Game Show NewsNet

Episode 5 - August 17, 2004

We start with a picture of a cobra - which is represented by Lang, who defeated Henry on the last episode. That is unfortunate for everyone else, who wanted to see Henry come back. Cynthia's reaction? "Oh man, this is not going to be good for the camp. I had the feeling that this was going to get ugly."

Lang speaks to Tony about the elimination, as Cherry realizes that she made a huge error in judgment. "I didn't realize that he would be so fast, since he's slow in pretty much everything else." OUCH. The feeling, for Lang, is mutual. "Being led into the pit by Cherry, made me more and more dangerous... I'm prepared to go into the pit every time I don't win the challenge - and if that's what it takes, then that's exactly what I'm going to do."

Patrick points out that you don't have to do much to be threatening if you already seem like it - and he adds that Lang is threatening the women in that manner. Lang adds that the most dangerous thing that he can do is to win the next event.

Before we get primal, we'll be meeting some scarlet macaws first. There are 18 varieties, ranging from 12 inches to 3 feet. The largest one is the Hyacinth Macaw, and he lets everyone hold one. They are great climbers and flyers, and their beak can open nuts and attack enemies with it. When they mate, they mate for life and will make at least 3 babies. They stay in flocks, until they pair up. The mother incubates everything and will bring the food back to their young.

For this event do determine the next King, the pride will be simulating the act of bringing food back to their young. 2 people will be the parents and 2 people will be the chicks. The parents will drop items to the kids, who will take the items and stick it in their nests.

Cynthia plays it smart and picks Lang for her team, as she doesn't want to go anywhere near the Lion's pit. She regrets that immediately as Lang complains about the oatmeal-type ball they have to throw. So when Lang isn't being a cobra, he's being a Beverly Hills school girl.

Joining them in the whining parade are Tony and Lindsay, while Jacob, Cherry, Bee and Patrick make up the other team. Jacob and company are the only team who collect anything, so they win the challenge - and they elect Bee to be the Quee... I mean king. Lang may as well reserve a spot to go to the Lion's Pit this week, because he's going.

Jacob and Patrick carry her back to her new throne, and even Lang is happy about the even-keeled Bee. She asks Cherry and Lindsay for advice - and they tell her to be nice, while Lang says not to take his advice. 'It didn't pan out too well'. Heh.

She will think about that as she takes two of her pride to the jungle. She invited Tony and Jacob with her for...protection? "If it's a giant snake, then I'll throw it at you guys." The animal is not a snake, but it is a Malaysian Leaf Frog, who is disguising itself in the foliage. The frog does have a poison to predators, but Bee doesn't mind as she, Jacob and Tony hold it. They also get to meet a poisoned dart frog, who get their toxins from eating ants that also have those toxins. The next amphibian is a waxy monkey frog, which has suction cups at the ends of it's hands. They also see a red Madagascar frog and a yellow stone toad.

While Bee is looking at toads, we have reptiles talking about how to get rid of Lang. Cynthia says that she's not ready to face him, while Bee is convinced that Tony or Jacob will have the best chance against him. As far as Lang is concerned, he and Cynthia feel like they have bonded, while Lang just doesn't care who he goes up against. Lang enjoys tasting his victories and Cynthia is concerned about that.

Bee finally comes out with her decision. She wants tonight to be a quiet peaceful night... so she elects Jacob and Lang to go into the Pit. They both expected to go, and Bee figured that Jacob had the best shot against Lang, who was surprised that she selected Jacob. Lang is celebrating it, and Patrick was happy that he took it well...for around 5 minutes. Lang then said what everybody else knows - that they all want him out, and he will go through everyone until he wins.

Lang then starts to go bye-bye. He then volunteers himself to go into the pit every single time, and he tells everyone that he will personally take them all out one at a time. That doesn't exactly make friends and influence people, and Lindsay says that even his supporters now want him out of the picture.

Jacob knows that they will be thrilled if Lang is gone, while Lang thinks that if he wins today, he could have a very easy road to the finals. Lang and Jacob go to the finals, where they have both been before.

After the ritual and the rule reading, we can begin. Question #1 - How many varieties of Macaws exist? Lang gets it (18) and he... misses. Question #2 - Which variety of macaw is the largest? Lang gets it right (Hyacinth) but Jacob slams his ring right on Lang's thumb and he winces in pain. Lang misses again, and the game goes on.

Question #3 - A group of macaw's eggs is called what? Jacob gets it with Clutch and again, Lang holds on to his thumb. Jacob misses and we continue. Question #4 - The two large varieties of macaws are what? (Blue/Gold and Scarlet). That goes to Lang and he... misses. Question #5 - The largest Macaw can grow up to what length? (3 feet) Lang gets it and he has a one out of 2 chance. Lang... misses again, but the next answer Lang gets, and Jacob is gone.

Question #6 - What is the regurgitated food that the macaw brings back to it's young? Jacob gets it with Brotmeal and he goes after Lang's lifelines. He also misses, so here we go with #7... What is unique about the mating practice of the macaws? (They pair off) Jacob gets it... and misses again. #8 What is the main cause of the macaws disappearance? (Humans). Jacob gets it... and misses. There is only one question left, and whoever gets it right wins.

But we won't be getting to that question. Lang, who has been in pain since question 3, gets the paramedics to look at his thumb. It's pretty beat up, and he realizes that even if he beats Jacob, that he won't be able to beat whoever he goes up against next week. Bee and Jacob are still wondering how he is still playing when Lang, who sees his bone almost jutting to the surface of his hand, and under the advice of the paramedics, who insisted that he broke his thumb in 2 different places, finally gets some common sense and gives up.

Lang says that he can't grab the ring anymore, and he doesn't want to watch his totem fall, since it means so much to him. He gives Jacob the totems and he walks off of the set. Jacob was convinced that if Lang won today, he would have gone all the way, while Lang regrets that he didn't show everyone his good side. Jacob callously says that Lang dropped out because he didn't want to lose, but if it wasn't for his thumb, he wouldn't have lost. Bee thought it was fate that the mongoose takes the cobra, and she gives Jacob the totems.

There are 4 down, and 7 to go. They think the camp will be more relaxed, but as the numbers dwindle, the pressure rises. It won't rise next week, as we have a special edition while I go off to Los Angeles for the Game Show Congress 3, but I'll be back in 2 weeks as we see if life gets better - or worse - post-Lang.