Final Four Strategies Unveiled
In the final few days of "Survivor: Thailand," eventual winner Brian Heidik had to hold off a challenge from three of his original Chuay Gahn tribe mates- Clay Jordan, Jan Gentry And Helen Glover.
On Thursday night, Helen put the original "Survivor" show's Sue Hawke speech to shame. But at the end, it was her vote that helped Brian over the top.
"My issue with Brian was more of a personal nature, feeling betrayed, and that was something that I wanted to deal with him," said Helen on The Early Show. "Three knives in my back but only one really hurt. So after all that we had been through, and the respect and the trust and the relationship that we've built, I just wanted to get some answers for myself. But the underlying vote, I was confident in, and that I never wavered on."
To an Early Show viewer named Lisa who phoned in, Brian said he still maintains his friendship with Helen. "Understand that we're very good friends. We're still very good friends, and it's just one of those things that it's a heated moment. All she wanted was a little apology and I think I gave her what she wanted."
"Survivor" host Jeff Probst complimented Brian on his ability to give people what they want.
"About midway through, I did notice that he was extremely smart at the game," he said to The Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen.
"Brian's the first guy to figure out that Julie likes to have people nod back at her. And then he knows that I like just a little subtle hand shake, so he gives me the little tiny handshake and figures out what you need. Used car salesman. It worked. Best sale of his life," Probst said and Survivor's executive producer, Mark Burnett compared him with "Survivor'"s first winner, Richard Hatch.
So what does the self-professed "wolf in sheep clothing" think about his fellow tribe members? "Helen, wonderful. Clay, Clay, humorous - humorous, a comedian. Makes you laugh. And Jan, just a great friend."
This was the most mature group of the "Survivor" shows to date. Mature, in age that is. Clay, 46, walked out with $100,000; Jan, 54, was the juror's favorite, had Brian chosen her instead of Clay; and Helen, 47, ended the game with her head high.
Had fate favored Clay, he said he would have picked Brian, a strategic and loyal choice . "I felt I had a better chance to get Brian than Helen or Jan. They were strong. They were very well liked. Very well respected."
As for Helen and Jan, their lack of leadership was the reason behind their demise, according to another caller who wanted to find out why they both deferred to Brian.
"It's a tough thing out there," said Helen. "Anybody that jumps out in front to be an obvious leader, which trust me I had to hold back on. I mean anybody that knows me knows I'm going to jump right out in front and take a leadership role. Out there, it's a whole different game. You do that; you're out of the game. They'll vote you off in a heartbeat." And Jan agreed, though she noted the two women shared kind of un-discussed bond together.
So why didn't Helen pull Jan aside at the critical time? Because both Clay and Brian had said Jan was next to go, Helen explained. "And that day she was off by herself. And I thought she was crying and I came up to both these guys and I said, I can't do this. She's over there crying. Please, I think we need to tell her she's going, fully aware that I'm thinking she's going, and it's me going."
Brian collected his check from Burnett and made sure there were enough zeros on it.
"I'm going to take care of business, take care of the people around me and take care of myself," he told Burnett. "It's so funny how people are talking about how much they want to spend with it. Let's talk about how we're going to double or triple it. I'm going to try to do good with it, increase, increase, increase. Build, build, build."
Chat live with Brian Heidik, the sole Survivor, today at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. And on Monday, Dec. 23, chat with Helen Glover, Jan Gentry and Clay Jordan at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. ET/10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 12 noon PT.
And to bid on such Survivor: Thailand items as the voting urn and the votes that made Brian a billionaire, go to www.ebay.com/survivor. Proceeds benefit the Elizabeth Glazier Pediatric AIDS Foundation.