S34: Brad Culpepper

[Katmai]

1 hour ago, ByaNose said:

I liked Brad with the mustache but the short sleeves with the tie is so 80's. I'm not sure if he thought he looked good or maybe he really dresses like that since he lives in Florida.  I don't need to see either of them again. 

The first time I saw Brad at the reunion, I thought he looked like a mid-80's Bill Murray. Not a compliment in the physical sense, although I love Murray as a comedian. Brad looked like the stereotypical used car salesman that I'd avoid at all costs. I seriously hope to never see he or Monica again.

[LadyChatts]

Unless Brad himself doesn't want to come back, unfortunately, I think he'll keep coming back and coming back until they rig it for him to win.

[Bryce Lynch]

I'll fight for YOU, Tampa!

[LadyChatts]

http://ew.com/tv/2017/05/25/survivor-brad-culpepper-game-changers-finale/

Brad thought his immunity winning streak would be impressive enough to win.  He didn't realize the kind of game Sarah was playing and thought Andrea and Cirie were pulling the strings.  He knew he had lost as soon as Zeke started saying how much he loved Sarah's cut throat game.  He thought that Sarah stabbing so many people in the back was a guaranteed loss for her.

[Wings]

1 hour ago, LadyChatts said:

http://ew.com/tv/2017/05/25/survivor-brad-culpepper-game-changers-finale/

Brad thought his immunity winning streak would be impressive enough to win.  He didn't realize the kind of game Sarah was playing and thought Andrea and Cirie were pulling the strings.  He knew he had lost as soon as Zeke started saying how much he loved Sarah's cut throat game.  He thought that Sarah stabbing so many people in the back was a guaranteed loss for her.

Yep, just as we have been saying all day.   His strategy was transparent and foolish as evidenced by no one else considering him a threat from very early on.  Again this is a social game first and foremost.  It is the men (not all) who are the most likely to place this on the bottom of the list.  There have been male winners who got this, clearly.  

Edited May 25, 2017 by wings707

[La Traviata]

I don't know how anyone can like Michaela but not like Culpepper and vice versa.  They're the same person.  Both physically strong and athletic.  Both hot headed.  Both lacking in social skills.  Both snarky and intimidating to the weaker sect.  If you like one, you should like the other.  If you hate one, you should hate the other.

[Oholibamah]

58 minutes ago, La Traviata said:

I don't know how anyone can like Michaela but not like Culpepper and vice versa.  They're the same person.  Both physically strong and athletic.  Both hot headed.  Both lacking in social skills.  Both snarky and intimidating to the weaker sect.  If you like one, you should like the other.  If you hate one, you should hate the other.

I have yet to see anything from Michaela that even begins to approach the condescension and disdain Brad showed towards Tai. 

Michaela is hotheaded, sure, but has shown more maturity and class than Brad despite being two decades his junior. 

[Maverick]

23 hours ago, LadyChatts said:

Brad had some interesting wardrobe changes.  I'm still wondering about the outfit he wore at the last two TC.  And totally not digging the mustache.  He reminded me of an evil camp counselor that would have been on a 90s made for TV Disney movie.

 I was thinking more 'pervy uncle in a porn flick' myself.  

[ByaNose]

17 minutes ago, Maverick said:

 I was thinking more 'pervy uncle in a porn flick' myself.  

Would that be straight or gay porn? Would it matter? LOL!!!

[Maverick]

 With those abs?  Gay.

[Wings]

Another interview with Brad.

http://ew.com/tv/2017/05/25/survivor-brad-culpepper-game-changers-finale/

[La Traviata]

7 hours ago, Oholibamah said:

I have yet to see anything from Michaela that even begins to approach the condescension and disdain Brad showed towards Tai. 

Michaela is hotheaded, sure, but has shown more maturity and class than Brad despite being two decades his junior. 

Michaela set the condescension bar for me when she repeatedly told Hannah to "shut up" during the Gen X - Millennials season.  Plus, a lot of Michaela's condescension is more subtle than Brad's obvious dumb jerk-ery, but it still exists.  Of course there's the hair whip and the eye rolls Michaela's so infamous for, but there's also the disrespectful, smug chomping of the coconut during tribal council, the cup and thermos thing and the go-get-me-some fish conversation she had with Culpepper.  A lot of Michaela's condescension goes right over the average viewer's head, which I'm sure is by design.  It's her "Who me?" feigned innocence that only a more observant viewer picks up on that makes Culpepper appear to be a more despicable human being.  That, plus the fact that's Culpepper's a man and so by default the female viewer is less forgiving.

[Bryce Lynch]

1 hour ago, La Traviata said:

Michaela set the condescension bar for me when she repeatedly told Hannah to "shut up" during the Gen X - Millennials season.  Plus, a lot of Michaela's condescension is more subtle than Brad's obvious dumb jerk-ery, but it still exists.  Of course there's the hair whip and the eye rolls Michaela's so infamous for, but there's also the disrespectful, smug chomping of the coconut during tribal council, the cup and thermos thing and the go-get-me-some fish conversation she had with Culpepper.  A lot of Michaela's condescension goes right over the average viewer's head, which I'm sure is by design.  It's her "Who me?" feigned innocence that only a more observant viewer picks up on that makes Culpepper appear to be a more despicable human being.  That, plus the fact that's Culpepper's a man and so by default the female viewer is less forgiving.

She told Hannah to shut up once during a challenge they were doing together , because Hannah was getting all flustered and needed Michaela to take control.  She also told Probst to shut up during the same challenge.  Hannah understood and took no offense.

I can't recall, who won that challenge?

Michaela's TC props were designed to demonstrate to the other players that she was in the know and part of the decision making process in the votes (unlike Brad who admitted to Tai, during his failed attempt to bully him, that not a single vote had gone the way he planned).

I am a male viewer and I love Michaela and found Culpepper to be obnoxious at times and a poor strategic and social player, though not a horrible person.

[NutMeg]

About Brad C., I am amused that he and Monica will really be able to be on the same page regarding their Survivor experience. Both of them were first voted out pre-jury, then both made it to FTC on their second try, both with someone they could reasonably believe had been too abrasive to get jury votes, and in both cases they were allied with the winner. Also, both relied more on their physical game and on interactions with their core group rather than on getting to know the other payers not in their alliance. And, really, both have extremely impressive physical abilities.

So this ending is probably better for their marriage than if Brad had won. And I'm not snarking, I think they do have a strong bond, which regardless of the individual involved, is always nice to see.

He really played according to "What would Monica do?", didn't he? Or at least in a way that got him to the same point as it got Monica. Each one will understand what the other felt at FTC, which I don't think has ever happened for a Survivor couple. (Maybe Jenna & Ethan?)

[ljenkins782]

I just watched Cirie and Andrea's "the jury speaks" videos and they both said that Brad's social game was lacking. Andrea expressed similar thoughts as Michaela, he really didn't make an effort to get to know her and others. Cirie also doesn't feel he gave a shit about her and thinks he's annoying. He's apparently a bit of a braggart about his life and it rubbed her the wrong way. Had it come down to Tai/Troyzan/Brad, Cirie would have voted Tai. 

Watching a lot of these jury videos/juror members reflect on the most recent TC videos, Brad didn't have a ton of fans on that jury. In the last few TCs, the jurors were dreading the prospect of a Tai/Troyzan/Brad F3. 

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He really played according to "What would Monica do?", didn't he? Or at least in a way that got him to the same point as it got Monica. Each one will understand what the other felt at FTC, which I don't think has ever happened for a Survivor couple. (Maybe Jenna & Ethan?)

I can't remember the ending of Monica's second season, did she get any votes? 

[NutMeg]

Quote

Had it come down to Tai/Troyzan/Brad, Cirie would have voted Tai. 

And just with that, I'm even happier that Sarah made the F3!

[fishcakes]

37 minutes ago, ljenkins782 said:

I just watched Cirie and Andrea's "the jury speaks" videos and they both said that Brad's social game was lacking. Andrea expressed similar thoughts as Michaela, he really didn't make an effort to get to know her and others. Cirie also doesn't feel he gave a shit about her and thinks he's annoying. He's apparently a bit of a braggart about his life and it rubbed her the wrong way. Had it come down to Tai/Troyzan/Brad, Cirie would have voted Tai. 

That's interesting because I was wondering what would happen if it was a F2 of Troy vs. Brad. Trying to guess the votes I came up with Brad probably winning pretty easily because I thought Cirie and Andrea were sure things for him, with Troy only getting Hali, Michaela, and Tai as certain votes, but now that I know that Cirie and Andrea weren't all that hot on him, that makes Troy's chances look respectable.

In a F2 with an 11 person jury, I'd guess

Sarah - ? but probably Brad
Tai - Troy
Aubry - ?
Cirie - Troy
Michaela - Troy
Andrea - ?
Sierra - Brad
Zeke - ? but probably Brad
Debbie - Brad
Ozzy - Brad
Hali - Troy

My guess is Troy has four solid votes and two maybes. Brad has three solid votes, two likelys, and two maybes. Sarah I think gives it Brad based on gameplay, Andrea might vote Brad based on game unless she really disliked it him and then Troy gets her vote. Zeke, probably would vote for Brad based on gameplay, but Zeke's all about doing something attention-getting so he might vote for Troy based on a weird calculus only he understands. The only one I have no idea about is Aubry; we just didn't hear enough from her this season to know where her head is/what she values. I don't know, but one change in the season's format and we could have been looking at Sole Survivor Troy.

37 minutes ago, ljenkins782 said:

I can't remember the ending of Monica's second season, did she get any votes? 

Vytas voted for her, but he was pretty open that it was a bitter not-for-Tyson vote.

Edited May 26, 2017 by fishcakes

[ljenkins782]

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That's interesting because I was wondering what would happen if it was a F2 of Troy vs. Brad. Trying to guess the votes I came up with Brad probably winning pretty easily because I thought Cirie and Andrea were sure things for him, with Troy only getting Hali, Michaela, and Tai as certain votes, but now that I know that Cirie and Andrea weren't all that hot on him, that makes Troy's chances look respectable.

Hali wasn't on the Troyzan train at all, she didn't think he did anything. Andrea also wouldn't have voted Troy, she hated Sarah but voted for her anyway because she played the best game, she would have gone for Brad if she had to. 

Quote

My guess is Troy has four solid votes and two maybes. Brad has three solid votes and four maybes. Sarah I think gives it Brad based on gameplay, Andrea might vote Brad based on game unless she really disliked it him and then Troy gets her vote. Zeke, probably would vote for Brad based on gameplay, but Zeke's all about doing something attention-getting so he might vote for Troy based on a weird calculus only he understands. The only one I have no idea about is Aubry; we just didn't hear enough from her this season to know where her head is/what she values. I don't know but, one change in the season's format and we could have been looking at Sole Survivor Troy.

I think a F2 of those two would have resulted in a reluctantly voted Brad landslide. I'm really confused as to why Troyzan thought he was such a lock to win, literally no one seemed to agree. 

It's kind of amazing how many people said Brad Culpepper could never win the game, I'm curious why that's such an agreed upon sentiment. Is it because he's rich? Because he's not the only rich, former athlete to play, but there was just a constant refrain of "Brad can't win" running through all the interviews. 

[ByaNose]

In the OG of Survivor Brad might have won. The game is different now from what I've been told. LOL!! I'm 52 and I've been watching since Day 1. I'm not sure if Brad was thinking of Mike Holloway (I'm assuming he knows how he won) and, just thought if he won 5 Individual Immunities that he would win, too. There were just younger and newer players on the jury who were more into the gameplay aspect.

[Bryce Lynch]

21 minutes ago, ljenkins782 said:

Hali wasn't on the Troyzan train at all, she didn't think he did anything. Andrea also wouldn't have voted Troy, she hated Sarah but voted for her anyway because she played the best game, she would have gone for Brad if she had to. 

I think a F2 of those two would have resulted in a reluctantly voted Brad landslide. I'm really confused as to why Troyzan thought he was such a lock to win, literally no one seemed to agree. 

It's kind of amazing how many people said Brad Culpepper could never win the game, I'm curious why that's such an agreed upon sentiment. Is it because he's rich? Because he's not the only rich, former athlete to play, but there was just a constant refrain of "Brad can't win" running through all the interviews. 

I am not a Brad fan, but I think Brad played (barely) well enough to win with the right people sitting next to him.  The jury said he would have beaten Tai in a tiebreaker.  His huge mistake was bringing Sarah with him.  

Of the other 9 jurors, he probably could NOT have beaten Andrea, Cirie, or Zeke, and perhaps Ozzy.  He would have easily beaten Debbie.  He would have a shot against Halli, Michaela, Aubry, and Sierra.

Of course, many of the jurors, especially the ones voted out early, would have had very different resumes if they made it to FTC, so it is hard to say who he would and would not have beaten.  

[Special K]

18 minutes ago, ByaNose said:

In the OG of Survivor Brad might have won. The game is different now from what I've been told. LOL!! I'm 52 and I've been watching since Day 1. I'm not sure if Brad was thinking of Mike Holloway (I'm assuming he knows how he won) and, just thought if he won 5 Individual Immunities that he would win, too. There were just younger and newer players on the jury who were more into the gameplay aspect.

Mike's was a total underdog, Hail Mary effort, one immunity at a time.  With people gunning for him hard every week.  It was hard not to root for him with the likes of Dan Foley against him.  Kind of like Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote.

Brad basically was in the majority alliance lording it for a long time and then lost his numbers.  So it was somewhat different.  And of course the jury was different. But I think he probably thought he could pull out a Mike win.

[Runningwild]

https://www.google.com/amp/ew.com/tv/2017/05/25/survivor-brad-culpepper-game-changers-finale/amp/

[ByaNose]

48 minutes ago, Special K said:

Mike's was a total underdog, Hail Mary effort, one immunity at a time.  With people gunning for him hard every week.  It was hard not to root for him with the likes of Dan Foley against him.  Kind of like Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote.

Brad basically was in the majority alliance lording it for a long time and then lost his numbers.  So it was somewhat different.  And of course the jury was different. But I think he probably thought he could pull out a Mike win.

You have a good point on the underdog part. That's a great take. Anything that can make Dan Foley more upset is a good thing. I can't Dan Foley. Actually, he might be in my Top 3 of my most hated.

[Special K]

3 minutes ago, ByaNose said:

You have a good point on the underdog part. That's a great take. Anything that can make Dan Foley more upset is a good thing. I can't Dan Foley. Actually, he might be in my Top 3 of my most hated.

Dan Foley is all three of my top three most hated. 

[Bryce Lynch]

1 minute ago, Special K said:

Dan Foley is all three of my top three most hated. 

Mine too.  

[Whimsy]

As a reminder, this is the thread for Brad Culpepper.  Not Michaela, not Tai, not coded language, etc.  Stay on topic and BE CIVIL. 

[LadyChatts]

Troy seemed to think he would win based on his social game.  In a Brad/Troy final 2, it's hard to say.  We had a jury saying they wanted to vote for who played the best game (whatever their definition of that was), and Debbie/Sierra were staying loyal to their original alliance to the end.  They were going to be Brad votes no matter what.  I do think Brad definitely overthought Sarah betraying people on the jury would cost her.  He probably thought she was his goat or villain.  I can see where Ozzy would have the respect for Brad, since he still has an old school mind set, and seems to like the people who take in the whole experience.  Ozzy's never been good at the strategic part of this game.  Neither is Brad, so maybe he sympathized with the guy that the jury was all about big moves, and the things he loved most about this game get pushed to the wayside. 

[ByaNose]

I heard and saw that Brad shaved off his mustache after the reunion but before the Red Carpet. Apparently, he then was playing games with the press that he never had a mustache. I don't know what that was about but I didn't think he looked horrible but it didn't work with the short sleeve and tie. He reminded me of one of my teachers from the 80's. I guess he and Monica are done with Survivor and will enjoy the millons they already have in Florida. LOL!!!!

[KimberStormer]

18 minutes ago, LadyChatts said:

 Debbie/Sierra were staying loyal to their original alliance to the end.  They were going to be Brad votes no matter what. 

Debbie yes, but I think Sierra no.  I think she was voting against Sarah rather than for Brad, because she felt so very hurt by her (and fair enough.)

I also think there's a very good chance Sierra would beat Brad in FTC as she was not such a jerk and she was seen as the brains behind their alliance, as was even brought up in the FTC.  Of course it would have been a totally different game if Sierra made it to the end so it's difficult to speculate, but going by what did happen she would have been a lock against Brad and Troy IMO.

[LadyChatts]

21 minutes ago, ByaNose said:

I heard and saw that Brad shaved off his mustache after the reunion but before the Red Carpet. Apparently, he then was playing games with the press that he never had a mustache. I don't know what that was about but I didn't think he looked horrible but it didn't work with the short sleeve and tie. He reminded me of one of my teachers from the 80's. I guess he and Monica are done with Survivor and will enjoy the millons they already have in Florida. LOL!!!!

Okay, so I'm not totally crazy.  On CBS's FB page they had the final 6 on the red carpet.  It only showed the start of a video of Brad/Sarah/Troy together before it cut out on me.  I didn't think he had a mustache in it.  I had wondered if it was fake and he was trying to disguise himself.  After the show, if people came up and started berating him, he could say 'no, that Brad Culpepper had a mustache.  It wasn't me!'

[Bryce Lynch]

16 minutes ago, KimberStormer said:

Debbie yes, but I think Sierra no.  I think she was voting against Sarah rather than for Brad, because she felt so very hurt by her (and fair enough.)

I also think there's a very good chance Sierra would beat Brad in FTC as she was not such a jerk and she was seen as the brains behind their alliance, as was even brought up in the FTC.  Of course it would have been a totally different game if Sierra made it to the end so it's difficult to speculate, but going by what did happen she would have been a lock against Brad and Troy IMO.

I think Debbie voted based on a combination of being bitter towards not only Sarah, but every woman who went farther than she did,  and being obsessed with Brad and his 100X testosterone level...which were both influenced by her being batpoop crazy.

I think Sierra's vote might have been loyalty to her alliance mate.  Her and Brad were close from the beginning.  

[La Traviata]

5 hours ago, ljenkins782 said:

Had it come down to Tai/Troyzan/Brad, Cirie would have voted Tai.

Aubrey would have too.  What a major disappointment just to throwaway their vote.  I would love to hear what Cirie and Aubrey felt the Tai did that fell into the "Outwit," "Outlast," "Outplay" criteria.  

[La Traviata]

5 hours ago, ljenkins782 said:

It's kind of amazing how many people said Brad Culpepper could never win the game, I'm curious why that's such an agreed upon sentiment. Is it because he's rich? Because he's not the only rich, former athlete to play, but there was just a constant refrain of "Brad can't win" running through all the interviews. 

My guess would be that it has to do with his social game or lack thereof.  Unlike Survivor of 20 years ago where everything was all about who's the strongest, who can last the longest hanging on a pole, or standing on an uncomfortable 2-inch plank of wood in the heat or who can eat the most slugs, etc., Survivor these days takes social game into consideration a lot more than it should.  

Edited May 26, 2017 by La Traviata

[Bryce Lynch]

2 minutes ago, La Traviata said:

My guess would be that it has to do with his social game or lack thereof.  Unlike Survivor of 20 years ago where everything was all about who's the strongest, who can last the longest hanging on a pole, or standing on an uncomfortable 2-inch plank of wood in the heat or who can eat the most slugs, etc., Survivor these days takes social game into consideration a lot more than it should.  

I agree. Juries today seem to be more likely to reward strong strategic play (even if it is devious) and social play more than winning challenges and being loyal to an alliance.  

 I think Boston Rob winning, while playing like a combination of Bernie Madoff and Biff Tannen may have started a trend of juries being less bitter towards cutthroat players, though it is not true of every jury.

I wouldn't mind seeing a shift back to jurors, while not being "bitter betties" hold players more accountable for their excessively cutthroat and disloyal play.  One of the great things about the Survivor is that the jury is also like a legislature that gets to make its own rules about how to win the game.  

[KimberStormer]

6 hours ago, Bryce Lynch said:

I think Sierra's vote might have been loyalty to her alliance mate.  Her and Brad were close from the beginning.  

Well, her loyalty didn't extend to giving him the Legacy Advantage, you know?  It's probably a combination of it all.

[fishcakes]

22 hours ago, ljenkins782 said:

Hali wasn't on the Troyzan train at all, she didn't think he did anything. Andrea also wouldn't have voted Troy, she hated Sarah but voted for her anyway because she played the best game, she would have gone for Brad if she had to. 

I haven't watched any of the exit interviews, so my speculation is all based on what I saw on the show, but post-show did Andrea say she hated Sarah? I thought she said at the Reunion that she believed she and Sarah were friends and was surprised by Sarah's confessional saying she couldn't stand Andrea. Hali, though, did seem to really dislike Brad, unless she's said something in interviews to indicate otherwise. He was pretty dismissive of her from the beginning, so I'd be surprised if she were to vote for him regardless of who he was up against. In any case, I still think Brad probably wins in a Brad vs. Troy F2; I just don't think it's a landslide. I'd expect it to be close enough to flip to Troy depending on how FTC goes.

I also think Jeff's poll of who would vote for Tai and who would vote for Brad in a Brad/Tai/Troy F3 and how it would result in a tie that demotes Troy to jury status was inaccurate because I think Troy could conceivably pick up a vote or two from people who want to vote against both Tai and Brad.

Despite all my, "no, you guys, Troy could have won!" I'm not his mom or anything. But this season is another reason why I prefer F2s to F3s. In an F3 where the alliance leader and his right-hand person get there with a third person, the right-hand generally gets zero votes even though they were often as responsible as the eventual winner for the moves that were made (or at the very least, as integral to those moves even being possible): Yul/Becky, Tyson/Gervase,  Kim/Chelsea, and I'd even include Cochran/Dawn, even though I think Dawn's goose egg was based more on her personality than on being overshadowed by Cochran's gameplay, but the latter certainly played a part. I like the F2 because you have to work harder for the win; if you're considered hard to beat, then maybe you don't get to FTC at all unless you win an additional IC, and if you do win the IC, you have to vote out the right person. But at the same time, I like that they mix it up between F2 and F3 because they require different strategies and if the players don't know which it's going to be, they have to plan for both.

Edited May 27, 2017 by fishcakes

[Scatterbrained]

On 5/26/2017 at 11:40 AM, fishcakes said:

Vytas voted for her, but he was pretty open that it was a bitter not-for-Tyson vote.

It was also a strategy to give her all of the second place prize, and relegate Gervase to a firm 3rd place and lesser prize.

[ByaNose]

2 hours ago, Scatterbrained said:

It was also a strategy to give her all of the second place prize, and relegate Gervase to a firm 3rd place and lesser prize.

I think 2nd is $100,000 and 3rd was/is $75,000 give or take.

[Nashville]

16 hours ago, ByaNose said:

I think 2nd is $100,000 and 3rd was/is $75,000 give or take.

If I recall correctly:

1. 1st place, of course, is $1M.
2. 2nd place is $100K
3. 3rd place is $50K.

@ByaNose - RE the $75K amount you mentioned -  I seem to recall once within the past few years where there was a clear winner, but a tie vote between 2nd and 3rd place.  On that occasion the 2nd and 3rd place prizes were combined and divided equally between the tied contestants, for two individual $75K prizes.  Maybe this is what you're thinking of...?

[Nalan]

17 minutes ago, Nashville said:

3rd place is $50K.

It's $85,000, actually, from what I've heard.

[Nashville]

31 minutes ago, Nalan said:

It's $85,000, actually, from what I've heard.

It may be now; like I said, I'm recalling from several years back. 

[fishcakes]

In season one, Sue Hawk said the four top prizes were $1M, $100K, $85K, and $70K, but it's never been confirmed beyond fourth place what the cash prize is. At least as of Caramoan, these were still the prize amounts because Dawn confirmed in an interview that she and Sherri split the second and third place prizes and got $92,500 each.

[Nashville]

2 hours ago, fishcakes said:

In season one, Sue Hawk said the four top prizes were $1M, $100K, $85K, and $70K, but it's never been confirmed beyond fourth place what the cash prize is. At least as of Caramoan, these were still the prize amounts because Dawn confirmed in an interview that she and Sherri split the second and third place prizes and got $92,500 each.

Thanks!

[NutMeg]

Off topic but in response to talk about cash prices, and a big pet peeve of mine:

1 million today is the equivalent of less than $700,000 in 2000 (specifically $697,090.69 according to http://www.saving.org/inflation/inflation.php?amount=1,000,000). Is CBS really that cheap that they won't upgrade/update the cash price in almost 20 years, with the result that the current winner gets about 30% less than the first winner? If the show is to last another 20 years, will the price money still be the same? Each season, I'm astonished that nobody seems to be calling them on it. 

[KimberStormer]

"1 Million Dollars" is so iconic a figure that it's hard to change.  "I'm here to win the 1.3 million" just doesn't have the same ring.  And, I mean, it's still pretty high for a game show.  I personally would feel pretty silly saying "take this 700 thousand in year 2000 money and shove it".

[jaync]

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I'll fight for YOU, Tampa!

LOL, that clip is cheese.fucking.balls.

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A lot of Michaela's condescension goes right over the average viewer's head, which I'm sure is by design. It's her "Who me?" feigned innocence that only a more observant viewer picks up on that makes Culpepper appear to be a more despicable human being.

It appears condescension recognizes condescension.

[NutMeg]

34 minutes ago, KimberStormer said:

"1 Million Dollars" is so iconic a figure that it's hard to change.  "I'm here to win the 1.3 million" just doesn't have the same ring.  And, I mean, it's still pretty high for a game show.  I personally would feel pretty silly saying "take this 700 thousand in year 2000 money and shove it".

I know, I know :D I'm just hoping with a switch to 2 mn dollars if they want to bypass 1.5 (because what to winners got in 2000 is equivalent to winning $1.43 mn today, so clearly the prize has been getting smaller and smaller).  

And wasn't the Six Million Dollar Man pretty iconic too :) I admit I just looked it up, for some reason I thought he was worth more!!!

[MissEwa]

This reminds me of when Jeff Kent was voted out and said something about how he didn't care because it was only $600,000 after taxes thanks to Obama - proving that professional athletes who come on this show are pretty universally terrible. 

I was under the impression that they boosted the prizemoney for all-stars, to get people to come back, and returnee season prizemoney was more, but I think that's mostly at the lower end. Like the first boot on a non-returnee season gets $2,500 or something while on a returnee season that's more like $10,000. But I don't know where I'm pulling that from. 

I guess it's nice that Brad and Monica each got a second-place win on this show and now I can only hope they go away forever. 

[LadyChatts]

For the first AS, Tina and Ethan refused to come back unless the prize money was upped to $2 million, but the show wouldn't budge and they ended up coming back.  Back then it might have been easier, since there were a lot more sponsors and interest, but then they'd have to do it for every returning player season.  And would partial returning player seasons count?  I had heard first boots got $2,500, or they did in the early seasons, but I don't know if that's still the case.  I don't know if it matters whether it's returning players. 

I didn't realize, in a 2nd place tie, that they split both 2nd and 3rd prize money.  No wonder people give spite votes just to make sure someone doesn't finish in second or tie.  I still think $1 million is a better deal than the $500,000 they get on Big Brother.  Almost 3 months locked in a house where you can't rely on the editing defense, and have no idea how you're being perceived, and have no space to get away from anyone.  Same old surroundings day and night. 

[Nalan]

38 minutes ago, MissEwa said:

I guess it's nice that Brad and Monica each got a second-place win on this show and now I can only hope they go away forever. 

"They?"  I understand about Brad, but unless Monica kicked your puppy or whatever, I don't get the vitriol toward her.  Not at all.