“It Feels Great!” – An Interview with Survivor’s Osten

Osten was the first person ever to voluntarily walk out of Survivor, an “honor” for which he earned himself a place in the Reality TV Hall of Shame. However, RealityNewsOnline had the opportunity to ask him some questions about his time on the game and gave him a chance to set the record straight. As you’ll see, he did not exactly make the best use of that opportunity:

RealityNewsOnline: Hello, Osten, and thanks for taking the time to answer these questions from RealityNewsOnline. Obviously, viewers have a lot of questions about what happened out there and the way things ended for you, so a number of our questions address that subject from different angles.

Had you watched earlier seasons and seen the effect of the various environments upon the contestants or were you really that unprepared for just how difficult Survivor is for its competitors? Why did you think you would be any different?

Osten: Yes I've watched previous Survivors and seen the affects the environment can have on the competitors! Call me crazy but... I've never stated that I thought I'd be unaffected by the elements of nature during the game!

RNO: Now that you are stronger, your health has improved, and your mind is clear, can you explain why you stopped?

Osten: Because I wasn't willing to risk my health to potentially win a million dollars!

RNO: Watching yourself on TV, how does it feel now looking back and seeing how you came off to the viewing audience?

Osten: It feels great!

RNO: After the first time you wanted to quit, you managed to come back. Why did you decide this time that it really was time to go rather than attempting another comeback?

Osten: Because I felt that me risking my health would be in vain due to the fact that the Outcasts were allowed back into the game!

RNO: After people are voted out, they generally have their final say, but we didn't get any "last words" from you – were you not allowed to have your final message since you opted out of the game, and was there anything else that you were denied because you voluntarily left?

Osten: Definitely had a final say but for some reason it wasn't aired. No there wasn't anything else that I was denied!

RNO: Jeff Probst has repeatedly said in interviews that one player during this season does something that he will certainly regret, and I'm guessing he was talking about you. So, looking back, do you regret it now?

Osten: Absolutely not my friend!

RNO: What did you think of your tribemates' reactions indicating that they would never give up, and then Jeff Probst's comments after you left and laying your torch in the dirt?

Osten: My only thought was please end this tribal counsel so that I can eat a Cheeseburger! Secondly I thought all of Probst's juvenile antics were humorous!

RNO: What would you like to say to the person who would have taken your slot and missed out because you went on the show instead?

Osten: Hello... how are you doing today!

RNO: What would it have taken to keep you in the game?

Osten: Food or the Outcasts not being allowed back into the game!

RNO: What has been the public reaction been since your last episode aired?

Osten: There's been tons of support!

RNO: What would you tell future Survivor applicants to consider that you over underestimated?

Osten: Have a good time!

RNO: What does the world not know about Osten that editing on the show didn't properly express?

Osten: That I'm really not lazy!

RNO: Well, there we have it…

David Bloomberg is the Editor of RealityNewsOnline and can be reached at RNO@pobox.com. Thanks to the other RealityNewsOnline writers for the questions they submitted.

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