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It’s a long way to tribal council

How far is it to tribal council on "Survivor"? Will there be a "Biggest Loser 2"? When is "Big Brother" returning?
/ Source: msnbc.com

Hooray, hooray, for the tenth of May. Reality TV finale season starts today.

This week, look for "The Amazing Race" finale on Tuesday and the "Survivor: Palau" finale on Sunday. Coming soon, finales for "The Contender," "The Bachelor," "The Apprentice" and the granddaddy of them all, "American Idol."

Q: In every “Survivor” episode, it appears the team going to tribal council leaves their camp in the daylight, only to arrive at tribal council after dark.  My question is: exactly how far is it from a camp to the tribal council location?  Is it a far distance, as we are lead to believe, or is this just creative editing to give the illusion of a great distance?      —Terry

A: In Palau, not at all: there really is a great distance between the tribe’s camp and tribal council.

The best resource for answering these kinds of questions is . His site has interactive maps of all 10 “Survivor” locations, showing both the topography of the area and specific show-related locations. Click on locations to see detailed, close-up maps; in Palau, for example, you can see where Ulong’s beach was, and the trail contestants took to fetch water from their well.

In Palau, tribal council is located on the same island as some challenges, but it’s quite far from both tribes’ camps. There are also three other islands used for challenges. That’s very different from season one, when a single island — Pulau Tiga in the South China Sea — was home to both tribal camps, tribal council, and the production crew’s base camp. Had cast members wandered off, they might have found themselves at Jeff Probst’s tent or in the other tribe’s camp.

Interestingly, the world map from which you can access the season-specific maps also reveals that all 10 locations have stayed close to the equator — and, with the exception of “Survivor Africa” — stayed in the same general geographic areas.

Over the years, Survivor Maps has also accurately predicted the location of the next season. Right now, it suggests that the eleventh season of Survivor will be held in the Andes, although no specific locations have been confirmed. We’ll probably know for sure on Sunday, when “Survivor Palau” concludes.    —A.D.

Q: When is "Big Brother" starting again?  I love that show. I was disappointed to see Survivor on again so soon ... it was "Big Brother’s" turn!      —Melissa

A: We get this question, or a variation of it, almost every week, year-round. It's as if viewers really feel "Big Brother" is randomly dropped into CBS's schedule every year and could come on at any time. Yet "Big Brother" has always been a summer show, starting this season on July 7 and running through early fall. It will air three times a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with the live eviction on the Thursday show. Julie Chen returns as host. Last man or woman standing gets $500,000.

Rumors were floating around that "Big Brother" would cast an all-stars season similar to "Survivor All-Stars," but we've also heard that idea didn't pan out.  However, according to Variety, the contestants will be living in a new home, built on the site of the old "Yes, Dear" studio space. Variety reports that the two-story house has a lofty feel and a swimming pool twice as big as the one used in the past.    —G.F.C.

Q: I might have missed it...but is “The Biggest Loser” coming back?    —Elizabeth

A: Yes, this summer. And then again, this fall.

NBC's goofy weight-loss take on the reality genre was a bit of a surprise hit, and no one can stand to walk away from a hit. Look for "The Biggest Loser 2" to premiere Aug. 9 at 8 p.m. ET, with a 90-minute show.

Despite being criticized for the fact that she could stand to drop some pounds herself, Caroline Rhea will return as host. Fourteen new contestants will be divided by gender into two teams. Seven women make up the red team, while seven men make up the blue team. The team trainers from last season return as well, with Jillian Michael coaching the women and Bob Harper the men. The grand prize is once again $250,000. No word on whether there will be an additional $100,000 handed out, as there was last season, a .

Last year's winner, Ryan, dropped 122 pounds, and we expect to see updates on many of the past participants when the new show kicks off.   

Just can't get enough "Losers"? After "Biggest Loser 2" completes its run, look for yet another edition of the show. This one will pit different groups against each other in weight-loss and fitness challenges — families against families, Navy wives against Marine wives, and engaged couples against other engaged couples.  An NBC spokeswoman says the earliest that edition of the show will air is November. —G.F.C.

Gael Fashingbauer Cooper is MSNBC.com's Television Editor. is a writer and teacher who publishes , a daily summary of reality TV news.