LadyChatts February 6, 2016 Share February 6, 2016 Wow! Just WOW! When I saw the headline "Survivor contestant, child porn" my mind raced towards so many people who might appear in such an article and Mike Skupkin didn't appear my mental list. Jeeze, anyone smart knows never commit two crimes at once. Just wow! Completely agree. Sadly, there are some reality show contestants where I wouldn't be shocked to see this. But Mike was not one of them. Especially the child porn! He always seemed like such a family man (though I didn't realize he had been married 3 times and wasn't currently with his (now ex) wife). He's in his early 50s, but even with a plea deal, I can't believe he won't be going away for a decades-long sentence. A plea deal may spare him a life sentence, but they might as well give him that, considering how old he'll be when he gets out (if he gets out). Link to comment
cooksdelight February 6, 2016 Share February 6, 2016 He will likely owe restitution to the people he scammed, and he has nothing, apparently. Can't sell a house that was foreclosed on. And driving without a license, doesn't he think they might be keeping an eye on him before his arrest yesterday? Probst was one of his cheerleaders, wonder what he thinks now? Link to comment
phlebas February 7, 2016 Share February 7, 2016 Probst was one of his cheerleaders, wonder what he thinks now? Or Lisa Welchel. Or Jesus. Link to comment
JudyObscure February 7, 2016 Share February 7, 2016 I never fully trusted Lisa either. Most of the "epiphanies," she has on Survivor, she had already said she had, and written books about. I thought every word she said on the show was about selling her books and promoting her own motivational speaker career. I guess I question the whole concept of people making a living based on telling others how to be just like them. It sounds like Skupin has that sort of hubris, combined with greed and something downright evil. Ugh. 3 Link to comment
phlebas February 7, 2016 Share February 7, 2016 I never fully trusted Lisa either. Most of the "epiphanies," she has on Survivor, she had already said she had, and written books about. I thought every word she said on the show was about selling her books and promoting her own motivational speaker career. I guess I question the whole concept of people making a living based on telling others how to be just like them. I agree about Lisa. There was something cloying and artificial. I don't know how much of that was constructed and how much was her attempt to say something meaningful for the cameras and retreating to tried'n'true previous thoughts. But I got as exhausted with her losing and then finding herself (whatever that meant to her) as I did with Dawn's histrionics. It's a shame Tootie isn't a Survivor fan. I don't know what to think about Skupin. Disgust with a side of pity, I suppose. I don't envy him the demons he's fighting (and, apparently, losing to). 1 Link to comment
cooksdelight February 7, 2016 Share February 7, 2016 That Fox news story did it for me. I was trying to give the guy the benefit of the doubt..... business plan without a real business mind behind it.... someone putting porn on his computer with malware.... But after watching how arrogant he was, and refusing to answer the guy's questions....not to mention saying he was out of town when he was clearly at home.... I believe he's guilty as hell. He thought his celebrity would open the golden money doors and everyone would just believe anything coming out of his mouth. Link to comment
BK1978 February 8, 2016 Share February 8, 2016 Holy crap Skupin is a piece of garbage. I actually liked him on Survivor but a Ponzi Scheme and child porn? Man what a reprehensible person he turned out to be. 2 Link to comment
BigRedCheese February 8, 2016 Share February 8, 2016 Wow, I didn't know anything like that was going on with Skupin, although, I have to say, I didn't much care for that reporter, he didn't seem very professional. It sounds like Skupin doesn't even know what he got into with that Ponzi scheme, the child porn thing is just really sad. I doubt the republicans will be asking him to run for congress again anytime soon. I was surprised, but I ended up really likiing Lisa, hope she comes back again. Link to comment
LanceM February 8, 2016 Share February 8, 2016 Jeff Probst gives his thoughts on the new cast. Link to comment
LadyChatts February 9, 2016 Share February 9, 2016 (edited) Really hope this season turns out better than I'm thinking it will. Jeff's cast assessment didn't even seem that enthusiastic about. Thinks Debbie has no chance? That makes me want to root for her just to prove Probst wrong. Obviously Nick is striving to be the villain, because that equals screen time/reunion show time/a possible return invite back. I love how Jeff has to play up the divisions as though they define these people in real life (yes, people can be all 3, Probst). Edited February 9, 2016 by LadyChatts 1 Link to comment
Special K February 9, 2016 Share February 9, 2016 In that video, JP justifies that one puny-looking woman being on the Brawn tribe as "she's been around brawn all of her life." The hell?! 3 Link to comment
LanceM February 9, 2016 Share February 9, 2016 I saw Anna tweet last night "Jeff, poker has nothing to do with looks, but thank you". That gave me a good laugh. I have a feeling Jeff is going to be insufferable the first episode going overboard promoting this theme. 3 Link to comment
Nashville February 9, 2016 Share February 9, 2016 I saw Anna tweet last night "Jeff, poker has nothing to do with looks, but thank you". That gave me a good laugh. Right off the bat I would say that was more about Anna being disingenuous than Jeff being inaccurate - which doesn't necessarily make me like her less. ;) I have a feeling Jeff is going to be insufferable the first episode going overboard promoting this theme. Occasionally I feel bad for Peachy, because sometimes Production doesn't give him a whole lot to work with. I have half a suspicion this season might be such a case, because some of these B/B/B justifications are stretching it juuuuuussssst a tad. 1 Link to comment
cooksdelight February 9, 2016 Share February 9, 2016 As one of the producers, doesn't Probst have a say in who gets picked? Sometimes I think he just likes to hear himself bitch and moan. He must be a treasure to live with. 2 Link to comment
LanceM February 10, 2016 Share February 10, 2016 Yes, Jeff is an executive producer and wouldn't shock me in the least if he was the one that decided to this theme again. Link to comment
SnideAsides February 10, 2016 Share February 10, 2016 Yeah, Probst himself has been the showrunner since Redemption Island. Pretty much the only people who can go over his head are CBS themselves, and as long as they have something to promote they don't really care. Link to comment
Nashville February 10, 2016 Share February 10, 2016 I expect Burnett might have a certain degree of input on the process as well.... Link to comment
ljenkins782 February 10, 2016 Share February 10, 2016 Oh god, that's awful. The Ponzi scheme I can see; he's always come across as about half-huckster to me (especially after the Outback when he became a motivational speaker and talked about how he didn't need surgery because God healed his burned hands), but the child porn stuff is surprising. And yes, he has seven kids; I think some of them are adopted but I might be mistaken about that. Yeah, the child porn stuff is horrifying and surprising to me, but the scheming not so much for the reasons you mentioned. That being said, as described, this sounds like one of the dumbest Ponzi schemes ever: It is alleged that Michael Skupin recruited investors and friends to take part in his “gifting scheme” called Pay It Forward. Victims allegedly made $10,000 cash investments in the scheme. Their money would then cycle through a chart in which participants were eventually paid out of other new investors’ money. The scheme was discovered when eventually there were no new investors signing and most people in the scheme lost all of their money. The name of it makes it sound vaguely charitable, but clearly the point of it was to make a profit in the end...somehow. It just sounds so silly and textbook scammy that I can't believe he found any "investors" at all, but then again, people are still falling for the Nigerian prince thing so I guess it's more plausible than that at least. Truthfully, based on his rantings and ravings in the Outback season, I'd expect him to be hawking one of those nutritional supplement/diet and lifestyle multi-level marketing things. With his fame, he could have been successful at something like that and at least those are legal. Link to comment
JudyObscure February 10, 2016 Share February 10, 2016 I usually don't listen to Jeff talk about the contestants because he has a way of making them all sound like obnoxious braggarts, but it's early enough now that I'm sure I'll forget everything he said by game time. 1 Link to comment
Wings February 10, 2016 Share February 10, 2016 Michael Skupin is in big trouble with the law. This surprises and really saddens me (doesn't he have 7 kids?) http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/former-survivor-contestant-michigan-native-michael-skupin-faces-child-porn-racketeering-charges I never liked the guy and got a creepy vibe from him. No one agreed with me back then in season 2. Funny how I picked up on something that was off about him. He was well liked by most of the posters back then. 4 Link to comment
jsm1125 February 11, 2016 Share February 11, 2016 I wonder if Artis feels vindicated about despising Skupin as much as he did. 1 Link to comment
BK1978 February 11, 2016 Share February 11, 2016 In regards to Skupin, I wonder if one of the reasons as to why it took so long for him to be asked back was due to his legal troubles. I am not talking about the recent stuff, I am talking about all of those driving violations he had (I am not sure if there was other stuff as well.). It always struck me as odd that they took so long to bring him back. Link to comment
Guest February 11, 2016 Share February 11, 2016 (edited) Yeah, the child porn stuff is horrifying and surprising to me, but the scheming not so much for the reasons you mentioned. That being said, as described, this sounds like one of the dumbest Ponzi schemes ever: The name of it makes it sound vaguely charitable, but clearly the point of it was to make a profit in the end...somehow. It just sounds so silly and textbook scammy that I can't believe he found any "investors" at all, but then again, people are still falling for the Nigerian prince thing so I guess it's more plausible than that at least. Truthfully, based on his rantings and ravings in the Outback season, I'd expect him to be hawking one of those nutritional supplement/diet and lifestyle multi-level marketing things. With his fame, he could have been successful at something like that and at least those are legal. Bernie Madoff's ponzi scheme was the largest financial fraud perpetrated in this country ever. Bilions were lost. I'm surprised people fell for Skupin's too but the vaguely charitable name probably helped. Though it sounds pretty much exactly like the old "put $1 in this chain letter and send it on" thing, which people should know doesn't work how the chain letter claims it will. A lot of people don't understand finance or statistics well, though. State lotteries are evidence enough of that, and the casino industry. I agree too he could've done something shady but not quite illegal with his name recognition. Maybe he tried that first. Edited February 12, 2016 by Guest Link to comment
LadyChatts February 11, 2016 Share February 11, 2016 I wonder what theme they will do/repeat for S33/34? Another poster pointed out we haven't been theme-less since S19. In regards to Mike, I never liked him from the Outback days. Because he was medevaced I thought he did deserve another shot, but he wasn't someone high on my list that I wanted back. One of his tweets prior to his arrest was talking about wanting to return a 3rd time, since he's played with newbies twice and he wanted to play with a full cast of returnees. I'm guessing that won't be happening. I never got a creepy vibe from him, though after his accident I thought he sometimes came off as the sleazy faith healer. Since Mike was never one of my faves, I never really kept up on him outside of the game, so a lot of this info is new to me. Because 'pay it forward' is such a big thing, I guess I can see where people might be it as being legit. He picked the perfect name and premise for it. 1 Link to comment
henripootel February 12, 2016 Share February 12, 2016 (edited) I'm surprised people fell for Skupin's too but the vaguely charitable name probably helped. Though it sounds pretty much exactly like the old "put $1 in this chain letter and send it on" thing, which people should know doesn't work how the chain letter claims it will. A lot of people don't understand finance or statistics well, though. State lotteries are evidence enough of that, and the casino industry. I'm always surprised whenever a ponzi schemes collapse, people just assume that they got so far along because 'nobody knows how they work'. I've brushed up on a few and here's what I've learned: everybody knows how they work. Not everybody loses in ponzi schemes, just the majority of 'suckers' who get in too late. Nobody thinks of themselves as a sucker so they're just sure they'll be one of the few who gets paid. Lotteries and casinos prosper via much of the same 'logic'. People walk into a vast casino and instead of thinking of all the folks who must have lost money just to keep the lights on in this place, they think they'll be one of the few who win. And this is not a wholly irrational belief - some folks do actually win. It's not that nobody understands how casinos work - most folks know the odds, at least roughly. It's just that casino guys (and ponzi schemers) know how people work. As to why people think this way, that's another kettle of fish but it's not at all because 'nobody knows'. Everybody knows, they just think they're not a sucker. As for Skupin, my sympathies stop at 'kiddy porn'. I have a generally low opinion of folks in the reality tv industry but I'd like to think Jeffy et al. are as appalled as we are this time. Edited February 12, 2016 by henripootel 1 Link to comment
LadyChatts February 12, 2016 Share February 12, 2016 (edited) Surprised they haven't done this before. http://www.ew.com/article/2016/02/12/price-right-specials-big-brother-survivor Price is Right specials will host contestants from Big Brother, Survivor, and The Amazing Race BY LYNETTE RICE • @LYNETTERICE Posted February 12 2016 — 8:00 AM EST The players will compete in three specials later this year. Contestants from Survivor, The Amazing Race and Big Brother have been invited to come on down for special night editions of The Price is Right. EW has learned exclusively that the CBS game show will pay tribute to CBS’ reality shows by pitting former racers, castaways and houseguests against each other for three specials. Each special will also feature appearances by Race’s Phil Keoghan, Survivor’s Jeff Probst and Big Brother’s Julie Chen. They’ll air later this year. Season 28 of The Amazing Race premieres Friday on CBS. Survivor comes back Feb. 17, while the next installment of Big Brother will bow this summer. The Price is Right, together with The Talk, The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, and Let’s Make a Deal, has helped CBS rank No. 1 in daytime for 29 years. Edited February 12, 2016 by LadyChatts Link to comment
Guest February 12, 2016 Share February 12, 2016 I'm pretty sure people didn't invest their life savings with Bernie Madoff, former Nasdaq chairman, knowing it was a ponzi scheme. Sometimes I think I'm cynical and then I remember you, Henri. ; ) Link to comment
henripootel February 12, 2016 Share February 12, 2016 I'm pretty sure people didn't invest their life savings with Bernie Madoff, former Nasdaq chairman, knowing it was a ponzi scheme. Sometimes I think I'm cynical and then I remember you, Henri. ; ) Oh, I'm much more cynical than that - I think the case can be made that most folks are complicit in the action. People don't mind so much that somebody is gonna lose money here, they just know it's not gonna be them. This is why ponzi schemes can get so blown up - the bigger the better, and the more people think it'll just keep blowing up, if not forever then long enough for them to get money out of it. But you're right, I do overstate by saying everyone knows - some people are just a combination of greedy and dumb. 'We'll double, even triple your money, in short time with no risk to you!' People who don't ask questions further don't want to know the answer. That's complicity in my book. I mean from what people have said about Skupin's scheme, he didn't even make an effort to hide that it was a ponzi scheme. 'Pay it Forward' is a cute pitch but it's about as naked a scam as I've seen lately. Even Madoff and Amway pretend to have something else in the mix besides just naked greed and willful ignorance. I'm a little surprised that Skupin isn't in jail already - hasn't this been running for a couple years? 1 Link to comment
LadyChatts February 13, 2016 Share February 13, 2016 Comment from Skupin (he, of course, denies all charges): http://www.people.com/article/survivor-mike-skupin-speaks-out-after-arrest 1 Link to comment
pythonite February 13, 2016 Share February 13, 2016 I've always hated him, now I have a good reason to. 2 Link to comment
Vicky8675309 February 13, 2016 Share February 13, 2016 Comment from Skupin (he, of course, denies all charges): http://www.people.com/article/survivor-mike-skupin-speaks-out-after-arrest His comment just makes him sound more guilty! 2 Link to comment
henripootel February 14, 2016 Share February 14, 2016 His comment just makes him sound more guilty! Aye, he sounds like he's parsing his words. 'Never hurt a child' could mean 'taking pictures of children naked doesn't hurt them' or 'I didn't take the pictures, just looked at them'. I wouldn't make that the cornerstone of your defense, Skupin, or better yet, please do. 3 Link to comment
Lantern7 February 15, 2016 Share February 15, 2016 If only he had landed crotch-first into the fire. On-topic: The AVClub spotlights ten episodes in the show's history where the immunity idol played a huge part. 1 Link to comment
KimberStormer February 15, 2016 Share February 15, 2016 I definitely agree that the HII is a reason Survivor is still good, and the best twist ever introduced; but these are strange, strange, strange choices for idol moments to highlight. Almost like they didn't want to spoil the actually good ones. How can you mention Gary's idol, without "The idol is definitely, by far, on the ground" and how Gary found it without the clue? Although I share the author's disdain for Yul's overpowered idol, why not at least make his strong-arming Penner an entry?? Why, in God's name, out of all the idol moments in Micronesia, talk about Erik going home, which had nothing to do with idols??? WHY, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT'S HOLY, WOULD YOU HAVE TWO ENTRIES FOR HEROES VS VILLAINS, AND NEITHER OF THEM BE PARVATI'S DOUBLE-IDOL PLAY???? I'm sorry. Got a little carried away. I feel like I'm losing my mind reading this list. 3 Link to comment
LanceM February 15, 2016 Share February 15, 2016 Jeff Probst previews the new season. http://parade.com/457620/joshwigler/jeff-probst-previews-survivor-kaoh-rong-brains-vs-beauty-vs-brawn/ Link to comment
SnideAsides February 23, 2016 Share February 23, 2016 ETA: Looks like Survivor 33 & 34 are heading back to Fiji, with filming starting in March for S33. http://insidesurvivor.com/survivor-season-33-and-34-location-8479 The part of Fiji they're planning to use got hit by one of the strongest cyclones in recorded history last week, so don't be too shocked if filming is delayed or they wind up moving to a back-up location. Link to comment
Lantern7 March 4, 2016 Share March 4, 2016 Reality Blurred answers the question: How do you get a seat at a Survivor reunion? Link to comment
LadyChatts March 4, 2016 Share March 4, 2016 Reality Blurred answers the question: How do you get a seat at a Survivor reunion? I think I'm more amazed there's actually a website dedicated to being a seat filler. Also, I like the comment about being part of a Survivor's entourage because they will get ignored by Jeff at the reunion. 1 Link to comment
Ms Blue Jay March 4, 2016 Share March 4, 2016 Hmmm. I never saw Guatemala. I think the pilot included people vomiting. I was like F this. I guess I should give it another chance (said begrudgingly) Link to comment
LadyChatts March 4, 2016 Share March 4, 2016 Hmmm. I never saw Guatemala. I think the pilot included people vomiting. I was like F this. I guess I should give it another chance (said begrudgingly) I loved Guatemala! Yeah, there are things I don't like about it (mainly the last part of the season), but I did enjoy it more than most seem to. I consider it Survivor's forgotten season. 1 Link to comment
piequinn35 March 4, 2016 Share March 4, 2016 How can you remember that, that was long time ago..10 years? :> 1 Link to comment
LanceM March 4, 2016 Share March 4, 2016 Hmmm. I never saw Guatemala. I think the pilot included people vomiting. I was like F this. I guess I should give it another chance (said begrudgingly) Yes they made the players hike 11 miles into the jungle to get to their camps. Lost of people got dehydrated, etc. A very good season though. It does have the distinction of being the only season in the first 20 without a returnee (Stephenie LaGrossa doesn't count). 1 Link to comment
Ms Blue Jay March 4, 2016 Share March 4, 2016 What does that mean, without a returnee? There were returnees in 19 of the first 20 seasons? Link to comment
LanceM March 4, 2016 Share March 4, 2016 What does that mean, without a returnee? There were returnees in 19 of the first 20 seasons? We have had people from season 1 return for another season, we have people from season 2 return to another season, we have people from season 3 return for another season, etc, etc. None of the players from season 11 have ever been asked back. (Bobby Jon and Stephenie don't count since they were previously on season 10) 1 Link to comment
LadyChatts March 4, 2016 Share March 4, 2016 We have had people from season 1 return for another season, we have people from season 2 return to another season, we have people from season 3 return for another season, etc, etc. None of the players from season 11 have ever been asked back. (Bobby Jon and Stephenie don't count since they were previously on season 10) The only names I've ever heard brought up as being potential returnees were Judd, Jaime, and Lydia (not even sure how accurate it is that they were asked in the first place). I do wonder, had the season played out differently, if we would have had returnees by now. Link to comment
Nashville March 4, 2016 Share March 4, 2016 How can you remember that, that was long time ago..10 years? :> After a certain age it's easier to remember what happened on a TV show a decade ago than it is to remember what you had for breakfast yesterday. 11 Link to comment
LadyChatts March 5, 2016 Share March 5, 2016 After a certain age it's easier to remember what happened on a TV show a decade ago than it is to remember what you had for breakfast yesterday. Pretty much. I can tell you what happened on Survivor Guatemala, but I had to check my work schedule about 10 times today because I keep forgetting what time I'm supposed to be in tomorrow (and on that note, better check again). 4 Link to comment
KimberStormer March 5, 2016 Share March 5, 2016 I feel like Brian from Guatemala has been brought up as a possible returnee, but maybe that was fannish hopefulness (like hoping for Tracy from Micronesia to come back) rather than something that was ever thought of by production. 1 Link to comment
ljenkins782 March 7, 2016 Share March 7, 2016 I loved Guatemala! Yeah, there are things I don't like about it (mainly the last part of the season), but I did enjoy it more than most seem to. I consider it Survivor's forgotten season. It's certainly that for me. One of the seasons that I truly can't remember anything about (save the idol search scene). Jeff Varner give his thoughts about the new cast: http://insidesurvivor.com/varners-verdict-jeff-varner-judges-survivor-kaoh-rong-cast-8192 I've been enjoying looking back at Jeff's initial impressions of this cast and seeing how they stack up against the expanded view that's unfolding through the episodes. He actually nailed a couple of people that I wouldn't have agreed with him on after episode 1 (such as Jenny being an early boot). But he especially nailed Liz as a automaton whose robotic nature might put her in early danger, which it clearly did. 1 Link to comment
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