RNO Roundtable - 'Survivor: The Amazon' Predictions, Part 2: The Men

Phil: Point blank, I think he is my favorite this go-around. Not only is this guy in phenomenal shape, but he seems really cool. He has held jobs the require someone to be very intelligent, and I think that will work in his favor. This guy is definitely going to the final four, and if he doesn't I am going to be pissed. He sorta reminds me of Nick from Survivor 2. I just hope he is a little more outgoing than Nick was, and I think he will be. Dave seems like a fun guy to be around, and I think he is going to be around for awhile. Definitely going to be an MVP I would say.

Ken: Unlike Daniel, he must have a high threshold for "grossness," as he only took three showers in the two months he spent biking across the U.S. That comes out to about a shower every three weeks. Hopefully, he won't fall into Kimmi's trap here, and will learn to get up close and personal with a bar of soap. The rocket scientist seems to have a lot of endurance, and will probably be in better condition than the others as the game wears on. Seems to be one of those guys everyone will either like or hate. For some reason, he reminds me of a more intellectual version of Robb, in that he seems to be the free-spirited type. As long as he doesn't rub his tribe the wrong way, he'll make the merge, and then just barely miss the final four.

Jamie: A bona fide rocket scientist who found it important to note that one summer he showered only three times. He probably brings an analytical mind and methodical way of doing things but seems like their is a whole lot of frat boy left in him. He has a very down to earth regular guy vibe about him and I think it will carry him to the jury.

Brian: A man who has drinking beer as one of his hobbies. Are you sure you don't play rugby, Dave? Well he has the brain power that's going to be needed to succeed in the game. That's highly evident. He has the frat boy mentality which tends to work with the age demographic of the men his tribe so that works in his favor as well. Something tells me that all of this is going to ultimately work in his favor because as soon as the women take a look at his baby face they aren't going to want to let him go.

Jeffrey: I'm not sure what to make of Dave. I figure he'll be around for a few tribal councils, but somehow don't see him in the final four. I predict a mid-point exit for him.

David: Man, going last sucks - all the good rocket scientist jokes are taken. We had Charlie saying he'd be a blast and Jamie said he'd be down to earth. Sheesh. Anyway, I have a feeling he'll be tossed early. I just don't think he will have the same people skills as some of the others. I'm trying not to stereotype the engineer - because I'm one, too! But I just don't see it happening for him.

Matthew Von Ertfelda
Age: 33
From: Washington DC
Occupation: Restaurant Designer
Marital Status: Single
Luxury Item: High School Wrestling Jacket
Named one of People magazine's top fifty bachelors in 2002. Enjoys rock and ice climbing, 'hardcore adventures,' and weight lifting. In 1994, he successfully crossed the Darien Gap, a storied stretch of jungle linking Panama and Colombia. In the summer of 1998, he organized a deep jungle trek into unmapped areas of New Guinea to track cannibals. If Matt could hold political office, he would like to be Director of the CIA because he loves the cloak & dagger operations and the inherent risks.

Melinda: This season of Survivor is chock full of "alternative guy" players. In my naïve early years of watching Survivor I would have been ecstatic about players who admitted reading Ayn Rand, using magnetic healing rings, and watching Coen brothers movies. Now, I see them more as early dismissal fodder. Matthew sounds like a great, cultured guy. I admire anyone who speaks Mandarin, travels abroad, and earns academic honors. Unfortunately, Matthew comes across as the classic prig - an over-educated elitist whose good looks alone intimidate most people. And what's with his photo - his career as a model didn't teach him to smile?

Charlie: Matthew is my favorite to win amongst the males. In addition to all his adventures, he's around the right age the winners typically come from. Finding his way into an alliance might become difficult because Tambaqui is made up mostly of alpha males who will want to lead. He'll go far, but will likely be the first male picked off by the women once a merge happens.

Phil: Classic jock, and nope, I'm not impressed. I think this guy is going to be way too full of himself. To me, he is just coming across as a jerk. I hope he is gone early, but I bet he makes it to the jury only because he looks so athletic. On paper, he seems like a cool guy, but he is just giving off this vibe. Good idea to take a jacket as a luxury item though. He can use it to keep warm or even as a pillow. The luxury items this season don't seem as dumb as they did last season. At least this time the producers are letting the castaways bring stuff that may be SOMEWHAT useful out there! Anyway, as I was saying, Matthew will get pretty far, but he is not final four material. I'm assuming he will be one of the first ones gone when the merge occurs due to his strength.