Survivor: Did Erik's Speech Sway the Jury?

How fitting that the best season in Survivor history ends with a blindside.  If you didn't see it, or haven't already heard, underdog Natalie won the million dollars, literally and figuratively upsetting Russell, one of the strongest competitors in the history of the game.  And if you ask me, she has Erik's impassioned speech at that final tribal council to thank for it.



John mentioned that the jury was interested in hearing more about Natalie's strategy.  I think a lot of them had already decided they weren't voting for Russell -- they were choosing between her and Mick.  The big strike against Natalie was her perceived weakness as a player.  Erik clarified that her passive approach to the game was just as valid as Russell's more aggressive strategy.  It's a risky to do what Natalie did precisely because of the inevitable backlash against you. It also takes strength to shut up and keep smiling when so many people around you are acting like jerks.

I would have voted for Russell, but have to admit that Erik's speech gave me pause.  It was a reminder that Russell's game, for all its strengths, was fatally unbalanced. He systematically alienated every member of the jury, banking they would nevertheless applaud his strategy.  But it's human nature to resent your betrayer, and Russell played the game so aggressively that jurors were looking for a reason -- any reason -- to vote against him.

So what do you all everybody think?  Did Natalie deserve the million?  Was this the best season of Survivor ever?  As always, you're welcome to post anonymously, but please identify yourself somehow, so I can distinguish between anonymous posters. Thanks!

Friday Morning Quarterback...

Every Friday morning I do a brief writeup and review of shows I watched the night before, including FlashForward, Fringe, the Office, 30 Rock, Survivor, and Parks and Recreation.  There will be spoilers about what happened, so consider yourself forewarned.

FLASHFORWARD: No new episode.

FRINGE: Review forthcoming...

THE OFFICE:  Review forthcoming...

30 ROCK: Review forthcoming...

SURVIVOR:  Review forthcoming...

PARKS AND RECREATION: Review forthcoming...

As always, you're welcome to post anonymously, but please identify yourself somehow, so I can distinguish between anonymous posters. Thanks!

Top Chef: Top Farce

Let me preface this by clarifying I have no problem, in principle, with Michael Voltaggio winning Top Chef.  He's a talented and charismatic chef -- albeit terribly insecure -- who thoroughly impressed me all season with his smart and sexy creations.  But my favorite was  clearly Kevin, whose simple food with complex flavors is pretty much my culinary ideal.  And I take issue with Kev's treatment during the finale, starting with the way he was unceremoniously booted from the room before they announced the winner, something I don't recall being done in years past.



Even more fundamentally, I was frustrated by how the producers screwed the Kevin by giving him Preeti and Ash, two of the less competent cheftestants, as sous chefs.  Ash apparently acquitted himself well, but compare him with the Voltaggio brothers' sous chefs, Eli and Jen, both of whom were in the final five.  Even the brothers' second sous chefs were superior to Kevin's.  Brian had Ashley, who struck me as competent despite her failures. And Michael had Jesse, who was lost on her own, but seemed to thrive under his micromanagement.  Preeti, by contrast, was an epic failure -- notice how she was absent from nearly all shots of Kevin.

I know some will say this was all random chance.  But that simply begs the question, which is the fairness of leaving such a decisive factor to chance.  I'm sure the producers were gambling that someone -- preferably Michael -- would be forced to work with Robin.  The problem is that Kevin paid the price for their stupid bet, which was totally unfair.  So, memo to the producers: in future finales, please give cheftestants at least some ability to choose their sous chefs.  Or if you don't, make sure the pool of candidates is even.  It's just not fair to shoot a talented chef like Kevin in his best foot before he has a chance to put it forward.

Friday Morning Quarterback...

Every Friday morning I do a brief writeup and review of shows I watched the night before, including FlashForward, Fringe, the Office, 30 Rock, Survivor, and Parks and Recreation.  There will be spoilers about what happened, so consider yourself forewarned.

FLASHFORWARD: A solid episode that showed what this show is at its best -- 24 with a sci-fi twist.  As I suspected, Simcoe and the Hobbit's experiment was probably not the cause of the blackout.  As I also suspected, the towers in Somalia had something to do with plasma. Tesla's dream was to transmit energy between massive towers  like Wardenclyffe using plasma as a conductor.  I just hope this installment was compelling enough to tide viewers over until March, when FlashfForward returns from hiatus

FRINGE: A solid episode that cemented John Noble as the best actor, and Walter Bishop as the most compelling character, on the show.  I was briefly worried they would try to shoehorn some kind of romantic relationship between him and Astrid.  But they played it perfectly -- I completely bought Walter's tenderness and regret over her assault.  On a tangential note, how much you want to bet Walter's GPS chip becomes a plot point later this season?  As with FlashForward, I just hope the break doesn't kill this show...

THE OFFICE: Meh.  Scott's Tots was too over the top for me.  I just didn't buy Michael actually showing up at the ceremony.  I was pleased to see Dwight regain some of the momentum his character has lost this season.  But the notion that Jim would trust Dwight to put together the blind tally was totally unbelievable.  I also thought David Wallace forgiving Jim, besides being a copout, was a missed opportunity.  It would make more sense to me if Jim fell out of favor with management, then redeemed himself by somehow saving the company.

30 ROCK: A passable entry that did nothing to undermine 30 Rock's reputation as the most consistently funny show on network television.  The HD gag was probably my favorite part, particularly Kenneth as a muppet.  Frank's transformation into Liz induced some chuckles -- I'm pleased when they showcase him, rather than the overexposed Kenneth.  Speaking of Liz, ladies take note, bangs are not hot.

SURVIVOR: In retrospect, John's decision to vote with Russell and Co. was a big mistake.  But even that massive blunder was completely eclipsed by Foa Foa's decision to leave Shambo hanging.  This was the first major strategic miscalculation that Russell has made.  I think Jaison is absolutely correct that taking Shambo's vote for granted will alienate her, as it did with Galu.

PARKS AND RECREATION: Review forthcoming...

As always, you're welcome to post anonymously, but please identify yourself somehow, so I can distinguish between anonymous posters. Thanks!