What you didn’t see. Tyson Apostol is opening up about his time on The Problem: USA and why he determined to stop throughout the remaining alongside a few of his different rivals after a Sudoku puzzle with no directions tripped them up.
The Survivor: Blood vs. Water winner spoke solely to Us Weekly about what was going via his head throughout that point and what conversations he was having with the manufacturing staff.
“With regards to Sudoku, they’re not letting us trip,” Tyson tells Us. “And so, I simply should stop. I’ll strive to do that Sudoku. I’ve by no means performed it earlier than. I do know the premise and I’m gonna strive one time. It’s taken me some time. I didn’t get it. They’re like, ‘That’s incorrect.’ I used to be like, ‘OK, nicely I don’t know what else to do.’ They usually’re like, ‘Effectively, we are able to’t do the puzzle for you.’ And I used to be like, ‘I’m not asking you to do the puzzle for me.’ I’m simply saying I can’t do it as a result of I don’t understand how to do that. They have been like shoulder shrug after which I stop.”
He provides, “And apparently, there have been some arguments about whether or not or not they have been gonna let me trip. And I had lots of people instantly after that from manufacturing sobbing to return in and inform me sorry. Like, ‘We’re sorry that occurred to you.’”
There gave the impression to be a number of inconsistencies about whether or not you possibly can trip of the duties, as some folks did however then others weren’t allowed.
“You’d ask concerning the guidelines and anyone could be like, ‘Yeah, that’s the guidelines.’ And then you definately’d be like, ‘Present them to me’ they usually’d be like, ‘They’re in my head,’” Tyson explains. “And also you’d be like, ‘OK, nicely, and there’s not quite a bit in there so I’m assuming they’re simple to search out.’ However yeah, it was undoubtedly … it was bizarre. It was undoubtedly bizarre. It was a bizarre vibe. After that occurred, I advised lots of people, I used to be like, ‘That was the worst couple days of my life,’ and never as a result of it was depressing.
As for whether or not followers will see Tyson return for this much-talked-about “World Championship” season on Paramount+, the Utah native tells Us, “They’ve already referred to as me for each and I’ve already handed them each up. A number of instances. Many, many instances. Simply 10 cellphone calls.”
Scroll right down to learn our full interview with Tyson Apostol.
Us Weekly: I don’t even know the place to begin. Let’s begin with the Sudoku puzzle as a result of that’s the place you and Dom [Abbate], Justine [Ndiba] and Cayla [Platt] all ended up quitting. How lengthy have been you doing it and what have been the directions that you just guys got?
Tyson Apostol: The directions have been what you noticed on the display screen. It stated “end the sample.” And at this level, I’m wanting, like, “Is that this a joke?” They should have been instructed to not discuss us in any respect on this second. So I’m like, “OK, nicely I do know the premise of Sudoku, however I by no means performed Sudoku.” I do know that there’s the 9 dice and the cross and the down, however I’ve by no means performed. I believe I used to be at that puzzle 20 to half-hour earlier than Danny even confirmed up.
Then I used to be there not less than that period of time afterward, so in all probability near an hour? However then, Dom confirmed up. He had by no means performed or didn’t even know the premise of Sudoku and neither had Justine. And when “end the sample” is your instruction, that’s a really tough factor to determine. However it’s on me. I don’t know tips on how to play Sudoku. I simply might have received this factor if I might’ve taken the time on airplane screens to play Sudoku as a substitute of watch motion pictures.
Us: Let’s discuss concerning the timeout inconsistencies although. Why might Justine and Sarah [Lacina] trip on their puzzles however you couldn’t on this one? And did having the ability to trip issue into Angela [Rummans]’ choice to not dig?
TA: Sure. That undoubtedly factored into Angela going to sleep. That was the entire thing. And he or she stated it. She was like, “I’m going to sleep. I can’t win this.” So principally, every pairing needed to transfer a pile of gravel from one aspect of the sphere to the aspect of the sphere. After which again. They usually stated, “OK, since you’re by your self, you must transfer two-thirds of the unique pile, which mathematically, when you have two folks shifting a pile and one particular person shifting one other pile … so already she has to maneuver greater than every particular person particular person would by herself. Plus, she doesn’t take any breaks. And so she simply was like, “I’m gonna trip.” Justine timed out of the final one as a substitute of them making her run again and work out her decoding state of affairs. After which, her and Dom timing out of the very first puzzle. That was bizarre too as a result of even with Cayla’s factor, like, they compelled her to eat the onion and I believed they have been simply gonna time her out after which they didn’t. They have been like, “if she doesn’t end consuming the onion, she’s completed.”
Us: Fascinating. Additionally although, so she solely obtained one portion of meals, however Justine needed to bear in mind 10 numbers? It appeared like the principles weren’t at all times the identical.
TA: Proper. Justine’s was insane. The truth that she even memorized these 10 numbers was insane. Cayla didn’t should eat two onions, proper? However that was how the entire thing went. It was simply, like, you’d ask concerning the guidelines and anyone could be like, “Yeah, that’s the guidelines.” And then you definately’d be like, “Present them to me” they usually’d be like, “They’re in my head.” And also you’d be like, “OK, nicely, and there’s not quite a bit in there so I’m assuming they’re simple to search out.” However yeah, it was undoubtedly … it was bizarre. It was undoubtedly bizarre. It was a bizarre vibe. After that occurred, I advised lots of people, I used to be like, “That was the worst couple days of my life,” and never as a result of it was depressing.
Us: Proper, I imply, I’m assuming you possibly can survive the weather.
TA: The weather have been effective. With regards to Sudoku, they’re not letting us trip. And so, I simply should stop. I’ll strive to do that Sudoku. I’ve by no means performed it earlier than. I do know the premise and I’m gonna strive one time. It’s taken me some time. I didn’t get it. They’re like, “That’s incorrect.” I used to be like, “OK, nicely I don’t know what else to do.” They usually’re like, “Effectively, we are able to’t do the puzzle for you.” And I used to be like, “I’m not asking you to do the puzzle for me.” I’m simply saying I can’t do it as a result of I don’t understand how to do that. They have been like shoulder shrug after which I stop. And apparently, there have been some arguments about whether or not or not they have been gonna let me trip. And I had lots of people instantly after that from manufacturing sobbing to return in and inform me sorry. Like, “We’re sorry that occurred to you.”
Us: I listened to your podcast and also you additionally talked about that Sarah timed out on the hexagon puzzle?
TA: She did. She undoubtedly did trip of the hexagon puzzle, for positive. And I wasn’t there – that is rumour solely – in a a lot faster period of time than I spent at Sudoku.
Us: Fascinating. So have been you speaking quite a bit to producers earlier than you stop? Did you guys all stop collectively? Did they attempt to get you to not?
TA: No, I simply noticed that they weren’t gonna clarify to them tips on how to play Sudoku or what to do, they usually had had it. And so at that time, I used to be like, in case you guys are quitting then I can’t get any additional on this puzzle too. So yeah, I’m quitting too. And there was a second of rigidity with manufacturing there as they have been like, “We don’t even understand how to do that.” It was form of like a heated second with manufacturing. After which I used to be like, “I’m not even supplying you with guys the …. I’m completed too. I’m completed, I’m completed with this entire factor.”
Us: And I’m assuming when you noticed Danny [McCray] end the puzzle and go away, you have been like, “OK he’s he’s gonna win anyway.”
TA: Yeah, when he left and there had been a sure period of time handed, I used to be identical to, “Ah, he’s received. We’re too near the highest right here.” So yeah, that was additionally a part of it. However irrespective of how lengthy I might’ve spent on the Sudoku, I don’t assume I might’ve gotten it.
Us: Discuss to me about Sarah. What did you concentrate on her not even realizing she received and Danny having to inform her?
TA: She was to this point behind. I spent an hour or extra on Sudoku. Sarah wasn’t even there but. She the slowest up the hill. It wasn’t even only for the puzzle that she hung out and had the timeout, she was the slowest up the hill the complete manner. She was in useless final. She was in useless final place when she obtained to the puzzle. So it was humorous and due to that, no one was even on the Sudoku puzzle by the point she obtained there, as a result of we’d both all been shuffled off or Danny had gone on to the highest. So when she obtained to the Sudoku, I didn’t see a video of her even ending that.
Us: Yeah, she had some phrases about Angela not doing the digging, however she seemingly didn’t end some issues both? Did you discuss to her after the ultimate? Was she shocked about you guys quitting?
TA: I don’t know. I suppose for Sarah, I’m positive she’s very, very pleased with herself and really, very pleased that me and Angela didn’t win. However that’s all I can assume. I imply I believe on Instagram, she already obtained on and was like, “Angela’s a quitter. I’m displaying everyone how robust you might be as a girl cop.” And so I’m positive that’s occurring someplace.
Us: What do you concentrate on a few of the authentic Problem followers on Twitter who’re saying that you just and these different CBS personalities “can’t deal with” The Problem and the ultimate, or no matter.
TA: I imply, the people who find themselves tweeting that, in the event that they principally can’t perceive what’s happening simply by watching the present, I already know that their capability to grasp isn’t price my time. Typically if they are saying, like, the precise proper phrases, I’ll be like, “OK, let me consider a comeback for this man for a second.” After which after a short while I’m like, “Oh no, I’m already over it.” However yeah, they weren’t there. I’ve nothing to show. I already understand how robust I’m and the way good I’m at this sport. And so, for me, it’s actually doesn’t faze me. It’s like, “OK, I don’t know tips on how to do Sudoku. I couldn’t do Sudoku. And that’s the factor that beat me? Was me. I defeated myself.” So like, yeah. OK, cool.
Us: Lots of people additionally requested me about your gloves. I do know you talked about this in your podcast however did they not put together you guys for every leg of this?
TA: I don’t assume they thought it was gonna be this chilly. We present up for the primary leg, they usually give us some heat clothes. We get via it after which we’re freezing, so they offer us this winter jacket. I believe they have been simply, like, working to Walmart or one thing and shopping for stuff after which bringing it again. That they had a tough time discovering any footwear in Danny’s dimension. After which abruptly they confirmed up with like snowsuits and snow pants, however they have been all like one dimension suits all. So the women needed to tie knots in them and the blokes needed to put on them open with the fly open, as a result of they wouldn’t match across the guys’ waists and stuff. You weren’t allowed to not have your garments after which have them on a special leg. So Sarah and I, on the consuming leg, we dropped our winter jackets realizing it was gonna be a run. After which after we completed, it was very, very chilly, freezing chilly. It was like a cold fall kind of temperature. And after we stopped, we have been freezing, they usually have been like, “No, you must carry. If you need that jacket, you gotta carry it.” Which, effective. That’s effective. In Survivor, in case you don’t want one thing throughout a problem, you set it off to the aspect and it makes its manner again to you. However right here, you may by no means set your clothes down as a result of anyone will snatch it proper up.
The following leg, they advised us to put on these snow garments and we ran. And so then everyone was drenched in sweat, after which they made us wait once more for such a very long time. I believe in all probability a few of it has to do with lights and timing as a result of for nighttime stuff or no matter, no matter it was. These have been in all probability actually probably the most uncomfortable components of the finale was the couple hours ready exterior with somebody from manufacturing telling you it could be simply 5 extra minutes. There have been so a lot of these folks. There’s gotta be an inventory for Bunim/Murray that’s like, “Are you able to with a cheerful perspective say it will likely be “simply 5 extra minutes” for six hours straight?
Us: That particular person hated their life that day.
TA: I do know. And I felt so unhealthy for them they usually have been so cheery, and you possibly can see on their face that they have been like, “I do know that is improper.” And also you wished to consider them and also you have been like, “Possibly that is actually the 5 minutes.”
Us: I do know now we have to wrap up quickly, however was there something you discovered after filming and even whereas watching that shocked you?
TA: No, not likely. I had my finger on the heartbeat the entire time. I knew what was occurring in the home and I knew, like, even when folks didn’t come out and say it, I knew who didn’t like me and who favored me. And so I assumed that some folks could be saying stuff, however I believe typically, I imply, I don’t assume there’s something that I used to be like, “Ohhhhh.” I drove the sport from day one and probably the most anyone might do towards me was myself dropping at Sudoku or Dom being like, “Oh, Tyson doesn’t get his manner right here.” And I’m like, “I already made my technique to the ultimate bro. I don’t know why you assume I’m so affected by this half?”
Us: Did profitable the primary each day problem with Angela set the tone for you guys working collectively?
TA: Yeah, undoubtedly. At that time, we have been like, let’s maintain everyone with the cash in an alliance to guard the cash. And that manner we defeat the algorithm as a result of then we are able to promote it to folks. As quickly as anyone wins a problem, we are able to go to them and be like, “Pay attention, now we have this setup with everyone who’s received cash. When you promise to not go towards anyone with cash, they’ll do the identical for you. We’re all on this factor collectively. You earned your cash. Let’s all get to the ultimate.” And that was the one technique to fight the algorithm. In order a brand new couple would win, you’d go in and be like, “Hey, only a heads up. When you go towards anyone with cash, everyone with cash is then gonna come for you. So the good factor is simply to stay with the cash folks.” And that labored for about three quarters of the best way via very simply.
Us: I believe I do know the reply but when they name you for this “World Championship,” are you saying sure or passing?
TA: They’ve already referred to as me for each and I’ve already handed them each up. A number of instances. Many, many instances. Simply 10 cellphone calls.
Us: Oh wow. You’re not completed with actuality TV ceaselessly although. Are you?
TA: I don’t know. I imply, who is aware of? I can’t do it twice a 12 months for positive. That’s an excessive amount of time away from my household. By no means say by no means. I received’t be there in October, however perhaps two years down the street, I’ll be like, “Effectively, let’s see how it’s now,” however I don’t envision myself doing that. But in addition, you may’t rule it out utterly.
