December 16, 2007

Live-blog it with me: the "Survivor" finale.

Come on. You're watching, aren't you? Let's talk in the comments. I'm for the mean girl. The eye-roller, who doesn't mind saying what she thinks of people. Did she have a strategy, or was she just horsing around? I don't know, but it was unconventional, and I'd like to see her get a million dollars for it. So, go Courtney. No, I'm not for the "lunch lady," Denise, because she never figured out why it was in her interest to support Peih Gee. And I'm not for Amanda, because I've seen too many contestants like her win. She's too boring. Todd is just too ridiculous with his endless pronouncements about what a clever player he is. The most attractive thing about him is his bitchy edge. But Courtney did bitchy better, so I'm for Courtney.

ADDED: The consensus on the Television Without Pity discussion board is that Amanda lost it at the final tribal counsel. There's some interesting gender critique:
[Orion7} I think she lost because she didn't step up and take responsibility. She needed to say, "Yes, I lied, and it bothered me to hurt people's feelings, but I wouldn't change a thing, because it's what got me here." Instead, she hemmed and hawed and looked timid. She looked as if she rode in on Todd's coattails, instead of the other way around. Todd admitted that he'd lied, and that it was strategic, not personal....

[Miss Alli] Colby and Tina notwithstanding, when men and women from the same alliance face each other before a jury, the jury generally says, "He was a spirited, awesome imp; you were a backstabbing phony." At final tribal councils, boys rule and girls drool. So it was and ever shall be.
She continued her niceness routine, which worked to avoid elimination, into the final council where she needed to claim credit. She thought she could win by being likable. It's funny to read the TWoP discussion and see how many people were disgusted by her "doe eyes." Is this anything like real life? Does it say anything about the glass ceiling? Perhaps not. In real life, you don't have to win favor specifically from a group of people you've harmed and with whom you have no ongoing relationship.

38 comments:

Trooper York said...

I can't. I am commenting on some blog on the internets where this lady keeps bursting into tears and everyone is arguing about it. It's very interesting.

Anonymous said...

I'm watching. But I plan to turn the channel to watch the Dexter finale at 9:00. Though I'll record the last hour and reunion show to catch up later.

Ann Althouse said...

After watching the first segment, summarizing things, I have to give Amanda more credit. She was responsible for setting James up for the fall. That was key. She also said that lying low was her strategy, but I knew that, and I find that strategy boring. If she wins, it will only encourage future boringness. I don't want that.

Ann Althouse said...

"I want the brownies real bad."

Ann Althouse said...

Poor Courtney, doing all that work with no hope of finishing first. I think. Go Courtney!

Ann Althouse said...

Amanda!

Anonymous said...

There seems to always be a boring character that skirts through to the final. I like both Amanda and Courtney. But to win the million one of them has to be paired with Todd for the win.

I'm not sure how Amanda's blurred out booty will affect the vote. :)

Ann Althouse said...

Love the look on Courtney's face when Amanda contemplates the charity of keeping all the pizza for herself.

Anonymous said...

Courtney has a hard enough time lifting her own arms.

Ann Althouse said...

Oh, she shares with Todd. But he'll totally backstab here when the time comes. Why help him?

... "The Water Horse" looks pretty cool.

Ann Althouse said...

I think this is it: Amanda thinks Todd has -- and now definitely will have -- the greatest chance of winning the next challenge, so the idea is taht he'll have to favor her at that point, not because he wouldn't backstab, but because backstabbing after this would upset jurors.

Ann Althouse said...

"He's a slippery little sucker."

...

"Can I trust my girl?"

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
jeff said...

So this show is about some people living in a commune somewhere who are slowing starving to death? Have they eaten all the other people that were in the opening credits? And what the hell is Probst doing on this? I went to high school with him, am I going to have to hear about all this at the next reunion?

Ann Althouse said...

"Can I trust my girls?" (that is)

Anonymous said...

Reminiscing over the other players is the most boring part of the show. Time to find something to drink. :)

Anonymous said...

Since we were reminiscing, I would have been a fan of PG if she and Jaime didn't conspired to lose a challenge to vote someone off.

James was my favorite player this time around. It was a smart move on Amanda's part to blindside him.

Anonymous said...

Normally in this last challenge they have the contestants balancing themselves. This time they're balancing dish ware. Courtney's arm will fail her first.

Oops no, Todd couldn't hang on.

Anonymous said...

Courtney down. Denis is sweating big time...Amanda looks cool.

Anonymous said...

Amanda wins the finale challenge.

Ann Althouse said...

Wow. Amanda. She's smart and cool.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, Denise was thinking as if food was in the dishes by the way she was stacking.

Anonymous said...

Now to Dexter....the best show on TV. :)

Ann Althouse said...

"Since we were reminiscing, I would have been a fan of PG if she and Jaime didn't conspired to lose a challenge to vote someone off."

The problem there wast the way they acted up after they did it. The strategy was solid. But they gloated. That was stupid.

"James was my favorite player this time around. It was a smart move on Amanda's part to blindside him."

Eh. James wore out his welcome. He was too pleased with himself. He defeated himself. And it's not as if he got those idols on his own. He was admired for his physical prowess and he was just as easily rejected for his dominance.

Ann Althouse said...

There was some editing there that made Todd look like he was in danger, but I think Denise is going.

"This is not welfare."

Ann Althouse said...

It's so obviously going to be Denise/

Ann Althouse said...

denise!!!!

Ann Althouse said...

Who want's to go up against the lunch lady????

Ann Althouse said...

"a spectacular thing for a 40 year old woman"

Give me a break! 40? That isn't old! That's just the end of your 30s. You're young at 40. She's acting like 40 is 70.

J. Cricket said...

The sound of one person talking to herself.

alj said...

Now that Dennise is out, I am routing for Courtney--the skinniest underdog ever!

Todd is too slimmy and Amanda is too boring.

ALJ

Ann Althouse said...

Hmm... well, that looked hard on Amanda.

I kind of think Todd deserves it now.

At this point... on the last commercial break... I think Courtney IS going to win... which seems so wrong that I have little trouble continuing to support her.

Ann Althouse said...

Hey, my last minute switch put me on the side of the winner.

Anonymous said...

D'oh!

Liberal hollywood is pushing the homosexual agenda!

Cedarford said...

I saw the opener. I thought Courtney was a goner in the 1st week or so. Yet somehow, she lasted - as non-threatening, non-alienating. When I watched another show in November, I was surprised she and "lunch lady" were still viable.
She played the game different than past connivers. A whole new type in game theory on the show. The 90-lb piece of teflon.
Hope she wins. She would be unlike all past winners of the Todd, Amanda, or James variety.

Anonymous said...

Todd won?! Sheesh, I was rooting for Amanda.

"Eh. James wore out his welcome."

Well, besides that.... :)

rhhardin said...

It is not possible to figure out what the show is about from the comments. If it's a cooking show, what are the guys doing there?

Original Mike said...

If Courtney had won, I'd have moved to Canada.