“Survivor: Ghost Island” (CBS)
QUICK NOTE: The good folks at XFINITY sent me deep into the Fijian wilderness to bring you an exclusive look at “Survivor: Ghost Island.” While I was there I conducted interviews with “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and the entire cast. I also captured exclusive photos and other behind-the-scenes tidbits. So, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates.
Name: Chris Noble
Age: 27
Hometown: Florida Keys, Florida
Current residence: Brooklyn, New York
Occupation: Male Model
Gordon Holmes: Chris Noble! That’s like a superhero name.
Chris Noble: It’s a great name. My dad always told me to wear my name proudly.
Holmes: You’ll be out here and people will be like, “Hey, I don’t know if I trust this guy.” And you can say, “Relax, I’m Chris Noble.”
Noble: I am “The Noble One.” (Laughs)
Holmes: You consider yourself to be the most dramatic. What do you mean by that?
Noble: (Laughs) I didn’t even (expletive deleted) know about it. In high school I was the first ever all-state athlete in two sports for baseball and basketball in my county, I was a jock. That was my pride. I was thinking, “I have to get most athletic. If I don’t it’s a crime.” And I didn’t get most athletic, I got most dramatic which made it even more dramatic, cause then I was pissed off.
Holmes: You flipped a table and were like, “Who the (expletive deleted) thinks I’m dramatic?!”
Noble: (Laughs) Yeah, who says that?! And they said, “That’s why.”
Holmes: There was probably some theater kid that was furious.
Noble: (Laughs) It’s just my emotions, I wear my heart on my sleeve. I don’t hold anything back, really. I’ve learned to keep my emotions in check. I love Micheala in the game, I see a lot of myself in her. She does wear her heart on her sleeve, sometimes it gets her in trouble, but she’s got this fire and competitiveness. Along my path in life, I’ve had to learn to change that. But, I don’t think I’m going to change much of my natural antics. It’s a show, we’re supposed to have fun. I want to be who I am.
Holmes: So, we’re on the same tribe. We’re tethered together and running through an obstacle course. I can’t keep up. How do you deal with me? Can you maintain your composure, or am I going to meet Mr. Most Dramatic?
Noble: That’s going to be one of my toughest challenges. I’m a sweetheart, I’m a good guy, I really stand for what my name is. But, when it comes to things that are competitive and you put me into an octagon or something like that, my whole mode changes. I’m so tunnel-visioned. I’ll have to tell myself, “This person might not be at the same level as me.” There’s a certain level of respect that has to go into it. Was it season 16 where that happened? Was it Big Joel or something like that? And he was pulling around someone who wasn’t on his level. I think he may have taken it too far.
Holmes: You remember season 16, are you a big fan?
Noble: I am, I wouldn’t consider myself one of the die-hards out there. I’d be doing them an injustice if I told everyone I was a super fan. I’m not on their level. I’ve seen somewhere between ten and fifteen seasons. It’s an honor to be out here.
Holmes: Why do you think you were cast?
Noble: I bring that all-American look that I’m sure most shows would like. I’ve got the blonde hair, the physique. I was part of the Versace campaign with Bruce Weber, Gigi Hadid, Donatella Versace. That was the big start of this new life of mine. I also bring a very sympathetic story. My mother was diagnosed with MS at 27 years old. She had me at 34. This lady, you talk about invincible, she was working on her doctorates, working for NASA, she had everything all set up and then it was all taken from her from a very serious disease that there is no cure for. The disease varies from person to person, but she has a very severe case. Growing up, it was difficult for the family. When I was 17 she was told she only has two months to live. Ever since then, I took it upon myself to become a better man and to grow up with added responsibility. I’d take care of her, feeding her medication, carrying her to the bathroom, carrying her in and out of cars. Not necessarily something new, I’d been doing that my whole life. This isn’t really about me, but to tell my mom’s story…she’s a true survivor. She’s still alive today. She was told she had two months to live ten years ago. The crazy, cool irony of this whole story, and I didn’t even realize when I got cast, I’m 27 right now, and that’s when she was diagnosed. I think the cast came out in March, which is MS Awareness Month. My mother said she wonders why God has kept her around for so long, and I said, “One day I will be famous and tell your story. And it’d be selfish if I was the only one who could be inspired by her.” That’s the essence of this. This is God doing great and beautiful things for her and everyone out there with MS. Over two million people worldwide have it. There’s no cure, but they’re working on it. I personally feel like we need to spread awareness more.
Holmes: She sounds amazing. How does she feel about her little boy’s big adventure?
Noble: (Laughs) Let’s put it this way, she knows what “Survivor” is, and when I did the Versace campaign, she didn’t know what Versace was. I don’t hold it against her, but it was sort of a little buzzkill. But she knew what it was and she said, “They should fly me out there, I can tell my story.” (Laughs) I was like, “Hold up, mom.”
Holmes: That’s a long flight. (Laughs)
Noble: She’s always known that this is one of my biggest dreams on the number one reality TV show in the world.
Holmes: You’re damn right.
Holmes: Some people come out here with ethical boundaries as far as lying, cheating, and stealing. How about you?
Noble: I’ve set some boundaries. In real life, I don’t steal, maybe there are white lies. But, sometimes I’m too brutally honest. But I feel like in society we aren’t honest enough. Look, there are going to be times when I’m brutally honest with people, even if it hurts their feelings. But, as far as moral judgments? I’m not going to say anything to demean someone. I wouldn’t do what Varner did. That really crossed the line. I get some of the lies Survivors have told, who knows what I’m going to feel like after 28 days without food. I don’t hold it against them. But, there are boundaries that you don’t cross. I’m not racist, I’m not homophobic, I’m not sexist. I’m not going to say any things like that.
Holmes: What about flirting?
Noble: Oh, I’m going to flirt a lot. Women flirt all the time. I want to be one of those Survivors where I flip it a little bit. If they dish it to me, I’m going to dish it right back. I’m going to use some of that to my advantage. The most powerful emotion in life is love. It’s almost like they say “Love is blind.” And love is blind. If I can make you feel good and there’s something about me that makes you not think about blindsiding me, then I’ve won. I’ve won that battle. And then if I need to, I can blindside you when I need to.
Holmes: Is there anyone back home who will get upset if they see you flirting?
Noble: No, and frankly, if there was I wouldn’t give a (expletive deleted). This is my time. I want to do things that’ve never been done before. Maybe a “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” thing where there’s romance and maybe some spy games type stuff. I want to run around like Tony. I watched “Predator,” I want to put myself all in mud and act like Arnold.
Holmes: Promise me that will happen.
Noble: I promise. Yeah, it can get me in trouble, but you can get in trouble by not doing anything too.
Holmes: Alright, I’m going to give you two “Survivor” situations. You let me know which one you would rather deal with.
Noble: OK.
Holmes: Align with a Hillary supporter or a Trump supporter?
Noble: Wow…a Trump supporter. I feel like America needed to go a different route. And I think change is good. The same way I think Obama was a good change back in 2008. We have a good change now and we’ll see if it works out.
Holmes: Steal a vote or eliminate a juror?
Noble: Steal a vote.
Holmes: Endurance challenge or word puzzle?
Noble: Endurance challenge?
Holmes: Align with a racist or a sexist?
Noble: Sexist…we’re too advanced as a society to judge people based on race. I understand out here we have to judge people based on their front cover right now, and that’s crazy. I think racism is ridiculous. I think being sexist is ridiculous as well. Most of my friends are women and they go through it. All of it chaps my ass.
Holmes: Voted out first or before final Tribal?
Noble: Before final Tribal.
Holmes: Align with an adulterer or a tax cheat?
Noble: A tax cheat.
Holmes: Lose the family challenge or win and decide who to take?
Noble: Win and decide who to take.
Holmes: Caught stealing food or idol hunting?
Noble: Idol hunting.
Holmes: Align with a super fan or someone who doesn’t know the show?
Noble: Doesn’t know the show.
Holmes: Dance challenge or karaoke challenge?
Noble: Karaoke.
Holmes: What’s your go-to jam?
Noble: “Pour Some Sugar on Me.”
Holmes: That’s actually a really good call.
NOTE: The cast members do not know each other’s names at this point. I showed Chris a picture of each of the competitors and asked him to share his first impressions.
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LIBBY
Noble: She beautiful, she’s flirtatious. I think she’s smart. I also think she has some good outdoor skills. |
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ANGELA
Noble: I think she’s older and I click with the older generation. She might not click with some of the other women.
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CHELSEA
Noble: She could have a dark side. She could be silent. It could get her eliminated quickly. |
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JENNA
Noble: She’s going to add outdoor skills. She could flip back and forth. |
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GONZALEZ
Noble: She’s absolutely beautiful. I’m like James Bond; I have a lot of good skills, but a good woman is a weakness. |
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STEPHANIE
Noble: Very flirtatious. I think she’s going to be like a Parvati. |
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MORGAN
Noble: She’s been a tough read. I don’t know if she’s going to mesh well with everyone. |
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LAUREL
Noble: She’s silent, I think she could be like Michaela where she has some real fierceness to her. |
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KELLYN
Noble: I think she’s good outdoors. I think her tribe is going to benefit in the beginning. But, I don’t see her meshing well with everyone. |
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DESIREE
Noble: She’s intriguing. I like her. She could be from New York which I can relate to. I know how New Yorkers roll, and the minute you think they’re your friend, they can snap you. |
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BRADLEY
Noble: That guy…I like him more and more. I think he’s a corporate guy. I think he’s going to be good strategically. |
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BRENDAN
Noble: I think he’s a business man, middle-aged guy. I think I can trust him. And I don’t trust most men. I think he’ll be great in challenges. |
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SEBASTIAN
Noble: He’s like my brother. I think he’s a fisherman. I think he may be a surfer or a paddle boarder. He definitely hits the weed from time to time. I think he’d be awesome to be a shield. |
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WENDELL
Noble: Quiet. I’m not sure how long he’ll last.
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JACOB
Noble: This guy cracks me up. He’s like a Zach Galifianakis…but I think he’s going to flip from side to side because people are going to push him over. |
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JAMES
Noble: I think he’s a business man, into yoga and fitness. I should be able to relate to him. |
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MICHAEL
Noble: He’s a good-looking dude from the Midwest. Maybe one of the other alphas out here. Could be good to team up with if the men are getting thin. |
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DONATHAN
Noble: I’ve thought about him a lot. With everything that happened with Zeke, I feel like we could have a very similar storyline with that. But, he seems like a very nice guy. He could be a very trustworthy person. |
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DOMENICK
Noble: This guy is from New Jersey or New York. I could have a connection. But, there’s something off-putting to me. |
Don’t miss the season premiere of “Survivor: Ghost Island” – Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 8 pm ET.
Any Questions? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes
Tags: survivor, survivor ghost island
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