Survivor 20: Heroes vs Villains

Good! Let's see Russell play Survivor without idols!

<3333 I loled at Parvati complaining about the Heroes getting all the "hot, strong" guys. Also, James was right about Stephenie..she is cursed! Amanda needs to go though, she annoys me everytime she opens her mouth it's like she's whining! And oh Colby, the voice of reason. <3333 WHY THE FUCK DO PEOPLE LIKE RUPERT?! He is disgusting and all he does is mope around and complain about his TOE!!! He does NOTHING!

I am so glad Rob pulled it together and stayed. I would have been so pissed if this would have been a season without Boston Rob as he is clearly needed.
I wish Russell would lose the ego and work with Rob. Interesting how last season Russell worked with Jaison and Mick and hasn't chosen a guy to work with. Also interesting how Parvati knew so soon that Russell was "the devil" that she didn't want to be against. I guess it was very helpful to her to have her friend tell her to work with Russell. It's unfair. Parvati sucks.

I can't even begin to imagine how frustrating it has to be for Boston Rob to have a team especially the men who are so worthless when it comes to getting shelter and it's like they don't even care.

And the Hereos tribe seem to be working good together at camp but fall apart with everything else. What happened to James? I get it that he's frustrated but why vote out Stephanie over weaker players? Did they not even consider anyone else like maybe Rupert with the so called broken toe or maybe Candice? I don't understand why they would vote out Stephanie. And Tom, Stephanie and Colby didn't have a better choice in wanting to vote out Amanda saying she was weak... since when is Amanda and Stephanie considered weak? I mean really? Tom's and Colbys days are numbered. I was extremely annoyed with Tom so if he goes next I'm ok with it but they need to get rid of Rupert soon, the guy just makes me sick and I don't get why everyone is so in love with this joke.

Randy saying "Run over Rupert's toe" during the challenge when Boston Rob was pushing the box back down to the mat was funny, he's so evil lol

love - Boston Rob, Russell, and James
like - Cirie, Courtney, Sandra, Coach, Jerri, JT
indifferent - Amanda, Candice, Danielle, Colby, Randy
hate - Parvati, Tyson, Tom, and Rupert

Hey guys! I thought I'd check in now that Survivor is back in swing.

How are you all liking HvV? It's turned out much better than I was expecting so far and I hope we get a great season! Can't wait to see the rest of it!

Here's a vid I put together just before the new season started to get in the spirit of things.



(BTW, Just passed the BB halfway point not long ago, BB12 is finally closer than BB11 at last!)

Patrick....so nice to see you here again!! Loving the season so far!!! About your vid....all I can say is...

That is absolutely spectacular!! Loved it!!!! You really have some talent! Thanks so much for sharing it.....can we have some more please? lol

Stephenie LaGrossa talks about 'Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains'


Although her Heroes tribe lost Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains' first
Immunity Challenge, things seemed to be going fairly well for former
Survivor: Palau and Survivor: Guatemala castaway Stephenie LaGrossa.


However that all changed once the Heroes lost the game's second
Immunity Challenge and she suddenly became the target of an
uncharacteristically belligerent James Clement, leading to Stephenie becoming the second returning castaway voted out of Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.



On Friday, Stephenie talked to Reality TV World about how she ended
up on the top of James' verbal hit list, what she thinks of him now,
which other Heroes engaged in unheroic behavior, and whether she really
believes Cirie Fields and Candice Woodcock are the next Heroes on the chopping block.


Reality TV World: What happened between you and James -- did
his feelings really all spawn out of what happened at the Episode 2
challenge or had there already been some friction between you two
before that?



Stephenie: No. James, I had tried to get to know
really well out there. He is just very closed and very kind of
anti-social and quiet. And he was really close with [Amanda Kimmel]. Really close with Amanda, I mean they were like inseparable.



So, we get to this challenge and it's [James "JT" Thomas] is
going to lead it, nobody else is going to talk. And we were letting JT
lead it and couldn't get it. Like he just, you know, puzzles are
difficult and he couldn't get it. So people are chiming in like,
"Okay, what are we supposed to do now?"



It looked like I was chiming in a lot but it was no more than
anybody else. I mean it was kind of like, "Okay." At one point
Candice was trying to lead the puzzle -- it was just a big mess. And
we were wrong -- like the whole puzzle was wrong, we weren't even close
-- and I think that's all I was trying to say.



You know I wasn't trying to say where to put the pieces because I
can't do puzzles. But I was just like "This is wrong, this isn't
right," and James was like "Shut the F up," "Shut the F up" the whole
freaking time.



Then the challenge is over -- and this is where the editing came in
a little bit. The challenge is over and he's still screaming, and it's
like he's screaming right in my face and I'm like "James, it wasn't
just me talking, like it's over."



And he's like "Argh!" and that's when he got "Oh, well if you're
going to say it wasn't you then you're obviously guilty" when I said it
wasn't just me. I didn't say it wasn't me, I said it wasn't just me. We were all kind of confused, like "What do you want us to do next?" And he just lost his crap!



His true colors came out and I think he embarrassed himself. A lot.
In front of America. Just the way he spoke to me. There was a lot
that wasn't seen and [Tom Westman] was in his face, [Colby Donaldson] was in his face at the beach that you didn't see.



It just goes to show -- for him to bring up the past and [my] losing on Palau like every challenge, well okay, how does that have anything to do with this puzzle?



Honestly, did I bring up him being voted out with two immunity idols in
his pocket? No. And then for me to get voted out and for him to still
be saying "Shut your mouth," just goes to show that he's a degrading
type of a person and he's not the James that we all once thought.



Reality TV World: Do you think he came after you because he
suspected you were coming after Amanda, [who you just said he was very
close with?]



Stephenie: That too a little bit. You know, Amanda --
we knew they were super-tight and we knew that they had people on the
other [Villains] side. We knew we needed to try and break that up, and
Amanda really should have went like Day 1.


It was really kind of between Amanda, Cirie and [Jessica "Sugar" Kiper]
and we said "Let's keep Amanda around, she is kind of good in the
challenges and we'll get rid of her a little later." And we should
have just never gave them that opportunity. It should have been Amanda
-- it should have been [Rupert Boneham], with the toe -- and, you know.



Reality TV World: During your Final Words you said your tribe
had had a "division since Day 1" and that people weren't "even
genuinely try[ing] to [get] to know each other." Can you elaborate on
that a little more?



Stephenie: Yeah, Day 1 when you get there, usually you
don't know each other and you're like "Where are you from, where do you
work, what's the story of your life?"


I mean I don't even think I knew James' last name. I tried to get to
know him and like wouldn't let me. And Rupert, all he talked about was
his charity of course, which is noble, but also how many appearances
he's done and how famous he's become and James too -- how he gets all
this stuff for free at this certain restaurant where the girls are
half-naked.



I mean it was like the egos were so unbearable to the point where
me, Tom and Colby were kind of like "You know, I don't even want
anything to do with it and I'm so sick of hearing it." We would like
stand outside the shelter. At night, like by the fire. Because we --
it was so unbearable.


It was like unbelievable. Amanda just kind of sat there quiet and, you
know, whatever James said she was like giggling. And then JT, he would
chime in -- he was kind of close to Rupert it seemed like.


So we knew they were all together, and then even Cirie -- she'd roll
her eyes every now and then like "Oh my god, these people!"


And then Candice, she was just so scared because she knew like NO ONE
out there, so I think she was afraid to say anything because she
thought she'd be [voted off] first or whatever.



There was a division since Day 1, like it was not a fun group of
people to be around, and you know, you didn't do anything without
Rupert's approval because he's like "Mr. Survivor," or so he acted.


It was really just -- I think I would have had a better time on the Villains tribe.



Reality TV World: So do you think that the fact that, as you
just said, Tom, Colby and yourself kind of removed yourselves a little
bit kind of ended up contributing to your downfall?



Stephenie: You know I don't, because me and Tom and
Colby would be over here and it would be like Candice and Cirie off
somewhere and then it would be just like James, Rupert, JT and Amanda
just like amusing themselves by talking about themselves almost.



So we were all kind of separated, it wasn't just like we were the only three that were separate, you know what I mean?



Reality TV World: Sure. Did you guys really believe Cirie and
Candice would be the next ones to be voted off or was that just part of
your attempt to convince them to side with you?



Stephenie: Yeah. Absolutely. I specifically told
them, "If you get rid of me that's one thing, but I'm telling you right
now you'll be the next to go. Maybe not in that specific order, but
you'll definitely be targeted."



Because even (unintelligible) said "You come with us and it's the
five of us, you won't see your name. You go with them, you're fine for
now but they will write your name down." And when you get to the merge
you're gone, because they were already involved with other people, and
friends with other people.



We thought they were already involved with [Parvati Shallow]
and people from the other side. So we knew even if they kept them until
the merge -- yeah, maybe they're keeping their numbers to get to the
merge -- but they'll be gone come the merge.



Reality TV World: But you were convinced Cirie wasn't one of those Micronesia people that was involved?



Stephenie: I was. You know, at first I was "She's
definitely involved" and then after having seriously long talks with
her she was like -- she convinced me that she definitely was not with
them.



Reality TV World: After last week's premiere, Entertainment Weekly reported that you didn't actually dislocate your shoulder
as last week's premiere showed and even though Parvati did yank on it,
that came after it had already been popped back in -- which I'm not
sure makes her look any better...



Stephenie: Right.



Reality TV World: ...but she didn't seem to be involved in the actual injury. Can you talk about that a little bit?



Stephenie: Yeah, the challenge was a really rough
challenge. Cirie and I actually won the first heat of that and they
didn't show -- because you know, they only have a certain amount of
time to show certain things happen.



And as I was diving for my mat with the bag in my left hand, as I
fell, I dislocated my shoulder. Normally I can get my own shoulder
back in -- it has dislocated a number of times, I need surgery but
haven't had it yet -- [but] I couldn't get it back in [this time].



The medical team came out, put it back in exactly as you saw --
Jeff was involved, the whole thing. It was really shocking, kind of,
because I was in a lot of pain. And then the second heat came around
where it was my turn and Cirie's turn to go in again.


At that point I was already hurt, so that's how Parvati knew to put my
arms sort of behind my back because she knew if she locked my arm
behind my back I didn't have enough strength to get it out, because I
was already weak from hurting my shoulder.



That's why [Courtney Yates]
yelled "Break her shoulder!" Because who yells "Break her shoulder"
out of nowhere, except you can't break a shoulder anyway, it's
dislocating, so whatever -- but that's kind of how it went. Like
Parvati didn't dislocate my shoulder. She didn't hurt me, I was
already hurt (laughs)



That's kind of how it went down.



Reality TV World:So is the fact that Cirie had convinced you that she wasn't with the other Micronesia folks why you guys backed off Tom's plan to go after her instead of Sugar at the first Tribal Council?



Stephenie: Yeah, I mean Sugar -- I like Sugar, but
Sugar was really getting annoying to a lot of people. So it was really
going to be Cirie first, everybody wanted Cirie gone. But then I kind
of thought Sugar was in with Rupert and I knew we had no chance,
because I knew Rupert hated me.



So my next only move was "Okay Tom and Colby, let's get Cirie."
Like, "Cirie likes me, we've been talking, let's get Cirie, because
Sugar there's no hope." So I was like "Okay," we get rid of Sugar -- I
went with them on it -- we pulled Cirie in.



But then Cirie was questioning whether Tom and Colby really wanted
her in the alliance or if they were going to get rid of her too and
just needed her for a number at the time, so it was all this
misunderstanding.



Hindsight is 20/20, Cirie will be the first to say that, but you know, they should have went with us. It was a better deal.

Thanks! It's always a drag when things slow down over the holidays. I'm just glad the shows are finally back in action! Can't wait for BB to roll back around though. But so far HvV has been pretty good and should keep us busy!

It's not as fancy as the other, but here's a quickie:

Love it Pat! Keep them coming!!!

PARVATI FUCKING GODDESS! <33333333

"Bitter Old Cougar!" SHE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD! <3

So many people gunning for her and didn't even get ONE vote! WORSHIP! <3 I don't care what anyone says... BEST.SURVIVOR.EVER! <33333

Absolutely loved Randy's exit! Best exit ever! FUCK YOU TRIBE!

C'mon Villains...Parvati over Randy? seriously...this isn't their first rodeo and to vote to evict Randy over Parvati is just dumb!

I am sooooooo not liking Russell worried about Rob all the time. He needs to lose the ego and work with Rob. And to see Russell and Poverty cuddling up together is just gross!

...and WTF Coach? Talk a good game but he folded....ugh!

Tonight's episode was a huge let down! HUGE!

I forgot to share my favorite part of last weeks episode...

"Bitter Old Cougar!"

hahahaha! jk! <3

You need to update you Boston Rob pic with a new one of him flaunting his new gut...

Coach cracks me up!



Love - Boston Rob

Disappointed but still have love for James and Russell

Stronly like - Jerri, Sandra, Courtney, Coach

Like - JT, Cirie, Amanda, Colby

Indifferent - Candice, Danielle, Tom, Tyson

Hate - Rupert

Seething Hate - Poverty

best part of the whole night of course comes from Russell..."I don't even like the Boston Red Sox"

Can he endear himself anymore to me?

ROTF @ E's favorite moment from last week.

2nd best part...Coach flipping off Jeff....priceless LMAO!

I also am scratching my head at Randys vote off.....ummmm WHY? I am a little disappointed in the Villain tribe for this move, mostly because I dont get it.

oh and one last thought....um Courtney, we all know that you want to pounce on Rob's package and make it your own, but you look like a watered down twig in mens underwear. You are making yourself look foolish...as usual. So pathetic.

I just love how everyone can give credit to Russell because he's so fucking amazing, but yet Parvati has Randy, Coach, Tyson, Jerri, Boston Rob, and Sandra all discuss how powerful she is and how she can charm anyone to get her way...NONE of them vote for her..NOT A FUCKING ONE..and she still doesn't get any credit. It's quite sad..

Russell is given credit because he IS amazing. He plays the game like no other and is recognized for that. Sorry, but what is so amazing about Parv? If you think spooning with Russell makes her amazing, mmmkay. To me, thats the desperate act of a woman who has no game so you resort to spooning, flirting, etc. You're right, she didnt get one vote and it seems to be the consensus that it was a bad move on their part. Who knows, maybe she handed out some blow jobs prior to tribal to buy her some more time. I dont see how her not getting a vote makes her amazing or why she should be given credit??

Colton wrote:

I just love how everyone can give credit to Russell because he's so fucking amazing, but yet Parvati has Randy, Coach, Tyson, Jerri, Boston Rob, and Sandra all discuss how powerful she is and how she can charm anyone to get her way...NONE of them vote for her..NOT A FUCKING ONE..and she still doesn't get any credit. It's quite sad..

I don't believe I've given Russell any credit thus far. Any credit I give him has been based off last season. I don't see him doing much of anything yet because he's been so damn hung up on all that Boston Rob's been doing to be able to shine himself. As far as Parvati is concerned what credit do you feel is owed to her? Please tell me what she has done? So what she flirts ...big deal? Is that really some strategic big game move? Nothing that any other woman couldn't do themselves if that's how they wanted to play the game. I would give her a ton of credit if she played the game without flirting, and cheapening herself. So what she didn't get a vote this week...either did Jerri, Coach, Tyson, Sandra, Courtney, Danielle, and Russell. Are you going to go and give them credit for their names to not only be not mentioned but nobody is looking in their direction either?
You always say how amazing she is but you never give any examples of what makes her so "amazing", I'd actually like to hear what brings you to that conclusion.

How about she led one of the greatest all-female alliances in Survivor history, Jeff Probst words not mine. Randy, Coach, Sandra, Jerri, Boston Rob, and Russell have all commented on how she has this way of luring people in even when they don't want anything to do with her. She's a lot like Russell in that people want her gone, but yet she sticks around. The only difference is..she doesn't need idols. :) Hopefully, as the season continues on you will begin to see her greatness..and as far as "every other woman", sadly Jerri Manthey seems to not be able to pull it off which is why she's clearly jealous of the goddess...

I don't think Jerri has been trying to flirt with all of the guys. And if I haven't picked up on this so called "greatness" after seeing her on 2 previous seasons I doubt anything she'll do this season will be changing my mind. Although I did enjoy this highlight from last Thursdays show where Candice was given Parvati the smackdown!

awww Coach just wants to be liked lol

I did like Tyson's advice to him... pretty much knock off the bullshit.

And I loved the exchange between Coach and Boston Rob....once again Boston Rob keeps proving why he's my fav! Pick your chin up and be a man Coach! haha

James body looks amazing oiled up... he is pure grade A beef! His muscles have muscles!

The immunity challenge was good and Boston Rob continues to be a man and step up and lead and pulls through for them once again.

It's funny how Boston Rob knew Russell was up to no good and sent Sandra to go see what he was up to. Oh how I wish these 2 could work together! It's clear that's not going to happen.

Cirie going home was a good choice because she's the brains of any operation even though I do like Cirie.

Love - Boston Rob, James, Russell
Like - Sandra, Courtney, Jerri, Coach, JT
Indifferent - Danielle, Candice, Colby, Amanda
Dislike - Tom, Tyson
Hate - Rupert, Parvati

I didnt get to watch Survivor until after it aired so I avoided reading this thread...lol. With that said, the Cirie vote off was a great one and I have a new found respect for JT in realizing it was the right thing to do. Right up until the last vote was read, I still had no idea which way it would go. I also like Cirie because she uses her brain in the game but unfortunately for her, her teammates saw it with how easily she could manipulate Amanda.

As far as James being oiled up......ummmmm WOWOWOWOW!

truly a wonderful sight.

Russell was too antsy and impatient and should have waited to search for the HII. I don't think he could help himself though. I mean when he said "I am going for a walk" yikes, I knew it wasnt going to be good. Hopefully this doesnt come back to bite him but its not looking good for him.

Fuck Sandra calling out Coach. WTF does she do or bring to the table...oh thats right...nothing. She is the "as long as its not me" bitch. She's worthless except for being BR's little bitch and lackey. I was really surprised at how hard Coach took it though. Still love Coach though and glad he is there.

First blind side of the season was a great one. Hope there are more to come!

wow, if this is true! I would find out where Ms. Stasio lives and kick her ass...lol I do wonder though if Jerri is telling all.........hmmmm. I will say this though, I have NEVER heard of anyone taking your jacket from you????? yikes!

Jerri Manthey: MY NIGHTMARE ON US AIRWAYS: my letter to the airline

To Whom It May Concern:


CHAPTER ONE: CONFUSED, ANGRY, VIOLATED

The time is 2:35 AM, Eastern Standard Time on March 4th, 2010. I have been checked into a hotel near Charlotte airport in North Carolina and am still processing the overwhelming feelings of anger and confusion. I have gone over and over the horrifying scene in my head trying to figure out why the flight attendant on my flight decided to single me out, embarrass me in front of everyone and have me removed from the plane.

My parents, who I just got off the phone with, are happy I am okay, but are still trying to process the fact that I won't be coming home tonight. They had been waiting at the airport at my final destination in Huntsville, AL when I called.

I feel violated and harassed. Plain and simple.


CHAPTER TWO: MS. STASIO MAKES IT PERSONAL

It started the moment I set foot on the plane. As soon as I turned onto the aisle to make my way to my seat, Ms. Patricia Stasio (badge #JS237548, EMP#015973) stopped me and told me I couldn’t take my carry-on with me and that I would have to leave it to be put underneath the plane. Her reason had something to do with it having wheels (?). I would like to point out that my carry-on is far below regulation size and has NEVER been a problem on the many flights I have taken since I bought it over a year ago – even planes that were much smaller than this one. I explained to her that I’ve never had a problem and reassured her it would fit perfectly underneath the seat in front of me and I was more than willing to show her that it did. I also reiterated what the voice over the intercom had said to all waiting to board, “All carry on luggage must be no larger than the size of a briefcase.” She immediately became argumentative and disagreeable.

I then explained that the contents were extremely valuable and that I could not comfortably part with them. The contents were as follows: my 15” laptop computer, my digital Canon still camera, my Sony digital video recorder, DV tapes from past events and vacations, my brand new iPod and iPod speakers, jewelry I have purchased from all over the world and my personal and business checkbooks and bills. Everything was irreplaceable and priceless. I carry them with me at all times and would never dream of checking them in let alone leaving them behind on an airplane walkway.

I have checked with US Airways' online information regarding what is allowed to be carried on with a passenger and found that regulation states each passenger can carry on a small carry-on (up to 14” X 9” X 22”) plus one personal item. My carry on measures: 13” X 7.5” X 17”. (Pictures are attached.)

Ms. Stasio then had me stand to the side in the “kitchen” while she helped a woman with a very large piece of artwork onto the plane, directing her to see the flight attendant at the back – Terrie Rohrer (EMP#15719) – for assistance in finding a place to put this very large piece of art (approx. 3 ft X 4ft) which she requested “lie flat somewhere”.

I stood and watched in dismay.

Then, I witnessed a man with a very large briefcase (with wheels), carry his item past her with no issue. I tried to point out that my piece of luggage was much smaller than his and she exclaimed in an irritated and confrontational voice, “I’m helping another person right now, you need to wait.”

The stream of people continued as I stood patiently off to the side in the “kitchen” area. Ms. Stasio continued to ignore me as I watched many more larger pieces of carry on baggage go by: a couple of very large backpacks – compartments unzipped, expanded, filled to capacity and more than three times the size of my carry on, and more briefcases - much larger than my piece (MOST with wheels)! It should be noted that all people who boarded took a moment to look over at me as if trying to figure out why I would be standing by, wondering if maybe I had done something wrong and was being punished in some way.

This was merely the BEGINNING of the embarrassment I was subjected to.

She finally decided to acknowledge me and made me talk to the pilot (Capt. Charles Baker, BADGE#JS226556, PSA CLT). I explained to him the situation and pointed out that even his briefcase was much bigger than my piece. I then explained what was in it and why I couldn’t leave it to be put under the plane. He then muttered something to me about weight (which makes no sense whatsoever as my piece was well under 15 pounds – regulation states it can be up to 40!) and decided to call the manager. I pleaded with him to let me take my bag on, and “the last thing I wanted to do was cause any sort of problem.”

Ms. Stasio had taken my carry-on and placed it outside the plane while my back was turned, so when I turned to get it, it was gone. I had a moment of panic – someone took my bag when I wasn’t looking! Like I said, the items in it are IRREPLACEABLE. I couldn’t believe Ms. Stasio would just pick it up and move it without my consent – especially with the information I had shared regarding it’s contents. I was in a state of disbelief and sheer horror as I frantically asked where my bag was. She informed me it was outside the plane on the walkway – tagged and ready to go under the plane. At this point I was shaking and fighting off tears. I felt bullied.

I found the piece around the corner of the walkway, dwarfed by the group of larger roll on baggage outside the plane that had been checked with yellow tags and left unattended to be placed under the plane. I picked mine up and moved it back to where I could stand next to it outside the plane door as I waited for the manager. Two more passengers boarded - one with yet another large backpack that dwarfed my piece and another briefcase that was bulging and unzipped with paperwork and a laptop. Both men asked what was wrong. I told them that I wasn’t being let on with my carry-on. They both looked at it and shook their heads in disbelief as they compared it to theirs. “It’s so small” said the man with the bulging and over stuffed briefcase.

It didn’t make any sense.

The manager arrived. I gave him the full story, he assessed the bag, and went inside the plane to talk to Ms. Stasio. She was clearly angry and making quite a fuss – an unwarranted reaction to the situation. It was me who should be losing my cool. Not her!

Despite the fact that my blood was boiling, my heart was racing, I was fighting off tears and trying to make sense of all the confusion, I was still being one hundred percent cooperative. I even offered to show the flight attendant and the manager that my bag would fit perfectly under my seat. She refused to let me.

The manager seemed to get nowhere with Ms. Stasio and returned with a couple of plastic bags and asked if I would remove the contents of my bag into them. In a completely frustrated state, wanting nothing but to get on the plane and get home to my family, I chose to fill my purse with what I could fit in it and carry the rest by hand. At this point, my purse was even larger and more difficult to handle than my original bag and I was left with expensive electronics being carried by hand. My carry on had been left behind completely empty except for a few power cords and a magazine.

I muttered “this is ridiculous” on the way to my seat.

Everyone was staring at me. I was uncomfortable, embarrassed, and so angry I had to fight back tears. I was confused, I felt harassed and now violated.

The plane was nowhere near full, many seats were empty and I approached Ms. Rohrer to ask if I could sit in the first row of seats which were unoccupied. She told me that “no one is allowed to sit in the front seats”. I let out a breath of disgust, waited for the man in the aisle seat to let me in and sat in my window seat, arms bulging with all my personal belongings. The man next to me – Victor - asked if was okay. I told him “I wasn’t allowed to bring on my small carry on… I’m sorry for the mess and I’ll never fly US Airways again”.

I look up and see the manager coming back to my seat. “Now what?” I say under my breath. He asked Victor to let him sit by me and in a very quiet voice told me, “I am very sorry for any inconvenience you are experiencing” and that I “should avoid any and all conversation with Ms. Stasio. She clearly has something personal against you and I don’t understand it myself”. I began to wonder who this woman was and how she could single handedly control and instill an almost palpable state of fear (?) in so many authority figures. I agreed to keep my true feelings to myself. “I just want to get home to my family who I haven’t seen in almost a year!” I stated. He apologized again and exited the plane.

We pulled away from the gate and I sat staring out the window, trying to fight off the tears that were forming in my eyes. I was already embarrassed and humiliated enough as it was.

After I had taken a series of deep breaths and talked myself back into a calm state of mind and my heart had returned to a normal pace, Ms. Rohrer approached me and asked me if I was holding my laptop in my lap. Being now unprotected, I had decided to hold onto it so that it wouldn’t be jarred or damaged in any way. With all my belongings in disarray and shoved under the seat in front of me there was then the danger of everything sliding around during take off and I was trying to keep everything together and safe. She insisted I place it under the seat or stow it in the above head compartment. I somehow found room to squeeze it under the seat even though I was far from comfortable doing it. I was trying my best to comply to every ridiculous request being thrown at me.

Then she looked at my jacket and insisted I stow that as well. I had a short, waist length, bomber style cotton jacket which I was using as a blanket because it was cold and blankets were not provided. She again insisted that absolutely everything must be stowed under the seat or in the above bins. “Why is this happening to me,” was all I could think in my head. I have been flying my whole life (I’m 39 years old) and have NEVER had anyone try to take my jacket from me.

At this point, everyone around me was aware of the situation at hand. She continued to berate me about my jacket over and over until I frustratingly handed it to her and exclaimed, “Fine! Take it!” I then said under my breath, “Jesus Christ!”. She gasped in horror and threw my coat back at me. “You just took the Lord’s name in vain. Hold onto your jacket because you’re going need it when I have you removed from this plane”, she stated as she stormed through the aisle of the moving plane. I saw her approach Ms. Stasio with what I will describe as “shear delight” to tell her what I had just said.

Next thing I knew, we were stopped on the tarmac, and the remaining passengers on the plane were growing restless and upset. We sat for almost 15 minutes. Suddenly, the door was opened and security, police and the manager I had talked to earlier were approaching me. The entire plane was now involved. People were shifting in their seats and staring at me confusingly, trying to figure out what had happened that could warrant the onslaught of security and law enforcement. There was a sudden sense of danger and confusion onboard. Even I was wondering what had happened. It all seemed way to intense to have been caused by the combination of my carry on, my laptop, my jacket and saying Jesus’ name in vain!!

The manager was apologizing profusely as he once again sat in the seat next to me. “We’re going to escort you off the plane. I’m sorry this has happened,” he said. Suddenly, Victor, who was in the seat next to me and now standing in the aisle, was explaining to the manager that I had done nothing wrong and that he was a witness. Then a man two rows in front of me – Craig Stephens – came to my defense as well. “Can I please speak to the pilot? The flight attendant is over-reacting and I want to tell him she is way out of line. This woman has done nothing and doesn’t deserve to by removed from the plane. This is ridiculous!”, he said.

Another woman – I believe her name was Melissa was absolutely livid as she explained that her grandmother was “literally on her deathbed waiting for her to get to the hospital in Huntsville” and that if she “got there to find her already dead, the airline would never hear the end of it”. There was pandemonium, confusion and a slew of apologies directed towards me from other passengers. They all wrote down their names and numbers (included in this letter) and agreed to be my witnesses to what had happened.

According to the manager, policy states that the pilot and flight attendants have the last word and had spoken. I’d been voted off the plane.

One small detail I haven’t shared is that I am a rather well-known television personality from “Survivor.” People know who I am. Because of this and the fact that everyone recognized me, I was even MORE devastated and embarrassed than your average non-recognized person. I was HUMILIATED. And for no reason whatsoever!

I got off the plane to find a group of people waiting for me as if I were some sort of criminal or terrorist. Most of them had heard over the radio that I was from “Survivor” and I felt as though they were waiting to get a glimpse of me. Daniel Hewat – a very helpful young man - retrieved my empty carry on and my checked bag from under the plane and I was escorted back to the gate. The security and police as well as the manager apologized again and stated that they were all going to “file a complaint against the flight attendant for being way out of line”. I was given a hotel voucher, rebooked on a flight for the next morning and sent on my way.

I then had to call and explain to my extremely concerned mother why I would not be coming home that night. She said that she also had negative experiences on US Airways and swore sometime in the last year she would never travel on the airline again. I was now in one hundred percent agreeance with her.

I checked myself into the hotel and quickly found that there was no food available. I hadn’t eaten all day because I was waiting to get home to eat my mom’s home cooking. All that was available was a vending machine and I had no cash.

I called my close friend, Heidi Blessing, who works for Continental Airlines at the Las Vegas airport to get her take on my story. Ironically, her job is to remove problem people off planes. After telling her the exact story I am sharing with you now, she was dumbfounded as to why I would be removed from the plane. She told me that it is very common for people to take carry-ons that don’t fit but that she at least gives them the opportunity to show her whether they do or not. Sometimes she’s right and sometimes she’s wrong. To add insult to injury she states that she has NEVER heard of anyone insisting a jacket by stowed – especially in winter when coats provide warmth in situations where blankets are not provided.


CHAPTER THREE: EXHAUSTED, BUT FINALLY HOME

It is now Thursday, March 4, 2010. I am safely home with my family just outside Huntsville, AL.

As suspected, my flight today went without a hitch. With the SAME EXACT carry-on, I boarded my flight (FLT 3557) and arrived at Huntsville, AL airport. No one questioned my carry-on, no one stopped me or gave me any grief whatsoever. As previously stated, my carry-on fit perfectly under the seat.

At this point, I am SICK TO MY STOMACH knowing that I have to fly US Airways home back to Los Angeles on the 17th of March, but I am NEVER going to fly US Airways again.


IN CONCLUSION:

I am currently on television in the latest “Survivor” and therefore scheduled to make a large number of appearances in numerous media outlets. I have decided to make it my personal mission to share with the world this horrifying and very personal story. My plan is to post this story on the internet so that the literal thousands of people who visit my website and my Facebook Fan Page can read it and know how US Airways treats their customers. I also plan on telling this story to all of the radio stations, newspapers, magazines and television talk shows that I am scheduled to appear on in the upcoming months.

NO ONE should be treated the way I was treated. I did absolutely NOTHING wrong! I was treated like a criminal, embarrassed, harassed and unnecessarily inconvenienced.

In a time when flying has become a major inconvenience in general, airlines should be going out of their way to make people who pay hard earned money for their tickets feel comfortable, safe, and appreciated. This has been the norm for many years of travel, but as of late, customer service has clearly been compromised.

My personal recommendation would be to begin by FIRING flight attendants who become power hungry, bitter, and apparently no longer like their job. It was very clear to me that Ms. Patricia Stasio and Ms. Terrie Rohrer were NOT happy with their job anymore. I believe they are far too elderly and/or weary to perform their tasks at hand in a professional, courteous, thoughtful manner. And they clearly did NOT have my safety, comfort or convenience in mind.

It is apparent that flight attendants have been given far too much power and are now abusing said power to manipulate and control those around them. I understand with the recent terrorist threats that certain choices must be made for the safety of all on board, but it is very clear that Ms. Stasio and Ms. Rohrer have now begun overstepping their boundaries and punishing passengers for their own personal as well as religious issues.

I have included a list of the passengers who were seated around me who willingly and eagerly gave me their names and numbers. They are all free for comment and offered to discuss further what they witnessed.

I will also reiterate that the security, the police, as well as the manager on duty that night said they were going to file a complaint against Ms. Stasio for overstepping the boundaries of her job. Hopefully, they followed through and you can now add their information to my case as well.

Sincerely,

Jerri Manthey


Here is a pic of the bag she says she carried on the plane. I can tell you that if this is indeed the bag, not only have I seen bigger carry on bags but I myself have carried a bigger bag than that on board.

Just a reminder for everyone...NO Survivor tonight!
NCAA Basketball tourney started today and also NEXT week, Survivor airs on WEDNESDAY.