How I got hooked with Survivor

Survivor is back! On it’s 25th season, Survivor goes to Caramoan, Camarines Sur, Philippines. Isn’t it amazing?

“This place is a tropical paradise!” On it’s 4th episode, ”Create a Little Chaos”, Jonathan Penner; a returnee from Survivor Cook Islands and Survivor Micronesia: Fans vs Favorites; blurted that this is the most beautiful place he’s ever seen. Indeed! 18 castaways were divided into three tribes: Matsing (monkey), Kalabaw (Carabao or water Buffalo) and Tandang (rooster) who will vie for the most coveted title as the sole survivor.

I’m not a Survivor fan. I haven’t even watched a full season ever. But in one of my conversations with an American customer, he mentioned how beautiful the Philippines is and he asked me if I was Pinoy because he’s been watching the most recent Survivor. I was aghast! I didn’t know what to answer so all I could come up was: “Yes. I’m glad you’re watching it too.” He even knew where the exact location is and I was like, oh no! So when I came home from work, I decided to give a shot at watching the show. And that started it all. I take pride watching the show because it truly uncovered the beauty of  the Philippines. This is also a great way to advertise why the country boost beauty like no other. Survivor showed snippets of  unspoiled beaches and awesome marine life, splendid mountains, amazing lowlands and a sanctuary to amazing variety of exotic flora and fauna that are found nowhere else. I am so proud. After watching the first episode, I’m already hooked! Not only because it features my beloved country, but also the show has everything I love about reality TV. It’s not scripted nor fabricated. It shows real emotion and the complexity of  living a life out in an island for 39 days. I enjoy the action, melancholy and comic relief that the “game” offers. The challenges are astounding and unexpected twists are unbelievable. I just can’t get enough. No wonder, Survivor is one of the most successful and most watched reality TV show to date.

Who would have guessed that I would end up being an avid fan?  I started watching previous seasons of Survivor and got fixated with it. Seriously. I’ve researched for the best Survivor seasons so that I know which ones to watch first. According to several surveys and reviews, Survivor Cook Islands, Fans vs Favorites and Survivor Heroes vs Villains are the top 3 by far. I began watching Cook Islands and then Micronesia: Fans vs Favorites and then Heroes vs Villains and in no time, I finished 3 seasons in less than a week! I just started watching Pearl Islands and still have a long list of seasons to watch one after another. I am a certified Survivor fanatic! And I am proud of it. The three seasons that I’ve seen are extremely superb. The contestants were brilliant. Blindsides, flips, twists and alliances are just a few things that add to the excitement of the game. My personal favorite is Micronesia where my ultimate idol Parvati Shallow won as sole survivor. I was sure she’d win Heroes vs Villains but then again, being allied with the worst villain in Survivor History, Russel Hantz, will not get you more votes, I guess. Outlast. Outwit. Outplay. That’s Survivor’s motto.

I love Survivor and I will keep watching now that I’m so hooked with it.
Survivor airs on CBS, Wednesdays 8/7c

Ryan Gosling for 50 Shades of Grey The Movie?

An adaptation of the popular novel 50 Shades of Grey by E L James will hit the big screen soon. A few suave actors are being considered for the coveted title role of the lustful and sexy billionare, Christian Grey. The list includes White Collar’s stunning actor Matt Bomer, new Superman hunk Henry Cavill, Step Up Revolution sweetheart Ryan Guzman, German hottie Michael Fassbender (who played Magneto in X-Men: First Class), sexy Ian Somerhalder on The Vampire Diaries as Damon and the favorite, and probably the final choice, unbelievably gorgeous and beautiful Ryan Gosling (my personal favorite).

I genuinely hope Gosling will bag the role. Among the candidates, I bet Michael Fassbender and Ian Somerhalder will be his top competitors. In my opinion, the character of Christian Grey demands someone who is genuinely charming and wealthy and intimidating, not to mention – “into women” which Gosling is undeniably all that (and more). And speaking of women, the girls that are being prepped for the character of shy Anastasia Steele are Elizabeth Olsen, Alexis Biedel, Scarlett Johansson and the favorite contender Mila Kunis. I am a big Scarlett Johansson fan, but if it’s going to be Gosling as Grey, I definitely would love to see him go sexy with Mila Kunis this time. What do you think?

The novel is tagged as “mummy porn” due to it’s sadomasochistic  sexy scenes and adult content but personally, I am not fan of it. I heard people babbling about how good the books were but my closest friends who have read it didn’t like it that much though (it’s their personal say, so let it be). Nonetheless, the movie has already created such an impact and brought numerous discussion about casting alone. This movie is deemed to compete in the box office for sure.

Well, everybody is going 50 Shades gaga over the novels 50 Shades of Grey, 50 Shades Darker and 50 Shades Freed. There has been no confirmation yet of the final casting, particularly the protagonists, of this steaming hot romantic trilogy but I will bet on my dollar that it will be Ryan Gosling and Mila Kunis for the top billing.