Simi man couldn't survive 'Survivor'
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

Dave Cruser

"And the fourth person voted off 'Survivor: China' is . . . Dave.'"

"Survivor" host Jeff Probst uttered these words in the fourth episode of the hit show, sending Simi Valley local Dave Cruser packing.

The self-appointed leader of the Zhan Hu tribe picked up his torch and marched out of tribal council.

"I gave it my all," Cruser said in the last minutes of the show, which aired last week. "Perhaps I gave it too much. I at least did it with conviction and integrity.

"I thought I was humble and I thought I listened. I wish that some people perhaps listened to me a bit more and I know that there are pieces of me that are worth a lot, perhaps even priceless. You know, if they can't see that then, well, I can't force them."

Cruser, 37, graduated from Simi Valley High and attended Moorpark College for a year. He works as a bartender; the official "Survivor" website says he is a former model.

One blogger said he used to work with Cruser at Hudson's on Cochran Street before the restaurant closed.

Keith Jajko, a high school friend, said Cruser's humor didn't have a chance to shine.

"He is extremely funny, an absolute riot to be around," Jajko said. "He's a leader and he's outspoken, but he's not pushy. They just didn't understand him."

Although Jajko was a couple years older than Cruser, he went out with him often because Cruser was "always the life of the party."

Going into tribal council, Zhan Hu members struggled between voting out their overbearing leader or Sherea Lloyd, the lazy teacher who did little around camp. In the end, all of Dave's tribe mates voted against him, his constant barrage of orders and bickering getting on their last nerve.

Dave was called everything from a "nutcase" to a "tool" during his time on the show.

Old friend Jajko, who still lives in Simi with his wife and three kids, said Cruser's teammates made the wrong choice.

"When I saw the personalities in the group, I knew they weren't going to mesh well," Jajko said. "There's not a lot of patience for leadership if people don't want it.

"Cruser could've taken them to the promised land if they would've let him."

The tribe got a taste of what camp life would be without Cruser when Dave spent some time with the opposing tribe in the days before the immunity challenge. Although there were no conflicts, without the hardworking Cruser, chores were tougher.

"Dave was really just a workhorse as far as what needed to be done that nobody else wanted to do," said Frosti Zernow, a studentathlete in Chicago, during the episode. "That really helped us."

Despite the increased work load, the tribe chose to kick out Cruser after losing the immunity challenge. Two by two, armor-clad tribe members hurled balls of twine at hanging ceramic vases. Lloyd broke one vase, while Dave didn't contribute to the team's total.

When he returned to camp after his time away, Cruser could sense a change.

"It feels very strange being back here (with the tribe)," Cruser said. "I don't want to go home, but there's very strange vibes going on. Maybe it was just a day and a half away from me and my slavedriving ability. I'm feeling very precarious right now."

Cruser was sent home, although Jajko said he doesn't know where home is for the star.

"Last I heard he was living in Florida, but if he's back in Simi (which is where the 'Survivor' site lists his residence), then I'll find him," Jajko said. "It's classic Cruser- take off to be a model in Europe and next I see him, he's on 'Survivor' ... he's hilarious."

To read Cruser's bio, visit cbs.com/primetime/survivor15.