“Survivor Has Definitely Evolved” – Reality News Online’s Exclusive Interview with Survivor: Nicaragua’s Sash

As noted in my interview with Chase, the timing of post-Survivor finale interviews was such that I only had a few minutes to talk to both of them together. There are so many more questions I wanted to ask a strategist like Sash, so maybe over the break I’ll find a way to catch up with him. In the meantime, we got to the heart of the matter in the time we had, so read on and enjoy!

Reality News Online: Hello, Sash, and thanks for talking to us here at Reality News Online! It had to hurt a little bit to get no votes in the end. Leaving the final Tribal Council and before Los Angeles, what did you think your chances were?

Sash: I actually thought I had a solid chance. I thought there would be certain jury members who would respect the game enough to vote for the best strategist. It didn’t work out like that but Fabio played a great game. He did an awesome job and played a game I’d never seen before. I thought I had a solid chance – definitely a shocker to me in the final Tribal Council.

RNO: In the past several seasons of Survivor, we’ve seen the more strategic game player lose out in the end to the person perceived as being nicer or friendlier – which often translates to the non-strategist. Given these recent results, do you think we are seeing the end of the strategic game player on Survivor?

Sash: Yeah, you know, Survivor has definitely evolved. I’m calling it Survivor 2.0. It’s a new game out there. If I would have played this exact game maybe seven or eight years ago, I’d have a million dollars. I thought Survivor was outwit, outplay, outlast. It’s taking a different form. That’s okay, it makes things interesting from a viewer’s perspective, but it’s frustrating for players like me who try to play a textbook game. But in the end, Fabio won out and he’s very deserving of the million dollars.

RNO: Do you think it’s possible these days to play the game strategically and still win at the end?

Sash: You know, what’s interesting about Survivor, aside from different locations, is the cast. You never know who you’re going to be put in with. I really thought there were some players this season who would truly respect my game play. I don’t think it has to do with a new era but who you’re put against and those relationships and how many people really respect the game as much and you and I do. It makes it rough – I’d like to see more players in the game who are superfans like myself.

RNO: Did you underestimate Fabio?

Sash: I did underestimate him. I’ve been watching for 20 seasons and thought I knew all the twists and turns and all the strategies. He showed a strategy I’d never seen before. He played a really great game I never saw it coming.

RNO: In her interview with me a few weeks ago, Purple Kelly claimed to be very involved in strategizing and said she wasn’t as invisible in the game as the TV edit made it seem. Can you confirm this one way or another?

Sash: (Laughs) Purple Kelly and I were really close through the whole game. I’m shocked she didn’t give me her vote last night. You know, I would always include Purple Kelly with my strategic ideas. Was she a mastermind in the game? No. but she was very instrumental in moving the process forward when it needed to be. She had a bigger part than it was portrayed.

RNO: Unfortunately, we’re out of time. That went fast! Do you have anything else you’d like to tell us about your time on Survivor?

Sash: For me, I’m a superfan of the show. I played my heart out. I played hard from Day 1 to Day 39 and played the textbook game of Survivor. I have no regrets. I’d play it exactly the same way I did. I had a great time – it was the best adventure.

RNO: Fans can catch up with you on your Facebook page and Twitter, right? Though I know you don’t maintain your Facebook page yourself.

Sash: Right, but everything on Twitter is from me.

RNO: Thanks again, Sash!

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