Image credit: Monty Brinton/CBS
Each week, host Jeff Probst answers a few questions about the most recent episode of Survivor: South Pacific.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Every season when I talk to the contestants before the game starts they go on about all these things that they are not going to reveal to the other players. And then they get out there and can’t help themselves. The latest example was Brandon telling his entire tribe about being Russell’s nephew, which he promised he wouldn’t do. Why can’t these people zip their lips? Is it a lack of discipline? And seeing as how people seem to have such a hard time keeping secrets about themselves, do you think contestants are better off just telling the truth from the get-go as opposed to having to come clean or get caught in a lie later?
JEFF PROBST: I think the answer to this question is the reason reality works in general – people want to talk about themselves. Whenever this topic comes up in casting and someone says “I’m not gonna tell anybody I’m a doctor,” I immediately say, “You won’t be able to help yourself.” People just want to talk and they want to share who they are and their accomplishments. In Brandon’s case, the guy is just so conflicted he doesn’t know what to do and as a result he’s reacting rather than acting and everybody sees it. It’s killing his game right now but it’s making him a candidate to take to the end because I don’t think he can win…at this point, anyway.
EW: Semhar is the first person to exit the game, as you predicted before the season started. (Good call!) So now I’m going to put you on the spot: Which contestant from which season were you most sorry to see go out first? (My vote goes to Francesca from Redemption Island.)
JP: Hmm good question.. and good guess as to my answer, but you’re wrong! I did like Francesca and would actually like to see her back on the show, but my biggest disappointment was seeing Jessica DeBen from Survivor: Fiji being voted off first. I really liked her style. She’s attractive, she seemed to have a good sense of herself. Then again, maybe it was better for her that she was voted off. Maybe she was too normal.
EW: Do you ever want to exercise any sort of veto power over self-appointed nicknames? For example, I have to imagine you felt a tad awkward having to say, “Papa Bear, the tribe has spoken.”
JP: Dalton, you’re a funny dude and pretty aware. I think Papa Bear was the toughest of all the nicknames we’ve had on the show. Something about it just felt slightly wrong, or like I was saying something that was not quite appropriate for Survivor. Ask me this question at the end of next season, you may get a different answer.
EW: Don’t you dare go anywhere until you tease us up good for next week!
JP: We revisit a classic challenge and at least one Survivor has a chance to break a record set years ago by Rupert “America’s Choice” Boneham.
For more from the host on last night’s episode, check out Jeff’s Tout page. To read Dalton’s recap, click right here. To watch the contestants describing their most embarrassing moments ever, as well as an exclusive deleted scene from last night’s episode, simply watch the video player below. And for more Survivor scoop, follow Dalton on Twitter @EWDaltonRoss.
Was it known Brandon was that twitchy when he was cast? For that matter, how did he get cast at all? Just came in and said “I’m a Hantz, I want to clear our name” and the producers went “you’re in!” ?
“Papa Bear” is great name for an old Gay Guy playing with the youngsters. It makes him seem nice and cuddly.
What is wrong with it? I think Jeff’s bias (or lust) is sneaking in.
It’s Papa Gay Bear wsugar, you loser. Or the Queer from Queens. Get the nicknames correct you loser.
hiwo
My Random Thoughts:
- Semhar gave her sweater to Christine and told her that she loved her. The previous night, they were asking each other’s name, and now Semhar “loves” her…after just a few hours together, most of which were likely spent sleeping? I predict a poem will be written at some point in the future about how her “best friend in the world” let her leave the South Pacific while she stayed behind selfishly.
- At the Immunity Challenge, Probst said, “Coach has been phenomenal with the grappling hook.” I’m thinking that was probably the first time that has ever been said, but I bet if you asked Coach, his response would start with, “Well, actually…there was this ONE time…
For the rest of my recap, Google “Sean’s Random Thoughts”
Sean – Papa Bears lap dancer
Sean’s website – virus heaven.
Hey! Didn’t you already post this exact same comment under the recap? Sorry your mommy didn’t love you but please inflict your pathetic need for attention on a therapist and not on the readers these comments.
Sorry for all the haters Sean, I liked your comment! I thought the same thing when Semhar said “I love you” and I laughed at the grappling hook statement. Brandon is Survivor viewing gold; he is so incredibly immature and thinks he’s so righteous. It would be sad if not for the fact he signed himself up for this. I love it!
He was cast because of that reason and then they realized after casting him that he’s a reality star in the making and a future Survivor AllStar.
wsugar is jealous of Papa Bear giving other posters attention! Ah! What’s the matter loser?
I for one don’t find Brandon even remotely entertaining. He is very disturbed individual with a complete disdain for women and the Survivor producers should be ashamed of themselves for casting him in a reality show.
AGREED!
I agree Jen. He should never have been cast. He is nauseating.
Brandon represents a niche I’m familiar with: a religious convert who is conflicted with what he thinks he should be verses what he wants/or thinks people expect of him. He thinks it’s “bad” to lie because Christians should “do good.” He doesn’t like a team member because her body makes him feel uncomfortable, and thinks nothing of evaluating his own struggles, just that girl = bad so girl must go. It’s hedonistic thinking that I’ve seen in early converts to evangelical faith. I consider myself a Christian so I’m not busting on all religion, but I’ve seen extremes like this where it’s either black or white and ususally the person is very confused about their own role and what it means to live as a person of faith.
ITA. This season (like last season) is fixating on one particular player and it’s boring.
Not long ago, the NY Times reported that in the reality TV business, casting directors have sought and cast people who are emotionally fragile, even some with Bi-Polar disorder. After all, “they make for really good TV.” For a long while, I have suspected this, and after many examples on Survivor and other reality shows, I have come to believe that this is true. Witness Semhar’s comments about her life, and don’t get me started about Little Hantz. This is all pretty cynical, and sad.
There’s nothing wrong with Brandon. He’s entertainment at its best level. Jen, you should be ashamed of yourself in insulting Brandon Hantz. A man of God that’s struggling with like he said good and evil on a minute by minute basis. Give the guy points for trying very hard while you are heading in the opposite direction of him, being a Hantz hater.
I assume he had to reveal he was a Hantz if he ever wanted to take off shirt…since it’s tattooed on his body!
What’s nauseating Jenny is people hating on the Hantz’s when you have the biggest pompous a– in Survivor history(Jim Rice) in the season. He’s the nauseating worm that must be squashed quickly.
Yeah, well when you know the ‘Bear’ connotation in the world of gay men, yeah, it is a bit ‘inappropriate’ for Survivor….LOL!! But I don’t think most people ‘get it’ Jeff. I think it was freakin’ hilarious that Coach was rolling his eyes at the extremely bad ‘poetry’. His first go-round I couldn’t stand Coach, but he’s totally grown on me and I look forward to his ‘aside’ comments. Major good call on her being the first to go Bye-bye. And the Russell Nephew….whoa…loonie tunes! Jeff, you’re such a hottie! That sarcasm is a total turn on to chicks!
Agreed. Coach has really grown on me too. He actually makes sense this time around. Now Brandon Hantz on the other hand…. whoa!
I know whoa is right Jerri. It’s great having a member of the Hantz family in the season.
Brandon is a freak and a half!!!! If he’s so religious and god forbid tempted (as he states) then he shouldn’t be on Survivor!!!! Everyone knows the women wear very little and use their looks to get far. I can’t wait until he gets voted out.. Please let it be soon!!!
Everything you said up until the loonie tunes part about Brandon was spot on PattyMR. But then you fell into the Russell and Brandon hating fanclub. So you are now are deemed a enemy of the Hantz fanclub and an enemy of the Hantz familly.
Hantz fanclub? Family? Enemy? This has to be a loser Russell post. Who else would be this deluded?
ask us if we care
Saline is Brandon’s wife.
So the Hantz family is now like the Sopranos?! Hardly!
Jules is accusing Brandon of not being a religious man. And saying that he shouldn’t have come on Survivor. Well he’s on now, so get used to him Jules Verne!
He is playing better but he hasn’t grown on me. In order to do that, he would recommend to his teammates to get Brandon out of there. He realizes the kid has a problem and knows the real reason for why Brandon hates Mikayla and he says nothing? He is still not playing with “honesty” and “integrity”. So he’s loyal to Brandon but not the rest of his alliance.
From all the negative posts by the Hantz trio about Jim Rice, I get the feeling that he must play a big role in getting troll jr. voted out.
Arnie the airhead replied on the other recap and now here again. And has the nerve to mention the word deluded in his post when he’s attacking a member of the Hantz family. Brandon and King Russell rule forever. Hope will be kept alive against foolish haters of Brandon and Russell. Arnie the airhead is deluded in thinking that his post matters against me, Tommy D!
It’s kind of hard being somebody’s wife Zackster when you’re a guy named Richard Saline. Let this be known to all posters how stupid Zackster is that he can’t tell the difference between a chick and greatness like myself.
The Hantz family top the Sopranos any day of the week.
What is this trio you keep talking about Puppy Dog? No poster matches up to the great Saline. I’m the best of the best. And as far as Jim the Jerk Rice goes, everybody posting and watching the season should clearly see what a jerk he really is just by looking at him and listening to him talk. Especially during the argument with Papa Gay Bear. He is a clown and a pompous a–! As for the outcome of the season, only Probst, Burnett and the production team know that Puppy Dope.
I do know the connotation, and it was not lost on me how “papa bear” kind of forced everyone to call him that by pointing out that he sort of looks like one. Which in the gay culture refers to a hairy, fuzzy, bearded gay man. Everybody has a type!
Patty MR, who cares about bears and gay people. The guy wanted to be called that. So no need to bring it up. As for Brandon he isn’t loonie one bit. Jim Rice is.
what record did Rupert set? hmmm…anyone?
Amount of weight carried on his shoulders, I believe.
Did that include the rocks in his head?
J.T. tied that record I believe in Tocantins.
I think but am not positive that JT might have been 20 lbs short.
It should be the elimination challenge. Papa Bear v. Christine. Totally fair.
It’s the tribe vs tribe challenge, holding the weight on their shoulders, in the intro you can see Brandon and Albert (and maybe others) doing it.
Albert seems like the guy most likely to beat that record. Did you see the way he pulled a guy up the wall single handedly the first challenge?
Smelliest contestant ever.
Now wsugar don’t go picking on people and accusing them of having rocks in their head when you clearly have a mountain between your ears. And it isn’t a brain.
@Saline – your posts will mean something when you figure out how to reply to the correct post you Idiot.
You’re not correct Sue. J.T. tied Rupert’s record during that season.
Rupert held up the most weight for the longest time. Aaarrrgh!
But I’m sure that J.T. tied that in Tocantins.
JT may have tied it, but Rupert set the record.
Hey wsugar! My posts have meant something since the dawn of posts. I am a legend on this site and an example of true greatness. While you’re nothing but a rookie that has no idea what they are talking about when it comes to this game called Survivor. And when these idiots figure out to put my post where I post it instead of several posts down then maybe my name will appear above yours where it belongs while you belong below. Whoever controls that must be as stupid as you wsugar. Probably a relative of yours.
But J.T. tied it Michael. That’s the point trying to be made. Not who did it first.
I’m surprised, but I don’t like Ozzy anymore, since I realized what an appearance snob he is. I had never realized before that he only aligns himself with the young and good looking. Mean girl male! Just because he is so cute and athletic, I gave him a pass. Silly me.
Um, did you watch Cook Islands? The first thing he did was orchestrate his tribe to throw a challenge so they could get rid of an overweight guy. Never liked him.
Ozzy sucks so bad and to call him a legend of this game is to do a disservice to people like Hatch and B Rob. God I hope Cochran can figure out a way to get him out. I would love to see Cochran be the Cinderella story of the season.
Cochran rules!
Speaking of not being able to keep stuff to yourself, why do people always blab that they have the idol when they find it? After Ozzie told that dude, he went and told Whitney (I think) and who knows who else she told.
Please ask Jeff to go back to writing up a follow up blog. I don’t live in instant internet and tout thing is a bit much…plus I like reading. As well on tout I am having a hard time finding the follow up blog all I can seem to find are questions and answers. Is his jeffprobst page not active anymore? It’s getting to be work just keeping up to all this new, interactive, omg I’m cutting edge on the computer stuff.
Life has it’s downs Jennige.
Like having Saline as your child.
Hey Saline, since you are to stupid to figure out where to post, I copied your reply to the correct place. You are welcome.
Idiot Post:
Saline
Fri 09/30/11 11:21 AMThe day my mother gave birth to me was the day the world changed forever. In a better direction, because it was announced at my birth that this is the great Saline that will serve many functions in life. One of the 100 great things he will do is place rookie wantabe’s in their place on posts. And given your stupidity and dumb nature wsugar along with lack of knowledge of the game it’s obvious that when you were born the exact opposite was said about you. Being the thron in the world’s side. And Rbonnie, you were agreeing with the great Saline. Just admit that you adore greatness!
Agree totally!
Sorry didnt see the othe poster when I submitted this. I am agreeing with jennige not saline. Miss the blog, enjoy it far more than touts or tweets.
Everytime I go to his tout page, my computer freezes up.
The day my mother gave birth to me was the day the world changed forever. In a better direction, because it was announced at my birth that this is the great Saline that will serve many functions in life. One of the 100 great things he will do is place rookie wantabe’s in their place on posts. And given your stupidity and dumb nature wsugar along with lack of knowledge of the game it’s obvious that when you were born the exact opposite was said about you. Being the thron in the world’s side. And Rbonnie, you were agreeing with the great Saline. Just admit that you adore greatness!
It’s great to know that the great Saline has a servant. And that is wsugar. When a servant knows his or her place and copies the great Saline’s posts, the world is working the way it should. Hey wsugar(Stupid) sometimes your post ends up where you want it to end up sometimes it doesn’t. It happens to every poster on this site. Even you! And you obviously need eyeglasses because you aren’t looking at the rest of my posts that did end up where I intended them to go. In any case, it doesn’t matter at all, as long as the point and message gets across to fools like yourself it doesn’t matter really where the post ends up. But it’s nice to know that I have servants like you wsugar who will correct the errors made by the post itself.
I’m disappointed Ozzie told his teammate that he had the idol.
I agree Dinana! That was clearly a dumb move on Ozzy’s part.
You can argue that it is a defensive move.
Ozzie was never a great strategist. He goes far because he’s well liked and does well in challenges.
Whatever the reason for the move that Ozzy did it wasn’t smart. Keith is a good player and will not be like the loyal lapdog Grant from last season. He’ll make his move when the time is right.
Really miss your blog Jeff. You should update your website or take it down.
I think people end up blabbing about stuff they shouldn’t because they just get so bored. They don’t have challenges every day, and there’s lots of down time where they’re just sitting around. The producers know this and love this, because when people are bored they will start acting stupid and then start saying stuff they should keep to themselves. I liked last season that Rob didn’t blab to everybody about his idol. He’s the only player I can think of who didn’t, which is one of the reason’s why he was so good.
Agreed! There will never be another Mariano.
Hey does anyone know how Christine would know about Matt making a run at redemption island? Was last season aired before this group went? I’m confused…
Was wondering about that myself. Weren’t they filming this already at the time RI aired?
No RI was filmed in the fall of 2010 and aired in the winter of 2011. This show was filmed in the summer of 2011 so they were up on all the strategy.
This was filmed in summer 2011? Wow this is still just the end of September. That sure is a fast turnaround to film, edit and already be broadcasting this entire season. I guess they must have it down to a science by now.
Why not have a season of survivor consisting of people from previous seasons who were voted off first? That would be a great season.
I 100% agree, Colette. I’ve been thnking that for years now. Except for that crazy lady who wrote a Survivor song. The one that didn’t even really get off the boat.
Colette, I LOVE that idea. Jeff, are you listening (or reading)?
Because you’re not a Survivor AllStar unless you made it to the merge or the episode right before the merge like Boston Rob did his first time.
Jeff, miss your blog!!!! Bring it back! Just not into all this tout and tweet stuff. I’m 60 and never missed one episode, this tout crap is for the kids, I’m not tech savy.
Dalton, (you’re awesome!!!) you should really have a psychologist analyze the episode for Brandon. The level of guilt he’s feeling, the need to pray to never sin again (rather than just be better), then blaming others for him sinning – you’re going to find some Son of Sam similiarities, it’s disturbing to watch.
Leave Brandon alone Sal. No shrink needed except for that sneaky poker player Jim the Jerk Rice. Brandon is a type of guy that battles good and evil everyday and it’s impressive to see somebody win the struggle against his inner nature or unleash his inner nature on everybody else. Either way he goes it’s great for viewers. Sal is the Son of Sam. Now that’s a similiarity that’s disturbing to read on this post. Shame on Sal!
its offensive to people that like the game of survivor for the editing to keep up this stupid hantz bs…
russ WAS a good player in at least one aspect of survivor. His nephew, is not…so when they say things comparing the two, its apples and oranges. one plays the game as what it is, a GAME, the other is a basketcase who uses excuses to deal with his perverted mind.
comparing the two is unfair to be honest. unfair to russ. yeah russ is a terrible person outside survivor in a way, but he knew it was a game, he came to play and to entertain, brandon came to pretend hes someone else. this “redemption” for the hantz name….it doesnt need redemption, it provided 2 amazing seasons of survivor, 2 seasons with moves brandom could only dream of. of course he would then tell the entire tribe of said dream
Russell was a great player in all respects as is Brandon. Alex just wishes that he was as good as the two hantz players. Neither are terrible people. Evil and terrible people describe all the negative comments made against them both.