I really hope they don't focus on the generations thing though. The trailer is annoying and I don't need to hear about how one generation is better every ten minutes
David: Nothing much, man. This is really insane. Just to gush, I’m more used to hearing your voice while I’m running. Big fan of RHAP and your room, and the Evolution of Strategy, so…
Wigler: How are you feeling right now?
David: I was telling someone the other day, that it feels like I’m waiting to wake up in a hospital bed and sit up, like I’m imagining it. This doesn’t feel like it’s happening. It’s been a huge dream of mine, so the fact that I’m here? It’s like, “What the f—.”
Wigler: Well, I hate to be that guy who tell you this is indeed a dream and it’s all over, but…
David: Ah, sh—. I knew you were just a figment.
Wigler: It’s the voices in your head. They’re real!
David: Seriously, that’s one of the questions on the psyche exam: “Do you sometimes think that the world isn’t real?” And I’m like, “Well, not until now.”
Wigler: Which leads me to three words you use to describe yourself: OCD, nervous, and paranoid.
David: I am a very anxious and nervous person. I just bought this book, called “Embracing the Fear.” I’ve only ready four pages of it, but I think I’ve got it. But that’s the thing I’m the most nervous about: my anxiety. That it’s going to wreck my game. You can’t wear that on your sleeve out there.
Wigler: What are you planning to do to combat that?
David: Well, I’m going to do my best to hide it. My strategy is to use the confessionals to really vent my anxiety and paranoia. One of the things I want to do… the more I know about what’s going on in the game, the better I’ll feel, so one of the things I want to do is make a fake immunity idol and hide it in the rice for somebody else to find. That’s one of my plans. Who knows what quote-unquote “fish” I’ll catch with it, but hopefully it’s someone I’m not aligned with, and I can watch them play it and go home.
Wigler: You just described someone who’s coming out here to scheme and plot…
David: But not scheming in the sense of Russell Hantz. That’s not me. I’m more of a John Cochran. It’s more a matter of controlling my anxiety and knowing more than anybody else about what’s going on. It’s impossible to measure that until you’re out of the game and you’re watching at home, but I at least want to feel like I know more than anybody else. So that’s one of the things.
Wigler: What’s your take on Probst so far?
David: I’ve met him twice. I met him for about 15 minutes with a couple of the producers at finals, and then the very next day I met him with CBS, for only 10 minutes. But he’s such a super cool guy. I have a man crush on Jeff Probst. The dimples are real. (Laughs.) I’m looking forward to it, but I do know those dimples sometimes go away at Tribal.
Wigler: You list “people” as one of your pet peeves. David, this is a concern for me. Is it a concern for you?
David: It’s a huge concern for me. Honestly, I really don’t enjoy people. I don’t like being touched. I’m not good at hugging.
Wigler: This is where we split ways. This is the fork in the road.
David: Oh, because you’re a hugger? (Laughs.) I wish I had that skill. Sleeping next to people outside… I’ve only been camping once, and it’s just not my thing at all. So I’m going to use the confessionals to vent all the time, all that energy and frustration. But it’s an issue for me, for sure.
Wigler: Are you worried about the game, physically?
David: You mean the challenges?
Wigler: And the survival aspect.
David: Yeah, I am. But I have to say… nobody’s told me where we’re going, but I’ve googled around and I think I have a pretty good handle on where we’re going, and it’s not Cambodia. I feel pretty good about the location if I’m right. As far as the physical challenges? I’m not the most physical, but I do run. I can run pretty fast. My biggest strength I can add to a tribe is that I can solve puzzles. I don’t know how much you know about me, but I’ve modeled Survivor puzzles on my computer and printed them out on a 3-D printer, including the flame puzzle Cochran won to get the final immunity in Caramoan. That one, I can solve in two minutes or less.
Wigler: So you’ve been practicing puzzles that have been on the show before?
David: Yeah — and I hope that’s not cheating…
Wigler: I don’t think that’s cheating. I think that’s smart.
David: Okay, thanks. I hesitated telling people about that. But I’ve worked on Cube Crisis and the tree puzzle. If you go on my Instagram, you’ll see a couple of them.
Wigler: Here’s the only drawback. Now that you’re talking about how you practiced your puzzle skills, if you go out there and you’re terrible at puzzles, you’re going to look like a jerk.
David: Ah, sh—! (Laughs.) Yeah, exactly. “Isn’t that guy supposed to be good at puzzles?” I really hope they repeat one of those. I don’t have them all committed to memory, but I have a big portion of them.
Wigler: Your hobbies include figuring out how to live forever. How are we doing on that?
David: You know what? So far, so good. Haven’t died yet!
Wigler: A million bucks could go a long way toward that effort.
David: Oh my gosh, it really would. I could get a personal trainer, a personal chef… (Laughs.) No, it’s stupid, but I do have this huge fear of death. I think about it every day. It’s awful. I think that’s why I’m drawn to Survivor. I think that’s why this show resonates with me so much. At the end of the day, it’s about cheating death.
Jessica: I’m oddly calm. I feel like I should be all crazy nervous, but I’m really calm. So I think that’s good!
Wigler: Do you think you’re going to get there? To that nervousness?
Jessica: Oh, I’m definitely going to get there, but I like that I’m calm right now. Usually, I have a tendency to freak out first before I do something. So this is good that I’m going to go into it this way.
Wigler: Tell me about your knowledge of Survivor. Are you a fan of the show?
Jessica: I’ve watched it ever since it started, and I haven’t missed a season. Now my kids watch it with us. It’s kind of like a family thing. My husband and I watched the first season together when we were dating, and now it’s continued throughout the years. I love it. I think it’s a fantastic experiment with people. It’s the only show that I’ve continued to go back to.
Wigler: What does your family think about you coming out here?
Jessica: They think I’m insane. (Big laugh.) They think I’m absolutely insane. But my husband fully supports my crazy, so that’s good!
Wigler: Crazy or not, it sounds like you feel confident in your ability to do this.
Jessica: Yeah, I think so. My work ethic has always pushed me really far. I’ve accomplished so many things in such a short amount of time in my life. I mean, I’ve never just done one thing. I’ve always done 12 at one time. I went to law school and had my first child at the same time. You tell anyone who is a lawyer that story and they about fall over. If you can get through law school being pregnant, you can do anything. To have an opportunity to just focus on me for once, even though it’s going to be in the context of this game, is going to be great, because I have an opportunity to utilize everything I’ve learned in multitasking, doing so many things at one time and putting it into myself and focusing my energies on me doing those types of things.
Wigler: I’m thinking about another attorney who recently played Survivor, who played with a chaos style. Do you have any of that in you?
Jessica: No, I don’t think I’m going to be chaos. I don’t think anyone on the tribe will even know I’m a lawyer. I’m keeping that tucked away inside of me. I feel like that’s something that could end up biting me. People come into their lives with preconceived notions of attorneys and how they are and how they think they’re going to be. When they meet me, they won’t think I’m a lawyer.
Wigler: What are they going to think you are?
Jessica: I’m a photographer. I’ve actually done a lot of photography. I used to be a photographer, so I at least have a back story and things I can talk about. I think that’s going to be my role when I’m there.
Wigler: What types of people are you hoping to play with? Who is your ideal partner?
Jessica: The ideal partner is someone who is going to take attention away from me, but someone I can also utilize to strengthen my game as well. Someone like a Boston Rob or a Joe. They’re likable, but… like, I don’t know how anybody let Boston Rob get to the finals, but they did. But someone who everyone is concerned is going to win if they get to the end. That’s the person you almost want to have with you, because they’re so good at the social game and taking care of the tribe and getting fish, but at the same time, at least no one wants them to go to the finals. I think utilizing that person would be a great option for me to go further.
Jessica: Someone like Abi. (Laughs.) I would struggle greatly with having to deal with someone who is so all over the place. That would be tough.
Adam: It’s kind of crazy listening to your voice and being able to talk to you, because I listen to your voice every single week.
Wigler: Too much.
Adam: Is this our personal Wiggle Room?
Wigler: I don’t have any songs ready for you. But if you have suggestions for me, I’ll happily take them.
Adam: Got nothing for ya.
Wigler: Fair enough. Adam, how’re you feeling?
Adam: I am so excited. This is wild to me. I’m one of the guys that listens to you and Rob and is on the Survivor Reddit for way too many hours of the day. I’ve dreamed about this moment for way, way, way longer than is healthy. (Laughs.)
Wigler: How long have you been trying to get on the show?
Adam: Three years. This was my third time applying. But I’ve been thinking about it since I was nine years old, and eventually, I decided that since I’d been talking the talk for so many years, let’s see if I can walk the walk. Let’s apply, and if I’m going to apply, I’m going to go all out and make sure that this happens. I never half-ass anything. And it worked. Here we are!
Wigler: What did you do to get yourself noticed?
Adam: I don’t think this really helped at all, but I did everything that all of the people have been dying to get on for years have been doing. The Facebook group: “Help Get Adam Klein Get on Survivor.” I looked into seeing what contacts and connections I might have. Every little thing, and just applying normally, doing everything I possibly could.
Wigler: So what is it about you, Adam Klein, that makes you think you’re going to do well out on Survivor?
Adam: I think I have a good combination of one, knowing and understanding the game, but I know that that alone does not make a good Survivor player. So on top of that, I feel I have a good understanding of the way people work and interact with each other. I’m not just a super nerd super fan, but I’m a person who gets out there and engages in the community and works with people. I was homecoming king and student body president. I have a little bit going on for me on the social side. I think I have a good combination of skills that would be good for me on Survivor. But what’s really going to push me through this season is that I’m playing for more than just myself.
Wigler: Let’s hear more about that.
Adam: Two years ago, I almost got on with my mom for the Blood vs. Water season. We went through the process on that, and ultimately didn’t get on the show. But Survivor has been a huge part of my family. We’ve watched it together every single season, and when I was in college, I would call home every week. It’s something that brings us closer together, and we’re already a close family. You probably know from my bio that my family is going through some nightmarish circumstances right now. My mom, who is the healthiest person in the entire world, worked out every day and is all organic and never smoked a day in her life — you name it — has stage four lung cancer. It’s just been the greatest nightmare of my life. Now to have the greatest dream of my life alongside that? Everything feels so surreal right now. My life doesn’t feel real. It’s crazy! But at the same time, I’m playing for so much more than my own dream. There’s a lot riding on this. I work well under pressure, and I think it’s going to motivate me more than bring me down.
Wigler: How hard is it going to be to be away from your mom while you’re out here?
Adam: That is the single hardest part of this that I anticipate, just being gone for six and a half weeks and not being able to communicate with my family. Normally, six and a half weeks is nothing. But to me, it seems like an eternity right now. But what I’m going to look forward to is every episode that we get to watch together. The better I can do on the show, the more of that time we’re going to be able to spend together, and that’s the dream. That’s the goal: to be at the finale and hand my mom the million dollar check and give her a big hug in the audience. That’s where I want to be. The better I can do and the more I can focus, the more of those moments we’ll get to have on the couch, just like always, except this time, we’re watching a Klein on Survivor.
Wigler: That’s the goal.
Adam: It is. But it won’t be easy. It’ll be doubly hard because I don’t necessarily want the rest of the cast to know what it is I’m going through. If they know all of these things — that I work for a homeless shelter non-profit, that I’m a huge super-fan and this has been my dream, that my mom has stage four lung cancer — would you want to take that person to the end?
Wigler: (Uncomfortable laughter signaling a “nope.”)
Adam: Exactly! So I have to be a little bit careful about how much I reveal about how big of a fan I am and how well I know the game, and what’s going on with my family. I’m not saying I’m not going to tell anybody what’s going on with my mom and her cancer, but I’m really going to have to feel like I trust someone before I start talking about any of the kind of stuff. So it’ll make it doubly hard, since I’ll be trying to hold it all in for the most part.
Wigler: In your bio, you say you would bring a fake hidden immunity idol, because the threat can be just as powerful as the real thing. Can you talk me through your philosophy on that?
Adam: We’ve seen a lot of people in the past use hidden immunity idols to their advantage without actually using them. They can certainly bring people together. We’re seeing it now in the current season with Tai and Scot, who united over that idol. I think Tai and Jason will probably build a bit of a bond because of the idols they both have. You saw it with Yul, when he used it to bring Penner on board, and never had to actually use that idol. So it can definitely help you with relationship building and coalition building, and it can scare people away. Rupert put a rock in his pants on Heroes vs Villains, and that was enough to shift the votes away from him. There are definitely a number of uses stemming from the idea of having an idol, let alone actually having one.
Wigler: What are you thinking in terms of twists? Any thoughts on what’s in store for you?
Adam: I’ve been really trying to put that together. During casting, they asked a number of political questions. That might just be because I’m a political kind of person, but my running theory was that they’re going to divide the tribes up in some way by politics. Especially considering this is going to air in September and the election is in November. But then I found out that I’m on the red tribe, so that went out the window. I highly doubt that I’d be on the red tribe, if that’s how they were doing it. And the color scheme for my tribe seems wide enough that I think it’s going to be two tribes, at least initially, and I don’t know how they’re going to divide it or what twists might be coming, but I think they liked all the swaps and switches that happened in Second Chance, where we start at 20 and swap into three tribes at 18. Maybe they’ll go down to four tribes at 16, or swap it up again back to two tribes at 14. I think there will be a lot of switches and things to mix up the game. That’s the best I got right now.
Wigler: And how would you feel about a fluid social structure like that?
Adam: I definitely think I can thrive in that. I’m the kind of guy that doesn’t have just one solid social group. Even in high school, I was kind of the floater. I was friends with the jocks and the theater geeks and everyone in between. That part doesn’t scare me so much. But there is certainly an element of luck to those swaps. You can put yourself in a good position, like what Anna did on the Beauty tribe, and then end up in a situation where there isn’t a whole lot that you can do. So I’m absolutely worried about getting screwed by a swap, and everyone should be at least a little bit. But there are certain parts of the game that some people are going to get lucky, some people are going to get unlucky, and that’s just the way it falls.
Gordon Holmes: You’ve had the title of “Survivor” for quite some time, having overcome breast cancer. Sunday Burquest: It is the best thing ever. I did the first thing, I survived it. And now I’m going to do this one. It’ll be a bigger title than the other one.
Holmes: You said you’d like to play like Lisa Whelchel who got to the end, but wasn’t awarded by the jury. What would you do differently than her to change the outcome? Burquest: I felt like she played a little too much on her emotions, and I wouldn’t be as forthcoming as she was.
Holmes: Do you have any problems lying in the game? Burquest: No. I don’t want to be cutthroat and I don’t want to backstab. But, I’m going to have to be deceptive. Holmes: What about flirting? Burquest: No. (Laughs) I’m going to try not to do that. I don’t want my boys seeing that on TV.
Holmes: How well do you deal with being lied to. Burquest: I don’t like it. It makes me upset. However, I know it’s going to happen in this game. Holmes: How about hunger? Burquest: I can handle hunger. I’ve fasted before. I haven’t done anything to this extent, but I’ll get over it. Holmes: Lack of sleep? Burquest: That’s going to be a tough one. When I don’t get enough sleep I get emotional and that’s one thing I don’t want to be in this game. Holmes: How do you deal with extreme temperatures. Burquest: I can handle it. If I know it’s going to be hot and I know there isn’t going to be an air conditioner or fans, I can deal with it because I know there’s going to be an end to it. Holmes: How about paranoia? Burquest: I’m not a super paranoid person. So, I’m going to have to make myself think about what everyone is doing and what they’re saying about me behind my back.
Holmes: What’re your thoughts on the cast members you’ve seen? Burquest: I see a few alpha males that are going to take charge. A few girls who are sweet and younger. I work with young girls so I can try to connect with them. Then there are a few that I have zero read on.
Holmes: If there is a twist, what do you think it could be? Burquest: Maybe being back an Exile or Redemption Island. I feel like they haven’t done that for a while. They’ve been changing up the idols, so maybe something with that.
Holmes: If you could align with any past player, who would it be? Burquest: I’d align with Kim (Spradlin) because she had a really good social game. She didn’t come off as backstabbing people even though she had a ton of alliances. And I felt like she was pretty trustworthy within her solid alliance.
Gordon Holmes: First thing is first; how do you study dragons? They don’t exist. Michelle Schubert: Oh my gosh, draw a quick picture of a dinosaur. Holmes: Hold on. OK…done. Schubert: Now draw wings. Holmes: (Laughs) I see what you’re getting at. Schubert: (Laughs) The word “dinosaur” was actually coined in 1852. What do you think people called them before that? Holmes: This feels like a technicality. Schubert: They called them dragons! Holmes: Mind blown. Schubert: Right? (Laughs) Marco Polo, who we learned about in school wrote about dragons. Take out that fantastical, mythical idea of them flying around like “Game of Thrones.” But really we have hundreds of accounts of dragons. Sometimes fire breathing, or at least they shoot sparks out of their nose or something. All of them said they were birthed with eggs. Normally a myth is, like, the gods threw a magical baby onto a rock and it shattered into a thousand dragons. But no, dragons always say that they’re born from eggs, and they live in swamps, and they eat large livestock. Holmes: You take that kind of persuasive reasoning into this game and you’re a millionaire. Schubert: (Laughs)
Holmes: Have you kept up with your cross country? Schubert: A little bit. I run now for fitness and for fun, but not for competition.
Holmes: Any issues lying in the game? Schubert: I don’t lie in real life. I do think that’s wrong. But in a game for a million dollars where you’re supposed to outwit? I don’t think it’s wrong. Holmes: How well do you deal with being lied to? Schubert: I’m one of the most forgiving people I know. Holmes: I think I know the answer to the flirting question based on our eyeliner discussion. Schubert: Absolutely, but I think you have to be careful because you don’t want to put a target on your back if a guy thinks your faking or other people think there’s too much of a bond. Maybe it’s less flirting, but somehow showing interest. I think giving glimmers of hope is what a girl needs to do. Holmes: Is there anyone back home that’ll be upset if they see you giving glimmers of hope on CBS? Schubert: (Laughs) Um…no. There’s someone that I’ve been seeing recently, but he understands that it’s a game for a million dollars.
Holmes: How well do you deal with hunger? Schubert: I fast semi-regularly in real life and I don’t think I’ll go longer in this game without food than I have in my fasting. So, I think I’ll deal with it fine. Holmes: How well do you deal with lack of sleep? Schubert: That’s going to be tough for me. Holmes: How about extreme temperatures? Schubert: I’m OK. I don’t like being cold, I don’t like being too hot. But, at the end of the day you can’t do anything about it. So, stay hydrated and cuddle up. Holmes: How about paranoia? Schubert: I do meditate, I do pray…so hopefully I deal with it better than others. I think you can tap into truth in the spiritual realm and the truth inside you with those techniques.
Holmes: If you could align with any past player, who would it be? Schubert: I would think maybe…Coach…the Dragon Slayer…or…Parvati? Because even though they had drastically different games, they were actually very loyal to their alliance and even sacrificed for them. Holmes: How could you possibly align with a dragon slayer? Schubert: I know! I hate that he wants to kill dragons!
Holmes: Alright, lightning round time. Cats or dogs? Schubert: Dogs. Holmes: Beer or wine? Schubert: Beer. Holmes: Superman or Batman? Schubert: Superman. Holmes: Meat or vegetable? Schubert: Vegetable. Holmes: Republican or Democrat?
Schubert: Communist. Holmes: Books or TV? Schubert: Books, hand down. Holmes: Swimming or sunbathing? Schubert: Swimming. Holmes: Many casual friends or one good friend? Schubert: One good friend. Holmes: A nice car or a nice home? Schubert: A nice home. Holmes: Smart or funny? Schubert: Smart. Holmes: Parvati or Boston Rob? Schubert: Parvati. Holmes: A big vacation or a big TV? Schubert: Vacation. Holmes: Working alone or with a team? Schubert: Alone. Holmes: Here’s an easy one; dragons or unicorns? Schubert: Oh my gosh, dragons! Holmes: Careful planning or fly by the seat of your pants? Schubert: Seat of my pants. Holmes: Jeff Probst or Ryan Seacrest? Schubert: Oh, Jeff Probst!
Gordon Holmes: You’re a community activist, that seems like it would have a lot of applications in a game like this. Ken McNickle: I spend six to eight hours every Saturday working with homeless people. A lot of them addicts, a lot of them people you have to be on your toes with. I don’t have any judgment toward them and I love working for them. It works toward my social strengths. I can read people and I’ll be able to confidently have eyes in the back of my head so I’ll always know what’s going on.
Holmes: Do you have any issues lying in the game? McNickle: I was really competitive growing up. I was the youngest and the smallest in my family. So, you learn to tweak and bend the rules to make things work in your favor. You do what you have to do to get an edge over people who are above you. Holmes: What about flirting? McNickle: There are two kinds of flirts. There’s the type that consciously does it to manipulate or to get what they want. And, there are those who it’s their nature. And for me, it’s just my nature. So, I guess it’s inevitable that it’s going to happen. Holmes: Is there anyone back home who’s going to be upset if they see you flirting? McNickle: (Laughs) Everyone in my life knows that I’m a flirt by nature. Nobody is going to be surprised by it.
Holmes: How well do you deal with being lied to? McNickle: It’s context. Nothing is black and white, there’s always a grey area. You have to understand where someone is coming from. I think that’s more important than the action itself. Holmes: How well do you do with hunger? McNickle: I’ve done five-day water fasts. I’ve done juice fasts. Hunger is a thought just like pain or frustration. If you learn to control your thoughts, then just about anything is possible. Holmes: So you’d say the same thing for lack of sleep or extreme temperatures? McNickle: Exactly. Holmes: Nice, that’ll save us some time. How about paranoia? McNickle: The best way to deal with paranoia, anger, frustration, any of these things you come across is to breathe. Breathe and remember this is why I’m here. This is what the game is about. This is not out of the ordinary. Keep your center calm.
Holmes: What are your thoughts on the other players? McNickle: You watch people’s body language. You watch how they engage. You watch how they smile to the support and the producers. Are their smiles genuine and warm? Are they forced and contrived? Holmes: Is there anyone you’re wary of? McNickle: Not yet. (Laughs)
Holmes: If there is a twist, any guesses as to what it could be? McNickle: The last few seasons I’ve been watching, the Beauty/Brains/Brawn seems very consistant. A lot of the questions they’ve asked me are about my modeling career. So, I’m wondering if that is going to be part of it.
Holmes: If you could align with any past player, who would it be? McNickle: I’d probably say Ozzy (Lusth) or Yul (Kwon). They’re both strong, respectable men. They didn’t have to lie a lot to get to the end of the game. They got there by being physically strong and by manipulating the game and the situation around them. But not in the way that other more quick-to-lie people did. Tony Vlachos swore on his wife and his child to get ahead. You can do that, but in Yul and Ozzy’s case they didn’t have to do that. I think I’d work well with either one of those guys.
Gordon Holmes: At 18 years old, you’re one of the youngest people to ever play this game. And in your bio, you said that people don’t respect youth. How do you use that to your advantage? Will Wahl: When I go out there I know people are going to be thinking, “He’s a kid. He doesn’t know how to play this game. He’s going to be easy to manipulate.” I’m going to use that as my strategy, basically use that against them. Gain their trust, then use it to further my plans in the game.
Holmes: Ronald Reagan is your hero, I believe you weren’t even alive when he was in office. What is it about him that appeals to you? Wahl: That was more of a play on how I’m more Republican, conservative-leaning in politics. Republicans tend to say Ronald Reagan. Mostly because of what he did in the Cold War.
Holmes: You will screw with people’s heads. Wahl: (Laughs) Holmes: What’s the plan for that? Wahl: Like I said, I want to appear to be a trustworthy guy out there, but when I start playing the game, I’m going to backstab people who thought they could trust me. People who thought I was their friend.
Holmes: So, it’s safe to assume you’re a guy who has no problem lying. Wahl: That’s right. Holmes: What about flirting to get ahead? Wahl: I don’t see a lot of people flirting with an eighteen-year-old. But, I’d be willing to do it if it comes up. But I don’t see it coming up. Holmes: Is there anyone back home who will be upset if they see you flirting? Wahl: No. Holmes: How well do you deal with being lied to? Wahl: Usually I get pretty pissed off. But this is a game, so I expect it.
Holmes: How well do you deal with hunger? Wahl: Decently well. I’ve practiced a little bit. Taking a few days for fasting. I dealt pretty well with it. Holmes: How about lack of sleep? Wahl: That one’s a little more tricky. I need sleep a little bit more. But I’ll adapt. Holmes: Extreme heat? Wahl: I’m fine with that. Holmes: Paranoia? Wahl: I’m fine with that too.
Holmes: Any early thoughts on the rest of the cast? Wahl: A lot of them are young. I haven’t seen anyone who’s older yet. So, I’m thinking there might be an age twist this season. Holmes: Any other thoughts on potential twists? Wahl: Yeah, I heard there might be 20 players. So either four tribes of five or two tribes of ten. I don’t know.
Holmes: If you could align with any past player, who would it be? Wahl: I would probably align with somebody…who was very loyal. I’m blanking on the names. I’m thinking Dawn Meehan, someone who’s older like a mom figure. But, Dawn did backstab quite a few people. But if I could get in good with her, like (John) Cochran did, then I’d feel secure. I’d look for a mom-type figure to align with.
Let’s get an overview of each tribe, starting with Gen X. What were some of your takeaways from the Gen X-ers?
As a tribe? I really liked them. Some of the strongest players in that age bracket that we’ve had in a long time. And really diverse. You have Bret, who is a Boston police sergeant. He’s a guy who has been on the streets for a long time in a robust city. He knows people. That’s one of the single greatest qualities for this game. He just gets people. He can tell if you’re lying, he can tell if he can trust you. Then you have David Wright, who is a Hollywood writer and couldn’t be more afraid of life. Literally, in the first episode, he covers up his ears while Bret is breaking up bamboo. The noise is so distracting to him. What’s charming about David is, he owns it! He goes, “I am literally petrified of everything out here.” Even just taking those two examples — a Boston cop and a Hollywood writer — you see this very diverse tribe form.
Then you have Chris, who’s a lawyer by profession now, but played big time college football. He was the captain of his college football team, and he still looks like he can jump in and play on any given Sunday. He’s the guy who comes in and really does personify the Gen X attitude: “I did two-a-day workouts when I was little. I played high school football and I played college football, where I was a captain. I got a degree and went to law school and now I’m a lawyer. Everything I have, I worked hard for. I have the battle scars to show for it.” Out of the gate, his attitude is, “I don’t have much patience for a young person who thinks they should just get it because they deserve it and they’re on the planet.” He’s a strong force on his tribe and he’s a great leader, because he has a great work ethic.
Then you have someone like Jessica, also in the law profession, but is a mom. She brings in this new dynamic of having a connection to younger people, in the same way that Sunday and CeCe come from different walks of life, but share something in common: they’re mothers to Millennials. So they have maybe some insight that the Gen X tribe can use. They know how these kids work. Sunday says something in the first episode: “When I was a kid, and I misbehaved, my mom spanked me and that was the end of it. When my kids misbehave, I have to sit down and talk with them.” It sort of sums up the difference between Gen X and Millennials.
Lucy is on the Gen X tribe, and she’s somebody we have interviewed at least a dozen times, and never put her on the show. She is a ball-buster. She’s super accomplished, has several businesses, is very good at running them, but will also tell you her kids and her husband don’t like her sometimes because she’s so aggressive and so strong. Her feeling is, “But if I know the right way to do it, I know the right way to do it, so why are you so upset? It’s the right way to do it!” What’s interesting about Lucy is that between the last time we saw her and this time, she decided to become a bodybuilder, in addition to everything else. Now she walks out there, probably about 40 years old, and she’s ripped.
We also have Ken. I think people are really going to like Ken. He’s very EARNEST, with capital letters. He rarely jokes. He means everything he says. He spent several years living off the land in Hawaii, so he has a big head start when it comes to jungle living and fishing and things like that. I think Ken is a guy where you either go, “Wow, I get you and I dig you,” or you go, “Relax. Life isn’t so serious.”
Paul, when he walked in, for me anyway, I want him on the show. He’s got this long rock star hair. He’s 52. He is a singer in a rock band. If you ask him what he does, he’ll say, “I sing in a rock band.” If you ask him how he makes his living, he’ll go, “Okay, I’m a boat mechanic.” But his passion for life is so powerful that he really does identify with the thing that drives him, not the thing that feeds him. I was really attracted to that. You know that that guy will have his fair share of opinions about everything, and you know he’s not going to sit on the fence about anything. Paul has passion, and he comes out of the gate very quickly saying, “Here’s who I am. I’m a good leader, I literally lead a band, and I want to lead this tribe.”
When we met Rachel, it was late in the process. She walked in, and it didn’t go so well. CBS was ready to say she’s not right. But [executive producer Matt Van Wagenen] and I said, “No, there’s something there. She’s just nervous.” It’s a very awkward situation to have to walk into a room and be interesting and compelling. So we asked her to leave and come back. It was one of those seminal moments for her, where she walked out and walked back in as a different person. She let her guard down. She let us in. She told us stories about her life. Really interesting. Completely different. We’ve never really had anybody like Rachel. She’s very likable, she’s a little nutty, flirty, earnest, and bossy. She can be any one of those things at any given time.
Turning toward the Millennials, the new kids on the block, even if some of them might not know who the New Kids on the Block are. What can you tell us about them?
The Millennials, as a group, made me very happy. They made me happy because they had a very care-free attitude toward life. I found myself going home at the end of the day quite often and wanting to be more like them and less like my generation. I’m like my own cliché. I hear people say things, and I think, “Wow, do I say that?” I hear Generation X say things like, “The only way to listen to music is vinyl.” And I’m like, “PLEASE tell me I’m not that guy!” (Laughs.) So the Millennials made me very happy, and obviously a lot of that is just youthful enthusiasm. But why did we lose that? Just because we get older, why do we lose our enthusiasm?
Taylor personifies the Millennials for me. He’s a snowboard instructor, among many other things. He loves girls. He loves the water. He loves to party. He’s great with a joke. And he loves himself. He knows exactly how his hair looks at any given moment. He knows how to walk while keeping his abs taut. He’s got it all, and he does it with such a zest for life that I found myself laughing whenever I saw him — not laughing at him, but laughing out of joy, that this is how this kid sees the world: “Jeff, anything is possible, and I mean anything.” And I like that.
The book-end to Taylor is Jay, a young Ozzy. He has that jungle boy look. He’s very relaxed. He’s counter to Taylor in that Taylor has literally no boundaries, but Jay? Jay has boundaries: “I’m playing this game. I totally understand that I might have to work with Generation X.”
There’s Figgy, a Nashville, Tennessee bartender. If you asked her to describe herself, she would say, “I’m a free spirit. I like making people happy. I’m open to anything.” If there was ever a question if the Millennials would be up for skinny-dipping, they would look at you and laugh. “Of course! Clothes are always optional, Jeff!” What I like about Figgy is that she has so much confidence in herself that she doesn’t fear blindspots. That’s one of the things Survivor illuminates: “Can you catch your blindspot in time to recover from it?” Because we all have them.
You contrast Figgy against Michelle, another beautiful young woman, but with a completely different philosophical approach to life. She’s a missionary recruiter, very spiritual. I don’t think she would ever say that her job is to make people happy. She just wants to bring spiritual awareness and comfort to people. But she has the same enthusiasm for life that Figgy has, and they’re not the same person. Their only similarity is appearance and age, and yet, they are part of what makes up this exciting generation of young people.
Then we have this woman, Mari, who makes her living playing video games online. How much more Millennial does it get? Mari is one of those girls that my kids watch and try to learn from. She’s figured out how to make a living playing video games. I really liked her. Mari has a really great attitude. She’s a good student of people. But one of the things she acknowledged was this: “I do play a lot of strategy games, but I’m not playing them face to face with another human. There’s a disconnect.” Her biggest question coming in is, “How will I do with the human factor? Will I be able to cut people as easily in person as I can online?”
There’s Michaela. I love Michaela. She’s one of my new favorite people. There’s so much more to Michaela than meets the eye. One of her best qualities is that she understands there’s more to her than people will see at first glance. Michaela is a favorite of mine because she plays at 100%, 100% of the time. She won’t keep her mouth shut. As she says: “Even when my mouth is closed, my eyes are talking. I can’t ever shut up!” And I like that. You get to see somebody’s truth come out, and when one person’s truth comes out, it forces others to come out. Michaela will call you out, and she will say: “This is what you told me.” Now you have to defend it, and now the game is on. I think people will be drawn to her and appreciate her approach to life.
Zeke… absolutely one of the best players and personalities we have had in a very long time. You will know him instantly, and I think most everyone will love him instantly, because he’s such a great storyteller. Zeke has a way of telling you something that’s happened 100 times on Survivor, but telling you in a way you’ve never heard before. He brings a slightly different perspective, and it shows. I do think, along with several other people, that Zeke will be a favorite this season.
Then there’s Will…
…the Millennial with the voice of a baby boomer.
He really sounds like a movie announcer: “In a world…” What’s great about Will is that he’s our first legitimate high school student. He left high school to go and play Survivor. That made me smile every single day, because at any point, you could ask Will, “Hey, what are your buddies doing?” And he would say, “Probably geometry.” Will really speaks to the popularity and longevity of Survivor, because he was an infant when we started, and he’s now an 18-year-old kid playing the game he grew up watching. It says, “Wow, Survivor has been on that long, and it’s still that relevant to young people.” There’s no question that younger people have revitalized Survivor, whether it’s the seven, eight, nine, 10 and 11-year-olds who are watching, or the 18, 19 and 20-year-olds who are playing. They’re evolving the game, bringing in new energy, and changing the rules. I love it. Survivor is the only game I know of in which the players evolve the game. We often, as producers, look at the players to tell us what they want to do. The more they tell us they want to play, the harder we work to find new ways to let them play.
Hannah was an instant yes for me, the minute she walked in and tucked her legs and sat in the chair and said, “Let’s talk!” Hannah is really smart, quirky, slightly irrational, and really trustworthy. I would make an alliance with Hannah and trust that her loyalty would stay with me, and hope that her one peculiar moment would be all I needed to finally get rid of her. Because if Hannah can get to the end, she can win.
Adam is a great story for me, personally. We have a mutual friend: Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks’ wife. Maybe four years ago, she sent me an e-mail: “Hey, there’s this kid named Adam Klein. You should meet with him for the show.” I spoke with Lynne, who had seen his tape, and she said, “Yeah, I don’t think he’s right for us right now. Next year!” Then [Rita] would write in again and mention Adam, and I would tell her that we just don’t think it’s the right time. Last year, she wrote me again, and said, “I’m telling you, you have to meet this guy.” So I called Lynne and said, “Let’s just bring him in. I want to meet him in person.” So Adam walks in, and for me, it was like, “Wow. I don’t know what we were missing in the years before, but we’re not missing it now.” He’s yet another example of a Millennial: very sharp kid, great business sense, and philanthropic. He’s a massive super fan, and has this very powerful story — one of the most powerful stories anyone has ever come onto the show with — which is that his mom is very sick, and they’re both super fans who wanted to play together. He’s playing for her. His mission is to try and bring joy to her. That’s why he comes onto the show. I always look at the show through my mom’s eyes, and my mom is going to love Adam. There’s no way you can’t root for Adam in this game. He’s a super fan who grew up watching, and he’s playing to bring joy to his mom. I’m all in.
I really wish they would start showing them during the episodes again. At least during the premiere and the finale since those episodes are extra long.
im binging all the 'must-watch' seasons. this is how far ive gotten.
(started 22nd august)
season 1 Borneo
season 2 Australian outback
half of season 4 Marquesas
season 6 The Amazon
season 7 Pearl Islands
season 8 All-Stars
season 10 Palau
season 13 Cook Islands
season 15 China
season 16 Micronesia (fans vs favorites)
season 18 Tocantins
Season 20 Heroes vs villains
Watching right now:
Season 25 Philippines
Next:
Season 27 Blood vs. Water
Season 28 Cagayan
Season 31 Cambodia
Season 32 Kaôh Rong
any great seasons u recommend?
i might go back and watch Samoa for Russell Hantz alone
Gordon Holmes: You’re hoping to meet your “twin flame” on “Survivor”? Rachel Ako: I hope so! (Laughs) I’m so embarrassed. Holmes: (Laughs) That’s why I’m here. Ako: You know, my favorite season is when Rob (Mariano) and Amber (Brkich) met. I’d just love for it to happen to me. I have no idea who’s going to be on the island. Holmes: When he said, (in a horrible “Boston” Rob impression) “Take care of her.” I melted. Ako: (Laughs) I’m glad you watch, you’re awesome.
Holmes: You mentioned inspiring Asian-Americans to be confident and self-expressive. Is that a problem in the Asian-American community? Ako: I’m not sure. I think sometimes we’re brought up to be conservative and maybe not speak out unless it’s really important. I would like to be myself, but in being myself maybe be bold and not passive. I should be assertive and it should be OK to speak my mind. And that’s against how some conservative Asian-American cultures are. Holmes: Winning “Survivor” would be an excellent way to do that. Ako: I’m in it to win it. I don’t expect to talk to you again for a long time. Holmes: Let’s talk the day after the finale. Ako: (Laughs) That’s right!
Holmes: Are you comfortable lying in the game? Ako: Yes, I am comfortable lying if need be. I would love to see how far in the game I could get with integrity. You know, being selective with the words I say so that I’m not committing 100% to something that I know I’m not going to follow through with. However, I’m willing to take the integrity route, even if it’s the much harder route. Holmes: What about flirting? Ako: Gordon, I will be using all of my tools. And that is definitely one of them. That comes pretty natural to me. Holmes: Is there anyone who will get upset if they see you flirting? Ako: No, I’m single and ready to meet people. Even my dad has given me his blessing to do what I need to do. Holmes: So you are totally twin flameless at this point. Ako: (Laughs) There are none. And thanks for pointing out my loneliness. But yes, I’m hoping there are other people who are twin flameless out there.
Holmes: How well do you deal with being lied to? Ako: In an ideal world, people should be authentic with each other. However, being lied to for a strategic reason, I understand. Lying for the sake of lying, that would lose my respect. Holmes: How well do you deal with hunger? Ako: The longest I went without food is a day and a half. Just water. It was hard. I had a breakdown. I didn’t think I was going to be able to get through it. But, once I got over that hump I had a spiritual experience after crying and breaking down. Holmes: How about sleep deprivation? Ako: Sleep is one of the most important things to me. So, that’s going to be tough. I’ll meditate if I can’t sleep because rain is on me. I’ll do what I have to do to get my zen…my own rest. Holmes: Extreme temperatures? Ako: Hot is fine. I lived in Las Vegas, it’s like an oven there. However, cold is a weakness for me. Holmes: What about paranoia? Ako: I don’t smoke weed because I don’t like the paranoia. I think it’s the worst. I rock myself like a baby and want myself to get down from the high. I don’t like paranoia.
Holmes: Any early thoughts on the other players? Ako: I’ve only walked by a few of them in the hallway, and they look young. Like early twenties. I’m like, I hope they’re going to be OK. I don’t even have kids and I’m feeling motherly. But, I think they do a really good job of selecting personalities that are quite different from each other.
Holmes: If there is a twist, what do you think it could be? Ako: A super idol. I’ve done some research and an idol that two different players could put together and possess and can be played after the votes are read. That could be powerful.
Holmes: If you could align with any past player, who would it be? Ako: I really liked Parvati (Shallow). She seems like she tells it straight up. And she’s into women power. If there are some women who could survive with each other and take care of each other, she would be a good co-ringleader in that.
im binging all the 'must-watch' seasons. this is how far ive gotten.
(started 22nd august)
season 1 Borneo
season 2 Australian outback
half of season 4 Marquesas
season 6 The Amazon
season 7 Pearl Islands
season 8 All-Stars
season 10 Palau
season 13 Cook Islands
season 15 China
season 16 Micronesia (fans vs favorites)
season 18 Tocantins
Season 20 Heroes vs villains
Watching right now:
Season 25 Philippines
Next:
Season 27 Blood vs. Water
Season 28 Cagayan
Season 31 Cambodia
Season 32 Kaôh Rong
any great seasons u recommend?
i might go back and watch Samoa for Russell Hantz alone
Hey sis! I've been binging all of them since Kaoh Rong ended with my friends. I've seen every season now except 23(Currently watching), 24, 25, 27, 29, and 30.
Africa is underrated as HELL an absolute must. Gabon and Nicaragua are both absolute **** shows and I love them for it. Gabon is MUST watch because of Crystal Cox alone. It's like messy ATRL drama. Add that to the top of your list, tbh. Samoa is alright if you life Russell, I guess.
Mess @ you considering Cook Islands a must watch but not Panama Both seasons are must watches tbh. Panama, Vanuatu, Africa, and Gabon are the shocking emissions from your list for me, definitely make sure to watch those eventually. I promise they are good. The rest of your list seems pretty spot on.
Now, the generally hated seasons like Thailand, Fiji, South Pacific, Redemption Island, Carmoan, etc. are all still watchable if you have time.
I enjoyed Thailand THOROUGHLY and was shocked by the hate it gets as I watched it, all the way up until the merge. Then it turned into **** and the Ghandia sexual assault incident + the incredibly unlikable final 3 really sour the season.
Fiji has a very satisfying winner, a decent post merge, and a couple of incredibly likable characters in Earl and Yau Man. But it drags on a lot and the pre-merge is dreadful with an overwhelming onslaught of unlikable characters.
Redemption Island........... Only watch this if you're a BRob fan because there is enough of him in this season to last you a decade's worth of Survivor.
so excited! who is gonna do a draft this season?
I've been binging all of them since Kaoh Rong ended with my friends. I've seen every season now except 23(Currently watching), 24, 25, 27, 29, and 30.
Both seasons are must watches tbh. Panama, Vanuatu, Africa, and Gabon are the shocking emissions from your list for me, definitely make sure to watch those eventually. I promise they are good. The rest of your list seems pretty spot on.