Survivor 21 & Amazing Race 17

[Byrd]

We combined these threads last year, might as well this year, too. Survivor starts this Wednesday, Amazing Race in a little under two weeks.

I'm psyched for Jimmy Johnson on Survivor, curious to see how an actual celebrity will be affected, and how the other contestants will react to him. I'm a little concerned that his age (67) may end up being the end of his game.

The first two minutes of tomorrow's Survivor can be found here.

But that's nothing compared to this clip from the Amazing Race, which may the single greatest moment the show has ever produced.

[Xanakali]

Reality TV sure is horrible.

[Corrderio]

Reality TV sure is horrible.

True, but that watermelon bit was pretty good.

[aduidarnenye]

Haha, didn't know that watermelon bit was from Amazing Race. Can't wait for it to start now. I like Amazing Race more than Survivor, but watch them both.

Looking forward to old vs young. I think the young folks will clobber the old folks for the first couple of weeks when they're still strong. Then the old folks will come back and decimate the young folks in later challenges.

[octopus]

I hope Jimmy Johnson actually does well and it's not some kind of gimmick to bring more viewers (I have to say the last 2 seasons with Russell were pretty damn entertaining).

Definitely looking forward to the Amazing Race again!

[Byrd]

Reality TV sure is horrible.

I know Survivor, Amazing Race and other similar shows (Big Brother, MTV's Challenge, American Idol, The Bachelor) all fall into the industry definition of reality show, but they seem more like game shows to me. These people are put into an extreme situation that's not even close to reality where the main idea is to compete for a grand prize at the end, whether that be cash, "love," or a record contract. That doesn't strike me as reality, but more like a game show.

Shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kendra, Cake Boss, Pawn Stars, Little People Big World and those MTV shows about pregnant teenagers and spoiled brat 16-year olds seems more like reality shows to me, where they are taking celebrities (or just random people) and following them around their normal days and filming their every move. That strikes me as far more "reality" than Survivor and Amazing Race.

Real World and Bad Girls Club (artificial situation, no cash prize) strike me as somewhere in the middle.

I realize that's not the industry definition, but they strike me as very different brands of shows; I'm not sure why the Emmy Awards classify Survivor and Kendra as reality shows, where it seems like Survivor and Jeopardy belong more in the same category to me.

[aduidarnenye]

Some of those people need to be voted off simply to get rid of people speaking with terrible accents.

[Corrderio]

I was wishing the old guys would win to get rid of that idiot with the nickname Fabio.

[Zeb]

Didn't see anyone I'd want to root for sadly.

[Xno Kappa]

Old tribe basically threw away their chance to gain momentum beginning the challenges. Was hilarious when everyone was confused on who to vote for until that Wendy chick started running her mouth lol. Angry black man's face expressions were priceless.

[Byrd]

Didn't see anyone I'd want to root for sadly.

It's hard to see more than about 5 personalities in the first show, one of which got voted out. Most of them I didn't think much of, but I did find myself enjoying Angry Black Man's facial expressions at tribal council, and his voting speech. I'm definitely interested in seeing how having a celebrity in the game changes things, so I'll find myself rooting for Jimmy Johnson for a while, as well.

[aduidarnenye]

There are no likable people on this season, excepting Tyrone, who has got all the facial expressions locked up.

[Corrderio]

Didn't see it and probably won't see this season either. Hell's Kitchen > Survivor, although HK doesn't have anyone good this season either.

[Byrd]

That was probably the craziest tribal council I've seen in a long time. That's two people committing tribal council suicide in two consecutive weeks. You've got the black girl calling out Fabio for being...himself? You've got the swim coach stealing some guys $1600 shoes, ruining them and then apologizing to the whole tribe. You've got an ER doctor figuring out the clue for the hidden immunity idol and....telling someone else where it was.

"I'm gonna get this out of the way right now. Are you gay?"

[Blarg]

Didn't see it and probably won't see this season either. Hell's Kitchen > Survivor, although HK doesn't have anyone good this season either.

have you not seen Raj on HK?

[Xno Kappa]

That Shannon guy was frothing at the mouth lmao. The second he started with that gay nonsense he lost half his alliance.

[Corrderio]

have you not seen Raj on HK?

Yes I have, but can you honestly tell me that guy wasn't planted there for ratings?

Still betting he's going to cut himself or get cut and get rushed to the hospital.

[Blarg]

Yes I have, but can you honestly tell me that guy wasn't planted there for ratings?

Still betting he's going to cut himself or get cut and get rushed to the hospital.

honestly I have thought that, that or he is there as some sort of method actor pretending to be a chef but he is still hilarious and several of those other chefs are batshit retarded

[Tyche]

Mallory Ervin (Miss America girl) is a friend of mine. She's on Amazing Race this season.

[Corrderio]

honestly I have thought that, that or he is there as some sort of method actor pretending to be a chef but he is still hilarious and several of those other chefs are batshit retarded

True, no chefs stand out for me ATM, either way I can't wait for Raj and Sabrina to get eliminated. Also should we add Hell's Kitchen Season 8 to the title?

Anyway for Survivor I didn't catch it, but did the old tribe play the medallion yet?