Boston Rob Mariano starred in Deal or No Deal Island season 1 and nearly won the season. Now, Boston Rob is returning for Deal or No Deal Island season 2, but he's not a contestant or a player this time around.
Instead, Boston Rob is hosting the official Deal or No Deal Island After Show with Boston Rob after each episode of Deal or No Deal Island season 2. The first episode of The After Show will air on NBC on Wednesday, Jan. 8, one day after the season 2 premiere of Deal or No Deal Island on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 8/7 C on NBC.
There was a lot of speculation about Boston Rob's involvement in the new season. When Boston Rob posted a picture from a beach in Panama, fans were convinced he was returning to Deal or No Deal Island season 2 as the Banker. As you'll recall, former Deal or No Deal host Howie Mandel was revealed to be the Banker in Deal or No Deal Island season 1.
Unfortunately, Boston Rob is not the Banker, and that's been officially confirmed by NBC.
NBC reveals the Banker in Deal or No Deal Island season 2 is a woman
Prior to the Deal or No Deal Island season 2 premiere, NBC has revealed the Banker in the new season is a woman who “through the ringer as she searches for her perfect protégé,” according to NBC.com.
Obviously, that rules out Boston Rob and the Banker from the first season, Howie Mandel.
I don't know how revealing that information right now is beneficial to the show, but the Banker is not the reason the fans watch this show. It's as high stakes as things can get on a reality show. It's basically Survivor meets Deal or No Deal!
As for the Banker's identity, that will not be revealed until the Deal or No Deal Island season 2 finale later this year. Joe Manganiello did share some information about the Banker in an upcoming interview with NBC.
Here's what Manganiello said about the season 2 banker:
"We’ve tried to make a concerted effort to choose Bankers — yes, there’s a new Banker this season — that have roots in Deal or No Deal. To choose Bankers that make sense in terms of Deal or No Deal canon. And that’s all I’ll say, because there’s gonna be some fun surprises this year in terms of the Banker and people are gonna learn some things. You’ll just have to hang in there and see what I mean."
So, for those keeping track at home, the Banker in Deal or No Deal Island season 2 is a woman with ties to the original Deal or No Deal series. Obviously, there are a few famous people who it could be. There is literally royalty among the Deal or No Deal team! But, we'll keep those thoughts to ourselves for now and try to make a few predictions about the Banker as we get closer to the end!
I mean, it's a bit of a bummer that it's not Boston Rob. I would have loved to see the Survivor star pop out of the helicopter like Jeff Probst used to do in the glory days of Survivor.
There is one other Survivor connection to Deal or No Deal Island season 2, though. Survivor legend Parvati Shallow has joined the Deal or No Deal Island season 2 cast to compete for a possible $200 million prize! Parvati is one of the best Survivor players of all time. I think she's going to make a huge run and possibly win this show, too.
You can also catch Boston Rob, Tony Vlachos, Jeremy Collins, and Carolyn Wiger in the new season of The Traitors on Peacock. Season 3 premieres on Jan. 9!
You can watch Deal or No Deal Island season 2 episodes on Tuesday nights on NBC! Stick around after for the new After Show hosted by Boston Rob.