The favorites continued to struggle for power within their own tribe in Survivor: Micronesia Episode 4, but in the end, it didn’t end up mattering because they won immunity, sending the fans back to tribal council. Rather than booting off the weakest link, the fans turned on Mikey because the weaker members of the group plus Joel considered him a threat. Over on exile island, Ozzy managed to find the hidden idol, lamely replacing it with a fake.

Jason’s disappointed that his tribe didn’t make the right decision, keeping Chet in the game. Chet’s plan is to get rid of Jason next. At what point does their strategy resemble actual… strategy? At this point it’s all about living to fight lose another day.

The favorites are getting ready to kill a chicken. The guys find this all quite amusing, while the girls scream.

Ozzy hides his idol, although I really don’t know why he hides it in a random place rather than keeping it within his possessions (people will snoop in that case, but they probably won’t take it). He also runs the risk of some twist screwing him over, or of Jeff Probst merely waking them up at 5am one morning and telling them they have 5 minutes to pack. He doesn’t want to show anybody the idol, but he tells James, Parvati, and Amanda, who should know from experience better than to let the idol go to your head.

Jeff says the words you probably don’t want to her pre-merger: “Drop your buffs.” Ozzy and Natalie have been randomly selected as the captains. Here’s the bad news. I actually have to learn the names of the tribes. At least I learned there’s somebody named Natalie in this game, though.

The captains get to choose the first person from the opposite tribe, and the tribes keep going back and forth, with each person who was previously picked getting to make the next choice (favorites choose fans and vice versa).

Malakal: Ozzy, Amanda, Cirie, Ami, Joel (aka Troy), Erik, Tracy, and Chet

Airai: Jonathan, James, Parvati (aka Poverty), Eliza, Alexis, Natalie, Jason, and Kathy

Now it’s time for a challenge, which is for a feast. Nobody will be heading to exile. It’s a race through a maze. Teams will rotate as people trying to chase and those being chased. Joel and Erik score as chasers for Malakal. Eliza and Parvati score for Airai (Parvati busts up her lip). Ami and Amanda score for Malakal (Ami injures her leg). Jonathan and Alexis score for Airai (Jonathan injures his knee), so the score is tied at two. It’s sudden death. Parvati and Eliza are the first couple to avoid being captured, as they outrun Joel and Chet (Chet hits his head… Joel says he doesn’t care), winning reward for Airai.

Joel, who made the stupid decision of getting rid of Mikey, is still stuck with Chet. Ozzy’s not happy about it either. Chet tells us about how chickens peck the weakest one until they’re killed.

Eliza’s not happy when she arrives since the fans haven’t done a very good job with their home. James is thinking along those same lines.

Following his challenge injury, Jonathan is limping around. A stick went into his leg, making a puncture wound. The medics come in and stitch him up, but they warn that he may become infected.

Ozzy wants to drop Chet first. Joel prefers to get rid of Cirie first. Both know that somebody needs to flip.

Favorites are taking control over at Airai, making quick work of improving the camp.

Amanda grabs a 4 foot shark that’s stuck in the net, giving Malakal a good meal that should put them on equal footing with the other tribe.

The immunity challenge is a combination rock throwing/puzzle challenge. Tribes will first throw rocks to break tiles and free puzzle pieces. Ozzy takes a lead for Malakal, and Tracy makes it two. Jonathan gets one for Airai. Erik takes out the fourth for Malakal, and they’re ready to work on the puzzle. Airai’s getting screwed by an apparently poorly designed challenge. They keep hitting the tiles, but they’re not breaking (Probst tells us that James, the biggest Survivor ever, isn’t throwing hard enough). They do finally get all their puzzle pieces, though, and despite the slow start, Airai is the first to solve the puzzle and wins immunity.

Joel and Erik don’t want to keep Chet around, whether they give up the numbers or not, simply because he’s going to make them keep losing. Joel’s in line with the Chet then Cirie then Tracy plan.

The concept of getting rid of the weak is a problem for Cirie because she knows she’s useless to the tribe as well. She plots with Tracy and Chet to get rid of Joel, then she pitches the idea to Ozzy and Amanda. Joel is dangerous in the longer term, but it’s way too early for playing with that thinking.

Votes
Joel
Chet
Chet
Joel
Joel
Joel
Joel

Wow. I expected this type of stupidity from the fans, but I’m surprised the favorites fell for it. Granted, by favorites, we are talking about the likes of Ozzy, who had 0 strategy last time.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of Survivor: Micronesia Episode 6, which airs Thursday at 8/7c on CBS.

Cirie, the one nobody could care less about the first week, went on a power trip in Survivor: Micronesia Episode 3. I still haven’t yet figured out what her point was, but she got her way, and the favorites voted out Yau-Man.

The fans are still concerned that Chet’s useless. I don’t know why they didn’t get rid of him when they had the chance.

Eliza’s struggling on her camp and feels really sick. James is pissed off that they got rid of Yau-Man just because Cirie said so. He and Ozzy just go right up to Eliza’s face and tell her they should have gotten rid of her instead.

The challenge is a diving challenge. Teams will dive for coconuts to get ten lettered coconuts, which will then be used to spell out a word. Reward is three egg-laying chickens and a rooster. Chet sits out for the fans. Ozzy’s got a strategy of moving a bunch of coconuts at the same time, which gives the favorites an early lead, which they never look back from. James solves the puzzle (he can’t believe it either), and favorites win reward. Kathy gets sent to exile island again (and again I ask why?), along with Ozzy.

An interesting point is raised. Kathy couldn’t care less about finding the idol (again). Kathy says she appreciates learning from the favorites, though, and wishes she was on their team. Ozzy manages to find the hidden immunity idol, which is apparently not that difficult to find (shocker) and something that Kathy could have easily found by now if she actually tried. Ozzy decides to make a fake idol. Dude, we’ve seen this plot before. More than once.

Eliza approaches Parvati to see if they’ll get rid of Jonathan instead, who we learned during his season was a rat. Parvati knows better than anyone else Jonathan can’t be trusted, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she’ll make a move just yet.

6 people from each team will be locked up and need to find the keys to unlock themselves. Fans sit out Tracy. Favorites are locked up first and get off to a 3-0 lead of people unlocked. Favorites are first to be all unlocked and must from there head to a course, where they will figure out how to maneuver to collect necklaces. Fans finally get unlocked, behind by 4 necklaces. From there, they hand off the necklaces to the two remaining teammates, who will solve a letter puzzle. Favorites win immunity. It’s never even close.

Mikey B wants to work with Joel for now… until such time as he has to stab him in the back. Chet’s closest allies try to talk to him, but it’s obvious he’s already checked out from this game. Tracy’s not willing to give up that easily, though. She’d rather support him, despite the fact that he’s a liability, so that she can have the numbers she needs (not that she has the numbers to begin with, nor will keeping Chet around help her to get them). Chet expects to be booted out tonight, but Tracy tries to convince Joel to get rid of Mikey while he has the chance.

Jeff Probst asks the question at tribal council who hasn’t been pulling their weight in challenges, and Chet raises his hand.

Votes
Chet
Chet
Mikey
Mikey
Chet
Mikey
Mikey
Mikey

Wow. That’s uh. Wow. While it is true he was indeed going to stab someone in the back eventually, I don’t get what purpose Chet serves, particularly since he’s already given up.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of Survivor: Micronesia Episode 5 He’s a Ball of Goo, which airs Thursday at 8/7c on CBS.

The fans were still trying to get it together in Survivor: Micronesia Episode 2. After they lost the challenge, it looked like a pretty obvious choice: get rid of the weakest link. Instead, with Joel’s blatant taking of control, they decided to get rid of Mikey’s biggest ally, Mary, because Joel didn’t like that Mikey seemed to be in control. Over on the other camp, life was good, and there was more than one pair that needed to get a room.

Mikey immediately knows who’s to blame. He’s unimpressed with the strategy of not voting out the weakest players.

Eliza, who they were talking about getting rid of not long ago, decided to go along with an invitation from the couples to take a walk with them, as they want her to join their side. They’re discussing taking out the weakest ones (Yau-Man and Cirie). She listens but doesn’t trust them at all. Cirie, meanwhile, is trying to make a decision between the two camps as to which one suits her better.

In preparation for the challenge, the tribes get warpaint. It’ll be a battle because they’re allowing all sorts of physical contact here. Favorites are playing for shelter, lighting kit, and survival kit. Fans are playing for fishing kit, shelter, and kitchen set. Tribes will charge from their endzone to the opposing endzone in an effort to get 5 of the 6 bags in the endzone, and the other team is allowed to steal bags even after they’re in the endzone. It quickly becomes a wrestling, shoving, and tackling match. Not shy of going after the women, Erik dumps Amanda over his head, causing James to get up and get him to see how he likes dealing with people three times his size. It’s back and forth, but in the end, favorites win 5-2. They send Kathy and Ami to exile island. Kathy’s not happy about going there again, but Ami’s looking forward to it.

Cirie says she doesn’t feel relaxed and needs to keep scrambling. It’s real simple. She needs to pick a side, and pick the right one at that. If she doesn’t, she could end up like Christy from Survivor: Amazon. She has a chat with Amanda and Parvati, who say they’d lose against James or Ozzy in a second in the finals, which is true, although that didn’t prevent Amanda from dragging Todd along multiple too many times in China.

Even though she found all four clues already, Kathy doesn’t care and lets Ami look for clues as if she doesn’t know where they are. Kathy couldn’t care less about finding the idol. Due to the weather, they decide to abandon their searching anyway.

The fans are uncomfortable in the rain, but the favorites have the perfect cover for this weather and couldn’t be more comfortable. The struggle continues overnight, and the fans wake up demoralized.

The bad news for the fans is that they must now head to the immunity challenge. Tribes will hold on to a rope net, while members of the other tribe shoot coconuts into it. Jonathan refuses to shut up, an easy way to make some enemies on the other tribe. It’s becoming more and more obvious that the fans are going to win this, and they do.

Jonathan insists on taking out Parvati. The couples are discussing Yau-Man, since Cirie wants him out. However, they’re not so sure, and they try to convince her about Eliza. Cirie has a discussion with Jonathan and his alliance, and she makes it apparent she doesn’t trust the bonds between them. Everybody starts to get concerned that Cirie’s voting Yau-Man, no matter what, which appears to be true. If she keeps this up, they’ll be more willing to risk a tie in the next vote by just getting rid of her. Lucky for her, though, more than one person seems dead set against a tie. Jonathan’s got a hope that voting as a block for Parvati will be able to overcome the other side that’s arguing on how to vote.

Jonathan and Cirie continue their spat at tribal council. She tells him she doesn’t trust him.

Votes
Parvati
Yau-Man
Yau-Man
Parvati
Cirie
Yau-Man
Yau-Man
Yau-Man

Yau-Man has been eliminated. By taking such an unnecessarily strong stance, I’m not real clear how Cirie did herself any favors, or for that matter what she was trying to prove. She’s set herself up to go far, but I can’t figure out why anybody would actually trust her going forward.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of Survivor: Micronesia Episode 4 That’s Baked, Barbecued, and Fried, which airs Thursday at 8/7c on CBS.

There was a lot of plotting and scheming in Survivor: Micronesia Episode 1, and it was all fairly interesting. Then Jonny Fairplay, who both sides on the favorites camp tried to bring in as a fifth member, stepped forward to be a quitter, and, well, that all went out the window.

Even though they won the challenge and have flint (but are struggling to get fire), the fans are still in chaos and learning what the heck they’re doing. To be expected, but it still gives the favorites a leg up. In addition to all their other problems, there’s a generation gap forming, with Tracy, Chet, and Kathy being shunned.

Ozzy and Amanda are getting closer. He wants to stay away from her, though, because if he doesn’t, he’ll have a giant target on his back (dude, you’ve already got a giant target on your back, but at least this time you’re socializing with someone). Amanda’s worried about this screwing up her game. She didn’t have to worry about this last time and played a great game. It will be interesting to see what impact a relationship has.

After wasting a lot of their flint, the fans finally make fire. They claim now that they’re more unified. Once that’s said, Joel makes it known he wants to get rid of the three outsiders.

Mikey B is flirting with Mary, giving hope for another possible relationship.

Cirie hears the sounds of jungle love during the night. This scares her about the couples. Interestingly, nobody has to even approach her, as she’s taking it upon herself. Jonathan’s also up, and they start to chat. This should make for a solid 5 to compete with the couples, but ultimately, Cirie is the power player since nobody bothered to approach her before.

The favorites get applause from the fans for taking out Fairplay. It’s an immunity/reward challenge. Immunity, fishing gear, and exile island up for grabs (yeah, the damn hidden immunity idol’s still alive). Kathy sits out. The challenge is largely about swimming. Ozzy takes a quick lead over Jason. Ozzy’s lead is pretty much maintained, until Chet can’t find his key in the water, giving the other team a huge lead. It’s obvious this challenge is over. Jonathan screws up and is unable to find his key as well, but it’s still not enough. Once they get five keys, they need to work on opening a chest with five locks. Probst tries to convince us the fans are still in it. Once the chest is open, they then need to solve a puzzle, a map of Micronesia. Favorites win immunity and reward. They send Kathy to exile… why? Now the favorites must choose someone from their own tribe. Cirie volunteers.

Here’s the really odd thing. Cirie and Kathy are working together. They get the first clue. Kathy gets the second clue and shares it with Cirie. Cirie finds the third clue and shares it with Kathy. So then they get a fourth clue. As much as they’re complaining about it being a workout, it doesn’t seem that difficult to find clues. Of course, if there are 100 clues, maybe it’s harder than they’re letting on.

Chet’s performance in the immunity challenge is problematic. But instead of just running with this obvious plan, Mikey comes up with the theory of worrying about the hidden idol and splitting up their votes. Joel is not happy with Mikey.

Joel starts talking to the others about how he doesn’t put it past him to stab someone in the back. Instead of taking out Mikey, he wants to take out his closest ally, Mary. Ironically, this gets people to thinking that Joel’s trying to take too much control.

Kathy has the idol she got at the beginning of last week. She’ll obviously use it.

Jeff takes some time to point out the obvious: Chet sucked at the challenge.

The fans have two shelters, one for the seven and one for the other three. Wow, this is pitiful.

Votes
Chet
Chet
Tracy
Mary
Mary
Mary
Mary
Mary

Impressive blindside by the fans.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of Survivor: Micronesia Episode 3 I Should Be Carried on the Chariot-Type Thing, which airs Thursday at 8/7c on CBS.

Jeff Probst recently said that Survivor: China was the season that saved the series and allowed it to continue beyond this season, and I’ll have to agree. They seriously botched the few seasons before that with bad casting and lame twists (just to get it out of my system now, the following twists still suck always have sucked: exile island, hidden immunity idol, final three instead of final two), and acknowledging that is hopefully a good sign. Given what they’ve put together this year, I think it’s pretty safe to assume we’re still on the right track. While some of the people cast as favorites are questionable at best, I like the fans vs. favorites concept because it ensures that not only do we get people who have seen the show and thorougly enjoy it, but we also get some good quality former contestants as well.

Before getting into the first live blog of the season, in case you missed it, check out the Survivor: Micronesia cast. I’m most looking forward to Eliza, Amanda, and James, although I don’t expect much out of James, despite the fact that he’s likeable. I’ll be interested in seeing what new lie Jonny Fairplay tells to top the dead grandmother. Hate him or hate him, you can’t do this season without Fairplay. Parvati’s very dangerous, and so is Ami if she doesn’t get ahead of herself. I hope Ozzy’s looked up “strategy” in the dictionary before embarking on this season, and Jonathan’s hopefully looked up “good strategy” or at least “strategy that doesn’t suck”. Cirie’s a non-entity but may go far as a result. I could go either way on Yau Man. What are your thoughts on the returning favorites?

The fans are completely unaware they’re playing against the favorites. When they do find out, they run the risk of being star struck or having preconceived opinions. That definitely helped Stephenie the second time she played, even though Bobby Jon couldn’t get his two brain cells to cooperate to get him further than being the first member of the jury.

Erik thinks he’s the new Ozzy. Joel thinks he’s the new James, except bigger. Kathy loves Yau Man. Tracy wants to kick Jonny Fairplay (who’s wearing a “Will Lie 4 Food” hat), but she’ll have to get in line behind Jeff Probst.

There are two hidden individual immunity idols, one for each tribe, which can only be played the first time they go to tribal council. If only these were the last hidden idols, I’d be good with them. It’s a race across the water. Jonny Fairplay gets there first but grabs the wrong one. Yau Man tackles him into the side of the boat to get the right one. Fairplay’s probably going to sue. Then Yau Man points out the other idol to Kathy, allowing her to get her team’s idol.

The fans tribe is named Airai. They’re looking forward to playing against their favorite players, particularly since they know their game, or so they think.

Kathy’s confused by the concept of gay people, which may not bode well for her relationship with Chet. She’s also quick to tell Tracy she’s never seen implants. Nobody’s happy Kathy’s immune.

The favorites tribe is named Malakal. They believe they have an advantage since they know how the game works. Jonny Fairplay wants to bring home the bacon for his pregnant girlfriend. James is pleased because this time he’s actually got people pitching in, since they know what they’re doing this time. Parvati’s still a flirt but says she plans to form good alliances as well. James likes her because she’s one of those sex kitten type girls. This combined with Amanda and Ozzy getting along well has Eliza concerned.

Unlike the favorites, who seem to be progressing well, the fans take too long getting their shelter up, and they pay the price for it when the rain starts.

Eliza, Ami, Yau Man, and Jonathan decide to form a group, in an effort to fend off the couples. I’d expect some bad blood between Eliza and Ami after last time, and I think we all know Jonathan can’t be trusted. The choice for a fifth comes down to Fairplay or Cirie. Jonathan wants Fairplay, but Fairplay is approached by Ozzy and Parvati first. Granted, it’s Jonny Fairplay. Jonathan wants Parvati out before Ozzy, while the other group wants Eliza out first. Then the other alliance approaches Fairplay, too. Hard to tell what he’ll do. And Cirie? Apparently, nobody wants to be bothered with her. Don’t know why. She’s a vote with the ability to be loyal.

Yau Man learned from Michelle in Fiji that his glasses could start a fire, and he uses that same technique this time to get something going for the favorites.

At the challenge, the favorites don’t hesistate rubbing their success in the faces of the fans, who don’t buy it, or at least don’t want to buy it. It’s a combination between a puzzle challenge and a lot of physical work. First, they must assemble four wheels and put them on a cart. Fans get their cart together first. The favorites are disastrous, and even after they get their cart together, they wipe out, taking Eliza down (she’ll have a bump on her head, but she should be okay). After their cart’s ready, they need to get it through an obstacle, which is followed by a bridge they must build with planks. The next test is to finish a turnstyle with the wheel pieces. It’s never even close, and the fans win immunity and flint.

Cirie doesn’t have a plan, and for that matter has no idea that everybody else has allies. Whoever tries to pull in Cirie is smart because she’ll go with whatever plan will save her.

Parvati and Fairplay come up with a plan to pretend Fairplay’s going home. He tells Ami, but she doesn’t trust him. Now might be a good time to remember that Cirie’s on the island.

The favorites believe they were too overconfident, and that’s why they lost the challenge.

Fairplay’s using the Dr. Will strategy. Go ahead. Vote me out. I dare you. But is it strategy, or does he really want to go home because he’s having a baby?

With his idol, Yau Man’s safe. Not that he was in danger.

Votes:
Fairplay
Fairplay
Fairplay
Fairplay
Fairplay
Fairplay

Now that Jonny Fairplay’s the first person out (damn, what a waste of a spot), I’ve got just one word for the rest of the tribe: Cirie.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of Survivor: Micronesia Episode 2 The Sounds of Jungle Love, which airs Thursday at 8/7c on CBS.

While some are quick to point out that Survivor’s ratings are fading (Survivor: China, the best edition of the franchise in years, marked the first increase in viewers from a previous season since Palau), it’s still one of the top 20 shows on TV 8 years after it premiered. With that in mind, Variety reports that CBS has renewed it for an additional two seasons through the 18th.

“‘Survivor’ is a show that defies ratings gravity,” CBS’ Ghen Maynard said. “It is truly remarkable feat to be winning your time period in all ratings categories after 15 editions.”

Jeff Probst will continue hosting, and casting has begun on Survivor 17.

Here are some interviews of the Survivor: Micronesia Cast. Video after the jump.

Continue Reading: (”Survivor: Micronesia: Meet the Cast”)

As previously announced, Survivor: Micronesia is a half star edition, featuring half people from previous seasons (all from seasons after All Stars but one, unfortunately) and half hardcore fans. The returning cast is rather lackluster, particularly in comparison to Survivor: All Stars, but it should still be a good season. Hopefully some of these people have learned something since the first time. The new season will premiere on Thursday February 7 at 8/7c on CBS. As always, stay tuned to dingoRUE for live blogs each show night.

Favorites
Jon Dalton (Jonny Fairplay), Survivor: Pearl Islands
Love him or hate him (and most people fall under the latter category), it’s hard to deny that he played a good game, and the dead grandmother bit was classic, albeit over the top.

Ami Cusack, Survivor: Vanuatu
Perhaps the most influential force in Vanuatu, until Scout, Twila, Chris, and Eliza pulled the rug out from under her (perhaps the best moment of that season).

Eliza Orlins, Survivor: Vanuatu
I can understand why the others didn’t like her, but let’s face it: when someone’s in a final four against Twila, Scout, and a member of the fat five, is there really any choice as to whom to root for?

Cirie Fields, Survivor: Panama
Are you freaking kidding me? Sadly, she’ll go far if she lasts the first few votes.

Jonathan Penner, Survivor: Cook Islands
A master of the game… if only in his own mind.

Ozzy Lusth, Survivor: Cook Islands
All brawn, no brain. Hopefully he can come up with something resembling a strategy this time.

Parvati Shallow, Survivor: Cook Islands
Parvati’s potentially one of the more dangerous (albeit under the radar) players, and really doesn’t have to change things up much.

Yau Man Chan, Survivor: Fiji
I found Yau Man to be one of the more overrated players in his season, but still a worthwhile addition to this cast.

Amanda Kimmel, Survivor: China
If only she got rid of Todd, things may have been very different. She was just as in control as he was, but not as blatant about it.

James Clement, Survivor: China
His previous journey was cut short early because he rolled the dice one time too many. He’s the likely early fan favorite yet again.

Fans
Alexis Jones
24
Motivational speaker
Beverly Hills, CA

Chet Welch
48
Beauty pageant coach
Ford City, PA

Erik Reichenbach
22
Ice cream scooper
Ypsilanti, MI

Jason Siska
22
Student teacher
Fox River Grove, IL

Joel Anderson
32
Firefighter
Avondale, AZ

Kathleen Sleckman
45
Golf course vendor
Glen Ellyn, IL

Mary Sartain
29
Real estate entrepreneuer
Emeryville, CA

Michael Bortone
34
Writer/actor
Los Angeles, CA

Natalie Bolton
32
Personal trainer/bartender
West Hollywood, CA

Tracy Hughes-Wolf
43
Commercial builder
Fredericksburg, VA

There’s been buzz about a second Survivor All Stars since the first one ended, and that has been gaining steam lately since it’s been a few years since the last one. The first one was season 8, so it’s only natural that they would do one for season 16, which would be the one after Survivor: China.

Nothing’s official and probably won’t be until December or January, though no doubt a cast list would be leaked prior to that, but Reality TV World reports that Jeff Probst told reporters that “We’re going into our sixteenth season, it wouldn’t be a bad idea.” This follows Probst’s comments in May that the show is “due” for a second all star season.

“The only thing I can say is that I’ve come around to understanding that even though the All-Stars we did was a pain-in-the-ass from a production point of view, it was one of our best seasons,” Probst said. “And it was our best season because we had our best people back. I get that.”

Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that the original Survivor All Stars was a huge success. The premiere to 33.54 million viewers was the highest rated Survivor since the season 2 finale and the second highest rated premiere other than Outback, the average viewers of 21.49 million is third all time (behind seasons 1 and 2), and the 28 million people who tuned in to watch Rob propose to Amber was similarly highly ranked for a reunion show. Not to mention that CBS has been able to milk Romber for all it’s worth since then, very successfully in the case of The Amazing Race 7. Since All Stars, ratings have slowly eroded, to a series low of just shy of 15 million viewers in Fiji (still good enough to be a top 20 show, though).

Is the show just getting old, now in its 8th year? Are attempts to “ethnically diversify,” which seems to not be the case in Survivor: China, the least diverse cast since season 12, just neither working to keep old viewers nor draw new viewers? Are people tired of the complete lack of strategy lately? Does everyone just think Exile Island is stupid (which it is, but thankfully they’re killing that concept for China, to be replaced by the reward winners being allowed to kidnap a member of the losing tribe until the next immunity challenge, which is a concept that I do like)? Have competing networks finally found something to crack Survivor’s stranglehold on Thursdays at 8PM? Whatever the case, based on the performance of the last one, an All Stars 2 may be just the shot in the arm this thing needs to keep going.

Update: as annouced during the Survivor: China finale, this season will actually feature half lifelong fans and half former players. It will be Fans Vs. Favorites.