Before I get into last night’s awesome episode of Survivor: Gabon, I just want to give a short shout-out. I was perusing the list of Golden Globe nominations last night and LOL when I realized that up for Best Supporting Actor in a Film, along with the late Heath Ledger, are Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise for their hilarious turns in Tropic Thunder!

Yes, that's Robert
Downey Jr.!
While I will be shocked if either wins over Ledger, it’s nice to see both recognized for taking what would normally be considered slapstick comedy characters into award-winning territory!
Downey Jr. famously plays an Australian actor who undergoes a controversial skin pigmentation process to play an African American sergeant. And Cruise (heavily made up in skull cap and fat suit) plays a firey studio boss very reminiscent of Harvey Weinstein.

And yes, that's
Tom Cruise between takes


If you haven’t seen Tropic Thunder yet, do yourself a favor and rent it this weekend. I highly recommend it.



OK, on to Survivor: As stated above, what an awesome episode it was!! The one I’ve been waiting for all season, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself. If you haven’t watched it yet, stop reading and go watch it here http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/

We start out on Night 33 with Matty confronting Kenny, demanding to know why Kenny wrote his name on the ballot to be voted out. Kenny tries to defend himself saying that Bob lied to him, and it was all strategic. Matty’s not buying it. Ken and Crystal decide that Matty’s next to go.
Ken confronts Bob demanding to know why Corinne didn’t play the immunity idol at Tribal Council (the idol is fake, remember?), saying he put his neck on the line. Bob tells him the idol was fake, to which Ken replies that Bob played him. Bob feels bad and tells Ken that if he wins the Immunity necklace, he will give it to Ken (WTH is he thinking?).

Bob
The Reward Challenge offers the opportunity for the winner to take a helicopter ride to a gorilla sanctuary for food, drinks and a shower … oh and a chance to see gorillas up close. The first to get 3 balls in the basket wins, and also gets to send someone to Exile Island.
Despite Matty’s lead and best efforts, Bob wins again! Of course, we know they won’t make him go alone, and Jeff tells him to pick two people to go along. Bob strategically picks Ken and Crystal, and opts to send Susie to Exile.

Susie, knowing Sugar has the immunity idol, chooses to stay in the Sugar Shack and load up on fruit.

At the sanctuary, Bob, Ken and Crystal enjoy lunch and drinks, and the scheming duo tell Bob that Matty’s next. Then they all take a shower (separately folks, this is prime time afterall), don dashikis, meet with the gorilla rangers and go see gorillas. Crystal is grateful for the "African experience."

Sugar
Back at camp, Matty tries to get Sugar to vote off Kenny. She’s not buying it. Matty realizes he’s on his own and if he doesn’t win immunity, he’s gone.
When everyone gets back, Matty argues with Ken over their fallen alliance. Crystal chimes in, verbally attacking Matty over his friendship with Susie. Crystal tells the camera in a side monologue, "Matty, Karma’s a bitch!"
Sugar, watching what’s going on, has a change of heart. She doesn’t like the fact that Ken and Crystal are hassling Matty when they’ve already decided that he’s next. Essentially, she sees them as kicking Matty when he’s down and starts believing what Matty told her about Ken’s scheming (remember Ken convinced Sugar to vote out her bud Ace) and Crystal’s bullying.
Sugar gets Matty along and tells him she believes him. She also says he’s not going to go home – the tide is turning … finally!
Sugar tells Matty that Crystal is going next, and she’ll tell Bob to vote for her! (Yes, I’ve wanted Crystal gone for a looooong time. She so has it coming!)

Susie
The Immunity Challenge had contestants crawling through a maze to put together pieces of a mask – blindfolded! Crysal goes completely off course, and Susie gets lost, wandering away from the maze. Matty decides to get all three bags with the puzzle pieces first, while the others work one bag at a time.
Bob wins again! That’s four challenges in a row for the 57-year-old. Go Bob!

Before Tribal Council, Sugar confesses to Bob she wants to be with the "good guys" and suggests taking out Crystal. She also tells Bob she has a really big place in her heart for him. Bob hopes she’s being truthful.
Sugar then goes back to camp and lies to everyone else, saying she thinks Bob might be willing to give the necklace to Ken. Ken’s somewhat relieved.

This is gonna be great!!

Tribal Council: When the jury entered, one thing went thru my mind – WTH happened to Randy’s hair – Dude got a mohawk!! He’s certifiable … I’m counting on crazy Randy making the finale’s jury question session worthy of the build-up (who remember’s Sue Hawk’s famous verbal thrashing of Kelly Wigglesworth in season one? … oh the humanity!)

Anyway, at Tribal Ken takes the opportunity to out Bob over their pact. Bob refuses to give Ken the necklace, saying he doesn’t believe Ken’s in danger. Ken’s sweating …

Ken
Sugar is blatantly wearing the hidden Immunity Idol, and Jeff says that it is the last opportunity for it to be put into play, if indeed it is the real idol. To which Bob replies, "I didn’t make that one!" and gets a nasty glare from Randy (who, if you remember, played Bob’s fake idol and was humiliated).

After the vote, it’s make or break time for the hidden idol. Jeff calls for anyone who has the idol that it is time to play it before the votes are read and ….. wait for it ……

Sugar takes off the idol and says, "Matty take the cursed thing away from me!" giving the idol’s protection to Matty and cancelling any votes for him. Ken’s really sweating now!

Matty

First vote, Matty, doesn’t count.

Second vote, Matty, doesn’t count.

Third vote, Crystal.

Fourth vote Crystal – she looks at Ken, he looks at her, raising eyebrows in a "tough sh-t"
kinda way.

Fifth vote, "and the 13th person voted out of Survivor Gabon is" --- CRYSTAL!!!

Crystal

The tribe has spoken – and the jury nods in agreement. You were right Crystal – Karma’s a bitch!

And then there were five:
Bob, the physics professor whose the biggest threat.
Susie, whose flown under the radar.
Sugar, the sweetheart of the game.
Ken, the professional gamer, who wickedly schemed his way to the final.
And Matty, the physical threat – just don’t make him cry.

So here we go --- Sunday night at 8 p.m. on CBS it all ends on the Survivor: Gabon Finale, followed by the Reunion Show at 10 p.m. Don’t miss it, if it’s anything like the last couple of episodes, it should be pretty exciting!
For info visit http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/

What’s on tonight: In addition to Survivor: Gabon tonight at 8 p.m. on CBS, there’s a few other noteworthy shows to watch.

Welcome Lawrence
Following Survivor at 9 p.m. Lawrence Fishburne joins the cast of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Dr. Raymond Langston, a physician and criminology professor who we know will eventually be joing their twisted little group. For those of you who don’t know, Gil Grissom (aka William Petersen) is leaving the show as a full-time cast member. However, he will be back from time to time.

Over on ABC, it’ll be another confusing episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Where is this storyline going between Izzy and Denny (dead guy walking)? And Karev for that matter? We’ll just have to wait and see …

Keanu Reeves stars on the big screen this weekend in a remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still. If you’re interested in seeing the 1951 original, you’re in luck. AMC is broadcasting it at 8 p.m. tonight. The sci-fi classic centers around an alien who arrives on Earth to stop mankind’s atomic experimentation before it destroys the planet. Sound familiar?


Later tonight, Sen. John McCain pays another visit to David Letterman on The Late Show at 11:35 p.m. on CBS. It’s his first post-election appearance.

Nazi Cruise

And on The Tonight Show, Valkyrie star Tom Cruise chats up his latest with Jay Leno same time on NBC. He’ll follow that with a visit to the Today Show on Monday. This will be Cruise’s first sit down with Matt Lauer since his famous “glib” comment a few years ago …

The Golden Globe nominations were announced early this morning in Hollywood. While I don’t have enough time to list them here, you can see the entire list at www.goldenglobes.org
Multiple nominees included The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Revoluntionary Road and Slumdog Millionaire (this year’s sleeper his with critics). As well as actresses Meryl Streep and Kate Winslet, who got two nominations each.
And in the television categories, big noms were True Blood, Dexter, Mad Men, House, Entourage, 30 Rock, Californication and The Office.
HBO’s John Adams is expected to easily clean-up in it’s nominations for Best Mini-Series, and star Paul Giamatti (way to go Pig Vomit!).
It’s all good for HBO at the Globes anyway, with 22 overall nominations, the cable channel will easily clean up again this year!


The late Heath Ledger was also honored with a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight. As much as it is deserved, I can’t help shake the sad feelings surrounding this. I was just watching The Dark Knight last night and marveling at what a spectacular film it really is. Ledger’s turn as the twisted villain is superb to say the least and leaves you feeling sad wondering what would have come of his career if things hadn’t turned out the way they did last January …
What a waste, accidental as it was, it’s still such a waste.
Hopefully, Ledger and The Dark Knight will go on to Oscar nominations as well.

What do you think?