Checking in, checking on

Hey Watch Party followers! Now before you start throwing your TV remotes at me, let me explain my absence. See, what had happened was I took a trip home to Arkansas to see my nieces graduate from high school. The two weeks I was away just happened to be the end of the Spring TV season. I watched every finale: "Glee", "Survivor" (Yay, Sandra!), "Grey's Anatomy" (Whoa, crazy Columbine shooter guy!) ... I saw them all. But there wasn't a long enough break in the action for me to write about anything I was watching.

That was May. Fast forward to the summer months when TV is nothing but reality, and my reality is nothing but fantasy. I usually use the summer to catch up on my reading ("Game Change," anyone?), but this summer I thought I'd give dating a whirl. And you know what I've discovered? It eats up a lot of my TV-watching time. It also takes a lot of patience to date a guy who doesn't have cable and his 152,000-inch TV comes with only 10 channels. *Placing remote to temple, pulling trigger* So what does a person with no cable do when they visit a person who has over 200 channels? They surf, of course. We barely get through 5 minutes of one show before he's moved on to the next. And who watches those video channels, anyway? My remote never goes higher than the Encore movie channel!

In any case, he'll be around for awhile which means I have to find a way to balance having a social life with continuing the Watch Party. Oh, no ... no. I don't have a solution right now! I'm working on it. But here are some thoughts on what I have been watching this summer:

"Big Brother" (CBS): The show comes on multiple times a week which means multiple times for ramped up drama. Aside from the lame "saboteur" twist, the show has produced plenty of humor and drama. Who knew the "Kosher King," meek little Andrew, would leave a wake of victims with his vengeful exit speech? Seeing Kristen and Hayden squirm over their reveal showmance was priceless. And producers, can you please tell Rachel to tone it down in the Diary Room? Her "excited voice" is as bad as that dye job. I'm rooting for Britney! The show airs on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

"Top Chef: D.C." (Bravo, Wed., 9:00): Why do the judges keep rewarding Angelo for his Asian dishes? To me it shows that that's the only thing he knows how to cook. And shouldn't a top chef have more than soy sauce and sushi under his apron? I'm just sayin'!

"Project Runway" (Lifetime, Thurs., 9:00): Has anyone been paying attention to the commercials for this season? Let's just say they look more like advertisements for a Lifetime movie than a sewing show. The show promised a huge twist, but it failed to deliver. They made it seem as if multiple people would be cut in the first episode when all they did was dump the wrong person for a guy who basically made a Snuggie. The bigger twist is that the show is 90 minutes this season, meaning they won't be replaying it the same night like they usually do. Do us a favor, Lifetime! Save that extra 30 minutes and give us more shots of the actual garments. I don't care to see the designers' faces when their model takes the runway. Oh, and please loose the dark backdrop. You can barely see the clothes if the material is anything other than white. Or is it just me?

"So You Think You Can Dance" (FOX, Wed. & Thurs.): In an effort to revamp the show, the network has taken my favorite summer staple and made a mockery of it. When I first heard they were doing an all-star season, I was excited to see some of the best contestants compete again. But all they did was bring back 3 people I actually remember and a gang of dancers who were voted off their seasons early. I didn't watch the audition rounds so I have no attachment to any of the contestants. The one guy I was pulling for (ballet dancer Alex) was sidelined by an injury just one week after he performed a smokin' hot hip-hop number along side Season 4's tWitch Boss (yes, that's how he spells it). Watch the performance here.

I'll try to do a better job of checking in more often. But I'll leave you with this little nugget in the meantime. Be easy, TV Watch Party crew!

I'm embarrassed for you

It seems as if my this has turned into a "Survivor" blog with a little filler here and there. I still love TV, it's just that nothing gets me more excited than this show. I really thought "Glee" was going to get my mojo pumping, but I find myself disappointed with the new direction it's going. But more about that later. Let's get down to the business of ...

"Survivor" (CBS, 8:00): Lord, Lord, Lord. This was one for the history books. I do believe that this will go down as the Tribal Council in all of "Survivor". There was drama, humor, intrigue and heartbreak. But mostly, one player emerged as one of the smartest players of all time.

Now that the Villains have gotten rid of stick figure Courtney, the numbers are even between both tribes. The Heroes find a locked chest with a note attached saying company will be arriving soon, while the Villains have the key to open it. They are super excited - especially one-woman alliance Sandra - about the merge and pack up their camp to move to the Heroes' beach. Russell thinks he's the only one in the game with a hidden immunity idol and has no idea that Parvati has one of her own. She says the idols put her and Russell in the King and Queen position, but the Queen doesn't have to tell the King about her plans of a coup. Poor J.T. still thinks that after the Villains' Tribal Council, Parvati is gone and there are no more idols left in the game.

Upon arrival at their new camp, the castaways are told to drop their buffs and come up with a new tribe name. They eventually come up with "Yin Yang", throwing out "Hillains" and Jerri's suggestion of "All Villains". Pause it: I was thinking something more along the lines of "Puppets". It's obvious that the Heroes aren't happy to see Parv is still in the game. She whines to Danielle about feeling the cold shoulder. "I'm offended by how these Heroes are treating me. They don’t know it yet, but they’re about to be picked off one by one," Parvati threatens.

Meanwhile, Russell is spinning an intricate tall to Rupert and J.T. about why Parv is still in the game. He assures them that he's on their side, telling them "Just let this happen." Pause it: If only J.T. had a crystal ball ... and a brain. J.T. thinks Russ is a good ol' country boy. He has no inkling that Russ has turned him into a big doofus on national television. "Hook, line and sinker," Russ says, obviously pleased with himself. "This is going to be way easier than I thought."

Sandra later tries to warn Rupert that Russell and Parvati are trying to pull the buff over their eyes. "Russell’s the kingpin and Parvati’s the second in command," she says. It finally dawns on Rupert that the Heroes might be getting played in the worst possible way. “This is where the game gets crazy,” he marvels. But when Rupert goes to share Sandra's warning with the rest of the Heroes, they accuse him of being paranoid ... and sweating too much.

At the immunity challenge, it's every castaway for themselves in the first individual challenge: the pole hold - a last-man-standing endurance game. The contestants perch themselves on a pole with nothing but some tiny grooves to fit their feet into. J.T., Candice and Parvati have all played the game before with Candice lasting the longest. Both Colby and Sandra are the first ones to drop, followed by Rupert, Amanda and J.T. Parvati finds a new strategy by standing on the outside of her foot. She's in a zone and Candice realizes she's not going to outlast her. It's down to Parv and Danielle. Dani wants Parv to step off since she already has an idol. She does, and Danielle win the first individual immunity. Pause it: Did anyone notice how Dani's implant was looking a little melted. Gross!

It's scramble time back at the beach. Rupert wonders why Parvati stepped down if she thought she was going home. The Heroes devise a plan to flush out any possible idols by telling Russell that the Heroes are voting for Parvati, when in reality, they will be voting for either Sandra or Jerri to test Russell’s loyalty. Russell wants J.T. gone. He gives his idol to Parvati in hopes of saving her at Tribal Council. With both idols in her possession, Parvati is now the most powerful player in the game.

At Council, Yin Yang starts fighting about unripened bananas, reopening the debate about "banana etiquette". Rupert accuses the Villains - mainly Parvati and Danielle - of eating more than their share. Russell reminds them they are there to cut some fat and wants to get on with it. He says the vote will dictate the outcome of the game. Pause it: The jury (Coach and Courtney) read right through Russell's act. Too bad they couldn't do that when they were playing the game.

The Heroes cast their votes for Jerri, while the Villains all vote for J.T. Before the votes are read, Probst gives the usual spill about playing the hidden immunity idol and in a stunning twist, Parvati gives away BOTH idols to Sandra and Jerri. All votes cast for Jerri are void, leaving J.T. to go down in flames. Pause it: I was so embarrassed for him. *Forcing J.T. into an uncomfortable hug.* Russell is shell-shocked, whispering to Parvati, "You have some explaining to do."

J.T. took it like a man, but I would've loved to be sitting next to him at the Watch Party. I'm not a fan of Parvati, but she earned my respect tonight. And if she able to take Russell out of the game, I will cheer her on to the final three. At this point, I'm sure the Villains are going to want to keep Russell around cause it guarantees them five Hero votes from the jury. Parvati is going to be hard to beat, but if Sandra keeps playing her cards right, she'll be sitting next to her in the finals.

In case anyone was wondering, both Michael and Jackie are out of our "Survivor" pool. I still have Danielle on my team while Janet is going strong with Russell and Sandra. Here's the scorecard: (Members of the jury are the green failures)

CHANNEL SURFING

• Seattle's own Seth Aaron Henderson was crowned the winner of Season 7 of "Project Runway" (Lifetime, 10:00). Of course I know S.A. is really from Vancouver, Washington but only people who live there know you're not talking about Canada. Anyway, the judges thought S.A. knew how to "put on a show" and called his line "whimsical". It was a hard pill to swallow for Emilio Sosa, who won multiple challenges throughout the season. The judges loved his clothes but called a collection and not a complete fashion line. I hated Mila's collection, but then again, I've hated her aesthetic all season. All of the designers' clothes looked like something you'd find in Nordstrom. In past seasons, the finale runway show is full of drama and flowing gowns. I missed that. I mean, is it really runway couture if I'm not sitting on my couch wishing I had $10,000 for a pair of fitted slacks?
• Some passing thoughts about "Glee" (FOX, Tues., 9:00): I'm fairly sure I'm in the minority on this one, but that Madonna-themed episode? HATED IT. The cast performed seven songs. SEVEN! They barely had any dialogue. What I liked about the first half of the season was the backstories on all these complex characters. Now we get song after song and a revolving door of guest stars. A word to the writers: I know the show is an unstoppable pop-culture phenomenon, but stop trying to please the masses and get back to the basics.
  
• In parting, here's a funny line I heard on "The Office" (NBC, 9:00): "If it wasn't for secretaries, I wouldn't have a stepmom." - Andy, telling us the importance of celebrating Secretary's Day.
  

Great expectations

I had Thursday off so I actually got the chance to watch a lot of my favorite shows live. A rare treat for someone who watches 60% of my TV shows via the internet. Here's a recap:

"Survivor" (CBS, 8:00): The Villains have absolutely no clue who they are up against when dealing with Russell Hantz. It's unfortunate for that tribe that they didn't get to see his game play before they started filming this season. Otherwise, he would've been gone the first time the Villains were sent to Tribal Council. His desire to be the ultimate survivor has put his team in a hole they may not be able to dig themselves out of. He's controlling every move they make. And judging by the Heroes' assumption that B-Rob's demise was from an all-girl alliance, I'd say Russell is controlling that tribe as well.

The morning after Tribal Council, Danielle and Parvati are laughing about B-Rob's ouster. "I like blindsiding people," Danielle jokes. Jerri seems to be having a change of heart about her decision and Coach is still pissed that he's been forced into an alliance with Russell. "Are we going to the final five with him?" he asks Jerri. "Let's just see what happens," she says.

Over at the Heroes' camp, J.T. can't put off looking for the hidden immunity idol so he steals away to try to find it for himself. So much for keeping tribe unity and using it for the benefit of the group. He finds it and hastily tries to scamper out of the woods, but he ends up being spotted by Amanda and Candice. Pause it: Amanda is like a little kid who prevents you from hiding the Christmas presents in a good place. She's always around, always snooping, always listening in. "Good thing you walked up," Candice tells her.

The Villains are hoping for a merge when they get the clue to the next challenge, so they pack up their whole camp just in case Probst announces they are now one tribe. Pause it: When I say pack up the camp, I mean they PACK UP THE CAMP! They take down their shelter, grab the tackle box and the chickens and trot to the reward challenge looking like they just left Tent City. When the Heroes get their first look at the new Villains' tribe, Rupert (incorrectly) assumes that B-Rob's departure was at the hands of an all-female alliance. Russell gives J.T. a sad, puppy dog face and mouths the words "Help me", laying the groundwork for the Hero men to think he's running scared. The Villains think they'll be enjoying a pizza feast in celebration of a merge, Probst tells them to "drop their expectations" and get ready for the challenge: bowling, "Survivor" style.

Two Villains must sit out of the challenge and Coach yells for Sandra, right, and Courtney. "I want to eat," he reasons for sitting out what he deems as the two weakest players. Heroes jump out to an early lead after J.T. knocks down 6 pins. The Villains are on a (gutter ball) roll, but finally manage to get on the board. With the score at 2-1, Coach goes up against Amanda, whose roll gives the Heroes their third-straight win. And not only do the Villains lose, but they also have to return to a broken down camp with no food. OUCH!

As the Heroes much on pizza and beer, they label themselves the "Fantastic 5". J.T. (again, incorrectly) surmises that Coach and Russell are sitting ducks on the Villains' tribe. Little do they know that Russell is pulling strings all over Samoa. The Villains are angry at Coach for making Sandra and Courtney sit out. Jerri says they need their strongest players in the game for the immunity challenge, and sitting out the weakest for the chance to score some food will be their downfall. Sandra quickly points out that it was Coach's decision, and they should be pointing fingers at him for the loss, not Courtney and her.

When they get a chance to talk alone, Sandra devises a plan to eliminate Coach. She tells Courtney that they should plant a seed of doubt in Russell that Coach is gunning for him. Sandra says that everyone is playing Russell's version of "Survivor" instead of playing the actual game. Pause it: And she's right. Russell has manipulated this game so much that they should change the name to "Surviving Russell". I rooted for him last season, but his arrogance this time around is more bitch than bully and I can't wait to see him go down.

At the immunity challenge, the teams are belted into pairs and must run an obstacle course in the mud. Basically, it's another way for the girls to lose their swimsuits. Amanda and Candice pair up against Russell and Sandra, and the girls smoke Russell's co-ed team. They don't even finish the course after Sandra can't squeeze herself underneath one of the fences. Coach takes down Rupert in a foot race during the second round, and in the final go, skinny minis Courtney and Parvati prove to be no match for the brawn of Colby and J.T. Heroes win immunity and Courtney hurts her ankle.

Russell is sure his alliance is getting rid of Coach. It looks like Sandra's plan to throw him under Russell's bus may be working until Danielle suggests they keep him around for challenges and dump the weaker Courtney instead. Unhappy that one of his minions would go against him, Russell storms off after Danielle tries to persuade him to rethink his vote. He says he sends home who he wants to send home.

At Tribal Council, it seems as if Coach is unaware that he's on the chopping block, bragging that he encourages the tribe when they are down. Probst points out that Courtney has been made to sit out for a number of the challenges but she counters with "I'm a determined little bitch, and I'll put up with a lot of crap to get to the end."

Coach is voted out, and SURPRISE! He's the first member of the jury. Pause it: Now that's an interesting little twist! If they play it this way for the next few episodes - where the tribes remain separate but the jury fills up - it could make for some riveting Tribal Councils. Russell will definitely be sitting pretty once the Heroes see he's the only guy left. And judging from next week's preview, the Heroes are poised to make the most bone-headed decision in the history of "Survivor": giving Russell their immunity idol. If the girls could smarten up, now would be the time to put that all-female alliance into play and pick off the 4 remaining men one by one. I'm banking on Parvati or Sandra to steer that ship.

CHANNEL SURFING

• "16 & Pregnant" (MTV, Tues., 10:00): 17-year-old senior Leah, a popular high-school cheerleader, gets pregnant by Corey, her rebound guy after breaking up with her boyfriend of two and a half years. After Corey drives her home from a party, one thing leads to another which leads to them having sex in his truck, which ultimately leads to her getting pregnant with twin girls. That's TWO babies. At 17. Two. Leah and Corey try to give it a go, but in the end she ends up alone after constantly picking fights with Corey. She's left taking care of the babies and he moves back in with his parents. Talk about someone regretting their decision. In her closing video, Leah sums it up by saying her life is essentially not worth living because she made a stupid mistake. Hindsight is 20/20 ... and expensive.
  
• "Project Runway" (Lifetime, Thurs., 10:00): It's the final challenge that determines who will move on to Fashion Week and the designers must create a look inspired by the circus. Emilio, who's on a three-win high, has let his ego get the better of him and he's starting to look like a complete ass. Nevertheless, he earns a place in the final three along with Seth Aaron. Mila and Jay are forced into a tie-breaker and both designers will have to design a collection, but only one will show at Fashion Week. But we all know that's not true because 10 "Project Runway" designers got the chance to show at Bryant Park. But we won't go into that again.

Closing credits: Here's one last funny line from the twice-eliminated Anthony. After Tim Gunn questions his choice of color, Anthony says, "I thought all I needed to prepare for this show was my design books, but I'm gonna get me a dictionary just as soon as I get back to Georgia."
One last rant: Oprah, I appreciate your quest to make cars a "no phone zone," but putting people on the spot to sign your contract is like asking Whitney Houston to sing when she's fresh out of rehab: some people just aren't ready.

Keep your heroes close

How excited am I to learn that On Demand now features shows from NBC. The network used to charge to watch their shows, but now you can see "The Office", "Trauma" and "The Marriage Ref" within hours after they air. I guess that makes up for the whole Leno/Conan debacle. Now, check out what happened on ...

"Survivor" (CBS, 8:00): Wow! The Heroes really are turning out to be some of the most conniving players to ever walk the beaches of Samoa! Gone is that good-guy act that led scores of "Survivor" fans to vote these castaways back on the islands. It's been replaced with double-talk and backstabbing, with J.T. leading the pack.

After voting off Cirie at Tribal Council, Colby calls J.T. his hero for voting with him and Tom. J.T. apologizes for his tricky move, but says his vote was cast for the good of the team, not for personal reasons. He swears to Amanda that he would never turn on her, but she claims she can see right through him. "If he wants to play this game, game on. Bring it on," she challenges. Over on the Villains' beach, Coach is leading his tribe in a session of "Dragon Slayer Chi" - a mixture of chanting, inflated ego and made up yoga movements. Everyone except Russell is participating. He's out looking for the hidden immunity idol, which he finds after two days of digging.

Things get more than a little heated at the Reward Challenge. It's a game of foot-dodge-basketball and the prize is a chocolate feast. Pause it: After not having any real food except fish and chicken for 10 days, eating pounds of chocolate doesn't sound appealing at all. (Unless I get to lick it off of James's abs). Jeff Probst offers the tribes a sample of the candy to whet their appetites, but the Heroes sternly refuse. Colby dismisses the plate and tells Probst he's ready to get to the competition. "I got the message, brother. We'll go when I'm ready!" he snaps at Colby. Rupert explains that they want to send the message that they are focused. They should've just eaten the chocolate. At the start of the challenge, James injures his knee and the medics get called in to assist him. He's pulled out of the game after he's unable to walk around on it. The battle continues to get rough as B-Rob and J.T. duke it out then later turns into a full-out brawl after J.T. body slams Coach and Rupert accidentally lobs Jerri into a pole. It looked like a scene out of WWE. The score is now tied and Jerri scores the final point, giving the Villains yet another win. James is given a splint for his knee and the Villains head off to enjoy their feast. Pause it: Can you really say they enjoyed it when most of them ended up with sugar headaches?

While his other teammates are swimming, Russell confides in Parvati that he's found the hidden idol. "Grab on to these coattails!" he tells her. "I don't ride coattails, baby," she replies. Russell brings Coach into his inner circle and being the gullible idiot that he is, bows down to "King Russell" and allows him to "knight" him. Coach says that he'd love to stay loyal to B-Rob, but appreciates Russell's trust in him.

Amanda is sulking around the Heroes' beach, weighing her options if James is taken out of the game. She really wants James to stay because he looks out for her. Rewind: In Cirie's exit interview with TV Guide, she reveals her disappointment in Amanda's game, saying she can't think for herself. Without Cirie or Parvati calling the shots, Amanda is as lost as the prodigal son. Lucky for her, James comes limping back to camp with his knee wrapped in bandages. The medics can't explain what's wrong with him and he does his best to convince the tribe he's fine. He says he's going to "make some lemonade out of his lemon knee." Candice isn't buying it calling James "dead weight."

At the Immunity Challenge, the castaways play a blind puzzle game where everyone on the course is blindfolded while one player sits on a perch calling out directions. Colby, B-Rob, Rupert and Jerri have all played this game before. James is the caller for the Heroes, Jerri for the Villains. James does a great job yelling out directions. The Heroes grab their puzzle pieces quickly and open up a huge lead over the Villains. But once again, the Heroes fail at the putting the puzzle together and the Villains win their 4th Immunity Challenge. Let the Heroes' finger pointing begin.

Upon return to camp, J.T. points out that it's established that the Villains "can beat them at everything except Sumo wrestling." James claims that Tom isn't contributing to the team and moves to get him voted out. Candice adamantly objects and thinks voting off James is their best bet. Rewind: J.T.'s game play is way more sneaky than it was the first time around and I'm not sure if I like it. What I loved about him in his season was that he was a down-home country boy with a friendly smile and southern charm. Now he looks and sounds like a used-car salesman. J.T. is playing both sides and all the tribe members are looking for his vote even though his loyalty is in question. "He's clearly just playing the hand that suits him today," Colby says.

At Tribal Council, Probst needles James: "My niece could beat you in a race right now." "No, she can't," James deadpans. Eventually, fingers start to point in Tom's direction after Rupert and James say Tom doesn't like to follow. Tom bites back by saying James's voting strategy is to shut up and do what he's told. James then challenges the tribe to vote him out if they think they can win with Tom. "We'll still be cool," he promises. After the final vote, it's mass over class as Tom torch is snuffed, proving James is more valuable with a bum leg t

I noticed that Candice ended up voting for Tom. I assume she was smart enough to realize she'd be next if she voted with Colby and Tom.

THE SCORECARD

CHANNEL SURFING

• "The Office" (NBC, 9:00): Jim returns from paternity leave to find that Dwight has converted his workstation into a "megadesk" - a huge desk built out of Jim, Pam and his desk. Jim returns the favor by building "quad desk", three (yes, three) desks stacked like a pyramid. Michael tries to impress Jo, the new owner of Dunder Mifflin, but it's warehouse worker Darrell who catches her eye with a fresh idea and is given his own office next to Michael's. I wonder if that means we'll get to see more of Darrell. I love the way he interacts with Michael.
• "Project Runway" (Lifetime, 10:00): The designers get to create a look based on the elements - earth, water, air and fire - that also incorporated a hairstyle to match. Jonathan wins with his interpretation of air through laughter. I understood his concept, but I didn't think the look was all that. Ben and Amy, one of my favorites, end up in the bottom two - both for bad construction. Amy has made some really great clothes but the outfit she came up with tonight was so strange that even Lady Gaga would call it weird. Ultimately, the judges forgave her "cat in a baby sling" garment and sent Ben packing for his ill-constructed pantsuit.
• On "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 9:00), Callie thinks she's finally in a stable relationship then learns that her pediatrician girlfriend doesn't want to have children. A pediatrician who doesn't want kids? How much does she hate her job?
  

Idol hands

So, yeah, I got a new car today. I actually got it on Monday but it was delivered today. It's my dream car and I've been fawning over this car for five years!!! This really has nothing to do with this blog, but I really wanted to share it with the Watch Party.

"Survivor" (CBS, 8:00): Upon the Villains' return to camp after Randy's dismissal, Coach is feeling like an outsider and seething about Sandra calling him out over his work ethic. "I did noble things out here and I look ignoble," he whines to Tyson. "Why can't anyone ever say anything good about me?" Pause it: The reason is because you've already spent nine days complimenting yourself, Confucius. Tyson advises him to tone it down around camp and lay off the campfire tales if he wants to fit in. "Nobody believes your stories," he says. The next morning, B-Rob tells Coach that he's got to trust that he's not on the outside. But Rob makes it clear that he's not there to play mommy to Coach's whining ways. "Pick your head up and act like a man!"

Over at the Heroes' beach, the team looks as if it's finally bonding. The tree mail instructs them to pick a reward from a catalog. Pause it: Since they are not paying me, I won't repeat the name of the store that the supplies are from, but here's a hint: the same store also outfits the houses on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The Heroes opt for a tackle box and a kitchen set while the Villains hope to improve their shelter with a tool kit and a tarp. The game is a slip-and-slide meets basketball competition. The players lather up with oil and slide down a piece of plastic, grabbing a numbered ball along the way. They then have to sink that ball into a small basket. First ball in wins the point. For the love of all that's holy, please PAUSE IT! Did you see James's chest all buttered up and shiny and muscular? WHEW!!! He looked like a piece of dark meat and all I needed was a napkin and a bottle of hot sauce.

Coach gets the Villains on the scoreboard early and it looks like it's going to be another rout until Amanda scores one for the Heroes. Rupert downs another basket to even the game so it all comes down to Tyson and Colby to decide the winner. Poor Colby must be really tired of eating humble pie because he comes up short ... again. Villains win reward.

Back on the Villain beach, everyone is standing around raiding the loot when Russell pulls out the knife from the tool kit. As the blade comes out of the pocket, a clue to a hidden immunity idol comes out. When asked what they should do about the idol, Sandra suggests that once it's found, they should throw it in the ocean. "Whoever gets it will be marked," she threatens. Russell, who found three idols without a clue last season doesn't agree and sets out to find this one. The others agree he's an idiot and that he's sealing his own fate. The Heroes find their clue hidden in the coffee beans and Tom and Colby know they need to find that idol to stay in the game. The whole camp scatters like roaches when the lights come on, with Tom being the lucky one to find it. He tucks it away in his sock but Amanda spies him doing so. She quickly informs the rest of the Heroes that Tom has the idol.

At the immunity challenge, the castaways get to play the same game that took out black Russell last season: the blindfolded giant ball maze. It's the only game in Survivor history that was never completed - it was stopped for medical to come in and save Russ. Tom is calling the shots for the Heroes while B-Rob leads the Villains. Rob proves to be quite the leader as he guides his team through the maze. The Villains eek out another win, sending the Heroes to Tribal Council for the third time. Let the jockeying begin!

Cirie says it's either Colby or Tom's night to go, especially since Tom has the idol. J.T. wants to put Candace on the chopping block, reasoning that her scrambling makes her a liability. Amanda joins forces with J.T. who's in an alliance with Tom who offers to give the idol away to prove his loyalty. Throw in James for good measure and you've got a 5 on 2 alliance. Amanda stupidly reports to Cirie that Tom is gunning for Candace, and Cirie - being the clever player that she is - explains how it's a bad move to keep Tom in the game. J.T. overhears the conversation and reports to Tom that Cirie is the true mastermind. And just like that, Cirie is on the chopping block next to Tom and Colby.

J.T. is in one too many alliances. He wants to keep the "good guys" in the game (whoever that is) but doing so would eventually put him in the crosshairs. "I know how everyone is voting ... except me," he says.

At Tribal Council, Probst grills Rupert after he says his vote will allow him to remain true to his word, even if it's a bonehead move. James admits he doesn't care who goes as long as he wins. He says that the social aspect of a game is a distraction and people should forget about that part until it's time to merge. After the vote, Tom plays his idol and Cirie gets the ax in the first blindside of the season. I thought she would've made it farther than this, but Tom totally outplayed her at a strategy she invented in this game: listening.

THE SCORECARD

CHANNEL SURFING
Because of the timing of how the show is filmed, I know that 10 designers from "Project Runway" (Lifetime, 10:00) showed at Bryant Park. So the question is do the contestants really need to aspire to win, or should their focus be on staying long enough to get to the top five, six or seven? Who cares about the money if you still get to show your collection at one of the biggest fashion shows in the country? Whatever ... in this episode, the designers had to create a look with materials found in a hardware store. They didn't even let them shop at Mood to get any fabric. Jay makes a stunning "leather" outfit out of garbage bags and duct tape and gets his second win. Emilio, who normally makes beautiful garments was uninspired by the challenge and sends a half-naked model down the runway. It was obvious he should've been the one to go. Instead, the judges dump Jesse for his metal cloud attached to an armor breastplate. Auf wiedersehen!

On "The Office" (NBC, 9:00), after five long seasons Jim and Pam became the proud parents of a baby girl named Cecilia Marie Halpert, 7 lbs., 2 oz, 18 in. Mother and daughter are doing fine.

One voice, many mouths

For one night I have an appreciation for the Winter Olympics. Not because of any spectacular gold-medal moves, but because it cuts my TV watching schedule down by at least a third. And thanks to CBS posting their shows immediately after they air, I'm down to just three shows! Maybe I'll get to bed before 5 a.m. The things I do for the Watch Party.

"Survivor" (CBS, 8:00): The tribes are three days into their misadventure, and the castaways are battling the same torrential rainfall that the Samoa cast endured. Rewind: That makes sense, seeing how they are in Samoa again. Boston Rob, who was once a construction worker, wants to rebuild the Villains' rain-soaked shelter while others want to stand around and watch him do it. Most agree that Rob is the leader and the tribe would all be dead without his know-how. He calls them a bunch of lazy "buffoons" and storms off to the jungle where he promptly drops like a bag of coconuts. Luckily, Jerri witnesses the whole thing and the medics are soon called in. He's fine but his resolve to win the game has me kicking myself over my Final 3 Picks. Damn you, Boston Rob!

The Villains look as though the tribe is about to implode while over at the Heroes' beach, they are hard at work with no complaining. Well, almost no complaining. Rupert gripes that they need to get rid of Stephenie while she surmises that Rupert's "nice guy" act is overkill. At least they are chipper with their insults.

At the immunity/reward challenge, the tribes play a grueling game of over-sized building blocks. Pause it: I find it somewhat difficult when trying to explain these challenges. Pairs rolling heavy, jumbo blocks down the beach then stacking them to solve a word puzzle? That sounds about right, no? The winning team gets a tarp, rope and nails.

The Heroes go in with a winning strategy: one voice. J.T. will call the shots since the same game was played during his season. (Coach and Tyson played it as well.) The Heroes build a solid lead with James practically carrying the blocks for his team. But when they get to the puzzle, the tribe implodes when Stephenie tries to call out strategy over J.T. Villains win again and James reads Steph the riot act, telling her to "shut up!" She's smart enough to keep her mouth closed, as she knows that Rupert is gunning for her as well. Rewind: While James may have voiced his opinion the wrong way, the guy had a point. Steph really wasn't following the "one voice" rule. And those who have played the game with James knows he's a passionate player who likes to win.

Back that the Heroes camp, James continues his tirade about people not following instructions. Tom is quick to defend Stephenie ... just not in earshot of the other tribemates. He and Colby huddle up to see if they can get Cirie and Candice to vote off Amanda. Candice says there will be a clear divide in the camp once the votes are revealed. When she asks whose name they should write down, Cirie replies, "As long as it's not us, it don't much matter to me." Pause it: When did Cirie and Candice become a voting bloc? J.T. realizes he's going to have to pick an alliance, as he's made deals with both Tom and James.

At Tribal Council, lines are drawn when James goes after Stephenie ... again. He reminds the Heroes that Stephenie's whole tribe was decimated during her time in Palau and calls her the teams cryptonite. Colby and Tom come to her defense, revealing their allegiance to one another. Pause it: For Tom to be such a hero, he sure has a yellow belly. If he loves Steph so much, why wait until Colby sticks his neck out first? Cirie points out that Amanda did cost her a million dollars, so there's no alliance among those who have played the game together. Pause it: Sounds like Cirie needs some antiseptic for that old wound. In a vote of 6-3, Stephenie is the second Hero voted out of the game. I honestly thought she'd make it farther than 19th place. Must've been the eyebrows.

THE SCORECARD

The tribe has spoken: Obviously Amanda has not learned anything from her previous times on "Survivor". Even behind those glasses, you could still see her making those puppy dog eyes as if she's waiting at the shelter to be adopted. Stop being such a wimp, Mandy! ... I find it HI-larious that Russell is so star-struck (and jealous) over Rob. This is the same guy whose strategy was about mind control, but it looks like Rob is the one who has Russell under his spell.

CHANNEL SURFING

• It's still thundering on "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 9:00). UGH!!! I know that shouldn't even be my main concern, but as someone who grew up in the south and a six-year Seattle resident, I know what real storms sound like and the sound of thunder is rarely heard in these parts. ANYWAY ... the staff of Seattle Grace has to sit through a series of lectures from their colleagues - Bailey, Callie and Chief Weber. Interesting look at how some of their former patients and peers shaped their lives. Bailey used to be a "minnow," now she's a shark. She called her overbearing then-attendant a "supercilious fool". Pause it: Sliding that one in my pocket for later use. Callie helped a man with polio walk again then celebrated by sleeping with Alex Karev. He really has slept with practically every doctor on staff. We were also given a glimpse of how the Chief became an alcoholic. Good episode full of '80s music and bad wigs.
• "Project Runway" (Lifetime, 10:00): It's about time the designers were given a task with substance. This time around they had to create an age-appropriate kids look and it's the battle of edgy meets Easter dress. Some designers loved the idea of working with kids clothes, while others *cough* Jonathan *cough* were coming apart at the seams. "That one little child made me so nervous that now I stink," Jonathan says as he sniffs his armpits. To make matters worse, Tim tells them they also have to make a companion look for the adult models. Vancouver's own Seth Aaron wins the challenge for his biker baby outfit while Jeaneane from Portland is sent home for her underdesigned, plain Jane frock.

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.

Seeing Double

Sorry for the late posting. My laptop and I got into a huge fight last night. It won. Here are some highlights (and low ones) from Thursday:

"The Deep End" (ABC, 8:00): Definitely a low. I can't believe ABC put this poorly acted, poorly written and richly uninteresting story on the air. When I think a show is bad, it's really bad cause I'll watch pretty much anything. But I could barely get through this train wreck, which basically took the dialogue from the pilot episode of "Grey's Anatomy" and copied it almost word for word.

Pause it: The show has already been dubbed "'Grey's Anatomy' with lawyers". Why confirm that by copying every plot point right down to two characters who barely know each other having sex on the floor a la Derek and Meredith? Even the most original line referenced "Grey's": "I'd rather have a colonoscopy at a teaching hospital." The final straw for me was having Kate Burton, who played Meredith's mother, as a guest star. C'mon!

The show follows a group of recent Ivy-League law graduates who enter the working world as associates at a big law firm. The only reason I tuned in was because Tina Majorino, left, is one of the young lawyers. Most people may remember her as glamour-shot-picture taking Deb from "Napoleon Dynamite", but for me she will forever be Molly Singer from "Corrina, Corrina", one of my all-time favorite movies. Majorino plays Addy, the female version of George O'Malley. The show also has a Bailey-esque character, a not-so-McDreamy and an Izzie with red hair.

It's going to be hard for this show to establish itself as something new if they continue to pair it with "Grey's" and "Private Practice". I guess for now, ABC Thursdays will just be three hours of hot doctors and lawyers who care too much and speak too fast.

"Project Runway" (Lifetime, Thurs., 10:00): I missed the first few minutes but I was able to jump right in. Following the tradition of making functional garments out of unconventional materials, the designers had to turn a plain potato sack in to a party look for their models. To make matters worse, the models got to pick the designers instead of the other way around.

Some of the instructions must have been lost in translation because Jesus and Ping, right, struggled on the challenge. Jesus skirted (tee hee) around the rules by covering his sack with some crazy, sewn-together ribbon crap and Ping thought the models were dressing for a country pasture party. Her dress was bland and the model's booty was hanging out of the back.

Jay couldn't pull it together and was only half done with his dress at the end of day one. But he rallied and came up with a beautiful, black cocktail dress. Ben's produced a hot little number that you could see you any red carpet, but it was Amy's burnt burlap look that I wanted to see hanging in my closet. (And hang is what it would do because I have too many rolls to wear my back out like that).

On the runway, the judges call out Jay, Mila, Amy and Pamela, along with Jesus and Ping. They all loved Amy's dress, but the win went to Jay. I really wanted Amy to win because her dress looked expensive but you could still tell it was a potato sack. Ping made it through even though her dress came with a built-in air conditioner, leaving Pamela and Jesus in the bottom two.

Pamela's dress wasn't the best designed garment, but the denim dye job she put on it was fantastic. It really looked like a jean dress. Jesus, on the other hand, completely missed the point of the challenge but the judges kept him around for another week. He'd better churn out some awesome clothes next week or I'm revolting. It's his second time and we're only 2 weeks in!

Finishing touches: I'm really hating the way the camera cuts to the designers when the models hit the runway. The whole point of the show is to see these cool clothes! Who cares about the designer's reaction?

CHANNEL SURFING

• "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 9:00): I hope this was Izzie's last episode. I was glad to see Karev give her the heave-ho! Now if only Shonda Rhimes would do the same, that would be one giant step for "Grey's" lovers. Get rid of her already!!!!
• On "Private Practice" (ABC, 10:00), Maya announced she's pregnant - at the tender age of 15. Naomi wanted to force her into having an abortion, even though it's completely against her beliefs. Audra McDonald was phenomenal and I could feel her hand across my face when she slapped Maya. I'm hoping this storyline breathes some much needed life into this flatlining show.

Who's who

The week of premieres continues with the return of some old favorites. The shows were so good that I found myself excited to host the Watch Party. It was a good night for TV! Let's talk about ...

"Project Runway" (Lifetime, 10:00): It's an all new season of "Runway," and an eclectic batch of designers are here to show us if they're worth their weight in sewing thread. Last year's fiasco of moving the show to L.A. left us without our favorite judges for most of the season, but Nina Garcia and Michael Kors are back as the show returns to New York City.

We have two area designers representing the Northwest: Seth Aaron, 38, of Vancouver, WA, and 28-year-old Janeane Marie from Portland, home of Season 5 winner Leanne Marshall. Pause it: FYI, I'm not gonna be calling this guy by 2 names all season. I'll give him another week before I find him a fitting nickname.

Looking at the designers' portfolios during introductions, there are quite a few interesting stitchers in the bunch. Double-duty Ping has a day job that allows her to "liberate the body movement": she a physical therapist. You can fully expect her to be the weird one. Maya's designs looked very fashion-forward and unique. There's Emilio, a costume designer from the Dominican Republic. And who can forget Anthony, the southern gay man with the biting sense of humor.

For the first challenge, Tim Gunn tasks the designers with creating a look that represents their point of view. They are given three minutes to grab fabric that has been spread through Central Park then another five minutes to edit down their choices to just five fabrics. "Tim says 'go' and we are like fat people at an open buffet in Vegas," Emilio says. They get one day to finish their creations and the winner gets immunity.

Janeane Marie is off to a rocky start when her little black dress becomes a little hot mess. She starts over with only two hours left in the day. Pause it: This chick is waaaay too emotional. It's only the first episode girl! I'm not gonna watch you cry your way through the season! Ping's outfit looked like she tossed a pile of fabric in the air and her model just stood underneath. Slap on some rope and you would've had yourself a parachute. I don't know what they wear over in Vancouver, but Seth Aaron's model looked like she was ready for a couture hoedown in the plaid frock he came up with. I loved Maya's ruffled-collar dress and Emilio's creative pattern, but Amy's dress looked exactly like a design from Leanne's final runway show with the fitted top and the bubble, wavy-flapped skirt.

I couldn't believe the judges loved Seth Aaron's dress, but fortunately it was Emilio's "deceptively simple" design and technical execution that earned him the first win. Anthony, over-confident Christiane and "Hershey chocolate bar" designing Jesus sweated it out in the bottom three. Heidi tells Jesus he's in, making Chrisitane Season 7's first casualty. She boasted alot about being a designer who uses a lot of color, and it would've been cool to see her make good on that promise. But her cocky attitude was a turn-off. Auf wiedersehen, Braggy McBraggerton!

Finishing touches: Anthony already established himself as the comic relief for this season. He gave us some of the funniest material since Santino Rice's impression of Tim Gunn in Season 2. Here are some of Anthony's funniest lines:

• "My ultimate goal is to be one of the gown designers for Miss U.S.A. and Miss Universe. *whispering* I don't really care for Miss America."
• The guys were discussing who would get the broken bed which Jay volunteers to take because he's the smallest guy in the bunch. This leads to all the men announcing how much they weigh. "I'm 180" ... "I'm 145" ... "I'm 152"... "And I'm thirsty," says the husky Anthony.
• "I'm sweating like a baptist preacher!"

But what's funny to me may not be as entertaining to Mrs. Klum. When Anthony found out he was safe and made a dramatic deal about it, she rushed him off the stage with agitation in her voice.

It looks like the show is ready to bounce back from last season's snoozefest, and I'm excited to see these contestants rip the runway.

"High School Reunion" (TV Land, Wed., 10:00): That's me in the picture at age 16. In high school, I was captain of the cheerleading squad, student council president and on the homecoming court. I did yearbook and made that stupid "Who's Who" list countless times. I was also picked on relentlessly and had some of my most traumatic experiences in the halls of E.H.S. I'm not playing the victim (I do that in therapy), but I can totally relate to some of the students on "High School Reunion". This reality show reunites former classmates 20 years after graduation so they can relive their glory days and for some, patch up old wounds. This season follows Chapparal High School's Class of '89 from Las Vegas.

All the cliches are here: the troublemaker, the nerd, the late-bloomer and the football star. There's also the ladies man, the cheerleaders, the gay guy and the hot girls. When the classmates were arriving one-by-one, it was funny to watch their expressions as they quickly assessed who it was and how they remembered each other. But poor Cyndi, the class nerd, was unrecognizable. To make matters worse, they still didn't remember her even after she told them who she was. Talk about being invisible. But she won't be for long after she reveals she became an exotic dancer. *Handing Cyndi award for "Most Likely to be Remembered"*

Lissett and Elena called themselves "The Summer Girls" in high school. In their eyes they were the hottest, most popular girls in Chapparal High, but their peers thought otherwise. "They were the biggest bitches in school," says John the troublemaker. Lissett says she's back to prove she is more than just a pretty face. Pause it: Yes, sweetie, that's true. It's not pretty, it's plastic now. Here's your award for "Best Body On a Payment Plan". Football star Joe wants to rekindle the flame with high school sweetheart Jodi, but late-bloomer Rachelle hopes she can score a touchdown this time around. (Vomiting in mouth over Joe hearts Jodi. I'm sure they wore matching shirts, too.) And if I were ladies man Antanus's girlfriend before the show, I certainly wouldn't be after watching this episode. Dude, if you've been dating someone for three years, you're not single. You're damn near common-law spouses!

I didn't go to my 10-year reunion and I only keep in touch with a handful of my classmates (shout out to Jennifer and Piper!). You'll have to come to the Watch Party to follow these clowns!

The show airs on Wednesday nights but I caught this one on repeat.

Changing tides

I'm batting a thousand this week. Last night my power went out and tonight I set my VCR for the wrong channel. I had to wait for ABC to upload the shows. Please forgive me. I have vacation on the brain.

"Survivor" (CBS, 8:00): Russell, Russell, Russell! You sly devil, you! I actually found myself rooting for the guy. Anyone who goes out and finds yet another immunity idol without a clue should pass go and head straight to the final two. After returning from Tribal Council, Russell realizes he's in big trouble. He knows his only hope is to find another idol, but Erik took his back to the ponderosa. At least I thought that was the one he was referring to. Rewind: If I remember the rules correctly, once a hidden immunity idol is flushed out it can be put back into play. Kudos to Russell for reading his rule book.

At the reward challenge, Aiga is divided into two teams and the winners are treated to a waterslide and a feast. The purple team (Monica, Dave, John, Shambo and Kelly) wins reward and they later find it comes with a clue to another hidden idol. They all agree to share the information with only Galu members, but by this time, Russell had already found it hidden under a bridge. He confides in Shambo that he's found the idol and she agrees to keep her mouth shut if they can vote off Laura. Cut to Laura smoking her competition at the immunity challenge. Time for plan B.

Russell tell his Foa Squared friends that he has the idol and they should allow Galu to write his name down. Foa will vote for Kelly, he'll play the idol and once the votes cast against him are void, she will go home in a blindside. I held my breath for the entire vote count! It is very rare on this show that someone comes up with a plan and manages to carry it out in such a masterful way. I hated Russ in the beginning but he's definitely won my respect for finding countless ways to outwit his competitors. The idol goes back into play and I can only hope Probst can find a crewmember who's better at hiding that thing. If Russ finds it for a third time I'll know the show is rigged.

Pause it: Even though she's on my fantasy team, Monica has been pretty useless the whole game. The one time she comes up with a good idea (to have a backup plan in case Russell has the idol) her Galu tribe tells her it's impossible that he'd have it. Smooth move guys. Smooth.

"CSI: Trilogy" (CBS, 9:00): When I first heard that the CSI franchise would be doing a crossover event I was really excited. It's been a long time coming and I was excited to see what kind of case would tie the three cities together. MAJOR LETDOWN! Wamp, wamp. Since we're talking about a trilogy, here are the three things I learned from this crossover:

1. Horatio Caine still sucks. He has always sucked and will continue to suck until they shut down the Miami lab. "CSI: Miami" is the weakest of the franchise, but I continue to watch out of brand loyalty.
2. The New York team runs a lot! They are constantly chasing down perps or running after something. They may want to invest in some Segways.
3. Even with it's revolving door of characters, the original "CSI:" is, and always will be, the best of the three. Vegas has the coolest cast, the best cases and the sexiest CSIs. I'm blowing kisses at you, Nick Stokes.

CHANNEL SURFING
On "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 9:00), Christina is marking her territory in a pissing contest with the new cardio attending. She's focused on beating the new doctor in the operating room, but she'd better start paying attention because the new "cardio god" wants her man, Dr. Owen. Chief Webber fell off the wagon and decided the best thing is for him to step away from doing surgeries. I wonder if Meredith is going to use Webber's drinking problem as a way to make Derek the new chief.

From what I could see tonight, Meana Irina is going to win "Project Runway" (Lifetime, 10:00) even though her entire line is black, gray and tan. And what is up with all the oversized sweaters and coats they were all designing? You win one challenge with a luxe sweater now everyone is making them. Get inspired ladies!

As the tables turn

There were lots of unexpected turns. Blindsides, hook-ups, plot twists ... try and keep up.

"Survivor" (CBS, 8:00): Foa Foa is outnumbered 8 to 4 but lucky for them it's merge day! (Pulling out party hats, wine and cheese). The tribes are rewarded with a feast for making it thus far and move onto camp on Galu's beach. Pause it: Why do these people go for wine and beer after being hungry and thirsty for 19 days? Why not drinks some juice or water that doesn't have to be boiled? They renamed themselves "Aiga", which in Samoan means "extended family that lies to you." For all of Foa Squared's losses, they certainly had a plan going into the merge: divide and conquer. Galu revealed the crack between Laura and Shambo, giving Russell the opportunity to campaign for Laura to go.

The immunity challenge is a game of T-ball, and two people get to win immunity: one girl and one guy. Pause it: You mean to tell me you'll let these people wrestle together, but they can't play T-ball? Please!!! It looks like Russell is about the take the win, but it's John who get the W. And of course, Laura wins for the girls because the person that people scheme to vote off is always the one who's a clutch player.

Camp is like a swarm of angry bees as players strategize about who to vote off. Both Russell and Erik have immunity idols and both think they're calling the shots. At Tribal Council, Erik comes down with a horrible case of condescending antagonist, and manages to insult every member of Foa Squared. Jaison calls him out on his arrogance and ultimately has the last word. Erik gets blindsided and is sent packing after (stupidly) not playing his idol. The tribe did manage to flush out Russell's though, leveling the playing field since both idols are out of the game. I wonder how big was Erik's slice of humble pie. Had to be pretty big to satisfy the appetite of his inflated ego.

Rewind the tape: I haven't seen a blindside this good since the girls of "Survivor All-Stars" tricked Ozzy into not playing the idol. Russell is definitely playing the 'outwit' portion of the game but not very well. He tipped his hand to three too many people. Looks like that cocky attitude just may earn him a bed next to Erik at the ponderosa.

"CSI:" (CBS, 9:00): Talk about tables turning. There were so many plot twists in this episode I could barely keep up. Two seemingly unrelated crimes turn out to be connected by a weird revenge plot. A teen-aged boy is brutally beaten, but he refuses help from the CSIs because he doesn't want to admit he was sexually assaulted. Across town, a man is found shot to death in a burned-out electronics store. It was a long, confusing road but the dots connect with the boy being raped by the man found in the store. It was kind of one of those sister's-boyfriend's-brother type stories that lost me when a stripper was thrown in the mix. I still learned something, though: most dust particles contain trace amounts of fecal matter. That's poop.

Despite the loss of some major characters (single tear falling for Grissom and Warrick), the show has managed to stay fresh and hasn't missed a stepped when introducing new players. Instead of forcing us to believe a doctor could become a CSI overnight, they remind us that newbie Langston is still learning. The conversation about him taking multiple classes was a great attention to detail for plot continuity. And how much do I heart Greg and Nick? They are the sexiest nerds on television.

CHANNEL SURFING

• It's Irina, Carol Hannah and Althea heading to fashion week on "Project Runway" (Lifetime, 10:00). Too bad this show is a year old and their fashions are probably already outdated.
• The online commercial during "CSI:" was about a cheesemaker who lets us in on a little secret: cheese is a moldy bacteria with controlled decay. Which proves my point for not liking it.
• Do you think the agent killing himself on "Flash Forward" (ABC, 8:00) will actually alter someone else's outcome?

Bored by reality

It was a surprisingly mundane night, but I did learn something from a "real housewife": Everybody has a "Pooky 'n 'nem" saved in their cell phones ... just in case something pops off and you need backup. I gotta get me a "Pooky"!

"Survivor" (CBS, 8:00): With their chief Russell out of the game, Galu elects Shambo to be their next leader. At the reward challenge, it was wants vs. needs as the survivors played a game of memory for items to help out at camp. Galu redeemed themselves by picking a tarp and a fire-starting kit, foregoing a point for each item they kept. It didn't much matter as they still beat Foa Foa. A great deal of hypocrisy erupts among the women when Shambo chooses to exclude Laura from the reward and send her over to Foa Foa. Ashley whines that Laura is a strong girl and didn't deserve it to be left out. Pause it: They were playing a memory game, but the ladies of Galu must have short ones. Didn't they do the same thing to Shambo ... twice? How about you just be thankful she didn't send you, Twiggy.

At the immunity challenge, Foa Foa leader Mick believes his tribe chief necklace has a hex on it and leaves it back at camp. Too bad he was wrong - Galu gives them another spanking, handing Foa Foa its 8th loss out of 10 challenges. Jaison throws himself under the bus at Tribal Council by saying he gave up during the immunity competition (no $@!&, Sherlock), but the tribe blindsides Liz and just like that, they're down to four. With the merge around the corner, Foa Foa has their work cut out for them. Maybe they should try some Galu's yoga exercises. It couldn't hurt.

"Project Runway" (Lifetime, 10:00): You knew it was going to be a long night for local boy Logan when the designers are told to create a companion piece for their winning looks and he doesn't have a winning look to create a companion piece to. He's allowed to use the gown he made from the first challenge and I knew right then he had cut his last pattern. Not only did he churn out an outfit for Judy Jetson, but he stole part of the look from another designer's previous dress. Pause it: You can't get by on looks alone, buddy. You've got to have some creativity in the greasy-haired head of yours. In his parting words, Logan says he's not a designer for 90% of the population. That means he's designing for the 10% of Americans who have a fear of wearing nice clothes.

Althea snags another win with her jiggly breasted model, and Irina's anger could not be hidden. She accused Althea (in front of the judges) of stealing her over-sized sweater design. I was glad to see someone else besides "Mean Irina" get a victory.

CHANNEL SURFING
On the "Real Housewives of Atlanta Reunion" (Bravo, 10:00), the conversation was as dull as Sheree's weave ponytail. The women were extremely defensive and it was very awkward to watch. The fact that Kandi had to explain why she and A.J. weren't together at the time of his death was enough to make me change the channel. Bravo milked that situation for everything it was worth by having her show up just weeks after A.J.'s funeral. Pause it: What was up with Kim bogarting in on Kandi's grief? She was speaking over Kandi like she was the one who'd lost him. The only significant (and I use that word loosely) thing revealed tonight was that NeNe and Kim made up after the alleged choking incident. I'll be tuning in for Part II next week, when Kim "performs" her single "live". That's a party I will not be tardy for.

I learned something very interesting on "CSI:" (CBS, 9:00) tonight. The part of the brain that controls thought and reason sits on top of the part that controls learned habits and repetitive behavior. That is why a person can still brush their teeth and make breakfast with a gaping, near-fatal head wound. See, zombies do exist.

Know your limits

Thursday night television brought a lot of excess: wealth, exhaustion, lesbian kissing. Sometimes people just don't know when to quit, but hospitalization and foreclosure may be a good place to start.

"Survivor" (CBS, 8:00): Fifteen days have passed since the contestants landed at Samoa and it's been pouring rain for at least eight. Galu chief Russell works through the downpour while everyone else is trying to keep warm. At the challenge, the tribes learn that win or lose, both teams will be going to tribal counsel and voting someone off. Galu's Russell passes out on top of the puzzle, and at first it looks as though he's just winded. In what Jeff Probst calls "his scariest moment in 19 seasons of 'Survivor'", Russell's heart rate and blood pressure plummets and he faints with his eyes wide open. For the first time in the show's history, a challenge is called, no one wins the reward, and no one gets sent home.

I have a lot of thoughts about what went down tonight. First off, when you know someone is working too hard, even if he is the leader, wouldn't you be a little more forceful in making them sit down and take a break? Even the president takes a vacation. And what was up with offering pizza as the reward. These people have been living in a torrential downpour for a week! Why not offer that tarp that Galu passed on? Lastly, Russell cried like a beeyotch when told the game was over for him. I know people try out for this show multiple times before they finally make it, but I'm 99.9% sure Russell's family would've rather he come home without the million than in a "Survivor" body bag. It's just a game people!

"Project Runway" (Lifetime, 10:00): There are only seven designers left and we're down to the last threads. Tonight's challenge was to create a design based on a location that inspires them. Pause it: Actually, the locations are places that inspire Michael Kors, but you get the point. Local boy Logan is last picked and gets stuck with Hollywood as his locale. He decides to make a pair of skinny jeans and a tank top with suspenders. Give me a minute while I take a nap because Logan is boring me to sleep. That outfit says Fremont, not Hollywood. Irina takes another win with her furry Aspen fantasy and Nicolas is out with a look that was not Greek to me.

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" (Bravo, 10:00): The season two finale served as a wrap up to the first season as we see how the ladies have progressed over the past year (not too far, I must say). Here's where the housewives leave off:

• Lisa and Ed are forced to "restructure" now that Ed's no longer playing in the NFL for $3 million a year. They decide the best thing for them financially is to move into Ed's nine-acre bachelor pad that he's been using as storage. Lisa calls it downsizing. I call it foreclosed property within the next 6 months.
• Sheree finally launches her clothing line She by Sheree. It seemed as if Dwight saved the show, but by fashion-industry standards it would still be considered a hot mess. The clothes lacked cohesion and most of those looks had been done before. If this were "Project Runway" she would be out.
• Kim is still bragging that she's engaged to Big Poppa, but can you be engaged when your fiance is still married? Her song may be number three on the iTunes dance chart, but Kim is still a zero in my book. Who drinks wine at 11 a.m.? I don't even eat eggs that early.
• Newest castmember Kandi was finally able to see some resolution between her mom and fiance A.J., so that makes it even more sad to know he was killed a few weeks ago. Shame on Bravo for not editing out A.J.'s scenes. I like Kandi because was the most relatable woman on the show this season. I hope she can move beyond her tragedy and come back for another season.
• My girl NeNe really disappointed me this season. Instead of being the tell-it-like-it-is diva that I came to love, she came off as an egotistical bitch. I'm glad she was able to get peace in her paternity issue, but her attitude offset my joy for her. Sorry NeNe, it's you that needs to be checked, boo.

CHANNEL SURFING
Maybe I'm not paying enough attention when it's on, but "Flash Forward" (ABC, 8:00) is losing it's luster for me. Tonight's big reveal was that the agent whose flash forward brought about the whole mosaic thing may have been drunk at the time. The only thing I found interesting was the reporter asking the president what he saw in his flash forward. It certainly would've been helpful if this had happened in real life, before we went searching for those weapons of mass destruction. Just keeping it real.

On "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 9:00), a burn victim dies in the ER for no apparent reason and the story unfolds from the multiple points of view of the doctors who treated her. Even though the plot was a recycled episode of "ER", this was one of the best episodes they've had in a while. The patient died after one of the doctors missed a simple step in her initial exam, and it made me wonder how many people lose their lives because the doctor didn't check their throats or press on their bellies or look at their pupils. But, the thing that most disturbed me was that Lexie is supposed to have a photographic memory. Why didn't the panel just ask her to recap the whole scene and fill in the blanks using testimony from the other doctors? Just an observation.