Returning Players Team: "Tyson, we're all so sorry Rachel was sent home. Are you okay?"

"So if Marissa loses the next duel then Redemption Island becomes Getting-It-On Island."

Pics or It Didn't Happen.

Budget cuts.

"that shed snake skin shot was mind blowing and I loved the relativity to Colton and Monica's stories"

This really throws a wrench in that Survivor slash fiction novel I've been writing.

Yes.

"Culpepper was toned way down this time around."

Yeah, about that pistols at dawn thing… could we make it, like, noon instead? I'm not really a morning person.

@JudgeReinhold:disqus Please change my crappy initial picks to the following. I don't think anyone else has these, but let me know if they do. Thanks.

As to all the weeping, teen pregnancy revealing and hepped-up-on-Horse talk, is it just me, or is Survivor really amping up the drama this time around? I'm getting an even stronger "scripted" vibe than I usually do.

Thanks Obama!

The Tribal Council set is awesome this year. Getting some ideas for the back yard…

Exile Island was so low key (lots of extended shots of the poor lonely ousted player staring wistfully into the sunset) that editing-wise it served as a good "downshift" between scenes of the hectic pacing of the main game.

Candice – ask Rupert to help you. It's okay. Just ask. If he says no, it's grounds to paint him as a layabout. If he feels compelled to say yes, he'll be just as worn out as you at the challenge. Communication, people!

I was hoping for a snarky Tyson comment in a cutaway, but on further reflection I think his stoic expression really said it all.

"The returning players are TERRIBLE paddlers."

Colton, my Colton… I see we're employing the "sorry I'm such an asshole, I'm just insecure" defense. Responsibility-free sociopathy is not conducive to redemption.

Brad: "We've got five guys right now. Well, four guys and a gay guy."

Brad Culpepper: proving once again that the convention of the meatheaded, sexist homophobic football jock is nothing but pernicious slander… oh, wait.