Review: Survivor Micronesia: I Survived the First Episode

Like a lot of people I admit to watching survivor. It is what is commonly called a guilty pleasure. Last night's premiere episode of this season's "Survivor" was less pleasurable than hoped for but contained a couple of highlights.

The theme this season is fans and favs, though who chose the favs is questionable. There are a total of 20 contestants, 10 fans and 10 favs. I'm guessing here that availability and money played a part in the choices. Coming back for another shot at the million was a combination of oldies but goodies and stinkers. At the top of the list of stinkers was Johnny Fairplay, famous for lying about his grandmother's death on a previous survivor. What a claim to fame, huh?

Rounding out the favs team is Cirie Fields (likes to eat, sleep, & complain), Jonathan Penner (famous for switching sides and losing), Amanda Kimmel (poor choices cost her a million), James Clement (had 2 immunity idols and lost),Ozzy Lusth (sporting regular hair), Yau-man Chan (smart as ever and tackles Fairplay in first 5 minutes of show),Eliza Orlins (shifty eyed skinny brunette), Parvati Shallow (last name works for this chick) and Ami Cusak (just mean and bitchy).

The fans team features all new contestants. This lineup includes Alexis, Erik, Chet, Jason, Joel, Kathleen, Mary, Mikey B, Natalie, and Tracy. Overall a good looking team, with a token Gay guy (Chet), a muscle man to challenge James (Joel), a couple of chicks who fill out their swimsuits well (Alexis, Mary, Natalie and Tracy) and one certified nut case (Kathleen). She spends some time interrogating Chet about his gayness, then moves on to asking Mary about her silicone implants. Priceless, really!

The teams meet, size each other up, make cocky comments to one another and then head across a lagoon for their canoes and their campsites. As is to be expected the Favs do much better in setting up their camp, including constructing a good shelter, finding food and getting fire. This being accomplished by the ever handy Yau-Man using his glasses and a drop of water to make a magnifying glass and start a fire the way we used to burn ants. No kidding, MacGyver has nothing on this guy.

We get a good scene that night when it rains. The Favs have a nice shelter; the fans waited too long and are getting soaked. Great vignette with crazy Kathleen who cries and whines that she can't take it. (on the first night!)

The next day is the first immunity challenge. The teams must put together wheels, push a cart, cross a bridge, dismantle wheels, and turn turnstile to light burners.

Of course the Favs thought they would kill on this one and of course they lost. Johnny Fairplay attempts some intrigue but is voted off the Favs.