Shanghai Survivors Set the Outeverything Tone

Shanghai Survivors Set the Outeverything Tone by Roxanne McDonald

There’s already one who is overdoing it on the bossy front, one overconfident but socially clumsy member, one crying Christian….

Every time I see that car commercial suggesting it can “outeverything”, I think of “Survivor”. This the fifteenth season introduced to us last night the new cast of

characters who have already begun their outeverythinging:
Surf instructor Aaron Reisberger has already established himself as a leader, but a reluctant one who sees his tribe as floundering but who also doesn’t want to invite the using of his back for target practice, either.

Hiking guide Amanda Kimmel has already set a few minds on something other than the game—stripping down to her undies and making more than one viewer comment on nothing more than her appearance. Actually, Amanda has stayed in the background for the most part, keeping her mouth shut, working hard, and only occasionally “socializing”. From what we at home saw, anyway.

Pro wrestler Ashley Massaro has already set herself up for early ousting, somehow coming off as pretentious and presumptuous at the same time—posing as a super athlete, getting sick the first day at camp, reclining still on day two as the others work and stare, and then mouthing off at Tribal Council…as if she had contributed so proudly all along.

Chicken farmer Chicken Morris has already, or had already, started opining more than pounding…on the shelters and whatnot, and alienated himself so early he earned the first elimination.

Waitress Courtney Yates has already defined her role as tribe snot, hating on everything and everyone who is “positive”, which she has mocked, moaned about, and rolled her moping eyes at several times over.

Bartender and former model Dave Cruser (who I hope is not sick, as he already looks like he has been there for weeks) has already defined his role as leader, especially for his championing of the tribe as a whole and his cheering on and cheering up individuals on the edge of despondency… already.

School lunch lady Denise Martin has already stumbled a couple of times, but has stayed pretty quiet, neither boasting or balking, so it will take a few more challenges to determine her place as either underdog or dark horse or fish out of water or Susan Hawk throwback.

Musician Erik Huffman has already, it seems, made himself to be one of the logical ones as well as one of the powerhouses of the group. He doesn’t come off as being the one to speak often or all that loudly, but when he does speak, his mates appear to listen up.

Athlete and youngest-ever Survivor Frosti Zernow has already gotten a little too giddy about his offering himself as the small and fast one, ever-friendly but overconfident in his positive but aggressive participation.

USC Columbia student Jaime Dugan has already made herself a focus of attention by arriving on the set without a bra and then, after learning they will all be going to camp in what they are wearing, announcing this fact; but

otherwise, the prettiest of the group has stayed virtually mum.
Professional undertaker James Clement has already established himself as a favorite—in my eyes, anyway. Tall, built, and equipped with super-strength and super-endurance, he is not only absolutely gorgeous, utterly stunning to watch but is one of the greatest assets to the tribe. Here’s hoping his humility about not talking, socializing, and strategizing—which will kill him, he says—takes him all the way to the finals. God, is he impressive.

Pro poker player Jean-Robert Bellande has already offended, irritated, and overdone his part in the tribe—a fat, loud, obnoxious one mouthing off about who should, what should, and who will be the best and worst wokers, strategizers, socializers, and therefore players.

Christian radio host Leslie Nease has already set her tribemates to squirming and scoffing, boycotting the welcome ceremony at the 16th-century Buddhist monastery because she felt she was worshipping some other god than her own.

Forget that Jeff Probst emphasized the ceremony as one of tradition not religion; and go figure she prefaced her explanation/excuse with how she is not a religious person. Ummm. Okay. Going to be pretty tough to overcome a first-day title of Christian radio host, rather than just radio host, and to convince people otherwise when the first things out of your mouth at the camp are how the man above has blessed you all with rain.

Jeweler Peih-Gee Law has already made herself a target for elimination, taking over the decision-making, order-issuing, and, at Probst’s Tribal Council noting that there appears to be leadership established, rejoicing and accepting of the title of leader when they so weren’t nodding her way. She will have to shut her yap, get over not being able to “connect” out there, and accept that the tribe is looking toward Dave for the role of trusted and less bossy leader.

Fourth grade school teacher Sherea Lloyd has already displayed calm in the midst of chaos, silence before speaking up, and even a sense of humor about having to enter camp wearing what she had on upon arrival—in her case, heels.

Flight attendant [I think I also heard adjectives “gay” and “Mormon”, but let’s just leave it at flight attendant] Todd Herzog has already established himself as an everyman, a kind of mascot, and maybe even a slick negotiator—chatting and staying busy and engaged with a big smile on his face and an enthusiasm that could become either infectious or irritating.

The new Survivors in general, then, have stayed true to the personality types common in a group dynamic…, or at least in the typical early “Survivor” dynamics, anyway. Twill be fun to see who will outwit, oulast, outplay, outeverything.

SirLinksAlot Survivor: China links

1 Comment »

1. I was really impressed with the season premiere of Survivor China! It was the best episode I have seen in recent memory! I was thrilled when they ejected Chicken instead of one of the pretty ladies… very un-survivor-like but it worked! I am looking forward to a great season for Survivor China!

   Comment by Mick — September 23, 2007 @ 6:06 pm

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.