CBS 58 exclusive 1-on-1 with 3-time 'Survivor' contestant Andrea Boehlke
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- One of the best to ever play the game "Survivor" is from Wisconsin and lives in Milwaukee. CBS 58's Jessob Reisbeck sat down with Andrea Boehlke, the three-time "Survivor" contestant who grew up on a Sheboygan County farm full of animals and "Survivor" fans.
Andrew Boehlke
"'Survivor' has been a big part of my lift. I spent a lot of my twenties in that 'Survivor' world," said Boehlke. "I first played 'Survivor' when I was 21, then 23, then 27, so I kind of got launched into this reality TV world."
Long before Boehlke was launched into reality TV, her real reality was a farm in Random Lake.
"I grew up working really hard on the farm, spending summers camping and fishing and doing a lot of outdoor activities. I'm sickly competitive to the point of it being a problem," said Boehlke.
Andrew Boehlke
Andrew Boehlke
Her junior year at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, her competitiveness took a hit.
"I didn't get into the play that I wanted to," Boehlke said. "I was a theater major, and I was bummed, and my mom said, 'Why don't you apply for 'Survivor?'"
"I was the mastermind behind that, and I do feel bad that I put my daughter in a swimsuit -- kind of," said Linda Boehlke, Andrea's mom.
"So she had me in a bikini, in the snow going, 'Oh, I didn't see you there. 'Survivor, get me out of this cold Wisconsin winter!' It's so embarrassing and so cringe, but it worked," said Boehlke.
Boehlke, her mom Linda, and dad Royal, put together the ultimate Wisconsin audition tape, and for the first time ever, we're getting to see it.
"I leaned so hard into 'farm girl,'" said Boehlke.
"She climbed a silo, catching pigeons with her bare hands," said Royal Boehlke.
"The next scene was me on a horse, then I slide off my horse and do a somersault. Then I catch a pig. Then I'm petting a deer mount," Boehlke said. "Within a week I got a call and they flew me out to L.A., I did the whole casting process and I got on the show."
Andrew Boehlke
Andrew Boehlke
Boehlke got on the show three times.
"It takes a toll on your mentally, physically. It is a really tough show," she said.
"Survivor" tests you mentally, physically, emotionally and socially.
It starts with a group of 16 to 20 people dropped in a remote location. They have to provide food, fire and shelter for their team, compete in challenges, form alliances and vote each other off one by one with the sole survivor winning $1 million.
"When you realize, oh this is very real," said Boehlke. "If you don't make fire so you can boil the water, you can't really drink. If you don't make a shelter, you have nowhere to sleep, you'll be sleeping in the rain. And then you also have to vote off all these people and create alliances and so, you forget everything is there, you forget the cameras are there, and you just try to survive this show."
Andrew Boehlke
Boehlke did more than survive, she thrived, finished fifth, seventh, and eighth in her three appearances. She was part of the jury, the people that picked who wins. Every time, she spent over 100 days in the game and is regarded as one of the best to ever play it.
"It's completely changed my life for the better," Boehlke said. "I don't think I would've had as many opportunities as I've had through 'Survivor.' And it's really fun!"
Fun enough for a fourth time?
"That's a tough question," Boehlke said. "Because if I was going to play again, I can't tell you! If they were to call I would say, 'Yes,' but I can't say if they called or not."
The question remains unanswered if Boelke will compete on "Survivor" again. In the meantime, she will be busy hosting TV shows, podcasts, and jam-packed "Survivor" watch parties.
"Being able to see how excited fans get, and seeing the fans meet each other, and they have this community, it's just so fun."