Debbie Beebee was the 11th person voted out of Survivor: Tocantins. I had a chance to talk with her about the fries she won in the SurvivorAuction, why her tribe Timbira might be the stupidest tribe in history…and who she wants to win it all. Here is what the middle school principle from Alabama had to say….
Billy Debney: Hey Debbie hows it going?
Debbie Beebee: Hey Billy I’m good thanks!
BD: So I wanna know…what’s the story behind you getting cast for the show?
DB: You know what it’s crazy…im not exactly 100% sure. I applied for season 2 and went through all the interviewing…I was obsessed with Survivor at that point. I didn’t get selected….then all of a sudden I got a call asking if I would apply again. There’s a few rumors going around…I mean I was Alabama Middle School Principle of the year so they may have found me that way.
BD: Very cool. So what was your game plan going in?
DB: My game plan was to be myself. Im really upbeat and goofy…I mean you saw all the back flips and that kind of stuff. But my main thing was to not be bossy. To kind of sit back and listen. I did that because being out there and being starving and dehydrated…I really had to choose my battles. And it wasn’t to get in a big mess with people early on thats for sure!
BD: Do you think you were portrayed properly on TV?
DB: Um I think so…I mean I took a lot of grief from people at the beginning saying I wasn’t giving them enough. Not trashing talking..but I was just having fun and enjoying playing my game. I mean there are things I wish I wouldn’t have done…I would sit there with my hands over my face when I watched it…like my melt down “oh I’m a 46 year old woman”. (Laughs).
BD: Is there anything you would have done diffrently?
DB: I think it would have been to get Timbira’s brains back. And to get Tyson and Brendan to talk and realize they aren’t out to get each other. And for us all to get together and continue on. I had a hard time when Tyson got voted out…he just kept me laughing and kept life going.
BD: Alright now I am a sucker for fries…
DB: (laughs).
BD: I would have probably given all my money for those fries…how amazing did they taste?
DB: First of all let me go on record saying I DO know how to add. But when I saw those fries I didn’t listen to another word Jeff said. I would have given all my money as well. I am a fry freak. I wasn’t listening…I just thought “give me those dang fries!” So I do know how to add! But those fries were a little cold…but soaked in ketchup and mayo….they were the most delicious fries ever!
BD: Now when did you first make the decision to kind of move away from Coach?
DB: Really about 2 to 3 days prior to what you saw. What you didn’t see was the rest of the tribe really approached me and said…I know you don’t want to do this…but we gotta take Coach out. He is driving people nuts….But yea I finally got on board with them.
BD: Here is a big question that many people HAVE to be asking….why did Timbira let JT, Stephen and Taj get as far as they did?
DB: I think we are gonna go down as the stupidest tribe in history. I mean we had the numbers…what were we thinking??? But as soon as the merge happened…JT and Stephen really got Tyson and Brendan to not trust each other. Basically Tyson and Brendan started freaking out. So we got rid of Brendan….then just got rid of the rest of us. We are crazy.
BD: How much of a boost did it give you to see your husband?
DB: You know what it was awesome! I mean we obviously travel before the game starts. So at that point it had been really been about 40 days. I had no idea who was coming…my husband…my mom…who knows. But it really gives you a boost when you see someone you love.
BD: Would you have really been happy with 3rd place?
DB: Oh man I have been asked that all day. Honestly at that point…I really meant it. Because I knew I was on the block after Tyson was gone. So 3rd would really have been great for me. But had I actually been sitting there with that necklace on in the final 3…I really dont know if I would have done it. But I did believe myself at the time!
BD: Alright last question for you…If you could hand pick the winner right now…who would you pick?
DB: You know I’ve been asked that several times…and I hate to say that right now because I have no idea what these people are going to do in the next weeks. I have a lot of respect for what Taj is doing..I think Stephen is playing a master…he is the mastermind here and none of us gave him enough credit. We all thought JT was running the show. So I would say you have to watch out for Stephen and Taj.
BD: Well thanks so much Debbie! Great talking to you
DB: Thanks Billy!
