Regardless of what viewers noticed within the Survivor 49 premiere on September 24, Nicole Mazullo did strategize with different gamers between Kele’s immunity problem loss and the primary Tribal Council. In truth, she tells TV Insider that she was led to imagine that she was a part of Kele’s “core 4” alliance that shortly shaped, and it was Alex Moore who made her suppose so. (See our Episode 1 recap right here.)
Nicole, a monetary crime guide, was labeled a bodily weak participant and focused by her tribe mates — Alex, Kimberly “Annie” Davis, Jake Latimer, Jeremiah Ing, and Sophi Balerdi — because of this. After Alex and Jake’s “bromance” shaped, and the pair teamed up with Sophi and Jeremiah, the vote was between Nicole and Annie. What Nicole didn’t know was that Alex had a more in-depth secret alliance with Annie, which is why she was saved from elimination. Nicole was assured in her capacity to smell out a liar, however she tells us that that ability failed towards Alex’s powers of persuasion.
Nicole was adamant that she would play her Shot within the Darkish if obligatory. In Tribal, it grew to become clear that it was obligatory, however she didn’t play it. Right here, she reveals the scenes you didn’t see that designate why she felt assured sufficient to not play her solely benefit. Plus, she particulars how these two gamers who had been lower simply hours earlier than filming started impacted her gameplay, what made her get sick, and extra.
Now we have to start out with the large change that occurred the night time earlier than filming started. When and the way did you and the remainder of the forged discover out that these two gamers had been lower from the sport? And what was your response to that information?
Nicole Mazullo: The morning the sport began, we discovered after we all confirmed up in our tribe outfits. And I wasn’t shocked, to be trustworthy. I used to be like, “OK, wow, that’s loopy. That’s loopy that that simply occurred, but additionally, OK, that occurred as a result of X, Y, and Z.” So it was a product of a state of affairs that occurred, and that was that. It was surprising, however I used to be like, “OK, that is smart.”
Did you witness any of that alleged pregaming that was occurring between them, and what did you see?
I did. I don’t know if I can discuss that, however yeah, you simply see individuals, you’ve obtained a set record of guidelines, and there are guidelines it’s important to comply with. I simply noticed individuals not following the principles, and that was that. I believe that’s all I can say in that regard.
Are you able to say the way it made you are feeling? Did it make you mad to see guidelines being damaged like that?
Yeah, I believe I respect the integrity of the sport, and that’s this idea that there’s a shipwreck and also you’ve obtained to return onto shore and play a sport and survive. And when individuals aren’t following the principles previous to sport, it ruins the integrity of the sport. So yeah, I used to be like, “What the hell are you guys doing? That’s not allowed.” I used to be actually like, “That’s not allowed.” However I used to be additionally like, “They’re doing it. That’s going to implicate their very own sport. They’re making a call, and that’s going to play into their sport.” Nevertheless it additionally will get you within the mindset of, “Oh my God, the sport is already beginning. I must be on, I have to do one thing now.” And so it modifications your psychological outlook on when the sport is beginning and what has already occurred within the sport, if that is smart.
It does, yeah. So was there a vibe shift for you if you first obtained on the seaside due to that?
I’d say so. I’d say really, really. I believe it type of threw me off somewhat bit by way of simply how I used to be going to strategy the sport and the way I used to be going to start out the sport. I went in with a really distinct technique of I used to be going to behave pointed and try to act somewhat bit dumber than I used to be, however I felt such as you [see a] pregame, and it does implicate your psychological [state] and the way you’re going to assault the sport. So I’d say sure, it did.
You will have your conceptions of the way you’ll play the sport earlier than you go in. Then you definitely truly get there and also you’re like, “There was no level in planning.”
Precisely. Since you don’t know who you’re going to be surrounded by, and also you don’t understand how they’re going to behave and what their change-up in their very own technique goes to be. So a number of shifting elements. Yeah, it was loopy. It was simply loopy.
Robert Voets / CBS
Jeff teased that the warmth was actually intense in Fiji throughout filming. There was a scene wherein you bought sick on this episode. Was it the warmth that induced it? Was it nerves? What occurred there?
No. It was nothing aside from — that is so humorous. It was the third day. I hadn’t eaten. You had a chunk of coconut, that’s not actual. I hadn’t eaten. I had a vitamin. They provide you a vitamin. I had a vitamin on an empty abdomen, and I obtained sick. That actually was it. It hit my abdomen, and I obtained sick actually three seconds after. It was not a psychological factor; it was not a bodily factor. It was, I don’t take dietary supplements. So it was, “OK, right here’s a complement on an empty abdomen.”
How did you react if you noticed that it was within the remaining edit?
I used to be like, “Are you kidding me?” I used to be like, “Persons are going to suppose that I can’t deal with it.” And it’s like, “No, it was a f***ing electrolyte.” I used to be like, “No matter.” Nevertheless it’s humorous. I simply must snicker at it, and I don’t even know. It’s hysterical.
You will have these exit interviews, so now you may clear the air and say, “It was a vitamin, OK?”
Precisely. It was! I do know my reality. I do know my reality, and that brings me peace. That’s all I can say. [Laughs]
After the immunity problem, you had been again at camp, and Tribal deliberations are occurring. Have been there any scenes of you making an attempt to strategize with different gamers that we didn’t see within the remaining lower? We didn’t see a lot of you speaking to different individuals.
You didn’t in any respect, which was humorous. You didn’t in any respect. However I had constructed a relationship with Alex up till that time. I felt like that was a great alliance. The notion that doesn’t actually come via within the episode was that I had a great relationship with him, and he was type of my ticket into this group of 4. And so I felt as if the 4, although, was me, Alex, Jake, and Sophi. Whereas the true 4 that got here via within the episode was perhaps Jeremiah, Sophi, Alex, and Jake. And so Alex did a very good job of creating me really feel included, however I had talked technique with him, talked technique with Sophie, talked technique with Jeremiah, Alex. Annie was actually the one one I didn’t discuss to as a result of they did a great job of creating us really feel contentious. However there have been a number of conversations that had been had. There was idol looking out that was had. It didn’t come via. So sure, completely, to reply your query.
When did you notice that Alex had duped you a bit, and also you weren’t a part of that 4?
It was like on the third day, after we obtained up, it was in all probability 3 within the morning, however we thought the solar was rising. Actually, it was the moon simply coming into orbit or no matter. We obtained up on the seaside and sat up and talked somewhat bit, and simply the best way that the 4 of them had been sitting, it was like they had been sitting and I used to be right here, after which Annie was over there, however it felt like this was the 4. I felt that somewhat in me. After which I had a dialog with Alex later that day, and he type of calmed my nerves. However I’d say at Tribal Council, once I’m being voted out, I used to be like, “Oh, actually? Wasn’t within the 4. Actually?”
Alex Moore and Jake Latimer in ‘Survivor 49’ Episode 1 (Robert Voets / CBS)
We noticed you begin to discover that in Tribal. You rotated and requested, “Am I OK?” Earlier in an interview, you had stated, I’m going to play my Shot within the Darkish, even within the first episode if I want it. You had been actually gung-ho about that. What did you observe in Tribal that made you not play it?
Nice query. I went into Tribal saying I’m 50/50 on taking part in my Shot within the Darkish, as a result of it felt logical at that time [that it was] an Annie vote-out. It simply did. That made logical sense to me. The way in which that we had talked about it as a bunch made sense. I went in 50/50, after which I turned to Alex at one level, after Jeremiah says, “It’s between two individuals.” And I’m like, “OK, he’s in all probability insinuating it’s me and Annie,” however I believed he was simply saying that to appease Annie. I don’t know why he was saying it. No matter. I turned to Alex. I stated, “Hey, am I good?” And he says, “Yeah, you’re good.” So as an alternative of being 50/50 after I requested him, I used to be like, 30/70. I used to be like, “OK, I don’t have to play my Shot within the Darkish.” I trusted Alex at that time. I did. We had considerably of a relationship at that time. I simply determined to not play it in that second. I went in and I stated, “Nah, I’ll simply reserve it for subsequent week if I want it.” So yeah, that was that.
Did you’ve got any hesitation within the voting sales space?
No, under no circumstances. No. After I requested Alex, I used to be like, “OK, I received’t. I imagine.” No, I don’t. I didn’t.
Earlier within the episode, you stated you may sniff out a liar due to your profession. So what did you sniff out throughout the time earlier than Tribal? What made you assured? What made you nervous?
What made me assured was my relationship with Alex. Actually, he was my ticket into this psychological security zone of, “OK, I’m tremendous.” However there have been some individuals who had been elevating flags to me, like Sophi and Jeremiah, who I didn’t initially click on with. I really feel like I can naturally join with individuals, and I had issue connecting with them at first. And so I believed that perhaps the shortcoming to attach was as a result of they had been already planning my vote out. So that they type of threw some pink flags my approach. However Alex did a very good job of creating me really feel secure. I used to be battling these two conflicting views.
Apart from Annie, who do you suppose, strategy-wise, would’ve been one of the best participant to vote out from this staff? They actually set it up so it was both you or Annie, however that “bromance” that was happening — I’d’ve been like, let’s break up that up. They’ve an excessive amount of energy already.
I do know. I agree. I believe Alex would’ve been a great vote out, however I used to be working with him. So I believe by default, Jake, however Jake was additionally actually robust. We would have liked him in competitions. He was our cumbersome man. So whereas I believe he would’ve been a great vote out from a social play, it will’ve been laborious challenge-wise as a result of we had already felt somewhat bit lackluster in that division. It will’ve been laborious convincing the group to vote him out, so I don’t suppose I’d’ve went for it. Possibly Sophi. She had a number of social capital. The fellows actually favored her. She slot in rather well with individuals, so perhaps her. Everybody did a great job, although. I imply, anybody however me, proper? I used to be all gung-ho.
We didn’t see what technique you had been taking part in out in these talks, so what was your marketing campaign? What had been you saying to save lots of your self?
They did a very good job of creating Annie really feel weak, which Annie, within the grand scheme of issues, will not be weak. She’s a badass, proper? However they did a great job of that. And so I used to be taking part in that type of dialogue, and I used to be additionally taking part on this dialogue of, I’m right here for the staff. I’m right here. I’ll vote nonetheless you need me to vote. I used to be pitching that I’ll be a quantity for them. I didn’t wish to appear threatening in any sense of the phrase, so I didn’t wish to say that I felt good at puzzles, which, up till that time, I wasn’t of their eyes, and I wasn’t based mostly on how the efficiency went. So I used to be similar to, Hey, I’ll trip and die with you guys. Wherever you need me to vote, I’ll vote nonetheless you need me to vote. I used to be with them. That was my pitch for that. I didn’t wish to appear threatening in any sense.
What else do you want followers may have seen from this episode?
I want they might have seen a few of that strategizing. It felt like lay down and die somewhat bit, or I obtained a stray, I simply obtained shot, and I took it. However no, there was that technique. I did have these relationships with Alex. I did have these conversations with Jake and Sophi and Jay, and even Annie and I had a few of these conversations, so that may’ve been good. However that’s wishful considering. I’m pleased with the episode, pleased with the edit. I’m grateful, in order that’s all you may hope for.
Did watching the premiere change your perspective and understanding of how you bought voted out?
No, truthfully, no. No, as a result of I’ve had conversations with people after, they usually had been capable of present a few of that readability. I believe the edit was gracious. I felt grateful that there was solely that one disgusting, embarrassing second of me being sick, as a result of they might have, who is aware of? Possibly there’s different footage on the market the place I appear like a complete fool. So no, it didn’t change my notion. I believe I had a great learn on the state of affairs, exterior of the truth that they had been truly voting me out as an alternative of Annie.
May you share what you discovered from these conversations?
It simply reemphasized the truth that I didn’t slot in with that core 4. Possibly it was me not doing a great job in making an attempt to ingratiate, although. I felt I did. I simply suppose Survivor‘s like a microcosm of the world. You want some individuals, and also you don’t like some individuals. It didn’t gel as naturally as perhaps relationships that I had with different individuals, and that’s tremendous.
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