I had a phone call and missed the end of the reward challenge. And I'm not sure why Yao Man is on Exile island.

Holy crap! I'm not a habitual Survivor watcher, but I started watching last year because, I admit it, I saw a commercial with some exceedingly pretty people. I totally did not expect to continue watching after Yul won, but here I am. And this season? Kicking all KINDS of ass! I was on the edge of my seat for that tribal council.

Blergh. Hec and I just watched Shear Genius -- the judging SUCKED SO BAD on that last challenge. Tyson's Elizabethan updo was the lamest turkey do in all of turkey history. (Turkey is Faire slang for the customers who come swanning in each one draped in more velvet and lace and pearls than the entire Court guild combined, who are totally jolly and fantastical and if they drink enough they'll confess to you that they're half elf on their father's side -- God love 'em, they pay the bills, but they're so desperately not period.) As a total turkey fantasyland la-la hairdo, it was rather pretty, but as anything approaching authentically period it SUCKED.

(Also, who did the outfits? Hip panniers on an Elizabethan court lady, NOT.)

And aside from the total Faire geeky ranting, the judging still sucked. I mostly can't stand Tabatha and think she's easily the most toxic, snippy, unpleasant person on the show, but she's a gifted hairdresser and she did exactly what the challenge asked. Much as I can't stand her, she deserved to win (or maybe Daisy). What the hell was up with the stern rule about judging on historical authenticity, followed by all that brainless wittering about Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth and insufficiently pretty punkness and oh my God I wanted to spork myself in the eye to make it stop. I still don't like her even the tiniest bit, but man, was Tabatha robbed. And Tyson epically did not deserve that win. Dude!

t /cranky historical recreationist geek

And all y'all are totally right about the feathers and the dull 60s do and how much Evangelin would have rocked a beehive.

Sean's right, Michael Carl didn't have a freakin' clue.

It's weird that the only reference for the sixties Anthony had was hippies. It was the height of hairdressing in the 20th century with some of the most elaborate styles since Versailles. Only the forties rival it, and even then that was mostly in the movies because during the war women didn't do super fancy hairstyles that often.

They should have been allowed to cut the hair and style it.

Ben's pin curls were the right idea, but his technique was lax and the curls were falling out. 20s curls were generally very close to the head - more like a marcel wave. Or occasionally very curly, but not hanging down in sloppy spirals. Still, he managed something halfway functional. He keeps hanging on by the skin of his teeth, but as he noted, he does learn fast.

Daisy's hair was the best. Pretty, elaborate and period accurate. I don't know why anybody thinks they powdered wigs in the Elizabethan era - that didn't happen until the 18th century.

Tabitha definitely got undeserved criticism from Michael Carl. I hope he gets reamed over on the boards and spends some time learning about hairdo history.

Oh! When Anthony was shown researching online I recognized the website he went to for sixties styles. Which - incidentally - were all bouffant styles! So he certainly knew better than to do hippie hair. I think he lost his nerve after he started to tease it up.

I know! When did Survivor get made of awesome?

Yau Man won the challenge and sent himself to Exile Island. He didn't want Stacy, Boo, or Dreams to have a chance at the idol, didn't think Cassandra could hack it, and didn't want to send Earl for some reason I disremember. So...

I'm surprised "Dreamz" picked up on Yau Man's strategy that way. Not as dumb as he seems, maybe? And that comment about how all his plans go awry, heh. He's like the Wile E. Coyote of Survivor.

And tribal council totally rocked!

But it's also very much not about being boring or poseur-y which her fauxhawk totally was! HATE HER!!! She's so humorless.

Yeah, I agree. I wasn't all that impressed.

I'm surprised "Dreamz" picked up on Yau Man's strategy that way. Not as dumb as he seems, maybe? And that comment about how all his plans go awry, heh. He's like the Wile E. Coyote of Survivor.

I love "Dreamz". Not enough to see him win or anything, but he makes a great crazy foil. But the only winner I wanna see on Sunday is Yau Man. He is playing this game for all that it's worth. I really would love to see a Yau Man/Earl F2, even though Earl annoyed me a little bit tonight. (Catch a clue, Earl. Have you not met Stacy? When has she ever been gracious?)

Oh my god, Yau-man totally rules. Yau+Earl 4evah.

3 Top Chef chefs are opening restaurants in New York.

But the only winner I wanna see on Sunday is Yau Man. He is playing this game for all that it's worth.

I'd like Yau-Man to win but I'd like to see Cassandra win more. Because while Yau-Man has been playing a fine technical game, it's been showy and aggressive and public and it almost lost him the game last night. Cassandra's manoeuvring has been subtle and informed and the best of anyone's for getting to the Final Three.