Reality show champion discusses winning strategy and losing weight

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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.

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Cattle rancher James Thomas Jr. takes home $1 million in finale

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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.

‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 14 recap

Welcome to the Wade on Birmingham
‘Survivor: Tocantins’ finale Live Blog!

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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…)

‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 13 recap

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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 …

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‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 13 preview

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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:

• Previous recap from us,
• And one from Jeff.

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 …

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Auburn school principal finishes in sixth place on ‘Survivor: Tocantins’

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Debra “Debbie” Beebe had wanted to be on “Survivor” since applying for the second season in 2000. Instead, she wound up in Brazil in the 18th season of “Survivor: Tocatins – The Brazilian Highlands.”

Her tribe had the advantage going into the merge. She aligned with power players since Day 3. So where did it go wrong for Beebe, the middle school principal from Auburn?

(Alabama’s other player, James Thomas Jr. of Mobile, remains in the game.)

She played a strong social game, despite the lack of camera time, and she started to emerge as a physical threat. But in Thursday’s episode, she had to settle for sixth place.

In a conference call earlier today, Beebe discussed the high points, the low points, her allies and what’s next.

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‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 12 recap

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It’s a mad scramble with only six players left on “Survivor.” But with J.T. and Stephen firmly in control, is it really anybody’s game? Or theirs to lose?

Plus, special guest star Eddie George! (ooh, ahh)

Can James Thomas Jr. of Samson trust Stephen? Can Debra Beebe of Auburn trust anybody?

Who buys big at the auction? And who’s being sold down the river? Find out, after the jump …

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‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 12 preview

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VIDEO: Teaser for tonight’s episode

A quickie look at tonight’s “Survivor: Tocantins” above. Recap to follow the show.

What kind of auction will they have? An extreme auction! Because you can’t spell “auction” without “action.”

Is James Thomas Jr. of Mobile headed to the final two with Stephen? Has Debra Beebe of Auburn run out of hiding places?

Catch up:

• Previous recap from us,
• And one from Jeff.

We’ll see you back here tonight after the episode.

Bonus videos, after the jump …

(more…)

‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 11 recap

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“Our happy little family is not such a little happy family anymore.”

That’s how Debbie describes the Forza tribe during Tribal Council. The soap opera of “Survivor” just heaped on the drama tonight, with crying, scheming and fighting galore.

Is James Thomas Jr. of Mobile eating his way to victory? Can Debra Beebe of Auburn stomach the drama?

Who’s lying, who’s crying, and which two women are at war? Find out, after the jump …

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‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 11 preview

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VIDEO: Teaser for tonight’s episode

A quickie look at tonight’s “Survivor: Tocantins” above. Recap to follow the show.

Tyson is gone! Coach is scrambling! Debbie is scrambling!

Is James Thomas Jr. of Samson running the show? Is Debra Beebe of Auburn suddenly in danger of being voted out?

Catch up:

• Previous recap from us,
• And one from Jeff.

Plus, host Jeff Probst handicaps our Alabama contestants:

• On Debbie: “She’s very likable … She would be a dangerous person to let go all the way to the end.”
• On J.T.: “J.T. has a tougher job ahead of him because he’s such a physical threat. If everybody wakes up soon, they’re going to get rid of J.T., because he could win his way to the end.”

We’ll see you back here tonight after the episode.

Bonus videos, after the jump …

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An outsider takes the reins at downtown festival

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The first executive director was a co-founder, serving for eight years. The second rose through the ranks, serving for two years.

The third started Friday.

[Wade on Birmingham:
EXCLUSIVE: Sidewalk hires Chloe Collins as Executive Director]

Chloe Collins has pored over the budget, fielded dozens of congratulatory e-mails and met with board members and volunteers alike. In taking the reins of the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, she inherits a 10-year-old film festival with a nearly $10,000 budget shortfall and less than five months until show time.

“The biggest challenge I can see is just getting my arms around what all is involved,” Collins says. “As I learn more, I’m realizing there are lots of people who play such an important role with the festival, and those people haven’t gone away.”

In this exclusive interview, Collins discusses what’s ahead for the festival and how she went from casual moviegoer to executive director. She talked with us in person last week.

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‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 10 recap

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What a waste of an idol. We should’ve been clearer about the meaning behind Brendan’s departure in the previous episode of “Survivor.”

It was yet another blindside. It was the loss of his Hidden Immunity Idol, meaning, one or two are still in play.

And it was the tolling bell of doom for his buddy Sierra, caught on the wrong side of the vote.

Is Debra Beebe of Auburn ready to charge forward? Is James Thomas Jr. of Samson getting enough to eat?

Is ex-Timbira in control, or another cross-tribal alliance? Find out, after the jump …

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‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 10 preview

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VIDEO: Jeff Probst introduces tonight’s episode

A quickie look at tonight’s “Survivor: Tocantins” above. Recap to follow the show.

With Brendan gone, looks like Sierra’s in big trouble. And Tyson’s there to crush her dreams. Host Jeff Probst promises a life-changing experience for the player stranded on Exile Island.

Is James Thomas Jr. of Mobile finally in the safe zone? Is Debra Beebe of Auburn a lock for final four with eight players left?

Catch up:

• Previous recap from us,
• And one from Jeff.

We’ll see you back here tonight after the episode.

Bonus videos, after the jump …

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‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 9 recap

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Coach vs. Brendan. The self-proclaimed dragon slayer vs. the not-so-fiery dragon.

For Forza, it’s judgment day and thunderdome all rolled into one malnourished package on “Survivor.”

Is James Thomas Jr. of Mobile be the hunter or the hunted? Will Debra Beebe of Auburn make a power move against her ex-Timbiran tribesmates?

Whose alliance is solid, and whose is shaky? Find out, after the jump …

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‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 9 preview

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VIDEO: Jeff Probst introduces tonight’s episode

A quickie look at tonight’s “Survivor: Tocantins” above. Recap to follow the show.

Forza, where dreams go to die. Host Jeff Probst notes Joe’s departure (a nation turns its lonely eyes to you, woo woo woo), Erinn’s cockiness (shades of Coach) and Coach needing to shutthehellup (shades of idiot).

Has James Thomas Jr. of Samson aligned with the right players (Coach, Stephen, Tyson)? Can Debra Beebe of Auburn continue to slide by as the power players battle it out?

Catch up:

• Previous recap from us,
• And one from Jeff.

We’ll see you back here tonight after the episode.

Bonus video, after the jump …

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