LAST EDITED ON 01-24-05 AT 09:11 PM (EST)
(Updated 1/23 to add confessionals from E! Cast announcement and EP1 Promo from 1/21.)
The cast for S10 has been announced, and a steady stream of promos has been used to introduce them to us. Confessionals have been used to help glimpse the personalities of the contestants we will get to know as the series unfolds.
During the show, confessionals become the device used to narrate the story MB wants to tell. They can be edited and twisted to take us down any number of paths, depending on which way MB wants to take us. However, while we wait for the story to begin, confessionals are being used to set the stage and help us get to know the characters, so we become more emotionally involved and begin to identify with them.
We know that three of the twenty contestants will be eliminated before the end of EP1. We can begin to speculate about who they will be, and how their characters will be developed during their short time in the game.
The EP1 boot has traditionally had a greater number of confessionals and more face time than those contestants who will last much longer into the game. They have plenty of time for character development in later episodes.
Three of those who are shown in confessionals and featured in the vidcaps are getting some of their face time pre-show. There is a lot to cover in EP1, and to some extent MB needs to develop three of the characters before they go home.
So, as we look at the pre-show confessionals, study the quotes and analyze the vidcaps, we should pay close attention to those who appear to be main characters going into in EP1. Our EP1 boots will probably come from this group…
The following list is a summary of all the pre-show confessionals aired to date. The cast introduction on the Web Promo consisted of a single confessional for each of the 20 contestants. The other two promos that included confessionals were more selective in the ones used, and therefore more telling.
Also included are voiceover comments made about the contestants by others.
CONFESSIONAL QUOTES:
Wanda Shirk, a 55-year-old English teacher from Ulysses, Pa.;
(sings) "...Survivors and we can find our food, Survivors that is our attitude..." (Early Show Promo)
<sings>” Survivors and we can take the pain. Survivors in sunshine or in rain.” (Web Promo)
Coby Archa, 32, a hairdresser from Athens, Texas;
Lisa Gibbons: “And even one contestant who has done time in jail and used to be homeless. Not a bad resume for this show.” (ET Promo)
“I know what it's like to sleep in an alley or cardboard box and have a rat crawl on you.” (ET Promo)
VO: Then there is Coby, a hairstylist from Texas.
Coby: "I'm a really good liar with people I don't know, whereas I'm a horrible liar to people I do know. So, we'll see." (E! Cast Announcement)
“I became the funny guy out of sheer defense. Because being the gawky gay kid on the playground you had to have something going your way.” (Web Promo)
Coby: "And it's just gonna get worse." (EP1 Promo 1/21)
Ashlee Ashby, a 22-year-old fitness counselor from South Carolina;
Lisa Gibbons: “But there's one female who won't be easy. Meet Ashlee, the God-fearing mid-westerner, who, all looks aside, will only go so far for that million dollar prize.” (ET Promo)
“They are astonished to believe, oh yeah, right, "you're a Mormon and you haven't had sex?" (ET Promo)
“People are very surprised when I tell them that I am a Mormon. My sexuality and being seen as a sex symbol. It's a good thing.” (Web Promo)
Jonathan Libby, 23, who is in sales and marketing and hails from Dallas, Texas;
"My family told me right off the bat....that if I'm the first one voted off...don't come home". (Early Show Promo)
"My whole family said if I'm the first one voted off, don't come home. Just did it as a joke. All my friends did too. They.. you know... you did so bad, what a waste. But I, I'm going to be around, I think I'm going to be around for a while." (E! Cast Announcement)
Bob Windsor: “Jonathan is a true Survivor, having beaten cancer last year.” (Web Promo)
“That was a really challenging thing mentally. I think that's the biggest thing I've ever had to overcome in my whole life.” (Web Promo)
Gregg Carey, 27, a business consultant from Chicago;
Bob Windsor: “Gregg is an Ivy League grad.” (Web Promo)
“I'm a down to earth guy that's fun to just grab a beer with.” (Web Promo)
Gregg: "Getting a little paranoid." (EP1 Promo 1/21)
Katie Gallagher, 29, an ad executive from Merced, Calif.;
“Ok this is my message to everyone else. I'm not here to win a million dollars, I'm here to lose some weight.” (Web Promo)
Katie: "It's weird." (EP1 Promo 1/21)
James Miller, a 33-year-old steel worker from Mobile, Ala.;
"I'm gonna be the first redneck to win a million dollars, on this show" (Early Show Promo)
"My name is James Miller. Uh... They're going to look at me and they're going to say I'm probably... weaker, you know. Cause I'm skinny and I'm... I look frail, but I'm a steel worker, man! I, I take steel, I crush it, just like that. Bad m***-f***, I'm telling you." (E! Cast Announcement)
Lisa Gibbons: “ Looks like stereotypes will be shattered with Survivor: Palau premieres February 17th, on CBS. Although Jim from Alabama is going to be embracing his roots.” (ET Promo)
“I'm a bad m***** f****** redneck. You damn right. I'm gonna come here and steal the show. That's what I'm here to do. Take a million dollars and pay off some debts because I'm a broke #####. Come on.” (ET Promo)
“I'm gonna be the first redneck to win a million dollars. I'm gonna come here and steal the show. That's what I'm here to do. Take a million dollars and pay off some debts.” (Web Promo)
Caryn Groedel, 46, is a lawyer from Ohio.
“I've only lost 2 jury trials in my career and I think I can be very persuasive.” (Web Promo)
Caryn: "We don't know what's going on." (EP1 Promo 1/21)
Jolanda Jones, a 39-year-old lawyer from Houston, Texas;
“I think I'm as good as anybody. And that offends a lot of people.” (Web Promo)
Willard Smith from Bellevue, Wash., a 57-year-old lawyer;
"If you get me in front of a jury, I'll win the million dollars" (Early Show Promo)
“If you get me in front of the jury, I'll win the million dollars.” (Web Promo)
Stephenie LaGrossa, 25, a pharmaceutical sales rep from Philadelphia;
“People think that I am the girl next door. Which is a nice thing. I think that's a compliment. When they get to know me, I think that they realize that I'm a little nutty.” (Web Promo)
Stephenie: "This is a very different Survivor." (EP1 Promo 1/21)
Angie Jakusz, a 24-year-old bartender from New Orleans;
"I have the freak factor working for me...I stick out like I'm the only woman who's ever looked like this on Survivor" (Early Show Promo)
VO: There's Angie, a bartender from New Orleans.
Angie: "I'm totally rearing to go, like, I can't wait to use one of those Hawaiian slings, like so bad. I'm like, oh my God, I have to spear-fish!" (E! Cast Announcement)
“I have the freak factor working for me. I stick out.” (Web Promo)
Ian Rosenberger, 23, a dolphin trainer from Key Largo, Fla.;
“I'm perfect for it. I always said I could talk a fat man out of his last bag of Doritos.” (Web Promo)
Kimberly Mullen, 25, is a graduate student and former Miss Ohio USA from Huber Heights, Ohio;
"And unless I can get a boy to fall in love with me, and use that to my advantage...then...then my looks can play a factor, because there are some hot boys" (Early Show Promo)
Bob Windsor: “Kimberly can even speak a little Arabic.” (Web Promo)
“<speaking Arabic>” (Web Promo)
Bobby Jon Drinkard, 27 and a waiter from Troy, Ala.;
"These M60s I got right here, are waiting for everyone to come get a little piece of" (Early Show Promo)
Lisa Gibbons: (introducing Bobby Jon)“…and she's not the only new Survivor hoping to score with sex appeal.” (ET Promo)
“Flirting is fun, man. And it makes people smile, they like that. They need that, that's what they're supposed to get. They're females. They need to be lifted up.” (ET Promo)
“I'm a strong Christian. And a lot of the things I do, a lot of the ways I act are from the Bible.” (Web Promo)
Ibrehem Rahman, another 27-year-old waiter from Alabama;
Bob Windsor: “ Ibrehem says he's the silly one.” (Web Promo)
“I think that being an attractive or good looking person can be good for you if you use it right.” (Web Promo)
"My first name is Ibrehem. I think me being a Muslim... eh... you know, you don't have to be a Muslim to be this type of person. I'm just not a back-bitter type or ... uh... uh... drama-queen type of guy that kicks up a lot of mess." (E! Cast Announcement)
Jennifer Lyon, 32, a nanny from Encino, Calif.
"Being one of the more attractive people, I think it's uh...it's gonna be a challenge...to do just the right amount of flirting, and just the...not doing it and stepping on other people's toes" (Early Show Promo)
“It's going to be a challenge to do just the right amount of flirting.” (Extra Promo)
Bob Windsor: “ Here is Jen, the nanny.” (Web Promo)
“I don't mind getting dirty. Getting right in the middle of it.” (Web Promo)
Janu Tornell, 39, a Las Vegas show girl;
Lisa Gibbons: “Here's one player who knows that what happens on the island, stays on the island.” (ET Promo)
“I came here to win the million dollars and become the Vegas Showgirl Survivor.” (ET Promo)
Reporter: This time the action takes place in the South Pacific paradise, Palau. In a new twist, the competition kicks off with 20 colorful castaways, including a Vegas showgirl. (Extra Promo)
“Topless is one of the first questions that they want to know about. Ummm, face it, sex sells.” (Extra Promo)
“I am a Vegas showgirl. A live one. I love performing. I love performing on a stage. If you like me that's great, if you don't, oh well.” (Web Promo)
Jeff Wilson, 22, a personal trainer from Ventura, Calif.;
Bob Windsor: “And big Jeff is 21 years young.” (Web Promo)
“I guarantee you I'm going to work harder for the money than anyone here.” (Web Promo)
Tom Westman, a 41-year-old New York City firefighter.
"I like my job. There's no two fires are the same. There's not two circumstances in this game are the same". (Early Show Promo)
Bob Windsor: “And Tom's a NYC firefighter.” (Web Promo)
“I like my job. There's no two fires are the same. There's no two circumstances in this game are the same.” (Web Promo)
CONFESSIONAL COUNT:
The Survivors are ranked by the number of confessionals. The “+” mark after the confessional count indicates additional comments by others.
HIGH RISK:
Coby…(4++)
James…(4+)
Janu…(3++)
Jennifer…(3+)
Bobby Jon…(3+)
Jonathan…(3+)
Angie…(3+)
MODERATE RISK:
Ashlee…(2+)
Kimberley…(2+)
Tom…(2+)
Ibrehem…(2+) (Weight Loss Spoiler)
Gregg…(2+) (Weight Loss Spoiler)
Katie…(2) (Weight Loss Spoiler)
Wanda…(2)
Willard…(2)
Stephenie…(2) (Weight Loss Spoiler)
Caryn…(2)
LOW RISK:
Jeff…(1+)
Jolanda…(1)
Ian…(1)
CONFESSIONAL ANALYSIS:
The hypothesis is that given the large number of contestants (20), and the amount of information that needs to be presented during the premiere episode, MB must use the promos and pre-show confessionals as a supplement to the first episode.
Three, rather than the usual one, contestants will leave the game before the end of EP1, and three characters will need to be developed to some extent, especially if their departure is to be “very emotional”, as MB has told us.
So, it follows that the editors need a head start with their character development, in order to have the audience get to know the EP1 boots before their departure. The pre-show confessionals are the best way to introduce them to us.
It’s also true that the editors have plenty of time to develop those characters who will be in the game for a while, so there’s no need to waste the precious promo time on them.
Therefore, we might conclude that those with the most pre-show confessionals are more likely to be EP1 boots than those with the fewest.
As more vidcaps become available, and actual confessionals from EP1 appear in the promos, we can further refine our conclusions.
WEIGHT LOSS CONFIRMATION
It’s interesting to note that none of the contestants reported to have had significant weight loss, and therefore speculated to make the merge, fall into the “High Risk” category, based on confessional count.
CONCLUSIONS:
Those in the “Low Risk” Category are probably safe in EP1, while the “High Risk” group should be considered vulnerable candidates for the first three boots of S10.
Krautboy