RNO Roundtable: ‘Survivor: Vanuatu’ Predictions

Time once again for RealityNewsOnline writers to make our predictions. Will David Bloomberg continue to pick well, as he has done previously in choosing Brian (Thailand), Jenna (Amazon), and most recently Amber (All-Stars)? Or will somebody else step up to dethrone him? Let’s find out!

Ami Cusack, 31-year-old barista/model from Lakewood, Colorado.

Betsy: Ami has done a lot of traveling, which makes me think that she’s adventurous and somewhat fearless, both of which are qualities that could serve her well. And we learned from Jenna M. that models are great at endurance challenges, since they have to spend a lot of time holding a position and generally have good balance.

Jeffrey: I find two problems with Ami. First, she's doing Survivor for the challenge, and she trusts people. While I think she's up for the physical challenge, anybody who puts too much trust in other people in this game is going to be blindsided eventually. She'll make the jury.

David: Most of the women are around her age or older, which puts Ami in a good position. She works at a coffee bar (that’s what a barista does – if you didn’t know that, don’t feel bad, I had to look it up) so she’s used to dealing with people. I think, as Jeffrey said, that her downfall will come in trusting people. Early in the game, it’s good to get along with everybody. Later, that can come back to haunt you if you actually believe them. So I think she’ll get to the jury, but then be stabbed in the back.

Brady Finta, 33-year-old FBI agent from Huntington Beach, California.

Betsy: Ooh, Brady is lovely. And as an FBI agent with a military background, he looks like he’s in incredible shape, so he’ll do a great job with the challenges. But I wonder if his background also makes him too much of an alpha male and too much of a threat. He may have trouble surviving long past the merge.

Jeffrey: Brady has no problems with being deceptive, but won't lie, cheat, or steal to win the game. He's also aware of the problems alpha males have in the game, and wants to avoid that. I believe he can do well in the game, with a jury slot at least, and a fair chance at the money.

David: The real question with Brady is whether he will allow himself to act in the ways necessary to win the game, or if he intends to go in and be an example of a good FBI agent. If it’s the latter, he’s doomed. If it’s the former, he might have a shot. But first he will have to get past people thinking of him as a threat. You just say, “FBI SWAT team” and people are going to worry. The guys will be happy to have him around at first, but after that, not so much. He could be the victim of a pre-emptive strike before the merge. I don’t know that he’ll even make the jury.

Brook Geraghty, 27-year-old project manager from Winthrop, MA.

Betsy: Brook is athletic, so like Brady, he should do well in challenges. And as a Survivor fanatic, hopefully he knows what he’s doing in this game… although understanding the theory of the game and being able to put that theory into practice can be tough, as Ryan S. from Pearl Islands can attest.

Jeffrey: His video interview shows him as a bit cocky, with plans for the money already. Simply put, he rubs me the wrong way in a one minute interview, and I suspect he will rub his tribe the wrong way as well. Out before jury duty.

David: Well, Jeffrey, remember that Richard Hatch was cocky too! Then again, so was Silas. Hopefully, as a Survivor fanatic, he has studied the game well enough to know what to do. One of the things he shouldn’t do is tell his tribemates that he has studied the game! Like Brady, his tribemates will want to keep Brook around for challenges. I think he’ll make it past the merge and into the jury, at the very least. In fact, I see him as a possible Final 4.

Chad Crittenden, 35-year-old teacher from Oakland, CA.

Betsy: Chad is one tough guy. He’ll probably initially have to prove that despite having part of a leg amputated, he can contribute just as much around camp as anyone else. Considering that he competed in a triathlon less than a year after his surgery, I doubt that will be a problem. But the thing that will be a problem is that he’ll have a really hard time finding someone who is willing to go to the final two with someone like him.

Jeffrey: Sometimes it's not what a person can do, but what the perception is of what they can do. Clearly, his prosthetic foot may be viewed as a hindrance to his ability to compete in challenges, and lead to an early exit. The other thing that worries me about him is the way he read up on survival, Vanuatu, and all that. It's useful – but not as useful as game strategy theory and case history. Out before jury duty but if he makes it that far, he might do very well.

David: Even if Chad completely falls apart in the first challenge (which I don’t think he will do), his tribemates will be hesitant to vote him out. Why? Let’s be honest – nobody wants to be known as the guy who voted out the amputee. I don’t think Chad will try to use it to his advantage, but the others on his tribe can’t help but think about it. I think Chad will prove himself valuable and even make it to the Final 4. However, like Betsy said, it would be tough for him to go past there because at that point people start thinking about how they wouldn’t want to go against him in the end.

Chris Daugherty, 33-year-old highway construction worker from South Vienna, Ohio.

Betsy: Chris strikes me as a good ol’ boy. If he can find some like-minded players and bond with them, he’ll do fine. But if he doesn’t, he might have trouble fitting in.

Jeffrey: Chris brings a lot of good qualities to the table, including a working knowledge of past games, a focus on the money, and the will to lie, cheat, steal, and adapt. However, he's prepared to be confrontational, which worries me a great deal. I suspect he'll make it to jury duty, but no further.

David: The first thing that strikes me about Chris is that he’s 33 and wears his baseball hat backwards – come on, man, you’re not a teenager. Something about him just strikes me as a guy who will be an outsider. I don’t think he’ll make the jury.