EW talked to Dan Gheesling, the 25-year-old Catholic school teacher from Michigan and quite possibly the nicest winner in Big Brother history, about his landslide victory, his thoughts about Jerry and what his girlfriend Monica asked him once the show was over.(Catch Josh Wolk’s Big Brother finale recap here.)
What did you think of the unanimous vote in your favor? Who did you think was the least likely to vote for you on the jury?
Man I was hoping to get four votes … maybe. But 7-0, wow, what a phenomenal feeling. I thought Keesha and Renny were solid but the others were up in the air. I thought Jerry and Libra would vote for Memphis and April, Ollie and Michelle would decide the game. I think this is a first in Big Brother history. (Editor’s note: He’s right. It is. Even the Big Brother master, Dr. Will, had two votes against him in season 2.)
We saw your girlfriend Monica hug you at the end. Did she think you acted like a good boy?
Monica was pretty supportive but I had some questions to answer. One had to do with my sharing a place to sleep with Keesha. I assured Monica that I built a wall of pillows between us and put a picture of Monica on top of the pillow wall. I told Monica it was for game play. Any girl would hate to see her boyfriend in bed with a girl as beautiful and charming and nice as Keesha, but we were just friends.
There was speculation in the house that you were America’s player. Did that last for long?
I had to fight that off every second thanks to one woman: Libra. She started the America’s Player conspiracy. It went on constantly. I always had to battle it. (Editor’s note: Dan was America’s player for one week, and won $20,000 for it.)
It’s all over now Dan, so you can say it. Who was really a vile personin the house?
You’re trying to get me in trouble here! How about we saywho was the most un-clean? The person with the least amount of personalhygiene was Jerry, but we still loved him. At 75 he doesn’t need towash his hands anymore.
Was it just us or were you always yelling tothe camera in the diary room? Are you just a loud talker?
I tried to bevery inconspicuous, very calm, in the house. I’m very calm as ateacher. But after school as a coach I like to get fired up. So in thediary room I’d like to coach up America. That was my chance. I took itand ran with it.
Let’s go back and talk about specific things in thehouse. I have to start with what you said at the start of the game …that you think a trip to confession will help wipe the slate clean.Dude, really? Are you gonna go? And what on earth will you say?
Withouta doubt, I’ve already spoken to the powers at be back at St. Mary’s andarranged a three-hour confession. Part of being Catholic is that you’renot supposed to lie and manipulate, but that’s what you have to do towin. The St. Mary community was behind me 100 percent. I didn’t want tobe seen fighting or dropping f-bombs. I didn’t want the kids (back atschool) losing their temper, and they never saw me do that. I playedBig Brother the best that I could. I stayed within the confines of therules, though there are no rules in Big Brother.
Let’s talk aboutJerry’s Judas comment. Were you hurt by that or were you more hurt bythe implication that Jessie, of all people, represented Jesus in thatscenario?
Neither was offensive. It was like water running off my back.I never let it pull me in. I knew what they were trying to do, but itwas not worth getting into personal fight over religion. I was focusedon the game.
Jerry was in your face a lot. Did he scare you?
No,Jerry’s a big teddy bear. He’s still is tough man, though, who couldbeat me in a fight.
Can we go back to that HOH competition whenMichelle won and we heard Jerry trash-talking you in the background? Doyou remember all the crap he said?
When Michelle won, it felt likeJerry won. He was in my face, pointing his finger in my face saying ‘don’t hide behind the cross,’ blah blah blah. He got so fired up andmade it so personal, but I never did anything to him in the game. Ivoted Jessie out, not Jerry. He acted like I took shots at him but Inever put him in harm’s way but he took things so personally.
Now let’stalk about when you won against Ollie. We at home were prettysuspicious that you were the only one wearing a hooded jacket duringwhat turned out to be a very wet challenge. Ollie said he washalf-nude. How is it possible you knew to wear a jacket?
I’m beenwaiting for this question. In this game, it’s not about being bigger orstronger, it’s about being smarter. I knew we hadn’t done an endurancecompetition yet with any kind of liquid, so I decided why not wear ajacket to be prepared? Sometimes I carry out a long sleeve shirt andthrow it aside if I don’t need it. This was the one case where I gotlucky with it. There was a lot of speculation that producers told me towear it. Being a Big Brother fan I was suspicious about how involvedthe producers were, but there was no funny business. No one told me towear a jacket.
What are you going to do with the money and please don’tsay you’re going to give it to charity.
Here’s what I’m going to do.Some time in the near future I’m going to buy Monica a gift to fit onher ring finger. Other than that I may invest it. I’ll stay at St.Mary’s and continue the job I love. I may even set up a collegescholarship for Big Brother alumni — but only for the non-winnersbecause the winners won’t need it.
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I love the boy, what can I say? I would have killed Jerry – Dan has great self-control – a good quality for a teacher, doncha think?
Did he yell out his responses to your interview?
Memphis shouldve put Dan on the block. It cost him $450,000. Great Job Dan.
Congratties to Dan. Best Player in BB history, in my opinion!
I had a feeling Dan would win from the beginning and you had ‘my’ vote the entire time. You seem to be such a great guy and I’m very happy for you!
What pushed Dan over the top and into the winner’s seat with such a landslide vote – was the “interrogation” by the jury at the end. Dan came off as very open and warm, while Memphis came off as very stiff and evasive. It was obvious that Dan prepared himself for answers, while Memphis just ATTEMPTED to wing it. Dan also knew to play up to Michelle’s delusions that she was a contender in the game.
As a long time fan, I can truly say that the right person won for once.
Dan won fairly, he played the game well and Memphis was just too trusting. It was great that Memphis was such a strong alliance to have. Keesha deserves every penny of that $25K. She worked her butt off in the contests!
I didn’t even notice he was a loud talker tell reading tv watch. What does that say about my hearing? In an ipod loving nation I say keep up the loud talking Dan!!
Dan seems like a nice guy, and smart too. Good for him!! ……….And is Memphis’ real name Memphis? That’s what I have been wondering. I always thought it was a nickname!
Memphis is his real Middle Name. I forget what his first name is
Memphis’ real name is Robert. He mentioned it on the live feeds.
Alan…yes, Memphis is a nickname. His real name is Robert.
Duh…I forgot…Memphis is actually his middle name, not a nickname.
I wanted to hate him, he was the “conservative” Hillary Hating, blah, blah, blah, he was the only guy I did not want to win because they positioned him as the right wing guy, but he was so NOT that guy, whatever his politics are, he was fun to watch and played a GREAT game, couldn’t be happier, and from a dyed in the wool liberal, that’s saying something!
i like Dan alot and have nothing bad to say about him. He played very well. He also brought entertainment to the show. Dan i wish you were my teacher!!
I just heard him on House Calls and he said all that conservative stuff was for the audition and he needed some edge to get into the house. So…he probably is just a normal guy.
I work with Dan’s girlfriend and she and Dan are great people and I am so happy for him.
Jerry was a mean old man, maybe his brain is just fading away. Anyway the right guy won and he was so incredibly adoreable!
LOVE DAN! Way to go. Nice guy finishes first. He played the game. Thats what it was: A Game. But he also personally connected to other players as well. He brought out the best/fun in others. Renny, Keesha, and even stiff Memphis became more likable as a result of Dan.
Omg, best winner ever. Gotta love Dan!!
Where’s the Memphis exit interview – did I overlook it? Hope they don’t NOT talk to him just because he placed second.
This show still comes on? My god, it just goes to show how long a network will stay with a rotting goose-egg as long as the network’s wife is involved with the show.
I loved Dan. He was bright, witty, and I thought a genuinely good human being. I thought for a long time that he would get no votes from the jury… in the end I thought he might get 4. Was astounded that he got all 7. He is a good speaker,. articulate and logical. I’ll miss watching him, he is my favorite ever.
Cutest, funniest, best player in BB history. I knew it from day one.
Hi just sending a shout out to Dan thought you played the game great right from the get go. Your an awesome person and wish the best to you and your loved ones.
i loved how Dan played the game.
He deserved it.
Richard on defined reality game shows on Survivor and anyone who goes on one thinking it is NOT about lying, backstabbing and being the ultimate winner does not deserve to play the game. I never thought I would like anyone as much as Dr Will but I have to hand it to Dan…great game play and a genuinely nice guy! He played competitive but not personal. And he took what was becoming a boring show and gave it new life. He is giong to be a hard act to follow! Your parents should be proud!
See nice guys can finish first! Congrats to a good role model for kids who watch. Thanks for keeping it clean and forgiveness to those who were not nice to you!
Sorry Dan fans, but he won by a landslide because there was no way the jurors were going to award Memphis the $500k, since he won that $50K car. I liked Dan initially, but after he was “America’s Player”, that went to his head. All that mugging & talking to the cameras…stupid. Seems he had a case of Cowboy(itis). Just like Cowboy, Dan has delusions of fame. (“Rennegage” clothing & ACTION FIGURES!) I’m surprised Monica went to the finale. Dan had the obvious “hots” for Keesha & inviting her to share his bed (with a lame pillow wall), was just wrong. Certainly not “game play.” Jerk!
Dan deserved to win – a good guy that played a really smart game. I couldn’t believe that that nasty old man Jerry almost got America’s favorite. He was a spiteful, disrespectful, nasty old fool the whole game. What a know-it-all (who really doesn’t know anything). I kept hoping they would vote him out so he wouldn’t be on the show anymore. Plus he’s a total phony with his Marine gear – he spent 4 years riding a desk – not exactly a war hero. He even admitted to paying a prostitute for sex in Korea. YUCK! That’s why it’s hard to see why anybody would vote for him for America’s Choice. He’s a disgusting old fool.