Survivor: Blood vs. Water - Episode Eleven

Could've been a very different season if Aras and Vytas
had played a little differently...

Remember when Survivor used to air a season recap / previously unaired scenes episode on Thanksgiving week? I never liked those, and am certainly happy that they're not not making us wait an extra week for new action during a crucial part of the season... But unfortunately this week that meant I was unable to watch the episode or record my vlog right on Wednesday... I hope you'll forgive the lateness!

So, we're coming really close to the end now... and of course that means moves must be made -- or players must forever hold their peace. I was happy to see Hayden and Caleb attempt to make such a move, and have to commend their effort.

Other comments you'll find in this latest video relate to what happened on Redemption Island, how Ciera impacted Hayden and Caleb's "big" move, and how awesome Monica is playing.

I also wish I had more time to listen to all the podcasts and after-show episodes out there each week. I listened to Rob Cesternino's interview with Aras as well as Dalton Ross' one. Lots of insightful stuff, and a great place to keep the conversation going. I also discovered the music video for one of Aras' songs -- or rather Odd Us' songs -- "Sword In The Stone," which is really amazing. Both the song and the video. I highly recommend watching it. 

And now... here's this week's vlog on Episode Eleven of Survivor!

Survivor: One World - Episode Three: Places for Pride and Manipulation

Another super cool Survivor puzzle! 

This episode of Survivor saw me begin to feel some girl power solidarity... I'm still not super proud of my "team" so to speak, but even so, the men have fallen so deep into the chauvinistic and egomaniac stereotype that I can't help but feel defensive.

The exciting thing is: this season is inspiring many new reactions in me that previous seasons never have. That's not to say they're better or worse - but they're new, and that's saying a lot for a TV show that's been around for 24 seasons!

1. Should the girls be relying on the guys so much/at all/more?

In Richie Glanzer's blog post last week for Rob Cesternino's website, Sophie Clarke - winner of last season, and overall awesome chick who kicks ass as a representative of women anywhere - suggested that the girls weren't poaching off of the guys enough. She recommends playing the weak card and giving the men the impression that they are all-powerful... to then stab them in the back when the time is right. I have to say, my initial instinct was to wish for the women to be stronger and prove they don't need the guys; to tough it out like all the Survivor tribes before them who lost the tarp challenge and faced relentless rain had to do... But this season's set of rules should indeed breed a new set of strategies, and I think Sophie has a point. I'm still very eager to see how both tribes - and sexes - are going to continue to figure out what their best strategy might be. It's kind of like watching Season 1 all over again!

2. Shedding some light on the Manono [man?-oh-no] tribe proved they're not all d-bags. 

In previous episodes, viewers were slightly influenced to believe that all men - except for Colton - were egocentric, selfish, relentless, immoral bastards. [Flashback to them all agreeing to not continue competing in the first Immunity Challenge.] But this time, we finally got some more insight into the depth of the various tribe members. We got to see Bill through Colton's lenses (in my last post, I thought he seemed cool! as of this episode... it's hard to take him seriously), Matt through even darker scorned female lenses, and most of the members of the Misfits Alliance in redeeming lenses. My new favorite guy is Troyzan, who seems to have figured out a balance between being competitive and leveraging some power within his tribe while also being a gentleman and overall reasonable guy. Tarzan is also growing on me - aside from his ridiculous choice for a nickname. (At least Troyzan kept his original name in there...)

3. However, there's no way I could feel anything but totally thrilled that Matt got voted out. 

I don't like disliking someone on Survivor as much as I disliked Matt while watching the show. Especially now that I've met a whole crew... I know they're all really cool people playing the game the best way they know how - which let's face it, they usually don't seeing as they've mostly never played it before. [I can say I'd be an awesome player all I want, I really have no idea until I'm on that island dealing with the elements, the people I may or may not like, the challenges... That's part of the appeal!] Whatever kind of person Matt is in "real life," he handled himself extremely poorly on the show. Sure, he's strong and he was probably relying on that to be kept in the tribe. Of course, the tribe separation screwed him over in that sense and he had to find another strategy. But showing off your muscles and forming a macho-man tribe and strutting around thinking you've got all the power and being a total dick to the other tribe are certainly not appropriate strategy adjustments. If you want to hear something to help rid yourself of such strong feelings of animosity for someone you've never met, listen to his exit podcast with Rob and Nicole.

4. Is Colton a genius or a reckless drama king?

I mentioned in my last post that I felt strongly about the fact that Colton should have kept his Immunity Idol secret longer. And there he goes, flaunting it at Tribal Council like a diamond ring. But.... he doesn't use it like he says he would. Great - that maybe helps him for this Tribal Council, but how is he going to handle the rest? Does he seriously think that just because he has majority now and has made a point by helping to get Matt voted off (well, he wanted Bill off... so let's look at others for the job of puppeteer) that he's home free? If I were in his tribe, I'd stick with him, make him feel extra comfortable, and get his butt voted off as soon as I could, and the sooner the better. Colton is proving to be just as much of a power-hungry egomaniac as Matt...


I wanted to see more of the guys this ep, and my wish was granted! I'm still super pumped about this season and excited for the next episode! I think we're going to see a lot of adjusted strategies and interesting moves as the contestants get a better foothold on what their situation is... What are your thoughts and predictions? How do you feel about Matt getting voted off?

Diana's Top 10 Hottest Guys and Girls of Survivor

My most updated list is first, but feel free to scroll down to see the evolution of my rankings!

And remember: this is totally based on personal preferences and the way they look on Survivor, without makeup or facial grooming or anything, so if I'm missing someone you just can't understand I missed or put in someone you really can't relate to, feel free to let me know, but don't be mad if I just don't agree. To each his own! ;)

May 13, 2013

After watching the rest of Survivor: Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites, I just had to update my list again.... See below with changes in blue! Also, as requested by someone in my comments, I've linked each time to a respective picture of the person in question, so feel free to click and enjoy the eye candy.


THE GUYS

8. Tyson Apostol [Tocantins; Heroes vs. Villains]
7. Brendon Synnott [Tocantins]
6. Ethan Zohn [Africa; All-Stars]
5. Boston Rob Mariano [Marquesas; All-Stars; Heroes vs. Villains; Redemption Island]
4. Grant Mattos [Redemption Island]
3. Jay Byars [One World]
2. Ozzy Lusth [Cook Islands; Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites; South Pacific]
1. Malcolm Freberg [Philippines; Caramoan: Fans vs. Favorites]

Honorable mentions: Ben "Benry" Henry [Nicaragua]; Aras Baskauskas [Panama: Exile Island]; Greg Buis [Borneo]; Colby Donaldson [Australia; All-Stars; Heroes vs. Villains]; John Fincher [Samoa]

Only change here really is Malcolm taking the #1 spot from Ozzy, and that's mostly because of his brains. A man that's athletic, outdoorsy AND smart is just beyond sexy. [sigh]


THE GIRLS

10. Chelsea Meissner [One World]
9. Jenna Morasca [Amazon]
8. Eliza Orlins [Vanuatu; Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites] - even more gorgeous in person!
7. Kim Spradlin [One World]
6. Elyse Umemoto [South Pacific]
5. Parvati Shallow [Cook Islands; Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites; Heroes vs. Villains]
4. Amber Brkich [Australia; All-Stars]
3. Amanda Kimmel [China; Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites; Heroes vs. Villains]
2. Sydney Wheeler [Tocantins]
1. Brenda Lowe [Nicaragua; Caramoan: Fans vs. Favorites]

Honorable mentions: Kim Powers [Africa]; Elisabeth Hasselbeck/Filarski [Australia]; Tijuana Bradley [Pearl Islands]; Colleen Haskell [Borneo]

And again, only one major change here in Brenda taking the #1 spot. I find her strength and tenacity to be super attractive and well-deserving of this new ranking!

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February 23, 2013

It's about a year after I originally posted this, and I think it's time to revise my list! We've had quite the hotties join the Survivor tribe these past three seasons, and below is my amended list -- with new additions/changes in red -- one year later.


THE GUYS

8. Tyson Apostol [Tocantins; Heroes vs. Villains]
7. Brendon Synnott [Tocantins]
6. Ethan Zohn [Africa; All-Stars]
5. Malcolm Freberg [Philippines; Caramoan: Fans vs. Favorites]
4. Boston Rob Mariano [Marquesas; All-Stars; Heroes vs. Villains; Redemption Island]
3. Grant Mattos [Redemption Island]
2. Jay Byars [One World]
1. Ozzy Lusth [Cook Islands; Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites; South Pacific]

Honorable mentions: Ben "Benry" Henry [Nicaragua]; Aras Baskauskas [Panama: Exile Island]; Greg Buis [Borneo]; Colby Donaldson [Australia; All-Stars; Heroes vs. Villains]; John Fincher [Samoa]

I know that when I first posted this, many people were scandalized that Colby was absent, so I feel I must give him an honorable mention for the guys. He's not my type, but if got that many comments, he deserves a spot in this post! I'd also like to add everyone's favorite rocket scientist, John Fincher, for my good friend and fellow Survivor lover Alex. As for Malcolm, he may not be the prettiest on this list, but he's one of the most charming and attractive men to have graced the screen of Survivor, so I'm thrilled to be adding him to my list!


THE GIRLS

12. Kim Powers [Africa]
11. Elisabeth Filarski/Hasselbeck [Australia] 
10. Chelsea Meissner [One World]
9. Jenna Morasca [Amazon]
8. Eliza Orlins [Vanuatu; Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites] - even more gorgeous in person!
7. Kim Spradlin [One World]
6. Elyse Umemoto [South Pacific]
5. Brenda Lowe [Nicaragua; Caramoan: Fans vs. Favorites]
4. Parvati Shallow [Cook Islands; Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites; Heroes vs. Villains]
3. Amber Brkich [Australia; All-Stars]
2. Amanda Kimmel [China; Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites; Heroes vs. Villains]
1. Sydney Wheeler [Tocantins]

Honorable mentions: Tijuana Bradley [Pearl Islands]; Colleen Haskell [Borneo]; Angie Layton [Philippines]

Miss Kim Spradlin and Miss Chelsea Meissner -- both from Survivor: One World -- jump in here at #7 and #10 respectively, throwing Elizabeth Hasselbeck and Kim Powers out of the Top 10. This is due to their fierceness and charm, and hot looks while doing it. I can't say One World was my favorite season (not by far), but these two ladies sure represented for strong and beautiful women everywhere. As for Angie, I couldn't not include her -- she's clearly beautiful. She doesn't make the actual list as her looks didn't make up for her lack of charisma, and that's a very necessary quality for my Top Lists. 

So, what do you think? Am I missing anyone?? If so, let me know!!!



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Original List: February 4, 2012

When making this list (at a completely inappropriate time when I really should just have been going to bed...), I realized I could find the hot girls a lot easier than I could the hot guys.

The reason for that, I think, is that it's easier for me to objectively evaluate how beautiful/hot/sexy a woman is, rather than a man, who I also judge on bang-ability and old-fashioned charm.

For this reason, my Top 10 Hottest Guys list is actually a Top 6 Hottest Guys list. While there were other respectable candidates for the remaining slots, I kind of felt like I was selling out by filling them in. I just wasn't feeling it beyond these 6. But oh.... these 6!!

THE GUYS

6. Tyson Apostol [Tocantins; Heroes vs. Villains]
5. Brendon Synnott [Tocantins]
4. Ethan Zohn [Africa; All-Stars]
3. Boston Rob Mariano [Marquesas; All-Stars; Heroes vs. Villains; Redemption Island]
2. Grant Mattos [Redemption Island]
1. Ozzy Lusth [Cook Islands; Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites; South Pacific]

Honorable mentions: Ben "Benry" Henry [Nicaragua]; Aras Baskauskas [Panama: Exile Island]; Greg Buis [Borneo]

One pretty boy (Brendon), four super sexy studs, and one inexplicably magnetic heartthrob... I could comment on each one, but I think I'd rather just let the list speak for itself. If you have any comments, feel free to express them below and I'll be more than happy to respond!

THE GIRLS

10. Kim Powers [Africa]
9. Elisabeth Filarski/Hasselbeck [Australia] 
8. Jenna Morasca [Amazon]
7. Eliza Orlins [Vanuatu; Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites] - even more gorgeous in person!
6. Elyse Umemoto [South Pacific]
5. Brenda Lowe [Nicaragua]
4. Parvati Shallow [Cook Islands; Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites; Heroes vs. Villains]
3. Amber Brkich [Australia; All-Stars]
2. Amanda Kimmel [China; Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites; Heroes vs. Villains]
1. Sydney Wheeler [Tocantins]

Honorable mention: Tijuana Bradley [Pearl Islands]; Colleen Haskell [Borneo]

This post is quite timely what with Rob Cesternino's Miss Survivor contest happening right now! Nominees, which were submitted by fans, include Parvati Shallow, Courtney Yates, Andrea Boehlke, Amanda Kimmel and Jenna Morasca. Each will be interviewed by Rob and Nicole, and then submitted to the public for another vote. Jenna and Parvati have already had their interviews, so check 'em out by clicking on their names. Others will be up shortly, and voting starts again on February 8th! Follow the whole thing on RobHasAWebsite.

So, who do you think are the most attractive Survivors? Which ones particular awaken your lady or man bits? ...Don't be shy!