by Gina Scarpa

 

Last night, on Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains, Russell and Rob vowed to get the other one out as soon as possible. When the villains lost both the reward and immunity challenge, the opportunity was there for somebody to strike first. Russell was able to pull Jerri in for a much needed vote, while Coach lamely wrote Courtney's name down at tribal council to avoid any backlash. Russell's four votes against Rob were enough and he was sent home. Today, Rob spoke to RealityWanted in an exclusive interview about playing Survivor for a third time, how the game has changed, and what lies ahead for this Survivor superstar.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Life has changed a lot since we last saw you play the game in Survivor: All Stars. How does getting married, having a baby, and growing up in general affect how you approach the game?
A. Rob: You see things from a different point of view. Being married, you get a little bit of patience, you know? That goes a long way in this game. Also, having the baby, you learn to compromise. All useful things. You can only do as much as you can do. I have played the game three times now. I realize that you try to learn from your mistakes. At some point, you have to trust somebody. It's difficult to put trust in people you don't know. At some point, you gotta pick a side and hope those people are going to do the right thing. I felt like I gave 100% the entire time. I don't have any regrets or lose any sleep. I'm proud of the way I played.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You played a very different game this time around. In All Stars, you betrayed a lot of people to get ahead. Was your strategy this time around a conscious one, or one that unfolded along the way?
A. Rob: Absolutely, it was a conscious choice. I betrayed people in All Stars and it only got me so far. What's ironic is that Russell is taking a page out of my playbook and playing that exact same game. Someone needs to send him a memo that it doesn't work. It'll get you far, but it won't get you the W.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You pointed out that you never played the game with hidden immunity idols. Do you prefer the game without them?
A. Rob: I do and I don't. It really doesn't matter. I watch the show, I'm a fan, I know how they work. It definitely adds another layer in terms of strategy. You have to think a lot more. Things aren't so cut and dry. Using that as your only means of survival takes away from the purity of what the game used to be. Having said, that the game's evolving. You have to get with the times, I guess.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Other than last night's challenge, you have dominated in every challenge involving a puzzle. How are you so good at them?
A. Rob: At night, before I go to bed, I practice. No, just kidding. I don't know. I guess I'm good at figuring things out. I'm good at spatial types of puzzles and figuring out ways to do things like that. Growing up, and in construction and stuff, you're always looking for new innovative ways to get things done. I look at something and see that it needs to be done a certain way. I see the obvious way to do it and I about the less obvious way and maybe that's the better way. Maybe it's because I'm defiant!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How soon after tribal council did you figure out that Tyson had basically voted himself out of the game?
A. Rob: I knew right away. As soon as we got back, I knew because I knew what Sandra's handwriting looks like and I knew what Courtney‘s handwriting looks like. I could tell from talking to them that neither flipped. I knew Tyson was the other one that had to write down a vote. Coach and Jerri had no incentive not to do so.
　　
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Did Tyson's exit screw your game up completely? It's not like you had people waiting for you on the other side at the merge.
A. Rob: It threw a big monkey wrench in it, but I had hope. Jerri's very wishy-washy, and always has been, and harbored ill will because of All Stars even though I didn't put her out. I thought Coach and I still had a solid thing. I thought he would still man up.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Based on where we are right now, who is playing the best game?
A. Rob: It's tough to say. The heroes still seem all over the place. Coach not picking a side and standing in the middle puts him at a big disadvantage. I think Russell and Parvati, I'd have to say.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: After All Stars, you did a lot of reality tv, including The Amazing Race. Then, you disappeared for a while and now you're back. What do you do from here? Do you do more tv or do you go back to a quiet home life?
A. Rob: I'm really just enjoying spend time at home with my wife and daughter. If I learned anything in this business over the last ten years, it's to expect the unexpected. Who knows what's in the future? I've made a career out of reality tv, so who knows? The door's always open.

 

　
Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains airs Thursdays at 8/7c on CBS.

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

　
Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

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