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Survivor: Nicaragua - Exclusive Interview with James "Jimmy T" Tarantino

Posted on 10/07/2010 by Gina in Survivor and Cast Interviews

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James

 

by Gina Scarpa

 

Last night, on Survivor: Nicaragua, the Espada tribe headed to tribal council for a second time in a row. After voting out Jimmy Johnson the week before, they had another Jimmy trying to lead their tribe. Unfortunately, one wanted to be led by him and Jimmy T. was sent packing. Today, we talked to Jimmy T. in an exclusive interview about his tribe, his leadership abilities, and his experiences in the game of Survivor.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You were cast in a very unconventional way. What did it mean to you to be voted in by the public?
A. Jimmy T: That was a whole other amazing part of the aspect. Playing Survivor is great enough but to be selected out of all those people... I went in proud. Maybe too proud.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Were you a big Survivor fan?
A. Jimmy T: I haven't watched many seasons. I have a very busy life. When I knew I was applying, I studied 10 or 12 seasons and I became a huge fan.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you have favorite seasons or players?
A. Jimmy T: I love Boston Rob because he has a similar accent and is a hard player. I loved Rupert's conviction. I have more favorite players than seasons.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Would you have fared better if the tribes were mixed up instead of divided by age?
A. Jimmy T: I think it would've been better for me. There were younger kids that I think respected me.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Who were you working with in the game?
A. Jimmy T: I started out in an early alliance with Jill, Wendy, and Holly but that went down the tubes quickly when Wendy was voted out. She talked herself out of that first tribal council which was a shame because she was a very nice, intelligent person. It just didn't come through on television.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: It's clear that Holly was on your side in one form or another because she stuck up for you at tribal council, saying that you should have the chance to lead the tribe.
A. Jimmy T: Holly and Jane, as the season progressed, formed a strong alliance and they both wanted the weakest to go. I knew I had them on my side. I thought Marty was still playing the role to keep the tribe strong. I thought Dan was going home.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: So you didn't realize that you were going home. I mean, it would make sense to vote Dan out, right?
A. Jimmy T: Right! That's what the tribe was saying. They wanted to keep the tribe strong and win challenges. I thought more people would vote for Dan. I didn't realize until about a third of the way through that I was leaving.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Why didn't people want to give you a chance to lead?
A. Jimmy T: It's obvious, if you were there with us, that I was very physical in the game. I built the shelter, I provided food, I stayed up keeping the fire going. It wouldn't serve them well to give me the opportunity to succeed and diminish their role. I'm not saying I was a better leader than Jimmy Johnson with an NFL team but in the game of Survivor, I was.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Yes, so when you made that comment on last week's episode, you were just saying that, as far as Survivor goes, you're a better leader.
A. Jimmy T: Jimmy Johnson gave a pre-challenge speech. He didn't know three of out tribemates' names. This was probably nine days in. I could tell you their spouse's names, what they did for a living, what city they came from. He didn't care enough about that. Jimmy's spent a lot of time in front of cameras. He's more reality than real.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Was the game everything you expected it to be?
A. Jimmy T: Yeah, physically, I was up for the challenge but let me tell you this. It's a lot harder, it's a lot more fun, it's more exciting, it's more amazing, it's everything times a thousand. It's really a mental game. In hindsight, I played with my heart and put my heart on my sleeve. I learned my lesson. Check your emotions at the door. The next time I play, I win.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: So you'd play again?
A. Jimmy T: Absolutely! I really feel like this was an opportunity lost. I cared too much.

 


Survivor: Nicaragua airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on CBS.

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)


Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

For more Survivor links, visit SirLinksALot.net

 


  


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