RNO Roundtable – ‘Survivor: Cook Islands’ Predictions

It’s time once again for RealityNewsOnline writers to make our predictions. Will David Bloomberg go back to picking well, as he did previously in choosing Brian (Thailand), Jenna (Amazon), and Amber (All-Stars)? Will anybody do better than everybody did in predicting Palau, Guatemala, and Exile Island? Let’s find out as we read the predictions of David Bloomberg, Jenn Brasler, Jeffrey Clinard, Jeffrey Sadow, and Brian Towers.

Adam Gentry

Brian: I expect Adam will be a leader this season. However, he is a physical threat and could potentially win a series of individual immunities. So although I think he can make the jury, the others cannot allow him to advance as far as the final four.

Jeffrey S.: Adam seems willing to take a risk, which will help. He also has a personal fitness training background, which helps as well but may not be a good indicator, since you need more than athleticism to succeed and his profile doesn’t indicate that. He might sneak into the jury, but probably not.

Jenn: It’s impossible to tell what kind of player Adam will be. He’s an athlete, so he’ll probably do well at the physical challenges, but other than that, his bio information doesn’t provide much insight. I see him coasting for a while, then getting booted somewhere around the middle of the season, but before the jury.

Jeffrey C.: I think Adam is going to stick around for a while, as he makes a good fit into his initial tribe and will be valued for his ability to win challenges. After the final merge though, I think he'll be a threat, and thus get targeted fairly early in the jury phase of the game. Jury duty.

David: As Jenn indicates, Adam’s bio doesn’t give us much to go by. But the whole frat boy/personal trainer thing just doesn’t scream “Survivor success!” to me. I think he’ll be out fairly early.

Becky Lee

Brian: What’s not to like about Becky? Her volunteer work could prepare her better than most for the environment. Although most of the attorneys on the show don’t fare all that well, she just might sneak onto the jury.

Jeffrey S.: Becky seems fit and intelligent enough, and her work in the legal profession may help her read people, but I get a sense from her biography that it may make her a little too combative to make it beyond the jury.

Jenn: An athletic attorney? Now there’s someone who might be a threat. The pretty women on Survivor are often underestimated, so I think she might be able to fly under the radar, then pull out some sort of surprising twist. I think she’ll make the jury.

Jeffrey C.: I think Becky will show she's worthy of staying in the game initially, and that will carry her until the merge. After that, she might be able to lie low and progress well into the end-game. I don't predict her to win, but I think she might make the final four.

David: Becky has brains, athleticism, and looks – a good Survivor combination. Add to that the volunteer work in developing countries and she has experience as well. She’ll make the jury, but beyond that? Well, I’m just not sure.

Billy Garcia

Brian: Billy has the potential to be a physically overpowering presence on the show – reminiscent of Judd from Survivor: Guatemala. I can see Billy being used by his tribe to win team rewards and immunities, then getting voted out just before the jury is formed.

Jeffrey S.: Billy is the hardest read of all the players; an ex-Marine and you have to respect anybody who will admit a favorite actor is Bruce Campbell (“Clatto Verata N... Necktie... Nickel... It's an "N" word, it's definitely an "N" word!”). Yet, at the same time it’s hard to take anybody seriously who chose his current career on the basis of a Foreigner tune. I think he’ll fall short of the jury.

Jenn: Wouldn’t he do better on Rock Star: Supernova? He doesn’t seem like the sort of person who would be on Survivor. He’ll be one of the first people gone.

Jeffrey C.: Billy is going to be a great position early in the game where his strength will be valued for challenges, so he'll last until the jury stage. After that... well, his strength will be a problem. He'll be considered a challenge threat and be eliminated quickly and sent to the jury.

David: I agree with Jeffrey C. that Billy should do well early if his tribe values his strength. But he’s going to need to show he can succeed in the social aspect of the game too, or they might kick him to the curb. I think he’ll manage okay and get to the merge, maybe even the jury. But no way he goes beyond that.

Brad Virata

Brian: According to the TV Guide Channel preview, Brad’s kept one secret in his life very effectively. Is there a better talent for Survivor? An athletic background that includes swimming skills is also a big plus, and he could be another individual immunity threat. Although he doesn’t mention Survivor in his list of favorite TV shows, I still see him making the jury, but then getting voted out soon after.

Jeffrey S.: Brad is an ex-model, and unless you look good in a bikini that is the kiss of death in Survivor, given the typical overall and game intelligence people in that profession tend to possess. Despite being well traveled, I get the idea he won’t adjust well to the Spartan conditions and is gone early.

Jenn: Well, of course there’s a model on the island. What would reality TV be without one? Brad doesn’t impress me much; unfortunately, he seems fairly shallow. Maybe he’ll wind up changing my mind, but right now I don’t peg him as one who will stick around very long.

Jeffrey C.: I expect Brad to do well, making it to the jury phase. He seems to be a good fit into his tribe, and with a good alliance might be able to make it to the final four. However, I'm going to guess he'll eventually be voted on in the jury phase, perhaps just missing out on the final four though.

David: Wow, I’m getting nothing on this guy. He’s athletic, but so are most of the contestants this time around. Since I’m not picking up anything that tells me he’ll do well, I’m going to have to go the other way and say he’ll be left behind. Plus, let’s face it, I’m biased against male models.

Candice Woodcock

Brian: The conditions will not be a factor for young Candice after her time in a Kenyan village, and a pre-med student’s knowledge might just come in handy as well. I’m impressed by her résumé, but I have a feeling she just misses the jury.