“Nobody Could Control Me”: An Interview with Survivor’s Coby

Coby’s actions in his final episode of Survivor: Palau had many viewers scratching their heads. RealityNewsOnline had a chance to end the speculation when we asked him a variety of questions relating to his game play. Read on to find out what he had to say!

RealityNewsOnline: What was your original plan coming into Survivor, and how did it change as the game went along?

Coby: My original plan was to turn the girls against the boys which was the fairly obvious gay thing to do. Then when as the game went on I realized that I liked the work ethic of the guys over the girls... things changed.

RNO: At the beginning of the game, we were led to believe you had formed a quick bond with Angie – why did you pick Caryn over Angie when choosing tribes? Any regrets over the choice?

Coby: I choose Caryn over Angie because I felt at that time that Angie and I had targets on our backs as being the outcasts – with two outcasts not making a right. Looking back I do regret not picking Angie; I think she would have been more loyal to me in the game plus she would have been a great member of our tribe.

RNO: If Koror had gone to even a single additional Tribal Council, who do you think would have been the victim?

Coby: It wouldn't have been me yet I don't think. Koror winning every immunity was a blessing and a curse... I think it cost me my game in the long run being stuck with the same people for 24 days and have no patience of watching the numbers fall against me.

RNO: Moving to your final episode, what happened to the plan to side with Gregg and Jenn? Do you think Gregg was just playing you or was he serious?

Coby: I think Gregg was testing the water with his big toe instead of jumping in the deep end about switching alliances. He is playing a very safe game right now, as they all are that are left in the game. I didn't play a safe game... which could be the reason I am gone, but I had a good time before I went.

RNO: Why did you vote for Janu instead of trying to overthrow Tom and Ian right then?

Coby: I knew my one vote wouldn't have done anything against Tom or Ian at that point. Janu asked me to go along with the tribe and vote for her out next as to not cause attention to myself. Because Janu and I were very fooled into thinking she was next.

RNO: Did you really feel it was a compliment when you were voted out?

Coby: Yes I do! I realize that my nasty attitude didn't help but in the long run but I wasn't a pawn to be had and nobody could control me... that scared them. That and for some reason I was considered the puzzle queen, which worried them a lot at that point.

RNO: You talked about how you knew you were getting cranky and had to keep it inside – what made you let it out a bit more?

Coby: I knew at that point in the game the numbers were against me so I was gonna try and stir up as much trouble before I left as I could. I was also playing into the wild card slot hoping that if I made enough people dislike me somebody might want to face me in the final two thinking they could beat me. Because at that point in the game... dragging people along seemed to be a lot of people’s game play.

RNO: I've heard from a number of viewers who felt you were playing a good game right up until the merge, and then it seemed you committed game suicide. How would you respond to that?

Coby: Like I said, the numbers were against me for a while in the game at that point, but view it as you wish. I think we will all agree that at least I played the game. Now whether I played it good, bad, or otherwise is up for discussion but at least I played! Nobody can say I got a free ride.

RNO: What did you hope to gain by making it so clear that you were trying to get Stephenie on your side?

Coby: I wasn't trying to get Steph to come over to my side, I had no side to play at that point. What I was trying to do was give Steph power in the game in knowing what was going on in our tribe. I thought she deserved to be there. I had no idea what she would do with what information I told her, nor did I care. I will forever defend that as my favorite (not smartest) move in the game, watching Jenn as she was giving herself a facial and Katie's face crack over what I was doing... worth every dollar I lost.

RNO: Is there anything else you'd like to tell our readers about yourself or your time on Survivor?

Coby: I am a huge fan of the show and I auditioned for every single season. This was the first time I ever got a call back! So my words to all the other fans out there... don't give up... keep applying! Dreams can come true.

RNO: Thanks again, Coby!

Coby: Thank you, David.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other Survivor: Palau Episode 9 articles:

David Bloomberg is the Editor of RealityNewsOnline and can be reached at RNO@pobox.com.

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