I’ve watched a lot of seasons of Survivor. The current Survivor: China is season 15 for the show and I’ve watched since season 2.

I’ve seen some pretty despicable people play the game, but I always try to step back and remember that it is a game. As devious as someone may be in the game, they may not at all be like that in real life.

But for all the despicable people I have seen play Survivor, the worst of them all was voted off last night.

I speak of Jaime, the South Carolinean student who has shown her true colors repeatedly during the show.

Between blatantly disrespecting people, throwing challenges without any grace, rifling through peoples’ personal belongings and then laughing about it all when people talk to her about it, Jaime is by far the most mean-spirited person to ever play the game of Survivor.

It wasn’t just a game for her. She thought it was funny when she was mean to people. She thought it was funny when she went through someone’s things.

I hope she thought it was funny when she presented a fake immunity idol at tribal council and Jeff threw it in the fire and sent her packing. I sure thought it was.

Seriously, wherever she is I hope she has watched this season and realized just how horribly she played the game as a human being.

I hope she watches her actions and has felt a little bit ashamed every time she acted like a child or treated someone like they were garbage.

And what’s worse is that she is completely delusional. In her exit interview, she actually had the nerve to imply that people were scared of her because everyone liked her.

No one liked her. She made sure of that. It’s hard to like someone who is so completely and totally mean-spirited to the core.

I hope watching the show makes her realize that and prompts her to make some positive changes in her life.

With a review of album sales related to Idol on the show last night, I wanted to revisit one of my older posts about last season that I wrote after Daughtry’s ouster:

… Basically, America, you’ve left American Idol with three crappy contestants who have good voices but no direction. They won’t make good artists, they won’t make good albums, and you will all abandon them when American Idol is over. Meanwhile, Chris [Daughtry] will be making contemporary albums that everyone will buy.

Damn I’m good.

I always hesitate before writing a post related to reality television. The reason for this is because 2/5 of my readership doesn’t care about shows such as American Idol and wishes the franchise would diaf. But what the hell — it’s the finale!

I have to admit that I found this season of American Idol to be pretty lackluster. I skipped more than one episode and didn’t feel like there was much to be excited about among the constestants. At least last year had Daughtry, and the year before that was heavenly with Carrie Underwood.

The only real highlights of the season include body parts: Haley’s legs and Sanjaya’s Hair.

Last night, however, as I forced myself to watch the finale I realized that although the final two this season might not have the charisma of previous winners, they did have the raw talent and wonder that the show should be about. Blake just seemed happy to be alive and Jordin couldn’t be more sincere if she tried.

No offense to her, but I’m glad Melinda got voted out. She was a veteran in the field and had a Charisma modifier of -4. The eventual winner, Jordin Sparks, is really the embodiment of everything Idol should stand for. It found a 17 year old girl with a beautiful smile and an unmarred view of life and made her dreams come true. That’s good television.

Congratulations, Jordin! You are perhaps one of the most deserving Idols that the show has ever produced.

So another season of Survivor has gone by and we’re left with Yul Kwon as the sole surivor. In 13 seasons, Yul comes in as the first Asian-American to win Survivor. What’s more, he schooled 12 seasons of Survivor contestants on how to play the game. There has never been a survivor to match Yul in strategy and butt-kissing. Yul brought to Survivor what so many lack — tact.

Boston Rob was a brilliant strategist, Tina Wesson was impressive, and no one can question Richard Hatch’s masterful victory. But two of the three made nothing but enemies and the 3rd was just downright forgettable. Yul managed to sneak his way to the top while at the same time keeping everyone on his side. Not one person actually ever showed any ire towards him.

Another season down, and what will I miss most? I won’t deny that there’s some eye candy that will be missed, but overall I think I’ll miss a game of Survivor that went by with a lot less drama than normal. Perhaps it was just casting decisions, but these contestants were not in it to hate on each other (for the most part).

Starting with 4 racially divided tribes was a gutsy move by CBS, but the result is actually inspiring. There were so few racially motivated decisions and comments that it gives some hope that we may yet make it to a world without color. Whether it was being under a microscope or honest-to-goodness good will, Survivor 13 will stand out as one of the best of the series for both showing that racial stereotypes are fading and that there is a game to be had under all of the drama.

Next up: Tribes divided by wealth. Sweet.

Congratulations, America. You’re all a bunch of idiots.

For the first time in five seasons, American Idol actually had a contestant who sang music resembling contemporary music. His voice sounded like lead singers of bands who actually sell music. His voice was spot on, his song choices were excellent, and he was a good entertainer. Chris Daughtry was everything American Idol was invented to discover.

And now he’s gone in one of the most ridiculous vote-offs in Idol history–hell, I’ll throw Survivor vote-offs in there as well. Just plain dumb. Step back and think before you cast votes in a show like this. Are you honestly going to buy albums from the little elf that is Elliott? When’s the last time a 70s blues album topped the charts (ala the kind of crap Taylor would make)? And what’s Katherine going to release? A soundtrack album of power ballads?

Basically, America, you’ve left American Idol with three crappy contestants who have good voices but no direction. They won’t make good artists, they won’t make good albums, and you will all abandon them when American Idol is over. Meanwhile, Chris will be making contemporary albums that everyone will buy.

It’s not a popularity contest, you nubtards. It’s a contest to give someone a record deal and career in music. The only career Elliott, Taylor and Katherine have ahead of them is teaching music at a university or something.

America voted… you voted wrong.