Survivor 26: Laura? I Hardly Know Her! -- Episode 2 Recap/Analysis ft. Gary Wise

(No, really, who is she?)

This week, there was much that went unsaid and much we wish had gone unseen. Since the editors didn't want to tell us, what can we piece together about the fallout on the Favourites? Was Brandon in the wrong making Dawn 'True Grit' Meehan cry, and will he ever back up his words with actions? With the misfit Fans' alliance in the ascendant, who are emerging as its quiet and not-so-quiet leaders? And, with Jeff Probst joining Chuck Klosterman for a revealing interview this week, what can we learn about the man at the center of the franchise? All this, and more, with friend of the show - and of ESPN - Gary Wise, below, here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 26: Fran vs. Favorites -- Episode 1 Recap/Analysis ft. Ian Terry

After a short vacation in the Caramoan Islands, Francesca's Survivor record is as bad as our prediction record. How did someone as smart, assertive, and savvy as Francesca become the first player ever to be a first boot twice? Whose mistakes made this happen, and who stands to gain most from them? And, despite an early lead, are the Fans destined to be defeated and forgotten this season? We discuss all this, and more, with Big Brother 14 winner Ian Terry, who also gives his insight on the dynamics involving returning players. As always the podcast can be found here on the blog page, externally here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 26: Pre-game interviews & information

In case you want to get in the mood for tomorrow's Survivor premiere, we've collected the various pre-game interviews and previews here:

xfinity.tv with Gordon Holmes (full cast):
http://xfinity.comcast.net/blogs/tv/category/survivor/

Entertainment Weekly with Dalton Ross (favourites*, joint interview with Cochran and his mum*, questions with Jeff Probst):
http://insidetv.ew.com/tag/survivor/

Videos (full cast: 'Meet X', 'X's Memorable Moment'; TVGuide preview, Probst cast assessment, commercials/teaser clips):
http://www.youtube.com/user/SurvivorVideosCBS

Official bios:
http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/cast/

*Damn right, that's a 'U'. Don't let your rancour about it colour your humour!

Survivor 26: Season Preview

Survivor returns to our screens this Wednesday, but before we begin another season of carefully responding to concrete demonstrations of character and personal motivation, we must first spend three hours offering baseless overreactions to the new cast, many post-scripted by our trademark insincere disclaimer that one can't judge a book by its cover.

Do any of the Fans have what it takes to defeat this motley crew of returnees?  What can be made of the controversial casting of the Favorites tribe, and how might their off-island relationships impact the game?   Can Malcolm overcome the collective fear of the the unknown?  Is Brenda the next Survivor superstar or a trendy impostor?  And can Cochran capitalize on what appears to be a hand-selected group of teammates?

As always you can listen on the player below, here, or find us on iTunes here, and join us after the two hour season premiere when we'll be breaking everything down with special guest, Big Brother 14 winner Ian Terry.

Survivor 25: Finale Recap + Season in Review

Much to the disappointment of Mayan fundamentalists worldwide, 2013 is real, and to kick off the new year of podcasting we're back to break down the Survivor: Philippines finale and give our take on the players and season in general.

How did it all go wrong for Malcolm, and what might have been done differently to prevent his downfall? With Lisa and Skoopin Skupin in the driver's seat, did they make the right call? And how did Denise ultimately manage such certain victory?

Plus, how pointless are final four reward challenges?  What kind of drunken Pin the Tail on the Donkey process has been used for final immunity selection the last several years?  How many of the cast might we see return for future seasons?  And what does Russell Hantz believe in if not respect for women?

Listen on the player below, find the direct link here, or find us on iTunes here.



Follow @mc_usher Follow @colinstone

Survivor: Memoirs of a Dragon Slayer with Coach Wade

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.

Survivor 25: Moron -- Episode 13 Recap/Analysis

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.

Follow @mc_usher Follow @colinstone