Commentary by VikingBear

On the Survivor Panama: Exile Island live reunion show, we learned that our next stop is somewhere in the Cook Islands. Here is the official Cook Islands web site:

The Cook Islands, The Best Kept Secret in the Pacific Ocean

The Cook Islands are a net 15 islands in the heart of the South Pacific spread over an area the size of India with a population no bigger than a small New Zealand country town, 14,000 souls. These unique and friendly Polynesians have their own language and government and enjoy a vigorous and diverse culture with significant differences between each island.

I’ll be studying up on the history and culture myself… it’s fascinating! (more…)

Well… what an evening! She asked Terry to bring home a car… Mission Accomplished.

I’ll type up some thoughts this evening. What’s your opinion? Was it rigged? Are you glad Aras won? Is Shane for real? Does Courtney have meaning? Let me know, and back at you tonight!

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Strategy commentary by VikingBear

On the Survivor Panama: Exile Island live reunion show, I’ll be interested to see who changes their opinion about people, and who does not. I see most of Casaya as pretty delusional - but they control the vote.

Mid February, in describing the Nut Case Alliance of Shane, Aras, Courtney, and Danielle, I wrote:

The Nut Case Alliance is the strongest alliance out there. Each of these nut cases would be gone, without the support of the other nut cases. They’ve shown their willingness to stay allied for just that reason. The young pretty ones must stay together. They’re each too nutty for any other possibility.

Sure enough, they proved to be one of the strongest alliances in Survivor history - and they still don’t like each other! (more…)

Strategy commentary by VikingBear

Aras pointed out on Survivor Panama: Exile Island that you can win every challenge to the Final Two, but if you don’t have the votes, you still can’t win. Let’s take a look at what strategies we might expect to play out in the Grand Finale and Live Reunion this Sunday.

We know that both men are in the final three. Five possibilities remain for the Final Two: The two men; Aras and either of the women; Terry and either of the women. As soon as the Fire Challenge is over, we’re down to three possibilities. Either of the three finalists could finish third, leaving the other two as the Final Two.

The preview tells us that it’s “the closest finish ever.” I think that means the final immunity challenge is a close finish, probably very close to a three-way tie. That probably means it’s not a simple endurance test, and probably means that it’s Danielle rather than Cirie keeping things to a very close finish.

As best as I can recall, only… (more…)

Strategy commentary by VikingBear

Terry made another strategic error this week on Survivor Panama: Exile Island. I personally have built fire with flint and steel and native materials many times, and I can promise you it’s not that easy! It takes practice to get the hang of it.

Has either woman practiced? No! Both women seem to think they’re better off being confident, thinking about it, and not showing weakness by practicing. Cirie said on camera “it’s usually a fire challenge.” The setup looks identical to the Stephenie and Bobby John challenge on Survivor Palau. Cirie would know that… and all four clearly were preparing for a fire challenge between the women.

Assuming Terry needed Danielle to win the challenge… (more…)

Reality TV shows.  What makes a good one is a matter of pure opinion.  I have seen some that are really popular according to the ratings, but seem to be some of the worst content on TV.  (Room Raiders, My Sweet 16, anything with Paris Hilton, etc.)  Yet since it is such a fad, there are as many reality shows as there are opinions.

What type of reality shows then do I think make good tv?  The shows that build up the people on them.  A great example of this one is a show that just finished its second season.  “The next Food Network Star.”  The premise was that one person would be offered a contract to host a show on the Food Network.  This show built up the people competing on it.  It taught each person something to make them better at what they enjoyed.

My fiancée and I enjoyed following the season.  Interestingly enough, we both picked different people we liked best, and they were the last to people on.  (Guy and Reggi.)  I am happy to say my guy (Guy) won.  However you left the show knowing that Reggi learned a lot while being on the show and will be able to bring that into his life somehow.

If people arguing and making fools of themselves is more your cup of tea - the latest season of the Real Word (Real World - Key West, on MTV) follows its predecessors true to form.  While the social interaction can be interesting at times, the predictable drunken arguments and petty fights can be kind of annoying.

Once again though - it is really a matter of what you want out of your hour of entertainment that makes it “good” TV.

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