Survivor: Africa -- An Interview with Carl

Carl Bilancione was the third Survivor: Africa contestant and first member of Samburu to be voted out – a blow to the elder alliance. A few weeks ago, we featured an interview with Brandon, probably the most outspoken member of the younger alliance. In that interview, Brandon said, “to be honest I found Carl to be the most annoying, self-loving blow hard I've ever met.” Carl, who doesn’t generally spend too much time reading the reality TV websites (shame on him), was told about this quote by friends who saw it, and e-mailed RealityNewsOnline noting with good humor that “the self-loving blow hard” would be willing to be interviewed.

In our discussion, Carl was good-natured about everything that went on in the game, saying “life’s too short to be involved in petty nonsense.” He talked about the Survivor crash diet plan: “dirty water and no food works every time.” Read on for the rest of what Carl had to say.

RealityNewsOnline: First off, you contacted me because of what Brandon said about you in his interview. Based on your interaction with him in the game, after being voted off, and then once Survivor was over, do you think his opinion of you as a "self-loving blowhard" is really his opinion, or is he just trying to milk the personality that got him famous?

Carl: I think Brandon believes that I am a self-loving blowhard because I'm happy, with a great family and great friends. In my opinion Brandon is an angry confused young man and does not know what happiness is, so he confuses other people’s happiness with contempt.

RNO: How do you feel about being insulted in this way?

Carl: I did not feel insulted. I actually feel sorry for Brandon. I also believe he craves attention so his outrageous behavior and remarks are his way of trying to seek happiness.

RNO: Did you attend the AIDS fundraiser he was setting up?

Carl: I was one of the first to say yes. Brandon hadn’t responded to my earlier e-mails, but when I got his message asking if we would go, I replied and asked if he wanted me there. He said he definitely did! The support group involved in setting up the benefit was first class, although Brandon pretty much ignored me again at the benefit itself.

RNO: You've mentioned that you grew up poor and are proud of getting to where you are today. Can you fill us in on some of the background of your life? How did you get to where you are today?

Carl: I grew up poor, but not really knowing it. We had food on the table, clothes on our backs and we were a happy family. My parents only were schooled to 9th grade. I read the Disney biography when I was 12, which stated "If you can dream it, you can do it." I knew I wanted to improve myself. I always believed that hard work pays off and if you want something bad enough you can make it happen. I know this sounds like a cliché but it is so true. We live in the greatest country on earth, where you can obtain your dreams.

RNO: What were you like when you were in your 20s?

Carl: I was always a motivated person with goals. I decided when I was 14 that I would become a dentist, so I pretty much was a serious student in my 20s.This is not to say that I didn't have fun. I got scholarships to go to college and therefore had to maintain a certain GPA to keep them, which I did.

RNO: Do you think Silas, Lindsey, Brandon, and Kim were/are an accurate representation of their generation? Or are they more the exception?

Carl: Silas comes from a good family and his father is a wealthy oral surgeon. Lindsey's dad is a prominent attorney. Both of them lived a privileged lifestyle so I don't think they are representative of the average young person. Brandon and Kim represent more of the young people who have it a little tougher and are trying to find their place. That is not to say that Silas and Lindsey are not trying to find their niche, but they have greater financial support, if needed. In general it appears the younger generation doesn't have that “hunger” my generation had.

RNO: The footage that aired (and statements made by some of the younger Samburus) made it sound like you constantly talked about yourself. How often did you really talk about your lifestyle -- cars, house, etc.? Can you explain how it all came up?

Carl: There is a marvelous tool called editing in TV land and that is what America saw. Silas asked me many times about my life and how I got to where I was. He would ask for advice and for me to give him words of wisdom. Little did I know that his dad was a wealthy oral surgeon and he knew what kind of lifestyle dentists could have. Silas was trying to alienate me from the group based on need of the million dollar prize. I was not about to lie. I really thought that the spirit of the game was lost when instead of working as a team the younger people were more concerned with air time and possible stardom. As you can see, Silas's ploy backfired and both Lindsey and him met their demise early. If Silas had come on board with us and/or I didn't miss the question, it is a different game. If, if, if... No second guessing though.

RNO: Who have you seen or kept in contact with since the show ended?

Carl: I keep in touch with Frank, Diane, Linda, T-Bird, Silas, Jessie, Ethan, Clarence, Big Tom, Kelly, and Lex. I really didn't get to know Mama Kim, but I do occasionally speak with her. As far as Little Kim, she is quite busy so our paths do not really come together. The only one who doesn't give me the time of day, is – you guessed it – BRANDON, the angry young man.

RNO: What did you do after being voted out? Were you allowed contact with the jury members once they started getting voted out?

Carl: Once voted out we were able to go on safari. That is the first seven voted out. We were not allowed to be with the jury members. The safaris were amazing and I got lots of great photos. You can see some of them at my website, www.photosbydrb.com.

RNO: Would you do it again?

Carl: I would do it again in a NY minute.

RNO: Have you heard the rumors about "Ultimate Survivor," which would (if the rumors have any validity) bring in contestants from the Survivors that have already aired and put them into one game? If it were true, would you be interested?

Carl: Ultimate Survivor – count me in!!

RNO: It was obvious to many just from looking at your descriptions once all the players were announced that there would almost certainly be conflict in your tribe -- from Frank and Brandon if nobody else. Do you think you were put there with the same idea, that conflict would ensue? Or was it just luck of the draw?

Carl: I believe that Mark Burnet and his crew are creative geniuses and they knew exactly what they were doing in putting the tribes together. The only thing they didn't foresee was that our tribe would become so divided and that the young people would be so lazy.

RNO: Were the younger Samburus really as lazy as they looked on TV? And do you think it was part of their strategy or just because they were, well, lazy?

Carl: I used to think that the laziness was a part of their strategy, but I think I was giving them too much credit. Once the switch was made their behavior was still the same. So, yes, they were lazy!

RNO: What do you think of this season's group?

Carl: I think this group is more concerned with fame.

RNO: In particular, what about the original Maraamu tribe? Remind you of anybody?

Carl: Maraamu tribe is Samburu all over again; why did Hunter go? He reminds me of Frank and I.

RNO: Do you have any favorites this season?

Carl: My favorites: Paschal, Zoe, and Gina.

RNO: A few other RNO writers had questions they wanted to ask. One wanted to know: Who had the worst teeth on Samburu?

Carl: I didn't check anyone’s teeth.

RNO: Your fellow Yankees fan and RNO writer, Susan Schechter, would like to know: What do you think the Yankees chances are this year now that they've traded away all their good players?

Carl: The Yankees should win it all. They are so deep that if they don't, Steinbrenner will have a coronary. The team chemistry is great and Torre is a master of getting all those egos on the same plane.

In closing I would like to say that S3 was an amazing experience and if it were not for 9/11 the show would have had better ratings. Africa was definitely the harder of the sites. I hope everyone gets what they wish from the experience and if you live your dreams, life is wonderful!!

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