The Slingshot Golf Challenge
Survivor Recap: Things are getting dirty in Gabon, and I don't mean the lack of showers! Tonight's episode picked up on Night 24, right after last week's Tribal Council, which saw original Onion Alliance member Marcus go packing and become the first member of the jury.
Back at camp, Susie praised Ken for orchestrating Marcus' departure. Which prompted Ken to gush with pride, "So far, the last two Tribal Councils I've been to ...they've been blindsides because ... because of me." Bob's worried about being next.

Gabon's mastermind Ken?
On Day 25, the tribe's met up for their reward and Fang found out that Marcus was gone. Alliance member Corinne was visibly upset, saying Marcus didn't deserve to go. "Then who does deserve to go?" Ken asked?
Charlie, another member of Marcus' alliance, was devastated. Not sure if it was for his alliance loss or because of his crush on Marcus.
The reward challenge had the tribe's playing slingshot golf to achive the gift of a visit to a Gabonese tribe for another overnight stay that would offer dancing and a feast. It all came down to the last "hole," and Randy freaked out on Matty, barking orders about how far to stretch the slingshot (they were literally standing over the target). Matty was visibly irritated, and shushed Randy. Matty and Randy start arguing back and forth, and Matty finally listens to Randy and drops the ball in the sandpit, winning reward for Fang.
Fang decided to send Bob to Exile Island and went off to their reward.
Back at Kota, Ken gets hung up on a stick in the river, and can't help patting himself on the back for the great job he's doing running the game. (At this point I was convinced that Ken would be going home, since they usually feature the player that's going home on their last episode.)
On Exile Island, Bob finds all the clues, but no immunity idol (because Sugar already has it). So the physics professor decided to craft his own "idol" to see if he can fool anyone with it (and does a pretty good job, I must say).
Tribe's are given a hint to the immunity challenge involving starting a fire. Randy, still sour from the previous challenge, turns his anger toward his nemesis Crystal, whom he nicknames "sasquatch."

Randy's Nemesis, Crystal
When they arrive for the challenge, Jeff tells everyone that it is an individual immunity challenge and to "drop their buffs, you are no longer two tribes." Hooray, it's merge time!
The survivors get ready for the challenge and it's off to a slow start. Each has a knife and flint to make fire. Susie's the first to get a fire going, followed shortly after by Sugar. It's not long before their fires are growing in height, in order to burn thru a rope, thus ending the challenge. Susie wins easily, as no one else is able to get a fire started.
And this is when it gets really interesting ... from here on to the finale should be great. I don't like any of these people, and now they're all turning on each other. It makes for great TV!
On the way back to to the Kota camp, where they will live now and come up with a new tribe name, Randy vows not to return to camp after Tribal Council with Crystal, "She'll be gone or I'll be gone!"
After enjoying their first meal together, the tribe members quickly break into groups. Charlie, Corinne, Bob and Randy decide to get rid of Crystal (big surprise). While Matty, Susie, Crystal and Ken single out Corinne. Sugar is the obvious swing vote.
Corinne sucks up to Sugar, but still can't stand her, "she's such a moron." While Ken convinces the others that Charlie is the real mastermind of Kota. In reality, Ken just wants Charlie gone for taking the clue to the hidden immunity idol away from him at the Tribe Switch Feast on last week's episode. "I'll trade the idol for his life. Serves him right," Ken said.
The tribe manages to come up with Nobag for their new name.
At a very vocal Tribal Council, Randy's still ticked about the argument at the reward challenge. Crystal interrupts and wants to know why Randy has issues with her (oh no she didn't!). Randy has no problem telling her, saying she and GC ran Fang like it was their gang. He also accuses her of making his life hell and for being the reason that Fang lost nearly every challenge!
And then the voting began, with Randy casting his vote for Crystal, saying "See ya Bitch!" Sugar was the last to cast her vote with tears in her eyes ... everyone voted as planned, with Sugar casting the deciding ballot against Charlie! Stupid move Sugar ... it will come back to bite you later.
In his departure interview, Charlie gushed that at least now he'll be in the Jury Hous with Marcus. How sweet -- only Marcus isn't gay Charlie!

Sorry, Charlie!
Next week's preview had everyone talking about Randy, who seems to be even further in the deep end, literally, skinny dipping again.
For info or to watch visit http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/


Hottie Pattinson
Last night the Plaza at King of Prussia was overrun with tweens and their moms, waiting for a chance to catch a glimpse of their Twilight idol, Edward Cullen, aka Robert Pattinson. The British actor was on hand to sign autographs for those lucky enough to get one of 500 wristbands. A short (I think about 10 minutes) Q&A followed in the mall's concourse, but according to videos posted on youtube, like his other appearances, the screaming was so overwhelming you couldn't hear the man speak. And the film doesn't even open till Nov. 21.
Here's a link to Fox's interview with the handsome star http://www.myfoxphilly.com/myfox/

For more Twilight, check out MTV's new show Spoilers tonight at 7:30 p.m. Pattinson, co-star Kristen Stewart, and other actors from the film were on hand live last week at the Los Angeles taping, which promises to include 15 minutes of clips from Twilight.

Twilight Cast
Also, pick up a copy of Sunday's Mercury for an interview with the vampire. The USA Weekend magazine in The Mercury Sunday features an article and pull-out poster of the movie as well.

The Hollywood Reporter reports today that Summit Entertainment is giving the greenlight to Twilight sequels New Moon and Eclipse, and that screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg has already been asked with scripting them.
For more on Twilight visit the offical movie site http://www.twilightthemovie.com/

Weekend Watch: Tonight the Disney channel presents The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl at 9 p.m., featuring Taylor Lautner - yeah, another shout out to Twilight. Lautner plays Jacob Black in Twilight, a pivotal character in the second and third books.

Lautner as Jacob Black

Saturday on HBO is the debut of Ricky Gervais: Out of England at 9 p.m. The original Office creator and Bitish comic performs in New York City.

Elsewhere Saturday, the Hallmark Channel debuts an original movie The Accidental Friendship. It features Chandra Wilson (Grey's Anatomy's awesome Dr. Bailey) as a homeless woman who forms an unlikely friendship with some unfortunate canines and a local police officer who helps change her life. I'm a total sucker for dog movies!

Sunday night, the Desperate Housewives over on Wisteria Lane get caught in a nightclub fire! Last year it was the tornado, now this - maybe they should change neighborhoods! Anyway, somebody isn't supposed to survive - will it be Edie's creepy husband (who appears to be behind the fire), or Lilly Tomlin, who plays Mrs. McCluskey's sister (I mean, really, how many episodes do you think she really signed for?) Airs at 9 p.m. on ABC.

And don't forget Star Wars fans!! Sunday night at 11:30 p.m. the Cartoon Network presents Robot Chicken: Star Wars Pt. 2!

In other news: It's curtains for NBC's Lipstick Jungle and My Own Worst Enemy. The network isn't ordering any more new episodes. I should've saw this coming when they unceremoniously moved Jungle to 10 p.m. Fridays. Oh well, I guess I don't have to watch that anymore.
To bad for Christian Slater, though. Oh, who am I kidding, like I ever watched My Own Worst Enemy ...

Have a Great Weekend. I'll be off celebrating my B-day on Monday, so I probably won't be back blogging till Tuesday. Enjoy!

OK, the game was definitely on last night on Survivor: Gabon. Last night saw the Fang tribe rise to the challenges, winning both reward and immunity. But things still aren't rosy at camp, with Randy calling youngster GC, "The cancer of the tribe."
The reward challenge was pretty barbaric, with two designated warriors from each tribe prying the other tribe's member off a pole and literally dragging them across the finish line for points. Fang's Olympic medalist Crystal made short work out of Kota's tiny Paloma. The pint-sized pixie was no match for the strong athlete and didn't last long at all. Which, of course, set up Paloma as the weakest link in the "pretty" tribe.
Fang won reward of bedding and quickly sent Kota's pin-up model Sugar to Exile Island. Sugar went on to find all the clues and the immunity necklace, ensuring her at least one reprieve at Tribal Council (if she's smart enough to use it) in the future.

Kota Tribe
Next up, the Immunity Challenge was the customary swimming event, followed by puzzle solving. I was sure that Kota had this one sewn up when they designated physics professor Bob to solve their numbers-related puzzle. However, Fang's professional videogamer Ken could not be counted out! If we've learned anything from Survivor's controversial race-divided previous season, Asians are gangbusters when it comes to solving puzzles! After two bungled tries, Bob lost to Ken and Fang was safe from Tribal Council.
The usual shenanagins played out before the vote, with annoying faux-Brit Ace and the weak Paloma being set up as the targets for elimination. However, the onion alliance proved strong and Kota decided to rid themselves of the weakest link. Paloma went home in a 7-2 vote.
For more info or to watch this episode vist http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/

Bye, Bye Paloma

Weekend Watch: Tonight I'm most looking forward to the Sci-Fi channel's new series premiere of Sanctuary. According to their site: There are creatures that live among us, abnormal offshoots of evolution that live in the fringes, unseen by most. Some are dangerous, but most are benign, becoming violent only because they are threatened by an ever-encroaching world. Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) and her team have dedicated themselves to tracking these mysterious creatures: harboring the benign ones, and protecting the world from the dangerous ones. Using their unique combination of instinct, medicine and cutting edge technology, this eclectic team must take on the creatures that lurk in the corners of our civilization. Sanctuary has its 2-hr. premiere at 9 p.m. tonight. For info visit http://www.scifi.com/sanctuary/home.html

Over on CBS at 9 p.m. is their much-heralded premiere of The Ex List, starring former Grey's Anatomy guester Elizabeth Reaser. Reaser stars as Bella, a young woman who learns from a psychic that she has already met and dated the man she is destined to marry. But she has to reconnect with him within a year, or it's a one-way ticket to Spinsterville.
Although critics' reviews have been positive, I've already decided to pass on this one. And my sole reason is because I so despised her whiny character on Grey's (Rebecca), that I really can't give this show a fair shot!The only thing I can find redeeming about Reaser is that she will be appearing on the big screen as the vampire family matriarch Esme Cullen in the film adapation of the wildly successful book Twilight! I hope I can get past "Rebecca" for that one ...
For info on The Ex List visit http://www.cbs.com/primetime/the_ex_list/?source=Gfall
For info on the Twilight movie visit http://www.twilightthemovie.com/

The Cullens, Emmett, Rosalie, Esme, Edward, Carlisle, Alice and Jasper

Of course, for all my fellow Sci-Fi geaks, tonight on the Cartoon Network is the series premiere of Star Wars: Clone Wars (9-10 p.m.)! It will actually be two half-hour episodes and is not simply a TV-airing of the recently released movie. I'm not sure where this fits in the Star Wars chronological chain, but I'll be tuning in just the same!
For info or to watch visit http://theclonewars.cartoonnetwork.com/?cid=swtcw_search


Guilty Pleasure Alert: On Saturday over at CMT at 9 p.m. is the second season premiere of Tom Arnold's My Big Fat Redneck Wedding. It's like Bridezillas for Rednecks. And if you've been reading this blog, you know I can't resist a trainwreck show and this one measures right at the top of the list! Plus it's only a half hour, so it doesn't require a big commitment. Try it just for laughs ... visit http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/my-big-redneck-wedding/series.jhtml


And stay tuned, because afterwards at 9:30 p.m. is the third season premiere of Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders: Making the Team. I love this show, and apparently it's one of those shows you can watch with your significant other, and he'll enjoy it too, for obvious reasons.
So, I'll admit it, long ago I once dreamed of becoming a member of the DCC. I guess I love this show because I can live vicariously thru it. It chronicles from day one of try-outs all the way to the first football game exactly what it takes to be on the most prestigious cheerleading squad in the world! And it entails a LOT more than you think. Good thing I never actually tried out, I would've made an ass of myself!
For info visit http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/dallas_cowboys_cheerleaders/series.jhtml



Of course, I'll spend a good eight hours this weekend indulging in my favorite guilty pleasure of all time - TITANIC!!

Yes, the greatest movie ever made will be shown on TNT, twice this weekend, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and again at 4 p.m. Sunday. Of course, I can watch the DVD whenever I want, but when it's on TV, I can put it on every set in my house and get the whole place cleaned while listening to the saga of the most infamous ocean liner in history.
And as long as I'm admitting my DCC fantasy, why not let you all in on the fact that I actually paid to see James Cameron's masterpiece 19 times in the theater back in 1998 (well, twice in 1997). When it finally came out on VHS (yes, those were the early years of DVD and it came out in VHS format first), I actually bought a bigger television because I didn't think my measely 27-inch set would do it justice! (I also have the J. Peterman official replica of the Heart of the Ocean)


Titanic went on (with my help) to gross $1.8 billion worldwide and, 11 years later, is still the all-time box office champion! Take that Dark Night!