Yes, it's finally time!! Insert the usual disclaimers here. Remember this is a SPOILER thread, so if you like to be surprised, please exit the thread now.

TV PREMIERE

Sept 20

TRIBES

Zhan Hu - Gold tigers
Ashley, Chicken Morris, Sherea, Mike, Pei-Gee, Dave, Jaime, Erik

Fei Long - Red flying dragons
Amanda, Jean-Robert, Leslie, Todd, Denise, Aaron, Courtney, James

Zhan Hu must not do too well because the first 2 boots come from them. Chicken Morris will be first (this year's designated old guy) and then Ashley (pro wrestler.)

Look for Todd, Peih-Gee and Courtney to go pretty far.

I forget who they are, but one of the guys is a pro poker player and one of the guys is an undertaker. There's also at least one model/actor, yawn. Flight attendant, school teacher, the usual.

COOL STUFF
There are going to be hidden immunity idols again, at least 2, one at each camp. They will be in plain sight, but the Survivors won't necessarily know what they are.

This time, instead of an exile island, the team winning Reward Challenge will get to select one member of the losing tribe to kidnap. The victim will get a note from Jeff that contains a clue to the immunity idol. The victim gets to choose who to give the note to, in private. The victim will be returned to their tribe for the next Immunity Challenge.

EPISODE 1
The Survivors begin in Shanghai. They go to a Buddhist Temple (where Ashley appears less than impressed), then they are sent to 2 separate islands in Zhelin Lake in the Jiangxi Province.

Episode 1 also features a challenge that involves each tribe moving through an interlocking maze carrying the traditional dragon/tiger used in the dragon dance. It looks really pretty and should be fun to watch.

BOOT - Chicken Morris.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Just saw a commercial for this season last night-looks interesting-at least it is a different location-I may watch this year...

Looks like the same stuff, different ppl, I think Im gettin burned out on Survivor, just not as excited as I usually get when it gets close, Im sure I'll watch but....oh well

I got burned out on Survivor about 5 seasons ago...not much you can do to drastically change the strategy anymore....is what it is.

There's a pretty good primer on this season's Survivor, which adds to Empress EGB's info - one's at http://www.tvguide.com/News/survivor-china-tribes/070820-01 and the other is at http://www.tvguide.com/news/070820-02 to get a closer look.

(Jean-Robert is the professional poker player, and James is the undertaker/burial service owner.)

'Beetle

Life as I know it can now begin ---- Survivor returns!!

(For me, it's one of two guilty pleasures -- Idol is the other one).

I got there a bit last season. But, it's the personalities that make it interesting more than the strategy.

I am with you, BBS. I do agree BF that a lot of it is the personalities-I stopped watching 2 seasons ago (I think it was-I have lost track)-the people were boring and the challenges were the same. I heard it was different last season, but I didn't watch it.

Tonights the night!!! I have been looking forward to this season!

I just don't care to watch when they have to eat that gross stuff like bugs or cow's blood, etc. Ugh!

Spoilers for tomorrow.

RC - Mud Challenge. Involves drop release balls & color coded mats. Full contact defense. Reward is blankets and tarps. Win - Fei Long.

Kidnap - Jaime

IC - Battering ram. Smash a wooden barrier with a battering ram. Win - Fei Long.

Boot - Ashley.

Meh. Even before Ashley said it, I was thinkin' "Man, that Dave guy is a real tool." They shoulda booted him, but since everyone on the tribe voted her down, I guess Ashley must be even worse, although I suspect a reflexive "Oh, we need strong d00ds for the challenges." Even though he completely wussed out.

I probably would have kept Ashley over Dave. He worked around camp, but he totally bombed in the challenge last night.

I would have kept her too, he is just way too annoying, and he bombed the challenge

He only bombed b/c he had been working so hard around camp. I do agree that it was stupid that they hadn't cooked any food though. It wouldn't have been that big of a deal to get a small fire going to cook some rice. That was a little ridiculous, but why couldn't Ashely decide that she was going to cook anyway. He's not the boss.

Plus, Ashley is WAAAAAYYYYY better to look at! Ratings people, ratings!!!

Are you kidding? I'm suprised she wasn't smothered in her sleep the first night. What a worthless whiny slug.

And she's not that hot either.....

I didn't think she was at first, but last night changed my mind! Maybe it was all the running around in her undies!

Ok... she was like a skinny little toothpick -- but, very top heavy... too top heavy, obviously a fake addition. I can't say that Dave didn't get on my nerves too, but she wasn't any better and he was actually working.

That's why it appeared to be an easy choice for her to be gone.

I cant believe that leslie[i think thats her name, the radio talk show lady] told that guy about the hidden Idol, I would have looked a lot more before telling anyone, I think hes[todd?] is going to go far, I like him, hes pretty funny...we'll see

I'm not really likin' any of them too much so far, 'cept maybe Graaaavedigger! and the black-haired chick, and maybe that so-called Frosti. Peih-Gee is way annoying, and so is Dave, and Jean-Robert so far hasn't come across half so clever as he believes. New York Waitress is bringing the snark, but she has a bit too much 'tude for my tastes.

I see that I'm not the only one that's kind of disappointed with the participants this season. Most of them seem so whiny (is that a word???). Suck it up. You've seen the show before and know what it's going to be like. I wouldn't be on it!

I also agree that Ashley could have cooked some rice. Surely, someone could have helped make a small cooking fire, if she couldn't, and they could have had a little rice. You don't have to have a fire pit for that. I understand Dave's concept, but you have to look out for "now" as well as "later."