MONDO EXTRAS

Somehow this segues to the fact that "Survivor's on the move again," and it's time for a sneak peek. Bryant claims that the next season is "in a place both exotic and dangerous and about as far from civilization as one can get" as we go to the video. Just Peachy makes his first appearance -- even if it's just voice-over -- as we learn that the next setting will be in the Marquesas, a "mystical island" in the South Pacific. It has dangerous sea life; it has "a history steeped in superstition and violence"; it doesn't have Rudy, Rodger, or Big Tom, though, so they'll have to try pretty hard to gain my allegiance. To keep things exciting, the new S16 will be given no rations -- no food, water, or fire -- whatsoever, although they will get "the most basic of essentials." Like magnifying glasses and food auctions. Work together; new society, battling the elements: by now, we've got it down. But the new logo is pretty funky-looking, and it does look like a beautiful place. ["It starts February 28. So soon!" -- Wing Chun]

The S16 seem really psyched for the new season. Bryant "Try to Change the Channel and you Choke; Try to Walk Away and you Stumble" Gumbel asks who among them would go on the show again if given the chance, and it looks like they all would except maybe Brandon. Clarence has some trouble with the no-rations rule, and it seems clear to me that he's trying to get some kind of commercial deal with Ponderosa, or some other all-you-care-to-eat chain or fine dining establishment that allows patrons to "super-size."

As the show winds up, Bryant wants to know whether it helps to have watched other seasons of the show. He cites Brandon, Kelly, and Linda as the biggest Survivor fans going into the competition, and Brandon responds, "You can see where we ended up." The S16 all talk at once because they realize that camera time is running out, and their fifteen minutes are drawing to a close. Silas thinks "the least [sic] you know the better," but Kelly believes that some prior knowledge "helps you jump in out there." Silas disagrees again; he insists that worrying about strategy and making plans "totally kills you" and that "flying under the radar" is the best way to compete. I have no idea what being under the radar has to do with having watched previous seasons, but whatever. Bryant puts on the smackdown and says, "With all due respect, let me hear from the front row on this." Ethan earnestly says that having watched the previous seasons helped him figure out "which way to go." He makes a point of saying he didn't watch "religiously, but as we learn from the Back from Africa special (Plug #3: recap coming soon to Mighty Big TV), Silas did. Bryant responds, "Maybe, maybe, maybe...you watched Rudy" and "figured out just how to do it correctly." We then see Rudy in the audience again. He gets a special greeting from Bryant "My New Best Friend" Gumbel, who says, "There's Rudy with us today. Nice seein' you, Rudy!" Nice seeing you, indeed! The Happy Music of We Got to See Rudy Again plays as we go to commercial. La la la la la la la la la.