By Andy Sloan

 

He may have been a man of few words on Survivor: Worlds Apart, but after spending 32 Days in the game, Tyler Fredrickson has a lot to say in regard to this season. We talk his stealthy strategy, when he planned on turning on Carolyn, and everything America didn't see on the show.

Hey Tyler, welcome to your 50 millionth interview of the day!

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Woo, lets do it!

This season we saw you play a behind-the-scenes, more quiet type of game, but in your Ponderosa video you said you're more of a leader, more outspoken. Why choose to play the game you did?

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When I went out there, I wanted to play that larger, outspoken, fun game. I want to get to know these people, make big moves and be interesting, fun TV. Then when you start living it, you start realizing this isn't just and hour a week on my couch. It's life, it's hard, it's dirty, it's hungry, it's cold.

Survivor casts some very interesting people, with crazy backgrounds, and a lot of them have some issues. So I thought, what if I could be the guy who could listen to everyone? What if I could take people under my wing? What if instead of trying to compete with all the other big personalities, I became the person who hung back a bit because all these big personalities are so eager to be heard, they're going to word-vomit all their excitement and strategy to you. Especially if you can be a good listener and help them work through some of the things they're struggling with.

Here's an example. We come back from the auction and Rodney blows up at Mike. 'You're flipping your lid bro. You're out of control bro. We have our love letters, you're out of control.' I hit the road because A. I want to read my letter and B. after it's all said and done, people come back and are like, 'Tyler you missed it! Rodney almost punched Mike! Mike was in his face! It was incredible! We have to get rid of Mike, he's out of control. Or we have to get rid of Rodney, we can't trust him. Or maybe we should keep him around."

In people's retelling, all their biases come out. It leaks through their storytelling. You pick up on where their heads are at, where their fears are at, who their frustrated with and without even saying a word, you've learnt everything. I realized that sometimes getting out of the way is the best way to be in the middle. That's not the way it is in life. In life you have to go after things and make your own way.

I believe there was a lot we didn't see from you, just because you were that person who listened and took things in. What was your biggest move, apart from knowing Carolyn had the idol?

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I went into this game wanting to find a woman that I could team up with. I had done a ton of research and found a male leading the charge in a male-female alliance was a great position for a male to be in, especially when we got to final tribal. Then also, Carolyn comes to me with the idol, so this alliance was handed to me on a silver platter.

One of my biggest, more strategic moves was winning Dan over. After the auction blow-up, Dan was so furious with Mike that he completely ostracized him. I slid right in and earned Dan's trust very quickly. I made Dan realize that the numbers game doesn't lie and Dan was so adamant about the numbers. Everyone else went along with it. We had 6, so lets just chop everyone off.

This was the first time we ever played Survivor, and probably the last, and we're going to be Top 6. Dan was the one who was all about those numbers. 'I make my own destiny. My destiny says Top 6 and that doesn't lie.' That was Dan through and through. But that was also me consistently pushing at him saying, 'You don't need to flip bro. We're all together. I've done nothing but be honest with you. Stick with it.'

?Mike could never get Dan back. He tried and tried and tried. It wasn't until I went home last night, that they maybe rectified it. I still don't know how those wounds have healed, but we'll see where it goes from here.

On the show you said that Dan couldn't see past Top 6, but you could. Was there ever a point that you seriously contemplated switched sides? There were a lot of potential moments this season, dating back to when you saw Joe almost choke on the hidden immunity clue.

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Yeah, so when Joe choked on the immunity clue, Joe and I could suddenly get together. Unfortunately, Mike walks up. What the edit made unclear was that he sees us reading it. We're totally caught with our pants downs. So then I have to walk up to Mike and tell him what I think is half the clue, the non-juicy bits. Well, they end up being the really juicy bits because I didn't even know what the clue really was. I had 30 seconds to figure it out.

If it would've just been me and Joe, I probably would've found it and then maybe shared it with him. Or if he found it than he could've told me. It could've been really crazy because I'd have knowledge of 2 idols.

For the most part, I was sticking to my Core 4, Will, Rodney, myself and Carolyn. We were the majority within the majority and I was going to take Will and Rodney to the end. Every indicator pointed to that and that's why last night was such a blindside.

Actually one of my questions for you was 'Who was your ideal Final 3?' but you already answered that. If you sat next to Carolyn do you think you'd beat her?

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Yeah of course! My relationships were much stronger, but I wanted her gone. Last night was the night I actually went for her. When Mike and Shirin blew up my game at tribal, I expected Carolyn to maybe stand up and do the heroic thing of, 'He ain't going home at all,' and then drop that idol like a mic. Boom, there it is. My girl has my back, we're in this together.

I corner her after and ask what happened because I barely got out of that tribal. She said she actually didn't bring the idol to tribal. Who doesn't bring an idol to tribal? You don't know if I'm going to need it, or you're going to need it. So I realized this girl ain't playing for me, she's playing for herself.

When we get back from reward, of course she doesn't switch with Rodney and he throws a fit. I love it when Rodney throws a fit. So I'm like, 'I get you dude. We gotta get her.' So I'm just sitting back, stupidly smirking, watching everything play out for weeks and weeks and here's the moment I'm going to flip. I've got all the ducks lined up. Dan's like, 'I want her gone.' Will's like, 'Mamma C, she's gotta go.' Rodney's still furious. We get to immunity and she wins. Suddenly it's like slam on the breaks. Everybody relax, stick to the Final 4, we're in a good place.

I start scurrying and am like Dan's gotta go. I play up his advantage and say that it could be monstrous. He could go into the jury and pull someone into the game. Who knows what it is? It's scary! But then they go, 'Nah Tyler, you're a bigger threat.' So here I am talking to you!

Haha, well I'm sorry you're talking to me! Lets switch gears a little bit. I'm sure you've talked to a million people about the Will situation. From your perspective, how did it go down and why did you not see the need to step in?

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Well, they're both my friends and I've worked through both of my thoughts with them. Actually both on the beach and off the beach. When it went down, obviously it was an argument between 2 people that got really heated. Will said some things that I don't think he should've said at all, and were out of line. I went and approached him afterward and said, 'Dude, I think you took this a little far and I think you should apologize.' He brought that up at tribal, but it didn't make the edit. But I was the only one who went up to him and said something.

Shirin and I went and sat down at the beach. She cried with me and I told her how strong, independent and fierce I think she is. Also how sorry I am that Will said those things and that maybe I should've stepped in. We worked through it, had some great conversations since we've been back, i've seen her a bunch of times and we're on good terms. I think this is now an issue for Shirin, Dan, Rodney and Will.

I don't want it to umbrella our season. It's becoming that, but there's been so much strategy, fun, gameplay and excitement, that I feel has been missed out on because of this moment. Granted, this moment is an important moment, don't get me wrong. It's an important moment. I'm glad Survivor played these things. I'm glad Shirin's story is getting out there. But it shouldn't be the defining moment of our season.

I have friends who are watching the show for the first time and they're saying they're fast forwarding to the fights. I have ex-Survivors coming to me, people who love the show, saying they can't get into the season because nobody is likable. The reality is nobody's likable because people are arguing and fighting over stuff. A lot of the fun, cool, colorful moments are missing because there's not enough time. If this was an hour and a half show, this would be the best season in the history of the show.

We're all kind of suffering because of it. We're seeing Dan and Will look like monsters, Shirin like a victim, me like a dude who's just in the back, Sierra just being bland. We're all taking a hit and the strategy and fun is unfortunately not there. But I get it. Big explosive moments are exciting. People like it! It's good TV! It brings viewers! Big issues are being discussed and Survivor's relevant. I understand it, I just wish it didn't have to be that way.

Well I have to say that personally I'm loving this season and appreciate all the strategy they cast is putting in. On a lighter note, however, what was you favorite part of the season?

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Hmm. Oh my gosh. That seems like it'd have the most easiest answer or the most obvious question someone would ask. Um... It was probably the reward. I was pretty crazy about the rewards. We got to zip line and repel down a waterfall. They cut that part out, but it was incredible.

The catamaran was amazing and the burgers. Just sitting there, the water was beautiful, the weather was incredible and I was just hanging out with people I really like and still like to this day.

Also, getting back to Ponderosa and being like, THERE'S FOOD HERE? There's people I like. It's 9am and we're taking tequila shots and hanging out all day. You appreciate the world around you so much so that I got back into town and I've now been working at a homeless shelter for the last 6 months. I know what it's like to be hungry and uncovered and I want to spend my time helping people get settled. I know what it feels like.

That's awesome! Good for you! Last question though. Next season, Second Chances, who are you voting for? We see THREE of your fellow White Collars on the list.

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This is hard for me! We are so close, the Dirty Thirty is tight man and I can't go in there and start picking people. I look at Max and Shirin and they're crazy. They love the show more than anything and will appreciate it more than probably anyone. I'd also love to see Mike because he's out of control, plays with his heart on his sleeve, makes big moves, big gestures and is a challenge beast. Same with Carolyn who's a challenge beast and loves the show. Then Joe's arguably the most popular contestant or will be the most popular contestant in the history of the show. The guy is blowing up and has a massive following right now. He lives for this stuff so I know he's going to get on.

I'm rooting for all of the Dirty Thirty. I want every single one of them to get on!

Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to me Tyler! You were awesome and I look forward to hearing your jury speech on finale night!

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Haven any comments on how Tyler played the game? Drop a comment below!

 

Photo credit: CBS