Reality TV Stars Compete for Record $200 Million Prize on ‘Deal or No Deal Island’

Reality TV veterans, including Survivor‘s Parvati Shallow and Big Brother‘s Dr. Will Kirby, are set to compete for a record-breaking $200 million prize in the second season of NBC‘s ‘Deal or No Deal Island.’ The show, hosted by actor Joe Manganiello, premiered with a two-hour episode on January 7, 2025, and promises high-stakes drama, strategic gameplay, and jaw-dropping moments.

Manganiello, who also serves as an executive producer, described the season as ‘the greatest moment in game show television history,’ teasing an otherworldly finale that left cast and crew in disbelief. ‘What happened is impossible. It is just impossible,’ Manganiello said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. ‘You’ll see what I mean, but it is like an argument for something more out there than our humdrum everyday lives.’

The show, a spin-off of the classic ‘Deal or No Deal,’ places contestants on a remote island where they must navigate challenges, alliances, and high-stakes gambles to win the largest cash prize in television history. Season two features a mix of reality TV legends, including Survivor Australia’s David Genat and Boston Rob Mariano, who competed in the first season.

Parvati Shallow, known for her strategic prowess on Survivor, joined the cast to prove she could outplay her peers. ‘I’m a catalyzing force, and I’ve come to accept that,’ Shallow told PEOPLE. ‘I just have a way of relating to people and building rapport and maneuvering people through human emotion and psychology that it stirs things up.’

The season’s finale reportedly stretched into the early hours of the morning, with contestants and producers alike stunned by the outcome. ‘The final Temple went to three in the morning,’ Manganiello revealed. ‘People were losing their minds, heads in their hands, pacing around. The insurance team was there. It was crazy behind the scenes.’

With its unique blend of strategy, luck, and high-stakes drama, ‘Deal or No Deal Island’ has solidified its place as a must-watch reality competition. New episodes air weekly on NBC and stream the following day on Peacock.