Survivor: Cook Islands – Missing Intelligence and Insider Clips: Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together

This leads into another MIA runner-up, by the way. The Asian-American team for lack of humor. Cao Boi amuses the bejeezus out of me, but he sure fell flat with the younger crew he’s stuck with, didn’t he? Guess what, gang, it’s okay to make jokes! Even jokes about yourself. Especially jokes about yourself! Maybe it’s an age thing, because all the ones who were offended were young, probably overly idealistic, and not mature enough to realize that sometimes, a joke is just a joke. It doesn’t perpetuate stereotypes or make you a bad person. It won’t change the world. It could make you laugh, but only if you let it. I have a whole repertoire of great woman jokes (how many men does it take to open a beer? None, the woman should have it open when she brings it to you), and I heard them first from a man. They were amusing because I knew the guy didn’t think derogatorily towards the female persuasion (indeed, he was desperate to figure out ways to get closer to it).

Context, people. Context. If someone is telling an ethnic joke, and you know they’re the sort to actually believe the drivel and not just take it as an amusing stereotype of a joke, then you’re right, it’s not funny. Serial killer jokes from Jeffrey Dahmer would have been wrong, for example. So would cannibalism jokes. If it’s just a normal Joe like you, who judges people on their own merits, and not on the color of their skin, the size of their gazongas, or other extraneous traits, then loosen up—LAUGH!

Ergo, second runner-up for MIA: Team Puka for lack of humor.

Tribal Council Clip: Here we get to see people whose names I do not know yet voting Sekou off. I do like that name. It’s nifty. Pretty much it’s a love fest filled with clichés, such as “you’re sweet, but the weakest link” aimed at both Sundra and Sekou.

Sekou’s Final Words: I’m honestly not sure I can do this meandering, rambling monstrosity justice. He does seem sweet, but he goes on and on about being a leader and it gets a bit gag worthy. He waxes rhapsodic about how he cares about his Hiki tribe, and that they will win if they stay focused. He hopes they keep his sentiments and remember the struggle they went through to get to the island. He’s a fallen member but he’s still standing. Yes, I know. Don’t ask. I have no idea either.

He’s sure he had a strong effect on his tribe, and he goes on some more about being a leader. This boy REALLY thinks he’s a total leader. He doesn’t have a clue they thought he was lazy too and that they weren’t cohesive and that by getting rid of him, maybe they’d be cohesive. He hopes he didn’t offend anyone in his decision-making. They saw him as a strong influence, he says, and he’s glad he got to share his opinions and strengths. He’s proud to have been their first leader. Again, remember the struggle, he says, talking about their struggle to get to the island.

Sekou, The Day After: He’s disappointed he went as early as he did. He was looking forward to losing more weight and being in the wilderness. He also wanted to be involved in the sports and competition. He claims confidence right up until the final vote was read. He says he didn’t think he was slow, but wanted to see what everyone was made of. I have no idea. Really. More on the first day struggle getting to camp. More on what a motivator and leader he was. More on how they made him the leader.

Nathan warned him, he said, that they needed to get a plan because “the sisters will stick together.” Gee, if only they’d done that from the time they hit the beach. Oh excuse me; they were busy struggling and making him leader. Sorry.

Sekou calls this a million-dollar trip because of the experience. He got to reclaim that kid inside who used to go to camp that you lose when you grow up and work. I like that sentiment. He says the ethnic lines division didn’t bother him. It’s like family: you’re given a tribe, and you don’t get to pick it, so you just deal with it. This isn’t about race, he says, it’s about strategy and competition. Well said.

There we have it, a panoply (not) of clips recapped for your pleasure. Remind me sometime to tell you the hoops I had to jump through to get my browser to start playing the clips again (Norton Internet Security apparently hates CBS.com).

Now to our final, One Winner to Rule Them All, Missing Intelligence Award recipient! My friend Flica. Your eerie resemblance to Courtney aside, being a big enough dumb ass to lose your chickens is unforgivable. Your team depended on those. One of your own was sent to Exile Island for ensuring you got two of them. Good food, protein, a nice advantage on these early days as you adjust to life without an In-and-Out (god, I miss those burgers), and you blew it by being an idiot. Perhaps there is a reason your friends nicknamed you after a horse (horses are sweet, but dang, they’re not too bright).

Congratulations, Flica. This MIA is for you!

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent Survivor: Cook Islands articles here on RealityNewsOnline:

Heathyr Fields Ford loves commentary and feedback, and she can be reached at heathyranne@hotmail.com when she’s not being a geek in her online roleplaying game.

David Bloomberg is the Editor of RealityNewsOnline and can be reached at RNO@pobox.com.

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