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by Scott Wyatt Published: January 30, 2006
If you are a regular reader of this column then you know how much I love this show but you also know how much I love to bash the casting department for they tend to ignore the bigger part of the viewing public. If you are a new reader then welcome and thanks for stopping by and taking a read. I will endeavor to entertain and enliven your viewing experience. I welcome all feedback even if it is to bash me for my vain attempt at humor at the expense of these lucky folks. I will also give you my predictions at the end of this column, not to take to the betting window but merely for entertainment value. I have not gotten the winner yet but I have gotten approximately 2/3 of the jury and final 2 correct for the last three seasons. Take that for what it is worth. First is the location. We are back in the same area that the Pearl Islands and the All-Star seasons were filmed so we already have a pretty good idea of the location and the sites we can expect to see. Beautiful blue water that will give us grueling challenges and islands full of history and swarms of biting bugs. Next is the new twist. According to the previews and numerous media outlets, one castaway will be sent to live on Exile Island for a specified amount of time. How the lucky SOB gets chosen is still a mystery but we do know that they will be on their own. No water, no food and no shelter except for a large skull. Now, there is supposed to be a hidden immunity idol on the island but I suspect that won’t come into play until we get to the individual challenges. Finally, we get to the cast. Men vs Women and Young vs Old. (Yawn!) I bet this format doesn’t last beyond the second episode. Now, in the past I have given a brief write-up for each contestant but after reading over the CBS versions and seeing where the majority of these people are from – they don’t deserve it. Read on and pay close attention to where they list their residence and you’ll see why I loathe the casting department. It’s obvious they either don’t want to stray beyond their city border or they are just getting cheap in the casting phase of the show. I will, however, give you a blurb on each player. BAYONETA TRIBE Courtney Mait – 31 – Performing Artist – Los Angels, CA I wonder if she knows my favorite player from the past, Jerri Manthey, because she performs with fire. This should help her deal with the heat from the game. Possible Jury member. Danielle DiLorenzo – 24 – Medical Sales – Pompano, FL This is your typical under-the-radar player. I doubt she whispers a word for the first few shows. Will make jury and could be around in the end. Misty Giles – 24 – Engineer – Dallas, TX I’ll bet the only thing she can “engineer” is a respectable showing. I don’t see her hanging around for long. I think she will find out that this game is not for her even though I bet she’ll look good in her buff. Sally Schumann – 27 – Social Worker – Chicago, IL She has first boot written all over her. I’m sure she thinks her job will be a key to her game and it will be but only to get her out. I don’t see any hope for her. VIVERO TRIBE Aras Baskauskas – 24 – Yoga Instructor – Santa Monica, CA This is a curious pick. His basketball background and his yoga discipline could be huge assets for him but then again it could be viewed as a threat. He’ll be around for a while and possibly at the end. Austin Carty – 24 – Author – Santa Monica, CA An author, huh? Can’t you just see the traveling book-signing tour about a year from now? Maybe Richard Hatch could hire him to write his story about how stupid he was about not paying his taxes. This guy won’t last until the merge. Bobby Mason – 32 – Attorney – Los Angeles, CA What is about always casting a lawyer on the show? Does this stem from the Stacy Stillman lawsuit? Lawyers never do well on this show and he’ll be no exception. Even on a deserted island, no one wants a lawyer around to argue with. Nick Stanbury – 25 – Financial Sales – Tempe, AZ Hmm, this smells like another wanna-be model that is stuck in another profession but hoping the show changes his future. While he may be a big help in the challenges, with so many young guys around, one of them will have to bite the dust early and it will probably be poor Nick. CASAYA TRIBE Cirie Fields – 35 – Registered Nurse – Walterboro, SC As we saw last season, it’s good to have a nurse in camp. But, will we get a fan favorite or will we get another Vecepia, who was never seen but only won because everyone hated the one sitting next to her in the end? I think we’ll like Cirie and could make a far run in the game. Melinda Hyder – 32 – Singer – Sevierville, TN Finally, someone from my part of the country. I just hope that she doesn’t try to break into song while in camp. That will end her game quickly. Nothing more annoying than singing while you’re hungry. My gut tells me Melinda will be around for the jury vote and I can’t wait to see on the beach. Ruth Marie Milliman – 48 – Director Retail Sales – Greenville, SC A leader in business gets you booted out on the island especially if she tries to lead early in the game. Ruth should have a nice long vacation in the Loser Lodge. Tina Scheer – 45 – Logging Sports Promoter – Hayward, WI Out of respect, I will not make any brash remarks about Tina. After being cast for the Guatemala season, she lost her only child in an automobile accident just before she was to leave for filming. After dealing with her loss, she was accepted for Exile Island. While I give her all the credit for moving on with her life, I think others my worry about the sympathy card being played in her favor. Unfortunately, this will point Tina out of the game. LA MINA TRIBE Bruce Kanegai – 58 – Karate Instructor/High School Art Teacher – Simi Valley, CA Mark this down now – Bruce will be the “Rupert” of this season. With the karate background, the comparisons to Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid is inevitable but he seems to have the personality to use it to his advantage. Hi-Ya!! Daniel Barry – 52 – Retired Astronaut – S. Hadley, MA I would love to interview this guy but not for this show. I would love to talk to him about his Space Shuttle missions. I always wanted to be an astronaut and this guy has done it all. He’s been through it all and should do well in this game. A definite Final Four contender. Shane Powers – 35 – Owner Entertainment Marketing Company – Los Angeles, CA Why do I feel that his company will soon be benefiting from the show? Now, he may be doing the show on other merits but someone from the entertainment sector being cast on this show is too much of a coincidence for me. Still, he could make the jury if he keeps his mouth shut. Terry Dietz – 46 – Airline Pilot – Simsbury, CT This guy beams confidence. Much like Tom Westman from Palau, Terry looks like someone who could take the leadership role and dominate from Day One. I like his chances and is my odds on favorite to win it all. Hopefully, you saw a huge pattern in there. Just on the off chance that you missed it, there are five people from California, including three from Los Angeles. Even more peculiar, 10 of the players come from one of the coasts. Is the casting department ignoring middle America? I think so and I don’t like it. What can I do about it? Not much other than applying again and bitching about it here. Ok, enough of my soapbox. Let’s get on with some predictions. THE JURY Sitting on the jury and casting votes on who will win the million dollars will be Courtney, Melinda, Shane, Daniel, Bruce, Cirie and Aras. Of course, two of these will have to come from the Final Four. THE FINAL FOUR The Final Four will come down to Aras, Danielle, Terry and Cirie and with Aras and Cirie already being listed as on the jury that leaves us with the Final Two and winner. THE FINAL TWO AND WINNER The vote will come down between Terry and Danielle and I see a respect vote coming in at 5-2 with Terry Dietz being the Sole Survivor. There, I’ve jinxed him. I say a respect vote because I think that Terry is going to kick some serious ass in the challenges and win the hearts and minds of his fellow castaways. Besides, Danielle seems like she could get irritating and will only be taken to the Final Two as a strategic move. Otherwise, Aras could be sitting beside Terry at the end. So there you have it – my wishful thinking at being a fortune-teller for Exile Island. Will it payoff in the end? We’ll see but I’m not putting any money on it. If anyone does win with my predictions then don’t forget about me. Remember, Survivor: Panama – Exile Island premieres on Thursday, February 2 at 8pm EST and 7pm CST. My hopes for a premiere that’s longer than 60 minutes will not come fruition again. Be sure to come back here every week for the acerbic yet detailed recap. Who knows what surprises I may uncork in here? Until next time, take care and God Bless. |
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