Stuck in an Awkward Position: An Interview with Survivor’s Shawn

Shawn was voted off instead of Jon when the Outcasts were coming back. It took a little while to catch up to him, but in this interview, he talks about Burton, Jon, Rupert, and more.

RealityNewsOnline: Hello, Shawn, and thanks for taking the time to answer these questions from RealityNewsOnline! We’ll start with you and Burton – you seemed to be cohorts until your first Tribal Council, when you found out he was going and decided to vote against him. Later, you acted like the two of you weren't really that close. Which was true – did you really have a problem with Burton or was that all strategy to distance yourself from him?

Shawn: I was blind-sided with the decision to vote off Burton by Jon on the boat ride into tribal council, my vote for him was political and a last minute ditch effort to change my cards in the game... I really liked Burton but I was stuck in an awkward situation.

RNO: What was it about Jon (or yourself) that kept you two at each other's throats so often?

Shawn: Both of us having strong personalities and the fact we are both stubborn.

RNO: Do you believe Jon baited you into some of your fights to make you look like the protagonist?

Shawn: I don't believe he thought that deep about anything which came from his mouth.

RNO: From what viewers saw, it did appear that Jon was correct in his assessment that you spent more time arguing about things than actually doing them. Was this a fair portrayal or do you have anything to say about the editing?

Shawn: "Editing," actually I spent more time doing things than arguing.

RNO: What did you think of the fairness of allowing the previously-booted players to come back when you had to leave for good after lasting longer than any of them?

Shawn: I think it goes against the Survivor motto: Outlast, Outwit, Outplay... Something I did over all those cast-offs who were given a chance to come back

RNO: From what we saw, it at first seemed more likely that Jon would be voted out rather than you – can you give us any insight as to why you think the tribe decided to keep Jon and not you? Did you know it was coming?

Shawn: Jon was closer to Sandra and Christa than I was and Rupert deemed me a threat, especially with the advent of Burton possibly returning... Not a surprise.

RNO: If Drake had kept you around instead of Jon, would you have tried to make a jump to a new alliance, given that Rupert, Sandra, and Christa were obviously tight and you would have been the odd man out?

Shawn: That's a good question... Time could have told on that one.

RNO: Why didn't you vote against Rupert when Trish tried to lead the revolt, given that he was so clearly dominating the game and the tribe?

Shawn: I felt by saving Rupert and manipulating Jon into thinking I was voting off Rupert that I was re-aligning myself in the game and throwing Jon onto the chopping lock. It worked great, that is until the twist messed it all up...

RNO: While your tribe voted you out, you know by now that Osten quit. What was your reaction to that?

Shawn: It's about time someone showed the world just how tough Survivor truly is, not only physically but also mentally. My reaction: WOW!

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

Shawn: I'm an extremely good hearted person who cares a lot for others well being... For example, I slept every night in my shorts and gave my shirt and jacket to the ladies on my tribe.

RNO: When you made your argument as to why you should stay, why didn't you mention your superior physical strength as compared to Jon?

Shawn: I would have just put a larger X on my back than already existed, what I should have said was... Rupert last night I saved you; show your character and integrity and return the favor...

RNO: What did you do to prepare for the show and what would you have done differently on the show, in hindsight?

Shawn: I ate everything in sight... J thus, the "pot belly."

RNO: Thanks again!

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

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