Each weekday, EW will post the answers from a different player.
Marty Piombo knew he was going to be the villain onSurvivor: Nicaragua.
Producers told him as much in casting before the season even began.
Monty Brinton/CBS
“When Holly was finally voted off, we were all eating at Ponderosa,” explains Marty.
We should have all stood up and hugged her and welcomed her in.
Instead, I can speak for myself I/we were a–holes.
I regret that, almost more than anything in mySurvivorexperience even though this was not ‘in-game.'"
But I still carry that with me."
So, staying busy, enjoying the outdoors in NorCal.
What is your proudest moment ever from playingSurvivor?
So, technically the idol was as much hers as it was mine (maybe more hers!).
Alas, rules allow for only one person to have it.
Generally speaking, I can say that I was destined to be a villain in my season.
Probst made sure I understood that as I went through casting, as did the rest of casting.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I can embrace villain.
As we all know, some of our favoriteSurvivorplayers are, after all, “villains.”
To be fair, I’m sure that would’ve changed had I made it deeper into the game.
What is your biggest regret from yourSurvivorexperience?
Two main regrets come to mind.
The main one is, to not have gone farther with my key ally Dr Jill.
Quickly after that, we had Danny on board and Tyrone voting with us as well.
Once Jill and I were swapped to the young tribe, it was the beginning of the end.
Of course, I could have given her the idol and saved her… but it isSurvivorafter all.
But honestly, having her go was the lowest point in the game for me.
We were a pair and I have nothing but utmost respect for her.
She’s an amazing person, in and out of the game.
My second biggest regret was Holly.
We are close friends today, let me start with that.
We should have all stood up and hugged her and welcomed her in.
Instead, I can speak for myself I/we were assholes.
I regret that, almost more than anything in mySurvivorexperience even though this was not “in-game.”
But I still carry that with me.
Who tells their whole tribe they have an idol???!!
At least not folks that know better.
I was so bummed… no way to unwind that.
I appealed to production, and asked for Probst.
S— happens.
Just a little behind the scenes reality check.
How do you feel about the edit you got on the show?
I am totally FINE with my edit.
I got no problem with it.
This is a game.
I believe players make their edits.
There needs to be some accountability.
Do things get twisted sometimes?
Yes, they do.
In my case, I take full ownership of my edit, and I’m happy with it.
To me, having readRobinson Crusoeas a kid, I was fascinated with the story!
WhenSurvivordebuted, I was glued to the TV, and never missed an episode.
I found it utterly fascinating.
you’re able to’t pay to playSurvivor, no matter how much $$$ you have.
What was it like coming back to regular society after being out there?
Was there culture shock or an adjustment coming back?
It was very odd coming back to reality.
The setting and how the game is set up allows the player to be focused like this.
What are you going to say?
How will you say it?
Who will you say it to?
And after that what?
And so on and so forth in an endless loop!
You’re at a Starbucks looking around thinking WTF??!!
Then your brain slowly begins to adjust to normal life at least for me, that was my experience.
You are disconnected from life as we know it.
For some, that can be a good thing, or a bad thing.
Our first day, we spent every moment building the shelter, trying to get ready before nightfall.
We were high on the adrenaline of our first day and the game beginning.
We were all huddled together on the bamboo frame.
Then the rain began.
Rain like I’d never experienced before torrential did not do it justice.
(It rained like this for days without ever stopping one of the worst seasons on record).
At some point in the middle of the night (2 a.m.?
Beyond that one brief moment, there is absolutely nothing that I regret about my experience.
Whom do you still talk, text, or email with the most from your season?
I’m very close with Jill.
I talk to Holly often and we’ve stayed in touch and have shared some really special moments together.
I check in with Yve.
We lost track of Danny, but not for lack of trying.
I text or FB Purple Kelly once in a while.
I touch base with Benry every so often.
Did I mentioned Jane?
No, I didn’t.
I find that the community ofSurvivorplayers is, well, let me say, “unique.”
Meaning; I think we’re all a little “touched” that’s my opinion!
It’s a benefit of playing, meeting some really interesting folks.
I feel lucky and grateful.
I have never missed a single episode.Cagayanwas incredible……watching Vlachos was mesmerizing.
Who’s one player from anotherSurvivorseason you wish you could have played with or against and why?
I would have loved to play with the Dragonslayer or Bobby Mason.
I just know that building an alliance and working together with either of them would have been memorable.
I’ve met both and have a lot of respect.
Building bonds with him and riding that wave together would have been great.
I would’ve enjoyed to play the game with him.
If you could make one change to any aspect ofSurvivor, what would it be and why?
Try it one season and see what happens.
My biggest mistake out of the gates playing the game was around pacing.
I mean really slow.
So, I was looking around every day, thinking: “Why aren’t people playing?”
“What’s going on here?”
There were so many people that had never seen a single episode ofSurvivor.
In retrospect, I should’ve slowed it down and understood what was happening.
I think withSurvivorfans, you get faster action earlier in the season even if it is clueless or chaotic.
Finally, would you play again if asked?
