by Gina Scarpa

 

Few players over the years have loved the game of Survivor as much as Jonathan Penner. Perhaps that's what makes him so dangerous - not only is he a returning player, but he has such passion for the game that he'll do what it takes to get to the end. Penner had people worried right from the beginning but he managed to make it to the merge and had a good shot at making it even further until Abi-Maria won immunity this week. Feeling betrayed particularly by Lisa, he left the game bitter and upset, and we talked to him today to find out if his feelings have changed and what we can perhaps expect from him at the final tribal council.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I assume there was zero hesitation on your part when you were asked to return for a third time.

A. Jonathan: No, there really wasn't. I needed to clear my schedule a little bit, but I was very, very happy to go back.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You had an idea that people on the Kalabaw tribe, particularly Jeff, were trying to get you out but did you realize just how aggressively some people were trying?

A. Jonathan: That's a good question. I did not know. I knew going in, that I would have a target on my back to some degree and that I needed to survive two or three votes, help my tribe to not go to tribal, and then I'd have a pretty good shot at helping them to forget I was a returning guy. What I didn't realize until I watched that there was another guy out there just gunning for me. What was funny... well, it's not funny, it was annoying... I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get any traction for a real alliance, why none of these guys would want to hitch their wagon to mine and go far together. Jeff, I didn't try with immediately because it was clear he wasn't going to do that. It was clear he was the least likely to work with me and somehow, he got in their ear faster, probably because he was worried somebody would recognize him.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Speaking of targets, I keep trying to figure out why the target on Malcolm's back is not absolutely gigantic, especially since everyone knows he has an idol.  Can you shed some light on why he's still in the game?

A. Jonathan: I don't have a great answer. Partially because he's a really, really likable guy. He and I were never close, we've become close since then. It was clear that he was not going to align with me. It was also unfortunately clear very quickly that they were gonna gun for me and RC and somehow, I became the target. He or somebody was brilliantly able to say, "No no no, get Penner! I have an idol and I'm going to protect myself with it!" I chose to target Abi and Pete and Artis, who never gave me the time of the day. Not in an aggressive way, but they weren't going to work with me. It gave me the only opportunity I had which was to try to work on those guys. That was the game I played and then I turn around, it's final six, and Malcolm's still there. How the hell did that happen?

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I thought you were talking sense at tribal council, particularly to Lisa.  No one is going to beat Malcolm and Denise if they make it to the end.  How frustrating is it to feel like you're making a good case and the other person isn't hearing you?

A. Jonathan: It was a devastatingly frustrating, because she and I spoke very, very honestly with each other. I was never dishonest with her and that's why I didn't make that deal with her. It was my mistake for realizing the importance of it. Of course, I spoke sense and honestly believed it when I said to them, "You can't beat these guys!" Whether they can turn it around and can beat them would be a fantastic thing. With me, at least you had a shot. You can argue whatever the hell you would argue but how do you see yourselves winning against Malcolm or Denise? It's not that they didn't hear it, but they had shaken hands, and that was that.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You can't give info away on what happens next, but you were pretty upset when you left the game.  Are you going to be a bitter jury member or did you get over it?

A. Jonathan: My jury personality is gonna be based on who I'm looking at and my perception of the game they played. I try to be objective and I also was subjective. I could not help but feel what I felt. If they include half of what I put out there, it will be a lovely cherry on the sundae of Penner in the Philippines because I had nine days to craft what I wanted to say and ask and do. I don't know how much will make it on air but I sure had fun doing it. As a jury member, was I bitter? I was bitterly disappointed in myself and I think that I said that at some point. You can't imagine how angry or sad or mad or whatever that feeling is to be standing here, looking at you, honestly believing I could beat any one of you. Somehow, you outplayed me, to your great credit. You outlasted me, and I have nothing but appreciation for the ability to do that but nothing but resentment that they did.

 

 

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

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa