Very few have made as lasting of an impression on the Survivor franchise as Coach Wade, and today he joins us to discuss how a Renaissance man became a Dragon Slayer, a Villain, and ultimately a finalist, as he walks us through his time on Survivor in the color and detail that we've all come to expect from him.
What was the motivation behind placing such focus on strength and honor in Tocantins? How did his goals and priorities shift as a returnee? What did the players know about Russell at the beginning of Heroes vs. Villains? After making it to the finals in South Pacific, how does he feel about Sophie emerging victorious? And after nearly a hundred days in the game, did Coach get what he wanted out of his Survivor experience?
Find out when you listen below, find the direct link here, or find us on iTunes here.
In our excitement for the finale we suspended our laziness and actually recorded a podcast, though waiting for it to show up on iTunes promises to be just as suspenseful as the finale itself. As this universally acclaimed season nears its end, what can we expect on Sunday? Could there be surprises in store, or is it a two-horse race? And, when we look back on this season, will this be the point at which certain people missed opportunities and threw away a million dollars? As always you can listen on the player below, here, or on iTunes here.
[NOTE: This episode didn't register on iTunes for some reason so we're reposting it now, hence the episodes being out of order] We're in the home stretch of Survivor: Philippines, and many questions demand answers. With only social butterfly and challenge dominatrix Abi left, will either power pair give into temptation and try to drag her to the end? If they do stick together, what might happen when we're down to four? And most importantly, how can we get Justice Whelchel on Survivor? As always, you can listen on the player below, here, or on iTunes here.
The campaigns have been launched, the ballots have been cast, and today we're to back to discuss the Survivor Hall of Fame, once again joined by Gary Wise of former ESPN fame. In today's extended episode we consider the candidacies of the year's most qualified hopefuls, as well as some of those less qualified but more likely to join Survivor's most prestigious club.
Beyond individual candidacies, we also address what kind of considerations one should make when voting, if such criteria are even valid, and how the meta-game of Survivor impacts the Hall of Fame process. Should factors like gender play a role, and if so, is that fair? How might we compensate for inevitable recency bias? And is it possible for someone to get a ballot "wrong"?
Plus, can one-time players be justifiably enshrined? If so, what kind of implications does that have for the Hall of Fame itself? If not, does that signal that the consensus criteria may be flawed? How much weight should be placed on off-island contributions to the franchise? Conversely, do we deduct points from remarkable games played by people of questionable standing within the community?
After tackling these questions, we then look at something completely different: the idea of Survivor as a 'life game'. How should we think about the long-lasting impact of Survivor upon people who play it? What can we make of the 'success' (if it's appropriate to use that term) of people like Heidi Hamels or Boston Rob?
We go off on many tangents and cover a wide range of topics, so even if you're not interested in the Hall of Fame itself you can hopefully find something to enjoy in a podcast that's far too long for its own good. You can listen on the player below, here, or find us on iTunes here.
Another fedora gradually tattered, another Survivor auction trounced, and another season prematurely in the books for the great Jonathan Penner, though surely the true victims are the appreciators of good diction worldwide.
Yet again Penner turned a rocky start into a potentially winning position, only to come to an abrupt though appropriately showy downfall. So how did it all fall apart? Are the next two boots set in stone? If so, how might things play out in a tricky final four situation? And if not, who might want to consider turning the tables early?
Plus, if you're a concerned parent of a teen who prefers music to sports and is thus a high risk candidate to turn gay, Lisa Whelchel has got some fantastic news for you (1, 2).
Listen to this episode on the player below, find the direct link here, or find us on iTunes here.
It's difficult to say in English exactly what Abi could possibly be thinking, as we prove in today's episode. As armchair psychologists viewing an edited TV show, what can we or anyone else say about her character? Should we have a measure of sympathy for her, or is she finally getting what she deserves? And, beneath all of the drama, things move on: one of the season's villains exits the game, and some of its heroes make plans to win it. Is the final four deal we were shown showmanship by the editors, or is it a realistic possibility? And, after struggling so hard to make it to this stage, did Penner potentially throw away a million dollars? All this, and more, on this week's show, available below, for download here, or on iTunes here.
This is going up hours before the next Survivor episode and the day before Thanksgiving, showing that we're not as good at pleasing an audience as Lisa was. Nevertheless, there was a lot to cover this week, and cover it we did. How did Penner go from being under the gun to over the moon in the space of three days, and were his allies right to let this happen? What can be made of the Penner-Lisa dynamic and his journey through the fourth wall and into her personality? Is this the end of the Axis of Evil, or can Pete and Abi save themselves? And just how credible is Malcolm's promise to help the world's children instead of tending bar? All this, and more, on a belated edition of the podcast, available here, below, or on iTunes here.
