Each weekday, EW will post the answers from a different player.
Matt Elrod absolutely dominated at one aspect ofSurvivor.
Unfortunately for him, that aspect happened to be Redemption Island.
Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images
Voted out ofSurvivor: Redemption Islandon day 5, Matt took part in the franchise’s very first duel.
Not only did he win it, he then went on to win nine more after that.
In all, Matt spent 29 of his 36 days in the game on Redemption Island.
It was the seven days on the tribe that were the problem.
But his first big TV dream was fulfilled when the super fan got cast onSurvivor.
Great stuff below from the King of Redemption Island!
MATT ELROD:AfterSurvivor,I finished up my degree and immediately moved to California to pursue acting.
What is your proudest moment ever from playingSurvivor?
The pressure I felt was immense.
I’m very proud I was able to stay the course and keeping moving forward.
What is your biggest regret from yourSurvivorexperience?
I wish I could say being blindsided… twice… by the same person… haha.
However, I don’t feel I was truly myself.
I felt all this pressure to make everyone proud.
Also, my desire to be an upstanding Super Christian example really crippled my gameplay.
Mind blowing… that’s a big ask.
In truth, my vote “with” Rob et al.
after the merge was to earn their trust and vote with the “opposing” forces next Tribal Council.
I may have leaned a little too far into open book policy with Rob.
I wanted to seem like a total compliant non-threat…. How do you feel about the edit you got on the show?
For all that went down, I think it was pretty true to the events of what transpired.
I can’t complain.
I certainly had my share of fans and critics out there.
The critical voices were really tough for me to shake off.
What was it like coming back to regular society after being out there?
Was there culture shock or an adjustment coming back?
I had a very difficult time coming back.
Often all I wanted to do was return to a simpler life living outside.
Society moved so quickly, and every day was filled with thousands of choices.
I had been through this wild experience and couldn’t talk with anyone about it.
I also had to take a semester off from college to compete on the show.
It often felt like a dream more than anything else.
I had already decided that I wanted to act rather than go to medical school beforeSurvivor.
I worried a lot early on how it would affect my burgeoning acting career.
It really expanded my world view in a massive way.
Whom do you still talk, text, or email with the most from your season?
It’s hard to believe we filmed the show over a decade ago!
However, the person I am most thankful for is Francesca.
We have become great friends since the show’s end.
We really connected on a heart level and that hasn’t gone away.
She has taught me so much, and I am forever grateful for our relationship.
We probably spend a couple of hours on the phone every month or so.
Mike Chisel and I are still friends.
My wife and I will go see him and his family every now and again.
Both Mike and Francesca came to our intimate wedding, and I was so honored by their presence.
I remember watching the very first season ofSurvivorwith my parents.
It was so different and groundbreaking.
It really stuck with me.
Other than that, I’ve got to sayHeroes vs. Villains.
It was simply excellent.
Who’s one player from anotherSurvivorseason you wish you could have played with or against and why?
I wish I could have played with her.
I believe we would have had a powerful, trusting alliance.
If you could make one change to any aspect ofSurvivor,what would it be and why?
There have been over 20 years ofSurvivor.
It is always challenging to keep things new and fresh.
Finally, would you play again if asked?
No, haha.Survivoris an incredible show and I am forever grateful for my time on it.
It was also easily the most difficult thing I’ve ever done.
