(S17E14) Way to go, CBS. Give us an overly long three-hour season finale and reunion show of Survivor, and let football delay its start for a half-hour on the East Coast. Just once couldn't they have shortened 60 Minutes? Yeah, I'm cranky. I watched the show as it aired and now it's way late as I get it written up. CBS could console me by inviting me to the next finale, which should be held in NYC. Do you hear me, CBS? My crankiness aside, tonight's show was both surprising and refreshing, with a few odd quirks along the way. Read on!

(S17E13) Now, this was one deliciously yummy episode of Survivor. But I'm not talking about gastronomical goodies although a few of the castaways had some decent food. I'm talking yummy in regard to the actual events of the show and how things are winding down for Sunday's big two-hour finale and reunion show. Why, things couldn't have gone more to my plan if I were pulling the strings on the puppet castaways myself. Read on past the jump for my full review of tonight's episode.

(S17E12) Tonight was product placement night on Survivor. Er, I mean it was the episode in which the castaways are reunited with their loved ones. Or maybe it's a tie between the two. Back when they used to give a car away, it was major product placement. At least this time it was just a phone, although hyped by manufacturer's name as well as the phone network. I always wonder how much more it costs the advertiser compared to having a commercial slot on the show. The car winner faced the Curse of the Car Winner and never once did the car winner win the season. How about the video calls? Is there a jinx? Read on!

(S17E11) The good news is that there was a Survivor show tonight on Thanksgiving evening. The bad news is that it was basically a recap show covering the entire season thus far. But there were enough new clips we haven't previously seen to make it worthwhile at least touching on the episode. Some of the footage really cemented my opinions of some of these castaways and some was just plain bizarre.

(S17E10) "This is going to be the funkiest night of your life. Wait for it. Wait for it." - Sugar

All in all, I found tonight's Survivor episode one of the most satisfying ones to date. And, that's talking a lot of episodes since I'm talking starting from the first season. Since I watch and write about so many reality television shows, I usually try to step back a bit and not get really involved in whom I want for the win or the folks I emphatically want booted sooner rather than later. That way I'm neither disappointed, nor do I personally jinx things. But I couldn't have planned tonight's episode any better than it went down. Read on!

(S17E09) Nope, this Survivor episode's title isn't about Kenny. He's been the mastermind behind the last two blindsides -- Marcus and Ace. If anyone is the brains behind everything, it should be him. He definitely couldn't be the brawn behind everything, but brawn isn't always the key to getting to the final four of this show. So, to whom does the title refer? It's someone who's far from a mastermind in the game, but it's key to the episode. Read on.

(S17E08) "Susie's in the middle spinning around in circles playing dizzy bat." - Marcus

Well, my man Marcus just might have a point there about Susie on Survivor. I can usually figure out the castaways, but I'm having a bit of difficulty when it comes to the words which come out of her mouth. She already has Corinne freaking out about her due to telling her she was going to vote her out. Now, it's one thing to scheme and plan, but you don't tell the target about the scheming and planning! Susie could be just a hard working at camp but challenge lump and float along nicely. Nope, she has to talk. Read on past the jump for my review of tonight's show.

(S17E07) "I want to stab her in the face. I hate her." - Corinne

Oh my. What a nasty little so-and-so Corinne is on this season's Survivor, eh? I mean, seriously, folks. I get angry at people myself. Really, I do. Sure, I'd snicker if someone with whom I'm angry were to slip on a banana peel or something. But this "stab in the face" stuff takes things a bit too far. I want to like Corinne -- she's a strong player. But I have to wonder about stability when words like these come from her. Read on past the jump for my full review of tonight's show.

(S17E06) "Don't you mistake my tears for weakness!" - Crystal

This is a weird season of Survivor, isn't it? Sure, we've had lopsided tribes and constantly losing tribes in previous seasons. Yes, we've had tribes who don't work well as a team before or ones which were divided. We've definitely had alliances before. But if I were on the show and had that hidden idol, I wouldn't be telling anyone. I'd hide it for my own use if needed. This is just crazy. Just when I think things can't get much more bizarre and disjointed, they do. Read on!

(S17E05) "Eat your rice, eat your rice." - Crystal to GC

Although they're having food shortage woes on Survivor Gabon, that rice doesn't look all that tasty to me, either. Sticky clumps of white rice cooked in dubious water just doesn't do the trick. I'd have to pretend the rice was chocolate. Then again, I'd be one of those looking at the show as a diet program. Heck, if GC doesn't want to eat his rice, I'm sure Randy will help him out. Since he performs at challenges, he deserves the food! And I don't really like Randy, but ...! Read on for my review of tonight's show.

(S17E04) "We were like legless chickens racing against sleek weasels." - Ace

Just when I think that Survivor doesn't have any new tricks up their sleeves, they surprise me. After so many seasons, it's probably hard to think of new and different things. That's why we see so many locks and puzzles. There were no locks, no bagels, no puzzles in tonight's episode. But it also wasn't quite what the promos were hinting at, either. "Blond against blond against blond," they hyped. One would think we were in for mud wrestling or ... read on past the jump for my review of tonight's show!

(S17E03) "I'm like an animal in the jungle. I want to prounce on someone." - Paloma

What is it with this season's castaways on Survivor adding in an extra "r" whenever they feel like it? Last week it was Michelle saying "frickle" instead of "fickle." Maybe it's some new fad or tied in with the internet folks who put an apostrophe whenever they end a word with an "s." So, we have this "r" thing going on, a man with a questionable British accent, and a blond Betty Boop, and one castaway is is beginning to look like Peter from Heroes as he gets scruffier. I think it's going to be a decent season. Read on past the jump for the review!

I've been a Survivor fan since the first season of the show. Now, that was back before widespread broadband internet connections and the official show website mainly had the bios, recaps and some photos. But now it has content there, especially videos, which catch us up on all the things we miss in the 40-odd minutes we see weekly on the television.

In last week's double episode it looks like more show ended up on the editing floor than it did on the show. And I'm here to share some of that with you!

(S17E01) "Jacquie is awesome!" - Marcus to Charlie

Now, isn't that nice of Marcus, an eye-candy doctor, to say about me? Sigh. Alas, it wasn't about me. I'm not on Survivor Gabon and I don't even spell my name that way. It's a first time namesake on the show for me and she isn't too shabby. However, I can't say that about the entire cast. Tonight was the big two-hour premiere night in Earth's Last Eden. Will this season live up to the quality and excitement of last season? Will Jeff Probst show off his Emmy-winning style? Read on past the jump for my full review of the show.