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Dan Gheesling waited nearly 12 years to come out of reality-TV retirement.
Even in retirement, he devotes his time to playing video games and streaming toTwitchandYouTube.
So, ladies and gentlemen, when I say Dan Gheesling is a capital-G gamer, you will agree.
Even the yachties knew of hisBig Brotherprowess.
It wasnt focused on people fighting over story lines.
It was more like people fighting about the game.
Seeing Parv and Sandra and Janelle, Im like,Okay, this is why I came here.
Can you speak to the level of gameplay onThe Traitors?It was a very humbling experience.
I entered this thing like,Im winning this thing, or its a complete failure.
Coming out of it, you adjust your perspective.
Not being concerned for the other people was foolish of me.
Little did I know that as a Housewife, youre fending for yourselfevery day.
Youre making moves and doing all these things to go after the other Housewives.
I didnt look at them the same way.
In terms of a strategic standpoint, and that was a huge misstep by me.
It just was a really big learning experience.
Thats why I love these shows, when people rise up and make these moves that you dont expect.
And theres a moment for me when Im like,Yeah, this is awesome.
I do think I laid out a blueprint for future Traitors not to underestimate the Bravo people.
Did you guys discuss the possibility of Peters shield misdirection more?Oh, a hundred percent.
Do you think Peters lying?
We should play it safe.
And I texted her, That was the first time I experienced that.
I dont ever remember her saying that because I was so stunned by Janelle.
Janelle knocked the wind out of me a couple of hours prior.
Ive never been stunned in a game like that.
The games so fast, and youre like,Okay, going, going, going.
Normally, onBig Brother,Ill have a week to think about the move.
And now its like,Boom, you got to go.
Janelle just came after you, youve got to murder someone, what are you going to do?
Was the plan always to target a Traitor?Yeah.
Lets give him this one, and lets see if hes right.
And, of course, Im going to be right because I know Phaedras a traitor.
So then the Faithful think,Man, [Dan] really is a good Faithful.
That was the strategy; I just didnt execute it very well.
Shes like, Dan, give me something.
I think the percentage chance of getting rid of Phaedra isa lothigher if I do it the day before.
And I wasnt willing to do that for two reasons.
1, I didnt see a path to win the game with Phaedra in it.
She was so well-liked.
No one ever suspected her.
And both times, its worked out for me.I trust you.
If Parvati goes, Im next.
I didnt want to turn on her.
It was cool to see because shes the black widow; shes an incredibleSurvivorplayer.
She had some chances to throw me under the bus, and she didnt.
So Im kind of like,Okay, I picked the right person.
How familiar are you with the Housewives?
Did you study any Bravo?My wife loves the Housewives.
I likeVanderpump Rules, but my wife watchesOrange County, so I was very familiar with Tamra.
And then Ive seen someBeverly HillsandNew Jersey, but thats just me watching through osmosis.
My colleague Olivia Crandall wrote anarticlearguing that the Housewives are underestimated by traditional gamers like yourself.
The Housewives, I would say in the next season, should be favored to win.
Parvatis best move is to leverage me going after Phaedra to really bond with Phaedra.
I also think the way that things are set up with recruiting Peter, its another Hail Mary.
I think that if he takes it, its going to be some interesting television.
So well have to see what he does.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
