Green Room - Week 35 - Day 1

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

One of the challenges of putting together a mini-season is doing whatever you can to make sure that it doesn't just become the playground for a group of friends.

Not that groups of people who like each other is a bad thing. Far from it. But the danger is there of one group just running the tables on everyone else.

Heck, it's a danger in a full season as well. But there tends to be hiccups along the way that dislodge that sort of thing before you get to the very end.

It keeps things interesting and people involved.

Which is good, because Idol is greater than any one group of people. Folks who have been around for any length of time have seen "The In-Crowd" shift in change. People who were on the outside become "the cool kids" and they end up falling out of favor as the "new group" moves up. It's "the way of the world" and it's no different here.

The danger, in a mini-season, is that one group will grab hold early on and not let go... or just squeeze other people out of having a chance to enjoy their time in the game, so in planning the next one, I have to figure out how to mess with these hypothetical people. I have some ideas. :)

***

I was thinking about that earlier today, reflecting on Survivor: San Juan Del Sur with something that happened, and something that *almost* happened. When the numbers were down to the core alliance, with a couple folks they just hadn't gotten rid of yet - there was a reward challenge. Once the "other people" were out of the game - the remaining players were stopping and conferring on who would go next. Which of course pissed off the host (and executive producer) Jeff Probst. Eventually, he told them to just go ahead and tell him who was going to win. They picked Missy to go on the reward.

That's what happened. What *almost* happened is that there were two pairs left in the game: Jon and Jaclyn with Missy and Baylor. The four of them were aligned with Natalie. The plan was that when they reached Final 5, Jacyln and Baylor would allow themselves to be eliminated. Just say "OK. It's alright if I don't win."

What ended up happening though is that Natalie and Baylor decided that the deal wasn't in their best interest - and blindsided Jon.

I find that heartening - that even when you *think* you know everything that is going to happen, you can always count on someone to look out for their own self-interest and change things up!

It makes planning seasons, or mini-seasons, a little easier, knowing that the threat of a group running things to the end isn't as much of a possibility as it may seem at times. (Granted, those were still the people who got to the end in Survivor... so it can still work out of them....but not always as planned)

It's also one thing that I really do like about Idol - is that things tend to be completely up in the air at times!

Like the results from last week: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/829327.html
Setting us up for some epic battles in the Quick Fire http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/829885.html and the new Topic: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/829608.html

(There is a Work Room for those needing a little extra help: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/830124.html )

Some folks left are closer to each other than others. Some spend more time in the Green Room. All of them are really talented writers - and all of them are "a danger to go on a run" to the top! :)

Which is exciting. (at least as exciting as someone making it 100 Weeks! http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/828979.html)

I can't wait to see how this plays out. (as I plan for next time!)

Comments

[suesniffsglue.livejournal.com]

I'll be the first to admit that not interacting with Idol participants outside of Idol is a source of worry for me. Not that I'm EVER one of the cool kids anywhere I go ;) But my job leaves me without a computer for the majority of the day, and my evenings are usually tied up with life necessities, and I just barely seem to scrape by getting entries posted. I wish I was more interactive. I worry that it's going to bite me in the butt!

At the same time, I'm so thankful to still be here. I did not expect to make it this far, and I'm thrilled to be among such a talented group of people. I can honestly say I didn't read a single entry this past week that I didn't enjoy.

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

So what do you do for a job that you don't have computer access during the majority of the day?

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

I'm in the same boat :(

But you've survived! Plus you've obviously have made writing every week a priority :)

Every season I end up either missing a deadline or dropping because Real Life decides to rear its ugly head. I wish I could make writing a priority but too many other things always demand my attention :sigh:

[kickthehobbit.livejournal.com]

I think everyone worries about their level of interaction. I talk to current/former contestants outside of Idol but I'm used to be very quiet in the Green Room, and that always worried me. :)

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

I'm really eager to see what you come up with for the mini season, Gary! :)

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Me too. :)

Enjoying what I have so far.

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

I started to watch the last season of Survivor and I ended up bailing because Real Life decided to intrude on my Wednesdays. I also bailed on Top Chef :/

But yeah, when one alliance pulls through all the way people may applaud the tactics used to maintain said alliance but it leaves everyone else, whether player or viewer, in the lurch. I don't remember her name (Gary, you'd know this), but the girl who swept Survivor a few seasons ago with an all-female alliance who picked off every male? Wonderful tactical game on her end but nothing else. No surprises because none of the other girls wanted to ally against her. No tension, no drama, nothing. People hold her as one of the best Survivor winners of all time. That's true, but...well, you know?

I think this blizzard is getting to me. We're snowed in except for the front door. Our street still hasn't been plowed since last night. The housemate who was called into work ended up not having to work. It was an adventure driving home!

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Kim Spradlin.

She is a machine.

She made everyone think "I want to go to the end with my friend Kim!" and so no one made a move to take her out.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Both last season of Survivor *and* this season of Top Chef got better toward the end.

I seem to have dropped Project Runway though. I got behind last season and just never went back to it.

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

holy crap, where do you live?? i hope the plows showed up eventually! (my street is pretty clear but i live on a major-ish road. people even snowblowed - snowblew? - at least part of the sidewalk. i haven't been outside to see how much snow is on my car, tho....)

[gratefuladdict.livejournal.com]

I thought this last season of Survivor was pretty disappointing. The contestants I liked best didn't last too long, and there was an awful lot of whinging.

That said, I was happy with the winner and their rampage of revenge!

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

"there was a lot of whinging"

You would think they were being told they would have to compete against each other. ;)

[gratefuladdict.livejournal.com]

Also, this commentary seems very timely after watching the polls yesterday.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

From *my* angle, there are a lot of interesting stories that came out of yesterday's poll.

#group1 #group2 #subgroups #betrayal #murder #getyourpopcornready

I wonder how they are going to play out.

snowmageddon 2015

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

You can't really tell by this photo but my street hasn't been plowed since early this morning. Plus there's a swirling whirling spat of snow going on right now. The wind is so strong that it's making the snow go sideways!

Re: snowmageddon 2015

[kajel.livejournal.com]

I've been wondering how you are doing! That is one thing I don't miss here in NC. I remember timing a drive to NY to visit my family a few years ago to get there between two snow storms.

Re: snowmageddon 2015

[beeker121.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I miss getting snowed in. I realize this is in large part due to the fact that I never really had to deal with it as a grown up and therefore have fond memories of days in pajamas with hot chocolate and nothing to do, but still. The whole world telling you to sit still for a while is a little awesome.

Re: snowmageddon 2015

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

I sure hope no one needs to go anywhere anytime soon... :(

[kickthehobbit.livejournal.com]

"Epic battles in Quickfire? Cool, I wonder who else has posted!" thinks Jenn. Click the link...and it's still just mine.

MISLEADING!

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

We have until tonight. I'm sure it *will* be an epic battle!

13 people left in the competition and Quick Fires having had an impact on the results? People are definitely taking a risk *not* participating!

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

Hah!

I do plan to write something, but both you and lrig_rorrim write quickly and I don't. So that you have a fic up already, and it will be fabulous?

This does not surprise me. :)

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

It's all so depressing. I honestly hoped all three of us would make it into the Top 10, and now this. :(

"Get used to disappointment!"

:(

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

I hear you. *hugs*

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

I feel compelled to mention it's 71 degrees right now.

Also, my cat is snoring so loud, I thought my phone was on vibrate.

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

I'm jealous. It's 28 here today.

I, too, have a loudly snoring cat at hand though, so we're good there. ;)

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Wow.

Only 7 of the eligible 13 contestants participating in a Quick Fire!

I guess that the rest have decided to hand immunity over to someone else this week - or someone is playing a numbers game. (or both)

Either way, this is going to be interesting.

[jexia]

...or they're exhausted.