When it comes to Deal or No Deal Island, the unique and exciting series marries the classic game show with the rough and intriguing elements of living and surviving on a tropical island. It’s got that Survivor vibe. So, when the series debuted in 2024, it made sense to invite a legendary alum of that series to test the game. Rob Mariano, lovingly known as Boston Rob, is a Survivor champion. His face has literally been erected out of stone as part of a twist for Survivor: Island of the Idols. The strategic mastermind played a strong game during the first season of the new season but came up just shy of playing the final game in the Banker’s Temple.
Thanks to his game prowess and decades of reality television experience, the series tapped him to host the official after show where he gets to sit down and chat with the eliminated players. Deal or No Deal Island After Show with Boston Rob is more than just a post-game exit interview. It’s an opportunity for the reality star to really dive into the ins and outs of the game, having experienced it himself. Now, in the hosting chair, Boston Rob has the opportunity to hold the player’s feet to the fire. He says, “I get to ask the questions that, as an audience member, people really want to know.”
Boston Rob Was Inspired By Reality TV Show Hosts

COLLIDER: He’s reality TV royalty and is now bringing his expertise to the screen as the host of the Deal or No Deal Island After Show. It’s time to spill the ice tea with Boston Rob! How are you?
ROB: I’m doing great, thanks. How are you?
I am doing great. It is a dream come true chatting with you. I’m a huge reality TV fan. So I’ve been watching you since day one. Thank you for chatting with me.
ROB: Thanks, man. You’re welcome. Yeah, I appreciate it.
How’s the family? I saw they had a snow day.
ROB: They did, which is wild down here in Florida. They actually had a snow week. They were off of school all week. Today’s their first day back, and it’s almost melted. We built a giant snowman in the front yard. My yard is the only yard in the neighborhood that still has snow, and it’s kind of just like a small mound now. But once in a lifetime, for sure. We’ve been here almost 20 years, and we’ve never had snow. So yeah, it’s pretty cool.
If you could describe the Deal or No Deal Island After Show in three words, what would they be?
ROB: Man, I think it’s enlightening, it’s fun, and I think cathartic.
Yeah. Oh, I like that. Yeah, it really is a lot of fun. Talk to me what it’s like for you to be in the hosting chair.
ROB: I like it because I feel I fulfill two roles as host. In a way, I’m part therapist because I understand what these players have been through, because I’ve been through it myself. And at the same time, it’s a little bit journalistic because I get to ask the questions that, as an audience member, people really want to know. So when they approached me about doing it, I was pretty thrilled.
Are there any hosts or interviewers that you took inspiration from?
ROB: I mean, for sure, Jeff Probst and Joe Manganiello. Those guys are the best. That’s the foundation of everybody that I’ve watched over the years. For sure.
Your friendship with Joe is amazing. Your interview with him on the After Show was so fun.
ROB: Yeah, he’s great. He’s a good dude. What you see is what you get with him. I think we connect on a lot of personal stuff that people don’t know about. But also, just as a host and as a fan of the genre, I really appreciate his ability to be forthcoming with how much he likes it. It’s really endearing. I think it translates, and the audience sees that as well.
What is it about Deal or No Deal Island that makes it such a fan-favorite game now?
ROB: I think, first of all, I gotta tell you, when I first heard the format and went through it and saw the rules, I was like, “Man, this is so like…” I wasn’t a huge fan of the format because it feels like it gives a lot of power to the people that do the worst and the challenge. Like, the people that are on the bottom face the banker, and then they potentially have the power to take somebody out. But as the game went along, I actually realized the genius behind the format. Just like in life, there’s so much that you can’t control, and you have to figure out a way to still deal with it. And I think the biggest thing is, in order to really control the show and to live, you have to be willing to die. So, if you put your life in the game on the line, only then do you have the ability to potentially dictate happens. And to me, that was pretty cool to have my own thoughts come full circle.

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Boston Rob Holds Their Feet to the Fire

Image via NBC

You get to be the first face for the contestants after they’re eliminated. What is it like to be able to chat with them and really hold their feet to the fire?
ROB: Yeah. I mean, it’s twofold. It’s like I want to be that friendly face that says, “Listen, I know exactly what you went through. I’ve been in your position. Let’s hear about it. And let me see if I can bring any solace to you in any way.” Because there are in Deal or No Deal Island, in the format, there are sometimes things that you can’t do anything about.
Right.
ROB: And that’s just the game. At the same time, I put myself in the position of an audience member. Somebody that wants to watch the show, and they’re going to want to ask those hard questions about why did you do this or why did you not do that? Especially with Rock and Luke, so far we’ve seen, that made some egregiously bad decision so far as what to do in the temple and how they play the game. And I don’t know if it that they didn’t understand the math or the moment caught up with them, or they just went with their gut and their feeling, or whatever, but what’s pretty illuminating to me is how much people will double down on their bad decisions.
Right.
ROB: Meaning that I can show them why it was wrong and say, “Listen, if you had a chance to do it differently, what would you do?” And they say, “Well, I wouldn’t do anything different. I would still want to do it the same.” To me, I can’t even comprehend that. It’s happened so far. A couple of times.
Watching with both of them, I was like, “How are you agreeing that you would do the same?” And your reaction was, I think, all of us.
ROB: Yeah, yeah. But I think, you know, that speaks to human nature and the human condition, that like people don’t want to be wrong and people want to, feel what they feel and make sure that feels authentic to them. Regardless of the results. And I think, given some space, maybe they think about it a little different, because history would be terrible if nobody ever learned any lessons from it, right?
It’s true. We do get to see some exclusive unseen footage during the After Show. How exciting is it to be able to be the one to share those clips?
ROB: It’s awesome. They added it. It brings another element to the show. Brings a viewer to watch something beyond just the initial broadcast on NBC. Brings them to Peacock so that they can see that maybe there’s something they had questions about that they don’t know. So that additional footage, they shoot for three days to make an episode or whatever it is. Two days to make an episode, so there’s a lot that gets left on the cutting room floor. And I think this avenue allows them to display more of that.
Boston Rob Talks About Skill Sets Needed for Reality Competition

I’ve been loving The Traitors this season. I could ask a million questions, but we’ll save that for another opportunity. But for now, having played Survivor and Deal or No Deal Island, what prior strategy did you bring into that game, and how hard was it to adapt to a different format?
ROB: I mean, I have over 20 years of experience understanding competitive reality and competition. I have a large skill set that I bring with me. I think the number one thing is, in all of these games, there are two really strong things that you can bring with you. And that is your self awareness and your ability to adapt to different situations. And luckily, I have a lot of experience with both. So, once you understand what game you’re playing, they require different skill sets, and there’s a different strategy. However, as long as you have self-awareness, and you’re able to adapt, I think you thrive in all of, or I thrive in, in all of the formats.
Now, Survivor is gearing up for Survivor 50. There’s a lot of people who we would love to see, and your fellow Traitor, Danielle Reyes, has been advocating for Jeff to call Vecepia, your former castaway, on Survivor Marquesas. Do you sign off? Do you think she would do well?
ROB: I mean, the casting decisions are not in my court and I have no pull there whatsoever. And I trust the show to make the best decisions. But I love Vecepia. I think she’s a great person, for sure. And it’s up to them to decide to do what they want to do.
Well, this show is so much fun. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the season goes along. Is there anything else you would like to tease about Deal or No Deal Island After Show?
ROB: Just keep watching. The show is really starting to amp up, and I think at the end of this, you’re going to see some television history.
Ooh, I can’t wait. Well, thank you so much for chatting. And honestly, it is an honor chatting with you.
ROB: My pleasure, Michael. Have a good one.

Deal or No Deal After Show with Boston Rob airs Wednesdays on Peacock.
Stream on Peacock