Tag Archives: Survivor

Gratuitous Search Term Bait of the Day: Two Wisemen (Including One Westman)

In an effort to continue with this week’s Saved by the Bell theme for our Gratuitous Search Term Bait, we’re going to put a new twist on a classic, that being “tom westman.”  As Survivor‘s elder statesmen, Westman was a strong, reliable father figure, a role model for the younger contestants.  He conducted himself with dignity and honor, showing respect and compassion for others.  Just playing the game the right right way.  And the guy looked pretty damn good in a beard.  Which reminds us of someone from Saved by the Bell. No, not Mr. Belding.  But Mr. Derek Morris, as played by the terrific John Sanderford.  Here he is, like Westman in a salt and pepper beard, in his standout Saved by the Bell moment, educating Zack on the dangers of drunk driving, doling out equal parts wisdom and love. We’re just going to stand back for a moment and let Sanderford’s work speak for itself.

Do they give belated Emmy’s for “Guest Actor on a Saturday Morning Sitcom?”  Because they should.  For this.

Leave a comment

Filed under Gratuitous Search Term Bait, Mancrush, Saved by the Bell, Tribal Council

We Solve the Mystery of ‘Survivor’ Phillip’s Hurrah; Is This the Key to His Federal Agent (?) Past???

When we heard Former Federal Agent (?) Phillip release a deep, guttural, primitive grunt (twice) during the Survivor: Redemption Island premiere we couldn’t shake the feeling that we had heard that noise somewhere before.

(Also, we really have no idea what he’s talking about here.  Something about male lions sniffing each other and dancing.  Is he divulging a crush on Boston Rob?)

But then it dawned on us.

NHL 93. A body check.  SFX #2.

Does this mean that when Phillip informed his tribe that he was a former federal agent for three government agencies one of those organizations was EA Sports?  Was Phillip, in fact, part of a deep covert operation to provide the sound effects for the greatest sports video game in the history of video games?  Have we uncovered Phillip’s classified resume?

YOU MAKE THE CALL

Sure seems like it.

HURRAH!  AWOOGA!

Leave a comment

Filed under Commodore 64, Conspiracy Theory, Intersection of the venn diagram of things that I love, Tribal Council, You Decide

‘Survivor: Redemption Island’ Premiere: Amateur Hour (Director’s Cut)

This season we’ll be taking our ‘Survivor’ recapping talents to Gawker TV.  However, we’re going to also offer expanded, “Director’s Cut” recaps on this blog.  So here we go.  Day One.

The challenge for Survivor: Redemption Island is going to be keeping us interested in anyone not named Boston Rob or Russell Hantz.  Our fear going into the premiere was that the presence of these veterans would overshadow the new Survivors.  However, for one episode at least, we got just enough Boston Rob and Russell while also introducing some intriguing new cast members.  We’re not entirely convinced that there are any personalities that can match up to the two masterminds, but judging from an explosive, unbelievable, train wreck of a first Tribal Council, we’re in for a season of crackpots and fireworks.

But, before we get there: helicopters!  And Probst just enjoying the feel of the cool Nicaragua air hitting his face.

Read on: Phillip announces he’s former federal agent (?), Kristina makes a move too early, Russell and Rob play it cool, and the most insane first Tribal Council ever. Plus, our first A-B-C phrase of the season…

Leave a comment

Filed under Analysis, Be careful what you wish for, Century 21 Reality, It's gross., Tribal Council

TONIGHT: Russell vs. Boston Rob Round 2 (Oh, and the Premiere of ‘Survivor: Redemption Island’)

February 16th is finally here and tonight is closing in fast.  Which means that, after literally weeks of anticipation, Survivor: Redemption Island premieres this evening.  But, more importantly, that means the epic, long-awaited, dream come true, clash of the titans showdown between Russell Hantz and Boston Rob is nearly upon us.

When their return was announced a few weeks back we quickly voiced our initial skepticism.  And in the intervening time our feelings haven’t really changed.  We’re still extremely hesitant about this twist, bringing Rob back for his fourth go ’round and Russell for his third attempt in four seasons, because their personal battle genuinely threatens to be bigger than the game, and we’re nervous about what it means for future seasons.  The initial returns could be astronomical, but we could be trading long-term satisfaction for immediate gratification.

But it’s hard to watch this and not get excited.  We’re excited.

More: Early predictions that may surprise you. And Jeff Probst teases the future!

Leave a comment

Filed under Be careful what you wish for, Century 21 Reality, Freak Out Control, Impatience, Intersection of the venn diagram of things that I love, Reeeeeege, Tribal Council

Russell vs. Rob: Less Than a Week

Get ready.  They are.

Now go over to Entertainment Weekly to witness Russell and Boston Rob’s very first meeting in Nicaragua.

Rob looks scared, doesn’t he?  He should be.

Leave a comment

Filed under Century 21 Reality, Freak Out Control, Impatience, Internet Killed the Print Media Star, Tribal Council

Gratuitous Search Term Bait of the Day: Dynamic Duos

What a treat tonight!  Someone out there searched for “benry and fabio,” which means what you were really looking for was this:

But perhaps we were mistaken.  Perhaps what you were looking for was a shot of that famous scene from Lost when Benjamin Linus, aka Benry, and his fellow other Fabio turn the donkey wheel and are magically transported to Tunisia.  Well, don’t worry, because if that’s the case we got you covered too.

Jumped the Snark, your one stop shop for all things Benrys and Fabios.

Leave a comment

Filed under Gratuitous Search Term Bait, LOST

Gratuitous Search Term Bait of the Day: A Heroes Welcome

We’re going to cheat a little tonight.  Our search term for this post is “tom westman heroes,” but, as much as we absolutely adore Lt. Tom Westman, we’ve already welcome him twice to this daily feature.  And, more importantly, there’s bigger Survivor matters at hand right now.  So we’re going to use that search term as an excuse to bring you this, the first official Boston Rob/Russell promo for Redemption Island:

Vodpod videos no longer available.

“I’m going to need a bigger torch” = AMAZING.  Bring it, Probst!

Can.  Not.  Wait.

(Also, quick thought: Are Russell and Boston Rob really Jacob and the Man in Black?  Think about it)

Leave a comment

Filed under Freak Out Control, Gratuitous Search Term Bait, Impatience, LOST, Makes You Think, Tribal Council

Fabio’s Not Too Pretty For Jail

Well, he’s not too pretty to get arrested at least, as Survivor winner Judson “Fabio” Birza was booked in Santa Monica yesterday for riding his skateboard in the street.  C’mon, pigs!  Let the dude have a little fun!  Oh, and he was apparently super high.  No surprise there.  Here’s Fabio looking distraught after the arrest:

Actually, he seemed totally cool with it.

Also, we regret already using the headline “For Whom the Bong Tolls” for our Survivor: Nicaragua finale post.  We should have known this day would come and have saved it as such.  Oh well.  Fabio has plenty of bail money left so we better start working on more drug-reference puns!

ATTICA!  ATTICA!

Leave a comment

Filed under Tribal Council

Be Careful What You Wish For: Boston Rob and Russell to Return for ‘Survivor: Redemption Island’; AKA Our Brain Just Exploded

When Survivor: Nicaragua began we were unsure if it would be able to capture our attention, lacking the unbelievable drama of the previous season’s Heroes vs. Villains edition, and, more specifically, devoid of the Boston Rob-Russell Hantz showdown that defined that season and should have, at the very least, earned it an Emmy nomination.  To our surprise, we were hooked on Nicaragua even though it didn’t offer those familiar personalities (or even offer any truly engaging new personalities, save for Jimmy Johnson (who, to be fair, was not really a new personality)).  But when we talk about Nicaragua, then and now, it succeeded despite having anything that approximated the Rob-Russell Clash of the Titans.  And when we talk about anything approximating the Rob-Russell Clash of the Titans, what we really mean is specifically another Rob and Russell battle.

Well, hold onto your buffs, because it’s happening again.

Read on: Dreams do come true, but we’re conflicted. And what does this have to do with Freaks and Geeks?

Leave a comment

Filed under Analysis, Be careful what you wish for, Bob Loblaw, Century 21 Reality, Discos and Dragons, Freak Out Control, Jumped the Shark, Mancrush, Tribal Council

On the Last Day of the Year: The Best Show of 2010 and Nine Other Good Ones

Unbelievably, we’re about to enter our third calendar year in existence.  It seems like just yesterday we were scrambling to put together our best of the decade lists (which makes sense, because we didn’t actually post one of those until this week).  In 2011 we hope to be even more timely, on-point and just plain better.  Until then, let’s try to end 2010 on a high note with our not-at-all anticipated Best Shows of the Year:

1. Community: This was an absolute no-brainer.  Far and away Community was the most original, ambitious, rewarding, warm, funny, creative, fearless show of 2010.  It was just a little over a year ago when the show delivered its holiday episode, “Comparative Religion” (featuring mustachio’d Anthony Michael Hall), and we began to feel then that the show was truly building towards something special.  When Community returned in January of this year it began what should be considered one of the greatest runs of any comedy series in television history, playing “can you top that?” with itself from week to week.  Solid episodes like “Investigative Journalism” with Jack Black,  “Physical Education” with a nearly naked Joel McHale, and the truly superb Goodfellas tribute “Contemporary American Poultry” culminated in the single best episode of 2010 across the board, the paintball-splattered, action movie homage masterpiece “Modern Warfare” (we know that we’ve already proclaimed the greatness of this episode, but it’s worth doing over and over again).

Keep reading: More on why Community is the best show of 2010. And 9 other good ones…

Leave a comment

Filed under Best Show You're Not Watching, Brilliance, Dillon Panthers, Greendale Human, Lists, LOST, Matt Christopher Books, Must See TV, Top Scallop, Tribal Council