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Sandra Diaz-Twine and Kathy O'Brien from "Survivor"
Recently we had a chance to talk to the Sole Survivor of Pearl Islands - Sandra Diaz-Twine. Sandra was known for speaking her mind, her "as long as it's not Sandra" style of playing the game and her hatred for Johnny Fairplay (aka Jon Dalton). On the other end of the spectrum, there was Kathy O'Brien from Survivor: Marquesas. Kathy engineered one of the most unlikely comebacks in history and ended up third in her original season. Let's see what these two ladies have to say about the game, All-Stars and what it takes to get on the show... dvd/authority: Were you a fan of the show before you applied to be on it? If so, what was your favorite season/player? Sandra: I became a fan of "Survivor" since the first season, and as the seasons passed it just kept getting better and re-inventing itself. I just got hooked. My favorite season before "Pearl Islands" was "Thailand" and my favorite player was Rob Mariano (aka "Boston Rob") from "Marquesas". Rob says the darndest things, just like me. Kathy: How funny - Never watched - well, watched the last episode of "Borneo" - Season 1 and a few from "Australia". I was intrigued but not a big fan! dvd/authority: What made you want to apply for the show and did you think you had a realistic chance of getting on? Sandra: After Season 6 (Amazon) ended, Jeff (Probst) said "If you have what it takes to be on 'Survivor' send in an application…" and right then and there I got on the internet and printed out an application and started filling it out. I thought "even if they don't pick me, at least I tried." Kathy: My fellow office worker bugged the heck out of me to apply - when she really wanted to go but was too chicken! After 15 copies of the application were mysteriously placed on my office chair each day, I finally said "OK - enough is enough - let's do it" - we slapped it together in 3 hours and sent it out overnight to make the deadline - it totally a fluke! dvd/authority: After making it on the show, what would be your advice to anyone who wants to try and get on the show? Is your audition video more important or your application or do they look at the "entire package"? Sandra: When making your video, just be yourself. Your video is important in that you only have 3 minutes to impress the folks on the other end. If they like the video then they take a look at the application. Kathy: The video is key - be yourself, not a Survivor - show them your inner self with your real laugh, your real dreams, or maybe it's just a goofy day in the life of! dvd/authority: If you didn't make your season which other show would you have liked to compete on (i.e. Thailand, Amazon, etc.) and which would have been the least? Sandra: Had I applied before (Pearl Islands), I would have loved to be on the cast of Thailand. My least favorite would have been "Africa" because of the heat and conditions. Kathy: I've watched Australia - and that's my favorite - the innocence was still present - now the game has become difficult - more cut throat - since more people have watched and understand the dynamics. dvd/authority: Everyone who competed in a "Survivor" was at least asked to be on All-Stars. What are your thoughts on this? Sandra: I was invited, but couldn't go because I was recuperating from having gotten parasites on Pearl Islands. I was also losing my hair and I was just trying to gain my weight back. I had gotten very scared of the waters out there because of the sea life. When they announced the Pearls again (Editor's Note: "Pearl Islands" and "All-Stars" were filmed in close proximity to one another) I was like "No Way!" My advantage would have been that the players out there didn't know much about my season since they started filming right after it started. No one would have known where I fell in my season unless Rupert had revealed it. dvd/authority: Who do you feel should have been on "All-Stars" that wasn't? Sandra: More winners and runner-ups and the few entertaining people that made the show the success that it is. Kathy: I think Brian from Thailand - as sinister as he can be, he should have been on the All Stars - we needed more culprits to balance off Rob M. I also think we needed a few more strategic players and fewer popular players. The mix also needed one or two more characters with huge integrity and character - like Paschal (Marquesas)- someone with that type of respect can really confuse people. dvd/authority: Do you feel Amber was a deserving winner for "All-Stars" and if not, who would you have liked to see win? Sandra: She deserved to win, I don't care how you get to the top as long as you get there. Kathy: Amber was not deserving - she played an excellent game of latching onto Rob and using sex to get the win - but let's face it - Rob M. would have won easily if he simply gave Lex and Tom more respect - Rob truly treated them like second class citizens - which made no sense because Rob was ruining his chances to get a good jury behind him - so in actuality Rob M. is heralded for playing a great game - but look what he did to the jury - if Rob had used more finesse and style and respect - he should have won it - he's good at the game.....but reality of friendships damaged entered into this game and caused his loss. Honestly - no on else on the Chapera tribe played well - they were in the final 5 because of their wins - not so much strategy. dvd/authority: "All-Stars" was filled with great players like Rob C. and Richard Hatch. Who would you say has played the game the best of all (all seasons)? Sandra: All the winners played a good game and the runners-up as well. I couldn't imagine it any other way. I don't feel everyone that won deserved it, but I'm happy with all the outcomes. Kathy: Rob Cesterino - Amazon, Brian Heidek - Thailand, at least 3-4 from Australia were good at the game, Neleh, Paschal and Vecepia were strategic from Marquesas, T-Bird from Australia - but a lot of the All Stars were good. dvd/authority: "Survivor" is an Emmy-winning show for "Best Reality Series". Where do you see the show going? How much life do you think is left in it? Sandra: I think "Survivor" has at least two more years or so. As long as they keep re-inventing the twists and turns and getting colorful characters that we love and hate. I think it will be around a few more seasons. Kathy: I think it has at least 2-3 more years - Mark Burnett and his producers totally know when to change it up just enough to grab attention. Most importantly they know great TV - the editing, coloration, music, editing, editing, editing makes this show.

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