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Archive through October 25, 2009

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: Survivor ARCHIVES: Survivor XIX - Samoa ~ 2: Survivor XIX - Samoa: Spoilers: Episode 7 - October 29, "Houdini Magic": Archive through October 25, 2009 users admin

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Alaginger
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07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 5:43 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
Thanks to Survivor Fever for the transcript and pics - Episode 7 Previews
******************

Transcript:

1
Note:
Jeff Probst: Next time on Survivor, at Galu the guys make Shambo one of their own.

2
John: The plan is that she is protected.
4
Ginger Note: John was talking to Dave and Eric --- clip shot of their shirts.

3
Dave: The only strategic drawback is that Shambo is so dim that she could screw up our plan.

Jeff Probst: And a Russell seed gets planted in the other tribe.

5
Russell <in confessional>: What I have to do now is work my Houdini magic.

6
Laura <talking to Russell>: What are we going to do...go to the final two...the two of us together?
Russell: Final two.

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 6:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
Jeff's Blog for Episode 6
**************************
Rain is a double-edged sword on Survivor. It gives and it takes. We love the layer of drama it adds when you see the contestants shivering, their fingers wrinkled like prunes, as they struggle to make fire. But rain can also bring with it severe, life-threatening problems as it did this week when Russell collapsed due to dehydration.

I’m going to focus this blog on sharing with you everything you didn’t see that happened when Russell went down.

INSIGHT:
During the early stage of the challenge when they were pushing the sphere, I was completely unaware that Russell was struggling. I noticed he was tired but that is not unusual during a challenge and so I thought nothing much of it.

Even when they reached the maze, I noticed it taking him a long time to get himself over to the maze, but he was blindfolded and I am watching 13 other people, so once again I wasn’t overly concerned because exhaustion is normal and in fact, the effort someone puts into a challenge is often a determining factor in whether they stay or are voted out.

Russell had always given 100% so it didn’t surprise me to see him exhausted.

It was when his head went down and stayed that it started to become clear that something wasn’t right. But because he was blindfolded and I couldn’t see his eyes, it was again very hard to determine if he was just tired or in some kind of real trouble.

When I watch the episode edited with the luxury of close ups, it seems much more obvious that Russell was not doing well and I wish I had gotten there sooner. I can only tell you that from my vantage point, in the midst of everything going on – 10 people running a challenge, 4 others on the sit out bench and a challenge to oversee, he was only one of the things I was keeping an eye on.

As a result, I had no idea that he actually had already passed out for the first time while he was standing at the maze, but that is exactly what our doctors think happened. They think he had already passed out once before I even got to him.

When a Survivor appears to be in trouble, our first rule is to give them the chance to save themselves or see if one of their tribemates can help them before we make any decision about sending in medical, safety, or our water rescue team. We do this because it is their game, their adventure and whenever possible we want them to make the decisions about their fate.

Let me be clear, we are watching them the entire time, they are never out of our sight, and our medical, safety and rescue teams are always on alert – but we would rather give the contestants every chance to handle it themselves before we move in to take over.

But in this case, it happened so fast that I didn’t even consider waiting. I just instinctively called for medical to come in and get to work. Because our medical team is so well run they were prepared for someone to pass out or get injured even before the challenge began. That’s what they do, they prep before the challenge about what could possibly go wrong so they are ready for it. They knew dehydration could be a factor and so when Russell went down they had a plan in place and were helping Russell within seconds of me calling them in.

As you saw, Russell said he was okay… and then immediately passed out again.

Once medical informed me that Russell was going to require some major time-consuming attention I called off the challenge because it seemed the only decision that made sense. There was no way we were going to continue — it was clear Russell was going to require too much time and because both tribes were going to tribal council either way, it didn’t seem to matter enough to consider an alternative. So we sent the tribes back to their camp and told them to await word.

In a moment like that you make a decision. Sometimes it’s the right one, sometimes it’s the wrong one, but you have to make a call. It’s one of the things that I most enjoy about doing a show like Survivor. It is for all intents and purposes, a live show. It would be great to go back and script out all my reactions and comments like a movie, but you can’t do that. All you can do is react and hope your decision makes sense. I’m sure many people will feel canceling the challenge was “lame” or “silly” but for me it was the only call to make as Russell was the priority and that’s that.

At this point our challenge crew led by our director and senior producer Dave Dryden became reality shooters and producers. Dryden quickly re-positioned them so they could cover the unfolding drama. Their ability to quickly reconnoiter is why we have such great coverage of everything that went down.

For the next 45 minutes we monitored Russell’s vital signs. We gave him water from his canteen. We gave him oxygen. We propped him up and gave him time to try to relax and get calm.

During that time Russell and I talked about a lot of things. He was very worried that he would be pulled from the game. He was worried how he would be portrayed and what his family would think. He did not want to be seen as a quitter.

That’s why I tried to recap everything that had happened up to Russell up to this point – how dominant he had been in the game, his leadership, his physical capability. I was trying to make the point that no matter what happens, he would never been seen as someone who gave less than 100%.

I explained to him that he had already passed out two times, but his recollection at that point was so foggy he didn’t understand. He thought he was fine and was demanding to be put back into the challenge. In fact, I don’t think he even realized that everybody else had already been sent back to camp and the challenge called off.

Even with all of this going on, our doctors assured him that if his vitals came back strong they would allow him to stay in the game.

Nobody wanted Russell to go home.

When Russell passed out for the third time, I got very worried. Then his heart rate dropped 30 beats in less than a second. I was watching the heart rate monitor and when I saw it move from 97 to 68, I was honestly concerned that we were losing him. Forever.

Even writing this brings back the same emotion.

Our doctors were not exaggerating or play acting when they started pounding on Russell’s chest and repeating his name, asking him “Russell, are you with us?” It seemed to go on forever, his eyes not moving, not responding to anything.

I have never been more proud of our medical team than I was in that moment. Heroic. Incredibly calm. Well practiced. They knew exactly what they needed to do and they didn’t waste a moment.

Telling Russell he was being pulled from the game was difficult. I understood that he didn’t want to quit. He was in a great position in the game and there was such a fire in his belly. Many people have been pulled from the game that didn’t want to go, for some reason this one really got to me.

What you didn’t see was that after Russell pulled off his oxygen mask in frustration, he experienced a lot of different emotions, all of them completely understandable. He was extremely frustrated at me, at medical, and at production in general for pulling him from the game. He yelled. Then, he got quiet. Then, he cried. Finally, he prayed. It was extremely emotional and simultaneously beautiful. He was in a very vulnerable state and to be a witness as he processed the situation and made peace with it was an honor.

I’m guessing that Russell had no idea how bad it was until he saw the episode last night. I think he will be surprised at how serious it was and will realize that he is not a quitter and there was no other decision to be made other than to pull him from the game.

After Russell was removed we then had to make a decision whether to continue with our double tribal council or cancel it.

SIDE LINE: For the record, I have always hated the “win or lose, you must vote someone out” twist, but it’s existence comes from necessity. Let me explain: We would prefer to start the show with only 16 contestants. It’s much easier for the audience to get to know 16 people. But it gives us no wiggle room if someone quits or has to leave the game due to medical emergency.

If we start with 18, that gives us a bit of breathing room in terms of numbers but also gives us an uneven number of men and women on each tribe.

If we start with 20, as we did this year, it gives us plenty of wiggle room for quits or medical evacuation, but because we have 4 extra people we have to get rid of them at some point. Thus the “win or lose, you’re voting somebody out” scenario. I am happy to say that we have since figured out a better way to do double eliminations. So should we ever need to vote out two people in one episode it will not be a “win or lose both tribes going to tribal council” scenario.

BACK TO INSIGHT: So… what to do? We gathered the creative team and the decision was made that due to the unprecedented canceling of the challenge, the medical drama, and incredibly difficult conditions the contestants had endured the past several days, the best move was to make a gesture of good will and spare them from voting anybody out.

Was it was the right move? Depends on your point of view. It was certainly not a “clear-cut this is the only decision to be made” situation. We considered everything and we made what we believed to be the right call. You may disagree. In fact, I’m pretty sure many of you reading this right now are saying, “Hell yes I disagree. You should have voted people out. That’s what Survivor does!” Well, not this time. Sorry.

One thing was very clear, the canceling of the vote did seem to lift their spirits. You could see them begin to re-energize once they heard the news. You saw the rivalry between the two tribes reignite. Why is this important? Because at the end of the day if the Survivors lose their motivation to continue and it turns into a “group” funk, then the show is in serious trouble.

It’s probably hard to appreciate how difficult this season has been, so all I can do is repeat what I’ve said many times – this is a very tough season added to an already very tough game. Remember, we are not giving them food, we are not giving them water. We don’t offer them dry clothes or help them start their fire. We were worried about their welfare and did not want anybody else to be evacuated and certainly didn’t want anyone to decide to quit.

Okay – that’s it from my end. I hope you’re still enjoying the season. One thing that has always been true about Survivor fans, you are loyal. We appreciate it.

Until next week.

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 8:04 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
Moderators --- Jimmer, Sea, Whoever!!!

Would you please fix the header to this thread.

This week's title is "Houdini Magic"

Done! <24>

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 8:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
Lots of good stuff in the Survivor Insider - some of spoiler value. Thanks to James Barber over at Survivor Sucks, the transcripts are already in, so I'll cut and paste and bring over, and highlight in red what I think might be significant.
**************************************

Exiling Shambo

Russell insists that his tribemates support his decision to send Shambo yet again over to the Foa Foa camp, assuming that he gets the chance to do so after the challenge

Russell: Because you know, I'm gonna get a lot of crap when I say the name everybody's expecting me to say. If you don't have my back, it's gonna be hard, it's gonna be hard to do.

(mutters of agreement)

Erik: Is he saying he's gonna send Shambo to that camp again? (Russell nods) That kinda sucks. I understand, but...

Monica: It sucks, but who else would go?

Erik: The point is she's a human being. She's 45 years old...

John: We're weakening our tribe sending her, sometimes when we need her.

Laura: She's not the strongest.

Erik: I don't think we need her for anything.

John: I'm just saying...

Laura: What challenge has she been physically strong in?

Erik: Only the pedestal.

John: I'm just saying she's strong. I'm not saying she's strong in challenges...

Laura: Why do you say that?

John: She's strong, she's physically strong. That's all I'm saying.

Laura: Have you seen it?

John: I'm not trying to validate the statement by saying she's proven herself, I'm saying she's a tough girl.

Laura: Oh, I see what you're saying. (can't hear the rest)

John: I don't need to say she's done this, that and the other to make that conclusion. She's tough.

Erik: I'm just saying she's a human being. I don't really like her very much, but...

Dave: She's a human being.

Russell: People better have my back. If not, I'm gonna be seriously pissed the hell off, because at the end of the day this falls on my shoulders, none of you guys. She's gonna be coming after me. I definitely am gonna want some...

(everyone stares at him, somewhat awkwardly)

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 8:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
More from the Survivor Insider:

Russell's Easy Game

Russell of Foa Foa brags about how he has yet to make a difficult decision in the game

"I haven't had to make a tough decision yet. I don't think I'll ever have to make a tough decision, really, because I'm always reminding myself this is a game we're playing for a million dollars. These guys over here, they just don't seem like they're into it as much as I am."

"Our tribe definitely seems like it's broken. Jaison is walking around like a mummy. Nobody can make up their own mind. I can sway anyone to vote anybody out. I could get rid of Mick tonight if I wanted. Or Jaison. None of 'em are strong enough to do something like that, to make that kind of move, but me. If I ever go to the Galu camp, if that ever happens, I think I can sway somebody over there to come to my side. These guys over here, I really think I can trust 'em. Like Jeff said, trust is a good thing. Yeah, that's real good for me, but not for them, because they can't trust me."

Russell's Advantage

Russell of Foa Foa boasts about the advantage of Galu losing their tribe leader

"When we left, Russell was laying down. His heart rate was real low. He looks like, when you look at the guy, like he's in great condition. But these conditions, it doesn't matter what physical condition you're in, sometime you can't handle this atmosphere. Raining all the time, not drinking water, not eating. Maybe it's a little bit much for him. Maybe he shouldn't have joined in the first place."

"I don't know the latest status on Russell. I'm hoping he's home. I'm hoping he's heading to the house. He is their strongest competitor. If they don't have Russell, they're in deep crap, cause who are they gonna compete against me? None of them little boys can compete against me. I'll just roll 'em over and they know it. That's a fact. They'll be scared to death to have to go head to head with me. If they're not, they better be, cause I'm gonna knock 'em way back."

"We'll find out tonight if Big Russell went home or not. I' hoping he did, because that'll be a big booster for us. That'll put us down 3. That means we win one, we're down 2. If we have 2 immunity idols, you'll never know what happens in this game."

"If I get to that camp I will find that other immunity idol. They have to have one somewhere around there. Maybe it's in our camp again, maybe I'd better start looking for the second one here. I think it has to be over there. If I can get my hands on it, this is a new game for me."

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 8:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
And more from the Survivor Insider:

Erik's Scapegoat

Erik is elated at the thought of eliminating one of his tribemates at the upcoming Tribal Council, especially when John just might be the one to carry out his plan of eliminating Monica

"So, we're at the challenge today, and Jeff says it's gonna be a double elimination tonight at Tribal Council. Jeff says it as a shock factor, but to me, it's like, thank you. I wanna win (claps), I wanna get some pizza (claps), but I really wanna get rid of some dead weight around here. (claps) The first thought in my mind was Shambo. Not necessarily because I want her to go - well,kinda- mostly because she's so miserable. She couldn't even use her hands for the last 3 days. I feel like I'd be doing her a favor. Shambo Shambo Shambo. SO we get back to camp, I figure it's a no-brainer, we don't have to talk about it, but then John comes up to me and tells me he's concerned with the Monica and Laura alliance. (puts his fingers to his mouth and kisses them) Did I not say this 4 days ago? This is gonna be fantastic, especially since he's gonna do my bidding and it looks like it's gonna be his idea. Perfect. It's like a bartender giving you a free beer and being like, 'Sorry, extra pour here, you want it?' Hell yeah, I want it. Thing is, you gotta make sure people stick with the plan you put in their brain 4 days ago. It's real easy for that bartender to say, 'Sorry, made a mistake,' and pull it away. No bartender is pulling this beer away from me. (wags his finger) I'm gonna hold on for dear life and if he reaches over I'll gnaw his freakin' wrist off (makes growling sounds, then laughs) I'm pumped, because everything's working out the way I wanted it to work, and I'm not having to do it. That's the best place to be in this game."

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 8:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
I thought this was very interesting coming from Mick at Foa Foa. Mick is a doctor. He supposedly has a doctor's degree and is now going for the anesthesiology degree. Referring to what happened at the challenge with Russell S, he says:

"His blood pressure was probably lower than Mike's to begin with. He was in good shape. It's probably lower to begin with. It wasn't that unexpected. That's pretty much how that thing plays out, normally. There wasn't anything in my mind that struck me as odd there. He needs fluids. That's it."

The reason I found this interesting was because the spoilers have said that Russell S. was taken down by a previous problem he had, but then we also heard dehydration caused what happened. Per Jeff's Blog and per what Mick said, it appears to me that it was dehydration, not a previous condition.

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 8:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
And more from the Survivor Insider ... regarding ER wanting to take out Liz if somebody has to be taken out.
**********************

Liz: (to ER) I'll tell you this, I told Mick I don't wanna go home. I feel like either way, final 4 all the way. It's happened before, and the tables have turned. We just have to stay strong.

Russell (solo): Once Liz is gone, I control each and every person out here. She might be a little bit smarter, she's definitely a lot stronger, but I really can't trust her that much. The trust thing, to me in this game, it overweighs everything in this game. Natalie, she's somebody I can trust, she's a lot weaker, and I don't know if she has smarts or even has a brain up there. She's holding onto my coattails. I'm the one taking her in this game, and she believes I'm gonna take her as far as I can take her.

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 8:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
And even more from the Survivor Insider:
*******************

Shambo on Russell's Collapse

Shambo expresses little sympathy as she criticizes Russell for collapsing due to dehydration

"I started thinking, well I'll be darned, look at that right there. This guy just had a T-bone steak and he probably ate mine too, 2 days ago. What the heck? There's nobody out here that should hit the ground,; with him being the <air quotes> chief </air quotes> of Galu, especially him. As hard as it's been raining the last 4 days, get some water runoff. What the heck? It's pretty simple to stay hydrated when it's raining this hard and we have water runoff. It's not like there's an excuse. It doesn't make sense. I wish him the absolute best. I'm a little double-minded about the situation. I don't want to see anybody get injured and leave the game. That's the worst. You want to go out on your own accord. By the same token, I'm pretty sore at him for giving me double duty at the demon location, and starving for the last 4 days."

Shambo is Hurtin'

Shambo shows off her war wounds after enduring challenges, hard work and heavy rain

"Shambo is hurtin' for certain. What day is it? 15, 16? I have no idea what day it is. I had a hard time making it through the night. My hands are in absolute agony. They're so waterlogged that I feel like I have second-degree burns on the majority of my hands. I've got some pretty good lacerations from trying to break bamboo over at the Foa Foa camp. Just to cover myself up. And my shoulder, my shoulder is not doing good, my tendonitis in my right shoulder, from freezing for 3 days. I'm either waking up from my hands burning, or waking up trying to rub my tendons in my right shoulder all night the last 2 nights. I've gotten no sleep. I brought a full canteen of water with me back to the challenge yesterday. Now I don't now where my canteen is, because John had it, and John gave it to Brett, and Brett doesn't know where he put it. Nobody else has water at my camp today. I haven't had water in 30 hours. The last thing I ate, I made crab ceviche, for Foa Foa camp, because they had no fire. They had limes, so I crushed the limes up, which didn't help my hands at all, and cracked a lot of crab open. Russ and I were the only ones that ate it. That was about 30 hour ago. I think that's the last thing I had to eat. So I'm run down. I'm hurtin."

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 8:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
And the last insight from the Survivor Insider:
*****************
Erik Before Tribal Council

Erik worries about the uncertain fate of his tribe's leader, Russell

"Right now we're getting ready to go to Tribal. We are leaderless, but I'm pretty confident as soon as we show up at Tribal, Russ will come in, feeling better, and then Galu will be all back together."

"It's strange, the entire experience of not having Russell here. Everything we do, there's no direction. We just kind of do our own thing, an to be honest, I really don't trust how these people do their own thing. Yeah, in that sense, it's tough not having Russell, but he'll be back tonight."

"Russell is kind of like my ace up the sleeve. He doesn't necessarily fit into the original blueprint of mine, but it was my goal this entire time to kind of bring him along. As maybe the 5 or the guy. Then at the very end, I was hoping to sneak him into the final 4, even if I had to play my own immunity idol, because I know the loyalty that man has. It would be a bummer personally if he leaves, but I'll just have to shuffle some cards and play some more."

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 8:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
Russell Swan's interview with Reality News Online:
**************************

RNO: First and foremost, how are you doing now?

Russell S.: I’m doing fantastic. I’m in perfect health. I’m going to, probably sometime in the near future, get my 42,000-mile checkup anyway. But I’m doing good, feeling fine, no ramifications from “the incident,” as I am coining it.

RNO: While you were on the ground, you suggested it was just dehydration – was that the main cause?

Russell S.: Here’s where I have to be a little honest – the medical professionals there were absolutely wonderful people. Me, on the other hand, I was an absolute jerk because I didn’t want to be taken out of the game. They were pretty much the enemy to me at that time. They tried to explain and talk to me and I’m not hearing it. I’m like, I don’t care if I almost died, that’s great but almost isn’t good enough. I don’t want to hear about blood pressure or heart rate or dehydration or electrolytes – put me back in the game! In the fog of me being an animal, I was able to hear something about dehydration, but that was about as specific as it got.

As far as I know, it was severe dehydration. I think it was also some sheer dehydration. That whole dealing with being the chief, always having to make decisions, having every decision scrutinized. I never really slept. I’m agonizing over every decision. I’m tired and hungry, I’m a big body and need a lot of calories. It was probably a combination of exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition as well.

The chief thing was the layer that basically broke the camel’s back. I ended up on the ground in that challenge because I was chief. When we lost that first challenge, John was on his back and sucked at the swimming. It wasn’t just that but that Russell picked John and he sucked at the swimming. After that point, I’m not sleeping, I never got a chance to ever turn my brain off. It’s like playing a chess game but I’m playing on one side and nine other people on the other side. It felt like that because every move is going to have ramifications for some individual ,which is good if it’s just one individual, but it could be a group and if it’s a group and we lose, I’m screwed.

The chief thing – maybe I’m overestimating the importance – it not only put a target on my back but caused my ultimate demise. I completely ignored myself and focused so much on trying to make the best move every move, every day, every minute; and in that five-day run-up leading to the challenge, I can’t remember putting a canteen to my lips. I definitely tried to make sure other people had canteens and they were drinking because I wanted them to be strong and figured everything else would be taken care of.

Unfortunately, that’s not the way it happened. The chief thing was huge for me. I don’t know why it wasn’t for Mick – maybe because we had the stronger tribe – but it almost literally killed me.

RNO: How long did it take to recover?

Russell S.: That’s a really good question. There’s been a number of people, my wife included, who have asked me that. I have no sense of time in that whole thing. Between going on the ground and ending up at Ponderosa, it could have been five minutes, a day, two days. It was amazing to me watching the show how different it was from what I had thought had happened.

If you ask me, I had recovered in five minutes. Obviously that’s not the case. I didn’t realize I had passed out the second time – when to me I looked dead. Even with that, to me it was ten minutes. Probably in actuality, it was in the neighborhood of a couple hours. I never felt bad, but I was doing bad, obviously.

It’s amazing what the mind will do – if there’s a gap, it just fills it in. I was just in some alternate reality. I watched last night and was absolutely shocked. I have no memory of that whatsoever. To me, I pushed the ball, I was tired, I took a knee, I was resting until Laura said lift your side up. In my mind, I lifted and hit myself in the chin and hit the ground – what’s the big deal? Obviously that’s way out of touch with what really happened.

RNO: What were you thinking as you saw it all happen to you again?

Russell S.: Whoa! It’s really interesting and I never imagined that Survivor would deal with issues of mortality and that kind of stuff. But I thought to myself as I’m watching this, “I look like I’m dead right now and that would have really not been cool to die.” The game is cool but I didn’t want to give up my life! Another honesty point is my wife was really, really upset – we didn’t let my daughter watch. It was more consoling her. I knew I was through it and I was done. I think it took her back to that time and it was upsetting to see her husband lying there glassy-eyed- looking dead.

That’s the bad news. The good news is it really brought us closer together. Even this morning, you know the morning there is so much to do with running around and taking care of our daughter. There was none of that. I thought when I was watching it just how much we should appreciate our time here and not take any moment for granted.

I was very disappointed that I didn’t win the million dollars but I’m kind of glad it happened because it has paid huge dividends in my relationship with my wife and my friends and my feelings about life in general.

RNO: So would you say that watching yourself was the most eye-opening thing you saw on TV that you didn’t know about while you were there?

Russell S.: Yes – how bad I was doing, how dangerous I came to really checking out. I had heard the promos and Jeff [Probst] saying things and I’m thinking, “it can’t be that big a deal.” I was really shocked to see just how out of it I was. The stumbling around, the calling my name – I don’t remember any of that, I was completely checked out.

The only other time I’ve ever seen that is in boxing when they’re punch-drunk. I have zero memory of that. It’s just amazing to me. That whole challenge was beyond eye-opening and shows just how much a role dehydration can play in your life and how life-threatening it can be.

RNO: Moving away from “the incident,” did you have a particular strategy coming into the game?

Russell S.: I did! My strategy was to do exactly what you see most of my tribe members doing – sit around, take care of myself, do enough work to not be on anybody’s radar screen but not be too strong. Even in the challenges, I wasn’t going to throw a challenge but I didn’t want anybody to see how strong and capable I was until the merge.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to do that and once I was elected chief, I had no strategy because it had never been done before. I had no idea what the hell I was going to do because it hadn’t been done before. I’ve watched a lot of Survivor and people had assumed the role of leader and I’d seen that that had been done before. I knew I was in trouble. I knew what my tribemates would be looking for and I knew Jeff would be coming after me. It completely changed the nature of the game for me.

RNO: At times you seemed shocked that there was a social game going on, but you said you’ve watched a lot of the show – how do you reconcile those two things?

Russell S.: I know that Survivor is social. The problem is I’m already isolated because I’m chief. My surprise was how much the social game was going on without me being involved and not seeing any of it. I knew it existed, but I was shocked at how far out of the loop I was. It was disconcerting but there was nothing I could really do about it. I had to collect firewood while they sat around and talked. I had to get the water so they’d stay hydrated.

I was just shocked at how much the social game was going on and how clueless I was that it was going on to that extent. It is a weird juxtaposition but that’s just how it was playing out for me. The social game for me was not good because I had to focus on challenges and challenges only. That’s what kept me in the game – as long as we’re winning challenges, we’re not voting anybody off. I just didn’t know what to do based on the fact that I’m in this position that nobody had ever been in before.

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 10:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
Thank you Moderator for fixing the Header!!!

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 10:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
Question from another Russell Swan interview that is very telling:
******************************
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Given the opportunity, who would you have started strategizing with in order to advance yourself?
A. Russell: I would say it would be Dave because he’s somebody who I knew had a lot going on but was hiding. I would definitely say Brett because he was just kind of floating. Laura, who had become the Mama Hen and Eric because he was an absolute warrior. I love that guy, personally. With that group, there was nothing that I couldn’t have done.

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 10:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
CBS Press Release:

CBS Press Release:

STILL REELING FROM THE LOSS OF THEIR CHIEF, GALU STRUGGLES TO ELECT A NEW LEADER AND THE MEN HATCH A PLAN TO PUT A PUPPET REGIME IN POWER AS A PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE AGAINST A BLOSSOMING FEMALE ALLIANCE, ON "SURVIVOR: SAMOA" THURSDAY, OCT. 29

"Houdini Magic" — During a visit to the opposing tribe, one castaway strikes a secret deal and manages to make some new friends, on SURVIVOR: SAMOA, Thursday, Oct. 29 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.


Ginger Note: This sounds to me like Russell H. (ER) visits Galu. If so, it is the winning tribe of the RC that picks somebody to go snoop around at the other tribe. So, Foa Foa must win the RC.

Also, Spoilers have said Liz leaves during this episode, so if that is fact, Galu must win the IC.

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 11:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Pamy a private message Print Post    
Ginger, I love all the stuff you brought over today!! Thank you sooo much!! YOU ROCK!

the preview ppl are really really sloopy this year! jeez, not hard to figure who wins and goes over they basically told us in the previews! only other thing could be that Laura is at Galu and Russ pulled her aside but I think you nailed it. What idiots the preview ppl are!

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 11:07 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
I may have been a bit hasty by saying I think that Russ will visit Galu. Analytical posters over at Survivor Blows are bringing on beach pics from the first 6 episodes and making comparisons, and right now it looks more likely that Russ and Laura are talking at the Foa Foa site. If that is the case, then Galu won the RC. Then the preview wording would refer to Laura making new friends with some of the Foa Foa tribe.

Too early to tell........I'll just keep watching until something more definitive comes up.

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 2:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
Baxter posted in the Episode 6 East Coast/West Coast Spoiler thread that all the Survivors did get pizza and that Jeff Probst had it in the comments section that follows his Blog. I looked it up, and here is what he said:

Jeff Probst Fri 10/23/09 11:05 AM

Hey all,

They did get pizza, we just didn’t have time to include it in the episode. We’re tough but not unfair.

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 2:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Pamy a private message Print Post    
I bet that Shambo is the new leader and she elects to send Laura over since she is the mama to Monica

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 7:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Ginger, loved the info you found about Shambo making crab ceviche with lime because of no fire, and she and RussellH being the only ones who ate it. Particularly interesting in light of next week's previews with RussellH bragging about eating crabs. Lime juice actually does cook fish, so it is not as if they were eating raw crab, which is probably why the rest of the tribe did not eat it.

Pamy. I also bet Shambo is the next leader.

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Friday, October 23, 2009 - 9:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
"THE MEN HATCH A PLAN TO PUT A PUPPET REGIME IN POWER" --- sounds like it could be Shambo. For one thing, Shambo is the one who has kept the fire going except for Russell S. who is no longer there. But, regardless it will only be for one show, because the following week is the merge of 12 players, and then there will be no need for individual tribe leaders.

Catfat
Member

02-27-2002

Saturday, October 24, 2009 - 1:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Catfat a private message Print Post    
Ceviche, sashimi, poki---
All uncooked fish, all very edible, all very delicious. Why would these clueless people starve instead of eating the good food that is right in front of them?

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Saturday, October 24, 2009 - 7:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Maybe because they are clueless?

Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 4:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
New Promo Pics really don't show anything new ... just Foa Foa Russell and Galu Laura on the beach making a cross tribal - secret enemy alliance.

Transcript:

Announcer: How is Russell creating a cross-tribal...

Russell <talking to Laura>: I swear you can trust me...

Announcer: ...secret enemy alliance?

Laura: The two of us together?

Russell: Final two.


Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 4:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
Thanks to TDT, this set-up for a challenge is the only thing left from the original TV Guide Network preview of things to come on Survivor: Samoa. There are white and black things on the table being assembled into separate purple and yellow challenge racks. Not sure whether it's for RC or IC, or a combo RC/IC (probably a combo), but it's the only challenge thing left in those two colors, and this should be the last challenge before the merge of 12 players.

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Alaginger
Member

07-11-2002

Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 3:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alaginger a private message Print Post    
Over at Survivor Fever, new transcript is up, but the pictures aren't working yet!
**********************************
Transcript:

Announcer: The men think they've elected the perfect puppet.

Shambo: You can't really be a sergeant(?) and not be bossy.

Announcer: But will they're scheme backfire?

Dave <in confessional>: She could screw up our plan if we tell her anything.

Announcer: How is Russell creating a cross-tribal...

Russell <talking to Laura>: I swear you can trust me...

Announcer: ...secret enemy alliance?

Laura: The two of us together?

Russell: Final two.

***********************************
However, not to worry cause this picture, thanks to TDT tells it all.

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Shambo is wearing the Leader's necklace. Looks like the men of Galu have been successful in setting up a puppet master of their own. Shambo will have a one-week run at leadership.

Also, the pic is for the Reward Challenge and looks very much like a game of "Concentration" that we have seen in the past.

Also, it appears that Galu wins the Reward, as we have seen Laura at what appears to be the Foa Foa beach. Also, TDT said the pic below shows the tribe, less Laura.......but there was no pic below, so I'll just have to take their word for it right now.

We also know that the IC (which is probably that pic in the post just before this one) is also won by Galu, cause this is the week that Liz is suppose to be packing up.

If I get anymore, I'll be back!