(S19E03) If I had my druthers and could choose which weirdo to watch take over Survivor between Evil Russell and Ben "Coach" Wade from last season, I'd surely go for Russell. Don't get me wrong. I don't like Russell. I wouldn't invite him over for dinner or send him a birthday card. But he's playing the game and, despite saying he's not there to work, he works around camp and at the challenges. However, his expertise in work at camp is playing mind games. Wade did diddly. Now if only I knew what a druthers was.
What I don't like when they focus on one outrageous character, whether Ben Wade or Russell, is that it's hard to remember there are indeed two tribes. As Foa Foa with Evil Russell dwindles in numbers, there are still ten people over on Galu. At least we got a few glimpses of them tonight.
Another thing which is irking me is doubling the challenges into one big reward/immunity challenge. On the positive side, that gives Foa Foa only one chance to lose! Not only is Foa Foa truly sucking at challenges, they're being led around by Evil Russell like he's the Pied Piper of Samoa. Even though we're on the third episode, I've picked a few members of that tribe I like -- Jaison and Mick. But if they're foolish enough to trust Russell every step of the way, they'll deserve to get the boot. Thankfully one bucked the tide tonight ... and survived crossing Russell.
So, once Foa Foa lost yet another highly physically interactive challenge (hmm ... women in mud, women wrestling in water, do you sense a theme?), Good Russell of Galu made one decision I liked and one which is probably going to bite him in the butt. I think, for Shambo's sake, she was the best choice to go to the Foa Foa camp. She's not happy with her "90120" tribemates. She turned on the good will and friendliness. If her tribe doesn't boot her, she could pick up some allies on Foa Foa.
His poor decision was choosing comfort items over functional items as the reward. I'm not so keen on him claiming he did it for the women. Yeah, I'm sure that was his thought. But I'm a woman. If I were there, I would prefer cooking utensils and such. The rains are going to soak the pillows, pads, and towels. The guys are already a bit ticked at him although they didn't seem to say much to him about it. Shambo can't be the only woman to see the sense in going for functional.
With the single challenge over early in the episode, the focus became The Russell Show. He wanted Ashley out because why? Oh, she dared cross him and said she wanted Ben gone. But this time Russell's string-pulling just isn't working. Ben has alienated himself from just about everyone in camp. And it only took one strong game player to take a stand.
Jaison is my new hero. He talked to the girls and Mick. He told them if Ben stays, he's gone. But he told us he has no plans to leave. Heck, if Russell can play people, so can Jaison. I'm glad that he called out Ben on the racist comments made to Yasmin last week even though her behavior was over the top, too. I was also pleased to see that Mick agreed the comments were racist. With race on the shows sometimes being a touchy issue, it's commendable for someone else to be willing to speak up.
Then there's that Evil Russell. Darn, the dude is smart about the game. He saw things weren't going to go his way. He took Mick under his wing, showing him the hidden idol trying to gain his trust to vote out Ashley. But then he switched it up for a unanimous vote to oust Ben (except Ben's vote for Ashley).
So Evil Russell still has everyone's trust, even though his own target didn't get shot down this week. He's still in with the guys and Ashley is a bit of a wishy-washy target anyway. Ben thinks they can't survive without him. I don't think they could have lived with him. He was bad at challenges and caused all kinds of problems. Good riddance.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-02-2009 @ 7:25AM
Laurie said...
Maybe Ben's comments about Yasmine were racist, but wasn't the choice of Yasmine ("my home girl") being sent to the Foa Foa camp also racist? Was she really the best choice?
Reply
10-02-2009 @ 8:50AM
MCW said...
Exactly... "MY AFRICAN QUEEN". How obvious can you get that you are only interested in supporting the dark-skinned players who are not in any way from Africa?
Oh wait, it's OK for HIM to call her Homegirl and African Queen, but never Ghetto Trash.
10-03-2009 @ 12:05PM
cgar said...
CBS showed Ben say, "Go back to the ghetto and make sugar sandwiches and kool aid." Which is very racist.
Also CBS is known to not show reality show contestants true words in these situations. There have been a couple instances on Big Brother when someone (Braden and Amber) say extreemly prejudice/ racist things and CBS edits it to not look that bad. Ben could have said much worse and we'd never know.
10-02-2009 @ 7:46AM
Cyn said...
I think Yasmin was inappropriate and came on way too strong. I think Ben overreacted and we saw his true colors, which were ugly.
He deserved to go home.
I detest Troll Russell. He is a personality disordered man, who is scary. He is playing more than a game, he wants to control people. I feel like I need a cleansing shower after watching the creep.
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10-02-2009 @ 7:48AM
laura said...
Did you SEE Shambos Legs sticking out of the Tree where the Idol used to be? Can you say "obvious?" I mean it looked like the tree was eating her, mullet first.
Shambo calling her teammates "90210" just shows that she is severely ignorant and then telling the other team about it was childish. She doesnt fit in, so the easiest thing to do is make fun of them so she doesnt feel so badly about herself, and then kissing Foa Foas Behind. She wasnt that open with her own tribe.
I am glad ben went home, his skivvies were nasty.
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10-02-2009 @ 11:46AM
jaggok said...
Russell is vile but he's the best player playing Survivor this year. Ben calling Yasmine Ghetto Trash saying she's from the ghetto. How does he know where she lives?
No one playing the game other than Russell, knows you have to lie to win. Ben could have apologized to Jaison even if he didn't mean it and probably would still be there. You need to lie to win.
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10-02-2009 @ 12:40PM
Kristi said...
A slip in Russell's game or another brillant game-play?!
Is Ben really that ignorant?!
http://www.orble.com/teevee-survivor-101/
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10-02-2009 @ 2:52PM
Owloo said...
~ Shambo complains about the yoga, yet the team that wins is the team that does yoga, all hail the yoga. I thought Shambo was digging herself into the tree. With this episode no sign of Yasmin checking out the trees at her camp. With the stay tuned for scenes from our next episode clip - at least Shambo deduced a tree in her camp must also have a hidden immunity idol - only problem is she tells a fellow tribemate.
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10-02-2009 @ 5:20PM
Joyce N. said...
I think the only reason for the new bathing suits was to get Evil Russsell out of those skivvies. Bless them!
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10-02-2009 @ 5:29PM
Rhomboid said...
I hope they do one of those twists where the tribes are mixed up and equalized before the merge. Otherwise, it's going to be really boring seeing one team continue to completely dominate and humiliate the other. They must have some kind of twist up their sleeve as you can't start with 20 players and not have at least one double elimination week planned.
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10-03-2009 @ 12:52AM
GL said...
Evil Russ is his own worst enemy. The sham of his game play is starting to crumble.
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10-03-2009 @ 9:35PM
Gene said...
I do believe 'druthers' came from the musical "LI'L ABNER". ~1956
In that musical there was a tune called "If I Had My Druthers". Could this be where 'druthers' came from which you are referring to?
Lyrics were by Johnny Mercer.
"LI'L ABNER" played for 693 performances on Broadway at the St. James Theatre. The original cast included Edith Adams, Peter Palmer, Howard St. John and Stubby Kaye.
It received 2 Tony Awards for Choreography and Supporting or Featured Actress. It also got 'The Outer Critics Circle Award for Performance'.
If I Had My Druthers I would rather be seeing a B-Way Musical. Although I do love 'Survivor'.
Reply
10-04-2009 @ 4:24AM
Laurie said...
I like Jaison and Shambo. So far, they're real & honest players. Probably the kiss of death for both. It would be interesting to see a final vote, for the first time, between two survivors who were both just good people. Ha!!! Never gonna happen!
Reply
10-06-2009 @ 3:29PM
Sassy said...
It's so weird to see my name (Laurie) and know I didn't make those posts above. Imagine, two of us watching the same show and commenting on Jackie's column!
I was glad to see Ben go, and enjoyed watching the surprised look on his face as the votes were read. He was evil, imo, and needed to go. I think Evil Russell will self-destruct pretty soon. However, he made a smart move by voting with the majority.
I,too, hope they mix up the tribes and make two new ones. I wouldn't be surprised to see that happen this week!
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10-06-2009 @ 3:47PM
Margo said...
Foa Foa are all gonna die now that Ben is not there to start the fire. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA......NOT.
I say good riddance.
Jackie great write up again.
Margo
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10-06-2009 @ 4:26PM
Suzi said...
Jackie, you aren't the only one who isn't liking the one comp a show and what seems like one tribe on camera. Soon, we will see the good Russ's tribe holding wet, soggy pillows over their heads trying to keep dry. Who woulda thunk it...rain on Survivor. I hope it doesn't get him voted off..if his team ever goes to TC.
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10-06-2009 @ 4:55PM
Jennasmom said...
Great article, Jackie! You and I think alike. Don't like Evil Russell, but you got to admit he's playing the game.
I don't even who hardly anyone but Shambo is on the other team. Wish they'd focus on someone other than Russell for a while.
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10-06-2009 @ 9:30PM
meb said...
I too think like you Jackie... Russell is playing the game, but I'm hoping he's gone soon and let someone else play who isn't so controlling.
Looking forward to the next episode. I'd sure like to see who's are the other team.
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10-06-2009 @ 10:18PM
Syd said...
"Now if only I knew what a druthers was."
OMG -- this line was unexpected and just too funny. I have no idea either. Maybe I can google it and someone will have listed it on Wikipedia or something.
My husband was pissed that they did the immunity reward challenges too. I was not happy the producers had already picked the tribes. I am not happy that some got voted off the week that the medics insisted the older guy leave. I'm all for shaking things up to keep it fresh (thought you might never known that from my comment so far, lol), but that last one wasn't great.
Maybe they didn't show it in the cut but why wasn't there as much talk about Yasmin's totally inappropriate behavior.
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10-08-2009 @ 2:33PM
Netra said...
people have spoken about her behavior..it's brash loud and unacceptable...but i think because we are only seeing one tribe...so the focus wasnt on her this episode..i mean their tribe is still all lovey dovey towards one another cant wait for that to end. I too hope they do some kind of twist...oh and i think Yasmine will be the first to go when her tribe loses she complains a lot and is annoying. I still dont understand why people go on Survivor and proceed to complain about the conditions. To those above typing about the African Queen...get over it. Until we get to see more of both tribes