RNO Roundtable: ‘Survivor: All-Stars’ Predictions

It’s prediction time once again at RealityNewsOnline. Time to gather up the writers and look into our crystal balls to foresee how each of the 18 All-Star Survivor contestants will do. This time, we have six participants – David Bloomberg, Jason Borelli, Jeffrey Clinard, Jamie Goralski, Phil Kural, and Betsy Wasser. Normally, our predictions are shots in the dark, based on what we can see in their profiles and our own intuitions. Sometimes we’re right on the mark, sometimes (okay, more often), we’re not. But this time we know all the players, so it’s just a matter of trying to figure out how they will all interact with each other. Let’s take a look at how we think each person will do, who we pick to make the jury, who will be in the final four, and who will be the ultimate winner. Plus, each writer talks about how this edition will differ from previous ones, who they are most looking forward to seeing again, and who isn’t here that they wish would have been. Let’s get to it!

Alicia:

Jason: How good was she in The Australian Outback? Put it this way: if Jeff Varner had not sold out Kucha for peanut butter, we’d be thinking of Colby as the white, male Alicia. She’s fit, she’s friendly, and I can’t see her starting static like she did with Kimmi. She will definitely finish stronger than ninth place this time around.

Jamie: At whom will she wave her famous finger? She’s tough and athletic, and I think she’ll be out pre-merge so as so eliminate her as a physical threat. I don’t see her tolerating either of the Robs particularly well, so they may find her expendable.

Jeffrey: It's hard to judge Alicia, since she was a victim of tribal alliances in her game, and the Kuchas never had a hard cut at tribal council (Debb and Kimmi were unanimous, and Michael left due to injury). What she did understand is that the Ogakor alliance wasn't going to cut Jerri instead of her, correcting defining Elisabeth's position on the idea as naive. In some ways she's going to be a wild card as I'm not sure what to expect from her when power is up for grabs.

Phil: As far as Alicia is concerned, I think she is going to do rather well. I’ve always felt that people are going to target those who did better their season than those who were ousted earlier. Alicia is a hard worker who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. The latter part might get her in trouble with a few of the others, but there are so many outspoken people that will be there that I don’t think she has to worry about being “too outspoken.” She is a pick of mine to at least make the jury.

Betsy: I like Alicia and I think she’ll do well in All-Stars. She’s strong, so she’ll be great in challenges, and she is a likeable person. We did see her clash with Kimmi in the Outback (who can forget “I will always wave my finger in your face!”), so we know she can have a temper. Looking at the rest of her tribe, I think Susan probably has the best chance of getting on Alicia’s bad side, which could spell trouble. We also never got to see Alicia use much strategy, so her ability to plot and scheme is a bit of a mystery. Nevertheless, Alicia is probably the most athletic member of her tribe, so they would be smart to keep her around at least until the merge.

David: I think Alicia, a strong woman, will potentially scare both Robs as a potential threat to their power – and Tom might not be thrilled about her either. Mind you, if Rob C. manages to hit it off with her, he will have no problem taking her along in an alliance, but I think she’s more likely to be on the outside rather than the inside. She might last a little while because of her strength, but then there are no obvious weaklings on Chapera, so personality will likely become the deciding factor. Honestly, I see her going early.

Amber:

Jason: Back in The Australian Outback, Amber was nothing more than Jerri’s henchwench. In fact, one message board poster coined the name “Lamber” just for her. Some have written her off on this edition simply because she isn’t as exciting as those who couldn’t make it to the Pearl Islands. I see her as a dark horse. She won’t improve on her sixth place finish, but she will turn heads and shock minds.

Jamie: The original Darrah. Almost a non-entity on her season – will she step it up and prove she’s a player to be reckoned with? I think so. Reports are that she was unhappy with the way she was edited the first time, so I think she has an axe to grind. If she can forge the right alliance with someone who is abrasive enough to take the heat for their collective power, I think she has a good shot at finishing very well. She has two choices on her tribe: pick a Rob, any Rob.

Jeffrey: I will state this outright – of all the Survivor All-Stars, I think Amber is the least deserving of a position. She was pretty much a non-entity during her stay in the Outback, and didn't consider her strategic position when she continued to vote with an alliance that had cut her out of it. However, because she's such a non-combatant in the quest for power, she might last some time just by avoiding being the target in a firefight between players who make power grabs.

Phil: Many feel that it’s a stretch to call Amber an “All-Star.” I disagree. I think she was a good choice for the show. I’m sure most are correct that she is only there because Elisabeth and Colleen turned down the offer, but their loss is her gain. I think Amber will do surprisingly well. Her strategy will probably be the same that it was during her stint in the Outback: find someone who is loud and obnoxious, and ride their coattails for as long as possible. She is on a very athletic tribe, and I think that will help her in the long run too, not to mention being on the same tribe as Alicia, someone she has dealt with in the past. I’m predicting she makes the final four.

Betsy: How on earth will Amber know what to do without Jerri at her side to tell her? Amber is one of the players who least deserves to be back – she was only adequate in challenges, and she was such a poor strategist that she never even tried to form a counter-alliance when her best bud Jerri was voted out by their tribe. On this team, she’s without a doubt the most expendable. Look for Amber’s torch to be snuffed early.