by Gina Scarpa

 

Last night, on Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains, the two tribes finally merged to one but there was no unity among these all stars. JT continued to believe that Russell would work with him, despite the fact that Sandra told Rupert not to believe anything Russell was telling the heroes. Knowing that her fellow villains were in trouble at tribal council, Parvati shocked everyone by playing both of her hidden immunity idols and giving them to Sandra and Jerri. The heroes' votes against Jerri didn't count and JT was blindsided and eliminated from the game. Today, JT spoke to RealityWanted in an exclusive interview about his experiences playing Survivor a second time around.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: In Tocantins, you made it all the way to the end thanks, in part, to your alliance with Stephen. This time around, you didn't seem to have anybody you were working with directly. Was that a strategic decision or just the way things unfolded?
A. JT: It definitely helped to have someone to really trust in Tocantins, a right hand man. I tried to find someone this time but it didn't really happen. Amanda and I worked together but things got shaky with her.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Did you ever have a really solid alliance?
A. JT: I felt comfortable that the alliance with Rupert, James, and Amanda was pretty solid. We kept Candice and Cirie to add two more and later, Colby. I liked Colby personally and would much rather have seen him in the game than Cirie.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you think it hurt your tribe that you eliminated two very physical players, Tom and Stephenie, early on?
A. JT: No, I don't think so. I don't think we ever lacked in any physical challenges. I don't think it hurt us at all. We had some of the bigger players on our side.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You've been catching a lot of flack for your decision to give Russell your idol. People call it the dumbest decision ever by a Survivor. However, let's say you had been right about the all women's alliance and you did save Russell and oust Parvati, wouldn't people then call that the smartest move ever?
A. JT: I'm sure they would have. I regret giving him the idol. I felt pressure from Candice and Amanda. I knew I needed to do something to try to make a move for myself, for my tribe. There was a lot of angles into what I did. Even if Russell played me, I was still hoping I'd still get rid of Parvati. It wasn't just like I trusted this guy. I never expected him to come into any alliance with me. I just wanted him to take the bait and vote one of his own off.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: So you weren't really trying to align with him? You were more or less hoping he would just do your dirty work for you?
A. JT: Yeah, a little bit. Obviously, we were gonna talk afterwards. If he did that, we would've come together and worked together. It was definitely in my hopes. We tried to have other strategies though.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Was Sandra an option to join the heroes and keep the numbers on your side? Why didn't that work out?
A. JT: Sandra only talked once and it was to Rupert and unfortunately, Rupert said so many things that were not true in the beginning of the game that we couldn't believe anything he was saying. If Sandra had told any of us, it would've been easier. She was scared of Russell so she wouldn't talk to us at all.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Why did Candice step down from the immunity challenge? Did she want to see what Parvati and Danielle would do if they were the last two standing?
A. JT: I really don't know what went down with Candice. I think it had a lot to do with some stuff with the other tribe. I think that's how Parvati knew to give the idol to Jerri. I think Candice or Amanda might have told her.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Everyone looked shocked when Parvati played two idols, especially Russell. Did anyone have any idea that that could even happen?
A. JT: Yeah, we definitely knew it might be a possibility. We were trying to think of ways to cover ourselves.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Even though you got voted out, was it kind of cool that you got to experience the other side of Survivor? You won in Tocantins but this time, you got to be part of the jury and experience that.
A. JT: It was. I really had a great experience, doing the whole jury thing and being voted out and having to go through the whole process.

 

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

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

For more Survivor links, visit SirLinksALot.net