspiration in life: My husband. He’s really one of the most incredible human beings. He’s kind, generous, peaceful, hard-working and selfless. I’m so grateful to spend my days with him.

Hobbies: Swimming with my kids, writing/blogging and baking bread.

Pet peeves: Brown grass and complainers.

3 words to describe you: Driven, positive and enthusiastic.

SURVIVOR contestant you are most like: Sandra, Parvati and Stephenie. I’m physically strong like Parvati and Stephenie. I’m in this to really play and win -- like these women.

Reason for being on SURVIVOR: “Survivor” is the best game on Earth! There’s so much application to “real life.” After watching as a fan for 10 years, I just know in my soul that it’s my turn to play and win. Plus, it’s the adventure of a lifetime and one million dollars!

Why you think you’ll “survive” SURVIVOR: I’m driven, tenacious, adaptable, funny, optimistic, intelligent and resilient. I can motivate/persuade people, and I think that’s powerful/important at every stage of this game.

Why you think you will be the sole SURVIVOR: I’ve got the drive and determination to dominate this game. And, as cliché as it sounds, I’m really “in it to win it.”

I'm glad we have Dawn on our hands. Hopefully we have a second Holly Hoffman? If so i can be nothing but pleased! Lets all cross our fingers.

I have no idea what it is but i have always had a special place in my heart for the more mature Survivor women. GAME wise that is. I am already a fan of Dawn. She has such a cheery personality. Being a true fan i know i will at least appreciate her heart for the game. It only helps that she looks like a blast. She is my favorite women in the game at this point so i hope she can continue this.

I will say that i am a little bit worried about how she will do in the game. The tribe she was placed on seems to be a tribe that will have an edge but they are clearly the younger and fitter tribe. She is the clear older women of the group. I mean she is not out of shape and seems to have a good head on her shoulders. I worry that if the tribe loses the first challenge before people have time to really have cemented opinions about one another and people have the ability to prove themselves she will be the first out. I think it's her best bet to try and expoilt that people are returnees so they will vote them out first and she has time to get into a good alliance and prove herself. I hope for her sake Savaii goes on a little immunity run in the beginning and then i'm sure they will see she is not a liability. Dawn better not get voted off and go to Redemption Island because i don't see a bright light at the end of that tunnel for her. I'll be rooting for Dawn to make it far on premier night.

Castaway Spotlight: Mikayla Wingle

Mikayla Wingle

Mikayla's CBS Bio for Survivor: South Pacific-

Name (Age): Mikayla Wingle (22)

Tribe designation: Upolu

Current residence: Tampa, Fla.

Occupation: Lingerie Football Player

Personal claim to fame: I was on the cover of Playboy February 2011 and met the hard working Hugh Hefner.

Inspiration in life: My mother is my inspiration. She is a strong, independent woman who always taught me to reach for my goals in life. She raised my brother and me as a single mother and we never felt we were without anything we wanted. I can only hope to be half the mother she is.

Hobbies: I like going to Broadway plays, riding quads, camping and going to the beach. Growing up in Northern New Jersey gave me the love of being outdoors.

Pet peeves: Dishonest people, liars and people who think they are better than everyone else.

3 words to describe you: Outspoken, humorous and witty.

SURVIVOR contestant you are most like: Jane. She stands up for herself and never lets her morals go. She is a hard worker and loves her dogs just like I love my pup, Diesel.

Reason for being on SURVIVOR: It is my mom’s favorite show and we have been watching since I was 10 years old. She told me that if I ever got the opportunity to be on it we would jump at the chance!

Why you think you’ll “survive” SURVIVOR: I feel that I am a strong independent woman and I know I will strive to prevail. Quitters never win and winners never quit.

Why you think you will be the sole SURVIVOR: Playing sports all my life, I feel I am a competitor at heart. I am very athletic and am very likeable. I plan to use these qualities to get me to the end!

THE CASTAWAY'S HERE, THE CASTAWAY'S HERE!!! Oh sorry i was just channeling my inner Jersey. Well Mikayla doesn't think she is like her Jersey Shore counterparts but only time will tell with that.

As of now i think i like Snookie a little bit more than than i like our Mikayla. She is a lingerie football player which may be hot but is COMPLETELY ridiculous. Her claim to fame is being on the cover of Playboy which i don't think i would tote as a good thing. But hey. Who am i to choose how people live their life and what morals they have. But if i was i would say it is close to someone who would be on the Jersey Shore. Hey maybe it's season 5 for Mikayla? Not a big fan of her so far and she seems like one big shtick. Ok your tough because you get slammed into by naked girls all day. Still don't like you.

I don't see Mikayla winning the game. It's hard to tell where she will place but i know she won't win the game. Again with her tribe placement on Upolu she may be at a disadvantage cause the scale is tipped in a different favor than hers. But like i always say. Anything can happen and one person can chose to go with youth and brute strength instead of maturity and wisdom. For Redemption Island she could fare well but i surely don't foresee a run through the game on it if she leaves early. She better hope Ozzy is on her tribe to latch onto and be a number for the side of strength and youth. We will just have to wait till the first episode to know Mikayla's fate.

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