Screw it, I’m going out on a limb!
If you’re a loyal fan of Brain Spill, you’ll know exactly where I’m going with this. If you’re new to the Spill (first off, welcome! My name is Dora and I own North America), then I’ll explain for you.
This time last Survivor season (final seven), things were looking grim for the fan favorites Gary and Danni. I said to my fans that despite what numbers and logic and common sense would say, I was still going to root for one of those two to win. My logic was simple: what do we as fans have to lose by doing so? Oh sure, you could detach yourself from your favs just so you mentally prepare yourself for their departure. But I digress. I’m urging all of you to continue rooting for your personal favorite Survivor contestant. It makes everything more fun, and exciting. It keeps blood pumping through my cold, cold, arteries.
Think about this a little further in depth. Imagine your favorite contestant is highly outnumbered. That means that he/she is unlikely to make it to the next episode. So if he/she does get voted out, then it’s no big loss, since he/she needed a miracle to save him-/her-self anyway. But what if, par chance, something happened, and he/she was not voted out? Oh sure, it could be a fluke immunity win, which delays the boot by seven days. But if that’s the case, it’s still pretty sweet to watch that person kick ass for his/her one shining moment (case in point: Shii Ann Huang in All Stars. You can’t tell me that extra week with her wasn’t awesome). Or better than that, the tides turn, and the former underdog is now in the majority. That’s when it hits the fan, and who knows where it could go from there! The possibilities of such drama are endless!
Of course, if your favorite is someone in the majority, who is mathematically more likely to win, than go ahead and cheer them from the sidelines. I know I try not to please everyone with my column (if anyone at all), but I think I may win some support with this one. I’m saying that whoever you like most of the remaining contestants, you should not abandon hope for him/her. Stay loyal to your pick. It will help you out in the long run.
So where am I going with this? I’m going to take my own advice, and continue to cheer for my favorite player Terry. Terry’s been in the spotlight the entire season, so we all have had sufficient exposure to him. He’s just so likeable and … awesome. Who couldn’t love him! He’s a dad with an awesome job. And he continually kicks ass in the challenges. Plus he’s got … the talisman (that word is returning to its normal enjoyment levels for me). He’s got it all.
Okay, I’m well aware that Terry is the 6-1 underdog. But all that aside, Casaya seems very determined to self-destruct any time soon. Terry’s immune for at least one more week, so that means a Casaya has to go home this week. Casaya seems a little too crafty not to realize what’s at stake here. I have a hunch that Casaya will be split 3-3, and each side will not only WANT Terry, but NEED him. Now, for the purposes of column length, I’m going to assume such a split. I think if it is a split, it’s going to be men versus women. Shane and Aras are tight, as are Courtney and Danielle. Now that leaves Bruce and Cirie. Cirie has shown bonds with the females, and Bruce would be associated with the men by default. That leaves three guys versus three girls. This all seems like a possible scenario to me. So if it is 3-3, which side will Terry take? He’s “closest” to Bruce of all people left, but Terry seems too smart to side with the men (er, Aras). If it’s a split this week, it’s totally up in the air as to how it could go.
And rather than come to a conclusion as to how it will go, I’m leaving it open ended. We’ll let the mystery of what could be fill our week with gladness. So smile everyone, your favorite is still in the game, and anyone can still win!
Okay, those last two sentences were too girly even for me. Time for the bitchiness to emerge! Time for the Rundown! You know the usual Rundown disclaimer. Let’s get to it.
Loser’s Lounge:
16- Tina Scheer
15- Melinda Hyder
14- Misty Giles
13- Ruth Marie Milliman
12- Bobby Mason
11- Dan Berry
10- Nick Stanbury
Jury Hole:
9- Austin Carty
8- Sally Schumann (5). It was bound to happen. You have to admire Sally for sticking with it to the very end. You also have to admire the fact that she did not hold Terry responsible for her boot. True, he could have given her the talisman, and potentially turned the game around at that point. But when it comes down to it, the talisman is his, and Sally fully knew that. You gotta love a sweetie like Sally, and now we get to see her with makeup and dressed nicely in the Jury Hole. A final note about her, I have a lot of respect for her because she applied to Survivor five times before getting on; most people would have given up, but not her. Props to you Sally! Also, I have to send out my deepest condolences to David for Sally’s departure.
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7- Aras Baskauskas (7). People are on to him. I imagine Aras will be the first person targeted if the women band together. Of course, unknown to some, but someone other than Terry could win immunity. If that’s the case, it’s certainly plausible that Casaya sticks together to vote for Terry. Of course that means Terry votes for Aras, and game over for him. Either way, he seems unlikely to be around for much more time.
6- Bruce Kanegai (8). I still have no clue where he is. His saving grace is that Terry may recruit him. More good news for Bruce is that he’s so oblivious that people won’t vote him out any time soon. While the chances of him being voted out this week are slim, the chances appear even slimmer for him to win the million smackers (no pun intended with Bruce being smacked in the face with a machete). Do I sense a new recipient for the Lydia Morales Award for Futility?
5- Shane Powers (6). Is he pissed off enough to turn the game in his favor? Perhaps. Regardless, a decent showing for him this week. I shudder to announce that I almost cried seeing him with the family videos.
4- Courtney Marit (4). I ALMOST gave Courtney Player of the Week Honors. But not for her stellar performance this past week, but rather her reaction after the reward challenge. If you have it taped, go back and watch Courtney’s face as her teammates let her go. There’s a look of pure terror on her face, and for one split second, she literally thought she was going to be catapulted into the distance. I rewound and paused this precious moment, and my friends I was watching it with all died laughing. It’s utter hilarity. Anyway, Courtney didn’t screw up this week, so she stays put at #4.
3- Danielle DiLorenzo (1). No real reason for the drop. I felt really strong about the top two, and Danielle fell two spots by default. She’s still in a great position in the game, and I look forward to seeing her kick some more serious ass.
2- Cirie Fields (2). I had to give Cirie the slight edge over Danielle. First off, I’m not exactly sure what was up with Shane’s member last week, but since it is associated with Shane, it’s probably not cool. Cirie handled this like a total champ. But that’s not the explanation for her #2 spot over Danielle. I’m really thinking it’s men versus women this week, and Cirie is going to be the one that Shane will try to get on his side. In other words, Cirie can stick with the girls, or switch over to the guys. She has options, which are crucial at this point in the game. Who would have thought that Cirie could be the swing vote?
1- Terry Deitz (3). Player of the Week Honors, folks! Okay, I’m going to admit I’m highly biased towards Terry. I like him, and I reeeeeeally hope he wins. That’s my driving force for putting him at #1. But, Terry does still have a good chance at winning this thing. As sad as it may sound, Terry may be able to win immunities from here on out. And if par chance he misses one, he still has the talisman in his back pocket. Also worth noting is that IF he can’t rely on immunities, he still has the potential to turn this game around. For the past three weeks, he has tried sooooo hard to get people on his side, almost to the point where it has to work out for him some time. My prediction for Terry: I’m thinking of a man, who is highly likely to win immunities. This man is the last of his tribe, outnumbered 6-1. But rather than kick him out, members of the majority decide to recruit him to their side, thus composing a new majority. This new majority all goes to the final four, where said man dominates and ends up winning the game. Yep, that’s what my looking glass says for Terry. Does this story sound familiar? It’s the same essential plotline for Chris Daugherty’s Vanuatu victory. Chris did it, thus indicating a turnaround is possible. I’m pulling for Terry to do the same. Go Terry the Underdog!
I’m still cheering for Terry. He’s my favorite, and I’m a loyal fan. I suggest you follow suit, and root for your favorite as well.
That’s it folks! I’m concluding my column now because tonight is karaoke night, and I hear “It’s Raining Men.”
Until next time, when we discuss the impermanence of wicker furniture, stay cool.
~Dora
