tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72163249669359293612012-01-25T18:39:10.267-08:00LBnoreply@blogger.comBlogger911100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-62698173305943684422009-03-30T14:54:00.000-07:002009-03-30T15:36:19.866-07:00

Six teams left. Sibling lawyers Victor & Tammy leave the Pit Stop, Jaigarh Fort in India, at 10:21 a.m. The clue sends the teams 2,000 miles away, to Phuket, Thailand. Host Phil pronounces it Foo-ket, rather than the correct pronunciation: Fuk-et.The clue contains a photo of a statue of a gorilla. Teams must fly to Phuket and find the statue. We are told that the statue it at the Phuket Zoo: the

LBnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-77536913640919876982009-03-23T07:39:00.000-07:002009-03-23T07:46:26.145-07:00

The episode starts with the same line-up of contestants as last week. Last place finishers Christie and Jodi were spared when it turned out to be a non-elimination round. This week they will have to survive a Speed Bump, a penalty task only they have to do, to stay in the game.Margie and Luke head out first, at eighteen minutes past midnight. They learn they will be leaving frozen Siberia for

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-38978494781707504022009-03-16T13:43:00.000-07:002009-03-17T05:45:23.130-07:00

Sorry I missed last week – too much paying work to indulge my hobbies. So Amanda and Kris got eliminated. What a shock – I had them pegged for the final three.Okay, we start in Siberia with last week’s first place finishers, flight attendants Christie and Jodi (what the hell happened last week?), setting out on a lovely snowy Siberian afternoon to find the local train station, where they will

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-78171072660876730442009-03-03T08:39:00.000-08:002009-03-03T08:53:50.569-08:00

This week’s opening recap of last week’s show ends with a warning from Phil that last week’s number 1 team, sibling Harvard lawyers Victor and Tammy, will “begin to unravel in Romania.” Victor and Tammy, who look half if not full Japanese to me, are tightly wound over-achievers. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. On the clips running with Phil’s warning we see a bit of the meltdown.

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-58742835969753113882009-02-23T08:12:00.000-08:002009-02-23T14:47:52.608-08:00

Like many casual fans of the Amazing Race, I keep a cross-indexed reference file of things I learn from each episode that will help me once I get on the show (shout out to the casting crew: that restraining order expires in 2010 and you shit-for-brains better be ready, because this time I’m not taking “no” or “drop the gun or we’ll shoot,” for an answer.).In any case, as we watch Margie and Luke

LBnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-78380568598512182172009-02-17T13:06:00.001-08:002009-02-19T04:58:47.476-08:00

We open with the contestants inside an evil-looking helicopter. They have been taken hostage and Jack is in pursuit in…aWhat? Oh. Sorry; wrong show.We open with the contestants inside a military helicopter. The chopper lands at a National Guard base, where the teams will pick up their luggage and first clue. In voice-over Phil introduces the contestants as they disembark:Flight attendants

LBnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-73635160863007540932008-12-15T17:15:00.000-08:002008-12-15T20:56:58.779-08:00

The Survivor Gabon finale opens with more of the spectacular wildlife shots we have been privileged to throughout this, the 17th edition of Survivor. The Probst-narrated season recap starts. We are briefed on the early dominance of the Kota tribe over Fang (pronounced Fong), the re-formation of the tribes and the brilliance of Kenny and Crystal in engineering the blindsiding of 4 straight Kota

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-15115458413221631782008-12-12T11:08:00.000-08:002008-12-12T11:09:16.764-08:00

Alright! Heading into Sunday night’s conclusion of Survivor Gabon, we get the best episode of the season.Last week Bob and Corinne were on the outside of an alliance Kenny had assembled that included his main partner, Crystal, and the remaining survivors; Suzie, Sugar and Matti. Kenny out-thought himself in an audacious fake immunity idol bluff that Corinne and master fake idol craftsman Bob

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-78150761791136634692008-12-05T08:10:00.000-08:002008-12-05T08:23:42.321-08:00

SURVIVOR BRINGS COLONIALISM BACK TO AFRICAProbst: "Gorillas were first discovered in 1844, right here in Gabon."Night 30.The tribe returns from tribal council where Randy wasn’t just eliminated, he was humiliated. Sugar is heard describing Randy’s eviction as, “the best tribal so far for sure.” Ken is heard agreeing. Someone asks Bob if it was his idea to give Randy the fake immunity idol and

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-84446682503650529152008-11-21T09:19:00.000-08:002008-11-21T11:31:02.517-08:00

Things came up last week that were more important that recapping a TV show. To sum up where we stand after last week: Kenny orchestrated a third eviction in a row, taking down Charlie and further isolating Corinne, Randy and swing man Bob. Matty, swing man junior, is leaning to the Kenny, Crystal, Suzie, Sugar side of things.Day 28.The new tribe is Nobag, as in “…of hammers could be dumber than…”

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-36285258263723984182008-11-07T07:54:00.000-08:002008-11-21T09:25:13.658-08:00

Try as I might, I have not been able to generate much interest in Survivor: Gabon other than a raging sexual obsession with pin-up girl Sugar (sooo nice to see a soft female body. I’ve had my fill of hard bodied women who look like what Tom Wolfe calls, “boys with breasts.” I might hire Sara Connor to fix my retaining wall, but I wouldn’t want to date her). Last week’s double elimination

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-43460191029724826862008-10-24T07:27:00.000-07:002008-10-24T07:38:37.098-07:00

This season is turning into a crush of proportions unseen since Survivor: Amazon. Fang was so bad from the start that the producers switched the tribes up after a mere 3 episodes. The results? Even more loses. Kota (many colors) is well fed and fit. Fang desperately needs to win a challenge – and a luxury challenge with food as the reward would be better than immunity. These guys need to eat. The

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-31879337018331830432008-10-17T11:27:00.001-07:002008-10-19T12:05:21.347-07:00

Night 12Fang returns from tribal council after shooting itself in the eye by evicting competitor Jacquie rather than tits-on-a-boar Kelly. The opening shot of the full moon if amazing, the pock marks and craters as crisp and clear as those on Chef Ramsey’s face in HD on a Sony plasma screen.Sugar joins her new tribemates, back from her second stay on Exile Island. Crystal tells us in voice-over

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-7251767238173320292008-10-10T09:44:00.000-07:002008-10-10T09:57:07.913-07:00

We open with Kota returning to camp after eliminating Paloma. Kelly addresses the camera and tells us she has lost her closest ally. Cut to the others gathered around the fire. Ace says tribal council was one of the most difficult things he has done and compares it to having his wisdom teeth yanked out. It’s all a façade for the others. He loved evicting Paloma.Morning. Day 10. The Fang tribe is

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-27750992018408588482008-10-03T15:25:00.000-07:002008-10-03T17:37:30.417-07:00

Kota, Day 7.Marcus lands a fish. He hands it to smitten lawyer Charlie. On a small dock nearby the other 2 members of the Who Can Bed Marcus First Alliance, Corinne and Jacquie, applaud. In voice over Charlie tells us that he thinks, “Paloma and Kelly are really tight and Sugar is attached to Ace.” Bob is a floater and swing vote.Paloma bad mouthing Ace to Kelly. “Everybody’s like bowing down to

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-42178598925821001782008-09-27T15:00:00.001-07:002008-09-27T15:00:51.523-07:00

Sun-up, day 4; at Kota Marcus serves breakfast to the women (who sure don’t seem to be contributing much). In voice over Charlie can’t figure out why they aren’t falling all over his beloved, because, “he’s the full package.” That makes two references to the “full package,” Ace being the first (in Ace’s eyes, admittedly) Is this some sort of Survivor colloquialism? To become a contestant on

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-22736202900952653352008-09-26T18:09:00.000-07:002008-10-01T06:29:58.016-07:00

The contestants of Survivor Gabon: Earth's Last Eden are first seen walking purposefully across a vast grassy, other-worldly African plain. Green to the horizon unbroken by sign of man; elephant and lion and gorilla and wildebeest and water buffalo and hippopotami. The plain, boss! The plain!The 18, evenly divided between males and females, includes 7 white guys (3 in suit and tie), 6 white

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-56224154019135497232008-07-08T08:59:00.000-07:002008-07-08T09:04:00.285-07:00

Nice to be back. Sorry I wasn’t able to recap episode 7 last week, but there was no way I could get it done. The move took forever and we won’t be truly settled-in for weeks yet, but the new neighborhood and neighbors couldn’t be nicer. And boy did it ever feel good to see the sister-in-law from hell in the rearview mirror. If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, where are sisters-in-law

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-32870167261551310642008-06-29T09:10:00.000-07:002008-11-06T07:03:45.524-08:00

The Bachelorette 4 - Episode 1The Bachelorette 4 - Episode 2The Bachelorette 4 - Episode 3The Bachelorette 4 - Episode 4The Bachelorette 4 - Episode 5The Bachelorette 4 - Episode 6The Bachelorette 4 - Episode 8

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-37927139667886135802008-06-24T08:44:00.000-07:002008-06-24T09:15:05.888-07:00

Nicely done. I’m going to start with a complaint but only so I can get it out of the way and have some fun.Dear Whoever Stitches Things Together (Story Editor? Tape Editor? Director?);This was the meet-the-family episode. Tons of content, great tear-jerkers, a compelling storyline with the perfect final twist. Wow. Why, then, did you waste the first 9 minutes with recap? You could have done it in

LBnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-59732998776967775122008-06-17T10:32:00.000-07:002008-06-17T10:45:38.830-07:00

Week 5 is split into 2 parts. The first hour, DeAnna Tells All, starts after DeAhnna has watched the tapes of the season so far. Afterwards, Chris interviews her. She talks at first about some of the guys who are gone. Fine and good, but we want to hear about the ones still in the hunt.Chris calls the scene last week at the stock car track, when Graham played pouty boy and refused to give our

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-34511075557043080282008-06-09T22:32:00.000-07:002008-06-09T22:36:34.879-07:00

At the start of the episode the host gathers all the guys in the bunkhouse and announces that, in addition to the usual one-on-one date, DeAhnna will also take on two guys at once with one going home (who hangs around after a threesome, anyway?). But before that, the guys have to write a song for DeAhnna with the Bachelorette picking the best songwriter for her individual date. The songs (all

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-47666464767603417242008-06-03T10:39:00.000-07:002008-06-03T17:55:31.422-07:00

We open with host Chris and all 12 bachelors in the bunkhouse. Chris informs them it is time for the 3 who received date-roses over the week to swap places with the 3 who spent the week in the mansion with DeAhnna. This means:-science teacher Richard is replaced by (former) pro basketball player Graham, who was selected on the basis of his day-at-the-beach date with DeAhnna.-(current) pro

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-63570083936196301182008-05-27T08:41:00.001-07:002008-05-27T08:53:03.392-07:00

First, a correction to the episode 1 recap: the single parent to a 3 year old son is Jason, a 31 year old account executive living in Kirkland, a Seattle suburb. I incorrectly identified KC barbershop owner, Ron, as the single parent after Ron revealed to DeAhnna that he is divorced. If divorce hasn’t been an issue between DeAhnna and any of the other bachelors, are we to assume Ron is the only

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-16785022698235747222008-05-20T11:12:00.000-07:002008-05-20T15:45:48.715-07:00

On Nov. 20/07 Bachelor Brad Womack decided he didn’t want to become what Reality Blurred called “yet another Bachelor failure” and left the final two bachelorettes if not at the altar, at least in the nave. Tonight, six months later, one of those bachelorettes, DeAhnna DePappas (it’s spelled DeAnna, but I was married to a Deanna and if you called her DeAhnna she would have corrected you quick), a

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-70232601235215454712008-05-16T08:18:00.000-07:002008-05-16T08:19:22.060-07:00

Survivor: China - Episode 13Survivor: China - Episode 12Survivor: China - Episode 11Survivor: China - Episode 10Survivor: China - Episode 9Survivor: China - Episode 8Survivor: China - Episode 7Survivor: China - Episode 6Survivor: China - Episode 5Survivor: China - Episode 4Survivor: China - Episode 3Survivor: China - Episode 2Survivor: China - Episode 1Survivor: China - Prologue

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-69963406121770596162008-05-16T08:12:00.000-07:002008-05-16T08:15:24.206-07:00

.........Kid Nation - PrologueKid Nation - Episode 1Kid Nation - Episode 2Kid Nation - Episode 3Kid Nation - Episode 4Kid Nation - Episode 5Kid Nation - Episode 6Kid Nation - Episode 7Kid Nation - Episode 8Kid Nation - Episode 9Kid Nation - Episode 10Kid Nation - Episode 11Kid Nation - Episode 12Kid Nation - Episode 13

LBnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-5386309379404154752008-05-16T07:53:00.000-07:002008-05-16T08:06:55.910-07:00

.....Celebrity Apprentice - Episode 13Celebrity Apprentice - Episode 12Celebrity Apprentice - Episode 11Celebrity Apprentice - Episode 10Celebrity Apprentice - Episode 9Celebrity Apprentice - Episode 8Celebrity Apprentice - Episode 7Celebrity Apprentice - Episode 6Celebrity Apprentice - Episode 5Celebrity Apprentice - Episode 4Celebrity Apprentice - Episode 3Celebrity Apprentice - Episode

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-43526295429812604912008-05-16T07:49:00.000-07:002008-05-16T08:08:20.647-07:00

......Survivor Micronesia - Episode 14Survivor Micronesia - Episode 13Survivor Micronesia - Episode 12Survivor Micronesia - Episode 11Survivor Micronesia - Episode 10Survivor Micronesia - Episode 9Survivor Micronesia - Episode 8Survivor Micronesia - Episode 7Survivor Micronesia - Episode 6Survivor Micronesia - Episode 5Survivor Micronesia - Episode 4Survivor Micronesia - Episode 3Survivor

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-25061061222697436152008-05-12T08:52:00.000-07:002008-05-12T19:45:31.695-07:00

During the opening recap a clip is shown of Favorite Jonathan in which he gives his opinion of the Fans’ chances: “You can be a fan of the Boston Red Sox, but you don’t want to play the Boston Red Sox: you’re going to get your ass handed to you.” And ultimately, he was right. Despite having lost two players to physical injuries, the Faves open the Survivor 16, Survivor: Micronesia, Fans vs. Faves

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-86199835800692957212008-05-09T07:45:00.000-07:002008-05-09T18:49:03.997-07:00

Dabu, day 34: Natalie waking up on a pallet resting atop the outriggers of the camp canoe. Eric sits on the edge of the boat, talking strategy. For all we know he’s been talking strategy to her while she slept. “If Parvati and Cirie are smart, they’ll see that Amanda is very popular with the jury…,” yadda-yadda.After the previous night, these two are at the mercy of the 3 remaining Faves. Eric

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-17093848109688114762008-05-02T07:09:00.000-07:002008-05-02T07:10:36.175-07:00

Whoa! Best episode yet of the Best. Survivor. Ever.Even the recap at the start of the show is compelling. We come into episode 12 on the heels of back-to-back blindsides of the top physical competitors in the game: blindsides that saw the all the women minus one use their wiles to take the game totally out of the hands of the men.We open on Night 30, just after tribal council. Rather than

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-64892317078056551722008-04-25T08:23:00.000-07:002008-04-25T08:36:01.701-07:00

Unusual for the show, we open on the morning after, rather than the tribe returning to camp the night of, tribal council. Erik, bright boy that he is, is sucking up to the 5 person alliance (Pavarti, Jason, Cirie, Natalie, Alexis) that pulled off the stunning blindside of Erik’s hero, Ozzy. Amanda and James are nowhere in sight.Cut to the two of them off in the jungle, licking their wounds.

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-1120572536955923792008-04-18T07:47:00.000-07:002008-04-18T11:31:57.723-07:00

In last week’s episode Jason and Eliza tried to bushwhack Ozzy all by themselves, but lost their bid for induction into the Survivor pantheon of immortals when the faux immunity idol Ozzy left after taking the real one turned out to be just what it appeared to be – a peeled stick with a smiley face scratched on it. Those who try to assassinate the king better succeed, I figure. Eliza was evicted

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-2432888321249496252008-04-11T08:01:00.000-07:002008-04-11T08:09:18.437-07:00

The 4 remaining members of Malakal return to camp from evicting Ami, the first eviction by the tribe of a Favorite. We hear from Faves Ozzy and Amanda and we hear from Fan Erik, but anything Cirie might have to say has been left on the editing room floor. What is with that? She got face time in the first 3 episodes, but it’s like she’s a ghost ever since.Cut to Airai, same night. Eliza and Jason

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-49924176932373086742008-04-04T09:48:00.000-07:002008-04-04T10:00:09.032-07:00

Malakala, night 20. The tribe returns from its 3rd straight tribal council, where Tracy, who thought she had the support of Erik, Cirie and Ami to blindside Ozzy, was herself blindsided. Erik addresses the camera. He’s aware he’s the last remaining Fan on Malakala and knows he is the prime target to be the next to go.The tribe gathers round the campfire. The debate that started at tribal

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-20913703927236669402008-03-28T10:16:00.000-07:002008-03-28T10:26:22.171-07:00

We open with Trump and the kids in the “boardroom.” Dad asks the kids what they think of finalists Piers and Trace. Ivanka and Donny Jr. agree that this, the season finale, will entail a tough decision between two very different but very competent men. Trump breaks the 4th wall and addresses the camera to ask the audience what we think.The camera pulls back and the boardroom is a set on a

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-20272739981902367552008-03-21T00:48:00.001-07:002008-03-21T00:48:34.155-07:00

Episode 11 ended with Trump calling the final 4 back to the boardroom and telling them that 2 more will be fired before the night is out.We open with Trump informing the would-be apprentices that they will be interviewed by two professional business recruiters, a CNBC’s Erin Burnett and that abrasive weasel from Mad Money.We get a montage of clips of the celebs being interviewed. The general

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-49334838850207130312008-03-20T15:54:00.000-07:002008-03-20T16:04:47.686-07:00

Episode 7 opens with Tracy and Ozzy bad mouthing each other to the camera. He says she’s creating conflict within Malakala; she says he runs the tribe like a dictator and will win the game if they don’t get rid of him soon. It encapsulates the pre-merge dilemma of all Survivor contestants who go to tribal council: do we vote off the weakest to keep the tribe as strong as possible for the

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-3808706761529352952008-03-18T18:42:00.000-07:002008-03-18T18:49:45.707-07:00

Last week Omarosa was fired after leading Empressario to the worst defeat in The Apprentice history at the hands of Hydra, project-managed by her nemesis, Piers. Hooray. When they gather for their task assignments Trump asks Piers how he feels after slaughtering Oma. “Sad,” Piers says dryly. “It’s a sad day for the show, a sad day for television and a sad day for the American people."This week’s

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-85118844869817084842008-03-18T18:35:00.000-07:002008-03-18T18:40:56.100-07:00

Last week the tribes were reconfigured to into 2 8-person tribes with equal numbers of Fans and Faves on each.Night: Fan Erik at the Malakala camp after the eviction of Joel, the strongest of the Fans, talking to the camera. “I felt pretty shafted to see Joel go. I mean, those guys are tough as nails. We cannot trust the Favorites at all.”What Erik doesn’t know is that Joel’s eviction was

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-13111657007431580452008-03-18T17:46:00.000-07:002008-03-18T17:47:02.689-07:00

Free Live GamesCrockpot RecipesDomalot Web HostingCash 4 All Types of Promissory Notes

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-40097716355946791332008-03-18T17:45:00.001-07:002008-03-18T17:51:00.122-07:00

Artoo LinksAdd Url To Health Directory

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-54201358539559508962008-03-18T17:43:00.000-07:002008-04-17T04:14:45.851-07:00

Download Freeware And Shareware SoftwareLarge archive of freeware, shareware, and trial software for windows. More then 20,000 software titles are available for free download. Dhtml Popup MakerPopup maker software; popunder, dhtml popup, dhtml window. Custom Automotive Window DecalsS.H.E. Book ClubSexual HealthV-rx Virility Products

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-89592428708796434662008-03-18T17:39:00.000-07:002009-02-18T13:02:09.159-08:00

Survivor Gabon, Ep. 01, Pt. 1Survivor Gabon, Ep. 01, Pt. 2Survivor Gabon, Ep. 02Survivor Gabon, Ep. 03Survivor Gabon, Ep. 04Survivor Gabon, Ep. 05Survivor Gabon, Ep. 06Survivor Gabon, Ep. 08Survivor Gabon, Ep. 09Survivor Gabon, Ep. 10Survivor Gabon, Ep. 11

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-48439916457702604812008-03-07T08:12:00.000-08:002008-03-11T07:34:37.681-07:00

For Survivor Micronesia Episode 5, click here.I did not catch The Celebrity Apprentice Episode 10. One of the kids reset the Tivo and it didn't tape. I thought I could catch it on the NBC website, but they only broadcast full first-run episodes within the US due to copyright restrictions. So I tried the rebroadcast on CNBC on Saturday night but it turns out the same copyright restrictions keep

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-41470201051696839012008-03-07T08:08:00.000-08:002008-03-07T08:10:21.969-08:00

The Fans return from tribal council after eliminating Mikey, one of their strongest competitors. How these people expect to ever win another challenge is a mystery. They should just make beauty queen coach Chet their leader and be done with it. That Tracy was easily able to manipulate all brawn but no brain (no understanding of human nature, anyway) Joel into engineering Mikey’s eviction

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-58632785995948069872008-02-29T14:47:00.000-08:002008-02-29T14:56:13.593-08:00

My excuse for posting this so late: stuff came up.Piers and Lennox return from the boardroom, Lennox ribbing Piers for sweating enough for the Donald to mention it. Tito, who, along with Oma, Trace, Carol, and Stephen, watched the proceedings on closed circuit, comments on the tire marks on Lennox from when Piers threw him under the bus while answering Trump‘s question, “Who do you think

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-84973910258150919012008-02-29T11:51:00.000-08:002008-02-29T12:46:55.407-08:00

We open with Malakala the morning after swing vote Cirie engineered Yau-Man’s eviction by switching sides from the Yau-Man/Jonathan/Eliza/Ami alliance to the couples alliance of James-Parvarti and Ozzy-Amanda. Her reason for doing so was her fear that master puzzle-solver Yau-Man would find the hidden immunity idol if he ever got sent to Exile Island.Eliza, Cirie and Ami sit around the morning

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-42669597204686333322008-02-22T14:37:00.000-08:002008-02-29T14:49:09.870-08:00

Before we start, I’ve got a question. Did it bother you last week that neither Lennox nor Carol spoke up when Omarosa started in on Piers’ relationship with his children? It bothered me and it bothered a couple of other people I know. I like to think most people wouldn’t sit back and watch while an associate of any sort was attacked like that.Episode 8 has the third different team alignment in 3

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-57842095349048176872008-02-22T11:38:00.000-08:002008-02-22T11:39:12.266-08:00

When last we left our intrepid band of survivors Fans strongman Joel had engineered the eviction of Mary, closest ally of Mikey B. Joel’s motivation in breaking up the Mikey-Mary alliance was simply to assert his own control of the tribe – strategically it would have made more sense to vote off someone who is a liability in the challenges, like Chet.We pick things up with the Airia returning

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-34866889049592662922008-02-15T09:43:00.001-08:002008-02-19T10:05:58.283-08:00

Episode 7 of The Celebrity Apprentice starts with the Donald’s decision to re-make the teams. With Steven Baldwin’s defection last week, we begin with 4 men on Hydra (Piers, Tito, Lennox and Trace) and 1 man and 3 women (Steve, Omarosa, MariLu and Carol) on Empressario. A commercial break later it’s Tito, MariLu, Trace and Steven on Empressario and (yikes!) Piers and Omarosa spitting at each

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-55526125986938324742008-02-15T07:42:00.001-08:002008-02-15T07:49:47.044-08:00

The Faves return from tribal council somewhat confused by Fairplay’s choice to be evicted. As Eliza says, “I voted for him because he asked me too, but I kept expecting him to pull something out of his hat. I didn’t really believe him.” Oh - and Ozzy has a fish he caught with his hands on the way back.Next morning at Airai the Fans split into two groups, 7 young versus 3 old, as they try to get

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-91764756123551397132008-02-08T09:44:00.000-08:002008-02-08T09:48:52.055-08:00

The men, minus Vince, who resigned at the end of last week’s episode just when it looked like it was Piers who was going to get the axe, enter the après firing room.Omarosa: Shoes on the other foot. Piers, we know how much you like to drink. Help yourself to the liquor. You know, Lennox, it’s nice to know you’re just as dirty as the rest of your teammates. [To Piers] He aligned himself with the

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-5430390458003480252008-02-08T07:23:00.000-08:002008-02-08T07:24:08.275-08:00

The Fans are rowed to the island in a native war boat under raining skies. Jeff introduces the Faves one by one. Phoenix firefighter Joel is excited to see Survivor China’s James.“He is, up until this season, the toughest and strongest that has ever played this game. I think I can take him.”This guy is massive - a fullback to James’ wide receiver. James will be quicker than him, but for sheer

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-69051039186650599992008-02-07T14:02:00.000-08:002008-02-07T14:20:34.856-08:00

After season 14, the low-rated Survivor: Fiji, there was talk that Survivor’s best days were behind it and many wondered if we would see a 15. We did, and Survivor: China was a ratings winner. Cast chemistry is so intangible, but it makes or breaks the show.The Fans versus Favorites format for Survivor 16, and the brief 9 week downtime between 15 and 16, seems to have kept up interest and

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-13494233154136851662008-02-01T21:52:00.000-08:002008-02-01T21:53:07.165-08:00

Episode 5 starts with Omarosa bad mouthing Carol as the apprentices wait to find out whom, of Carol, Jennie, and MariLu, got fired. Oma makes it clear her hate-on for Carol has nothing to do with business: she just doesn’t like her. “Everybody says business isn’t personal, but business is always personal,” she tells the camera. “Carol’s a twit,” she tells the others. When Carol and MariLu are

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-61971068462082092712008-01-25T13:01:00.000-08:002008-01-26T19:14:00.864-08:00

Episode 4 opens with Jennie returning from the boardroom and trying to fake the others into believing both Omarosa and Gene were fired. The fake lasts about 15 seconds before Omarosa waltzes in. I wish Jennie and Oma had kept it up a little longer – no, correct that: a lot longer. Imagine what the others would have said about Oma once they truly believed she was gone. And imagine what Omarosa’s

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-48994778201838007562008-01-17T23:57:00.000-08:002008-01-17T23:59:17.448-08:00

The Celebrity Apprentice, episode 3: the deaf man walking.We open on those no longer in the boardroom waiting to see who returns of the three still downstairs; Nadia, Carol and Nely. The mood is jovial, the wine flowing. Jennie, Omarossa, Piers and MariLu are sitting around a coffee table.Before the Project Manager (Nely) had to decide who to bring into the boardroom with her, Trump asked Jennie

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-59736911951132499642008-01-11T10:46:00.000-08:002008-01-29T18:00:21.553-08:00

You know, I just realized how many of these celebs are reality TV veterans: Stephen Baldwin, Omarosa, Piers Morgan, Simmons and Nely Galan. That’s over a third of the starting cast, and I may have missed 1 or 2 at that.Omarosa and Carol Alt return from the boardroom. Before they enter a room where the other contestants, men and women, are waiting, the two make a pact (sounded pretty insincere, to

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-11169829242684556932008-01-04T08:26:00.000-08:002008-01-04T10:59:45.626-08:00

The first 3 and a half seconds of the opening montage were perfect; insidious, but perfect. 3 shots of Manhattan from on high, buildings to the horizon in each shot. It’s an island yet we see no water. 3 shots of Trump Towers icons as shot by Kubric: looming monoliths all.Welcome to the Trumpiverse, a realm where the Towers are the center and nothing exists but Manhattan and the sky. There is no

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-22781396710261463132008-01-02T16:58:00.000-08:002008-01-04T08:26:29.293-08:00

“Tide-to-Go. Tide-to-Go. Tide-to-Go. Tide-to-Go.” Remember Tide-to-Go? Not the product: the Apprentice episode.For those of you who don’t, back in (I think) season 4 the two teams on The Apprentice were given the task of putting on competing street-theater type events promoting Proctor & Gamble’s new clothes-cleaning solution, Tide-to-Go. The winning team put on a reasonably slick street circus

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-91710719639342212092007-12-17T09:02:00.000-08:002007-12-17T09:03:25.154-08:00

Night 36.The final four of Todd, Amanda, Courtney and Denise returns from voting PG off at tribal council. Congrats and hugs all around. Todd includes himself as a member of “the pack of four bitches,” trying to undercut any thoughts of a girl-power alliance. Courtney sees their position as a triumph of those who were at the bottom of the totem pole and the others don’t argue. Cut to a frog

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-33300178303114957372007-12-14T11:04:00.000-08:002007-12-14T11:10:02.763-08:00

Episode 12 of Survivor China sees an alliance that, despite turning on members Jean Robert and James, has remained intact to dominate the final 5. The only way Todd, Amanda, Courtney and Denise, original Fei Long members all, won’t be the final four is if PG can win her third of the last 4 immunity challenges.Denise wins the reward challenge for the second week in a row, returning her to the

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-56816831320871614492007-12-13T13:17:00.000-08:002007-12-13T13:25:38.835-08:00

The 13th and final episode of Kid Nation 1 begins with Mike, carrying a lantern against the pre-dawn darkness, shuffling out of the Red district boys’ bunk house. As the camera leads him down the street, he claims he can’t sleep for thoughts of the end of the Kid Nation adventure. Right. If he could keep his eyes open I might believe him, or if there hadn’t just happened to be a camera crew

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-55333682554288748102007-12-07T09:29:00.000-08:002007-12-07T09:34:38.740-08:00

Episode 12 opens on the night of Day 30 as the remaining 6 return from voting James out. Todd’s relief is indeed great, as had the plan failed he would be facing a very large, pumped, angry man. PG tells the camera that she’s still a survivor because of the fault lines in the old Fei Long. To a certain extent, she’s right; but the fact that old Zhan Hu members have won 3 of the 4 immunity

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-34654054016071981022007-12-06T11:26:00.000-08:002007-12-06T11:33:36.572-08:00

Day 35.At the end of the last episode Sophia was appointed sheriff by the town council and charged with enforcing the council’s edict that the arcade not be opened each day until all chores are done. This status makes the strange start to episode 12 even odder. Remember when Sophia busked for spare change by dancing in the street? Remember when she lay down in the middle of the street and stayed

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-57602783516115766502007-11-30T08:41:00.000-08:002007-11-30T08:50:45.589-08:00

“Tonight’s tribal council said it all. You have 9 days left. It’s going to be interesting. Grab your torches.” That’s how host Jeff Probst dismissed the remaining survivors at the end of episode 11. And yeah, it sure is.The episode began where episode 9 ended 2 weeks ago, at tribal council. After Frosti was evicted, Jeff told the survivors that their business was not yet finished. I thought

LBnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-40621904200677454712007-11-29T10:27:00.001-08:002007-11-30T17:34:28.514-08:00

We open with Taylor and Leila in the chicken coop. Ten year old beauty queen Taylor, never one to keep an opinion to herself, tells Leila which breeds of chickens (she doesn’t know the name of the breeds, mind you) are pretty (the Rhode Island Reds) and which are ugly (all the others). She suggests pet make-up would be a good invention, so ugly pets, like ugly people, might be improved. If there

LBnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-63160504447595212552007-11-29T10:23:00.000-08:002007-11-29T10:25:11.184-08:00

Episode 11 was a clip show. I took time off for Thanksgiving. End of story.

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-80419764838838212422007-11-22T21:20:00.000-08:002007-11-22T21:21:13.571-08:00

When last we saw our intrepid band of pioneers, a revolt against the town council had erupted at the end-of-show town meeting, due primarily to the council’s decision to shift members from one district to another at the start of last week’s episode. This was aggravated by Laurel’s refusal to switch any of her Green team members and resentment against the council as a whole for allowing Laurel to

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-84416502369204365912007-11-16T07:50:00.000-08:002007-11-16T07:56:04.822-08:00

Day 25.Dawn. James cleans a fish and then wakes the others by loudly singing Good Morning to You. Courtney is so happy her nemesis Jean-Robert was voted off the previous night that she opens her eyes and cries “It’s Christmas.”Around the breakfast campfire, Denise, who was left in the dark by her alliance partners regarding the decision to oust one of their own, looks like she’s wondering if

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-48976874985827278502007-11-15T08:46:00.000-08:002007-11-15T08:50:44.797-08:00

We open with Green team leader Laurel bragging to the camera about her crew. Four of the 7 gold stars given out to date have gone to Green team members. The team uncharacteristically rubs the other teams’ collective face in their success, making one wonder if we are witnessing the unseen hand of the producers in what follows; in the middle of the street, the Green team shows off their gold stars

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-79555234151928385742007-11-09T11:45:00.000-08:002007-11-09T11:55:36.579-08:00

Episode 8 opens on the night of Day 21, with the newly merged Hae Da Fung tribe returning from tribal council under an almost full moon. Jean-Robert is still shook from his close call – had the plaque that Jamie played been an actual immunity idol, he would have been the one voted out. James teases him, asking if he needs a hug. Cut to James addressing the camera at some point when the sun was

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-40205784510847340792007-11-08T12:35:00.000-08:002007-11-08T12:39:57.064-08:00

Day 23.Fourteen year old Sophia lies in the middle of the dirt street, feigning unconsciousness. Why? She is dying from boredom. And she’s not the only one. Other kids gather and soon decide to join her. The town is dying of boredom. The game (anti-game?) only ends when Sophia gets up and walks off because 15 year old Greg decided to lie on his back between her legs and use her stomach for

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-32481500342508168232007-11-02T12:38:00.000-07:002007-11-02T12:49:47.532-07:00

Given that the last 2 episodes have been absolutely compelling, episode 7 has a lot to live up to. Here’s where we stand:- With 10 contestants left, a merge could well occur in this episode.- Zhan Hu’s 4 members include former Fei Long tribesman James, who remains loyal to his old tribe in general and his alliance with Todd and Amanda in particular.- Fei Long’s 6 members gives them a 2-man

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-30103310974277667022007-11-01T08:18:00.000-07:002007-11-01T08:36:28.599-07:00

Red team member Divad is Upper Class and so has time on her hands. She is selling treats from a snack stand she has set up. Sophia objects to Divad using the communal food for her business but Divad seems to be fulfilling a need, as business is brisk. Fellow Red Jared’s objections come from a darker place, most likely envy that he didn’t think of the idea first. He destroys the stand and its

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-24986076374427922562007-10-26T11:24:00.000-07:002007-10-26T11:28:10.201-07:00

Survivor China, episode 6 was freakin’ classic, with more twists than an Elmore Leonard novel. The producers must have rubbed their hands in glee at the outcome of the luxury challenge and wet their pants when the immunity challenge was done.Let’s start with a quick re-cap of last week’s strategy moves. If you’ll remember, 2 members from each tribe were forced to switch camps. This resulted in

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-16520035524653587222007-10-25T10:45:00.000-07:002007-10-25T10:46:36.739-07:00

Day 17. The new council walks out to the church to ring the morning bell and read the next installment of the pioneer journal. Taylor, deposed by Zach last episode as leader of the Yellow team, actually gets out of bed. Has she changed her lazy-ass ways? Is she going to get an early start on the day’s work? As if. Taylor and her supporters (down to 2, Leila and Kelsey, from the 4 she had in

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-35799394061943748682007-10-19T06:28:00.000-07:002007-10-22T12:50:50.914-07:00

Day 13: Erik and Jamie flirting in the lagoon. He confesses he is a virgin. Cue the harps. She totally trusts him now. Best pick up line ever. Cut to Fei Long: Denise and James working together. In voice over, James talks about Denise being a good, strong worker: a good, supportive woman. “That’s attractive in a woman. If she was a little younger or I was a little bit older, it could be trouble.”

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-90606995817965550682007-10-12T09:16:00.000-07:002007-10-12T09:25:12.971-07:00

Day 10 and all is not well in paradise. At Fei Long, Courtney dislikes Jean-Robert so much she gives him shit for raising his voice to warn her not to touch a pot that he fears is hot enough to burn her. At Zhan Hu, Sherea despises Dave so much she has stopped listening to him at all and ignores him when he tries to tell her the shells she is about to throw out are ones he has set aside to take

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-50322090637371888622007-10-11T11:54:00.000-07:002007-10-18T10:33:20.620-07:00

Morning, day 14: the pioneer journal tells the town council it is time for them to face elections. This makes Taylor, Anjay and Laurel nervous. Taylor, because she knows everyone in town except for the girls in the Yellows are fed up with her encouraging her team to sleep in and ignore their duties as the Cooks; Anjay, because the Blues, most of whom are bigger and older than he, typically ignore

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-86481401868098605762007-10-11T11:51:00.000-07:002007-10-11T11:52:49.107-07:00

In the first paragraph of the first episode recap, I wrote that Kid Nation is not a series about kids building their own society, as we were promised, but “a series about what kind of a society kids will make if first crippled with one of the worst aspects of adult culture.” That worst aspect was the inane hierarchical social system (Upper Class, Merchants, Cooks, Laborers) imposed on the kids

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-40007842014200837302007-10-06T14:37:00.000-07:002007-10-06T14:38:58.737-07:00

Before we get into the chronological recap of Episode 3, a thought on the show so far. There’s a difference between this and other seasons of Survivor. In Survivor China, both tribes have named leaders – Fei Long’s Aaron and Zuan Hu’s Dave – that nobody likes yet neither tribe seems eager to depose. How this will affect things down the line of course remains to be seen, but for now, I’m

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-33488532073234613532007-10-04T11:37:00.000-07:002007-10-04T11:45:08.419-07:00

I found the opening scene of episode 3 of Kid Nation revealing and sad and disturbing: children in a pretend saloon drinking pretend boilermakers, downing pretend shots, chugging pretend beers and speaking in pretend slurs, saying things like: “A man needs his root beer.” Do only ex-drinkers shudder at the pervasiveness of alcohol culture in western society?3 kids, all familiar from episode 2,

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-43233771824440132012007-09-28T10:55:00.000-07:002007-09-28T20:52:47.977-07:00

We open with shots of the Fei Long tribe at camp; James tipping over 40 ft trees with his bare hands, Denise and Leslie starting a fire, Amanda chopping wood, Todd and Courtney laying stones, Aaron breaking up downed trees, Jean Robert (JR) sleeping. JR starts snoring. In the laziest idiot in camp competition, we have a winner. Cut to the others pausing in their work to listen and look

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-63135834485428063642007-09-27T09:45:00.001-07:002007-09-27T12:13:57.249-07:00

Kid Nation episode 2 begins with the producers (through their avatar, the narrator of the bogus pioneer journal) once again interfering in the kids’ social development. The snakes-in-the-garden call the Town Council to the church to read the infernal journal. The passage and accompanying picture make no sense.“Back in 1895,” they read, “our wagon train contained only dry goods and canned foods:

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-60149521769273449902007-09-21T06:48:00.000-07:002007-09-24T20:56:25.190-07:00

Three boob shots before the introductory montage, 2 during it. Eye candy males are James, a tall, ripped, lean black grave digger and Erik, a Nashville musician with a modeling background.The contestants are taken to a Buddhist temple for a welcoming ceremony that, JP assures them, is not a worship ceremony. NYC waitress Courtney is clearly gunning for the Survivor bitch job. She roles her eyes

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-11004377754379693662007-09-20T05:49:00.000-07:002007-09-24T20:54:14.875-07:00

I thought we were going to be watching kids build their own society. No – once the producers trotted out a hierarchy for the kids to adopt as the basis of their social structure (Upper Class, Merchants, Cooks, Laborers, with Laborers working to make one tenth of what the Upper Class get for doing nothing) I saw that this is a series about what kind of a society kids will make if first crippled

LBnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-70433513657753284672007-09-19T18:14:00.000-07:002007-09-24T20:57:24.205-07:00

It's Survivor time. While the cast changes every season, the roles almost never do.Grey Beard:He has the grey and the beard, but he's only 47, for god's sake. I’ve gotten women older than him in trouble. In fact, this is the youngest cast ever; with only 2 members over 40 and none older than 47 year old chicken farmer Steve "Chicken" Morris. Would they have cast him if a high school knee injury

LBnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216324966935929361.post-91380298139784613942007-09-19T10:01:00.000-07:002007-09-24T20:52:18.139-07:00

Amidst all the media coverage of Kid Nation and the controversy over whether the children were exploited/mistreated, no one has mentioned that Kid Nation is the first reality TV show to cast season 2 before season 1 has even aired. Not even Aaron Sorkin gets that kind of treatment. It’s unheard of in network television.The deadline for season 2 applications was Aug. 3rd, with shooting to occur “

LBnoreply@blogger.com0