(S18E13) We're getting down to the wire for this season of Survivor. The big three-hour finale and reunion show airs this coming Sunday. Of the five going into tonight's show, I think I would have only predicted JT be there at the beginning of the season. Stephen, the intellectual kind of nerdy guy? No way did I think he'd make it this far. Erinn was targeted early on. Taj, the best eye-roller since Eliza, is playing a delightfully sneaky game. Then there's the loon -- Coach. Sigh.

(S18E12) Would you prefer what's in the covered dish or what's behind Door Number Two? Okay, I lied. There is no door, just the dish. But, just think a minute ... if there was a door, perhaps Coach would be behind it pledging his never-ending Dragon Slayer hot love and devotion to you! That would make it all worthwhile, wouldn't it? This was the Survivor auction week, always a world of gastronomical goodies. What I'd like to see is Coach on a platter at Tribal Council. Is that asking too much?

(S18E10) As tonight's episode of Survivor started, I prayed to the gods that it wouldn't be Coach-centric. Alas, there was plenty of Coach spouting his wisdom, his Warrior Alliance theories, and his general Coach-isms. After all, he is the Dragon Slayer, y'know. I so wish this Little Lord Fauntleroy Willie Nelson oddly-attired man would vanish from my television set. Maybe tonight?

(S18E08) I don't know. Is it just me or is this sexy librarian in a bikini look on Erinn from Survivor just a bit unsettling? There seems to be an evil gleam in her eyes, too. Maybe she's considering some Donner Party action and Coach will be her target? Sigh. Nah, it would never happen. Mr. Lord "Willie Nelson" Fauntleroy is just too darn skinny.

The promos promised us a merge tonight. This could get interesting with secret cross-tribe alliances. Will the Exile Island Allies take over the game? Or will the numbers in Timbira squash the weaker Jalapao tribe one by one? Read on.

(S18E06) They do this to us every season on Survivor -- the roughly mid-season clips show. Now, I'm not sure of the wisdom behind the whole thing. Perhaps it's to secure the jobs of the show's graphic artists so they can make new flashing "unseen before" logos. After all, in these tough economic times, those graphic artists need all the work they can get since their other main contribution is the seasonal logo. But that's actually not the reason they had the clips show this season. It was obviously to reinforce my opinion that Coach is a loon.

(S18E05) "The tribe has spoken." -- Jeff Probst

I'll be the first to admit that I thought the first episode of Survivor Tocantins didn't exactly rock my world. But now that we're a handful of shows in, I'm entertained. That's all I ever ask of a television show -- entertain me! One thing that's bothering me is that I still don't have a handle on some of the castaways. Sure, we know all about Coach, Taj, and a few selected others.

(S18E04) For eye candy this season on Survivor, we have Sydney representing the gals. But she's quick to say that she's not only pretty, she's sneaky. Can she be sneaky enough? Of course, if Timbira continues its losing streak, it won't really matter. Well, not yet anyway. Unfortunately for me, the male eye candy this season seems to be more along the lines of outdated cheap chocolates. I'm talking a skinny Tyson prancing about in a loincloth and whatever's going on with Coach's high ponytail-mullet mix. Sure, there are more attractive men there. But do they get the air time these two do? Nope! Spoilers ahead.

(S18E03) Yep, yep ... that's maize in the maze on Survivor. It looks like it's totally missing the bucket, doesn't it? Well, maybe, just maybe they weren't supposed to get it in the bucket. Perhaps it's something new and totally different. It could be they're filling their tops and holding a bucket just to make things a bit more challenging. Did you ever think of that? Or, it could be that I don't want to put any real spoilers before the jump.

(S18E02) Why do I get the idea that Jeff Probst thinks the ultimate Survivor show includes a blindside ouster of a castaway? Now, I like a good blindside as much as any show fan, but that's not what the show is all about to me. For me, the element of surprise is definitely a plus. However, it's as much about the scheming, the interaction between castaways, the challenges, and even whether I like the casting or not. Jeff was a happy camper because there was a blindside last week. I was a so-so camper about other issues. What about tonight?

(S18E01) Yep, we're into the 18th season of Survivor. Why, it seems like it was only yesterday that Richard Hatch was wandering about Borneo naked. Now, don't get me wrong -- I'm a big fan of the show. But what can they show us that's new and fresh after so many seasons, so many strategies? You see, I want to be entertained. I want fresh castaways, fresh locales, fresh challenges ... and even fresh monkeys! After all, no season of the show is complete without a monkey. If I had my way, every reality show would have a monkey.

(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!