Mike Skupin - Survivor: The Australian Outback, Survivor: Philippines

Seasons: 2 | Days: 56 | Wins: 0 | Final Three: 1


  • Survivor 25: Philippines (2012) - 2nd place (tie), one jury vote.
  • Received 1 jury vote, to tie for second (6-1-1), in Episode 14, "Million Dollar Question" (Day 39).

Mike Skupin on social media: twitter | Instagram

Mike Skupin - 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
S2: The Australian Outback 0.97 1.53 0.64 2 0 2 0.57 1.87 - - - 1.21 1.84
S25: Philippines 4.05 13.36 0.30 6 0 8 0.75 5.25 1 8 0.13 1.18 10.05
Career 5.02 14.88 0.34 8 0 10 0.72 4.33 1 8 0.13 1.12 7.21

 

Mike Skupin - Performance ranks

Challenges: MPF percentile

NA

Tribal: VFB% percentile

94%

Tribal: rVAP percentile

64%

Challenges: MPF percentile

74%

Tribal: VFB% percentile

77%

Tribal: rVAP percentile

94%

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.

 

Mike Skupin - Challenge record

Water Torture - Ep3 RC

Tribal/team challenge record (6-for-10):

  • Australian Outback, Ep. 1 RC/IC: "Bridge the Gap" - Kucha manages to capsize its raft, and loses.
  • Australian Outback, Ep. 2 RC: "Butch Cassidy" - Kucha loses again, thanks to slow, slow Rodger.
  • Australian Outback, Ep. 2 IC: "Tucker'd Out" - Kucha wins on the tie-breaker, thanks to Kimmi.
  • Australian Outback, Ep. 3 RC: "Water Torture" - Mike's stick breaks, then Kucha loses on the tie-breaker.
  • Australian Outback, Ep. 3 IC: "Lock Step" - Kucha wins, narrowly.
  • Australian Outback, Ep. 4 RC: "Master Mind" - Kucha wins chickens, in about thirty seconds on a slide puzzle.
  • Australian Outback, Ep. 4 IC: "True or Falls" - Scores the first point as Kucha wins again.
  • Australian Outback, Ep. 5 RC: "Triage" - Carries from the start, Kucha wins.
  • Australian Outback, Ep. 5 IC: "The Maze" - Kucha, with two extra people in tow, loses big (5-2).
  • Australian Outback, Ep. 6 RC: "Blind Leading the Blind" - Paired with Elisabeth, and belatedly, Kucha wins.

 

Individual challenge record (0-for-0):

  • The Australian Outback: None.

 

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

  • The Australian Outback: None.

Catch of the Day - Ep8 RC

Tribal/team challenge record (4-for-11; 2 2nds; 1 sit-out):

  • Philippines Ep. 1 RC/IC: "Share the Wealth" - Does rowing stage, Tandang then blows the lead, ends up second (2nd*/3).
  • Philippines Ep. 2 RC/IC: "Manila Folders" - Hauler. Tandang 1st (1st/3).
  • Philippines Ep. 3 RC/IC: "Deep In Thought" - Dives, gets bloody. Tandang second (2nd*/3).
  • Philippines Ep. 4 RC/IC: "Swing Break" - Competes, Tandang wins (1st/3).
  • Philippines Ep. 5 RC: "Idol Hands" - Beats Penner with a creative statue toss, Tandang wins.
  • Philippines Ep. 5 IC: "Thrash, Splash & Bash" - Competes again. Tandang wins.
  • Philippines Ep. 6 RC: "Bog Roll" - Lead negotiator as Tandang surrenders.
  • Philippines Ep. 6 IC: "Philiping Out" - Finally sits out, Tandang still wins.
  • Philippines Ep. 8 RC: "Catch of the Day" - Part of losing team (with Carter, Pete, Artis, Abi-Maria).
  • Philippines Ep. 9 RC: "Muddy Waters" - Part of losing team again (with Pete, Artis, Lisa).
  • Philippines Ep. 10 RC: "Snare the Drum" - New partners, another team loss (with Denise, Penner, Lisa).

 

The Ball Drop - Ep14 IC

Individual challenge record (3-for-11): (Mean % finish: 65.1%)

  • Philippines Ep. 7 IC, "Wrist Assured" - Out first for the men (7th/7).
  • Philippines Ep. 8 IC, "Snake in the Grass" - Eliminated (by inches) in first stage (4th/10).
  • Philippines Ep. 9 IC: "Paddle Out" - Wins immunity, miles ahead of everyone else (1st/9).
  • Philippines Ep. 10 IC: "Push Your Luck" - Narrowly loses to Carter at the final knot (2nd/8).
  • Philippines Ep. 11 IC: "Brains and Brawn" - Missed one trivia question, eliminated in 2nd stage (tie-4th/7).
  • Philippines Ep. 12 RC: "Mud Slinging" - Does not win reward, but gets to spend the day with his son (tie-2nd/6).
  • Philippines Ep. 12 IC: "Fish and Game" - Does well on the fishing part, but not well enough to win (tie-3rd/6).
  • Philippines Ep. 13 RC: "Sliders" - Narrowly wins, 5 rings hooked to Malcolm's 4 (1st/5).
  • Philippines Ep. 13 IC: "One Track Mind" - Early lead, but stuck on the maze puzzle at the end (tie-2nd/5).
  • Philippines Ep. 14 RC: "Dragon Slayer" - Loses, not close on the puzzle (4th/4).
  • Philippines Ep. 14 IC: "The Ball Drop" - Wins, despite Malcolm's "advantage" (1st/4).

 

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

  • Philippines: None.
Career totals - challenges
Team/tribal challenges
Wins: 10
2nd place: 2
Played: 21
Win%: 0.52
Sat out: 1
Individual challenges
Wins: 3
Played: 11
Win%: 0.27
Mean % Finish: 65.1%
Hero challenges
Wins: 0
Played: 0
Win%: --
Mean % Finish: --

 

Mike Skupin - Tribal Council record

Ep5 Tribal Council

Idols held/played: (0/0)

  • The Australian Outback: None.

 

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

 

VAP - Votes against (0):

  • The Australian Outback: None.

 

Jury votes made (0/0):

  • The Australian Outback: None.

Final Three

Idols held/played (0/0):

  • Philippines: None.

 

VFB - Votes for the person booted (6/8):

 

VAP - Votes against (0):

  • Philippines: None.

 

Jury votes receiv ed (1/8):

  • Philippines, Ep. 14: Received one jury vote, from Carter Williams (but lost, 6-1-1).
Career totals - Tribal Council
Idols/advantages
Idols found: 0
Idols played: --
Votes voided: --
Voting record
VFB: 6
Tribals: 8
VAP: 0
Jury votes
Made: 0
For winners: --
Received: 1
Total jurors: 8

 

Mike Skupin - Pictures
  • Mike Skupin S2
    The Australian Outback intro shot
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    The Australian Outback intro shot
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    The Australian Outback intro shot (Louder Than Bombs edition
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    The Australian Outback intro shot (en fuego edition
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    On the plane, S2 opening sequence
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    Deboarding the plane
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    Hometown intro shot
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    The tribes begin the hike to their camps
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    Splashing hands in the water: Foreshadowing?
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    Complimenting his own leadership in setting up the shelter
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    Enjoying some late-night yelling by Kimmi
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    Sigh. Kimmi.
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    Listening to the Ep1 RC/IC treemail
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    Heading out to the first challenge
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    Kucha arrival, Ep1 RC/IC
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    Pre-challenge lineup
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    Kucha trailing
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    Whoops
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    Trying to right the raft
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    Kucha reaches the beach, far too late
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    Kucha heads to the Ep1 Tribal Council
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    Kucha, Ep1 Tribal
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    Listening to Probst
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    Talking to Probst
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    So long, Debb
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    Explaining his unasked-for early-morning rice bonanza as helping the tribe, early Ep2
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    Kucha eats the rice Mike cooked
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC
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    Kucha eventually hauls its crate onto the beach
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    Plotting to make himself indispensible by catching food
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    Kucha thanks God for making Mike the leader
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 IC
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    Facing off vs Maralyn in the first gross food item
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 RC
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    Standoff still going...
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    Right before the stick breaks, sending the Ep3 RC to a tiebreaker
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    Starting line, Ep3 IC
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    Kucha hits the water
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    Kucha wins immunity! Ep3 IC
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    Collapsing on the victory table
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    Overseeing Kucha's pointless chicken coop construction project, Ep4
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 RC
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    Kucha works the slide puzzle
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    Kucha wins chickens. Yay, etc.
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    Planning an early-morning chicken kill, to keep the tribe fed
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    Discussing the chickens with Nick and Rodger
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    Finally getting around to killing a chicken, with Rodger
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    Mmm, tastes like chicken
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    There's a pig. In the camp.
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    Just killed a pig on national TV
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    Discussing butchering options with Rodger
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    Doing his best to leave the game full
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    A man and his butchering
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 IC
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    Listening to Probst
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    Ready to go, first question vs. Mitchell
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    Alicia gets it right, and Kucha wins, Ep4 IC
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    I *warned* Kimmi, for her own self-preservation, not to get too attached to the chickens. Early Ep5
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 RC
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    Carrying Elisabeth
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    Kucha wins reward!
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    Kucha bathes. Even Kimmi.
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 IC
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    Kucha... trailing
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    Talking with Kimmi about the vote
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    Foreshadowing? Ep5 Tribal Council
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    Claiming everyone else is also a leader
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    Getting too close to the candles in a rainstorm, early Ep6
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    The longer I'm out here, the more I want to be out here
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    Another unnecessary shot of Skupin leaning over the fire
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    Let's kill the chickens, so they don't eat all our chicken feed
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    Starting line, Ep6 RC
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    Carrying water
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    Kucha races to the finish line
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    Kucha wins reward!
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    Enjoying some Doritos
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    Back at camp, just caught fish. Trouble looms.
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    He's hurt
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    Medical is on its way
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    Kucha tries to comfort Mike
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    Medical help arrives
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    Bandaged up, getting checked out
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    You know what to do, guys. You know what to do.
  • Mike Skupin S25
    Philippines intro shot
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    Philippines intro shot
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    Philippines pre-game interview
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    Pre-game interview
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    Returnee introductions
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    Day 1, with the raft
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    Early camp shot
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    Waiting for the first IC
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    Diving in, Ep1 IC
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    Directing the Tandang puzzle
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    Group hug after second-place finish, Ep1 IC
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    Hauling sleds, Ep2 RC/IC
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    More hauling
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    Puzzle retrieval, Ep3 RC/IC
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    Bleeding
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    Post-wounding, in camp
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    Malcolm joins the tribe, also: cookies
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    Partially visible in the mud, Ep6 RC
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    In the process of losing, Ep8 RC
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    Losing again, Ep9 RC
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    Checking in with Lisa
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    About to get passed by Carter, Ep10 IC
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    Auction, Ep11
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    Correctly answering questions, Ep11 IC
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    Getting to the next round
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    Hoping Malcolm picks him, Ep12 RC
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    Enjoying Malcolm's largesse after the Ep12 RC
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    Family time, Ep12
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    Ready to go, Ep12 IC
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    About to vote against Carter, Ep12 tribal council
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    Clearing barriers with ease, Ep13 RC
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    Yay! Slides!
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    First to the tossing
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    The tossing of the rings
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    Picking someone to accompany him on the whale head-butting reward
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    Playing for a spot in the final four, Ep13 IC
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    Oh dear
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    Well, this is confusing
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    Final four RC, playing for advantage
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    *Another* puzzle? F4 RC
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    Something has got to fit somewhere
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    Final four IC, delightfully puzzle-free
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    Guaranteed a spot in the final three
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    The Philippines final three

 

Mike Skupin - Interviews

Pre-game interviews

  • None found?

 

Post-game interviews

  • Jessica Shaw at the EW.com (3/12/01): "Survivor's Mike isn't the pig you might think"
  • SurvivorOz podcast interview (12/16/11): "Mike Skupin Interview"

Pre-game interviews

  • Gordon Holmes at MoreWhatnot.com (9/17/12): "Pre-Game Interview: Michael Skupin"
  • CBS pre-game interview (YouTube)

 

Post-game interviews

  • Rob Cesternino at RHAP (12/17/12): "Interviews with the Survivor Philippines Final Four"
  • Dalton Ross at EW.com (12/17/12): "Mike Skupin blames Ponderosa for his loss; says he was blackmailed by one juror"
  • Gordon Holmes at MoreWhatnot.com (12/19/12): "Michael Skupin: Jury Member Tried to ‘Blackmail’ Him"

 

Mike Skupin - Bios

From his official CBS Survivor: The Australian Outback cast bio page:

"Michael Skupin co-founded a software publishing and distribution company in 1992 where he currently serves as president. He also founded the CCA, which is a motivational speaking company. He attended Western Michigan University where he earned a bachelor of business management in 1984. His previous employment includes office equipment sales, surgical and operating room equipment sales, and a water-ski instructor. He is most proud of his wife Peni and his three children, Michael (12), Kalyn (9) and Emily (3).

Skupin describes himself as adventurous, a thrill-seeker, and a risk taker. His favorite television shows are ESPN's SportsCenter / Primetime (to compare notes with his son) and Seinfeld while his favorite motion picture is Meet Joe Black. Although he's a big fan of Faith Hill, he listens to a variety of music including Top 40, Country, Christian and has a soft spot for Oldies. His favorite sports teams are any team from Michigan, especially the University of Michigan Wolverines. Amid his hectic schedule, Skupin finds time to hunt, barefoot water-ski and play ice hockey. He'll also play a good game of Scattegories if time permits.

Originally from Farmington Hills, Michigan, Skupin currently lives in White Lake, Michigan with his wife and three children. They have 2 Black Labradors, Thor and Simeon and lots of wild fish and wild birds. His birth date is January 29, 1962."

From his EW.com pre-game interview, by Dalton Ross:

"'For 22 seasons, I’ve thought about playing this game again,' the 50-year-old Skupin told EW.com while on location in the Caramoan Islands the day be'ore filming commenced, but he is not looking at this outing as a shot at redemption. 'I’m not here because I fell in the fire or to prove to the world anything,' he says. 'I’m here to play the game again, from start to finish. This will be a whole new adventure for me.'"


Excerpts from his CBS.com Survivor: Philippines bio page:

"Personal Claim to Fame: I have seven of them that I feed everyday – my children. And, ranking 23rd on TV Guide and TV Land's List of the 100 Most Unexpected TV Moments. It’s an honor to have been there when it all started!

Inspiration in Life: My dad, a true warrior who lost a battle to cancer when he was 28 and my mom who battled emphysema for 17 years and never complained. She taught me what tough was.

Hobbies: Sports and fitness, coaching my kids and anything to do with water… in it, on it, over it, looking at it or listening to it.

Pet Peeves: Negativity and pessimism. The glass is always full.

3 Words to Describe You: Adventurous, spontaneous and competitive.

If You Could Have 3 Things on The Island What Would They Be and Why? 1) Animals to hunt for food. 2) An impenetrable shelter. 3) An unbreakable alliance.

Reason for Being on Survivor: To avenge a long-standing internal battle, wondering if I can win this game in spite of the changes and my 12 year absence. No matter what any returning player may say, you never stop thinking about going back. And: 7 cars when they turn 16, 7 college educations, 7 weddings… I want to be there for my kids at all times when they need me.

Why You Think You’ll 'Survive' Survivor: The physical part I’m ultra prepared for. I never stop moving. The survival part won’t be an issue. I grew up in the woods. My crazy family life has prepared me exceptionally for the mental part. I’m surviving seven kids!

Why You Think You Will Be the Sole Survivor: There is no other returning player in the history of this game with more to prove than me. I’ll find a way to win, whatever it takes! I won’t give up… ever, ever , ever, ever!"