Veruca, another sage analysis!Jeff Probst has put his cast assessments on video, the ones that I believe are recorded circa day two of the filming. dabo has transcribed them, so I'll post them. Jeff also made on-location comments in short bits that were included in Dalton Ross's pre-game interviews. He has made some other picks and critiques if you are interested.
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Jill is one of my favorites going in. As a doctor she's really observant, and she just has a sense about her that "I'll figure it out."
Jud is a favorite for me, he cracks me up. You'll ask Jud "So hey tell me about your up-bringing" and he'll say, "Well, when I was little.. huh huh, I was just thinking about how much I like apples." Jud reminds me of Jeff from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Jud could "dude" his way all the way to the end.
I think when people see that Kelly (B) has an artificial limb it will confuse a lot of people emotionally. There's going to be an instant sympathetic (reaction). Then there's also the wow look how well she runs. Then there's, "Oh, my God, she could win."
Tyrone is a guy that if looks could kill I'd be dead. But then he opens his mouth and you realize he's a really gentle guy. Captain in the fire department, teaches spinning class. And he works with kids so he's got to have a lot of patience. That's a guy that might surprise folks.
Wendy's definitely an odd-ball, but Wendy will tell you she's an odd-ball. She's going to have to overcome an early slightly annoying factor (likes to talk a lot). But that's just because she's different, not everybody is slick and got a cool haircut and comes from Los Angeles. And I hope she makes people eat their words.
Shannon is the kind of guy I love to see on the show because he has all the physical attributes, he's a big guy and he's muscular, but I don't know if he's paying enough attention to what's going on between the ears. I'm not saying he's not up for it, I just think he may put too much importance on doing really well at the challenges. Fine, you'll be gone at the merge.
Benry, he's a dark horse. That kid could slither his way to the end. If people figure out he's a snake he could be gone early, but he's very charming. And he's not easily charmed; he doesn't care if you're hot and you like him and you're female, he's seen it. All I care about is getting to the end and I'll cut your throat just like anybody else.
Holly is an interesting one for me, I think she's going to be on the bubble early. I think she's going to have to get in with somebody quickly, and it's going to have to be the right people.
I'm excited to see Jimmy Johnson because I'm a Jimmy Johnson fan. The great thing about Jimmy Johnson is how much he wants to be on Survivor. He doesn't need it for all the reasons most other people do, and that's going to be his strategy. He's going to tell you he's here for the adventure, take him to the end because he can't win. And I think he's right, I don't think he can. Unless he pulls out one of those great Knute Rockne speeches at the end. That's what the young people might not see coming, Jimmy Johnson is a great pursuader.
Daniel, I think, is going to have one of the biggest struggle. And it's based simply on perception. He looks different than everybody else, he slicks his hair back, he's got the funky chains, he's got a scar. He looks like a guy who's been in it. He looks like he grew up in Brooklyn and has been in a few fights, which he has. So he's going to have to overcome first impressions.
Sash's biggest obstacle is going to be the boulder that he wears on his shoulder. I don't know what's behind it, I only know that every time I talked with Sash he would say, "I'm from Harlam and you're not, you don't get it." I don't know what I don't get, I don't know what he's trying to tell me, but I know it's important. And I also know when you're on Survivor nobody cares. I hope Sash takes my advice which was leave the political rhetoric at home, win the game and then you'll have a platform to talk. But if he comes comes out telling everybody listen to my story, you're gone.
At first glance I like Brenda, she seems very likeable. Definitely athletic, owns her own company, is out on the water a lot. There are a lot of attributes for a young person that she has that are hard to find. And that's somebody that if I were on the young tribe I would definitely keep around.
NaOnka, bright bright personality, big smile, and an instant target. I just don't know how she's going to fit in. NaOnka's best strategy is going to be to get in with an alliance and shut up. That is a great strategy, it's worked for a lot of people, it could work for her.
I like Marty, I think he's going to say a lot of fun interesting things, probably some outrageous things. I think he might make some dumb moves. But he will make moves. Marty's a player, he will play this game, and I like him already for that.
Chase is an odd's on favorite for me, I think he's got all the qualities that can get you to the end, and in a way that makes me still vote for you and give you the money. And I also think that the connection he has to his dad, who just passed away a couple of years ago, will play a part out here. I think Chase is going to draw on the inspiration he gets from his dad, and I really think he could be a force.
Yve has a lot going for her in life: beautiful, mother. I don't know how much she has going for her in this game. I think we're going to know Yve's fate within the first episode. If she isn't busting it on both sides she's going to be an early target.
Kelly S., great spark, fun personality. The only thing working against Kelly is her age. She is very observant for someone her age. Is she observant enough to get deep in the game? I don't think so.
Alina reminds me of Amber in Australia, a little more naive than she realizes, and a little more charming than she probably knows. And she already thinks she's charming. The thing working against her is believing people she shouldn't believe.
Jimmy T won a contest (online) in which we agreed to take the most popular video and put that person on the show. Thank God it was Jimmy T because he's likeable, he's charismatic. And he's got his long hair and his big husky build, and he likes to tell you, "I'm Jimmy T, I'm known everywhere as Jimmy T!" We'll see how Jimmy T does.
(Jane not mentioned, or more likely he commented on Jane and whoever compiled the video made an accidental omission.)