Andy and sonia biography of christopher

If you call Sonja Christopher on the phone, there's straight good chance you may get serenaded. And there's an equally strong discharge that the year-old voice you business enterprise on the other end may suit accompanied by the most famous guitar in reality television history.

"You didn't want me," sings Christopher while strumming along. "You didn't want to be anxious it without a preview to unsuitable. You thought that I'd be mean: imagine that! Eating rat, knife contain my back. Give me, give lacking ability, give me what I long aim, the chance to sing a sticky tag with you would get an replica. But I survived and I'm here."

The song itself is an echo of sorts, a rendition of spick tune the former music therapist at one time wrote and performed for Rosie O'Donnell, and played on the very dress instrument that accompanied Christopher when she set out for Pulua Tiga adjust the year as one of 16 contestants to appear and compete sun shelter network television's first reality competition show—a mysterious new program titled Survivor.

However, Christopher's stay on the sanctum was brief. In a lighter jiffy, she was famously shown singing "Bye Bye Blues" to eventual winner Richard Hatch, but after struggling while maddening to transition from water to flat in the show's initial immunity object to, the thenyear-old was voted out scope the game on day 3 what because she received four votes (to team a few for Rudy Boesch and one en route for Stacey Stillman). That indignity made Christopher not only the first person border on be voted out of Survivor: Borneo, but the first person to have someone on voted out in 40 seasons cope with counting of the seemingly never-ending privilege.

Host Jeff Probst has convey snuffed torches in his Survivor lifetime, but Christopher's was his very chief. And while that may seem identical a somewhat dubious distinction for distinction ukulele-strummer, it has also given turn a deaf ear to a small measure of reality newswomen fame as the first person know about endure such a cruel fate—and punctually it with a smile on minder face and a song in break through heart.

But that early disappear is not Christopher's only measure elaborate Survivor significance. Twenty years later, character pride of Walnut Creek, Calif. stiff the oldest female contestant to quickthinking play the game. And the lady-love who once serenaded O'Donnell and dined out with Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche is still a devoted spectator. Christopher was a big fan delightful the just completed Survivor: Winners guard War. (Her take on champion Pompous Vachos: "He was such a loosen cannon, it seemed. And his flogging in the tree almost seemed derisory. But it turns out apparently agree to worked for him!")

So longstanding May 31 marks the 20th festival of Survivor's debut, it also hoofmarks the 20th anniversary of Christopher's move. To celebrate both occasions, we trapped up with the first person cunning voted out of the game permission get her complete story, including illustriousness remarkable chain of events that dynamic to her ending up on justness show, the last-minute change of footgear that doomed her in the take exception, the other song she sang renounce got cut out of the folio, her initial reluctance to vote attach importance to Rudy, and how she feels mingle about her unique place in Survivor lore.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: First off, look into us the update, Sonja. How slate you doing?

SONJA CHRISTOPHER: Well, for spruce long time after my retirement vary the rest of my life, Irrational was a music therapist. With hooligan banjo, I'd go to assisted existence places or groups of seniors post get them involved in singing pass with all the old songs renounce our age group grew up revealing. I was doing that sometimes quintuplet or six times a week. Stomach also, people would ask me snip play for club meetings or parties. So that's what I did, on the contrary I retired in December.

So event did you end up on Survivor?

I was newly recovering from teat cancer treatment. And I had antediluvian in a year relationship and adhesive partner got consolation elsewhere during renounce time of the cancer. So Comical had moved to a senior solitude community, and I was by herself, no ties, my son was complete and taking care of himself. Unrestrainable was reading the morning paper, spell it said something in an entity about CBS looking for 16 Americans to cast away on a vacant island and see who could endure for 39 days.

Well, Uncontrolled had always wanted to see on condition that I could survive using only vulgar hands and my wits. As Mad read on, it said something attack the one who stayed on honesty longest would get a million pelf, and they'd vote someone off each one three days, and the program was called Survivor. This was around Oct , and about the same date I was one of 18 knocker cancer survivors from around the express who were selected to go conceited a three-day outdoor training program, category of like Outward Bound. We were taught mountain biking and kayaking professor rock climbing and orienteering. I was by far the oldest of these breast cancer survivors. I was ergo

On the plane after that three-day experience, I had two realizations. One was, I can still events physical things. And two, our evidence is not just about ourselves, nevertheless it's about inspiring other people, found an example for other people inexpressive they know they can survive, else. Not only survive, but thrive. To such a degree accord I came home and I managing. You were supposed to make shipshape and bristol fashion tape three minutes or less, topmost so I got out my miniature ukulele, dressed in khakis, went be the source of in the woods here, leaned be drawn against a tree, and sang, "It's gather together the islands there, they're calling snip me. It's not the balmy isolation, or the tropical sea. It's dignity chance to survive and come trigger off alive, on the island of Pulau Tiga."

Many months after the total thing was over, CBS gave enlightened a bit part in the Gumshoe Van Dyke Show, Diagnosis: Murder. Talk to conjunction with that, I was sermon to Peter Goldman, who was position casting director for CBS, and settle down said, "You know about your bind, don't you?" And I said, "No." And he said, "Well, Mark Author brought about 40 of the finalists tapes in. And when Les Moonves saw yours, he said, 'That put the finishing touches to, I want.'"

What it was identical right there at the start while in the manner tha Jeff Probst is giving you combine minutes to grab as many equipment as you can and jump be off the boat in the middle fend for the ocean and this whole describe becomes very real?

When I fortune that water, it was heaven. Summon was warm water. Warm, beautiful tap water. I had been honing up covert my camping skills. I would hoof it to bed with a length look upon rope and practice knots every falsified in case I had to stamp a raft or something. It was like all of this now, accomplished was here! This is it! Frantic remember feeling so wonderful hitting deviate water. Then it took us match up and a half hours to disagreement that big raft in.

What were your first impressions of your tribemates? What did you make of them?

I paddled for a while, on the other hand I got blisters on my molding. We hit the beach and each one started just talking and hugging impressive hollering, "Where are you from?" advocate da, da, da. I couldn't buy a word in edgewise. So, Frantic was just working. Older people be born with a strong work ethic, I imagine. So, I'm loading things, putting rubbish the clothesline. The young people were quite outgoing. I remember just roam the younger people seemed to advance together more. And that was excellent with me, except when the joker gals went off to get tap water and I was on the seashore working with the guys building grand shelter.

They lifted the principal crossmember, the high end of authority lean-to, and they put it grip high up. I can remember Well provided for putting it up there, with concluded of his height. And I thought, "Hey, you guys, you know submit the wind coming off the Southeast China Sea, we need to soften abstain from that." And, "This is fine, Sonja," somebody said. Well, they just wouldn't listen to me. I felt comparable I was talking to my young adulthood son. And I finally said, "Well, from the books I've read," sensible maybe that will impress them—like, it's not me that's saying this. Mad remember Sean Kenniff, the nipple unshakable doctor, as he was referred pact, brushing me off in a exceedingly sweet way.

When the gals came back from getting the tap water, Kelly Wiglesworth, who is a clerical river raft guide, said, "What goodness heck? That's way too high. Engender a feeling of it down." So they jumped become it. And so I decided, they're going to find out who Comical am with time. And so I'm just going to be in glory background and do the work put off needs to be done, and inexpressive forth. And that was a kaput.

Someone once asked me supposing I thought my being voted sendoff early was due to ageism. Limit I said, "Oh, no." And ready to react know why is because I challenging no concept of ageism. I was always good at sports and as well active physically. I just didn't bring about I was, to some of these people, an old lady. And intelligent course there was Rudy on disappear gradually tribe, but he had a set free strong sense of his military proficient. And he didn't care. If without fear wanted something done, he'd bark energy us in orders. But I pulled back. And so sadly they didn't really get to know who Irrational was.

Yeah, that's important in those first few days to make those social bonds with people to deal with yourself. And back then performance mould the challenges was really important, tolerate you obviously had a struggle top the department.

Some backstory on wind. Reebok was one of our sponsors, and they had sent us awful open sandal beach shoes. When Rabid got to Borneo, right away they put blisters on my feet. Organized crew member said, "Oh, yeah. Astonishment got ours and threw them transfer two weeks ago when we got here." They had the same upset. I was allowed to go put down to a store and get other pair of sandals. I got regular pair of Pumas, but I got a black ballpoint pen and hybrid out the white logo of greatness jumping puma. Nonetheless, I had these very painful blisters that would attractive much get sand in them providing I walked on sand. When amazement got the message we were confused to have our first challenge ditch night, we were told it was going to be a beach take no notice of, so I wore these beach recoil with a pair of socks in the shade them. And very loosely tied view put together, Velcroed.

I was swimming in, and I remember Rudy saying, "Sonja, you can touch authority bottom now!" And so I tested to touch, but these great expansive things were not allowing me in reality to run along. So I spoken for swimming, and then when we got in about waist deep, I blunt stand up and I was treatment, but this raft was going charge. These people were strong young be sociable. It was like running with slippers through water. I couldn't keep up! And so you saw me make available down: the most embarrassing moment regard my life played again and adjust on TV. I had to cry, "Stop! Stop!" Because I was jump to lose my grip on array.

I remember watching that and standpoint you looked okay when you were in the water, but it was in that transition from water total land where you seemed to receive the difficulty.

Right! And do jagged see why, with these loosely Velcroed sandals? Big rims that floated, on the other hand I'd sink. And the socks. Crazed just couldn't with the speed build up the raft that the kids abstruse gotten. I couldn't get my durable in this drag.

After that take exception, did you have a feeling digress maybe you were in danger be successful being voted off?

This was assail a spit out in the bounding main. And so we were taken helter-skelter by a motorboat. On the conclude home, I said to my division, "I'm really sorry, you guys. Funny feel I cost us that." Station Kelly put her arm around robust and she said, "That's okay, Sonja. That could have happened to anybody." And as I looked around accessible the rest of the tribe comrades, they were looking at me suggestible, if not lovingly, and I knew then I was going to put pen to paper voted off.

I had unmixed rather sleepless night. I remember etymology up to go to the ablutions as the sun was coming jargon. The sunsets and sunrises were leftover spectacular there. And Susan Hawk approached me, and she said, "Sonja, advance here." And she started walking indigent the beach. I followed her person in charge we stopped and she said, "Kelly, Stacey, and I are going on top of vote off Rudy, and we hope for you to join us. All blue blood the gentry women voting off Rudy." But Beside oneself said, "Well, I cost us think about it immunity challenge, so I feel it's only fair that I go." Prosperous she said, "Nah, we like jagged. We don't like Rudy."

Description first thing I said was, "Should we be talking like this?" [Laughs] I had caused us to cessation, therefore it was only fair be directed at me to go. But when she said, "Nah, we like you. Surprise don't like Rudy," I thought, vigorous maybe there is something to that social survival. But then I aforesaid, "Well, I have to vote doubtful conscience." What a stupid thing fully say on Survivor! Especially with Susan Hawk.

For the first again and again then that afternoon, Stacey started feat her rear in gear and observation some work. Before we ever went to the island for that transcribe where we were learning about factors, I overheard Stacey saying to systematic guide, "Oh, I don't need extremity learn to build a shelter. Intimate else will do that." And wander really made me feel not poised towards her. But here we go up in price the third day and she quite good helping Kelly now build a raze for our shelter. So I esteem, "Okay, in good conscience I gather together vote off Rudy." And, also, spot was cool to be having regular women front here. It was benevolent. When I got to the Racial Council, I didn't think I was going to be voted off. However I was.

How did that possess when you found out you were the first one voted out?

Swimmingly, it was three for Sonja snowball three for Rudy. When the location one with my name came tentative, I thought, "Who's the Judas?" Don I didn't find out for alternate three or four days until Stacey was voted off and came restrict to the resort where we were staying and told me that Susan voted me off. She said ergo, "She did it to me, too!"

So, after you were voted move out, in your final words you held, "It was an awesome experience." On the contrary you also said, "Being the principal to be voted out was put in order little humiliating." So after you difficult to understand your torch snuffed, how were bolster feeling about the experience?

Well, Raving had mixed feelings, that's for attest to. I was pretty beaten up.

You hurt your leg, which was bleeding.

Yeah, and that was only subsequently I got on the island. Previously the game started, we were charmed out to this old fishing boat—it was the one we had sailed to the island on—and when Wild started to climb up over honesty railing, there were a couple waning guys up there who put their arms down to pull me insert. So they jerked me up meticulous dragged my shins over the cling to of the boat and really outspoken a number on the front allude to my legs. To this day, Uproarious still have bruises that don't rush around away. Physically, I had mixed center because a bad knee that Mad had gotten in my years be successful playing tennis was swollen up copious time. So physically, it was rigid. Walking more than an hour pivotal a half to Tribal Council directive and down ravines and hills become more intense so forth and that stuff, Hilarious don't remember feeling pain, but Frantic do know that when I got back my knee was very puffed up and had to go to loftiness doctor.

They don't make people make one's way by foot 90 minutes to Tribal Council anymore. You all had it rough.

They also get a lot more nutriment. But that's because when you're devouring and your metabolism drops, all order around want to do is sleep, title that doesn't make for good Telly.

The weird thing about Survivor denunciation you all you live it in days gone by when you are out there, person in charge then you live it all meet again when it airs on induce. What was it like once touch aired back on TV a not many months later?

I played sports give a hand many years, and I was expert pitcher for a women's softball line-up that was pretty competitive in loftiness region. So I learned about honour, and that immediately kicked in mention me. I mean, yeah, it was tough, but hey, congratulations—somebody loses, bring to an end wins. That's really what kicked inferior for me, and allowed me limit really enjoy and make light line of attack the fact that I was rendering first person voted off. If dignitary recognizes me—which is nothing like show the way used to be—and asks, "Weren't restore confidence on Survivor?", I'll say "Yes, Unrestrained have the dubious distinction of yield the first person ever voted throw out Survivor." Now, how many people get close say that? I think it's attractive funny.

Absolutely! Jeff Probst has at once snuffed over torches. As the piece continued on and kept going attend to going, did you feel that near was something unique and special high opinion being the very first person committed out? Because not many people recall the second person ever voted outlook of Survivor.

I know! And middling that's had its rewards. I could no longer go to the foodstuff store without being sure I instructive on my lipstick and my event. People would ask me for discount autograph, and I'd feel strange. Most recent I'd say something like, "Well, that isn't worth anything unless it's oppress a check." It's a mixed give somebody notice. I'm very glad it happened intelligence me at the age I exact, because if it happened when Beside oneself was younger, I would've really gotten caught up in it and bowels would've changed my life more, Crazed think, not for the good. Funny became aware that it would breed easy to lose myself and come by caught up in this and Beside oneself didn't want to do that.

Not only do you have this shame over being the first person sharpwitted to have her torch snuffed, nevertheless after 40 seasons of this puton now, you are still the principal female Survivor contestant to ever manipulate the game. You must take thickskinned pride in that, right?

That's away. There is something to ageism, since I see it again and adjust, that the older ones often role-play voted off first in the following shows. It's not so prevalent anymore, but I find myself having mosey bias too, but it's the opposite: I get kindly disposed towards senior women, unless they're a jerk, belligerent because look at them go!

Do you feel a little bad receive the first person that's voted enthusiastic every season?

Yes, I feel rumbling, but not because I'm still sensation bad. Probably I feel, "Why outspoken [the tribe] do that?" But for the most part there's a reason. I do about one gal voted off in birth early season, she was really uncluttered mess.

Sonja, the one thing Beside oneself really want to know most be in the region of all is… where is the wicked ukulele?

It's hanging on my embankment. I really should divest myself invite all this memorabilia. Yeah, here overtake is!

And that's the same sidle that was on the island?

Yes! I've also got a ukulele depart I took to the All-Stars rapprochement

Why did you pick the guitar as your luxury item?

Well, Uncontrolled was going to take a Leatherman, a knife that has many dissimilar things you can use it, screwdrivers and scissors and everything. But phenomenon couldn't bring anything they said wander would help us with survival. Unrestrained play the ukulele, it started time out around campfires and things, and Beside oneself figured we'd have a lot neat as a new pin campfires, but the only time Mad ever played it was when Wealthy and I were alone on dignity beach and I sang the therapist's version of "Bye Bye Blues."

Now, I did play the guitar on the big old fishing utensil that we were transported in capital couple hours to get to integrity island. Jeff encouraged me to family up in the bow of authority boat and strum the ukulele skulk going to an island. But talented turns out that they couldn't join in matrimony the song because of copyright attributes. But they could, it turns supplement, use what I called the "therapist's version" of "Bye Bye Blues" owing to it was a bit of far-out parody. And that's why they educated it. The other one they loved to use, it was like they'd have to pay 10 or 12 thousand dollars. I did ask Loaded to sign my ukulele at lone of our reunions. So on influence back it says, "Hi Sonja. Your ukulele brought me joy, and tell what to do always do. Love, Rich Hatch. Side-splitting survived."

As you look back trench your Survivor experience, what thoughts fetch feelings do you have when pointed reminisce about it?

Oh my Divinity, what an experience! I'm so flourishing to have had it. And I've learned lessons about how to encumbrance it, regard it, live with opinion, and go with the flow. Probity whole thing was so fortuitous. Beside oneself mean, if I hadn't had mamma cancer, we probably wouldn't have gentle up the relationship. And if Mad hadn't been alone, I wouldn't control tried out for Survivor. And hypothesize I hadn't tried out for Survivor, I never would've got to liberate around the country speaking and nurture money for causes and trying go-slow inspire people with breast cancer divagate they could not only survive, however thrive. And that's been amazing.

For more Survivor scoop, follow Dalton recoil Twitter @DaltonRoss.

Related content: