by Gina Scarpa

Caleb Bankston's boyfriend Colton Cumbie may have come into Survivor with more experience, but it was Caleb who lasted much longer. Unable to cope with the stress of the game, Colton pulled out of the competition early. Meanwhile, Caleb played a mostly quiet game, but wasn't afraid to make big moves to take out threats. When he tried to make a move on Tyson though, Tyson struck first and Caleb was voted out to Redemption Island. We talked to him about his relationship with Colton, big moves, and more in our exclusive interview with him.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Obviously you know a little about the Survivor experience from Colton, but what did you think when they asked you to play?
A. Caleb: When he asked if I'd be interested, I'd laugh because Survivor never did anything with couples. I was excited and nervous at the same time. Playing the social game, I'm kind of the quiet guy so I thought, "How am I going to open up to all these people?" I was excited about taking a break from my life and being able to just be a kid again, not worry about my bills, and all that stuff!

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You and Colton are very different but if I had to guess, I'd say he brings you out of your shell and you calm him down. Was that why it was difficult for the two of you to be separated in the game?
A. Caleb: I think you're right and it was because of the way that I kind of provide a sense of stability. I'm kind of like Colton's rock and everybody back home knows that. I do a lot for him but in the same sense, he does a lot for me. He brings me out, opens me up, and gets me to talk. He has definitely brought me out of my shell.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Your move to get Brad Culpepper out so early was huge. Do you think it was the biggest move up until this point?
A. Caleb: I don't know... I mean, I think to turn it that way, pre-merge, is a big deal because I'm a fan of the show. I've not caught every episode and season but I don't know if I've seen that happen pre-merge. I think it was a big move, but I wasn't doing it for the move. I was doing it to save my own skin. Drawing the rocks is kind of a double sided thing and being on the jury, I was losing it! It was a big move but if it had worked out, it would've been major. It took a lot of guts to go to rocks. I would've gone to rocks!

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: It doesn't seem smart for Tyson, Gervase, and Monica to stick together and vote you out. They're going to split the jury if they make it to the end, don't you think?
A. Caleb: Oh yeah, I think it was definitely stupid! I felt bad writing Ciera's name down but she went behind our back telling Tyson what we were saying. I don't know why she did that. If we had stuck with the plan and went with Katie, we would've had a better shot. You can look at it so many different ways and you can drive yourself crazy.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Okay, I need to know why you didn't just wait out the time limit during the duel at Redemption Island. Was Tina really that close to catching you?
A. Caleb: The way I was working on it, I had my back to her, so I didn't feel like I had the time and I wasn't thinking I should turn around and see. I was just listening to what Jeff was saying and listening for Hayden's voice to guide me on what I should do, how high I was, or if I was in the lead. I wasn't really thinking I had time to look. Watching it this week, I was like, "Oh if I had just stopped and touched it to support and taken my hands off at the last minute..." It was hard watching it.

Survivor: Blood Vs. Water airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on CBS.

(Image courtesy of CBS)

Follow Gina @ginascarpa