Survivor 30 Episode 6: The Lines Will Be Drawn

Now that was a merge episode.

This week's episode was everything you could ask for. A huge mix of different alliances, a close immunity, and of course...a successful idol play. 

From the Top of the Company...to the Middle?

Looking at the group of castaways left, it looked like Tyler and Carolyn (and I guess Shirin?) were being viewed as the swing votes between the No Collars and the Blue Collars. I was surprised to see this, seeing that Tyler was JUST betrayed by Mike and the Blue Collars when Joaquin was voted out.

My only guess is that Rodney must have given Tyler and Carolyn tons of reassurance that they would flip the game on Mike when the time comes, otherwise I don't understand why the White Collars would go to the side with more people. 

Ill for Will

A lot of people will rag on Will because of his decision to flip BUT I can understand the move. If Will had any inclination that Tyler and Carolyn were siding with the Blues then why not jump off a sinking ship? By offering up his services to Rodney, he's insuring that he won't be at the top of the hit list. Unfortunately though, I think Will is in one of the worst positions in the game, he has no real allies and if seen as a flipper. It might be in the other No Collars best interest to try and get rid of him next, which will make their side more attractive to Tyler and Carolyn. 

No Collars, One Idol

I loved that Jenn and co. were able to survive this round. They made the best choice in taking out Kelly, the only under the radar player for the Blues. Kelly was a key number in a lot of player's plans, so now that she's gone, there is going to be a lot of reshuffling. This will be the chance the No Collars need in order to try and get something solidified, or else Joe, Jenn, and Hali are in serious trouble.

What's Next?

My prediction for next round is that Joe is going to be the first juror. Everyone just views him as this huge threat, and I don't think he'll be able to survive unless he finds an idol or wins immunity again. With Joe gone, Hali and Jenn might be able to get more allies though, so I'm hoping they can turn a bad situation into a powerful one.

Thanks for reading! :) 

Big Brother Canada 3 Eviction #2

I discuss the second eviction of Big Brother Canada 3. Keith and I breakdown the nominee's campaigns to stay, the camera mystery and the plans of the new HOH. Enjoy!!!

Survivor 30 Power Rankings Week 5

It's time for the merge! I had a lot of trouble with this list because I don't think anyone is really safe. I think there is a scenario for any of the players to leave, which is going to make for an interesting episode. Let's dive in!

1. Carolyn

Previous week:6

2. Jenn

Previous week:1

3. Will

Previous week:5

4. Sierra

Previous week:7

5. Kelly

Previous week:8

6. Mike

Previous week:3

7. Shirin

Previous week:13

8. Hali

Previous week:2

9. Rodney

Previous week:11

10. Tyler

Previous week:9

11. Joe

Previous week:4

12. Dan 

Previous week:10

Big Brother Canada 3 Week 1 Veto

I breakdown the basics of the week 1 veto episode. Keith and I discuss the huge bathroom leak (ha) and the events that followed. We also discuss the Most and Least challenge and the Veto competition. Enjoy!

Big Brother Canada Week 1 Nomination Episode

I break down the week 1 nomination episode with my fellow co-hosts Erine and Keith. We discuss all the different alliances forming and whether the HOH made the right nominations for their game. Enjoy! :)

Survivor 30 Episode 5: Odd Woman Out

Episode five!  On the previous episode, Max got blindsided and Shirin looked like dead (and naked) woman walking. I though this week was really intriguing because we finally got to see the inner workings of the BC tribe and how things might shake up at the merge. As for the boot, I think the Joaquin leaving was super obvious because we didn't hear from Joe until after the immunity challenge. The big question though is did BC do the right thing in order to put themselves in a good position come merge? Let's dive in.

Sending Off Shirin

So the episode starts off with Shirin discovering how royally screwed she is. I feel bad for Shirin, but this game is about self perception, which is not her best skill. If I was a betting man, I would have picked up on this edit as the Shirin goodbye episode. Fortunately for her, she was able to survive the hour. I think we're going to be dealing with the whistling, monkey watching, survivor nerd for a while now that we're heading into the merge next week. Players like her are able to hide behind the much bigger targets and coast to the late game. I don't think Shirin will win, but I think she's here to stay.

Star Crossed Bros

I loved the Joaquin/Rodney bromance. Maybe it was the amount of "bros" or the lingo "work hard party harder", but I just couldn't get enough of them. It's a shame that this duo only last for an episode, because I think these two could have been great entertainment value.

This wasn't the only duo that we learn about this episode. Mike and Kelly are apparently very close as well. I think that this relationship makes those two extremely dangerous. So many pairs get split up early on in the game, but if a duo can gain momentum, then it can become nearly unstoppable. The only thing more dangerous then a couple is a secret couple.

And the Academy Award Goes To...

How about that immunity challenge? I don't think throwing a challenge is that big of a mistake in Survivor. If it strategically makes sense, then why not? Mike came out very well because of it. He lessens his threat because of how dumb he looks, he protects his number one ally, and he takes out a threat to his game. Mike came out extremely well this week, keeping his tribe in line and setting himself up as best he can for the merge. The only thing he has to watch out for is Rodney. If he can damage control well enough that Rodney remains loyal, then this was the best move. Hopefully Mike didn't piss off the wrong Bostonian. 

Sierra's Situation

Joaquin wastes no time once he gets a moment alone with Sierra. This is great because Sierra is practically asking for a new alliance and is more than willing to flip on the BC trio. I think Joaquin's fatal mistake is that he completely throws Joe out of the equation. All he had to do was grab Joe as the fourth and get the majority that way. The moment that Sierra seemed uncomfortable with Rodney should have been the moment that Joaquin realized he was going to need to let him go.

Joaquin's logic of getting out Joe because he's a big threat is ridiculous. Joe would be the perfect shield to hide behind at a merge. If you're so focused on taking out all the big threats early, then you're going to be the big threat once merge approaches. Targeting Joe was a huge mistake for Joaquin. Never leave any rock unturned.

Words cannot express how excited I am for the merge. There are so many ways that this game can go, the possibilities are endless. Anything can happen, so make sure you tune in for my recap on next week. Thanks for reading :)

Big Brother Canada 3 Eviction 1

Keith and I break down the basics of the first eviction of the BBCAN3 season. We also discuss the alliances forming and the comeback twist of the season. Follow us on Twitter @jacobharpel and @mosthumble

Thanks for watching :)

Survivor 30 Power Rankings Week 4

A tribe swap and a double boot episode has really changed a lot in the game. Some players have risen in power while others have fallen short. Let's take a look at the power rankings leading into tonights episode.

1. Jenn

Previous week:6

Jenn makes a big jump to the number one spot this week because of the events of the tribe swap. Her finding the idol gives her a solid security blanket, which she won't even need because she is once again part of the majority on her new tribe. I don't think Jenn is going anywhere until merge.

2. Hali

Previous week:3

Right behind Jenn is her right hand lady, Hali. Hali is also in the majority of the red tribe and should not be in danger as long as her bff is in power.

3. Mike

Previous week:14

This was a tough decision for me. It's too early to tell who the safest person on the blue tribe is. Sierra is threatening to flip, Rodney is in love with Joaquin, and every one is paranoid about everyone. I think that no matter what happens though, Mike should be safe. If Sierra decides to flip on the blue collar boys, I don't think Mike would be the main target. Thanks to Mike's obnoxious allies, he gets a huge boost in the rankings.

4. Joe

Previous week:2

The tribe swap put Joe in a shaky position, but I think his relaxed nature will keep him UTR with all the big personalities. If the blue collar sticks together, I believe they'll keep Joe around due to his challenge performance. 

5. Will

Previous week:15

 Will skyrockets up the list by being in a clear majority now. The only reason he's a little lower on the list than Jenn and Hali is because of Will's challenge performance. I don't see them voting him out but his odds of danger are higher because of his lack of physical ability.

6. Carolyn

Previous week:1

Even though Carolyn earned a spot in the majority of her new tribe, I'm lowering her rank this week because her safety isn't exactly guaranteed.  Now Carolyn could be looked at as a flipper, someone who will betray anyone. I don't think Carolyn is the next to go but because of the potential danger, I'm going to lower her.

7. Sierra

Previous week: 4

At first glance, Sierra looks like the safest person on the new blue tribe. She has the potential to be the big swing vote that decides who is in power. The problem is that the tribe she is on seems so unpredictable that there really isn't a clear cut line on who is with who. If this Rodney/Joaquin thing is real, will Joaquin be the flip or Rodney? There is a possibility that they vote out Sierra for being the only girl and for being so mad at the boys for blindsiding her.

8. Kelly

Previous week:5

Kelly is in an interesting position. She's the only blue collar player on the red tribe. Now that the original no collars have the majority, it might be in their best interests to knock the blue collar tribe down a peg.

9. Tyler

Previous week:9

Tyler is a lot more vulnerable on his new tribe then his previous one. I don't think he's next on the chopping block if a non-blue collar goes, but Tyler might go down if Rodney wants to keep Joaquin safe by taking out one of his allies. I don't see Tyler leaving though, I am predicting a possible Tyler/Joaquin/Rodney trio.

10. Dan

Previous week:13

The social butterfly himself. He's itching his way up more and more but the fact is that if Sierra flips, either Dan or Rodney are going home. Dan's mouth is his own worst enemy, so I wouldn't be surprised if Dan leaves next.

11. Rodney

Previous week:7

I use to have Rodney ranked pretty high, but then I started holding him to a higher standard. Rodney has been self-destructing for a while now. If his previous alliance views his relationship with Joaquin as a threat, he could very well be out of the game. There is also the chance that Sierra will flip and rally the outcasts to settle the unfinished business from her last tribal.

12. Joaquin

Previous week:11

I wish I could rank Joaquin higher, but he just hasn't been able to set himself up in a solid position. If the blue collar people do stick together, they are most likely going to target Joaquin for his budding romance with Rodney.

13. Shirin

Previous week:12

There's not much to say about Shirin that she hasn't already said herself or slaughtered. She is the obvious vote for the red tribe should they lose again. Her social awkwardness won't be enough to save her and lack of challenge ability on her tribe only increases the chance of her demise. Shirin is my boot pick for episode 5.

Big Brother Canada 3: Episode 1

I break down the premiere of Big Brother Canada 3 with one of most Big Brother Basics co-host +Keith Guerrero. We discuss the nominations twist, the strategy for surviving this elimination and who we're predicting to be the first houseguest to be evicted. Enjoy!

Survivor 30 Episode 4 Part 2: Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner

Back to the grind for Survivor 30 episode 4. We're entering the first swap of the season and the dynamics are all over the place. The second hour of this episode contained a lot of alliance shuffling and the foreshadowing of future betrayals and blindsides. Let's get to it.

Blue Collar Blindside

So Blue Collar comes back from tribal and it's pretty awkward. They know that they have essentially cut out Sierra from the group. Dan decides that he must point out all the flaws of Sierra TO Sierra in order to bring her back into the fold. Gotta love Dan and his social game.

I don't think it would have been impossible to bring Sierra back into the group, but since this group has the social prowess of a rock, they only pushed her further away. Luckily for them, they have an easy person to vote off next round...I mean...unless there is a swap...

TRIBE SWAP

The time has come! The collars have been dissolved and reformed into two tribes. Looking at these new tribes, it's like that changed the theme from collars to David and Goliath.  Seriously though, the blue tribe is absolutely stacked with challenge threats, where as the red team is just kind of...well...I mean most of them will make merge!!!

Blue team wins immunity, something we'll probably be seeing for a while, and we anticipate how everyone reacts back at camp. A swap is a great opportunity to start anew, learn from mistakes you might have made from the first few rounds and change it up...

Well, unless you're Shirin and Max. Shirin and Max go back to their weird antics and start annoying their new tribe immediately. I feel like Shirin and Max are just so caught up in the entire experience that they aren't really paying attention to the effect their words and attitudes have on their tribemates. Shirin just comes off as so fake to Kelly. Really Shirin? You get a great vibe from the person that happens to be the swing vote on your tribe? Goodness.

New Tribe Dynamics

So right out the gate, the original BC boys are fearing that Sierra is going to try and pull something with the other guys on the tribe. I don't blame Sierra for pursuing something with other people, she's learned that she is on the outs of her original tribe so why not attempt to put herself in a better position somewhere else. As far as her actually making a counter move though, I predict that their tribe is going to win immunity long enough to where the anger in Sierra settles a little bit. As long as the BC boys don't say something stupid (jury is still out) then I think Sierra will stay loyal. Only time will tell.

Meanwhile on the other tribe, Max is teaching us what NOT to do on Survivor. His first lesson was to stick his wart foot into the drinking water, an act that will surely pave the way to the million dollars. This is just another one of the many examples of Max and Shirin being so socially disconnected with everyone they're around. Max is practically asking to get voted during the entire episode. I think if he just played it cool with Kelly then he wouldn't have so aggressively pushed the target onto himself.

Chaos Carolyn and Voting Out Max

This swap was a godsend for Carolyn. She might not have landed in as great of a position as her original tribe, but she gained the ability to axe Max. Whether or not this was the best move for Carolyn really depends on what Kelly was going to do. If Kelly was planning on sticking with NC, then 100% Carolyn did the right thing. 

My only problem with voting out Max instead of Shirin is that they have lost one of their best challenge competitors. If this tribe wants any chance of winning challenges they need to keep the stronger people in the game. Is getting Max out so much more important than taking out Shirin, someone who was equally as annoying? I'm not sure if I agree.

 Next Time on Survivor

I don't know if this blue tribe is going to lose but if they do, it looks like the first vote will be complicated. I'm not surprised that Rodney is gravitating to other people because of Dan and Mike's antics. I would love for a Dan or Mike boot, I don't think either of them has played a smart game. 

Check out my rankings leading into the next episode later this week and be sure to follow me on twitter for future posts and Survivor news. Thanks for reading :)

Survivor 30 Episode 4 Part 1: Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner

Wow! The double helping of Survivor this week was insane. I thought for sure that the first hour would be a predictable No Collar lost with a Will boot, but I was wrong. Blue Collar finally got a taste of tribal council and we got to see who was really on the bottom of everything. I'm splitting the 2-hour show into two separate posts in order to avoid rambling for too long on the whole thing. Let's get started!

Reward Challenge Fiasco

I'm skipping to the reward challenge because the only thing that happens in the first five minutes is that Will realizes he's screwed if NC loses again and Rodney grows some hair on his chest after eating a snake. Pretty gnarly. 

So Blue Collar is an absolute mess during this entire challenge. You'd think they'd be excellent at shouting directions since all they do is scream at each other at camp. Kelly's injury looked extremely serious but luckily enough she was able to get it patched up very quickly. She might have gotten hurt but at least the whole event made Mike want to align with her. I guess if you ever need some allies in Survivor, all you have to do is just bust your head open during a challenge and the offers will start flowing in.

Works 10% of the Time, 100% of the Time

So after a much deserved win, NC start cooking a chicken instead of the rooster. Chalk up another solid decision from the NC tribe. Jenn takes a walk away from the chicken carnage and finds an idol. This situation couldn't have worked any better for Jenn. No one will question her for walking around for so long because of her reaction to the chicken, so she doesn't have to worry about being suspected for idol hunting. I'll touch on this more in part two, but this could be the beginning of Jenn becoming a solid player.

Higher Standards/Shirin the Bunny Slayer

In a shocking turn of events, we are brought back to the BC tribe arguing. Rodney and Lindsey are discussing the standards between females and males, which is a great topic to discuss when you're playing a social game (this is sarcastic).  Rodney should try and stick to his 3 C's because right now he's practicing what I call the 3 D's (dumb, delusional, doomed).

Meanwhile on the White Collar tribe, Shirin reveals that she's a total psychopath. I'm with Joaquin on this one, Shirin very well might be a serial killer. Someone call Serial, I think we found the killer. For someone who prides themselves on the game, Shirin's social perception is completely off. She just makes everything extremely awkward and uncomfortable for everyone around her.

Carolyn seems to think of Max as the bigger target. I don't think Max's beard helps with the accusation of being a cult leader. No one seems to be biting and I don't blame them. Shirin is just as annoying as Max but worse in challenges. Axing Shirin would be the better play because she is someone that could go far if she made merge, whereas Max is more likely to be targeted.

Blue Collar Loses It

So after a close immunity challenge, BC earns a date with Probst at tribal council. Fun fact, this is the first time in a three tribe format that all three tribes went to a tribal council before any kind of switch up. I honestly thought Rodney was screwed, especially after Jeff spent so much time poking at Rodney and his mother issues at TC. Rodney is only making the target on his back bigger and bigger, and is setting himself up to be used by players such as Mike and Kelly.

I'm not sure how I feel about the tribe voting out Lindsey instead of Rodney. They've completely alienated Sierra right before a swap, which can be extremely dangerous for them long term. They need to handle Sierra with the utmost respect if they want to prevent her from screwing all of them.  

I think that keeping Rodney has it's advantages though. He's quickly angered and is a total loud mouth aka the perfect shield! It does make sense to keep a big target like Rodney in the game, hiding behind his antics and using him as a buffer. Rodney keeps talking about his temper and I don't think we're far from the ultimate Rodney outburst, it's going to be interesting to see.

Thanks for reading my reactions to episode 4 part 1 and make sure to keep your eye out for part 2 of my episode 4 summary! Follow me on twitter for further updates on blog posts and Survivor/Big Brother news. Catch ya later.

Big Brother Canada Cast Reveal Part 3

Its the final day! We've got all sixteen houseguests and are ready for the game to begin. I'm so excited for the season to start and to watch how all these dynamic players interact with each other.  If you haven't gotten a look at the cast yourself, then check it out here! Let's take a look at the final five people.

1. Sindy Nguyen

I think Sindy is more concerned about people spelling her name correctly then what her strategy is. All jokes aside, I think Sindy is a super cute girl that will get along well with the boys. I like her competitive nature but I don't know how well she'll do since she doesn't know much about the game. She's like Shane Meaney...not appearance wise though. I could see Sindy being part of a strong core alliance that will utilize her for her competition abilities (if they're there) and take her to the end.

2. Pilar Nemer

I'm not feeling too great about Pilar. She doesn't really seem to have an idea of what to do. I think that her being 1 out of 25 or whatever children is actually going to hurt against her. She's going to try and fight for the attention of every one in the house and I think it'll go against her. If she can utilize her "harmless" appearance to her advantage, I think Pilar will be someone to look out for longevity wise. I'm not quite sure she has what it takes to win though.

3. Johnny Colatruglio

Johnny has a lot of good qualities about him. He's a super fan, he knows the importance of throwing but is still very competitive, and he doesn't seem socially overbearing. I think Johnny is someone that can become a huge power player if the other houseguest let him build momentum. He doesn't seem like someone who would get too comfortable within the game, which is a great trait to have. I think Johnny is the dark horse of the season. 

4.  Kevin Martin

WOW! Kevin is good...almost too good. He's incredibly charming and funny. I also love how he said he'd start every day with a deep breath.  (Trust me he'll need those.) His strategy of throwing every comps makes me incredibly nervous, you really need to play a strict game to do something like that and that finesse is yet to be seen from him yet. I think Kevin is cursed to win a luck based comp in the house, which will make him a big target. I don't know if he can make it to the end, but he is hands down the player I'm rooting for.

5. Patricia Denner

I liked Patricia a lot more than I thought I would. She sounds like a woman who isn't going to lose her cool at anyone. I don't see her fulfilling a motherly role, more so a cougar role, so I'm not sure if she can survive socially with the other girls. If Patricia can make it through the early stages and connect with some strong guy competitors, I think Patricia can be the leader of a Mrs. Robinson alliance.

Thanks for keeping up with my reactions to all sixteen houseguests. Don't forget to tune in to watch the premiere of Big Brother Canada March 23rd AND don't forget to follow my blog for all things BBCAN. Thanks for reading :) 

Big Brother Canada 3 Cast Reveal Part Two

We've got five more houseguests revealed tonight! Only one more cast reveal day until we've get to see the entire roster of Big Brother Canada houseguests. Let's not waste any time and jump right in!

1. Bruno Ielo

I predict that we're going to be getting a lot of tool metaphors from Bruno. When I read that his favorite idols are Adel and Paul, I started to get nervous. However, when I finished his video, I can say I'm that low on Bruno. He seems to be a very chill guy and knows the game. I don't see him going in guns blazing like Paul, I think he's really going to lay back and let the bigger personalities take themselves out. I think people are going to sleep on Bruno.

2. Willow Macdonald

I love Willow! Her strategy of trying to be viewed as harmless and carefree is going to help her survive the first couple of rounds. Once she can establish herself socially, I think Willow is going to be in for the long run. I like that she looks up to Jillian, a strong female player. I think Willow is going to be great at managing the different personalities in the house.  Do not underestimate her.

3. Naeha Sareen

Naeha, although nice, seems like she's a lot of talk. I think she's going to be a lot like Ika in the fact that she'll have a strong showing in the beginning but will crash and burn soon after. I could also see her mouth getting her in trouble with some of the other girls in the house. I'm not very high on Naeha, I think she's going to be a hot mess.

4. Graig Merritt

Graig seems like a great person BUT he is my least favorite in the bunch. His description of his strategy was mostly him just talking about his job. His interest only seems created because of his friends recommending him for the show. I think he's going to be a pawn in a strategic player's game. If someone like Jordan can get Graig in his pocket, then I could see Graig have some longevity. I'm not holding my breathe.

5. Godfrey Mangwiza

If he's not a fan of gossip, he's going to have a bad time. Godfrey seems all over the place and I think that's going to make him an early target. He seems like a great guy but he sounds way over the top and it's going to be really interesting to see who he can connect with. Godfrey might be the next Paul, and he'll leave around the same time too.

Check in tomorrow night for the final five houseguests! Thanks for reading!