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Malcolm Freberg is a contestant from Survivor: Philippines, Survivor: Caramoan, and Survivor: Game Changers.

After a rough start to his Survivor journey weathering the decimation of the Matsing tribe in Philippines, Malcolm established his credibility as a Survivor player through his style of aggressive but calculated gameplay. Highlights of his career include his rags-to-riches trajectory alongside his ally Denise Stapley in Philippines and his contributions to a double idol play in Caramoan that led to the series' first "live" Tribal Council. Malcolm's easy-going nature endeared him to both castmates and fans, and he is recognized as one of the series' biggest fan favorites.

Profile[]

Retrieved from CBS.com

Name (Age): Malcolm Freberg (25)
Tribe Designation: Matsing
Current Residence: Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Occupation: Bartender
Personal Claim to Fame: In college, I helped to organize and run a program that paired varsity athletes with underprivileged children in a free-to-join sports league. It still exists today.
Inspiration in Life: O.J. Simpson before the legal drama. When he was a kid, he had rickets. For his birthday, when he was still young, his father took him to a signing to meet Jim Brown and O.J. hobbled right up to him and told him he was going to break all his records which he eventually did. I'm a sucker for underdog stories.
Hobbies: Exercising, writing/reading and partying.
Pet Peeves: Dumb people.
3 Words to Describe You: Charming, brilliant and cocky.
If You Could Have 3 Things on The Island What Would They Be and Why?
1) Hair ties – I can't see anything without them.
2) Book of puzzles – Your mind is a muscle and needs to be kept in shape.
3) Whiskey – to unwind after a hard day of challenge domination and competitor manipulation.
Survivor Contestant You Are Most Like: I think I will play most like Russell. You can control and rule with an iron first. You just have to be clever enough for them to thank you for it in the end. I'll run the show from Day 1 until I'm handed an oversized check with my name on it.
Reason for Being on Survivor: I've been watching Survivor since I was 12 years old. Some kids grow up watching baseball on TV and dream of getting their chance to play in the big leagues. I grew up watching and dreaming about playing Survivor.
Why You Think You'll "Survive" Survivor: I'm smart, I'm athletic and I'm nice to look at.

Why You Think You Will Be the Sole Survivor: There's no reason to play the game if you're not playing to win. I'm not trying to see 'if I have what it takes' or 'how far I can make it.' The best thing I have going for me is my single-mindedness to be the champion.[2]

Name (Age): Malcolm Freberg (25)
Tribe Designation: Bikal
Previous Season: Survivor: Philippines – 15th castaway voted off/8th Jury member
Current Residence: Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Occupation: Bartender
Personal Claim to Fame: Once I spent over a month with Abi-Maria Gomes, and I'm still considered legally sane by the state of California.
Inspiration in Life: O.J. Simpson before the murder trial. When he was a kid he had Rickets. For his birthday when he was still young his father took him to a signing to meet Jim Brown and O.J. hobbled right up to him and told him he was going to break all his records which he eventually did. I'm a sucker for underdog stories.
Hobbies: Exercising, writing/reading and partying.
Pet Peeves: Ex-TV stars.
3 Words to Describe You: Charming, brilliant and slightly-less cocky than the last time I did this.
If You Could Have 3 Things on The Island What Would They Be and Why? 1) Soap - Not for me; for whoever I end up cuddling with at night. 2) Book of puzzles – Your mind is a muscle and needs to be kept in shape. 3) The Hidden Immunity Idol I never played in the Philippines - Early advantage. Seems obvious.
Survivor Contestant You Are Most Like: This feels like a trick question.
Reason for Being on Survivor: I'm a super-fan of the show. Getting to do it once was incredible. To get a second chance… How could anyone say no?
Why You Think You'll "Survive" Survivor: Experience plays a huge roll in any situation in life. I made it through 38 days the first time so I have to like my survival odds the second time around. Oh, and I'm also smart, athletic and nice to look at.

Why You Think You Will Be the Sole Survivor: You play the game to win the game. I'm not on Survivor to "have a life-changing experience" or "grow as a person" or "see how far I can make it." Those things may happen, but that's not the reason I'm out there. The best thing I have going for me is my single-mindedness and focus towards a single goal: a seven-digit bank account.[3]

Age: 29
Hometown: Hermosa Beach, CA
Previously played on:
Season 25: Philippines, Finished 4th & Jury Member
Season 26: Caramoan, Finished 9th & Jury Member
How have you changed since the last time you played?
1. My hair is—incredibly—even thicker than before.
2. Rewatched an unhealthy amount of Disney movies and discovered I relate more to the villains. Gaston was misunderstood.
3. Got a little fat.
What skills do you bring to Survivor that will make you a useful member of the group and what skills have you been learning since you last played? I can do all the outdoorsman stuff. We know this. What I've gotten better at is emotions, vulnerability, and feelings and stuff.
What are you most proud of from the last time? I don't do base hits. I swing for the fences—for better or worse.
What, if anything, do you most regret? Losing. Also, wearing way too much plaid.

How will you play differently this time? Same big moves, but more finesse. I'm still going to find all the Idols, still going to wreck folks, but being a little older and a little wiser—LOL—should get me paid this time around. Please bring back the oversized checks for my coronation.[4]

Survivor[]

Philippines[]

Main article: Malcolm Freberg/Philippines

Episode Tribe
Affiliation
Challenge Challenge Type Sit-Out? Result
1 Matsing Share the Wealth Reward/Immunity No Lost
2 Manila Folders Reward/Immunity No Lost
3 Deep In Thought Reward/Immunity No Lost
4 Swing Break Reward/Immunity No Lost
Switched Tribes, Day 12
5 Tandang Idol Hands Reward No Won
Thrash, Splash & Bash Immunity No Won
6 Bog Roll Reward No Lost1
Philiping Out Immunity No Won
Tribes Merged, Day 17
7 Dangrayne Wrist Assured Immunity Lost
8 Catch of the Day Reward Won
Snake in the Grass Immunity Lost
9 Muddy Waters Reward Won
Paddle Out Immunity Lost
10 Snare the Drum Reward Won
Push Your Luck Immunity Lost
11 Survivor Auction
Brains and Brawn Immunity Lost
12 Mud Slinging Reward Won
Fish and Game Immunity Won
13 Sliders Reward Invited
One Track Mind Immunity Won
14 Dragon Slayer Reward Won
The Ball Drop Immunity Lost
Voted Out, Day 38
Notes:
^1 Tandang forfeited the challenge in exchange for Kalabaw's rice.

Episode Malcolm's
Votes
Voted Against
Malcolm
1 Zane -
2 Roxy -
3 Angie -
4 Russell Russell
5 Tandang Tribe Immune
6 Tandang Tribe Immune
7 Jonathan1 -
8 Pete -
9 Artis -
10 Pete Abi-Maria, Pete
11 Jonathan -
12 Carter Individual Immunity
13 Abi-Maria Individual Immunity
14 Denise Denise, Lisa,
Michael
Voted Out, Day 38
Voted for
Sole Survivor
Denise

^1 In "Not the Only Actor on This Island", Jonathan used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating Malcolm's vote against him.

Caramoan[]

Main article: Malcolm Freberg/Caramoan

Episode Tribe
Affiliation
Challenge Challenge Type Sit-Out? Result
1 Bikal Water Slaughter Reward No Won
It's a Long Way to the Top Immunity No Lost
2 Plunge, Pull, Pop Reward/Immunity No Won
3 Cell Block Sea Reward/Immunity No Won
4 Head and Shoulders Reward No Won
Smash and Grab Immunity No Won
5 Nut Bucket Reward No Won
Crate Outdoors Immunity No Lost1
Switched Tribes, Day 15
6 Gota Crate Outdoors Immunity No Won
7 Hot Pursuit Reward No Won
Phoenix Rises Immunity No Won
Tribes Merged, Day 20
8 Enil Edam Caramoan Catering Immunity Lost
9 Jump Shot Reward No Lost
Last Gasp Immunity Lost
10 Muddy Waters Reward Lost
Keel Hauling Immunity No Lost
11 Survivor Auction
Drop A Log Immunity Lost
Voted Out, Day 30
Notes:
^1 Bikal opted to forfeit the Immunity Challenge, giving the win to Gota by default.

Episode Malcolm's
Votes
Voted Against
Malcolm
1 Francesca -
2 Bikal Tribe Immune
3 Bikal Tribe Immune
4 Bikal Tribe Immune
5 Brandon -
6 Gota Tribe Immune
7 Gota Tribe Immune
8 Sherri -
9 Reynold -1
10 Phillip Cochran, Phillip2
11 Andrea;
Ineligible
Andrea, Cochran, Erik;
Brenda, Cochran, Dawn,
Eddie, Erik, Sherri3
Voted Out, Day 30
Voted for
Sole Survivor
Cochran

^1 In "Cut Off the Head of the Snake", Malcolm used a Hidden Immunity Idol, but did not negate any votes against him.
^2 In "Zipping Over the Cuckoo's Nest", Malcolm used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating 2 votes against him.
^3 In "Come Over to the Dark Side", the vote ended with a 3-3-3 tie between Malcolm, Andrea, and Reynold, forcing a revote. Brenda, Dawn, Eddie, and Sherri changed their votes to Malcolm on the revote, eliminating him from the game.

Game Changers[]

Main article: Malcolm Freberg/Game Changers

Episode Tribe
Affiliation
Challenge Challenge Type Sit-Out? Result
1 Mana The Marooning Reward No Lost
Blue Lagoon Bustle Reward/Immunity No Lost
Serpent Turf Reward/Immunity No Lost
Switched Tribes, Day 7
2 Nuku Austin's Elemental
Obstacle Course
Reward/Immunity No 1st
3 Ram-Ball On Reward No 1st
Ow-Pairs Immunity No Lost
Voted Out, Day 11

Episode Malcolm's
Votes
Voted Against
Malcolm
1 Ciera -
Tony -
2 Nuku Tribe Immune
3 Sierra1 Brad, Debbie,
Hali, Sierra, Tai
Voted Out, Day 11

^1 In "The Tables Have Turned", Sierra used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating Malcolm's vote against her.

Post-Survivor[]

  • After his first appearance on Survivor aired, Malcolm briefly made a guest appearance on one of CBS's hit daytime shows, The Bold and the Beautiful, as a designer also named Malcolm.[5]
  • Malcolm competed and won in Rob Has A Podcast's Mister Survivor competition. He beat Aras Baskauskas and Tyson Apostol for the title.
  • In July 2014, Malcolm hosted an online travel series with 20 episodes around the U.S. called Wayfaring.[6]
  • In August 2014, Malcolm won the award for Hottest Male in the Reality Awards category.
  • On October 9, 2014, he filled in for Jeff Schroeder as host of Survivor After Show, interviewing John Rocker; a week later on October 16, he would again fill in for Jeff while interviewing Drew Christy.
  • Malcolm dated Worlds Apart castaway So Kim.[7]
  • Since 2021, Malcolm has been a regular contributor for Insider, where he shares about his Survivor experiences.[8]
  • Malcolm appeared alongside other Survivor alums Yul Kwon and Earl Cole, and Naked and Afraid alum Jeff Zausch, in a special pilot episode of the upcoming show, Snake in the Grass. Malcolm won $100,000 by revealing himself as the "snake" when the majority wrongly accused Yul.

Trivia[]

  • Malcolm mentioned several times on Philippines that he was a teacher in Micronesia before becoming a bartender in Hermosa Beach, California.
  • Malcolm is the only member of Matsing to be immune from Tribal Council more than once.
  • Malcolm is the fourth person to participate in every reward after the merge, after Parvati Shallow in Cook Islands, Bob Crowley in Gabon, and J.T. Thomas in Tocantins.
    • Because Parvati won her her second season, Malcolm is the only member of this group to have never won the game.
    • In addition, he experienced 12 rewards in a row across back to back seasons.
  • Malcolm is the only member of Matsing to be on the jury.
  • Malcolm lost 10 lbs. during his time in Philippines.[9]
  • Malcolm is one of four castaways to compete on two seasons before their first season aired. The others are Russell Hantz, Michaela Bradshaw, and Zeke Smith.
    • Malcolm is the only contestant to play back-to-back seasons that both featured returning players.
  • According to host Jeff Probst, Malcolm was considered to be brought back for Caramoan while filming for Philippines was still underway, around Day 27. Immediately after his elimination, Probst approached Malcolm, intending to ask him if he wanted to compete again, only to be cut off by Malcolm, who knew what Probst was about to ask.[10]
  • Every season Malcolm has competed on has been partially or completely composed of returning players.
  • Malcolm is the third player to find a Hidden Immunity Idol in multiple seasons, following Russell Hantz and Ozzy Lusth. They were followed by Tai Trang, Troyzan Robertson, and Kelley Wentworth.
  • As stated in Caramoan, Malcolm's mother is named Madeline.
    • Malcolm named the merged tribe after his mother as he requested "Enil Edam", which is his mother's name spelled backwards.
  • Malcolm is the first person to have an idol be played on him while he was in possession of an idol himself.
  • Malcolm is one of three players to play two Hidden Immunity Idols in one season, and have neither affect the outcome of a Tribal Council. The others are two-time winners Sandra Diaz-Twine in Heroes vs. Villains and Tony Vlachos in Cagayan.
  • Malcolm lost 22 lbs. during his time in Caramoan.[11]
  • Malcolm is the lowest-placing player to win the Fan Favorite Award at the end of a season.
  • Malcolm and Erik Reichenbach are the only two contestants to be on an eight-person jury on multiple occasions.
  • Malcolm is the first contestant to be voted out at a Joint Tribal Council. He would be followed by Wendy Diaz.
  • Malcolm is the lowest-placing man to be voted out as a direct result of a Hidden Immunity Idol being played.

References[]

Survivor: Philippines Castaways
 Abi-Maria
Tandang
S25 abimaria t
 Angie
Matsing
S25 angie t
 Artis
Tandang
S25 artis t
 Carter
Kalabaw
S25 carter t
 Dana
Kalabaw
S25 dana t
 Dawson
Kalabaw
S25 dawson t
 Denise
Matsing
S25 denise t
 Jeff
Kalabaw
S25 jeff t
 Jonathan
Kalabaw
S25 jonathan t
 Katie
Kalabaw
S25 katie t
 Lisa
Tandang
S25 lisa t
 Malcolm
Matsing
S25 malcolm t
 Michael
Tandang
S25 michael t
 Pete
Tandang
S25 pete t
 RC
Tandang
S25 rc t
 Roxy
Matsing
S25 roxy t
 Russell
Matsing
S25 russell t
 Zane
Matsing
S25 zane t
Survivor: Caramoan Castaways
 Allie
Gota
S26 allie t
 Andrea
Bikal
S26 andrea t
 Brandon
Bikal
S26 brandon t
 Brenda
Bikal
S26 brenda t
 Cochran
Bikal
S26 cochran t
 Corinne
Bikal
S26 corinne t
 Dawn
Bikal
S26 dawn t
 Eddie
Gota
S26 eddie t
 Erik
Bikal
S26 erik t
 Francesca
Bikal
S26 francesca t
 Hope
Gota
S26 hope t
 Julia
Gota
S26 julia t
 Laura
Gota
S26 laura t
 Malcolm
Bikal
S26 malcolm t
 Matt
Gota
S26 matt t
 Michael
Gota
S26 michael t
 Phillip
Bikal
S26 phillip t
 Reynold
Gota
S26 reynold t
 Shamar
Gota
S26 shamar t
 Sherri
Gota
S26 sherri t
Survivor: Game Changers Castaways
 Andrea
Nuku
S34 andrea t
 Aubry
Mana
S34 aubry t
 Brad
Nuku
S34 brad t
 Caleb
Mana
S34 caleb t
 Ciera
Mana
S34 ciera t
 Cirie
Nuku
S34 cirie t
 Debbie
Nuku
S34 debbie t
 Hali
Mana
S34 hali t
 J.T.
Nuku
S34 jt t
 Jeff
Mana
S34 jeff t
 Malcolm
Mana
S34 malcolm t
 Michaela
Mana
S34 michaela t
 Ozzy
Nuku
S34 ozzy t
 Sandra
Mana
S34 sandra t
 Sarah
Nuku
S34 sarah t
 Sierra
Nuku
S34 sierra t
 Tai
Nuku
S34 tai t
 Tony
Mana
S34 tony t
 Troyzan
Mana
S34 troyzan t
 Zeke
Nuku
S34 zeke t
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