“I would do it again in a heartbeat”
-An Interview with Elisabeth Marie





Christopher: Hi y’all...as you may have noticed, in the dark, deceptive world of Survivor: Okinawa, I was written as the biggest media whore from the onset. While I’d like to say that Mario was inventing that aspect of my personality...he wasn’t!

So, who better than me to host an intimate gab-fest with the ousted castaways. The interviews are actually done live...not simply in a cut & paste question and answer format, so all of the answers are spontaneous!

Hopefully, my column will help satiate your Okinawa appetite while you wait for the next exciting installment...

Without further ado...let’s welcome Elisabeth Marie! Elisabeth was a member of the Sato Tribe, the pre-determined “good guys” of Survivor: Okinawa. Elisabeth was clearly destined for sweetheart status, with her teddy bear, athleticism and go-getter attitude. Sadly, Sato wasn’t in the market for a sweetheart, and Elisabeth has the distinction of being the first person voted out of the game.

Welcome Elisabeth!



Elisabeth: Ready for me stud? I'm about on my last leg right now, but I'm survivin, But, anything for Chris. I got the worst cold today, unbelievable, so...be gentle!


Christopher: Oh, Liz – you know me...I’m always gentle! So, Elisabeth, as the first person voted out - was that hard for you? Humbling?


Elisabeth: Hmm, humbling?


Christopher: Right...I know that none of us wanted to be first...but on that first day - we all realized it could be one of us...


Elisabeth: Alright, this is going to seem strange, but...no. I know, I know, that sounds so egotistical, but you have to understand, even I admit that I’m one of the most humblest people that walk this earth. So even going into the game, of course I thought I stood a chance, but I would always think, well, at least I’m here. It’s hard to explain, I mean, I wanted to win, but at the same time, I just never really expected to. When I was voted out, and I’ll always remember it, but I just sat there and just, you know, sighed and looked around and was like, ok, well, that didn’t work out. I expected it, never did I expect to win, so you know what? No, I wasn’t humbled, I already was.


Christopher: You've played Survivor once previously, right? I just wanted to give the fans a head up - you have made it much further before...how did you place in your previous attempts?


Elisabeth: Yes, Around the World Survivor 4 and then followed that up with an unpublished game in Japan or something, each time consecutively worsening my position. So, ya know, go figure! Fourth in ATWS4 and second onto the jury in the other. So close, but not close enough. And then we all know what happened in Okinawa...my reputation precedes me.


Christopher: Gotcha. Was your experience in Okinawa what you expected it to be?


Elisabeth: Absolutely, beyond a doubt in my mind. I knew going in, this is going to be huge. It's being run by someone so prestigious as Mario, so of course there was always that stigma...well, how could it not be great? The people on my tribe were the best, loved ‘em all dearly. Of course, you can make the argument that they stabbed me in the back and or lied to me, but that's Survivor. You take it or leave it, but it's still there and that's just part of the game.


Christopher: How did you feel about the “good vs. evil” aspect of the original teams? Did anyone on your tribe not deserve their “good” or “evil” moniker?


Elisabeth: Oh lord, I knew this one was coming! Darn you Chris, lol, but yes and no. You probably won't believe this, but I didn't have a clue about the good against evil aspect of the game. Whether other people did, I have no clue, but I didn't, I'm such a goob! Anyways, well, I don't think you can label someone good or bad in survivor. Originally in the Marquesas, people would have placed Kathy immediately on the bad tribe. Whiner, drama, whatever, you're outta here. But at the end, do you think that decision would have been the same? Absolutely not, and Kathy would have then ended up on the good tribe. So who am I to say, well, you're good and you're bad? Who's naughty and who's nice? It's like, c'mon, I'm not Santa! So the tribes were what they were, it's just...that. You cannot take one person off of one tribe and place them on the other, in my opinion, without drastically changing fate in the game.


Christopher: I hear ya! So, even though nobody was good or evil per se...what 3 players would you have picked from Kamiya had you been an Outcast?


Elisabeth: Had I been an outcast (which by that point I think I probably would have been with Henry gone in my place), I think I would have chosen Joni definitely. Then I would have definitely picked you...and Emma (Isabella). To me, Joni would have been chosen without a doubt, she is just a guaranteed ally. Without knowing what would happen, I would want to take the person that, at least in my perception, was the safest. To me that was Emma, the soft spoken country bumpkin, or whatever accent she has as of now. You, Chris, I would have chosen just to upset the balance of Kamiya, to take their axel and throw it into chaos. I'm tempted to say I would have considered Michelle, but she was too strong of an opponent for me to throw myself into a tribe with, so I think that's it!


Christopher: Very interesting...sooooooo - on a related note (and this one might be a toughie)...if you could pick a tribe of 8, who would have been on it?


Elisabeth: Lordy, why do you have to do this to me Chris?

I'm going to have to say, again, Joni. We're just friends, I would be a fool not to put a "friend" on my tribe. Because most of the time, though not all the time, a friend is a solid ally. Then I would have taken Hogan, for strength in the challenges. Geesh, here I go again, but you. You were just strong, and a strong ally...but formidable enemy. Lance, of course, he was one I could trust, whether he's boring to others or not. Mike, for building, definetely. Beth, because she is someone that once you are aligned with her, the majority of the time she will not break that. Hmm, that's six I think....uh, Henry. He's either a strong ally or someone to deflect the attention off of yourself with, so Henry. One last one, I'm just going to go with....Murtz. Always one to stir up some drama, and with decent athletic skills, he could, again, be someone I could either ally with or deflect the attention away from myself with.


Christopher: Verrrrrry interesting tribe...I can't help but wonder how we would have done, Captain (*smiles* especially since you picked 9 tribe members!).


Elisabeth: You never know, you just don't in Survivor, interesting how small changes can be so drastic though...something to gnaw on for a bit.


Christopher: Reading the episodes, who was your best ally?


Elisabeth: My best ally, from then and to the end of time, was Lance. He just was NOT going to turn on me, never could I foresee him writing my vote down on that parchment. Again, that's a vote NOT against me, so of course he was my number one ally. Why wouldn't you trust someone, boring or not, that would do that for you?


Christopher: It's nice to see that your instincts about your best ally were on target. So...on the opposite spend of the spectrum, who was your biggest “nemesis” in Okinawa? Who did you think it was at the time?


Elisabeth: My biggest enemy, after viewing the episodes and learning what I know now, was far and way David. I didn't know it, but had it not been for him, Henry would have been the easy choice for tribal council. But, what I didn't foresee was that David was very strict in keeping to his alliance, and Henry was in it. He had control over Amy's vote, and Amy had control of the other's votes, so beyond a doubt, David. However, at the time it was Henry. Simply put, he got nervous and spread vicious rumors, the likes of which largely lead to my ouster. So they were both nemeses, but David was definitely the strategic heft behind the vote. So, why not, I gotta hand it to him, David, you beat me fair and square, nice job.


Christopher: Very interesting...it's always odd how the "behind the scenes" moves can be more dangerous than the more obvious enemies


Elisabeth: Absolutely.


Christopher: This might be a little too obvious, since you were only involved in one challenge...but, what WAS your favorite challenge? Were there any challenges you would not have wanted to participate in?


Elisabeth: Oh, being the competitor I am, I love, love, love the Survivor challenges. Can I say that again? I LOVE the challenges, so the biggest blow to me when I got voted out in Okinawa was to not be able to play all the games. Don't get me wrong, the first challenge was a blast, but c'mon, fighting with sticks? The Morse Code-like challenge? I love them, always will. I never hate any Survivor challenges, unless, I guess, the first one! Haha, because honestly, had we not lost I wouldn't have been out first. Plain and simple, darn that challenge!


Christopher: Yeah! Over at Kamiya we never would have guessed in a million years that you'd be first out after your magnificent performance in the first challenge. In fact - we bet on it! You didn't get a single vote from our side. Watching the episodes, has anybody surprised you in a positive way with their strategy and/or confessionals?


Elisabeth: Joni, that girl surprises me more and more every day. Just when you think she's down and out, one foot out the door, she blasts that door open and keeps on going. She's a fighter, she's a strategist...she's a survivor. I love her to death, she's just a great overall player. You think she's going to do one thing, and then she does another. Amazes me every day, every time I read. I told her before this started...you're never out of it, because in my heart, you're the winner. Till this day, she still has yet to prove me wrong. Oh gosh Chris, you made me cry for a second, *laughs*... Phew, alright, moving on...



Christopher: Sorry! *hug* And, yeah - I love me some Joni, too. So...this kind of relates to my previous question...watching the episodes, has anybody surprised you in a negative way with their strategy and/or confessionals?


Elisabeth: I'm going to just have to go with Isabella, I mean, she's a great girl. But I'm always one for honesty, and it's just like- c'mon, drop the act and be yourself. At this point, I'm just praying for her to be Isabella, because god forbid she wins...who won? Isabella or Emma? It's just like the mirror comment, you try so hard to be someone else that when you look in the mirror...you don't know who you're looking at. Nothing against Emma, Isabella, whatever she is now, but I just wish...I just wish she'd be Bella sometimes, that's all.


Christopher: I am so with you on that one...so with you. If she manages to last, I wonder what her strategy will be. We'll see how it plays out for her... Now, here's a question I will ask everybody - BUT...


Elisabeth: I'm ready, hit me with your best shot...


Christopher: It has a specific significance, for you, I would think...since there were a few rumors back in the day... Did you find yourself having a crush on another castaway?


Elisabeth: ...except that, *laughs*. Um, no, lol, I have enough trouble handling my love life, or lack of, in my reality. In reality television, in Survivor? Um, no, I'm no Amber...no Robs’ for me!


Christopher: Good - I am glad you had the chance to clear that up.


Elisabeth: Yeah, Henry, no offense, but if I'm going to come onto someone... you're not gonna be the first.


Christopher: Okay, I am going to list some adjectives, and I want you to match them up with a Castaway for me...K?


Elisabeth: Alright, go for it


Christopher: Smartest?


Elisabeth: Amy


Christopher: Trustworthy?


Elisabeth: Lance


Christopher: Fun?


Elisabeth: You, you sassy one!


Christopher: *laughs* Here’s a hard one - Annoying?


Elisabeth: Isabella, for not being herself, that just bugs me.


Christopher: Next one - Out of Touch with Reality?


Elisabeth: Henry.


Christopher: Kindest?


Elisabeth: Beth.


Christopher: Cutest?


Elisabeth: I gotta admit, it's a tie between you and...David. His picture on the site is just *laughs* I like it! Oh yeah *laughs* just checked the site...you and David for sure!


Christopher: David IS cute! Toughest?


Elisabeth: Toughest? Joni, don't underestimate the quiet ones!


Christopher: Agreed! People don't quite -get- her yet... Alrighty - 6 more questions...Here's a big one for you: Would you like to set the record straight about anything?


Elisabeth: First of all, the Romeo and Juliet thing was not romantic AT ALL, lol, alright - that was just me being a dork! Secondly, I didn't just lay down and roll over, I didn't object to the alliance because I was naive. I objected to the alliance partly because of Lance and partly kind of the – “screw you attitude”. Seriously, I wasn't going to go with them because it was the "safe" thing to do. I wasn't going to sit there and let them say, oh, we "dragged" Liz to the final five. Um, no, if I was going to get to the end I was going to get their on my own merit and stand my ground. “You think you have an easy final four? Well guess what, things just got complicated!”


Christopher: I understand. Boy, do I understand...I faced the same thing with my initial alliance offer. I simply wasn't happy about who was left out of it. What was your favorite moment in Okinawa?


Elisabeth: My Harrii, or celebration at Sato. That was a blast, because otherwise things were just...dull. Again, spice things up a bit, break up some of the strategizing for a bit. Going into the immunity, we needed to be a team, and just letting go of all inhibitions and just being, just being together, was really what we needed. It wasn't always Camp Panic Attack, believe it or not, we had a pretty darn good time out there. Besides, being on Survivor, that's like the ultimate diet! Forget slim fast, sign up for Survivor and win some cash and make some friends while you're at it. So, yeah, that's that!


Christopher: Worst moment in Okinawa?


Elisabeth: Being voted out, plain and simple. You just kinda sit there and go, well, what do I do now? You're just riding this huge wave when you realize, wow, I'm on Survivor! That when you get voted out, it's just...strange. Like they don't want you there, you can't help but take it personally a little bit. You'd be a fool to say being voted out was one of the happiest times of your life, why? Because it, it...sucks, *laughs*!


Christopher: I understand. Been there. Biggest regret?


Elisabeth: No regrets, you strive for the gold and if you don't reach it, well, bronze ain’t so bad either.


Christopher: What, if anything, did you learn about yourself?


Elisabeth: Oh god, I learned so much about myself. When you go out there and build this, essentially, this false society, it's hard to watch as it just all comes crumbling down. So I learned, definitely, never take things for granted. What's there one day isn't there the next, so live life to its fullest. You always try, and if you fail, well, you gave it a run for your money. Again, no regrets, just live life the way it's supposed to be lived! Grab the bull by the horns and ride it for all it's worth while you can, basically.


Christopher: Very nicely said, Liz... And, finally...would you do it again?


Elisabeth: I would do it again in a heartbeat, even if I had to pay for it. I'd go out there for nothing, not the fame, not the fortune, but redemption. To play Survivor, to learn about yourself, gain some friends, and have a darn good time doing it...in a heartbeat. You told me I could go right now, I'd be at your door with my sack. You know what, screw the clothes, screw the money, to heck with ratings and fan opinions, I'd go out there for nothing. In a heartbeat, beyond a doubt.


Christopher: A true Survivor... Thanks for taking the time to chat with me.


Elisabeth: My pleasure, and one shout out...


Christopher: You bet.


Elisabeth: My grandma, sorry I couldn't have done better and gotten to that family reward challenge...I'll do better next time.


Christopher: I'm sure she is proud of you. And I know that the fans are going to enjoy getting just a little bit more of your perspective on the game...


Elisabeth: Thank ya much.


Christopher: And that’s the end of the Elizabeth Marie interview. I hope y’all had a good time reading just a little bit more about Okinawa, and what it was like to live in Mario’s World.

Next week, I’ll be back with another Castaway. Keep reading Okinawa! It only gets more intense...Episode 7 is a doozy.





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