The very first thing Ozzy Lusth tells me in our interview is that he is not a “jungle boy,” however a “jungle man.” Certainly, the 43-year-old professes he is modified immensely since final taking part in virtually a decade in the past, having moved to Mexico to construct a mix restaurant/music venue/vinyl bar. It is an expertise that is making him strategy his fifth Survivor season with a skillset as various as his enterprise ideas.
As he places it, the legend we have seen play for 128 days so far was merely a personality, a fantasy persona courtesy of the Brandon Sanderson lover who predicated his recreation solely on offering and successful challenges. Now, he is concentrating on fishing extra for relationships than sea life. And that begins with cozying as much as his fellow old-schoolers — particularly these with whom he has a sophisticated previous.
Learn on for my interview with Ozzy, and examine in with Parade each day for interviews with this season’s contestants and different tidbits. Survivor 50 premieres on Feb. 25 with a three-hour episode on CBS.
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Survivor 50 interview with Ozzy Lusth
Let’s get into it, Ozzy. Jungle Boy’s again for a fifth time—
Jungle man. I really feel like I’m virtually grown up, not fairly there but.
Nicely, let’s speak about your life since final hitting the jungle. Recreation Changers was almost a decade in the past. And so many issues have occurred in your life since, from discovering new components of your id to altering careers. So what’s been happening on the planet of Ozzy since we final noticed you?
Look, I am a type of individuals that may’t be instructed what to do. Even when individuals give me nice recommendation, I am like, “I’m gonna go f—okay up.” So I’ve made quite a lot of errors. I’ve achieved quite a lot of issues that perhaps I am not as happy with as I believed I’d be. However on the finish of it, I’ve come out a stronger individual. And a couple of yr and a half in the past, I moved on to Mexico, and opened a restaurant with my little brother. Within the city that I used to be born in, known as Guanajuato, I opened a vinyl bar. It is mainly, as soon as I end finishing, I’ve yet another part of development. However it’s a vinyl bar, music venue, restaurant.
So then, whenever you bought the decision to return out right here for time quantity 5, what was your response, contemplating all the pieces that is occurred for the reason that final time?
I really feel like I am a very completely different individual. I am attempting to mature myself and be a greater individual than I’ve been up to now. I had some lengthy, exhausting seems to be within the mirror and reflection. And I believe that coming again to play once more is a chance to actually showcase the components of me which have modified. And the curiosity that I’ve for my fellow forged is way stronger than it is ever been up to now.
Enjoying Survivor, I simply sort of relied on my skills to fish or be good at challenges to maintain me within the recreation, and it is only a failing technique. It virtually labored for me a couple of occasions, however that is not going to work in Survivor. Survivor 50 is stuffed with very strategic, very good gamers which can be out for blood. The one approach to win this recreation is by growing actually deep relationships and robust alliances constructed on belief. It is the paradox of Survivor: You may’t belief everyone, however you have to belief some individuals utterly. We noticed that only recently with Joe and Eva and Kyle and Kamilla of their season. They each had alliances that had been 100% belief. And Kyle did play a greater recreation as a result of he was in a position to present and probably was a greater clean talker.
However I believe on this new period, juries usually are not going to award the winnings or the title of Sole Survivor to anyone who was a problem beast and that is it. You may’t get to the tip simply by successful challenges and assume that you just’re gonna get one million {dollars} anymore. I believe the identical factor occurred in Recreation Changers. Actually, Brad Culpepper went on immunity run, he bought to the very finish. However he was such a jerk to virtually everyone, that no person wished to present him cash. Individuals would fairly give the cash to this police officer Trump supporter, which was additionally sort of loopy.
So it simply goes to point out you you can’t simply depend on one factor to win the million {dollars}. You have to be an important all-around participant. You have bought to have the ability to do all of it. You have to be good at challenges. You have to be good with individuals. In the event you’re not doing the one do a type of two issues, sorry, however you are simply not gonna win this recreation.
So then let’s speak about that perspective out of your notion coming into this season. As a result of lots of people largely regard you for being a supplier, going fishing, climbing coconut timber, and successful challenges. Is that one thing you are attempting to steer into to cover your newer elements? Or are you attempting to be upfront about who you at the moment are?
No, I do not assume it is price kind of standing on my soapbox and saying, “Hey guys, I’ve modified. I wish to know you I wish to look into your eyes and see the deepest, darkest secrets and techniques of what makes you you.” I am going to do this kind of as simply my technique of attending to know anyone. However I do not assume saying, “Hey, I’ve modified” goes to have this sort of impact that I need it to.
But when it finally ends up being a state of affairs the place persons are questioning whether or not or not I’ve modified, I am open to the dialog, open to speaking about all of the difficulties that I’ve gone by means of particularly with the final yr and a half. The newest yr and a half of my life is the toughest factor that I’ve ever achieved, opening a restaurant in a brand new nation. I used to be born there, and I have been going there my complete life, however I do not actually converse that nicely of Spanish. So shifting to a brand new place and opening a restaurant and having to immerse myself and be extremely uncomfortable, each single day feeling like an fool as a result of I am unable to converse and talk in an eloquent method, it has been actually exhausting. However it’s additionally been an important kind of follow for this subsequent expertise of Survivor 50.
Nicely, let’s get into the patrons right here at your outside restaurant. We’re gonna play a recreation known as “Pal or Foe.” I’ll provide you with a reputation of somebody on the forged, and you must inform me in the event that they’re somebody you wish to work with, or somebody you see as an enemy or risk. Beginning with Jenna.
I need her to be a Pal. I get good vibes from her.
Colby.
Colby generally is a Pal.
Stephenie.
[Pause.] Stephenie shall be a Pal. I believe that every one the old fashioned gamers, I believe we’ll gravitate in the direction of one another at first. There is a chance there’s going to be a brand new versus outdated break up. We’ll see how that shakes out. However you bought the kind of mid to late 30s gamers. They’re not likely new, they’re not likely outdated; they’re kind of in that center zone. I imply, they nonetheless performed 39 days. So I am gonna say Stephenie is gonna be a good friend.
Let’s speak about somebody you’ve got various historical past with. What are your ideas on Cirie?
I hope she’s gonna be my finest good friend. That is what I am hoping.
Ooh, a brand new class! Why is that?
A part of its old style solidarity, and a part of it’s, if we may work collectively, she has all the talents that I haven’t got, that I am not nearly as good at. And I’ve all the talents in different elements that she does not essentially have. So I believe I could make quite a lot of inroads with among the larger bodily threats, and I believe that she will be able to make quite a lot of inroads with among the extra strategic gamers. And I believe if we will work collectively, I believe we will accomplish rather a lot. I do not know if that is going to occur. I do not know if there’s going to be a possibility for that. However she’s not the one one which I wish to kind of make that sort of relationship with.
How about one other individual you performed with beforehand: Coach?
Frenemy.
Proper within the center! I am intrigued as a result of we’re over a decade faraway from South Pacific. However to say issues ended acrimoniously between you two could be an understatement.
The issue with Coach is [that] he is a big persona, the “Dragon Slayer.” Does the Dragon Slayer forgive and neglect, or does the Dragon Slayer maintain grudges? But to be decided. I believe that he blames me nonetheless to today for dropping the season that we performed collectively. However I hope not. I do not assume it will serve him or I to stay enemies on this recreation. I believe that we’d like one another, and we may probably do quite a lot of nice issues if we will see eye to eye and squash no matter beef now we have. I believe that each of us are able to evolve previous what occurred up to now and actually take this new season head-on.
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What about your fellow Recreation Changer, Aubry?
I need her to be a Pal, however she is perhaps extra of a Foe. We had been by no means on the identical tribe in Recreation Changers. When the merge got here, that is once we had been again collectively. And I haven’t got any kind of relationship along with her. However she’s a wise participant; she’s a strategic participant. She has rather a lot to be frightened of. I respect her recreation. I’d like to work along with her. At this level, I am simply gonna need to say Foe as a result of, with out some other foundation to go on. After which perhaps, if I am good, I can therapeutic massage that into a greater place.
Chrissy.
Chrissy, I get good vibes from her, actually do. And I hope she’ll be a Pal.
Angelina.
She looks as if an enemy. I get good vibes from her, however she appears harmful, man. I lately watched her season making ready to return out right here, simply in case. And he or she simply looks as if she’s actually good at faking it. And I do not know the place the true Angelina is. It is actually exhausting for me to inform how she really thinks, as a result of she’s tremendous witty, she’s actually fast, and she or he looks as if an important actress. I do not belief her. I might like to work along with her if I can, however I do know, like, deep down, I do not assume I can belief her.
Christian.
Christian looks as if a Pal. He simply looks as if a extremely good man, and I believe that in case you’re straight-up with him, I believe he’ll play straight up with you. He appeared to play a fairly loyal recreation. It wasn’t till Gabby sort of turned on him that he turned on her first. He is so good that he could be an important asset, an important ally, and never anyone that you just’d wish to fiddle with. As a result of I believe that he does have the capabilities of utilizing that noggin of his to flip the script on you.
Mike.
Finest good friend.
Okay, proper up there with Cirie!
Yeah, I hope so. Hopefully I can appeal Mike White a little bit bit. I am such an enormous fan of him from earlier than Survivor even. Nacho Libre was one in all my favourite films for thus lengthy. And to be taking part in with somebody that you just look as much as that’s simply an mental. Like, he is a large! And now he is clearly driving the mojo of White Lotus. He is as massive because it will get proper now, as scorching because it will get. And everybody’s going to be vying for his consideration; everybody’s going to be attempting to get him on their facet. I believe he will be an important individual to go actually far with. And hopefully I could be that man.
Rick.
Oh, he is so annoying. Sorry, Rick; I do not know what it’s about you. However you are simply such a goofball in a great way. I discover him annoying simply because he is sort of a goofy character, and I really feel like he is gonna have it out for me for some motive. Hopefully not. Hopefully, we will turn out to be associates.
I am attempting to be associates with everyone. However I am frightened about him, as a result of he simply looks as if a free wire. However he’d be an important individual, I believe, to take to the tip. As a result of I do not essentially see him as being essentially the most bodily participant. He is strategically savvy. I believe he is a wise man, for positive. I favored the way in which he performed on his season, sort of bought the uncooked finish of the stick. However I believed he was humorous, and he was enjoyable to look at. He is undoubtedly a witty participant. And I believe that he is actually attention-grabbing. So hopefully I am attempting to make everybody my good friend.
Robert Voets/CBS
Nicely, you talked about that old-school solidarity. Let’s examine if some Foes come out of the brand new period, beginning with Jonathan.
I bear in mind watching Jonathan’s season. And it is perhaps a type of conditions the place you wish to beat your idols in an effort to take the pedestal or take the throne. So it is perhaps a state of affairs like that. However Jonathan, he looks as if an enormous, loyal teddy bear. He appears straight-up sincere. He performed a extremely loyal recreation. I actually revered the way in which he performed. He was doing all the pieces he may for his tribe. Myself and Jonathan, I hope that we will work collectively. I am additionally going to be watching out for him attempting to usurp the throne.
How about Dee?
Oh man, speak about Black Widow. She’s like a praying mantis, no matter insect kills their mate after the deed. I am not saying that. However I am saying that she’s lovely, she’s a millionaire, she’s good, she’s humorous, she’s Latina. She’s bought all the fitting weaponry. She may most likely get me wrapped round her finger if she wished to. And so I am gonna say Foe. [Laughs.]
Emily.
She looks as if she’s gonna be a Foe. Hopefully we will see eye to eye. I really feel like she’s the correct quantity of nerdy that I can join along with her on. Like, I’ve seen her studying some fantasy books, some fantasy authors that I actually favored, Brandon Sanderson. I noticed her studying that. I used to be like, “Alright, okay, perhaps we bought one thing that we will join on.” However I believe that she’s clearly extremely clever. Typically, actually clever individuals which can be outwardly simply overtly good and I do not essentially get alongside. As a result of I am sort of this easy-going, kind of stoner-ish sort of man. And typically these individuals, they do not actually respect my mind as a result of I converse in a slower kind of broken-up method. However I hope we could be associates, however I believe that she’s gonna be trying to take me out.
Charlie.
Charlie’s a tough one, as a result of I really feel like he is such a pleasant man. However until I can join with him on the primary day or so… Look he was loyal to his alliance with Ben, they usually actually bought alongside tremendous nicely. So I really feel like there may be a gap for me to make that. But when we do not get related virtually instantly, I believe he will come gunning for me.
Q.
Actually, I believe he’s gonna be a Foe. Look, there’s all the time this chance for sturdy gamers to stay collectively, to attempt to make it to the tip collectively and weed out the weaker gamers. It normally does not find yourself taking place, as a result of somebody realizes they’re on the underside of that, after which the entire thing comes tumbling down. I believe Q may attempt one thing like that. And when he realizes he cannot do it, he will come gunning for me, as a result of he isn’t going to need the competitors. Though perhaps his ego is sufficiently big that he will need me round as a defend for him, as a result of he is clearly a way more in form. He may attempt to be extra strategic than he was in his final season. However he is additionally bought two different folks that he performed with, and that is harmful.
Let’s speak about a type of individuals: Tiffany.
Tiffany I get good vibes from. And he or she seems to be like a extremely sturdy participant. I hope we will get alongside, and I hope we will make one thing occur. I do not get the straight up Foe. I believe she could possibly be a Pal.
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Genevieve.
[Pause.] I am gonna need to say enemy. Solely as a result of I do not know something about her. I do not recall a lot of her season. She appears very critical. Looks as if very strategic. So my vibes proper now are enemy. So I bought work to do along with her.
Let’s get into some latest faces, beginning with Joe.
I imply, Joe, he simply looks as if such a very good man. Lovable man, such a loyal, sturdy man. I really feel like Joe’s gonna need to play a unique recreation this season. As a result of he performed what I’d contemplate virtually an ideal recreation final season. Him getting third place, I believe it is actually going to wake him up and notice you can’t simply be a problem risk. If he is attempting to win the sport, he will need to do one thing completely different. So I’ll say risk.
Kamilla.
Oh, Kamilla. She’s simply so good and so cool and so strategic that I am gonna need to say Foe. However I’d like to be her new Kyle; I can take his place. However she’s wonderful. I cherished her. I cherished her story. I bought to fulfill her one time exterior of the sport at a charity occasion. I simply thought that she was so cool. I might like to work along with her, however I believe that she’s going to return gunning for me.
What concerning the “outdated” Kyle?
He is gonna need to be Foe. We won’t let Kyle get anyplace close to the tip. He is bought one million {dollars} burning a gap in his pocket proper now. What’s he doing out right here? So fortunately, we have a few of these individuals already. Dee and Kyle are massive winners. And probably a Rizo or Savannah could possibly be a winner too. We do not know. So there could possibly be three winners out right here. And if anyone lets one other Sandra state of affairs occur like that, it could simply be disgrace on us.
What are your ideas proper now concerning the 49 gamers?
So the attention-grabbing factor about these two new characters is clearly we all know nothing about them. We barely know their names. We noticed a little bit like fast blurb of them earlier than we left. They introduced the forged, they usually more than likely had been massive gamers of their season. The one motive why they’d be invited again is one in all them most likely gained the sport. That is what I’ll assume. In the event that they did not win the sport, then they each bought to the very finish and barely simply missed successful it. They’re most likely in an alliance collectively.
I believe that Rizo seems to be he seems to be like he is needed to get his mother and father to signal a permission slip to be out right here. However he additionally seems to be like he is a marathon runner, perhaps an ultramarathon runner. I imply, the legs on him are like tree trunks. So he is most likely a brilliant bodily participant and really good. Jogs my memory of perhaps a Cochran. He most likely is aware of this recreation so nicely; he is seen each single season. Possibly he is a savant about Survivor. That is what I am imagining in my head.
He is additionally a really, very choosy eater. He’ll eat rice and beef, and that is it. No greens. So he jogs my memory of a little bit brother who everyone loves as a result of he is the newborn. And so he will get coddled and he does not eat any of his meals, however everybody’s okay with it. It is like, once I was a child, my dad was like, “You are gonna eat that. You are gonna sit there and eat it earlier than you rise up desk.” I do not know what that has to do with Rizo, however…
[Laughs.] No, I am consuming it up!
So, yeah, I believe Rizo is a savant. I believe half of his physique is admittedly sturdy. Nicely, perhaps three-quarters, as a result of he is most likely a extremely good man. He simply seems to be like he must do some push-ups. No offense. Savannah seems to be like — if it is the easiest way to place it — she seems to be like if Parvati and Jenna Morasca had a love youngster. I do not know if Jenna Morasca is one of the best pattern. Anyway, Savannah seems to be harmful. She seems to be like she’s additionally very good, bodily and she or he’s lovely. She’s clearly made some massive strikes in Survivor 49. So at this level I am gonna, I am gonna need to say Foes on each of them, simply because we’re afraid of the unknown.
Which earlier participant do you would like had been out right here on the island with you proper now?
There’s two gamers. assume that Richard Hatch would have been such a great way to bookend the entire thing. I do know he does not have one of the best relationship with Survivor anymore. However Richard Hatch could be an important man to have out right here, simply because he is the primary winner, and he is such an excellent, boisterous, enormous character, him and all his bare glory. It is most likely why they did not ask him to return again, since you most likely cannot be bare on Survivor anymore. Or I am gonna need to say somebody like Russell Hantz. Simply because I believe Russell Hantz might be is one of the best villain that has ever performed Survivor, I believe he thinks his recreation is healthier than it’s. However he is additionally a enjoyable man simply to look at due to his shenanigans.
Lastly, what celeb or fictional character would you deliver out for a Liked Ones go to?
[Pause.] If I had to decide on one, I’d go together with Captain Planet. I do not know in case you seen, however I’ve bought this lovely mullet that is partially Captain Planet-inspired.
You possibly can have dyed it inexperienced to go together with the total phantasm!
It could have been cool if I might achieved that. It could have been a little bit an excessive amount of. It most likely would have disinvited me to Survivor if I had achieved that. However Captain Planet, so far as all of the superheroes go, he touches this a part of my childhood, watching on TV after faculty, and it was all for a very good trigger. And God is aware of we may use a little bit Captain Planet on this world these days.
Nicely, in true Captain Planet vogue, I completely love the center you are bringing. I believe your strategy to this recreation is, for lack of a greater time period, celebration within the again, however enterprise up entrance. And, contemplating the monumental position Survivor has performed in your life, and vice versa, I am actually excited to see how all of your newfound life expertise goes to tell the way you play this fifth time round.
Thanks. I have been telling lots of people that Ozzy was this character that I created on my first season. That was my stage title. It actually was this character. I’ll be benching Ozzy much more this season. He will be sitting on the bench. I have to play a problem, or perhaps if I have to get some meals for anyone, I can exit and fish. However I’ll be taking part in as Oscar this time. It is one thing that I have never achieved earlier than. However I am gonna be extra of myself as an alternative of a personality that I’ve performed up to now.
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