The first man and fifth Survivor: Gabon castaway was Danny a.k.a. “G.C.” He talked about his Survivor experience in this conference call interview:
What was your strategy going into the game?
GC: My strategy going into the game was to just to be a guy who can help around at camp and provide for the team, but also just be under the radar a bit, and try to get along with everybody, and definitely not be a leader. Seriously, seriously, I planned for months before going on the show, and after I watched all the episodes of every season of Survivor before I left, and I noticed that the leaders always had a target on their backs. They always got voted off for decisions they made. I was like, whatever I do, I just cant be the leader. Maybe I can lead by example, but thats it. That was my strategy.
But in the first episode, you stood up to take the reins to be the leader of the tribe.
GC: Thats right. (laughs) Exactly. That, uh that was all bad right there. I really didnt want the leadership role, and not because Im not a leader. Im a supervisor, and I do music and everything, and I want to be a leader in the community and stuff like that. But this is the game of Survivor and its not the same. I really didnt want to be the leader. Just by the things I was doing around the camp and the relationships I had with the people early on, they volunteered me to be the leader. I didnt get up and say, “Hey pick me to be the leader, I think Ill be the best leader for the tribe.” I feel I could have done it. I could have been a really good leader. But I was scared to do it. Looking back, maybe I should have just went ahead and shown them how good of a leader I could have been, but I was hesitant because I knew that people really didnt want to take direction from me because of how they reacted to things I asked them to do. It was a difficult situation, my friend.
What surprised you most when you got to Africa?
GC: I was surprised by how it looked and how beautiful it was. It wasnt hot! I thought it was going to be 100 degrees over there and it wasnt, it was a pretty good temperature, like 80-something. It didnt get too hot. Man. Just being out there in that environment, with animals, elephants, gorillas and all that stuff surrounding you. Its pretty crazy.
Where did you go before that challenge when no one could find you?
GC: (chuckling) Well, I was hungry, man, and I knew the rest of the people on my tribe were too, and I knew I had a little bit of time before the challenge started. I decided to try to go catch some fish and bring it back to cook before the challenge so we could eat or whatever. I kind of got caught up in the moment because I was having some luck over there, I was catching a few fish, and I lost track of the time and then I didnt realize it was that close until I started hearing them call me. I was like, “Well shoot, Id better get back.”
In the last episode, voting out Jacquie instead of Kelly. Can you explain the logic there?
GC: Yeah, that happened because we felt that we werent doing too good in the challenges, and we knew Sugar was at Exile Island, that if she was to come back from Exile with her and Jacquie and Ace all together, that could be a pretty bad thing for the Fang members especially if Sugar had the immunity idol. And we didnt want them to have the numbers on us. We knew that Kelly and Ace, and also Kelly and Jacquie didnt get along. So there was no chance they would use her in an alliance because she didnt want to be in an alliance. So we chose to get rid of Jacquie to keep the power out of Ace and Sugars hands.
When you saw the elephant, can you describe how that was? How close were you and the guys in the boat?
GC: Id say we were probably 50 or 60 yards away maybe closer, because how the camp was set up were right along the edge of a lake, and it curves around, and as soon as it curves around the elephant was right there. Its really not too far. So Id say 50 yards, but maybe less. We were all kind of surprised because that was our first time really seeing an elephant that close to the camp. We had seen evidence that they had been that close, but we never really came face-to-face with them. It was kind of cool because we finally got to see it. It was amazing. Thats what Africa was all about.
When you went out on the boat by your self, it looked like on TV, the way it was edited, it looked like you got upset and just wanted to be off by yourself. Was that the case? Did you really forget there was a challenge? Why didnt they show us the fish that you caught?
GC: The people in camp all knew I was going to catch fish. I knew that I had enough time before the challenge. I knew that we did have a challenge and I was not purposely trying to be late for the challenge. I did catch fish, I caught a catfish and a tilapia. I brought them back to camp and we didnt have time to cook them or eat them because we had to go straight to the challenge. So when we got back from the challenge we ate the fish. The reason they didnt show it, I have no clue. I have no idea.
The show made it seem like you had an attitude about everything.
GC: Yeah, yeah, I noticed that. It was kind of hard at first to watch it because I know thats not how I really am. I do get upset at times, Im not going to lie, Im not perfect. Its just the fact that we had some really good conversations and really got to know each other, and all we did was sit around and talk and laugh and try to be positive about everything. And the one moment that you have a conflict with somebody, I feel like its the only parts that I really seen of myself. It was kind of like, it was hard at first but then its like, whatever. Its just a show. Its funny now.
Did the tribe sit around and talk strategy a lot?
GC: Yeah, we did. Thats all we did because we lost so much. We always knew we were headed for Tribal Council, so we were always going off and talking strategy. Thats all we did, talked about that, talked about home, whatever. We were just really bonding with each other, but thats not really what the people get to see.
Why do you think you guys lost so much?
GC: I think we lost so much just because we were at a physical disadvantage to the other team for whatever reason. I feel like we really did try, and they show me looking like I quit all the time and thats not really how it was. Like I said, thats TV, man. We went into every challenge with our minds set on winning because we needed that. We know how it feels to lose because we lost already, so its like wed go, “Next time, lets make sure we win that reward or that immunity so none of us have to go home.” It just wasnt working out. It wasnt working.
Did you know Sugar had the immunity idol after Crystal found it?
GC: Yeah, I sure did. I came back from somewhere, and they were in there sitting in the hut, and acting all paranoid and saying I had to vote Sugar out because she had the idol. And I was like, “How do you guys know she has it?” and they said, “Crystal looked in her bag.” I was like, “Well thats pretty scandalous but hey, at least we know she has it.” So yeah, I already knew.
Did you already know you were going to get voted out at Tribal Council, or was that a surprise?
GC: I wasnt sure because how everyone was acting, they were acting paranoid because Sugar had the immunity idol and they knew that for a fact now, and they really wanted to get rid of her because of that. I wasnt sure they were going to vote me out because of that reason.
So why didnt they vote Sugar out?
GC: Uh I dont know. I did tell Matty that I was like, “Its getting kind of hard out here for me, I just feel like Ive had enough of this.” I really dont like arguing with people. Im not that type of person. I try to avoid arguments any time I can. I walk away from it or whatever. I felt like there was no way for me to get away from it. I was just trapped with all these negative people and I felt like it was making me the same way. I was like, Im kind of tired of feeling like this. I know its a game and its a million dollars, but man this aint right. Im not supposed to be acting like this.
You actually did say you wanted to go home though, right?
GC: Yeah, I did tell Kenny and Matty that thats how I was feeling. You know, I told them for them to tell me, you know, to help me change my mind or give me a reason to feel better, but it just didnt happen.
So how do you answer criticism that youre a quitter?
GC: Well, you know, they could call it what they want. I know what really happened. I know how hard it really was. I felt like I took myself out of the game because I dont want to be portrayed as the person whos always arguing and yelling at people, or whos a negative person. Because thats not me, and I felt like the longer I was there, man – I was going to continue to be like that.
Is Aces accent fake or real?
GC: Hey man, I dont know! I think its real because every time I talked to him hes never slipped up and sounded like he didnt have an accent, but on the show last night there was a part on there that kind of sounded like he lost his accent for a second. So I dont know! I wonder.
What do you think of him as a player?
GC: I think he was a pretty good player. He cracked me up. Hes a character, definitely. Hes a good guy. I dont have nothing bad to say about him.
Watching the show is different from being on it, so did you know at the time that people were criticizing you for quitting during challenges?
GC: No, and I dont really feel like I quit in any of the challenges except for the one where we were digging in the sand. And I wasnt even the only one who quit! I just took a break for a second, and it looked like I quit, but thats not the reason why we lost. We were all digging and nobody found anything. I took a quick break, and thats what happened. But the other challenges I didnt quit. I cant think of one other challenge I quit. If it looked like that on TV, thats one thing, but I know myself that there was no other challenge that I didnt give 100%.
Were you surprised to learn Crystal was an Olympic gold medalist?
GC: Yeah I was very surprised. I thought she was maybe a basketball player or something because she so tall and she looked pretty athletic. But I didnt know shed won a gold medal. She didnt tell anybody while I was there. It was a big surprise to find out that. Especially considering how we did in some challenges! I was like, “Man, maybe we should have won more if we had an Olympic gold medalist on our team!” But that didnt help either.
Do you think she was holding something back for strategy, or is she just not as athletic as you would think an Olympian would be?
GC: She probably could have been holding back. She looks like she had it in her. I dont know, well see.
In your bio picture you look so happy and relaxed, and talk about how you like to be outdoors, and thats so different from the way we saw you on the show. Do you regret going on the show at all?
GC: No, I dont regret it because, I mean, its just TV. I know people out there who are watching the show, theyll see it and think about me one way. But Im comfortable with who I am. They can think whatever they want to think. Im fine with that because I know thats not really how it happened.
Was the experience anything like you imagined it would be?
GC: It was just a lot harder. Like you said, you really didnt see that and thats the type of person that I wanted to show, and who I tried to be most of the time. Even when I was out there, I dont recall any other times that we did argue that they didnt show. Every single time we argued its on there. They didnt forget one. But all the good times, all the times we laughed and joked around I didnt see any of that.
Are you rooting for Kenny and Matty?
GC: Yeah, Im rooting for Kenny. Im rooting for the Fang tribe still. Hopefully one of them will win. But its not looking so good for Fang.
At what point did you decide you wanted to be on the show?
GC: Ive watched a lot of the seasons. I missed osme here and htere. I really started watching when the Africa season started, but after I watched the season with China, I really started having the feeling that this might be the show for me, and maybe I should try to get on it. Thats when I started looking into how to do it.
How did you look into it? What did you do?
GC: I got on the CBS website and downloaded the application. I got a camera and started thinking of like different ways of how I could make this video to edit, so that even if they didnt pick me, I was just hoping that I would do something that at least remember me. I was trying to do anything to stand out or that I felt like it made me stand out. I filmed a little 3 minute audition tape and I sent it in and I didnt hear anything for a while, so I thought they werent interested, and then one day I got a call.
What did you end up doing that was different?
GC: I talked about my life and also I did talk about my job and my music andstuff like that. In between, I was throwing in little segments of me just acting goofy. I think maybe thats what caught their attention, was me acting goofy. I am pretty silly sometimes when you see me in person.
What would you say to future survivors that might go on future shows?
GC: I would say just really really know this. It is TV and what you you do is going to be out there for the world to see, so just make sure that youre OK with that. Other than that, man, just prepare. Prepare to starve. Prepare to deal with different personalitiies. Prepare to be taken out of your element.
Has this changed the direction of where youre headed with yourself?
GC: Yeah, Im working hard on my music career. Im thinking about pursuing it full time coming in the new year. January or February, Im releasing a new CD. Im going have my web site going where you can purchase my albums on line. Im going to be doing a TV show here locally in Oregon called “The Artist” where we show videos and promote local artists and do interviews and stuff. Keep it going.
What did you think of Randys trick of telling Ace to freeze?
GC: You know whats crazy? I didnt even know he did that until just last night. When the challenge happened, we went back to camp after losing, and I didnt know that even happened. Watching it last night I was like, “What the hell? That looks like a set up to me!” Im not saying it was, he could have just tricked him, but what was Ace thinking? No fault to Randy for telling a guy to freeze, since hes on the opposite team, but for Ace to actually listen to him, whats going on here? It seems like hes trying to help the other team win.
What did you miss the most while you were there?
GC: What I missed the most from home was some damn food. I was starving out there, man! I lost 23 pounds or something by the time I left, and I was only out there for 15 days.
What was the first thing you did when you got home? What was your first meal?
GC: I had some pizza, and the first thing I did was just visited with my family. And it was just weird, man! After being out there, to just come back home, it was just weird! Its a weird adjustment. Its kind of hard to explain. Its not just being in another country, its being in that environment with the game and all that. Its just kind of weird! I cant tell anybody anything. They didnt see me for this amount of time and all of a sudden, here I am and I cant say anything. It was good.
So when you got home, did you fall in love with your bed all over again?
GC: Oh yeah! And the shower!
Who would you say you were closest to out there?
GC: I was closest to Kenny while I was there. We had some good times out there. I wish they had shown that. I was trying to coach him on his dating and everything. Not that Im the love doctor or nothing. But I tried to give him a few pointers. I wish they had shown some of that, but Ill have those memories forever.
Thanks for taking the time!
GC: Thank you! Check the web site! Its going to be at www.gcizzle.com, but its under construction right now.
