Gretchen Interview
İMSN Live. Edited for clarity. May not be copied or reprinted without permission

Digital Dish Diva says: Welcome to MSN Live! Today our guest is exiled "Survivor" #7, Gretchen Cordy of the hit CBS series, "Survivor." In this week's episode, mother of two, Gretchen Cordy was banished from the island of Pulau Tiga, surprising a number of "Survivor" fans who thought she would be the one to claim the million dollar prize. Unfortunately at the stormy Tribal Council, four votes were stacked against her and with backpack in hand, Gretchen left the Council towards the jungle. In an exclusive online event, we talk with Gretchen. How did she feel when the votes were read? What happened when the two tribes merged into the Rattana Tribe?

Digital Dish Diva says: Please help me welcome Gretchen Cordy to MSN Live!
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: Hi! It's really good to be able to talk after not being able to talk for so long.

Digital Dish Diva says: Gretchen, thanks for being here with us today. I know many of us were surprised when you were voted off the island this week. Did you know it was coming?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: No, I didn't know it was coming. I think every time you go to the tribal council you think it is a possibility. So, it wasn't outrageous that I was voted off. I remember them pulling out the names and there was a little of everyone in there and then at the end it was me, me, me, me. It was a very surreal moment.

Digital Dish Diva says: You looked so surprised.
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: It was confusing because that's the largest tribal council we had been at so I was wondering how many votes a person had to have to be voted off. So that was hard to keep track of.

Digital Dish Diva says: LYINBLUEYES1 Asks: What was the most interesting thing that happened to you or someone else on the island?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: I think the entire thing was interesting. Because all of it was kept in secret from us, even the competition clues would be so vague. I remember the first one we went to was the burning man and we saw all the wood to make the structure, and thought how beautiful it was. That's when I realized how interesting it would be to watch on TV. We hadn't seen any of it beforehand, none of it was staged.

Digital Dish Diva says: peace2002 Asks: Do you think it was fair the way some people formed alliances with each other to vote you and other people off? Have you talked to the people who banded together to vote you off since the show?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: I think it's very fair. We all had that opportunity. We were prohibited to do it to split money. As far as an alliance itself, I didn't want to tell anyone who to vote for or have anyone tell me who to vote for. And if I had an alliance with people, it would be with the people I liked the most, and then at the end, it would only be the people in that alliance. I didn't want to end up there and regret it. I think it was fair though.

Digital Dish Diva says: Castaway_7 Asks: Did you feel that the underwater challenge was slanted toward the male castaways?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: I've been asked that question a lot. I think people know more about anatomy than I do. If it was slanted toward males, I don't think it was intentional. I think it was amazing how they kept the competitions going and no one had an advantage. If I was able to hold my breath longer than Greg, I know I still couldn't have won the ladder race.

Digital Dish Diva says: Gitane_Demone Asks: What was the sexual tension like with all those handsome men and beautiful women?

Digital Dish Diva says: We had to ask that one. (laughs)
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: (laughs) I think at first there was more than there was. I think people understood right away who had chemistry. BB and I were both married so we were out of the competition. Gervase was having a baby at home so he was out too. Ramona had a boyfriend. Only Colleen and Greg were the only single single people there.

Digital Dish Diva says: beastly says: It seemed to me that you were very serious throughout your stay. Why was this so?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: The fact of the matter is we all looked a little more grumpy than we actually were. They showed the conflict, and that's what kept the show moving. To show why people were upset with BB or Gervase that was just part of it. Most of the time we were smiling. Once I got there and realized what it was to win, it does make you more serious. It woke me up a bit, I knew it wouldn't be a camping trip.

Digital Dish Diva says: Fly_Ryan Asks: How did your family feel about you being stranded on an island?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: When my husband and I met we were both survival instructors in the Air Force and he wasn't worried about me at all. My son is 14 and I think he was happy to see me go. The only one that was worried was my 10 yr. old daughter, so I left the decision up to her. And it made me feel good to have her blessing.

Digital Dish Diva says: Survivor_Fan Asks: What was your luxury item? Would you change your luxury item?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: When we were deciding our luxury items, and they were totally luxury, we couldn't take a flashlight or anything like that. I decided toothpaste, toothbrush, and dental floss. I figured I could use some of that for survival gear. In retrospect if I would have known there was going to be fishing line and other things there, I remember Stacey brought a camera and there were a lot of great things to take pictures of. So, now I think that's what I would have chosen.

Digital Dish Diva says: nonsurvivor Asks: Were you ever afraid of the snakes. There are so many deadly snakes there did anyone almost get bitten? Why didn't y'all try to eat the snakes for food?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: That's a good question. I had read online sites about "Survivor" and people say things like "Why didn't you vote for yourself?" but that was in our contract that we couldn't vote for ourselves. We weren't allowed to eat anything indigenous to the island. It did get very dark there at night, so there's always a possibility of stepping on something. We were coming home from a council and Gervase almost stepped on a snake and the camera crew shined a light down on it. Greg stepped on the middle of a snake. We saw snakes every night there. Although they're really poisonous, from what I understand, they had to bite you in a really soft place like your earlobe or between your toes.

Digital Dish Diva says: Flat_Uniform says: What did she really think of the cow-women analogy made and if it was blown out of proportion?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: I wasn't there initially there when he said it, I was asleep. They woke me up because they were not happy about it. Gervase wasn't condescending. I think he meant that when women want a man they'll do whatever he wants to get his attention and thought that was stupid. I think he was just talking large. It's one thing to say it and another to act it. I don't think that Gervase doesn't act that way. That's why I voted for Joel. But to be honest, we all liked each other, there were a lot of things I liked about Joel.

Digital Dish Diva says: darbo88 Asks: How do the tribal councils work now, post-merger? Did you personally come back to vote for the final two? Do people voted off from here on out return to each tribal council to observe the proceedings, or are they updated via videotape only, or what?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: Because I was #7 I was the last person who was able to leave and not stay around to the final vote, so I don't know if they were taking to the resort and boated back. I don't know if they saw dailies or anything. I don't know how that works because I had the option to stay but I didn't. I went home to be with my kids.

Digital Dish Diva says: ubu Asks: Do you feel you even used any true survivor skills?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: As far as progressing in the game or staying on the island, I don't think my survival skills came into play. But for making people around us more comfortable, it came in handy. We were able to make a fire the first day and able to eat the first day and the other tribe didn't. Greg had a lot of survival skills too, we both realized what it took to survive. Maybe being able to eat before that first competition helped. I don't think I used my survival skills to win.

Digital Dish Diva says: LadyTF Asks: Watching the episodes as they air, do you feel that the editing exaggerated or slanted the personalities?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: Even though I feel that some people are underexposed, I give a lot of credit to the producers who had to film everyone every minute. It's hard to develop some people. You don't get to know Gervase, and some people think Greg is goofy, but he's not. It doesn't make a show to sit and listen to us tell jokes. Each week they had shown something more, and they spent time showing you why Joel got voted off and no one had seen that side of him. And until his or her turn comes, you really don't get to see much of anybody.

Digital Dish Diva says: baconcheese says: What will you miss most about the island?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: I have to pick 2 things. I miss the people a lot. I've kept in e-mail contact, but I miss them a whole lot. I miss being out in nature. Malaysia is beautiful. I suggest that anyone for their vacation. Don't let Mark make your travel plans.

Digital Dish Diva says: aka_maz Asks: Did the camera crew give you treats?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: No, they didn't give me any treats. When Richard messed up and ran through the army barracks there was an MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) and there was a pack of M&Ms in it. We shared that and it was like five for each of us. (laughs)

Digital Dish Diva says: Hieeeee Asks: How'd the first shower feel post-island?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: I got to take a shower on the island, but when they told us that there was a resort on the other side, it was sickening. I would have washed in the ocean before taking a shower on the island, there were SO many bugs. When I finally got back to the resort I took like a two hour bath, it felt so good!

Digital Dish Diva says: RoseG Asks: Did you have to take a leave from your job, and will you go back to teaching in the fall? How do you think your Survivor fame will affect your role as teacher?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: My boss was very accommodating. There's actually two teachers in the room and when she goes I take up for her (although it's not usually for a month) and she took up when I went. I get a lot of fan letters from the kids, one of the girls called my house and asked for me and my husband said she's not home the girl said "Please tell Gretchen that I love her and miss her." I always thought of them when there was swearing on the show because I knew they were watching. I have to say bottom in the classroom because they won't even let me say butt. (laughs) I didn't even know if they would let me back in the school after I did that J backwards. (laughs) But they are.

Digital Dish Diva says: Our last question is from angelface who says: On "Gilligan's Island," the castaways had SO many clothes for a four hour tour. Did they tell you how many clothes you could bring?
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: Very limiting, we were allowed to take a long sleeved shirt, short sleeved shirt, long pants, shorts, bathing suit, sandals and sneakers, hat, three pairs of underwear (which was a complete waste of time because everyone was having rashes. It was easier to just not wear them.) I had a pair of pants and if I wanted to wear a dry pair of pants I couldn't wear them during the day. The zipper corroded shut and then I just wore my shorts. We also knew how important certain things were for the other members of the tribe when we were voted off, that's why we left a lot of stuff when we left. I left my blue pants.

Digital Dish Diva says: We have been talking with Gretchen Cordy, exiled "Survivor" #7. Gretchen, thanks for being with us this morning.
Survivor Gretchen Cordy says: Thanks for having me. Try not to be so critical of the people on there. They really are a wonderful bunch of people. If they took three days out of your life and edited it down to three minutes, imagine what they would show you. Any one of you could have been there. Just try and view them as people with families.

Digital Dish Diva says: Thanks for giving us an insight into the CBS hit series, "Survivor." Tune in to "Survivor" on CBS next Wednesday to see whom the next exiled Survivor will be!

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