Survivor Guatemala Official Thread - Episode 1

[lazarus]

Eh. Of all the survivors in the past, Bobby Jon and Stephenie, representatives of the worst tribe of all time, are the ones that most deserve a second chance? Whatever.

That hike was a lot tougher than it looked. My mother-in-law did archaeological work in the area, she says summer in that region is one of the most brutal climates you can imagine. It's south of the Tropic of Cancer, north of the equator. Your sweat doesn't cool you off, so your body keeps sweating, which is why some of the guys overexerted.

I can only imagine Bobby Jon went off on one of his hard work sprees, and the other guys felt they needed to keep up, and so they all overdid it.

Immunity challenge wasn't that tough, except for the exhaustion they were already suffering due to the hike.

Jim's booting was a fait accompli as soon as I saw his busted arm. Showing up to tribal council with your arm in a sling? Not so good.

Bobby Jon, bless his heart, just doesn't know how to play the game politically. You do NOT make sure everyone knows you're getting a second chance at a million dollars. Oy, vey.

[Suich]

1. I'm glad Stephenie is back.

I liked it when Probst told her this was the first tribal council she would NOT have to attend!

Thanks for doing the weekly thread, btw.
:hi:

[Pithlet]

13. I think Jeff geniunely likes Stephanie

That's the vibe I get.

[babylonsister]

2. Survivor is back and I/we love it; the fact that Stephanie

is getting another chance is icing on the cake. Thanks for your roundup, Lazarus. Those skinny girls did well, and Bobby Jon, not so much!

[lazarus]

3. I didn't include this the first time

But I have to swim against the current here and say that I simply don't understand the Steph love.

She's a loser. LOSER. Worst. Team. Ever.

And I got so sick last year of hearing how tough everything was for her, how she wasn't used to losing, blah blah blah cakes.

I'd like a chance to get to know others on the show, but so far, it's all Steph and BJ. That sucks. They have exactly zero chance of winning the thing, so why are they even there?

[dr.strangelove]

5. Respectfully, you are crazy man

Stephanie is as much a loser as Colby or any other non final winner. She did not win the game, but she earned a ton of respect from me. She carried more in the last season than any guy on her tribe, including Bobby Jon, and she beat him in a fire contest. She "won" her tribe. Does that make her the worst or a loser, maybe you think so, but I sure don't. She was on a bad tribe that had a few tough breaks. I don't recall her screwing up a challange or not carrying at camp. I rate her as much a winner as I rate any survivor who performed well, but did not win. If she had been on a better team, she may have won the game. Now, do I think she has a chance this season, no. She does not get the all-star benefit of everyone knowing each other. They all know and feel threatened by her, so she has a huge target on her back.

On BJ, I think it should have been skupin instead. He got screwed over and deserves another chance. I hope he gets it, but I don't ever want to see another all star show. I like BJ last season, but not enough to have him back.

Sorry Laz. I don't see how Stephanie is a loser. I am glad she is back.

[lazarus]

6. heh

Girl had a chance, and lost. Probst said she "never quit". Except for when she knew she was likely to be voted off, and jumped off the perch anyway, quitting an endurance challenge.

What I got tired of was her attitude. It's all about her. She's not used to losing, it must be all these other losers she's with.

She summed up her attitude perfectly last night after the hike. "We lost, but I thought we kicked butt!"

Only Steph would equate kicking butt with losing. The rest of us? Kicking butt = winning.

Steph also, on her season, displayed no, none, zero strategic ability. She's the major swing vote on a tribe about to split itself apart, and she gets voted off instead? No way. You could pick a dozen people from previous seasons who could have taken her position and run with it, to at least the final four.

I also don't want this season to turn into Team Steph vs Team Bobby Jon. One of the things I like best about Survivor is learning about new people, and seeing them interact. I was already sick of Steph last season. Now I've got to put up with her some more?

The only positive benefit? She's won an immunity challenge, so she climb down off the crucifix.

[Mabus]

14. I like Steph but...

bringing back players isn't a direction I want the show to go in. One of the reasons I like Survivor is because of it is a lot like life - you never know what's going to happen. Yeah I rooted for Steph last season but this season it is a little disconcerting.

[dr.strangelove]

4. A Great Start

I got the traditional goosebumps I get whenever a season starts. I love the camera shots of the areas Brunet films in. He knows the area is as important a character in the show as the people, and the opening few shots set it all up and let you know it. Wow, look at the pyramids, and people get to live here for a month and half, how cool.

The the characters. Instantly I was very turned off by Morgan, and I liked Gary and Briana. I thought my pick, Brian, was a little annoying. I was very annoyed by Judd. He is pissing me off something fierce.

Gary is an idiot if he does not think someone will recognize him. He was a fairly well known QB, only a starter for one full season and most of two others, but he was known enough that I have heard of him. I'm not that old. I know one of these guys or girls who was a sports nut in the 80s will have heard of him. He starter at QB for Tom Landry for crying out loud.

The walk was brilliant. I don't think I could have done it. Also, I think Nakum owes Jim for establishing the big lead over team stephanie. Once the fatigue set in, their big lead was eroded slowly. If Jim did not literally point them in the right direction, they never would have won.

The dehydration will pass quickly. Bobby Jon is a great team player (despite was Laz says) and will help the team. I see Nakum doing very well in the next episode.

All is all, a great return. Sorry to see you go Jim, but with your torn bicep, you would have dragged down the squad. If not for that, I would have kept you and cut Blake or Judd. I don;t like either of those guys. Anyway, I missed Stephanie. That girl is HOT.

[babylonsister]

7. I've also heard of Gary, but he's not revealing his

real last name. I would never in a million years be able to identify him from his looks, so I don't think anyone will figure it out unless he tells them. He sure went from 'take charge' to fairly lame IMHO.
And I feel sorry for Jim; he seemed to be the only one to be able to read a compass!

I was thoroughly entertained; loved the walk, and know I surely wouldn't have been able to do it either. All in all, an auspicious beginning!

[dr.strangelove]

9. If it was any one of the Giants QBs from the 1980s, I could pick them out

This guy started for the Dallas Cowboys. Any cowboys fan will be able to pick him out. My real concern in Danni, who is listed as a sportscaster/host. she grew up with seven brothers in Mississippi. From my experience, guys from Mississippi are mostly college fans, but when these guys watch pro ball, they watch the cowboys. She may know him. Also, she is in the biz. If she is just sideline eyecandy, she probably won't recognize him. But if she is one of those female sports hosts who study the history of sports like they have something to prove, she is going to know him.

[lazarus]

10. Eh, he's aged a lot

Aged well, but still.

Check the age difference between then and now:

http://www.sportsattic.com/nflphoto/photos10/Hogeboom,Gary1.jpg

[babylonsister]

11. Yo! Another

Giants fan here! :toast: I'm a displaced NYer...

[babylonsister]

12. Comment from another site I frequent:

"What do you think of Gary hiding his background? Mrs. XXXX says she saw a commercial today showing Danni and Gary discussing it and Gary denying it. Danni is a sports radio talkshow host in Texas and recognized him."
Since this was on a commercial, I'm not giving anything away, but it seems you were correct, dr.!

Edit to add a bit more info on Danni: While Gary Hogeboom might be the most famous face among the Survivor Guatemala castaways, there is another face that many viewers might recognize. Danni Boatwright has extensive acting and modeling experience and is a former Miss Kansas. Danni was also first runner-up in the 1996 Miss USA pageant.

[lazarus]

15. Hmm

I highly doubt that commercial, since Gary and Danni are on different tribes, and we've never seen significant tribal interaction this early.

[ernstbass]

8. It's going to be a good season

based on the first episode. I like that the hike was tough. In some of the past seasons we didn't see much about actual survival and I like that component of the game. I don't have a good feel for many of the players yet in terms of personality. I'm not surprised that the women (stronger of the sexes) faired better after the hike:evilgrin:
I'm glad they brought Stephanie back but I don't really understand why BJ returned. I agree, Lazarus, that he didn't need to mention another chance at the million. Do yall think they had medics check those people after the hike? I kept thinking "bring on the IV fliuds!" I wonder who they would have voted off if Jim hadn't hurt his muscle. I'm looking forward to next week!!