6:58: Damnit, the show's starting early and the whole gang isn't here and ready in the living room. So I'll be starting off a couple minutes behind already, though I'm sure to catch up at the first commercial break.
7:01: Let me start off with this: I know I've been (jokingly) saying for weeks now that the producers have been pimping us for a Colby victory, but the only way that that could/should possibly happen would be if he were to make it to the final three, and the remaining Villains would be idiots to take him there. That means that Colby - who's been awful at challenges all season - would have to win both Immunity Challenges in order to make the final Council. Has he really been hustling them (and us) with his awful play? Or will the producers figure out a way to rig the challenges in his favor (if that's possible)? I'll be pulling him for no other reason than that he's the underdog at this point, but I don't like his chances at all.
7:05: How exactly have the other players let TWO former winners (read: millionaires) stay in the game this long? Aren't they supposed to be the first people targeted?
7:06: Wow, this is a long intro. What, 10 minutes so far?
7:08: You know you're a memorable player when you won the previous season and I barely can recall who you are. Natalie? Who's that?
7:08: I think Russell just admitted being wrong at something. That's a first.
7:12: What a terrible time for a "break the other players' tiles" challenge for Colby. So much for the producers rigging the game for him. He's --
7:13: Nevermind - it's yet another stamina challenge, which I'm back to welcoming (this is the finale, after all). Not that this gives Colby any better odds - he'll probably be out within three minutes...
7:14: Of all the people left, who would you say is the safest in the game at this point. Improbably, I say Jeri. She's nearly a lock for the final four, and less likable players like Russ, Parv and Sandra would be somewhat follish to take her to the final three.
7:15: Sandra and Jeri out. Colby FTW?
7:16: I'm sure the players are just loving the wind that's picking up in this very delicate balancing game...
7:17: Parvati looks locked in.
7:19: Unsurprisingly, she won. That was pretty impressive.
7:19: And we're back live! (Well, still tape-delayed to the West Coast. As live as it's gonna get, anyway.)
7:23: Colby using the old "I'm not gonna try to turn you guys against each other" play. Sneaky. That's right up there with the "I'm thinking about quitting the game" play in the annals of
Survivor strategies.
7:24: Of course, not a minute later does Colby admit that his speech was a last-gasp attempt at sympathy. Wisely, the first person he goes to is Russell, playing on the Oil Man's insecurities about Parvati and Sandra. It just
might get interesting. I would certainly consider keeping Colby (despite what I said above), at least if I were Russell. Were three Villains to make the final Council, and Russell were one of them, I'd peg him as the least likely to win it all.
7:30: Yeah, I just don't see anything happening here. A lot of potential drama, but Colby's gone.
7:31: Indeed. Bad as you played, Colby, you made it to the top five and were the last Hero standing. Hold your head high, and do your best to turn this into another
Curb Your Enthusiasm role.
7:33: I gotta admit, I'm ready and willing to see
The Karate Kid remake, despite the presence of the awful-acting Smith kid. I won't go so far as to say that I have high hopes for it, but it certainly doesn't look terrible.
7:37: I have to idea which alliance is truly the strongest amongst the final four. Weeks ago, I would've said Parv and Russ, but not only does Russ seem tighter with Jeri these days, but Parv has taken to Sandra quite a bit since her BFF Danielle got voted out.
7:38: TRAIL OF DEAD!!! They moved this segment up in the episode - I'm pretty sure it doesn't normally occur until there are just three players left, right? Or am I taking crazy pills?
7:40: Okay, I think I am crazy. The whole trail of dead segue into the final Immunity Challenge does seem to ring a bell. This is what happens when you skip this segment season after season.
7:41: The best part about all-star seasons? I'm actually not left saying "I have no idea who that is" or "Who the hell is that chick?" during all of it. Nice to know who all of the dead players are! It actually makes this segment halfway tolerable.
7:43: James, you didn't just talk more. You were more of a dick. Next time, try ditching that strategy.
7:44: I think Coach is juuuust about ready to write the screenplay of his life. Hitting theaters in 2012 (no coincidence that the Apocalypse has been foretold to occur that year as well).
Here you go, Coach - I made this right now just for you (well, I pasted your head on an already existing image, but you get the point). Feel free to use it:
7:46: Candice: I'm pretty sure that if you show up on a future season, I'll say the same thing I did at the start of this one: "Who's Candice?"
7:48: Colby, give it a rest with the "I'm older" card. Wiki says you're 36, for chrissakes, which I think would make you the second youngest of the remaining players. You're also (supposedly) in much better shape than the rest of 'em. Enough.
7:57: Had to pause for a couple minutes. Be behind until the next commercial break.
7:58: On a whim, I'm picking Jeri to win this challenge. A blindfolded maze? Is there a favorite for such a thing?
8:03: Okay, this is close - now I'm just rooting for Jeri so that I'll be right.
8:04: Holy shit, that was close. All three players - Russ, Jeri and Parvati withing inches of the final Immunity Necklace, yet Russ grabs it by the hair on his chinny chin chin. That was intense.
8:07: Sandra's hilarious. "I don't care - I'll take the $100,000." Pretty sure I'd be voting out Parvati as well were I in Russ's shoes. Though Jeri might be a bit of a threat considering how few people she pissed off during the game, along with her status as a non-winner.
8:10: I'm sure the fact that his seasons are back-to-back plays on our emotions a bit, but it's hard not to really consider Russ, for all his faults, one of the game's greatest players. Back-to-back final three! What more do you need to say?
8:13: Who's been protecting whom? The Russ-Parv power struggle never ceases to end. Who wears the pants in that relationship? I fear we might never know.
8:15: Someone needs to tell Amanda that she looks better sans makeup.
8:15: No need to read the votes, Jeff - we already know it's
Parvati Jeri.
8:16: I admit, I was shocked there, especially considering what we heard Russ say as he cast his vote. I have to believe it was the wrong decision, though. As Mrs. Fletch is saying right now, if the jury were to consider giving their vote to a player that "really played the game yada yada yada," now there are two of those people left instead of just one, and frankly, Parv is a lot more likable than Russ, fake smile or no.
8:25: Yeah, not a whole lot going on, as you well know. Breakfast of champions, chat about how great we are, prepare answers for the Final Tribal.
8:26: This thing about "So-and-so has played the game of
Survivor longer than anyone else ever!!" is retarded. Playing in three separate seasons certainly helps.
8:28: Revenge of the Socks! Russ burns peoples' socks, and now Sandra burns his hat. Hilarious.
8:29: Sandra's almost convincing
me to vote for her, but in the end, I think this is Parv's to lose.
8:31: A poor play by Sandra in saying that "she tried to get Russell voted out three times." Uh, he's still there - how good could you be?
8:38: Somewhere along the way, I forgot that Parvati also won a season. Perhaps Russ has a distinct advantage after all. Though I don't know that people would vote for him
solely because he's the lone non-winner standing.
8:39: Christ, Amanda looks like ass. Again, ditch the makeup, and while you're at it, put your hair in a ponytail - it suits you and your long face much better.
8:40: Coach just said "the penitent man shall pass." I think not of the Bible and yet of
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. I know I'm not the only one.
8:41: Coach is wearing an Affliction t-shirt, to the surprise of no one at all in the audience.
8:43: Sandra again making the case for Russell, telling the jury how
he was the one taking them out and how much
she wanted him out and couldn't do it.
8:44: These jury members are doling out some really weak questions/comments so far. I know I get them for having vitriol after sitting in the jury box for weeks, but the opposite (this) is much worse. I want some fireworks, damnit!
8:45: If ever there's a
Total Recall remake (there is, in production right now, I believe), I'm begging the producers to cast Danielle and her uni-boob as its version of the three-titted stripper. No additional makeup necessary!
8:47: Speaking of Selleck - the mustache is angry!
8:50: Rupert's looked pissed for weeks now - this ought to be good.
8:50: Funny, I seem to recall Rupert shaking Russ's hand just recently when his neck was on the line. Strange how desperation makes Russ a much better person, no? Spare me the false indignation.
8:56: That said, Russ can't be feeling all that good after that Council. He got his ass kicked up and down the street. Looks like another Sandra win, after all???
8:58: Christ, is Russ gonna get ANY votes?
8:58: I can't believe how many votes they're showing us. I guess that means it'll be coming down to the last vote. 5-4 in favor of....?
8:59: Hahahahahaha - they played an eagle sound effect at the end of Coach's speech! Effing awesome!
9:01: Johnny Fairplay in the house!?!? Say what??? I thought that guy was banned from all future
Survivor events.
9:02: Russell...really not good at looking happy for others.
9:03: Sandra wins it 6-3 over Parvati. Impressive. Coming into tonight, I don't think I would have guessed that. The big question for Russell is, were you to play for a third time, after making the final vote twice and seeing that strategy not work, do ya think you would try something different? I sure hope so, but knowing how stubborn the guy is, I wouldn't bet on it.
9:19: I'm back from a short break, but only to say goodbye. To this episode (two hours is enough - you're on your own for the reunion show), to the season, and - unless there's a change of heart - to my days as a
Survivor live blogger. It's been a fun run, but I think I've said that I have to say about the show. Thanks to those that have kept up with my snarky takes for the past god-knows-how-many seasons.
Survivor news at Survivor.comSurvivor homepage at CBS.comInterviews with the castoffs at The Movie Encyclopedia
In what was a busy month of podcasting shenanigans, I joined Steve and Brian (aka The Film Cynics) for the full hour of their Victoria, B.C.-based radio show (and LAMMY-nominated podcast), and it was a jam-packed 60 minutes, with a few minutes spent on some departed celebs to TV finale talk to a review of 44 Inch Chest and more.
The Soto Curse lives on!
Prince of Persia
Sex and the City 2
MICMACS
The writers of The Joneses probably thought they were making a biting satire™ about consumerism. To a point, they are. But what they really ended up with was a meta-satire.
* The Hammer - As advertised. Adam Carolla still had his radio show when he made The Hammer, so as a former listener, I heard plenty about it not only as it was in production, but also the reaction from the show's crew, guests, and fans. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive, and followed Carolla beyond his radio days and into his days as one of the Lords of Podcasting. I was a loyal listener for a long, long time before finally calling it quits a year or so ago, as I found that in a one-on-one context, Adam made for a shitty interviewer - the guy can't help but dominate the conversation and talk about himself. We're talking 80% of the time...which is fine for a radio show, but then why have guests?
oing to make it an alternate reality and wimped out because that was such a stupid, stupid idea, or they just threw him in there to throw everyone off the scent of it being heaven, or maybe it was just some random kid who died on the island and Jack and Juliet just pretended he was their kid. They should have had that kid play the young Jacob in the Early island flashback, now that would have been a mindf^&$.
rds during the season it would have ruined the ending for everyone, but I still wouldn’t mind seeing an epilogue episode where we find out what happened with Hurley, Kate, Sawyer, Alpert and of course Dez. We know Kate “waited a long time for Jack”, but I mean she had to have at least banged Sawyer a few times off-island after Jack died. And what about Alpo being reintroduced to society after 500 years on an island? And will young Charlie Hume develop any super-powers passed on from his father, and if so will they form a father/son crime-fighting team? (Sounds like a spin-off to me. They could have Mr. Paik and Ji-Yeon be the supervillains they are constantly trying to thwart.)
Now, the sixth in a continuing series in which I count down my favorites from a particular year in film. Previous entries:
5. Demolition Man
4. Tombstone
3. Groundhog Day
2. Dazed and Confused
1. True Romance
Well, I'm certainly glad to hear that at least most of you like the new template around here. I realize it's not perfect, but I think it works well with what I want for BC. I love the Featured Posts header, and I love how all of the widgets fit together so nicely. Stay tuned for an eventual logo overhaul as well.
It's the moment you've all been waiting for! The glitz and glamour of the LAMMYs have made their way to the LAMBcast. That's right - the main post and voting instructions will arrive shortly, but this is the spot if you want to be amongst the first to hear the nominations for the 2010 LAMMY Awards.
Somewhere along the way last winter, either the vast hordes of people that saw The Blind Side or the scads of early critics that anointed it worthy of being seen by the aforementioned scads of people that saw it (my research-free assumption on this point: Gene Shalit types) looked at this movie and judged it for what they thought it was, or what it appeared to be and not for what it really was. Somewhere along the way, people saw Sandra Bullock "in a role like you've never seen her before," (which is to say, the role of Erin Brockovich or her ilk) and became convinced that this was a feel-good movie about love conquering all and helping out your fellow man (-child) or being color-blind or class-blind or some combination of all of the above.
6:58: Damnit, the show's starting early and the whole gang isn't here and ready in the living room. So I'll be starting off a couple minutes behind already, though I'm sure to catch up at the first commercial break.
