On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being as lame as Jeanne Garafolo, and 10 being
'Shock & Awe', I rate this first episode of the new season as a 5.  Right down
the middle of the road. The much ballyhooed changes promised to freshen up
The Game were not that great.  I don't see them having any impact on how
things will evolve the remaining 37 days.

As for the cast, it's still early and we'll need more time to get to know them. 
One thing is certain is that no one has really popped up immediately as an
endearing character, such as Rupert did on his first day.   The closest may
be Janu, the Las Vegas showgirl, who certainly showed everyone that she
knows how to climb.  We'll have to keep an eye on her.  Ian, the Dolphin Boy,
also has potential, especially if he can recover Koror's case of flints from the
bottom of the bay. 

The Angie-Cory thing doesn't look like it will go anywhere.  If no one else
becomes a pain in the butt over at Ulong, Angie will most likely be the next
voted off from there tribe.  Stephanie may emerge as a leader for Ulong and
get them clicking along.  Cory, who is on Koror, may not last long should he
continue to whine and flame.  Koror certainly has potential to win more events
than Ulong.  The next couple episodes will flesh that out.  I see either Cory or
Willard being first booted from Koror when they have Tribal Council.

Had Burnett kept them all one tribe for a couple-three episodes, or even all
living on the same beach, that may have changed some of the dynamics of
The Game.  But I do not see the new 'surprises' as being all that critical. 

Since I have some space left, I'd like to make a remark or two about my other
favorite show, "The Apprentice".  Season 2 was lack-luster at best, but this
season has been more interesting and entertaining.  The theme of Apprentice
Three is 'Book Smarts' vs 'Street Smarts'.  Magna Corp is all college-educated
with several from Ivy league schools.  Networth Corp (named so because they
are much wealthier than the college folks) are entrepreneurs with no more
than a high school diploma.  So far, Networth has been trouncing Magna, with
a couple of exceptions. 

The past three episodes have been very amusing, as two of the guys fired
both claim to be just like Trump.  Puh-leeeze!  Brian and Michael are both
immature boars.  This past week had the best line yet.  Michael claims that
he and Donald have the same taste in women from Eastern Europe.  LOL!!!
I suspect that there MAY be a slight difference between Trump's dating of
super-models and Michael's cruising of Buy-A-Russian-Bride websites.  That's
just my opinion, I have no facts to substantiate it, other than my limited
powers of observation. 

But my all-time favorite scene was three episodes ago, when they were reno-
vating rundown motels in NJ.  Trump's viceroy, Carolyn, was testing the new
mattresses, bouncing up and down on them.  The expression on her face was
priceless!  "Hmmmm, scrounchy!"  Every man's dream, her on a bed in a
sleazy motel.  Excelsior!!!