‘Survivor: South Pacific’ Pre-Game Interview: Keith Tollefson

August 22, 2011 by

Name: Keith Tollefson

Age: 26

Current Residence: Edina, Minnesota

Occupation: Water Treatment Tech

Tribe: Savaii

Gordon Holmes: So wait, what do you do for a living?
Keith Tollefson: I’m an environmental field technician. I quantify flow rates for the city of San Diego.
Holmes: So, basically you’re up to your waist in crap every day?
Tollefson: (Laughs) I’m definitely literally in crap every day.
Holmes: Can you apply that to the game of “Survivor”?
Tollefson: Yes, I hate my job, so I’m going to want to win more than anybody else. (Laughs) Cause I don’t want to go back to my job.

Holmes: It says in your bio that your mom raised you to be a gentleman. Gentlemen don’t have a great track record on “Survivor.”
Tollefson: I’m going to struggle with the fact that I have to be honest because my mom will be watching the show. She will be judging me, my family will be judging me. But they all do know that it is a game and you may not be who you are in the game who you are in real life. You’re going to lie. You may change facts about you. But in the past there have been players who’ve gotten by without lying. Fabio (Judson Birza) is an example of that.

Holmes: It also says that you don’t like people talking behind your back. You may have been cast on the wrong show cause you’re facing 39 days of people talking behind you back.
Tollefson: The thing is, I’m going to know that people are talking behind my back. And if you can decipher that they’re telling lies, that’s going to create good TV because I’m not going to allow somebody to spread lies about me and trying to get me kicked out for something that isn’t true. I’m going to have to watch myself and find people I can trust.

Holmes: You’re a handsome fellow, there are some lovely ladies running around this beach. Do you think flirting will be a part of your arsenal?
Tollefson: Guarantee there will be some flirting going on. I know girls are the best at playing guys for fools. I have it in my head, I know it’s going to happen. They’re going to try to bully me. I’ve been known to play the game a little bit myself, so I think I can use that to my advantage.

Holmes: What are your early thoughts on this season’s cast?
Tollefson: I haven’t talked to any of the cast members, but you see people drinking a lot of soda. People’s luggage, how big their luggage is. How much stuff they’re bringing. What they’re wearing. Can they go to the bathroom outside? Maybe some people have never swam in the ocean before? People are going to struggle. I’ll struggle too, but hopefully I’ll struggle the least.

“Survivor: South Pacific” premieres Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

More “Survivor” Fun: XFINITY TV sent Gordon Holmes into the heart of the South Pacific to get a first-hand look at the filming of the latest edition of “Survivor.” Be sure to check back for exclusive interviews with the returning All-Stars and host Jeff Probst, behind-the-scenes photos, and Gordon’s personal (and injury-filled) account of what it’s like to compete in an actual immunity challenge.

Any Questions about “Survivor: South Pacific”? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes

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‘Survivor: South Pacific’ Pre-Game Interview: Whitney Duncan

August 22, 2011 by

Name: Whitney Duncan

Age: 27

Current Residence: Nashville, Tennessee

Occupation: Country Music Singer

Tribe: Savaii

Gordon Holmes: It says on your bio that your inspirations are Jesus and Elvis. Two kings.
Whitney Duncan: (Laughs) Both ends of the spectrum. They’re definitely my inspirations. Elvis because of my career. He is what made me want to sing. I was three years old and I was obsessed with the man. And on the other hand, Jesus would probably not approve of Elvis’s hip swiveling. But at the same time, he is perfect, so he’s my inspiration.
Holmes: Who’d win in a fight between Jesus and Elvis?
Duncan: I’m going to go with Jesus. You’ve got to go with Jesus for the win on everything. Sorry, Elvis.

Holmes: Tell me about your music background.
Duncan: I grew up knowing really early on that that’s what I wanted to do, so that’s all I’ve ever done. I went to Nashville when I was fifteen. I got my first record deal at seventeen. I just released my last…my first record last year in April and am currently working on a new one.
Holmes: Hopefully not your last record.
Duncan: Hopefully not my last record!

Holmes: What are your thoughts on being deceptive in the game?
Duncan: I’m not super deceptive in my normal life. I have the problem of laughing when I lie (Laughs) so we’ll see how that turns out. But I think for a million dollars you can lie and not feel too bad about it. And my fans and my family know me and know I’m a good person, so I don’t think they’ll care.
Holmes: Now, when you said you laugh when you lie…you laughed. Were you lying about laughing when you lie. Cause that would mean you don’t laugh when you lie… Wait…
Duncan: I don’t know. (Laughs) You’ll figure it out.

Holmes: You’re a young lovely. Are you willing to flirt to get farther in the game?
Duncan: Heck yeah! I have a boyfriend, but let’s be honest, if I come home with a million dollars he’s not going to care if I flirted here or there. It’s completely harmless.

Holmes: What do you think of the cast so far?
Duncan: I like the guy in the cowboy hat. I call him “Wyatt Earp” in my mind. He reminds me of my dad because of his moustache. I already like him.

“Survivor: South Pacific” premieres Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

More “Survivor” Fun: XFINITY TV sent Gordon Holmes into the heart of the South Pacific to get a first-hand look at the filming of the latest edition of “Survivor.” Be sure to check back for exclusive interviews with the returning All-Stars and host Jeff Probst, behind-the-scenes photos, and Gordon’s personal (and injury-filled) account of what it’s like to compete in an actual immunity challenge.

Any Questions about “Survivor: South Pacific”? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes

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‘Survivor: South Pacific’ Pre-Game Interview: Mark Caruso

August 22, 2011 by

Name: Mark Caruso

Age: 48

Current Residence: Forest Hills, New York

Occupation: Retired NYPD Detective

Tribe: Savaii

Gordon Holmes: Does your police experience translate into “Survivor” at all?
Mark Caruso: Definitely, you can look at people and assess them quickly. You can decide who you want to be with and who you don’t want to be with real quick.
Holmes: You’ve been around the players already, have you assessed everyone already?
Caruso: I already know who I want to play with and who I’m going to vote off immediately. You can tell by what people are reading. Who opens doors for other people. Who’s stepping in line in front of you.
Holmes: Someone stepped in line in front of you?
Caruso: If someone’s willing to do that, they’re willing to cut your throat. Who jumps in the chair you were about to sit in. That person’s basically telling you, “Screw you, I’m taking what’s mine.”

Holmes: Your bio says you’re a very honest person. Are you going to stick with that heading into the game?
Caruso: Depends. In life? Yeah. In the game? You do what you have to do to survive. I don’t need to lie to win this game, good people can win this game. You just cut your losses real quick and build on what you have.

Holmes: Do you have any experience living in the outdoors?
Caruso: Basically, I worked in the morgue during the 9/11 disasters. We lived outside the morgue, we lived in lean-tos and trucks for six months. We had two beds there, a TV, a little kitchen.

Holmes: What do you do with the million dollars after you’re named the sole survivor?
Caruso: When I win the million dollars, which I will win.
Holmes: Good attitude.
Caruso: I’d love life, but I’d also donate. I’d give to the Police Foundation, the Police Widows Foundation, AIDS foundations, anything that helps animals.
Holmes: Are you a nurturer?
Caruso: I am…and I will be. I’m going to be everybody’s daddy bear.

“Survivor: South Pacific” premieres Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

More “Survivor” Fun: XFINITY TV sent Gordon Holmes into the heart of the South Pacific to get a first-hand look at the filming of the latest edition of “Survivor.” Be sure to check back for exclusive interviews with the returning All-Stars and host Jeff Probst, behind-the-scenes photos, and Gordon’s personal (and injury-filled) account of what it’s like to compete in an actual immunity challenge.

Any Questions about “Survivor: South Pacific”? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes

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‘Survivor: South Pacific’ Pre-Game Interview: Edna Ma

August 22, 2011 by

Name: Edna Ma

Age: 35

Current Residence: Los Angeles, California

Occupation: Anesthesiologist

Tribe: Upolu

Gordon Holmes: It says here that one of your pet peeves is liars. You may be in for a rude awakening over the next 39 days.
Edna Ma: (Laughs) Yeah, that’s one of my big pet peeves, and yet here I am.
Holmes: Are you going to be a liar yourself?
Ma: Being deceptive is going to be very difficult for me because I don’t lie very well. My eyes tend to dart when I’m lying. So, I’ll try to be honest.

Holmes: Edna, if I may be so bold, you’re quite lovely.
Ma: (Laughs) You’re generous.
Holmes: Don’t sell yourself short. But what I was getting at is would you use your looks to get ahead in the game?
Ma: I don’t have my wedding band on right now, but I am married. I don’t intend on using flirtatious ways. I think I can connect well with men without using the sexual aspect of it. Also, I think I mix well with women, so I think that’ll be a good balance.

Holmes: Any plans for the million dollars?
Ma: I’m going to use that to invest in my start-up company.

Holmes: You’re a big fan of Oprah?
Ma: Yeah!
Holmes: Why is she an inspiration to you?
Ma: I take Oprah as inspiration because she went through a lot of hardships. She has been through physical and sexual abuse, psychological abuse and she was able to use that as strengths in her life. I don’t think of her career as ending, she’s just moving onto a different chapter in her life.
Holmes: Just like you, “Survivor” girl.
Ma: Yes! Just like I’m here on “Survivor” island. Hopefully this will be a springboard to something else wonderful.

“Survivor: South Pacific” premieres Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

More “Survivor” Fun: XFINITY TV sent Gordon Holmes into the heart of the South Pacific to get a first-hand look at the filming of the latest edition of “Survivor.” Be sure to check back for exclusive interviews with the returning All-Stars and host Jeff Probst, behind-the-scenes photos, and Gordon’s personal (and injury-filled) account of what it’s like to compete in an actual immunity challenge.

Any Questions about “Survivor: South Pacific”? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes

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‘Survivor: South Pacific’ Pre-Game Interview: Rick Nelson

August 22, 2011 by

Name: Rick Nelson

Age: 51

Current Residence: Aurora, Utah

Occupation: Rancher

Tribe: Upolu

Gordon Holmes: Your bio here says you don’t like lazy people. A lot of people went a long way being really lazy last season. What would you have done?
Rick Nelson: You have to weed them out. I’m going to do the best I can and try to do 110% when I’m around camp, but I’m sure you’ve been camping with people who don’t do anything, they don’t pull their weight. It doesn’t take long to want to get rid of them. Why keep them?

Holmes: Some people have issues lying during the game. Are you OK with it?
Nelson: For a million bucks, I’ll lie all I have to. I mean, you’ve gotta. You’re going to step on toes no matter how you do it. But you’ve gotta do it in a way where you can come out and win a vote at the end. If you stick it in ‘em bad, it’s gonna be bad in the end.

Holmes: You’re an outdoorsman. Are you confident you can use those skills to become a go-to guy around camp?
Nelson: I’m sure I could be, but I don’t know if I want to be to these people. I really don’t want to be the guy they’re coming to and asking, “What about this, what about that?” Cause they’re the first one gone. When things go bad, they’ll get rid of me.

Holmes: How many times have you applied to be on “Survivor”?
Nelson: I’ve applied 14 times. The first time was “Survivor” eight. I’ve wanted to be on the show since the very first season. And I finally got enough guts to give it a shot. So, I started applying and actually got interviewed for “Survivor” nine and eleven and thirteen. Of course got turned down. Then I entered the Sears contest this time. Made the top ten, and thank you, America…I made it. Here I am, and I’m ready.
Holmes: I didn’t realize you were this year’s Sears contestant.
Nelson: I didn’t either until they brought me out to Los Angeles. (Laughs)

Holmes: You’ve been with this cast for a few days. What’re your first impressions?
Nelson: Oh, I’ve already got one I want to make an alliance with as soon as we get there. We went to Survivor School and they taught us how to weave the leaves for shelters and baskets. I was weaving all these things and the one gal in here was doing the same thing. The rest of them were reading books and drinking sodas and hanging out. It’s been raining every stinking night and I want to be dry.

Holmes: What’re you going to do with that money when Jeff Probst hands you that big check in December?
Nelson: That’s good. That’s positive. It might sound kind of corny, but I’m going to give 10% to my church right off the bat. And the rest is going to the Rick Nelson fund so I can pay my bills.

“Survivor: South Pacific” premieres Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

More “Survivor” Fun: XFINITY TV sent Gordon Holmes into the heart of the South Pacific to get a first-hand look at the filming of the latest edition of “Survivor.” Be sure to check back for exclusive interviews with the returning All-Stars and host Jeff Probst, behind-the-scenes photos, and Gordon’s personal (and injury-filled) account of what it’s like to compete in an actual immunity challenge.

Any Questions about “Survivor: South Pacific”? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes

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‘Survivor: South Pacific’ Pre-Game Interview: Christine Shields Markoski

August 22, 2011 by

Name: Christine Shields Markoski

Age: 39

Current Residence: Merrick, New York

Occupation: Teacher

Tribe: Upolu

Gordon Holmes: You’re about to spend up to 39 days in the Samoan wilderness. Do you have any experience roughing it?
Christine Shields Markoski: I have a lot of experience in the wilderness. Growing up we went camping a lot. I tend to gravitate toward traveling to remote areas in the world and I like to backpack and sleep outside.

Holmes: It says in your bio that “stubborn” is a word that describes you. Do you think that’s going to get you in trouble during the game?
Markoski: I think my stubbornness might get me into some trouble. But I think this is going to be an exercise in patience and curbing my stubbornness. I’m going to try to be a little more pliable.

Holmes: As a self-professed “stubborn” person, would you have had a problem playing second banana to someone like the Ometepe tribe did to Boston Rob (Mariano) last season?
Markoski: Those Ometepe girls…I wanna smack them in the face. I don’t really. (Laughs) But I don’t like that they made no attempt to think on their own. Well, that’s what it appeared to us watching. I kept telling my daughter, who is seven, “You do not behave like that. You think for yourself. You question everything.” So it was actually a good lesson for my daughter.

Holmes: It also said that you need the money. What do you need it for?
Markoski: I’ve heard that college is really expensive. (Laughs)
Holmes: I’ve heard that somewhere.
Markoski: I think I’m going to use it for that. And my husband and I agree on one car, that’s the Challenger. We can’t agree on the color, but we agree on the car.

Holmes: I understand your brother-in-law is a huge “Survivor” fan.
Markoski: My brother in law is a HUGE “Survivor” fan. He knows everything about “Survivor.”
Holmes: How does he feel about his sister-in-law rubbing elbows with Jeff Probst?
Markoski: He’s so stoked about me being here. But he’s not jealous because he doesn’t think he’d be able to survive out here.

Holmes: Any first impressions on the rest of the cast?
Markoski: Yeah, there are a couple of divas. And, unfortunately that’s a pet peeve of mine, so I don’t know how that’s going to work. And it seems like there are a couple that are hard working and we’ll get along fine.

“Survivor: South Pacific” premieres Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

More “Survivor” Fun: XFINITY TV sent Gordon Holmes into the heart of the South Pacific to get a first-hand look at the filming of the latest edition of “Survivor.” Be sure to check back for exclusive interviews with the returning All-Stars and host Jeff Probst, behind-the-scenes photos, and Gordon’s personal (and injury-filled) account of what it’s like to compete in an actual immunity challenge.

Any Questions about “Survivor: South Pacific”? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes

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‘Survivor: South Pacific’ Pre-Game Interview: Stacey Powell

August 22, 2011 by

Name: Stacey Powell

Age: 44

Current Residence: Grand Prairie, Texas

Occupation: Mortician

Tribe: Upolu

Gordon Holmes: I understand that your inspiration in life is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Is it possible to have his kind of integrity in a game like “Survivor”?
Stacey Powell: Martin Luther King is an inspiration to me in reference to the game in trying to bring people together. There are so many of us, and a lot of diverse people. And we have to learn to live together and try to know one another’s culture. We have to try to get a feel for how the person’s culture really is so we can understand one another.

Holmes: “Survivor” is a game that usually features a bit of lying. Is that something you’re comfortable doing?
Powell: Yeah, I’m prepared to be deceptive. I’ll do it in a really sly, conniving way. A very generous, laughing way. (Laughs)

Holmes: A lot of people were frustrated last season with the way Boston Rob (Mariano) led the Ometepe tribe. Are you concerned that an all-star could wield that kind of power this season?
Powell: Rob was the pimp and they were his little hoes. They ate right out of his pimp hand. They did just as he wanted to.  And it wasn’t only women, men ate right out of his hand too. So, I don’t care who they are, but they’ve got to go.

Holmes: Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve been surrounded by strangers and had to work together as a team?
Powell: My job. I work with totally strangers each and every day. Every type of culture, every type of race. We have to come together with that family at that time. Getting to be a team is something that I’m used to.

Holmes: Any plans for the big check they’ll hand you when you win this thing?
Powell: When I win the million, my plan is to pay off my home. That’s my first priority. And be able to bless people who’ve been a blessing to me.

Holmes: How do your kids feel about their mom playing “Survivor”?
Powell: My children are so happy. They know this is the best experience that their mom can do. And for myself, I’m doing something for me. I’ve always done everything for my children, but this is for me. My son is graduating in a few weeks, and he’s so proud of me.

Holmes: Have you been sizing the other competitors up?
Powell: (Laughs) I’m ready to get the game started, don’t talk the talk unless you can walk the walk. And when the challenges start, we can separate the strongest from the weakest.

“Survivor: South Pacific” premieres Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

More “Survivor” Fun: XFINITY TV sent Gordon Holmes into the heart of the South Pacific to get a first-hand look at the filming of the latest edition of “Survivor.” Be sure to check back for exclusive interviews with the returning All-Stars and host Jeff Probst, behind-the-scenes photos, and Gordon’s personal (and injury-filled) account of what it’s like to compete in an actual immunity challenge.

Any Questions about “Survivor: South Pacific”? Drop me a line on Twitter: @gordonholmes

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My New Favorite Thing…

August 19, 2011 by

OK, here’s where I kill my cool cred.

(But Gordon, how can you lose something you never had?)

Touche.

From time to time I’ll scour YouTube looking for sweet acapella songs.

(Really?)

Yes, really. I also talk to myself.

Back to my original point, from time to time I’ll scour YouTube looking for cool acapella songs. Today I found this sweet mash-up of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and Bell Biv DeVoe’s “Poison” from a group called “Straight No Chaser.”

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‘How Hard Could It Be?’ – Episode 1: The Otter Birthday Cake Debacle

August 18, 2011 by

When flipping channels, there are three things that must be watched until completion if they are stumbled upon…

  • ‘Rocky’ Movies
  • ‘Overboard’
  • ‘Cake Boss’

I don’t know what it is about Buddy and his lovable band of cake-a-teers (not a word) but I can’t get enough of ’em. Part of me is jealous of them. What an awesome job it must be to get to create edible works of art all day.

For some reason, I got it into my head that I could make my own super-cool cake. What gave me this idea? I don’t know. I’ve never baked anything, ever. But, I’ve watched the show a jillion times. Surely I’ve learned something through osmosis.

Note: My buddy at work is amused that I’m always trying stupid crap like this. He wants to create a pilot called “How Hard Could It Be?” where I watch a TV show and then try to duplicate the skill it’s taken them years to perfect. Sometimes it’ll turn out well like my clay “Community” snowman Senor Chang and sometimes it’ll turn out like the otter birthday cake…

Read the rest of this entry »

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Adventures In Pregnancy – The Dorito Incident

August 15, 2011 by

My buddy at work seems to get a kick out of torturing her husband with odd, pregnant-lady food requests. I’m cool with this because I get a kick out of her stories. Here is but one of them…

Adventures in Pregnancy

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