Warning: This article and video contains spoilers on the preview episode ofSnake in the Grass.
If they are wrong, the Snake keeps all the money for him or herself.
(The installment will air again on USA on Aug. That confusion enabled the actual snake of Malcolm to go undetected, landing the three-timeSurvivorplayer the $100,000 prize.
Earl Cole, Jaff Zausch, Malcolm Freberg, and Yul Kwon on ‘Snake in the Grass’.Chase Bjornson/USA Network
What were the players told when they were first approached about the show?
When did Malcolm learn he was the Snake?
And why was everyone so laser focused on Yul as the culprit?
Jaff Zausch, Yul Kwon, Malcolm Freberg, and Earl Cole on ‘Snake in the Grass’.Chase Bjornson/USA Network
They told me it was a combination ofSurvivorand an outdoor escape room, and possibly Mafia.
And I was like, “Oh, that sounds super interesting.”
So I was in.
Malcolm Freberg, Yul Kwon, Earl Cole, Jaff Zausch, and Bobby Bones on ‘Snake in the Grass’.Chase Bjornson/USA Network
EARL COLE: I was not told one thing about this show.
They just said, “It’s going to be a great adventure.
It’s like nothing you’ve ever done before.”
That’s all I was told.
MALCOLM FREBERG: At one point during the process, I was toldThe Mole.
And I went back and rewatched young Anderson Cooper before we came out.
But no specifics, just vague hints and comparables.
Which I like, because coming fromNaked and Afraid, there’s no real one winner at the end.
When they told me it was a competition, I’m like, I’m in.
I didn’t even know other Survivors were even involved.
I thought this was completely different.
That’s how they sold it to me.
It’s just going to be a new adventure you’ve got the option to do something different.
YUL KWON: We didn’t see each other until right before we got on the helicopter.
And then I saw these guys and immediately, of course, I recognized Earl and Malcolm.
But I eventually I realized it was Jeff fromNaked and Afraid.
I’d seen his season.
I just didn’t recognize him with his clothes on.
So I didn’t think anything about it.
But I saw Jeff, but didn’t have a clue.
I had never seenNaked and Afraidat that point.
JEFF ZAUSCH: I didn’t even know they were the cast members for the show.
I thought they were maybe camera guys or something.
They all knew each other from the previous group.
I had no idea until they started literally showing us how we put our harnesses on for the helicopter.
And then I realized, “Oh shoot, those are my teammates/competitors.”
EARL COLE: That’s right.
Because I remember seeing Jeff and I thought you were the host.
He had the hat on, he was dressed in all the survival gear.
And it’s like, “Oh, he must be the host of the show.”
And I saw Yul.
I still thought you were the host even we were getting on the helicopter!
I don’t think these guys had any idea about clues or challenges at this point.
We knew it was two days.
There was a challenge per day, I think is how it was said to me.
I did not know about a clue being hidden at camp.
My face must have just fallen.
The first time we see Malcolm, he’s splotchy and he’s throwing up in front of us.
Then the producers had to get a medic and do IV and all that stuff.
It was clear he was not well, his face was bright red.
Whereas for me, when I actually got sick, everyone thought I was faking it.
So kudos to you, Malcolm.
JEFF ZAUSCH: I didn’t even understand the level that I was on with you guys.
Chugging bottles before a competition?
Who would do that?
MALCOLM FREBERG: I was miserable.
I couldn’t function.
I almost puke on the helicopter.
Like it was real because I couldn’t fake it.
I’m a terrible actor.
EARL COLE: I could smell the alcohol.
MALCOLM FREBERG:I had to pay off housekeeping at the hotel to get a bottle.
And it wasn’t fun.
I was watchingThe Mentalistin Spanish and vomiting all night.
Because on these shows, you’re under very tight quarantine.
I had to pay off this guy to go grab it for me.
This is going to pay off."
YUL KWON: It paid off.
I mean, it was easy to convince us because he was legitimately sick.
He even fooled the producers because they almost pulled him out.
They were thinking about getting an alternate.
MALCOLM FREBERG:I almost got pulled out.
I genuinely had to hold the puke in until we got to the helicopter.
Because this was all for nothing unless they see it.
I’m like, “Oh I think I took this too far.”
I could get pulled.
This is not going to be good.
I think I explained that I was fine, and they gave me some Dramamine or something.
But that was it.
I’m really struggling out there.
On Yul getting legitimately sick during the game:
YUL KWON:I just started feeling ill.
I was pretty hot and sweaty.
EARL COLE: Oh, it made it very challenging with Yul being fragile as he is.
And he’s getting sick now?"
I’m still pissed off!
So this was supposed to be the biggest clue in the game.
We were led to believe that if we won this challenge, then we won this game.
We thought the clue would be the guy’s name.
It was going to be obvious.
It was bulls—!
I knew that I wasn’t the Snake, even though the second clue pointed at me.
Maybe it’s the same thing.
We had nothing to connect Malcolm to wrestling alligators.
In the absence of that, it was hard to figure out.
It was a very obscure-shaped thing and I didn’t trust anybody but myself at that point.
I had maybe eight feet of sand that I have and I’m throwing this thing at a target.
It hits right there.
I’m like, “Okay, I made it.”
And then here come the waves washes it away.
Now naturally I would’ve thrown it 100 feet, but I didn’t want to hit anybody.
That’s really what happened.
I’m waiting for Earl to speak genuinely when I’m sitting down there.
And then Earl does this really long dramatic pause before Bobby asks him who the Snake is.
And I remember when Earl said Yul, I’m like, “Okay.
I’m at 90 now.”
And when Yul went for that, then I was pretty sure I had it.
