Latest peeves (do any of the contestants watch the show before going on it?):

I've noticed for a few seasons now that, unlike previous seasons, Probst's questions at Tribal directly address issues roiling back at the tribe's camp. He clearly has seen footage, been briefed by the producers, and goes into Tribal knowing which buttons to push.

Yes, really. The sunset overlay also removes some buildings behind Mel's Diner to make the location look more rural (the actual diner was located in downtown San Francisco). If you dig around on the U-Toob you can find both versions.

Actually, he did alter American Graffiti. For the 1998 "Collector's Edition" he added a CGI sunset to the sky during the opening credits.

"Brandon has two tattoos on his body that say Hantz. The one on his arm
says 'Little Hantz' and he has one on his back that says 'Hantz.' "

They forgot to mention that Mikayla posed nekkid in Playboy earlier this year. Maybe he has a subscription and was having a fap flashback.

So Li'l Hantz thinks Mikayla is an evil Delilah because he finds her attractive and fears this may "make" him cheat on his wife? Whuh?

Thanks Zeluge. Now I remember (with a little help from the Fringe wiki).

The Coin
What was the deal with Walter recognizing the fiddy cent piece? Was that a call back to a previous episode (memory's fuzzy), or were they laying pipe for a future development?

Yeah… J. J. Abrams.

A Show About Characters
The problem with "we see this as a show about characters, that happens to be science fiction" is not that there's something inherently wrong with favoring development of character over genre. Of course your characters shouldn't be hobbled by slavishly adhering to your story's chosen form.

Scanning that recap, I wondered… how long has it been since they've awarded a car after a challenge? Didn't they use to do that every season?

This has puzzled me for weeks. What is their strategy for beating Rob? As Adam B. mentions above, maybe it's just the edit, but I dunno — it's like they're all working together to ensure Rob gets the million. Maybe they think that if they make it to the final, a majority of the jury will be pissed at Rob and vote for…

Also agree with Adam's points. The lack of reward challenges has really cut back on stoking envy and creating back-stab planning opportunities. I recall in previous seasons numerous allegiance switches hatched at reward retreats (and back at camp by the pissed off people not chosen to participate).

I know I've already bitched about the Sprint product placements, but the Nina & Broyles video chat scene this week was particularly awkward. Especially since the phones sported oversized Sprint decals not found on the actual phones. Conspicuous product placement causes my suspension of disbelief to be un-suspended.

Yeah, I know. I'm just afraid that in 5 years every character in prime time will be wearing NASCAR suits covered in corporate logo patches.

Zoom
"Here, Walter, I downloaded an episode of Zoom for you onto my new Sprint Samsung Galaxy Tab(tm). It's the first Android(tm) tablet from Sprint! It has a brilliant seven inch touchscreen, and, unlike our competitor's product, its browser supports Flash! Sprint — The Now Network(tm). Oh, sorry, I'll leave you…

Maybe it's the editing, but isn't it weird that no one on Rob's tribe (other than Grant and now, by accident, Phillip) seems to have the immunity idol on their radar? No one has wondered where the clues are or has been out looking for it. Have they all just forgotten the individual idol exists?

It was a reuse of the prop assassination gun from "In the Line of Fire" (1993). Maybe John Malkovich had a garage sale or something.

@ E. Toohey