12/16 Survivor: China Finale & Reunion Discussion

[Brendan]

After the live trick switch, my sister was like "holy crap, who are those people?"

When I said they were the final three, she said "Eww. They looked better in the jungle."

[Davis]

Originally Posted by Erika

Did anyone think Courtney and Todd are rivaling Denise for worst post-show makeover Todd looked like a kid from the 80's with that mess. And what, Courtney was up for a million bucks and she couldn't spring to get her bangs trimmed?

I didn't think Courtney looked that bad, in fact I think she looked a lot better than when she was on the show; I'm glad she gained weight (By the way, it was HILARIOUS when Courtney laughed about Jeff Probst "calling her fat"). Her bangs don't bother me that much.

As for Todd... he looked HORRIBLE. I can't believe he copied Denyse's haircut. I mean, I could maybe understand this if she had cast her vote for him, but she didn't; so why take her hairstyle?! Ee-gad, the mullet.

[coksy]

Originally Posted by Davis

As for what you said about Amanda's fatal flaw, as I said before, I entirely disagree. Amanda did not choose her "theme", if you will. She needed to focus on one element of her game-play, she needed to choose a main reason of why she should win (like Todd and Courtney did). Not only was she all over the map, but she even contradicted herself throughout her responses.

I may have expressed myself wrong, but what I meat to say is exactly what you just said. Amanda seemed unprepared and confused in her speech and answers. She played a good game, but she did not seem to realize it or highlight it in a way that made her look good. She seemed unconfident in her answers even though she had a good game to back her up. Courtney was the exact opposite, she had no game, but was VERY confident in using that as an advantage in her plea to the jury.

[Davis]

Originally Posted by coksy

I may have expressed myself wrong, but what I meat to say is exactly what you just said. Amanda seemed unprepared and confused in her speech and answers. She played a good game, but she did not seem to realize it or highlight it in a way that made her look good. She seemed unconfident in her answers even though she had a good game to back her up. Courtney was the exact opposite, she had no game, but was VERY confident in using that as an advantage in her plea to the jury.

Oops! I meant to say I "agree". Sorry!!

[kungfuhippie]

Dear Mark Burnett,
I suck at life. Please give me money.
Signed,
Survivor Fan

[Davis]

Originally Posted by kungfuhippie

Dear Mark Burnett,
I suck at life. Please give me money.
Signed,
Survivor Fan

Amen. I thought that was quite.. hilarious.. in a ridiculous sort of way.

Maybe it's the fact that it was a spur of the moment donation. Maybe it was because it came out of Burnett's personal pocket (or so he says). But I think what really tops off the situation is that it was directly after Denyse made her story about her life in despair. I don't mean to be insensitive, but it seemed like Denyse was merely trying to get sympathy by saying 'Poor Me' .

[Jay]

I don't mean to be heartless but I don't see why Denise should have been given the $50,000 unless her situation was more desperate than we know.

[toque]

Well, I don't know. She went on Survivor and went from having a crappy job to an even crappier one, that's not really saying 'poor me', it's just a horrible fact. It was Burnett's decision to help her out, so, why not? However, if I had been Denise, I would have vowed to pay it back eventually, to EG Pediatric Aids, so it's not so much charity.

I didn't care for her 'sob' story either, and I thought it was ridiculous that she thought she was a shoe-in if she got to the final three, but I think Burnett did a great thing, and if she can make a better life for herself and her kids, I can't argue with it.

Kungfu, harsh!!!

[Davis]

Originally Posted by toque

I didn't care for her 'sob' story either, and I thought it was ridiculous that she thought she was a shoe-in if she got to the final three, but I think Burnett did a great thing, and if she can make a better life for herself and her kids, I can't argue with it.

I do agree here, Mark Burnett did do a nice thing, and I don't dispute that. I hope it helps Denyse positively, all I was saying is from Denyse's end, it was pretty conveniant that she stated everything she did and how she delivered it. In my opinion, she wasn't reporting on her life, but I do think she definitely had an alterior motive (whether it be compassion, pity, or cash), just my opinion I guess.

[kungfuhippie]

Originally Posted by toque

Kungfu, harsh!!!

Yeah it was a little harsh. It just bothered me that she was such a complainer. She acted like everyone had a moral responsibility to make sure she won the million. Something to do with everyone else has so much potential (Todd will have his career in L.A. (?) (As what, flight attendant on John Travolta's private jet?)); Her life is over as a dessicated, elderly 40 year old and this was her last shot at success. Her attitude really turned me off. But if Mark Burnett wants to help someone out, good for him. I imagine there has been other Survivors in just as bad or worse situations at the end of their seasons, but they weren't complaining so much about it. But the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

[Davis]

Originally Posted by kungfuhippie

Her attitude really turned me off. But if Mark Burnett wants to help someone out, good for him. I imagine there has been other Survivors in just as bad or worse situations at the end of their seasons, but they weren't complaining so much about it. But the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Exactly!! It just bothers me.

Oh, and by the way, I woke up to see Todd on "Regis and Kelly", and he said that he too lost his job as a flight attendant, but he wouldn't be going back to it because he wanted to pursue another career path. He said the reason for this is that when going on Survivor, you have to keep it secret and not tell anyone, so when asking for a month of leave without a reason or explanation, occupations tend not to be favourable to this. This would make me speculate that Denyse was not the only one to lose her job, which is another factor furthering my dislike for her 'Poor Me' attitude. There's a time and a place, and a Survivor reunion is not it (unless your goal is to gain compassion or cash - I guess it worked).

[AIW]

Originally Posted by Jay

I don't mean to be heartless but I don't see why Denise should have been given the $50,000 unless her situation was more desperate than we know.

I think Burnett felt guilty due to the fact that she lost her job, the job she loved, by appearing on HIS show.

If she had lost her job because she sucked at it, that would be another story.

[MaxxFisher]

Originally Posted by AIW

I think Burnett felt guilty due to the fact that she lost her job, the job she loved, by appearing on HIS show.

If she had lost her job because she sucked at it, that would be another story.

It seems odd to read this post with a Courtney Avatar next to it

[toque]

I think it should also be pointed out that Denise didn't just blurt out the sob story, she was asked. Burnett and Jeff knew she was popular (wth?) and wanted to make her 'fans' happy too?

That's enough from me about it. I'm not even sure why I'm backing her at all, but it doesn't really seem like a big deal to me. Maybe also because desicated old ladies do that for one another.

[Erika]

Originally Posted by toque

I think it should also be pointed out that Denise didn't just blurt out the sob story, she was asked.

That was going to be my whole point about it too.

Also I think you guys are being a bit mean about Denise - we didn't even hear from her until what the 6th episode? Also, after that immunity challenge ended, Jeff did specifically instruct the Survivors to try to work any deal they could....maybe Denise felt her best strategy would be to guilt Amanda into voting Todd out? I think it's a fair enough strategy...certainly no worse that looking someone in the face and flat-out lying to them?

I don't get the whole anti-Denise sentiment actually. She was trying to stay in the game - she said what she thought would keep her there . Obviously if anyone of the 3 (Todd, Amanda or Courtney) would fall for a sob story it would be Amanda.

I am also pretty confident that Mark Burnett has done many things we haven't heard about, behind the scenes with these contestants...it just so happened he on the 'spur of the moment' or maybe not, decided to throw $50K Denise's way - I for one don't care - not like they took it from someone else and gave it to her...I don't get the big deal...Burnett's $$ he can do whatever he wants with it as far as I'm concerned.