SURVIVOR: WC vs BC vs NC – 4/8/15

So check in next week and you’ll find out some behind-the-scenes info from:

Mike Skupin!

That’s right, “the big Skup” from the Australian Outback and Philippines, season #2 and #25 (and #36 on my list of all-time players). This is a guy who’s definitely experienced the evolution of the game. He’s had some success (tied for #2 in Philippines) and has played with some of the biggest characters. Just look at the casts of those two seasons and you can’t throw a coconut without hitting a big time player. I can’t wait to ask him questions that delve deep into the Survivor canon and unearth some juicy nuggets.

But I need your help. I don’t want to come up with all the questions myself. I need your input and we need it fast. Please send in your questions via email, twitter, or comments below. All my contact info is at the end of the recap. Thank you, and I plan to post his answers in next week’s column (assuming he’s available too). I’m so pumped, and I hope you are too. I truly hope we get some great questions.

Moving on, there’s been a lot of talk lately about future episodes, who might be on them, who won’t, and the process for selection. I mentioned a couple weeks ago about an open vote to choose the players, and it looks like that’s what’s going to happen. But before I go any further, I realize that some of you are not too keen on Survivor spoilers. Not just “who’s going to win?” but ANY kind of spoilers. Hell, I’ll admit I get the chills waiting for the big reveal of the next season at the end of the Reunion Show, so I totally understand some of you not wanting to know ANYTHING about future seasons.

But considering this is RealitySteve.com, a site known for spoiling the Bachelor/ette shows, I think it’d be a little foolish to sit on information just because we’re all fans of the show. Believe me, Ich bin ein Überfan too, and don’t want to know too much – like that time years ago I saw a Survivor call sheet posted online – but I don’t mind knowing, or sharing, who might be on a future season.

To that end, I’m going to announce what I know about the future seasons, the process, and who’s in the running, but I’ll do it AFTER tonight’s recap, so those of you who want to remain in the dark can choose to do so. I’m not in the business of pissing everyone off – just the people ON THE SHOW – but I respect that some of you want to retain the purity of how you watch Survivor, and I don’t want to ruin that for you.

But to those of you who are already done with this season (hard to please, much?) and just want to find out about which former players are in the running, check on the last page of tonight’s column (simply scroll down and click the highest number!). I won’t be offended if you do, but please click back to the beginning and read the recap too. That’s why you came here, right?

So without further ado, let’s get to tonight’s episode and see if Jenn is on the chopping block like everyone thought after last week’s episode. I totally spaced after the last Tribal and didn’t even mention the WC peeps joined the BC derps, which means Jenn and her NC mates (Joe and Hali) better find another hidden idol toot sweet. And with the teases and promos I’ve seen of tonight’s episode, it looks like finding that idol is going to be at the top of everyone’s minds.

So, tonight’s episode is entitled “Keep It Real” which means…who knows what? Off the top, it just sounds like something funky Will would say when rationalizing his next vote, like,

“I’m just gonna keep it real and vote for white chick with the droopy drawers…”

…or maybe it’s his method of styling his hair. Since he’s bald I shudder to think what other hair he could be “keeping real.” I’d hate to think of Fred Flintstone sporting carpet like Fletch’s “Lakers Dream” afro, but let’s just move on before we get a mental visual on that… And damn, too late. Dude, it’s gonna take a week to forget that image…

The recap reminds us of the following:

-they merged
-Joe won the first immunity challenge
-Mike got Will to prove his loyalty
-WC feels they’ll control the game by being “swingers” (RIP “Neighbors With Benefits”)
-Yet, Shirin voted with the No Collars, distancing herself from the WC even more

Returning to camp after Tribal, Jenn is congratulated for her big idol play, but Rodney is more interested in griping (via confessional) that Mike is an “idiot redneck” who messed up the vote and sent Kelly packing. He plots with Will to take out the other NC and Shirin first, and then go after Mike. In Rodney’s mind, he’s more aligned with Will, Tyler, and Carolyn than with the BC, and can rule the game at the end. Of course, this means he has to let Mike think he’s running the show, and we’ll just have to wait and see if his intricate plan can come together…

Mike gives props to Jenn for her bold play, but he comes across more like an ass-kisser than a competitor. No, Mike, she’s not going to sleep with Super Dave, so stop trying to get in them droopy drawers. Jenn is just stoked she was able to get a laugh out of her move, and hopes her alliance of 4 will have enough juice left to do some damage.

Day 20 arrives and Boston Rod is not happy (again!). First, he wants the NC cooks to add more rice to the pot, simply because he says so. And then when he begins to take the casing off the sliced sausage he and Shirin get into a brouhaha over that. He must think that it’s not edible, but Shirin knows it is. Rodney is not one to be fugazi (fake) with anyone, so he let’s her know what’s what. He then tells us she has no business being there, and with his 7-4 advantage, she’ll be out quick enough. We’ll see about that.

Over to the Reward Challenge we go and it’s the “Anchorman” challenge John Kirhoffer previewed in a video this week. The players have to make their way over a low balance beam, untying bags of puzzle pieces. The first 3 players to retrieve all their bags qualify for the next section. In that part, they have to untie their 3 bags and assemble an anchor puzzle. As expected, being good at puzzles will help, but being able to stay on a beam will be more important. Because of that, we can probably kiss Dan and Will (and anyone who’s taller or heavier)’s chances goodbye. The winner (and a few more, I assume) will be taken to the roof of the Nicaraguan canopy where they’ll get to zipline to the bottom, and enjoy a feast.

Now, I don’t mean to pick on Dan or Will, but typically those ziplines have a weight limit of around 245 lbs. So I don’t think those two would get to do this even if they won. And don’t get me started on Shirin’s weight, let’s just assume she’d be able to do it…

And right out of the blocks, Dan and Shirin take a hard comical fall off the beam. Damn, you couldn’t have written that any better (and thanks for the sound effects, Survivor post team, you really nailed that foley).

As expected, Joe is doing really well in the challenge, leading the pack, followed by Mike, Hali, Sierra, Jenn, Tyler, and the rest. In dead last is Shirin, doing her best sloth impersonation, just hanging on the bottom of the beam chewing on leaves… I expect to see a meme of this on the internet later today.

Moments later, Joe completes the first section, followed by Mike and Hali. In the puzzle section, each seems to be making progress, but Joe and Hali take a clear lead over Mike. They just seem…I don’t know…smarter than him. With only a few pieces left, Joe and Hali hit a wall, allowing Mike to gain some ground on them. As he frantically rearranges and places a few more, he’s within striking distance, but then Jeff calls him out for panicking at the disco, allowing Joe to coolly places his last 3 pieces and win the challenge. I knew I liked this guy…

Now, the only question is who to take. Your NC crew? The enemy? Players under 245 lbs.? Ultimately, with the choices he makes, you can see he’s playing the game. He selects:

Tyler
Carolyn
Will

And then Jeff allows him to make one additional pick. Rodney begs to go since he’s stah-vin’, but Joe denies him saying he’s eating the most too. With that, Rodney does what he does best and sticks his foot in his mouth, announcing that,

“I’m good, ‘cause we got 7 vs. 4 anyways…”

On that threat, Joe ends up choosing Shirin. Whose “superfan” status apparently earned her a golden ticket to Crazy Town. As she shrieks and joins the party, Rodney comments that he’s the one “keeping it real,” and he’s seriously not happy with Joe. And Jenn is clearly not happy with Rodney, whispering under her breath that she “f**king hates him.” Good for you, Droopy…