Elite TV had the opportunity to talk with Diane Ogden, the first to be voted out of Survivor Africa. Diane joined us on April 16, 2002 for an online interview with members of Elite TV (ETV) and the Survivor newsgroup - alt.tv.survivor (SNG). The following is a condensed version of the interview.
ETV & SNG: Hello Diane!
Diane: Hi! Woo Hoo!
ETV: Welcome to Elite's - Nice to have you here. We are so glad you could make it.
Diane: Thank you guys. I finally made it!
ETV: Ready for a few questions?
Diane: You betcha.
ETV: OK. Let me start of with... How difficult was the casting process?
Diane: Well when they first called I was one of 800 - that is what it was narrowed down to from 60,000.
ETV: Did you do a live audition? Remember - Lindsey's had her nude riding a bicycle.
Diane: Well they said they liked my audition tape. I did about three minutes. I was in my kitchen smoking a cigarette and drinking coffee. Fully clothed. I also did an on camera interview for about 20 minutes.
ETV: Where did they hold the live interviews--the 20 minute tape?
Diane: When i got back in Denver, I flew there for my 1st interview.
ETV: We heard that the same people who interviewed you also cast Big Brother 2. Do you know if that rumor is true?
Diane: No, I guess I didn't hear that.
SNG: If you had lasted to the end and could have chosen who to take with you, who would you have picked (out of any of the 15)?
Diane: I would of taken silas, he's very sweet.
ETV: What did your co-workers think of you being on Survivor?
Diane: They thought I was in jail. For slapping a cop when I was drunk.
ETV: And your co-workers bought that?
Diane: Yep they sure did.
ETV: What REALLY goes on at tribal council? I mean, we see just a few people making comments about why they are voting. Is it shown completely? Or are the tribal councils longer and then edited down to what we see on TV?
Diane: The tribal councils are about 1/2 hour. It was very hot. I thought I was gonna pass out - again! It was very intense, I thought Clarence was gonna go.
SNG: How did you get along with Kelly and Kim Johnson? Several people on the show seemed to dislike Kim J.
Diane: I was very mad at Kim J for dumping the water, but I got along with Kelly. She was the beginning of my end. When Kim J dumped the water me and Jessie were goners.
ETV: Because you got sick and dehydrated? You guys got blamed? You mean dehydrated because of lack of fresh water?
Diane: When ethan was pouring water on me and Clarence to keep us cool while we were trying to get the fire started.
ETV: As you grew to know the other Survivors, who did you think would win?
Diane: I thought lex would win. He's a very good leader.
SNG: Did you ever sense any sexist behavior from the Boran men?
Diane: Oh Big Tom, maybe a little there. But not from anyone else.
ETV: How do you feel about Clarence? On the one hand, he helped keep you cool, and stayed with you, on the other hand, he said you asked him to open the can of beans.
Diane: I like Clarence now, was very mad when he lied. When we were on safari, he asked if we were cool. I said "never lie on me again".
ETV: We thought he lied, for sure.
Diane: He did, he admitted it was all him later.
ETV: He didn't on the air though, did he?
Diane: No, he did in his interviews after he got the boot.
ETV: Several people had to be airlifted to the hospital. How did that happen and did it interfere with the show? Did it give anyone an unfair advantage?
Diane: Linz and Carl were flown to the hospital while we were on safari. Jessie too.
ETV: What was wrong with them?
Diane: Very swollen legs. Kinda like Kim J.
SNG: Do you think you were cast because of any Sue Hawk-like qualities? When I saw you for the first time, I wondered if you were going to be the Sue.
Diane: Yeah, that and they kept asking me about Mike from Survivor 2. I do hunt and fish.
SNG: I wish we'd seen that on Africa. I wish we'd seen anyone doing anything on Africa.
Diane: Me too, but they wouldn't let us. Can't hunt or fish in a game reserve.
ETV: Would you do another Survivor?
Diane: You betcha I'd do another. I loved it there.
SNG: Have you been contacted about the upcoming alumni Survivor?
Diane: No didn't know about it.
ETV: What did you bring away from the experience?
Diane: Appreciation for what i have here. We have everything and they have nothing.
ETV: Family?
Diane: Yes my family. I almost lost my son about a month and a half ago. He got hit by a car. He's better walking with crutches.
ETV: Who do you want to win on Survivor Marquesas?
Diane: Ya know, I think I'd like to see Kathy or Tammy win.yeah, I'd love to see either win. I think Tammy will. Kathy because of her strength and because she seems to be so misunderstood. She's no quitter.
ETV: Someone asks you how to get on Survivor. What do you tell them?
Diane: Send in a tape, be yourself, that's all I did.
SNG: Have you received any feedback for your SurvivorFever prediction columns? Some have been very accurate.
Diane: Oh, lol, some. It's fun because it's so unpredictable.
ETV: Do they think you have inside knowledge?
Diane: No, no inside knowledge, I like talking to everyone. I'm just Diane.
ETV: Diane, what castaway do you still keep in touch with?
Diane: Oh Jessie, Carl, Lex, T-bird, Ethan on a fairly regular basis, Silas too.
ETV: Are they all doing well?
Diane: Well, I think it's tougher for the younger ones, I think they wanted to be stars. I had a life before which I love and a job too.
ETV: Do people treat you like you are a star? Invade your privacy? Ask for autographs?
Diane: Well, sure, and for me that's the fun part.
SNG: How did you feel about your editing? Were there any moments (while watching the first episode) where you put your head in your hands and said, "Oh my God"?
Diane: Everyday! How nasty my hair was. hahaha. And no make up.
ETV: How did you spend your time in Africa after you were voted out?
Diane: We went on safari, best time of my life. Saw a lot of things, animals, the indian ocean, my favorite.
ETV: The ending of the show was odd -Ethan won but Lex was falsely disqualified. What did you think about all of that?
Diane: Well I think it could of changed the outcome.
ETV: Did you receive any comments about your animal-print bikini, in the game or after the first episode aired?
Diane: Are you kiding me? I still wear that suit! hahaha. Oh yeah, what was I thinking. Camouflage.
ETV: Didn't sell it on ebay?
Diane: Who would buy it?
SNG: Do you wish you had been on another season, instead of Africa?
Diane: Ya know, no, I really liked Africa, and I guess I would of done better on a beach, but Africa is the most awesome place.
ETV: Diane, what did you kids,friends,parents and your town thought of you being voted off first?
Diane: They told me they were proud of me. I didn't believe them at first, but as time went on, I do. I did something I said I was gonna do, I got on the show.
SNG: Have you talked to anyone else in the "First-Off" Club? Sonja, Debb, or Peter?
Diane: I've talked to Sonja and Deb, in fact Deb's coming to my fundraiser in July with other cast members from s1 s2 and s3.
ETV: How do they decide who goes on a challenge, if there's a disagreement?
Diane: We didn't have that problem when I was there.
SNG: Do you think you would have had better luck on the other tribe, Samburu?
Diane: Yeah, I went over there first when they told us to find our spears. Very bummmed it wasn't there.
SNG: Did you ever hear the crew talking about what was going on at Samburu? Or talking at all?
Diane: No, they never talked to us, or us to them. We were supposed to ignore the camera men, and we pretty much did.
ETV: What would you like to have been aired, that wasn't? Either very funny stuff, or strategy stuff.
Diane: Well, we did find our magnifying glass too, and the day of the challenge, Clarence and I sat in the sun for about 3 hrs trying to get that fire started.
ETV: Diane, I'm gonna name you some contestants... describe them in ONE word. Alright?
ETV: Big Tom
Diane: Pervet
ETV: Lex
Diane: Leader
ETV: Ethan
Diane: Cutie pie
ETV: Mama Kim
Diane: Bitch
ETV: Jessie
Diane: Straightforward
ETV: Kelly
Diane: Sassy
ETV: Clarence
Diane: Bean eater
ETV: Lindsey
Diane: Problem child
ETV: Frank
Diane: Funny as hell. Ted Nugent
ETV: Brandon
Diane: Schemer. Oh conniver.
ETV: Linda
Diane: Spiritual
ETV: Carl
Diane: Tony Soprano. He is and funny as hell.
ETV: KimP
Diane: Puppy
ETV: Silas
Diane: Hunk
ETV: T-bird
Diane: Sweetheart
ETV: And the last one, yourself...
Diane: Comedian
ETV: Diane, thanks so much for the interview. I'm sure we've taken far too much of your time!
Diane: Hey no problem, I had a lot of fun. Hope to drop in again.== ElitesTV extends thanks to the Survivor newsgroup and James for their help with the interview. CLD
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