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The latest addition to the jury and most recent casualty of the Blonde Massacre is 46 year old Debbie BeeBee, the bubbly middle school principal who was one of Coach’s few true allies in the beginning of the game. Read what she has to say about the Sierra brouhaha, her math skills, and her other Survivor experiences in this conference call:
I feel like we didn’t really get to know you until after the merge. Do you wish you had gotten a little more camera time?
Not really, I was just being true to myself and really playing the game. I was referred to as kind of “flying under the radar” which really, I wasn’t! I mean, I was out there really playing hard. Coach and Tyson and I formed an alliance, like day three. But, I just wasn’t trash talking people. [laughs] I wasn’t into that, at that point in the game.
At what point did you decide that you’d be better off separating yourself from Coach?
Really, about two to three days prior to what you saw last night. What you didn’t see is, and it’s really crazy and I know it sounds nuts, but what you didn’t see was the rest of the tribe really had approached me and said “I know you don’t want to do this, but we gotta take Coach out. Coach is driving everybody nuts, we’ve got to take Coach out.” I felt like that’s what I needed to do to save myself. But look where I am! [laughing] But yeah, everybody really approached me hard and then I finally got onboard with them on that.
Why did the Timbira tribe let JT, Stephen, and Taj make it as far as they did?
Okay, I think we’re going to go down as the stupidest tribe ever on Survivor! I mean, we had the numbers, what in the world were we thinking? I think what happened is Stephen and JT for sure, Taj maybe, as soon as the merge occurred, they started getting Tyson and Brendan to distrust each other. And basically Tyson and Brendan started panicking, so we ended up voting Brendan out. We just started picking our own people off! It was completely nuts.
How much of a boost did it give you to see your husband?
You know what, it was awesome. Obviously, we travel in this experience too before the game even starts, so at that point it had been almost 40 days since we’d seen anybody in our families. I didn’t know if my husband was coming, or my mother, or a friend, and just seeing somebody from home was just amazing.
Would you really have been satisfied with third place?
[laughs] I’ve been asked that all day. Honestly, at that point when I said that to them, I really meant it honestly. Because I knew my head was on the chopping block after Tyson was gone, and so to me, third place would have been a big win for me. And I really was sincere at the moment. Now, I am not gonna lie to you and tell you that if I was sitting there with that immunity necklace on, would I have done it? I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. But I really believed myself at the moment and I don’t know if I’d have done it or not, I’m not gonna lie to you and tell you I would have, because I don’t know.
Did you have any idea that saying those things to JT and Stephen would get you eliminated?
Absolutely not. But JT and Stephen and I spent a lot of time talking together, and so, of course they’re gonna show - and of course it happened - the different scenes. But we all talked all the time about different strategies. I mean, I even talked to Sierra about an all-girl alliance at one point. We had to keep our options open, and I really meant it because you know what? At that point I knew, because Jeff even alluded to it at tribal the week before that I was a threat, and how did I feel being a threat. And I knew Stephen and JT really were beginning to believe that I was not only a physical threat but a social threat. And so I wanted them to know that I really wanted to be in the group with them.
Since you were so close to Coach in the game, what’s your overall impression of him?
My overall impression of Coach is, he is definitely a character. Honestly, watching the show, I was like “Whoa!” I would see him talking about dragon slayer and dragon bowels and I didn’t know all that stuff was going on as they were private interviews, they take you very far away so you absolutely cannot hear what anybody says. But I’ll tell you, he’s sticking true to his word in the sense of, like, he stayed true to the alliance with me. I felt pretty crappy last night when he said “Debbie, he trusted 100%.” But at one point I even approached him about taking JT and Stephen out, because it was obvious they were running the game and he said absolutely not, I gave them my word. And I knew if Coach wasn’t gonna turn, there was no way to move that around. So he’s a different guy, he’s a character, he believes he’s playing this game with integrity 100% and he believes he’s not lying. But I actually saw the deal with Sierra where I was like whoa, Sierra didn’t bring it up, you and I did. So, anyway, yeah. He’s very unique.
Did you really believe Sierra and Brendan when they told you they were digging that big hole for a fire pit?
[giggles] You know, I gotta give you credit, you’re the first one all day that’s brought that up. And I about died laughing when I saw it! First of all, Brendan had more energy than anybody out there, he was like a little boy, always had to be doing something. So honestly, I did - I bought it hook, line and sinker. I was like, cool! Brendan’s got enough energy to dig a big fire pit, let’s have a party! I was looking for entertainment, I was bored out there. Honestly, I am embarrassed to tell you, I did not even think of that. I truly, because he’s always bored, playing around, carving, doing stupid stuff, I mean obviously Brendan and I paint our clothes - I mean, no. It wasn’t odd to me. I truly believed it was a fire pit. What an idiot! [laughing]
How much were you aware of Coach being an idiot like that?
You know what? As I answered earlier, I didn’t see all this stuff, I really didn’t. Yes, we thought he was a character, yes he was unique...I didn’t choose to get into verbal banters with him, Sierra did. I just, I didn’t want to get into anything out there, it was hard enough for me to even deal with hunger. But all this stuff he was doing behind the scenes, we didn’t see or hear. Like, I had no idea he called Sierra the dragon bowels and Brendan the dragon, and slaying the dragon...I mean, we knew a little of it, but nothing to the degree that we’ve been seeing on the TV, on the show.
The whole “he said she said” incident with Sierra, did you know you were lying, or did you just forget? What was your point of view?
It’s real interesting, because after 30 something days out there, that was like 30 days maybe, I don’t know, 20 something....I mean, seriously, when you’re not sleeping, you’re not eating, you’re not drinking, your brain does crazy things. I really, at points, really don’t remember what I said. I couldn’t go back and remember everything. But when we got into that, I don’t know if you heard, but I actually did say and admit to JT and Stephen and all them sitting there - yeah, I did, you know, just kinda check out options. I did say that. Then Coach said “Debbie and Sierra were checking it out” which was funny. But I really don’t think he thinks he lied either! But I didn’t tell the whole truth, absolutely, but again, this is a game. Outwit, outlast, outplay. You don’t sign an oath that you’re going to be honest on everything, you know?
No, I have no problem with you lying, I just wondered if you knew you were.
Oh, but some people did! I got ugly emails for the first time ever that week.
Why do you think Timbira fell apart?
You know, honestly, I think two of our strong players started second guessing each other, which were Tyson and Brendan, because they both physically were huge threats in immunities, in the immunity challenges. And I think they kind of went after each other a little bit, so to speak. JT and Stephen were telling Tyson (that) Brendan was after him. Brendan, on the other hand, we thought for sure had an idol because Taj told me he did. They don’t show Taj and I in a private discussion where I said to Taj, “So Taj, Brendan said you have the idol!” And she’s like “That liar, you’re going to see it on TV, I don’t have the idol, he has it.” Little did we know Taj had one too, but Brendan did.
So then, it started the talking - Brendan’s got the idol, we’ve got to take him out. So immediately Timbira just fell apart and it was really..like I said, we’re going to go down as the stupidest Survivor tribe because we were so up in numbers and just blew it.
What is your relationship with Sierra and Erinn like?
My relationship with Sierra is great. I do talk to Sierra quite a bit. I talk to Erinn here and there, Erinn’s a really neat girl out of the game. In the game we weren’t so close, but out of the game I think Erinn’s a really neat girl.
How did you get cast for Survivor?
[laughs] You know what? It’s crazy, I’m not exactly 100% sure. I applied for season two, and actually went to Chicago, went through all the interviewing. I mean, I was obsessed with Survivor at that point. And didn’t get selected. And then all of a sudden I got a call asking if I would apply again. There’s different rumors out there: I was the Alabama middle school principal of the year, they found me that way, there’s a rumor that one of the professors at Auburn University was contacted by casting person that asked if she knew anybody that would do it and she said me. So, I don’t really know! But I did apply for season two and they had all my stuff, so...
What was your game plan going in?
My game plan was to be myself. I’m really kind of upbeat and goofy and crazy. I mean, you saw the backflips and all that goofy stuff. But it was also to try not to be bossy. And to kind of just sit back and listen. And I did that. I did it partially because I consciously did it, but the other part was starving out there, being dehydrated and not sleeping - you know, I was trying to choose my battles, and it wasn’t to get in all kinds of mess with people early, that’s for sure.
Do you think you were portrayed well on the show?
I think so. I really do. You know, like I said, I took some grief in the beginning from people saying you’re not giving us enough, and not trash talking. Not so much just being ornery, I guess, in the game. I was just kinda having fun, enjoying playing my game. But I think I was pretty much portrayed correctly, I really do. You know, there’s things I wish weren’t on there and things I did that I wish I wouldn’t have done, that I sat there with my hands over my face watching going “Oh my God!” Like my little meltdown - “I’m a 46 year old woman [makes crying noises].” I was mortified when I saw that. But, for the most part I think it’s been really accurate.
If there was anything you could change, what would it be?
Umm, if there was anything I could change, I think that it would have been to get Timbira’s brains back and get Tyson and Brendan talking and realize that we weren’t after each other. And for us all to get together and try to continue on. I mean, I had a hard time when Tyson was voted out, he kept me laughing. And I know I took some grief about his little antics and his loincloth, but he was hilarious! Oh my gosh, he just kept life going.
If you could handpick the winner right now, who would you pick?
You know, I’ve been asked that several times and honestly, I’ve got to watch - I hate to say that right now, because I don’t know what these people are going to do the next couple of weeks. Um, I have a lot of respect for what Taj is doing out there, I think Stephen has played a masterful - I mean, he’s the mastermind behind a lot of this, and none of us were giving him enough credit out there. I thought JT was leading it, and there’s a lot going on with Stephen. And so I think you need to watch out for Stephen and Taj, is who I think you need to watch out for.
I would have given all my money for that bowl of fries - how amazing were they?
[laughing] First of all, can I go on record: I do know how to add! But when I saw those fries, I didn’t hear another word Jeff said, I didn’t care, I would have given him $500 for those fries. I’m a fry freak. So when he was saying no, increments of 20, I wasn’t listening! All I thought was give me the dang fries, I’m starving, I want those fries. So I do know how to add, guys. Those fries were a little cold and crispy, but soaked in that mayonnaise and ketchup they were the most delicious fries I’ve even had in my life.
When you first got there, how did you get acquainted with Coach?
Honestly, you know what - and I keep saying this could be an incredible study - we were together almost a week with non-verbal communication. Which about killed me, personally. But we had already pretty much sized each other up, we would sit and eat, we would see what each other was reading, I would see what they were playing. I just finished one of the books Coach was reading. And so we had kinda already sized each other up, everybody kind of had, I knew he was going to be a unique character. And I knew that he appears physically strong - he deteriorated pretty quickly, his body did, in that sense. But I thought he was going to be someone that was really going to be a strong tribe member early on.
Did anybody ever confront Coach about his tall tales?
You know, I don’t know. I didn’t know that he had told them that me and Sierra started that talk until I watched it. And that was not true, I started it, Coach and I started it with Sierra about seeing if we could get Timbira back. I admit that. But honestly, there wasn’t a lot of untruth he was telling out there besides that deal with Sierra that I ever knew of. I tried to get him to go against JT and Stephen at one point, he wouldn’t do it. He said I gave them my word, and I’m sticking to my word. Because it was obvious that once the merge happened, that they started controlling the game.
So did he know he was lying to Sierra at that point that day?
You know, I don’t know! I really don’t know, because he’s standing by that he didn’t. And it’s very obvious that he and I were talking to Sierra. And at one point as I said, if you listen, I say to JT and Stephen, yes I was exploring my options of what we could do. I did fess up to that. But you know this is a game of outwit outlast outplay, so...I haven’t gone out there saying I was gonna play with integrity and not lie and all that, and he (Coach) has. And I really don’t think he thinks he’s lied.
So were you shocked to see that even though JT and Stephen believed Sierra, they still voted her out?
No, I wasn’t. Because there was two days of basic mess, unfortunately that was revolving around Sierra and her comments, and trying to stay in the game. And they were tired of it too.
What did your husband think of Tyson’s antics?
Well, um...[laughing] I don’t think he enjoyed those episodes too much, let’s put it that way.
What about the kids at your school, what did they think?
Oh, they think Tyson’s hilarious. And honestly, Tyson is one of my very dear friends and he got me through a lot of that. I was devastated the night he was voted out because he just kept me laughing, we kept each other laughing, and I felt very safe with him.
Since you’re back at home, how often do you eat beans?
Never! [laughs] Nor rice, nor rice! And I tell you, it just doesn’t get any better, but with river water and no salt or seasoning, you know, there’s just...I could never top it, so I’ll never eat it again here.
What was your favorite challenge?
Well I could tell you it’s the one I won, but honestly I’m a little embarrassed that’s what I won because I thought it was a little hokey where we just slid those discs. There wasn’t a lot of skill and we were freezing, I’ve never been more miserable in my life than that day. It was probably 45 degrees and wet. But I think I loved the pole challenge and I wish I’d have taken my shoes off because Tyson had his shoes off, and I think I could have stayed up there longer because I’m 5'2", and by that point I don’t even know how much I weighed, but I think I could have hung on a lot longer if I’d had my shoes off.
What was your proudest moment out there?
I guess it has to be when I won the necklace, even though it wasn’t the most physical challenge. I was thrilled to be able to wear the immunity necklace, I thought that was really cool. And I absolutely loved, I guess the proudest moment I had watching, honestly, was when I was with the dancers, when I was there with the children. Because the kids just gravitated towards me and I absolutely...it just really warmed my heart to be there with those children and they were holding my hand, and it was really neat.
What was the most difficult part of Survivor for you?
I have a personal thing about having wet clothes on. Like, I went home from a concert one night after being out in the rain and literally stopped at Wal-Mart to get dry clothes because I can’t stand - it was an hour drive being in wet clothes. The hardest thing personally for me was living, sleeping, and being constantly, especially towards the end of the game for me, in wet clothes. Soggy socks, wet pants, wet everything, and freezing. And that was just really hard. And the bugs, the bug bites, the bugs were relentless out there. Even HDTV isn’t showing how bad we really were.
What was the easiest part for you?
The easiest part of it for me was connecting with people socially. I really liked these people, and we really had fun. That was really easy for me. That’s just kind of always been a personality trait I have, I like to be around people, I like to connect with people. And you know what, I love to have fun, and I was trying to make it as fun as possible out there.
In the jury last night, they wore feathers. Any reaction to that?
[laughing] I thought it was hilarious! See, Coach doesn’t have pierced ears so we had fishing line that I would help him wrap the feather around his ear. And when the jury came in, we just...and even Coach laughed. He even thought it was funny. So yeah, they were thinking.
What are your plans now? Will you continue being a middle school principal, or are there other things you are looking at?
Right now, my plans are to stay a middle school principal. That’s where I am right now, and I really love it. Now, as in life, as with anybody, if something else comes up you always take a look at different things. But right now I love what I do, absolutely.
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Originally Posted by Florimel;3451660; 
Agree. Also, the constant use of the word "LIKE" puts me off.
