S34: Ponderosa

[Wings]

http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/video/D6DA9E6E-E435-21C4-19C5-82390D9C92EC/survivor-spoiler-alert-survivor-game-changers-ponderosa-1-/

Not sure how to embed a link.  This is Hali

Edited April 20, 2017 by wings707

[Wings]

Here is Ozzy.  

http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/video/B5672338-9BD0-EF37-5DE9-8242C41BE058/survivor-spoiler-alert-survivor-game-changers-ponderosa-2-/

[Haleth]

Oh, good.  Veggies and fish as a treat.  I'd be all "point me to the bakery."  Hali and Ozzy are cute together.  They are setting a good tone for the party people who show up.

[ByaNose]

Hali is super cute and seems very sweet. Maybe, too sweet for this game. LOL!!

[ByaNose]

Ozzy seems to be at peace with the game and was also very cool with Hali. That's how I like my Ponderosa. I like when everyone gets along and has a good time. Unlike. in Gabon with the horrible Corrine. I think I would have drowned myself in the pool if I had been there with her. This group seem like normal and sensible people. I'm looking forward to see who shows up next. Hopefully, not Cirie. I still want her to make the finals. LOL!!!

[Special K]

I enjoyed both of those Ponderosa videos a lot, but man the background music was distracting. Especially on Hali's.

[KimberStormer]

I've been freezframing the "Ponderosa Rules" flag..."Forgive yourself"  "No Judgment", etc.  I see that Ciera wrote Rule #1, which is "No contestant shall drink alone" and Malcolm I think wrote "What will be will be"...who wrote the others? 

Edited April 20, 2017 by KimberStormer

[Wings]

I loved that rule flag.  Ozzy made ceviche for them!  Very cute.  A testament to how much food they have been given both opted for a salad as their first meal.  And I noticed breakfast was 'normal' instead of pancakes with an inordinate about of bacon.  And no brownies.  I miss those days.  :( 

Edited April 20, 2017 by wings707

[Lamima]

They both said they'll be happy with any of the others joining them at Ponderosa. Really??? Even Debbie? I would rather shoot myself.

[piequinn35]

non-American viewers:

 

[ljenkins782]

1 hour ago, wings707 said:

I loved that rule flag.  Ozzy made ceviche for them!  Very cute.  A testament to how much food they have been given both opted for a salad as their first meal.  And I noticed breakfast was 'normal' instead of pancakes with an inordinate about of bacon.  And no brownies.  I miss those days.  :( 

I really can't believe that they chose to eat fish after however many days of being on an island where fish is the only protein you can get your hands on. I get that it's obviously prepared better and they have access to more spices and such, but I think I would have gone for something else. 

Ozzy's was interesting, I feel like poor Hali was working her butt off to establish some kind of friendship and Ozzy was a bit standoffish. By the end, it looked like they had bonded, but she really had to work for it. 

I got a kick out of her "some seasons, you're like please don't come to Ponderosa" line. I suspect Dan Foley was one of the inspirations for that sentiment. 

[Wings]

3 minutes ago, ljenkins782 said:

I really can't believe that they chose to eat fish after however many days of being on an island where fish is the only protein you can get your hands on. I get that it's obviously prepared better and they have access to more spices and such, but I think I would have gone for something else. 

I think the merge meal must have been heavy with ham and lots of carbs.  I was just as surprised they both had salads for their first meal.  Just more proof they are being fed too much!

Edited April 20, 2017 by wings707

[piequinn35]

Non-American viewers:

Cute couple :)

[ByaNose]

I wonder if they bonded over their hair color & style. LOL!!! I agree that the remaining people are a fun bunch. I think they'll have their usual questions of Why did you vote that way? As for, Debbie, she's pretty harmless and I'm sure she'll be fine at Ponderosa. She was okay last time and she had to live with Jason & Scot who are GROSS! I love Ponderosa. They even went old style when they showed Ozzy & Hali in town. They haven't done that in years.

Edited April 20, 2017 by ByaNose

[Jobiska]

I liked Hali trashpicking for an art project.  She's cool.

[picklesprite]

I've never watched a Ponderosa vid before, and I enjoyed these. Both of them seem like sweethearts. By which I don't mean to ship them. : ) They just seem nice, is what I mean.

[LadyChatts]

I wonder if Hali and Ozzy will set the tone and it'll be a fun time, or if the remaining jurors will come in bitter.

[Lamima]

I suspect there could be some bitter Betties. For sure.

Edited April 20, 2017 by Lamima

[ByaNose]

Right now, there seems to be two sides going into next week. I'm not sure how bitter people will be at Ponderosa but there might be a little tension in the first few minutes of their arrival. I think returnees have a better grasp on the game and their time at Ponderosa. I'd expect more issues with all new players. 

[Haleth]

On 4/20/2017 at 5:40 PM, picklesprite said:

I've never watched a Ponderosa vid before, and I enjoyed these. Both of them seem like sweethearts. By which I don't mean to ship them. : ) They just seem nice, is what I mean.

These are fun. Most of the time you get a completely different side of the booted person. Of course it depends on the tone set by the first couple of people-- will they be bitter or ready to throw it off and have a party?  I think Hali is going to make sure everyone is welcomed. 

Edited April 22, 2017 by Haleth

[Rachel RSL]

6 hours ago, picklesprite said:

I've never watched a Ponderosa vid before, and I enjoyed these

Me too! Why have I never watched these before?

[ByaNose]

24 minutes ago, Rachel RSL said:

Me too! Why have I never watched these before?

I've been watching Ponderosa for years. The only one I didn't like was Survivor: Gabon (Corrine) and Survivor: Philippines (mostly due to RC & Abi Maria). Mostly the first boot sets the tone for Ponderosa. Some of the accommodations are amazing and others are kind of sucky with little tents instead of bedrooms. Apparently, a lot of partying goes on. Also, several of the cast have pictures that they'll share once the Finale has aired.  Sometimes it's better to make jury then win. The worst spot is actually coming in 3rd. Usually, your time at Ponderosa is only a day or two. You don't get to enjoy the Ponderosa experience and you also just missed making it to the Finals.

[LadyChatts]

My favorite Ponderosa was always the first one, which was Micronesia.  It was really a mixture of emotions with each boot, and they showed the final 2 arriving (now they end it at the 4th place finisher).  Everyone kind of had their own different moment and energy they brought.  But it was really a fun Ponderosa, and I loved the big party at the end where Erik got so drunk and James was just doing this weird random dance move out of nowhere.  I felt like Erik was one of those sheltered kids experiencing the "sins" of life that season.

Edited April 21, 2017 by LadyChatts

[KimberStormer]

No big deal but I don't think Hali and Ozzy bring out the best in each other, let's put it that way.  She's doing the sort of fangirling which I feel like it's painfully obvious Ozzy would not enjoy, particularly at that moment, and it doesn't even sound super sincere like she's just so blown away by Ozzy, it just like she feels like that's the thing to do?  And for his part he is condescending and frankly kind of rude.

Oh well I think the vibe will improve as more people appear.  As for Ponderosas, HvV's Ponderosa is in its own special Valhalla towards which other Ponderosas may approach but not achieve, thanks to Courtney and The Dragonz, a sweethearted comedy show: Chef "The Good Russell", Jerri spinning her fire things, etc, only Rupert portentously monologuing in the dark to bring it down, and that undercut by Courtney's amazing split-second Rupert impression.  Cambodia's is also really good, more complicated I guess?  The Kelley Wentworth Ponderosa might be my favorite single Ponderosa episode, because the human toll of Survivor is just so exposed and raw, she's like a ghost drifting, skeletal and mind-fried, staring lost at the table of food....but it's better when you've already seen, like, Joe and Ciera partying like college kids and the weird stumblebum frenemyship of Kass and Andrew Savage, as contrast.  Last season's was pretty good, with Michelle as hostess, everyone revealing all their pointless lies, Jessica suddenly being telegenic and interesting, etc.

Worst has got to be Cagayan for me, where they didn't even come to meet the newly voted-out but just stared sullenly at them from the bar like surly drunks.  I've never seen anything like it.

Edited April 21, 2017 by KimberStormer

[LadyChatts]

I forgot all about the Dragonz!  That was definitely a good one.  Cambodia had good moments, too.  Gabon is probably my least favorite ever, given the caliber of people on that season to begin with.  I didn't like Kaoh Rong, either, but again, that was more on the people there.  I liked World's Apart when it was Joe/Jenn/Hali, but not so much when everyone else started showing up.   

[flyingmontana]

I've often wondered if a woman who does a lot of extreme dieting and exercising in order to stay skinny would not find Survivor to be much change and would not lose much weight at all compared to her "typical" life. With Hali only losing 2 pounds, this came to mind.

I didn't like when they showed her coming across all this debris and discarded junk, and saying Fiji recently had a storm... I totally thought that she was going to get involved in helping the devastated communities put their lives back together. But instead, she was just picking over the pile of people's belongings and trash, to find cool stuff to make a stupid art project with. I thought Survivor might be able to do some social good in the aftermath of a natural disaster but no, it was all in the service of a spoiled lawyer chick's aspirations of craftiness.

[Rachel RSL]

Is there a pre-jury Ponderosa or do they send those people home right away? (This is my roundabout way of asking if we can watch Malcolm anywhere.)

[fishcakes]

They don't send them home because they want to avoid spoilers getting out, but I don't think pre-jury members have to stay together anywhere. Sandra mentioned in one of her interviews that she spent the rest of the 39 days traveling around Vietnam with Tony and JT. I don't know, but my guess is that the pre-jury boots are put up in hotels in order to keep them away from the jury and are allowed to take trips on the show's dime.

[Rachel RSL]

That actually sounds pretty sweet. Get voted out first and you still get an all-expenses paid 39 day vacation.

[ProfCrash]

The pre-jury stays at Ponderosa until they reach a certain number and then they go out on a group trip some place. I think it is groups of three or four. They don't show any of that. I am not sure why they don't because I think it would be cool but they don't.

[LadyChatts]

I've always wanted a pre jury Ponderosa and don't know why they don't.  The contestants are allowed to go home-Caleb did this season, and his wife was posting him on their Snapchst while filming was going on, which is how everyone knew he was pre jury.  Vytas left during Cambodia, and I think Brad went home during BvsW.

[peachmangosteen]

11 hours ago, LadyChatts said:

My favorite Ponderosa was always the first one, which was Micronesia.  It was really a mixture of emotions with each boot, and they showed the final 2 arriving (now they end it at the 4th place finisher).  

I really wish they'd still do this. I don't see why they end it at F4 now. I was gonna say maybe they don't want it to appear obvious who will win, which it might if they show the F3 at Ponderosa, but we would have already seen who won by the time the Pondersoa would air anyway so that's not it.

10 hours ago, KimberStormer said:

Worst has got to be Cagayan for me, where they didn't even come to meet the newly voted-out but just stared sullenly at them from the bar like surly drunks.  I've never seen anything like it.

That was so weird and I agree it was the worst one. The Gabon one is bad, but it's bad in an entertaining/interesting way to me. The Cagayan one was just bad in a boring and weird way.

Edited April 21, 2017 by peachmangosteen

[ljenkins782]

10 hours ago, KimberStormer said:

No big deal but I don't think Hali and Ozzy bring out the best in each other, let's put it that way.  She's doing the sort of fangirling which I feel like it's painfully obvious Ozzy would not enjoy, particularly at that moment, and it doesn't even sound super sincere like she's just so blown away by Ozzy, it just like she feels like that's the thing to do?  And for his part he is condescending and frankly kind of rude.

I didn't get the sense that she was sincerely fangirling, it looked to me like she was trying to draw him out any way she could since they were stuck there alone together and thought that complimenting him might accomplish that. 

Quote

The Kelley Wentworth Ponderosa might be my favorite single Ponderosa episode, because the human toll of Survivor is just so exposed and raw, she's like a ghost drifting, skeletal and mind-fried, staring lost at the table of food....but it's better when you've already seen, like, Joe and Ciera partying like college kids and the weird stumblebum frenemyship of Kass and Andrew Savage, as contrast.

 I loved Keith's Ponderosa from Cambodia, he's such an endearing doof and that was a fun episode. Even Savage kinda sort removed the stick from his ass for that one. 

Quote

 

Oh well I think the vibe will improve as more people appear.  As for Ponderosas, HvV's Ponderosa is in its own special Valhalla towards which other Ponderosas may approach but not achieve, thanks to Courtney and The Dragonz, a sweethearted comedy show: Chef "The Good Russell", Jerri spinning her fire things, etc, only Rupert portentously monologuing in the dark to bring it down, and that undercut by Courtney's amazing split-second Rupert impression. 

Worst has got to be Cagayan for me, where they didn't even come to meet the newly voted-out but just stared sullenly at them from the bar like surly drunks.  I've never seen anything like it.

 

I wish they would leave the Ponderosa clips up for old seasons on CBS All Access, I never got to see the fabled HvVs episodes (except for a few clips on Youtube) and now I'm morbidly curious about the Cagayan ones as well. 

[enoughcats]

They did say it was a local market?  (And that was really a neat thing to do and I can totally understand it from the point of someone who loves to cook)

Which brings up the question:  does anyone know how the cool season crop Cauliflower is grown on a tropical island?

[KimberStormer]

4 hours ago, Rachel RSL said:

That actually sounds pretty sweet. Get voted out first and you still get an all-expenses paid 39 day vacation.

This is exactly what Courtney Yates expected to get out of her Survivor experience, which is hilarious.

[ByaNose]

4 hours ago, LadyChatts said:

I've always wanted a pre jury Ponderosa and don't know why they don't.  The contestants are allowed to go home-Caleb did this season, and his wife was posting him on their Snapchst while filming was going on, which is how everyone knew he was pre jury.  Vytas left during Cambodia, and I think Brad went home during BvsW.

I've often wonder what pre jury Ponderosa sans camera people is like. Is it more wild? More intense? Are they all friendly with drinks in hand waiting for the next boot?

[303420]

About salad: I once spent a weekend surviving on pasta and coffee while holed up finishing a paper. After I turned in the paper, I went straight to the local hippie cafe for a fine, comprehensive salad. I swear, if you'd filmed it, you'd've seen the color coming back into my face and the nutrients doing little dances through my body.

So I can see how under these circumstances a salad sounds like the best option, particularly for two people who appear to lead mostly healthy lifestyles.

[Wings]

15 hours ago, 303420 said:

About salad: I once spent a weekend surviving on pasta and coffee while holed up finishing a paper. After I turned in the paper, I went straight to the local hippie cafe for a fine, comprehensive salad. I swear, if you'd filmed it, you'd've seen the color coming back into my face and the nutrients doing little dances through my body.

So I can see how under these circumstances a salad sounds like the best option, particularly for two people who appear to lead mostly healthy lifestyles.

I actually do, too, even as I watched in horror.  Lol!  After spending a week in Mexico, we hit one of those salad bar franchaises in San Diego.  

Edited April 22, 2017 by wings707

[cooksdelight]

My first trip to England and Wales, I ate things I'd never heard of before. Pickle sandwich? Umm, OK.  Beans for breakfast? Why not! I wanted to soak up the culture of my ancestors and enjoy the company of total strangers who were letting me stay in their home during my trip.

[ProfCrash]

On ‎4‎/‎21‎/‎2017 at 10:55 AM, LadyChatts said:

I've always wanted a pre jury Ponderosa and don't know why they don't.  The contestants are allowed to go home-Caleb did this season, and his wife was posting him on their Snapchst while filming was going on, which is how everyone knew he was pre jury.  Vytas left during Cambodia, and I think Brad went home during BvsW.

I'll be surprised to see Caleb at the reunion if he went home and was posting during that time. Vytas left and was banned from the reunion and did not receive any prize money because he left Ponderosa. You are expected to stay at Ponderosa and go out on the pre-boot trip that Production plans when you are voted out. Vytas's departure was not approved. I have not been paying much attention to spoilers or the rumor mill this season so I have no idea how Caleb's early departure will be treated. The last time early departure was allowed was in Season 2 and even then it was more letting one of the contestants, the one with the djouridoo, to go rove Australia on her own.

[ByaNose]

I hadn't read that Caleb went home pre jury. I don't follow him social media so I hadn't see any post. I'm glad I didn't. Even, though he was an early boot I still would have been spoiled. Somehow, I think they'll have Caleb at the reunion since he was at the last finale when they annouced some of this seasons cast. He was announced along with Ciera, Tony, Ozzy, Cirie Sandra & Tai.

[LadyChatts]

I've heard that Vytas was banned because he reportedly lied about the reasons he left.  He said he wanted to go home to his new baby, but instead went home and went on vacation.  He was also posting on SM, or at least there was one like on IG he gave a photo, then posted about teaching a yoga class the day the finale was being filmed.

Edited April 24, 2017 by LadyChatts

[ProfCrash]

There was info about his teaching yoga when the show was on. I don't think he had tweeted it or however it got out but it was clear he was out early. Vytas discussed it a bit on a RHAP this season and it seemed like he was banned because he insisted on leaving and not for whatever the reason for leaving was. I had no problem with is being banned, I didn't like him his first season and was bummed that he was back for a second season.

[LadyChatts]

Debbie lost 1.5 lbs.  Whoever flipped on her isn't getting her vote, but she also doesn't think anyone in the former alliance will win if they make it to the end.  Hali and Ozzy didn't expect it to be her.  

Dr. Joe had to make a Ponderosa visit to check her foot.  About the only highlights were her describing her Olympic style workout and knowledge of helicopters.  Hali finds her a bit fascinating.

Edited April 27, 2017 by LadyChatts

[Vicky8675309]

can someone post a link to Debbie's Ponderosa video?

Thanks

[LanceM]

It is only the CBS Access site for now but I am sure someone will make it public probably some time tomorrow or so.  Not much more to add to what was said above. Debbie expected Ozzy and Hali to be pissed at her but they weren't.  Hali said the Debbie was "off her rocker but in a good way" which I guess is a good way to describe her outside of the game. Not surprised at all that Debbie is going to be bitter at Sarah for flipping. She was the same way in KR towards Aubry.

[enoughcats]

CBS site

http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/video/83690460-6608-1E11-5A18-A25C95E6A433/survivor-spoiler-alert-survivor-game-changers-ponderosa-3/

[ProfCrash]

I laughed when Debbie said her routine took 90 minutes. She runs 3-5 miles, does 25 pull ups, 100 sit ups/crunches, 50 push ups, 50 deep knee bends and yoga for stretching in 90 minutes. Yeah. Sure. OK. And she showed off her non-existent six pack. She has a flat stomach but there is no definition there.  And that is fine, Debbie looks fine. A bit thin if anything but overall fine.

I loved the discussion about the helicopter. Because she knows everything.

Whatever, she is Debbie and believes her own schtick

[Haleth]

Debbie: Personal trainer

HAHAHAHAHA!!!  Hali was giving Debbie the same side eye Aubry did during the episode.  Gotta hand it to her though, she does have a zest for life... even if most of it is in her head.

[cooksdelight]

I'll be avoiding Ponderosa videos now that loudmouth braggart Debbie is there. I cannot stand the sound of her voice.