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[00:01:14] Hi everybody and welcome back to the Survivor 50 Wish List podcast, an off-season series where we're trying to figure out who could and should come back for the upcoming returning season of Survivor 50.
[00:01:27] Today, let us pray as we bow our heads and turn the good book of Survivor to Psalm 23. Survivor South Pacific, as we'll talk about Coach's Cult, the Aussie comeback story several times over and all of the characters that surround this 23rd season.
[00:01:47] Now, of course, I am not alone. I am joined today by somebody who is known to tell her fair share of both Halloween and Chuckie the Cheese jokes. So excited to welcome to the podcast, Grace Leder. I'm excited to be here.
[00:01:59] I've been very much enjoying the season, but very much excited to talk about South Pacific. I think it's a little bit underrated. And as a tastemaker, I know about taste, Mike. So yeah, how did that into it? Does taste making count that giant hanging piece of pork
[00:02:12] that they had to gum into each other's mouths during one of those challenges? Yeah, it was awful. Yeah, I did it. I recreated it at my home to see how bad it was. No, I mean, listen, I don't want to ask how the oral herpes is
[00:02:23] because that does feel like an HR violation. Yeah, you're not allowed to ask about that. But all right. Well, I'm glad that we are able to talk about this season because like you said, I mean, Rob certainly said during TOS
[00:02:36] that this is his most underrated season of Survivor. I might disagree, but I think certainly given the way that we look back upon it and certainly the way that we associate with Redemption Island, where you look at the skeleton of these seasons and they're practically alike.
[00:02:52] It's a season with 18 castaways, two returning players captaining each tribe. Redemption Island is back. And the post-merge gameplay is pretty much the tribe that won more immunity challenges, gets one over at the merge vote, Pagongs the other tribe, and then a returning player who dominated their own tribe
[00:03:11] from pretty much the beginning makes their way to the end. There's a little bit of divergences though, starting with, of course, what happens to said returning player in the end. And I will say, look, it's a freaking low bar to hop over.
[00:03:25] But there's some really interesting things to be had in Survivor South Pacific rather than the edit really only being focused around one or two characters in Redemption Island. There's like a good four or five that are the focus in South Pacific,
[00:03:38] which again, it's not great by ensemble standards, but still a bit of a step up. Said characters I think are a little bit more intriguing than a lot of these young recruits, hot people that we got in 21 and 22.
[00:03:53] As an instance, there's a little bit more of a story to each and every one of them. There's a lot more strategic intrigue, I would say, which again, low bar. But I think we got a lot of insight in particular into the strategic whims of people like
[00:04:06] Sophie and Albert, who were the right and left hand of coach. And I think as well, if you're talking about Survivor as this social experiment that it began with, there is an interesting aspect to the idea of, for lack of a better term,
[00:04:23] grace religious cults and how they might manifest in a society like this one. Yeah, I think not since the beginning seasons have we had religion be such a big aspect of
[00:04:34] the show. I think that yeah, it has been, I think, a topic that the show has wanted to steer away from if it has existed in the context of what's happened out on the island. This one, you could not do that. You could not steer around that.
[00:04:50] It's such an important part of at least one tribe's journey on the show. I do think for me, that's pretty fascinating. Like I'm someone who I do. I think that this is a really interesting season. Actually, I do think this is underrated.
[00:05:03] I don't know if this is the most underrated season, but I think what this season has going for it is that it has a very, I think, compelling story. And I feel like and I think that the problem that most people have with some of these seasons
[00:05:17] is the lack of character, like the diversity of characters in terms of having enough people who are compelling and people that it feels surprising. But I feel like in retrospect of this season, this feels like one that actually feels pretty
[00:05:33] easy to retell the story of Survivor South Pacific as opposed to, I think, other seasons that might be more compelling week to week, but overall, the story feels a little bit harder to pull out.
[00:05:46] And I feel like as much as this is a season that probably will not go down the history books as a top 10 season, I mean, Rob literally ranked them and it didn't, but that I feel like it's
[00:05:59] kind of like an editor's, I think in terms of what the story ends up being, I think it's really compelling. And then there are stories that I think would be compelling to see how people would continue
[00:06:09] them or if they have already returned, how this version shaped how they came back and what they might do in a future season. So I'm actually kind of excited to dive into Survivor South Pacific.
[00:06:19] It's really interesting because you talk about those that have returned and not to say that John Cochran was like the most unlikely winner in Survivor history, but I think on paper, if you
[00:06:29] were looking at this cast and you would say, Cochran is going to get cast on another season, I don't think you would necessarily believe that the man who was nearly voted out every time, pre-merge, committed basically every social faux pas in the book and then committed one of
[00:06:45] the biggest singular flips in Survivor history that caused his entire original tribe to both ream him out and get begonged in the process. You wouldn't necessarily look upon him as a Survivor winner, but what a difference three seasons make.
[00:06:57] So yeah, there's actually a good amount of people who have returned from South Pacific for better and for worse. And we'll certainly talk about how much they would be able to return and we would want to see them in a capacity a third or fourth time over.
[00:07:11] Or are there some diamonds in the rough of people where just due to the timing of this season, we're not able to make a second chances ballot as an example and might be able to make this one? Yes.
[00:07:23] Yeah, it'd be very interesting to dive into who has a compelling case to return here. Well, let's open up the case, shall we? Let's start as we always do with our final three. And we mentioned them before.
[00:07:34] This was the three that really controlled the entirety of South Pacific from the Apollo tribe. And what was it? The family, I think, is the name of the five person alliance that gets formed night one
[00:07:45] on the beach to then the three within the five straight out of the Boston Rob rulebook. We have Albert, our zero vote finalists, of course, coach, our returning player that ruled the roost until all the chickens came back to peck him in the end.
[00:08:00] And of course, our winner of it in a bit of a controversial fashion, at least back in the days of 2012 in Sophie Clark. Sophie, of course, then returned to survivor winners at war.
[00:08:13] And I would say that Sophie's sort of secondary purpose of being there was not as prominent as someone like Michelle, but was kind of in the same vein, right? She had been really raked over the coals by the fandom right in the wake of this happening.
[00:08:28] I remember at the time it was even being compared to like the outcome of Survivor Samoa of, oh, coach was robbed. What did Sophie do, et cetera, et cetera? And so I think she looked to come back not only for a chance at two fricking million
[00:08:40] dollars, but to prove that she has those capabilities to become that player that did deserve that money all the way back in 2012. And I think the near universal reception to Sophie as a result of winners at war indicates that, yeah, she absolutely did. Yeah.
[00:08:57] Sophie is so interesting because on one hand, I think that she's probably the best player from the season. And I think that this is, you know, there's no, the best player always wins, but I think
[00:09:06] that that Sophie clearly it was the best, the best strategic thinker out there. I think there's, it's hard to even argue who I think would be second, although I have an idea. She was 21 when she went and played in Survivor South Pacific. So very, very young.
[00:09:22] And I think plays a really tremendous game and then goes on and wins, obviously the, I hesitate in terms of the story. There's a, there's a feeling for me in terms of like, do we need to see what Sophie can continue to do? I think that you're right.
[00:09:40] That going back to winners at war really proves that like, that was not a fluke. And I believe very strongly in that. And so it's hard for me to say, don't put Sophie on the ballot.
[00:09:50] And at the same time I'm sitting there being like, I don't know what else we need to know from Sophie playing other than if she could, she could do it again. I think one of the interesting things about this series has been the sort of diverging
[00:10:02] theories on what Survivor 50 should be. Yeah, really it's become the Schrodinger Survivor box of it's everything and nothing at the same time. And I feel like having listened to the Survivor Halftime Show, I very much feel that like
[00:10:16] Rob has basically said, like, just let people figure it out. Like, who do you want to vote for? And I think more so than I think, like, cause I think Rob's counterpoint to some of the
[00:10:25] people who might end up on a ballot is like, well, let them be on the ballot. Is there going to be this huge campaign? If there are a tremendous amount of people who want to see Sophie back, who am I to say that she shouldn't?
[00:10:36] Not that I think there's not like any compelling case for Sophie to return. I do think seeing if she like, she, I feel like sort of has a good game, but it's sort of like sort of fumbles in the middle.
[00:10:51] Not through, I think, the result of maybe even her own. Yeah, I mean, it was really Tony's, you know, some would argue one of the best episodes in Survivor history, one of the best moves in Survivor history where he orchestrates this thing.
[00:11:02] I think it was four to three to two vote. He comes over the top in the split vote with an idol in her pocket because he saw that she was getting close to Sarah and also done her own stuff.
[00:11:12] I think she was the one who orchestrated like the Wendell blindside at the merge as well. So he was the one that I think was really clocking the game that she was playing and stopped her in her tracks successfully.
[00:11:24] Yeah, so I think it's interesting to see like, wow, could she do it again? Could she make the case for being, you know, the second two time winner of the show?
[00:11:33] I feel like I'm much more in line with, I think, some of the theory about like an idea of like, you know, best to never win and actually like totally separately. I'm catching up on the challenge to get ready for its big, you know, anniversary season
[00:11:48] and the season just before that is, I think, a badly named season. But it's basically like you're not a rookie, but you never want. Well, what's great is battle for a new champion doesn't roll off the tongue.
[00:11:59] Yeah, so Survivor do not name this battle for a new champion. But that's that's like my bank. That's my case for like Sophie, who I absolutely love and I will absolutely be so pleased to see her on my television.
[00:12:12] I think even in the limited pool of people who I think are interested in come back. I don't know if Sophie is like piquing my interest, and I feel I feel so bad saying this. No, I mean, listen, I come from that category as well.
[00:12:22] I've said that with a few people that are returnees who have come back in the past, who have even won in the past. If I'm looking for a narrative, how much hunger is there, not even from their perspective,
[00:12:34] from our perspective as a fandom to see them continue the story? And I do see your point that Sophie was, I think, one of these people that kind of checked off her secondary goal in Winners at War that, yes, of course, she didn't win.
[00:12:45] But I think she certainly proved to the people out there and most importantly, the people at home that she is someone that is capable of a lot of really great strategy. Even before that, whenever she'd appear on an RHAP podcast like that was appointment listening in my opinion.
[00:12:59] She was the first person I could remember who said that the three amigos move was overrated and that it was all flash, no substance. I remember she was one of the first people speaking of Tony to clock his game at a time
[00:13:11] where everyone was kind of like laughing at him as this big character who was making all these big wild swings and couldn't win. She's like, no, you don't understand. This guy is a shark. He has to keep moving and he could actually take care of it.
[00:13:22] So that's another reason why Sophie, I think, really rings well on the palette of survivor viewers, especially from a strategy perspective. She has so many salient points from a lifetime perspective as well.
[00:13:34] I mean, Sophie is now 34 and she has since been on the show, gotten married and had two children too. And so we've talked about this a bunch of all. She has a relatively young mother, both in terms of her children and her age.
[00:13:47] There could be something fun to like how does parenthood change a way that she would approach things for what it's worth? Sophie was asked a few years ago in an AMA on Reddit if she would want to come back. She says not anytime soon.
[00:14:00] My first time I wanted to win and hell play freaking survivor my second time, enough time had passed that the survivor itch was pretty much gone, which was good. And then I wasn't just going out a second time doped up on the high from the first unsure
[00:14:14] what my life was. If I wasn't playing survivor, I had to really do a lot of self questioning about why I was going out and what I wanted to realistically get from it.
[00:14:23] If I ever played again, I'd want to be in a place where I really understood why I was playing and what I wanted to get out of it. Obviously, the answer is winning, but I truly don't think that's enough.
[00:14:33] Or if that's your only goal, you are bound to fail. So look, on the one hand, Sophie said like I need to be in the right headspace to do it. Give me a little bit of time. On the other hand, that was three years ago.
[00:14:46] Yeah, so and Sophie, I feel like is somebody I mean, the point you were making earlier about her insight into the game is I almost want to see her out there just as the narrator.
[00:14:54] Like, oh yeah, that's the thing is, yeah, we've seen that we put a lot of these alumni in like NPC positions, right? I'm like, well, you can't be out there, but you can be sort of an advisor. I would love Sophie to do color commentary alongside Jeff.
[00:15:05] I, you know, bring back the Sandra and Rob booth, but just have two different like people show up every week. I'm not mad at the idea. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I that's really interesting. I think like I'm with you.
[00:15:19] I would take nobody as a no unless they are like it has to be so in fact that they're saying no, because I think I think it would be really hard even for Sophie who says your
[00:15:30] heart has to be in it to turn down what is likely going to be, you know, the biggest season of the show ever outside of maybe heroes versus villains and all stars like it's like
[00:15:42] so then it's at least top three, you know, I think I guess you winners that were so those to me like in terms of just like what comes with being in this version of the show that
[00:15:52] I feel that is different than like not the second chances wasn't like that's where I got reinvested in, in the like even the RHAP community. But I feel like there's something different about being like you're one of the people
[00:16:03] we're going to have on 50 that could change if the like theme like, you know, gets tweaked in a certain way. But I do feel like if you get asked to be on 50 unless you've said no or actually can't
[00:16:13] go on feels hard to be like so this is now and I feel like after listening to the halftime show if we don't put Sophie on the ballot, we're going to get a million people saying why can't I vote for Sophie? So yeah, there we go.
[00:16:29] Well, we know that coach is already on the ballot, but I do want to address the third man here. I want to talk about Albert because I think again the way that Albert is remembered is that his edit was a little scattershot, right?
[00:16:43] He was either purple or he just came across as like this complete sleazeball and not a sleazeball in the way that like Sash was where he was slimy. So I think what I say like so slick, he was slippery or something like that.
[00:16:57] Albert was more so just cheesy, I think is the way to put it to the point where he immediately sinks any chance he has in the final tribal council when Jim steps up and says like, all right, here's my question.
[00:17:08] And Albert, if you say anything in which you're just complimenting me effusively, I will not vote for you. And Albert immediately starts with that's a great question. So I would say maybe in retrospect, people are like, oh yeah, this is a guy that didn't
[00:17:22] get any votes who, you know, didn't have a lot of stuff going on with his personality outside of these two dimensions. Why would we need to have him back? Then I looked at his quarantine questionnaire and there's a lot of surprising self introspection
[00:17:35] from Albert, where he basically talks about how his biggest regret from the game was that he was so young when he was playing. He was 26. He's 39 now. And that basically he like almost sanitized himself before the edit even came along that
[00:17:51] he thought he had to play this like incredibly clean, serious game because of the stakes that were in place. And usually he says like he's a life of the party. You know, he's a he's a former poker player.
[00:18:04] He's a former dating slash baseball coach, which is a very odd lower third considering there was a man named coach on this season. But I think that Albert has more personality than maybe the edit showed.
[00:18:16] On top of that, he is somebody who has a little bit of this unfulfilled potential to him as well as somebody who made it all the way to the end as part of this three person alliance and got no look whatsoever from the jury.
[00:18:29] I know that he's also been a bit actively involved in the community. He was in the Survivor Sequester, one of those games that happened back in 2020. It's clear that like he's still passionate about the show and would love to come back
[00:18:41] if given the chance, considering that his answer in his quarantine questionnaire when asked if he'd want to come back is how soon do they need me there? I can drop my stack and be fully packed in under an hour. Yeah, I have Albert high on my list.
[00:18:54] He's not the highest, but I have him sort of, you know, I'm like, I'm thinking about it. I'm not immediately saying no. I think the case for Albert is, I think that he hasn't played again.
[00:19:08] And so as a zero vote finalist who sat next to coach and Sophie and also watched, you know, Cochran played on this season, Ozzie played on this season. I feel like there's a potential for Albert to be one of, you know, there's been a lot
[00:19:26] of talk on these things about the way that previous all returning seasons has sometimes had these surprises that that's how you sort of create, you know, the Parvati's who like maybe from her first season is not exactly, you know, oh, we got to have her back.
[00:19:44] And then after Micronesia, you can't not bring her back for Heroes vs Villains and for Winners at War, you know? So I feel like not that I necessarily exactly see Albert. And I think the case against Albert is that there are other zero vote finalists who have
[00:19:58] the potential to, and maybe showed some potential that is stronger than what Albert showed. But in terms of people from this cast, I would probably put them up near the top for that potential alone and see if there's enough interest from people that that would be interesting
[00:20:13] to see. I'm not totally opposed to Albert is what I'm saying, because I think that his game was like pretty messy and he ends up being like luckily part of this alliance. But can you learn from that is what I think is exactly interesting about returning seasons.
[00:20:30] Yeah, he arguably was the one that caused a lot of like the drama in that latter portion of the game when it was just a relatively straightforward vote all the way down where like he's the one that's listening to Savaii and Cochran and Edna make these pitches and
[00:20:44] he's like, oh, well, maybe we should consider it. And Sophie's like slapping his head like no, down Albert. We're not doing this bad boy. So I think if he does bring that open mind and messiness to a new season, that could be very fun as well.
[00:20:57] Even if the tiger doesn't change his stripes that much. I mean, I'm not sure if he's in the physical condition that he is in in this picture. But if so, if it's relatively near it, it's very clear that he would be adept for the challenges as well.
[00:21:09] So I do think this is a guy to your point that I could see show up on a season where we'd all cock our heads at first, but then like either he proves that he can learn from
[00:21:20] the mistakes and show his true self the way he wasn't able to before or he just continues to trip over his own shoelaces like he did for 39 days in South Pacific and makes great TV. Yeah, I'm not I'm not opposed to either one happening, Mike.
[00:21:34] So I'm not sure that if he gets on the ballot, he's he's he's getting a campaign behind him. But who knows? Who knows what the voters? I do think actually, if he does get on the ballot, he might be one of the most likely
[00:21:43] to campaign because he is. Interesting. I mean, again, you talk about someone who looks back on their survivor experience and takes it on the chin. His social media handle is zero votes. OK, do you want to know?
[00:21:54] I would I because I figured this would be in the questionnaire and I wanted to look it up and you said whether or not he'd stayed in shape. And one of the things I was thinking was, is if he still coaches baseball, that would be interesting.
[00:22:03] He does not. He does not coach baseball. Instead, he has pursued poker. It is not that like the there's been very there's been many successful poker players who played survivor. I do feel like that's a very interesting career that he took host.
[00:22:16] I don't know how well the poker player is, but it's a poker alliance going on. Yeah, very interesting to that. That's the path he took after survivor and how much that could translate on the show. All right, let's move into our jury here.
[00:22:33] What a group of oh, can I can I just I just want to give this the spiel for coach. I don't I am totally in agreement with Steven Fishback that I don't think coaches survivor journey is over.
[00:22:45] I feel like there I feel like there could be one more run. And if it's if it's fully like the biggest names are on this thing, I think you ask coach. I think he says yes. And I think it's very interesting.
[00:22:59] There was who said this was it was I don't remember who said it, but said the first one was like a character. The next one was the human. And then the last one was the player that was I'm so sorry who I'm not attributing this
[00:23:10] to, but I loved it. And I do think there is this like, again, if I think about like the difference between for me, between Sophie and coach and why I would actually lean more towards coach is
[00:23:20] that there is something I think coach could try to learn from his last time out, which is that he did not own up to the game that he was actually playing. So that's why I think there's actually an argument for people to vote coach.
[00:23:32] Yeah, plus we might get that make a daddy coach as well. Yet another person who had kids since his time on the season. Well, let's get into the children in a manner of the family that he heard it as well as
[00:23:43] the Savaii over the course of this season. So in reverse order of finish, we have Jim Rice. We have Keith and Whitney who go from tribe members to showman's married couple to amazing race team.
[00:23:57] We have, as mentioned before, not only two of our Caramo and returnees, but two of our final three from that season in Dawn and eventual winner Cochran. We have, of course, and Namaa, she of Shark Tank fame and sort of the one that was always
[00:24:11] on the outside of the polos to the point where when it finally came down to just the opal loose, she was first picked off. We have the nephew of Russell Hans in the form of Brandon Hans, who did return and ends
[00:24:23] up causing probably the second most dramatic giveaway of the immunity necklace in Survivor history. We have a rancher, Rick Nelson. And of course, we have Oz, the only person to be voted out three times in one season.
[00:24:37] He of the iconic Trojan Horse, who I would say probably his most entertaining season and maybe to your point, like the crowning glory of his story. But he does come back one more time and he is on the ballot.
[00:24:51] Speaking of that, I will mention also to just get it out of the way, the other returning players in this jury, because Grace, we're not going to see any of them on the ballot for various reasons.
[00:25:02] Starting with Cochran, he has said many times both on and off the record he would not play again. And his formal word in the form of his quarantine questionnaire was saying, no, I'm not going to return.
[00:25:15] But it's not out of a diminished love for the show, which is best enjoyed when you're able to watch it purely as a fan and not as someone eyeing up competition while plotting a return appearance.
[00:25:24] I was a law student on summer vacation the last two times I played. Doing it now would be significantly more disruptive to my job and nervous system. And in any case, I'm at peace with and truly grateful for how my survivor journey ended
[00:25:37] hugging Debbie on a boat in episode five of Game Changers. Yeah, I was going to say put him in the travel council box, but actually put him on a boat and have people come in. I'm sure Cochran would love nothing more than sitting on a catamaran for 26 days.
[00:25:50] Somebody tells me just looking at him, this guy is wearing the motion sickness bands every opportunity he can get. Cochran's catamaran where good things happen. Yeah. Dawn, when asked if she would return her quarantine questionnaire said I wouldn't.
[00:26:04] I feel like I had the best of both worlds as a player. One season I was kind and well liked in the second season. I was determined and cutthroat and I've played all 39 days. I don't think I could do any more than that.
[00:26:18] And finally, suffice it to say, if you have not seen or not remembered any of Survivor Caramoan, I think Brandon Hance is more likely to become a literal author of his own fate and pen an autobiography than he would to return to Survivor.
[00:26:32] And Ozzy is already on the band. Ozzy's already on there. Yep, yep, yep. Do you have but I'll leave you an opportunity. Do you have any thoughts about Ozzy coming back for 50?
[00:26:40] Yeah, I don't know that Ozzy's like, you know, his last time out on Game Changers is enough for me to feel like, okay, there's so much of a story to tell in the same way that I feel like there is for coach of something coming so close.
[00:26:53] And if you're changing his game each time, I do feel like Ozzy's Game Changers game is probably the most different than what we've seen. And yet I still I don't know that I, I love Ozzy. I'm so happy he came out.
[00:27:06] I feel like that there's an interesting story there, but I don't know that I would, you know, personally be casting my ballot for Ozzy, even though I do love Ozzy as a player
[00:27:14] came so close to winning, I think is a thing that keep I feel like that's going to become the thing where it's like, no, no, we actually do know that because you all say it on the podcast. But he did almost win in his first time out.
[00:27:24] I don't feel like there's the same. Two or three times he nearly won his season. You know, if things went a little bit differently in Cook Islands and a number of ways, he wins that season.
[00:27:32] And obviously here to your point, if he clinches that final immunity challenge, he wins the game. And I'm I'd be intrigued to see if he had one. Would the fervor be like as bad for him as it was for Chris Underwood?
[00:27:45] Obviously, there's a lot more, you know, reception behind Ozzy. He's going to win fan favorite this season over Cochran, and he wasn't voted out day six and just spent the entire time on a different island. He does come back and forth between Redemption Island and the game.
[00:28:01] But I do wonder how people would have looked back even as far as 2012 upon someone who has voted out once, let alone twice winning a season. I think if you're popular enough, that doesn't matter.
[00:28:12] Actually, I think it's where we I think we were very much results oriented with what happened in the Survivor Edge of Extinction because we didn't really know Chris that well. We know Ozzy. The one argument I guess I could now talk myself into is that this is Legends.
[00:28:26] There is a chance, although I feel like if he didn't make Heroes vs Villains, it's so interesting that then he was like his couple of then seasons come after Heroes vs Villains.
[00:28:36] The one thing I do think is for as much as he's like a casual audience, like fan favorite, the idea of him coming back and and having his story of coming out is, I think, powerful.
[00:28:47] Again, I don't know that it's like that's the most compelling reason to to bring him back. But if people voted him in, I would not be upset. But I think we've seen everything Ozzy can do on Survivor.
[00:28:59] So we've already kind of talked through half the jury via their own answers and or already putting them on the ballot. And with no offense to Keith or Rick or Whitney, I don't know how much there is there for me
[00:29:14] to need to see them back for a season 50. Whitney, I know this might make you want to say you discussed me to me. Maybe people are saying that in the comments. I think that they're fine, but I would not necessarily feel like they pop in a way that
[00:29:32] had me see some untapped potential that I would want to see again. So unless you have any protestations, Grace, I might just focus on Edna and Jim in this section. No, I only have out of those.
[00:29:42] I only have Whitney like a little higher only because I think that there is the thing of like could could she be the sort of surprising player that nobody expected? Again, I think that there are a wealth of options to pick from over the course of X
[00:29:57] number of seasons that people will be voting for. I am absolutely OK for those folks to sort of end up off of our list. All right. So who do you want to start with between the two here, two business owners in their own rights?
[00:30:11] Let's start with let's start with Edna, because I think Edna is the more surprising of the two choices if if one was to be picked. I believe Edna said in her quarantine interview that she would be open to returning.
[00:30:26] Yeah, but it's interesting because that comes after when asked if she watches Survivor still, she says, I don't I get PTSD from watching or even hearing the theme song. Bad news for you with Survivor 45. And now she had a good lull there where that wasn't being heard.
[00:30:40] Occasionally I will watch an old clip from my season and I cringe. But yeah, then she follows it up with like, yeah, definitely go back, though. You have my number, Mr. Burnett, which like and maybe you don't want to be in that man's role.
[00:30:51] He I think that the I think that there's a world where and like I was saying about Whitney, I think there's a world where if a, you know, like something like Game Changers, you know,
[00:31:05] I think like if fan favorites here, Don Thomas does not show up on the show and instead it's like Edna, like, I don't know, that feels similar ish. And I feel like there's the chance that like she she could have had a run.
[00:31:17] I feel like she she gets sort of ousted from the alliance and does make some sort of attempt, whether it's I believe she's she's trying to pull that. It's like it was she's trying to get Brandon out. Right.
[00:31:28] Is that the she's trying to push Brandon out instead of her? Yes. Our entire narrative, right, was that Edna is actually a little bit of an outcast in the beginning of the season on Apollo.
[00:31:37] And she actually falls in line with coach who, despite the position he obviously ends up in, is also a bit of an outcast to begin with because, yeah, he obviously is not received nearly as well as Ozzy is just given his previous two seasons.
[00:31:50] And that works out really well for her in that when coach ends up becoming part of this five person majority alliance that rules the entire premerge, Edna is never in trouble. You know, she can just stand idly by and make visors out of idle clues,
[00:32:04] which is one of the best hats in Survivor history and shows how enterprising she is. And then it eventually does get to a point where she's like, oh, crap. Yeah, I'm definitely on the bottom. And she does try to pull some people over.
[00:32:16] I think it might have been due to this sort of convention that we didn't necessarily get, but apparently was on the island that like Brandon was very well liked. And if he made it to the end, he would win. But unfortunately, it was all for not.
[00:32:28] And Edna certainly had some feelings about coach, if I remember correctly, at that final tribal council in response to him getting rid of her. Yeah, I think the problem for Edna here is that we have so many people that we basically are not going to consider
[00:32:43] that she ends up being higher than she probably should be in consideration. I think there's about there's five people right between Don coach, Ozzy, Cochran, Brandon, whether we're not putting on or they're already on the ballot. And so Edna moves up like five places, five places,
[00:32:58] basically, maybe other than Brandon. Maybe she's like has a better case than Brandon. Probably. Yeah, it's rough for me to see how I'm like, let's get in on the ballot. It's tough. There are some very fun Edna moments like I'm not sure if you remember,
[00:33:14] but she has like she has a good amount of sass to her and her voting confessionals where when she was I don't know if she was the last time she was running for Brandon, but she said, Brandon, you said you came to here to clear your family name.
[00:33:25] You didn't do a good job. Or I think when she was voting, but Kayla, she said, I hope your time here has helped your future modeling career. So like there was some surprising in the sass when she was scoring that I could see
[00:33:36] maybe burgeoning some support from the audience. But yeah, I would say of the top four or five I'm considering, I think she would probably be at about like a six for me, just because from a gameplay perspective, I didn't see as much appeal,
[00:33:53] maybe more so from a personality perspective. And I think there is something that's very fun about all the successful stuff she's done afterwards on Shark Tank. That could be fun to bring in. It does seem to me like if she were to return,
[00:34:05] it would not be as a player primarily. Yeah, I basically have her right in the same spot. I kind of have my five, six, seven. I could basically rotate them on any given day. And so I have Edna right in there.
[00:34:19] The one thing this is the scheduling for this particular, I didn't have time to rewatch, but I did watch a YouTube recap of the season. So I am missing maybe some of the smaller Edna moments, but if they don't stand out to me in my mind,
[00:34:35] then it's almost a litmus test for like, it was a really good try at that. I don't know. I don't know if this is the time to come back. All right, well, let's move to our other jury member here in Jim Rice.
[00:34:47] I mean, shows his uniqueness from the get go with his like dual role as poker player before it was cool Albert and medical marijuana dispensary. I believe he was in Colorado, which obviously his business
[00:35:02] and the marijuana laws in general have expanded in the times since he has competed. And he was definitely personified in the role that like Marty was kind of in David Murphy was in in Redemption Island. Right. I've sort of like not the attractive guy, but the schemer.
[00:35:18] And Jim certainly swung into that role. I think his crowning achievement is in the premerge. He is able to take advantage of he's in this controlling alliance on Savaii, and it's basically Don and Cochran on the outs, and they're going to vote off Cochran.
[00:35:35] It's finally his time to go. And Jim is noticing that his position on the tribe is falling down, that he perceives it as there being two couples on this tribe in Keith and Whitney and Ozzie and Elise. And he wants to break that up.
[00:35:48] He doesn't want to necessarily be serene Micronesia. And so he ends up coming over the top on a split vote and joins up with Cochran and Don to have a three.
[00:35:59] I think it was a three to one vote or maybe three to two vote to send a lease out. Unfortunately, that's where Jim's game peaks, because once he gets to the merge, Cochran flips, Jim makes his thoughts very well known,
[00:36:14] both on and off island, both in words and through song. And he is very quickly picked off and loses the first trual on Redemption Island of the season. What's interesting, though, Grace, is we've talked about all these returnees and maybe in a different world,
[00:36:28] Jim Rice would have been one because he was one of the people from South Pacific on the ballot for second chance. Yeah, I actually really wanted Jim to go back. I am a sort of I feel like comparing him to Marty is a really good call,
[00:36:43] just in terms of sort of very similar vibes, sort of the like Uber gamer, I guess, is how I might describe Jim. Marty might have worked for Uber or something. Yeah, I I'm I'm very compelled by a gym return.
[00:37:00] I do think that similarly, I mean, and this shouldn't really matter, but I think to Rob's point at the end of the half time show is like, I think very few of these people have like such a strong shot from, you know, these early seasons.
[00:37:15] I wouldn't be mad at Jim return. And I actually think of the people on this cast. He's he's one of the people I'm most high up, I think just because there was potential in his original run. He he does make a move against Ozzie.
[00:37:28] So I feel like, you know, not that that's like, you know, you know, Ozzie gets voted out three times this season. So that's fine. But yeah, I pretty sure everyone on this tribe, except for maybe Semhar and to make you move against Ozzie at some point.
[00:37:41] Yeah, but I mean, and they don't even they don't even vote on Ozzie. They vote out Elise. So, you know, but I don't know. I'm kind of intrigued by a gym return. I you know, it's funny because there are people I do feel like
[00:37:55] I'm going to be totally a hypocrite in terms of like what does being on the second chance ballot and not getting in mean for T-Bird? It's a travesty for Jim Rice. I'm like, I think you maybe had your chance.
[00:38:08] I don't think I don't know that you need to go back. Not only that, but there's actually two other men who are on the second chance ballot who Survivor is like, man, I really wish they got the season.
[00:38:21] And actually, we're going to cast them on Survivor game changers, which is Brad Culpepper and Trojan. And so then I'm like, you know, on top of that, like, you know, game changer, they actually could have been a really interesting place for four gym.
[00:38:34] We can I'm I still think he's in my top, you know, probably three or four people who I'd be I would put on this ballot. I don't think he's returning and I probably wouldn't vote for him.
[00:38:45] But I think it again, it tells you a lot about the people that we we are not putting on this ballot because who's already in the ballot or extenuating. Yeah, I mean, maybe it speaks to Jim's choice of profession, but he is hungry to get back on.
[00:39:00] I think he feels there's a lot of unrealized potential that he was somebody who had things in place, like you said, had just made this move and seemed to have all his ducks in a row.
[00:39:11] He helped sign up on this big Aussie swing of him purposely getting voted out and beating Christine on Redemption Island. And then it just all falls apart. Jim is a big personality, which I think from a fan reception perspective, works both for and against him.
[00:39:28] I have certainly seen some people say and looking through their thoughts on Jim Rice that they think he's an asshole, that he was, you know, way too mean to Cochran, which is something I think even Jim would admit.
[00:39:40] But I had a conversation after the show, I believe, right? Like maybe like a long time later, they had a really long conversation where I think Cochran had talked about like and OK, here's the other. Maybe a hot take.
[00:39:52] I think from the way Cochran was treated in that respect, it's it was the right move for him to do what is like morally fine. He does immediately. He is the first. He's the last of I to get voted out. Yeah.
[00:40:07] So is is Jim like like there's basically no win for Cochran, so I don't know whether it is the right or wrong move. But if you are Jim, it's the wrong. It was the wrong move. But maybe you need to play that better.
[00:40:19] You know, you could keep going down the layers. But like there's a certain degree to which everything not everything he was saying, but some of the things he's saying ultimately turn out to be true.
[00:40:27] And that I have been in I've played board games where this exact thing happens. And you're like, man, that's frustrating, you know, so I can I can kind of see it. Yeah. Jim also 48 years old currently and yet another person
[00:40:39] that started a family since his time on the show. He said that he has now raised two sons after playing on a survivor. And yeah, for what it's worth, when asked if he'd come back, he said knee jerk reaction. Hell yes.
[00:40:53] And then he goes on to say, but then I'd realize all the stuff that's happening in my life, all these businesses, my family, etc. Official answer, probably. I do know this. It wouldn't be for the money.
[00:41:03] It would be because in my mind, I lost when I played that first time. And that still bothers me. So somebody with a chip on his shoulder coming in makes for it could make for a fun returning possibility if people want it.
[00:41:16] Yeah, I think that the cards have to line up where the theme is sort of right for a Jim return. But again, I have him high up on my list of people. I probably would advocate to put on the ballot.
[00:41:28] So all right, let's move into our pre jurors here. And in order of elimination, we have the aforementioned Semhar Mabu, as it were. We have Papa Bear. It's real. It's happening. Dawn is coming. We have, of course, Stacey, be it Boop, be it Blam,
[00:41:48] the woman of onomatopoeias herself. We have the aforementioned Elise, who ends up becoming the most mentioned woman of this pre jury so far. We have poor, poor Michaela, who is also on the second chances ballot,
[00:41:58] but probably more no more so remembered as the apple of Brandon's temptation filled eyes. And we have the person I want to start with. Christine Shields Markoski. This is someone I want to go to bat for grace. No offense, Albert. Just because speaking the same language, Mike.
[00:42:19] Yeah, so for those that don't remember, Christine comes onto the beach. The very first minute of the game, coach ends up landing in the helicopter. Christine is making fun of him to his face. She's doing these like coach. She poses.
[00:42:34] Then she finds out that he's on her tribe and she calls them openly temporary players after someone like Francesca, who had just gotten in trouble of doing basically the exact same thing of Redemption Island. Christine decides, nah, I'm going to do it again.
[00:42:50] And that is who Christine Shields Markoski is. She is so blunt and unapologetic. Does it make for a great survivor player? No, but it makes for great TV. As soon as they get to the camp, Christine realizes she's in trouble.
[00:43:02] So she just decides to start looking for the idol for the two episodes. She's a part of all she's doing is looking for the idol because she realizes she's immediately in danger, even though she does join up with Stacy. She's not able to find anybody else.
[00:43:15] Coach is able to rally everyone to his side. And Christine goes to Redemption Island. You think that's where her journey ends? But oh, no, as we like to say, Grace, back in the day, her journey was just getting started
[00:43:26] as she proceeds to then win five Redemption Island duels. Everyone in this picture right now, she beats in a duel and it gets to the point where Savaii, who loses the seventh immunity challenge,
[00:43:42] is so worried about the idea of Christine coming back and joining up with you, Polu. Then again, they concoct this wild scheme of Ozzie, one of the best challenge performers in survivor history to be the one to slay Christine, which he does successfully.
[00:43:59] Christine, to me, is somebody who obviously has the personality, obviously has the great TV and ability to blow things up, will obviously get into more of it with Stacy, but she was certainly standing alongside her, being her hype woman, supporting all of the Benjamin rants.
[00:44:16] And she is someone that was able to prove herself in those challenges to the point that she racks up a pretty damn good streak. Yeah, I mean, it's just such a surprising story, I think. I think Christine coming in, she's a little bit older.
[00:44:33] And then to go on this immunity run that feels like she could do it and she gets bested by maybe the greatest challenge competitor in survivor history, only because they choose to send him to go do that. It's so fun.
[00:44:46] I really actually, I think the, I like the, I like server-specific. I do feel like the pre-merge is real fun. I think that this is, there's so much here. Semhar being a poet, you have Papa Bear, you have Stacy, Elise gets voted out for relationship with Ozzie.
[00:45:05] We'll talk about Michaela. I am not a fan of what happens to Michaela. And then you have Christine being this challenge beast who, is sort of exactly what you might be looking for if you were casting someone to be on the show now,
[00:45:20] who speaks her mind completely, is going to play hard. She goes looking for the idol. And then she goes on this challenge run. She's so fun. I absolutely want Christine Chudnikowski on the ballot. Yeah, and she is 53 years old.
[00:45:34] So I would say definitely one of the older cast members of this season, but certainly not right up there in age. And she has shown that she is very up for coming back. I think she did. She was one of the most recent talking with T-Birds last year,
[00:45:47] where she continues to just show that passion, that lack of filter and moreover, that desire to come back. I think it was an unfortunate slight in the second chances ballot that she didn't end up showing up there. Because I think to your point earlier about Jim,
[00:46:03] I don't know if she would have gotten voted on. I think out of the South Pacific contestants, she would have stood the best chance because she does leave that impression and goes from the second boot to being the last pre-juror and leaving the game here.
[00:46:17] But listen, I want to give an opportunity that the producers couldn't and see if Christine could make some waves here on the ballot. Yeah, I'm all for this. I think she deserves to be on there. I think she's the most...
[00:46:30] She's one of the most entertaining people on the season. I feel like her reputation and being remembered, it will be a little bit... It's a little bit lost just due to the season she's on. You end up being in what you've been calling the dark ages of Survivor,
[00:46:47] which I have to admit are not my darkest. Gabon is what got me back into Survivor after where I left off from it. And I was watching the season at university with friends and I loved every... I have such a soft spot actually for these seasons.
[00:47:03] But yeah, I feel like because she's... And every pot has a lid, you know? Yeah, I feel like because she's on Survivor South Pacific, she's like a pre-merge, pre-jury player from Survivor South Pacific. She's not completely remembered and probably should have been in the mix sooner than this.
[00:47:21] And that will be the downfall probably to her success at being on Survivor 50. But I want to put her on the ballot for sure. How about her partner in crime in the form of Stacy? Certainly a source of one of the most copy-pasted speeches
[00:47:35] I've ever seen in Survivor subreddit history. And of course, her iconic rant about how she refuses to call Coach, Coach. She only calls him Benjamin and then proceeds to deride the younger people on her tribe for listening to his jokes and lapping things up.
[00:47:52] But she knows better, obviously does not fare better in the game than Christine in terms of these Redemption Island duels. Do you feel like, is her presence additive or subtractive from Christine's chances of getting on? Oh, that's interesting. I hadn't thought about it from that perspective,
[00:48:08] but I think probably it doesn't help Christine. I think you vote for one of the two of these people and you don't vote for both of them unless you're a gigantic Survivor South Pacific fan. So I think that that hurts her chances.
[00:48:22] I also think this is one of those times where it's probably better to just let Stacey's legacy be what we saw on the show and not have her return to the show and potentially be like, less fun now than it was for the moment we got.
[00:48:43] I feel like it's like, let's just leave that one. In the Reddit Hall of Fame in a glass case, let's leave that one, I think. I also may be speaking out of my ass, but I do recall something that Rob said
[00:48:53] and this was like years and years ago where he loved having Stacey Powell on the podcast, but she doesn't want to talk Survivor anymore. She doesn't want to be involved with Survivor anymore, which is sad because I need more moments of Stacey reacting to big secrets inappropriately
[00:49:09] with sounds where if you recall, Brandon decides to come clean about the source of his tattoo and tells everyone in Nepaloo, I'm Russell Hance's nephew and Stacey responds with, glam. I'm like, yeah, the onomatopoeia is really legendary, but I think it's like you actually don't,
[00:49:28] it's like, I think a kid who wants to eat a lot of candy. It's like, you actually don't want more of this. You're like, stomach will hurt and you actually, it will not be fun. You could just go back and watch the scenes from Survivor.
[00:49:41] Yeah, it's kind of exactly, actually if you don't mind me going in, it's exactly how I feel about Papa Bear. I am absolutely in love with Papa Bear and what I saw that dude makes a fake idol, like legendary Survivor. Now does he make a fake idol
[00:49:54] or does he put a rock in his pocket? Does he? Does he do that? I think he pulls the Rupert in Heroes vs. Villains and just put something in his pocket and after running into the woods, I feel like in the recap,
[00:50:05] I saw it was like he makes a fake idol. That doesn't mean it was, you know, they were not showing a ton of survivor footage perchance to be copyright claimed. But yeah, like I'm very happy to live in the world where I just have like Dawn
[00:50:18] and like that, you know, that's probably enough Papa Bear for me. Yeah. Yeah, I think listen, he is someone that is maybe one of the most like gung-ho people as an early boot about wanting that chance to return. But I always absolutely love that
[00:50:32] he just immediately comes in within the first few seconds and despite the other tribe disputing whether or not coach should be called by a certain nickname, he says like, all right, everyone call me Papa Bear. And they're like, OK, sure. I listen, if you want,
[00:50:47] if you want the campaign, the ballot to put Papa Bear on, we'll start it for next season's Pride is Spoken. We'll try to get off there. OK, oh my God. Yes, yes. We don't we don't get a lot of older gay men and like kind of who.
[00:50:59] So yeah, that's the campaign I'm starting for 2025 is the Pride is Spoken season is for a Papa Bear Caruso appearance because I do love him. I just I my love does not extend to putting him on the ballot. Does that count as does that count as my answer
[00:51:15] to what survivor would you want to see on a show other than survivor? Does the Pride is Spoken count as a non-survivor show? Yeah, 100%. Yeah, it does. Yeah, that counts. All right, well, let's finish up with no offense again to Elise and Semhar.
[00:51:28] Semhar especially should maybe be another first boot that kind of lives in infamy. Let's talk about Michaela because I think a lot of the discourse, especially from the lens now is, yeah, Michaela was done dirty that she happened to be put on this tribe
[00:51:43] with this incredibly lecherous, coveting young man who was like peeping at her from the bushes and the reason why they end up getting rid of her. Now, look, she was like one of the last people outside of the family alliance, aside from Edna to go.
[00:51:58] But it basically comes down to like she's causing too much trouble because Brandon is too distracted and it's causing a big kerfuffle. We have to get rid of her because he's at least loyal to the alliance. And I would say that Michaela herself
[00:52:12] is not like a giant personality. She didn't have an interesting career. I believe she was a lingerie football player during the season. I am grateful that she was given at least another chance to be on the ballot during second chances. And we'll talk about this in second chances
[00:52:25] also speaks to something we've been speaking about during these all-star seasons, which is like no matter what the season, there's always a like hot young girl quotient that or quota that these producers are trying to go for, which is maybe why you throw on like Michaela
[00:52:40] and Natalie Tenerelli and Monica Padilla and Stephanie Valencia to see if one of them will hit. What do you think about Michaela getting another chance to come back here in 50? I think it's tough and I feel really bad that I feel that way.
[00:52:54] Like I think that if she ended up being like the fourth on this list, I'm okay with it. I just like, I think there's such a difference and I know obviously I'm super biased because this is our community, but it feels to me a massive gulf between
[00:53:10] how I felt about T-Bird not making it on to second chances and how I feel about Michaela not making it on second chances. Again, I feel like it's like, it really is unfair. I think the way that she goes out in the show, especially like, especially in,
[00:53:27] I guess not especially in her show, but like with like what happens with Brandon on the show moving forward and why we're not putting him on, the fact that that's how her fate was decided, I feel like is unfortunate. But I don't know again that I'm like dying
[00:53:43] to see Michaela on my screen again. But if she, I mean, if people wanted to vote for her, they could, I mean, I really feel sorry. That's like Rob sentiment of like, every time you're like, how about this person
[00:53:53] who like is fine and of an age to be on Survivor? Like let them vote for her. I feel like that you could put her in there. I would not like be like fully rooting for Michaela. And in a way, I do feel like Elise has,
[00:54:09] there's a similar thing that almost happens to Elise too, where she gets voted out because she's kind of like romantically connected with, so it's not the same. Yeah, it's that thing of, oh, we can't get rid of Ozzy because he's our challenge asset.
[00:54:20] So like, let's get rid of the person closest to him. It's not the same, but it's like two tiers down or whatever from like the lead up to where that problematic behavior comes from. So, yeah. All right, well, let's crack into the shortlist here, Grace.
[00:54:34] So you talked about having like a top three, top four, even top five, top six that you had out there. I have them all ranked. That's how I go. OK, there we go. Well, let's start with your top.
[00:54:45] Then give me a person that you'd like to nominate here. I think you can't not put Sophie on the list. And I know I like made the argument that like, I don't know that I necessarily. You're just so good at devil's advocate. That's what you are. That's right.
[00:54:58] Well, be careful. Don't dump Brandon. I don't need Brandon. I'm a devil's advocate, you know? But I think you have to put Sophie on the on the ballot to let people vote. And if people want Sophie back, I think Sophie's coming back. There you go.
[00:55:12] So shady lady, quite literally, Mrs. Shady, Sophie, formerly Clark on the ballot, 34 years old for Sophie. I'll throw one up here. And it's a little bit of putting the car before the horse about 15 minutes ago. But I will put Christine on the ballot.
[00:55:28] She is probably the one I feel the most secure that I would want to see again from this season in terms of missed potential, in terms of, again, that fiery personality, in terms of desire to come back. And in terms of like, yeah, she's 53 years old,
[00:55:42] but like she was able to string together a surprising challenge. And we saw even as recently as someone like Maria that these modern day challenges, especially could play into the wheelhouse of somebody like that. Yeah, I'd be super excited for Christine to be back on my television screen.
[00:55:59] All right. Who else do you have in mind here, Grace? I'm between a couple right now, but I'm intrigued to see if you have anyone at the top of your mind. I feel like I go back and forth on the last spot here, basically between Jim or Albert.
[00:56:11] That's basically where I go, where I think that Jim might have higher upside, but he could go out. And Albert, I think has like surprise potential. So I'm like, those are the two. I think they each have an interesting case
[00:56:29] in terms of like how it didn't work out and how they could come back and make a run at winning Survivor. Yeah, those were the two that honestly I was between as well and maybe throw Stacey in depending on my time of day
[00:56:42] and what mood I am in. So I'm having trouble as well. Like I would lean more so towards Albert just because I do think the appeal of like an untested narrative of the zero vote finalists versus like the schemer that was taken out in 12th place.
[00:57:00] I think there's more bedrock to that foundation for Albert, though Jim, I think probably made a bigger splash on the season than Albert. So, I mean, I go back and forth if we want to get greedy, Grace, we could put them both on if we want to.
[00:57:15] I definitely don't feel like you have to have both of them on, but I do feel like this is the case where whichever one we pick, you will that you specifically will then get messages that we didn't pick the other one.
[00:57:29] I think I would also lean more towards Albert, Jim's like presence and his desire to do it. And then I feel like maybe edges me that way, but then he, and again, you know, everyone except for T-Bird who, you know, doesn't matter,
[00:57:44] but like you did, you were on the ballot and they didn't pick you for second chances. And that was, you know, only a travesty for T-Bird that that happened. And actually one person from One World who I'll advocate for as we end the pod.
[00:58:00] So yeah, I think I would lean towards Albert. Okay, so we can do Sophie, we can do Albert, we can do Christine. And as has been kind of established through the advent of the halftime show, you know, I think we can do,
[00:58:12] certainly by the end of this whole process, 23 seasons later, maybe a little bit of like, if there is enough of a groundswell movement for people like Jim, for people like Stacey and Papa Bear, of course, from the fans to say like, no, we would actually vote for them.
[00:58:26] I would gladly come around. But I think again, despite the fact that we really expanded the system during the halftime show, I do still want to contain these first podcasts to like three to four people. And I am good starting off with these three
[00:58:40] and seeing where we go from there. If you badger Mike Blum about someone being on, you then have to reveal your vote publicly, like some people do with the Baseball Hall of Fame. Do you know that this is a thing? Yeah, so the Baseball Hall of Fame,
[00:58:52] it's entirely private, but there's been a tradition of people sharing their ballots publicly. Much of the chagrin sometimes of who people vote for and who they don't vote for. I feel like if you badger Mike Blum to get someone on the ballot
[00:59:04] and then you show us your ballot and you didn't vote for the person, I feel like there's nothing more I can do than say shame, shame on you. Yeah, so I'm sure people will have thoughts about, again, this is a surprisingly fun cast,
[00:59:17] maybe despite looking at the voting chart. But for now, it's going to be Sophie, Albert and Christine. All three former Upolos are going onto the shortlist. Last but not least, I mentioned it before, Grace, who from this season would you want to see
[00:59:30] on a show other than Survivor? Besides Papa Bear's upcoming spot on The Pride Has Spoken. I mean, for as much as I said, like I think like Sophie, I don't think we need to see like what she can do on Survivor.
[00:59:40] I do think she would be very fun on a show like The Traitors. Like I feel like sliding into that, like the successful Survivor, Big Brother people that they've had. I feel like Sophie could do very well on that.
[00:59:52] A coach, I mean, I don't, again, I don't know that he's, but you know him on House of Villains could be fun. So yeah, but I think Sophie getting to, I think seeing Sophie play a different game is super intriguing to me. I have a couple.
[01:00:05] So Sophie, I would actually want to put on a version of Big Brother. She's someone that has watched Big Brother even before Sari was on. She was on a podcast, but I would make a small exception. It's tough, Grace.
[01:00:18] This does, this does allow me access to a time machine, but Sophie said that she would play Big Brother if it didn't involve like 24-7 access because she does worry. And again, understandable some PTSD from the fan base about just like coming out to an overwhelming negative perception.
[01:00:35] What if she, what if she played like Big Brother Canada in the past? Do you know? Unfortunately, I feel like I'm unearthing a recently buried corpse, but yeah, this idea of, hey, guess what, Sophie? Some versions of Big Brother, there are no ways to view people 24-7.
[01:00:49] So it's the best of all possible worlds. The other one I would suggest is, I don't know if I would want Stacey on The Traitors because that would be wishful thinking and that they're going for the stars, but give me Stacey on The Mole. Oh, fun.
[01:01:01] Give me Stacey like being able to interact with these people blatantly point the finger that she does so well at others. Like choosing them of sabotage. Yeah, I mean, I mean the same argument for Chris, like if Christine too, I think like just how vocal they were
[01:01:15] to the point at a coach, like no thank you. I feel like either of them would be a treat on a show. I mean, like The Traitor or yeah, but Stacey on The Mole. That's a good call. Yeah, or even Papa Bear,
[01:01:27] because I know that sometimes with The Mole, they like to bring in people from law enforcement and Papa Bear, I don't know if he still is an NYPD cop, but like that could be very fun. Hell, just bring half the cast of South Pacific
[01:01:38] onto The Mole, see how that treats you. Wouldn't that be? Let the pre-merge, the pre-merge can go on The Mole. But like don't say anything about it Netflix, just cast six people from a season of Survivor on a different network that aired over a decade ago
[01:01:51] and say nothing about it and see if anyone notices. Yeah, very fun. This is almost a cast, you know, when people are like, imagine they put all the same people back out on the show to see how it would go again.
[01:02:00] I mean, so I mean, between Sophie and Conrad, but be fun. All right. Well, tomorrow, Grace, I will be joined by your friend and mine, Amon Adwin, to talk about Survivor One World. And unfortunately, we get a little bit of a break
[01:02:14] where we kind of put our head above water with South Pacific of like not so great cast. OK, there's something there there to back down below the depths for one world, a season that some have considered the worst of all time.
[01:02:26] But from your perspective, Grace, is there anyone that you would want to put from one world on your own personal wish list? Yeah, I really wanted Sabrina to be voted in and to play on Survivor Second Chances. So that's who I would that's who I would pick.
[01:02:39] Bill Posley is the one who I think is interesting, who like had some success after the show in the comedy world. And I feel like he gets voted at that that travel where they like choose to go to travel. Yeah, wherever the men purposely give away immunity
[01:02:53] to vote bill out. Yeah. So Sabrina and Bill would be would be who I'd be advocating for, but I'm very excited to hear you and Amon talk it through. All right. So we'll be doing so same bad time, same bad channel,
[01:03:05] of course, seven, six a.m., I should say Eastern podcast dropping in your feed, as well as 10 a.m. Eastern over here on YouTube as we begin the second half of the Survivor 50 wish list is wild. I cannot believe we have reached this point,
[01:03:20] but it's only due to the support dedication of all of you listening out there, as well as, of course, all the fantastic guests I've had, including Grace. This was so, so great not to peek too far behind the curtain, but there were some last minute scheduling
[01:03:34] at technical difficulties that allowed Grace to step up in the moment. And you did so with aplomb. Well, thank you for having me. I'm so happy to join. I've been loving the series. So yeah. All right. Well, even though we are going to be speaking about Sophie
[01:03:48] as the dragon slayer, you're talking about dragons quite a lot over on the scripted side of things here on our HAP. What do you have to plug? Yeah. So on the, we know scripted TV feed, Tara and I are doing House of the Dragon recaps.
[01:04:01] And actually, I believe I can hype this up that I believe will be maybe at her many requests peeking into the books coming up soon with a, the dragon has three heads. So we'll have to do that. So keep an eye out on that.
[01:04:14] We'll be doing the recap and then a separate sort of, you know, book club, a spoilery podcast. So look out for that. And then Tara and I talk about the tastemakers each week. We are diet, we're eating all the TV around
[01:04:25] and letting you know what's good and what's bad. That's been very fun. I very much enjoyed getting to talk about basically everything that's on television with Taran. So it's been fun. It's a lot of fun.
[01:04:34] Well, it's been a lot of fun to get into this with you, Grace. Tomorrow we do it all over again with Amon Adwin as we talk Survivor One World. Thank you all so much for listening. Take care. Bye-bye.