Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Y'KNOW, THE SHOW IS NOT TITLED "THE MOLE":  So who was responsible for leaking to SurvivorSuck the remarkably accurate boot orders for the two Russell Hantz seasons?  Russell Hantz himself, who may now find himself liable for up to $5m in liquidated damages.  (The Russell v. Boston Rob season begins in two weeks.)

And there are now reports (denied, but we'll see) that a future season will feature Richard Hatch v. Jonny Fairplay. It would be a third season for each, and it would not surprise me in the least to find the producers willing to ignore Hatch's in-game naked assault on Susan Hawk (and his criminal record, obvs) and Fairplay's essentially quitting his second season .. because, hey, familiarity=ratings.

added: Andy Denhart has the CBS statement, which makes one think they may not be suing. (Reworded to avoid choosing between CBS's and CBS'.)

37 comments:

  1. Alan Sepinwall10:12 AM

    As someone who hates Russell and believes the producers have vastly over-pimped him, this both pleases and frustrates me. Pleases me because it again shows what a sad attention whore Russell is. Frustrates me because the show is now so in bed with the guy that there's no way they'd actually go after him for the $5 mil.

    Also, wouldn't a Hatch/Fairplay season have to wait for Hatch to get out of prison yet again?

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  2. I look forward to Jeff Probst explaining how this actually proves Russell's the greatest player ever.

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  3. The question is: if they knew this before the current season started, does it give them an incentive to aid his victory in order to recover their damages?

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  4. Isn't the biggest problem Survivor has right now that Probst's contract is up, and he's at least potentially going to have other offers on the table?  (While he's probably too old to host X Factor, Regis and Kelly is certainly viable, as would be pretty much any other reality competition/adventure show.)  Much as they've tried to make Rob and Russell the faces of the franchise, Probst is still the face.

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  5. Alan Sepinwall10:42 AM

    I think they have incentive to have him go as far as possible to confirm their narrative that hey's The Greatest Playuh Evuh, as opposed to a self-promoting clown who took advantage of dumb luck, idols hidden in plain sight and dumber-than-dumb fellow contestants.

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  6. He can be replaced, but it has to be by someone who knows/loves the game and can conduct a tribal council with the appropriate type of interrogation.  (One possible idea: Colby Donaldson?)

    Think about the lousy post-finale shows hosted by Rosie O'Donnell and Bryant Gumbel for what not to do.

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  7. Alan Sepinwall11:08 AM

    How has Colby been hosting Top Shot? He certainly wasn't in any way invested in the series the last two times he competed, but he might feel differently if he's the host, sleeping in a real bed, getting paid well, etc.

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  8. The Pathetic Earthling11:15 AM

    Yul Kwon might work -- obviously a smart guy -- though I haven't seen him chase a lot of media since Cook Islands.

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  9. Me likes Top Shot...though Donaldson comes off as a little stiff and occassionally overdramatic. I suppose he could eventually get there with enough seasoning, but those traits would wreck Survivor

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  10. I've only seen 2-3 episodes, and it certainly doesn't ask of him what hosting a Tribal Council would, but it's hard for me to think of anyone else who's competed on the show who has that same level of presence, likability and smarts about the game.  He does a good job of being authoritative, for sure.  

    Just limiting the terrain to former contestants, I'll suggest two more names: Jerri Manthey and Gary Hogeboom.

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  11. I think he's a lawyer at the FCC?

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  12. Alan Sepinwall11:51 AM

    <span>Duh... answer was right in front of me. Cesternino. He even does a great Probst impression.</span>

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  13. I thought about him; would he be too snarky to handle the allegedly solemn aspects of the game?

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  14. Maggie12:04 PM

    Yul recently left the FCC job - he's going to be hosting a new PBS series call "America Revealed."

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  15. Alan Sepinwall12:18 PM

    I think he could do it.

    And even if Yul wanted to do it (which he wouldn't), I think both the show and Probst have always looked down on him and for whatever stupid reason consider Ozzy the guy who deserved to win that season.

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  16. I thinkt Ben Bailey is due to leave the cab for something more lucrative and mainstream.  Or maybe they make the godfather offer to TJ Lavin once he's fully recovered...

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  17. The Pathetic Earthling12:30 PM

    His media whoredom has begun, then.

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  18. Maggie1:25 PM

    TJ does hate quitters...

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  19. Also: I wasn't quite sure when writing this post how to refer to the Hatch-Hawk incident.  Came close to saying "sexual assault," but I wasn't sure if that was quite right.  Thoughts?

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  20. bella wilfer3:21 PM

    Ugh, I vote no on Cesternino - one of those nerds who got so excited to be "famous" that he stopped being nice. 

    I think Colby's a good idea - also love the Yul idea but doubt he'd ever do it.  Yes, he's doing a PBS show, but that seems to have at least the air of intelligence - not sure he'd stoop to Survivor hosting.

    Parvati?

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  21. bella wilfer3:22 PM

    Does anyone know how TJ is doing? 

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  22. bella wilfer4:14 PM

    I think the Fairplay/Hatch buzz is fake - it came initially from Fairplay himself, which smacks of a guy who wants his spotlight back, not any real offer.

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  23. Alan Sepinwall4:57 PM

    Ugh. Of course that's who they'd go with. Well, her or Russell himself.

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  24. bella wilfer5:26 PM

    Come on, Parvati's a great player... She's way more palatable than Russell, too.  I'd love to see Sandra host - she'd probably walk off after a few days telling all the contestants what idiots they are.

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  25. A host needs to seem a bit more neutral than I think Parvati's capable of.  

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  26. bella wilfer5:55 PM

    If you want to tell me that Probst is a neutral host at this point, I've got a bridge to sell you...

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  27. And that's what I'd like to avoid.<span> </span>

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  28. Hannah Lee6:30 PM

    Actually, I would welcome a Probst-less Survivor.   With a new host (and a season without Russell or other baffoony returning player) might actually turn me back into a regular viewer.   Probst seems to celebrate (on the show and in any blogging he does) every aspect of the show that's a turn off to me, and ignores or denigrates any part of the show I find interesting.

    Ben Bailey would be a great pick to replace him...I think the host needs to be as smart and quick as any player there, and Bailey could fit that bill.

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  29. Adlai7:18 PM

    People. What we want is host who's the anti-Probst, who declines to celebrate men for being manly and instead focuses on people playing smart or dumb. The OBVIOUS answer is Courtney. (Her "Thank you, Jeffrey," is my second favorite moment of Survivor.)

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  30. bella wilfer7:22 PM

    Fair point.  I am definitely tired of the amount of inserting himself into the game Probst has done in seasons of late... 

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  31. bella wilfer7:22 PM

    1. I vote Jonathan Penner and Courtney co-host!

    2. Adlai, what is your first favorite moment?

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  32. Adlai8:11 PM

    Why, thanks for asking! It's when Yul explained why an elephant can't run up a tree.

    Another favorite thing from Survivor is actually the Daily Show joke about the 1st season finale (back when it was enough of a cultural event that the Daily Show would joke about something that happened on Survivor). It was the endurance challenge that Rudy lost, and as Jon Stewart pointed out, "What's the first rule of Hand on Pole? Keep your hand on the pole!" 

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  33. bella wilfer8:37 PM

    I was HOPING that'd be your answer for favorite moment - it's definitely mine, especially the way Yul got all embarrassed after he told the story, realizing how uber-dorky it was.

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  34. Eric J.9:32 PM

    I heard Dolphin-boy Ian was going to audition, but Fireman Tom talked him out of it.

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  35. How come only one vote for Jonathan Penner?  Jonathan Penner!  Jonathan Penner!  

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  36. Good for him, good for Gary Hogeboom

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  37. bella wilfer1:08 PM

    I've actually gotten to know Penner a little bit and can happily assure everyone that he's a fantastic guy (and a guy who really understands that Survivor is only a game...).  

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