Final Interview
Keith's Final Chat
May 7, 2001 1:00 PM PST
CBS_Host: We are now joined by Keith Famie. He will be chatting with us for the next hour so send in your questions and comments! Thank you for joining us, Keith!
Keith Famie: Good day America! Let's get it on!
LuvDaColbster: Keith, how shocked were you to find that Colby chose Tina instead of You?
Keith Famie: Not shocked at all. If I would have won immunity I would have chosen Tina too. Tina was really the best player and both Colby and I had close alliances to her.
gotina: Keith . . . CONGRATULATIONS from Canton, MI! Are you bitter at all now that you know that Tina and Colby "dragged" you along?
Keith Famie: No, I'm not bitter at all. I don't totally agree with them that I was dragged along. I think that they had an opportunity at the very near end to choose Elisabeth or Rodger to stay, but up until that point I think it was a strong, team-driven alliance. They needed to keep me on instead of Mitchell early on because they needed to win challenges. No hard feelings at all. Most importantly let's not forget - it was just a game.
Ilovekeith: Keith, when are you getting married?! I'm so excited for you!
Ms_Kay: How has the show really changed your life?
nosila: What do you think of all the fame that has come with playing Survivor?
Keith Famie: I think the show has given me an opportunity from a life standpoint. I've learned to appreciate something as simple as time and how to make the best of the time we have. Not to mention the deep appreciation I've come to have for children and people from all the parts of the world that fight hunger on a daily basis. The fame that comes from "Survivor" - I think it's just a byproduct of the game. It's fun, but you have to keep it in perspective. I think it's kind of a hard job for individuals from the show to use it to some benefit or as positive result to help other individuals in some way. I hope that's something I can do with it.
Colbyfangigi: Keith, would you do it again?
survivorfreak2001: Would you play Survivor again if you could?
Keith Famie: No.
cool_chick: Keith, you Rock!!!!!
Keith Famie: The excitement, adventure and challenges of the game I really enjoyed. The inability to have communication with my children, my mom, my dad (who has Alzheimer's) as well as my fiancée Katrin and other relatives makes the game unnecessary for me to play. Life is too short. In the two months I was gone, God forbid something terrible could have happened to someone that I loved and I wouldn't have been able to be there.
Erica: If you could do it all over again would there be anything you would change?
buckhunter: Do you have any regrets, Keith?
Keith Famie: I have no regrets about how I played the game or how I existed and gained from my experience in the Outback. I do, however, wish that if I had better hindsight I would have seized an opportunity with Rodger to form an alliance at the very end and maybe the game's outcome would have been totally different.
Survivorrocks: Keith, what was the best part about the Outback for you?
Keith Famie: The ability to sit on top of the hill for many days overlooking all of the Outback and spending time with myself personally just really thinking about things I never really took the time to think about. As well as the friends I've made since the game's been over.
Irishguy: What was your worst moment on Survivor?
Keith Famie: My worst moment on "Survivor" came when the flood had hit and we returned to camp. That was Thanksgiving Day and I had intentions of making a Thanksgiving meal dinner for everybody, and we lost everything, and as a result we slept in the rain all night without any food.
Amy: Whom did you feel the closest with?
Colbys_honey: Who did you feel closest to in the Outback?
LvnSurvivor4eva: Do you keep in touch with anyone from the show?
Keith Famie: Probably Tina and Rodger I was closest to. I keep in touch with Tina, Rodger, Colby, Mike, Amber and Elisabeth once in a while...and Maralyn "Mad Dog."
joyful: Was the reunion last week a good time for you?
Keith Famie: Yes. It was a really great opportunity for everyone to get together, meet each other's families and put the game behind us.
basil: Did you learn anything about yourself as a person through this whole experience?
Keith Famie: Yeah, sure, a lot of things. The experience really allowed me to reflect on my past quite a bit and gave me an opportunity to look at the present and plan more for the future. As a divorced father of 41 years, two children, having filed bankruptcy at one time in my life - having multiple successes and failures - I learned a lot. How could you not?
hot4colby: How did it feel to come so close to the end and then lose?
Keith Famie: I didn't lose. Money isn't everything. After spending several days on top of the mountains in the Outback and thinking about things, I realized the game wasn't about money at all. I think I walked away a big winner.
Chrissy: Keith, you are my 12-year-old son's favorite Survivor, and he would like to say you ROCK!!!!
S4Winner: How did your family react to your decision to go to the Outback? How did you prepare them?
Keith Famie: Katrin was not happy with it at all, but she supported me totally. My mom was excited about it. My dad has Alzheimer's so it's difficult to talk to him about anything. My kids I couldn't tell - I told them I went to Europe instead.
SurvivorFan_Jhaphet: Congratulations from the Philippines!!!
Erica: You are a Survivor Keith!!!
Rosie: Why did you choose to apply for Survivor?
Keith Famie: I was a finalist for the first one and could not complete my application interviewing process because of another engagement that I made a commitment to. I'm happy it worked out this way - that I became a finalist and contestant on Survivor 2 as opposed to Survivor 1. The original idea of trying to play the game of Survivor was actually very simple - what other game can you play where you have a one in sixteen chance of winning a million dollars? I figured if I got picked I'd have as good of a chance as any of the other sixteen participants.
iluvsurvivor: Congratulations from Texas!
porthuron: Keith just wanted to tell you Port Huron Michigan is very proud of you!
MB: Keith, I just wanted to say you played the game very well. Good Job!! :)
eman: Congratulations from Germany, Keith!
Amalia: Canada loves you, Keith.
BABEebluus: Keith, being that food is such a major part of survival, were you intimidating to have your tribal mates know you were a chef?
Keith Famie: No, I wasn't intimidated, I was enthusiastically looking forward to cooking for them, keeping them happy and nourished. I wouldn't have had a problem with that if it wasn't for the Tortilla Queen, but it was actually nice having someone doing the cooking for a while. I knew she wouldn't last forever and I'd end up doing the cooking for everyone anyway.
KYGIRL: I think you were unfairly judged for not being able to cook rice. Those were not good cooking conditions! Do you agree?
Keith Famie: No, those were not the best cooking conditions - good observation, but that is part of the game - being judged. That's what you sign on for, but it was only Jerri.
UPennGimp: Congratulations from Istanbul, Turkey!
cool_chick: Canada thinks you rock!!!!!!! You should have won
Elucian: Great job Keith!
Bonneth: Will you be serving a "Special Outback Rice" at your restaurant now??
Keith Famie: I don't currently have a restaurant at this stage but I'm considering reopening one. Yes, I would definitely have an adventurous Outback rice dish of some sort.
ElisabethWroteAC: Keith, if you won immunity in the final immunity challenge, and you could choose any Survivor, who would it be?
Keith Famie: Duh - Jerri!
Keith_Fan: What are your feeling towards Jerri now that the game is over?
Keith Famie: We're in counseling. No really, we're friends, everything's fine, it was just a game - no hard feelings.
ThEUlTiMaTeSuRvIvOr: Congrats from London, Ontario.
M_a_tracy: Congratulations Keith from Tracy in Quebec !!!
chelsea: Hello! I just wanted to say GREAT JOB in the Outback. I love Survivor! :o)-"
Amalia: What does it take to stay focused in the game?
Keith Famie: I can't say I stayed focused all the time in the game. Colby stayed focused in the game probably better than anybody.
ashcaz: CONGRADULATIONS KEITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Frosty: Scotland thinks you should of won Keith!
Keith_anser_my_questions_please: Did you have a strategy planned before you went in the game?
Keith Famie: Yes, my strategy was simple: play non-confrontational, work hard, try to be an asset to the team and the tribe.
survivor_lover: Did Colby's victories discourage you or make you stronger?
Keith Famie: None of Colby's victories discouraged me. I was happy that he won them. He worked hard for them. I would hope that had I won them he would have been happy for me too.
Survivor_Butterfly: Best Wishes From Ottawa Canada!
pickles: Poland thinks you should have won, Keith.
kkkl: Hi Keith. Congratulations on your job well done. Hugs and kisses from yoour fans in Singapore.
Cook_Of_The_Year: Keith...Mexico loves you!!!!!!!!!!
colbyfanforever: California loves you, Keith!!!
Lance: Colby was a fool! He made it look like you were the bad guy when he got upset after you cooked too much rice! Did you ever consider voting him off before the end of the game?
Keith Famie: At that exact moment when that took place and he and Elisabeth walked away, Rodger leaned over and said to me "Do you want to take the boy out?" Within a short period of time after that took place, Colby apologized, said he was just tired and frustrated and didn't mean to do that. Of course, there were no cameras rolling then, but that's alright, it was sincere, I know he meant it. So, the suggestion from Rodger - I did not take him up on. Ogakor was a team from the very beginning with Tina, Colby, and myself and I believed in the team, and so three people taking it to the end like that would be a good thing.
gary: Australia salutes you!
Leanne: Keith, you rock. Ontario thinks you should have won!!!
Lance: I thought that it was pretty funny the day Jerri was voted off, you started singing "Ding, dong the witch is dead." What was the feeling in the camp the next day without the wicked witch of the West?
Keith Famie: We were all very happy, but I think reality set in and who would the negative focus be driven to now? What a surprise - it was me!
ElisabethKicksBUTT: Congratulations from NH!!!!! You played a great game!!!
Aggies1: Congrats from Utah.
sara: Congrats from Canada!!
Aussiegirl: Congratulations from the Australian Outback.
Green_Hornet: Tina and Colby were asked what they would have done with a million dollars if they had won. What would you have done with the million if you won?
Keith Famie: I had the intentions of first of all buying a house for my kids and I and Katrin. But back in Michigan I'm the president of an organization called the Rainbow Connection. We grant wishes for children with illnesses, it's a rather large organization. My goal was to take a group of children on a getaway so they could forget about what's negative in their life as it relates to their disease. I may still try to do this anyway with various other sponsors. Thank you for asking that question.
chiquita: Congrats, Keith from Vancouver, B.C.
Survivor_Girl: Congratulations from Annapolis, Maryland!
ace: Proposing to your girlfriend on air....was that spontaneous, or did you plan that?
Keith Famie: More spontaneous than you'll ever know! I originally was going to write it in the sand when it was wet and then when a helicopter flew over from the show they'd air it and when the show aired I'd be watching it with her and propose to her that way. But I'd gotten cold feet and didn't do it at one of the opportune times. So when we were doing the live chat session we had a lot of time in between the individuals doing the chat. I said to Tina that I hoped it would rain in the next couple days so that I could propose to Katrin in the sand as I'd planned, and Tina said "Why don't you do it right now on the Internet?" For those wondering where Peas and Carrots came from: the very first movie we watched together was "Forrest Gump," and that scene in the movie where Forrest says to Jenny "We're just like peas and carrots"-well, it kind of stuck with us.
colbyfanforever: Did you do a real proposal to Katrin after you got back?
Keith Famie: Yes, it took place in Las Vegas at the Venetian hotel on a gondola and I had arranged the gondolier to sing a song that I played for her many times - Englebert Humperdink's "After the Lovin.'"
LvnSurvivor4eva: awwwww...that's precious!!
mo75: Awwww, that is so sweet!!!!!!
CuTiE_KaTiE: When is your wedding Keith? Have you set a date yet? Are you excited?
Keith Famie: Very excited and we're looking at either April or May of next year, but clearly we have to wait for some of this excitement to settle down because it's altered our lives - this Survivor mania!
KK: Congratulations, Keith and good luck with the wedding. All the best to you and you children.
Lance: Sweet man! Nice job!
rm224: Keith, congratulation from Texas. You should have won.
keithshouldofwon: Have you been asked to appear on any cooking shows?
rcornell: Any hopes for a nationally televised Keith Famie cooking show?
Keith Famie: I've been asked to appear on the Food network and cook for the Saturday Early show which is actually going to be this Saturday. Possibly in the future I may have a national cooking show, but no definite plans at this stage - who really knows?
TinaIsSweet: Do you have a cookbook?
Keith Famie: Yes, I have a cookbook called "Famie's Adventures in Cooking." It came out in February.
jejefromqccanada: Keith, you are the man! Will you have your own brand of rice?
Keith Famie: *laughs* Thank you and I don't know - I really haven't thought of that. Good idea, though - what should I call it?
CordeliaMeg: When are you appearing on the Food Network?
Keith Famie: I don't know yet. Scheduling is a little difficult right now but I'm sure it will be by the fall.
Survivorholic: What about the second cookbook, "Yes, I CAN Cook Rice!!!"?
asheybash: Congratulations and may God bless you and your wonderful family
ashcaz: You should have won!
AlbertoPena: Keith, what did you think of the cow brains? Was it raw? How did it taste?? Congrats on making it to the final three!
Keith Famie: Thank you and the cow brains had the texture of a warm Milky Way, or, if you can envision it, you can envision chewing on the raw liver of a cow even though it was the brain. Mushy, soft, bitter, half raw, half cooked, of course we had no toothbrush or Scope after that - so it was just one of those flavors that kept giving for days. Don't need to do that again.
Andres: You should have won!!
PyroStock: Keith - You can call your rice the "Vote off Jerri & Be Nice Rice"
Leigh: Congratulations from Vilseck American Military Post in Germany!
Seth_for_tina: Congratulations and we wish you all the best from FLORIDA!
luvsuvivr: Keith, I am eight years old and live in Boston. Please tell me what food did you dream about eating while in the Outback?
Keith Famie: I had 41 days to dream about food. There are so many things - from lobster to salmon to peanut butter to chocolate to oatmeal to milk, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, mushrooms - I can go on and on and on and on. Oh wait! I didn't dream about rice!!
cougars: you da man Keith.
evilgator2: Were you prepared for the barrage of media and press after Survivor2?
Keith Famie: They tell you that it's going to be a frenzy of media but you really don't know what to expect. It does all fascinate me a bit I have to admit. We were basically sixteen people who sat in the Outback and ate rice.
Rene: Keith: Who would you have liked to get to know better in the Outback?
Keith Famie: Alicia. Rodger. Michael. I found them to just be really good, solid, stand up people. That doesn't mean the others weren't. I had a lot of time I spent with a lot of the individuals but those were individuals I didn't really get to spend time with. Rodger more than Alicia and Mike, but since Survivor has ended, Mike and I hang out a lot together.
Christine_B: Keith, was Elisabeth really as sweet as she was portrayed?
Keith Famie: Yes, Elisabeth is a very sweet person, but the kitty cat does have claws and she does scratch, but it's in all good clean fun as it relates to the game.
Texasgirl: What was your position on the Kel/beef jerky issue?
Keith Famie: I, not seeing the beef jerky, did not support it. I felt bad that it took place. He handled it very well considering all that came of it.
MotownDeb: I was pulling for you, Keith...and I DON'T like Jerri!
The_Tribe_Has_spoken: How do you feel about Debb and her situation?
Keith Famie: I think that the town hall was a great opportunity for her to voice her opinion and give America a good understanding of how negative things can become after someone spends such an incredibly short amount of time on a show like that. I think she handled it very well and was glad she was at town hall after all.
Prissy_Chrissy: keith, you are so cool you are the MAN!
Johnny_Barrimundi: Congrats on making it to the final 3 Keith!
ashley: What did you think about while watching the show and seeing yourself?
Keith Famie: It's a very surreal experience. It was several months ago and not up until the final episode where we sat together on the set together in L.A. re-enacting Tribal Council did it really hit home that I really did this.
Lindalu: Congrats on making it to the final 3 and good luck with your marriage!
SurViVoR_J: Well done from Australia, mate, you played the game very well.
Lance: Good luck on your marriage! Katrin is quite a cutie!
addicted: Do you like how the editing portrayed you?
Keith Famie: I think that the editing in some shows was more right on than on other shows. I think that they needed to develop a certain type of character towards the end and maybe this was an opportunity to show some of the really great things that can come out of the game where people are lonely, tired and hungry and what can be learned from it. All in all, the show was put together extremely well and myself, my family and friends found it to be very entertaining.
Cody: Keith, Goodbye!~ And Good Job In The Outback!!!!
wendynbama: GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE KEITH!!!!
CharlieMikeSweet: Keith your rock man! You are the coolest.
KarenlovesColby: Good luck in your marriage...!!!
ANASTASIA: Hi Keith, what advice do you have for any future Survivor wannabees?
Keith Famie: Expect the unexpected. Do not and I repeat - do not -- trust anybody. I must say that with saying this - it takes more energy not to trust than to trust. I still would have played the game trusting my instincts and if I was wrong I was wrong, but if you have the instincts to stay in the game and not trust anybody it will be to your benefit.
Amalia: Hugs and Kisses to you Keith!
smplsimon: Keith you rock!!
Hello_Keith: Keith Keith he's our man, if he can't do it no one can!!
JillMarie: KEITH YOUR THE BEST
QUIET: WE LOVE YOU IN NEPAL!
yolliebear: Keith is cool, he was the ultimate Survivor!!!!
clevelandsurvivorfan: we love you in Madagascar!!!!!!
KuchaKuchaKoo: Keith you're the greatest!!! Good luck on your marriage!!!
TinaFan: Goodbye Keith! The bronze isn't a bad prize. Congratulations! Best wishes to you and Katrin :)
pakaroni: What do you see yourself doing in the next 5 years?
Keith Famie: Oh, I have no idea. I've never been really good at planning that far into the future. Life doesn't really allow you to. So, I'll try to just take month by month, focus that way and see where the journey of life takes me and hope that myself, my children, Katrin, and the rest of my family get to smile a lot. That's all that's really important.
CBS_Host: Thank you for joining us, Keith! Any final comments?
Keith Famie: The most important thing that's come from this experience is to see how much support I have been able to get from people all across America and throughout Canada. I'm really flattered by it and appreciate it. Probably the biggest excitement for me is when small children (8,9, 10 - the same age as my children) come up to me with so much excitement in their eyes and in their voice and they just want to spend a little bit of time with you. It's really fun and makes me feel good that I was a part of something so special. Most importantly I have to thank my family, friends and loved ones who supported me through this, and Mark Burnett and his team for choosing me and allowing me to take this journey through this game called "Survivor." Thank you America!
Canadian_Survivor: Thanks for making Survivor Great!!!!
islandman: Congrats from Marquette, MI Keith!!!!! You were the best!!!!
kkkl: Auf Wiedersehen, Keith!!!!
kucha1: Great job Keith! Congratulations on your success!!
PyroStock: Good Game!
NiteFever1: We'll never forget you Keith!!!!!!..
SurvivorAddict: augustana college loves you keith....we had parties every week....LOVE YOU MAN!!!
CHRIS_S: Keep on Surviving Keith!!!
Cody: Bye Bye Keith!!
babygurl_87: i wish u the best!
montreal_chic: montreal loves you keith!
Lance: You rock Keith! Your the best out of the 16!
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