'Survivor' Point/Counterpoint
By Gordon Holmes
Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:39:02 GMT
Throughout the run of “Survivor: Tocantins,” we’ll be fortunate enough to have “Survivor: Gabon” contestant Charlie Herschel on board to give us his insights on the game. Every week we’ll meet to discuss the previous episode, give our takes on where the game is headed, and answer any questions you may have.
Note: If you have any questions you’d like Charlie and I to address, please post them at the end of this article.
Gordon Holmes: When you were in Gabon, was being the first person voted out your biggest fear?
Charlie Herschel: Hands down, that was everyone’s biggest fear. I didn’t care if I was second, third, or fourth. I just didn’t want to be first.
Gordon: It just seems like the process of getting on the show is so long and involved, that the idea of being first to go would be terrifying. From beginning to end, how long does that process take?
Charlie: I turned in my video in February and then it’s like a roller coaster three-month, three-and-a-half month casting process.
Gordon: Poor Carolina.
Charlie: Did you like her?
Gordon: On the show I thought she was annoying. But when I interviewed her, I found her to be a really sweet girl.
Gordon: How are you feeling about this season?
Charlie: I think it’ll be a great season. The contestants appear very likable whether it’s in a love-to-hate-them or a love-to-love-them manner. There doesn’t seem like there are many people that you’ll be hating. It seems like a very believable cast and even a smarter cast. What do you think?
Gordon: It seemed like in Gabon there were people like Randy and Corinne who were there to be the villain. This season I don’t see that. It’s almost the exact opposite, and I think I like this better.
Charlie: I think that’s a good way to put it. You wouldn’t be shocked to meet these people in a bar. You’d never run into someone like Sugar or Corinne in your life ever.
Gordon: OK, my understanding of Exile Island for this season is that the winning tribe will send a losing player to Exile. The person who is picked will choose someone from the winning tribe to go with them. Both players will receive an egg. One egg will have a clue to an immunity idol and the other will not. The idol won’t be hidden on Exile Island, it will be back at the tribe camps. When the players are done with their time at Exile, they may choose to mutiny and join the other tribe. Whew…that’s a lot.
Charlie: It does give control to the players, deciding who to send is strategy, and that person deciding on the second person is also strategy.
Gordon: Do you think we’ll see many mutinies?
Charlie: No, I really don’t. I think it’d be a death sentence.
Gordon: It’s almost like if you were in trouble with your tribe and were definitely next to go, then you’d do it. But, the second you mutiny, you put a target on your back with the new tribe.
Charlie: You might see it if the tribes switch up more. If there’s an early switch someone might want to mutiny back to their original tribe.
Gordon: How do you feel about Sandy?
Charlie: There’s no way she’s going to make it another few weeks. We just described the cast as very personable, but she’s the farthest from that. There just no way she’s going to make it.
Gordon: It’s almost like in a cast of real people, she’s a character. She’s just really big and broad and nobody else is.
Gordon: How are you feeling about Coach?
Charlie: I hate Coach.
Gordon: Really? His big thing is he wants winners to go further, but we had said that the problem with Gabon was that the players with questionable strategies were going further.
Charlie: Well, who is he to say he’s a winner? I don’t think he has an ounce of modesty in him. You can say you want the winners to succeed, but he hasn’t played the game, how does he know he’s a winner? He could suck at all of the challenges.
Gordon: Do you think he equates physical strength with being a winner?
Charlie: I think he will. But sometimes the people who are the strongest have the toughest times with the conditions and don’t do well in the challenges.
Gordon: Good point.
Gordon: Do you have an early favorite?
Charlie: Tyson. I love Tyson. I think he’s going to bring a lot of humor to the game, he’s very athletic.
Gordon: Here’s the thing though, if he wins, he absolutely needs to buy a tiara.
Charlie: (laughs)
Gordon: He needs the fur coat, he needs the bling, and he needs the tiara. He’s already called himself out on it.
Charlie: I think even if he loses he’s going to start wearing a man tiara. That was a memorable line and there’s no way the man tiara isn’t going to become a part of his persona.
Click Here to Comment – Who’s your early favorite? Do you think Coach is too arrogant? Do you have a question for next week’s Point/Counterpoint?
Note: If you have any questions you’d like Charlie and I to address, please post them at the end of this article.
Gordon Holmes: When you were in Gabon, was being the first person voted out your biggest fear?
Charlie Herschel: Hands down, that was everyone’s biggest fear. I didn’t care if I was second, third, or fourth. I just didn’t want to be first.
Gordon: It just seems like the process of getting on the show is so long and involved, that the idea of being first to go would be terrifying. From beginning to end, how long does that process take?
Charlie: I turned in my video in February and then it’s like a roller coaster three-month, three-and-a-half month casting process.
Gordon: Poor Carolina.
Charlie: Did you like her?
Gordon: On the show I thought she was annoying. But when I interviewed her, I found her to be a really sweet girl.
Gordon: How are you feeling about this season?
Charlie: I think it’ll be a great season. The contestants appear very likable whether it’s in a love-to-hate-them or a love-to-love-them manner. There doesn’t seem like there are many people that you’ll be hating. It seems like a very believable cast and even a smarter cast. What do you think?
Gordon: It seemed like in Gabon there were people like Randy and Corinne who were there to be the villain. This season I don’t see that. It’s almost the exact opposite, and I think I like this better.
Charlie: I think that’s a good way to put it. You wouldn’t be shocked to meet these people in a bar. You’d never run into someone like Sugar or Corinne in your life ever.
Gordon: OK, my understanding of Exile Island for this season is that the winning tribe will send a losing player to Exile. The person who is picked will choose someone from the winning tribe to go with them. Both players will receive an egg. One egg will have a clue to an immunity idol and the other will not. The idol won’t be hidden on Exile Island, it will be back at the tribe camps. When the players are done with their time at Exile, they may choose to mutiny and join the other tribe. Whew…that’s a lot.
Charlie: It does give control to the players, deciding who to send is strategy, and that person deciding on the second person is also strategy.
Gordon: Do you think we’ll see many mutinies?
Charlie: No, I really don’t. I think it’d be a death sentence.
Gordon: It’s almost like if you were in trouble with your tribe and were definitely next to go, then you’d do it. But, the second you mutiny, you put a target on your back with the new tribe.
Charlie: You might see it if the tribes switch up more. If there’s an early switch someone might want to mutiny back to their original tribe.
Gordon: How do you feel about Sandy?
Charlie: There’s no way she’s going to make it another few weeks. We just described the cast as very personable, but she’s the farthest from that. There just no way she’s going to make it.
Gordon: It’s almost like in a cast of real people, she’s a character. She’s just really big and broad and nobody else is.
Gordon: How are you feeling about Coach?
Charlie: I hate Coach.
Gordon: Really? His big thing is he wants winners to go further, but we had said that the problem with Gabon was that the players with questionable strategies were going further.
Charlie: Well, who is he to say he’s a winner? I don’t think he has an ounce of modesty in him. You can say you want the winners to succeed, but he hasn’t played the game, how does he know he’s a winner? He could suck at all of the challenges.
Gordon: Do you think he equates physical strength with being a winner?
Charlie: I think he will. But sometimes the people who are the strongest have the toughest times with the conditions and don’t do well in the challenges.
Gordon: Good point.
Gordon: Do you have an early favorite?
Charlie: Tyson. I love Tyson. I think he’s going to bring a lot of humor to the game, he’s very athletic.
Gordon: Here’s the thing though, if he wins, he absolutely needs to buy a tiara.
Charlie: (laughs)
Gordon: He needs the fur coat, he needs the bling, and he needs the tiara. He’s already called himself out on it.
Charlie: I think even if he loses he’s going to start wearing a man tiara. That was a memorable line and there’s no way the man tiara isn’t going to become a part of his persona.
Click Here to Comment – Who’s your early favorite? Do you think Coach is too arrogant? Do you have a question for next week’s Point/Counterpoint?
