Russell and Natalie Fight in the BEST Interview Ever!

Here’s the last 2 and a half minutes of our call with Russell and Natalie yesterday. You need to listen to the last 10 seconds. They are still going at it after the call is over. It’s hilarious.

Russell: You need to weigh it. weigh it out. If she out witted me and out played me, then give her the money. But they didn’t. She was nicer to people than me. But weigh it out. Which weighs more?

That’s just, that’s called a bitter jury. That’s what it is, when you, ya know, yes, she got a better social game than me, but did she have a better strategic game than me? Did she have a better physical game than me? No. So let’s weigh it out. When you think, It’s common sense. When you put it logically, it seems like it would have to be my vote.

Natalie: No it doesn’t because you were so mean to everybody. It’s a social game. You have to at least admit that it’s a social game.

Russell: Yeah, it’s a social game, a social game. Let’s rename it “The Social Game” cuz that’s all it is. If it was a social game, and only that and only people like you were playing in it, then you know what would happen? They would have shut it down before the first season would have even been finished cuz you’re that damn boring.

Natalie: I might be boring, but guess what? I got the check. So that’s all that matters. I don’t care.

Russell: You, you…

Natalie: Yeah, I know. You don’t have anything to say. Thanks.

Russell: About money now? You want to talk about money now? You want to see my bank account?

Natalie: I don’t really care about your bank account.

Russell: I don’t really care about your check.

Natalie: Yeah, you do! You wanted the title. You do. You do care. You wanted to win and you hated that you didn’t win. I’m sorry that you didn’t take into account the jury. You did not play the social card…

Russell: I did not, but …

Natalie: At all!

Russell: That’s how stupid you are. That you think that the social game is THE game. It’s the, you say, you sit there and say “it’s a social game! It’s a social game!”. How can you be that ignorant? How can you be that stupid?

Natalie: Oh, guess what? I played the player, so just shut it up now. And you know it.

Russell: Social… Calm down. Calm down.

Natalie: And you know it. You’re not used to getting a rise out of me and you got a rise.

Russell: Is it…Oh, you want me to get a rise out of you?

Click to hear Russell and Natalie's Entire Exit Interview

Natalie: You already did and you know it.

Russell: Oh, you want me to start working on this? Cuz I’ll get ya! I got many interviews to go to.

Natalie: I know you do.

Russell: All kind of TV shows.

Moderator: …and on that note, I’m going to have to pull for time. Thank you guys for enjoying that though. Thank you guys for a great season.

Russell: We’ll get that Natalie.

Moderator: …and we’ll see you back in Feburary. Take care. OK.

Russell: Watch what happens now! Watch what.. Watch what happens now!

Natalie: You wanted that!

Natalie and Russell talk to reporters.

If you want to hear the whole thing, it’s 25 minutes long. You can listen to the audio file here. That was the best part, but to get the full “Russell Experience”, listen to it all.

25 minutes long. 9.3MB. Download it here.

What do you think?

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‘Survivor’ Crowns A Winner, Offending Many Who Do Not Understand ‘Survivor’ – Monkey See Blog : NPR

Natalie White won the $1 million prize, taking the title of sole Survivor from one of the biggest game players ever, Russell.

Interestingly, this season has been compared to the eighth season, which was an “All-Star” season, where the final two were Rob and Amber, a couple who fell into a pattern that was in some ways similar: he was far more aggressive and mouthy; she was quieter and more passive. The difference between Rob and Russell (other than that Rob got four votes and almost won, while Russell got two votes and didn’t) is that Rob knew the entire time what he was doing. He never believed he was going to walk in there, say “I did all the work,” and be handed a bag of money. He thought that might work on some people, but he knew other people would never vote for him. He played in the only way he could, with a pretty solid understanding of the gamble he was making, and hoped for the best. He lost the gamble, but he wasn’t deluded. (Furthermore, everybody acknowledged that Rob genuinely did make most of the decisions, which Russell didn’t; some of the votes for Amber seemed to be spite votes against Rob because he ran the show. The votes for Natalie seemed more based on a personal dislike of Russell’s obnoxious, sexist, bullying behavior and a genuine affection for Natalie.)

Russell, on the other hand, lectured and taunted Natalie and Mick before the final tribal council about how everyone was going to vote for him, how he would make them look like fools if they even tried to defend themselves. He insisted that he had it in the bag. In short, he had no idea how he was perceived. His social skills are, despite the “manipulative mastermind” narrative the show tried so hard to present, very, very poor. That’s why he sat at the reunion show almost in tears over not winning. He was stunned and shocked that his plan didn’t work, because it never occurred to him that other people didn’t think he was as great as he thought he was. It never occurred to him that other people correctly read his bluster as bluster; that his alliance was saying, “Oh, yeah, buddy, you’re the big genius, I’m sure you’ll win” and then turning around and rolling their eyes when he walked away.

It never occurred to him that he was being simultaneously used by three other people, all of whom had the same plan to let him bluster and brag and make himself someone nobody wanted to give money, and then to grab the money right out from under him, taking advantage of his enormous blind spot when it comes to social relationships. Ultimately, one of those three people had the game go precisely as she planned.

How, exactly, is this not deserving to win?

Read the entire article at:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2009/12/survivor_crowns_a_winner_offen.html

What do you think?

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‘Survivor: Samoa’ finale recap: The worst jury vote ever | TV Recap | EW.com

Natalie Wins Survivor Samoa with 7 votes. Russell gets 2 votes.

A travesty. That’s really the only word for it. Wait, here’s another one: A joke. You could also go with absurd, ridiculous, lame. I’m going to make sure that I am absolutely clear about this: Natalie winning over Russell is the worst jury vote in the history of Survivor. That honor previously belonged to the All-Stars season, when a bunch of bitter Bettys couldn’t handle being outsmarted by Boston Rob and awarded the million dollars to Amber instead. But this is worse.

You may not like Russell. You may consider him cocky, sneaky, and lots of other things. But he OWNED this game, and he owned the final Tribal Council as well. Natalie’s opening speech to the jury contained NOT ONE SINGLE REFERENCE to anything she did well in the entire game, just that it was ”the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” Hey, hand her the million then! Later, she talked about how her big strategy was to NOT be aggressive. That was her strategy!!! Don’t do anything. Again, hand her the million!

Read the entire article at:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20332130,00.html

Dalton! You’re an idiot!

You don’t understand the game of Survivor. How did Russell “own the game”? Why is his manipulation of other people any more deserving than Natalie’s manipulation of him? Because he said so? If you say a lie enough times, then people believe it. I’m the greatest!

In her own words, she played the player.

She saw what was required to win and she did everything she could to make that happen. Mick, Jaison, and Natalie all said that they knew what Russell was about and they all used him to get to the end. They were the manipulators, not him.

Natalie owned this game. I can prove that by looking at the check she got yesterday. She told me that she knew if she stroked his ego a little bit, he’d do anything she wanted him to.

Bitter juries are what this show is about. If you want the million, then don’t piss off the jury. Russell focused on the wrong thing and got blindsided by his own ego.

This game worked out exactly right. Sucker.

What do you think?

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Jeff Probst blogs about ‘Survivor’ finale: ‘Nobody outplayed Russell’ | EW.com

Jeff who played the best game, who must have deserved the win, because Natalie actually won Survivor Samoa.

I do not believe the jury voted for Natalie, I believe the jury voted against Russell.

Russell was clearly upset last night and I think a lot of people understand why that would be. He played a very risky and creative game and he wanted to be acknowledged. As for the audience, they spoke quite loudly when they awarded him the $100,000 from Sprint by an overwhelming 46% Russell to 10% Shambo… and 7% Natalie. Not even close. I put myself in that same group. Again, I’m speaking as a fan, not as a host or a producer.

But hey this is how it goes, it’s why Survivor is so fun to watch, you can never predict the outcome. So…

A FEW QUESTIONS…
Q. Can you be considered the greatest player ever if you don’t win? Hmmm. It’s a tough question for me. On one hand, it’s a no-brainer, absolutely not. Survivor is a social game and to win you have to vote people out in a way that compels them to return and vote for you to win the game. It’s extremely complicated and Russell did not achieve it, therefore he cannot be considered the greatest player to ever play. On the other hand, I can’t think of anybody who has ever played a game like Russell played. It was so dominating that I am still shaking my head that he didn’t win. The only guy I could even see having the talent and guts to do something equally dominating would be Boston Rob. So I am on the fence on this one. But this much I am certain of – Russell is without any question ONE of the greats. No doubt about it.

Q. Did Natalie play a better game than Russell? For me, that’s a bit easier to answer. I do not think that Natalie played a better game, but rather was the right person in the right position who made one very good strategic move and that was to stay out of Russell’s way, and as a result she ended up with the money. But to be fair – a very good counter argument is that Natalie used her strengths, avoided her weaknesses and by taking this active approach to the game, she put herself in position to win the money and it paid off. It’s a counter argument, but not one that I’m that fond of supporting.

Read the entire article at:
http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/12/21/jeff-probst-survivor-russell/

As a producer, Russell brought life to the series. He was great TV and made people watch each week to see what outrageous thing he would do next.

Jeff is a great guy and I’m a huge fan, but Jeff is wrong above. I understand that people really, really like Russell. The core of Survivor, the thing that makes it so interesting, is the balance between working with people and and voting them off. Working together, then working against them, then getting them to vote for you.

The bottom line is the jury votes. Nothing else matters. Nothing else.

Challenges might help you get to the end. Being nice might help you. Blindsiding people might help you and does make for good TV. Physical endurance? Survival skills? Eating and drinking? All things that might help you play the game.

The ONLY THING THAT MATTERS is the jury votes. “Playing the game” means nothing.

What do you think?

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Russell: “I would not change a thing”; Natalie: “We made group decisions”; “it’s okay to pray about anything” + reality blurred

Natalie White

In other words, she knew he’d lose, and that’s because he “taunted people” who “felt like he was being malicious.” In their alliance, Natalie echoed Jaison and said, “We made group decisions, essentially. It was a group effort. They were always group efforts even from the start. Jaison and I had this checks and balanced system to make sure Russ wasn’t going behind my back and Mick wasn’t going behind his.” Still, Natalie admits that “Russ is an amazing, phenomenal strategic player.”

Russell Hantz

Russell told me, “People like you, you don’t get it. You have to understand, I controlled them like puppets. How did I do it? Because my social game was so good.”

Of course, that’s the problem: He may have controlled them but he was condescending and arrogant about it. Russell said, “I had to very aggressive,” particularly after the merge, because “they were too weak. I had to work my butt off, put the target on my back, mess up my social game, to help people like Natalie, and that’s what I did, I brought them to the top.” Natalie made friends, Russell said, but “I didn’t have the opportunity, because I was too busy protecting people like Natalie, and Mick, and Shambo, while they were standing back.”

Read the entire article at:
http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/survivor_samoa/2009_Dec_21_russell_natalie_interviews

What do you think?

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Jaison, Mick, and Brett say Russell couldn’t win; he was “too blatantly arrogant and mean-spirited” + reality blurred

Mick Trimming

Interestingly, Mick said that, throughout the 39 days, “Russ was upfront that he wasn’t going to help out with anything around camp.” Mick said Russell was a little bit more toned down around us. As the game went on, his ego just got so ridiculously overblown.He couldn’t contain himself, really.” That, Mick said, “just turned people off. There’s a way to play that hard, but just make a couple friends along the way. Put a couple people on the jury who don’t despise you.”

Jaison Robinson

Russell’s strategy, Jaison said, was “great for getting to the finals but not great for winning” because he was “too blatantly arrogant and mean-spirited. I never thought a majority of the people were going to vote for Russell,” because the jury “dismissed what he had to say” and waited “to hear what Mick and Natalie had to say.”

Brett Clouser

On the jury, Brett said, “honestly, I had no idea who I was going to vote for, and I think that was the case for most people.” He was “open to a compelling argument,” and while people “may perceive [Russell] as the best strategist,” “the way in which [Natalie] operated and the social game she played and the ability to make it to the end of the game with her integrity intact” led him to vote for her. Brett added that “the way she played the game isn’t as easily communicated to the television audience as someone like Russell.”

Read the entire article at:
http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/survivor_samoa/2009_Dec_21_mick_jaison_brett

What do you think?

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Russell wins $100K for being a better character than player, but Natalie wins the game and $1M + reality blurred

Why did Natalie win? Erik summed it up in his surprising and emotional jury speech: “in an environment filled with arrogance [Russell], delusional entitlement [Mick], maybe the person who thinks she’s the least deserving is maybe the most.” Shambo and John were the only people who didn’t buy into that argument; the other seven jury members did, although their erratic Q&A—or the editing of it—made them hard to read.

I’m convinced that the fatal flaw in Russell’s game plan was there from day one, and even earlier: He never took the social game into account. (An interview with Russell’s thoughts about this is coming later today; obviously, he disagrees.) At the beginning of the episode, he referred to the others as “my puppets,” adding, “when I’m finished with them, just throw them in the trash.” You can’t treat everyone as disposable and expect them to vote for you. He was, I think, too honest, too cocky, and too confident.

Russell didn’t get how that cost him the $1 million. But he talked shit about everyone and talked himself up, and of course the jury talked amongst themselves about that, and he was better at antagonizing them than befriending them. A good example of this came during the reunion when, amusingly, he produced a pair of socks from his pocket to offer to Jaison as replacements for the ones he burned, and then hurled them into the fire. Funny, but he’s a dick, and dicks don’t get $1 million from people they’ve dicked over. Instead, they complain about not being rewarded.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/survivor_samoa/2009_Dec_21_natalie_wins_russell_loses

What do you think?

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Natalie White’s $1 Million Prize

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And the ‘Survivor Samoa’ winner is… – Survivor- msnbc.com

The sole survivor: Natalie White, 26, a former pharmaceutical sales rep from Arkansas, won “Survivor Samoa’s” $1 million prize, taking the title of sole Survivor from one of the biggest game players ever, Russell. But his game was too big, and the jury gave Natalie more votes (third-place Mick apparently received zero votes). Natalie may not have outwitted like Russell did, but she outplayed and outlasted him.

Famous last words: After the first immunity challenge, Russell said of Natalie: “Who better to take to the final two than her? There’s no way she can beat me in votes.” No way at all. He also said that the other players were “my puppets. When I’m finished with them, just throw them in the trash.” But he forgot that he needed to get their votes before discarding them.

Devastated: Before the final Tribal Council, Russell told us, “If Mick or Natalie won this game over me, that would just be a shame. It wouldn’t make any sense to me. I’ve played this game strategically better than anybody, maybe in history.” But during the live show, he displayed bloodshot eyes.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34468042/ns/entertainment-reality_tv/

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‘Survivor Samoa’: And the winner is… | EW.com

Russell and Natalie on the Red Carpet Tonight

After 39 days, 15 vote-offs, 4 hidden immunity idols found, 2 medical evacuations, 1 escaped chicken, and countless acts of bravado and buffoonery, Survivor: Samoa finally has crowned its million dollar winner. Is it raucous Russell, who burned socks, emptied canteens, and collected idols; Natalie, whose smartest move was to never question Russell; Jaison, who took a stand against Ben early in the game and then promptly sat down and let Russell do the rest; Mick, who was elected tribe leader and then led exactly no one; or Brett, who went on an immunity winning spree right when he needed to? Well, find out the who, how, and why right after the jump by clicking the “read full post” link. And the winner of Survivor Samoa is…

…Natalie White. The 26-year-old pharmaceutical sales rep from Van Buren, Arkansas trounced Russell and Mick in the final three, receiving five of the seven votes read by Jeff Probst (Russell won the other two).

The episode began with Jaison being voted out first after Brett won his third straight immunity. Brett’s luck finally ran out in the final immunity competition, however, as Russell bested him in a nailbiting statue-on-a-poll balance competition. The Silent Wonder was voted out, leaving a final three of Natalie, Russell and Mick. The jury, however, clearly did not care that Russell completely controlled the entire game and won the last, most important immunity challenge, instead awarding the million dollars to the person they simply liked more in Natalie.

Read the entire article at:
http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/12/20/survivor-samoa-winner/

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“Survivor: Samoa” comes to a satisfying end… | pbpulse.com

Jaison, Natalie, Russell, Mick, and Brett talking to the press after Sunday night's finale show.

OK. So since it’s just us kids who want to know what happened at the final Tribal Council and subsequent big bitter reunion finale, I can say that Russell “Puppet Master” Hantz and his maddening, arrogant, polarizing, and at times brilliant game play, did NOT win the million dollars. Natalie, the sweet nice girl did.

And I’m just fine with that, because there was one glaring and very important piece of the game Russell forgot. He forgot that it’s hard to get people to vote for you when all they remember is you gloating about how stupid they are. You need what Jeff Probst refers to as “the social game.” And it seemed clear during the reunion special that Russell, as smart as he was, still didn’t get that, or at least didn’t want to admit that. He truly thought there were no flaws in his game, and said that he didn’t regret anything that he did. And while it’s a great policy to have no regrets, I personally would regret whatever it is that had my fellow castaways see everything I did to hustle and STILL not give me the money.

Many of you are going to say that the jury was being bitter and nasty about the things that they blame Russell for and gave Natalie the money just to spite him. And that might have been the motivation of some people, but I prefer to think of it the way that Erik put it in is awesome jury Q&A – Natalie deserved to be in the top three, because she’d outlasted everyone on the jury, first of all, and because she played a different but obviously effective game. Instead of barreling in and saying “I’m gonna win and I’m in control and you can stick with me or cross me at your peril,” or, in Mick’s case, get voted the leader and then follow Russell’s lead, Natalie understood quickly where her bread was buttered, and did a lot of scrambling, including engineering Erik’s ouster.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.pbpulse.com/tv/2009/12/21/survivor-samoa-comes-to-a-satisfying-end/

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‘Survivor: Samoa’ Finale Recap: We Are The Good Guys, So Please?

The highlight of the jury, for me, was Erik, who didn’t ask a question, and gave a pretty emotional speech instead. What do you expect from the guy who’s been blindsided right after the merge, and gave fist-pumps and hoo-rahs whenever Galu lost one more? He began be hinting that Mick doesn’t deserve the win, mentioning Foa Foa’s dismal performance under his watch. “I struggled for 39 days to see why you’d be named leader of the tribe,” he says.

Then, to Russell: “We got nothing in common. You played a non-ethical game, and yet you’re sitting there, and I’m standing here.”

And then, finally, to Natalie: “People will call you weak, but why is that any more admirable than lying, cheating and stealing? Perception is not reality. Reality is reality, and you’re sitting there, and that makes you just as dangerous. In any environment with arrogance”–Russell shot!–”and delusional entitlement”–irked Mick shot!–”the person who’s weakest will win. You got my vote.”

Read the entire article at:
http://www.buddytv.com/articles/survivor/more/survivor-samoa-finale-recap-33416.aspx

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‘Survivor’ Finale: No Way! | The Wrap

Natalie wins Survivor Samoa while Russell is second.

Yikes. Shambo with makeup — not a pretty sight. The rest of the jury tumbles out of her mullet and they all take their seats.

The tribe talks about all the layers of decision making but nobody seems to have the definitive solution. Brett makes a dumb statement about preferring to be on the Foa Foa side of the coin. “It doesn’t mean anything unless I win the next one,” he says. Jeff asks if he wants to switch spots but he declines. It’s time to vote…

We see: Mick voting for Jaison and Jaison voting for Mick. First vote is Mick and the rest go to Jaison. Jaison is going home. He doesn’t even look back at the tribe as he walks away. To the camera he says the he’s pissed off at Russell and that he’s rooting for Brett.

The final four get back to camp and high-five each other.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.thewrap.com/blog-entry/survivor-finale-no-way-12059

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Russell Hantz isn’t the ultimate Survivor – 2009-Dec-20 – CultureMap Houston

It’s funny what someone will do for $1 million.

In a stunning upset, charismatic but conniving Russell Hantz — the sneakiest contestant since Richard Hatch in Season One — lost out to Natalie White in Survivor: Samoa, the 19th installment of the reality series that spawned the entire genre.

Hantz, the Texas oilman who talks like Dallas’ J.R. Ewing with a little bit of the bad guys in Deliverance thrown in, was made for reality TV. Cocky to a point past arrogance, he spouted such inanities as “Let’s see if a 21-year-old can outdo me when it comes to pain” and “I was born for this; this is what God made me for.”

Of course, the camera loved him — he was the breakout star of the show — even he did a lot to perpetuate the stereotype of the unprincipled Texas businessman. But he overplayed his hand and his insufferable arrogance turned off the other Survivor cast mates who decided his fate.

Read the entire article at:
http://culturemap.com/newsdetail/12-20-09-russell-is-the-ultimate-isurvivori/

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Survivor Samoa Finale Recap December 20, 2009 – tvgrapevine.com

Natalie White being interviewed after winning Survivor Samoa.

The remaining four are called to a challenge where they place a statue on the top of a short pole. At two minute intervals they must add another pole and move their hands to that section. Mick loses it followed by Natalie and it is down to Brett and Russell who hold six feet of pole topped by the statue. The wind picks up and both men have to adjust and then add another section of pole to raise it to seven feet. Brett loses his statue and Russell wins individual immunity at this most critical time. Russell tells Jeff that this is the one he wanted to win. Russell feels that he just won the game. He is going to the finals and will get his chance to plead his case to the jury.

Mick says that the challenge was really intense until Brett’s statue fell. Brett says that this was an amazing experience and he failed. The only thing he can fall back on is that if one of them were to win he would take the other to the final. Natalie, Russell, and Mick talk. Russell says that he played it strategically to the end until he had to win. Mick changes the subject and tells them that Brett is the type of kid he wants his daughter to meet someday. Mick is skeptical when Russell goes to get wood and says that he has never seen Russell leave them for wood. Mick worries that he is done. Natalie assures him that Brett is gone and it will be the three of them to the finals. She feels he is worried about nothing. Russell tells Brett that he knows he made a deal with him, but he has made a deal with everybody. He tells him that should he vote Mick and Brett votes Mick, Natalie and Mick will be voting Brett, and then it will come to a fire challenge. He asks him if he is up for another challenge. Russell says that it is all about the jury votes. Russell feels that his head is spinning, and keeping Brett might win him some jury votes, going against someone who is strong.

The last tribal council is held. Russell is asked if this is how he wanted it to end. Russell figured that if he lost he would go home and he put more effort into this challenge than into anything in this game. Natalie and Mick both think that this is an easy decision to send Brett home. Russell says that Brett played a great game and because of that, he would like to take Brett to the end. Mick says that he makes a good case, but none of them would have a chance at the million dollars if Brett goes. Natalie thinks that it would not be a good decision to put Brett in front of the jury. Brett says that they would be a little worried. Brett says by that action, you show confidence in yourself and show fairness to the jury.

The votes:
Brett, Mick, Brett, Brett. Brett is ninth voted to the jury on this last of the tribal councils. Brett thanks them for the adventure as he leaves.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.tvgrapevine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5932:survivor-samoa-finale-recap-december-20-2009&catid=35:survivorm&Itemid=98

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Reality Check: ‘Survivor: Samoa’ finale: And the winner is … – A reality TV blog by The Baltimore Sun’s Sarah Kelber – baltimoresun.com

Tribal council time, opening statements:

Mick starts. He says that there was a lot of pressure to “give yourself moral leeway,” and he thinks he managed to not cross to many of those boundaries. Jaison and Shambo are shaking their heads. Natalie says she came into the game with people telling her she couldn’t do it, but she decided she would regret not going to the game. She says it is the toughest thing she’s ever done and she couldn’t have gotten as far as she did without the help of everyone there. Russell: “Mine’s going to be a little different than these two. I came here to do what I said I was going to, to make it all the way to the top and win the game. I made huge strategic moves throughout the game.” He points out the early cuts of Marisa and Betsy, who were targeting them. He thinks going after Laura was his biggest move of the game, then John after that, because he wanted to get rid of a Foa Foa, and that wasn’t going to happen. “If either of these outwitted me, give them the money. If either of these outplayed me, give me the money. But I don’t think they did.” He does say if they disagree, “Let the best man win.” Nice, another dig against Natalie and women in general.

Jury questions are next. Jaison is first. He tells them to look at the jury and give them information about who they really will, and if they won’t, he will. Natalie says she will start, and she says she is unemployed because she left her job in pharmaceutical sales to come to the game, and she hopes to get back into it when she gets back home because it is her dream job. Russell says he is a businessman and in the past couple of years, he has had the most successful years ever. Mick says he just graduated from medical school recently and he has $320,000 in debt. Jaison says Natalie has made a lot of money, Russell is the wealthiest on the panel, and Mick is going to be fine, so he thinks the rest of the jury should make their decision based on other reasons, not money.

Shambo says she wants to apologizing to America for dismantling Galu because she’s really questioning that decision right now. She asks Mick if he would agree that his gameplay is totally feckless. He says he’d have to look it up. She asks Natalie if she can finish the word that starts with “c” and everyone looks perplexed. She says “coattails.” Natalie says she came into the game the most ill-equipped, “in a sundress and gold wedges,” and she made decisions to keep herself in the game, including noticing that the women who came out strong, like Marisa and Betsy, got targeted immediately. Shambo says she is laughing inside her head at Natalie’s answer like you can’t believe and finally closes that there is no way on God’s green Earth that either Mick or Natalie is getting her vote. They just smile and say OK. What else can you do?

Read the entire article at:
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/realitycheck/blog/2009/12/survivor_samoa_finale_and_the_winner_is.html

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Survivor: Samoa – Finale Recap : RealityWanted.com: Reality TV, Game Show, Talk Show, News – All Things Unscripted Social Network Casting Community

Brett wins immunity again!! Then gets interviewed on the red carpet.

… Which brings us to tonight’s first immunity challenge. Players must race across a net and a balance beam to retrieve a bag of puzzle pieces then back and up a steep ladder to a puzzle board. Though Russell and Brett get off to a good start, everyone catches up and before you know, they’re all working on their puzzles. Mick and Russell get close but can you believe it? Brett wins immunity again!! That screws my prediction that he was going home first tonight. He waited until late in the game to kick it into high gear but man, it’s a little impressive, isn’t it?

At camp, it first seemed that Natalie’s head was on the chopping block but Russell wants her around sot the focus turns to Mick and Jaison. As Russell and Natalie point out, there are good and bad points to keeping either of them. Jaison won’t win any votes from the jury but sucks in challenges. Mick is a stronger player and could win the million in the end. When the votes are read, it’s Jaison who will become the first Foa Foa member to join the jury.

I’m just gonna say it: I have no ability to predict this season. My future as a psychic looks pretty grim.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.realitywanted.com/newsitem/2730-survivor-samoa-finale-recap

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‘Survivor: Samoa’ finale: Natalie White wins Russell Hantz’s game – It Happened Last Night – Zap2it

Actually, that’s not 100 percent true. In the beginning, we thought Russell was all bluster and his cocky ways would get him kicked out sooner rather than later. But then he managed to blindside the other players week after week — not to mention collecting all the individual Immunity Idols like they were poorly hidden Easter eggs — and we grudgingly had to admit that yeah, he might just be the best “Survivor” player yet.

So, how good is he? Can anyone possibly snag that million dollar prize from his clutches? Let’s find out …

Day 37 arrives with Aiga receiving an early morning tree mail announcing an immunity challenge. The Foa Foa Four are still bound and determined to get rid of the last remaining Galu member, Brett, but Russell feels the need to tell Natalie that if Brett manages to win immunity for the third time, she’s probably going to be the one going home so that he, Mick and Jaison have one more shot to get rid of him.

Russell, already cranky that he’s left with “misfits” when he “should be here with superstars” is also a bit put out by Mick and Jaison being in awe of Brett’s sudden immunity winning streak.

“He’s no Mike Tyson,” Russell scoffs. “He’s Brett.”

Of course, who should win immunity? That’s right. Brett.

Read the entire article at:
http://blog.zap2it.com/ithappenedlastnight/2009/12/survivor-samoa-finale-natalie-white-wins-russell-hantzs-game.html

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Orlando Sentinel – The TV Guy – Survivor: And the winner is …

Evil Russell is not happy about losing to Natalie.

The durable CBS series, in its 19th edition, was lucky to have devious Russell Hantz in the mix. He was to this “Survivor” what J.R. Ewing was to “Dallas.”

Win-at-all costs Russell made it all the way to the finale. He was the fans’ favorite and collected $100,000. But he lost the game to unemployed ally Natalie White, who won $1 million. She will collect her money on Monday’s “Early Show.” Mick Trimming, a physician, was the third player in the final.

There were hard feelings on the live reunion show. Russell, an oil company owner, was visibly upset that he didn’t win.

“I feel like I played the best strategic game in history,” Russell told host Jeff Probst. “I can guarantee you millions of people probably think that same thing.”

Well, maybe not all the way. Probst questioned the jury and revealed that Russell could have won if he had taken other players with him to the finals.

Read the entire article at:
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2009/12/survivor-and-the-winner-is.html

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Survivor Shocker: Did Russell Really Just Lose?! – E! Online

We met with the very disappointed Russell and the rest of the five Castaways backstage directly after tonight’s show and, after consoling the runner-up, got the scoop on one of Survivor’s most exciting seasons yet.

Cunning vs. Loyalty: “It’s amazing to me how people play the game,” Russell told us, still visibly shocked by his loss. “You want to be honest, have integrity, in the game? You ever play Monopoly, where you take people’s houses and kick ‘em out in the street? That’s a game. But,” he added ruefully, “it’s part of it, I guess.” Natalie explained how that “part” figured in her own strategy: “There’s different criteria to play the game. The majority of the people on the jury are not deceitful people, they just don’t play that way in real life or in a game. I made it my mission to get to know them and try to figure out what that voting criteria was going to be. I think because of the genuine relationships that I built, they wanted to give it to someone they truly know and will do well with the money.”

Russell’s Sabotage: Both Mick Trimming and Jaison Robinson told us they first learned the true extent of their tribemate’s deviousness by watching the show on TV. “Honestly, I had nothing against Russell, I wasn’t mad at him until I saw the episodes where he was sabotaging us,” Jaison revealed before complaining: “I think it’s one thing to be in control of this game and form alliances, but it’s another thing to pour out water and do the things he did. People were passing out all over the place—you didn’t see it, but people were unconscious because they weren’t getting enough hydration.” Mick expressed a slightly different viewpoint about Russell’s secret canteen emptying: “Sad thing is, it didn’t shock me at all. I was just waiting for him to pee in it next: OK, he poured it out, what’s he going to fill it up with?”

Read the entire article at:
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b158711_survivor_shocker_did_russell_really.html

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