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Since Deal or No Deal Island premiered, the reality show has become one of the best things on Peacock for several reasons. For example, Joe Manganiello did a great job hosting the show, and it has been fascinating to see it grow and become harder. More importantly, Deal or No Deal Island has starred many fascinating reality stars, including David Genat and Dickson Wong from the "Family" alliance.

After David previously told TheThings that Dr. Will made him ‘more flustered’ than ever and Dickson explained what being a reality star is like, they were interviewed together. When Dickson and David spoke to TheThings together, they explained whether they regret anything about their "family" alliance. David also told TheThings what his reality show "nightmare" is during that same group interview.

David Genat And Dickson Wong Have No Regrets About How They Handled Their "Family" Alliance"

In May 2025, TheThings journalist Matthew Thomas...

During the second season of Deal or No Deal Island, the reality TV series that Joe Manganiello perfectly hosts became a must-see show. One of the main reasons why Dondi is one of Peacock's best shows is because of the second season's dominant alliance, The Family. The alliance included the Survivor Hall of Famer. Parvati Shallow, David Genat, who was confronted by Dr. Will Kirby, and Dickson Wong.

Since The Family enjoyed so much success together, it was fantastic to see David and Dickson reunite for an exclusive TheThings interview. During that discussion, Dickson revealed whether he wanted David or Parvati to win Australian Survivor: Australia V The World while talking in front of David.

Dickson Wong Explained Why He Wants Parvati Shallow To Win Australian Survivor: Australia V The World In Front Of Her Competitor, David Genat

In May 2025, TheThings journalist Matthew Thomas interviewed Dickson Wong and David Genat together.

The first trailer for Survivor: Australia v the World has been released, and American reality TV legend Parvati Shallow is having fun trying out her Australian accent.

"Oh, the sweet little baby Aussies think they know how to play Survivor," she giggles in the promo video while shifting some of her vowels to sound like a more authentic Down Under denizen. "They're so cute!" Watch the moment above at the 20-second mark.

Parvati is joined by fellow Americans Cirie Fields and Tony Vlachos in this international version of the classic competition. All three of them know what it's like to claim a show's ultimate prize money, with Parvati winning Survivor Season 16, Tony winning Survivor Seasons 28 and 40, and Cirie winning The Traitors Season 1.

"What would you say if I asked you to play the best game in the world with the top players from around the globe? That’s a Hard Yes,...

It’s that time of year when we know that more cancellations and renewals are likely to come. There are still far too many shows on the bubble, and it’s hard to call which way the networks will go with some of the shows. That’s certainly the case with the NBC shows.

While I would love to see everything make it through because I think the hard work of the cast and crew deserves to be recognized, there are certain shows that I want to see more than others. I’m invested in the storylines and the writing, or the shows have already ended on cliffhangers that I need answers to. Here are the six NBC shows I need to see make it through to the 2025–2026 TV season.

Chicago Fire -- "In The Rubble" Episode 13016 -- Pictured: (l-r) Taylor Kinney as Kelly Severide, Joe Miñoso as Joe Cruz,...

Australian Survivor is going international.

In June 2025, Aussie's long-running reality TV show will air a special season on Network 10 that features fan-favorite castaways from various countries around the globe. Set to participate in this first-of-its-kind competition are Australia, the United States, Finland, New Zealand, Quebec, and South Africa. Think of it as the Olympics of Survivor!

Survivor: Australia v The World filmed in Samoa and takes place over 16 days with 14 total contestants. That's a sharp decline from the average Down Under installment, which usually lasts for a whopping 47 days and features 24 cast members. On April 13, the names of all of the players were officially revealed:

Representing Australia: David Genat, George Mladenov, Janine Allis, Kirby Bentley, Luke Toki, Sarah Tilleke, Shonee Bowtell

Representing the U.S.: Cirie Fields, Parvati Shallow, Tony Vlachos

Representing Finland: Tommi Manninen

Representing New Zealand: Lisa Holmes

Representing Quebec: Kass Bastarache

Representing South Africa: Rob Bentele...

If you saw David Genat win $5.8 million on Deal or No Deal Island — a windfall NBC calls the biggest prize in primetime history — you may have also seen that, more than seven months after taping that Season 2 finale, Genat still hadn’t received his money. “I’ve already started spending it! That’s what’s been going on. It’s not in the account just yet,” Genat told Entertainment Weekly in a post-finale interview. “I think I’ll check it every day, and I’ll post to Instagram every day showing people my account balance.” So how long does it usually take for the check to clear on reality and game-show prizes? It varies, as it turns out. Read on… Prize money usually ...

In a joint social media post with NBC, Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 winner, and the show’s official handle, Chrissy Teigen recently shared a deleted scene from Deal or No Deal Island Season 2. The banker and last remaining guest on the island, David Genat, can be seen exchanging playful banter where Teigen clearly tells Genat that although the total amount now stands at $12.3 million, he’ll have to go through the banker to get to it. She also warned him that the “golden glorious god will be reduced to a mere mortal,” which hasn’t aged too badly for Genat who managed to take home $5.8 million.

The deleted scene hails from right after it becomes clear that Genat is the final guest standing, right before his final showdown with Teigen in the Banker's Temple. In this intimate exchange, Teigen congratulates Genat, stating that he has earned his place following today’s victory.

After winning a series of challenges and going up against The Banker for the final round, David Genat took up more than $5 million in the Deal or No Deal Island season 2 finale. It’s the largest amount of money won on TV, both in a single win and accumulatively.

We had a chance to chat with David about his experience on the island, playing The Banker, and much more in this exclusive interview. Just what was his strategy going in, and how did he feel keeping his Survivor Australia win a secret for so long?

David Genat becomes the new ‘Greatest of All Time’ after his Deal or No Deal Island season 2 win

Hidden Remote: Congratulations on the win. How does it feel beating Ken Jennings as “The Greatest of All Time?”

David Genat: Ken who? That’s what I’m gonna say. It was funny, because that’s what...

While Alexis Lete didn’t win Deal or No Deal Island season 2, she took a lot away from her time on the series. It’s also not put her off the idea of doing another reality show. In fact, she has the reality bug.

We chatted with Lete about her time on the series, including the strategy she went in with and the decision to go up against The Family alliance. She also shared some truths about how she felt knowing her own alliance went against her in the end.

Lete talks her strategy and more in Deal or No Deal Island season 2

Hidden Remote: Let’s talk your strategy going into Deal or No Deal Island first. What was it?

Alexis Lete: To downplay my physical threat and up-play the ability to help others. I wanted to be a force to be reckoned with, but I wanted people to...

Gold Derby is celebrating its 25th anniversary with our series of "25 in '25" highlighting the best, worst, and weirdest of the 2000s.

At the turn of the century, a new genre of television made its way to the mainstream that was less polished and more accessible than its traditional drama and comedy counterparts. Dubbed "reality TV" because of its focus on everyday people instead of actors, this low-budget, documentary-style format pioneered by shows like The Real World became instantly lucrative for networks. Competition programs like Survivor, American Idol, and The Amazing Race soon dominated the broadcast channels, while unstructured fare like Jersey Shore, The Real Housewives, and The Osbournes took over cable.

Below, relive the 25 best moments in reality TV history from the past 25 years. Our only rule? We're spreading the wealth so that no show gets more than one slot.

25. Golden God

Deal or No Deal Island — Season 2 (2025)

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The second season of Deal or No Deal Island has come to an end and the winner has received the biggest game show prize in network TV history.

David Genat, who won Australian Survivor: All Stars in 2020, made a deal for $5.8 million during the season finale of Deal or No Deal Island.

In Deal or No Deal Island, briefcases are hidden around the island with more than $200 million in prize money split between them. In each episode, players compete in daring challenges to secure the briefcases that will be used in that night’s game of “Deal or No Deal.” The winnings from each game of “Deal or No Deal” are added to a group pot that grows to an exponential value throughout the season. The last player standing faces the Banker to potentially win the biggest prize in “Deal or No Deal” history.

The final case this season had...

Australian reality TV personality David Genat has made history on American television, winning a staggering US $5.8million (approximately $A9.17 million) on the game show Deal or No Deal Island. This marks the largest cash prize ever awarded on a US network television game show. Here’s the Lowdown: Hosted by Joe Manganiello, Deal or No Deal […]

‘Golden God’ David Genat Wins Record $A9 Million on Deal or No Deal Island...

Deal or No Deal IslandSeason 2 winner David Genat is opening up about his historic win, which earned him the largest prize in game show history. Genat won the finale by making a deal for $5,800,000 by taking plenty of calculated risks. The reality star turned down multiple six-figure deals from the Banker, Chrissy Teigen, because he didn’t want to play it safe.

In an exclusive interview with People, Genat, who has previously competed on Australian Survivor, expressed how happy he was to take the money home. “It’s everything to me,” he added. However, the winner confessed that more than the money, he wanted the title of winning Deal or No Deal Island. According to Genat, his strategy throughout the game was to take big risks and do crazy stuff. He wanted the people watching at home to root for him, and he believes he accomplished that.

Genat filmed his...

Spoiler Alert! This story contains details from the season 2 finale of Deal or No Deal Island.

Host Joe Manganiello wasn’t kidding when he teased that Tuesday’s finale of the NBC show would be “unbelievable.”

As he told Deadline in an earlier interview, “the person who wins winds up breaking the all-time television game show record for money won.”

That person is former Australian Survivor victor David Genat.

The reality veteran shattered records by winning $5.8 million, the largest cash prize ever awarded in network television history. Competing for a final case worth $12,232,001, Genat won after a season-long journey that saw him keep his Survivor experience hidden from his fellow players.

Genat is a two-time veteran of Survivor Australia and a winner of an all-star season.

The finale also featured former Deal or No Deal case model Chrissy Teigen as this season’s new Banker. Teigen took over the role...

Welcome to Reality Derby, our weekly deep dive into all things reality TV, hosted by Gold Derby senior editors Marcus James Dixon and Denton Davidson.

Joining us this week is David Genat, the winner of Deal or No Deal Island Season 2, who set a new game-show record for American television by winning $5.8 million during the March 25 finale. The self-proclaimed "Golden God" was already well-known to fans of Australian Survivor, having won All Stars and played on Champions v Contenders, before he joined up with the NBC competition. Watch our video interview above.

"It's incredible," David says about his history-making performance. "When I started this journey of doing reality shows and you're playing for big money, I never dreamed that I would play for this amount of money and get a chance to win this amount of money. It's so far beyond the scope of what I envisage to myself. So it's been really,...

Alexis Lete was just inches away from going into the final temple of the season on Deal or No Deal Island. And after watching David Genat do so and walk away $5.8 million richer, she knows exactly who she holds accountable for her narrow miss of that big moment. All throughout Dondi Season 2, Lete held her own against some of the biggest names in reality television, outlasting both Parvati Shallow and Will “Dr. Will” Kirby to advance to the finale. She did so by being athletic and competent in the challenges and not making enemies among the other contestants. So she was especially surprised when the final challenge came down to essentially a jury game, in which her fate rested in the hands of her former castmates, and one of them decided to turn against her in favor of David, who’d actually sent them home. So who is the person...

We have a winner and a new TV game show record! David Genat managed to use his social skills to earn his way into the final temple and face the banker in Deal or No Deal Island Season 2, and he made a very, very good deal indeed. He’s now $5.8 million richer and dethroned Jeopardy!‘s Ken Jennings as the winningest game show contestant of all time! Making it to the end of this season was no easy feat, considering his name was being thrown around for potential elimination in the very first week. The situation became especially dicey once his Survivor: Australia credentials finally came to light and had people questioning whether they wanted a previous TV show winner to succeed again. However, David made rock-solid alliances with people who stood by their promises to him. Parvati Shallow was a faithful sidekick to the very end, even after her own elimination,...

The previous episode of Deal or No Deal Island season 2 ended with a cliffhanger. With the answers to that ending, we knew who would walk away with the largest pot of money ever won on a TV series.

Caution: This post contains Spoilers from the Deal or No Deal Island season 2 finale.

I do think the series missed a beat with the promotion of this episode. Within just minutes, we’d get all the answers that we need. After all, the series has already revealed The Banker’s identity, and Joe Manganiello already spoiled that the winner walks away with the money.

Deal Or No Deal Island -- .The Final Deal. Episode 212 -- Pictured: Chrissy Teigen -- (Photo by: Monty Brinton/NBC) Who is The Banker in Deal or No Deal Island season 2?

In case you missed the big reveal on social media, The Banker in Deal or No Deal...

Welcome to Reality Derby, our weekly deep dive into all things reality TV, hosted by Gold Derby senior editors Marcus James Dixon and Denton Davidson.

Joining us this week is Parvati Shallow, aka the Black Widow, who placed fourth on Deal or No Deal Island Season 2. She's also a four-time Survivor contestant, winning for Micronesia — Fans vs. Favorites, and was one of the titular villains on The Traitors Season 2. She will next be seen on Survivor: Australia v The World, due out in July on Australia's Network 10. But what are her thoughts on America's Survivor 50? Watch our video interview above.

Parvati calls her Black Widow persona "an archetype of a woman who is unapologetic for being strategic, for being bold, for making moves that serve herself, and cutting ties with her family or people who love her, whenever she needs to, to advance herself in the game." Originally created in...

Joe Manganiello, tell us how you really feel about Dr. Will Kirby.

“I wanted to kill him while he was there,” says the host of Deal or No Deal Island. “I think we all did. I speak for everyone in the crew and cast, we all wanted to kill Dr. Will. He was so aggravating.”

But as soon as the former Big Brother champ was sent packing this season on the NBC competition show, Manganiello admitted that he felt a pang of regret. “I was sad to see him go in the end because he was such good television,” he said. “Dr. Will is of that era where people weren’t afraid to go on these shows and be villains, be the bad guy.”

Manganiello has learned from the best; before he was asked to emcee the game in 2024, the True Blood actor spent a great deal of his free time watching Survivor.

What's better than one cutthroat reality TV star competing on an exotic island for millions of dollars? How about three! Season 2 of NBC's Deal or No Deal Island finds the winners of Big Brother 2 (Will Kirby), Survivor: Micronesia (Parvati Shallow), and Australian Survivor: All Stars (David Genat) duking it out against 11 other contestants for the chance of facing off against the Banker for untold amounts of money.

Returning for the second cycle of Deal or No Deal Island are host/executive producer Joe Manganiello, briefcase models/Banker's assistants Kamari Love and Ben Crofchick, and executive producer Howie Mandel. Note that Howie also popped up as the Banker during the Season 1 finale, but this year, there will be a female Banker for the first time.

In this hybrid reality/game show, briefcases are hidden around a tropical island carrying more than $200 million in prize money. In each episode, contestants...

Potential Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 spoilers may have revealed what contestant will be crowned the winner of the hit competition series. 

The second season of the gripping reality twist on the classic Deal or No Deal format has seen plenty of contestants come and go. However, now with only the finale left to air, two cast members are left vying for the show's mega cash prize. 

Only contestants Alexis Lete and David Genat remain, with one final game of Deal or No Deal left to play and literal millions of dollars at stake. 

Read full article on The Direct.

While the previous episode promised us a double elimination, we didn’t get to see who the second person to go home at Temple would be until Deal or No Deal Island season 2, episode 11. That person turned out to be Survivor Legend, Parvati Shallow.

It was a big moment for Parvati. She took on The Banker, and unfortunately ended up making a bad deal, but she wasn’t done on the show right away. The final challenge saw some of the former contestants come back to help or hinder the Final Three, and Parv was one of them.

We got a chance to chat with Parvati about her gameplay and getting to come back in this exclusive interview.

Parvati Shallow talks alliances, elimination, and more in Deal or No Deal Island

Hidden Remote: Let’s talk the Family Alliance. I realized I would have gone about it similar to you.

[Warning: The following post contains Major spoilers for Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 Episode 11, “Water Under the Bridge.”] After making a “bad deal” with the banker on Tuesday’s (March 18) episode of Deal or No Deal Island, Parvati Shallow a.k.a. “The Black Widow” is ready to retire from reality television… well, sort of. The Survivor and The Traitors alum has become one of the biggest names on the small screen scene, and her stint on Dondi did little to change that. Throughout most of Season 2, Shallow has been crushing the competition, earning a seemingly endless spree of safety wins that kept her far away from the bottom two or the temple. Once in the final four, Shallow got to choose whether to go up against the banker. Ultimately, she asked David to send her in and control her own ...

[Warning: The following post contains Major spoilers for Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 Episode 11, “Water Under the Bridge.”] Annnnd then there were two. Tuesday’s (March 18) episode of Deal or No Deal Island saw Parvati Shallow going in to face the banker at temple and making a bad deal, leaving just three players still vying for the cash: David Genat, Alexis Lete, and Courtney “Ck” Kim. Then, the final three challenge was a doozy that required them all to get help from those contestants who’d already gone home — sometimes with harsh words from those who remained, no less — to build bridges and select the highest-value cases based on their recommendations. Ultimately, it was Ck who came up short and didn’t advance to the final two. So does she blame anyone in particular for her not advancing to the finals? And how did she feel about outlasting the “Black Widow” herself? TV Insider caught up with...

The final five, which Phillip Solomon not so lovingly referred to as a pit of snakes, came to a head on Tuesday night’s (March 11) episode of Deal or No Deal Island, titled “Money to Burn.” After toasting the sacrifice of their “son” Dickson Wong, the only two remaining members of the “Family,” David Genat and Parvati Shallow, soon realized they were now on the outside looking in as Phillip, Courtney “Ck” Kim, and Alexis Lete joined heads in hopes of taking them out. If given an ounce of power, any of the three would clearly target the pair — even Ck, who Parvati had been working with in the past, was ready to make a move. The two had to get to work trying to make their own fate. Since all of David’s other allies were gone — after the exits of Dickson, La Shell Wooten, and Maria-Grace Cook — he...

"I don't think I've ever been so furious in my life," Parvati Shallow declared during the March 11 episode of Deal or No Deal Island. The reality TV legend has had her fair share of bad moments throughout her four editions of Survivor and one season of The Traitors, but this one apparently takes the cake.

It all started at the most recent endurance challenge, when host and games master Joe Manganiello instructed the final five players that they would have to hold up bags of money that were weighted to a quarter of their own body weight. Whoever held their handle the longest would win the $75,000 bonus. However, the contestants would be tempted throughout the excursion to acquire briefcases that would be used for that night's Deal or No Deal game. If they let go of their handles, they would acquire that case's dollar amount, but the people who ended...

Mom and Dad might still be partying on the island, but their baby boy has been sent home. Dickson Wong’s attempt to preserve his “Family” alliance with David Genat and Parvati Shallow and make a new “girlfriend” connection with Alexis Lete backfired on Tuesday (March 4) night’s episode of Deal or No Deal Island. Dickson was the first to go into the daily challenge, which involved carrying cases over a razor-thin beam hovering over quicksand, and he found himself stuck in the muck for too long to complete it. Despite him wanting to go into the temple to play against the Banker — and the fact that last time he did, he added $5 million to the group account — his dear old dad had a different plan. David instead chose to send Lete in, and when she made a good deal, she decided she and Dickson would have the most expensive...

It’s down to the final six in Deal or No Deal season 2. Who would be the ninth player to go home?

Caution: This post contains Spoilers from Deal or No Deal Island season 2, episode 9.

After some shock and disappointing eliminations, we didn’t know what to expect in Deal or No Deal Island season 2, episode 9. What would happen as the contestants went up against The Banker again? Would it lead to a bad deal or a player-chosen elimination?

The new episode saw the six contestants walk a beam for safety. However, they all ended up in the quick sand.

Who picked the player in Deal or No Deal Island season 2, episode 9?

The walk across the beam was a failure for all. It was a tiny beam in the rain, and the cases they had to get across was heavy. Everyone ended up in the quicksand, but it was David...

If there is one person who consistently proved that she was worthy of being a winner on Deal or No Deal Island, it was La Sell Wooten. So what happened? We talked with her about her strategy, trusting Parvati, and much more in our exclusive interview with her.

La Shell quickly became a fan favorite. She also quickly became a favorite on the island. By keeping her cool and focusing on her own energy levels, she was able to be there for everyone else as they struggled. She was someone with no allegiances on the island, which may have been to her detriment in the end. However, the game she played was solid and clean, and there’s no doubt that I wanted to see her win.

I talked with her about her game. We discussed strategy, Dr. Will, Parvati, and much more.

La Shell shares the strategy she went...

Another episode of Deal or No Deal Island brings another elimination. Who went home in Deal or No Deal Island season 2, episode 8?

Caution: This post contains Spoilers for Deal or No Deal Island season 2, episode 8.

There’s always a twist in a challenge. That was certainly the case in the latest episode, which saw Parvati get to pick who went up against The Banker. That did come at the cost of burning bridges, though.

Parvati has been able to play a good game for herself. However, she knows that others on the island are against her. So, when it came to choosing who would play The Banker, she knew that she could end up in trouble later.

Who did Parvati choose to play The Banker in Deal or No Deal Island season 2, episode 8?

The challenge brought a string of twists. The first was that two would need to be left behind,...

David Genat warned us that the upcoming exit speech for Deal or No Deal Island was going to be wild, and, well, he was right about that. Following the big cliffhanger from last week’s episode, Tuesday’s newest segment picked up right where it left off, revealing that Courtney Kim, a.k.a. Ck, did indeed make a good deal against the banker and got to send someone home, choosing Seychelle Cordero. Seychelle has become a fast fan favorite in Season 2 thanks to her freewheeling confessionals, and she brought all of that energy to bear in her sendoff to Ck and the rest of the cast. To find out exactly what built to that fiery moment and more, TV Insider caught up with Seychelle Cordero to break down her experience on Deal or No Deal Island. Luke, in the beginning of the season, said that he was going to...

Dr. Will Kirby came in like a wrecking ball on Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 and proved, once again, why he’s one of the greatest reality television stars of all time with his fearless style of gameplay. On Tuesday’s (February 18) episode, though, he met his match when David Genat — whom he correctly identified as a prior winner of Survivor: Australia, by the way — beat the banker and got to send Will, arguably his biggest competition, home. Upon leaving the proverbial building, Dr. Will declared that Dondi was his last stop on the reality television train, which may come as a surprise to folks who’ve seen him on TV since 2001. Is he really done with reality TV, though? For now, at least, the answer seems to be yes. Back in January, Dr. Will spoke to People about his stint on NBC’s Deal or No Deal spinoff,...

Parvati Shallow has been showing her gameplay strategy, and it has surprised players like David Genat on Deal or No Deal Island Season 2. Both Shallow and Genat are on the series and worked together to create the "Family" alliance. Shallow is known for her gameplay thanks to Survivor and The Traitors,and Genat was a winner of the Australian version of Survivor. Recently, Genat did an interview with US Weeklytalking about Deal or No Deal Island, and praised Shallow for how she approached challenges while on the competition series.

The latest episode of Deal or No Deal Island ended on a major cliffhanger — and we don’t just mean the decision Courtney Kim a.k.a. Ck has to make in the temple. Dr. Will Kirby finally started to lift the veil on David Genat‘s identity as a winner of Survivor Australia, which sent the contestant into a bit of a temporary tailspin. Throughout the season, David has managed to keep his identity a secret from everyone except his biggest ally, Parvati Shallow, who has kept that information completely to herself. So how did David feel about being clocked by Dr. Will in that moment? And what’s next for him and the rest of the players when Dondi returns next week? TV Insider caught up with David Genat to find out that and a few other behind-the-scenes details about Season 2 so far — and he teases a very epic rant ahead.

The Family lost their first team member in Deal or No Deal Island season 2, episode 5. Maria-Grace went home, and we have chatted with her exclusively about that shocking turn of events.

For us watching, the exit wasn’t too surprising. What was surprising was that Dr. Will stuck to his word and didn’t decide to betray Lete and Seychelle by voting out Ck. However, for Mg during The Temple, it was a shock to the core.

Since then, things have changed for Mg. She shared just how much she and Will talk, more about her showmance, and whether she regrets any choices.

Mg talks Dr. Will, the elimination, and Storm in Deal or No Deal Island season 2, episode 5

Hidden Remote: How much of a shock was Dr. Will’s decision at Temple?

Maria-Grace Cook: It really was a shock, because earlier in that day, me, Philip, and Dr.

“The Family” has lost its first member on Deal or No Deal Island. On Tuesday’s (February 4) latest episode, “Trust Fall,” host Joe Manganiello pulled a fast one on the contestants when he revealed after they paired up that they’d be playing against each other instead of in lockstep during the daily challenge. Unfortunately for Maria-Grace Cook, that meant that she had to contend with her show-dad, David Genat, and when he won the daily, she was in contention for elimination. Once Dr. Will Kirby sabotaged his own game, though, Mg seemed to be pretty safe. After all, he’d already been pushing for Courtney Kim a.k.a. Ck to be ousted when Dickson Wong won against the banker, so it stood to reason he’d go after her himself when given the chance. Only, secret deals were made for Will to oust Mg instead. And when his...

One of the most compelling aspects of reality competition shows is when the underdog finds their stride and surprises everyone. Dickson Wong has been consistently underestimated since the start of Deal or No Deal IslandSeason 2. Despite entering an alliance early on with two of the season’s biggest threats, SurvivorlegendParvati Shallow and Australian Survivorwinner David Genat, Dickson hasn’t been viewed as a real threat to win the game by any of his castmates and has instead been treated as a pawn to further other players’ games. Throughout the season, Dickson has been vocal in confessionals about being underestimated both in the game and in life, stating that he simply views this as an opportunity to prove people wrong. In the last episode of Deal or No Deal Island, he did just that.

Season 2 of Deal or No Deal Islandfeatures some big names in reality TV, like Dr. Will Kirby of Big Brother, Australian Survivorwinner David Genat, and Survivor’sinfamous Black Widow, Parvati Shallow. While some of the reality competition show newbies that make up the rest of the cast are struggling to keep up with these experienced strategic players, others are rising to the occasion. Courtney “Ck” Kim is proving to be one of the more strategic players on Season 2 of Deal or No Deal Island, and it appears she’s taken a page out of Parvati’s “Black Widow Brigade” playbook by spearheading an all-female alliance, targeting this season’s “alpha males,” and influencing others throughout the game.

Warning: this story contains spoilers from the Jan. 28 episode of Deal or No Deal Island. Read at your own risk!

On Tuesday night, history was made during NBC’s reality TV show when Dickson Wong added a massive $5 million to the prize pot. He turned down increasingly lucrative deals of $421,000, $1.45 million, and $3.2 million, believing he had the highest amount, $5 million, in his own case. He was right. “Big Dickson Energy!” shouted his fellow cast members.

“That is a Deal or No Deal Island record,” confirmed host and game master Joe Manganiello, “$5 million will be added to the final case. You have made a good deal.” Remember, the “final case” is a cumulative total that includes every banked amount from the entire season. It will be available for a contestant to potentially win in the finale’s face-off with the Banker. After Dickson’s turn, the final case is currently up to $5,531,001.

For the record,...

Dickson Wong is a player on Deal or No Deal Island Season 2, and two Survivor alums have taken a shine to him in the first few rounds. Deal or No Deal Island on NBC has a cast of bright personalities and some reality television stars. Parvati Shallow and David Genat are infamous Survivor players, and Wong has found himself in a fake family with both of them. Unfortunately, allying with Shallow and Genat is dangerous. Wong can stand alone as a master strategist, but if Wong wants to be taken seriously, he must ditch Parvati Shallow and David Genat.

Deal or No Deal? The island is a lively mix of different reality competition styles. It takes place in a tropical setting that raises the stakes and the excitement. While engaging in social strategies to avoid elimination, contestants navigate physical tasks to secure briefcases full of cash. In addition to improving the entertainment, this setting also serves as a metaphor for human relationships, where alliances are made and broken.

Modern social interactions are reflected in the show’s premise, which deceptively blends simplicity and complexity. The tropical setting fosters an engaging atmosphere where the allure of competition collides with the intricacies of personal competition.

Established power dynamics are changed in Season 2, especially the Banker’s new role, which is a major plot point. Some of the new games, like “Pyramid Scheme,” require contestants to be flexible, which is a lot like real life these days. These changes show a trend...

You can't make a deal without this doctor. Dr. Will Kirby is one of the most well-known names from Big Brother and was set to return to reality television competition shows with Deal or No Deal Island, but he was missing from the first episode. Deal or No Deal Island premiered this week with two cunning Survivor stars – David Genat, the Golden God of Australian Survivor, and Parvati Shallow, the Black Widow of Survivor – taking center stage as master manipulators. However, one face was notably missing from the boat ride to the Banker's Island – and for the entire first episode. NBC featured Will Kirby multiple times in the trailer, but he did not arrive on the Banker's Island, which has us asking why is Deal or No Deal Island hiding Dr. Will Kirby from the other contestants?...

All You Need To Know About Deal Or No Deal Island Season 2 ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Popular competitive series Deal or No Deal Island is back with its second season. The NBC show enjoyed considerable success during its first season, thus leading to its return. The tropical spinoff was quite a hit among fans, and here’s everything you need to know about the show’s upcoming season, including the release date, who is the cast, and the host.

Deal Or No Deal Island Season 2: Release Date

Season 2 of Deal or No Deal Island premiered on January 7, 2025, with a two-hour episode at 8 p.m. Et. From the next episode, the show will move back to its original programming slot of 9 p.m. Et on NBC. Every episode will be available to stream on Peacock a day after it airs on the network.

Deal Or No Deal Island Season 2: Host...

No, Beyoncé is not the new Banker on Deal or No Deal Island — let’s make that clear right up front.

For the first time since the Deal or No Deal franchise was created 20 years ago, however, the Banker is in fact a “she.” And the contestants on Season 2 of Deal or No Deal Island couldn’t be happier. Host Joe Manganiello, who calls himself the “ultimate game master,” revealed the female Banker twist at the end of the season premiere, which aired Jan. 7 on NBC and Peacock.

To recap, the Banker is the villainous figure who offers relatively small amounts of money to contestants in order to get them to sell their cases and walk away from potentially life-changing money. In the original Deal or No Deal game show hosted by Howie Mandel, the Banker’s face was never seen on camera, but it was always understood to be a male.

Deal Or No Deal Season 2 Contestants (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Joe Manganiello hosted the spinoff series Deal or No Deal Island, which is back for a second season. The competitive reality show promises more twists, turns, and deals as it airs on NBC every week. Here are the contestants of the season who will compete to win the coveted title and prize money.

Deal Or No Deal Season 2: Meet The Contestants

Parvati Shallow is a 41-year-old from Los Angeles, California, and has been a part of many reality shows, including the popular series Survivor and the new franchise The Traitors. Dr. Will Kirby is also from Los Angeles and is the Chief Medical Officer of an aesthetic dermatology group. The 51-year-old star has previously starred in Big Brother, to be exact, season 2 in 2001.

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The banker has claimed her first victim on Deal or No Deal Island Season 2. On Tuesday (January 7) night’s premiere, “The Banker Strikes Back,” the new crop of contestants were put to the test with a pyramid challenge called “The Bankers Pyramid Scheme.” There were three sides filled with cases, and the contestants had to team up to try and find the side with the most money in the cases. One path was slippery and rocky over the water, with more cases at the end; the second was a medium-difficulty trek through the jungle, which was longer but safer; and the third, for the red cases, was via zipline and had just three cases, but more risk and more reward within them. Going for the red cases were Survivor Australia alum David Genat, Luke Olejniczak, and Seychelle Cordero. After retrieving the cases, Luke learned that he had the “Steal” case...

While the last twelve months have been a particularly rough one for the majority of unscripted producers, Sharon Levy, who runs Endemol Shine North America isn’t one of them.

In a sea of fewer greenlights, reduced orders and rising costs, the Banijay-owned company had a pretty solid 2024 (and first week of 2025) with big series on ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition got a new lick of paint on the Disney-owned network last week; CBS scaled The Summit in the fall, Fox continued to cook up MasterChef and build Lego Masters and NBC took classic game show Deal or No Deal to a desert island.

“I don’t want to sound braggy,” CEO Levy told Deadline. “I have an amazing team and what we were able to accomplish in 2024 was massive. We had a great year and I attribute that to first class creative. Now, are people...

Joe Manganiello has seen a lot in his 25 years in Hollywood, and even he seems stunned by what went down while filming the new season of Deal or No Deal Island.

“Without sounding crazy, all of us who were in the jungle that night witnessed something other-worldly. There’s no other way to say it,” says the veteran actor, producer and filmmaker who is back as host for the hit NBC reality competition show. “What happened is impossible. It is just impossible, and I don’t know if it ever happens again. You’ll see what I mean [when it airs], but it is like an argument for something more out there than our humdrum everyday lives. I was on the field while it was playing out, and it was wild.”

He adds, “I’m excited for everyone to see it and the buildup to it, because it’s the greatest moment in game show television history.

It’s almost time to head back to Panama for another round of Deal or No Deal Island. The second season of NBC’s newest reality competition series returns Tuesday (January 7) night, welcoming back host Joe Manganiello to speak on behalf of an all-new banker (Season 1’s surprise money man was none other than Howie Mandel). This time, instead of just a single reality television alum, there is a whole slew… but even some of them have an opportunity for anonymity, it seems. In TV Insider’s exclusive new clip of the premiere episode, “The Banker Strikes Back,” it’s clear that David Genat is somehow still flying under the radar, despite being a two-time Survivor Australia alum, an All-Star winner, and the self-proclaimed “Golden God” of the game. However, fellow Survivor alum and The Traitors favorite Parvati Shallow seems to know just how valuable a player he might be in the games,...