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I have to disagree with the contention that it was wrong for the Christian woman to duck out of the ceremony at the start of the show. It supposedly wasn't religious, but when you ask people to prostrate themselves in a temple full of Buddhist statues, that seems pretty religious to me. Who is Jeff Probst to decide whether it's okay for her or not? For a show that's supposedly so attuned to different cultures, he seemed pretty dismissive of her beliefs.

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I made my predictions yesterday on a previous post and it looks like I'm pretty much right on so far. It seemed very obvious to me that Fei Long was the much stronger tribe. As I said in my previous post, I hope this isn't going to be another Palau. It almost seems like they stuck all the losers on the Zhan Hu tribe so they can get rid of the lamest players quickly. Anybody else get that feeling? I expect they will mix up the tribes a few weeks into the season. It's usually better when they do.

I can't believe that after 14 seasons there are still people who have no idea what they're in for. Wearing high heels? Are you kidding me?

Survivors I can't stand already include Leslie (ridiculous religious), Courtney (bitch), and Jean-Robert (cocky and not nearly so cool as he thinks he is). I'm rooting for James, Amanda, and Aaron.

Survivor rules. I'm so stoked.

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I've been a fan since the first season. Not a fanatic, but I’ve liked the show well enough to watch most of the episodes.

I'm getting pretty tired of it now. With everything being contrived either before or during the filming, or misrepresented after the filming (through editing), I don't think anything is "reality" anymore.

For my time, I'll watch a scripted drama with real actors.

Sorry die-hard fans.
I'm out this season.

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Funny how you describe Todd as "the gay Mormon" yet you don't describe Leslie, as the straight Christian radio host
Does Survivour describe Todd as the gay Mormon I may of missed that bit.

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As a matter of fact Chester, the first sentence of Todd's bio at the CBS "Survivor website" is "Todd Herzog is an openly gay Mormon who came out shortly after high school and won the hearts of everyone at his school." That's why he gets called "the gay Mormon." And to be fair, Jackie does mention that Leslie is a Christian Radio Host. Her bio only mentions her husband in the last paragraph.

I actually find myself liking Leslie a lot more than I liked some of the others like Courtney. Her decision to leave the temple was based on sincere religious beliefs, misguided though they may have been. It wasn't like Millie & Chuck from the fourth season of "The Amazing Race" who thought a Malaysian woman giving them a blessing was putting a "voodoo curse" on them. Courtney's whole attitude to the ceremony at the temple was almost "yeah, whatever" and was thoroughly disrespectful without having any real basis except impatience.

I think "Chicken" was the right one to go. After one attempt at trying to get the others to pay attention to him he basically decided that he wasn't going to contribute anything beyond a strong back even when Peih-Gee not only asked for his opinion on where and how to build the shelter but was actually deferring to his supposedly superior knowledge. It was a thoroughly bad attitude.

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Leslie quoted the Bible (which she appears to use as her guide) saying God says we should "bow down" to no other God before Him. I see nothing wrong with her decision. She said she meant no disrespect, she was just uncomfortable with doing it. Good for her standing up for her convictions.

You had to laugh when the monk or priest (whoever he was) kept slapping Courtney's hands when he was showing her what to do and her @@'s.

I liked Chicken as well. Laughed again when he screamed "dayum" and everyone jumped. Too funny.

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I, too , agree with Leslie's decision to not bow down to those idols. She is a Christian being put in another religion's temple and was asked to bow down in front of their idols. I wouldn't have done it, either. If we are all supposed to respect each other's beliefs, then it was wrong for Jeff and the editors to call her out on it.

Chicken totally cracked me up with the 'DAYUM!' I bet those girls near him wet their pants.

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Jeff is sadly mistaken if he thinks that ceremony wasn't religious in nature. It was very clearly bowing down to Buddha. More of them than Leslie should have walked out. It would have made me uncomfortable too. She has shown the most integrity so far. If they last long enough I think Leslie and James will be good friends.

Did James remind anyone else of John Coffee?

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Yup - let's bash the Christian first thing.

If it felt uncomfortable, she was right to refuse. She said it "felt like" worship and she stated that she felt she should not bow down before any idols (even in a welcoming ceremy). Why can't that be respected? Tolerance of all - -except Christians (as usual).

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I was glad to see Chicken go, he was kind of strange and playing it safe. At this point, I like James the Hot gravedigger! I would love to see Courtney who obviously has no idea what the social aspect of survivor is like, and I know plenty of new Yorkers who are loud and friendly! I also didn’t like the black girl who wore heels, and apparently thinks that her bra is appropriate attire around camp, did she bring a bathing suit?

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Jackie,
I agree with you about the tribes, it will get very boring if left the way they are. I also felt that the NYer girl is giving us a bad name with her attitude. Why is she there if she hates everything. My question to you is maybe I missed something but what did they eat or drink? Where is there water? I know they gave them rice but they did not have fire

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The only reason I am disappointed that Chicken was the first to go is that he would have been the perfect comedy relief that will be needed later in the season.

I agreed with Leslie's decision at the temple and shame on Probst and the producers to call attention to it. If a Muslim refused to participate, I'm sure the reaction would have been one of understanding. It was really just a non-issue that should have been accepted and dropped. That said, her convictions will contribute to her ouster by her tribe before this is over.

Ashley is a serious problem and her tribemates missed a perfect opportunity to get rid of her early. Chicken may have had a bad attitude, but he had a strong back.

James is the true winner of the evening and may be the show's next "Rupert." It's gonna be hard not liking him throughout the season.

I think a lot more happened in this first episode than many here comprehend. There's a lot of potential for this to be a refreshingly different Survivor.

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Regarding James, here's my theory: He is an actor, channeling John Coffee of the Green Mile (as Dave points out above). A grave digger by occupation -- hmm. If he can stay in character for 36 days, he will be posing the question "what if Jesus were a contestant on Survivor."
I have not read his bio, and this is only my hare-brained theory.

It is not unusual for someone to put on a face for the show (remember Johny Fairplay). But, if I am right, this could be a Borat-worthy performance.

No wonder the Christian woman is gravitating his way.

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If you think that it's time to "bash the Christian", think of it this way -- statistically, most if not all of the contestants have some form of religious belief. Likewise, most of them are unlikely to have been Buddhist. But yet none of them chose to leave. So you have a choice, you can either argue "Well, none of them must feel as strongly in their religious beliefs as Leslie does" which would be very presumptuous since you really have no idea of their beliefs, or else you could argue that they are simply more open minded and tolerant. I choose to believe the latter.
It's not bash the christian, it's "bash the narrow minded one", who just happens to be Christian.

Second, Buddha was a man, not a god. It is not worship. It is ritual, certainly, but bowing your head in a Buddhist temple is no more an acceptance of Buddha as god as, oh, I don't know, saying "one nation under god" in the pledge of allegiance implies acceptance of a christian god.
What you choose to believe is in your own head.

The way I figure it, one of two things was going on in Leslie's head. Either she figured that they were idol worshipping heathens and couldn't stand to be in the room with them, or else her relationship with her god is a fragile, fearful one and she would rather risk her position in the game, as well as insult her guests, rather than risk his wrath. Either way, I don't like her.

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It's not Christian bashing! Half the other contestants are probably Christian as well, yet they were tolerant and respectful of the ceremony. Well, except for Courtney.

"Tolerance of all except Christians"? Really? On a story about a Christian who walked out on a Buddhist ceremony? Do you not see the irony? We're to be tolerant of a woman who demonstrated her own lack of tolerance?

Buddha, by the way, was a man, not a god. The temple ceremony is one of ritual and meditation, not of idol worship. Bowing to a statue of Buddha in a Buddhist temple is no more an acceptance of that philosophy than, say, forcing people to say "one nation under god" in the United States makes them Christian.

Hopefully Courtney is the next to go, she's the most annoying. Chicken was right as the first to go for his refusal to help his team, coupled with the condescending attitude that he knew what to do and just wasn't going to tell anybody. I can live with Ashley for a little while longer, but if she lives up to her "Diva" title and things that it's her job to sit around and tell glamorous stories about being on television, I won't miss her.

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Oops, sorry for the double comment, didn't realize the delay in posting was as long as it is.

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According to his bio, James is a third/fourth? generation gravedigger and is very proud of that fact. He seems very genuine to me, I seriously do not think he is playing a role. That's probably why Leslie has gravitated to him....or maybe she just likes his looks! He is one yummy looking man!!! Here's hoping he takes it all, or at least sticks around for a LONG time, cause I enjoy him. Not just his gorgeous body, but he seems really sweet, too. I would think that kind of profession makes a person humble, life being short, and all that jazz...

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once the group gathered back outside after the ceremony, didn't Leslie start off by saying "i'm not very religious, but..."

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Thank you, Duane. You hit the nail on the head. Leslie's problem is ignorance and lack of respect for the Chinese culture and a "My way or no way" condescension of beliefs other than her own. And johnnymac, you are correct, she did state "I'm not very religious, but..." This statement doesn't make any sense at all unless she was trying not to let the group know right off the bat that she is bible-thumper. I am equally irritated with Courtney's lack of respect. Way to go Leslie and Courtney. You're proving to be the kind of respectless and narrow-minded Americans that give us a poor image in the minds of the rest of the world. Find some humility, after all, you're representing us to a nation that has only recently begun to open up to us. I would be thoroughly grateful for a chance to experience what these people are experiencing and would show the utmost respect for our Chinese hosts.

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