Well, the 17th season of the granddaddy of reality shows kicked off with an action packed 2-hr. season opener last night. Survivor Gabon got off on the usual foot, with the eldest players picking the members of the two competing tribes.
Unfortunately, the picking didn't turn out too evenly. The Fang tribe lost all three challenges, including both immunity trials, meaning that they're already in the hole two players. While the Kota tribe is already forming the Onion Alliance. Don't ask ... it's really too soon to tell.
Anyway, back over at Fang, Danny "GC" Brown is the first member of his team up the hill during the reward challenge, so he gets individual immunity. During the show's first Tribal Council, after much pushing from host Jeff Probst, GC decides to begrudgingly accept the role of leader of the tribe. This is always a bad move, hence no one else wanted it, because the early leader is usually offed early as well.
Michelle Chase, who was picked last by Fang, and sported major attitude, is the first one to go in an 8-1 vote. Poor Ken Hoang, the pro video gamer who swears he's not a nerd, despite stating that he hasn't kissed a girl in about 4 or 5 years, was desparately hoping to hook up with Michelle. I guess it might be a little longer waiting for that kiss ...
Randy Bailey, the videographer, didn't do much besides complain, "I'm gonna sit on my ass and watch 'em crash and burn." Crystal Cox, the Olympic medalist, didn't do much to prove her worth. And Dan Brown, the lawyer and only Fang tribe member who seems to have any brains, proved he's just as awful as the rest when he got sent to "Exile Island."
Poor Dan, he got the clue for the hidden immunity idol, only to miss out on finding it because he wasn't willing to look beyond the tiny hill in front of him. Just over the crest, in a small valley was the elusive sand pit that held the treasure.
Of course, when he got back to Fang before the second Tribal Council, his fellow idiots, I mean tribemates, all decided he must have the idol (even though he said he didn't, spilling all his belongings in front of them), and almost voted him off. And he's the best chance this whole tribe has! By the way, GC effectively gave up leadership. Stunner!
In the end, it was the older Gillian who got the boot, for apparently no reason other than her age.
Over at the Kota camp, the smart, beautiful people spent most of their time falling all over each other with affection. And thus, handsome Marcus Lehman, who appeared as Georgia's hottest bachelor in Cosmo; token gay guy Charlie Herschel; blonde and beautiful Jacque Berg, and hot brunette Corinne Kaplan formed the Onion Alliance. Go figure ...
My guess for the first one going from this tribe was pretty obvious -- Ace Gordon, the fashion photographer with the faux British accent! They can't stand this guy and on top of everything, he decided to lead the tribe in a session of yoga before their challenge! Bye-bye Ace!
The only thing he has going in his favor is that it seems the Fang tribe will never get their act together and that means we could have a repeat of the Stephanie-Bobby John experience.
Remember, a few season's ago, when one tribe dominated the challenges and the lesser tribe was whittled down to only Stephanie and Bobby John? After they lost yet another immunity challenge, they were put against each other in a fire-building challenge to see which one would merge with the 8-person-strong winning tribe.
Stephanie LaGrossa

Bobby John

Anyway, it looks like we could be headed this way again. For more information or to watch the season premiere visit
http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/

Over on ABC, the shenanigans at Seattle Grace were in full swing on Grey's Anatomy. I'm not going into specifics here, because what I really want to say is I'm so over this show.

McDreamy/Morose Meredith
Same old, same old. Blah, blah, "what if after being together for 40 years I just decide to sleep with my best friend's husband," a whining Meredith declared to Dr. Yang, who is just as tired of hearing it as I am!
And then she hit the pavement! Dr. Yang, I mean. Seems that the ice storm left things a little slippery at the hospital entrance and after storming off away from morose Meredith, Yang slipped and landed flat on her back, only to be ridiculously impaled by a falling icicle! Are you kidding me???
I forced myself to finish the 2-hr. borefest, but I can't say the same for next week ...
In case you have trouble falling asleep tonight, you can watch the premiere over at
http://abc.go.com/primetime/greysanatomy/index?pn=index

Weekend Watch: Well there is the Presidential Debate on every channel tonight, but I'm sure that I can find something better to do ...

Sunday night brings the return of six-time Emmy award winning reality series The Amazing Race! And I'm sooo ready for it! My best friend begged me to watch this show from the very beginning but it took a little person named Charla to get me in on the action!
And I've loved it ever since, sparing the season with the "family" teams, that was awful!
If you're not familiar, the Amazing Race features 11 teams of two, traveling all over the world in a race against time. There are many challenges along the way and usually at the end of each "leg" of the race (at the end of the hour-long episode) the last team to arrive at the Pit Stop is eliminated. However, built into the schedule are at least two Pit Stops that are non-elimination. You just never know which ones.
There's lots of arguing, conspiring and frantic rushing throughout and hottie New Zealand host Phil Keoghan adds some nice eye candy! If you like Survivor, I guarantee you'll love this show. The Amazing Race debuts at 9 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
For more info check out http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race/

Over on ABC Sunday night it's all premieres all night -- starting with Ty Pennington's hugely successful Extreme Home Makeover 2-hr. event beginning at 7 p.m. Desperate Housewives stir things up five years later on Wysteria Lane at 9 p.m., followed by the season debut of Brothers & Sisters at 10 p.m.

But my real dilemma is the Sunday Night Showdown brewing between pay-TV giants HBO and Showtime!
Over on HBO, the carnage continues at 9 p.m. with the fourth ep of True Blood, and things are starting to get real interesting. At 10 p.m. Entourage brings us more of the adventures of my fave Hollywood boys, Ari, Vince, Eric, Turtle and the hilarious Johnny Drama!
For info on True Blood visit
http://www.hbo.com/trueblood/
For Entourage visit http://www.hbo.com/entourage/

Over on Showtime the season's debut for two shows that I absolutely love! Dexter, everbody's favorite serial killer, starts season 3 at 9 p.m., followed by the now-I-can't-wait-to-watch Californication at 10 p.m. I call it "can't-wait-to-watch" because, even though I totally enjoyed Hank Moody's wildings last season, with star David Duchovny checking into rehab for sex addiction, it gives this show a whole new reason to be intriguing!

I never thought I'd ever be able to see Duchovny as anyone other than my beloved X-Files' FBI Agent Fox Mulder, but he shines here as well!
As well as Hank's agent, played by Sex and the City's Evan Handler. Like Entourage's Rex Lee (Lloyd), sometimes he totally steals the show!
Californication Season 1 is available on DVD or you can watch eps here http://www.sho.com/site/californication/home.do

Anyway, Dexter Morgan spent last spring on CBS. Due to the writers' strike, Season 1 aired on Sunday night's. It's a good thing that Dexter is back at Showtime where he belongs, because there's too many people on shows on CBS that are looking for people like him! Dexter seasons 1 and 2 are available on DVD or you can check out previous episodes here http://www.sho.com/site/dexter/home.do

I'll let you know how it goes ...