Over the past two weeks Survivor:China entered the
zone where MB tries to disguise the failure of his storyline with
selective production gimmicks. This season's "ReCrap
Episode" actually had some meat on the bones that he
tossed us. The abundance of new images told a different story from
that which he (and, not online pundits) was led to believe. And, now
that the actual filming and editing that has caught up with the real
end of the game (that took place many weeks ago), MB is using
previously rejected material in an effort to hide the fact that he
was outwitted, outplayed, and outsmarted by the outcome of the game.
Therefore, it can be said that, he is acting out the following (
often misunderstood)
Chinese saying…"Man not contented is like a snake swallowing
an elephant".
And, in the event that you are as confused by the quotation, as MB
was when the production crew identified the winner, it was not the
snake that was not contented… it was the elephant !
The saying comes from a Chinese parable that tells us that a widow
was terminally ill. She was informed that the only known cure for
her illness was a tonic made from an internal organ of a snake. So,
she asked her son to get this remedy. Upon visiting a snake, whose
life he previously saved, he asked for help. We are told that the
snake understandingly granted the boy permission to crawl inside his
body to cut off a small piece of the desirable internal organ. Upon
getting what he needed, he thanked the weakened snake, and,
hurriedly took the piece of fleshy tissue to a doctor who made the
required medicine. His mother instantly healed and the boy was paid
generously for the unused part of the remedy because it was so
extremely rare.
Seeing an opportunity to get more money the boy revisited the snake
and stated that his mother was still sick and needed more medicine.
Reluctantly, the snake once again granted him permission to retrieve
the smallest possible piece of the organ. To make a long story
short…the boy tried to cut off a large piece and …
the literal translation of the story tells us that
…"the snake swallowed the elephant."
It is obvious that MB has forgotten how divided loyal viewers became
at the conclusion of Survivor: Marquesas. Many of us were pained by
the lack of visibility of the eventual winner. Then to add an insult
to our injury he threw the infamous purple rock at us. Subsequently,
we were given doses of catch phrases like "under the
radar" and told that the "ReCrap Show" hinted at the
winner's strategy. Many of us have not healed, or forgiven MB for
his error in judgment. Yet, once again, he is leaving that uneasy
feeling in many stomachs with his strange editing of this previously
transparent cast member we now know as Amanda.
It can be argued that her real visibility started two weeks ago in
this season's "ReCrap Show
" and was maintained during the last episode. Unfortunately,
this may have confused many viewers because there were glaring
discrepancies between her own private words and ….well… her own
private words. This was not in the "outwit, out smart"
way, but in the MB "creative editing" way. In other words,
he is trying way too hard to reinvent her. It is painful to hear
JP's voice-over summarize things about her that was never previously
revealed. Then it becomes insulting when the "closed
captioning" does not match these voice-overs. Obviously, MB
thinks we are contented with his production of Survivor: China.
However, is he contented ?
Predictions:
-- The Amada Show continues... and nothing else matters.
--
TC Victim:
The virgin.
Survivor: China
Ep9. ~ Great Wall of Silence
In the last episode we said goodbye one of the few
remaining colorful characters in Survivor: China. Not only was he
recruited by the producers for his ability to talk incessantly, he
was planted in the game with the hopes that he would provide enough
fodder to keep the game interesting. And, the poker player
delivered… he was a loud mouth while awake and even louder when he
was asleep. He is now a part of the jury where he is guaranteed
extra television exposure to do what he does best – talk, talk,
talk. Consequently, we can look forward to seeing him ply his trade
in the final episode and at the reunion show. After which, he will
go back to his poker career… where he is often featured as a
blabbermouth on television.
"...Wow, can you just anticipate the excitement ? ..."
Arguably, at this stage of the game, the real losers are the viewing
audience. It is obvious that we have not seen or heard anything
significant from the potential winner. Therefore, if you had a
problem with the quiet game of Vecepia in
Survivor: Marquesas
then the great wall of silence in China must appear to be deafening.
Even the occasional peek under the radar reveals nothing. And, as
each episode goes by another colorful character is assassinated by
MB. And once again, the jurors will upstage the finalists.
"...Wow, can you just anticipate the excitement ? ..."
As we quietly endure the demise of the original Yellow team, we wait
patiently for important voices to be injected into the game. This
time around the producers seem to be silently negating the role that
“strength and power” plays in the individual immunity
challenges. In other words, MB is doing his best to quietly deny
JAMES a chance of automatically and effortlessly having immunity at
the next three Tribal Councils. Therefore, this time around, the
design of these important challenges harkens back to the era when
both males and females, of all ages, had an equal chance of winning.
Even SCOUT could have won the events we have seen so far… just ask
COURTNEY (who has gained more individual IC victories than ALICIA
and STEPHENIE combined achieved in their respective first games).
"...Wow, can you just anticipate the excitement ? ..."
Until the producers allow someone to make some real noise, there is
little to cheer about in Survior: China.
Predictions: RC:
Team with Frosti / Team without Peih-Gee IC:
Peih-Gee TC Victim:
…
yet another pawn from the former yellow team
…
Frosti
Survivor: China
Ep.7 ~ Crouching Twists & Hidden Immunity.
In the world of Survivor, a twist is not a merge.
However, in Thailand a merge became a twist. And, although it was
really a fake merge it still had the effect of a twist. It
effectively sacrificed at least one unsuspecting player at the
expense of enhancing the show’s production values. In other words,
when MB and his flunkies determine that a show is not following
their script they abruptly change the dynamic of the game. This is
their effort to compensate for their failure to plan for certain
scenarios. This practice started in the show’s third season when
the youngsters of one team decided to target, sacrifice, and
cannibalize the older members of their own team. MB put an end to
that charade be unexpectedly swapping around team members.
Coincidentally, or not, the term “Twist” came from the blatant
product placement for a new product by PepsiCo introduced to viewers
during that hot dry season we remember as Survivor: Africa.
For every player who loses stature in the game at least another will
benefit. Occasionally, the seemingly dominant players are suddenly
in a dire situation. Often a twist is a switch or swap of players
between the tribes. Arguably, this production gimmick invariably
destabilizes alliances and negates early strategies. For the players
this usually changes their chances to succeed in the game… either
for the better or for the worse. For many a viewer this changes the
focus they had on MB’s storyline. Unfortunately, this may have
happened in Survivor: China as the twist reset the strategy (both
for the contestants in the game and the prognosticators viewing from
home). Once again many of us were reduced to being passive
spectators and not cheerleaders…finding ourselves waiting for the
merge, waiting for the real game to begin.
Then there is the mystique of the Hidden Immunity Idol. This trinket
is now a standard feature in the game of Survivor. However, what is
not standard are the rules that govern its usage. Initially, the
player with this trinket had to reveal it before the voting at
Tribal Council to be immune. Then in some seasons the player with
this trinket had to reveal it after the result of the votes were
read to be immune. Then, in Survivor: Fiji the player with this
trinket had to reveal it after the voting at Tribal Council, but
before the votes were read, to be immune. This time around there are
at least two real Hidden Immunity Idols … which may be a good
thing. And, and as we head into the merge let’s all hope that the
effect of the swapping twist will leave us enough interesting
characters to keep us entertained for the rest of the season.
Predictions:
It's time to drop those buffs and merge. IC
Frosti TC victim
The demise of the original Yellow team continues … Jaime goes to
Loser's Lodge.
Survivor: China
Ep.#3 ~ The Yellow Curse.
With two generally entertaining episodes back-to-back
it may be safe to say that the Survivor franchise has returned.
However, we will know for sure in a few weeks. Until then, many of
us silently applaud the production team for what still seems like a
return to the basics. Last week's challenges were creatively
conceived and well produced. Lost on some of us was the effort by
the snoring poker player… he actually contributed as much as the
muscular gravedigger. This duo will ensure that the red team will
have the majority of players after the merge. They have also secured
their place on the jury by qualifying for the ritual post-merge
cannibalization of the strongest and the non-aligned. Consequently,
the winner of Survivor: China will be someone else from the red team
who knows how to play the part of a stowaway within an alliance.
However, before the red team waltzes into the second half of the
game they have to get rid of the yellow players. Two are gone so
far, and tonight another will be voted off. For those of us keeping
score, the color of the original losing Survivor team was also
yellow – we remember them as Pagong. So, as the yellow tribe heads
back to Tribal Council, with its beautiful façade and lackluster
interior, many online pundits and gumshoes are producing evidence
that the leading yellow voice will be silenced. This is not an
unusual occurrence in Survivor strategy as pretentious leaders tend
to end up on the chopping block fairly early. For example, if this
were the red team then Arron would be history... but, now we will
have to wait a couple more weeks for his exit.
Predictions: RC:
The red team loses. IC:
The red team wins. TC:
The yellow team makes their third consecutive visit to the fire pit,
and, Dave the fire starter will have his flamed snuffed out.
Survivor: CHINA.
Ep #2: "…Welcome back, old friend…"
Guilty as charged… I've been having a strange
affair that almost led to a nasty divorce from Survivor. Not the
sort of affair that Les Moonves or Jeff Probst had with their
co-workers or cast, but one based on mutual respect. However, things
are almost back to normal and Survivor seems to be making an effort
to stay around for a few more years. This time MB and his crew are
in China and they have gone back to the basics.
We welcome back the manageable number of only sixteen contestants,
maybe now we will get to know them before they leave the game. The
first challenge was tough enough to merit a reward of fire, yet
simple enough for the viewing audience to understand. Let’s hope
that this signals the return of reasonable entertaining challenges.
Upon carefully observation some of us also saw a few old trends.
Surely, we all knew the oldest cast member would be the first to get
voted off …and, he did not help himself by acting more like B.B.
Anderson instead of like Rodger Bingham. The music did what it
always does, the camera crews did their job, and the editors tried
their best and still messed up. Yet, that is what we have come to
expect and enjoy. Also returning was the sack of rice, coupled with
an overall general feeling that this season has the potential to be
as good as … well, the good ole days.
Memories of another kind were revived when we saw the crumpled
figure of a female, assuming the fetal position. The first time we
saw that imagery it resulted in the departure of the poor soul. This
time around will be no different as we welcome back another Survivor
trademark – blatant foreshadowing.
Predictions:
-- The yellow tribe loses all challenges and their dignity at TC.
-- The WWE Diva gets tossed from the game.
