“You Really Don’t Get It Until You Watch Yourself” – Reality News Online’s Exclusive Interview with Survivor: One World’s Colton

RNO: You said you had a plan from beginning to end, but early in the game, you seemed lost and confused – or was that all part of your plan?

Colton: It was part of my plan. It was kind of a double-thing. I felt like I had to overcome so many hurdles. When I saw it was men vs. women, I was like, “Are you serious?!” Not because I can’t relate to men, though I obviously find it harder. I’ve never really had a male role model I was very close to; the only one was my grandfather and he passed away when I was 16. That’s why I gravitated to Tarzan, he was like a grandfather figure.

I did kind of freak out, but what you don’t see is I integrated myself with the men immediately. Jay was the person I had an alliance with from Day 1. I knew I had to change my strategy immediately. My strategy and my nature is to take control and lead. I knew being on a tribe with men, there would b a lot of alpha males. So I could hang back and have them look at me as a Natalie White to Russell Hantz and then I’ll become Russell when I need to.

There was the “misfits” and the “muscle” and those going whichever way the wind blew, like Bill and Leif. I integrated with Jay, saying, “I’m scared,” and he said, “I’ll take care of you.” Jay watched out for me, then when he joined with Matt and Mike, I kind of went towards them.

The guys were never bad to me. They were really great, but I knew if the girls found an idol, they would give it to me. I thought, “I can convince these women to give me an idol regardless of who it’s for.”

RNO: Speaking of the immunity idol, why did you keep it?

Colton: Actually, the ironic thing is I wanted to give it to someone on Salani, but I was informed I couldn’t. Bless Christina’s heart, I would have given it to her but I didn’t think she’d know how to use it. She really is the luckiest person in the game and she knows that [because she was the target so many times and other people ended up leaving instead]. She was supposed to go instead of me – at least that’s what she thought.

Really, someone else was going home instead of her. The plot thickens. I was actually going to get rid of Alicia! That will blow people’s minds. You saw in a preview that people kind of falling apart without me; what actually happened was I had already spoken with Jonas, saying we need to flip this and get rid of Alicia because she has connections with the women. Then you have Tarzan who doesn’t keep up. That was the plan.

RNO: What was the plan if you could have made it to the end – how could you have won?

Colton: People say he would have never won. I feel I had just as good a chance to win. I know people at home hate me and despise me but the people in the game actually appreciated the game I was playing, but I guess they were too dumb to get rid of me. I can be very charismatic when I need to be. I think, had I been able to get to the final three, I would have had a great case – [I would have said] I was the most underestimated player in the game and I deserve to win.

RNO: I have a ton more questions, but we’re unfortunately being told that we’re out of time. Do you have anything else you’d like to tell us about your time on Survivor?

Colton: It was a great experience and I’m very thankful for it. I know I come across as selfish and spoiled, but I know when to be appreciative – to CBS, Mark Burnett, Jeff Probst, and all those who gave me the opportunity. It really was a dream come true and it only sucks that I went out the way I did. I don’t think it was arrogant to say I was running the show. I think, had I been able to make that merge, I definitely would have been able to go deep.

RNO: Would you do it again?

Colton: If the opportunity presents itself, I would definitely do it again!

RNO: Thanks again, Colton!

Colton: Thank you for not hating me too much!

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David Bloomberg is the Editor of Reality News Online and has been covering Survivor since the very first season. He can be reached at RNO@pobox.com. You can also follow him on Twitter!

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