Survivor's Rich Bares All
By Jenny Higgons, Gist TV Staff

   Ever since the Survivor series finale, Richard Hatch's waking hours have been chock-full of press interviews. That plethora of probing included a teleconference with a group of television critics whose inquiring minds wanted to know the, uh, naked truth about Hatch's life during and after his 39-day stay on the island. As usual, Hatch was happy to offer up his candid opinions and insights. Here's a roundup of some of his more intriguing answers:

On feeling pressure about being the best-known gay man on TV:"There's none whatsoever. I'm me on TV, and if it happens that I'm also the gay me on TV, well, awesome. If somebody thinks that I'm a role model or if that can help dispel myths, then fantastic."

On whether he was sexually attracted to any of the Survivor cast or crew: "I don't think there was a guy on the crew who I wasn't attracted to. And certainly Sean was a handsome fellow and we had some fun."

On having gone without sex while on the island: "I've gone a lot longer. It wasn't an issue, let's put it that way."

On Sue's trashing of Kelly at the final tribal council: "I think Sue thinks it was a bit harsh, and had she had more time to think about what she was saying, it probably would have been tempered some. She's certainly a well-intended person, as is Kelly, and they're both adults and have worked through it. It was a game and they've dealt with it. But Sue was really in an emotional place at the time."

On how the cool mil might affect his love life: "The prize may complicate that. I'm single and looking forward to dating. It's a goal of mine to be in a committed relationship with somebody with whom I'm compatible. I'm hopeful that I'll meet him sometime soon."

On the "fat naked fag with a million dollars" thing: "It started when I was camping in Maine with a couple friends of mine and - surprise, surprise - I was naked, they weren't. We were rock climbing, and [my friend] got a particularly interesting view when he was at the bottom and just thought up the idea of a 'fat naked fag' calendar. And it went from fat naked fag goes rock-climbing to fat naked fag is cooking and fat naked fag goes spear-fishing."

On Rudy's saying that he won't be staying in touch with Rich: "Rudy's an amazing man who I respect tremendously, and I believe I'll always be interested in his health and well-being; I think he feels the same about me. We're from two different generations and have two very, very different lives, and I doubt that we'll develop the friendships. But the word 'friends' is interesting. For me it's a closeness that requires a day-to-day interaction and years of development. And Rudy and I aren't likely to do that, but I'll always respect him and probably touch base every now and then."

On whether he ever came close - accidentally or otherwise - to spilling the secret as to who won: "No. It was so easy for me. I didn't want anybody to be denied the kind of fun that they had. My mom had no idea, and my sister and son ... I lied to both of them blatantly, outright lied to them, told them that I wasn't the winner, just to stop the continuous probing and let them enjoy watching the show."

On his svelte new look: "I had the stuff that you saw flopping around on the last episode - skin from having lost over 140 pounds - removed [by a process] called resection. It had been stretched past the point of healthfully ever being able to come back."

On whether any magazines have asked him to pose naked: "Not yet. Is this an offer?"

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