What Did Jeff Probst Mean? Do Not Assume Merge!

The ClubHouse: Archives: -- GENERAL ARCHIVES --: November: What Did Jeff Probst Mean? Do Not Assume Merge!

Bracken

Thursday, November 08, 2001 - 06:09 pm Click here to edit this post
Perhaps they will start playing for themselves individually while staying in same tribe (camp). They could also extend immunity for winner to choose another to keep safe. That would certainly create tension.

Amac

Thursday, November 08, 2001 - 06:11 pm Click here to edit this post
They just showed the preview for next week in which the Borans are discussing the possibility of no merge of tribes. Could this be "The Twist...part two?"

Hippyt

Thursday, November 08, 2001 - 07:47 pm Click here to edit this post
He didn't say Don't assume merge,he said you still assume merge. Just Mark Burnett toying with the spoilers,it means nothing. And,adds a little more for Boran to freak out over. Samburu is lucky,they won't have this too quibble over,they have plenty to worry about anyway.

Blonde

Thursday, November 08, 2001 - 11:10 pm Click here to edit this post
A red herring, I think. Just trying to stir up more speculation about another possible twist.

Smileeys

Friday, November 09, 2001 - 01:24 am Click here to edit this post
I agree - I think he was messing with their heads! And apparently ours, too.

Kep421

Friday, November 09, 2001 - 05:28 am Click here to edit this post
Actually, he said that the members had assumed many things while playing the game. One of them was the merge.

I think he was telling them not to expect a normal merge. I don't think he would tell them something like that and then not change it somehow.

I know my interest is peaked!!!

Resortgirl

Friday, November 09, 2001 - 05:33 am Click here to edit this post
Who was it that was saying if they don't merge they'll be out of food? Was it Ethan? At least they have water. I feel sorry for Lex, Tom and Kelly. They won the water and now they're stuck drinking mud!

I did like Tom's attitude about the new developements when he said he'll play the hand he was dealt.

Realtvfan

Friday, November 09, 2001 - 05:51 am Click here to edit this post
I may have misheard Jeff P. No VCR here. I thought he said do not assume there would be a merge in 3 days. My guess is the new merge may be at 8 instead of 10. That would give the new tribe members as much time together as the old.

Jeff did say earlier that the Boran water would last until the "merge". With that in mind, we are still scheduled to have a "merge". Only now probably at 8.

Grooch

Friday, November 09, 2001 - 06:14 am Click here to edit this post
Maybe they will merge into the 3 teams at nine?

Lancecrossfire

Friday, November 09, 2001 - 08:59 am Click here to edit this post
He did not say "not to assume it". He said that they are assuming there will be one.

I agree it's a herring. During one of the challenges, he made reference to the merge.

One contradicts the other.

Max

Friday, November 09, 2001 - 09:19 am Click here to edit this post
"You have all made a lot of assumptions along the way. One of those is that there will be a merger in 3 days."

That's basically what he said before he left them on their own.

Rolandcat

Friday, November 09, 2001 - 09:30 am Click here to edit this post
Before the show, I read on another site that the show Survivor is based on did the switch of players and then swtched them back before the merge. Since the switch did happen maybe this is the other twist.

Kep421

Friday, November 09, 2001 - 10:57 am Click here to edit this post
I think Max's assessment is closest to what I remember. This makes me think that there will be a merge, but just not in 3 days...

Grooch

Friday, November 09, 2001 - 11:04 am Click here to edit this post
If they merged in 3 days, there would have been no point in having people switch. They would just start voting along old tribal lines again.

They will merge the team much later but first they will either divide the team in 3 or switch people around again between the 2 teams.

Spunky

Saturday, November 10, 2001 - 09:43 am Click here to edit this post
Why are they so against alliances?? I liked each tribe to plot and go ahead with their strategies just to see if things go as they planned or not.

This shuffle just creates confusion and you can't get a sense of a team against another and in the end you care.

I just wait for the moment when they all merge and fight for themselves. I hope they'll go ahead with the merger.

Kitt

Sunday, November 11, 2001 - 01:07 pm Click here to edit this post
I think he's just messing with them, but perhaps they'll leave it another "episode" or so before they merge. It'd be a shame to lose the new dynamics of the new teams so quickly.

Joan

Sunday, November 11, 2001 - 01:19 pm Click here to edit this post
I think there will be a merge, just not when they expect it. I focused in on the "in 3 days" part personally. They will probably wait a little longer than usual to give the new tribes time to mesh more before it is every man for himself. I don't think it is logistically possible to never merge, especially when people have to keep watches through the night--they need a decent sized group.

Spunky, I think they are "against alliances" because they bring ratings down if they get too predictable. Watching Ogakor systematically pick off Kucha each week regardless of what happened throughout the show was boring for a lot of people and I think their ratings suffered. Also they didn't want people to think they'd seen it all just by seeing one or two seasons.

Bracken

Sunday, November 11, 2001 - 04:12 pm Click here to edit this post
Joan, I agree with your assessment. If they had left everything status quo this season, the "sambrats" would have ousted Teresa and Frank. This really shakes things up. I, too, wasn't sure of intent of his statement but also believe that the merge will take place but at a later date than expected.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts on this, especially Max, for verbatim transcription. I was so excited when Probst made that statement I posted right away without replaying the exact phrase, although I still think that there is more to it than a red herring.

Hippyt

Sunday, November 11, 2001 - 09:03 pm Click here to edit this post
Ya know,Bracken,I think I'm changing my mind and agreeing.
It just makes sense for Burnett to let them stay seperated from their old teams,keeping them seperated for 3 days certainly won't change old alliances.
I think we have awhile more to wait for the merge.

Badgercubs

Sunday, November 11, 2001 - 09:56 pm Click here to edit this post
I think they'll merge them at nine at the latest.

I seem to remember that the reason why the first six people ousted don't get to vote for the winner is that they didn't get to know the two finalists that well. (and the seventh out doesn't vote, just because they need an odd number.)

I think they'll want all possible voters together once there are only nine left. Besides, the merge is when the show is the funniest. I love when all ten of them suddenly are stuck together in one camp.

Awareinva

Monday, November 12, 2001 - 05:12 pm Click here to edit this post
I'm wondering if MB really really wants Clarence to go far in this game-- so far we have had a white gay man, an older white woman to win. Why not a really buff cute African-American guy (who would be beating all odds to win after the start he had!)?

If the Boran tribe assumes the merge is after the next TC, Clarence is GONE next time if they go. They will want to get rid of him before the individual immunity comes into play. And they didn't seem really concerned about losing immunity last time.

I think Jeff's speech was to make them doubt when/if the merge would happen so they wouldn't vote out Clarence next time they go. If they don't go next week, fine - Clarence makes the mrege. If they do go, they won't vote him because they need him to win the team challenges. MB really wants Clarence to make it past the merge, and that little speech of Jeffie's will help him get there.

Bracken

Monday, November 12, 2001 - 11:56 pm Click here to edit this post
Awareinva, I think you might be related to OceanIsland with your conspiracy theory. haha. But I do think you may have something there. MB could also want to "save" the oldsters, too, since this contestant population is seems older than previous shows. And, I think, they are trying for an older audience with fall season, perhaps younger people on 4 for spring season. This sudden change up in tactics may give cryface Stacy some ammo for her lawsuit.