Thanks to Thanksgiving it was time for the annual Survivor recap episode and this year we were treated to more extras then ever before! Many new scenes were broadcast to our screens tonight along with the application videos of the final eight of Survivor Gabon. Randy started things off by giving us a glimpse into his home. He was talking to his dead dog’s urn, not surprising, but it makes reference to a future “New Scene” were Randy shows his softer side to Matty. Crystal’s audition seemed to be at a casting call where she called out her golden medal, saying that they’ve “probably already heard of her”. Sugar seemed a completely different person and nothing like she is on the show. Wearing a full on nose ring, Sugar exclaimed her homelessness and want for Survivor to help her grow up. Bob’s application was completely done at this school that he teaches. He seemed more fun and lighthearted then he is portrayed on the show as he cracked jokes with the lunch ladies.
Corinne’s audition was next and she was full on bitch, similar to her new scenes as well. Wearing a bikini, Corinne waded by the pool, rattled off her college degrees and let producers know she tells it like it is. Susie’s application was a complete sit down and somewhat nice to see. It was in her element, her home, and she seemed much more sane there. Kenny’s was rather odd as he seemed five years younger when he made it. With braces on you could hardly tell it was Kenny but sure enough it was! He let producers know that his strategy would be to always think ten times ahead. Pretty much what he’s been doing. Matty’s was last and it seemed almost TOO well done. The quality was the best out of all of them, as if CBS sent a film crew to his house after realizing he was probably “casted” and never sent in a tape.
After the applications it was time for the recap. Unlike past years the show actually focused on new scenes rather then just rattling off everything that happened. In the first new snippet we saw first Fang swimming and getting leeches. Randy was first to get one followed by Matty, who swore he wouldn’t get any. He didn’t seem to happy but it was obvious they were in there. There weren’t many new scenes about first Kota other then Bob’s ability to create stuff around camp. It was nice to see a glimpse of Bob from the start as he wasn’t shown much when the first episodes aired. After the merge the rest of the show was pretty much about Sugar. She had a completely new segment from the Sugar Shack, aka Exile Island, where she skinny dipped and acted as if she was at a nude beach. Surely we didn’t see THAT on the show. Sometimes I wonder why clips like that miss air, maybe we can blame Marcus for that one. She also got a few nods from Jeff as being in control of the whole Nobag tribe. It seemed they were setting it up for a “underdog” them with only Bob and Corinne seen as the “power houses”. Although they WERE in power, Bob and Corinne are lambs to the slaughter, using Ace’s term, for the next episodes unless a big change occurs. Knowing this group and the craziness of the past episodes though, I have a feeling we haven’t seen the craziest go down just yet.
With the auditions in New York for America’s Got Talent over we move to Chicago. It seems the talent is much different this time around as the first act showcases a burlesque of mothers. They were VERY “Vegas” and although they were “rough” according to Piers they were moved on to well…. Vegas. With the first audition being passed through does this mean Chicago will actually produce amazing performances?
Apparently not as a “homemade guitar” sent one make packing early. He wasn’t the only one as the crowd basically forced the judges to stop some horrible acts. A singing Santa, a few singers and a “stage actor” turned the crowd into a raging rampage that booed and booed and booed. Just when you thought the crowd was so horrible a male baton twirler came onto the stage and cheers rang out. It was more a fire spinning act then baton and was pretty good. I mean if that crowd was cheering it HAD to be good.
Quickly moving on from Chicago, the search for America’s best talent was moved to Los Angeles. LA has to have some good, and bad, talent since everyone who wants to be anyone heads there. The first “performer” is male Briteny Spears impersonator who reminded me of Chris Crocker a bit. Coninsidence, I’m not sure. Since he looked and lip synched like Briteny the new “Boy Shakira” was moved on to the Vegas auditions.
Some great acts were then run down as moving on as well. A hula-hoop dancer, a tap dance troop, a fifteen year old singer and a dance troop all moved on, making LA one of the better auditions so far. That ended fast though with one strange audition. A group of dance teachers sucked, and had no chance of making it through. Another “dance” group reenacted Michael Jackson’s thriller and was High School Musical gone bad! The lack of dancing dancers continued to go on stage and I must say, I expected much more from LA! One last dance act, a power tap/clogging group made it on to the stage and totally made up for those who sucked before them! Of course Piers didn’t like them, but winning the Apprentice doesn’t mean you know squat about dancing!
The end of LA showcased Neil, an opera singer. It seems he was on the show to make his family happy and show people that you can get past poverty and other issues. Of course since they spent so much time on his story it’s obvious he was going to be good. Although I’m not sure how well America will embrace an opera singer it was a great moment as the crowd stood to support him. Hopefully more auditions like this will occurr at the final audition locations and more amazing (and not so amazing) acts will be performed!
