Originally posted Monday, February 19, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
On paper, Atlanta educator Ron Clark may not be the most obvious candidate to win the 38th season of "Survivor," which returns Wednesday at 8 p.m.
The founder of the Ron Clark Academy admits he’s no outdoorsman. He is not buff. Before arriving at Fiji, he tried and failed to make fire. He is the oldest cast member this season at the tender age of 46.
But the best-selling author hopes his bubbly personality and social graces will win over the other players and keep him around long enough to have host Jeff Probst eventually say, "The winner of 'Survivor: Edge of Extinction' is... Ron Clark!'"
Clark runs a non-profit middle school that works under his philosophy of high expectations, collaboration and passion. Graduates have gone on to Duke University, University of Pennsylvania and New York University. Tens of thousands of teachers from around the world over the past 12 years have come to his school to learn his techniques.
Below is a podcast of the interview:
Here are transcribed excerpts from the interview:
Q: How long have you been a fan of the show?
Ron Clark: Ever since the first episode [in 2000.] I even remember seeing the previews while I was teaching in Harlem. I thought, "I think I'm going to watch this. This is going to be groundbreaking." I had a little 16-inch TV, black and white. I had a tiny little bedroom in New York City. I remember watching the first episode and I was hooked! It transformed me because I had never seen anything like it before. I knew I wanted to be a part of it but due to my life and work and commitment to my students, I was never able to actually apply to do it until a couple of years ago. I thought, 'You only live once. I'm getting really old here.'"
Q: It’s now or never! What do you think your strengths and weaknesses were, assessing yourself going into “Survivor”?
Ron Clark: I wouldn't label my physical strength as one of my best assets. I'm not the most athletic person... I'm really good with the social game. I'm good with people. I'm really good at forming alliances and building a team camaraderie.
Q: The great part of the show is there are so many elements of chance, you never know who’s really going to win... In your heart, did you think, “I can win the million dollars?”
Ron Clark: Going into "Survivor" in my head, you have to win. I'm so competitive. If I lose at a game of cards or if I don't win a jump-rope challenge, I freak out. I over-analyze things... It's that type of drive that helped me be successful with the school... We have to work harder and push. I always tell myself, there's a way to be successful with hard work.
Q: Have you ever had a diet of just rice for days?
Ron Clark: I like eating Mary Mac's twice a week. I love fried chicken and collard greens. I am so unhealthy. I just ate a Baby Ruth candy bar before I got here. I love my comfort food. When I want to eat, I eat. So the thought of going into a situation where you have no food except for a little rice, it takes a little mental preparation. So every night for about six months before I went to bed, I'd meditate and I'd try to imagine how full I was, how content, how warm. I tried to envision my bedroom around me and how happy I was. So then when I got on "Survivor," no matter how hungry or cold or miserable I was, I'd just close my eyes and meditate and go back to that moment.
Q: Are you much of a fan of being outside?
Ron Clark: No. Even my classroom blinds are down. My house blinds: down. I like to sleep in the pitch dark. I'm definitely not a fan of the outside but I'm a fan of "Survivor."
Q: So why not do “Big Brother”? You’d be inside a house all the time.
Ron Clark: "Big Brother" is also a great show but I think "Survivor" is more challenging in terms of the mental aspect as well as the physical aspect. Even though I say I don't particularly care for outside, I love a challenge. I've done Outward Bound before for 10 days. So I've done things like that in the past... It doesn't mean I like it.
Q: Going back to Harlem [as a teacher], you’ve been facing challenges all your life. Building this academy from scratch, I’m sure you a lot of people said, “He’s in a pipe dream!”
Ron Clark: A lot of people didn't think this school would happen but our school motto is "No Fear." If there's something you really want to do, go for it. We're all going to not be here forever. Father Time is undefeated. If there's something you have to do, if you feel it in your heart, do it now because you don't want to look back on your life and have regrets. I don't want to be 85 and say, "I wish I had done it back then." That's why it drove me to apply for "Survivor." It's why I started the school. It's why I travel with the kids around the world. Everything is borne from the desire to live your life the fullest.
Q: What was the reaction of the kids when you were finally able to tell them you were on “Survivor”?
Ron Clark: We travel so much. I think they thought we were in Africa. We go to Africa a lot. So it was nothing new to them. Some of the kids were die-hard "Survivor" fans and they were freaking out. Some of the kids have never seen "Survivor" before... I had to explain it to them. We've built a family here at RCA so all the kids are very excited to cheer for me just as we cheer for them. Anyone who does well in the building, they get a lot of support... They've asked me a thousand questions I can't answer... I also had a swath of relatives who thought I was on "Naked and Afraid." "Survivor" puts out this picture of me with my shirt off... so I had all these texts from my aunts and uncles. "You're going to disgrace the family!" "Wrong show, wrong show!"
Q: That show, they don’t get $1 million. All they get are bragging rights.
Ron Clark: They get mosquito bites. I just don't get mosquito bites. I don't know why. I normally don't. We arrived in Fiji, the first day, I had three bites in the crack of my behind. That's the worst place for a bite! I was miserable. I think this is going to be much harder than I expected.
Credit: Monty Brinton
Credit: Monty Brinton
Q: Are there particular players you admire?
Ron Clark: Not a popular choice. I love Spencer Bledsoe. I like how he plays, a cerebral game. I think I'm very similar in how I view "Survivor." I feel like I really connected with him.
Q: He’s not back on the show is he? [They bring back four former players for this season.]
Ron Clark: No. But during casting, they asked me what "Survivor" players I emulate or admire, Spencer was one. Then I mentioned two others: Joe [Anglim] and Aubrey [Bracco]. They're both playing this season and not only that, they're both on my tribe. It was a little bit shocking.
Q: How did you prepare for the show? Did you learn how to make fire?
Ron Clark: I'm so embarrassed to tell you. I tried. Have you ever tried flint?
Q: No. It looks super difficult. I know if you compete for the final four, you may have to make fire.
Ron Clark: I tried until my fingers bled. I must be doing something wrong. I watched YouTube videos and I tried and tried and I could never make fire before going to Fiji. I'll have to get there and hopefully someone will help me. I did the basic things. I swam a couple times a week, ran, just worked out. I tried to get my body physically in shape.
Q: Did you do a lot of puzzles?
Ron Clark: Anybody who knows me close will tell you I'm neurotic. I'm a perfectionist. I want everything to be just right. So I went through all the "Survivor" seasons, re-watched them and whenever a puzzle came up on the screen, I froze it, printed them off, cut them out and I did every puzzle from the first 36 seasons. I had them by memory.
Q: That’s hundreds of puzzles! How did you dig up 36 seasons of “Survivor”? Was it on CBS All Access?
Ron Clark: Hulu.
Q: That’s very time consuming. You must have had some time to prepare.
Ron Clark: I’m a little neurotic. I realized that tens of thousands of people want to be on the show. If I really had an opportunity to do it and live my dream, I’m not going to waste it or squander it. I’m going to go for it. I’m going to relish it. I’m going to embrace everything. So I’d be up til 4 or 5 a.m. watching “Survivor.” Pausing, contemplating, taking notes. I’d take my shower at 6:30 and come on to school and be teaching at 8 a.m. I was living off adrenaline. Also, one month before I left, I stopped all sugar, salt, removed that from my diet. I didn’t want to get into the game and have some sort of withdrawal.
Q: You still have to fill yourself up with enough calories.
Ron Clark: Actually, I don’t think I did it the smart way because I lost 10 pounds before I went. I got so physically fit, I lost a lot of weight.
Q: Sometimes the people with the most muscle suffer the most. They need the most calories. Sometimes the guys who are a little out of shape do better, which is kind of ironic.
Ron Clark: If I did it again, I’d probably fatten myself up. Get plump!
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Q: The game has evolved over the years. They’ve added all sorts of twists and turns. Do you like the new twists and turns? They even negotiate during tribal council, which used to never happen.
Ron Clark: I'm a "Survivor" traditionalist. I don't want idols. I don't want twists. It has to be based off relationships. It's my strength... I'm not a fan of anything that throws me off kilter. But as someone who watches "Survivor," I love those tribal councils where they're all talking and getting up and walking around. I actually enjoy it to watch it. But to actually experience it, I wish there had been no idols, nothing, because that's a more pure form of "Survivor."
Q: But you have to expect the unexpected.
Ron Clark: That's one thing people love about "Survivor." If you're going to last 38 seasons, you have to constantly reinvent yourself and you've got to throw things out there people haven't seen before so they'll watch again. I understand why they do it.
Q: Jeff Probst. He’s the secret sauce of that show. What is it about him?
Ron Clark: As someone watching the show, you admire Jeff Probst. He's so quick on his feet. To see him in person, I am not sure I am as impressed with anybody I've ever met.
Q: And you’ve met a lot of famous people.
Ron Clark: I've met a lot of people. We constantly talked about how quick he is on his feet, his level of questioning. He is just a genius at what he does and he is just a great guy. I remember the first day, he makes this speech. He said something to the effect of, "Years ago, the reason I make 'Survivor' is for you, for the people who play 'Survivor.' I pick people who I want to watch and everything we've done, the challenges, all the structures we built, everything we planned, it's for you. Enjoy it. This is the world's biggest stage and you're the actors and actresses in it." This allowed me to tell myself, "You're no longer Ron Clark the teacher, You're Ron Clark, the actor. You get to take advantage of this enormous set and go for it."
Q: Probst sometimes makes comments during challenges to get inside your head. Were you able to block him out?
Ron Clark: I over-analyze and neurotic. One little comment will throw me off. He’s the game master. If he says something in your ear, it’s hard to ignore that.
Q: You’ve been an educator all your life. This is a weird twist.
Ron Clark: I took my own advice. Is there anything you haven’t done. I said, ‘Wow. I’ve always wanted to do “Survivor.’’ I didn’t think it would be possible. I’ll just send this application online and it will never happen. I just feel very honored to have been given this opportunity and I want everybody, if you haven’t watched “Survivor” in years, it’s just getting better and better. It’s a phenomenal show. I feel blessed to be a part of it.
Q: Folks have already seen you topless in promotional photos and they’ll see more of that.
Ron Clark: In middle school, the P.E. teacher used to do shirts and skins. I was always embarrassed to take my shirt off... I think he had a crush on me. I was always on skins. I’m not the sexiest man with my shirt off.
Credit: Robert Voets
Credit: Robert Voets
Q: Legs?
Ron Clark: Just look waist down. It’s better than the top. I was uncomfortable to take my shirt off. I tell my kids, don’t care about what people think about you... Why let them control you? If you can be a symbol for somebody who doesn’t have a great body, maybe you can inspire them. I had to go for it.
Q: Every Thursday morning, you’ll be getting a lot of comments.
Ron Clark: I’ve already gotten haters online. They look at the picture and make suggestions on who will win. This old man. First of all, I’m in my 40s. Come on people!
Q: That’s relatively old for “Survivor” nowadays. They don’t cast many people in their 40s.
Ron Clark: I think I’m the oldest person to play in several years... People see my picture and say he’s a loser, he’ll be voted out first. I’m already out there in the education world. I’ve had to deal with those comments. I think it’s funny.
Q: Many of the players are in their early 20s. Does that make a difference?
Ron Clark: This generation was raised coddled and woosified in America. They were raised at a time when it was all about self esteem, of the child and don’t hold them accountable. When you deal with those types of people you have to be complimentary. You have to laugh at their jokes. You have to tell them they’re right. Going in, I had a mindset, I have to handle myself a certain way because if you go in as a 46-year-old teacher and say, “Do this, do that,” nobody is going to listen to you. But if you go in with, “I agree with you, you are so right!” then you’ll get further.
TV PREVIEW
“Survivor: Edge of Extinction,” 8 p.m. Wednesdays, starting February 20, 2019 on CBS
