by Gina Scarpa

 

If there's one mistake that many a contestant makes on Survivor, it's getting too comfortable in the game. This week, Jay seemed like the only person worried that the women were going to band together. His fears came true when Kim and Sabrina made a pact to the end with the original Salani tribe. Mike felt certain he wasn't going anywhere but his own alliance turned on him and sent him to the jury. Today, we talked to him in an exclusive interview to see if he would've done things differently, his opinions on the xmen's tribe, and what he looks for in a winner.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What drew you to the game of Survivor?
A. Mike: It's just like, the ultimate adventure. You get to travel and try to survive on nothing. It's been a dream of mine.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You were not one of Colton's followers this season by any means. Why do you think the guys fell in line and also, allowed him to bully people the way that he did?
A. Mike: They allowed him to bully people because they were afraid to speak up. Him and I didn't get along but I always spoke up. If you're easily manipulated, you're Colton's kind of guy.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: It seemed like you were on the outer rim of the Salani alliance. Did you feel like you were low man on the totem pole or did you feel like you were in it?
A. Mike: No, I felt like I was in it. Jay did try to start an alliance but Kim talked to me and we all had a discussion. It wasn't like Jay's plan would have worked.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Jay looks like the only person running around camp, worried about the girls. Were the guys really that confident that they wouldn't take over the game?
A. Mike: The guys had no idea. Jay was smart. We wanted to make sure that we would take turns voting out guy/girl. That was my one big concern was girls sticking together.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When you left, who was the person that you trusted the most?
A. Mike: I mean, I trusted Kim so much. Watching it back, it hurt my feelings the most. I put a lot of trust in her and I thought we related the most. Sabrina, Kat, Jay, we were all tight.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Would it have made sense for the men to stick together or would the dynamic not have worked?
A. Mike: The dynamic wouldn't have worked. The tribe that I got put on in the beginning... the guys had the mindset that they could vote out any guy and it would not matter. You never had confidence that you'd be around because the guys were all over the map.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Were you truly blindsided at tribal council?
A. Mike: I was truly blindsided. At that point, I was almost complacent and thought, "This is going to be too easy!" We were going to start picking off the Manono members and I'd coast to final five.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: If you could start the game over this season, was there anything you could have done differently or were you more a victim of the circumstances, such as the tribe change ups?
A. Mike: I think just the way we started, men vs. women, changes the game a little. I was fortunate to go on the new Salani tribe but it turned out to bite me in the butt. I was an honest guy, I tried to have fun, and I think I played a good game.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: As a jury member, what are you looking for in a winner?
A. Mike: You have to have a good mix. If you're going to choose a winner, there has to be a good mix of doing well in challenge, not lying all the time... you have to deceive a little bit but I don't value a player who constantly lies. I just take in all the qualities.

 

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

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

 

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