It’s that time again, time for all of us to spend our Thursday nights being entertained by those that have less than us and face new challenges every day. No, nothing dire. It’s time for the Survivor season to launch us all into Thursday night couch potatoes for at least an hour. Two, if you are on Central time and switch immediately to The Apprentice once the Survivor preview and the credits roll.

The new season of Survivor, located in Guatemala, opened with 16 new cast mates and two surprises in the form of cast offs from the last season’s Survivor Palau, hunky and very Southern Bobby Jon and the woman’s woman, Stephenie. Stephenie is now referred to as the strongest woman to ever play the game after she outlasted her entire tribe and went on to outwit most of the others on the opposing tribe making it all the way to the final 3.

This season, like in most recent seasons of reality shows, has a cast with slim figures and dashing good looks that make them look more like try outs for stand ins on Desperate Housewives than the hearty contenders of earlier seasons of Survivor. Knowing that weight loss is a given during the 39 day quest for a million dollars, many of this season’s Survivors don’t look like they are up for the challenge as they can’t afford to lose so much as an ounce.

The castaways meet with host Jeff Probst in a Mayan ruins to go over the fine points of the game before embarking on an 11 mile hike through the jungle to their camps, which are surrounded by croc and snake infested waters. Before leaving, each tribe gets a quick pit stop to decide what food and supplies they will be taking with them and each wisely grabs a compass. First tribe to the good camp wins it. They divide into tribes named Nakum and Yaxha and they’re off.

Margaret, a nurse, wins immediate points by dipping her hat in water to cool her on the distance race. Gary, a landscaper and retired NFL football player, takes the compass and assumes the role of navigator and leader for his tribe. The arduous trek takes a spin with danger as Blake, a real estate broker and a definite contender in the 4 or 5 way tie for hottest male castaway, gets snagged by a thorny bush and is immediately stricken with nausea and severe pains. It sets his tribe back as both tribes meet up after nearly 24 hours of hiking just outside of the jungle. Yaxha trails and eventually loses their bid on camps after a neck and neck race with only seconds separating the tribes.

On Day 2, both tribes start building their shelters and getting to know each other though Nakum is struggling with nursing each and every man on the tribe as they struggle with symptoms of dehydration from cramps to nausea. Margaret’s experience as a nurse is in full effect as she puts the guys in sick bay, Survivor style, and nurses each back to health just in time for the challenge.

On Day 3, both tribes receive an oar in tree mail. Stephenie immediately starts making suggestions on her tribe and forgetting the first rule of Survivor, which is never assume the leadership role until AFTER the tribe has spoken at least once. If she doesn’t keep her advice in check, she may find herself on the block.

The challenge is a traditional method that the Mayans used to transport large items. Using a boat to paddle to bouys, each tribe will grab a torch from the buoy, make their way back to land and using half the tribe to pull the boat ashore over logs, the other members of the tribe will move each passed log to the front of the boat until the boat has passed the mark. They will use the torch to get fire and light their caldron.

Both tribes battle their way to the finish line neck and neck but eventually Yaxha pulls away to win the challenge and Nakum must face Probst at Tribal council where one member will be voted out.

As with every day before Tribal Council, tensions mount at Nakum. Jim realizes an shoulder injury during the challenge has cost him the game as his name is called at Tribal Council. As the oldest player this season, his ousting wasn’t a surprise, but as a fan of the show, I’m still waiting for the day when a senior citizen takes the game.