For the first time in a long while, the show will divide the 18 contestants up into three distinct groups, each of which bears the name of an animal distinct to the region: Kalabaw (“Water Buffalo”), Tandang (“Rooster”) and Matsing (“Monkey”). It is expected that this season will bring marine-based challenges to the forefront and, as always, demand the utmost physical endurance and stamina from each contestant. Survivor ain’t no easy game, folks!
On tonight’s premiere episode medically evacuated veterans Michael Skupin, Jonathan Penner and Russell Swan return to battle for the title of Sole Survivor. Meanwhile, former teen star Lisa Whelchel (“The Facts of Life”) fights to shield her identity from the tribe and, despite his athletic background, former National League MVP Jeff Kent (San Francisco Giants) hits a rough patch early in the game, on the special 90-minute season premiere of SURVIVOR: PHILIPPINES, Wednesday, Sept. 19 (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
If you want to find out who the 18 contestants are and the teams they are on go here to see our precap of tonight’s epsiode.
Tonight’s premiere is going to be filled with the usual drama, which you won’t want to miss. So be sure to tune in for our live coverage of CBS’s Survivor Philippines – tonight at 8PM EST! While you wait for our recap, hit the comments and let us know how what you think of the contestant this season and the location!
Tonight’s episode: Survivor is one of the most dangerous shows, over 24 seasons many who started the game where not be able to finish. This season three former players are returning to finish what they started. Thirty nine days, eighteen people but only one survivor and winner of a million dollars.
There are three tribes hits season instead of two. Celebrity, Lisa Welchel, hopes that people don’t recognize her so it doesn’t ruin her game. Jeff tells the contestants that three players are returning to the show for a second shot as they left for medical reasons. There was Russell Swan from Survivor: Samoa who passed out due to severe dehydration, Jonathan Penner from Survivor: Macronesia had an infection that could have killed him and Michael Skupin from Survivor: Australia that burned his hands when he fell into a fire. These returning contestants are going to be the leaders of their tribes and they have experience on their side. Russell is on the blue tribe “Matsing”, Jonathan on the red tribe “Kalabaw” and Michael on the yellow tribe “Tandang”.
Jeff gives the contestants a run down on the immunity idols, then he tells them that the boat they are in is loaded with supplies and they need to take as much as they can in sixty seconds and load them on their rafts.
On tribe Matsing, Russell tells his team right from the start that he is not the leader yet he keeps telling everyone what to do. The tribe works together and within a half hour, they get a fire going. The rest of the tribe mates are just humouring Russell as he bosses them all around.
On tribe Kalabaw, Jeff hurt his knee on the boat and he is trying to hide it so he doesn’t become a target. Being a returning third time player, Jonathan has a huge target on his back.
On Tandang tribe, RC is hiding her career telling people she is an assistant when she is really an investment banker. Abi is already using her body by flirting up a storm with the guys. RC approaches Michael, she wants to get into an alliance with him right from the start.
Jeff is also lying about his career, by not telling them that he is a former baseball player but one player knows full well who he is and plans to use the information to her advantage when the time is right.
Lisa is telling the girls on her tribe that she is in the “ministry of moms” and writes books. Lisa thinks Survivor is a Godsend for her to figure out who she is and it doesn’t hurt that she loves the game. RC finds it hard to trust Lisa and is already turning the rest of the tribe against her. Michael knows who Lisa is and thinks she should tell everyone because it could be her trump card. Later that night, Michael tells Lisa that he knows who she is really is and would love for her to stay so they can work together.
Denise is a therapist and she is curious about Zane who thinks all the jobs that he has had makes him a perfect Survivor player. Roxy is also warming up to Zane, she finds that he is a real people person. Zane has made alliances with everyone on the tribe and they all think he is there only alliance, he thinks he has the power to pick them off one at a time. Malcolm runs over to Denise and tells her that Zane made all these alliances.
Michael realizes that he needs to take a real strong leader ship role on his tribe. Michael has already hurt his foot, cut his head, hurt his hand, DC thinks he is accident prone and needs to take it easy.
Katie already doesn’t like what is going on with Jonathan and finds that he is a dangerous player. Meanwhile, Jonathan has been searching for the immunity idol all day and figures out that there is a clue located in the bag of rice.
Russell goes to cook some rice for his tribe and by sheer luck, he also finds the immunity clue. Little does Russell know, Zane watched the whole thing.
It’s time for the first immunity challenge, each team is going to be separated into pairs. They have to climb a wall to retrieve some paddles, then bring them to the water to pass on to another paidr that has to row out to retrieve a chest and bring it back to shore. Another pair has to remove the puzzle pieces from the crate and the first tribe to make the puzzle wins.
They are playing for immunity, with it they are safe in this game. The winner of this challenge as well as the runner-up will be safe and have immunity.
There is a big reward, a fire making kit, with immunity and Kalabaw wins it. Tandang comes in second and wins flint. Matsing is last and will be heading to tribal council.
Russell is trying to talk to the tribe, but Zane interrupts and Russell thinks he threw himself under the buss and will be the person going home. Angie is annoyed at Russell because he keeps saying he is not the leader but keeps making all the decisions.
Time for Tribal Council, fire represents their life and when their fire is gone, so are they. Jeff asks Denise what she thinks about returning players, she tells him she is mixed about it but definitely finds it a gift because they have experience. Russell admits that he blew it, he should not have dictated to the tribe and was wrong.
Time for the results, Zane 4, Russ 1; it’s official, the first person voted out is Zane.
What did you think of the first episode, did you like it as much as I did? One thing is for sure, that big sigh of relief you heard was coming from Russell who is really happy that he wasn’t sent home.
The end!