Survivorfest China - week 10

James digs his own grave!

I've updated the page with the latest data: http://www.woltermanns.com/misc/survivor_2007.htm

Along with James, departs Ed, who has the honor of being the first player of Survivorfest to have all of his people voted off. Ed has his flame extinguished but takes $12.06 with him.

On to thoughts for this week's Survivor:

When we last saw our desperate band of castaways, Jeff had declared that they would not be sent back to their mainland paradise, but would remain at tribal council for "other business". That came in the form of a rewards challenge. The prize: the winner takes two others to a Shaolin temple.

James' relief was palpable when he realized that his failure to bring the immunity idols with him was not going to burn him.

He also dropped another Survivor Hall of Fame quote on us: "I want us to frolic naked as long as we can!" Sometimes you can take Garden of Eden analogies too darn far.

The rewards challenge was a trivia quiz on China. With the amount of groaning from the group, you'd think that some of them might have spent 15-20 minutes boning up on the place where they would be staying for the next 30-40 days.

Shockingly, the Chinese lady won the challenge. Seriously, what was their backup challenge? Hold 'Em poker tour winners? Most popular dishes served at middle schools? Seattle grunge groups? It put me in mind of watching the $20,000 Pyramid once where a contestant is paired with a celebrity and they basically play taboo. The one I recall was where Rob Reiner (Meathead) was asked to do "All In the Family" questions.

Peih-Gee chooses Erik and Denise to go with her. Fortunately, Denise doesn't begin weeping with joy.

Maybe I've watched too many Kung Fu movies, but when the threesome entered the temple and approached the two monks I really thought the monks were going to call them out to see how good their Fu really was. I think that was plan B in case James got to go. How cool would that have been? Who here wouldn't pay $50 pay-per-view to see James going at it with 2-3 Shaolin monks in a free for all? I thought so.

The monks gave a cool Kung Fu demonstration. If this were Chinese television I would have expected that the monks were performing their own rewards challenge. The winner would have got to cut Erik's hair.

I swear on my not-dead-yet mother's grave that the one monk just did the worm! They aren't monks....they're Chinese breakdancers! Electric Fu-Aloo 2!

The monks had some insider info that Denise was going for her black belt soon and asked for a demonstration. I was disappointed that she didn't have Courtney along so that she could break her in half. She seemed to do well, though I suspect that a few of the kids watching thought they could probably take her.

Is it just me or was Peih-Gee having some kind of allergic reaction? At the temple her face and eyes seemed all swollen like she was breaking out in boils.

Back on the mainland, we find the remaining survivors huddled in a little mud cave. Courtney's home away from home. Three more pounds and she probably turns invisible.

The immunity challenge involved throwing stars and three targets.

Peih-Gee starts off and nearly kills herself with the first throw.

Todd hits his target in the groin which, as it turns out, was a fairly popular spot in this challenge. They must be getting grouchy around day 30.

Surprisingly, Courtney does well in the first round. She did her rarely seen but still annoying horns symbol pose. Man, I can't wait until she turns invisible.

Denise: So much for the axe and knife throwing hobby, huh?

The challenge goes to a second round with four contestants and is eventually won by Erik, who looked like he might have been the only one to practice.

Back at camp Peih-Gee finds what she believes are James' hidden immunity idols. She rushes to tell Amanda to try to barter this knowledge to play another week.

Peih-Gee asks her if she's even aware of the existence of a hidden immunity idol. Amanda is offended: "I'm not stupid!". Hellooooo....we've had several people who were shocked, SHOCKED, to learn of the immunity idol and several who tried to play one that wasn't valid. Clearly it should be assumed that all of you possess some level of stupidity.

Amanda basically tells Peih-Gee to shut the heck up and act like she's getting voted off that night and something good might happen.

At tribal council, Jeff immediately tries to mess up Amanda's strategy by asking pointed questions about trust. And why James, in particular, should have any.

I am fairly appalled at this point to see James, who owns two (TWO) hidden immunity idols not play them. His inability to win individual immunity and his constant frustration with his other tribemates not sticking to the plan probably should have convinced him to burn one.

Alas, the big man leaves us with one last Survivor Hall of Fame quote: "I tried to hold those Fruit Loops together this whole damn time...it was killin' me!"

I'm gonna miss him.

See you next week on....Survivor!