Interview with "Survivor"'s Todd Herzog

AE: What’s the most interesting thing that happened that didn’t get shown?
TH: I think the one thing that didn't get shown hugely was the fact that Courtney and I were so close right off the bat. We got along from Day 6 on. We were together at all times, we had this really sarcastic humor together. But they made it almost look like we hated each other. I think the reason we argued so much was because we were so close.

AE: Towards the end, it seemed like you guys almost had a brother/sister relationship, especially at the live show.
TH: Exactly. I couldn't have been more proud of the person sitting next to me in the final two.

AE: There was a lot of whining about betrayal and backstabbing. Hello? This is Survivor!
TH: Right! [laughs]

AE: Did you get tired of being called a slippery little sucker when all you did was play the game?
TH: You know, it's funny because my favorite character every season is either the manipulator or the bad guy, so when I started being called the "schemer" and the "slippery little sucker," I laughed. I was like "this is great because I'm going to like me on TV." [laughs]

It was almost an honor to be known as the manipulator in the game, the puppet master. It's fun. I enjoy it. I don't mind it one little bit. To me it's a game, and that was part of my game. Those people who go out there to just have "an experience with friends," well, yeah. I made friends, it was great, it was an awesome experience, but I came to win a million dollars.

AE: And you did.
TH: And I did.

AE: You’re frequently identified as Todd Herzog, gay Mormon. Is it important that folks know those two things about you?
TH: I don't think it's important to me. I don't know. It automatically causes people to judge, to be honest. If people want to know how I was raised, I'll tell them. If people want to know who I am, I'm not afraid to tell them. I think the people who do judge me and say, "You can't be both," are actually the sinners.

AE: As such a fan of the game, you clearly knew what to expect most of the time. What was your most surprising experience?
TH: Watching the show, I was surprised that Amanda wanted to get rid of me, that she tried to plot against me so much, because I honestly thought she had my back throughout the entire game. The one thing I have to say is that I liked that it was all talk and she never actually did anything about it.

AE: That was my next question, actually. You and Amanda seemed close, but then she turned on you towards the end. Did that bother you or is it all just part of the game? Are you still friends?
TH: We're still friends. I still get along with her great.

AE: Have you stayed close to anyone after the show?
TH: Oh yeah. I'm actually really close with Courtney and Frosti. We're really tight. Love the kids.

AE: Was Jean-Robert really as clueless as he was edited to be?
TH: Jean-Robert is exactly how he seemed. Jean-Robert is Jean-Robert and there's no other way to put it. He's just a take-it-or-leave-it kind of person, and he doesn't care one way or the other.

AE: Obviously things worked out to your favor, but do you regret giving the hidden immunity idol to James and telling him where to find the other one?
TH: Not at all. I actually told myself going in that if I was to find the hidden immunity idol, I'd like to win the game without having to use it.

AE: I was really shocked when Eric and Courtney thought you'd made up the story about your sister's miscarriage, especially the cruel way Courtney mocked the situation. Just for the record, did you make it up?
TH: No, it was very true. I was a little bit hurt by the comments made on TV. The night it happened, Courtney approached me and told me it was all said in the heat of the moment and she really did believe me, but she did apologize out there. She also apologized to my family the day it was aired, which was really nice of her.

It was Eric who surprised me more, because he never mentioned anything about it. Even in his after interviews, when he'd been voted off, he was like, "I don't know if it's true or not." That takes a lot of nerve to still say that about somebody.

AE: Is there anything you would do differently if you had the chance to do it again?
TH: Not a thing.

AE: Why bother if you won, right?
TH: Exactly. I must have done something right if I'm sitting right here.

AE: If you're asked to compete in the next season's Fans vs. Favorites, or a later All-Star edition, would you do it?
TH: I would do it. Yep.

AE: Will you go back to being a flight attendant now or are you hoping to break into show biz? What's next for you?
TH: I actually quit my job to do the show because they wouldn't let me take a leave. I honestly don't know what to do now. I don't know. We'll see.

AE: Well, we were big fans and I was glad to see you win, so congratulations again, thanks for talking to us, and good luck with figuring out what to do from here.
TH: Thank you!