“The Dumbest Move Ever Would Be to Compromise My Own Character” – An Interview with Big Brother 8’s Mike

The fact of the matter is that Mike is being inducted into the Reality TV Hall of Shame for his decision to stay loyal to Kail and get himself evicted instead. But we haven’t heard much from Mike about his decision. Right here, he explains himself and tells us why he did what he did.

RealityNewsOnline: What was your strategy coming into the game?

Mike: To pick everybody’s brain and try to get them to answer questions that I knew they would give me the truth on, and then start getting more personal with the questions that they may fabricate a little bit and see if any stray from their personalities. [Then I would] try to use that to my advantage so I’d know when they’re telling a lie later and pointing it out to the house, that they were caught in a lie, and also for my own personal use if I were to get HOH or to vote someone out.

But I found out that with some of the people, it was kind of hard to get them to engage in what I wanted and turned out to be kind of one-dimensional in the conversations and not reciprocated back to me. The actual conversation would end because I would run out of question sand they had nothing more to say to me. So I had to revert to kicking back and observing the house and see how everybody was acting and not give up any information; lay low and fly under the radar. But people were getting kind of suspicious that I was not revealing anything.

RNO: I know you said you wanted to show your honor by staying true to Kail, but why put yourself at risk when you otherwise wouldn’t have been? Weren’t there other ways you could have shown that you were standing by her?

Mike: There were other ways that I probably could have done it. I don’t know when it would have been – this presented itself. I wouldn’t say I was safe, I was a target in the house. Dick made it known that it was Kail, myself, Zach, and Nick. Had I not done anything in the veto competition and Dick would have been eliminated, I still would have been going up along with Kail. I was the next person in line in his sights.

In all fairness to Kail, I figured I would put myself next to her, showing my true character. Also, showing that I am true to my character and hold those values and am willing to risk that and hopefully come out on top of it with people seeing I hold those values. I took that opportunity to do it.

RNO: When Julie Chen asked you about why you went after Dick in the veto competition, you said there was more story to it. What’s the story?

Mike: There’s a back story. Kail went after Dick and campaigned against him. The reason was she was told by Nick that Dick was after us. So it was in our best interest to get him out. Kail and I had the idea to get him out. She campaigned; I was in it but she was the one who got caught. I thought that would be my key [not in the nomination box] instead of Jen’s. I told both I would put myself in their place any day. In the veto competition it worked out the way it did and I could put my place in for Jen and make it fair for Kail that I was in that spot as well and it could go either way.

RNO: So then what do you say to everybody who says it was the dumbest move ever?

Mike: I think the dumbest move ever would be to compromise my own character and hide behind others like a coward and not standing up for my values. I could have easily sat back and let everything slide by, but I felt my character was in jeopardy. To me it’s worth more coming out of this game holding your integrity than to be seen as a backstabber or liar, because ultimately coming out of the game people view that as you, outside the game. I didn’t want to come out of the game as a liar or manipulator and have it hurt me outside the game.

RNO: Where do you, personally, separate real life from game play? Or do you?

Mike: I guess I separated it in the Big Brother house by realizing it was a game and taking it for what it was and have a fun experience. And try to play the game with the most fairness I could offer and just realizing that the entirety of the whole thing was a game and I wasn’t going to let anything get to me. There was really no separation for me from game to real life. It was still all real life, but I knew I couldn’t take it personally because everybody else was playing a game and I think they viewed it as a game. I did too, but I took it all with a grain of salt. That’s why I didn’t let threats and intimidation get to me, because I felt there was a bigger picture out there than being in the game.

RNO: Did you think you would be going home, or did you believe it would be Kail?

Mike: Earlier in the week, I thought I was staying. But it was late Wednesday night when I was ending the campaigning with the last people – those happened to be those people who I thought I would have their vote. Their body language didn’t sit right with me. I really felt their votes were not going my way. At that time I thought those people could influence other people’s votes. I felt it could be neck and neck. By Thursday morning I had a strong feeling I would be going home. So I definitely was prepared for that.

RNO: What do you think about the America’s Houseguest twist?

Mike: Very good concept. I had certainly no idea it was going on, but now it makes sense. I did see a few peculiar actions from Eric. I never would have put two and two together. I honestly thought all the twists were out in the beginning.

RNO: What did you think of the enemies twist?

Mike: I really didn’t’ think too much about it. Everybody kind of figured there had to be others coming into the house. When we found out, I certainly wasn’t squirming because I don’t have any enemies out there. It was a good concept, it threw some turmoil and made it exciting. Both the twists were very good twists.

RNO: Is there anything else you want to tell us about your time in the Big Brother house?

Mike: It was an absolutely great experience and gave me a lot of time to reflect on me as a person and what I care about most – my family and friends. I’m going to apply my experience to life after this and make it an even better life than it was before.

RNO: Thanks, Mike!

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