Meet the 'Survivor 48' Cast! Fire Lieutenant Chrissy Sarnowsky Says Superfans 'Don't Make the Game Better'

When Chrissy Sarnowsky saw a gnarly motorcycle accident, she knew she wanted to become a paramedic and firefighter. So it's only natural that, as we speak, she's ready to eagerly throw herself into the "dangerous fun" of the new era. The 55-year-old is old school by nature, disliking superfans who "cheat" by practicing puzzles preseason. And, as the oldest contestant this season, she hopes to become the "cool aunt" of her tribe to avoid the weight and pressure of being the leader. But, considering she navigates through blazing infernos with 65 pounds of equipment on a daily basis, there won't be much to weigh her down in this game by comparison.

Read on for my interview with Chrissy, and check in with Parade.com daily for interviews with this season's contestants and other tidbits. Survivor 48 premieres on Feb. 26 with a two-hour premiere on CBS.

Related: Meet the Full Cast of Survivor 48

Interview with Chrissy from Survivor 48

To start, give me your name, age, and occupation.
Chrissy Sarnowsky. I'm 54 years old. I'm from the south side of Chicago, and I'm a lieutenant on the Chicago Fire Department.

Have you always been a firefighter? How'd you find your way into doing that?
That's a great story, actually. Well, I was young. I dropped out of high school, got my GED, was working in an office. And a girlfriend started dating a paramedic, and she goes, "We should go to paramedic school." And I was 18, 19 at the time. And so I went to EMT school and paramedic school. And by the time I was 21 I was a paramedic. And at that point, everybody I went to paramedic school [with] wanted to be on the Chicago Fire Department. So I was like, "Well, then I want to be on the Chicago Fire Department!" So, I was a paramedic for six years in the fire department. Then I became a firefighter. I crossed over, and I became a firefighter paramedic on the engine. And I just recently got promoted to lieutenant. I have 26 years on this year.

Congratulations! What is it about the work that has kept you throwing yourself within the literal line of fire for so long?
When that girl called me, and we started going to our clinicals, we had a motorcycle accident, and the guy was degloved. His skin was falling off. And she ran out puking. And I ran in and thought, "Wow, this is the coolest thing." And I really love helping people. I've been a paramedic for 33 years. And I always said from day one, if I lose the compassion for people, I don't want to do this anymore. And I still have the compassion. I still treat everybody like they're my family members.

So then what made you want to throw yourself into the raging inferno of Survivor?
I've been watching it [since the start]. So it came out when I was 30, so I was a little older than these younger kids here who probably weren't even born when it started. And I used to watch it with my mom all the time. And now we call each other after each show. And I tape. And so I came home one day, and I was laying on the couch and Jeff Probst was on this beautiful beach with his arms out, saying, "You should apply!" And I'm like, "I should apply!" And so I applied, and there you go. Next thing you know, here I am talking to you.

Give me one winner and one non-winner who you identify with the most.
I can go non-winner. I love Carolyn, and I'm sure a lot of people [do]. I don't know, maybe I just relate to her. I relate to her storyline, that she was an ex-user and cleaned herself up. Ad she seemed street smart. [She] grew up harder, which I did, too. So unapologetically herself. So I really liked her winner. A winner, I liked, same season, [Yam Yam]. I didn't go back and watch seasons, because I don't want to be anybody else. I want to be me. But he did relate to people where Carolyn didn't. And he said, "I looked at you, and I knew when you talked about your family, how your eyes lit up, and when you lied, how your eyes didn't lie up." And I thought, "Wow, what a great perception of watching people." So I really thought that that won him the million dollars.

What's your favorite moment in Survivor history? Is it around Season 44 as well?
Well, yeah, only because I'm old and I have a terrible memory. Like I was saying, I like the earlier seasons, even though I don't remember them, but because Survivor was so new. And now, and I hate to say this, I don't like superfans. I don't think superfans make the game better. I don't think people practicing in their basement makes this game better. I think coming out and challenging yourself and not knowing what to expect, than knowing, "That puzzle is going to be on here, and I could do it with my eyes closed," it's sort of cheating to me.

I mean it to me, it's like an experience, a weird scientific experiment that they take 18 people, strangers from all different places of the world, and throw them on an island and starve them to death and make them do these challenges to earn food, to earn stuff, and see what happens. And nobody can predict what can happen. It's like putting 18 mice in a cage and seeing who's gonna be the lead mice. So I don't know. It's a great experiment. I can't wait to see what happens.

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Well, let's talk about how you put yourself in (fire)fighting shape for this scientific experiment. Did you do anything in particular to prep for Survivor?
I did not.

Wow. Well, I think you've got the fire aspect prepared! [Laughs.]
Well, yeah. Well, my job prepares me. I crawl in buildings with 65 pounds of my tank and everything. So crawling under a net in mud without 65 pounds, I think, should be a piece of cake. I'm hoping.

Give me your biggest superpower and your biggest piece of kryptonite when it comes to this game.
Well, I think my biggest superpower is my way to connect with people. I think I can go in the washroom and wash my hands and come out and be like, "Bye, nice talking to you!" I'm just one of those people that I could talk to anybody and just have this demeanor where I can connect with people. So I think I can. I'm hoping I can connect with some of these people, but yet, stab them in the back in the end, which is the best part of it. And they're going to stab me in the back, [and] that's what I like about this. We could be friends, but only one person comes out of this a winner. You can't go out like last year...terrible with names, the girl and the guy. She didn't vote for her friend.

Maria and Charlie.
Yeah. Well, sorry, it's a game! It's just the way it is. [Kryptonite], well, it might also be the same thing. I might talk too much. Like Carolyn, [I'm] unapologetically myself. And somebody asked me, am I gonna hide anything? No, I'm not gonna hide anything. I'm an open book, and sometimes that's not a good thing to be an open book. But I gotta remember I'm here playing a game, and they don't need to know everything. So I don't know. It all depends on who I'm sitting around and who I'm talking to. You got to read the room.

How do you think you're going to be perceived?
Well, I already know I'm the older person. I never felt like the older person, but I guess I am the older person. Looking at these young kids, I've been delivering babies longer than they've been born, literally 33 years. So, dealing with the younger generation, but then being a lieutenant on the fire department, all my kids are there. All the kids I'm training are this age too. So I know how to look at weaknesses and strong points of people and try to play on that.

Are you going to steer into that leadership role out on the island?
No, no, no, no. Because that sometimes gets you in trouble, trying to be a leader. So, more or less, maybe an "Auntie Chrissy." I wouldn't mind [being] somebody like the cool aunt, maybe.

What's one life experience that has prepared you most for the game?
I mean, it's a no-brainer: My job. Sometimes we travel to different firehouses, and I work with different firemen. And so I walk in not knowing these people. And within 24 hours, five minutes into it, we might have a fire together. And now we're saving lives together [where] I just met you five minutes ago. So you need to know, "Can this person have my back, and is this person not gonna have my back?" It's the same thing here. Is this person gonna have my back? Are they not gonna have my back? It's not life and death, though. Thank God [Laughs.]

Let's talk about the people who you'll be running to or from like a fire. Who are some people that you're picking up good vibes from right now?
I like bearded guy. He's got a big, old fluffy beard, and I can't wait to see what his beard looks like from now. So I like him. And then there's an African-American guy with glasses. He's got a friendly smile. There's something about him, that just draws me to him.

Are you seeking out any qualities in a number one ally?
Well, once I get my tribe and I see who's there. I mean, this is all just by looking at people. Once they open their mouth, I might be like, "Oh, I was way off." So it all depends on how they are in challenges, how I am in challenges! And I've had the biggest fear. I crawl through buildings with, like I said, 65 pounds on my back. And I do it, and I'm like, "Oh my God!" I just need to get that first challenge off and done. And then I think I'll feel a lot better.

On the other side, is there anyone you're getting red flags from?
Well, there's a girl, a blonde girl, here. And she just seems a little snooty to me. That's all. You're not supposed to talk. And I think she jumped and I go, "Oh, don't hurt yourself." And she goes, "Shhh" and she shushed me. And I'm like, "Did she just shush me?!" [Laughs.] And that's the funny thing about Survivor. It takes one shush, and now I'm gonna vote your ass off. You know, it's that stupid and simple.

Related: Everything to Know About Survivor 48

How much do you want to incorporate idols and advantages into your game?
Well, as I'm walking through here, I'm like, "Where would an idol be hidden?" It's so exciting to just look at little nooks and crannies. I can't wait to look for idols. But then again, it's not just an idol anymore. It's "Beware, you have to do this, this and this. Oh, you lose your vote." So you really got to be careful. It's really a mindf–k.

So if you find one, are you immediately picking it up and unwrapping it?
Sure. You'd be an idiot to throw it away.

What about a boat showing up for a journey? Are you volunteering to go?
No, I think I'll play the crowd on that one. I like the tribes that go rock paper scissors, stuff like that. Make it even.

What's your main takeaway from Seasons 45 and 46 that you're bringing into your gameplay?
Well, just from what I noticed, I think alliances are the way to go. And they might not last, and you make different alliances. But I think always trying to make that connection with somebody, even if it only lasts one vote, and then you make it a connection with somebody else, I think that seems to be the way to go. But then, as you watch some of the outsiders, when they're outsiders, they get the deciding vote. So it's a crazy, crazy game.

What's your hottest Survivor take?
I don't know if it was last season or the season before. The two people that quit, I was disgusted. Knowing the process that we have to do to get here. You never watched the show?! You didn't think you were going to be uncomfortable?! To be like, "I miss my bed. I want to go home." To me, that was just terrible.

What celebrity or fictional character would you bring out for a Loved Ones visit?
Well, I would say like Chris Hemsworth, Thor. I would take either one. Just because he's big and strong and nice to look at. [Laughs.]

Lastly, how are you going to make your mark on Survivor 48 to make sure you return for Season 50?
I don't know if I am. We'll see what happens. I don't know. I'm hoping that I stand out. I'm hoping that I play a great game. I would be highly disappointed in myself. I work with 5000 firefighters at home. There's no way I can walk through that door at any firehouse coming back a loser. So I have a lot of pressure on my back to represent the city of Chicago.

Next, check out our interview with Survivor 48 contestant Charity Nelms.