Settling the score

I just finished watching the Direct TV Season 4 finale of "Friday Night Lights". For the love of all things holy, if you don't watch this show when it premieres on NBC in April, you will be missing THE best show on television. I cheered, I cried, I laughed. There is no other show that makes me verklempt at the thought of it being cancelled. It also makes me angry that NBC didn't give "FNL" the proper chance to find its footing on the network. If you are a true TV Watch Party follower, you will watch "Friday Night Lights" in April. *Forcing you into an uncomfortable hug*

Here's what happened Thursday night on ...

"Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" (CBS, 8:00): First, I must apologize to my coworkers who were subjected to my squeals, laughter and grunts while I watched the show online (off the clock, of course). Secondly, how freakin' excited is TV Watch Party to have a show that makes me giddy like a fat kid with cake? The Watch Party knows that "Survivor" is my all-time favorite reality show and I didn't realize how much I missed it until I heard Jeff Probst summing up the past 19 seasons.

There's been a lot of viewer comments floating around about the return of previous players. Pause it: I don't mind another All-Star season, although some of the player choices are a little suspect. Danielle who? Candace, really? Where is Yao-Man? What about Ozzy? Or even "Dreamz" for that matter? Sandra Diaz-Twine, a villain, says she's going to be meaner this time around. I barely even remember her speaking during her stint on Pearl Islands.

The show wastes no time putting the castaways to the test in a very physical reward challenge. Probst says they're playing for fire, but we all know they're playing for bragging rights. The game is a brutal version of football, except they don't have any protective gear. Heroes Rupert and Stephenie both suffer injuries (him, a toe broken in three places and her a dislocated then relocated shoulder). Cirie was tossing the girls around left and right, while Sandra stripped Sugar of her bikini top. Too bad it didn't stop her from scoring a point for the Heroes. James completely bulldozed his competition and the Heroes win the first challenge.

Back at camp, the Heroes are sitting high on the hog when they manage to snag four chickens. Props to them for being smart enough to build a coop instead of eating them all on the first day. J.T and James form an instant alliance and Sandra and Boston Rob hit it off nicely over on the Villain's beach. Jerri and Coach are making a love connection. Throw in the "Dragon Slayer's" unrequited bromance with Rob and you've got yourself a "Survivor" love triangle. There is so much wheelin', dealin' and lovin' going on, it's hard to keep track.

At the immunity challenge, an exhausting land/water/puzzle contraption, the Heroes get off to an early lead, but blow it when they can't solve the four-layer puzzle. This time it's the Villains who prevail, coming from behind for the win. Rewind: Are all the challenges going to be "take-twos" from previous seasons?

As the Heroes prepare for Tribal Council, former castmates start pairing up, leaving Sugar on the outside looking in. Cirie, Stephenie and Amanda's names are thrown into the mix and it becomes strategy vs. strength when the tribe can't decide who's the bigger threat. Do they get rid of a strong mental player or the weakest physical tribe member? Sugar, who couldn't even figure out how to work the Tribal Council ink pen, is the first person voted out in a 9-1 vote.

Do you think the tribe made the right move or will the mental juggernauts manage to control the game? It's going to be one hell of a season!

Funny lines from the castaways

• "I'm a villain. I think villains are smarter than heroes because they don't mind stabbing someone in the back to get where they wanna get. It's a proven fact ... Google it." - Russell, Villain
• "I'm a gangster in a Oprah suit." - Cirie, Hero
• Hero Amanda explains her jitters: "You know, like before you bungee jump ..." Uh, no sweetie. Let me just stop you right there. I will never know that feeling because the only time I will ever be in a "right-before-you-bungee-jump" position is the day Jack Bauer pushes me off the top floor of a parking garage.

The tribe has spoken: There are a few things I need to get off my chest. Stephenie's eyebrows scare me. They always have. It's like they start on the bridge of her nose then make a run for her hairline. She and Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas must have the same brow waxer ... How nice to see people show up in clothes they can actually play in ... I'm still in love with James. If I ever see that gravedigger on the street ... WHEW! I can't be held responsible for what happens to him. I'm just sayin'.

CHANNEL SURFING

• On "Project Runway" (Lifetime, 10:00), the designers must create a look for Heidi Klum to wear on the April cover of Marie Claire magazine. Pause it: I don't buy fashion magazines. I wait until an airline contacts me about unused frequent flyer miles then I cash them in for the free subscriptions. Flamboyant Anthony reels in his tacky and produces a beautiful, structured cocktail dress for the win. Anna is auf'ed after she designs an outfit that I've seen a hundred times in the Jr. Miss department of Nordstrom. Of course the best line of the night goes to Anthony: "Life isn't fair so why in the hell should "Project Runway" be?"
• I really need the set director/writer people to get it right on "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 9:00). IT DOES NOT THUNDER IN SEATTLE!!!
• I finally got caught up on "High School Reunion" (TV Land, Wed., 9:00). It's great that all the couples are finding love or whatnot, but to guilt ladies man Antanus into proposing to his girlfriend of four years was a little over the top. You can't make someone be ready for marriage. But what do I know? He proposed. Feel free to leave that player's card on the table, Antanus.