‘Deal Or No Deal Island’ Star Rob Mariano Says There’s “No Masterminds” In The Night Owls Alliance: “They’re Just Birds”

Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano has 20 years of experience in the reality TV world. From playing Survivor a whopping five times (and winning once) to two seasons of The Amazing Race (running alongside his wife/fellow Survivor alum Amber Mariano) and beyond, Mariano has proven himself to be a savvy strategist and a competition beast. All his experience and his easy charm make Mariano the perfect veteran player for the first season of NBC’s surprise hit, Deal Or No Deal Island. Hosted by Joe Manganiello and executive produced by Howie Mandel, the show combines Deal Or No Deal with Survivor-esque challenges and psychological mind games. At stake? A prize pot potentially worth up to $200 million dollars.

Compared to his multiple appearances on Survivor, Mariano compared his time on Deal Or No Deal to a “vacation.” “I’m used to building my own shelter and foraging for supplies,” explained Mariano. “On Deal Or No Deal Island, there were these luxurious tents, outdoor showers and a bed to sleep in.” Though the accommodations were nice, Mariano found the game itself to be a challenge “strategically.” Thanks to all the island perks, Mariano found it hard to “lock up every aspect of the game and control it like I’m used to.” “There’s an element of luck built in, which made it a little bit frustrating at times to play,” said Mariano.

Given his reputation, Mariano found himself to be a target, more often than not. Players Amy McCoy and Stephanie Mitchell have made no secret of their plans to get Mariano out of the game, forming an alliance called the Night Owls with contestants Nick Grass and Dawson Addis. In turn, Mariano has turned to his sole ally, nerdy Bostonian accountant Aron Barbell, to help him stay safe and make game moves. “I saw a lot of me in him, even though we’re completely different,” said Mariano of Barbell. “It was a fun relationship that I didn’t expect, but I’m glad that I found it.”

DECIDER spoke to Mariano over Zoom to talk about what drew him to Deal Or No Deal Island, what his family thinks of the show, and whether he’d consider going on The Traitors Season 3.

DECIDER: You’re a reality TV vet. I’m sure you get offers to appear on shows all the time. What made you want to go on Deal or No Deal Island?

ROB MARIANO: I was a fan of Deal Or No Deal when it was initially on television all those years ago. When they pitched this new concept of the show combined with the island element, I thought: “Man, this is right up my alley. I think I’d be pretty good at this.” Also, the fact that I wasn’t going to have to sleep in the dirt and find my own food was obviously a plus. I was like, “Sign me up.”

Yes, the accommodations on Deal Or No Deal Island are lush compared to what you’re used to on Survivor.

The Banker has wonderful taste [laughs]. I’m used to building my own shelter and foraging for supplies. On Deal Or No Deal Island, there were these luxurious tents, outdoor showers and a bed to sleep in. There was a pavilion and swings and food. To me, it was like a vacation. The whole survival aspect that I’m used to on Survivor was not a part of this show, which was a challenge strategically. Because of all the perks, this show didn’t allow me lock up every aspect of the game and control it like I’m used to. There was an element of luck built in, which made it a little bit frustrating at times to play. They balanced it out pretty good for us.

What excited you most about playing this Deal Or No Deal Island/ Survivor hybrid?

The fact that it was the inaugural season. I wanted to play a game without anybody having played it first. I was able to, in real time, create my own path and my own strategy and find out what worked best. Obviously, I have a big reputation, and I knew coming into the game that would make me a target. Luckily, I have 20 years of experience on my side.

You weren’t the only reality vet on the show. I spoke to original Deal Or No Deal case girl Claudia Jordan before her exit, and she was a fan of yours. Did you enjoy getting to know her? What was it like to play the game with an expert?

Claudia was great. She is the type of person that what you see is what you get. To me, I hold that quality in the highest regard. I love people who are upfront and honest. Now, whether I like them or not is separate [laughs], but I love Claudia. I appreciate the fact that she pulls no punches. I was a target of Kim [Mattina] because I’ve been on other reality shows. There were contestants who didn’t know of my previous experience, and she very quickly made them aware of it.

Claudia got grouped into that as well because of her appearances on other shows too. I liked the fact that Claudia just stood up and was like: “Okay, just because he was on another show doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give him a chance to play. I’ve been on other shows too.” By doing that, she made her target a little bigger. I don’t know if she made mine smaller, but it took a little bit of heat off of me. Our shared experience bonded us. I really enjoyed my time out there with her.

What was going through your mind when she essentially sacrificed herself to keep you safe

I think it’s more complicated than that. Earlier in the season, Claudia and I were having a discussion about strategy and whether it’s better to face the Banker or not face the Banker. We were debating back and forth and I said, “If I felt like I was going to be up for elimination with potentially who was going to play the banker, then I would of course want to play rather than sit there and have my fate handed to me.”

She agreed. A little bit of that conversation transferred over to the moment when Stephanie asked, “Well, does someone else want to give it up?” I looked at her and she knew what I thought. To her credit, she stood up and faced the banker. She took the chance and the bullet. Yes, she sacrificed herself, but it only ended up that way because she made a bad deal. Had she been able to beat the banker, she would have put herself in a very strong position.

You seemed to make an immediate connection with your fellow Bostonian, Aron. Why do you think you honed in on him?

Aron’s great. We were put in the same Jeep and initially connected about being from the same part of the country. He’s a friendly kid and really sarcastic. I saw a lot of me in him, even though we’re completely different. The first time I played Survivor, I was 26 years old. I was kind of all over the place. I see that in him.

If you could give Aron any notes on his gameplay, what would they be?

Sometimes, his exuberance gets the better of him. He thinks he knows everything, and he kept me on my toes. I thought he was tricking me at times. I would think, “Is he trying to pull the reverse reverse?” It was a fun relationship that I didn’t expect, but I’m glad that I found it.

I saw you and Aron playing mini-golf with your family on Instagram. I’m glad you two stayed friends!

Yeah, he came to visit. I invited him to come and meet the family and hang out for a few days. We went mini golfing and went to the beach. We had a good time. It was a little mini-reunion/ training camp. I was telling him everything that he was doing wrong on the show and what not to do should he be asked back again.

What do Amber and your girls think of your time on Deal Or No Deal Island? Are the girls proud of their dad?

They love watching it. It’s exciting each and every week. My two older girls are teenagers, so I’m sure I embarrassed them here and there with my paddle board antics and the singing. The best part about being a dad is embarrassing your teenage daughters. I’m doing a good job there [laughs], but they’re proud. It is a fun show that we all get together and watch. It’s nice.

Now I do want talk about the two alliances that are forming: the brilliantly named Rob Mob and the Night Owls. Did they give you the moniker of the Rob Mob?

I didn’t come up with it. It’s not much of a mob now that it is just me and Aron. It’s just the two of us when Aaron’s not running off into the woods to contemplate whatever else he’s doing [laughs]. I’m used to having the group against me though. I know that they want to get me out. Luckily in this game, they can’t just vote me out; they have to beat me. I’m pretty strong and pretty resilient about taking care of myself. So, we’ll just have to see how that works out.

Jordan Fowler is an interesting player who is floating between the two groups. At this point in the show, do you think she’s leaning more towards the Rob Mob or the Night Owls?

Jordan smartly is blowing with the wind as she should. At this point, she can afford to be opportunistic, and that’s the way she’s playing. In Survivor, the floater is frowned upon. Nobody wants to give it to the floater in the end. In this show, it’s almost optimal to be able to go to Temple and not have the target on you. Whether she planned it that way or it happened by default is still up for debate. Regardless, I think her and Dawson and Nick to a degree have really been able to slide by, and that’s proving to be effective.

Who do you think is the true mastermind of the Night Owls: Amy or Stephanie?

Neither. There are no masterminds. Come on, listen to me, there’s zero thought that goes into anything they do. It’s a shared alliance based on the fact that they stayed up late trying to figure out a plan to get rid of me. It hasn’t worked yet. There are no masterminds. They’re all birds.

Fair enough. My time is dwindling, but I have to ask you something I’m sure you’ve been asked 100 times before.

I think I know what’s coming.

Have you been watching The Traitors and would you ever want to go on the show?

Every question from every interview has been the same. I joked about holding a press conference earlier so I could give everyone my answer at the same time, but I understand and I appreciate the interest. I did watch Traitors this season. It’s a fun show. I think I’d be good at it. Given my psychology and my poker background, I’d be good at figuring out who the traitors are.

It’d be fun to be a Traitor, sure, but I think I’d want to play as a Faithful. Again, that’s a show where they can vote you out. Unless people would be open to using my abilities to suss out the Traitors and win challenges, I don’t know how well I would do. However, all these reality TV shows are always adapting. If there’s an evolution to the game that would make getting shields a larger part of the play, then it would be more appealing to me.

Lastly, if there is a season two of Deal Or No Deal Island, which Survivor contestant would you like to see continue your legacy?

None of them. Any Survivor alum that would go on after me would have such a hard time. They would be targeted right away. They might last one or two or three episodes, but that’s it. The others would be stupid to not target the Survivor alum right away, especially after I’ve played the way I have.

New episodes of Deal Or No Deal Island air Mondays at 10/9c