INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Ultimate Blogger WRAP UP. If you're new to the game, WELCOME! Here you'll be able to start from the very beginning and catch up to where we are now. This page will will grow as the game goes on and it will be your place to get the quick-n-dirty updates. If you're looking for the unedited contestant-entries, check out THE DEN. That's pretty much the UB playing field.
Also, alternatively, you can follow along with the mysterious, opinionated, never-boring inside
scoop team over at the UHUBUGGG. CAUTION: The opinions expressed within this group aren't necessarily shared with the official Ultimate Blogger staff. Who's running this thing? WE JUST DON'T KNOW.. or do we?
All of the challenges are all presented as a video, so make sure you have the newest version QuickTime installed.
CHALLENGE #1
VAPID VITTLES: We started off the competition referencing some of the worst blog-posts out there; the ones about food. These are often some of the most uninteresting posts you'll read on blogs and the challenge was to write something regarding the contestants' dinner that would be actually captivating.
Click here to view the challenge (10.6MB - MP4)
READ ALL of the Challenge #1 entries.
IMMUNITY GOES TO LYOVA
Well, judging turned out to be a lot harder than we had expected. After going through all of the entries we picked Lyova's post on vodka and he was granted the very first immunity item; THE CYBER IMMUNITY HEADDRESS.
Read Lyova's Entry
Lyova was immune and Eddie was voted off.
CHALLENGE #2
TIRED TECHNOLOGY: Our second challenge was to raise the contestants' "geek cred." We wanted to hear about fond memories regarding obsolete technologies used and loved by our remaining 11 contestants without it turing into "who had the most obscure toy" but a competition to create the most compelling and entertaining post.
Click here to view the challenge (11.3MB - MP4)
READ ALL of the Challenge #2 entries.
IMMUNITY GOES TO JAMES, CRASH CRASHES OUT
On May 6th, at 12:25 p.m., our contestant Crash threw in the towel as an Ultimate Blogger contestant admitting that his performance was below his own standards, and his own blog was suffering as well as some overwhelming unspoken drama. We awarded James the Rainbow Immunity Goggles for his A/V post about the Casio SK-1 keyboard.
Read James' Entry
James was immune, Karsh was voted off and Crash threw in the towel.
CHALLENGE #3
SUNUP SNAPSHOT: This was our challenge to test the contestants' visual aesthetics. We asked for one photo in the theme of "A.M." You know, the morning. Our goal was to learn more about the contestants and their view and the world around them. For this challenge we brought in some amazing guest judges, Chas, e*rock, Daniel, and Shayla.
IMMUNITY GOES TO MIMI
Our job is hard!!!! We spent something like 4 hours trying to pick a winner tonight. It almost killed us. After many votes and debates we are pleased to award the Psychedelic USB Cyber-Parrot of Immunity to Mimi for her evocative post of New York mornings.
Read Mimi's Post
Mimi was immune and Joel was voted off.
CHALLENGE #4
CREATIVE CONVERSATION: Challenge four is all about focusing attention on someone else. Too often in blogsville we post a popular link or write out opinion of the topic du jour, but an interview is an easy way to create new content for the internet. We wanted the contestants to find a dynamic person and ask them some questions. Who they chose and what they asked about was up to them, but there are a lot of pitfalls you need to watch out for (see the video for some examples).
Click here to view the challenge (14.5MB - MP4)
READ ALL of the Challenge #4 entries.
IMMUNITY GOES TO WILLOW
At the end of the evening we were left with Willow, or should we call her Nancy Novak, and her very sassy 3 interviews for the price of 1. Willow won the Spiritual Beard and Third Eye of Immunity and she was guaranteed a spot in the final 7.
But wait, there is more....
Along with winning immunity for herself, Willow is also granted the gift of immunity for one other contestant of her choosing. Willow granted her gift of immunity to James via matching Spiritual Beard and Third Eye. James is now the first two-time holder of immunity. WIllow's and James' immunity seemed to throw a wrench in the plans of the great alliance.
Read Willow's Post
Willow was immune and Sonny was voted off.
CHALLENGE #5
MODERN MERCH: Challenge five was all about discovering something new. We want edinformative, and as always, we wanted entertaining! We've long been fans of new products, and we get so excited to see the red starburst of "NEW" on a package. This challenge was to capture that sense of excitement and anticipation, and then the resulting feelings based on the quality of the product after you try it.
Click here to view the challenge (14.3MB - MP4)
READ ALL of the Challenge #5 entries.
IMMUNITY GOES TO RITCHEY
Well, she did it folks; Ritchey won the Not Depressing At All Immunity Orthodontic Headgear and Braces. Many commenters had been claiming that she was robbed in the previous challenges, and while her entries have been very strong, she has never walked away with that sweetest of prizes. This time she turned in a brilliant and concise review of the Gillette Venus Vibrance shaver for ladies which was supplemented by a hilarious video. Congratulations Ritchey, you wore the equipment well!
Read Ritchey's Post
Willow was immune and a new twist was thrown into the game... no one was voted off.
CHALLENGE #6
QUESTION MARK?: This challenge held twice the importance and immunity was to be granted in a whole new way. Twist after twist after twist. The surprise... THE CHALLENGE DID NOT INCLUDE ANY INSTRUCTIONS. Call it a "freestyle" challenge, a challenge about the vast emptiness in the world, a challenge about death... in any case we wanted to leave this challenge entirely up to personal interpretation.
Click here to view the challenge (13.3MB - MP4)
READ ALL of the Challenge #6 entries.
THE CONTESTANTS DECIDE
This time we had given the grueling task of judging to the contestants themselves. All the power was in their hands; as they each make a list of the best posts to the worst posts.
Due to the tie last week we had an elimination twist! The contestants ranked their opponents based on merit instead of the judges picking a winner of immunity and the bloggers voting someone out strategically. We totaled the results to cut the lowest ranked two. We are sad to see those two go, they have been great additions to the game. Goodbye Lois and Medya.
CHALLENGE #7
GLORIOUS GOSSIP: We threw our bloggers into the realm of hot internet rumor sites challenging them to post some "hot juicy gossip." We weren't looking for fiction, but for some tantalizing rumors. We asked our bloggers to join the ranks of Drudge, Gawker, and help put Ultimate Blogger on the gossip map!
Click here to view the challenge (13.3MB - MP4)
READ ALL of the Challenge #7 entries.
IMMUNITY GOES TO LYOVA
Lyova was our first two-time winner of Immunity and the start of out sentimental immunity pieces for the winners. For Lyova we created the Belomagic Digital Nesting Dolls of Immunity. We hope the combination of cyber-future digitals combined with traditional Belorussian folk art brings a smile to his face, because his critique of the gossip form certainly brought a smile to our faces.
Read Lyova's Post
Lyova was immune and Willow was voted off.
CHALLENGE #8
ESSENTIAL ERA: Our final four contestants have a new task that returns to the true roots of what it means to be a blogger; writing about pop culture. In Essential Era, the contestants will write about three pop culture events from one year of their choice.
Click here to view the challenge (13.8MB - MP4)
READ ALL of the Challenge #8 entries.
IMMUNITY GOES TO MIMI
Mimi won an extremely close competition with her challenge stretching essay on what pop culture means and how one single event can affect it. Her writing was frank and stunningly thoughtful. With her victory Mimi gets her hands on the The Make-Believe (We Wish Could Be Real) U.S. Passport of Immunity, which assures he a spot in the final three.
Read Mimi's Post
Mimi was immune and Ritchey was voted off.
CHALLENGE #9
BACKSTAGE BREAKDOWN: Time to see the behind the scenes action! The final three contestents will reveal all the backstage scheming that has happened this far in an attempt to win the most important immunity yet!
Click here to view the challenge (17.8MB - MP4)
READ ALL of the Challenge #9 entries.
FINAL IMMUNITY GOES TO LYOVA
In a new record of winning immunity 3 times, Lyova won the Strategics Supremacy Fiery Flames and Face of Stalin (of Immunity). James and Mimi's votes would cancel each other out, therefore Lyova held the only vote. He will voted Mimi out and chose James to face off with him in the final two.
Lyova was immune and Mimi was voted off.
CHALLENGE #10
CONFESSIONS: This was our final challenge. We had learned a great deal about our contestants, especially Lyova and James; they have revealed deep secrets about the game and their strategy... here we asked for secrets about themselves. Maybe something they've haven't told anyone. We must know more about The Ultimate Blogger. No one wins immunity here; we're bringing back all 10 of the eliminated contestants to vote along with the three judges. Who will be the ultimate blogger?
Click here to view the challenge (13.8MB - MP4)
READ ALL of the Challenge #10 entries.
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Well, she did it folks; Ritchey won the Not Depressing At All Immunity Orthodontic Headgear and Braces. Many commenters have been claiming that she was robbed in the previous challenges, and while her entries have been very strong, she has never walked away with that sweetest of prizes. Tonight was her night as she turned in a brilliant and concise review of the Gillette Venus Vibrance shaver for ladies which was supplemented by a hilarious video. Congratulations Ritchey, you wear the equipment well!
