I figured I'd get this up quickly to start working on my Summary. The previews during the Sunday football games more than suggested the inevitability of the quitters making the remainder of this season easily predictable. Personally I'm not that disheartened because this season ranks in my bottom five seasons of all time anyway.

I've been saying for over a month, Flipper Jane and Flipper Holly darn near assured an under-30 winner this season. And the way I see it now, hard to imagine anything other than a Chase-Fabio-Sash F3. An IC run by Benry would be the only chance of somene else winning their way into the Finals, but Fabio and Chase are no challenge sloutches, so that's a longshot at best.

BENRY - Thinking about writing my Summary for this episode, when it became obvious that NaOnka and Kelly were going to walk, I thought of a title, "Winners never quit; Quitters never win." Fifteen minutes LATER Benry remarkably utters those same exact words at TC, making him my #1 for this week. Being the MVP of the RC (the only challenge this episode) solidifies that ranking.

FABIO - I could see the final vote coming down between Chase and Fabio. Whereas Chase already has a few votes in the bag, if it comes down to FTC performance--advantage Fabio. Why? If Chase comes off as an idiot, he'll lose votes. If Fabio comes off as an idiot, he'll be endeared by the Jury.

CHASE - He should borrow the line from Matt and say "why dig for idols when players will hand them over to you." Is NaOnka giving Chase the HII a prelude to giving him a vote in the Finals? If so, that's three votes for Chase already (assuming Holly & Jane.) If he doesn't pull an "Amanda" at FTC, he's got a great shot at the million.

HOLLY - Her maternal instincts and "denmother role" with the castaways will get her more Christmas cards this year...but does anyone really want to sit next to "mom" in the Finals? Hence I do not see her advancing much further.

JANE - She's pretty much the only shot of preventing an all-male Final; but I doubt grandma will be able to pull out the necessary IC wins to accomplish that feat. I did catch the last 20 minutes or so of last week's recrap and got a kick of Jill's reference to Jane as "Survivor MacGyver." I might have to put that a tad higher than "Fabio" as my favorite nickame this season.

MATT - I'm trying to think of a player who was in a more comatose state for an ENTIRE episode as Matt was this episode. It must be demoralizing being the frontman of the most powerful alliance in the game and then watching it self-destruct. I've been saying Matt's savvy gameplay would allow him to bounce back, but now I'm reconsidering. Although having three 40+ players still in the game and a HII in his pocket should facilitate his advancement.

DAN - "No effort but still gets the reward." Golly Gee Jeff, it took you 28 days to figure that out??? Dan better be praying for a silly House of Cards building competition or some ridiculous Chuck-E-Cheese arcade game for a F4 IC.

QUITTERS

NAONKA - The absurd comparisons between Russell and NaOnka are now put to rest. He would have NEVER quit...and spare us the rubbish about Russell's fat cells and body hair. NaOnka's legacy as a person will be that of a despicable human being. And her legacy as a player will be that of a quitter. A sad but truthful double whammy.

KELLY - I want to say she's the worst casting decision ever...and she may be. But that's like trying to decide on the worst criminal to be ever sent to Alcatraz; or the worst serial killer on file. I'm sure one could be selected, but what's the use when so many were bad. Obviously I'm not comparing Kelly to a criminal...just using the decision-making process as an analogy. A sad but true refection on casting/production. She was told she'd probably face tougher challenges in life. Ya think? I dunno, Iltarion...that trophy executive wife option is sounding more and more like an inevitable destiny for the Purple One.