“We Were the Team to Beat” – RealityNewsOnline’s Exclusive Interview with There Goes the Neighborhood’s Chris Nelson

RealityNewsOnline: Hi, Chris! Thank you for talking to RealityNewsOnline today. How are you doing?

Chris: I’m doing fine.

RNO: What are the first three words that come to mind when you think of your family’s experience on There Goes the Neighborhood?

Chris: I’ll give you two. Absolutely wonderful.

RNO: Going into the game, did you think you had a pretty good chance of taking home the money?

Chris: Going into the game, we thought we were the team to beat – 100%. The other family I thought would be strong was the one that put me out the other night – the Upshaws. We’re a good, close, well-rounded bunch. Once Matt Rogers said, when we started the game, that the family that bonds together without all the distractions [would win], we thought we would go pretty deep.

We did feel we had to win every competition in order to stay alive because these are all our neighbors and they know how my family is close. We possess all the good things – smart, athletic, we’re a very close family. Even with my oldest son. One of the coolest things was that when we were locked away, he was without his girlfriend, so he was with his brothers and that was cause for a great time.

RNO: Did your family have a strategy for the game?

Chris: Our strategy was our reliance on the Johnstons and the Upshaws. We thought those three families would go deep in the game. But we didn’t have a strategy going into it because we didn’t know what the rules were. We didn’t have an open strategy. We had a whole lot of confidence. Before the game, we ran, we got in shape.

RNO: After the Upshaws nominated you, you said you guessed $250,000 meant more than friendship. But wasn’t that the case as well when you nominated the DiGirolamos?

Chris: Well, the difference is – what television may not show – is that I had an agreement with Ricardo Upshaw and no previous agreement with the DiGirolamos. The DiGirolamos, if they would have won, they would have put me out. You can say afterwards what you would have done, but they knew we were strong – as they knew we were strong – and that’s what the votes showed anyway. They went down 5-1, so other people were worried about them. I never went around and talked to people to vote them off. We put the Mullennixes up to get the DiGirolamos out.

We were all good afterwards. We have a very strong friendship and a current, great relationship. It was a game when it was over. But I had… I don’t want to call it a deal [with the Upshaws], but I felt safe. As you could see by my reaction afterwards.

RNO: In this week’s neighborhood challenge you picked the Mullennixes to skip a turn. Why did you do that? Did you consider them the biggest threat?

Chris: No. Actually, that’s just where the word got set. I looked at my older son, Christian, and said, “Alright. Who gets to go?” Then I announced their name, but Christian said the Mullennixes. He picked them.

But when they [made us skip a second turn]. I believe that was all pre-planned. Why would you get me a second time when another guy was in the lead?

RNO: Do you feel closer to the “non-core” families than you did before you all played the game?

Chris: Most definitely. The “non-core” people hadn’t spent as much time in the neighborhood. So, spending the time with them was great. The kids all play together in the neighborhood. That’s one of the best things the show brought. It’s been great stuff. Now everybody has new friends.

RNO: Are you still as tight with the “core” families after your surprise elimination?

Chris: When it all went down, your natural instinct, being surprised… There’s hurt, there’s trust. I felt we were safe because I had my friend’s word. The children are going to make the adults realize this was a game – regardless of how you played the game. We chose to play it straight-forward. If the night would have gone the other way, the Mullennix family would have gone home.

RNO: What was the hardest thing about doing this game for your family?

Chris: The hardest thing was only really the end. The following day, when the game continued and we were out of the game – thinking we had all it took to win – you get a sense of letdown. You go into it playing it straight-forward and honest… The worst part was when we left.

We all got in it for $250,000. If the last two finishers would have fought for it instead of voting, it would have made it easier than someone having to say someone’s name. I know it was hard on [the Upshaws] to make their decision. There’s tension around, but check with us around Thanksgiving or Christmas and everyone will be alright.

RNO: What’s the best thing about doing the show for your family?

Chris: The best thing was all the fun! Meeting the people from CBS and then being with my children, confined there all together. There was a whole lot of laughing. I had two arguments with my family the whole show. We played cards, we cooked, and we tried to stay cool because it was hotter than heck. That family time is what was the greatest.

When we left the walls my little one got upset for about 15 minutes, and that’s when it got upsetting. In the next few days I got to reconnect with the DiGirolamo family. Lisa helped me out by just sitting there and talking about letting go of the anger. They had some anger for us when they left. I hurt their little kid when [we evicted them]. That was the worst part. Their youngest looked forward to this for months and months, but only got to play for two days.

I would have liked a different method for the eliminations, but it is what it is. When we all look back, we can just remember that it was a game. It was a wonderful experience.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent There Goes the Neighborhood articles here on RealityNewsOnline:

Teeuwynn is a professional puzzle, game and event designer. You can check out Teeuwynn's company, Lone Shark Games, at www.lonesharkgames.com.

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