Alt for Norge Daily Journal: Day 14 - May 6, 2012 (Episode 2)

Today is elimination day! Our first elimination! With that, it was a very weird mood all morning. We all got up around 7:30, had a small breakfast, and got on the bus at 9:00. Everyone had to pack their bags too. One, because we had a change of plans and are going to be spend the night at the ski lodge with the crew, and two, so the losing member would be packed and ready to go. It must have been hard to pack for the five potential members that will be eliminated (Alf has the troll, so is immune.)

Our drive was about 30 minutes and it was pretty quiet, minus the occasional joke from Dana. I tried to stay extra quiet, so as not to mess with anyone on the chopping block. We got to the lodge and the Red Team immediately had to do some filming. In the meantime, our team stayed in a separate room until the actual competition. I spent that time studying all my Norske (Norwegian language). Finally, the Red Team was asked to film the first portion of their challenge. This is when our team was finally informed by Mama Christine on how the competition would play out. This would be a two-part challenge. The first part would involve the Red Team entering a ski lodge room filled with trinkets and memorizing as many of those trinkets as possible within an eight minute period, which would lead to the second part of the challenge. After memorizing as many trinkets as possible, the whole group would enter a second room where they would find Henriette and a board covered with 36 photos of different, individual trinkets. Some of those photo’d items were in the room, some were not. Each member would take a turn choosing one of the items from the board that they believed was in the room. The last member to correctly choose three photos would be eliminated from the competition and sent home! The only catch to all of this was that the order of choosing photos for Part 2 would be determined by when you left the room from Part 1. If you were the first to leave the room, you would be the first to choose. Second to leave chooses second and so on. Therefore, there was some definitely some importance in being one of the first ones out, but there was just as much importance in staying in the room as long as you can to take your time memorizing.

The Blue Team quickly was discussing what we would do if we had to be in there. The overall thought was to not be the first one out, but also not the last. However, if you were the last, go ahead and stay in the room for the remainder of your eight minutes. We’ll see how it plays out!

Shortly after, things got started. Our team wasn’t allowed to watch Part 1, so we had to stay in the next room and remain quiet, which was strange, because we could pretty clearly hear the noises coming from their room. What happened was pretty amazing. Apparently, they all went in with plans on staying for quite some time, however, CJ decided after only a couple minutes that he was good and left! As soon as he hit the door, everyone else had the same strategy of being the second one out and dashed for the door! Dana got out next and would be second, Stephanie third, Jessica next and Barbara would be fifth and last. (Barbara could have had another 5 minutes or so in the room, if she wanted, but was in such a hurry to beat Jessica, that she didn’t take advantage of the opportunity. However, apparently her and Jessica were pretty close at the door, so I can’t blame her.) This brought them to the second stage. (Which actually would happen about 20 minutes later. That’s how long it would take for the cameras to get moved to the second room and set up. It was pretty intense waiting and I think it got the best of a couple of the Red Team members, with Dana even yelling out “Hurry the F%#@ UP!”)

Both teams entered the next room to find The Blue Team and Alf standing on one side, with Henriette and the photo board on the other side. After finding their positions and a short introduction from Henriette, they began guessing.

CJ went first and pointed to a photo that Henriette would grab and flip over to discover a green dot, meaning it was correct and in the first room. Then, Dana guessed right. Then, Stephanie, a little hesitant, made her choice. Henriette turned it over to reveal a red dot! That object was not in the room! Things continued on with everyone getting their first two guesses right, except for Stephanie! She guessed both wrong the first time and started to nervously shake as soon as she noticed the second red dot. CJ, on his third guess, would get his third green dot and was the first to be safe from elimination. He joined our team and was himself shaking with nervousness! At this point, you could really feel the anxiety in the room. Even in the eyes of the 15 film crew members that were in the room with us, behind the cameras! What an intense atmosphere!

Dana would go next and get one wrong. Then, Stephanie finally got on the board with a correct guess. Jessica and Barbara followed with wrong guesses. Next, Dana got his third right and joined the safe side of the room. With all the pressure on her, poor Stephanie missed her next guess! It was now Stephanie with 1 point, Jessica with 2 and Barbara with 2.

Jessica went next and got hers right. She was safe. Then, with some build up from Henriette, reminding Barbara that she could be safe with a correct guess, as well as reminding Stephanie that she would go home if Barbara got it right, Barbara made her guess. Henriette took her time, turned over the photo and there was a green dot! It’s official! Stephanie would be the first to leave the show!

Tears immediately started to flow from almost everyone in the room! It was such a powerfully sad moment. The director then asked Stephanie if she would like to say anything to the cast, which she agreed to, then delivered a speech that sounded as if it were rehearsed! (It’s very possible it may have been. From talking to others later, apparently, Stephanie spent the whole evening last night and the whole morning saying her goodbyes to different people. I think she was in her own head before the competition even started!) We then did the necessary hugs and crying (Although, I think Austin and I may have been the only ones to hold the tears back. I think we’re both in game mode!) Then, off she went! That was the end of her trip. We’re down to 11!

The Troll and I! I can't tell who is better looking!

A closer look at The Troll!

After the competition (and after an hour of everyone, cast and crew, gathering themselves), they had us go into another room to get filmed having Cocoa and talking about our week, which would be used as the final scene from Episode 2. It was at that point that Henriette walked in with the troll (The Norwegian Spirit Award). I really had no idea on who it would go to. There wasn’t anything that really stood out to me that anyone did that deserved it. After some brief explanation, she turned to me and gave me the award!! I’m officially safe from the next elimination and would be in Norway for a minimum of another 12 days! Wow! It was crazy news, but great news! Looking back, I would have to say that I was really focused on staying as positive and helpful as possible. I was constantly giving cast and crew high fives, doing anything possible to put others first, cleaned a lot at the cabins, and even carried two of Mary Caryl’s four bags multiple times. Either way, I’m not sure if I’m totally deserving of it, but I’ll take it!

After filming the final scene, they took us back out to do interviews. The interviews were pretty long this time, but understandably so. Then, in a surprise, Stephanie walked out. Apparently, she was being interviewed in one of the other rooms. She came up and gave everyone a hug and one last goodbye. Then, in an infamous moment for all of us, as she walked to the exit to leave for the last time, she turned to all of us and said, “I’d like to leave you with a little Burlesque!” Then, pulled up to reveal her bra-covered boobs! A true burlesque moment! The door closed and she was gone.

C.J. showing off his skills as a standup comedian!
It was really funny!

We followed interviews with dinner and due to it being the end of filming for Episode 2 (plus the end of the intense day that was had), it seemed as though everyone was letting loose! In fact, the majority of the cast and crew stayed up late into the night, having their share of drinks from the bar. The first couple of drinks were on the production company, but the rest would be on us, but that didn’t seem to stop anyone! (Okay, I may have added an extra drink or two to the productions tab. Oops! We’ll just call those Stephanie’s drinks.) Anyways, by the end of the night, it had turned into a cast talent show! Mary Caryl started things off by giving three different guys "special" dances, including a hotel employee and a crew member that had to excuse himself midway during the dance, due to receiving a phone call from his girlfriend! Pretty funny, but all in good fun! Next was CJ, who did some stand up. It was really well done and funny! Alf showed us all how to make farting noises with your elbow! Johnathan did some swing dancing with a couple different crew members and Tara wrapped it all up with some songs on the piano! A very talented group! It was a lot of fun and the first time that the cast and crew partied together. I eventually retired at 12:30. CJ, my roommate for the night, came to bed at 1:30. Tara and Dana closed down the shop for the cast members and went to bed at 2:00, but apparently there were several crew members that were up for another couple hours after that!