Archive for May, 2009
Alabama on ‘Survivor’: The James ‘J.T.’ Thomas Jr. interview
Monday, May 18th, 2009Reality show champion discusses winning strategy and losing weight
On the surface, J.T. appears to be a simple cattle rancher from south Alabama, but in “reality,” he’s a savvy competitor who earned respect among players he bested.
Samson native James Thomas Jr. spent 39 days competing on “Survivor: Tocatins – The Brazilian Highlands,” the CBS reality show. Sunday night, he not only won the $1 million prize by earning all seven jury votes, but also picked up an extra $100,000 prize just for being a fan favorite.
He was one of two Alabamians competing this season: Auburn middle school principal Debra Beebe finished in sixth place. (Alabama on ‘Survivor’: The Debra Beebe interview)
As such an obvious threat — physically dominant, socially smooth, skilled in survival — how did he outlast 15 other contestants? And what does he plan to do with all that money?
In a conference call earlier today, Thomas, along with runner-up Stephen Fishbach of New York, discussed their winning alliance and unlikely friendship.
any old excuse will do
Monday, May 18th, 2009“Hey, buddy, my bad.”
“I couldn’t help myself.” “You’ve
made the same mistake.”
• • •
Read more haiku.
Alabama native J.T. wins ‘Survivor: Tocantins’
Sunday, May 17th, 2009Cattle rancher James Thomas Jr. takes home $1 million in finale
James Thomas Jr., better known as J.T., won “Survivor: Tocantins – The Brazilian Highlands” earlier tonight during a live broadcast. Thomas (pictured above right) beat Stephen Fishbach (above left) of New York with a unanimous 7-0 vote among the jury of players.
In addition to winning the reality competition, the 24-year-old cattle rancher from Samson, Ala., also won an additional $100,000 in the fan favorite vote, earning a total $1.1 million for his 39 days in Brazil.
(Alabama on ‘Survivor’: Finale live blog)
Thomas and Fishbach formed an alliance early in the game, and Thomas said during the live show that he planned on using the money to go into business with Fishbach.
Meanwhile, Auburn middle school principal Debra Beebe finished in sixth place. She was part of the jury that picked Thomas as the winner.
Our interview with James ‘J.T.’ Thomas Jr.
• • •
Back up for grabs … more “Survivor: Tocantins” at survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com.
Alabama on ‘Survivor’: Finale live blog
Sunday, May 17th, 2009‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 14 recap
Welcome to the Wade on Birmingham
‘Survivor: Tocantins’ finale Live Blog!
Sign in, join the conversation, and leave comments below.
- Or if you want to e-mail us, send it to wade [AT] wadeonbirmingham.com.
- Or @ reply us on Twitter at @WadeOnTweets.
Our full live blog with special co-host Jen Barnett, after the jump … (more…)
missed communication
Sunday, May 17th, 2009anywhere a classroom
Sunday, May 17th, 2009motivated to stall
Sunday, May 17th, 2009Alabama on ‘Survivor’: The last of the Timbirans
Thursday, May 14th, 2009‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 13 recap
More than a month in the wilds of Brazil, our fearless five players — Coach, J.T., Taj, Stephen and Erinn — are so very close to the end. “Survivor: Tocantins” still has a few surprises 33 days in:
- Jalapao, once outnumbered, has outlasted Timbira since the merge.
- Coach is still here?!
- Taj and Stephen managed to dump their cross-tribal alliance and stay relatively clean.
- J.T. and Stephen have run the show, and no one seems to mind.
So what’s left? Well, after the ouster of Auburn’s Debra Beebe during the previous episode, it’s up to James Thomas Jr. of Mobile to push through to the Final Four.
Can Coach survive on his own? Will Erinn talk her way out of the Final Four? Will the Hidden Immunity Idol ever make an appearance at Tribal Council? Find out, after the jump …
welcome to the neighborhood
Thursday, May 14th, 2009Alabama on ‘Survivor’: A little (more) Debbie
Thursday, May 14th, 2009‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 13 preview
VIDEO: You Ask They Tell: Debbie
And like that, she’s gone. We’re still not quite over Debra Beebe‘s departure from “Survivor: Tocantins.”
(Recap to follow tonight’s show.)
The Auburn middle school principal finished in sixth place during last week’s episode. Tonight, she’ll join the jury to help crown the winner.
Still in the running is our other Alabama player, James Thomas Jr., the cattle rancher from Samson. He and four other contestants will battle it out for a spot in the Final Four.
Speaking of which, the season concludes Sunday with the three-hour extravaganza. And because we are stupid crazy thorough, we’re planning on a special live blog here on Wade on Birmingham starting at 7 p.m. CDT. That’s right …
Sunday: season finale live blog*
*assuming J.T. isn’t booted tonight.
Catch up:
And more about Debbie:
- Our interview: Alabama on ‘Survivor’: The Debra Beebe interview
- Birmingham News: “I sure as heck was out there for a million dollars. I wasn’t out there for my integrity.”
- Auburn Villager: “I’d like to get the Fan Favorite Best Player Award. That would be the ultimate win.”
- Opelika-Auburn News: “I know I’ll be a better leader as a principal for having had this experience.”
- Entertainment Tonight: “For two days, everybody on the tribe was talking about voting Coach out, and I had finally come around to that idea that we needed to do that.“
- TV Guide: “I lost probably about 15 pounds and I usually weigh around a hundred.”
We’ll see you back here tonight after the episode.
Bonus videos, after the jump …
Wade’s 101: Haiku retrospective 13
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009- a flaw in weather technology
Who ever heard of
meteorological
seasonal rodent? - 140 characters at a time
I joined Twitter at
long last, but now I won’t have
time to surf Friendster. - a little too frosty
When you can see your
breath with your eyes closed, it’s way
too cold to exhale.
