Mike Holloway

Name: Mike Holloway
Age: 38
Current Residence: North Richland Hills, Texas
Occupation: Oil Driller
Gordon Holmes: It says in your bio that one of your hobbies is picking up the ladies.
Mike Holloway: (Laughs)
Holmes: Is that going to be a part of your game?
Holloway: Yeah, I don’t really think that too many of the girls this season are that attractive. Hopefully they’ll be attracted to me, because if they are I will definitely be able to use that. I’m  a flirter by nature, so anything that I can use to gain confidence on this show, I will use. And with the ladies, hopefully it’ll be my looks. I don’t know if I’m that good looking of an individual.
Holmes: Oh, c’mon.
Holloway: (Laughs) Some girls think so. So if some of these girls think that, I’ll definitely use it against them.
Holmes: Is there anyone at home that’s going to be upset if they turn on CBS and see you flirting?
Holloway: No, I’m single. I haven’t had a girlfriend in a long time just because I’ve been really focused on my career and obtaining some goals. And realistically, no girl has ever been able to keep up with me. I’m kind of a mover and a shaker. I like to be going quite a bit. There aren’t a lot of girls that like to do that.
Holmes: You aren’t attracted to any of the women on this season, but what are your overall impressions of the group?
Holloway: I like the cast as a whole. I think there are a couple of guys who when the show is over we’ll probably be great friends. And the same with some of the girls too…well…maybe not after they hear this…
Holmes: Nobody reads this.
Holloway: (Laughs)
Holmes: And if they do you’ll have to do some backpedaling.
Holloway: I’ll do some serious backpedaling. Let me say, there are some cute girls. But, the type of girl I’m attracted to is not really here.
Holmes: That’s some decent backpedaling.
Holloway: (Laughs)
Holmes: What kind of woman are you attracted to?
Holloway: Obviously I’ve never been one that’s dated for personality.
Holmes: (Laughs) That’s so overrated.
Holloway: (Laughs) Personality is definitely overrated. If a buddy comes over and says he has a girl with a great personality, run. That’s horrible to say. My mom will be very mad that I said that. I’m normally attracted to really good-looking girls. What is a good-looking girl? When you know it when you see it. It’s like when you walk into a store and you’re looking for a certain pair of pants. And you see it and you say, “There’s my pants!” It’s the same way with me and girls. It’s not one shape or size, blonde, brunette, red, blue eyes, green eyes, it doesn’t matter.  There is one girl here that is extremely attractive.
Holmes: Whoa…back it up.
Holloway: Well, I think she’s way too young for me.
Holmes: Are you a “Survivor” fan?
Holloway: Big fan, ever since season two. A good friend of mine came into my house and was like, “Hey, did you see ‘Survivor’?!” And I said, “You mean the show with the naked guy on it?”
Holmes: (Laughs)
Holloway: (Laughs) And he said, “No, that was last season. There’s this guy on there, and he’s from Texas, and he brought this huge Texas flag.” And so, I watched that season. There’s Colby Donaldson, and if you’re from Texas you know the bond and comradery that Texans share. We’re very proud of our state. So, that was the hook that got me involved, but the game won me over.
Holmes: Do you think it’s a benefit to know the show or could the precedents lead you in the wrong direction?
Holloway: I think it’s a huge benefit. A long time ago I was doing this acting stuff. Nothing for LA, just fun stuff. And this guy who was coaching me came in with this 400-page book. And he asked me to act out the first page. And I’m like, “What do you mean, the preface?” And he did. So I fumbled through it. And he’s like, “That was horrible. Now go home, read the book, and next week you’re going to act out the preface again.” That’s the same as “Survivor.” All of these 26 seasons that I’ve watched have been a study guide for what mistakes not to make.
Holmes: If you could align with any former Survivor, who would it be?
Holloway: Candice. Because…number one, she’s beautiful to look at. And, I know she’s married. So Candice, if you read this, I’m not hitting on you. John, please don’t find me and beat me up. Number two, cause she’s smart. Number three, she has great strategy. And number four, she’s a challenge beast. I would align with her until six and then I would cut her throat.
Holmes: If there is a twist, what do you think it’ll be?
Holloway: Well, I think Jeff might’ve let the cat out of the bag a little bit that there’s not going to be a twist. He said, “There’s always a twist, but sometimes the twist is that there’s not a twist and we let your mind mess with you.” I think this might be Young vs. Old II. I’d love for there to be some major twist. That brings excitement to the game.
Holmes: You can’t trust that Jeff Probst.
Holloway: C’mon, that guy right there…I have three man crushes.
Holmes: Alright, let’s hear them.
Holloway: Brett Favre, Jeff Probst, and Bear Grylls. I want to spend seven days in the wild with Bear Grylls roughing it. Besides this, that would be my second most desired experience.
Holmes: Are you comfortable lying?
Holloway: Not in my real life. In this game, yes. I checked Mike Holloway at the door. I will not play this game the way I am in real life. If I play this game the way I am in real life I’ll be voted out first. My mom taught me to pull out chairs for girls, you open doors for girls, if you see someone struggling, lend a helping hand. In this game, that is viewed as weakness. If I am honest Mike or loyal Mike like I am back home, I’ll be gone first.
Holmes: So harder Mike?
Holloway: I think that’s accurate. I will be 100% manipulative all the time to everyone. Not about personal stuff, bonds, friendship, but strategic gameplay. I’ll be the biggest liar you’ve ever seen.
Holmes: It’s one thing to say you’re going to lie to seventeen people you’ve never met. But, it’s another to do it to people you’re depending on.
Holloway: The psychologist asked me the same thing. I think it will be tough for me, but the thing I told my mom and my brother before I left was, “You guys are my family. I’m doing this for our family.” Those people on the show are strangers. They will become friends, and some might become family, but they are not who I am playing this game for.
Holmes: You’re a Texas guy.
Holloway: All the way, baby.
Holmes: Safe to say you have experience roughing it?
Holloway:  For sure. Me and my cousin, we do survivalist training sometimes. We’ll build a shelter. I know how to rub two sticks together to get a fire. It just takes a little will power and patience. I love it. Being by a campfire. Smelling like smoke all night long. I love adventure.
Holmes:Your bio delves into some really personal things; not having a father growing up, being molested as a child…
Holloway: You don’t have to speak soft when you say those things. Those were tragedies that I went through as a child that I think could have molded me into being a horrible person or depressed all the time. But luckily, I had great family members that have taught me how to be a man. Taught me how to deal with those situations. To be honest with you, at age fifteen I became a Christian. That was a massive weight lifted from my chest. Growing up without a dad, you don’t understand the love bond between men. You don’t understand the love bond between a man and a younger man that is teaching them how to grow up. Becoming a Christian and having my pastor who is Don Couch mentor me to be a man… What it is to be responsible. What it is to stand up for what is right. Not to idly let things happen, but to be a voice for the voiceless. Being molested was rough, and it’s something that is with me. But, instead of being a hindrance or a crutch, I look at it as a strength now. I am able to reach out to those people who aren’t able to voice what happened to them and move past it. And, if somehow I’m able to help heal a young man or a young woman who has gone through the same things as I have, then that is not only my obligation, but it is my duty as a human to help someone else out.
Holmes: To turn such a negative into a positive is very inspiring.
Holloway: Well, like I said, it boils down to the Lord and great friends and family who loved me when I was unlovable. When I was a teenage boy with ADHD and hyperactivity. When I was running the streets and being crazy. It took those special people in my life to put their arm around me and say, “Hey man, let me show you a different way.”