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Episode Recap: Stir the Pot! | Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites | 5/12/2008
After 39 days Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites has chosen a winner and her name is Parvati Shallow. Congratulations to her as she played a good game especially against such tough competition as Amanda and Cirie. If I’ve taken anything away from this edition, it’s the hope for an all-female final four every season. Never has the trail of torches been so entertaining. Usually, the mind wanders as the finalists reach for complimentary things to say of their former... read more
Jeff Probst Breaks Down Survivor's Final Four | TV Show Previews | 5/9/2008
Survivor: Micronesia has been full of shockers (from Jonny Fairplay quitting to stupid,stupid Ozzy!), making for some crazy-fun Tribal Councils. So we were very anxious to hear definitive Survivor expert Jeff Probst's thoughts on the final four castaways as we approach the May 11 season finale (8 pm/ET, CBS). We caught up with him to see who he thinks will take the prize. — Megan Walsh-BoyleParvati"Parvati's strength is also her weakness — she's made moves and alienated people. That's... read more
Episode Recap: If It Smells Like a Rat, Give It Cheese | Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites | 5/9/2008
OMG! Funniest. Survivor. Ever! You are going to have to excuse me as I wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes. There are no words – none – that can truly describe the bittersweet hilarity of Erik’s monumental crash and burn. If you missed the show for any reason run – don’t walk – to your nearest internet-ready computer and watch the repeat online because in a season of blindsides, this one takes the cake.I’m just going to say it. Erik gave up immunity!... read more
Episode Recap: I'm Gonna Fix Her! | Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites | 5/2/2008
I know what I’m about to say will not make sense, but I am confident that Survivor fans will understand the sentiment: I wish this show could start at the merge because, right now, I can barely remember the first half of the season. And yes, now I’m going to contradict myself by saying that the first half of the season was pretty good too with all of its drama. Still, since the merge we’ve had blindside after blindside, fake idols, unused idols and finally, thanks to Amanda, a... read more
Episode Recap: I'm Ruthless ... and Have a Smile on My Face | Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites | 4/25/2008
What do you have to do to get these people to use the idol?! They find it, they hide it, they whisper about it, caress it lovingly, some even make replicas, but they never use it. Listen up Survivors, it doesn’t need to mature. Just use it!You would think that after Ozzy’s blindside, Jason, holder of the new idol, would pay more attention and risk playing the idol for no reason rather than sitting on it and going home. He didn’t and I have to remind myself that this is the guy... read more
Emmys Officially OK New Category for Reality Hosts | Today's News: Our Take | 4/22/2008
It's been rumored for a while, but now it's official. This year's Primetime Emmy Awards, to be held Sept. 21, will feature a new statue for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Show.So, who's your favorite ceremonial master (or mistress) to take the prize? Last month, Survivor host Jeff Probst was the fave among TVGuide.com readers. — J.R. WhalenRelated:• Emmys to Honor the Seacrests and Probsts• Photo Gallery: Reality Hosts You Deem Emmy-worthy read more
Episode Recap: I'm in Such a Hot Pickle! | Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites | 4/11/2008
Maybe it was the hidden immunity idol setup from last week, but tonight’s episode of Survivor: Micronesia was hilarious. It wasn’t just because of Jason’s idol reveal and Eliza’s delicious, “It can’t be the idol—it’s a stick!” response, which actually was funnier in the preview than in the show. Nearly everyone did or said something to make me chuckle tonight, but the prize has got to got to Parvati whose mannered feud with Eliza came to a head at... read more
Episode Recap: A Lost Puppy Dog! | Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites | 4/4/2008
Sitting at home in our comfy chairs, feet up, remote in hand, maybe a snack and a beverage nearby we fans of Survivor are apt to forget how brutal this game can be. Even as we watch castaways plot and scheme and ultimately stab each other in the back it’s all good fun for us. But this season I’m seeing a real human element in the game that maybe I had glossed over before. Kathy’s mental collapse evoked sympathy from me (though many a reader felt that she needed to suck it up).... read more
Backstage at Dancing: No Drama, Only Laughs | All Things Dancing with the Stars | 4/1/2008
Right about now, the producers of Dancing with the Stars must be thinking, "I wish we had a little more of the life-and-death drama that surrounded Season 5." Marie Osmond fainting, Marie and Jane Seymour carrying on despite family crises, Jane and Mark Ballas being carted off to the emergency room for food poisoning and a dislocated shoulder.... There will never be a cycle like Season 5. Instead, what we have is the calm sense that stars are working really hard to dance really well, and... read more
Episode Recap: Like a Wide-Eyed Kid in the Candy Store! | Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites | 3/20/2008
What is going on here? I’m crying watching Survivor. Last week we had Jonathan’s heartbreaking leave from the game and this week Kathy had me ready to bawl with her total breakdown. It was so sad to watch, but for the first time ever I think viewers got a true taste of what the Survivor experience is like. I know if I had to sleep in that cave with the rats and the bats and the creepy crawlies in order to avoid the hours-long downpour outside I would have found myself in much the... read more
Episode Recap: "It Hit Everyone Pretty Hard!" | Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites | 3/14/2008
It’s always a sad day on Survivor when a player gets taken out of the game due to circumstances beyond their control. Today was especially sad for this reviewer since Jonathan Penner was a particular favorite. Always interesting, always entertaining Jonathan played the game with such enthusiasm that he energized his whole team. He gave it his all yet never lost sight of the fact that in the end it was just game. So, it just sucks that last week’s infernal game of prison-escapee tag... read more
Survivor Shockers: Hot Romances, Wild Blindsides, Fake Idols and More! | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 3/13/2008
Who would have imagined that Survivor could still surprise us? Yet its 16th edition, Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites (Thursdays at 8 pm/ET, CBS; see programming note below) ? which finds notable former players alongside a group of ardent devotees ? has proven refreshingly unpredictable. According to host Jeff Probst, the twists just keep on comin': "Mark my words. There's so much crazy stuff to come ? the kind that producers pray to the reality gods for." Here's an exclusive peek at the ... read more
Episode Recap: ‘He's a Ball of Goo!” | Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites | 3/7/2008
What a satisfying episode! There was a tribe mix-up, a brutal challenge, a little hero worship and a blind-sided ouster. I have to say that I am truly enjoying this season. I like that things are not following the frequent pattern of a dominant alliance calling the shots and picking off the lesser alliance one by one. Jeff pulled the old “drop your buffs” tribe switcheroo. Isn’t it interesting how the new Airai and Malakal tribes turned out? The couples alliance was split... read more
Episode Recap: That's Baked, Barbecued and Fried! | Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites | 2/29/2008
Given the fireworks of last week’s show and the previews that promised a continuation of the Cirie/Jonathan showdown I have to say I was somewhat let down by tonight’s follow-up. It was like going to see Captain Ron, remember that movie with Martin Short and Kurt Russell? All the funny parts were in the trailer. It’s the same situation here. We saw all the fireworks between the factions at the end of last week’s show. That said, Jonathan still continues to amuse me with... read more
Emmys to Honor the Seacrests and Probsts | Today's News: Our Take | 2/27/2008
"And the winner for outstanding reality host... after this."Though a spokesperson for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences says it's "premature" to discuss any changes in store for this fall's Primetime Emmy Awards, sources tell Variety that a category honoring the best reality host is being added, affording the likes of Ryan and Jeff to make a grab for gold. The new category is said to have been tentatively approved, pending a final board vote in mid-March. Meanwhile, a bid to merge... read more
Episode Recap: The Sounds of Jungle Love | Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites | 2/15/2008
“With all due respect, I think you’re giving yourself too much credit.” I love it when Jeff gets feisty. He’s been so since episode one where he easily and repeatedly cut the dearly departed Johnny Fairplay down to size. Tonight this gentle barb was meant purely for Chet who – well, I’ll just say it – he choked during the immunity challenge and then tried to pass it off as if he were merely giving another tribe member a chance to play. Chet better watch it.... read more
Survivor: Micronesia — Do the Newbies Stand a Chance? | TVGuide.com's Strike Recovery Guide | 2/6/2008
The when: Premieres Thursday, Feb. 7, at 8 pm/ET on CBS.Why watch?: Generally good-looking people with worsening hygiene sharing cramped, sandy quarters, subsisting on a couple of grains and rice, and buckling under the pressure of a win-or-go-home scenario — what's not to love? Survivor has managed to come up with new conflicts, new challenges and new locations for 16 seasons now, and this one is no exception: Some of the best-liked players from seasons past are back, and this time... read more
Probst Dishes: Island Gets Steamy, Stays Baby-free | Today's News: Our Take | 1/30/2008
Dishing on the upcoming season of Survivor, host Jeff Probst tells ET to expect a "love affair" that offers viewers "some of the most intimate footage" the show has "ever had." The new season, Survivor: Micronesia — Fans vs. Favorites, premieres Feb. 7 on CBS at 8 pm/ET.Although Probst promises that the affair will be "consummated" in a "Survivor way" (a torch-lit evening with champagne and a big tent?), there won't be any island offspring to look forward to next season if tribes use all... read more
CBS Still Has Island Fever, Orders More Survivors | Today's News: Our Take | 1/29/2008
With Season 16 of Survivor arriving Thursday, Feb. 7 (see Interviews & Features for a rundown of the Fans vs Favorites cast), CBS has ordered not one but two more cycles of the reality competition. "Survivor is a show that defies ratings gravity," CBS reality boss Ghen Maynard tells Variety. "It is a truly remarkable feat to be winning your time period in all ratings categories after 15 editions." In its most recent season, Survivor averaged 15.2 million — continuing a year-to-year... read more
Survivor: Micronesia Preview! Meet the Players | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 1/28/2008
Check out the stats for Survivor: Micronesia's (premieres Thursday, Feb. 7, at 8 pm/ET on CBS) competitors, and hear what host Jeff Probst has to say about each one! First, a few faves meet their matches... The FlirtsParvati Shallow and Mary SartainIf out-flirting were part of the Survivor creed, Parvati Shallow, 25, would've walked away from the Cook Islands a million bucks richer. And as far as real estate company owner Mary Sartain, 29, is concerned, there's absolutely nothing wrong with... read more
Episode Recap: A Slippery Little Sucker | Survivor: China | 12/17/2007
I’m not sure how I feel yet about the Survivor: China finale. I found myself cheering at the end. Strange since I wasn’t originally a fan of the winner though I did warm up later on. I ended up feeling unsettled about a player I had liked all along and I survived a mini-roller coaster ride with another player when I found myself with no clear favorite in the end. To sum up, I was a little all over the place during the final three hours of the show. Now I sit here somewhat dazed by it... read more
Hello, I’m Still A Person! | Survivor: China | 12/14/2007
It would be unkind of me to start tonight’s blog off with a rousing chorus of Ding-Dong The Witch Is Dead. It really would. Because you know, I’m sure Peih-Gee is wonderful person in person, but in the game of Survivor this was not readily apparent and I’ll not be surprised if in the coming weeks of post-show Survivor press we witness her invoking the Bad Edit defense. If there’s one thing we’ve learned through these many days in China, it’s that Peih-Gee... read more
Survivor Showdown: The Final Five | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 12/12/2007
Who?s going to win? Jeff Probst helps us rate China's (Thursdays, 8 pm/ET, CBS) final five. ToddWe Say: The Utah-based flight attendant, 22, may be a little guy, but he's had the biggest impact on this season's game. He's smart, strategic and as cutthroat as Richard Hatch. But has he made too many enemies?Jeff Probst Says: "Todd has been exciting to watch because he gets such joy out of playing the game. He's loving this manipulative adventure he's on, and he's good at it. But it's always fun... read more
Going for the Oscar | Survivor: China | 12/7/2007
Is it luck or skill that’s keeping Peih-Gee in this game? It’s hard to tell. She’s most definitely an outsider. Though I think she does more to keep herself that way than she realizes. The poor thing. She wants to be a part of the crowd so badly, yet when Todd called for a celebratory group hug among the final six where was Peih-Gee? She was sitting off by herself and had to be pulled in.This was almost enough to make me feel sad for her, but then came the family visits at the... read more
Use It or Lose It | Survivor: China | 11/30/2007
Episode recap: Ready to Bite the AppleOkay, was that not the coolest Survivor reward ever? Two weeks ago, when dear Frosti was bumped from the tribe and we poor sots thought that that chapter was over Jeff pulled a To Be Continued saying there was “more business”. Wheels started turning in people’s minds. What could this mean? Well, I’ll tell you what it meant: There was another reward challenge to be held immediately after tribal council. It whisked the winner, Peih-Gee,... read more
In Case you Missed it the First Time | Survivor: China | 11/23/2007
Episode Recap: It’s Been Real and It’s Been Fun.If you didn’t gobble down you Thanksgiving Day feast in time to catch Survivor: China then fear not because you did not miss much. Yes, folks it was the most beloved of episodes: The season recap. This year, however, included far more new footage making it much less of a rehash than it has been in years past and for that we are thankful.While there were some moments worth seeing again like James giggling in the woods over the... read more
Feast or Famine? | Survivor: China | 11/16/2007
Episode recap: Just Don’t Eat the AppleHi Survivor fans! Rhoda here with a special Thank you to Nina for filling in while I was on the road to North Carolina last week. And while I’m feeling grateful let me give a shout out to this On Demand world that we now live in. Yes, there was the VCR and then the DVR but this whole watching television whenever and – with my laptop – wherever thing is truly the best advance to come along since sliced bread. At my leisure I caught the... read more
What Goes around Comes Around | Survivor: China | 11/2/2007
Episode Recap: I'm Not as dumb as I look..." Peih-Gee was right. They merged at ten and now it is every person for themselves at the new Hae Da Fung (Black Fighting Wind) tribe. And what an entertiaining episode. I spent most of the hour laughing while anxiously awaiting tribal council, both fearful for James and excited to see if Jaime would make a fool of herself. TC did not disappoint.It all started back before the merge when James, having hurridely retrieved Zhan Hu's idol left an... read more
Preview: Two Tribes Become One | Survivor: China | 10/31/2007
“Drop your buffs,” Jeff Probst tells the 10 remaining castaways tonight, as the Fei Long and Zhan Hu tribes merge. But before the teams come together, there is a desperate search for the remaining hidden immunity idol — and one player falsely believes that there are three of them. At tribal council, somebody shocks everyone else by believing that he/she is invincible. That's never a good thing. — Tim Holland read more
The Best Laid Plans… | Survivor: China | 10/26/2007
Episode Recap: "That's Love, Baby! It Makes You Strong!"Tonight’s show was very much the part two to last week’s drama with Peih-Gee and Jamie throwing the challenge, except that this week was more of a comedy of errors. At the center of all those errors: immunity – both hidden and earned. First off, I do believe Peih-Gee has gone a little crazy with this game. As if she were some prisoner in a gulag who had just spied her first opportunity for escape, Peih-Gee, so intent on... read more
Let’s Talk Survivor: China! Will James make it past another Tribal C | Survivor: China | 10/25/2007
Last week the ladies of Zhan Hu made a controversial move to secure their future by throwing a challenge and voting out Aaron, one of two newcomers to their tribe. Next up, James? Maybe, if anyone has the muscle to pull out a win on his own it’s this guy. Can Jean-Robert do the same over on Fei Long? Maybe but he’ll need to focus on both his social skills and his game or he may just find himself on the as gone as Aaron. Leave your comments here if you and I’ll be back after... read more
Mixing It Up Survivor-Style! | Survivor: China | 10/19/2007
Episode Recap: "Love is in the Air"This was perhaps the best episode of the season so far. It was filled with backstabbing and betrayal, yet it still had some humorous moments and great strategy. By the end, you weren’t quite sure who was going home.It all started with a reshuffling of the tribes. The two strongest from each side, as chosen by the individual tribes, were swapped. How funny was it that Fei Long immediately caught on to what was happening while Zhan Hu just assumed that they... read more
Let’s Talk Survivor: China! | Survivor: China | 10/19/2007
Have Zhan Hu’s leadership woes been corrected or are they just beginning now that alpha male Dave has gone bye-bye? Has the Mandarin-speaking Jean-Robert made himself a valuable member of the tribe? You never can tell. Leave your comments here if you’d like to discuss during the show or later this evening in my recap blog. read more
Survivor's "Crazy Dave": Tribe Will Sink without Me! | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 10/16/2007
The already depleted Zhan Hu tribe had to vote off its third member on last week's Survivor: China (8 pm/ET, CBS) after losing yet another immunity challenge. And once again the tribe chose to keep the peace: This time, their self-styled leader, former model "Crazy" Dave Cruser, was given the boot for continuing to butt heads with Sherea and others. Here he shares why his tribe did what they did, how they'll get by now and why he wished he'd made it to the merge. TVGuide.com: So, Dave, what... read more
Survivor: China: Fireworks and Fishing Gear | Survivor: China | 10/12/2007
Episode Recap: "Ride the Workhorse 'Til the Tail Falls Off"Have I mentioned what an interesting group of people we have playing Survivor: China? There is such a wide variety of folks on this show that each week I feel like I'm watching an entirely new program. That's a good thing, because it is keeping the show fresh. Last week Jean-Robert was the guy you just wanted gone. This week, while you may still want him to disappear, he turns out to be an asset to the tribe. Who knew he could speak... read more
Let's Talk Survivor: China: Who will the Tribe "speak to" Tonight? | Survivor: China | 10/11/2007
As Leslie learned last week, things can change overnight in this game. So who's next on the chopping block? Is Courtney still in danger as the weakling or will Dave's Type A-ness get him ousted? We’ll have to watch and see. Who are you hoping to see go home tonight? read more
Survivor's New Look: Inside the New Tribal Council Set | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 9/29/2007
When it comes to Survivor (Thursdays, 8 pm/ET, CBS), a memorable Tribal Council requires more than just a good torch-snuffing. The set can pack a visual wallop, too. Production designer Jesse Jensen has outdone himself for Survivor: China with a 60-foot-high, three-story temple inspired by the country's traditional, vibrantly hued places of worship. The ambitious project took 57 workers seven weeks of 12-hour days in sweltering humidity to build. Not to mention 20 tons of steel framing, 8 tons... read more
Things Heat up in Dave's Inferno | Survivor: China | 9/28/2007
Episode Recap: "My Mom Is Going to Kill Me!"Remember those days when the pace sometimes dragged during the first few weeks of Survivor? You didn't know who was who and you could barely remember the first person to go and the challenges were a blur? Well, honey, this is not your grandma's Survivor! The game has not reinvented itself, but there is some sort of new energy that has Survivor: China cooking! It is only week two for the viewers yet there is so much going on.I applaud the... read more
Episode 1 Recap | Survivor: China | 9/21/2007
Thirty-nine days, 16 people, one Survivor. Such sweet words. Yes, folks, Survivor is back. What is it about this granddaddy of reality shows that is so enjoyable? Great host? Check. Great casting (most of the time)? Check. Great location? Check. I don’t often say "Wow!" when I watch television but when the camera pulled back to reveal that enormous gold statue of Buddha, that’s exactly the word the popped out of my mouth. Yes, I could just be succumbing to all the hype surrounding... read more
Countdown to Survivor: China | Survivor: China | 9/14/2007
Hey there, Survivor fans. It’s sick how excited I get for the Survivor premiere. In case you haven’t heard, the show is heading to China this time around, and as usual there are some new twists to the game — kidnapping being one of them. In addition, each castaway was given a copy of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War to read. It should be interesting to see how this guide to warfare will inform the game. In case you were concerned about the curse of car, there will be no car giveaway... read more
Survivor: China Exclusive: Meet the Fei Long Tribe | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 8/20/2007
The heat and humidity are "indescribable." The snakes are deadly. And China is one of Survivor's most difficult locations ever. Despite all that, host Jeff Probst ? speaking by phone from the rugged camp near the vast man-made Zhelin Lake in eastern China ? admits he'd like to stay longer. "Usually I want to go home," he says. "But if somebody said, ?You have to stay another two weeks,' I'd say, ?All right.' " The CBS show, which has been granted unprecedented access to some of China's ... read more
Survivor: China Exclusive: Meet the Zhan Hu Tribe | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 8/20/2007
The heat and humidity are "indescribable." The snakes are deadly. And China is one of Survivor's most difficult locations ever. Despite all that, host Jeff Probst ? speaking by phone from the rugged camp near the vast man-made Zhelin Lake in eastern China ? admits he'd like to stay longer. "Usually I want to go home," he says. "But if somebody said, ?You have to stay another two weeks,' I'd say, ?All right.'" The CBS show, which has been granted unprecedented access to some of China's ... read more
May 13, 2007: And the Winner Is... | Survivor: Fiji | 5/14/2007
Bet you didn’t see that coming, did you? Me either. That pretty much sums up Survivor: Fiji — surprising. While I’m pleased with the winner, this season has been so all over the place that it’s fitting that the finale leaves you wondering what the hell just happened. Dreamz reneged, Yau-Man was booted, and Earl won a million dollars. Two of those three things I didn’t see coming. Yeah, it’s kind of easy to say that you figured Earl would take the whole thing, but... read more
May 10, 2007: Revenge of the Hidden Immunity Idol | Survivor: Fiji | 5/11/2007
OK, America, I officially love Boo. The man is funny. Just watching him prepare his little hidey-hole to eavesdrop on any strategy sessions near the watering hole was hilarious. Too bad it will probably go as unused as Yau-Man's fake immunity idol. I applaud their efforts, though, because once all the contrivances of the rich tribe versus the poor tribe arrangement disappeared, it was these little moments of strategic gold that have made the season fun to watch. With the numbers dwindling,... read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 5/11/2007
Survivor: Fiji began with controversy when the Moto tribe won the luxury beach while the Ravu tribe had virtually nothin read more
May 3, 2007: Chewing the Fat and Capturing the Flag | Survivor: Fiji | 5/4/2007
I've said it before, but it bears repeating: This is one flimsy alliance. These two-faced, yet strangely honest, Syndicate members are working together, but they've each got one hand in their pocket and its fingers are crossed. Everyone is out for themselves, as it should be, yet no one is willing to do anything risky, like say hook up with Alex and vote out He Who Holds the Hidden Immunity Idol. This is why Boo's nonstop chatter was the best (actually the only) gossip to come out on the show... read more
April 26, 2007: Idol Hands | Survivor: Fiji | 4/27/2007
OK, I know it's just a TV show — a reality TV show at that — but I’m telling you that by 8:58 pm/ET I was on the edge of my seat and ready for next week's show. Survivor: Fiji has become pure entertainment and that's mostly because I have no clue who is going to win the million dollars! By now there's usually something to give most viewers an inkling as to who is going to win, but with no clear villain (come on, the Four Horsemen "bad guys" aren't all that bad), I'm not even sure... read more
April 19, 2007: Mission Impossible | Survivor: Fiji | 4/20/2007
Do we even need to discuss the challenges? The strategizing between the game play was where the action was tonight. OK, a few words because I do love the What We Think of Each Other Axe Wield. Basically, Stacy should have her own CW sitcom because Everybody Hates Her if being voted the person no one wants to see again after the show is any indication. It was Cassandra, dear, "uh-huh"-ing Cassandra, who won her first challenge by answering every question correctly. Girlfriend's been taking notes... read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 4/19/2007
On Survivor: Fiji, nice girls finish... somewhere right in the middle. That, at least, was the case with Michelle Yi. Th read more
April 12, 2007: Bula Bula | Survivor: Fiji | 4/13/2007
So many changes, I'm not sure if my head has stopped spinning yet. I’m sure Michelle feels the same. Here was a woman who was certainly not playing for the Juror No. 3 spot, though that is now who she is. It's too bad because things were going her way up until that final twist. Beware, all future survivors, of the little note! Before we go there, let's go to Exile Island with everyone else who was summoned to EI with instructions to bring only their personal belongings and the assumption... read more
April 5, 2007: Sweet Dreamz | Survivor: Fiji | 4/6/2007
I have a dream! It's true, I want Dreamz to do well in this game. You may recall that my first impression of this always-talking, inappropriate comment-spewing man was not a glowing one. I held out little hope for him making it past the first few weeks. I can't pinpoint exactly when I started to like Dreamz. Maybe it was around the time he mentioned that being on Survivor was better than living on the streets. Maybe it was when certain tribe mates thumbed their nose at his unfamiliarity with a... read more
March 29, 2007: Great Balls of Fire! | Survivor: Fiji | 3/30/2007
Surely this isn't Survivor: Fiji that I'm watching? Talk about your quick turnaround. Tonight's Survivor was interesting, funny, entertaining, did I already say funny? At the end of the hour I was a happy armchair camper. Let me tell you why. I laughed pretty much through the whole show, including at things that weren't supposed to be funny — like the fact that the rub-you-the-wrong-way Lisi is a customer service rep. I found that funny. Tonight's show made me happy from Yau-man's... read more
March 21, 2007: The Cinderella Man | Survivor: Fiji | 3/22/2007
Sometimes nothing is sweeter than hearing Jeff Probst utter three delicious words. Drop your buffs. There is promise in that command and for a season like this one where — oh god, don't make me rehash it! Let's just say that realigning Moto and Ravu was the most entertaining Survivor has been since Sundra and Becky faced off over a fire-making challenge in the Cook Islands. What would we do this season if Ravu and Moto had not mixed it up with a schoolyard pick? Now the poor-camp dwellers... read more
March 8, 2007: Live! From My Living Room | Survivor: Fiji | 3/9/2007
OK, I'm going to blog live tonight. Bear with me, please, I'm tired and I need to go to bed.So here we go: Earl and Yau-man, the only two Ravu members to have gone to Exile Island, decide to work together to find the idol. Earl, who is really quite good-looking, manages to get the whole tribe to go hunting for food, leaving Yau-man to dig at the cave. Why no one questions Yau-man's staying at the camp is beyond me, but whatever, they're hungry. Given this opportunity, it would behoove Yau-man... read more
March 1, 2007: "I'm Not Being Negative, I'm Stating the Obvious" | Survivor: Fiji | 3/2/2007
Let me tell you why I like Survivor. This show is always willing to mix it up. Call it a course correction, if you will. For example, say you have the brilliant idea to have one tribe live in luxury while the other lives, well, not in luxury, in the hopes that this will make for one kick-ass season. And let's say that as time goes by the rich tribe actually does kick the poor tribe's ass. Repeatedly. You worry that maybe, just maybe, the season could be a bit of a snoozer. What do you do? You... read more
February 22, 2007: Slip-sliding Away | Survivor: Fiji | 2/23/2007
OK, so we had a little action this week. And by little I mean watching Michelle make fire with her glasses. At least we had two challenges instead of the combo immuno-reward thing the show had been sporting for the past weeks. Regardless, Ravu lost both, but still it was entertaining. Perhaps because there were no puzzles to solve. The reward challenge involved grown men and women throwing themselves, face-forward, down a slick mat and then tossing a ball into a basket. Simple? Sure. Enjoyable?... read more
February 15, 2007: Pineapple Power | Survivor: Fiji | 2/16/2007
Forgive me for saying this, but Survivor: Fiji is shaping up to be a little schizophrenic. On the one hand, you have this newfangled show where the living is easy for one tribe. I mean come on, when have you ever heard "I'm full" on this show before any team has won a feast? Then you have the real Survivor. Tried and true, it's the one we know and love and that keeps us watching every season. It's the one where you see a group of hungry, dehydrated people desperately rubbing sticks together to... read more
February 8, 2007: One Big Happy Family | Survivor: Fiji | 2/9/2007
All right, I’m worried. 1) We're coming off of a great season of Survivor: Cook Islands, so Fiji has a lot to live up to, and 2) Burnett is using that whole rich man, poor man accommodations twist that's going on over at The Apprentice. I didn't like it there. I'm concerned about its use here. I mean, It's hard for me to believe that I'm already watching a new season of Survivor. Just six months ago we watched as four strategically separated tribes made their way to individual islands in... read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 2/8/2007
One of the much-hyped twists on CBS' Survivor: Fiji, which kicks off tonight at 8 pm/ET, is having one group of contesta read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 12/20/2006
On Sunday night's nail-biting Survivor: Cook Islands finale, Yul Kwon narrowly beat out tough competitor Ozzy by one vot read more
December 17, 2006: The Aitu Four | Survivor: Cook Islands | 12/18/2006
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was a season that certainly had it’s ups and downs, but if Survivor:Cook Islands were a movie, it would be up for an Oscar.Ladies and gentlemen, for your consideration, I present the best of Cook Islands.The Best Challenges:Sure, we had a few recycled challenges, but someone on that staff got a shot of creativity that brought us some truly innovative, interesting and challenging competitions.These last two immunity challenges had me... read more
December 14, 2006: The True Puppet Master | Survivor: Cook Islands | 12/15/2006
For some reason I really thought Parvati would end up in the finals. Not due to any true game play on her part, but merely out of some cosmic irony. Rarely have I seen a castaway who has done as little as she. I was wrong. Even with the seismic tremors at Aitu — Becky and Sundra maneuvering to oust Ozzy — the easily influenced Yul pulled his strings and chose Adam as the Raro member most worthy of staying.As much as Yul denies it, he is the top dog on the island, and he wears the... read more
December 7, 2006: Everybody Hates Jonathan | Survivor: Cook Islands | 12/8/2006
And now we know why Parvati doesn't do any work at camp. It's just not safe. The girl nearly sliced her thumb off trying to open a coconut. Tragic as that may have been, Parvati's mishap allowed us another glimpse of that cute Aussie doctor from last season. Her sacrifice will not go unnoticed in my book. This week was the family visits. Sundra's heartfelt weeping at the sight of her mother had me wondering if she'd be able to actually perform in the reward challenge of throwing water from one... read more
November 30, 2006: King Rat | Survivor: Cook Islands | 12/1/2006
This show is so good I am almost moved to write poetry, and yet there are no words to express how much I'm enjoying Survivor: Cook Islands. Alas, I will attempt to recap the happenings at the Aitutonga tribe. In the aftermath of Nate's departure, Parvati was outspoken about her disappointment in Jonathan. She was so upset with him that she could vomit on his face. Now, she's billed as a boxer. Would a right cross not suffice? Parvati did make me laugh — when Jonathan flat-out told her... read more
November 23, 2006: "If I Flip Again..." | Survivor: Cook Islands | 11/24/2006
I hate to say I told you so…but Nate perhaps you should have worn your glasses to tribal because you should have seen your ouster coming. Though it is clear from your parting words – Jonathan you can kiss my ass. You're a dirty, stanky, whack, fruitcake who sold me out, who sold out our tribe when we brought you in. You trading bastard. So kiss my ass Jonathan – that you were somewhat surprised and upset. On the other hand I don't know if anything could have saved Nate. His... read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 11/23/2006
On last week's Survivor: Cook Islands (Thursdays at 8 pm/ET on CBS), Jeff Probst threw in another big twist: The tribe t read more
November 16, 2006: Four Straight Wins | Survivor: Cook Islands | 11/17/2006
I love, love, love this show! It has excitement; it has conflict; it has betrayal; it has underdogs; it even has new verbs. Where else would you hear about octopussing? And Rebecca, if you chose only to speak one word during this week's show, I'm glad it was that one. Let's see, it is day 22, and over the course of the next three days Aitu pulled out another two challenge wins — making it a four-challenge sweep since the infamous mutiny. I'm so pleased for this underdog team, and who says... read more
November 9, 2006: And Then There Were Four | Survivor: Cook Islands | 11/10/2006
Well, well, well. The show is getting interesting again. The Mutiny on the Bounty theme added a much-needed jolt to the Cook Islands Survivor. Jeff tossed out this new twist just before the reward challenge and, through the magic of editing, just after Jonathan and Candice chatted about breaking up their alliance of six. The offer? Mutiny. With ten seconds to decide, castaways could switch tribes. The only takers? Candice and Jonathan — thus leaving Aitu shorthanded with only four members... read more
November 2, 2006: Who You Calling a 'Nancy Boy'? | Survivor: Cook Islands | 11/3/2006
Clearly Candice is just a loving person. She loves Billy. She loves Adam. But she really loves peanut butter. Like, loves peanut butter would make her declare, "I'm in love with everybody that I can see right now." I mean, it's only been 17 days. Maybe I just don't eat peanut butter that much, but I’m pretty sure that a two-week hiatus from it would not have me kissing on Flicka. And what’s up with Brad? I'm sorry, but peanut butter and potatoes just don't go together. I don't care... read more
October 26, 2006: A Repeat by Any Other Name… | Survivor: Cook Islands | 10/27/2006
Eighteen days in and the producers are still trying to reel in new viewers with this CliffNotes, catch-me-up episode. That's right, it's recap time on Survivor: Cook Islands. Rather than just stroll down memory lane, we regular viewers were also treated to 14 new and easily identifiable scenes — the most riveting of which was Adam and Candice's Day 2 adventure at sea that left them stranded and shivering on a sandbar and had them ultimately abandoning ship in a desperate effort to swim... read more
October 12, 2006: Talk Ain't Cheap | Survivor: Cook Islands | 10/13/2006
You have to watch what you say on Survivor or it could cost you big. Just ask Stephannie, who watched her million-dollar dreams drift away on an imaginary plate of mashed potatoes. I feel bad for Stephannie because Nate, who, despite his declarations, is no friend to Stephannie, has been trying to get this woman off the island for the last two weeks. How do you take "I could go for some mashed potatoes and gravy" to mean, "Gee, I can't wait to get off this island"? I’m sorry that... read more
October 5, 2006: The Ghost of Billy | Survivor: Cook Islands | 10/6/2006
You know, there really may be something to this whole karma thing. It’s almost too delicious to see J.P. and Ozzy knocked down a peg. Ozzy, mastermind of the Billy ouster, has done his best to keep himself in the game ever since the merge. He has been running around in the challenges like nobody's business, diving, swimming, doing whatever it takes to keep his group from going to tribal council. Back at camp he's hauling in fish left and right and making sure everyone knows it. Don't... read more
September 28, 2006: Survivors, Ready? | Survivor: Cook Islands | 9/29/2006
Survivor aficionados know there's a certain lingo that goes along with the show. For some it's comforting, for others, mind-numbingly repetitive. Me? I like it. Jeff's catchphrases are a constant that I can rely on each week as the number of castaways dwindles. That said...First things first: We couldn't move on from last week's show without finishing up Billy's love story. Back at camp, Aitu continued to dismiss the love, and the next day, after the tribes merged, Cecilia went directly to... read more
September 21, 2006: "Aitu Takes a Holiday" | Survivor: Cook Islands | 9/22/2006
Hands down, this was the funniest tribal council ever on Survivor. It was like watching group therapy. Between Billy and "Mr. Bully's" fight, and Billy's declaration of love for Candace, I'm not sure what I laughed at more. It was tears-in-my-eyes laughter. I'll make a declaration of my own: I love Jeff Probst. He is the best reality-show host out there, with Phil Keoghan of The Amazing Race a close second. While everyone else was laughing and/or rolling their eyes at Billy, Jeff managed to... read more
Race Relations on Survivor; Today's Manic Meredith | Roush Dispatch | 9/15/2006
Why can?t they all get along? Because it?s Survivor, silly. Also silly, as it turns out, is all the hubbub over the ridiculous cheap stunt of dividing the tribes (this time four mini-tribes of five, and how long can that last?) along racial lines.Kind of ironic that the Cook Island edition is being played out in the South Pacific. (Those with long musical memories will remember that Rodgers & Hammerstein?s classic South Pacific musical dealt head-on with race, including the anti-prejudice... read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 7/31/2006
Survivor exec producer read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 4/26/2006
Are the exiled really alone on CBS' read more
The Watercooler | 3/3/2006
Survivor: Panama---Exile IslandOkay CBS, what is going on with the opening credits? One week we see all 16 c read more
The Watercooler | 2/10/2006
Survivor: Panama ? Exile read more
The Watercooler | 2/3/2006
Survivor: Panama ? Exile Island read more
Today's News: My Take | 12/9/2005
The tribe (or, at least, the teams of lawyers and entertainmentattorneys) have spoken: Jeff Probst read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 10/27/2005
If you think Survivor's Brian has some stories to tell, be sure to read our read more
Ask Ausiello | 10/26/2005
I heard that Jeff Probst may be leaving Survivor. Is there any truth to that? I cornered read more
Burning Survivor Questions Answered! | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 10/24/2005
Vomiting? Early tribe-switching? An apple for a meal? You asked for explanations about CBS' read more
Survivor's Brooke Runs Dry | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 10/13/2005
Brooke Struck learned the lesson not to put all your eggs in one basket the hard way on last week's read more
Today's News: My Take | 10/13/2005
Speaking of CBS reality-TV: Tonight's installment of Survivor read more
The Watercooler | 10/7/2005
I just started to remember everyone's names and what teams they were on and now they've done a big switcheroo. Did some read more
Inside Survivor's Toughest Season Yet | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 9/15/2005
Survivor: Guatemala decided to kick off their new season (pr read more
The Watercooler | 5/28/2005
Shows are listed alphabetically, so you can read them all or just scroll down to your fave. 24 5:00 am-6:00 am While Ja read more
The Watercooler | 5/21/2005
FRIDAY Star Trek: Enterprise I've been a Trek fan since the early days of The Next Generation, so it's gonna be a littl read more
Survivor Tom's Winning Strategy | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 5/18/2005
On Sunday night, firefighter Tom Westman was crowned the winner of Survivor: Palau. He did it by being a mostly nice guy, except when he had to muscle around alliance-mates Katie and Ian a little bit. But the humble 41-year-old and oldest Survivor winner ever learned a bunch during his 39 days in Palau including how to kill a shark and the importance of listening to his wife. TVGuide.com sat down with the new millionaire to find out how he feels about winning, why he got so annoyed with Ian and... read more
The Watercooler | 5/16/2005
SUNDAY Survivor OK, quick recap of the night: Love, love Coby and think he'll be the cutest daddy ever, Ian is eit read more
Today's News: My Take | 5/16/2005
As expected, New York City firefighter Tom Westman extinguished the competition to win Survivor: Palau Sunday night. The read more
Survivor Ken Doll's Weak for Women | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 5/12/2005
Survivor: Palau's Gregg Carey hoped his "friendship" with petite blonde Jennifer would carry him to the final two. The Ken doll made a fatal mistake, however, by taking the Barbie clone and her pal Katie on a reward cruise. Sure, they swam with dolphins, reunited with family members, ate and showered. But they also left tough competitors Tom and Ian behind with Caryn to plot against them. Here, Gregg talks to TVGuide.com about underestimating his opponents. TVGuide.com: Were you confident ... read more
Today's News: My Take | 5/2/2005
Thanks to the scheduling shake-up created by President Bush's last-minute press conference last Thursday, we now know wh read more
Why Survivor's Janu Quit the Tribe | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 4/27/2005
No season of Survivor would be complete without a few twists, and Palau has proved no different. Last Thursday, Janu Tornell was the first contestant to drop out of an immunity challenge that required the Survivors to be submerged in an underwater cage. Janu's punishment was temporary exile on another island. Surprisingly, the 39-year-old Vegas showgirl loved her solitary confinement, then voluntarily brought Jeff her torch to snuff during tribal council. Here, TVGuide.com learns why Janu ... read more
Survivor's Alabama Man Slammed | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 4/14/2005
Another week, another Ulong tribe member voted off Survivor: Palau. Last Thursday it was Bobby Jon Drinkard's turn. That leaves only Stephenie, for those of you keeping track. After the not-so-dynamic duo lost their most recent tribal immunity challenge, they competed in an individual firemaking task, in which Steph smoked Bobby Jon. Here, TVGuide.com sits down with the 27-year-old Alabama native to learn what exactly went wrong for the cursed Ulong tribe. TVGuide.com: No matter what happened,... read more
The Watercooler | 4/9/2005
FRIDAY Battlestar Galactica Baltar's willing to stand in flames just to hold Number Six's hand? Now that is love. And I read more
The Watercooler | 4/8/2005
The O.C. So you knew the second we saw the crystal egg from Risky Business — and heard that cheesy-classic Tangerin read more
The Watercooler | 4/1/2005
Tru Calling I'll be honest, I was not a Tru believer the first time the morgue-dwelling diva came around, seeing all t read more
The Watercooler | 3/19/2005
SUNDAY Deadwood The toughest part about being evil: You don't attract the best help, and karma finds you either way. I read more
The Watercooler | 3/17/2005
Smallville First off, let me say that even though I didn't mention it, I did in fact know that last week's episode was read more
The Watercooler | 3/11/2005
The O.C. All right, is it just me or did it feel like Josh Schwartz was trying to right a couple wrong turns? I mean, a read more
Today's News: My Take | 2/25/2005
Fox's MADtv is exposing the big mystery behind ABC's Lost the only way it knows how — with a dead-on parody. On Satu read more
Survivor's Jolanda Stays Strong | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 2/24/2005
After she was set adrift in the Pacific in Survivor: Palau's premiere, former track and field star Jolanda "Jo" Jones hit the beach, earning an individual immunity that guaranteed her a spot on one of the two teams. Jo's tough personality proved too much for her Ulong tribemates, however, and they voted her off at the first tribal council. But this 39-year-old single mom and corporate lawyer is a true survivor ? she's dealt with a sibling's murder, her father's suicide and an abusive ... read more
Survivor: Palau's Island Secrets | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 1/6/2005
OK, we can tell you the new season of Survivor begins in February with 20 new castaways, and host Jeff Probst says they're not the most even-keeled group. We can also tell you that the next round takes place in the Micronesian islands of Palau. Still, you might be wondering, "What's Palau?" And "Why don't I get out of my house more often?" We can answer the first question; as for the second, you're on your own.What Is Palau? Palau (not to be confused with Survivor's first locale, Pulau Tiga)... read more
Survivor Host's Reality Romance | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 1/5/2005
Julie Berry may have just missed making the final four on Survivor: Vanuatu, but she did wind up with a nice consolation prize: As previously reported, Berry, 24, a youth mentor from Gorham, Maine, began dating Survivor host Jeff Probst shortly after filming wrapped last summer. With the Vanuatu season finished, Probst has gone public with the relationship and calls her "the love of my life." Berry flirted with Probst during the game, "but," he says, "she was playing around and I was harder ... read more
Today's News: My Take | 12/17/2004
Sparks were flying on Survivor: Vanuatu and not just from the volcanoes! Jeff Probst, the series' 43-year-old host, has read more
Today's News: My Take | 12/15/2004
CBS has renewed Survivor for an 11th and 12th season, keeping Jeff Probst off the unemployment line at least through May read more
The Watercooler | 11/8/2004
SUNDAY Desperate Housewives OK, so either Zach killed his little sister, Dana, and that's what was in the trunk, thu read more
Survivor's John Gets Bucked | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 11/4/2004
Survivor: Vanuatu has not been a friendly environment for strapping young men. In fact, the Lopevi tribe has ousted their strongest male members at every opportunity. Male model John Kenney was the last of their hot-lookin' fellas to go ? unless husky Sarge is your type. Last week, John's tribemates booted the 22-year-old for slacking off work. Here, Kenney rings up TV Guide Online to (kinda sorta) defend his laid-back ways and discuss his odd profession. TV Guide Online: Your job is listed as... read more
The Watercooler | 5/14/2004
Frasier: Analyzing the Laughter and Series Finale After 11 years and 31 Emmys, the beloved Cheers spinoff bids adieu on read more
Today's News: My Take | 5/10/2004
More than 24 million viewers watched 25-year-old professional canoodler/coattail-rider Amber Brkich win Survivor: All-St read more
The Watercooler | 2/2/2004
SUNDAY Survivor: All-Stars It's a shame that Outback winner Tina Wesson had to be voted off, or for that matter, any read more
Survivor's Big Showdown | TV Guide Interviews & Features | 1/30/2004
Survivor: All-Stars kicks off Sunday on CBS, right after Super Bowl XXXVIII. Which TV event will be the bigger showdown, we wonder? Well, since most of the 18 all-stars fancy themselves "celebrities," we're guessing their egos dwarf any player on the New England Patriots or Carolina Panthers. Still, just 'cause their 15 minutes will be extended, don't expect these castaways to get the star treatment on Survivor. Executive producer Mark Burnett denies cash was used to entice Rich Hatch and ... read more
The Watercooler | 1/9/2004
Friends Tonight's installment is the first new episode since mid-November, but it was well worth the wait. What a truly read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 12/17/2003
Earning the title of Sole Survivor is no mean feat. Doing so without having a single vote cast against you during any Tr read more
Ask Matt | 12/8/2003
Question: Should I boycott the rest of Survivor: Pearl Islands? Though I have never, ever missed a episode (even through read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 11/4/2003
Last Thursday's Survivor: Pearl Islands had twists to spare! In addition to the return of the fallen Outcasts, Osten Tay read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 11/3/2003
Shiver me timbers! If you skipped last week's Survivor: Pearl Islands, you missed quite possibly the biggest twist in Su read more
Roush Dispatch | 10/31/2003
Trick-or-treat came a night early to Survivor fans Thursday, in one of the most thrilling and surprising episodes ever o read more
The Watercooler | 10/17/2003
Survivor: Pearl Islands New episodes of Must-See TV, CSI and Without a Trace were postponed because of baseball, yet CB read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 9/18/2003
Is CBS's Survivor cannibalizing itself? Tonight at 8, Survivor: Pearl Islands kicks off its scantily clad, pirate-themed read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 6/24/2003
Survivor producer Mark Burnett is thisclose to hooking a big fish for next winter's all-star Survivor: Colby Donaldson. read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 4/30/2003
Triathalon trainer Alex Bell may have had the physical endurance to go the distance on Survivor: The Amazon, but when it read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 2/13/2003
For our money, Survivor's Jeff Probst is one of the least annoying reality hosts around. Of course, considering some of read more
Ask Matt | 1/27/2003
Question: I totally agree with you that the glut of tasteless reality shows is something to be disdained. What I don't a read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 9/18/2002
Enjoy Thai cooking? Here's a spicy recipe for trashy telly-viewing: Toss 16 wannabe reality-TV stars on Thailand's isle read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 5/14/2002
"He was working as a limo driver in Flushing, Queens when his tribemates kicked him out in one of those crushing scenes. read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 11/7/2001
Nobody was surprised last week when the Samburu schism resulted in Linda Spencer's ouster from Survivor: Africa. "We wer read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 10/9/2001
Does Survivor: Africa host Jeff Probst ever ache under the strain of keeping TV's biggest secret — who'll win the $1 read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 9/4/2001
The brains behind CBS's new reality show The Amazing Race (debuting tomorrow night at 9 pm/ET) have no problem admitting read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 5/4/2001
Forget snakes and rats, which emerged from the first Survivor series as the dominant animal-eat-animal symbol of this ex read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 1/29/2001
At first glance, The Mole's Anderson Cooper appears no different than any other reality host. But the former TV journali read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 1/11/2001
Those tuning into CBS's Survivor: The Australian Outback after Super Bowl XXXV on Jan. 28 are sure to notice many of the read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 8/24/2000
While Hatch's unexpected victory may have been the evening's biggest surprise, the night's most dramatic moment came dur read more