Survivor: Cook Islands Thread

I'll be watching this entire thing unravel, so I figured that it might be worth a thread.

The obvious first matter of business is what to make of the so-called "social experiment."

It seems fairly contrived. I don't expect it to come off as, I'm sure, they had hoped it might. What are they thinking? Are they expecting the white folks to conquer the black team and force them into slavery? Do they expect the Asians to make incredible electronics from sea shells and coconuts?

I doubt there will be much of a difference from past seasons except that CBS will try to play up the whole thing as though it's never been tried. The reality, of course, is that we have Chinatown, the Upper East side, Spanish Harlem and so forth. There's plenty to learn from those communities, as well as from what happens when communities are integrated.

Anyway, here's to tonight.

 

I'll play, Heinie.
The hilarious thing about all this hype is that the racially divided tribes will probably be gone by the third episode at the latest. They divided by gender and age last time, booted one player, then remixed the tribes in Episode 2.
My pre-faves are J.P. (as an avid volleyballer myself) and Rebecca, the Asian lawyer (I just get the feeling she'll bring the snark like Shi-Ann). I'm just bummed there's nobody over 45 to set the young stud puppies and chicas straight.

 

No, that would be the team of MacGyvers.

 

Now that would be a great show. Fifteen people against Richard Dean Anderson. I

I've never watched Survivor, but I'd tune in for that.

 

Aren't people getting a little too worked up over this, especially since we haven't seen one minute of the first episode yet? I'm betting it turns out to be nothing more than an attempt at lots of free PR, which they're clearly getting. I bet they merge by the middle of the second episode.

 

I hear Fuzzy Zoeller will be a special guest for one of the food reward challenges.

 

I used to cover one of the contestants in high school girls soccer. Please, don't ask me to reminisce.

 

Yes. I meant also to mention that we should expect the experiment to end quickly, as they almost always do some engineering of the teams early on.

I usually go for the writers, for obvious reasons. But there was a writer in the last one, and he didn't come off as much of an intellectual.

In case anybody needs something to add spark to Survivor, here's a suggestion. Find another friend/couple and make it a formal event. Two years ago, we started hosting two couples for dinner and Survivor/CSI. (Sometimes, our guests left without watching CSI.) But it became quite an adventure, as we took turns cooking. We had all sorts of great meals. I was introduced to some spectacular cabbage rolls and was somehow convinced that chili could be tasty when turkey replaces my trademark italian sausage.

I went a little overboard a few times, stuffing pablano peppers with rice, black beans and goat cheese and frying some plantains in brown sugar and butter (poured over ice cream, they were spectacular). Of course, we also added a few drinks to the mix. It makes for a great start to the weekend, particularly during the chill of winter. And it's always nice to know that you'll only have to cook dinner one or two Thursdays each month.

 

I'll probably catch a few episodes. My daughter and I have watched a few seasons together and had a good time being Survivor Geek buddies. I also catch myself leaving Vs. (used to be OLN) on the tube when I click past old survivor reruns but I get pissed when they have back-to-back episodes and they aren't in the proper sequence.

that said, what's the one item you'd take with you if you were on the show and allowed to take something with you?

 

A gun.

I'd like the money straight cash, homie.

 

Fifteen people battling amongst themselves as Richard Dean Anderson wins the immunity challenge every week, using only twine, a bicycle tire inner tube and palm fronds.

 

I suppose that'd be good for hunting and offing your rivals from the tribe, but I think it's also probably on the no-no list.

I'd bring along the Boy Scouts Field Manual. That thing has instructions on everything from edible plants to building waterproof shelters.