i just saw an interview with Sophie.

The plan was Rizzo went out with fie, Savannah got 5th, and Sophie won. That was the story they were going to tell.

Sophie found out that some of the cast on 50 found out the result. she called savannah while she was at the airport to tell her she can't lie.

rhutton125 said:

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I didn't realize how much I liked Kyle until he handled that injury like a pro, just positive and sure that the team will be ok, don't pull him from the challenge, we'll figure it out.

I think after 49 seasons he's the only winner I can think of that hits ALL the qualities you'd want in a player. Strong, smart, strategic, good at building relationships, doesn't lose the forest for the trees. Clearly he's likable enough for everyone to want to work with him (again). He's kind of the total package.

Dee, Genevieve, etc. are clear(er) threats because they were devious, but of the 3 winners on this cast, he's the one you probably least want to go to the final tribal with.

I guess what I'm saying is if you fast forward to season 70, I could have easily seen Kyle being a 2-time (or 3-time?!) winner by then if given the opportunities. Tough break for a good dude.

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What's particularly crazy about his injury is that he was already on top for the puzzle. Colby stayed to help everyone up but he couldn't get himself up. So Kyle jumped down to help Colby up but then Kyle tried three times to get up and couldn't, the 3rd time injuring himself. And the fall we saw wasn't even the one he injured himself on, it just looked crazier than the one that tore his tendon.

agsquirrel97 said:

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CK, is it worth a separate thread just to post PickEm rules and weekly points?

I'd be down for that so it is easier to find. Hopefully chatter holds strong all season on this thread. Seems to be much more interest vs previous seasons

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I always post it within 1-2 hours of the episode ending, so it shouldn't be too hard to find.

It's a travishamockery there's no On Fire podcast for this season.

Dang! I wonder why. I haven't listened in a few years but they were pretty consistent with it.

HTownAg98 said:

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It's a travishamockery there's no On Fire podcast for this season.

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yeah o wonder what the hell happened there

We are definitely getting returnee seasons after this ratings boost

I was telling my husband (he doesn't watch the show) after watching episode 1, that it felt more like the early seasons, where you only had "strong" players. It was so much more entertaining than watching the newer seasons with weak players splattered in. Maybe the powers that be will take notice, but I won't hold my breath.

CoolaidWade said:

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I can't believe this thing has been on for 50 years.

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It hasn't. They must have pushed out multiple seasons a year a few times.

2000 was the first.

time to pour one out for season 1 and watch the honeymoon tape

Crazy how quickly the show went downhill after the old casting director was let go. This season already feels like a return to former glory. There are enough actual entertaining personalities to carry this thing.

We will know way more after the next episode but could we be seeing a new era alliance vs old era - possibly pregamed ahead of time - where the newer folks have planned to get the older season folks out first - because they feel the game has "evolved" and they are the better players? Jenna first, look for Colby, Ozzy, or Cirie next?

Where is the line drawn when the reference new era - is it when it went to 29 days instead of 39 and when they quit moving locations?

Big Al 1992 said:

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We will know way more after the next episode but could we be seeing a new era alliance vs old era - possibly pregamed ahead of time - where the newer folks have planned to get the older season folks out first - because they feel the game has "evolved" and they are the better players? Jenna first, look for Colby, Ozzy, or Cirie next?

Where is the line drawn when the reference new era - is it when it went to 29 days instead of 39 and when they quit moving locations?

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I don't feel it's a spoiler because it's on the TV guide listings, but will spoiler it anyway.

The name of the third episode is "Did You Vote for a Swap?" suggesting a tribe swap very quickly, which could really jumble the old/new balance that's going on so far.

I don't know that I agree that that was the issue (not that it matters). There was a mandate for more representation in casting which I think in general is a fine thing. Some of the stronger players were international, minorities, etc. Folks also had compelling stories to tell, which could get a little tiring at a certain point but at least it was more interesting than the old diversity cast picks... I'm thinking the first 20 seasons, gay and black stereotypes who cause some early-season drama but no way they were going to win the whole thing.

I think what hurt seasons 41-49 most from a casting perspective was having these super fans who didn't really have what it took to finish a season. I can't remember which season (45, it looks like) but you had a first episode quit named Hannah and then a first vote out named Brandon who couldn't pull himself up the rope ladder to get back onto the boat. 4th out was a guy named Sean who ended up asking everyone to vote him out and talked about how he was satisfied with his Survivor journey. That **** sucked the momentum out of the season before it could get rolling. Thankfully the final 7 had Emily, Drew, Austin and Dee which was pretty strong but GD what a slog of a start.

I think sticking to the 3 tribes of 6 structure also got stale, as often times one tribe would get crushed again and again and you'd enter the merge not even knowing half the cast.

You can go through the roster of 41-49 and pick some strong players from each season - many of whom wouldn't have even been cast in the old days - but unfortunately you also get a lot of weak, happy-to-be-there types that could never actually make it to day 26. For every Dee, Genevieve and Yam Yam there's a Bhanu that isn't actually there to win. If they can figure out how to weed those out, we'll be golden!

I suspect you're both right!

I am very leery of "in the hands of the fans" rhetoric. So far, so good.

rhutton125 said:

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I don't know that I agree that that was the issue (not that it matters). There was a mandate for more representation in casting which I think in general is a fine thing. Some of the stronger players were international, minorities, etc. Folks also had compelling stories to tell, which could get a little tiring at a certain point but at least it was more interesting than the old diversity cast picks... I'm thinking the first 20 seasons, gay and black stereotypes who cause some early-season drama but no way they were going to win the whole thing.

I think what hurt seasons 41-49 most from a casting perspective was having these super fans who didn't really have what it took to finish a season. I can't remember which season (45, it looks like) but you had a first episode quit named Hannah and then a first vote out named Brandon who couldn't pull himself up the rope ladder to get back onto the boat. 4th out was a guy named Sean who ended up asking everyone to vote him out and talked about how he was satisfied with his Survivor journey. That **** sucked the momentum out of the season before it could get rolling. Thankfully the final 7 had Emily, Drew, Austin and Dee which was pretty strong but GD what a slog of a start.

I think sticking to the 3 tribes of 6 structure also got stale, as often times one tribe would get crushed again and again and you'd enter the merge not even knowing half the cast.

You can go through the roster of 41-49 and pick some strong players from each season - many of whom wouldn't have even been cast in the old days - but unfortunately you also get a lot of weak, happy-to-be-there types that could never actually make it to day 26. For every Dee, Genevieve and Yam Yam there's a Bhanu that isn't actually there to win. If they can figure out how to weed those out, we'll be golden!

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Bhanu did win, a MILLION HEARTS!

Rudyjax said:

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i just saw an interview with Sophie.

The plan was Rizzo went out with fie, Savannah got 5th, and Sophie won. That was the story they were going to tell.

Sophie found out that some of the cast on 50 found out the result. she called savannah while she was at the airport to tell her she can't lie.

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That explains her response when asked to "spill the tea" on season 49. Savannah asked tribe, what place to you think I got? Before answering that she won 49. It was kind of an awkward response in my opinion but reading this makes sense.

still don't think her response helped build trust with her new tribe mates.

I personally liked the 39 week seasons with no fire or food until earned, and only one regular immunity idol in play at a time. None of the other gimmicky stuff. Just straight out physical and mental hardball from start to finish. I also liked a good villian or two every season to stir up the pot and keep folks on their toes.

Edit - 39 days

Thy always had rice on the 39 day survivors.

Ag87H2O said:

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I personally liked the 39 week seasons with no fire or food until earned, and only one regular immunity idol in play at a time.

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A 39 week season would be brutal!

Always love how the weakest challenge participants immediately turn to voting out the strongest challenge people when they lose

I got excited about Christian finding the idol and giving it Aubrey.

I explained the game and she asked who else I had. So i read off the names and she says, Nerds dad. You only picked nerds.

Rudyjax said:

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Charlie
Mike W
Christian
Kamila
Audrey

Rizzo first boot.

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You can tell her that your nerd picks made you the #1 point getter for Episode 2, boss!