Five Questions with Rupert Boneham

Had a chance to speak with "Survivor" favorite Rupert Boneham, who will sign copies of his "Rupert: Just Being Me" book at 7 p.m. today at JosepBeth Booksellers in Norwood. Yes, Rupert has written a book. It's not much, with lots of white space and pictures, but hey, what did you expect? He's fun to talk to, and "Survivor" fans will love to hear him at JosephBeth tonight. He's also opening the new Milford Wal-Mart at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Oh, the perks of celebrity!
Here's my chat with Rupert:
Q: Are you surprised you're still a celebrity three years after winning $1 million as America's favorite Survivor?
A: My whole goal getting on Survivor was just getting my family out of debt. I never thought it would start a new world and career path for me. I've started six companies.
Q: Where you always a Survivor fan?
A: I've always been Survivor crazy. I got Kentucky Joe's -- Rodger Bingham's -- autograph in 2001 at the Future Farmers of America exhibit at the Indiana State Fair.
Q: Why is Cincinnati so Survivor crazy?
A: Because they see Survivor as one of the few reality shows that cannot be manipulated by the producers. They just put people on an island and let them go crazy. It's not "The Amazing Race"and other reality show where producers stop the competition and let teams catch up.
Q: Have you had offers to do more TV?
A: For three years I've been trying to sell mentoring-type shows. We've shot four or five different pilots, and I've got two more to shoot this spring. We're trying to keep the dream alive, of changing the way the world treats kids.
Q: How do you thinkUC's Michelle Yi is doing on "Survivor: Fiji?"
A: She's one I'm rooting for. Michelle has shown she's tough. She's kind of quiet and not standing out yet. I'm always looking for the underdog. I was so proud of her when she started the fire with her glasses. The whole tribe was laying around doing nothing. If she can make it through the merge, she should do pretty good.