Survivor: 2012 Hall of Fame Discussion ft. Gary Wise

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.

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Bonus Episode: Talking Survivor with Daniel Negreanu

It's been one year since this pirate ship set sail, and to mark the occasion we're joined by poker superstar Daniel Negreanu for an interview exploring how an elite gamer processes Survivor.

In today's show we get Daniel's thoughts on shared traits among great Survivor players and, by contrast, common game mistakes weaker players make. Plus, he gives the full story about his being asked to be on Survivor himself, we get his take on the current season (through episode 7), and we find out more about his old friend Boston Rob.

Listen to this episode using the player below, via the direct link here, or find us on iTunes here. We apologize if the sound is muffled - we were calling Daniel's cellphone, which apparently alarmed Skype and the recording program.


For freshly inspired players, Daniel's poker training site can be found here, and you can find him on Twitter at @RealKidPoker.
Image via pokernews.com

Survivor 25: The Penner Punch -- Episode 6 Recap/Analysis

Another week, another blindside, another blog post recycling that parallelism. This week we took the bait once more as Penner appeared to be on his way out of the game, only for Katie to get the now painfully obvious boot.

How did the editors trick us yet again? (We're morons).  Did Jeff Kent and company make the right decision in keeping Penner around? (Maybe).  And was Carter's slip-up really a display of tactical brilliance? (...no).

Plus, what insights can be gleaned now that conclusive research has been done regarding social media hashtags?  What do we make of having three idols in play simultaneously?  And what might we expect to see go down if the tribes get shuffled or merged next week?  Find out when you stream this week's podcast below, find the direct link HERE, or find us on iTunes HERE.

Survivor 25: Don't Fight Like a Bitch -- Episode 5 Recap/Analysis

Another week, another blindside, and we're back yet again to discuss Survivor: Philippines in all its swaptastic glory.

After his less-than-stellar performance this season, what do we make of Russell Swan's melancholy post-game interviews?  What can we expect life to be like for Malcolm and Denise now that they're split apart, and how long might they actually stay split?

Plus, what's the latest addition to Artis's highlight reel?  Why won't anyone be friends with RC?  And with Colin's expert pre-season winner pick now out of the mix, which five remaining castaways make up our list of potential victors?  Find out when you stream this week's episode below, find the direct link HERE, or find it on iTunes HERE.

Survivor: One World Examined with Kim Spradlin

Recently coming off one of the most impressive performances in 'Survivor' history, reigning champ Kim Spradlin joins us for an in-depth look at her One World game.  She explains her thought process on the island during her most critical decisions, evaluates those she played against, and goes into detail about some of her now-famous "options" that may have been mentioned once or twice on the CBS show.

Plus, what really happens if Colton isn't removed from the game?  What was the right answer to Troyzan's jury question?  And might we ever see Kim play again?

Advocates for options that we are, you can listen HERE or on iTunes HERE.     

Survivor: Tocantins Revisited with Stephen Fishbach

Spoiler alert.

In our final "Survivor" retrospective of the season, we're joined by confirmed actual wizard Stephen Fishbach to go over his 39 days spent wheeling and dealing in Brazil.  We also discuss the post-Tocantins evolution of JT, Coach, and Tyson as characters, how one might best evaluate individual games, and the impact of returning players in seasons with rookies.  


Plus, what was Stephen's biggest piece of advice for JT before Heroes vs. Villains?  And how accurately-rated is Sophie Clarke?  All of this and more when you listen HERE or on iTunes HERE.



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Survivor: We have a RobCast

After a month-long hiatus, we are back with a show that we hope is worth the wait: we are grateful to be joined by Survivor icon and podcaster extraordinaire Rob Cesternino. The original consensus 'best player to never win' takes us through the game he played to earn that title, responding in detail to a number of popular but previously unanswered questions about the decisions he made in the Amazon, as well as giving us his perspective on the events leading up to and during All-Stars. You can listen here or on iTunes here; we're looking at embedding the audio streams within the blog page for greater convenience.

We will hopefully record a podcast with Stephen Fishbach very soon; and we'll be talking about shows from Big Brother to Breaking Bad throughout the summer. In the meantime, you can stay updated by following us on Twitter or subscribing on iTunes using the link above; and now, by clicking 'Like' on our new Facebook page. Enjoy!

Survivor 24: season review with Gary Wise

Another year of Survivor ended on Sunday night when, to the surprise of nobody, Kim Spradlin was crowned the winner of Survivor: One World. ESPN's Gary Wise joins us to break down the season, revisiting the judgements he made when he was on the podcast after the premiere and giving his thoughts on everything that happened since then. He tells us how he rates both Kim and this season against their respective predecessors and gives his first impressions of the S25 format based on the reunion announcements (WARNING: don't listen to the end if you don't want to know who the returnees are!).

This isn't the end of our Survivor content this season; later this week Kos returns to the show as we put Kim's win in a historical perspective, going over her game in detail and using it as a platform for in-depth discussion of both general gameplay and specific players we admire. Until then, this podcast with Gary can be found here or on iTunes here, and you can stay updated by subscribing on iTunes using that link or following us on Twitter using the icons on the blog page. Follow @colinstone Follow @MC_Usher

Survivor 24: Finale preview ft. Albert Destrade

In less than 72 hours, the winner of Survivor: One World will be crowned, and today Albert Destrade returns to the podcast to preview the finale. He gives us his thoughts on the season so far, from the dynamics on the original gender-split tribes through the fall of Colton and the merge to the rapidly approaching endgame. He contrasts this season to his own, notably assessing how Sophie compares to Kim, and makes his predictions for Sunday. This week's show, featuring all this and more, can be found here or on iTunes here.

Survivor 24: Cruel Beans

It's finale week, and in our excitement we can't think of a well-structured blurb for the blog, so here you go. Certain 'technical difficulties' meant that we couldn't record a recap last week, so today's podcast covers the last two Survivor episodes and looks ahead to the finale. Be sure to look out for the finale preview show on Thursday, in which we will be rejoined by Survivor: South Pacific's Albert Destrade. As for this week's recap, you can find it here or on iTunes here. Enjoy!

Survivor 24: I Love Leif

The two men left in the game have a combined age of 114 and want to be named after the same fictional character. Is there any hope for them, in life or in Survivor? Where did Leif go? And will Kim be counting a million dollars in a towel on May 13? Find out in this week's show, available here or on iTunes here.

As stated in the episode, we will be doing a joint pre-finale TAR/Celebrity Apprentice podcast with a guest in a few weeks. If you have any other shows you want us to cover, or any feedback in general, let us know here or on Twitter (links available below on the blog). Until then, thanks for listening! Follow @colinstone Follow @MC_Usher

Survivor 24: Jayburned

It was a typical episode of Survivor: Kim manipulating, the men capitulating, and Tarzan being Tarzan. Still, there was a lot to talk about, and talk about it we did: what should Kim's plan be, and how did Jay and Troyzan fit into that puzzle? Can Troyzan really run the table from here, and should people want him to? And when is Tarzan going to put on his or Monica's big girl panties? All this, and more, on this week's show, available here or on iTunes here.


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Survivor: Storytime with Sophie Clarke

We've interviewed three players from Survivor: South Pacific already and now Sophie Clarke, the one who outlasted them all, joins us to reveal how she did it. She takes us through her Survivor experience, from watching the first season to winning the twenty-third, responding to criticisms of her game and unmasking important truths hidden by the editing. Listen here or on iTunes here.

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Survivor 24: Spradlinsanity

The end is nigh, and a Kim win is imminent... or is it? Today we look ahead to the endgame asking how Kim can get there, how good her chances are of doing it, and who's best placed to stop her. We also explain why this episode might have sounded the death knell for Jay and Troyzan, and debate whether the Mike boot was correct. Lastly, the most difficult question of all: who's more skilled, Chelsea's plastic surgeon or the creators of 7UP (the clean, crisp, and refreshing soda drink)? All this, and more, on this week's show, available here or on iTunes here.


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Survivor 24: Drop your buffs

It may be almost as late to the party as Tarzan is, but this week's recap is finally here. We dish all the dirt (yes, dirt) on last Wednesday's episode, assess our predictions from last week, and speculate about what the various power players will and should do in the episodes to come. Listen to it here or on iTunes here.

Image via the brilliant Bitchy Survivor Blog

Survivor: Brian Corridan speaks

Brian Corridan joins us today to reminisce about Survivor: Guatemala. He gives us his take on the strange editing of the season and reveals what was really going on beneath it. He airs his views on Danni, Rafe, Stephenie, and others, and explains why he thinks his season and its cast have been so widely ignored. He also offers a spirited defence of 'old-school' Survivor, in his usual compelling manner. If you want to know the truth about the 'forgotten' Survivor season, go ahead and listen! You can find it here or on iTunes here.


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Survivor: Cochran takes the stand

John Cochran joins us in a feature-length podcast to discuss all things Survivor, from watching the show as a fan in the early 2000s and experiencing its evolution to becoming part of its history himself. In his typical articulate manner he takes us through his 31-day rollercoaster ride in the South Pacific, giving us the lowdown on everything that happened from his perspective. You can listen here and on iTunes here.


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Survivor: Cochran takes the stand

NOTE: The audio on this version ended up coming out mono instead of stereo.  Sorry about that.  The updated version can be found HERE.  

John Cochran joins us in a feature-length podcast to discuss all things Survivor, from watching the show as a fan in the early 2000s and experiencing its evolution to becoming part of its history himself. In his typical articulate manner he takes us through his 31-day rollercoaster ride in the South Pacific, giving us the lowdown on everything that happened from his perspective. You can listen here and on iTunes here.

Look out for the weekly Survivor recap over the weekend as well as a podcast with Survivor: Guatemala's Brian Corridan early next week. In the meantime, keep updated by subscribing to us on iTunes using the link above and following us on Twitter!

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Survivor 24: Merge preview featuring Kos

Today we are joined by Amanda Kimmel hater and RHAP alumnus Kos to look at the state of the game going into the merge. Who has the best chance of winning the game at this point? Who will emerge victorious in the inevitable Kim-Jonas power struggle? How would the potential winners of this season compare to those of past seasons? And how long will it be before Kat gets a restraining order against Colin; does she even know what a restraining order is? All this, and more, on this week's show, which you can find here and on iTunes here.

We will hopefully be recording later in the week with John Cochran, and a TAR-focused podcast should be up early next week as well. Until then, enjoy the show, and keep updated by subscribing on iTunes and/or following us on Twitter.

Survivor 24: Lodestar Wars

Pictured: schadenfreude

Due to difficulties with the recording software the show is truncated this week, so the Amazing Race and Community discussion will have to wait for future shows, but in the meantime we go into detail about this week's episode of Survivor. Drop your assertiveness into this lodestar and get ready for an hour of strategy discussion, poor jokes, and trenchant questions about the authenticity of Salani's chests. Listen here or on iTunes here.
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