LAST EDITED ON 02-15-11 AT 08:17 AM (EST) S22, Survivor: Redemption Island
Welcome back everyone! It's great to get this ball rolling! Welcome to the first SOTS of the season! Just a quick reminder that it's a great time for all of us here at Blows to go back and give our guidelines the once over, they really are the reason we all have such a fun, exciting, and CIVIL board. As in the immortal words of S1 Colleen, Be nice and play fair!
Now, let the game BEGIN!!! The Nicaragua location was spoiled, I think, prior to S21, most likely by Missyea/Jim Early. The idea for the Redemption Island Theme came as far back as Robfadda's boot episode in S20, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, when Jiffy noted in his blog:
My therapist says that time heals everything, but I’m not sure how much time it will take to heal this loss. I miss him already. I miss the battle. Russell vs. Boston Rob will go down as one of the greatest battles of all time. I want them back. Now. We should do an entire season centered around Boston Rob vs. Russell. Give them some war clubs, put them in a gladiator ring....
The promos are written, the audience would be there. Right? If I told you right now that next season we’d have Russell and Rob back again, wouldn’t you be intrigued?
Okay, enough of my clear favoritism! We have always said that Jiffy tells us EVERYTHING in his blog...pay attention! We also were witness to the challenge at the Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains reunion show when Rob said that he would gladly kick his a$$ all over the Island... Here’s the story of how it began according to Jiffy and company, but we know that it really began with the early boot of Boston Rob, and Jiffy threw the bone out to us on April 2, 2010 in his blog. The Reunion Show for S21: Survivor: Nicaragua gave us the introduction to S22 Survivor: Redemption Island, and Jiffy himself explains the new twist, the biggest twist in Survivor history! You can see the preview here. Before we get onto Spoilers for the season, let's start with our cast introduction, and hear what Jiffy has to say regarding each and every one of them...First of all, DanieuBleau from Survivor Skills posted some early vidcaps from S22, noting the tribal colors of orange and purple. Mypoody2 from Survivor Sucks gets the credit for spoiling the tribe names of Zapatera and Ometepe.
MEET THE CAST
Click on the Survivor pics below to see their CBS bios.... OMETEPE 
Andrea
21 year old University of Wisconsin student, raised on farm, fishes, camps, tough cookie, "Barbie". Jeff says she may break the young, pharmaceautical sales mold, who doesn’t make a big splash but makes it toward the end. “She has something else going on.” 
Ashley25 year old from Benton, Maine, currently is a nurse by education, owns a coffee business, formerly was college and professional basketball player, former Miss Maine and competed in Miss USA, not a "stupid bimboo pageant girl". Jeff says that he has high hopes for her. She’s a pageant girl, she’ll help her tribe in challenges, she’s attractive, and she can contribute, “your chances for staying alive as long as you have men in your tribe are very high.” 
Francesca36 year old attorney from Washington DC, currently in LA, gave everyone a nickname, trash talker, "mean girl", socially smart...Jeff says that she is a big beaming light of energy and he likes her mouth the most, has nick names for everyone, “hopefully she is as spirited on the show as she was when we met her in casting.” 
Grant29 year old, West Hollywood, CA, former NFL player ~ 5 years, currently Yoga instructor, wants to take the middle of the road approach. Jeff says he is “an interesting dude”. He’s a former NFL player turned yoga instructor and has that “vibe” about him. Jiffy doesn’t know which is the real guy...the competitive side of him, or will the well-balanced, nurturing, let’s all get along, yoga side come out? “If he can blend the two, he could do very well.” 
Kristina46 year old mom from Malibu, CA, currently a law student, "pit bull". Jeff says that she is another favorite. She has enthusiasm of someone that’s lived a while and says, “you know what, I’m gonna live a different way, is infectious”....She’ll play a tough game and might be one to make some big moves to try to win. 
Matt22 year old Lipscomb University pre-med student, "adventure-sucker", wants to portray the "goofy blonde kid", will play the social game for a million $$. Jeff says that he reminds him of Fabio, but they couldn’t be more different. He likes him because he seems pretty introspective, under the smile might be a mask hiding a wolf... 
Natalie19 year old Acton, CA professional dancer, she's the "baby", "nice-girl", can be sneaky and flirtacious. Jeff says that she’s so young he’s surprised she’s on the show, but she impressed them with her gumption. She’ll know how to dig deep, she’s a wild card! 
Phillip52 year old from Santa Monica, CA, served for 4 years in military, then Special Services, currently a technology executive. Jeff says that he’s going to be in or out. “He has a line he’s planning to lay on his tribe....he used to have access to all these secrets”....Jeff thinks, “good luck to you”, will people buy it? 
Rob35 years old, Pensacola, FL, played the game 3 previous times, "good worker, good in challenges, benefits the team", at the core, he's still the Robfadda, he's good! Jeff says that the fascinating thing about Boston Rob is that he started out as a villain, and somehow transformed into a hero...
ZAPATERA
David
31 year old defense attorney from West Hollywood, CA, highest IQ ever to play the game, has the ability to size the competition up...Jeff says that David holds the record for the highest IQ ever on Survivor. Defense attorney for high profile cases in LA, and Jiffy asked him, “how do you defend someone who is guilty?” David replied, “I never ask them if they are guilty.” Jeff says that that gives us some insight into how he’ll play the game... 
Julie50 year old from Oceanside, CA, firefighter, newly divorced with custody of 2 kids, house in foerclosure, here to win the $$, will get along with the guys, but have an issue with the girls. Jeff says that he likes her. She is a no BS kind of woman. Stocky build, may have been a body builder, enthusiasm. 
Krista25 year old, Natalie look-a-like, Columbia, SC, true Southerner from Alabama, can get dirty, pharmaceutical rep, pageant-girl, team player. Jeff says she’s a question mark. If she folds it won’t surprise him, and if she turns out to be a really strong pillar on her tribe, it won’t surprise him either. 
Mike31 year old, Del Mar, CA, former Naval Academy graduate, former Marine, Survivor is a "psychology experiment". Jeff says he’s “Captain America”. Good looking, nice to talk to, a strategy player, asks what are the rules and how can he exploit them. That’s how Jiffy would approach the show as well. This won’t be about friends, it’s about a million dollars. Could make it far and has the social skills to win. 
Ralph44 year old, Lebanon, VA, farmer, "They will love me!", enjoy life, Jeff Probst's going to laugh his a$$ off, "if you've got 'em smiling, they can't be too mad at you!" Jeff says that hands down he is his favorite new survivor. He loved him the minute he walked in. He is a hard worker, he’s got a girlfriend, he still takes care of his wife, he built the house from scratch, he works a full time job and runs a farm. He’s got hair everywhere, what more do you want from someone on Survivor? 
Sarita36 year old, Santa Monica, CA, Visual Effects Producer, grew up in yurt, hippie-like up-bringing, "resourceful", divorced, "controlling". Jeff says that she is one of his favorites. It’s about how she carries herself, confident, lived long enough to not be excited by things. Will last for a while, and if she can get past the merge, she’s a threat to win. 
Stephanie25 year old, Long Beach, CA, waitress, "scrappy", can be insensitive, controlling. Jeff says, “If I am right, she’ll be one of the first voted out, if not the first.” I hope I’m wrong, if I’m right, Stephanie already is back at the beach, in the rain, hours into this game, and is already overwhelmed and wishing she was back home and having a glass of wine. 
Steve51 year old, Huntington Beach, CA, Former NFL player ~ 13 years, "doesn't want to be a Russell", type A personality, wants to listen more, speak less. Jeff says that he loves him! He loves Survivor, and is enthusiastic about it. He knows how to pump himself up, he’s a competitor, probably good at social dynamics, would love to see him go deep in the game. 
Russell38 year old, Dayton, TX, previously played the game 2 times, self made millionaire, thinks he's the greatest player to have ever played the game, America loves me, I'm the LaBron James of Survivor, 2 time MVP....he wants his ring. Villain image is fine with him. Jeff says that RussHell is one of the most successful of the game, no one has had 2 alliances go all the way to the end. “In a weird way, he’s extremely loyal.” Still don't feel like you know the S22 Cast yet? Then go to Survivor Blows thread on the S22 Cast.
Pre-Season Spoilage and other DramaWith the S22 show introduction at the Live Reunion Show for S21, we got the introduction for Redemption Island. Read our speculation thread, here. Another huge discovery that helped spoil the Redemption Island concept was that there were call sheets left over from the CBS production staff when a hotel was vacated. These were scarfed up and posted on the internet by the Smoking Gun. These CALL SHEETS contained the schedule of all events for days 34 and 35. Here are some significant things from the discovery: *They note the weather as partly cloudy/scattered showers on both days, and the temp is constant at a high of 88 degrees, and a low of 76 degrees. *Name of the merged tribe is Murlonia
*They shoot and rehearse 2 different challenges. They shoot "A Bone to Pick" Challenge at the Beachfront site on day 35, while they rehearse "A Numbers Game" at the Fenceline Field site. *They shoot TC #15, where Murlonia x5 travels to TC (5 Survivors remain). The votee then goes to Redemption Island, and the 4 remaining daws go back to their camp, "Pena Rota". Note that 4 jury members come to witness this TC from Ponderosa. *They also shoot on day 35 a duel on Redemption Island at 10:11, called " a leg up" - Interesting that this is the same day as the TC #15 is shot. They also rehearse "Mesa Maze" Jiffy explained Redemption Island in the latest TVGuide article: When a cast mate has their torch snuffed at TC this season it doesn't mean they are out of the game. Instead they are given another shot at Redemption Island where they will battle another ousted competitor in hopes of returning to the game. We built this survivor-style gladiator arena where they will compete in duels. The challenges will vary from physically demanding to mentally taxing. The winner stays alive, the loser will take their buff and throw it into the fire, and they're not coming back. While on RI the exiled player will have to live on the same rations as the other contestants. He feels as though anyone that can survive on RI, the audience will feel like they have more than earned a second shot in the game. If they can survive, it is indeed possible that the first voted out player of the game could possibly end up winning the season. In a recent article interviewing EPMB, Mr. Burnett noted that there would be chosen spectators from each tribe to witness the duel on RI. See the article here.
We all know the Missyea/Jim Early spoilers were spot on to the most minute of details for Nicaragua, so most of us had no reason to doubt his first spoilage for the S22 season with regards to his announcement that Carrie Prejean and Kimbo Slice would be on the show and involved in lots of drama in episode one. That turned out to be a plant to flesh out Missyea. Long story short, in an effort to find the leak, EPMB sued Missyea. As time went on, EPMB dropped the suit because Missyea revealed RussHell as his source. Read the whole story in Krautboy's thread, Russell was Missyae's source?.
 The first thread for sourced spoilers was also posted by Krautboy in the Missyae and other Sourced Spoilers, S22 thread. While Missyae continues to post regarding Spoilers for S22, Blackwhale seems to be the prominent spoiler de jour. At first his spoilers seemed tentative, with room for interpretation. But, they have indeed been steady. To see all of Blackwhale's revelations you can go to our S22, Blackwhale Sourced Spoiler Discussion. Also, for a nice historical presentation of the spoilers, please check out True Dork Times' spoiler page, and Survivor Fever’s boot sheet. There have been two photographs that have emerged of post-game players which I will print here: 1. Ralph "Rooster":
 
2. Robfadda: 
Episode 1, "You’re Looking at the New Leader of your Tribe"The title of the episode was given to us just last week, and was posted by Mayan Sun at Sucks. We also have a thread on the title, here. Most of the press and promos regarding S22 has been in regard to the returning players Rob Mariano and Russell Hantz.... This February, get ready for the biggest Survivor showdown yet, when two of the game’s baddest villains return - Rob vs Russell - in the ultimate rumble in the jungle....This Island is not big enough for the both of us.... Or, in regard to the new twist of Redemption Island. Once voted out, a player has the chance to fight to stay and possibly be returned to the game. So far we have no misdirection clues for the first episode. So, without the written riddles we are left to figure it out the old fashioned way....
Episode 1, VIDCAPSWith the TVGuide special we do have a surplus of vidcaps to try and figure out the first episode. We know that the players arrive by chopper and are gathered on their perspective mats on the beach.... 
...then, SURPRISE, comes another chopper with two more unknown players....
...they draw for tribes...
 ...supposedly Rob’s tribe let’s out a cheer,
 while RussHell’s tribe is... speechless.
 They depart for their perspective camps with alot of stuff! Please note the "stuff" in all of camp shots....things like a crate, a large basket, lots and lots of material, a tin milk container, probably for storing either rice or water, a hatchet, a shovel, a machete, a pot, needle and thread, pillows, etc. Working at camp:
Zapatera:
Note the pillows and the fire above and below.
Note the crate at Zapatera under the shelter...
A new alliance? Or, is RussHell up to his usual first day shenanigans making alliances with everyone?
Meanwhile at Camp Ometepe:
Andrea taking inventory....
Kristina with a hatchet...
Camp Ometepe working on fire:
post fire celebration:
Cooking and eating:
*Note above that the Ometepe tribe has placed their fire away from the camp with a stucture frame of some kind built over the fire area...
Proof of fire at Zapatera:
Episode 1, Immunity Challenge, "Push it Uphill"
Jeff Explains the challenge:
 The start:
 The first phase of the challenge involves sliding extremely heavy blocks that when shoved up against a wall will make a stairway going up to the next level. The large pieces are to be pushed from either side by the tribe and slid to their position. The first large piece is the largest, there are 4 large pieces to slide into place. 
The Zapateras start out with a lead... 
Here are the Ometepe's running back for the second piece of the stairway, note the Zapatera's are already by.
Once the stairway is completed, one member of the tribe climbs to the second phase of the challenge where one member chops a series of ropes, which allow the rest of the tribe to climb to the top where they are to complete a block puzzle with very heavy pieces, that when completed will build some kind of ancient structure....here is Rooster chopping for Zapatera, using a two-handed technique: 
Note Jeff perhaps looking back at the Ometepe's?
And Matt chopping later for Ometepe, using a one-handed technique: 
To study the progress of the block puzzle building, I point out the vertical spelling of the tribe names. See the word, Ometepe, and we can see the last, bottom letter e....so this is at the beginning of solving the puzzle.
Still closer to the beginning....maybe Rob is starting to climb up here....
 Beginning for Zapatera, note they are on the ground floor, even with the bottom letter, “a”
 Still working on the bottom letter level....”RA”
 Not a good sign, imo, when RussHell is leading the puzzle progress...
Working on the bottom letter level..."PE"
This is the vidcap showing the furthest progression for Zapatera, at the "ERA" level:
 Ometepe, getting higher at the "EPE" level:
 Here is the vidcap out of all the challenge vidcaps that shows the MOST progression, and I even speculate if it is not the final piece that Boston Rob is placing. Note that Matt is just there watching at this point, and if there was another piece to gather, wouldn't he be readying it? 
So, who wins...??? Well, some speculate that perhaps Ometepe loses as we see Phillip retrieving the flag post challenge looking rather stoic, and not HAPPY... 
But, really we have concerned and pensive shots of the daws at both camps... Ometepe:
 Zapatera:
 Then, Kona at Sucks, has pointed out the time stamps of the press images, noting that the last two of Phillip and Rob COULD have been taken around 2 pm on day 3, while the others were taken on day 2. Note the discussion by Kona at Sucks, here. One thing that we know for sure is that someone will be seeing this face and site up close and personal... 
Finally, there was a new promo that aired this past Saturday that had some mixed footage of episode one, and it appears to be episode 2, a future episode. These vidcaps caught my eye immediately... 
To me, it seemed as though this is a celebratory picture of Mike, post challenge. I at first thought it was from the first episode challenge, but after further inspection, there is no buff on RussHell's bald head, as was pointed out to me, and then I also noted that Mike did not have his buff around his neck, as he is seen in the first challenge. I even questioned whether this was celebratory or conciliatory, but with the visual of the moving promo on you tube, I clearly think that it is indeed celebratory. You can see that hand moving in to rub RussHell's bald head! So, it may not help us this week, but it darn will help us next week... While arguments can be made for a boot from either tribe, I am going to take a stand. I predict: Winner of Challenge: Team Robfadda, OMETEPE Rob has proven time and time again how great he is at building puzzles in particular. He was a construction worker by profession and is extremely good with the spatial puzzles. He's a sure thing. He is definitely taking charge of the puzzle building, while the Zapatera's seem all over the place, without one definitive leader. I have to give team Rob the benefit of the doubt, despite David's great IQ, and the lead they had going into the last leg. First Boot of Survivor: Redemption Island: 
Stephanie Valencia
Jeff Probst called it when he said, If I am right, she’ll be one of the first voted out, if not the first. Blackwhale looked for her to go early, but didn't know if Zapatera would be the first tribe at TC. Missyae did say that Stephanie=Marissa Calahan, and that Jeff Probst told you who the boot was. Stephanie will be the first Survivor to go to Redemption Island, where she will await the next boot, and we will see who will be the first RI boot EVER! For speculation regarding the boot, check out our boot discussion thread by Krautboy. *Thanks to Tribephyl for the lovely new SOTS graphic, it's beautiful.
*Please* - we need folks to volunteer to write our SOTS threads each week. It's fun, and it gets you up to snuff quickly! Go HERE! We need you, or the SOTS will be a thing of the past, don't let that happen!
*If it's not posted yet, it soon will be....look for our VOTE thread.
*Hopefully Veruca Salt will be along soon to start her thread, "The Players, the game, the editing." 
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