Survivor – Russell Voted off and Crying

RussTears.jpgAs millions of fans watched on in horror, our favorite villain we love to hate Russell Hantz was voted off for the first time. It’s no secret that the entire ploy of redemption island was to prevent what happened from happening.  Just in case Boston Rob and Russell were voted off, then this would keep them on the show a little bit longer and allow other plots to develop which it did.

If you were on the island and watched Russell play the game, and play it hard twice, there is no doubt in my mind that you would and should get rid of him.  He’s too clever, knows the game to well and is way too crafty.  I personally think he should have won twice, but the bitterness of the voting at the end shocked me both times as it did Russell.

The flaw in the Producers plan was that Russell sucks at challenges, that’s why they tried to make it less physical and more mental.  Russell should have had that challenge won.  He had time to stack the over sized dominoes right, and actually deserved to lose.  That just goes to show you how crazy it is to make it to the finale twice!

WHAT DID RUSSELL SAY ABOUT CRYING?

During a live interview with bloggers.  Russell commented on the tears:

The Question was asked, “What was going through your head when you were crying at Redemption Island?”

It’s like when you get these big, 350-lb. linebackers crying because they just lost the Super Bowl (OK, so he overshot the size of an NFL linebacker by at least several dozen pounds, but the analogy works). You put EVERYTHING into this: your heart, your soul, your mind. It is so draining. It’s so emotional, even for me. You know my kids turned to my wife – I watched it by myself – and said, “I’ve never seen Daddy cry before.” And they’re 11. Because I don’t do that. And I felt like I let everybody down: my fans, my friends, Jeff, Mark Burnett, the cast … the whole camera crew, the sound people. I got to be family out there with these guys.

Jeff looked at me once I got voted off, before the cameras were rolling, when we were setting up to talk. He looked at me and he put his head down, and he put his hand up and he said, “Give me a second.” When he did that I could see in his eyes, I felt like he was upset. I know I’m good TV; I get that. And I know they want me on the show further, for good TV; I get that. But you know when I feel like I let them down, it hurt my feelings. And that’s what started it. And then when he was like, “This is it, Russell,” it was just overwhelming. It’s hard for me to even talk about it right now, just overwhelming.

You can read the entire interview here

I lost a little respect for Russell, but now it’s back.  In retrospet you can’t play with the game like that, and not feel it.

To put Russell out there a 3rd time was crazy, because of the game he plays.  It’s not a game that can be repeated.  He stated that he’s done playing Survivor.  I hope so.  In my mind he’s still on top, so going out on top is the best way to go.

I don’t agree with his parting statements of the Rookies not playing fair so to speak, but I think they did what they needed to do, and it’s the same thing that I would have done.  It’s a million dollars on the line.

I still think he’s the greatest player to have played the game.  Now it’s time for Russell to go on Celebrity Apprentice. Richard Hatch, meet Russell Hantz.

-Cosmo