‘Survivor’ Cast-Off: I Played Way More Strategically Than You Saw On TV — Here’s How

Hearts broke around America when [SPOILER] was eliminated from ‘Survivor’ on the Dec. 2 episode. HollywoodLife.com spoke EXCLUSIVELY to this week’s cast-off, who walked us through the grueling moments before tribal council and explained the strategic gameplay we never saw on TV.

There was so much more to this week’s Survivor cast-off than just strength in challenges…we just never got to see it. Luckily, HollywoodLife.com got to catch up with the eliminated contestant to get the scoop on everything we DIDN’T see — and so much more. Read our EXCLUSIVE interview here!

Yep, the time finally came and fan-favorite Joe Anglim was sent packing on this week’s episode. After making it through an hour and 20 minutes in the grueling heat during an immunity challenge, the Season 31 physical threat shocked everyone by passing out, thus losing his chance to win the coveted necklace. Although Joe pushed Jeremy, Spencer and Tasha to side with him and vote out Abi from the girls’ alliance, the rest of the players were simply too intimidated by him, and with the exception of Keith, all cast their votes his way. Read our interview with the manbun rockin’ yoga master here:

Did you have any faith Jeremy and Spencer would vote with you? Or were you pretty confident at that tribal council that you were going home?

There was always part of me that hoped — and going into that it was pretty 50/50. When I left the beach, though, I wasn’t feeling very confident about Tash and Spencer’s body language. It rubbed me a little funky. But I really put a lot of trust in Spencer, especially at this point in the game, and unfortunately there was just not enough time before tribal. And I was out of it, mentally, after that challenge. I really lost a lot of juice. It was a rough go.

Not that it would’ve made a difference, but did Keith just have NO idea what was going on?

He did, but he really kind of…his game was just ‘Tell me which way to vote.’ And that was actually a pretty good strategy at this point, because it wasn’t a threat. So myself, Abi, [Kelley] Wentworth and Keith — I was pitching to them that Tash wanted Abi out. So Abi’s chattering and going, ‘I wanna get Tash.’ So now, I can get Keith and Wentworth on board to get Tash. And I go to Spence and I say, ‘Do we wanna vote Tash or Abi?’ Because I thought Abi was a big threat with the girls’ alliance because everyone wanted to bring Abi. So I’m playing both sides with Spencer and I put a lot of trust in Spence. I’m kind of saying, ‘Which way do you wanna swing?’ And, unbeknownst to me, he’s in a final three with Jeremy and Tash, and even Kimmi floating around there somewhere. So, when they blindsided me, they didn’t tell Keith, because Keith would’ve told me.

They figured me and Keith would vote Tash, and if I played an idol, Tash would’ve gone home. But I was trying to get Spencer, Tash and Jeremy to vote Abi. It’s just tricky. It was a tricky vote. Looking back, I wish I targeted Spencer or Jeremy or even Wentworth — put it on ’em and really tried to change the tide. For me, it was about common denominators and eliminating the person who had the most influence and most sway. Everyone wanted to pick Abi, so Abi needed to go.

You were obviously a physical threat, but they rarely showed you strategizing. What was your game plan strategy-wise out there?

I love this game, but there’s just not enough time to show everything. You’re seeing three days worth of footage in one episode, there’s just not enough time! Which is so unfortunate, because the level of gameplay and conversations and the evolution of this season was so amazing. My game plan was to embrace my role as the “challenge prowess guy” (laughs) and go out there and align with the other big threats in the game and really commit to them, but still trust and build relationships with everybody. And then once I get to a point in the merge where I can be loyal to my core three or four big threats, if I feel like their trust was fading, then I’m going to go to the bottom, and go back and forth. Take a threat out, take a low totem pole out, so that the numbers would swing that both factions would need me for one or two votes at a crucial vote. If I got rid of Abi, I could’ve gone back and gotten rid of Jeremy or Tash…

What surprised you most when you watched back on TV?

I guess I really didn’t notice as much of the snarkiness that was really visual. You can tell body language, but, especially in challenges, if I said something or did something, the girls’ eye rolls…I’m watching people, but I guess I miss a lot! It’s just funny to see a little bit of the people overdoing it. I think everyone embellished their character a little this season. It’s fun to watch the way people play a certain way and their personalities. I have my relationships with them, but how do they really feel about me? What’s for the camera and what’s for TV? But it’s all good!

What was different playing the second time around?

I think the biggest difference is…the dynamic is just completely different. You know who you’re getting involved with  a month ahead of time. So I have 32 potential players who I’m pretty positive I know. I can narrow down to 15 of who I think’s going. My first time, you’re so overwhelmed with this new beast that is Survivor and figuring it out from all the facts: Production, how things work, tribal, the challenges, learning the ‘dance,’ as I like to call it, of how this operates. But then you go into this next season, now you know all the other stuff and you can just focus on the game and players and relationships and not be in awe. Because I was in awe all the time, all these amazing things going on — it distracts you from the game. I was fangirling all the time! Even still, I was fangirling this season with all the great players. Just to be part of something new they’ve never done before? Holy crap! That’s awesome.

Who do you think is the biggest threat left? Wentworth’s lookin’ pretty good…

Wentworth’s looking pretty good, but as crazy as it sounds, I think Kimmi is in a pretty good spot. She’s aligned with Jeremy, and she’s just..being a mother and a parent, she can relate with Keith. And she’s got this girls’ thing going on and she’s willing to make moves. Once she lost Stephen [Fishbach], he was her closest ally, so now she’s kind of on her own. As crazy as this season has been, it can go any way. It comes down to who wins immunity, who wants to win.

[EDITOR’S NOTE]: When we spoke to Stephen last week, he also told us Kimmi was a big threat. Interesting…

Would you do another season?

If I’m blessed enough to get it, I would probably do it. It’s really gonna depend on where I’m at in my life and what I got going on. If I have a really awesome career going and making a million dollars a year, I might not go out and play (laughs). But I love the show. I can’t talk about it enough.  

HollywoodLifers, did you want Joe to win Survivor? Who do you think will take home the million dollar prize now?