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Survivor: South Pacific - Exclusive Interview with John Cochran

Posted on 12/08/2011 by Gina in Survivor and Cast Interviews

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John Cochran from Survivor: South Pacific

 

by Gina Scarpa

 

Whatever your opinion is of superfan Cochran on Survivor this season, you can't fault the guy for trying to make a bold move, even if it did backfire in the end. On last night's episode, after being voted out by the Upolu tribe, he faced Ozzy in a very close duel on Redemption Island but came up short in the end. Today, we talked to the player that has people talking this season over whether they love him or hate him to find out more about his dream come true - playing the game of Survivor.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I loved your exit speech on last night's episode because you were such a fan of the show. What was it like initially to be part of a game that you have loved for so long?
A. Cochran: It was an out of body experience. Seeing Jeff and having Jeff talk to you is so unreal. Just having this conversation about it is unreal! I was looking forward to tribal council but I was such a nervous wreck because I knew my name was being throwing around.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: There seemed to be such a difference between the way you portrayed life at Savaii and the way your fellow tribe members saw it. Did you truly feel bullied and like a second-class citizen?
A. Cochran: I never actually used the word bullying. I don't think anybody was a bully out there. I think there is some condescension and a natural ostracism, not mean spirited or anything. Part of the problem is I'm a self-deprecating guy and I think I invite condescension. That was a minor storyline in my time there. I look back fondly with everyone. It wasn't like my flipping was to get revenge on my tormentors. Clearly it didn't work out. I don't consider anyone a bully, I don't consider myself a victim of bullying.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you feel like you had a better shot advancing with the Upolu tribe members after the merge as opposed to Savaii?
A. Cochran: It came down to where I thought I had a better shot at winning. On average, I thought I probably would've made it further with my old tribe but I don't think I would've won with Savaii. I would've been dragged to the end because I'm not a challenge threat. My hope was that I flip, I find the people who are at the bottom of the totem pole, take out the people at the top, and get to the end. Then, the Upolu tribe members would be so frustrated that their tribe turned on them that they would vote for me. I don't think I had a great shot of winning either way, just a marginally better shot with Upolu.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: That duel at Redemption Island was so close! What would your reaction have been if you had beaten Ozzy and sent him out of the game for good?
A. Cochran: I mean, it would've been great! Nothing horrible against Ozzy but it would've been gratifying - to finally accomplish something! To finally not be GIVEN a reward or an immunity necklace, to do something that I initiated would've been a thrill. I'm happy with the game. I was so prepared to humiliate myself out there and I almost did with that grappling hook. That really accentuated how horribly uncoordinated I am. Redemption Island... I didn't view it as a chance to redeem myself. I viewed it as a pit stop before my elimination.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You're a student of the game so let me ask you this. The members of Upolu didn't seem to put out much effort to connect with the members of Savaii. Is that to their advantage or disadvantage that the majority of the jury is Savaii?
A. Cochran: If you can say that every single person on Upolu isn't interacting with Savaii, then it's an even playing field. There was a period where we... and I say "we" as an Upolu member... we didn't interact with them. I think Coach was trying to borrow from Boston Rob's buddy system. It just kind of reinforces this image of a crazy cult that doesn't care about anything besides the family. It's good in terms of fostering hyper trust inside the cult.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You're definitely getting mixed reviews from fans this season when it comes to your popularity rating with them. Were you prepared to be seen as this season's villain? I thought that title was going to go to Brandon!
A. Cochran: No! I thought I was gonna be a sweetheart. I thought, "I'm a fan, people will root for the fan," and I think people were rooting for me. I don't think my anger is that I'm a villain but it's a disappointment. I'm a guy who knows the game so well... in my cocky pregame interview, I'm like, "I'm going to redefine the game." Yeah, I redefined the game by begging to stay every week and performing horribly in challenges. I'm not a villain in the Russell sense of the word. Regardless of the reviews, I'm happy that I have people talking about Survivor. I've been talking about it for 11 years.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: So did being on the show, did it all live up to your expectations?
A. Cochran: It exceeded my expectations in some way and fell below them in other ways. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life but I came in with this attitude like I knew this game so well. I've written papers and a newsletter about it. The second I stepped on the beach, I felt completely out of control. There was no point when I was like, "Let's vote so and so off." I was never part of any conversation. I was like, "It's not going to be me tonight? That's great!" The positives outweighed any letdowns, though. Talking to Jeff more than makes up for it.

 


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

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 


Follow Gina @ginascarpa and "Like" her on Facebook!


  


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