Boston Rob & Parvati Came Up with This New Competition Series Idea After "A Lot of Adult Cocktails"
The reality TV titans met up on Parvati's new podcast, Nice Girls Don't Win, to talk Deal or No Deal Island and The Traitors.
It’s all fun and games for reality TV legends Parvati Shallow and "Boston Rob" Mariano, and it just keeps getting better.
The former Survivor contestants, whose razor-sharp skills were put to the test in Peacock’s The Traitors, came up with their own hilarious competition series, and who better? The game show afficionados revealed their idea in the debut episode of Parvati’s podcast, Nice Girls Don’t Win, where she and reality TV producer Amy Bean delve weekly into the highs and lows of the unscripted television industry.
But it was during Parvati and Boston Rob’s chat about NBC’s Deal or No Deal Island — on which Parvati continues to compete in Season 2 — when light bulbs illuminated overhead with one crackling idea.
RELATED: Boston Rob Wanted La Shell to Win DONDI Season 2: "I Was Rooting For You Big Time"
“Full disclosure, this was after a couple of adult cocktails in the middle of the afternoon,” Boston Rob admitted of the idea.
Parvati Shallow and Boston Rob meet up on Parvati's new podcast
Parvati said it was because Boston Rob’s flight from Pensacola was delayed — thanks to an “act of God” weather incident — that the longtime acquaintances recently had time to meet for a drink (or two) in New York City before Boston Rob could take to the skies again. That was when, according to Parvati, they “came up with a pretty stellar TV show concept.”
“Because Rob and I have this background; we’re both known for being adventurous, living on beaches, strategy, gameplay … we’re gonna create a reality competition show that’s on a beach, probably on an island, we’re gonna have people do challenges,” Parvati joked.
RELATED: Boston Rob on What Makes Traitors "Almost Impossible" Compared to Deal or No Deal Island, Survivor
Above all, they decided to call it "The Prob Show," a portmanteau of their first names.
Podcast co-host Amy Bean erupted in laughter as the screen legends fondly recalled coming up with the idea.
“It’s gonna be like, ‘Hey, would you jump out of an airplane for 10 bucks?’ And they’ll be like, ‘Prob!” Parvati continued.
“Did I mention it was a lot of adult cocktails?” Boston Rob added as they laughed together over the ongoing joke.
Rob and Parvati have been friends for almost 20 years
Parvati wanted to “get to the heart of the matter” in the podcast episode by reflecting on their nearly 20 years of friendship. They joked about swapping shows, with Boston Rob competing on Season 3 of The Traitors one season after Parvati (at the time of the January 29, 2025, podcast recording, Boston Rob was still a Traitor) and Parvati competing on DONDI Season 2, one season after Boston Rob.
Parvati recently returned alongside Bravo’s Kate Chastain for a deadly game of chess, just two episodes after Boston Rob’s banishment.
“Our paths have kind of passed a lot over the past, like, 20 years,” Boston Rob commented. “They keep getting interwoven.”
Bean said she would have loved to see Parvati and Boston Rob share the small screen, years after nearly working closely together in Season 40 of Survivor. Ultimately, they “got separated” after casting decisions, Boston Rob said.
“They couldn’t let us get any ground,” Parvati added.
However, later in the podcast, Boston Rob said he would “definitely collaborate” with Parvati in the future.
“I would definitely be open to doing something with Parv,” he continued, noting Parvati’s firm grasp on “the three big facets” of game-show television: The social, strategic, and physical game. “And you do it at the elite level that only a few of us do.”
RELATED: Boston Rob's 7 Greatest Moments on The Traitors Season 3
High compliments from one great competitor to another — Parv and B-Rob tracksuits not included on the Nice Girls Don’t Win podcast.
Parvati’s game-playing skills are a must-see as she continues playing for a record-breaking prize on Deal or No Deal Island, with all-new episodes airing Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock.
And don’t miss the pair’s epic appearances in the current third season of The Traitors, available to watch now on the streaming platform.
