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!
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| The Troll and I! I can't tell who is better looking! |
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| 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.
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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!
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Johnathan and Mama Christine II (She was a designated Mama for
one day) getting their swing on! |
What a crazy and emotional day, but a great way to wrap it
all up! We’re down to 11 and I’m guaranteed
at least two more episodes!!
DAY 14 OVER!
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| Tara showing off her skills on the piano! |
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C.J. and my room for the night. Not bad, but the showers were
definitely interesting. Wish I would have had shower shoes! |
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