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‘Survivor’ White Collar So – “The First Person I Noticed Was Max Dawson”

February 12, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Worlds Apart” scoop! I delved deep into the Nicaraguan wilderness on a mission to bring you all kinds of stuff including behind-the-scenes tidbits, pre-game interviews with the cast, insights from “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer, a look at the first Tribal Council, and much more. I’ll be cranking out this goodness daily in the weeks leading up to the premiere, so be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates on all of this season’s “Survivor” fun.

[xfinity-record-button id=”7116600190773202112″ program_type=”series”]

Name: So Kim
Age: 31
Current Residence: Long Beach, California
Occupation: Retail Buyer

Gordon Holmes: You said that you’ve had a very challenging year. What has been so challenging?
So Kim: I turned 30…
Holmes: Oh…you poor thing.
Kim: (Laughs) No…but listen. There’s a lot more that comes with it. I got a divorce, I resigned from my job to go on this adventure.
Holmes: You’re no longer a Macy’s buying director.
Kim: Correct. I’m no longer at Macy’s. I’ll always have a job there if I want. But, I’ve always been a careerist my entire life. I’m a Capricorn, we’re dedicated, we’re steadfast, we get what we want. We’re ambitious. But, I feel like I’ve let my life pass me by. To give all of that up, and then to get here, “Survivor” has been a huge dream of mine, and then to get sent back? This year cannot possibly get any worse.
Holmes: To be clear, you were out here for season twenty nine.
Kim: I was out here before.
Holmes: You were a part of a Blood vs. Water team.
Kim: Yeah, I was out here with my sister and she had a medical emergency.
Holmes: I hope everything turned out alright.
Kim: She’s fine now. But, unfortunately we couldn’t play together.
Holmes: What was it like to be so close and then to not get to play? You didn’t know if they’d ever bring you back.
Kim: It was heartbreaking. My sister and I, it was really an opportunity for us to grow closer and to forge a better relationship. And, I wanted it for her. I’m the “Survivor” fan and she got more involved in the process throughout. And she eventually wanted it for herself. But I’m very grateful to be here.
Holmes: So, after a very tumultuous year…here you are.
Kim: And I’m here to win. I’m holding nothing back. I think I have everything it takes to win. I think with my personality…I can work with a lot of different types. I’m stronger, and more mentally tough than I’ve ever been. I’m ready to play.
Holmes: With all you’ve been through, when Jeff Probst hands you that big check…
Kim: (Laughs) Yeah, it’s going to have been worth it.

Holmes: Your bio says you have about 100 pet peeves…dishonesty, narcissism, losing, complacency…you’re going to see most of them on “Survivor.”
Kim: Yeah, I know.
Holmes: Are you good at keeping things internally, or are you going to blow up on someone who has a “princess attitude”?
Kim: The one thing that I can’t fathom is the hunger and the sleepiness. I like to think that I am good with people. I have to know you really well to get on your case about it. Everything I do or say I try to do with a smile. I’ve been boxing a lot. It’s taught me that you can’t do things out of anger, you have to be patient. You have to set up your shot. Like Ali said, you’ve got to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. I think I also know how to take things in stride. Aggressive females get a target on their back. I’m smart enough to bypass that.

Holmes: Any issues with lying?
Kim: We’re playing “Survivor.” You can’t get to the end without lying. Anybody who has a problem lying is going to get voted out. I’m not looking at it as lying, so much as I’m going to change my mind. That happens naturally. I’m hoping not to use constrictive words such as “I promise,” it’s more like “I’ll consider.”
Holmes: So, no swearing on your family.
Kim: Right. But, we’ll see. I’m going to try as hard as possible to not completely break promises. But, circumstances will change. People have to learn to be flexible. I’m going to protect myself and put myself in the position to win. It’s a business trip.
Holmes: This isn’t kindergarten.
Kim: Yeah!

Holmes: You’re recently single. Is flirting going to be a part of your game?
Kim: (Laughs) For sure. I’ll pull all of the cards out. Whatever I need. And it’s not even flirting, it’s…anyone that knows me will say that I’m very inquisitive. I’m curious and ask a lot of questions. I don’t mean to even be a flirt. But people think I’m a flirt because I ask personal questions. I cross the line way too much. I’ve gone through a lot, I’ve had hardships, and I’m very open to share the things I’ve gone through. There was a time in my life that I was so insecure and you think, “Oh my God, I’m so weird because I have these insecurities.” But really so many people have these same issues. And the more you share it, the more open people are. And I am single. I want to fall in love. I’m a romantic at heart.
Holmes: Win “Survivor,” fall in love, we’re gonna turn this year around.
Kim: (Laughs)
Holmes: And does it bother you that I’m asking all the questions?
Kim: No.
Holmes: Good, cause that’s my job.

Holmes: Do you have any experience roughing it?
Kim: I do. And people probably look at me and think I’m high-maintenance, but I’m actually a total tomboy. I think some girls are worried about not showering and not brushing your teeth. I couldn’t care less. I’m worried about being hungry because I love eating, I’m going to go into sugar withdrawal for sure. I eat tons of candy and tons of junk food.
Holmes: I’m a monster when I don’t eat.
Kim: You know the Snickers commercial where they turn into a diva? That’s me.

Holmes: How long have you been a “Survivor” fan?
Kim: For years. Probably since season twelve.
Holmes: Your answer to the “which player am I like” question…
Kim: I don’t want to compare myself. I could follow someone’s else path or I could create my own. To me, that’s what I’m about. I’m not about following. Maybe that’s an ego thing, but there aren’t a lot of memorable women and there’s probably a reason for that because women get out here and they play the submissive role and they get scared and they censor themselves. They want to hide under the biggest (expletive deleted) guy. You can get far doing that or you can play your own game and have a strategy. It’s tricky, if women play the same game as men they’re perceived as bitchy or aggressive.
Holmes: Unfortunately, that’s more of a society thing than a “Survivor” thing.
Kim: So, how do you play a strong game but still be perceived as a strong, fun, female? It’s tough.
Holmes: It’s almost like you’d have to keep reminding people that it’s fun and business and not personal. Kinda like Tony.
Kim: Yeah.
Holmes: OK, where I was going with this is; if you could align with any player, who would it be?
Kim: I really like smart people. I think you’ve got to align yourself with smart people and people who think they are smart but are really dumb. I relate to Tony. He’s paranoid as (expletive deleted) and I’m paranoid too. But all the measures he was taking with the spy shack, and planning ahead…that’s how I think. I think he’d be a good person to play with, but he took it too seriously. It’s fun. The spy shack is fun. So, he forgot to inject the humor in there. I also love Sandra because she says whatever the (expletive deleted) she wants and never lies about who she is.

Holmes: What do you think of this cast?
Kim: The first person I noticed was Max Dawson. He’s a big reality person. That’s his job to know about reality shows. He blogs about it. He probably knows more about “Survivor” than any other contestant out here. So, I’d love to align with him and make some big moves together. And I think he’s cocky enough that he’s going to hang himself.
Holmes: Who else?
Kim: I think that everyone is out here to play. Everyone is journaling, everyone is taking this very seriously. There’s this surfer dude. He’s like half Malcolm/half Ozzy. He seems really charming, really nice. There’s a woman who I call “identity crisis” because one day she comes out looking like a professor, the next she comes out wearing tie-dye and a neon headband. Right off the bat, she’s someone I wouldn’t want to work with. She seems bossy. I think the females…I can’t get a good sense of. I feel better about working with the males. I’d like to be in a final four with three males and then flip them on their ass.

Holmes: If there is a twist, what do you think it’ll be?
Kim: I’m already thinking it’s three tribes of six. Or, there are two people meeting us. I think there’s something weird going on with ages. There are clearly age buckets. There are six people in their twenties, six people in their thirties, and six people in their forties and above. I don’t think it’s Brains vs. Brawn vs. Beauty. That doesn’t seem to work out with this group.
Holmes: They asked me to be in the None of the Above tribe…
Kim: Aww…
Holmes: Aww….
Kim: That’s too bad. Or, you could be in all of the above.
Holmes: That’s right!
Kim: That’s the one I want to be in.

Don’t miss the 90-minute premiere of “Survivor: Worlds Apart” on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 8 pm ET on CBS.

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‘Survivor’ No Collar Hali – People “Think I’m a Sweet, Pretty Southern Girl”

February 11, 2015

'Survivor: Worlds Apart' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Worlds Apart” scoop! I delved deep into the Nicaraguan wilderness on a mission to bring you all kinds of stuff including behind-the-scenes tidbits, pre-game interviews with the cast, insights from “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer, a look at the first Tribal Council, and much more. I’ll be cranking out this goodness daily in the weeks leading up to the premiere, so be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates on all of this season’s “Survivor” fun.

Name: Hali Ford
Age: 25
Current Residence: San Francisco, California
Occupation: Law Student

Gordon Holmes: Tell me about your inspiration Clara S. Foltz.
Hali Ford: She’s the first female public defender. She made it legal for a woman to become a lawyer in California. She fought for that. And, she has more balls than most men.
Holmes: Is that something you share with her?
Ford: Oh yeah, passion has gotten me everything I have.

Holmes: You’re trained in jiu jitsu…
Ford: I ride motorcycles, I surf, I…walk.
Holmes: (Laughs) I eat lightning, I crap thunder, I walk.
Ford: (Laughs)
Holmes: You are clearly someone who should not be messed with.
Ford: You should steer clear.

Holmes: What are your first impressions of Nicaragua?
Ford: It’s a lot drier than I thought which is excellent. I don’t want it to rain. But, it’s killing me because all I’ve done is watch that surf. I’ve been drooling over it. But I’m ready to tear this land up and eat anything that crawls.
Holmes: Your intention is to build some kind of rudimentary surf board?
Ford: That’d be great, but I’d imagine I need to conserve my energy. So, I probably won’t.

Holmes: Pet peeves…wastes of time and resources…
Ford: Yes.
Holmes: Mediocrity…apathy…
Ford: Yes.
Holmes: You might run into some of that in the next 39 days.
Ford: And they’re going to get the boot.
Holmes: That’s the plan?
Ford: The boot.
Holmes: Someone gets in your way…
Ford: The boot…unless we need some stragglers for numbers. We’ll drag them along and feed them. But, they’ll be the outcasts.

Holmes: Are you a “Survivor” fan.
Ford: Yes, I am.
Holmes: For how long?
Ford: I started watching the show when I was nine. Then I took a reprieve and then I came back in in my twenties.
Holmes: You make me feel old.
Ford: (Laughs) One of the girls here started watching when she was three.
Holmes: How do you know that?
Ford: Cause she told me.
Holmes: How were you talking?
Ford: Not one of the girls on the show. One of the crew.
Holmes: Oh…that was almost scandalous.

Holmes: How do you feel about lying?
Ford: I anticipate I will have to. If I don’t need to, I won’t. It’s part of the game.
Holmes: Do you consider yourself a good liar?
Ford: I’m a notoriously good liar. There’s this game we play back home called, “Mafia” and nobody will play it with me because you have to lie. I win every time.
Holmes: How does Mafia work?

Ford: You’re assigned an identity. Usually two people are the Mafia, everyone else is a townsperson. There’s also a detective and an angel. There’s a narrator that says, “Town go to sleep.” And everyone goes to sleep. The Mafia wakes up, they make eye contact, then they point to someone to kill. When everyone wakes up, you talk to try to figure out who the Mafia is. The Mafia just has to lie and put it off on other people. I win every time.

Holmes: You’re an attractive young woman.
Ford: Thank you.
Holmes: Flirting is a tool people use to get ahead. Is that something you can see yourself doing?
Ford: Yeah. It’ll be part of my strategy if it needs to be. I’d rather keep this straight business. But, flirting may become my business.

Holmes: Any experience living in the outdoors?
Ford: Oh yeah. I hiked for two weeks in the Bolivian Andes. That was pretty rough. But, in general I’ve been growing up basically in the woods in Tennessee. Camping out every summer, summer camp…I also lived in Kauai and practically lived outside the whole year.

Holmes: If there is a twist, what do you think it’ll be?
Ford: Maybe they’re bring back Redemption Island. I wouldn’t be surprised. I don’t know.
Holmes: Do you think that’s an environment you’d do well in?
Ford: Oh yeah, I’m used to being the underdog. If I get voted out I’d love to be redeemed back on.  But, I’m not trying to jinx myself.
Holmes: Too late.

Holmes: Why do you think you were cast?
Ford: Because I’m weird.
Holmes: Yeah, you’re so weird.
Ford: (Laughs) Because it looks like I’m one thing, but I’m many different surprising things.
Holmes: What do people think you are?
Ford: Well, at first they probably think I’m a sweet, pretty southern girl. Then they hear that I’m a lawyer and they think, “Oh, this girl is a bitch.” And then they get to know me and they think, “This girl is a laid-back dude.”
Holmes: Hali Ford, laid-back dude.
Ford: (Laughs) Yeah.

Holmes: You gave the worst answer for “which ‘Survivor’ are you like.” You said Parvati…
Ford: Wait, I want to give another answer; Natalie.
Holmes: From Samoa?
Ford: No, from Fans vs. Favorites.
Holmes: Oh, Natalie Bolton. I like her because she embraced the bad-guy role.
Ford: I’m not saying I’m going to be a bad guy, but I liked the way she played.
Holmes: Alright, well I’d like to know which past Survivor you’d like to align with.
Ford: I’d like to align with Malcolm. He’s a solid dude, trustworthy, and someone that I’d like on a personal level. That’s what I’d want. I have my eye on someone like that already.
Holmes: Who’s that?
Ford: It’s the tall blonde dude. He’s really tall and muscular. He’s more quiet and stoic.

Holmes: What do you think of the rest of the cast?
Ford: We have a lot of personality on this cast. We have some snakes and some charmers. A lot of fun-loving people I think.
Holmes: Anyone else you’re thinking of working with?
Ford: The tall, blonde guy is my number one. There’s also a shorter, blonde haired girl who’s a lot of fun. She has a tree tattoo under her arm. I like her.
Holmes: Anyone you think is going to be trouble?
Ford: Well, there’s this guy with slicked-back black hair. He just looks like trouble. Mr. Casanova. I’m also watching…if my money wasn’t on me, it’d be on this blonde older lady. She’s not old, she’s a beautiful middle-aged woman.
Holmes: What is it about her that sticks out?
Ford: She’s older, so she’s wiser. But she also has cool vibes. She’s going to be able to get in with the young people. And she’s smart, I can see it in her eyes.

Holmes: Alright, let’s talk about how well you deal with some things you’re going to experience in the next few days. Sun and heat?
Ford: Get in the ocean, put on sunscreen.
Holmes: Starvation?
Ford: I will catch some animals and eat them.
Holmes: Piece of cake.
Ford: I’m going to build fish traps. Crabs will be a staple. I know how to set snares even though we can’t eat the monkeys, which was a major let down.
Holmes: You were excited to eat some monkeys “Temple of Doom” style?
Ford: There’s a lot of meat on them.
Holmes: Ugh…
Ford:  I spent a lot of time on my monkey snares.
Holmes: All that time wasted on monkey recipes.
Ford: Yeah!
Holmes: But what are you like when you don’t eat? Normally I’m a jerk. But when I don’t eat that goes to a higher level.
Ford: I’m the same way. I’m going to have to keep an eye on that.
Holmes: How do you deal with people you don’t trust?
Ford: I’m going to get as close to them as I can. I want them to love me.
Holmes: What about paranoia?
Ford: You have a plan. Plans soothe me. As soon as I see a problem I’m going to strategize around it.

Don’t miss the 90-minute premiere of “Survivor: Worlds Apart” on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 8 pm ET on CBS.

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‘Survivor’ Blue Collar Mike – “I’ll Be the Biggest Liar You’ve Ever Seen”

February 10, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Worlds Apart” scoop! I delved deep into the Nicaraguan wilderness on a mission to bring you all kinds of stuff including behind-the-scenes tidbits, pre-game interviews with the cast, insights from “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer, a look at the first Tribal Council, and much more. I’ll be cranking out this goodness daily in the weeks leading up to the premiere, so be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates on all of this season’s “Survivor” fun.

Name: Mike Holloway
Age: 38
Current Residence: North Richland Hills, Texas
Occupation: Oil Driller

Gordon Holmes: It says in your bio that one of your hobbies is picking up the ladies.
Mike Holloway: (Laughs)
Holmes: Is that going to be a part of your game?
Holloway: Yeah, I don’t really think that too many of the girls this season are that attractive. Hopefully they’ll be attracted to me, because if they are I will definitely be able to use that. I’m  a flirter by nature, so anything that I can use to gain confidence on this show, I will use. And with the ladies, hopefully it’ll be my looks. I don’t know if I’m that good looking of an individual.
Holmes: Oh, c’mon.
Holloway: (Laughs) Some girls think so. So if some of these girls think that, I’ll definitely use it against them.
Holmes: Is there anyone at home that’s going to be upset if they turn on CBS and see you flirting?
Holloway: No, I’m single. I haven’t had a girlfriend in a long time just because I’ve been really focused on my career and obtaining some goals. And realistically, no girl has ever been able to keep up with me. I’m kind of a mover and a shaker. I like to be going quite a bit. There aren’t a lot of girls that like to do that.

Holmes: You aren’t attracted to any of the women on this season, but what are your overall impressions of the group?
Holloway: I like the cast as a whole. I think there are a couple of guys who when the show is over we’ll probably be great friends. And the same with some of the girls too…well…maybe not after they hear this…
Holmes: Nobody reads this.
Holloway: (Laughs)
Holmes: And if they do you’ll have to do some backpedaling.
Holloway: I’ll do some serious backpedaling. Let me say, there are some cute girls. But, the type of girl I’m attracted to is not really here.
Holmes: That’s some decent backpedaling.
Holloway: (Laughs)
Holmes: What kind of woman are you attracted to?
Holloway: Obviously I’ve never been one that’s dated for personality.
Holmes: (Laughs) That’s so overrated.
Holloway: (Laughs) Personality is definitely overrated. If a buddy comes over and says he has a girl with a great personality, run. That’s horrible to say. My mom will be very mad that I said that. I’m normally attracted to really good-looking girls. What is a good-looking girl? When you know it when you see it. It’s like when you walk into a store and you’re looking for a certain pair of pants. And you see it and you say, “There’s my pants!” It’s the same way with me and girls. It’s not one shape or size, blonde, brunette, red, blue eyes, green eyes, it doesn’t matter.  There is one girl here that is extremely attractive.
Holmes: Whoa…back it up.
Holloway: Well, I think she’s way too young for me.

Holmes: Are you a “Survivor” fan?
Holloway: Big fan, ever since season two. A good friend of mine came into my house and was like, “Hey, did you see ‘Survivor’?!” And I said, “You mean the show with the naked guy on it?”
Holmes: (Laughs)
Holloway: (Laughs) And he said, “No, that was last season. There’s this guy on there, and he’s from Texas, and he brought this huge Texas flag.” And so, I watched that season. There’s Colby Donaldson, and if you’re from Texas you know the bond and comradery that Texans share. We’re very proud of our state. So, that was the hook that got me involved, but the game won me over.
Holmes: Do you think it’s a benefit to know the show or could the precedents lead you in the wrong direction?
Holloway: I think it’s a huge benefit. A long time ago I was doing this acting stuff. Nothing for LA, just fun stuff. And this guy who was coaching me came in with this 400-page book. And he asked me to act out the first page. And I’m like, “What do you mean, the preface?” And he did. So I fumbled through it. And he’s like, “That was horrible. Now go home, read the book, and next week you’re going to act out the preface again.” That’s the same as “Survivor.” All of these 26 seasons that I’ve watched have been a study guide for what mistakes not to make.

Holmes: If you could align with any former Survivor, who would it be?
Holloway: Candice. Because…number one, she’s beautiful to look at. And, I know she’s married. So Candice, if you read this, I’m not hitting on you. John, please don’t find me and beat me up. Number two, cause she’s smart. Number three, she has great strategy. And number four, she’s a challenge beast. I would align with her until six and then I would cut her throat.

Holmes: If there is a twist, what do you think it’ll be?
Holloway: Well, I think Jeff might’ve let the cat out of the bag a little bit that there’s not going to be a twist. He said, “There’s always a twist, but sometimes the twist is that there’s not a twist and we let your mind mess with you.” I think this might be Young vs. Old II. I’d love for there to be some major twist. That brings excitement to the game.
Holmes: You can’t trust that Jeff Probst.
Holloway: C’mon, that guy right there…I have three man crushes.
Holmes: Alright, let’s hear them.
Holloway: Brett Favre, Jeff Probst, and Bear Grylls. I want to spend seven days in the wild with Bear Grylls roughing it. Besides this, that would be my second most desired experience.

Holmes: Are you comfortable lying?
Holloway: Not in my real life. In this game, yes. I checked Mike Holloway at the door. I will not play this game the way I am in real life. If I play this game the way I am in real life I’ll be voted out first. My mom taught me to pull out chairs for girls, you open doors for girls, if you see someone struggling, lend a helping hand. In this game, that is viewed as weakness. If I am honest Mike or loyal Mike like I am back home, I’ll be gone first.
Holmes: So harder Mike?
Holloway: I think that’s accurate. I will be 100% manipulative all the time to everyone. Not about personal stuff, bonds, friendship, but strategic gameplay. I’ll be the biggest liar you’ve ever seen.
Holmes: It’s one thing to say you’re going to lie to seventeen people you’ve never met. But, it’s another to do it to people you’re depending on.
Holloway: The psychologist asked me the same thing. I think it will be tough for me, but the thing I told my mom and my brother before I left was, “You guys are my family. I’m doing this for our family.” Those people on the show are strangers. They will become friends, and some might become family, but they are not who I am playing this game for.

Holmes: You’re a Texas guy.
Holloway: All the way, baby.
Holmes: Safe to say you have experience roughing it?
Holloway:  For sure. Me and my cousin, we do survivalist training sometimes. We’ll build a shelter. I know how to rub two sticks together to get a fire. It just takes a little will power and patience. I love it. Being by a campfire. Smelling like smoke all night long. I love adventure.

Holmes:Your bio delves into some really personal things; not having a father growing up, being molested as a child…
Holloway: You don’t have to speak soft when you say those things. Those were tragedies that I went through as a child that I think could have molded me into being a horrible person or depressed all the time. But luckily, I had great family members that have taught me how to be a man. Taught me how to deal with those situations. To be honest with you, at age fifteen I became a Christian. That was a massive weight lifted from my chest. Growing up without a dad, you don’t understand the love bond between men. You don’t understand the love bond between a man and a younger man that is teaching them how to grow up. Becoming a Christian and having my pastor who is Don Couch mentor me to be a man… What it is to be responsible. What it is to stand up for what is right. Not to idly let things happen, but to be a voice for the voiceless. Being molested was rough, and it’s something that is with me. But, instead of being a hindrance or a crutch, I look at it as a strength now. I am able to reach out to those people who aren’t able to voice what happened to them and move past it. And, if somehow I’m able to help heal a young man or a young woman who has gone through the same things as I have, then that is not only my obligation, but it is my duty as a human to help someone else out.
Holmes: To turn such a negative into a positive is very inspiring.
Holloway: Well, like I said, it boils down to the Lord and great friends and family who loved me when I was unlovable. When I was a teenage boy with ADHD and hyperactivity. When I was running the streets and being crazy. It took those special people in my life to put their arm around me and say, “Hey man, let me show you a different way.”

Don’t miss the 90-minute premiere of “Survivor: Worlds Apart” on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 8 pm ET on CBS.

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‘Survivor’ White Collar Carolyn – “I’m Used to Being the Boss”

February 9, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Worlds Apart” scoop! I delved deep into the Nicaraguan wilderness on a mission to bring you all kinds of stuff including behind-the-scenes tidbits, pre-game interviews with the cast, insights from “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer, a look at the first Tribal Council, and much more. I’ll be cranking out this goodness daily in the weeks leading up to the premiere, so be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates on all of this season’s “Survivor” fun.

Name: Carolyn Rivera
Age: 52
Current Residence: Tampa, Florida
Occupation: Corporate Executive

Gordon Holmes: What does it mean to be a Vice President of Learning and Development?
Caroyln Rivera: I am responsible for training for all of the associates in the financial institution.
Holmes: How many people report to you?
Rivera: Forty four.
Holmes: Obviously you are a leader. You do that everyday. Is that something you’re going to pursue out here or is that something you’re going to avoid?
Rivera: I’m going to be a behind-the-scenes leader. Most leaders get voted off pretty quickly. I’m going to take a backseat role. I’m going to be the leader, but people aren’t going to feel like I’m the leader.
Holmes: Is it going to be tough to suppress some of your instincts?
Rivera: It will. I think that’s going to be the toughest thing for me. I’m used to being the boss. So, I’m going to embrace the confessionals very deeply. (Laughs)

Holmes: You’re a karaoke singer?
Rivera: I am.
Holmes: What’s your signature jam?
Rivera: “I Will Survive.”
Holmes: A little on the nose.
Rivera: (Laughs) My go-to song.
Holmes: And if you get in trouble here, you can wow them with a  little tale of how at first you were afraid, you were petrified.
Rivera: Yeah, I’ll break it out. (Laughs)

Holmes: Seeing as you have a very prominent and I’m assuming lucrative career, are you less financially driven than some of the other players?
Rivera: I’m financially driven, but the adventure is just as important.

Holmes: Are you a fan of the show?
Rivera: I am. I’ve been watching it since season one.
Holmes: That’s what I like to hear. Is that an advantage?
Rivera: I think it’s an advantage. You see how other people have played. You see what strategies haven’t worked so well. I don’t believe I’ll be shouting that from the rooftops. But, you take the learnings from each and every game and use them to your advantage.

Holmes: You hate being lied to…
Rivera: Which is a problem in this game.
Holmes: Yes, it is.
Rivera: In this game you have to tell white lies and do things you might not normally do. But, it’s a strategy, it’s a game. The difference is how you do it. It’s what gets you votes at the end.
Holmes: Are you comfortable lying?
Rivera: I’m not really that good of a liar. So, I’m going to have to work on that.
Holmes: But you’re not opposed to lying out here.
Rivera: If I have to I have to. I probably won’t be swearing on my kids lives though.
Holmes: So there is a line?
Rivera: Yes, there is.

Holmes: Flirting is a big part of this game. Is anyone back home going to be upset if you’re flirting out here?
Rivera: I’m pretty sure my husband knows I flirt anyway.
Holmes: So that’s on the table?
Rivera: I don’t think that’s the strategy I’m going to go for. I’ll be friendly, but I’m too old to be wooing people.
Holmes: You never know.
Rivera: (Laughs)

Holmes: Any experience in the outdoors?
Rivera: Yeah, I’ve gone camping, I’ve done whitewater rafting. I’m an outdoorsy kinda gal.
Holmes: Anything as extreme as starving yourself for 39 days?
Rivera: No. But I don’t eat that much. My family would say I normally starve myself. Food is not that important to me.

Holmes: If there is a twist, what do you think it’ll be?
Rivera: This is season thirty, there’s going to be a big twist.
Holmes: Any guesses?
Rivera: I think it’s going to start out with three tribes. I don’t know why I think that. There’s way more old people on this season than normal.
Holmes: What does that mean?
Rivera: I don’t know. It’s never happened. That’s a twist.
Holmes: What’re your first impressions of this cast?
Rivera: I think there are four people who haven’t started playing the game yet. They’re late to the party. There are one or two people who are heavy into starting. And, when you start looking at people and you see facial expressions, you know who you want to team up with.
Holmes: Why do you think you were cast?
Rivera: I think I’ve got what it takes. I’m a New Yorker, and we’re good TV.
Holmes: That’s true.
Rivera: (Laughs) I’m outgoing, I’m outspoken. I think I was cast because of that.

Holmes: If you could align with any past Survivor, who would it be?
Rivera: It’s interesting you should ask that, because with “Boston” Rob, you can see his evolution over the four times that he’s played. The first time he wasn’t successful, and by the fourth time he won the whole thing. That’s why I’d align with “Boston” Rob.  I saw him throughout the years change his strategy, that’s what I’m going to do.

Holmes: Alright, I’m going to mention some things, you tell me how well you deal with them.
Rivera: OK.
Holmes: Excessive sun and heat?
Rivera: Love it. I moved to Florida from New York because of the sun and heat.
Holmes: Starvation?
Rivera: Not a problem.
Holmes: People you don’t get along with?
Rivera: I’m going to have to keep my mouth shut which is not what I normally do. That’s going to be a challenge.
Holmes: Paranoia?
Rivera: In order to be successful in this game you have to be paranoid. Every single day. You have to think what the next person is thinking before they think it. That’s the fun of the game.
Holmes: How well do you relate to younger people?
Rivera: I think I relate well to all kinds of people. I’ve got three younger kids. Probably the ages that are on this show. So, I’ll be the fun parent.

Don’t miss the 90-minute premiere of “Survivor: Worlds Apart” on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 8 pm ET on CBS.

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‘Survivor’ No Collar Vince – “There’s a Fine Line Between Counselor and Manipulator”

February 6, 2015

'Survivor: Worlds Apart' (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Worlds Apart” scoop! I delved deep into the Nicaraguan wilderness on a mission to bring you all kinds of stuff including behind-the-scenes tidbits, pre-game interviews with the cast, insights from “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer, a look at the first Tribal Council, and much more. I’ll be cranking out this goodness daily in the weeks leading up to the premiere, so be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates on all of this season’s “Survivor” fun.

Name: Vince Sly
Age: 32
Current Residence: Santa Monica, California
Occupation: Coconut Vendor
Gordon Holmes: So, you’re in the coconut business.
Vince Sly: That’s right. I have a project called Coconut Caravan which is a circus-influenced, but gypsy-themed vending cart. It goes to the beach in Santa Monica and also to a variety of music venues. We do what’s called the Festival Circuit. Do you know what the Festival Circuit is?
Holmes: I assume it’s…
Sly: It’s a community of people who gather together with intention. It’s not just a bunch of people getting together and taking a bunch of crazy drugs and calling it an experience. It’s intention driven. Like Beloved is about the expansion of your heart chakra. They have yoga in the morning, seminars in the afternoon, and then it’s party time at night. So, we vend to these people. It’s hot, we offer them what I call a P.S.O., a Portable Spherical Oasis…also known as a coconut.

EDIT: In the original transcription, I thought Vince had called it a “Portable Spiritual Oasis.”

Holmes: What does it mean to be a holistic counselor?
Sly: I angle my life toward helping others find their path of joy, brilliance, and well-being.
Holmes: That seems to run counter to what you’re going to be doing over the next 39 days. “Survivor” is very deceitful.
Sly: Yes. But, I liken it to this; football players have to tackle people in the field. They love playing that game. And sure, a lot of them are rough, a lot of the things I do are rough. If your everyday lifestyle has led you to being twenty pounds overweight and addicted to some drugs, whether they’re pharmaceutical or otherwise, to leaving your friends or a community that was the only thing you ever knew because they were unhealthy to you? That’s a huge transition. Somebody who is dynamic, who is willing to challenge, not necessarily to manipulate. There’s a fine line between counselor and manipulator. Someone who is willing to help that person find their motivation? That fits right into “Survivor.” Sometimes it’s my motivation. What do I want to see in the world? More people who are healthy and happy. Maybe it’s ego driven. I want to be surrounded by people I appreciate who are sober and happy. In “Survivor,” just like the football analogy…I don’t go around lying to people in my everyday life. I feel like the honor and integrity I have in my everyday life is apparent. In the game I get to challenge myself in a completely different way. It’s the other side of the spectrum. The actor can come out, the spy, every part of myself that is underexpressed or unexpressed because I’m constantly focused on the truth. Like the football player, you don’t see him running through the grocery store and tackling people because they want a peach.
Holmes: A million bucks is quite a peach.
Sly: (Laughs) Exactly. I’m not going to start walking through the grocery store and spitting out lies just because I do it on “Survivor.” “Survivor” is a game where deceit and lying and using your wit is a part of the game. I think it’s awesome.

Holmes: What is “rock running”?
Sly: Rock running is a sport that is gaining popularity. It’s a mix between parkour and extreme outdoor.
Holmes: So, parkour in nature.
Sly: Exactly.  I’ll go to a trail that’s twelve miles of rigorous hiking. And I’ll try to do it in the most creative way possible. Like, today I’m not going to touch the ground. I have to go tree limb to tree limb and see how far I can go. If I can go a mile, great. Boulders, valleys, beaches…
Holmes: It’s like the best game of “Hot Lava” ever.
Sly: Yeah, I don’t necessarily pretend like there’s a lava flow, but I’ve done this; there are a few rivers during springtime in the northern California area that just rage. Big, beautiful, soft boulders that I can just do barefoot. So, I can run, jump, sometimes 10, 12 feet and you can’t fall, because if you do fall…that’s your last fall. There are raging waters, jagged rocks, sticks that have fallen…if you get caught, you’re going to be impaled and severely hurt.  The adrenaline you have is going to fit right into the challenges. There is no failure.
Holmes: So, with that kind of motivation, you’re not going to be concerned with 30 cameras and Jeff Probst yelling at you.
Sly: It’s a developing sport, so sometimes there are spectators on the sidelines. There can be upwards of 300 people on each side of the river. You get to interplay, you get the gasps. You can do what looks like you’re going to fall, but you catch yourself and everyone is, “AHHHHH!”
Holmes: So, there’s some showmanship to it.
Sly: Yeah.

Holmes: You don’t like people who are lazy or entitled. What if they drop you in a tribe full of those folks?
Sly: My greatest challenge out here, even though I’m a holistic counselor, I spend two or three hours with a person and then they get to go home. I get to go somewhere else. I’m 32 years old, I’ve been through 37 countries, some of them I have negative interest in going back to. If I didn’t like it, I left. If I don’t like a relationship, I leave. If I don’t like a city, I move. If I don’t like a job, I don’t work there anymore. You get the idea?
Holmes: I certainly do. You don’t have that luxury here.
Sly: I do not have that luxury here. That’s going to be my greatest challenge. It’s not going to be the hunger. I can find things to eat, I can eat termites. It’s not…even though I love sex, the lack of it. It’s not going to be anything to do with those typical physiological problems that people can’t get over. You see it every season. It’s going to be the fact that this arrogant, undeserving, seemingly worthless teammate, and in his everyday life, I’m sure he’s a wonderful human being. But, this piece of (expletive deleted) out here is snoring next to me after eating three times as much rice? All the termite soup I made? That’s going to be hard as hell. What am I going to do? Enter meditative states. Call in Coach. Do whatever I possibly can.

Holmes: Any issues using your rugged good looks to get ahead?
Sly: No. I’m a highly flirtatious person. Fortunately for me, there are no Parvatis. There are no women that turn my body into a marionette doll. Here, this cast doesn’t seem to do that. And who knows, everything changes day two, day five, day twenty. People you thought you’d like, you don’t anymore. I can’t say if my flirtation will be safe. But, I probably will use it in the first stage of the game.
Holmes: The first stage?
Sly: You’ve gotta be light, you’ve gotta be liked, you’ve got to be good to the tribe. If I flirt the right amount that I don’t upset the guys or make the older ladies jealous…well…I’ll flirt with them too. It’ll be flirtation that is not sexual. I get enough sex. It’s going to be flirtation for comradery.
Holmes: She’s not in the game as far as I know, but there literally is a Parvati here.
Sly: (Laughs) I just met her. She’s a beautiful woman.
Holmes: She’s the real deal, man. She’s a sweetheart. She talked me into doing yoga this morning.
Sly: There are so few people…anyone who has anything to do with production, Hollywood, that bring an element of yoga in their true form. You get girls who are like, “Aha…I do yoga…aha…” But, she does.
Holmes: We’re way off track.
Sly: And her body is body karate.
Holmes: Way off track.

Holmes: Speaking of that Parvati, if you could align with a former player, who would it be?
Sly: That’s tough. I would not align with Tony. He was too good at lying and being (expletive deleted) up. Someone like Ozzy. Somebody who’s lovable, likable…if I was a bro with Ozzy, he and I would create some greatness together. He’s not so smart, I can pick up those IQ points. I can’t catch a fish? He’s out there doing it. Who better to have, but a likable, sweet-faced dude who’s not very bright to take you to the end.

Holmes: If there is a twist, what do you think it is?
Sly: I’m trying so hard not to make judgments about…oh, see those crabs over there? Those are the good ones…
Holmes: I was here for “Survivor: Nicaragua” four years ago and those were everywhere.
Sly: Those are the ones I’m going to put in the pot. You know how you get them out of the holes? Sorry, I’m getting excited. I want to play this (expletive deleted) game.
Holmes: You’re getting there.
Sly: Twists…I’m trying hard not to think of twists. I don’t want to set myself up for something that doesn’t happen. I want to be as malleable as possible. My best is in improv. My best is where everyone is freaking out and I get to hand them any card I choose. If there is a twist like boys vs. girls or old vs. young, I can always turn it to my advantage. We’ve got a nine-person tribe.  If it’s five guys and four girls, “Guys, we’ve got to make a men’s circle. We need to stick together the way no other ‘Survivor’ season has ever seen it.”  I love twists. How about that? When they happen I get excited. (Expletive deleted) yeah! They’re shaking things up! The person on the top is now on the bottom.
Holmes: You say that now, but what if you’re on top?
Sly: Maybe I’m on top and I’m getting lazy. New twist puts your head back into the game.

Holmes: What’re your first impressions of this cast?
Sly: I did this before, you know?
Holmes: How so?
Sly: I did finals casting before. I called the last season “The Bold and Beautiful.” And that was the Brains, Beauty, and Brawn. I had direct interaction with a lot of those people. They were lively, they showed their character. Some of it was a little Jerry Springer-esque. These people are either really hardcore players, which is going to make for an exciting season. Or, they’re dull and boring. I would like it to be a hardcore season. I want to be a part of season 30, the most intense season that ever aired. Just like “Survivor” season number one again. Holy (expletive deleted), we have all these all-new players who aren’t playing like everyone else. I don’t want people who are saying, “I want to play like Parvati,” like so many girls do. I’m really hoping that these people are not the dolts that get steamrolled. Cause that’s happened before and it’s boring.
Holmes: Seconded.
Sly: Right? I’m going to be the guy that gets voted out and says, “Are you (expletive deleted) kidding? Have fun you, idiots.”

Don’t miss the 90-minute premiere of “Survivor: Worlds Apart” on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 8 pm ET on CBS.

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‘Survivor: Worlds Apart’: Jeff Probst Shares His Favorites and First Targets

February 5, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Worlds Apart” scoop! I delved deep into the Nicaraguan wilderness on a mission to bring you all kinds of stuff including behind-the-scenes tidbits, pre-game interviews with the cast, insights from “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer, a look at the first Tribal Council, and much more. I’ll be cranking out this goodness daily in the weeks leading up to the premiere, so be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates on all of this season’s “Survivor” fun.

Gordon Holmes: Alright, who are your favorites this season?
Jeff Probst: Let’s start with the No Collar tribe; I love Hali. Hali is someone I would’ve been friends with if I was in school with her. I’d be like her if I went to law school. Hali is really smart. Smart enough to get into law school, but her approach to life is that of a No Collar because she wants to get into law school so she can change the rules. She doesn’t like the way people are being defended. That is the personification of a No Collar; smart enough to make their own rules, but maverick enough to say the ones that are in place now don’t really work for me.
Holmes: Any other No Collars?
Probst: I like Vince because he’s the kind of guy we don’t have on the show a lot. He literally sold coconuts on the beach. Who does that?! He did. And his life growing up is very unusual and very interesting. It puts him in this position where he’s smart enough to be aware that people see him as a loon. People see the feathers and think he’s nuts. And maybe he is. But I think that’s the question he wants to leave you with is; am I or not? I’m not sure Vince can win though, because I don’t know if people will want to give him the money.

Holmes: Who do you like from the Blue Collars?
Probst: I love Mike. He’s an oil driller from Texas and he’s the kind of guy I always want to have on this show. And they’re hard to find. He’s kind of like Colby when he played for the first time. He’s a guy’s guy. He has good manners, he’s a good-looking dude. And, I think if he doesn’t get too anxious he could make some decent alliances and go a long way. He certainly knows the game. I also like Rodney for very different reasons. He’s a spark plug. He kinda even looks like a spark plug physically.
Holmes: I don’t know if he’s going to win. But he’s going to be a star.
Probst: If Rodney lasts, you’ll never forget him. And what makes me like him so much is that he really says what he feels. And, you could argue that he should be a No Collar because he’s such a hustler. But at his core, he’s a guy who will get things done no matter what. I think that’s what Blue Collars represent. They have heart. You have to finish the job.

Holmes: And White Collars?
Probst: I like Joaquin a lot. I like him because he knows he’s White Collar and he’s not ashamed of it. He doesn’t think it’s a derogatory term. He’s proud of the fact that he wears a suit and he’s in an office. So what? I like that. He’s not going to use that as a chip on his shoulder. He’s going to use it as a starting point. He’s a good-looking guy, he’s charming. I don’t know how he’s going to do with the women. Sometimes the good-looking guys they try to charm the women and they see through it and say, “See ya.”  Other times they let them think they’re charming them.
Holmes: Who else?
Probst: I also like So. She is so determined. She is type-A, brother. All the way. And she’s not used to losing. I like her chances in this game because there’s something about So that I think she understands that you have to back off at times. Shirin, who is on her tribe, I’m not sure can do that. She may come on too strong. But So seems like the devil that’s so attractive that you want to keep her around because she’s so great to look at. But, she will come up to give you a kiss and it will be a bite on your neck and she will drain all the blood. You will bleed out and die on the floor. And when the paramedics come they’ll say, “Oh, So.”
Holmes: There aren’t rules against that kind of behavior?
Probst: We do have rules…
Holmes: It’s a cool trick, I’d just imagine she can only do it once.
Probst: Yes. There’s an asterisk to our rules and it states, “If the person doing the attacking is young and really attractive, we tend to let it go.” And the reason we do that is because we feel that on “Survivor” as in life, that kind of thing happens.

Holmes: Who’s in trouble?
Probst: Dan’s in trouble from the Blue Collar tribe only because he tries too hard. He’s actually a really nice guy, but you can’t try hard.
Holmes: I like Dan, but it seems like he’s always on. Where’s the real Dan?
Probst: Yeah. It doesn’t work. Dan’s probably great at a party or a dinner, but you’ve gotta be real on “Survivor.”
Holmes: Who else?
Probst: On the White Collar tribe I think Tyler’s probably the first one in trouble.
Holmes: Really?
Probst: Yeah, I think he might have trouble fitting in because he wants to fit in. I get the feeling that he wants to be in a club that he’s not yet in. And on “Survivor” you have to front as if people want to be in your club. Even if you’re nervous, never let them see you sweat. They should want to align with you.
Holmes: I always feel like six-people tribes should want to keep challenge strength.
Probst: You never know. With this group you’re probably right. I’d be with you. But then you see people saying, “Get rid of Garrett.”
Holmes: Who’s in trouble from the No Collars?
Probst: I would say…man…oh wait, this is easy. It’s gonna be Nina. Nina could be the first person out of this game. I don’t think Nina would mind.  I think Nina is overwhelmed and it doesn’t have anything to do with her hearing. She’s quite capable and a strong woman. I think sometimes you get out here and it becomes too real and you realize you’re not going home. I’m going to be eating bugs and sleeping with snakes. I think Nina probably already wants to go home.

Don’t miss the 90-minute premiere of “Survivor: Worlds Apart” on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 8 pm ET on CBS.

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‘Survivor’ White Collar Tyler – “I’m Not Going to Wear My Wedding Ring”

February 5, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Worlds Apart” scoop! I delved deep into the Nicaraguan wilderness on a mission to bring you all kinds of stuff including behind-the-scenes tidbits, pre-game interviews with the cast, insights from “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer, a look at the first Tribal Council, and much more. I’ll be cranking out this goodness daily in the weeks leading up to the premiere, so be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates on all of this season’s “Survivor” fun.

Name: Tyler Fredrickson
Age: 33
Current Residence: Los Angeles, California
Occupation: Ex-Talent Agent Assistant

Gordon Holmes: You dress up as a hobo and jump out at children in downtown Pasadena. What the hell is the matter with you?
Tyler Fredrickson: (Laughs) That’s where I live, that’s one of the fun things I enjoy doing. I take on different personalities, whether it’s around Halloween or I just feel like being goofy. I like being unpredictable. I love imagination, I love storytelling. The movies I grew up on; “Star Wars,” Spielberg…that type of space. So, to get to replicate that with kids or do events or act out stuff…
Holmes: Are these kids expecting this or are they random tykes walking down the street?
Fredrickson: It could be that. (Laughs) I do a lot of stuff at my church. Stuff with the youth group. It’s a very small part of my life.

Holmes: You worked as a talent agent assistant. How will that background help you in “Survivor”?
Fredrickson: In Hollywood, basically everybody starts off fetching somebody’s coffee. I decided to invest in my future by going to what is deemed as the best talent agency in the business. I worked with one of the heads of motion picture lit for over two years. And what you’re doing there is talking people off of the ledge every day. You’re working with some of the highest-paid, most respected clientele in the business. Big, A-list stars and they have their own fears and frustrations. And your job is to be the liaison between them and the agency. When you come out here to “Survivor” there are absolutely things that cross over. But, instead of trying to talk people off of the ledge, you’re trying to push them off.

Holmes: You kicked the game winning field goal against USC on national television, so you’re used to pressure-packed athletic situations. That’ll help you.
Fredrickson: Yeah, my first NFL game was Monday Night at Lambeau. Talk about an exciting place to start your career. And I’ve played in some high pressure college games as well. I tend to thrive on that kind of pressure. I talked to Probst about it. I said, “I want you to try to get into my head because that’s where I thrive.”

Holmes: “Survivor” is a game that is jam-packed with deceit. Are you comfortable looking someone in the eye and lying?
Fredrickson: Absolutely. I’m comfortable winning. Lying is a part of it. We all check into this hotel knowing what it takes to win. I don’t think there’s been someone who has won without lying since Ethan or maybe Yul. And those were years ago. The game has changed. People are too savvy, it’s too complex. I’m comfortable lying, but there are missed opportunities. Probst said, “You could be the first guy voted off, then you could play again and win.” So, for me I’m hoping to go with my gut and make the right calls.
Holmes: When you think of “Survivor” as a concept you think, “I’m going to go out there and cut throats.” You’re thinking of seventeen nameless, faceless individuals. You’re going to get very close to these people. Are you worried it’ll be hard to make the right move for your game once you know these people and possibly care for them?
Fredrickson: I don’t think so. We are going to be, from here on out, the season thirty fraternity. Bitterness will fade, and enemies will become friends. But right now we’re supposed to look at each other with contempt. I want to get to know these people. I want to have relationships outside of the game. But as far as true relationships, there’s a barrier there. The goal is not to form lifelong relationships. The ultimate goal is to win this game.

Holmes: Is flirting on the table?
Fredrickson: Yeah, I told my wife, I said, “I’m not going to wear my wedding ring, I don’t want to lose it.” That was my excuse.
Holmes: (Laughs) And she bought that? You are a good liar.
Fredrickson: (Laughs) We had talked about it. And analyzing the guys that have won in the past, they typically do it with a woman in second place. That’s not to say that women can’t be strong competitors, they win quite often. But usually there’s a guy working with a strong woman or a weak woman at his side. And for me, bro-ing up could be dangerous. At times guys get territorial, it’s really only good when you have nothing to lose like the Three Amigos a couple of seasons ago or when you’ve got a “Yes man” like a Phillip or Grant were for “Boston” Rob. Smart guys, but they were doing his bidding. I don’t expect to find either of those situations. I want to be smart about balanced alliances, and that includes women.

Holmes: Do you have any experience roughing it?
Fredrickson: You mean outside of playing five years in the NFL?
Holmes: Yeah, but after practice you’d get a sandwich. No sandwich is waiting for you here.
Fredrickson: Sure. I feel good about pushing myself even though you can’t replicate what it’s like out here. So, while I’m unprepared for that, I feel good about the mental stress.
Holmes: Speaking of mental stress, past Survivors have told me that this game is a non-stop date with paranoia. Everyone’s gunning for you eventually.
Fredrickson: I don’t know how I’m going to act yet. There’s a swagger and a confidence that the best players have. If you really trust the people around you, you don’t get caught up in that. If “Boston” Rob got caught up in paranoia, his group would start to doubt him. There is something to be said about having to trust to win the game. If you can do it confidently, maybe you can get past the insecurities. I don’t know if it’s going to work. I could be gone first, second, third, fourth with that kind of attitude.

Holmes: If you could align with any past Survivor, who would it be?
Fredrickson: I really liked the way Ciera played, granted she cut off her mom. But there’s something to be said for someone who’s willing to make big, extreme moves. Again, we’re aligning with them in the hopes that they don’t make big moves against me.

Holmes: What’re your thoughts on this cast?
Fredrickson: There are a few that I haven’t even said a word to yet, and I feel like they have that cutthroat ability. I prefer to be on their side. I’m looking around trying to figure out who’s the meathead, who’s the guy who’s looking up in the clouds like Phillip or Coach. There are a few of those guys. It seems like most of the guys are on top of their game. They seem competent. The girls seem like they’re observant. Nobody is lost in la-la land. It seems like everyone has a good sense of humor.

Holmes: If there is a twist, what do you think it’ll be?
Fredrickson: No idea. I’ve thought about this for days. We’ve got eighteen people here, I don’t foresee them throwing in a Russell and a “Boston” Rob. I’ve been wondering because the seasons go a location and then a twist. But, 29 was “San Juan del Sur – Blood vs. Water II.” So, now I’m going, what are we? They used the twist and the location.
Holmes: “Survivor: Central America.”
Fredrickson: “Survivor: It’s Back Again!”
Holmes: “Survivor: Nicaragua…Part Deux.”
Fredrickson: “Survivor: Even More Of It.”

Don’t miss the 90-minute premiere of “Survivor: Worlds Apart” on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 8 pm ET on CBS.

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‘Survivor’ Blue Collar Sierra – “The Ladies…All Seem a Little Soft”

February 4, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Worlds Apart” scoop! I delved deep into the Nicaraguan wilderness on a mission to bring you all kinds of stuff including behind-the-scenes tidbits, pre-game interviews with the cast, insights from “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer, a look at the first Tribal Council, and much more. I’ll be cranking out this goodness daily in the weeks leading up to the premiere, so be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates on all of this season’s “Survivor” fun.

Name: Sierra Dawn Thomas
Age: 27
Current Residence: Roy, Utah
Occupation: Barrel Racer

Gordon Holmes: OK, a quick ground rule; anything you say here stays here. None of the other contestants will hear this until just before the season airs.
Sierra Dawn Thomas: So, you’re not going to throw me under the bus?
Holmes: Well, we’ll see how it goes.
Thomas: (Laughs) This chick is the worst!
Holmes: She said she was going to vote for you first!

Holmes: OK, please explain barrel racing to people who haven’t watched “Heartland” as often as I have.
Thomas: (Laughs) I’ve never seen “Heartland,” but barrel racing is a sport. It’s a timed event. You’re on fast horses. You’re timed with an electric eye and you have to do a certain pattern and the fastest time wins. Thousandths of a second separate first from like fifth place. So, you’ve got to be fast and turn tight.
Holmes: And it helps to be 6’1” to be a barrel racer?
Thomas: (Laughs) No, I’m actually really tall for being a barrel racer. A lot of people think it’s a disadvantage because there’s more of me on the horse. I weigh more than the smaller, petite girls. But, I have big horses.
Holmes: Are any of these barrel racing events televised?
Thomas: Yes.
Holmes: You’re about to compete in front of a sea of cameras. Do you think you’ll have an advantage because you’ve performed on TV before?
Thomas: Absolutely. I perform in front of 50,000 people. That stuff doesn’t faze me at all. I keep my eye on the prize and stay focused.

Holmes: What’re your first thoughts on this place?
Thomas: It’s not too hot, not too humid. I’m excited to get out there and live in it.
Holmes: Do you have experience roughing it?
Thomas: I live in a horse trailer nine months out of the year, so absolutely. I don’t always have running water, power, all of those things are extra to me. I pretty much am like a gypsy. I travel all the time.
Holmes: So there’s a barrel racing circuit and you do different events in different areas?
Thomas: There are rodeos in different cities across the US and Canada.

Holmes: You’re heading into a game that has traditionally featured a lie or two. Are you comfortable lying?
Thomas: In my everyday life? Absolutely not. I’m a very loyal person. Not just with people, but with my animals.
Holmes: You don’t lie to your animals?
Thomas: (Laughs) Well, I’m there to feed them. I’m there to take care of them. They rely on me. I’m a loyal person. I know I’m going to have to lie out here. It’s not normal for me.
Holmes: Are you good at it?
Thomas: We’ll see. I don’t practice it. But I’ll lie for a million dollars.

Holmes: Are you willing to use your model good looks to get ahead?
Thomas: Absolutely. I do that in my everyday life. You need help when you’re on the road. I live on the road by myself. I need assistance, I need help changing tires. I can do it all myself, but I’m not afraid to act like I’m struggling to get help from the male gender.
Holmes:  Is there a boyfriend at home who will be annoyed if you’re flirting on national TV?
Thomas: Absolutely not.
Holmes: No boyfriend, or he won’t be annoyed?
Thomas: (Laughs) There’s no boyfriend.

Holmes: Are you a “Survivor” fan?
Thomas: Yes, but I’m not a die-hard fan. I remember when it first came out. I watched it a lot. The last couple of seasons I’ve watched. But like I said, I live in a horse trailer. I don’t have a TV. I haven’t been to a movie theater in probably ten years.
Holmes: Mind blown.
Thomas: I just saw it explode. But, it’s true. I don’t live a normal life.
Holmes: No wonder you haven’t seen “Heartland.”
Thomas: Exactly!
Holmes: I’m going to send you some DVDs.
Thomas: (Laughs)

Holmes: If there is a twist, what do you think it’ll be?
Thomas: I don’t have any guesses, but I do know it’s the 30th season. There’s got to be something up their sleeves. I’m ready for anything. Life throws me crazy things all the time.

Holmes: What do you think of the cast members?
Thomas: There’s a couple of younger, fit guys that I’d like to get into an alliance with. There are a couple of old guys that I think might fall off pretty quick. They’re already rubbing their knees and stretching their backs. As far as the ladies, they all seem a little soft. I think I’m stronger than most of them. I’m confident that I can compete with any one of these girls.

Holmes: If you could align with any past “Survivor” player, who would it be?
Thomas: You know…as much as he bothered me, I’d have to go with Tony. He was smart, conniving, athletic.

Holmes: You signed up for 39 days of people trying to deceive you. How well do you deal with paranoia?
Thomas: To be honest, I’ll be really paranoid. But, I think that’s a part of the game. I’ll be watching people’s expressions between one another. They’re going to be scheming, they’re going to be plotting. I’m not naïve. People will walk off and talk about me, but you have to stay one step ahead.

Holmes: Why do you think you were cast?
Thomas: I’m a woman that lives in a man’s world every day. I don’t do a 9-to-5, I do a 5-to-9. I’m up fifteen hours riding ten head of horses or riding half way across the nation. I think I truly have what it takes to win. I can keep up with the boys.

Holmes: Are you worried about the lack of food?
Thomas: I go days without food. I live on gas station food. Sometimes I go three days without sleep. I adjust.
Holmes: Are you chugging coffee?
Thomas: Yeah, a lot of caffeine. A lot of Monsters. A lot of unhealthy gas-station burritos. It’s my favorite thing in life.
Holmes: I’m not judging.
Thomas: (Laughs) They are delicious.

Don’t miss the 90-minute premiere of “Survivor: Worlds Apart” on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 8 pm ET on CBS.

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Take a Look at the First ‘Survivor: Worlds Apart’ Immunity Challenge

February 3, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (XFINITY)

NOTE: XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Worlds Apart” scoop! I delved deep into the Nicaraguan wilderness on a mission to bring you all kinds of stuff including behind-the-scenes tidbits, pre-game interviews with the cast, insights from “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer, a look at the first Tribal Council, and much more. I’ll be cranking out this goodness daily in the weeks leading up to the premiere, so be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates on all of this season’s “Survivor” fun.

One of the most exciting parts of any “Survivor” press junket is the day the press gets to participate in an immunity challenge against Jeff Probst’s beloved “Dream Team.” (Quick Note: The Dream Team is a collection of athletic young men and women who test out the challenges to make sure they’re safe, fair, and exciting.) This exhibition lets us know how grueling the challenges are, it lets us experience the stress of competing in front of a ton of people, and it gives Jeff Probst a chance to yell at us.

Win/win.

I’ve had a blast competing in these events over the years. Mainly because the dynamic has shifted from the press being humiliated by the younger, stronger, better-looking, better-smelling Dream Team to the press actually being able to hold their own.

In fact, ever since my first loss in Gabon I’ve managed to rack up an Ozzy-esque five consecutive victories. Now, you may think winning exhibition challenges in a reality show isn’t a big deal, but I fully intend to have “Five Straight Immunity Challenge Victories” inscribed on my tombstone, Royal Tenenbaum-style.

The Immunity Challenge:

All three of the tribes will sprint down a tilted runway into a pile of hay. Once they manage to free themselves from the hay, they’ll have to maneuver over a high-step obstacle.

Then it gets tricky. One member from each tribe will have to release a ladder from a box. To do this, they’ll either have to untie about a jillion knots.

Or, unlock three padlocks using a ring full of keys.

From there, they’ll use the ladder to climb up a platform, cross to a second platform, and then climb down.

Next up, they’ll have to pass the ladder through two table puzzles.

Finally, our poor, overworked ladder will be used to retrieve one of three bags of puzzle pieces. The puzzles come in different varieties…

  • A 50-Piece Puzzle – Basically a picture puzzle made of squares.
  • A 10-Piece Puzzle – A tree-shaped puzzle similar to the one used in “Survivor: One World.”
  • A 5-Piece Puzzle – The player must use five flat shapes to create a perfect, 2-D square.

The 50-piece puzzle is the easiest, but takes the longest to complete, the five piece can be done in ten seconds if you can figure out how it works, and the ten piece is somewhere in the middle.

One person from each tribe will tackle the puzzle. The first tribe to complete their puzzle wins bragging rights and first dibs on sandwiches from craft services.

The Twist

There would only be two actual journalists competing in this little exhibition; myself and “Survivor” Hall of Famer Parvati Shallow. So, we would had to fill out the rest of our tribe ranks with Dream Teamers.

Ew.

But, if He-Man could partner with Skeletor to take out Hordak, I guess I could team up with my mortal enemies to take down a former “Survivor” champ.

The third team would be led by Samantha, the daughter (and for this trip, the assistant) of CBS’s lovable photographer Monty Brinton.

As the guy who lives behind a computer, it made sense that I’d be White Collar leader. Yoga superstar Parvati headed up the No Collar tribe. And, Samantha was Blue Collar pretty much by default.

The 2nd Twist:

This challenge is all about choices. How do you free the ladder? Which puzzle do you choose? So, Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer insisted that Parvati, Samantha, and I do all of the tasks for our tribe. He claimed that he wanted to pick our brains afterward to see why we made our choices, but I bet he really wanted one of us to be solely responsible for our tribe’s loss. Oh good, no pressure.

The False Start:

The three of us climbed to the top of the ramp and started to talk strategy with our teammates. To add to the degree of difficulty, Kirhoffer made them promise to not give us any tips. While I was deciding which Dream Teamer would be the one we’d send up after the puzzle pieces, I heard a familiar, Emmy-winning voice yell out, “Survivors, ready?!”

In unison, Parvati and I both rushed to the front of the platform and screamed back, “NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!”

Everybody had a good laugh at that.

Probst laughed himself, then gave me grief for not giving him a warmer welcome. I told him I was in the middle of something, but would be sure to give him a sweaty post-victory hug when I was done.

The Real Deal:

Once the strategy session was over, we took our marks. Probst started the festivities with his trademark line and we were off.

Now, most people simply ran down the ramp and into the hay, then stomped around to free themselves. I had a different, probably dumber strategy; I ran down the ramp, then tucked into a forward roll. Yeah, I might’ve gotten hay in every orifice in my head, but I cannonballed right through that mess and was the first one into the next obstacle.

With my tribe right behind me, I was the first one through the high-step course. I went to work on the knots with a slight lead.

Why did I choose the knots? Honestly, the locks scared me. I’d done really well with the knots in the Philippines and I  knew no matter what I’d be able to finish. I worried that a rusty lock or a faulty key could cause some serious problems.

(Note: A few days later when Probst walked the actual players through the challenge, he showed them that the locks are perfectly fine. They may look old and rusty, but they’re totally functional.)

Parvati decided to try the locks, while Stephanie took on the knots.

All the knots…

So many knots…

Actually, twenty ropes of ten knots apiece for a grand total of 200 knots.

When I was done with a rope, I’d pull it completely out of the hole so we’d have no problem freeing the ladder. This strategy led to a pretty nasty rope burn on my hand. As I looked down at my bleeding finger, Probst gleefully shouted out, “Holmes is worried about his manicure!”

No sympathy from that guy.

Meanwhile, Parvati was killing the locks. In fact, she had opened all three of them and removed her ladder while I still had about ten ropes to go.

To make matters worse, I looked back and Samantha had about seven ropes to go.

Samantha would later tell me that she was hooking her thumbs in the ropes and pulling them apart while I had been griping the individual ropes.

Samantha destroyed me. I went in a with a lead and she passed me by a significant margin.

Probst was loving it.

Eventually, I learned that there’s one thing worse than Jeff Probst standing over you and saying things like, “Your 401K can’t save you now, Holmes!” in front of the entire “Survivor” crew. And that’s when he has to stop making fun of you so he can rush to the end of the challenge to call Parvati and Samantha working on their puzzles.

Yes, it was that bad.

With numb fingers and a bruised ego I finally got through that 200th knot. My compassionate teammates hopped into action as we tried to salvage the challenge. We were quick to get up, across, and over the platforms.

Then, as we were plowing through the two table puzzles, I noticed that the other tribes weren’t celebrating just yet. Apparently Parvati had chosen the five-piece puzzle, Samantha had chosen the ten-piece, and neither had made any significant progress. Now, I had a decision to make.

Going into the challenge, I thought I’d go for the 50-piece puzzle if I had a lead. And, if I was behind I’d go for the 10-piece. Thinking of how difficult that five-piece puzzle must be completely psyched me out. I wasn’t going near that one.

We quickly retrieved the ten-piece bag and I went to work. I emptied all of the pieces onto one side and one by one, rotated them around the tree-shaped frame looking for a combo that fit…and I didn’t find one. Uh oh.

It was at this point that both Parvati and Samantha made the call to switch to the 50-piece puzzle. Now we’d all pretty much be starting from scratch.

I kept with my strategy. Eventually it dawned on me that there was some empty space in the puzzle. Once I figured that out, it was off to the races. With each piece that I put into place, the puzzle got easier and easier. Even Probst had to admit that I was in the midst of a miracle comeback.

And once that tenth and final piece was secure, I was finally able to give Probst that sweaty embrace I had promised him.

After I shared hugs and high-fives with my Dream Teamer besties, Probst took me aside and made a simple request…

“You know, you can go talk trash to Parvati if you want.”

And talk trash I did.

As I strolled over to my press team sibling, I noticed that Samantha was getting the best of the situation. Parvati tried to ignore me, but I managed to get in her ear and convince her to switch to the ten-piece. However, by the time that bag was opened, the challenge was over and the No Collars were on the losing end.

The Aftermath:

When it was all said and done, we went over our strategies and hypothesized as to which ones we thought the future players would undertake. The Dream Teamers admitted that the locks were always the way to go and that the five-piece puzzle is a nightmare if you don’t know the trick.

Personally, I came to the conclusion that my hay approach was foolproof, my knot skills could use some work, the Dream Teamers aren’t so bad, and my Tenenbaum tombstone will now have to read “Six Straight Immunity Challenge Victories.”

Don’t miss the 90-minute premiere of “Survivor: Worlds Apart” on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 8 pm ET on CBS.

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‘Survivor’ Blue Collar Dan – “I’m Going to Be at the Bottom of the Cuddle Puddle”

February 3, 2015

"Survivor: Worlds Apart" (CBS)

NOTE: XFINITY.com is the place to be for all of your “Survivor: Worlds Apart” scoop! I delved deep into the Nicaraguan wilderness on a mission to bring you all kinds of stuff including behind-the-scenes tidbits, pre-game interviews with the cast, insights from “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and Challenge Producer John Kirhoffer, a look at the first Tribal Council, and much more. I’ll be cranking out this goodness daily in the weeks leading up to the premiere, so be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates on all of this season’s “Survivor” fun.

Name: Dan Foley
Age: 47
Current Residence: Gorham, Maine
Occupation: Postal Worker

Gordon Holmes: Your bio says that you can hunt with golf discs. So, a wild boar wanders into camp and you can go all “Tron” on it?
Dan Foley: (Laughs)
Holmes: You’re going to need to explain that one.
Foley: It’s called disc golf…not frisbee golf, that’s different.
Holmes: We’re not talking about Frolf?
Foley: (Laughs) No, it’s disc golf. They’re similar to frisbees, but it’s different. Like regular golf there are different kinds of discs for different kinds of shots. And instead of trying to put a ball in hole, you’re trying to put a disc in a basket. Essentially, some of them have very tapered edges. If I launched one at you and you tried to catch it? You’re breaking every bone in your hand.
Holmes: What is the benefit of a tapered edge?
Foley: My home course, the opening pin is 801 feet. You’re trying to throw this disc eight hundred feet. Professionals are getting four or five hundred feet. I’m throwing it about three hundred feet. And I’m getting pretty accurate with my discs.

Holmes: What are your first impressions of Nicaragua?
Foley: From what I’ve seen, it’s gorgeous. I haven’t seen much because I’ve been riding around in a blacked-out van.
Holmes: I did that once. It was awful.
Foley: Yeah, I don’t get claustrophobic or car sick. But I could tell that some of my cohorts were a little greenish. But, you wake up and you go to sleep to the sound of the ocean, so it’s kind of like home to me. I was born and raised in Maine.

Holmes: Are you a “Survivor” fan?
Foley: Huge.
Holmes: Since when?
Foley: Season one, buddy. I’ve been applying non-stop since season two. I’ve sent in over 100 applications and I have physically driven over 20,000 miles to go to open casting calls. There is a very fine line between super fan and fanatic.
Holmes: And you drove by it a long time ago.
Foley: No, no I haven’t. There’s a difference between passion and obsession and I can explain it.
Holmes: Please do.
Foley: I make time for “Survivor” from my family. I don’t make time for my family from “Survivor.” Whenever I have the time and the money, then I’ll go to casting calls.
Holmes: What’s it like to get that call?
Foley: This is actually my second call. I got a phone call in February and I thought I was being punked. The girl on the phone actually threatened me. She said, “Either you believe me or I’m hanging up on you.” To get the second phone call, my heart leapt. I didn’t think I’d get a second phone call. The girl dismissed me a little bit. But, the second phone call I was a little bit more prepared. When I answered the phone I said, “Hello, ‘Survivor.’” And she said, “How could you possibly know that?” I said, “The last time I got a call from a restricted number it was you. And obviously you’ve seen the error of your ways.”
Holmes: So, you’ve met Probst at this point.
Foley: I met him on a Skype interview about a month and a half ago and then met him face to face yesterday.
Holmes: And did you get lost in his dimples?
Foley: I’m too pragmatic to be star-struck by pretty much anybody.
Holmes: That’s a good way to be.
Foley: But it was still pretty (expletive deleted) cool.
Holmes: (Laughs)
Foley: (Laughs) I’m not going to lie! It was still pretty cool.
Holmes: Is it an advantage to be a “Survivor” fan?
Foley: It depends on who you’re matched up with. People can see the fact that you’re a super fan and think that you’re a student of the game and see you as a threat and get rid of you pretty quick. Other times, people might try to delve into what you have.
Holmes: I wonder if knowing these precedents could lead you in one direction while you’re instincts are telling you something else.
Foley: The head and the heart argue with each other. The heart is primal, but logic is learned. People tend to follow their heart when they should follow their head. I think logic needs to dictate this game. And I like to say that common sense is no longer common. Once you stop following your gut, you’re screwed.

Holmes: You said you weren’t going to lie about meeting Jeff Probst, are you comfortable lying in this game?
Foley: (Long pause) Yeah. Oh yeah. Pretty much the only thing I won’t do is sleep with somebody else, and that’s pretty much it. That’s my line in the sand. This is a game. In a game of poker, my dad taught me at the age of ten, “If a person puts those chips on the table, that means he’s willing to let you take those chips.” Why wouldn’t you? And everybody here knows that this is a game. And I don’t behave at a poker table the way I normally would in life. I may try to deceive you, trick you, lure you in, or make you believe things that are ridiculous. This is just a game of high-stakes poker. And the trick to this game is you have to be full of blarney. And blarney is an Irish word that means you have to be able to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they’ll look forward to the trip. And I’m full of blarney.

Holmes: So, you won’t sleep with someone. But flirting is in play?
Foley: Oh yeah. My wife has given me full carte blanche to say anything I have to say or do anything I have to do. My wife Erin has put up with a lot of shenanigans for me to get here. And that woman is the best thing that’s ever happened to a bum like me.
Holmes: Make sure she reads this.
Foley: (Laughs) I will, but I’m not done yet. So, when I’m holding that million dollar check, it’s hers. But, the title is mine. The money can be spent, but pride never goes away.

Holmes: Do you have any experience outdoors?
Foley: Born and raised in Maine, I like going camping, hiking. My very first mountain climbing experience was Mount Washington in the middle of winter. It was negative twenty one degrees with 76 mile-per-hour gusts above the treeline. So, we had negative 80-degree windchill factors. I had a blast. Not a big fan of the heat.
Holmes: Oh no? Well, I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news.
Foley: (Laughs) Yeah. There are only two things that frighten me about this game. That’s the heat and I can’t stand coconut. Oh God, I hate coconut. Nothing else intimidates me.
Holmes: What happens if coconut is your best bet to keep you going?
Foley: I am not exactly the classic beauty that “Survivor” looks for. I’m a fat, bald guy with a stupid beard. But, I have style. I have panache. And I could stand to skip a few meals. I’m looking forward to the weight loss. I have no problems with the lack of food, I have no problems with the lack of sleep, I have no problems with the cold, the rain. And if it starts raining, the girls are going to love me because I am a walking furnace. I’m going to be at the bottom of the cuddle puddle every night.

Holmes: How good are your lie detecting skills?
Foley: There is a huge amount that you can learn from people just by watching them. There a little nuances. And I can read things like that. If someone walks off, the first thing I’m going to do is look at their eyes when they come back. If they start darting their eyes around, that’s a pretty big signal. You can’t overthink this game. If you play the game nonstop, people will get rid of you because they think you’re an instant threat. So, there has to be a balance between playing the game and not overthinking.

Holmes: If this season has a twist, what do you think it’ll be?
Foley: I was worried that there were eighteen people. Eighteen is divisible by three, so there might be a three-tribe split right from the get-go. But, the clothes that we were asked to send in made it sound like there’d only be two tribes.

Holmes: If you could align with any Survivor, who would it be and why?
Foley: Wow…Russell Hantz, because he can’t win the game. He’s a freaking moron. Coach, he’s an idiot too. I’d align with people who can’t win the game because that just makes my odds better.

Holmes: What are your thoughts on this cast?
Foley: It seems like an all-star cast. We have a Parvati, we have a Colby, we have a Dawn, we have Kim, we have Malcolm, Denise, Brenda, Benjamin…oh, I’m sorry, “Coach.” And you have me, Rupert.
Holmes: (Laughs)
Foley: That doesn’t mean that’s who they are, but that’s my first impression of how these people strike me.

Don’t miss the 90-minute premiere of “Survivor: Worlds Apart” on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 8 pm ET on CBS.

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