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Ranking the Cast of Survivor Kaoh Rong: Brains Vs. Brawn. Vs. Beauty 2 (Part 2)

For part 1 click here.

The remaining castaways (ranked in order of least to most likely to win.)

12. Scot (Brawn Tribe)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Standing at 6’11” and weighing 310 lbs, is Scot Pollard, the former NBA Champion, and official tallest castaway to ever play Survivor. Scot is a self-proclaimed “cave man”, but comes across as a gentle giant. In fact, he seems so gentle, almost to the point where he is going to bore us to tears. Scot is under the impression that he can still win the game despite the fact that he already has a lot of money, which is not the case, as there is no way a jury would award a multi-millionaire another million dollars unless they REALLY played an amazing game. And that is not happening with Scot.

On a positive note, he does has a bit of a personality as Scot was known for having some crazy hairstyles back in his NBA days, and even got in trouble once for looking into the camera during a time out and saying “Hey kids, do drugs” because he didn’t think the camera was rolling, which is hysterical. Let’s just hope that is the Scot that plays Survivor, and not the boring, scripted Scot that was seen in his introductory video.

FINAL PLACEMENT PREDICTION: Scot will not be able to hide once the tribes merge, and will be one of the first members of the jury.

11. Peter (Brains Tribe)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

Barack Obama look alike, Dr. Peter, is a quadruple threat. He is smart, good looking, physically fit, and seems like an all around nice guy. He will excel in both physical and mental challenges, and as a doctor, should be able to form solid bonds with people from all walks of life.

Peter, however, will try to make big moves too early, and will get caught up in the process. While nowhere near as arrogant as Nick, Peter’s confidence could come across as arrogance if he is not careful, which will lead to the woman bonding together to hash up a plan to vote him out. His physical and mental abilities will be an asset for the first few votes, but I expect the castaways to see Peter as the number one threat early on, and do anything they can to vote him out before he can make the merge and cruise to he end of the game.

FINAL PLACEMENT PREDICTION – Voted out right before the merge, or one of the first jury members

10. Darnell (Brawn Tribe)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

Darnell, the skinniest “Brawn” of all time,  is going to be the comic relief of the tribe. His strength will be his social skills, and his humor will keep him around until the merge.
Expect to see many confessionals from Darnell explaining how he is not doing this for himself, but rather, doing it for all the children in the projects that he is showing that they, too, can one day be chosen for Survivor and compete for a million dollars. I never understood how being on a reality tv show is a way of proving to a demographic/generation that you can amount to something special, but what do I know?

FINAL PLACEMENT PREDICTION: Darnell will make the merge, but fall short of the final tribal council, much like Sean Rector from Survivor: Marquesas, whom Darnell stereotypically likens himself to.  6th place finish.

 

9. Cydney (Brawn Tribe)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

Cydney is the embodiment of a Brawn tribe member. As a 23 year old professional body builder, Cydney clearly has the dedication, determination and drive to stick it out for 39 days. It is always concerning, however, when someone labels themselves as “opinionated”, as Cydney has on her questionnaire. Sometimes being opinionated is a good thing, but when playing Survivor, if you are as physically intimidating as Cydney, and overly opinionated on top of that (plus she is only 23 years old), her tribe may be turned off by her quickly.

I expect Cydney to be voted out very early on, or make it to the finals, as people will want to take her to the end because they will not think she will have a shot to win.

FINAL PLACEMENT PREDICTION: Cydney will make the final 3, and receive zero votes to become the sole Survivor.

8. Neal (Brains Tribe)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

If I had to choose any of the guys to have a beer with, it would be Neal. He seems like he is someone that would be a lot of fun to be around, and not take himself too seriously. Neal is a smart guy that has created a wildly successful ice cream company from the ground up. He is a fan of the show, and seems like he would not have a problem stabbing his tribemates in the back if it would advance him any further in the game.

I fear though, that once the merge happens, Neal will be playing a bit too hard, and will be the victim of an all girls alliance that sees him as their biggest remaining threat. He may not be a fan favorite, but I predict he will be my favorite, and I will be super bummed when he is voted out mid jury. If, however, he is as good as I think he potentially could be, and makes the final three, he would blow away anyone else in a final vote, and win this season: hands down.

FINAL PLACEMENT PREDICTION: 8th place. BUT, if he makes the finals, he will be the winner.

7. Aubry (Brains Tribe)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

Aubry is a wild card. If this likable Social

Media Marketer, from Cambridge, MA can keep up with her tribe for the first few weeks, and help her tribe win immunities, she will sail to the end of the game. But if she become a tribal challenge liability, she could be one of the first to be voted out.

It is highly unlikely that she will spend a lengthy amount of time on the jury, as she will either be voted out pre jury, or voted out days before the finals. Hopefully, based on her intro video, it is the latter.

FINAL PLACEMENT PREDICTION: 15th place is she sucks in physical challenges. 4th place if she doesn’t suck in physical challenges.

For the final part of the countdown (6-1) click here.

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Ranking the Cast of Survivor Kaoh Rong: Brains Vs. Brawn Vs. Beauty 2

After the epic 31st season of Survivor, the cast of Survivor: Kaoh Rong has the tremendously difficult task of living up to its predecessor. So what better way to make sure it is a successful season than to bring back an old twist?  After all, it worked so well with Blood Vs. Water 2. Yes, that is an attempt at sarcasm.

The promos are promising this to be the most brutal season of all time, with multiple injuries, evacuations, and mid-challenge “Probst pauses” to check on boo boos attained by the castaways. And what better time than right after the football season has ended. Survivor: Kaoh Rong will be just what you need to fill the missing gap in your life of watching people get injured. Only now, instead of screaming at your TV “JUST ROLL HIM OFF THE FIELD AND CARRY ON WITH THE GAME.” You can scream “JUST ROLL THEM OFF TO THE SIDE AND FINISH THE IMMUNITY CHALLENGE.”

After countless hours of watching the cast’s video introductions on cbs.com (which I had to suffer through watching the same Valentine’s commercial about being in love with your best friend 18 times in row) I feel as though I am prepared to make my bold predictions as to who will win the thirty-second installment of televisions longest running competitive reality show. Can I publicly predict the winner 2 years in a row? You’re damn right I can.

Introducing the Survivor: Kaoh Rong castaways (ranked in order of the likelihood of them winning season 32) AS ALWAYS: ALL COUNTDOWNS ARE SPOILER FREE AND BASED SOLELY ON THE OPINION OF THE AUTHOR. Should you have your hands on any spoilers, please take them elsewhere.

18. Nick (Beauty Tribe)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

I certainly hope that this is just a case of somebody playing it up for the camera during interviews, because based on his intro video, this guy seems to be one of the least likable people that has ever played the game.

First off, he is a “life coach” and during his interview he basically says that his job is a bunch of B.S. and that the things he “coaches” his clients through is just common sense. He then goes on to share that he is really good at pretending to care what other people are saying because he has to pretend that he cares what his clients are telling him. I am sure that his clients love hearing that he could not care any less about them and thinks they lack any and all common sense.

There is no chance. Literally not a shot in hell, that this guy wins this game. He may stick around for a while based on the fact that he is one of only 2 strong alpha males on his tribe, but he could have the strength of the Incredible Hulk and his tribe would still vote him off eventually for being so arrogant and pompous.

FINAL PLACEMENT PREDICTION- He is voted out before the merge, and will be blindsided by the ladies of the tribe. The same ones that he thinks he has wrapped around his finger.

17. Alecia (Brawn Tribe)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

The fact that Alecia is 24 and has seemingly completed her bucket list already, is quite impressive. She seems like she is determined to prove her strength and does not back down from confrontation. This may not bode to well for Alecia on the Brawn tribe. The other 2 females on her tribe are much bigger and tougher than she is. Her “I’m a tough girl because I do adventurous activities, and am an adrenaline junkie” persona may work in the real world, but I don’t expect it to hold up enough to be a valuable asset to the Brawn tribe.

If she can survive long enough to merge with the other tribes, I can see her aligning with some of the Brains or Beauty girls, but if the Brawn tribe loses even one immunity challenge before any swaps or merges, Alecia is toast.

FINAL PLACEMENT PREDICTION – Pre Merge. First off the Brawn tribe. If they do not lose, she will survive a few more weeks, but will be out early merge for being seen as a flipper for trying to go against her former Brawn tribe that she couldn’t stand.

16. Caleb (Beauty Tribe)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

Big Brother’s Beast Mode Cowboy is back to try his hand at another reality show. If you watched Caleb on Big Brother you know that he is a nice guy. He is also funny, loyal, handsome, and genuine (And if you didn’t know that, I am sure he will tell you a few times during episode 1.) But you also may know that he does not have all that much going on upstairs (and if you didn’t know that, I am sure you will see proof of that many times during episode 1.)

I expect Caleb to play Survivor the same way he played Big Brother. He will be loyal to a fault to his alliance, but he will not make bold enough moves to win the game. The first time that his alliance is not in the majority, Caleb will likely be voted off. He will be a challenge threat, he will be a threat to win in the finals due to how likable he is, and he will be seen as a threat simply for playing Big Brother before.

If, by some miracle he is in the final 3, the jury will love him, and that is always a huge plus. But likability aside, will he be able to articulate to a jury why he should win the game? Very, very unlikely.

FINAL PLACEMENT PREDICTION: Caleb will be out around the merge. And at the reunion, Probst will make it a point to force Caleb to explain how much harder it is to play Survivor than Big Brother. 

15. Julia (Beauty Tribe)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

Julia is 18 years old. EIGHTEEN. As she explained in her interview, less than one year ago she was sitting in a classroom raising her hand to ask her teachers if she could use the bathroom.

While Julia is certainly well-traveled and has a significant amount of life experiences for someone of her age, she is going to be way out of her league for the harsh elements that are supposedly in store for her in Cambodia. She could be in danger of going home pre merge, should her tribe lose a few times, but I expect her to make it mid jury, and be the last of her alliance to be voted out, as she will not be seen as much of a threat.

FINAL PLACEMENT PREDICTIONS: Mid jury, I’ll go with 7th place. Should she make it to the end of the game, it will be because someone carried her there. She will not be the mastermind behind any big game moves, and therefore, I have a very hard time seeing a scenario in which a jury would reward a quasi-deserving 18 year old with a million dollars.

14. Debbie (Brains Tribe)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

Despite being the oldest woman in the game, Debbie will not be a challenge liability. She seems to be extraordinarily educated, and in great physical shape. The issue Debbie will have is her social game. Will she be able to fit in with the younger crowd?Debbie seems to be a bit of an oddball. (Her biggest pet peeve is the idolization of garish). Umm, what the….

She reminds me of Denise, winner of Survivor: Philippines, except for the fact that Denise was a bit more down to Earth, and blended in a bit more than Debbie will. If she can manage to form some bonds with some of the younger guys, like Denise, she could cruise to the end of the game, and have a very good shot at winning it all. If, however, she does not focus on her relationships, she could find herself being voted out in no time.

FINAL PLACEMENT PREDICTION: Debbie is a complete wild card that will determine her own fate simply by her relationships with the tribe. If she fails to form bonds, which is what I am leaning towards at the moment, she will be out immediately, maybe even first.

13. Elisabeth (Brains Tribe)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

Elisabeth is going into the game with the expectation of being a villain. While that may mean that she will not be scared to make some big moves, I don’t see it working out too well for her. She will try to make too many big moves, and will get caught. She may be too intelligent for her own good (she got a perfect score on her SAT’s) as she may think that her intelligence in real life will help her fool her competitors in the game.
Her intelligence may help her figure out some puzzles quickly, but will have nothing to do with helping people want to align with someone that they don’t perceive as loyal. She will flirt with all of the boys, but the only thing that will do is make the girls distrust her more, and work harder to get her voted off.

FINAL PLACEMENT PREDICTION: Pre merge – early merge. Maybe even the first one booted from the merged tribe.

Part 2 (#12-7) Click Here.

Head over to cbs.com to see the castaways for yourself and make your own predictions. Agree with the predictions? Disagree? Comment below and let us hear what you have to say.

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Who will win Survivor: Second Chance?

After one of the most popular seasons in the history of Survivor, Survivor: Cambodia – Second Chance has reached its final episode. In a season with more blindsides and twists than ever before, the final six have been determined. Some of the finalists were frontrunners from before the show began based on their past performance from their original season, but others, nobody could have predicted would make it to the end of the game (i.e. Kimmi.)

Before the finale tonight, let’s take a look back at the pre-game predictions for the final 6, and make one final prediction as to who will end up being the sole Survivor.

To see the pre-season predictions for the entire cast, click here.

(Ranked in order from least to most likely to win.)

6. Kimmi Kappenburg (Ranked #14 most likely to win it all back in September.)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

SEPTEMBER PREDICTION:

If Kimmi Kappenberg does not survive until there is a reward challenge that involves the tribes receiving chickens, I am rioting. After 14 years, Kimmi is back and we may finally get to see her play the game. Back in the Australian Outback we only saw Kimmi survive 1 tribal council, in which the tribe unanimously voted off Debb in the first episode. As a result, we never really got to see Kimmi play the game.

Kimmi has the potential to be a mastermind strategic player, and I desperately hope that she sticks around long enough for us to see her plot and scheme.

Like Shirin, there is a chance she could be seen as a challenge liability, which, on any other season, would make her an early target. This season, however, may have just the right amount of bigger early targets, which could help Kimmi fly under the radar right to the merge.

Final Prediction: She almost gets voted off many times before the merge, but manages to survive. Once the merge happens everyone forgets about her, and she cruises to the end of the game. She will be much more mature and likable than she was 14 years ago, and will be voted off in 4th place, due to the fact that she is well liked by the jury. She doesn’t win, but at the reunion she is so grateful for being able to actually play the game, and making it to the end. And Jeff Probst says the word “redemption” 6 times when referring to her.

FINALE PREDICTION

BY FAR the biggest let down of the season was the fact that Kimmi did not lose her mind about her tribe eating chickens. Her only confrontation was the result of Monica’s desire to save the clams from being depleted. Socrates himself could not have predicted that Kimmi Kappenberg would get into an argument about eating animals, and be the one that was PRO EATING them.

I have always been a Kimmi fan, but am thankful that we were finally able to see her play the game, even though her presence was minimal. Her lack of screen time  suggests that she was not a mastermind, but more of a follower. A few weeks ago, she was shown trying to form a female alliance, and that ended up lasting only a few minutes.

She was also much better at challenges than anticipated. She was never a challenge liability, and held her own in all the tribal challenges.

In September, the bold prediction was made of Kimmi coming in 4th place, and that is still a strong possibility. Regardless of her finish, she does not have a shot in hell at winning, but she has certainly redeemed herself, and should be very pleased with her second chance at playing the game.

5. Tasha Fox (Ranked #6 most likely to win back in September)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

SEPTEMBER PREDICTION

Tasha has decided that this time, instead of playing nice, she will simply “ask God for forgiveness” when the game is over. Tasha means business and has come to win this game. She was on the “brains” tribe in Cagayan, but she is also a physical force to be reckoned with; winning the second most individual immunities of any female contestant ever.

Once again, Tasha is starting the game with Kass, the woman who was mostly responsible for Tasha being voted out of her original season. Not only will she not let Kass screw her over again, I expect Tasha to completely own this game, voting out Kass, and just about everyone else along the way.

Final Prediction: Tasha will make the final 3, but will have pissed off too many people to get their jury votes at the final tribal.

FINALE PREDICTION

I am not sure Tasha has done enough evil that she has to ask her church and God for forgiveness, but she certainly played the game hard, and came to win. She did not shine in the immunity challenges this year, as she did in Cagayan, despite the fact that it seemed like nearly every challenge was a second chance for Cagayan players to redeem themselves.

As predicted, Tasha voted out Kass and, with the exception of Savage and Fishbach, everyone else whose name she wrote down.

I will stick to the prediction that Tasha will make the final three, but will have no chance of winning. The ONLY way Tasha can win is if she is in the final three with Keith and Kimmi. If that was the case, she would get the votes from Jeremy/Spencer/Savage and all she would have to do is convince 1-2 of the other jurors that she is not the devil, and hope they send their vote her way. I would say there is a 1% chance of this happening at best.

4. Keith Nale (Ranked #16 most likely to win back in September)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

SEPTEMBER PREDICTION

Typically the older members on a tribe are seen as a physical liability, but that is not the case with Keith. He was a challenge beast in San Juan Del Sur, winning more individual immunity challenges than anyone else.

The concern with Keith, however, is his ability to relate to the other castaways and form solid bonds with them. I can see him butting heads with some of the ladies on his tribe, particularly Kass and Kimmi, and if the girls can bond together, Keith will probably be their number 1 target.

In fact, I am anxiously awaiting the first time that Kass is appalled by Keith “hocking a loogie” at camp.  The argument will inevitable be dubbed #spitspat by CBS and the hashtag will magically appear on our screen in hopes that we all tweet about the dispute.

Final Prediction: Keith will probably fly under the radar for a while, but will be remembered for his impressive immunity run in his prior season, and will be voted off mid jury.

 

FINALE PREDICTION

I was wrong with Keith butting heads with some of the ladies on his tribe, and we hardly got any footage or montages of him spitting all over the place. In fact, the only time we saw talk of anyone disliking Keith was last week when he forgot Tasha’s name as he was having a stroke deciding who to pick to join him on the reward.

At this point Keith could beat Kimmi, and he could potentially beat Tasha, but since Tasha is not too fond of Keith, and he doesn’t even know her name, the odds of them ending  up in the final three together as extremely unlikely.

It is not out of the realm of possibility that he could beat any of the remaining five if he makes it to the finals, but as he is the biggest remaining challenge threat, he will likely be voted out the first time he does not win immunity.

Pre season prediction had Keith finishing mid jury, but it looks as though he will come up just short of the finals, just like he did his first season. But, if CBS decided to give away another million dollars for “America’s Fan Favorite” like they did when their boy Rupert didn’t win All-Stars, Keith would be the richest man in Shreveport, Louisiana.

3. Spencer Bledsoe (Ranked #7 most likely to win back in September)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

SEPTEMBER PREDICTION

I predicted Spencer to win his first season from episode 1 and he made it to 4th place. Spencer has everything you need to win this game: he is likable, athletic, intelligent, and strategic. The problem with that is he also has everything you need to be voted off immediately in an all-stars season: he is likable, athletic, intelligent, and strategic.

On top of that, he is also one of 4 returning Cagayan cast members, and you can be assured that the other 16 players are very, very aware of that.

Final Prediction: Spencer will be a huge asset to any tribe he in on pre merge. Once the merge happens, he will be toast once he loses individual immunity. 9th place

FINALE PREDICTION

As predicted Spencer was likable, athletic, intelligent and strategic. In fact, he played the game exactly the way I assumed he would. He narrated much of the season, and his story was developed so America would be rooting for him as an underdog, much like the way his story was developed in Cagayan.

What I overestimated, however, was the Cagayan 4. I can imagine how difficult it must be to trust someone that voted you out in a prior season, but if Woo, Tasha, Spencer and Kass made a pre-season alliance and stuck to it, things could have turned out much better for them. Sure Tasha and Spencer are in the finale, but they would have a much better shot at winning the prize if they were in the finals with Woo and Kass.

I predicted Spencer to be voted out at the merge the first time he didn’t win immunity. Fortunately for him, he found himself a friend in Jeremy at the perfect time.

2. Kelley Wentworth (Ranked #2 most likely to win back in September)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

SEPTEMBER PREDICTION

Before the season starts, this game is Kelley’s to lose. With her father, Dead Weight Dale, safely being miserable on his couch at home, she can easily fly under the radar. She is a super fan of the show, and she is physically and mentally capable of winning challenges.

I predict Kelley to be the head of an all girls’ alliance, and call all the shots. Kelley is ready to play a ruthless game, and has the potential to be a break out star of this legendary season.

Final Prediction: She will deserve the win, but will fall short and come in 2nd place.

FINALE PREDICTION

Amazingly, Kelley was predicted as the second most likely to win the game back in September, and on the night of the finale is still the second most likely to win the game.
Kelley was predicted to form an all-girl alliance, which she did in a way. If you call whatever Kelley, Kass, Ciera, and Abi-Maria had an all-girl alliance. She was, however, solely responsible for the biggest move in the game; voting out Savage.

In September I predicted Kelley to make it to the finals, and not receive enough votes to win, and while I still do not think she will win, it is not because I think she would lose in a vote. If Kelley makes the finals, I think she will beat any of the remaining finalists. The issue for her is going to be making the finals. The only person she may have on her side right now is her former San Juan Del Sur cast member, Keith. Sure she has an idol, which she will be able to save until the final 5 if Keith loses the first immunity challenge. And sure that idol will advance her to the final 4. But, if Kelley can not win the final immunity challenge, she is a goner.

If, however, Kelley can win the final 4 immunity challenge, she will likely be 1 million dollars richer come 10pm tonight. Crazier things have happened.

1. Jeremy Collins (Ranked most likely to win back in September. No big deal)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

SEPTEMBER PREDICTION

 

If Jeremy had started San Juan Del Sur on the other tribe, he could have won the game. He had the unfortunate luck of being placed on a tribe (and on a season) with little game play. Jeremy was ready to play the damn game, but he didn’t have the opportunity. This time around Jeremy will be with 19 other players that are ready to play, and he will have all the tools he needs to win Second Chances. 

Final Prediction: Jeremy will once again form an alliance with the ladies of the tribe, and I expect him to take those ladies to the final four with him. He will then do what Russell Hantz failed to do, and win the million dollar prize.

FINALE PREDICTION

While I was way off with the way that Jeremy would win the game, I was spot on with the fact that he was there to play the damn game, and wasn’t going to let a second opportunity go to waste.

This time Jeremy decided to bond with the guys, and have secondary relationships, albeit solid ones, with the ladies (with the exception of Tasha, who was his Natalie this season.)

Like Kelley, Jeremy has an idol and can play it through the final 5. If Keith wins immunity at 6, and Kelley uses her idol, Jeremy could be in trouble if he does not use his idol.

If he makes it past the first tribal with his idol in tact, the only way he will not make the finals is if Wentworth wins final 4 immunity. Even if she does, he has solid relationships with all the remaining finalists (as he is in a solid alliance with Spencer, Tasha, and Kimmi, and he was on his original season with Kelley and Keith) so he should not have an issue making it to the finals.

In the finals, although Spencer and potentially Wentworth could be more persuasive in telling the jury why they should win, Jeremy has friends all over the jury, and will have more than enough votes to beat any remaining player. If he is in the finals he wins, hands down.

He is by far in the best spot, and nobody deserves it more than he does.