The thread for keeping track of confessionals this season, and any other observations any of you want to add regarding confessionals.

But before I get to the tracker, let me say I think this season's version of the theme song in the opening credits is one of the best ever. I hope we get to hear it every episode, not some truncated version, really gets the juices pumping.

Speaking of the opening credits, this is the order the players were introduced the first time:

NOOBS
Michael
Laura
Eddie
Julia
Matt
Allie
Shamar
Sherri
Reynold
Hope

NON-NOOBS
Malcolm
Brenda
Cochran
Dawn
Phillip
Erik
Andrea
Brandon
Francesca
Corinne

And let me personally thank the wardrobe department for having the two new nearly identical blondes wear matching yellow tops with pink underthings just in order to drive me crazy whether one or both of them had a confessional in the intro.

• Week 1,dabo, 03:07 AM, 02-15-13
  • RE: Week 1,AaronLittleton, 06:07 PM, 02-19-13
• Week 2,dabo, 08:06 PM, 02-21-13
• Week 3,dabo, 02:31 PM, 02-28-13
• Week 4,dabo, 02:22 AM, 03-08-13
• Week 5,dabo, 07:08 PM, 03-14-13
  • RE: Week 5,michel, 01:32 PM, 03-17-13
    • RE: Week 5,dabo, 02:33 PM, 03-17-13
      • RE: Week 5,michel, 09:51 PM, 03-17-13
• Week 6,dabo, 01:10 PM, 03-21-13
  • RE: Week 6,3rd Place Winner, 04:22 PM, 03-21-13
    • RE: Week 6,dabo, 08:09 PM, 03-21-13
      • RE: Week 6,PepeLePew13, 08:45 PM, 03-21-13
        • RE: Week 6,Sheldor, 08:49 PM, 03-21-13
          • RE: Week 6,dabo, 10:58 PM, 03-21-13
            • RE: Week 6,3rd Place Winner, 05:04 AM, 03-22-13
              • RE: Week 6,beaglemaster, 12:02 PM, 03-22-13
              • RE: Week 6,michel, 12:53 PM, 03-24-13
• Week 7,dabo, 04:22 PM, 03-28-13
• Week 8,dabo, 09:45 PM, 04-04-13
• Week 9,dabo, 11:17 PM, 04-11-13
• Week 10,dabo, 02:12 PM, 04-18-13
  • RE: Week 10,5cats, 12:27 PM, 04-19-13
    • RE: Week 10,5cats, 12:52 PM, 04-19-13
      • RE: Week 10,dabo, 01:15 PM, 04-19-13
• Week 11,dabo, 09:55 PM, 04-25-13
• Week 12,dabo, 07:54 PM, 05-02-13
  • RE: Week 12,beaglemaster, 04:13 PM, 05-03-13
• TP Comparisons,dabo, 08:14 PM, 05-02-13
  • RE: TP Comparisons,tribephyl, 03:15 PM, 05-03-13
• Week 13,dabo, 10:57 AM, 05-09-13

No trends yet of course, but with 20 players we have only two zeroes this week (thanks in part to it being a 90-minute episode, thank you).

episode       1 | total
Allie (G)     1 | 1
Andrea (B)    2 | 2
Brandon (B)   2 | 2
Brenda (B)    1 | 1
Cochran (B)   5 | 5
Corinne (B)   0 | 0
Dawn (B)      2 | 2
Eddie (G)     2 | 2
Erik (B)      2 | 2
Hope (G)      0 | 0
Julia (G)     1 | 1
Laura (G)     2 | 2
Malcolm (B)   1 | 1
Matt (G)      5 | 5
Michael (G)   2 | 2
Phillip (B)   4 | 4
Reynold (G)   4 | 4
Shamar (G)    4 | 4
Sherri (G)    1 | 1
eliminated
Francesca (B) 8 | 8

The Totem Pole
Cochran (B) 5
Matt (G) 5
Phillip (B) 4
Reynold (G) 4
Shamar (G) 4
Andrea (B) 2
Brandon (B) 2
Dawn (B) 2
Eddie (G) 2
Erik (B) 2
Laura (G) 2
Michael (G) 2
Allie (G) 1
Brenda (B) 1
Julia (G) 1
Malcolm (B) 1
Sherri (G) 1
Corinne (B) 0
Hope (G) 0

Thanks for the effort with the confessional tracker, Dabo!

Yes, it was great to see that 18 of the 20 received confessionals

LAST EDITED ON 02-21-13 AT 08:41 PM (EST)

episode       1  2 | total
Andrea (B)    2, 0 | 2
Brandon (B)   2, 3 | 5
Brenda (B)    1, 0 | 1
Cochran (B)   5, 1 | 6
Corinne (B)   0, 0 | 0
Dawn (B)      2, 3 | 5
Eddie (G)     2, 0 | 2
Erik (B)      2, 0 | 2
Hope (G)      0, 0 | 0
Julia (G)     1, 0 | 1
Laura (G)     2, 2 | 4
Malcolm (B)   1, 1 | 2
Matt (G)      5, 1 | 6
Michael (G)   2, 0 | 2
Phillip (B)   4, 2 | 6
Reynold (G)   4, 2 | 6
Shamar (G)    4, 2 | 6
Sherri (G)    1, 2 | 3
eliminated
Allie (G)     1, 2 | 3
Francesca (B) 8 | 8

Big difference this week as nearly half the cast zeroed (in a regular one-hour episode). Not the boot, of course, so nearly half the remaining cast going forward, 8 of 18. Corinne and Hope still in Purple Mode. Cochran and Matt had the biggest drops but are still up top on the totem pole, which is a 5-way sausagefest. Brandon, Dawn and Sherri had the only (minor) bumps (one more for each) this week.

TOTEM POLE
Cochran (B) 6
Matt (G) 6
Phillip (B) 6
Reynold (G) 6
Shamar (G) 6
Brandon (B) 5
Dawn (B) 5
Laura (G) 4
Sherri (G) 3
Andrea (B) 2
Eddie (G) 2
Erik (B) 2
Malcolm (B) 2
Michael (G) 2
Brenda (B) 1
Julia (G) 1
Corinne (B) 0
Hope (G) 0

episode       1  2  3 | total
Andrea (B)    2, 0, 1 |  3
Brandon (B)   2, 3, 1 |  6
Brenda (B)    1, 0, 0 |  1
Cochran (B)   5, 1, 1 |  7
Corinne (B)   0, 0, 1 |  1
Dawn (B)      2, 3, 0 |  5
Eddie (G)     2, 0, 1 |  3
Erik (B)      2, 0, 0 |  2
Julia (G)     1, 0, 1 |  2
Laura (G)     2, 2, 5 |  9
Malcolm (B)   1, 1, 1 |  3
Matt (G)      5, 1, 1 |  7
Michael (G)   2, 0, 1 |  3
Phillip (B)   4, 2, 1 |  7
Reynold (G)   4, 2, 4 | 10
Shamar (G)    4, 2, 4 | 10
Sherri (G)    1, 2, 3 |  6
eliminated
Hope (G)      0, 0, 1 |  1
Allie (G)     1, 2 | 3
Francesca (B) 8 | 8

Week 3, and big noisy guys Reynold and Shamar become the first players to break double digits. Also bumping up this week were Laura (big bump) and Sherri (minor bump, again though). And purples Corinne and Hope finally got confessionals, 1 each (not much of a boot story for Hope), with Andrea, Eddie, Julia and Michael jumping back in from their zeroes last week. Zeroing this week, Brenda (again), Dawn (big drop), and Erik (again). Brandon also got a drop? I'd say that's a bad sign for a bully boy who is all talk and no game. Fans hold the top three spots on the totem pole, Laura (the blonde with game) breaking the male domination and grabbing third place this week.

TOTEM POLE
Reynold (G) 10
Shamar (G) 10
Laura (G) 9
Cochran (B) 7
Matt (G) 7
Phillip (B) 7
Brandon (B) 6
Sherri (G) 6
Dawn (B) 5
Andrea (B) 3
Eddie (G) 3
Malcolm (B) 3
Michael (G) 3
Erik (B) 2
Julia (G) 2
Brenda (B) 1
Corinne (B) 1

episode       1  2  3  4 | total
Andrea (B)    2, 0, 1, 2 |  5
Brandon (B)   2, 3, 1, 1 |  7
Brenda (B)    1, 0, 0, 0 |  1
Cochran (B)   5, 1, 1, 3 | 10
Corinne (B)   0, 0, 1, 0 |  1
Dawn (B)      2, 3, 0, 0 |  5
Eddie (G)     2, 0, 1, 4 |  7
Erik (B)      2, 0, 0, 0 |  2
Julia (G)     1, 0, 1, 0 |  2
Malcolm (B)   1, 1, 1, 1 |  4
Matt (G)      5, 1, 1, 0 |  7
Michael (G)   2, 0, 1, 4 |  7
Phillip (B)   4, 2, 1, 2 |  9
Reynold (G)   4, 2, 4, 5 | 15
Sherri (G)    1, 2, 3, 1 |  7
eliminated
Laura (G)     2, 2, 5, 2 | 11
Shamar (G)    4, 2, 4, 2 | 12 (medical evacuation)
Hope (G)      0, 0, 1 |  1
Allie (G)     1, 2 | 3
Francesca (B) 8 | 8

Reynold is way out in the lead. With the "MELTDOWN" next week there's not much point in analysing this week too closely. Cochran breaks double digits. As did Laura, in her own boot episode. Reynold and Eddie got a lot of attention, with a big spike for Eddie. Zeroes this week are Brenda "Serenity", Corinne "the Dominatrix", Dawn "True Grit", Erik "the Silent One" (suckiest secret identity ever), Julia "Speed Racer", and (surprisingly) Matt "Pitstop". Malcolm has the steadiest edit. Top of the totem pole is once again male dominated.

TOTEM POLE
Reynold (G) 15
Cochran (B) 10
Phillip (B) 9
Brandon (B) 7
Eddie (G) 7
Matt (G) 7
Michael (G) 7
Sherri (G) 7
Andrea (B) 5
Dawn (B) 5
Malcolm (B) 4
Erik (B) 2
Julia (G) 2
Brenda (B) 1
Corinne (B) 1

LAST EDITED ON 03-14-13 AT 07:09 PM (EST)

episode       1  2  3  4  5 | total
Andrea (B)    2, 0, 1, 2, 1 |  6
Brenda (B)    1, 0, 0, 0, 0 |  1
Cochran (B)   5, 1, 1, 3, 0 | 10
Corinne (B)   0, 0, 1, 0, 2 |  3
Dawn (B)      2, 3, 0, 0, 1 |  6
Eddie (G)     2, 0, 1, 4, 3 | 10
Erik (B)      2, 0, 0, 0, 0 |  2
Julia (G)     1, 0, 1, 0, 0 |  2
Malcolm (B)   1, 1, 1, 1, 2 |  6
Matt (G)      5, 1, 1, 0, 4 | 11
Michael (G)   2, 0, 1, 4, 3 | 10
Phillip (B)   4, 2, 1, 2, 3 | 12
Reynold (G)   4, 2, 4, 5, 2 | 17
Sherri (G)    1, 2, 3, 1, 3 | 10
eliminated
Brandon (B)   2, 3, 1, 1, 6 | 13 (intervention)
Laura (G)     2, 2, 5, 2 | 11
Shamar (G)    4, 2, 4, 2 | 12 (medical evacuation)
Hope (G)      0, 0, 1 |  1
Allie (G)     1, 2 | 3
Francesca (B) 8 | 8

Brandon's intervention was the main story this week and pretty much the entire focus at Bikal, with Brandon grabbing six confessionals controlling his own crash and burn. Phillip at #2 on the totem pole got a slight bump in confessionals, breaks double digits. Cochran surprisingly zeroed this week. Andrea holds steady. Dawn is back with one confessional this week after having been quiet the previous two weeks (given the emotional explosiveness of the situation and that she is prone to emotional moments, her confessional was wonderfully rational). Malcolm is holding steady, breaking his one per episode pattern with two confessionals this week. Corinne got a two-confessional bump, which is not a good sign for her but she overtakes zero Erik on the totem pole. Zero Brenda is on the bottom of the totem pole.

At Gota the problems of the tribe and their inability to get their act together gave almost everyone a chance to grab some attention. Reynold at the top of the totem pole with a healthy five confessional lead over Phillip, found another HII and is looking strong, though his episode count dropped off this week (mainly because so many others had high counts). Big bump for Matt, who breaks double digits. Eddie holds relatively steady and breaks double digits. Michael holds steady and breaks double digits. Sherri bumps back up after a bad week last week, breaks double digits. Julia zeroes again.

TOTEM POLE
Reynold (G) 17
Phillip (B) 12
Matt (G) 11
Cochran (B) 10
Eddie (G) 10
Michael (G) 10
Sherri (G) 10
Andrea (B) 6
Dawn (B) 6
Malcolm (B) 6
Corinne (B) 3
Erik (B) 2
Julia (G) 2
Brenda (B) 1

Nice work Dabo!

One thing that is very noticeable is that Gota still had 15 confessionals in an episode that was high on Bikal drama. Last week was high on Gota drama and Bikal had only 8 confessionals, almost all of which were heard during the reward. Gota remains the tribe of interest.

The winner almost always isn't the most visible player and certainly not the least visible so I'd look for someone with around 8 confessionals. Being right there in the middle, hidden by the big distractions, is the place to be unless you are Boston Rob. Too bad there isn't anyone with an 8 so how will the 6 and 10s sort out by the merge?

I have to ask though how you count confessionals? For me, Cochran's 3 from last week were really only 1 confessional delivered after the reward but spliced into three segments. The editors often cut a confessional in two, choosing to show a group interaction in the middle to stress a certain aspect of the confessional. As a rule, I'd count that as 1 confessional, not two or three. Same with Sherri's confessional right before the idol search. It was filmed during one session and delivered during the same scene so it should be one confessional.

How I come up with my counts? Fair question.

First, what I don't count. Nothing is counted during Probst's recaps at the start of each episode. Nothing said at Tribal Council is counted, not even voting confessionals. Final words aren't counted, except final words during an episode for a medical evacuation, with the episode continuing.

Re-used material from previous seasons isn't counted. During the introduction of the favorites this season there was a lot of that, Andrea and Brandon had new material confessionals during that segment. (I checked around before counting the Brandon confessional, he was wearing his Caramoan shirt so it was material from this season.)

Okay, the basics of how I count them. When a player has a confessional, then another player has a confessional, then the first player has or continues a confessional, that counts as 2. The focus shifted from the first player to the second player then back to the first player, that is reflected in the counts. If there is a long time break and then a confessional continues, without a break to another player, then I usually just count that as 1. If there is a change of subject I might count it as 2, that's where it becomes a judgment call.

Thanks for the explanation.

LAST EDITED ON 03-21-13 AT 05:41 PM (EST)

episode       1  2  3  4  5    6 | total
Andrea (BG)   2, 0, 1, 2, 1, 0s1 |  7
Brenda (BG)   1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s0 |  1
Cochran (BB)  5, 1, 1, 3, 0, 1s1 | 12
Corinne (BB)  0, 0, 1, 0, 2, 1s4 |  8
Dawn (BB)     2, 3, 0, 0, 1, 0s0 |  6
Eddie (GG)    2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s1 | 11
Erik (BG)     2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s1 |  3
Julia (GB)    1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0s1 |  3
Malcolm (BG)  1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 0s1 |  7
Michael (GB)  2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s0 | 10
Phillip (BB)  4, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2s3 | 17
Reynold (GG)  4, 2, 4, 5, 2, 1s1 | 19
Sherri (GG)   1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 0s0 | 10
eliminated
Matt (GB)     5, 1, 1, 0, 4, 0s2 | 13
Brandon (B)   2, 3, 1, 1, 6 | 13 (intervention)
Laura (G)     2, 2, 5, 2 | 11
Shamar (G)    4, 2, 4, 2 | 12 (medical evacuation)
Hope (G)      0, 0, 1 |  1
Allie (G)     1, 2 | 3
Francesca (B) 8 | 8

Tribal swap week, as indicated by the #s# counts (before and after swap). Most of the attention this week was on Bikal and then Bikal2, with Phillip and Corinne getting the most confessionals, 5 each. That's a big bump for her (climbing) and a tick up for him in his eratic course. Phillip is in solid second on the totem pole, positioned to overtake Reynold who has steadied with 2 this week. Zeroes were Brenda (on the zero streak), Dawn, Michael and Sherri (her first). The Gota Fans happily turned on one another: Reynold and Eddie threw Sherri under the bus; Sherri threw Reynold under the bus; Matt and Michael dutifully voted Julia; Julia probably impressed Phillip by remaining loyal and boring. Cochran is back in form, Andrea and Malcolm are positioned to control Gota2, Erik heard the alarm bells.

TOTEM POLE
Reynold (GG) 19
Phillip (BB) 17
Cochran (BB) 12
Eddie (GG) 11
Michael (GB) 10
Sherri (GG) 10
Corinne (BB) 8
Andrea (BG) 7
Malcolm (BG) 7
Dawn (BB) 6
Erik (BG) 3
Julia (GB) 3
Brenda (BG) 1

LAST EDITED ON 03-21-13 AT 04:23 PM (EST)

Thank you for compiling this, dabo - it is fascinating. I can't believe that Brenda has only had one confessional so far all season. Even among the eliminated players, all but one (Hope) had more confessionals than Brenda has had even though she has outlasted them. Even Julia has had 3!

It's like Brenda's been invisible this season - if you didn't see her play in Nicaragua, it would be fair to wonder why they wanted to bring her back again. I assume that if we suddenly start hearing from her, that means she's next to go. RIP.

I don't understand, really, why Brenda and Erik haven't had some more confessionals. Neither are uninteresting bland personalities (which seems to be the case for Julia) and can make for fun television. Brenda's one confessional was amusing, and Erik has been kind of funny. Both are now Gota2 and pretty much guaranteed to make the merge, and last awhile as bigger threats are targetted.

If I had to hazard a guess, it'd be because Brenda and Erik did something to piss off the producers with their actions in the game later on so this is the producers' way of showing their 'appreciation'.

I was thinking the same thing PepeLePew13! Like Purple Kelly quit and she got edited out of Nicaragua. I was wondering if Brenda's left knee injury would force her out but she was running pretty well in the immunity challenge last night. I thought Erik would get a lot of confessionals after the tribe swap but nope!

I had thought that Brenda and Erik just weren't very important in the Bikal storyline after the first episode, even their votes for Brandon were just the way things had to be under the circumstances.

But now they are at Gota2 and things there are shifting. Malcolm is in a great position: he knows about Reynold's idol, he alone knows he also has an idol, Sherri is losing allies, Reynold and Eddie are hungry to play; he can easily form a new alliance and take numbers and two idols into the merge. His plans have to include at least two of the former Bikal, all three if he thinks he can trust them -- though he could be thinking of reuniting with Corinne to help fill out his alliance. (Andrea is the one I have questions about. Smart as she is, is she solidly with Phillip and his Stealth stuff or is she just playing along like the others as long as it serves her purposes?)

Erik broke his zero streak this week, perhaps next week will be Brenda's turn.

You know, another interesting thing to note is that 4 of the eliminated players each had way more confessionals than almost all of the players still left in the game. At first I was wondering if a low count meant someone wouldn't win, but then I realized that yahoos like Shamar and Brandon, and even Matt & Laura, were all into double digits.

So (a) no wonder there's been no time for anyone else to speak when the nutty ones (Shamar, Brandon, and Phillip) are awarded all the airtime; and (b) a plethora of confessionals isn't necessarily a good thing for someone's chances for longevity. Sorry if those are old observations, I'm sort of new to this party.

I am disappointed with the editing this season. All the focus is on the crazies. Unless your causing turmoil of some sort yourself the only way to even get a second of screen time you have to be standing next to someone who is. 8 of the men have gotten double digits for confessionals but only 2 of the women have. 1/3 of all confessional are from Phillip, Brandon, Shamar and Reynold. Throw in Francesca and the annoying and/or crazy castaways get 40%. We know Malcolm and maybe Brenda and Andrea can be entertaining. It could be true for any of the others we haven't gotten to see, but because Probst only cares about turning every episode into the Jerry Springer Show which has nothing to do with playing a good survivor game, we don't get the benefit of seeing that. There is so much more going on between the castaways that impacts the end game but it is not even being shown. Not loving Survivor like I used to.

LAST EDITED ON 03-24-13 AT 12:55 PM (EST)

Welocome aboard 3rd place winner

I can tell you that is has almost always been that way. Sucks developed a Middle-of-the-Road Differential based on it: The winner is most likely to be right in the middle regarding visibility. Hidden by the big distractions but not forgotten.

Right now, Reynold and Phillip have been distractions all season long, Corinne is taking over for Brandon and quickly becoming one herself. Always look first at the people with average confessional numbers to be the winner. Only someone like Rob would be high in visibility and still win.

episode       1  2  3  4  5    6  7 | total
Andrea (BG)   2, 0, 1, 2, 1, 0s1, 1 |  8
Brenda (BG)   1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s0, 0 |  1
Cochran (BB)  5, 1, 1, 3, 0, 1s1, 7 | 19
Corinne (BB)  0, 0, 1, 0, 2, 1s4, 5 | 13
Dawn (BB)     2, 3, 0, 0, 1, 0s0, 2 |  8
Eddie (GG)    2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s1, 0 | 11
Erik (BG)     2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s1, 0 |  3
Malcolm (BG)  1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 0s1, 3 | 10
Michael (GB)  2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s0, 1 | 11
Phillip (BB)  4, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2s3, 7 | 24
Reynold (GG)  4, 2, 4, 5, 2, 1s1, 2 | 21
Sherri (GG)   1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 0s0, 0 | 10
eliminated
Julia (GB)    1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0s1, 1 |  4
Matt (GB)     5, 1, 1, 0, 4, 0s2 | 13
Brandon (B)   2, 3, 1, 1, 6 | 13 (intervention)
Laura (G)     2, 2, 5, 2 | 11
Shamar (G)    4, 2, 4, 2 | 12 (medical evacuation)
Hope (G)      0, 0, 1 |  1
Allie (G)     1, 2 | 3
Francesca (B) 8 | 8

Phillip and Cochran took the lion's share (7) and the gorilla's share (7) this week, with Corinne grabbing the tiger's share (5). Corinne and Malcolm (3) hit double digits and move up the totem pole. Taking over the top of the totem pole from Reynold, Phillip! Just what he wanted. Cochran has a healthy 3rd and may overtake Reynold, who has settled into a 2 pattern.

Most of the action this week was at Bikal, Dawn got 2, Julia 1 (return of the low count boot), and Michael 1. Over at Gota Andrea (1) got the lone female confessional at reward and then the coffee took over. Brenda (0), don't know what she did too tick off whomever she ticked off, the zero streak extends to six weeks now. Eddie, Erik and Sherri all zeroed this week as well. The good news for them is they should all four be safe next week as all stories reach the merge.

TOTEM POLE
Phillip (BB) 24
Reynold (GG) 21
Cochran (BB) 19
Corinne (BB) 13
Eddie (GG) 11
Michael (GB) 11
Malcolm (BG) 10
Sherri (GG) 10
Andrea (BG) 8
Dawn (BB) 8
Erik (BG) 3
Brenda (BG) 1

episode       1  2  3  4  5    6  7    8 | total
Andrea (BGE)  2, 0, 1, 2, 1, 0s1, 1, 1m2 | 11
Brenda (BGE)  1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s0, 0, 0m0 |  1
Cochran (BBE) 5, 1, 1, 3, 0, 1s1, 7, 0m6 | 25
Dawn (BBE)    2, 3, 0, 0, 1, 0s0, 2, 1m1 | 10
Eddie (GGE)   2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s1, 0, 0m0 | 11
Erik (BGE)    2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s1, 0, 0m2 |  5
Malcolm (BGE) 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 0s1, 3, 0m4 | 14
Michael (GBE) 2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s0, 1, 0m1 | 12
Phillip (BBE) 4, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2s3, 7, 0m1 | 25
Reynold (GGE) 4, 2, 4, 5, 2, 1s1, 2, 1m2 | 24
Sherri (GGE)  1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 0s0, 0, 0m1 | 11
eliminated
Corinne (BBE) 0, 0, 1, 0, 2, 1s4, 5, 2m4 | 19
Julia (GB)    1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0s1, 1 |  4
Matt (GB)     5, 1, 1, 0, 4, 0s2 | 13
Brandon (B)   2, 3, 1, 1, 6 | 13 (intervention)
Laura (G)     2, 2, 5, 2 | 11
Shamar (G)    4, 2, 4, 2 | 12 (medical evacuation)
Hope (G)      0, 0, 1 |  1
Allie (G)     1, 2 | 3
Francesca (B) 8 | 8

Merge week, as indicated with the #m# counts (pre and post merge). And let me first thank the editors for not forcing Phillip on us this week. Great episode in a lot of ways, that was just one of them. Cochran 2.0 and Boot Corinne shared top honors this time, each gobbling up 6 confessionals. This earned Cochran a top spot on the totem pole, and well Corinne got her torch snuffed. Sharing top spot on the pole for the moment, Phillip (falling), whose measely 1 confessional was a huge drop off. Reynold's 3 has him just behind the leaders in third.

Back in the pack, Andrea (rising) had 3 to reach double digits, Dawn (steadying out) had 2 to reach double digits. Malcolm's 4 has him as leader of the pack, rising. Michael and Sherri each had 1 to keep with the pack, while Eddie zeroed and is hanging on.

At the base and yet to reach double digits we have Erik, who got a nice 2 confessionals this time, and Brenda continuing her zero streak.

TOTEM POLE
Cochran (BBE) 25
Phillip (BBE) 25
Reynold (GGE) 24
Malcolm (BGE) 14
Michael (GBE) 12
Andrea (BGE) 11
Eddie (GGE) 11
Sherri (GGE) 11
Dawn (BBE) 10
Erik (BGE) 5
Brenda (BGE) 1

episode       1  2  3  4  5    6  7    8  9 | total
Andrea (BGE)  2, 0, 1, 2, 1, 0s1, 1, 1m2, 4 | 15
Brenda (BGE)  1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s0, 0, 0m0, 0 |  1
Cochran (BBE) 5, 1, 1, 3, 0, 1s1, 7, 0m6, 4 | 29
Dawn (BBE)    2, 3, 0, 0, 1, 0s0, 2, 1m1, 3 | 13
Eddie (GGE)   2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s1, 0, 0m0, 1 | 12
Erik (BGE)    2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s1, 0, 0m2, 0 |  5
Malcolm (BGE) 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 0s1, 3, 0m4, 4 | 18
Phillip (BBE) 4, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2s3, 7, 0m1, 2 | 27
Reynold (GGE) 4, 2, 4, 5, 2, 1s1, 2, 1m2, 3 | 27
Sherri (GGE)  1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 0s0, 0, 0m1, 1 | 12
jury
Michael (GBE) 2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s0, 1, 0m1, 0 | 12
eliminated
Corinne (BBE) 0, 0, 1, 0, 2, 1s4, 5, 2m4 | 19
Julia (GB)    1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0s1, 1 |  4
Matt (GB)     5, 1, 1, 0, 4, 0s2 | 13
Brandon (B)   2, 3, 1, 1, 6 | 13 (intervention)
Laura (G)     2, 2, 5, 2 | 11
Shamar (G)    4, 2, 4, 2 | 12 (medical evacuation)
Hope (G)      0, 0, 1 |  1
Allie (G)     1, 2 | 3
Francesca (B) 8 | 8

Top players this week were Andrea, Cochran and Malcolm, each claiming four confessionals. And they are playing their hearts out. Dawn and Reynold each claimed three, because talking to Dawn about your big plan is a critical error, and because whatever Reynold has planned the opposite will happen. Phillip continued his slide with only two confessionals this week. Eddie and Sherri each had one. Predictable zeroes Brenda and Erik again. Michael got no confessionals in his own boot episode because he wasn't actually the story.

Cochran (BBE) 29
Phillip (BBE) 27
Reynold (GGE) 27
Malcolm (BGE) 18
Andrea (BGE) 15
Dawn (BBE) 13
Eddie (GGE) 12
Sherri (GGE) 12
Erik (BGE) 5
Brenda (BGE) 1

episode       1  2  3  4  5    6  7    8  9 10 | total
Andrea (BGE)  2, 0, 1, 2, 1, 0s1, 1, 1m2, 4, 1 | 16
Brenda (BGE)  1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s0, 0, 0m0, 0, 1 |  2
Cochran (BBE) 5, 1, 1, 3, 0, 1s1, 7, 0m6, 4, 4 | 33
Dawn (BBE)    2, 3, 0, 0, 1, 0s0, 2, 1m1, 3, 5 | 18
Eddie (GGE)   2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s1, 0, 0m0, 1, 1 | 13
Erik (BGE)    2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s1, 0, 0m2, 0, 1 |  6
Malcolm (BGE) 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 0s1, 3, 0m4, 4, 2 | 20
Reynold (GGE) 4, 2, 4, 5, 2, 1s1, 2, 1m2, 3, 1 | 28
Sherri (GGE)  1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 0s0, 0, 0m1, 1, 0 | 12
jury
Phillip (BBE) 4, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2s3, 7, 0m1, 2, 2 | 29
Michael (GBE) 2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s0, 1, 0m1, 0 | 12
eliminated
Corinne (BBE) 0, 0, 1, 0, 2, 1s4, 5, 2m4 | 19
Julia (GB)    1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0s1, 1 |  4
Matt (GB)     5, 1, 1, 0, 4, 0s2 | 13
Brandon (B)   2, 3, 1, 1, 6 | 13 (intervention)
Laura (G)     2, 2, 5, 2 | 11
Shamar (G)    4, 2, 4, 2 | 12 (medical evacuation)
Hope (G)      0, 0, 1 |  1
Allie (G)     1, 2 | 3
Francesca (B) 8 | 8

Dawn got the most confessionals this week, 5, switching places with Andrea on the totem pole. Cochran followed with 4. Malcolm and Phillip had 2 each. The zero streak is over! After an amazing eight weeks with nothing to say, Brenda got a brief bit of attention for being Dawn's hero. Erik also got to speak, pointing out that once again Phillip had made a decision that amounted to ruining everyone's fun in the pool. Eddie and Reynold also got 1 each. Sherri was the lone zero this week (though she did get bookend moments in the recap and the promo for next week).

TOTEM POLE
Cochran (BBE) 33
Reynold (GGE) 28
Malcolm (BGE) 20
Dawn (BBE) 18
Andrea (BGE) 16
Eddie (GGE) 13
Sherri (GGE) 12
Erik (BGE) 6
Brenda (BGE) 2

I think Reynold had 2 separate confessionals but not positive.

Sorry, I mistook him for Malcolm.

Actually, his 1 confessional was 2 separate confessionals (different settings) edited together as one, but since they both pertained to the IC (his win, his having no respect for Phillip sitting it out) I just let the edit stand.

episode       1  2  3  4  5    6  7    8  9 10 11 | total
Andrea (BGE)  2, 0, 1, 2, 1, 0s1, 1, 1m2, 4, 1, 2 | 18
Brenda (BGE)  1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s0, 0, 0m0, 0, 1, 2 |  4
Cochran (BBE) 5, 1, 1, 3, 0, 1s1, 7, 0m6, 4, 4, 4 | 37
Dawn (BBE)    2, 3, 0, 0, 1, 0s0, 2, 1m1, 3, 5, 1 | 19
Eddie (GGE)   2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s1, 0, 0m0, 1, 1, 1 | 14
Erik (BGE)    2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s1, 0, 0m2, 0, 1, 2 |  8
Reynold (GGE) 4, 2, 4, 5, 2, 1s1, 2, 1m2, 3, 1, 2 | 30
Sherri (GGE)  1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 0s0, 0, 0m1, 1, 0, 3 | 15
jury
Malcolm (BGE) 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 0s1, 3, 0m4, 4, 2, 8 | 28
Phillip (BBE) 4, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2s3, 7, 0m1, 2, 2 | 29
Michael (GBE) 2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s0, 1, 0m1, 0 | 12
eliminated
Corinne (BBE) 0, 0, 1, 0, 2, 1s4, 5, 2m4 | 19
Julia (GB)    1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0s1, 1 |  4
Matt (GB)     5, 1, 1, 0, 4, 0s2 | 13
Brandon (B)   2, 3, 1, 1, 6 | 13 (intervention)
Laura (G)     2, 2, 5, 2 | 11
Shamar (G)    4, 2, 4, 2 | 12 (medical evacuation)
Hope (G)      0, 0, 1 |  1
Allie (G)     1, 2 | 3
Francesca (B) 8 | 8

Malcolm goes out with a bang, 8 confessionals (two of them during the auction). He almost caught up to Reynold on the totem pole. Cochran with 4 retains his position at the top of the totem pole and is well positioned to win fan favorite. Sherri got third this week, 3, allowing her to switch places on the totem pole with Eddie. Brenda and Erik each got 2 and are inching their way to double digits. Reynold also got 2. Dawn and Eddie each had 1.

Patterns: Andrea (steady), Brenda (rising), Cochran (very steady high), Dawn (erratic), Eddie (very steady low), Erik (rising), Reynold (steady), Sherri (rising).

TOTEM POLE
Cochran (BBE) 37
Reynold (GGE) 30
Dawn (BBE) 19
Andrea (BGE) 18
Sherri (GGE) 15
Eddie (GGE) 14
Erik (BGE) 8
Brenda (BGE) 4

LAST EDITED ON 05-02-13 AT 08:28 PM (EST)

episode       1  2  3  4  5    6  7    8  9 10 11 12 | total
Brenda (BGE)  1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s0, 0, 0m0, 0, 1, 2, 3 |  7
Cochran (BBE) 5, 1, 1, 3, 0, 1s1, 7, 0m6, 4, 4, 4, 8 | 45
Dawn (BBE)    2, 3, 0, 0, 1, 0s0, 2, 1m1, 3, 5, 1, 1 | 20
Eddie (GGE)   2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s1, 0, 0m0, 1, 1, 1, 2 | 16
Erik (BGE)    2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s1, 0, 0m2, 0, 1, 2, 3 | 11
Sherri (GGE)  1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 0s0, 0, 0m1, 1, 0, 3, 0 | 15
jury
Andrea (BGE)  2, 0, 1, 2, 1, 0s1, 1, 1m2, 4, 1, 2, 4 | 22
Reynold (GGE) 4, 2, 4, 5, 2, 1s1, 2, 1m2, 3, 1, 2, 3 | 33
Malcolm (BGE) 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 0s1, 3, 0m4, 4, 2, 8 | 28
Phillip (BBE) 4, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2s3, 7, 0m1, 2, 2 | 29
Michael (GBE) 2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s0, 1, 0m1, 0 | 12
eliminated
Corinne (BBE) 0, 0, 1, 0, 2, 1s4, 5, 2m4 | 19
Julia (GB)    1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0s1, 1 |  4
Matt (GB)     5, 1, 1, 0, 4, 0s2 | 13
Brandon (B)   2, 3, 1, 1, 6 | 13 (intervention)
Laura (G)     2, 2, 5, 2 | 11
Shamar (G)    4, 2, 4, 2 | 12 (medical evacuation)
Hope (G)      0, 0, 1 |  1
Allie (G)     1, 2 | 3
Francesca (B) 8 | 8

Fun week. Cochran jumps way out ahead with 8 confessionals this time, very head in the game and playing sharp. He's nearly in the Boston Rob range and uncatchable on the totem pole. Andrea came in second for the episode with 4 as she played herself out of the game. Reynold added 3 to his tally before getting the boot. Brenda and Erik each had 3! Erik reaches double digits! Eddie came in with 2, Dawn with 1, and Sherri is back in zeroland. Sherri and Eddie once again switch spots on the totem pole.

TOTEM POLE
Cochran (BBE) 45
Dawn (BBE) 20
Eddie (GGE) 16
Sherri (GGE) 15
Erik (BGE) 11
Brenda (BGE) 7

Last week when Brenda doubled her seasons total of confessionals in one episode I thought she might go this week. Now she shows up with 50% more confessionals than she's had at any one time so I'm sure she's toast.

Actually, as a returning player with only 1 confessional in the first 9 episodes, I'm surprised that we're hearing from her at all. (Maybe after the final we will find out why she was dissed so bad)

Just for fun I thought I'd bring along totem poles from recent seasons, all week 12, for comparison.

S26
Cochran 45
Dawn 20
Eddie 16
Sherri 15
Erik 11
Brenda 7

S25
Malcolm 45
Lisa 32
Denise 25
Michael 20
Abi-Maria 18

S24
Kim 33
Sabrina 31
Alicia 25
Chelsea 23
Tarzan 12
Christina 11

S23           at RI
Coach 49      Ozzy 33
Brandon 24    Edna 16
Sophia 15
Albert 12
Rick 6

S22           at RI
Rob 52        Mike 26
Phillip 32    Matt 24
Ashley 13     Ralph 17
Grant 10      Andrea 16
Natalie 7

S21
Jane 24
Holly 24
Chase 23
Jud (aka Fabio) 21
Sash 19
Dan 10

I wonder if there is a trend here...

The even seasons seem to have the winner placing first in confessionals, while the odd seasons trend towards the eventual winner down the list a bit, like 3rd or 4th.

S26 Probable Winner in 1st w/ confessionals.
S25 Winner in 3rd w/ confessionals.
S24 Winner in 1st w/ Confessionals.
S23 Winner in 3rd w/ confessionals.
S22 Winner in 1st w/ Confessionals.
S21 Winner in 4th w/ confessionals.

So next season we should be looking for the survivor who is 3rd (or 4th) in confessionals to be the winner.

Oh if only it were this easy.

episode       1  2  3  4  5    6  7    8  9 10 11 12 13 | total
Cochran (BBE) 5, 1, 1, 3, 0, 1s1, 7, 0m6, 4, 4, 4, 8, 6 | 51
Dawn (BBE)    2, 3, 0, 0, 1, 0s0, 2, 1m1, 3, 5, 1, 1, 3 | 23
Eddie (GGE)   2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s1, 0, 0m0, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2 | 18
Erik (BGE)    2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s1, 0, 0m2, 0, 1, 2, 3, 2 | 13
Sherri (GGE)  1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 0s0, 0, 0m1, 1, 0, 3, 0, 1 | 16
Elizabeth (Eddie's Mom)                               1 |  1
jury
Brenda (BGE)  1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0s0, 0, 0m0, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 | 11
Andrea (BGE)  2, 0, 1, 2, 1, 0s1, 1, 1m2, 4, 1, 2, 4 | 22
Reynold (GGE) 4, 2, 4, 5, 2, 1s1, 2, 1m2, 3, 1, 2, 3 | 33
Malcolm (BGE) 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 0s1, 3, 0m4, 4, 2, 8 | 28
Phillip (BBE) 4, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2s3, 7, 0m1, 2, 2 | 29
Michael (GBE) 2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 0s0, 1, 0m1, 0 | 12
eliminated
Corinne (BBE) 0, 0, 1, 0, 2, 1s4, 5, 2m4 | 19
Julia (GB)    1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0s1, 1 |  4
Matt (GB)     5, 1, 1, 0, 4, 0s2 | 13
Brandon (B)   2, 3, 1, 1, 6 | 13 (intervention)
Laura (G)     2, 2, 5, 2 | 11
Shamar (G)    4, 2, 4, 2 | 12 (medical evacuation)
Hope (G)      0, 0, 1 |  1
Allie (G)     1, 2 | 3
Francesca (B) 8 | 8

Brenda (4) reaches double digits! And experiences the most heartless blindside of all time, I mean that was harsh. No movement on the totem pole this week. Cochran continued to dominate this week with 6 confessionals. Dawn bawled her way through 3. Eddie and Erik both got 2. Sherri got a token 1 for best emotional breakdown at Loved Ones. Elizabeth, Eddie's mom, Big Ed's wife, got a token 1 for wanting to take Eddie home and fatten him up.

Looks like it is Cochran's game to lose. Dawn and Eddie have potential. Erik has an outside chance. Sherri is hopeless but doesn't know it.

TOTEM POLE
Cochran (BBE) 51
Dawn (BBE) 23
Eddie (GGE) 18
Sherri (GGE) 16
Erik (BGE) 13