Erik’s Exit Interview – Survivor Samoa (S19E08)

Click to hear Erik's Exit Interview

Erik just told us that his arrogance was only aimed at Foa Foa as a tactic to discourage them. He was actually humble around camp. He had no idea that the blindside was coming. He still harbors animosity towards his tribe for voting him out.

Shambo was not a very good player, but she was very loyal. Danger Dave was crazy, in every sense of the word; cool, hip, and a wildcard. Natalie is the schemer who made it all happen. He has no respect for Evil Russell, multiple times calling him “bush league”. He said that Jaison had checked out of the game and was not mentally playing any more.

Huge respect for Good Russell. When he left, Erik felt like he had to step up to lead the tribe and keep them together and strong.

Erik has a lot of strong feelings about what happened and how the game was played. Listen to the whole interview to hear it all.

26 minutes long. 9.4MB. Download it here.

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Ponderosa Videos – Life at Ponderosa: Erik

Life at Ponderosa: Erik Part 1

Life at Ponderosa: Erik Part 2

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Television – News – ‘Survivor: Samoa’: Episode 8 recap – Digital Spy

In Galu, Laura’s canteen is missing. Shambo feels that Laura is accusing her of losing it and notes that the pair have not being getting along – “There’s some little power struggle going on and I don’t understand it”.

Shambo explains to camera that it wasn’t a fight about canteens but about how Laura treats her on a regular basis. Erik is of the opinion that since everybody knows Shambo is crazy, arguing with her will only make Laura look bad. “It means you’re just as crazy as her only you’re not really crazy, you’re just being a bitch,” he says.

The groups meet on the beach without Jeff and find a wooden chest containing paint and a tarp as well as a note informing them that they have now become one tribe. The reward for making it to the merge is a feast on the beach.

After eating, the former Foa Foa contestants immediately start acting on their plan to become friendly with the members of Galu. Russell notes “we already have our plan down” and that his allies are following his instructions. He then announces that he will be ruling this kingdom.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.digitalspy.com/ustv/s76/survivor/news/a185534/survivor-samoa-episode-8-recap.html

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Survivor: Samoa – Exclusive Interview with Erik Cardona : RealityWanted.com

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: The Galu tribe has performed very well throughout the competition.  Why has your tribe been so successful?
A. Erik: From day one, Russell S. and I got together.  Russell… what a tough, legit, headstrong winner.  He told me, “You have my back and we’re gonna go through this game.  By the time we’re finished, we’re gonna make Foa Foa look like the worst tribe in Survivor history.”  There was this huge competitiveness coupled with camaraderie.  We worked as a team.  Led by Russell, with me as his trigger man, it was a pretty good combination.  We did win a lot of those challenges by the skin of our teeth but if the other team thinks they can’t win, that’s a huge psychological advantage. 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: At the merge, who was your target to get out first?
A. Erik: I didn’t really have a target at first.  I had heard that Laura and Monica were targets.  When Laura won immunity, it was between Jaison and Monica.  As competitors, I don’t feel like either one deserved to be there at that point.  Jaison checked out and Monica never really checked in.  I don’t know if she thought she was on Survivor: Cabo San Lucas Princess Edition or what.  My biggest concern was not to jeopardize the fate of Galu.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Who should take the credit for orchestrating your exit from the game?
A. Erik: I think Natalie, to be honest.  It’s crazy because she’s the innocent one, who is lowest on everybody’s radar.  I think this was the biggest game changing move so far.  Laura got cocky and got greedy.  I can’t believe that Laura listened to her.  Stop talking to a Foa Foa member!  I respect Natalie because she got the ball rolling.  I give her credit!  It hurt that none of my guys and the rest of Galu didn’t stand up for me.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.realitywanted.com/newsitem/2595-survivor-samoa-exclusive-interview-with-erik-cardona

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‘Survivor’: The merge brings everyone together – for an instant | Los Angeles Times

It was too bad he gave into his paranoia and played his hidden immunity idol at tribal council when he didn’t receive a single vote. And with Laura sliding by this week, it looks like she’ll be gunning for him during the next tribal. 

That just proves that Russell’s instincts were right — which is why I think I like him so much. He knows which players talk too much and who’s too conniving, and he tries to cut them loose as soon as possible. Did you see the way his eyes widened the second Shambo called Laura a “bitch”? He’s able to pick up on the social dynamics of the group and doesn’t run around screaming his findings to everyone else.

Sadly, I think his luck may run out before he has a chance to prove he’s the ultimate “Survivor” player he claims to be.

Read the entire article at:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/11/survivor-the-merge-brings-everyone-togetherfor-an-instant.html

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Survivor: Samoa – Episode 8 Recap : RealityWanted.com

Things seem to be going well but Russell runs his mouth a bit too much.  Within seconds of being there, he shows the idol to Laura, Monica, and John… and doesn’t seem to be getting very far with any of them.  His best bet right off the bat would’ve been Shambo, who is very much on the outs with her tribe, despite being the “leader”.  He doesn’t approach Shambo until much later and the two actually connect with one another, given their Southern upbringing.

There is no reward challenge tonight since, at the merge, there is always a feast.  I wonder how many of them had stomachaches from hell after scarfing down every last morsel.

The immunity challenge was fairly simple.  Hit a ball onto a course, divided into sections according to points.  The most points a player could score was five but everyone would only get one turn.  Jeff reveals a little bit of a twist: there will be two idols up for grabs tonight – one for the men and one for the women.  The men are up first and it looks like Russell is going to take it with his four point shot until John steps up to bat and knocks it into the five zone.  John wins immunity.  The girls are next and unfortunately, Laura wins, which really puts a damper on Russell’s plan.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.realitywanted.com/newsitem/2592-survivor-samoa-episode-8-recap

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Survivor: Samoas Erik Cardona: Best game? Natalie, 100% – Zap2it

Okay, so let’s talk about last night’s crazy episode. What happened, from your perspective?
They lost their damn minds. They just went crazy. They broke my heart. It was so tough. I haven’t felt so brokenhearted since a girl in college came back from a year overseas, a girl I was totally in love with, and said, “Erik, I don’t think I love you at all.” I haven’t felt like that in eight years, so thank you Galu for bringing me back there. They just broke my heart.

I think there was an idea, then there was confusion, we were malnutritioned, there were crazy people there to begin with and a crazy idea came out and they went with it. The whole thing went down in like 5 minutes. I walked down the island and there was no elephant in the room and I come back five minutes later and all of a sudden there’s a huge elephant sitting on the sofa and it’s like, “Where did that guy come from?” I would like to give them more credit for the invisible attack but they did it in five minutes! What decision have you ever made in your life that took only took 5 minutes? These people didn’t think about anything. They went “Erik, Erik, Erik, okay cool.” I went from zero to villain on my own tribe, the one that I bled purple for, in five minutes.

Did you have ANY idea you were getting voted off?
No. Zero. Zilch. Even though I did sense a little bit of confusion, I didn’t know it was directed my way. There was nobody, there was nothing, there was no Erik and then somehow they all jumped on it. I thought that if something crazy were to happen I would’ve thought that I had earned enough respect of playing my ass off for that team that it would’ve warranted at least someone to say, “Hey, let’s think about this a little more.” I thought I was tight enough with some of those Galu men that one of them would’ve put the kibosh on it. Somehow this crazy plan got past me, it got past my guy tribe members, and it went into effect

Read the entire article at:
http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2009/11/survivor-samoas-erik-cardona-best-game-natalie-100.html

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Review: Survivor Samoa – All Hell Breaks Loose – TV Squad

Now, I know Russell is a snake in the grass. But each week I have to begrudgingly give him credit for playing the game and realizing what the show is all about. He’s a bit like a slimier country boy Richard Hatch, albeit not gay and (thankfully) he keeps his clothes on. I like to think that I’d be like a Liz and see right through his slime. I’m still not understanding why so many people are just falling for the ooze. He did it again tonight. Not everyone fell for it, though.

Although Russell kept going on about how much trust he has with the remaining Foa Foa members, I don’t think he’d hesitate to throw any of them under the bus if he thought he had a better ally from Galu after the merge. When the merge went down tonight, he was immediately running around showing his hidden idol to half of Galu and cutting deals for the final seven, final two, you name it. I’m not sure that’s the best approach as it kind of blows the idea of having a secret immunity idol. So, Mr. Snake Oil Salesmen screwed up a bit right there.

He predicted he’d swing the Galu folks around to vote off one of their own and they did. Maybe he did know what he was doing after all. Because Laura was sent to Foa Foa by Shambo last week, he thought she was easy ally prey. Little did he know that Laura would do the reprehensible — she’d disrespect his authority. Oh no! She must be crushed as is anyone who dares not fall for his ooze of slime!

Read the entire article at:
http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/06/review-survivor-samoa-all-hell-breaks-loose/

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“Survivor: Samoa” Erik schemes himself home! | pbpulse.com

My sister and I have had a long tradition of Friday morning phone calls where we dish about the crafty craftiness of the previous night’s “Survivor.” We used to call it the magical deliciousness. But the current season in Samoa has been neither magical or delicious. Actually, it’s been sort of tough and chewy.

But last night, which marked the debut of the merged tribe, Aiga, was magical. And delicious. And seasoned with buckets of Backstabbing Sauce, with a side of paranoia salad. Because the merged tribes accomplished three amazing feats: Voting off Erik, who stuck his big, scheme-y head too high and got it lopped off, making Russell so crazy that he played his beloved immunity idol, which he wound up wasting because nobody voted for him, and making everyone so generally cautious that they can’t remember who they’re supposed to turn on first.

See? Magic.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.pbpulse.com/tv/2009/11/06/survivor-samoa-erik-schemes-himself-home/

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Survivor Samoa Episode Eight Photos

Survivor Samoa Episode Eight Photos.

Click here to see the Survivor Samoa Episode Eight Photos.

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Jeff Probst blogs ‘Survivor: Samoa’: episode #8 | EW.com

SOMEBODY COCKY GETS BLINDSIDED
Erik was such a fun guy to have in the game, he has a huge heart and that was fun to watch. It may also have been his downfall.

He bled Galu purple to such a degree that I think he forgot that it is… an individual game. You have to make moves in this game based on the idea that everybody else is making their best move. Erik was a major threat in the game with a major attitude.

He lost sight of how others saw him and never considered that the best move might be to get rid of him. Because not everybody on Galu bleeds Galu.

He was so confident that he forgot to consider the other people in the game were also playing to win and they might not care about keeping Galu together.

And boy did it cost him.

Talk about a blindside. Wow. One of the biggest and most memorable in a long, long time. Erik could not have been cockier. He was absolutely certain the outcome was set. He never-saw-it-coming. Neither did Laura, nor most anybody else on the former Galu.

Russell’s HUGE move to play the idol is yet one more pencil in his jar of “this is how ya do it.”

RUSSELL: “Figure it I have it I might as well play it.”

NOTE: To all future Survivor players… You Don’t Hold Onto The Idol If You Have The Slightest Concern You Are In Trouble.

If you have it and you think you need it – play the damn thing.

Russell is playing to win. He doesn’t care about second place. He may not make it, but with each passing week you have to respect the game he is playing.

Read the entire article at:
http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/11/06/jeff-probst-blogs-survivor-samoa-episode-8/

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Ousted ‘Survivor’ castaway never saw it coming – Survivor- msnbc.com

The tribe has blindsided you: Bartender Erik Cardona, 28, was voted out of the newly merged tribe, and became the first jury member and this season’s biggest blindside. “Wow, wow, wow,” he said after being voted out while holding a hidden immunity idol, which he didn’t play because “you can’t defend against something that’s invisible.” His strategizing around camp seemed to freak everyone out, so they got rid of one of Galu’s strongest players instead of picking off one of the weaker former Foa Foas.

We are family: Brett suggested “Aiga,” Samoan for “extended family,” as the new tribe name. In a confessional interview, Erik mocked that, saying, “What’s Samoan for get the hell off my island?” Not sure, but 10 votes with your name on it will suffice.

American idol: Once the tribes merged, Russell went to Laura and promised her the hidden immunity idol. Then he did the same thing to Monica. Then he shared it with John. There were very few people left who haven’t seen Russell’s idol, including Jeff Probst, who received it when Russell played it at Tribal Council before the votes were read. None of the votes were for Russell, but he said, “Everybody knows I have it, I might as well play it.”

Read the entire article at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33700287/ns/entertainment-reality_tv/

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‘Survivor: Samoa’: That hubris, it’ll getcha – It Happened Last Night – Zap2it

Galu
Shambo perceives some kind of “90210-little-young-thing” going on and that there’s a power struggle. Shambo talking-heads that it’s like the snotty cheerleaders who won’t let you into their circle. Oh my god, Shambo is stuck back in 1979 when she was a freshman in high school and everyone was mean to her. This is not “Survivor: Therapy.” Good lord.

The Merge
There is much feasting and celebrating and hugging, typical mergey fun. The Foa Foans, however, are not messing around. Just like they talked about, Jaison goes after Well-Coiffed Pretty Boy #1 (I think it’s John but it could be Brett), Natalie goes after Danger Dave, Russell flirts with Skinny Brunette (Monica?). Seriously, too many contestants. It’s really delightful to watch.

The new tribe is called Aiga, which means “extended family” in Samoan. That’s cool. Galu’s hubris does not take long to show, as Erik goes on a rant about how Foa Foa has nothing and Galu has everything and he has the Hidden Immunity Idol and my god, do I hope he goes home without playing the Idol. How smug can you be?

Read the entire article at:
http://blog.zap2it.com/ithappenedlastnight/2009/11/survivor-samoa-that-hubris-itll-getcha.html

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‘Survivor: Samoa’ recap: Cannibals on the loose! | TV Recap | EW.com

Are the numbers still in Galu’s favor? Yes. Will someone from Galu still win? Probably. But that doesn’t change the fact that when you start fires this early, you get burned. Just ask Erik.

My favorite thing of the entire ordeal was…. Well, scratch that — my favorite thing of the entire ordeal was actually the way that Brett awkwardly left Erik hanging on an aborted high-five attempt after he had been voted out, but my second favorite thing was that this entire cockamamie plan to oust Monica was not Erik’s at all.

It was John’s.

In fact, when John first proposed it, Erik’s reaction was right on the money. “No, no, no,” he and I responded in unison.

However not only did John convince him, but somehow Erik then became the man to spread the gospel all over the rest of the camp, making him the target.

Dude, the only thing worse than taking credit for a bad idea is taking credit for someone else’s bad idea.

That’s like me claiming to have invented the formula for New Coke, or going around telling everyone I wrote the screenplay for Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man. Sure, a few people might say to themselves, “Hey, that guy must’ve gotten to hang out with Don Johnson.”

But the majority of them would say “Hey, that guy is a freakn’ moron!” And I would be!

(By the way, just to be clear: I did not write the screenplay for HD & the MM. That honor would go to Don Michael Paul, whose most recent credit is for penning and directing something called Who’s Your Caddy?, which currently resides as the 28th lowest rated movie EVER on IMDB.com. Not to pile on or anything.)

Read the entire article at:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20317822,00.html

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Survivor Samoa Recap November 5, 2009 – tvgrapevine.com

Shambo is upset that the plan to take out Laura is off the table for tonight. With the plan on hold, a new target for tonight must be generated. Shambo doesn’t want to get rid of Monica and Russell thinks that he might want to play his idol tonight.

John tries to discuss with Erik that Monica should be the next to go.

Erik thinks that they should try to flush out Russell’s idol and then take out Jaison who they feel is worthless. Dave wants to take out Foa Foa one at a time, and is nervous when Erik and John want Monica to go. Erik speaks to his tribe about trying to flush out Russell’s idol.

Jaison tells the others that they should put their four votes on Erik and let the ball roll. The girls don’t trust Erik and they ask Kelly if she will vote out Erik. They point out that Galu still has plenty of people.

Natalie tells them that they will still outnumber them and Erik needs to go now.

Shambo is concerned that they want to take Erik out and Russell overhears them.

Erik feels that he has the idol in his pocket and that he will use it if he feels the need to. Russell feels that this might be a blindside to take out both him and his idol.

At tribal council Jeff asks how the merge has affected the tribe. Monica is not sure where to place her trust. Erik feels that Foa Foa has nothing to offer Galu and worries that they will get one person of Galu out of the game.

Russell tells him that they have a lot to offer and he will be surprised to find out. Erik says that Russ is scrambling and Mick is talking to them. Jeff rephrases Erik’s comment that Jaison has a lot of potential and little result.

Jaison says that he has been doubted the entire way, but he pushes aside roadblocks. Jeff comments that there is a lot of judgment coming from Galu to Foa Foa.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.tvgrapevine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5788:survivor-samoa-recap-november-5-2009&catid=35:survivorm&Itemid=98

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Erik Cardona Gets Voted Off ‘Survivor Samoa’ 19 Episode 8 | OnTheFlix

Next, they showed more commentary with Russell and Shannon. Russell suggested Monica, but Shannon said there’s no way that’s going to happen. Laura talked to Erik about getting rid of Jaison.

There were all kinds of deals and names being thrown around because so many people had their own agenda in mind,and people they didn’t trust. Erik’s name was the last to get thrown around.

Finally,they headed over to the council meeting,and talked about how they all felt about the merge so far. Jaison and Erik had a little heated conversation. Erik was very confident,that he world stay. After a little more conversation,the voting got underway.

Russell went ahead and used his immunity idol. Then, with a vote of 7-2 Erik’s got voted out of “Survivor:Samoa” 19 in episode 8. He was severely blindsided. It was so funny. He looked very shocked.

Read the entire article at:
http://ontheflix.com/2009/11/05/erik-cardona-gets-voted-off-survivor-samoa-19-episode-8/

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‘Survivor: Samoa:’ Foa Foa hits one out of the park – examiner.com

Therefore, it’s really ironic that the “big strategic move” in this episode was more or less Jaison wanting to throw a couple of votes Erik’s way simply because he didn’t like the guy. Erik was cocky, devious, and willing to stab pretty much anyone and everyone in the back. Of course, Jaison didn’t know that Erik also had a hidden immunity idol. In a way this plan could have been Foa Foa throwing in the towel…that is until Natalie took the information and ran with it to Laura and Monica. She knew that Erik was planning on getting Monica out of the game, and she used that to her advantage. By the end of the day, nearly everyone was on board with the new last-minute plan, with the exception of Shambo who really didn’t seem to know what was going on.

I give “Survivor” kudos for two things during this episode: having a merge that involved both a cool tribe name name (Aiga) and vibrant buff color (cerulean) and amping up the drama at tribal council. Erik and Jaison went at each other a little bit, with both them actually making a few valid points. The problem was that Erik looked incredibly silly when making his defense considering that he was about to get blindsided out of left field. Foa Foa pulled out the miracle that looked next to impossible, and the cocky bartender was sent packing from Samoa with ten votes to two for Jaison.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.examiner.com/x-11363-Dallas-TV-Examiner~y2009m11d5-Survivor-Samoa-Foa-Foa-hits-one-out-of-the-park

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‘Survivor: Samoa’ recap: Erik eliminated on week eight episode – examiner.com

Erik Cardona was eliminated from “Survivor: Samoa” on the week eight episode, Nov. 5, 2009. Erik is the first person of the “Survivor: Samoa” jury.

The elimination came as a huge shock to Erik, who thought he ruled the roost. Probably the reason they got rid of him, which means the other ruler of the roost, Russell, needs to watch his back.

Russell especially needs to watch his back in the next couple of days because he is out of immunity idols. Nervous, probably from the merge, Russell played his hidden immunity idol right before the reading of the vote.

Welcome to Samoa tribe Aiga
The two tribes merged in to one tribe on All Hell Breaks Loose. In honor of their new company, the tribe members enjoyed a wonderful buffet of every food and alcoholic drink you can imagine.

Of course, Russell thinks he is the king of the merged tribe. Unfortunately for Russell, Erik also thinks he is king. He believes he has all the power because he has the hidden immunity idol and did not have to adjust to a new camp (Foa Foa moved in with Galu).

Read the entire article at:
http://www.examiner.com/x-17118-Manchester-TV-Examiner~y2009m11d5-Survivor-Samoa-recap-Erik-eliminated-on-week-eight-episode

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AIGA HAS EMERGED – Erik the Manipulator? – Survivor Fandom

Erik thought he had it all in the bag, running his mouth about evicting Monica and then being a total jerk in the tribal council.  He did manage to scare Russ into using the idol but that was just a bonehead move on Russ’s part.  I was so happy to see him leave and was thrilled to see Jaison vindicated.  Did yall see the look on Shambo’s face?  It was priceless!  She was absolutely shocked and I was proud that the other tribemates were able to keep it from her.  I thought with Erik gone that maybe the former tribes of Galu and Foa Foa could come together and strike up some new alliances but it looks like next week, Galu will stick closer then ever.  At least that is what I took from the previews.   
 

Read the entire article at:
http://survivorfandom.com/aida-has-emerged-3613/

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Survivor Samoa episode 8 recap – examiner.com

At the immunity challenge the contestants competed in a game of Survivor teeball.  The two highest scorers would win immunity – one man and one woman.  Dave was the first guy up.  He hit a 3.  Jaison went off the course.  Russell took the lead with a 4.  All of the guys were out of the game leaving between John and Russell.  John hit a 5 and earned immunity.  Natalie was the first one up for the women. She went of the course.  Monica hit a 2.  Kelly hit a 3 giving her the lead.  Shambo didn’t score anything.  Laura was the last woman up and she hit a 4 and earned immunity. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.examiner.com/x-3275-Reality-TV-Examiner~y2009m11d5-Survivor-Samoa-episode-8-recap

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