TVLINE | What was the hardest part of competing in Season 50, and was “50” more difficult than Triple H (“Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers”)?
They were totally different. The first time that you play, there is so much beauty in the entire thing. You’re like, “Oh wow, I’m sleeping outside. I’m sleeping on bamboo!” This, Day 1, we literally go to lay in the dirt, and I’m like, “I’m too old to lay in the dirt. I can’t believe… what am I doing here? Literally, what am I doing here?” So, I would say the physical aspects, really just the sleeping. Honestly, the lack of eating did not bother me, and wearing the same clothes and never looking in the mirror is kind of glorious. Just waking up, that’s kind of great. So that was worse, but I have always said the feeling I felt the most playing Season 35 was loneliness, and I never felt that way playing “50.” I always had someone come over to give me a hug, like an unasked for hug. Or bring me something or help me with something. That part was way nicer. If I could go back and play either one again, I’m playing Triple H again because I just did way better.
TVLINE | What else didn’t viewers get to see on TV, or just in general, is there anything you want viewers to know?
Yeah, so I wasn’t just this random person hanging around in the back of the frame, or off the side of the frame, or who wasn’t even in the frame, right? This is what happens when you don’t go to Tribal Council for the entire pre-merge. You never have to actually make your moves. But yeah, what I would say is there was a lot of love in that game. Oh! Let me tell you this: I made the fire every day, and I could make the fire in like 10 seconds. I was teaching people how to make the fire because I thought if I get to Final 4, I’m winning that Final 4 fire-making challenge, if it exists.
TVLINE | I actually voted “No” for fire-making on your behalf!
I voted “No” on my behalf, too, thank you so much! But I thought if they have it, I better know how to make this darn fire, and I was really, really, really good at it. I wish they at least showed me making some fire there. What else? Oh, this I will tell you. All of my pre-season press, I said that I was not winning the first individual immunity challenge. And we’re standing up there in the Blood Moon, we’re standing in the [endurance challenge] and I literally said into my microphone, “It’s just me and Stephenie up here? Alright, I could play the short game, easily win this thing. My feet don’t even hurt. I could win this thing and make it to tomorrow, but then they know that I’m still good in challenges. I think I have to play the long game.” I literally said all this, I can’t believe they didn’t actually show me saying this. I was whispering into my microphone. “Or I could play the long game, which is, put on the elderly lady act. ‘I can’t do it anymore,’ and not turn on the gas until much later.” And then I stood there for a minute and I said, “OK, I’m playing the long game.” That’s when I said, “Steph, you can take it,” and I stepped down off my thing and gave that to her. They didn’t know that I did [that] because then I went back and played the old lady act, but I wish that made the edit.
TVLINE | So are you up for a Round 3 some time down the road?
Nope! I’m done. I am totally done. My heart is full. I am so grateful for everything “Survivor” has done for me. I had two great experiences. I do not need to sleep in the dirt another day. I am happy to watch it on my television and root for everybody else who goes out there, but I feel completely fulfilled.