Pirate Master

'Pirate Master' Runner-Up Shares Thoughts on Coming in Second

editor@buddytv.com — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 08:30:00 GMT

Mark Burnett’s failed reality series, Pirate Master, has finally cast its anchor and docked for good. CBS posted the final episode of the show on their web site last August 28, a little over a month since the network yanked it off their television lineup due to poor ratings. For Pirate Master’s faithful followers, the two-hour finale offered lots of action and adventure as the final three contestants battled it out for the title of Pirate Master.

After a series of individual and collective challenges, the race to Captain Henry Steele’s treasure finally came down to 30-year-old stay-at-home mom, Christa DeAngelo and 23-year old musician, Ben Fagan. The homestretch challenge required Christa and Ben to place a wooden ship wheel on a wall of Henry Steele’s quarters, making sure to match letters printed on the wall in order to read the succeeding clue. The race was close until Ben worked out the last puzzle to earn the key that unlocked Captain Steele’s Treasure of Zanzibar.

'Pirate Master' Cast-Off Says CBS "Didn't Believe in" the Show

editor@buddytv.com — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:00:00 GMT

CBS canceled the reality series, Pirate Master, last month, and redirected the remaining episodes to weekly broadcasts on CBS.com's Innertube. The show, which had been produced by Mark Burnett, had failed to deliver solid ratings for the network, which ultimately led to its demise. Azmyth Kaminski, the ninth cast member sent adrift from the show, believes the cancellation would have been averted if CBS had only shown more confidence in the series.

“CBS did what they could, but I feel like they didn't believe in it from the start,” Kaminski told TV Guide. “I can understand if it had been maybe four or five sessions in and [they decided] to cancel it, but we were more than halfway through the season.”

'Pirate Master': Episode Update

editor@buddytv.com — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:12:42 GMT

It's been a week and a half since CBS abruptly pulled Pirate Master off the air. The show had been plagued by mediocre ratings. It tried changing days and time slots but nothing seemed to boost interest in the show. Instead of going the way of other network canceled shows (Reunion, anyone?), CBS decided to give the fans what they wanted and put the remaining episodes online. Let's check in on our pirates to see who has become captain and who has become cut adrift.

The season was halfway over when episode nine hit the internet. Only eight pirates remained. Host Cameron Daddo informs the pirates that the captain will no longer have officers, which spells trouble for Azmyth. For this expedition, Azmyth competed on the black crew with Nessa, Louie, and Laurel at his side. Opposing them would be his two former officers Ben and Jay as well as Christa and Kendra. The red crew pulls off a victory and Christa becomes the newest (and first female) captain.

'Pirate Master' Contestant Found Dead of Apparent Suicide

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:47:36 GMT

Former Pirate Master contestant and Deputy District Attorney of Reno, NV Cheryl Kosewicz was found dead in her home this past Friday from an apparent suicide. She was 35-years-old. Kosewicz's boyfriend, Ryan O'Neil, took his own life two months ago. CBS recently announced they were pulling the plug on Pirate Master due to poor ratings. She also had appeared in a recent issue of The Enquirer, although the reason is unclear.

Cheryl had not kept her troubles to herself. She posted on fellow contestant Nessa Nemir's MySpace page just before she died, saying that she was “floating around lost.” She also posted the week before to a friend, “now it's up to me to make sure I get up every morning to handle the day.” Her death is still under investigation, according to KOLO-TV/Reno, although fellow cast members have stated that it was suicide on various websites such as MySpace and Facebook.

CBS Makes "Pirate Master" Walk the Plank

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 11:37:11 GMT

Although skeptics might have doubted, Pirate Master did have potential. The concept of modern-day pirates sailing the seas and voting the others off was a little silly. But before the season started, fans of other Mark Burnett adventure-reality shows thought that the strength of that production company might be able to turn a potentially goofy concept into a fun summertime escape.

For some viewers, that might have been exactly what it was, but unfortunately, there weren't enough of those viewers for CBS's liking. They have announced that they are pulling Pirate Master from its on-air line-up.

However, for those who are fans of Pirate Master, never fear! CBS might have cut the show adrift but you can still sail along with them until the end of their journey.

Exclusive Interview: Jupiter Mendoza, 8th to be Cast Adrift on 'Pirate Master'

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:02:59 GMT

Never trust a pirate. That's the theme that's becoming apparent on the premiere season of Mark Burnett's Pirate Master. Jupiter Mendoza had been loyal to Captain Azmyth all season long. What does that get her? A one-way ticket home. After alerting the captain that a mutiny was being discussed, the Captain stabbed Jupiter in the back, after she had been his confidante throughout the season. Jupiter, the latest cast adrift, took some time to speak with us this morning about her time on Pirate Master.

Below you will find both the written transcript and the full mp3 audio of the interview.

Pirate Master: Episode 8 Recap

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:07:39 GMT

Episode Overview: The pirates still find themselves locked under the rule of captain Azmyth Kaminski and his officers. While he might be sharing the wealth, he's hoarding the power. With Louie Frase as the only man left on Pirate Master to oppose the "Triad," the crew is feeling bleak about its chances at overturning them without mutiny. However, their chance comes in the form of a new expedition and some "ghostly" visitors. Will it be enough to bring about a regime change?

Seven pirates have been set adrift on Pirate Master, with the last one to go being Joe Don Norton. Nessa Nemir, who planted a kiss on him before he departed, is missing the man. So is Louie, although for completely different reasons: now he's feeling the pressure to be the muscle in the next expedition, and get a win to help unseat the Triad.

'Pirate Master' Host Has New Film

editor@buddytv.com — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 07:00:00 GMT

CBS’ Pirate Master may be experiencing some difficulty drawing in a good number of viewers every week, but things are still looking up for the show’ host, Cameron Daddo.

The 42-year-old Australian actor will be appearing in the upcoming film, The Perfect Sleep. According to the film’s website, the story revolves around The Narrator, a man who must return to the city he left ten years ago in order to save the woman he loves. The Narrator is also described as someone who has “an unnatural threshold for pain and punishment,” which enables him to face opposing forces head-on.

Exclusive Intervew: Joe Don Norton, 7th to be cast adrift on Pirate Master

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:54:19 GMT

Perhaps the most interesting and dynamic character on Mark Burnett's Pirate Master, Joe Don Norton was the first ever captain on the nautical reality show, but was cast adrift on last night's episode, but not before kissing his lady friend Nessa goodbye. Joe Don spends his days jumping out of planes to combat forest fires, so being a pirate probably wasn't all that stressful. His outspoken, yet laid back leadership skills shone through all season, and it was only at the hands of an unmerciful alliance that he was cast adrift. Joe Don took some time to speak with us earlier today about his experience on Pirate Master.

Below you will find both the written transcript and full mp3 audio of the interview.

Pirate Master: Episode 7 Recap

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:28:33 GMT

Pirate Master made its new Tuesday timeslot debut tonight, and with it came an episode much like any other Pirate Master episode, except this one ended with a kiss. If you've been watching Pirate Master, I'm sure you can guess who exactly locked lips (hint: Louie wasn't one of them).

The episode begins with a look at “The Triad”, the very annoying three-man alliance between Captain Azmyth and his two officers Jay and Ben. The idea behind the triad is that if Azmyth stacked the deck on the black team's side for every treasure hunt, they'd be near unstoppable. That's the way it's gone so far, and all three men are pleased with their position. Azmyth flows in and out of a terrible English accent, sometimes mixing in other random types of speech, each as hopelessly annoying as the next.

Pirate Master: Season One, Episode Six

editor@buddytv.com — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:36:15 GMT

Episode Overview: Now that Azmyth Kaminski has returned to the position of Captain, and made two of the stronger male players his officers, he's created a "triad" of physical power that can dominate in the quest for treasure. Meanwhile, the weaker players like Joy McElveen and Kendra Guffey find themselves under scrutiny for their lack of physical prowess. Has the new regime made Pirate Master simply a game of brawn? Or can the other pirates use their brains and will to bring about a change in leadership?

Exclusive Interview: Sean Twomey, 5th to be cast adrift on Pirate Master

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:58:31 GMT

If Pirate Master has taught us anything, it's that pirates hold grudges. Just one episode after Sean Twomey voted in a way that rubbed some fellow pirates the wrong way, he found himself cut adrift. Can't say it wasn't completely unexpected. To his credit, Sean seemed to do his best to play the game of Pirate Master, making deals to attempt and preserve his stay on the ship. He became known as the ship's cook; it'll be interesting to see how the food goes down after Sean's abscence. Sean graciously took some time recently to discuss his tenure as a pirate.

Below you will find both the written transcript and full mp3 audio of the interview.

Pirate Master - Episode Five Recap

editor@buddytv.com — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 20:20:30 GMT

Originally aired on Thursday, 06/28/2007

Episode Rating: * (1 stars out of 5)

Episode Overview: Pirate Master continues its high seas journey, with another challenge and another Pirate Court.

Episode Highlights:

Tensions are starting to build between the pirates as alliances solidify.
It's another close call that loses one team the challenge.
The captain and his officers switch things up when it comes time to hand out the black spot.

Pirate Master - Episode Four

editor@buddytv.com — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:14:42 GMT

Originally aired on Thursday, 06/21/2007

Episode Rating: ** (2 stars out of 5)

Episode Overview: The Pirate Master crew adjusts to life under a new regime, but the fallout from the previous one continues.

Episode Highlights:

A critical error puts one pirate in the crosshairs of the dreaded black spot.
The treasure this week comes with a special twist.
An alliance is tested by some heavy-handed threats.

Exclusive Interview: Cameron Daddo, host of Pirate Master

editor@buddytv.com — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 13:57:46 GMT

Cameron Daddo has led a long and fruitful stateside career as an actor, appearing on television shows such as Models Inc., CSI, and Boston Legal, among many others. Fans of his work might have been surprised, then, when Daddo was tapped to host the latest reality show from mastermind Mark Burnett, Pirate Master. However, Daddo has a history of hosting jobs, just not in the States; Cameron got his start by hosting television shows in his native Australia. Cameron took some time out of his busy schedule to speak with us recently about Pirate Master and his history in the business.

Below you will find both the written transcript and the full mp3 audio of the interview.

Exclusive Interview: Alexis Shubin, 3rd to be cast adrift on Pirate Master

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:47:18 GMT

Mark Burnett's latest venture into reality TV is Pirate Master, and what the show has produced thus far is an acceptable amount of guilty, giddy fun, the kind you'd expect from a reality show about pirates. Alexis Shubin, the latest pirate to be cast adrift, may not have embodied what her fellow crewmembers wanted in a pirate. Maybe that's because Alexis is a fashion publicist and she didn't really fit in. She gave it her all, however, and was kind enough to take some time earlier today and come speak with us about her time as a pirate.

Below you will find both the written transcript and full mp3 audio of the interview.

Pirate Master - Episode Three

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:19:04 GMT

Originally aired on Thursday, 06/14/2007

Episode Rating: ** (2 stars out of 5)

Episode Overview: This week on Pirate Master, there's a sea change as a new leader emerges on the crew.

Episode Highlights:

The treasure challenge this week is a close race, and one team finds itself in the middle of the sabotage.
A new leader brings about a new mood on the ship.
One pirate tries to make the best of the old and new regime.

Exclusive Interview: Christian Okoye, 2nd to be cast adrift on Pirate Master

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:20:13 GMT

Christian Okoye was nicknamed the Nigerian Nightmare during his all-too-brief NFL career because, a) he was Nigerian, and b) the man was as intimidating a running back as the NFL has ever seen. If it weren't for a degenerative knee injury, Okoye could've been a hall of famer. But, his career was cut short, although he did make two pro bowls. Last night, Chirstian was cast adrift on Pirate Master, also prematurely. We talked earlier today about his time on the show, what he's been up to since retiring and, of course, Tecmo Super Bowl.

Below you will find both the written transcript and the full mp3 audio of the interview.

Pirate Master - Episode Two Recap

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:20:37 GMT

Originally aired on Thursday, 06/07/2007

Episode Rating: ** (2 stars out of 5)

Episode Overview: It's the next installment of this adventure on the high seas, and the self-interested attitude of their Pirate Master Captain rubs many of the pirates the wrong way.

Episode Highlights:

The pirates continue to adjust to life on the high seas.
Joe Don Norton, the Captain, once again takes full advantage of his position, enjoying some creature comforts and a larger share of the treasure.
Physical limitations make some pirates vulnerable to receiving the dreaded "black spot."

Exclusive Interview: John Lakness, 1st to be cast adrift on Pirate Master

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:39:38 GMT

Say what you will about the first episode of Pirate Master (some liked it, others not so much), but at least the casting was interesting. A Rupert look-a-like, the Nigerian Nightmare Christian Okoye, and Jon Lakness, a scientist by day, exotic dancer by night. Lakness dances for Chippendales, and was the first contestant to be cast adrift on Pirate Master. Lakness took some time to speak with us after his elimination, and viewers might be surprised at a couple of the man's answers.

Below you will find both the written transcript and the full mp3 audio of the interview.

Pirate Master: A cavalcade of enjoyable silliness

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 09:29:42 GMT

Oh, the glory of Pirate Master. When the idea of Pirate Master first came to light, there was a collective thought of “What the hell is wrong with Mark Burnett?” The show sounded like a two-bit knock off of Survivor, a shameless attempt to capture the Survivor audience during the summer months. Last night, Pirate Master premiered and, well, it was exactly that: a Survivor knock-off. However, that didn't make the show unenjoyable. The opposite, actually. The show was as silly and contrived as one would suspect, but from that silliness comes a very entertaining hour of television.

Pirate Master - Episode One Recap

editor@buddytv.com — Thu, 31 May 2007 23:56:41 GMT

Originally aired on Monday, 05/31/2007

Episode Rating: * (1 star out of 5)

Episode Overview: The sixteen modern-day pirates take to the seas in the premiere episode of Pirate Master.

Episode Highlights:

In the surprisingly lackluster first entry in the new reality show, our pirates get their sea legs and get acquainted.
The first treasure chest is found by one of the pirate teams, but the divvying up of the booty leaves some feeling resentful.
One pirate makes an attempt at mutiny.

Pirate Master Host - Descended from Pirates?

editor@buddytv.com — Sun, 27 May 2007 22:55:27 GMT

Australian actor, television host, model and musician Cameron Daddo will be the host of Survivor producer Mark Burnett’s latest reality venture Pirate Masters, which airs its premiere this Thursday, May 31st. The show will follow sixteen “modern-day pirates” as they search for treasure off the coast of Dominica in the Caribbean.

In addition to Daddo’s television hosting experience, he might also bring an extra-added qualification to the gig: actual pirate ancestry.

CBS' Pirate Master: Meet the Pirates

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 02 May 2007 16:27:44 GMT

CBS has revealed the identities of the 16 pirates that will be competing on Pirate Master, the newest show from Survivor producer Mark Burnett premiering on May 31.

Pirate Master will follow the 16 contestants over the course of 33 days as they travel around the Caribbean in search for hidden treasure in a 179-foot pirate ship. Each week, one pirate will become the captain of the ship, and each week one pirate will be "cut adrift."

Here's a look at the 16 contestants who Burnett says, "knew a lot about the world of pirates and all agree had they been born 250 years ago, they'd have like to have been pirates."

Pirates and Politicians: Survivor creator Burnett announces new reality shows

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 06:08:53 GMT

Mark Burnett, who’s behind the hit show Survivor, has two new reality shows coming up. Pirate Master, yet another “outwit for money” series, premieres May 31, and will hop into Survivor’s time slot on Thursday nights on CBS.

Independent, a “groundbreaking political reality show” produced in partnership with popular social networking site MySpace, will launch in early 2008.

Pirate Master seems to be very much cast in the Survivor mold; sixteen contestants (er, “modern-day pirates”) will spend a month living on a pirate ship in the Caribbean, searching for hidden treasure and competing for “the largest booty,” under the reign of one contestant, the captain, who gets to assign chores. (Arrr, I foresee mutiny!)