Last week, Survivor: Philippines’ Angie left Jeff Probst speechless when she opined that the cure to all her tribe’s woes was a nice big plate of cookies. But Angie’s cookie craving was merely the latest in a long line of eye-popping, jaw-dropping moments to occur at Tribal Council. With this being the show’s landmark 25^th season, we went to the host with the most to get his picks for the five best Tribal Councils ever. And where better to get his selections than at Tribal Council itself? While out on location for Survivor: Philippines, I cornered Probst right after he snuffed Zane’s torch on day 3 to get his official list.

With well over 300 Tribal Councils to choose from, Probst certainly had plenty of crazy moves and moments worth considering, but he’s come up with a pretty nice list. Watch the video below (complete with footage from said moments) to see Probst’s picks, and then let us know your list of top five Tribal Councils. And for more Survivor scoop all season long, follow me on Twitter @DaltonRoss. Take it away, Jeff… READ FULL STORY »

Image credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

The potential for embarrassment when you go on a reality TV show cannot be understated. Frankly, if you don’t embarrass yourself, then what good are you? They put you on the show to embarrass yourself! Now get to it! Right before filming began, I decided to warm up the contestants of Survivor: Philippines for the experience for getting them to share with me their most humiliating moments to date, and boy, are there some doozies.

Which contestant once jumped into bed with the wrong (naked) man? Who accidentally flashed her lady parts? Who accidentally flashed his man parts? Who got caught shoplifting beef jerky? And who started vomiting violently just 3 days before filming began? To learn the identities of these and other culprits, click on the video payer below. (Note to self: never do Pete’s laundry. Never. Ever. Ever.) And for more Survivor scoop all season long, follow me on Twitter @DaltonRoss. READ FULL STORY »

Image credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Before every season, Survivor host Jeff Probst tells me the players he thinks have a good shot to win. But what’s always more fun is when he IDs the players he thinks can’t take home the million dollars. At the top of his list for Survivor: Philippines is a former Miss Teen Utah, Angie Layton: “She’s just naïve,” Probst told me on location right as filming on the season began. “She has a beautiful tan. And she’s concerned about it. And that’s a clue. You shouldn’t be thinking about that. Angie’s probably three years too early for this game and we probably shouldn’t have put her on.” READ FULL STORY »

Image credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

That Jonathan Penner is a crafty fellow. While I was on location at the start of Survivor: Philippines I saw the returning player schooling tribemate Katie Hanson on the nuances of searching for a hidden immunity idol (tip #1: If the camera crew does not bother following you while searching, you’re not close; if they scurry over quickly, however, BINGO!). While there, I also saw him do something else, and this being Penner, he completely ignored the rules about taking to press and/or cameramen while the game was afoot and told me all about it.

In the video below, you can see Penner tell us all about the items he is collecting for — yep, you guessed it — a fake hidden immunity idol. You’ll also be treated to part of my pre-game conversation with Penner, in which he compares the shame and humiliation of being medically evacuated to being voted out. “It’s harder to take and infuriating,” says Penner of being taken out of the game due to his infected knee in Fans vs Favorites, “but in some ways it’s easier than getting voted out.” Click on the video player below to learn why. And for more Survivor news and views all season long, follow me on Twitter @DaltonRoss. READ FULL STORY »

Image credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

If you are a fan of water challenges, then you have reason to be excited for Survivor: Philippines. That’s because the last eight seasons have been in locations (Gabon, Tocantins, Samoa, Nicaragua) that did not allow for underwater challenges. The best the show could do was have contestants paddle on top of or run through a few feet of liquid. But now you can expect full-fledged swimming, diving, and other assorted water-based activities. READ FULL STORY »