Lisa Whelchel during the premiere episode of Survivor: Philippines. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS© 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc.
This past Sunday on Survivor: Philippines, former Facts of Life actress Lisa Whelchel made it into the final three in the two-hour Season 25 finale.
Although many Survivor fans knew Lisa Whelchel as wealthy private schoolgirl Blair Warner from the popular ’80s series The Facts of Life, most of her fellow tribe mates on Survivor: Philippines had no clue about her days as a young teen television star.
As a result, Lisa was able to climb out from behind the shadow of Blair Warner to show America who she really is as a person. However, Lisa’s journey on Survivor left her emotionally vulnerable for the world to see. For Lisa, Survivor: Philippines was transforming in so many ways.
On Sunday night, both Lisa Whelchel and returning Survivor Michael Skupin watched as Denise Stapley was voted the winner of Survivor: Philippines. However, the experience of Survivor was much more about life than winning the million dollar prize.
THE DEADBOLT: Can you put into words what it was like to have people see the real you and come out of the huge shadow of Blair Warner?
LISA WHELCHEL: It was, I would say, messy, embarrssing, and painful but ultimately worth it.
Lisa Whelchel, Michael Skupin and Survivor: Philippines winner, Denise Stapley – Photo: Greg Gaynes/CBS ©2012
THE DEADBOLT: How did you feel about Penner outing your secret to the others at Tribal Council? Do you think it was fair or unfair?
LISA: I do believe, with all of my heart, that just about anything and everything is fair in the game of Survivor.
Everybody signs up and they know there are very few rules. So I think he was playing the game until the end and I have no grudge about that.
THE DEADBOLT: At Tribal Council, when you were asked about keeping Malcolm, how hard was it to find the right words knowing that you’d out the vote?
LISA: Because there were a million things going through my mind. The truth is, there was a very important reason to keep Malcolm. That’s because I told him I would. But to say that at Tribal Council wasn’t really the place as far as playing the game. But I was definitely feeling it inside.
How did you feel about Lisa’s game play on Survivor: Philippines?