Survivor Guatemala: Survivor Live Recap, Episode 9

It’s time for the next episode of Survivor Live, CBS’s Internet interview show with the most recently booted contestant(s) from Survivor: Guatemala. This week, the show is hosted by Dalton Ross of Entertainment Weekly and guest-host Ethan Zohn, the Survivor: Africa winner. This week’s castoff guest is repeat offender Bobby Jon Drinkard. My own occasional comments are enclosed in square brackets like this [I see the headlines – Bobby Jon Gone… Again!]

Proceedings begin with Dalton welcoming Bobby Jon and Ethan to the show. Ethan still looks hale and hearty.

Dalton notes Bobby Jon is their first repeat customer. Dalton asks him to contrast the two seasons, and which one will he remember the most? Ever polite, Bobby Jon says both are equal in his mind and both have many special memories for him. He adds that when he was given the choice to go back on the show, he did not hesitate to say yes.

Ethan asks if he was nervous about returning for another season. Bobby Jon knew he had a target on his back, but he was ready to be himself and do his best.

Dalton notes that these two guys participated in the two hardest versions of Survivor. Ethan asks if Bobby Jon prepared differently this time. Bobby Jon says he spent time in the gym trying to add more muscle, but after the first two days of the series [being sick after the trek] that was pretty much not a factor. He admits he got completely dehydrated. Dalton says he was “legitimately scared” for Bobby Jon at the point where his eyes were rolling back into his head. Bobby Jon says, “You know, I’ve never seen heaven or hell, but I thought I was about to see one of them!”

Dalton asks if he felt especially competitive against Stephenie, because last time she bested him. Bobby Jon sidesteps that, saying, “Any contestant can help you or hurt you.” He does give her credit for keeping him in the game last week over Brandon, so he could be on the jury.

Out first caller today is from Kim in Bridgehampton. She wondered if he knew Stephenie was also coming back. Nope!

Ethan asks if there was anyone else he’d liked to have seen from Palau. “Not Tom!” interjects Dalton. Bobby Jon agrees, saying, “He pretty much whipped me like a dog when I was there!” Ha!

Dalton asks about the different side of Stephenie that’s coming out this year. Bobby Jon reminds us he wasn’t ever on her team and only spent time in camp together after the merge. He took her comments about him, good and bad, with a grain of salt. [There were good comments?]

Gail [Gayle? Gale?] from Staten Island asks, is Gary is the luckiest Survivor contestant ever? Bobby Jon says Gary “pulled out the old quarterback sneak last night.” There’s no real answer to the question given. Dalton gives him credit for watching Judd and finding the Hidden Idol. Bobby Jon adds that his NFL experience may have given him the perseverance to keep hunting for the Idol when it seemed so hopeless. As soon as Gary pulled it out, Bobby Jon knew he was done for.

Dalton shifts conversation to Jamie, and they show the clip of the Reward Challenge and Jamie giving up his position in the reward. Bobby Jon believed Jamie was sincere (and still does), because anyone who gives up a meal in those conditions has given up a lot. Ethan thinks it took a lot for Jamie to admit on national TV [international TV, actually] that he made a mistake, but he wasn’t really buying it that Jamie was sincere. Bobby Jon remains unconvinced, he’s sure Jamie was sincere.

Dalton notes that it happened at a time when all the future jurors are present, and Bobby Jon admits that it is an act that will be on people’s minds as the game goes on.

Dalton asks Bobby Jon exactly how frustrated he was with Jamie at the previous Tribal Council. Bobby Jon admits he can’t glorify his own actions and he was equally responsible. They made up and are friends now.

Young Jersey John who likes soccer asks Bobby Jon whom he hopes to maintain contact with. He starts listing names and after pretty much mentioning all of them, says he hopes to stay friends with all of them. He even mentioned Judd, though not specifically Stephenie. [Dude is not going to be controversial, is he?]

Ethan takes the opening to discuss Judd. He wonders what Bobby Jon thought Judd’s strategy was, lying about the immunity idol and also picking him to join him at the winner’s dinner table. Bobby Jon says when he was around Judd, they never once talked about the game. He was “glad but a little surprised” that Judd asked him to sit at his table.

Dalton asks about Judd’s dislike of Margaret, and did it surprise him? Bobby Jon replies, “Not really. I liked Margaret a lot” and goes on to say that he thinks they’ll “come out of this thing liking each other.” [I doubt that, but Bobby Jon only sees the positive side of everyone.]

Bobby Jon bought the story about the idol being on the ground and says, “If you told me it was under water, I’d be out there snorkeling in the lake.” He doesn’t blame Judd for lying, he says, “A million dollars can probably change your life, I wouldn’t know.”

Ethan asks if Bobby Jon was intending to play the game with honour and integrity this time around, or is that just him? He was going to “strive” to, but he had to lie to Blake.

Bobby Jon knew he couldn’t get enough support to vote Stephenie off at this stage of the game. He says, “Everyone out there is pretty much a number, or an object. Somebody is going home for sure, and you just don’t want it to be you. But it is, sometimes.”