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Post by svengali on Mar 17, 2016 17:21:48 GMT
Since it seems like no one visits the island anymore I decided to start a new thread where I can pontificate on everything Survivor.
I'd like to start by saying I am an expert in my own opinion.
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Post by svengali on Mar 23, 2016 17:31:52 GMT
Today is Wednesday. Tonight we’ll be served another serving of S32 (a.k.a. B, B, B 2). Since this is a cast of newbies I’m trying to wrap my head around my thoughts of the cast and whether or not I’m pleased with what I see.
Like most other pygmies I am a multi-time applicant. And like most other pygmies I haven’t made it onto the show. Judging from the survey in another thread on Pygmy Island it seems I might be the only pygmy who’s never had an interview.
There is an ongoing debate whether the show is better with newbies or returnees. As an applicant I like the thought of all new players. It makes me feel like I still have a chance to become a castaway. As a viewer I hate watching newbie recruits who have no idea what they are doing or worse yet, seeing them quit. Ugh.
As a middle aged guy I pay close attention to the men who get cast in the demo I would land in. I judge their games with much more scrutiny than I do other castaways. I also try to figure out what casting saw in them, that they didn’t see in me. I can understand the Jeff Kent, John Rocker pseudo celebrity castings, but did anyone really tune in to see Scott What’s-his-name who once played in the NBA.
Like everyone else who has applied I think I’d be awesome at the game. And like everyone else, I am the hero of my own story. Anyone who I have told I’ve applied who knows me all think I’d be awesome and I am self-aware enough to know all of this means bupkus to casting. I will share with anyone who reads this diatribe a short story that explains what I think casting is not seeing.
Years ago a local television station came to my business to do a human interest story for the nightly news. I own a music store that caters to senior citizens and the news people found it interesting that people of that age would be taking music classes. The reporter interviewed the teacher, many students and they interviewed me. The whole segment was around 90 seconds during the nightly news. I was on camera for 15 – 20 seconds. After it ran I had a chance to speak with the producer who accompanied the on air lady the day they filmed. She told me they only interviewed me to appease me because I owned the place. She then admitted they used my footage because, “There was just something about you that we couldn’t ignore.” Imagine having that thought in your head and trying to convey it to Lynne and her minions at SEG.
I can’t speak for other applicants but I can tell you there is a big difference between enjoying watching the show and wanting to be on the show. The desire to play may ebb and flow a bit, but if you have the itch you need to scratch it. As for watching the show, when you see a bunch of recruits and/or people who were only cast to fill a slot it takes a lot of enjoyment out of the viewing process. I know for sure if I was a cross dressing, Mormon, Asian midget casting would call me every time I send a tape. Being a middle aged, married, father of two casting is assuming I am as boring as white bread. Wrong.
Enjoy the show tonight.
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Post by svengali on Mar 26, 2016 16:48:09 GMT
de•lu•sion
noun
noun: delusion; plural noun: delusions
an idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument, typically a symptom of mental disorder.
Everyone thinks they are an above average driver; thinks they have a great sense of humor; thinks they are better in the sack than they are and everyone involved in the application process of Survivor is delusional. Case in point …
Applicants wouldn’t apply if they didn’t feel they’d be great for the show, but they do. If you want a humbling experience search youtube for Survivor auditions and take a look at not only what you are up against, but imagine being a casting person and spending all day watching these videos. Delusion.
With Survivor Nicaragua half the cast was “Survivor Older” I felt as though I had missed the boat. (Side note: only on Survivor is a 40 year old woman considered old.) Back to my Nicaragua point … when Dr. Jill got booted I sent her a message through Survivor Sucks and asked a few questions. She pointed me to a podcast interview she had done with Rob Cesternino. My initial reaction was … “They podcast about this show?” Filled with my sense of delusion I started listening to RHAP and Survivor Oz as mental preparation for “When I get cast.”
I run a lot and I commute, so I have plenty of earbud time. I am a podcast junkie and adding some Survivor talk to my podcast rotation was enlightening. I enjoy the game strategically and think Survivor is the ultimate mind-fuck. I enjoy listening to interviews with former castaways as they talk about the game they played. Virtually everyone who has played all believes they could have won. They all believe they will win if they go back. Delusion.
So if you are an average driver, with a lousy sense of humor who is bad in the sack. Own it. Be like the bald, fat guy with the hairy back wearing the speedo on the beach. Sometimes even these guys get cast onto Survivor (Dan Foley). In full disclosure Dan and I are the same age and I still can’t figure out how he got a call from casting and I didn’t. I can understand how he was cast once he got the call. (I can share thoughts about this another time.) Casting is obviously an art more than a science. After 15 years and 500 castaways SEG has proven that they can put just about anyone on TV. I contend that the success of the show is the game itself. People like the fishbowl effect of the show and they care about the human dynamic. Casting thinks they show is compelling due to their efforts. Delusion.
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Post by svengali on Apr 2, 2016 17:37:20 GMT
No one visits the island, but in case someone is actually watching this season and decided to act like a pygmy I have a few thoughts as we have gotten to the merge.
• If I apply again next year I’m changing my name. I’ll be Jef instead of Jeff. Every time I see Scot’s name on TV I throw up a little in my mouth. WTF happened to the other T?
• I’m one of the people that likes newbie seasons, but this season is hard to find someone to root for. Had I been on this season I would have liked to be on the pre-jury trip because I find the poker chick incredibly sexy.
• I hope Neil is/was a pygmy. From this cast he seems most likely to have been a pygmy. That being said, he doesn’t need to come back. He wasn’t all he thinks he is and I don’t need to see him on a returnee season.
• I would watch a show where Anna paints a fence, or cooks something, or just walks around in a bikini and says very little. (Have I mentioned I would have liked to be on the pre-jury trip?)
I hope now that we’ve gotten through the merge things pick up otherwise this is a lackluster season.
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Post by svengali on Apr 15, 2016 21:17:57 GMT
Today I share the ramblings of a madman.
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Post by JihnQ on Apr 28, 2016 1:27:07 GMT
I visit. Your video is set to private.
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Post by svengali on Apr 28, 2016 15:02:14 GMT
Try it now.
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Post by RecruitSlayer on Apr 29, 2016 17:39:41 GMT
I visit and lurk too. Thanks for sharing!
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Post by svengali on May 2, 2016 17:11:52 GMT
More thoughts regarding Survivors
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Post by svengali on May 9, 2016 15:16:50 GMT
Is choking a chicken the same as jumping the shark?
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