Interview With James Miller of Survivor: Palau by Panndyra
WARNING: This interview contains, shall we say, heavily colorful language. If you're easily offended by that kind of thing, then you might want to pass. But James is such a character, the only way for us to present him to you as he really is, is to quote him verbatim. If you do decide to venture forth and read the interview, you'll laugh, you'll nod, and you'll realize that James is truly a humble man who went through an amazing experience - and has learned how to appreciate it. But consider yourself warned!
Hi James! Thanks for agreeing to answer our questions today. What was your motivation for trying out for the show?
A million dollars, come on, that's enough reason. I wanted a chance to better my life and my family's and make me some money and hell maybe even get famous like Rupert. Do a commercial, just one. Damn can't someone help a beggin' broke ass redneck out? Just kiddin. No really, help me out. Hahahah.
How hard was it to be on the losing-est team in Survivor history? Why do you think Ulong just couldn't pull off an immunity win?
Damn, that sucked. It was hard, and when they won that food; fuck that really sucked cuz we were hungry. We just did not have it together. We should have had it and many times came close. But close is not good enough.
On the "bathroom-building" challenge, what happened?
Well I was pretty impressed. And what y'all did not see is why they won. They had a roof. We did not. That's what the show did not say. They tried to make it all dramatic and all. Hell, ours worked and we used it. Nothin' like not shittin' in the woods. Come on.
You took the lead and you had a lot of construction experience - moreso than the people on Koror. Your finished product was very well done. Why do you think they won and y'all didn't?
Well, on skill and so on we had it in the bag. But like I said they wanted a fuckin' roof. Hell who needs a roof to shit? Damn, not when you're in the wild with snakes and bugs. You hurry your ass up. We were grateful for that shitter. Come on.
In the live finale/reunion show, you mentioned that you looked at Coby a little differently after he knocked you in the water. How did Survivor change your conservative, "southern" - redneck outlook, or did it? (And I mean this in the nicest of ways - I'm a Texan so I don't think being a redneck is all that bad).
Welp, bein' me is fun. I love my life and family. I tried to do all I can do and make a difference in my life. I can say this here - CBS was good to me and the show made me take a new outlook on what really matters, which is family. My sister always says you may be broke James, but you rich in family. And that is true. In the end nothin' else matters.
The show shows us, not the viewers, a real outlook on what really matters. Hell food for one, shit, nothing like being hungry for 8 days. Or thirsty so bad you're thinkin' of drinkin' shit you never dreamed. Come on, hell yea it was a journey and I tell you what, you need to read the book on Mark Burnett, that shit is good readin'. That man is the MAN. He knows what it takes, he produced a show he has been through himself. Damn, impressive! But I am proud to have had a chance to do that. Those are memories you can't pay to get.
Define 'redneck' for me. It means different things to people north of the Mason-Dixon line, I think. Do you mind being labeled a 'redneck' or not?
Ok here it is like this. Redneck is not deliverance hillbilly back in the woods hiding like Texas Chain Saw Massacre. It's about down home truth. People out there live in a la la land where its about what they have and not who they are at the end of the day. They pretend to be something to be accepted. Us rednecks, hell we like who we are. And even if we do not have much we still like being us.
I do not have to drive a Benz to feel important. And I do not have to buy my kids a shitload of Sony games (just so I do not have to talk to 'um). I am a man's man. I feel it's all about me and what's mine. I getter done. Win or lose, and the end of that day I am still James, funny and outgoin', lovin' life as a broke ass. Come on.
How hard were the physical challenges? They seemed to be so much more intense than previous seasons. Which one was the toughest for you personally?
Damn, I knew that would come up. Hell they were all hard. Who sits around at night commin' up with that shit? Layin there thinkin' hummm, how can we make it harder? Ok lets do this. Lets have 'um jump over shit, and remember a puzzle? Are you kiddin' me? They were all hard.
I thought i was smart. And when I got there, deprived from food and sex. I became an idiot. My brain was like woooo, wait up hillbilly. To myself i would think ok, maybe if I drink my spit slower I will be less dehydrated and I can win. I would tell my self shit all day long. It was freaky how your mind plays tricks. You start seeing shit like on Tom and Jerry as a kid they had the cartoon where they were so hungry they see each other as food .... I ain't lyin here. Some of them feet looked like chicken. Come on.
What was the best part of being out there?
Oh the best, the first day on that island. Hell I was scared. Thought "oh hell, this is it. I should have eaten more last night." You know when you stick those people who do not know each other together. It's like a movie when the plane crashes. Like that show Lost. And when they at CBS said we had no food, they meant we had no food.
The worst?
The bugs .. the smell of rotten coconut. Nasty. We all stunk like ass, but after a while the smell just lingers and becomes normal. Like goin' to a friend's house, you know how everyone's house has a smell. If it's stinky after about 10 minutes you no longer smell it. The smell was the worst.
If you had made the merge, how would your game have changed at that point?
Well if I would have made it, Katie would have been GERN. Gregg was a for sure hit. But Tom deserved it. More than anyone there. Hell at least if I would have made it I would have eaten. Come on.
How has Survivor improved your life?
You know it did, the quality of life I have is important to me. What you saw on TV is me. I say it like it is. But now ... i mean what I say. Come on.
Would you do it again, knowing what you do now?
Oh hell yea, you gonna hook me up? Come on. I would, you cannot pay for that kind of journey. It's unreal what we did.
Thanks James, it's been a real pleasure! Best of luck to you and your family!
You can contact Panndyra with questions or comments (and we're sure you have some!) at panndyra@realityshack.com.
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