By Mike Devine
Several former Northeastern students have found fame can be achieved without achieving a degree. Just ask dropout Shawn Fanning, also known as the creator of Napster. For this year’s example, look to Michael “Mikey B.” Bortone.
Bortone, who attended Northeastern from 1993-1995 but did not graduate, will appear on the upcoming season of CBS’s “Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites,” the series’ 16th installment. The show was filmed last fall on the Micronesian islands of Palau.
The 34-year-old Watertown native and former Huskies quarterback is one of 10 “ultra-fans” who will challenge 10 of the most memorable castaways from previous seasons of the famed reality show.
Bortone said he watches the show religiously and has always wanted a chance to play the game.
“It’s exciting to see 16 to 20 people from different cultures and backgrounds join together and combine their personalities and brains to come up with a strategy to win, all while they’re tired and worn-down physically and mentally,” he said.
Although he didn’t start watching the show until the end of the first season, Bortone said he was hooked by the first episode of the second season. After that, he sent in an audition tape, but was not chosen.
Bortone, who majored in criminal justice while at Northeastern, participated in the co-op program his sophomore year.
“It was appealing to me that you could work hard for a semester at a job, gaining experience while still in school,” he said.
While playing football for the Huskies, Bortone won the 1994 annual spring scrimmage as the starting quarterback, which he said was “the highlight” of his Northeastern athletic days.
As for why he left Northeastern, Bortone emphasized one word.
“Money, money, money,” he said with a chuckle. “It was expensive, and although I had scholarship opportunities, I didn’t really mature until a few years later and I pretty much was still getting into trouble.”
After leaving Northeastern, Bortone moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting and writing. There, he appeared in numerous films and television shows, including “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.” Bortone, who reportedly once dated actress Eliza Dushku, said the accomplishment he is most proud of is co-writing, co-producing and co-starring in the 2006 short film “The Last Supper.”
“Taking things in your head and putting them on paper and then creating a team of people to help put it together is a very gratifying experience,” Bortone said of the 17-minute film.
Even though he was working with a tight budget, Bortone said it was an accomplishment to come up with such a good product.
Since Bortone is contractually bound to refrain from discussing “Survivor” until his outcome is revealed, he was not able to offer his opinions of fellow castaways. He also was not allowed to discuss specifics regarding his activities while filming.
He did, however, say his favorite castaway of all time is Jon Dalton, the notorious “Survivor: Pearl Islands” castaway known as “Jonny Fairplay.” Dalton is one of the 10 returning “all-stars” who will be appearing with Bortone on the upcoming season.
As for the attention Bortone will be receiving from being on the show, particularly from fan websites like SurvivorSucks.com, he said does not take it too seriously.
“I’ve read different links people have sent me, and I think they’re pretty funny,” he said. “I didn’t know there’s a cult of people out there so passionate about discussing anything they can possibly discuss about ‘Survivor.'”
Bortone said he would take all comments, good or bad, in stride.
“There’s nothing anyone can ever say that can make me angry,” he said. “It’s important to take it with a grain of salt and smile.”
Regardless of the show’s outcome, Bortone said he wants to continue to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, be it acting, writing or producing.
Bortone’s advice to other “Survivor” fans who would like to audition but are pessimistic about their chances of being chosen is to “keep on trying, keep on watching and keep on learning.”
“Don’t just talk about doing it. Actually do it,” he said. “Very rarely does it fall into your lap.”
Bortone is not the only former Northeastern student to appear on the reality series. John Kenney, a mechanical bull rider and model from Los Angeles, and Mia Galeotalanza, a finance manager from New Jersey, both appeared on “Survivor: Vanuatu,” the show’s ninth season. Danielle DiLorenzo, a medical sales representative from Boston, also represented Northeastern on the show, as she finished as runner-up on “Survivor: Panama – Exile Island,” the show’s 12th season.
“Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites” premieres Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. on CBS.
