S31: Vytas Baskauskas

[LanceM]

The contestants each get $10,000 for appearing at the reunion. So yeah he forfeited that amount.  I have read that the 1st person that get voted off earn about $2,500.  

 

EDIT: Just saw this on Sucks and have no idea if it is true but former Survivor Jim Rice tweeted this:

 

@jamesloganrice: I like that CBS let him go home to see his kid + like that CBS is punishing him for spoilers. #survivor #nospoilers

Edited December 16, 2015 by LanceM

[bdestroyer88]

New info from Redmond: Apparently Vytas lied to the producers by saying he just wanted to see his son, BUT when he got home he booked a trip by himself to Tahiti and left his son home still. So basically Vytas paid for his own vacation instead of going on the FREE one provided by CBS/SEG AND still left his son at home. CBS/SEG found out about it and they were PISSED. What an asshole. I never want to see him again. 

[violet and green]

The poor son. I knew there was something off about Vytas, aside from those paisley yoga shorts... Ugh. Really, I never liked him from first sighting on his previous season and always felt guilty. Justified!

[Skeeter22]

Vytas says he took his son on vacation with him, and Redmond has backed off that comment. Frankly, Vytas isn't the first person to leave early and I seriously doubt the producers care if he went on vacation with or without his son. I suspect he's been banned only because of his social media presence while the game was still going on.

[Nashville]

The one thing I might be iffy on is if this is production discretion.  I'm fine with having rules and penalties for people who either quit the game or violate their contract in some way (even if it is loosely violating it).  But I think it should apply to everyone, not just who the producers decide it should. 

 

If the player read the contract - saw the production discretion clause - and THEN proceeded to sign the contract, then I ain't iffy as shit on it. 

You take their deal to take their money, then you play by the rules you agreed to.

[pennben]

I think all "quits" are not equal, if you will, so I can understand a discretion clause.  What I am thinking of specifically was some woman that had horrible abdominal pain.  I think it was in the Philippines season, early on.  Anyway, the medics came to see her, but Probst made it clear she would be a "quit", not a medical pulled from the game, despite the pain she was apparently in.  I honestly think they made her 'quit' as opposed to a medivac because of Colton's shenanigans a season earlier.  Anyway, there are those that quit, and there are those that 'quit'.

Edited December 16, 2015 by pennben

[LadyChatts]

What I meant by discretion, is essentially TPTB playing favorites.  If you quit in the jury phase of the game but are one of those colorful characters that is polarizing to the fans, you are more likely to be able to serve on the jury and collect than someone who would get the invisible edit.  Same if you were a pre-juror.  Of course, I might be wrong.  I never heard of them saying the person would be un-invited from the reunion, just if they quit that they would forfeit any money they received and (if they reached the jury phase) they could be excluded from serving on the jury.  Anyway, I guess being un-invited to the reunion is one of the other perks not mentioned that you lose if the producers decide.  The pre-merge/jury folks don't get much airtime anymore anyway, so it's not like it would matter if Vytas was there or not.  He'd still get ignored regardless.  However, I just think there's more to this than Vytas wanting to go home rather than stick it out in Ponderosa.  I believe he threw the tantrums to end all tantrums, and saying in interviews he wished he hadn't gotten voted back in probably didn't help.  But I can't say I care.  I also think that tweet probably did more harm than good, if that's possible.

[Oscirus]

If Vytas was willing to give up an easy 10k because he was too sore to keep his ass in ponderosa then so be it. Just don't play the victim on social media when these things come to pass.

 

[Nashville]

What I meant by discretion, is essentially TPTB playing favorites.  If you quit in the jury phase of the game but are one of those colorful characters that is polarizing to the fans, you are more likely to be able to serve on the jury and collect than someone who would get the invisible edit.  Same if you were a pre-juror.  Of course, I might be wrong.  I never heard of them saying the person would be un-invited from the reunion, just if they quit that they would forfeit any money they received and (if they reached the jury phase) they could be excluded from serving on the jury.  Anyway, I guess being un-invited to the reunion is one of the other perks not mentioned that you lose if the producers decide.  The pre-merge/jury folks don't get much airtime anymore anyway, so it's not like it would matter if Vytas was there or not.  He'd still get ignored regardless.  However, I just think there's more to this than Vytas wanting to go home rather than stick it out in Ponderosa.  I believe he threw the tantrums to end all tantrums, and saying in interviews he wished he hadn't gotten voted back in probably didn't help.  But I can't say I care.  I also think that tweet probably did more harm than good, if that's possible.

 

I suspect there may be - in TPTB's eyes, anyway - a significant difference between DOR'ing out of the game (exiting the game pre-expulsion) vs. jumping the Production post-game process ship once you are already out of the game (exiting the game post-expulsion).

 

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong - as I quite certainly could be - but it's my understanding that even if /when a player DORs, they're still contractually bound to the Production post-game process: a trip to Ponderosa, then (if pre-Jury) a "cloistered" vacation with their other pre-Jury compadres. 

Medevacs aside, TPTB may - at their discretion - grant a player early release from that contract obligation with no penalty; I suspect, however, Production would only feel motivated to exercise such discretion under specific and/or exceptional circumstances (ex. Savage's kid).

[ProfCrash]

A few people have left Ponderosa early, but not all that many. If you play the game and you are voted out, you go to Ponderosa. They can't make you stay at Ponderosa but I don't think anyone is earning brownie points by leaving before the game ends. The only folks who I can think of who left and probably had Productions blessing on not going to Ponderosa are Terry and Jenna. Terry had a kid in the hospital, Jenna's Mom was dying of cancer. Terry had no clue how sick his son was, Jenna knew how sick her Mom was but I don't believe that she had any idea that her Mom only had a few weeks left when she left the game but she knew time was limited.

 

Both of those folks left the game under extreme circumstances.

 

I believe Randy left Ponderosa early in Heros vs Villains and he knows that he pissed off Production. The only other folks I know of who left early were in Australia and that was more their handlers gave them money and told them to have fun rather then they decided to take off. If others have left early, I have not heard about it and I am sure that is just he way Production wants it.

 

Vytas left early and provided spoilers for the season. On top of that he bitched about being the first out and flat out said he would rather not have played then be the first person off. His exit interviews were flat out whiny and bitchy.

[phlebas]

Yep. I think you won't be seeing either Randy or Vytas on a CBS camera again.  Vytas might make it back to RHAP, since Rob and Aras are friends. I think Randy may have burned that bridge the last time he was on, too.

 

Plenty of others to spend time on. Buh-bye guys.

[Guest]

Vytas lives in L.A. so it would've been a quick, easy $10k for him, one he probably planned on.  

 

Why does he have an assistant?  And why would his assistant be posting SM stuff from Vytas' phone, which is his excuse?  Seems odd.  

[Skeeter22]

Brad Culpepper is another one who left early, and they put him on the Second Chances ballot. I think Vytas's problem is the social media spoilers. He should have been more careful since fans knew exactly who was playing and when it was filming. In a normal season, production probably wouldn't have cared.

[Jextella]

Vytas lives in L.A. so it would've been a quick, easy $10k for him, one he probably planned on.  

 

Why does he have an assistant?  And why would his assistant be posting SM stuff from Vytas' phone, which is his excuse?  Seems odd.  

Seriously.  He must be one awesome and succesful yoga instructor if he can afford an assistant! 

[Guest]

He teaches a whopping 9 yoga classes a week, at two L.A. studios.  I don't know how he supports himself, much less an assistant and a kid.  

[Skeeter22]

I think Vytas is actually a college professor. Maybe he makes some poor TA manage his social media.

[Special K]

I think Vytas is actually a college professor. Maybe he makes some poor TA manage his social media.

 

College professor of what, one wonders.

 

As to yoga teachers, most teachers make the bulk of their income on private clients, not group classes.  Or training other teachers.

 

Edited December 16, 2015 by Special K

[Guest]

It looks like he is an adjunct (part-timer) at Santa Monica College, and teaches math.  Here, that's not a very high paying job.  Google says NPR says adjuncts typically make $20k-$24k annually, though I'm sure CA is more.  

 

The yoga teachers I know don't have private clients but they're not reality tv celebs and I'm not in L.A., so you could well be right he has some.  

Edited December 16, 2015 by Guest

[LadyChatts]

Brad Culpepper is another one who left early, and they put him on the Second Chances ballot. I think Vytas's problem is the social media spoilers. He should have been more careful since fans knew exactly who was playing and when it was filming. In a normal season, production probably wouldn't have cared.

 

That's what I mean about producer discretion.  Vytas didn't originally say it was his assistant, he just responded to that one tweet that if people were looking for spoilers, that was on them for finding them (or something to that extent).  It wasn't until he got called out more that he said it was his assistant and he hadn't been on SM for 45 days until after the WA finale.  I think between that, and a round about way of dissing the show because you were voted off first, were the main reasons he'll be watching from home tonight and won't be getting a third chance.

[knowledgeispower]

FYI...Don't rely on what Redmond says about Survivor, he thinks he's relevant but he's the JV version of RHAP which is only slightly better. Vytas did leave right after being voted out in lieu of missing 30+ days of his son's life. Yes, he signed up for it, but there's no reason to stay and do nothing for 36 days when you can be with your kid. CBS screwed up by letting America pick the contestants so everyone knew who was playing. There was no reason not to have casting narrow it down. 

Vytas told wardrobe what he was wearing and they said no, that’s when he got the colorful underwear and they said yes, it wasn’t his choice. They pick for you. Shirin also asked him for help with her back. Kelly (and others) said his edit was bs since he was hardly around the girls at all. Anyone who thinks he got a good edit is delusional.

He did not go on vacation without his son as some have said and no, he didn't post resuming his yoga classes on Facebook until after they were to be back. The likes on Instagram could have been done by anyone, he says an assistant. No spoilers about the game were given.

Backstage info...there was no reason to even have Vytas at the reunion since he wouldn't have answered questions anyway, there's just not enough time. Shirin didn't get asked any either and she was the second boot. CBS was in a good position for not having him on by saying he left early, if there were really pissed he would've been sued for five million not just banned from the finale. They don't really care. Losing about $12,000 to watch your kid grow is a small price to pay and Jeff knew they had to mention the elephant not in the room. 

As for his income, he's not hurting for money. He's one of the most popular yoga instructions in LA. He does retreats all over the world, teaches yoga teacher training, has private lessons, gets paid for videos and merchandise sponsorship from companies including Reebok. If that’s not enough…he has a masters degree in mathematics and teaches classes (like calculus and statistics) part time at Santa Monica College and Santa Monica High School. Since SMC is a public college, so is his salary which is about $60,000 a year for teaching at SMC alone.

Will CBS ask him back? Of course they will, he was a great player and they'd be stupid not to. His leaving wasn't as egregious as Russel Hantz's spoilers and he was asked back twice. CBS needs to give past contestants a break for a few years.

PS Someone mentioned he’s not sorry for his past with his parents and brother etc. and it couldn’t be further from the truth. Watch other interview outside of Survivor and your will see a much different side, not the one CBS wants to you to see. Of course Survivor can’t show everything, it’s not the Vytas show. But to say his past actions didn’t bother him is 100% incorrect.

PSS Anyone who follows him on SM knows his brother and him are fine.

[KimberStormer]

Hi Vytas!  Welcome to the board.

[LadyChatts]

When was the last time Jeff ever talked to a second boot?  Heck, he couldn't even make time this past season to talk to 4th place finisher Cydney.  

Edited July 27, 2016 by LadyChatts

[Guest]

On 7/25/2016 at 5:13 PM, knowledgeispower said:

there's no reason to stay and do nothing for 36 days when you can be with your kid.

Except $10,000, a contract saying you would stay, any opportunity to play again and a public shaming on CBS for being one of the first players uninvited to the reunion.  

On 7/25/2016 at 5:13 PM, knowledgeispower said:

his salary which is about $60,000 a year for teaching at SMC alone

I thought he was an adjunct instructor.  I have that gig, too.  The pay is more like this level:

http://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2014/los-angeles-district/vytas-baskauskas/

[simplyme]

39 minutes ago, Winston9-DT3 said:

I thought he was an adjunct instructor.  I have that gig, too.  The pay is more like this level:

http://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2014/los-angeles-district/vytas-baskauskas/

Thank you. Teaching part-time for a college or uni sure as hell isn't lucrative unless you've done something like won a Nobel prize and they think having your name on their roster will bring in lots of attention, applications, and grants. That $60k estimate bugged me, but... yeah. I'm lazy. :)

[Guest]

I saw Vytas on HuffPost the other day.  I didn't really buy the creeper edit of him on his last season, but wth is he implying at around 2:09 in the video?  They'd have girls do this chest stretch in middle school to get a better look at their chests?  Odd choice.  

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/yoga-for-posture_us_57b36063e4b0863b0285376d?section=&section=us_healthy-living

Edited August 21, 2016 by Guest