Courtney Yates - Survivor: China, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains

Seasons: 2 | Days played: 63 | Wins: 0 | Final Three: 1 | Jury: 1

  • Survivor 15: China(2007) - 2nd place, two jury votes.
  • Received two jury votes to finish second (4-2-1) in Episode 13, "A Slippery Little Sucker" (Day 39).

Courtney Yates on social media: twitter | Instagram

Courtney Yates - Career statistics

Challenge stats Tribal council stats Jury stats Overall stats
Season ChW ChA ChW% VFB VAP TCA TC% wTCR JVF TotJ JV% SurvSc SurvAv
S15: China 1.68 13.30 0.13 7 0 9 0.78 5.44 2 7 0.29 1.19 8.84
S20: HvsV 0.57 3.23 0.18 2 9 5 0.36 0.86 - - - 0.53 1.43
Career 2.25 16.53 0.14 9 9 14 0.64 3.81 2 7 0.29 1.06 5.79

 

Courtney Yates - Performance ranks

Challenges: MPF percentile

29%

Tribal: VFB% percentile

80%

Tribal: rVAP percentile

96%

Challenges: MPF percentile

1

Tribal: VFB% percentile

33%

Tribal: rVAP percentile

19%

Performance ranks are a quick visual measure of the contestant's season vs. historical data from all prior contestants, in three basic (scorable) categories:

1. Performance in individual challenges (MPF), as a measure of "physical game";

2. Ability to vote people out consistently (VFB%, or VFB/TCA), or "strategic game"; and

3. Ability to avoid being voted against (rVAP, or TCA-VAP) - which scales better than a percentage would - for "social/strategic game."

See also: Full glossary for all these abbreviations.

 

Courtney Yates - Challenge record

Warrior's Duel - Ep4 IC

Tribal/team challenge record (4-for-12; 5 sit-outs):

  • China Ep. 1 IC: "Dragon Dance" - Carries a pole, and Fei Long wins.
  • China Ep. 2 RC: "Chinese Checkers" - Doesn't officially sit out, but doesn't participate; Fei Long wins again.
  • China Ep. 2 IC: "Gate Crasher" - Officially sits out as Fei Long beats underfed Zhan Hu once again.
  • China Ep. 3 RC: "Clear the Deck" - Sits out again, but somehow, Fei Long loses.
  • China Ep. 3 IC: "Blade Runner" - Courtney's anemic chopping digs a big hole, Fei Long loses again.
  • China Ep. 4 RC: "Great Balls of Fire" - Sits out of another Fei Long win.
  • China Ep. 4 IC: "Warrior's Duel" - Flings balls with Denise; Fei Long wins again.
  • China Ep. 5 IC: "Plunge, Pull & Pop" - Sits out of an IC that Zhan Hu throws (Fei Long wins, duh).
  • China Ep. 6 RC: "Search and Decode" - Sits out of another Fei Long win.
  • China Ep. 6 IC: "Name That Spoon" (gross food) - Eats three eels slower than Jaime, Fei Long loses.
  • China Ep. 8 RC: "Bucket Stops Here" - Sits in a sinking ship, part of the losing team.
  • China Ep. 9 RC: "Drum Roll" - Part of the winning team, with Amanda, Erik, and Frosti.

 

Dragon Rider - Ep8 IC

Individual challenge record (1-for-11; 1 sit-out): (Mean % finish: 48.8%)

  • China Ep. 7 IC: "Retention to Detail" - One of four people eliminated on the first question (tie-7th/10).
  • China Ep. 8 IC: "Dragon Rider" - Sits motionless for 32 minutes, and Courtney wins! (1st/9).
  • China Ep. 9 IC: "Take A Stab At It"- Sits out to eat, instead of competing (tie-8th/8).
  • China Ep. 10 RC: "Confucius Said" - One of three to get 3/5 questions right (tie-4th/7).
  • China Ep. 10 IC: "Star Struck" - Makes it to the second round, but misses on her one throw there (tie-3rd/7).
  • China Ep. 11 RC: "Marco Polo" - Blindfolded, does not reach the center with her dad (bottom 5/6).
  • China Ep. 11 IC: "Swamp Donkeys" - Not close to winning (tie-4th/6).
  • China Ep. 12 RC: "Zen Archery" - Given 12 arrows, but Denise wins after they are shot (tie-3rd/5).
  • China Ep. 12 IC: "Chinese Leftovers" - Eliminated in the third round (ball and drum); out (3rd/5).
  • China Ep. 13 RC: "Great Wall of Zhelin" - Finishes behind Amanda (tie-2nd/4).
  • China Ep. 13 IC: "Offer It Up" - Second person eliminated (3rd/4).

 

Hero challenge/ duel record: (0-for-0)

  • China: None.

Lock and Load, Light - Ep1 IC

Tribal/team challenge record (4-for-15; 6 sit-outs):

  • Heroes vs. Villains Ep.1 RC: "Battle Dig" - With Sandra, unable to stop topless Sugar, Villains lose (3-2).
  • Heroes vs. Villains Ep.1 IC: "Lock & Load, Light" - Holds the torch on the boat, and Villains win on the puzzle.
  • Heroes vs. Villains Ep.2 RC/IC: "A Crate Idea" - Sits out with Randy as the Villains win.
  • Heroes vs. Villains Ep.3 RC/IC: "Sumo'an Mud" - Sits out with Sandra, as the Villains lose big (8-0).
  • Heroes vs. Villains Ep.4 RC: "Slip, Slide & Score" - Loses a point to Candice, but the Villains win.
  • Heroes vs. Villains Ep.4 IC: "Roll With It" - Sits out with Sandra again, as the Villains win.
  • Heroes vs. Villains Ep.5 RC: "Schmergen Brawl" - Sits out with Sandra and Parvati, Villains win again.
  • Heroes vs. Villains Ep.5 IC: "Blind Cube Crisis" - Paired with Boston Rob, Villains win on the puzzle.
  • Heroes vs. Villains Ep.7 RC: "Basket Brawl" - Sits out with Sandra and Parvati, Villains lose.
  • Heroes vs. Villains Ep.7 IC: "Caught in the Web" - Very slow on the net, and the Villains lose.
  • Heroes vs. Villains Ep.8 RC: "Faux Coconut Bowling" - Sits out with Sandra again, Villains lose (3-1).
  • Heroes vs. Villains Ep.8 IC: "Mudslide" - Paired with Parvati, lose vs. JT/Colby, somehow. Villains lose (2-1).
  • Heroes vs. Villains Ep.9 RC: "Chimney Sweep" - Beats Amanda for the final point; Villains win (3-0).
  • Heroes vs. Villains Ep.9 IC: "Strung Out" - Competes... slowly, Villains lose.

 

Individual challenge record (0-for-1): (Mean % Finish: 31%)

  • Heroes vs. Villains Ep. 6 RC/IC: "Rope-A-Dope" - Tied for last on the Villains (tie-7th/9).

 

Hero challenge/ duel record (0-for-0):

  • Heroes vs. Villains: None.
Career totals - challenges
Team/tribal challenges
Wins: 8
Played: 27
Win%: 0.30
Sat out: 11
Individual challenges
Wins: 1
Played: 12
Sat out: 1
Win%: 0.08
Mean % Finish: 48.3%
Hero challenges
Wins: 0
Played: 0
Win%: --
Mean % Finish: --

 

Courtney Yates - Tribal Council record

Ep3 Tribal Council

Idols held/played: (0/0)

  • China: None.

 

VFB - Votes for the person booted (7/9):

 

VAP - Votes against (0):

  • China: None.

 

Jury votes received (2/7):

  • China, Ep. 13: Received two jury votes, from Denise Martin and Frosti Zernow, to finish second (4-2-1).

Ep3 Tribal Council

Idols held/played (0/0):

  • Heroes vs. Villains: None.

 

VFB - Votes for the person booted (2/5):

  • Heroes vs. Villains, Ep. 3: Randy Bailey (voted out, 9-1).
  • Heroes vs. Villains, Ep. 8: Coach Wade (voted out, 4-3).

 

VAP - Votes against (9):

  • Heroes vs. Villains, Ep. 7: One vote, from Coach.
  • Heroes vs. Villains, Ep. 8: Three votes, from Russell, Jerri, and Coach.
  • Heroes vs. Villains, Ep. 9: Five votes, from Sandra, Parvati, Russell, Jerri, and Danielle (voted out, 5-1).

 

Jury votes made (1/1):

Career totals - Tribal Council
Idols/advantages
Idols found: 0
Idols played: 0
Votes voided: --
Voting record
VFB: 9
Tribals: 14
VAP: 9
Jury votes
Made: 1
For winners: 1
Received: 2
Total jurors: 7

 

Courtney Yates - Pictures
  • Courtney Yates S15
    China intro shot
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    China intro shot
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    Bonus China intro shot
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    CBS pre-game interview
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    Day 1, hiking to the train
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    On the truck
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    At the temple
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    Having fun with monks
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    I'm a waitress from New York, I don't do this stuff every day
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    Post-temple chat with Probst
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    The game has begun, Day 1
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    Fei Long heads to camp
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    Fei Long!
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    How did I get stuck in the land of flight attendants and Sunday school teachers?
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep1 IC
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    Starting line
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    Fei Long leading
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    Fei Long wins!
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    Complaining about Jean-Robert's snoring, Ep2
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    Fei Long tells Jean-Robert to start doing things
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC
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    Listening to Probst
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    Watching the grappling
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    Yay, Fei Long wins
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    Just kidnapped Jaime
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    You guys (Aaron and Jean-Robert) can't get along for 5 minutes while the spy is here?
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 IC
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    Listening to Probst
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    Watching a win from the sidelines
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    Fun times with Jean-Robert, Ep3
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    Jean-Robert is so icky
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 RC
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    Yay, we're sitting out
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    Alerting Todd to James and Jean-Robert loudly planning to boot her
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    I can't believe he said that!
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 IC
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    Still chopping, almost lapped by Zhan Hu
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    Done. Sigh.
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    Walking in on the camp boot discussion
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    Fei Long, Ep3 Tribal Council
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    Listening to Leslie
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    I'm voting for you, because when you snore, it sounds like someone's choking a walrus
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    Not pleased that Jean-Robert's still here, Ep4
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 RC
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    Watching from the sidelines, again
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    Enjoying the fishermen family's visit to Fei Long camp/ reward feast
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 IC
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    Ready to do battle
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    Fei Long wins!
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    Fei Long wins!
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    A boat appears at Fei Long, Ep5
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    Fei Long selects two from Zhan Hu to join them
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    So long, Aaron and James
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    Swap feasting
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 IC
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    Starting line
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    Go, Jean-Robert! (It breaks my heart to say that)
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    Fei Long wins!
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep6 RC
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    Fei Long wins!
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    Reward tea-tasting
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    Reward bathing
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    I tried to find the farthest tub away from Jean-Robert as possible
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    Todd explains the plan to win IC, so James can idol out Jaime
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep6 IC
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    Facing off vs. Jaime (eels)
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    That wasn't delicious
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    I don't want to vote out Sherea! I like her
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    First meeting of the Jean-Robert Depreciation Society
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    With Frosti, pushing to target Jean-Robert
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    Fei Long, Ep6 Tribal Council
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    Ugh, Jean-Robert
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    Post-Tribal arguing, Ep7
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    Liking her "friends" Todd and Amanda less than they think
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    Jean-Robert could be gone now, Todd
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    You are merged!
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    Hugs
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    Boo, challenges... Yay, feast!
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    Merge feasting
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    Post-feast entertainment
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    Pre-challenge sit-down, Ep7 IC
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    Getting future band name ideas
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    Forming an alliance with Frosti
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    Hae Da Fung, Ep7 Tribal Council
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    Talking to Probst
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 RC
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    Threatening the other team
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    Getting drenched
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    Sending Frosti off to sink, round 2
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 IC
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    Starting line
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    Still going...
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    Frosti's out...
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    Courtney wins immunity!
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    This is like a pageant!
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    I don't care who's getting voted out, it's not me!
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    Hae Da Fung, Ep8 Tribal Council
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    Talking to Probst
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    Snuggling with Frosti, Ep9
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep9 RC
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    Yellow team, freshly picked
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    Starting line
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    Watching Frosti bounce the ball
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    The winning shot
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    Riverboat reward feasting
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    More mini-showmancing
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep9 IC
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    Choosing to eat, instead of compete
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    Move it along, Probst, we have cheeseburgers to eat!
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    Can't talk, eating
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    Not thrilled with voting Frosti, but whatever
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    Hae Da Fung, Ep9 Tribal Council
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    Listening to Frosti
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    Heroes vs. Villains intro shot
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    Heroes vs. Villains intro shot
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    Choppering in with the Villains, Ep1
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    Oops
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    Starting line, Ep1 IC
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    Starting line, Ep1 IC
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    Villains win!

 

Courtney Yates - Interviews

Pre-game interviews

  • CBS pre-game interview: "I pretty much think the censors are gonna have a field day any time I speak on the show. I don't even hear myself when I start swearing. If there's subtitles it's gonna be a lot of question mark… exclamation… asterisk. And I know there's some lady who reads the Bible every 10 seconds. She's gonna hate me!"
  • Probst pre-game assessment from TV Guide online (8/20/07): "Courtney's not the kind of girl who wakes up and says, ‘Should we go catch fish?' She'll say, ‘I need a cup of coffee and a cigarette!' She admits she can be a bitch with a negative attitude. At first, she is off-putting. But there's something oddly appealing because she's being real. She's tiny, but she can take care of herself with her mouth alone."

 

Post-game interviews

  • Christopher Rocchio at RealityTVWorld (12/20/07): "Courtney Yates dishes on Survivor: China runner-up ride"
  • Eric Goldman at IGN.com (12/18/07): "Survivor: China Interview - Courtney"

Pre-game interviews

  • Dalton Ross at EW.com (1/29/10): "Courtney says 'I feel like I'm playing with the big dogs here and I'm wrapped in bacon'"
  • Andy Dehnart at RealityBlurred (2/9/10): "Courtney Yates: 'No one is scared of me. ... It's like I don't exist'"

 

Post-game interviews

  • Dalton Ross at EW.com (4/16/10): "Ousted Villain discusses Russell, J.T., and immunity idol madness"
  • Gordon Holmes at MoreWhatnot.com (4/19/10): "Castaway Interview: Courtney Yates"
  • Kate Stanhope at TVGuide.com (4/16/10): "Courtney: 'I'm Proud to Have Been on Russell's Team'"
  • Daniel Fienberg at HitFix.com (4/17/10): "Courtney Yates talks Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains"
  • Rob Cesternino at RHAP (2/25/11): "Stephen & Courtney on Boston Rob 4.0"

 

Courtney Yates - Bios

From her official CBS Survivor: China bio page:

"Courtney Yates grew up in Boston, the only sister with three brothers, two older, one younger, all much bigger. She attended Suffolk University, studying at both the main Boston/Beacon Hill campus and the University's West African campus, located in Dakar, Senegal. She paid her way through college working nights as a passenger service agent for a major airline at Boston's Logan International Airport, spent time as a receptionist at a high-end hair salon, and has even worked as a "historical interpreter" (a tour guide in costume) at historic homes in Salem, Massachusetts. She graduated in May, 2003, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Yates is currently a waitress in a popular restaurant in New York City's Union Square, where she enjoys the fast pace and the freedom her job affords her.

Yates' main hobbies include reading and learning new things. She loves history and enjoys keeping ongoing lists of things to look up whenever she comes across something new or interesting. Yates has a large and varied collection of friends with whom she loves going out, eating, drinking and, of course, gossiping, a long-practiced skill she hopes will serve her well on Survivor: China. Originally from Boston, her sport of choice is baseball, and despite now living just a few stops from Yankee Stadium, she remains a loyal member of Red Sox Nation.

Yates is best described as honest (sometimes interpreted as cruel), sarcastic (often interpreted as bitchy) and physically small. She is aware that people find her slight frame curious, and at times controversial, but she warns people against judging her on looks alone. She proclaims that her body weight (or lack thereof) is purely genetic, as both her parents are tall and thin as well. She claims to be tough as nails, both mentally and physically, and is ready for the challenge of Survivor.

Yates currently resides in New York City with her rescued, semi-reformed alley cat, Catullus (named for the poet). Her birth date is March 26, 1981."

From her CBS Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains bio page:

"Personal Claim To Fame: “Punctuality.”

Inspiration in Life: “The laughter of children.”

Previous Finishes: China: Runner-up

Favorite Past Moment: “Seeing my Dad bust out from behind the bushes at the family reward.”

Previous Survivor She Respects Most: Yau-Man Chan (Fiji, Micronesia)

Previous Survivor She Respects Least: “All the strong people, because they are so smug.”

Why Did She Come Back?: “Couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”"