I watched! I was more concerned by challenge-throwing stupidity,than by the producer meddling (I assumeyoyu mean changing the tribe sup by trading two players?). I notice Jeff wasn't too happy either.

Also no one mentioned that everyone got new bathing suits (or at least the bathing suits they probably packed). I guess those stuck competing in their underwear were getting uncomfortable.

a) yes. b)? Not so much really. First off, I was just so boggled to see actual strategy going on that it took me a while to get to the evaluating point. As to whether it was a bad idea - I don't know. Mostly I agree with you, but I do think they had a situation there that presented some real opportunities. If they win - do they know how awful J-R is? Even if they do (and Aaron has to have made them doubt that, for...um... no good reason I can see ), I'd call it a virtual certainty that one of their two people goes home. This way, they at least get to make a choice, and target a couple of people who might not be easy to get to no matter what happens down the road.

Plus also - these are not the most perceptive people on the block. I'm sure they think Frosti and Sherea are their BFFs forever without even thinking twice about it. These people are seriously dim. Even if they are good at sudoku.

I do think they'll seriously regret not booting James. For which idiocy I heartily thank them.

James, yum.

Some people have argued that the producers overly meddled with this twist, since it immediately puts any strong players at a numbers disadvantage and on a team without alliances. That didn't bother me as much as challenge-throwing, but it's all subjective.

What was the producer meddling?

Oh, I was thinking Probst pointing out the challenge throwing. But the tribe switch was kind of unsubtle too.

I haven't watched it yet, so I'm waiting to read through the last few posts and comment.

These people are seriously dim.

One clue of many to this fact was that it didn't even occur to them that both sides would give up people in the swap.

I only watched part of it. So I didn't realize that what's her name throwing the piece to the side was challenge throwing until they admitted it to their tribe member.

She was also blatently not fitting the pieces into the puzzle.

I hate hate hate challenge throwing. Even if it is part of a "strategy."

(and frankly I think at that time I would have decided to thrown in with the other guys and vote one of the girls off).

I was sort of hoping this would happen. I'm just happy that james didn't go home.

I didn't mind Jeff mentioning the throwing. During the game he said, IIRC< that the peice "ended up" on the side, which could have been a mistake. He has a history of bringing things up at Tribal, pointing out when people are smirking or look angry or teasing out tensions or hidden agendas however he can.

Yeah, I know people get annoyed at Jeff meddling, but it doesn't bother me. It always appeared like he was middle management, or an independent contractor. He doesn't have any power over the contestants and he's not watching the dailies, so he's just pointing out what he sees. I like him forcing people to react to a player that's not in the game (by which I mean Jeff).

Jeff is smart and observant and really into the game, while still realizing it is, you know, a GAME. Me loves him.