Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites In Micronesia

I don't know about you but I'm thrilled that Survivor is back. For this sixteenth edition, it's super huge fans of the show versus favorites castaways from seasons past. Fans, make us proud!

Jeff Probst opened the show for us in a helicopter ride over the islands of Micronesia. There's beautiful water and lush greenery and what's that? Why it's ten people (let's call them the fans) being rowed by natives to a beach! And now Jeff is on that beach! Isn't editing amazing?

The fans land on the beach amidst a tropical downpour and take their spots. Jeff told them that since they're big fans of the show that it's only fitting they would be competing against some of their favorites in previous seasons. They're shocked, happy, and definitely ready to meet their competitors. Bring them out Jeff!

First up was Cirie (Exile Island), followed by Ozzy (Cook Islands), Ami (Vanuatu), Jonathan (Cook Islands), and Eliza (Vanuatu). Then they met James (China), Parvati (Cook Islands), Yau-Man (Fiji), Amanda (China), and then finally the rottenest apple of the bunch Jonny Fairplay (Pearl Islands). Fairplay danced out in a trucker hat that said "Will Lie 4 Food" while playing up his smarminess. Yau-Man received the most applause from the fans while Fairplay caused Tracy to want to kick him in the shin. Oooh! She's sounds like such a violent person.

Jeff tossed the teams their new buffs and gave them their tribe names. The faves' tribe would be called Malakal and they would be wearing purple buffs. The fans' tribe is called Airai and they would don orange buffs. Jeff told both teams that across the water on the other beach are two boats with a map to their new home. There are also two individual immunity idols there (one for each team) and that the first person to find the idol on each tribe wins immunity in their first tribal council.

Go tribes! The water they have to cross is shallow enough to walk but it's pretty choppy and some chose to do the kinda half swim thing as well. Erik (fans) was the first to reach the beach right ahead of Ozzy (faves). Everybody begins looking for the idols and it wasn't long until Fairplay, of all people, found it. The idol was hang off the bow of the boat. He snatched it but unfortunately for him it was from the fans' boat. Yau-Man saw this and both of them went to grab their correct idol off the faves' boat. Fairplay found himself head-first into the side of the boat while Yau-Man was able to grab the idol.

During all of this, Kathy (fans) came upon the scene looking lost as all get out. Yau-Man told her to pick up that idol in the sand. She grabbed it and then proceeded to jump up and down like a dork with this huge goofy grin on her face. There's just something about this lady. Fairplay began complaining (poor thing hit his head) about Yau-Man tackling him and Yau-Man apologized but it wasn't good enough. He went on and on about it -- even as they were leaving the beach for their new home.

We then saw Airai (fans) on their beach introducing themselves to each other and talking about how they felt they had the advantage over the faves because the faves knew nothing about them. Mikey B., who seems to be the smartass of the group, says his tribe consists of Big Bird (Kathy), the Southern Princess (some blonde chick), the Incredible Hulk (Joel), Jon Bon Jovi in his prime (Jason), and the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (Chet).

It wasn't long before Big Bird stuck her foot in her beak mouth either. First, she asked Chet if he preferred to be called gay or homosexual (he didn't care) and then asks if his being gay meant that he wanted to be a girl. WTF? She then went on to tell him that she hopes he'll be her first gay "man friend" ever. If you thought this was bad enough, Big Bird then went over to Tracy (who was in a bikini top) and told her that she'd never seen implants before. Tracy replied with, "Who says I have them?" Big Bird is not off to good start with her fellow tribemates.

Over on Malakal's beach, the faves begin to immediately begin work on their shelter. Fairplay weakly told everybody that he just found a message in a bottle telling him that his grandmother had died but they weren't going to fall for that trick again! After telling us that she had to win this time, Parvati pulled out her "flirt" card and went off with James. Unfortunately for us, James thinks Parvati is attractive like a "sex kitten" so, yeah.

Later that night, Eliza notices how close Amanda and Ozzy are getting and begins to feel that they're sparking a connection already. Combine that with Parvati and James pairing up and she realizes that block of four could be dangerous to her.

Day 2 at Malakal has the two sets of lovebirds off and doing their own thing. Eliza took that opportunity to go have a little talk with Yau-Man, Jonathan, and Ami about them four creating their own group to fight against the forces of romance. They're perfectly fine with it and realize that they need a fifth to have the power. After some indecision, it's decided that Fairplay will be that person. Meanwhile, Parvati and Ozzy have convinced Fairplay to be their fifth and tell him that they're gunning to give Eliza the boot. And what do you think Fairplay then does? Of course, he goes and tells Eliza's group about what's going on. Both sets of four are pretty much believing every word he says and he's eating it up.

On day 3, it's time for the fans to go retrieve their very first tree-mail. It turns out to be a puzzle which when put together reads, "Sixteen seasons later you all should know the deal. Outwit, outplay, outlast -- don't waste time reinventing the wheel." It's time to find out what the clue means because it's challenge time!

Each tribe has to put two members in a cart while the others race to assemble four puzzle wheels. They must place the wheels on their cart and then push the cart through obstacles. At the sand pit, they must dig up some planks to fill in gaps in the bridge. Then they have to push the cart over the bridge to the finish platform where the wheels would have to be removed from the cart. The puzzle pieces making up the wheels need to be used to complete a turnstile. Once the turnstile is finished, they must turn it which would raise a fire wok and light the top of their platform. The first team to finish wins immunity and flint.

The fans finished assembling their wheels and were the first ones to begin moving. As they were making their way through the obstacle course, the faves finally finish their wheels and begin. Poor Eliza fell out as they were wheeling their way through the obstacle course and banged up her eye pretty good but she kept on. The fans were the first at every step of this challenge and were the first to light their platform. The fans win immunity and one of the faves would be the first person voted off this season.

Back at the faves camp, Cirie admitted to us that she had no idea what was going on with everybody. Well yeah, she has been left out of the loop just a teensy bit hasn't she? Eliza's group plans to vote out Parvati and the couples group plans to vote out Eliza. Then Fairplay makes his move. He tells Parvati how he's doing Survivor this time around for his girlfriend and their soon to be baby girl Piper. He misses them and tells her that he thinks he's going to ask everybody to send him home.

When Fairplay tells Ami that he wants them to vote him out, Ami's not quite sure what he has up his sleeve. Ami tells the others in group and they don't know either. Does he really want to go home or is this a ploy to keep them from voting out Parvati?

At the very cool looking tribal council, they first light their torches for Jeff. Torches mean life and life means yada yada yada we know the drill. Jeff asked them how things went setting up the camp and they all said it went really good. He then asked Fairplay if his devious reputation gives him an advantage in the game. Fairplay responded by saying his head is screwed up and he can't stop thinking about his baby Piper. Jeff pointed out that the baby hadn't even been born yet but Fairplay said he's still worried about things back at home. I guess we're about to find out if Fairplay is serious about going home aren't we? They each cast their vote and the only ones we saw were Jonathan and Yau-Man voting for Fairplay to go. It could be a trick though!

Tally ho Jeff! Fairplay, Fairplay, Fairplay, Fairplay, Fairplay, Fairplay -- that's six votes and enough for Fairplay to be sent packing. He asked Jeff for a hug before he left and told him to be nice to his tribe once he's gone.

Fairplay revealed in his goodbye video that he felt he did the right thing in leaving. He had everybody eating out of the palm of his hand, was happy to go out on his own terms, and had no regret at all. He was the biggest bad guy up until this season and that ironically people actually liked him this time.

Next week, the fans are in turmoil (Big Bird Kathy says something about how it's not good for her emotionally to be here). The rules have changed at Exile Island (two people one island) and two castaways have a night to remember (Ozzy and Amanda are playing tonsil hockey).

What did you think about the premiere of Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites? Can you believe that two couples were created in their first day on Micronesia? I wonder if we'll see Parvati and James making out soon after Ozzy and Amanda. And what was up with Fairplay? Even though I can't stand the guy, I was disappointed that he was the first one to go home.