This week on Make Me A Nerd, Mandy marches barefoot into the unwashed, coconut-scented, betrayal-laden world of Survivor. And who better to guide her through this mosquito-infested fever dream than Patrick Gomez, Editor-in-Chief of Entertainment Weekly and a man who has spent an alarming amount of time thinking about reality television strategy.
Yes, Mandy—who typically prefers her entertainment with a side of not starving to death—has watched an entire season of Survivor, specifically Heroes vs. Villains (because nothing says “survival” like arbitrarily labeling people based on past television appearances). She emerges with questions—about alliances, injuries, the baffling lack of toothbrushes, and, most importantly, where and how these people poop. Yes, poop. Because if you’re living on a beach for over a month, that is a logistical nightmare.
Patrick, a man who has personally interviewed the Survivor gods and lives to tell the tale, spills the behind-the-scenes tea: the scheming, the suffering, the completely unnecessary levels of shirtlessness, and the fact that Jeff Probst might actually be immortal. Also, did you know Survivor once had a season that was essentially race wars? Because that happened. And CBS aired it. In the 21st century.
Mandy and Patrick also discuss:
- Boston Rob and his accent, which sounds like an actor badly pretending to be from Boston.
- Sandra, the queen of “As long as it ain’t me,” and why she is the best player of all time.
- Russell, a man who exudes the chaotic energy of someone who has definitely tried to start a cult in a Walmart parking lot.
- Parvati, whose flirty villainy makes Mandy want to punch a wall.
- The time a contestant faked his grandmother’s death to win a challenge.
- And, of course, why the pizza rewards look like something that was legally ruled “not food” by the FDA.
Plus, if you become a Make Me A Nerd member, you’ll get access to an Oscars special where Patrick spills behind-the-scenes secrets from Hollywood’s biggest night. Because if there’s anything more cutthroat than Survivor, it’s awards season.
So, grab some wine, drop your buffs, and prepare for an episode so packed with drama, you’ll want to vote someone off your couch just to process it all.
Links & Notes
- Become a Make Me A Nerd member for ad-free episodes & bonus content: makemeanerd.com/join
- Follow Mandy on Instagram: @mandy_kaplan_klavens
- Follow Patrick on social: @PatrickGomezLA
- Read Patrick’s work on Entertainment Weekly: EW.com
