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WIRED
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- WIRED
Parvati Shallow Says RIP to the ‘Black Widow' and All That
Jul 8, 2025 1:27 PM Survivor star Parvati Shallow spoke with WIRED about her new book, social media, the politics of the show, and who from the cast apologized following her time on the beach. Courtesy of Mark Squires/Penguin Random House Parvati Shallow, the reality TV maven and one-time Survivor winner, can now also add published author to her list of achievements. The legendary schemer, who orchestrated scores of blindsides on the beaches of the Cook Islands, Micronesia, and Fiji, has published a new memoir from Penguin Random House titled Nice Girls Don't Win: How I Burned It All Down to Claim My Power . The book, a deeply revealing, personal excavation of Shallow's childhood, divorce, relationships, and experience with reality television, is out now. She also gets into the nitty gritty of what happened during her many Survivor appearances. Courtesy of Penguin Random House During her time on Survivor, Shallow became known as one of the greatest and most adaptable threats to ever play the game. She was known for using charm—or 'fawning,' as she calls it in her book—to manipulate players and build loyal alliances. As the leader of the so-called 'Black Widow Brigade' during Survivor: Micronesia , Shallow famously voted out men one by one. Shallow, who has also appeared on Traitors and Deal or No Deal Island , spoke with WIRED about her new book, social media, Survivor world's reaction to women on the show, the politics of Survivor , and who from the cast apologized following her time on the beach. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. WIRED: I have to start this interview with the very last page of your book, which reads, 'In loving memory of the Black Widow. She served me well, and now she's free. 2008 to 2025.' What does that mean? Parvati Shallow: I stumbled into the Black Widow role when I played Survivor the second time. And in order to play that game, to win, I had to become a different person. So I stepped into this energy, the power, this costume, this role of the Black Widow. And then it became me. It's like, I couldn't take it off. Every time I played a reality game, after I won Micronesia , I was known as the Black Widow. And it came with its own aura of terror, and also curiosity from my colleagues in the competitive sphere. But after writing my book, and after my last stint on Survivor: Australia V The World , which is going to air in August, I was like, 'Oh, I've outgrown the role.' She's not more powerful than me anymore. It's not like a role that I need to put on to protect myself or to have people respond to me in a certain way. I can shed that skin now with love, and I can let someone else pick her up and play with her and put that role on. Because she's incredible, she's super powerful, she's really fun to play with, and she gets what she wants. So whoever wants to pick up the Black Widow costume role from here and take it on, you have my blessing. During my pandemic Survivor binge, I watched your Micronesia season from 2008, and you had such a clear vision as the Black Widow. You played the game so well. I was shocked when I looked up your press after the season and saw such vitriol about it. You wrote in your book that you were portrayed as a 'slut' or 'manipulative whore,' all of this really awful language. That's not how you've been discussed more recently, in what I would call the recent Survivor renaissance. What was it like to see that big switch? It was really healing. It felt like I was taking medicine. I was like, 'Oh my god, this is so nice,' because I didn't expect it. I had gone through what happened in my twenties with the press and critics and the backlash from the girl power. People are scared of it. I'll stand behind that power that women have forever and always promote it and encourage it in myself and everyone else. And I have a daughter, so I'm like, girl, you need to use your voice and be yourself. But when I was in my twenties, I really didn't have a strong sense of self, and I internalized a lot of that criticism, and it really impacted the choices that I made in my life. So I started making some really unhealthy choices, which I wrote about in the book. It was only coming out the other side and playing on Traitors and then receiving all the love after Traitors is really when I was like, 'Oh, maybe I wasn't so bad after all. Maybe all the mean things that people said weren't true.' Hearing other voices say how impressive my gameplay was, and acknowledging that I had strategy as well as a curvy bod or whatever, it was so nice. It felt like the scales were balancing. This is WIRED, so I have to ask: So often, I am looking at social media and the way that it negatively portrays women. But in your case, the gospel of Mother Parvati has spread throughout social media. Evan Ross Katz, noted Survivor fan and so much more, is mentioned in your book—he's one of those accounts that I think of when it comes to buoying you and your gameplay. How has social media played into all this? I love the memes that people make. In the past, in my first few go-rounds on the island, social media wasn't really a thing. It was, like, MySpace, right? Twitter was just starting, so it wasn't that impactful then. But since I've gone back to reality shows, it's like I went back just in time for the social media revolution to be supportive rather than something that's been really nasty. I mean, I still get haters like everyone else, but it doesn't really matter anymore. Since writing my book, I see myself more holistically and accept the good and the bad parts, all the parts I wrote about in the book—the selfish, greedy, slutty, whatever parts, they're all OK, just like the generous, kind, loving, supportive parts. I think social media can be sort of a magnifying glass on certain aspects of a person, that if you don't have a holistic view of yourself, you can get kind of thrown off your center. Now, I just love the love and I can engage with the funny memes and GIFs that everyone posts about me. What are some of your favorites? I love them. The one that people made of me in Cook Islands on the pirate ship, when they like, pan the camera to me and I'm pouting sultry to the camera. I'm like, I remember that moment, and I remember being like, oh, here comes the camera. Here's my chance. And I really turned it on. So I love that the gays have picked that up and are like, 'Oh my God, this girl,' and they go on a boat, and they reenact that moment. It's so funny to me. When I did Traitors , there was all this footage of me squinting and pouting at people. Everyone's memed that, and the headbands. It's really funny. Taylor Owen and James Neal, they're a couple, and they do parodies on shows. They're so good. They did one of me and Peter from Traitors , and it was this very chemical moment where Peter and I are sizing each other up, and I'm like looking at him, and he's gazing at me. And Taylor is so funny. She stacks headbands up higher and higher as the camera pans away and pans back. They're hilarious, and they're now my new best friends. I love them so much. You go on Survivor now, you go on these shows now, and it's an entirely different landscape. How do you think portrayals and even conversations about women on Survivor have changed, as a result of this new era not just of gameplay but how it's being received? I think people are more accepting of women being strategic and being strategic forces in the game of Survivor . There are still some issues when it comes to women versus men on that show. I think it is sort of a male-dominated culture. It always has been and continues to be, though they have been putting effort in to make it more balanced. It's just that the bias still exists. It definitely reflects society as a whole, and society's fear of an empowered woman. Not just an empowered woman, but specifically an empowered woman who is also attractive, who is kind of threatening on multiple levels. There were a lot of really moving parts about this in your book. One of the things that was shocking to me was your section on the 2010 Heroes vs. Villains season and your treatment right after. Years later, how was writing that? How was reliving that? There were a few times when I sat down to write stories where I forced my body to sit at my table, and I just kept leaving my body. I did not want to relive that stuff. I didn't want to look back at it. It was so incredibly painful. The Heroes vs. Villains story, especially because of the context of my life around it, was really difficult. That coincided with my brother's accident, his hospitalization, and the death of my friend's brother, and just so much swirling around in that period of time that nobody knew. And for me to play Survivor at the level that I played, I couldn't share any of that. I couldn't be vulnerable with anyone and tell anyone what was happening in my life. And it was a different era where production didn't tell stories beyond the person's game. So I was reduced to a character in that bubble, in that moment in time, where people were already very threatened by me from Micronesia . And it was super crazy, with rampant sexism at the time. JT [Thomas's] speech when he'd been voted out, which I mention in the book, where he said, 'Never, ever trust a woman. Just never do it.' That's where people's heads were at when I played that season. So sitting down and writing this stuff, I knew that I hadn't repaired some of these relationships, like my relationship with Amanda [Kimmel, Shallow's ally in the so-called Black Widow Brigade] still doesn't exist. I would love to reconnect with her. I think I've done a lot of work to repair relationships from the past, not run away from conflict. But there's some stuff that's still alive. It was really, really therapeutic to sit down and write this stuff, because I didn't even know how much the intensity of those emotions and experiences were still in me until I sat down to write. You mentioned Amanda. Where do your friendships with other folks from the Survivor community stand right now? I have to say, your Paper interview with Natalie Bolton, another Heroes vs. Villains player, was iconic. [ Laughs. ] Love Natalie. Because I've done it so many times, I think of Survivor as a sort of dysfunctional family that I belong to. I love all of the players, all of the production, all the people inside this family, CBS, the whole thing, everyone is my family. And not every family is always totally healthy. There's conflict, there's drama, there's all of that. And of course, with the experiences that I had on Survivor , there is that as well, but we're connected forever. It's this shared experience that very few people on earth get a chance to have and I'm super grateful for it, because it's been so extraordinary in my life, and most of my relationships are good, like I actually talked to Erik Reichenbach on the phone yesterday. [Famously, Parvati Shallow, Amanda Kimmel, Cirie Fields, and Natalie Bolton convinced Reichenbach to hand over his immunity necklace before their Black Widow brigade voted him out.] I think for the most part, I'm good with anybody. I'm chill. Sandra [Diaz-Twine, who won Heroes vs. Villains ] and I have buried the hatchet, and I don't think I have any issues with anybody else. There's some people that I would rather just not have a relationship with. And you know that sometimes happens in a family too. Did JT ever apologize? Did you get any apologies from people after Heroes vs. Villains ? I can't remember ever talking to JT after Heroes vs. Villains . Candice [Woodcock] apologized. Some people did. They were like, I would have voted for you. I'm sorry I didn't. Which is nice to hear, but it's also like, eh. Yeah, you missed it in the moment. Whatever. [ Laughs. ] Whatever. But yeah, if somebody's gonna apologize, yeah, I really don't hold a grudge. I think that that's a waste of energy. It just makes people feel icky inside. So I don't want that energy. So if somebody apologizes to me, and it's sincere, I accept. Still, you've made a career of this! You're a professional reality star now and content creator. Every moment I turn around, you have another show. I can't wait. Yeah! And now I'm creating them and pitching them. So I'm developing shows and moving into hosting and producing. Can you say more about that? Anything that our WIRED friends should know about going forward? I have been pitching a show that I created with my friend Amy Bean, she and I do the Nice Girls Don't Win podcast together. It's just a fun show. It's kind of an intersection of horror and reality competition TV. Amazing. I mean, I clearly have a vested interest in this going somewhere. This doesn't exist anywhere else on the planet. So we'll see what other people say once we get this out to all the networks. So that's what I'm working on this summer, and then I'll probably be starting a new book project, because I have to intellectualize all my feelings. It's wild to think that if you played on Survivor right now, production would probably be talking about your family experiences and the way that you were raised and having to escape that, your relationships, your queer identity. I'm so glad I got to tell my story in my own words. I'm actually really grateful that I played Survivor in the era that I played where they didn't include my backstory and my family history and what was happening in my life, because I got to tell that. That's my story. I don't want anyone else telling that story. Are there parts of the Survivor process, the way it looks right now, that aren't just a little bit exploitative? The emotional music comes on and you know they're going to tell us this very intense story and why we should feel this way. It can be a little much. It's so interesting. I think what they're trying to do is to give viewers a more complete picture of the players, so that they know who we want to root for. And I think they're pulling on our emotions and our heartstrings as viewers, so that we get attached to certain players in a deeper way, in a more emotional way. I am amazed that some of those players are willing to share the things they're willing to share. That's some really personal information for your 30 seconds of Survivor . So many of the things you touch on in the book are, as we've been talking about, incredibly personal. They're also really political, like the way that women are used and abused, society's perception of women, LGBTQ rights, addiction. How does this make its way to the island? Are you talking about politics when you're there? For me as a player, I can't speak to anyone else's experience, but I am looking to bond with every single person in a very short amount of time in a deep way. So I ask questions about people. I find out where their belief systems lie, which you're relating to their politics. But it's not about Democrat or Republican, it's more about, What do they value? I have a lot of empathy for people, and I've gone through some pretty harrowing personal life experiences, especially around addiction, especially around just acceptance of human beings across the board. Life is hard, we're all doing the best we can. And I offer open space for people to be themselves. I connect most with people who share values of acceptance, and I gravitate towards those people, and I probably will blindside people who don't. Who is on that blindside list? I'm gonna win the game. And if your value systems don't jive with mine, we're not gonna connect, we're not gonna bond. I'm not gonna be able to trust you, and so I'm gonna have to blindside you, or get you out somehow, but it's most likely gonna be a blindside. Did this come up at all in Australia? It comes up every single time. Yeah, in every game. This is how I connect with people, it's through sharing stories. Being curious about other people, asking questions, and then looking for places where the things that we care about connect. You don't have to tell me who, but I would be OK if you did—what are some of the most egregious non-connection moments you've experienced on the island, political or otherwise? Well, I don't know JT's politics or Rupert [Boneham]'s, or, any of those guys on Heroes vs. Villains for that matter, like Colby [Donaldson], but I don't think that we share the same politics, and we very clearly did not connect. And you saw how that turned out for those guys. [ Laughs. ] OK, the Black Widow is still here. I think she's in the room with us right now. I'm sorry to say. I'm telling you, I'm a whole person. You're a holistic person. I know, but inside of a game, it's a bubble, and inside of that container, who are your people, who's your tribe, and who's not? I have a very high tolerance for people and their differences, and I just think do you, as long as you're not hurting someone else or taking away someone else's right to be a person. But if you're going to come after someone's right to exist as themselves? No, that doesn't work for me. When people are on the beach, and they're at the basest version of themselves, I've always wondered what comes out after that. Yeah. I mean, I think the most divisive for me was the Micronesia finale and the Heroes vs. Villains finale. That's where you see the politics play out. That's where the voting happens for the winner. I think you saw where people stood in those moments. And that's not to say that people can't change once they get more information, because some of them did apologize afterward. But, you know, some of them didn't, too. Survivor is a very political game. I've talked with Jon Lovett on his podcast about this too. I think there's a reason why people who are into politics love Survivor . My entire life is explained now! You're welcome. I validate you. For my last question, I want to get back to you as this professional reality TV star, content creator, and author. You are continuing and continuing to put yourself out into the world, even though you've been burnt by that so many times. Why did you decide that you were going to keep pushing? I think it's because I am a Scorpio moon. I don't know! I just have this deep hunger to feel. And I'm super curious and adventurous. And I really like putting myself into extreme environments where I have very little control, and seeing what happens and how I adapt, and pushing myself to be resilient. And I think that that is what keeps me growing and young. I want to grow, I want to learn, I want to develop. I want to get better and better and enjoy all there is to enjoy. And I even enjoy suffering. And pain is enjoyable to me, alongside joy and ecstasy and all pleasure. All of it is kind of enjoyable. So like I wrote about in my book, this is my kink, like Survivor reality TV competition shows, putting myself out there, exposing myself in a way that supports people's development and growth and people's acceptance of themselves. That's what my life is about. So I'm gonna keep doing it, even if it seems insane.
USA Today
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
When does 'Love Island USA' 2025 start? Season 7 release date, time, how to watch and more
When does 'Love Island USA' 2025 start? Season 7 release date, time, how to watch and more Show Caption Hide Caption Video: Joe Manganiello wants these stars on 'Deal or No Deal Island' Through its first two seasons, "Deal or No Deal Island" has had some heavy hitters in the reality TV world. Pack your bags, reality TV fans. We're heading back to the "Love Island USA" villa for another juicy, drama-filled summer vacation. Season 7 of "Love Island USA," Peacock's hit dating show similar to the British series of the same name, premieres soon. Like previous seasons, the series will follow a group of singles who share a luxury villa, hoping to find love and win a $100,000 cash prize. Here's when "Love Island USA" season 7 premieres and how to watch it. When is 'Love Island USA' 2025? "Love Island USA" season 7 premieres Tuesday, June 3, per NBC. What time does 'Love Island USA' season 7 premiere? The season 7 premiere of "Love Island USA" airs at 9 p.m. ET. Where to watch 'Love Island USA' season 7 "Love Island USA" season 7 will air exclusively on Peacock. How often does 'Love Island USA' air? New episodes will air every night except Wednesdays, NBC reports. Who's the host of 'Love Island USA' season 7? Ariana Madix from the reality series 'Vanderpump Rules" will return as the host of 'Love Island USA' for season 7. 'Love Island USA' season 7 cast The cast of "Love Island USA" season 7 has yet to be released, but NBC states that a cast announcement is coming soon. Where is 'Love Island USA' filmed? The show is filmed in Fiji. Who is still together from 'Love Island USA' season 6? Season 6 winners Kordell Beckham and Serena Page are still together, according to an Instagram post shared on April 29. Runners-up Leah Kateb and Miguel Harichi are still going strong as well, with the couple posting a lovey-dovey Instagram photo May 6. Third-place finalists JaNa Craig and Kenneth 'Kenny' Rodriguez are also still together, per the couple's Instagram bios. What is 'Love Island: Beyond the Villa'? Peacock announced April 17 that a new spinoff series titled "Love Island: Beyond the Villa" will soon premiere on the streaming platform, Teen Vogue reports. The series will follow "Love Island USA" season 6 cast members as they navigate "new careers, evolving friendships, newfound fame, and complex relationships" outside the villa. Who's in 'Love Island: Beyond the Villa'? The cast will include Serena Page, JaNa Craig, Leah Kateb, Aaron Evans, Miguel Harichi, Kaylor Martin, Connor Newsum, Kenny Rodriguez, Olivia Walker, Kendall Washington and other former Islanders. Kordell Beckham will reportedly not be joining the main cast because he has secured a different acting role, the site adds, but will likely make an appearance in the spinoff. 'Love Island: Beyond the Villa' release date A premiere date for "Love Island: Beyond the Villa" has yet to be announced, but it will likely air sometime in the summer of 2025. How to watch 'Love Island USA' seasons 4-6 You can catch up on seasons 4-6 of 'Love Island USA' on Peacock. How to watch 'Love Island USA' seasons 1-3 Seasons 1-3 of "Love Island USA" are available to stream on Paramount+.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Parvati Shallow's next reality TV show will reunite her with two U.S. ‘Survivor' legends in Australia: It's a ‘wild ride'
After traveling the world to exotic islands (Survivor: Micronesia), forbidden temples (Deal or No Deal Island), and Scottish castles (The Traitors), where is Parvati Shallow off to next? The 42-year-old American reality TV superstar had better start practicing her didgeridoo, because her next venture will be Survivor: Australia v the World. The highly anticipated season is being dubbed the "Olympics of Survivor" because it pits contestants from Australia against those from the United States, New Zealand, South Africa, and Norway. More from GoldDerby 'Deal or No Deal Island' champ on 'incredible' $5.8 million record win, and why he 'related' to new Banker Chrissy Teigen 'I go out to win!' Parvati Shallow admits she would've cut her 'Deal or No Deal Island' family members, teases her 'Survivor' future 'The Voice' Season 27 Episode 8 recap: Michael and Kelsea close out 'Battles' round with final steals Parvati will be competing alongside two fellow U.S. Survivor legends, Cirie Fields and Tony Vlachos. 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. As far as whether she'd want to take part in the 50th season of the American Survivor, Parvati tells Gold Derby, "I would have a hard time, because it doesn't seem like people want to play with me, or they haven't in the past. So, I'm not really feeling compelled to go out." Comparatively, she says her upcoming stint on Survivor: Australia v the World will be a "wild ride." SEE'I go out to win!' Parvati Shallow admits she would've cut her 'Deal or No Deal Island' family members, teases her 'Survivor' future The international program will debut this July on Australia's Network 10. Sadly, there are no current plans for U.S. distribution of the program. Likewise, older seasons of Australian Survivor are not available to watch in the States due to streaming rights issues. (Online Survivor communities continue to debate this hot topic.) The Australian installment filmed in Samoa, just like 2023's Heroes v Villains, 2024's Titans v Rebels, and 2025's Brains v Brawn II. But unlike those cycles, which each took place over 47 days, Australia v the World will be a shortened version at only 16 days. In addition, there will be only 14 castaways, down from the normal 24 who play a normal season Down Under. In addition to Parvati, Cirie, and Tony, it has been announced that "King" George Mladenov, Shonee Bowtell, and Kirby Bentley will be representing Australia. The identities of the New Zealand, South Africa, and Norway competitors will be unveiled at a later date. Actor and TV personality Jonathan LaPaglia returns as the show's resident torch-snuffer, who notably closes out each episode with the same iconic catchphrase as America's host Jeff Probst: "The tribe has spoken." Probst has gone on record that he doesn't watch Australian Survivor, or any rival reality shows, because he never wants to be in a position where someone accuses him of borrowing an idea from elsewhere. Besides her winning moment in Micronesia (watch below), Parvati also finished sixth in Cook Islands, second in Heroes vs. Villains, and 15th in Winners at War. As for non-Survivor projects, she placed 11th in The Traitors Season 2, and fourth in Deal or No Deal Island Season 2. SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby 'The Masked Singer' spoilers: Who is Boogie Woogie? 'American Idol' deaths: Full list of singers we've lost 'The Masked Singer' spoilers: Who is Griffin? Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Deal or No Deal Island Season 2, Episode 12 Finale Recap: One Player Makes History
Well, Season 2 of is almost over. Sigh. This season leveled up in every possible way. The new female Banker's twists were wild, and the gameplay was outstanding. Last time, CK, David, and Lete competed in the final excursion, which brought back plenty of familiar faces. In the end, CK had the longest time for the challenge and was eliminated. So, let's dive into the Season 2, Episode 12 finale recap of Deal or No Deal Island, 'The Final Deal.' Lete has $5.5 million total from the cases she brought back. So, David needs his final case from Phillip to be worth more than $1.8 million to play the Banker. Alexis Lete was the thirteenth player eliminated in Deal or No Deal Island Season 2. David's case was worth $2 million, so David will play the Banker! In Lete's final confessional, she said, 'I wanted to win this so badly, to the point where I could cry right now, but I'm going to hold it back. Tonight, the way it went down, spoke true to my character of trusting people.' She added, 'But I played to the best of my ability and I'm incredibly proud of myself.' Lete did play an excellent game. David Genat faced the Banker in the Deal or No Deal Season 2 finale When he found out that he would be playing for the final case, David got down on his knees. 'How does it feel to be the last guest standing, or kneeling?' host and Game Master Joe Manganiello asked. 'You dream about it. You pray about it. I can't believe it's happening, Joe,' David said. 'It doesn't even feel real.' Suddenly, Joe received a phone call. The Banker rewarded David by adding the highest case value from the last excursion to the final case. So, David is playing for $12,232,001! So, Joe asked if David was ready to compete for the money. 'Thank you everybody. WHAT A SHOW!' David yelled as he headed towards Joe. 'I'm getting the f*ck away from this water!' Joe exclaimed as David hugged him. As David entered The Temple, all of the former contestants were there, cheering him on. This cast is perfection! If David wins the final case, it will be the highest cash prize in TV history. When asked what propelled David to the finale, he replied, 'I think it was my social game. The connections I had in there were real and genuine. And I really loved playing with you guys. You're awesome.' When Dr. Will was asked what he thought of David, Dickson, and Parvati's alliance, the Family, his answer didn't disappoint. 'I thought it was like the Manson family. I was concerned and I was trying to fracture the Family, and that's one of the reasons that I targeted M.G., and I'm so sorry,' Dr. Will said. 'You're not sorry!' M.G. exclaimed, and Will agreed. Finally, Seychelle chimed in on the Family. 'I'm going to keep it a buck with you. When I saw how my alliance was moving, I was also, 'Make me an auntie. Cousin Sey from around the way,'' she said. Chrissy Teigen made her entrance as the Banker, and the contestants went wild! Chrissy shared a video clip, showing that she was case model 12 on the original Deal or No Deal. For David's game, there are 26 cases. Inside one of these cases is the final case, worth $12,232,001. Twelve more high-value amounts were added to the right side of the board. And the left side was filled with low values. For his case, David picked 18. In the first round, he had to open six cases. And he is focusing on numbers associated with love. During the first round, David managed to knock off almost all low numbers. So, Chrissy decided to chat with David. 'David, I have to admit, I only invited you here for eye candy,' she said. David's first offer of $230,000 elicited boos from the audience. He declined the deal, so in the second round, he had to open five cases. During this round, he knocked off two high values, including the second highest on the board. Chrissy's offer for the second round was preceded by the revelation that she is a Boston Rob [Mariano] fan. But David wasn't fazed. 'That's cold-blooded,' he quipped. 'He didn't win this show, did he?' The offer was $499,000. Suddenly, Dr. Will asked if he could say something to David. 'Australian Dave, don't be a b*tch mate.' As you may recall, that is what David called Will during his chaotic Temple. As he declined the deal, David said, 'Mama didn't raise no b*tch, Joe.' During the third round, David had to open four cases. So, David asked Dickson to pick a case, and he mentioned 10, for one of his favorite case models, Anya, or 13 for Layla. 'What the hell?' Chrissy said as Dickson laughed. David picked 10, and later 13, and both were low numbers. Then Parvati volunteered that her birthday was on the 21st. 'I guess it's kind of clear that you don't really wear the pants in this Family,' Chrissy told David. Burn! So, the new Banker offered David $994,000. There were still six cases worth over $1 million, including the final case. Meanwhile, there were five numbers left on the low side of the board. In the next round, David has to open three cases. Decisions, decisions. Welp, he was moving on again. After surviving the fourth round, Chrissy asked David what he won on Australian Survivor. He said $500,000. So, Chrissy offered him $1,523,000. If David takes this deal, he will be the biggest winner in DONDI history. However, he only has to choose two cases in the fifth round. Joe cautioned him that if he takes the $12 million off the board, he won't get another high offer. Meanwhile, going against Dickson, Dr. Will, and Lete's advice, he refused the deal. After he picked a case for his eldest son, the contestants clapped and chanted, 'One more case!' Somehow, he managed to keep the $12 million on the board. 'I live for this, man. I live for it!' David exclaimed, along with a growl like a cheetah. Sexy! 'David, I have to say you are a worthy opponent. I'm going to look you right in those gorgeous, Australian eyes,' Chrissy said. 'I am going to give you an offer, and you are going to take it.' His offer is now $1,980,000. David has the $1 million and the $12,232,001 case left, along with four low values. In the next round, he had to open two more cases. Joe pointed out that it was 'not a player's board.' However, David was in some type of zone. 'What's meant for me is meant for me,' David replied as he declined the deal. Now David is in the sixth round, which is insane! He knocked off the $1 million, but the $12 million was still in play. Plus, Chrissy's next offer was $2,900,000. Once again, David turned down the cash offer. Joe looked surprised, Parvati looked terrified, and La Shell proclaimed, 'He's a man possessed.' During the seventh round, David had to pick one case. I am breaking out in a cold sweat. David felt that he had a sign, so he kissed his necklace and selected case 17. Finally, Kamari opened the case, and it was $750. David said he closed his eyes and saw a 'flash' on case 17. He added, 'Joe, I give my game up to God now,' he said. While Chrissy knelt in front of the Banker's throne, she gave her next offer of $3,870,018. It is the biggest offer in DONDI history. According to David's logic, he picked case 18 for his case. Case 7 (his lucky number) is still there. But he has an issue with the other remaining case, number 24. 'David, are you really prepared to walk away from something this big?' Joe asked. At this point, Dickson and Parvati were pleading for David to take the deal. You guessed it! David declined the deal. Chrissy was lying on the floor, Joe had his hands on his knees, and Dickson looked like he was going to faint. It was the final round, and David had $25, $75, and $12,232,001 left on the board. He had to select one case. Then Ben opened the case that David picked, and its value was $25. 'David, I'm not going to mess around. You played an amazing game. This is by far the highest offer in Deal or No Deal history,' Chrissy said, offering him $5.8 million. If David turns it down, he will have to open his case. It could contain more than $12 million, or $75. Yikes! Naturally, David wanted to play the most epic game ever. However, Joe told him that if he took the Banker's offer, it would be the most money ever won on network TV. 'You would truly be, the Golden God,' the DONDI host told him. But if he turns it down and his case contains the $75, his rep would plummet. David doesn't want to go home empty-handed. Finally, he took the deal. Hallelujah! This Temple was EPIC! After everyone rejoiced, Joe asked him to open his case. He had $75, so he made a good deal. In his final confessional, the winner of Deal or No Deal Island Season 2, said, 'I actually can't even believe it. I knew I had it. I was feeling my dad was in there with me, God was in there with me,' David said. 'Oh, my goodness!' In a clip at the end of the show, Chrissy said, 'Am I fired? I'm literally the worst Banker of all time!' Congratulations to David for making DONDI history! Deal or No Deal Island is streaming on Peacock. TELL US – DID YOU ENJOY SEASON 2 OF DEAL OR NO DEAL ISLAND? ARE YOU SHOCKED AT HOW MUCH MONEY DAVID WON? The post Deal or No Deal Island Season 2, Episode 12 Finale Recap: One Player Makes History appeared first on Reality Tea.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
East Brunswick native, former Bridgewater teacher eliminated from 'Deal or No Deal Island'
It was the end of the line for East Brunswick native and former Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School middle school teacher Phillip Solomon Tuesday on Season 2 of "Deal or No Deal Island" (DONDI). Episode 10, which included a double elimination, left viewers knowing Solomon was headed home − though $75,000 richer − but cut off in a cliffhanger as to the identity of the second player eliminated. DONDI is a reality game show set on an island off the shores of Panama on which contestants compete in excursions to collect briefcases. After the weekly excursion, the players participate in the Banker's Challenge, the conventional high-stakes game of "Deal or No Deal." Known for his witty banter and penchant for drama, Solomon was one of the final five DONDI contestants. Throughout the show's antics, he maintained his kinship with fellow players, although he is "done" with one "backstabber" now − Courtney Kim (C.K.) "I feel amazing about the way I played," Solomon said to Boston Rob in the DONDI after-show. "I was so scared that I was going to come in here and be not a true version of myself, not an authentic version of me and I was going to hold back on certain things. And I did not. I think we can watch every episode and be like, 'Yep, that was me 100% of the time.' I didn't win, but I get to walk away with so much more. A wallet full of cash, a smile on my face, and I promise you, a heart that is so, so full." Solomon was raised in East Brunswick and became a mainstay in the drama department. He also taught English for a decade at Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School. Solomon relocated to Austin, Texas a few years ago. The fitness instructor/bodybuilder became a fan favorite on the show, dealing out pithy banter each week amid fair play − and that honesty may have sealed his fate. Noting that the paradise was full of "snakes and eels everywhere" − and not the reptilian kind − Solomon was up against expert manipulators. It was during "The Banker's Fire Pit" excursion that set Solomon up for the his final showdown. More: East Brunswick native, former Bridgewater-Raritan teacher will 'go to war' on reality show Players had to hold onto a bag of money above a burn pit and whomever held on the longest would automatically win $75,000 − even if they were not the winner of the game as a whole. The sacks were calibrated to weigh one-quarter of each player's weight. As they were holding onto the bags, players watched as the briefcase models opened cases with random monetary values. Whoever secured the highest-value case won automatic immunity, with the lowest being up for elimination. To claim a case, the players had to drop their money bag, thereby burning it. It didn't take long for the schemes and shenanigans to kick off in episode 10. From the start, Solomon was considering just how much the $75,000 would afford him "stability," but as he said to Boston Rob, he "would not ever be like, 'Guys, I've had a good run!' " "Even if I felt it in my head, in my spirit, I never would have said that out loud," Solomon said. "Because I'm not stupid, because I know that everyone's always looking for an easy out." Solomon held on the longest, guaranteeing himself $75,000, but ended with the lowest value case. "Australian Survivor" champion David Genat nabbed the highest case. Genat then chose who to send home and who would face the banker. Even after an earlier promise to "take each other to the end," Genat sent Solomon home. Trust is a tricky thing − and perhaps it was misplaced, or perhaps Solomon was ready to go home and relax with a few thousand under his pillow. email: cmakin@ Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@ or @CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on NJ native, former teacher eliminated on 'Deal or No Deal Island'
