Yeah Jason and Scot should of listened to tai and pulled in aubry, would of almost guaranteed a final four of them

Why did they not give Tai both idols before the vote like last week? It seemed odd to me that Julia was trying to entice Tai to play an idol before the vote.

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Why didn't Scot just toss the idol to Jason on his way out?

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Once you're voted out, the idol is dead.

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7 million episodes in, and I just now learned that.

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Why did they not give Tai both idols before the vote like last week? It seemed odd to me that Julia was trying to entice Tai to play an idol before the vote.

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they thought they had everyone confused already. Tai has played a great game and is always at the end in challenges but I think he messed up here

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I figure that he did, but Tai will still hang on to his own HII, and might actually be reluctant to give it up to "superidol" one of the other two if it comes to that. As long as they only use it as a "threat", he's good. But if he actually has to play it.....

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Nice call. It's crazy to see that season after season when you don't let others feel they're in control your fate is sealed. After Tai approaches Scot and Jason about Aubry wanting to work with them, not only do they say no but go after someone willing to work with them.

When Aubry approached Tai, she stated she wanted him to feel comfortable, at least giving him some semblance that his ideas matter. Pretty impressed by her social and physical play post-merge.

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We think Tai turned when Jason said that you either make your fate or your fate is determined for you (not those exact words but the same idea). Tai, I guess, decided that they really DIDN'T have his best interest in mind.

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I'll have to recheck the vote count but wasn't it 4-2-2?

So he gives up the idol and they revote. My guess is he goes home over Aubry

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Yes, that's likely what would have happened. If he's smart, Tai will have told Jason that was the exact reason he couldn't save Scot without eliminating himself.

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How does he explain his vote for Scott though?

Tai is looking good right now with the only remaining idol and the extra vote, but he now also has the biggest taeget on his chest. He'll for sure have to play his idol the next immunity he doesn't win because the tribe will want to flush it out. I'[m guessing next week will be a split vote between Tai and Jason/Julia if he doesn't win immunity.

It seems the power alliance is now Joe, Aubrey, Michelle, and Cydney. I could see Aubrey become the favorite, and she is getting a favorable edit now....


but maybe I'm just thinking that so I have a chance to not finish last in the fantasy pool.

I'm not sure why Scot and Tai didn't just plan on using their Immunity Idols separately (after the votes but before the votes were read). They knew that the majority of the votes were going to be used against one of them and if they had to use the Super Idol then both idols were out of play then. You've got to think of self-preservation at this point and that is where Scot failed.

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ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Oh, Jeffrey, this was positively delicious. Please take me through every single second of what it was like being there and what happened at Tribal when Scot expected Tai to hand over his immunity idol to make the Super Idol and Tai didn't do it. Give us some on the scene reporting!

Well, I was exactly like you and everybody else watching. I really didn't know what he was going to do. Tai is unpredictable and Tribal is unpredictable, so all that uncertainty was really suspenseful. After last week's Tribal I think everybody was expecting Tai to stick with his alliance and use the Super Idol, so when he didn't, it was definitely a surprise. It definitely rocked the jury and, of course, Scot and Jason.

There was a lot of weight to the moment in terms of human energy. You could see Scot and Jason both racing to catch up to the ramifications. They clearly never anticipated Tai betraying them. And Tai, just sitting there, feeling the pressure that comes with making a big move. Impressing the existing jury on one hand but insuring he won't get Scot's vote if Tai makes it to the final.

Personally, I just enjoyed the game play. I notice that with each passing season I become less and less emotionally shocked by anything that happens at Tribal. It's a really fun disconnect in that I am actively involved in the proceedings but I don't have any expectation about where it will lead. In other words, it's never a case of "Will this be an entertaining Tribal or a boring Tribal?" It's always "What will happen at tonight's Tribal?"

The players have evolved the game play to such a level that Tribal is almost always entertaining because they make it so. In the same way that players increasingly vote out the weaker or less interesting people early on. I know that may hurt some feelings but I do feel that it is often the case of late. It's like there is a sense of what will make for the best game play and if it's great game play it makes for a more fun season, and as a player that is what you want because it increases your chances of being asked to play again!

Tai talked about having to listen to either his head or his heart in terms of which alliance to go with. Does that mean this decision to vote against Scot and not hand over his idol was made from an emotional place as opposed to a strategic one? (Although it certainly seems like the right strategic call seeing as how the men were planning to ditch him anyway.) What was your take on why Tai made the move?

It's a great question for the live show because I honestly am not sure what inspired the move. Generally speaking, I think Tai is led by emotion. Almost always. But, I also think he's a very crafty player and he's clearly willing to make big moves. So if I had to guess, I would say it was strategic. Just not wanting to give up that idol with so much game left, and also sensing that Jason and Scot were very tight and sooner or later he would be the odd man out. But the biggest issue Tai seems to have is that his big moves come with an emotional price tag. Some players are able to blindside their closest friend and not get upset about it. I don't think Tai is that way. Whether he is showing it or not, I get the sense that Tai wants to be liked, and when he is defensive it's because it's difficult for him to accept his own behavior. Add it to the list of reasons why Survivor is an ass kicker of a game.

Just so everyone is clear, had the Super Idol been used by Scot, then the next two highest people with votes were Tai and Aubry, with two apiece. So what would have happened next?

Well, first you have to remember that Tai voted for Scot, so he was never going to use the idol to save him. e betrayed him the moment he wrote his name down. So if Tai had used the idol to save Scot after voting for Scot it would rival the worst move in Survivor history! But yes, if he did use the idol, regardless the circumstances, then Scot is safe. Then, everybody except Tai and Aubry would vote again and they could only vote for Tai or Aubry. Tai would have been voted out and would still be in therapy trying to figure out what happened.

You know I am all about providing choices in challenges, so tell me about the ideawhich I lovedof allowing the contestants to choose whether to play for food, letters from home, or an advantage in the game. That also forced them to have to figure out not only what was most valuable, but which would be easiest to win due to a possible lack of competition. What was the inspiration behind the idea and what would have happened if only one person had decided to go for one of the three?

I love that you asked. Here's how it went down. I felt the Survivor auction was broken. It had become about one thing getting an advantage. So I gave the challenge department their own challenge: How do we take the things we like from the auction love, food, and advantage and turn it into a challenge. One thing about our challenge department: They always rise to the occasion. Chris Marchand, who works side by side with Survivor Challenge Master John Kirhoffer, came up with the idea. We knew it was a brilliant idea the second we heard it. It's one of those moments that come around once or twice a season if you're lucky. We were lucky. And yes we will use it again in the future.

BONUS QUESTION: Which would you have gone for: Food, letters from home, or the advantage in the game? And why?

Advantage. But only because I would have felt I could win. I like that challenge, I like my odds, and advantage is definitely the #1 choice. But what's fun about it is what you mentioned; it handicaps the challenge in a really interesting way. If you feel the challenge is going to be a tough one for you, then increase your odds of winning something by choosing the item you think has the least overall appeal letters from home. Chances are you'll be matched up against people on your same skill level and now the challenge has evened itself out. It's truly a great idea and one that every other incarnation ofSurvivor being done around the world will steal.

We are getting close to the home stretch here, so tease us up for next week's episode.

I think you saw a taste of it tonight. Loyalty. There have been so many different, fractured alliances. Now more than any other point in the game, you are looking for people you can trust, if only for one vote.

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We actually have a few people with negative points last night, and Tom Hagen's Wife is starting to pull away.

Tom Hagens Wife 52.5
Moxie 42.5
Ronnie 40.5

jdgilberg 39
txaggiefarmer05 39
Ranger222 38

tx1c 37.5
RebelE91 37.5
kpaggie 36
Tony Franklins Shoe 35

AcctAg 33
The Sheik 31.5
BlackLab 30.5
Unthought Known 30.5
gravy97 30

Quinn 28.5
LHIOB 27
tallgrant 27
Bobcat06 25.5
CheeseSndwch 25.5

cwpaggie07 25
Moore Trucker 23.5
aggietony2010 22.5
hurleyag 20

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I'll have to recheck the vote count but wasn't it 4-2-2?

So he gives up the idol and they revote. My guess is he goes home over Aubry

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Yes, that's likely what would have happened. If he's smart, Tai will have told Jason that was the exact reason he couldn't save Scot without eliminating himself.

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How does he explain his vote for Scott though?

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Nope, just had a brain fart. So apparently did Scot and Jason, who at that moment were so fixated on playing the Super Idol that they completely overlooked the obvious point that a 4-2-2 split meant Tai had voted for Scot.

Did Tai have a sense that Jason and Scot were planning to eliminate him eventually? He did feel marginalized though, especially after those two shut him down over aligning with Aubrey. I guess time will tell if Tai made the right decision.

Just watched Scots Ponderosa. He seems like a pretty good dude.

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Just watched Scots Ponderosa. He seems like a pretty good dude.

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Yeah, seems like he's gone through some ****.

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I'm not sure why Scot and Tai didn't just plan on using their Immunity Idols separately (after the votes but before the votes were read). They knew that the majority of the votes were going to be used against one of them and if they had to use the Super Idol then both idols were out of play then. You've got to think of self-preservation at this point and that is where Scot failed.

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Why waste an idol when you are completely safe? It never fails when a player feels that way - your torch is as good as extinguished as soon as you think you're safe, but it gets players over and over again.

On a side note, this show has become incredibly predictable based on the edits. As soon as anybody says, "I know exactly how tribal is going to go down tonight" or "there is no chance I'm going home this week", I don't even have to watch the rest of the episode. It was so obvious 30 minutes in that Scot was going home this week. I wish they would make it a little more suspenseful, but again, the way they edit makes it incredibly predictable.

At tribal it seemed like tai was saying all the right things but his demeanor and facial expressions looked as if he was going to flip.

Is it me or is Aubrey getting a winners edit?

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Tai had a better shot to win taking the two men with him. Now they will be gunning for him

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Scot and Jason said in the episode that they were going to take Tai out as soon as the super idol was out of play. They wanted to take the young chick to final 3. There's no way Tai would make it to final 3 with those other two guys. He is too much of a threat. Solid move at tribal on Tai's part.

Honestly, neither group is going to take Tai to the Final 3 if they can help it, because he would easily win. He's very likeable, good at challenges, and now has made a huge move.

He's got a ton of power though right now so if he can win another immunity challenge or 2, he might be in the drivers seat.

Scot lost something like 46lbs in 29 days.

Our running joke at home is "Crescendo!" As soon as the music swells during the Immunity Challenge, you know that the person currently in the lead is going to win.

Looks like Tai has a paved path to the million dollars if he can win immunity at the final four.

Joe was a major miscasting. He's so boring and is a super advantage for Aubrey every tribal (extra vote).

Tai and Aubrey are putting together the best winning cases so far and are getting the most screen time.

Huge mistake by Aubrey - when Tai says should I use the idol - you say YES. Even if you're pretty sure he's safe. Get it out there.

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Huge mistake by Aubrey - when Tai says should I use the idol - you say YES. Even if you're pretty sure he's safe. Get it out there.

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If nothing else she should have given a shrug of shoulders or something to put doubt in. But then again, the editing may have contributed to that.

Told the wife last night that Joe is a complete waste on the show. Total lap dog and he has no input at all, quits on challenges. I get that he's been out there and persevered, but to just "sit this one out" has got to be a complete kick to the junk for Jason and Julia.

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Told the wife last night that Joe is a complete waste on the show. Total lap dog and he has no input at all, quits on challenges. I get that he's been out there and persevered, but to just "sit this one out" has got to be a complete kick to the junk for Jason and Julia.

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Hopefully they come up with some sort of punishment in the future for people that just sit out. At the very least maybe they now know not to cast a geriatric again.

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ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You've run memory challenges before, and surely ran a few tests of this immunity challenge with the Dream Team. Give us an idea of just how difficult it must have been for Michele to memorize every single symbol, as she said she did here.

JEFF PROBST: We did a similar type of memory challenge during Stephen Fishbach's season [Tocantins] and he memorized a bunch of numbers at once, came back, and won the challenge. I think he connected it to how we memorize phone numbers. But the result was that we realized it was possible for someone to do it, just very unlikely. So we made this one tougher by connecting symbols to the numbers and adding a few more. I honestly didn't even consider someone would be able to do it in one run just didn't cross my mind. So when Michelle got it that fast I was pretty surprised and definitely impressed.

The way the challenge is set up, you don't have to memorize all of them, you just had to know the ones that were going to be on the answer board. So it's possible you could just get lucky and memorize the exact ones you ended up needing. The way your question is phrased, it sounds like maybe that's what you're implying? I think it's possible she memorized them all. She doesn't strike me as someone who would make that up. Michele seems to be pretty straight up about stuff like that.

I haven't asked you one Joe question all season, which makes sense since he's been relatively invisible out there as far as airtime. All we've really seen from him is being first out in most challenges and refusing to ever change his vote last minute. But just being out there for 29 days now at his age in what seems like the harshestSurvivor conditions ever is certainly an impressive accomplishment. Since we haven't seen a lot of him, give us your take on what yousaw and thought of Joe out there on location.

Joe was an instant "yes" when we met him in casting. Very few people in their 70s can get out there and play Survivor. We've had two: Rudy Bosch in season 1 and Joe in season 32. I have been absolutely blown away by Joe. He's a really amazing example of what is possible when you really want something. He has lived his life with adventure as a theme. He goes after what he wants. He wantedSurvivor, he went for it, and he got it. To survive these conditions at any age is hard just ask Aubry and Joe is thriving. He may not be as malleable as some, he may not be as physical as some, but he's in this game, and he's got a vote and that's more than the majority of the players who started this game can say.

I do want to be clear: I don't appreciate Joe only because he's older. He has a great spirit. I think he is a good person who looks out for others. Yes, his age plays a part in his performance, but that's expected. It would be a shame if people just saw him as the "older, gray-haired gentlemen in great shape." What I think Joe offers is a reminder that you MUST go for what inspires you. You MUST seek the adventures that are calling you. Joe did, and we are all so grateful.

Tai asks Aubry at Tribal Council if he should play his idol, and she tells him that she thinks he's fine. Even though he is in her alliance, seeing as how he is a big threat to win should he make it to the end and has an idol and an advantage, wouldn't the better play for her have been to tell him to use the idol just to get it out of the game? That way it would be easier for her to cut him later if she wants. What say you?

You just asked the kind of question that keeps players up at night. What IS the right move? On one hand, Aubry could betray Tai or play dumb and say she really did think he was in trouble, so play the idol. But then Tai could turn on her and vote her out or not vote for her if he makes the jury and she is final three or, or, or, or There is no way to know. My best guess is that Aubry made a move that she thought would connect her to Tai. Tai likes to play from a foundation based on moral code. He seems to respect that kind of gameplay. If that's true, then Aubry may have just solidified her strongest alliance by showing Tai that you can trust me "I get you, and I won't lie to you."

On the other hand, she could be setting him up for a bigger move by showing him "I get you, I won't lie to you" right before she votes him out next week! And who knows, maybe Tai will now realize "Wow, that was a great move. In fact, it's too good a move I need to get her out of this game!" I'm the first to remind everybody that I have never played and would no doubt be voted out early for one reason or another.

Only a few episodes left! Tease us up for next week, sir!

Push is coming to shove. With so few people left, the alliances are going to truly be put to the test. There will be consequences.

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Whether Aubry ends up voting out Tai or not, he gave her ammunition against him should they both go to the final tribal by asking her if he should use his idol.

I don't think Tai asking Aubry about using the Idol gives her any ammo against him but I do think that Aubry is the only person who can beat Tai right now in a final because of her move last week. Aubry did the right thing to tell him what she thought but also told him to go with his gut. That way no matter what, Aubry is covered.

Oh hey Michelle. Welcome to the game on day 29. At least if she decides to start playing now there's only one goat(Joe) instead of two.

I wasn't the least bit surprised that Michelle memorized all the numbers. She's a bartender, right? They have to keep track of orders and stuff all the time.

For sure. Have to say, I started memorizing them when they showed them and probably had it solved in the limited time we got a view. 6&7 were "s" animals, fish was 5, bull was 4. I had the lizard, crab, shark, and maybe spider too. It seemed like there were some memory tricks given if their brains were functioning properly at this point.

This season has become boring. I hated to see Julia go. Outside of Tai, she was the only remaining one I even semi-liked.