Image credit: Monty Brinton/CBS
“If they fear you, they will respect you,” says Russell Hantz of the 16 newbies he is about to face on Survivor: Redemption Island. “They will fear me, I promise.” But does the person sitting in the chair to his left fear him? In part 2 of our 4-part exclusive on location pre-game chat with Russell and Boston Rob Mariano, the two former foes discuss how they would react if they were new contestants and saw two all-stars returning to play again. Plus, Rob answers the question of whether Russell had an unfair advantage in Heroes vs. Villains because nobody had seen him play, while Russell shares his plan to get to the very end…again. If you thought Redemption Island was set to kick-off Wednesday, Feb. 16 on CBS, think again, as the game has clearly already begun as the two heavyweights attempt to kill each other with kindness. Watch part 2 of the 4-part interview after the jump below, and if you missed part 1 (which includes the first blindside of the season!), you can stay tuned to watch that as well. And then check back Monday for part 3, as Russell shares this startling admission: “My personal game sucks.” (For more Survivor news and views, follow me on Twitter @EWDaltonRoss.)
I love Russell, hes the best thing to happen to Survivor!
I agree 100% terry…whether you like him or hate him, russell makes for some great tv.
ummm, yea. The very definition of insanity – repeating the same action over and over and over again and expecting a different result. Anyone who finds this in any way interesting or exciting clearly isn’t paying attention.
He’s entertaining, I just hate the way Burnett and his promo monkeys shoved him down our throat as “the best player ever!” The fact is, he was not a very good player, he was so unlikeable that everybody wanted to take him to the end because they knew he could beat him. He was a great goat, not much else. It will be interesting to see how he plays now that he’s had some time away from the game.
Yes! This is correct. 100%. I can see why people like him and they think he’s a great player but he’s not. “If they fear you, they will respect you.” You know, another player played under the impression that if they liked him he’d win. His name was Coach. I loved Coach but had no fantasy about him winning. Russell is the same way. You can like the way he plays but you’re freakin delusional if you think he can win playing it like he does.
Russell is a troll, it looks like Rob is trying very hard not to laugh while Russell is yammering away!
I hate Russell, he’s the worst thing to happen to Survivor!
Can’t they send these 2 D-bags to some remote island and actually leave them there? Seriously – they both are just complete tools.
I agree with Terry and Brock. Love him or hate him, you tune in to see what Russell will pull. If you didn’t, he wouldn’t be back for the third time.
He is back for the 3rd time because the producers have given up.
Believe it or not, some viewers actually DON’T tune in to see that slimebag Russell, but to see the other Survivors. I myself don’t care for Boston Rob but I’d take him anyday over that smarmy Russel. I sure I speak for many who want Russell booted ASAP.
I tune in to watch Survivor, not Russell.
I love both of them. This will make for a very interesting season, I cannot wait. Would love it if they both made it to the final.
I think that’s what viewers are hoping for – Boston Rob and Russell in the final two.
All this focus on the “Big Showdown” between these guys is absolute bulls**t. Survivor is SUPPOSED to be an unscripted reality show. Having an entire season built around a big fancy premise is a mockery of what this show is supposed to be about. For God’s sake, just throw 16 strangers on an island and let what happens happen! I mean, if Rob and Russell are the first 2 evicted in weeks one and two, what’s gonna happen: should they cancel the season because the “Big Plot Idea” has been ruined? Survivor is turning into THE HILLS or something – it’s not “Reality” at all. I hate how much focus is being made on “The Big Showdown”. There. Rant over.
exactly. This isn’t Survivor. It’s the Rob and Russell show. Just give the two jerks a sitcom and be done with it.
I totally agree!
They wouldn’t have canceled Guatemala if Stephenie and Bobby Jon had been the first two contestants voted out. They would have had a “normal” season with 16 newbies.
SO FAR WHAT I AM SEEING 2 LOSER…. I AM 99% CERTAIN THEY ARE NOT GOING TO WIN!!! ….Russell was the best player the last 2 games he played…… 0utwit/Outlast…Outplaying …he suck!!!!Rob…is a whiner…cry baby!!! he admitted he was not ready for the last game!!!
What are they trying to prove to the fans???? LOSERS
I love Rob, but I just wish Russell would go away already!!
Team Rob!!!
Like
Go Rob!!!!
THIS IS GONNA BE AWESOME!!!
Hi Amber.
no, its Ambuh!!!
I totally agree with Melissa.
“I’m not taking you anywhere.” HAHA Dalton
To Russell the Troll: Fear only gets “respect” when you’re face to face with people. Behind your back, they’re laughing their asses off. At least this time, everyone knows him for the subhuman he is: even uglier on the inside than he is on the outside . . . and THAT’S saying something!
Soooo true!!11
I don’t get the “troll” comments. People call Russell evil and bully but then turn around and insult him because of his physical appearance? That’s the definition of the pot calling the kettle black.
I agree that they’re great TV and I’m pumped to have them there again but after this enough is enough. Maybe if there’s a season 30 or 40 then Russell can return.
People complain about the lack of reality despite the fact that majority of the time it is all new contestants. The few times it hasn’t been all new contestants the resulting season has been quite good.
I’m just not a fan of people letting their Russell hatred cloud their judgment.
Never mind “after this enough is enough”. Three out of four seasons is more of Russell than anybody other than his mother or his wife should have to put up with. And while I love Boston Rob I really don’t see the necessity of bringing him back for another kick at the can either. If Survivor wants to go down that type of route I wish they’d bring back players who for one reason or another were unable to finish their season – Mike Skupin and dehydrated Russell for example. I don’t hate Russell but I sure don’t enjoy watching him preen and gloat either. And if comparing him to one of those malevolent True Blood leprechauns (as oppossed to the cheerful, happy Lucky Charms leprechauns) says more about me than it does about him, well then, I guess that’s on me. In my defense however, I will say that the assessment comes more from his personality than his looks, it just happens that malevolent little leprechaun is what immediately springs to mind when I think of Russell. Just like clueless Adonis, a backhanded compliment if ever I heard one, is what springs immediately to my mind when thinking of Rob.
Im really impressed with them. I thought they were guna be stupid about it and go after each other they would make a badass team. Good thinking Rob n Russell!
I can’t bring myself to watch these videos since Russell is the one who has ruined the past few seasons with spoilers. I came here wondering if anyone else was bothered by that. Guess not.
The issue of Russell and his spoilers were discussed on the previous thread on part one of the four videos. Clearly Burnett and Probst don’t care because they keep bringing him back like a persistant case of yeast infection. Ross doesn’t care because he’s too busy sucking up and swallowing whole everything Probst’s been feeding him. The fans, I don’t really know. Everyone suspected Russell as the leak for so long that when the confirmation actually came down it was almost anticlimactic. Since all eyes on now firmly on him maybe he’ll keep his spoilers to himself this time out. I should probably warn you that before you go ahead looking for the previous thread that Moose is once again on the loose and posted a spoiler – so if you don’t want to know don’t go there. You won’t be missing much, just a lot of aggravating, rude and irritating comments by someone named Ian.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m no Russell fan but if I were to play devil’s advocate in his defense I’d have to say that given his palpable disappointment when Natalie was declared winner of Samoa he didn’t look like a guy who knew he was going to lose.
True, I haven’t gone to the other videos so I don’t know what was discussed there.
You have a good point that Russell’s disappointment was what probably resulted in him giving away results but it still irritates me! Don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to watch and I’ve been on the ‘love to hate’ side but the lack of consideration/respect he displays for Survivor and fans might turn me to the ‘just plain hate’ side.
Thanks for the heads up regarding other spoiler posts. I really, really don’t understand what joy others get from telling things to people WHO DON’T WANT TO KNOW. Eh – human nature… some people feel special when they know something other people don’t.
Caryn: I wasn’t warned of the spoilers on the other video comments and, therefore, I unfortunately read them. I totally agree with you. Why do some people think thats fun? go ROB!