Dr. Will Kirby Returns to Reality Competition for Season 2 — Meet the 14 Contestants
The battle for briefcases returns!
On Thursday, Oct. 10, NBC announced the next crop of contestants who will head to The Banker’s private island in Deal or No Deal Island season 2 hosted by Joe Manganiello.
Fourteen newcomers will compete in challenges and fight for more than $200 million in prize money hidden around the island. The season 2 participant list includes three reality TV titans: Big Brother winner Dr. Will Kirby, Australian Survivor winner David Genat and Survivor winner and The Traitors season 2 star Parvati Shallow.
Shallow, 42, tells PEOPLE she wanted to come on Deal or No Deal Island after seeing fellow Survivor alum Boston Rob Mariano compete on season 1.
“We have a bit of a competitive nature between us, so I'm like, ‘If Rob did it and he went really far, I could do it. I could win this thing and I could take the crown and that would make me feel like I was on top of the world,’’ she says. “Rob's such a big gambler, he does that in his daily life. I'm not a big gambler, but I'm good at these games.”
Still, Shallow knew Deal or No Deal Island would be unlike any of the previous shows on which she’s appeared. “I knew this would be a different experience to any other game I've ever played because there is that luck element,” the reality star says. “It's strategic and social, but it's not about majority rules. It's more about building up constellations of protection.”
For Kirby, Deal or No Deal Island marks the first reality competition he’s participated in in 20 years. The dermatologist, 51, did it for his children Cash and Scarlett.
“My kids are 11 and 14, and they've never seen me on a competition reality show,” Kirby tells PEOPLE. “They've never seen me do any of that ever, it's just not something we watch. My daughter in particular, we watched Deal or No Deal Island season 1. I won't tell you what it was, but she said, ‘It would be really, really funny if you did this on that show.’ And I said, ‘You know what, sweetheart? I'm going to do that.’ And I did it. I think she's going to watch it and love it, and it's going to be hilarious.”
While Ganet, 44, has had success in Australia as reality competitor and model, he looked to Deal or No Deal Island as a way to break into the American market. “I really came into this wanting to create a relationship with NBC, wanting show them what I can do,” the father of three tells PEOPLE. “I wanted to entertain people at home watching the show, so I wanted to go as big as possible.”
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Season 2 will also see Banker’s Assistants Ben Crofchick and Kamari Love reprise their roles as the keepers of the briefcases.
“We both grew up watching Deal or No Deal, so, we're very familiar with the game,” Crofchick tells PEOPLE. “Everyone on their couch watching it, when they're jumping up or they're getting excited or nervous or they have favorites, me and Kamari have the same exact reaction, just on camera.”
The assistants even play along for their own stakes. “You'll see him and I making deals in the back row when we're on a hold [from filming],” Love says. “We're like, ‘All right, where do you think the $2.5 million is?’ And we'll be betting on the case. I owe him two lattes. I think he owes me one Refresher.”
Read on to find out who will be playing for real on season 2, along with their bios provided by NBC.
Henderson, Nev.
Rock Carlson is a 65-years-young father of three sons and papa to six grandchildren. Rock has spent his life mastering intense social dynamics as a correctional officer and parole agent within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation system. With 26 years of experience, he’s become an expert at reading people and defusing tense situations – skills he’ll bring to the island to outwit his competitors. As a devoted husband married for 39 years with plans to move to Folsom, Calif., to be closer to family, Rock aims to keep his tough past hidden, presenting himself as a humble landscaper while aiming to win big for his family. Rock is a prankster and big gambler who thrives on taking risks. His plan is to be a non-threat and keep the focus on his fellow contestants before betting on himself to win it all. After years of catching bad guys and investing in his community, this is Rock’s chance to get into the mix and prove he’s still got it.
Greer, S.C.
Southern belle Maria-Grace Cook is much tougher than she looks. As the only female firefighter on her shift, she has worked twice as hard to prove herself. Now as an EMT, she thrives under pressure, and she hopes those skills will help her outsmart and outlast others on the island. A small-town girl at heart, Maria still lives in her childhood home, surrounded by her tight-knit family and 20-pound tortoise, Tortilla. She plans to play up her innocence early on, only to later unleash her physical strength and dominate challenges when others least expect it. She’ll draw on her adrenaline-fueled lifestyle of skydiving, hiking and daily gym sessions to bring out her inner beast when it matters most. With a knack for blackjack, she’s betting big on herself and hoping to win enough to save her childhood home before her parents sell it.
Staten Island, N.Y.
Seychelle Cordero, a charismatic flight attendant with a flair for customer service, is a true social chameleon ready to shine on the island. Growing up in a vibrant Puerto Rican household, she’s always been the star of her own show, radiating energy and confidence. With her bold personality and a sharp grasp of social strategy from binge-watching every season of Survivor, she’s poised to outsmart her competition. Although the lack of air conditioning and pesky insects give her pause, she’s excited to dive into island living.
Perth, Australia
David Genat, known as the Golden God, is a legendary Survivor player, host and actor and the ultimate thrill-seeker. A two-time veteran of Australian Survivor and the winner of an All-Star season, it should come as no surprise that he possesses unparalleled skills in persuasion and manipulation. Before dominating the reality TV scene, David enjoyed a successful modeling career working with top brands such as Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger, all while juggling life as a father of four. An adventurous spirit at heart, he loves camping, jiu-jitsu and motorcycle trips. Now he’s ready to prove his mastermind gameplay in the U.S. and secure a bright future for his family. For David, it’s all about going big or going home.
Charlotte, N.C.
Courtney Kim, known as CK, thrives in high-stakes environments as a corporate banker and a competitive poker player, boasting two World Series of Poker championship rings. Raised by a Korean immigrant father and a southern white mother, she’s navigated the challenges of fitting in while embracing her unique identity. As a high-profile banker managing million-dollar deals, CK has honed her networking skills to outshine the competition. She plans to unleash her honesty implementing a reverse-bluff strategy on the island, all while aiming to pay off her grandmother’s house as a heartfelt thank you to the family she loves.
Los Angeles
Will “Dr. Will” Kirby is the Chief Medical Officer of LaserAway, the nation’s leading aesthetic dermatology group. While he has built an impressive healthcare career, he’s best known to television viewers by way of his 2001 win on Big Brother 2, where he created the first alliance in the show history, pioneered purposely losing competitions as a strategy and coined the now commonly used term “showmance.” He’s the caretaker of the only bicephalid Sternotherus odoratus (two-headed musk turtle) in the world, his least favorite jellybean flavor is buttered popcorn, and he will respond back to anyone who calls him freakishly handsome on social media. With an unapologetic attitude, he plans to make an electrifying entrance on the island and shock his fellow players with fearless gameplay and decades of reality television prowess.
Louisville, Ky.
At 6-feet tall, Alexis Lete, known as Lete, is an unforgettable force of confidence, blending brains and brawn with a passion for female empowerment. From being her high school valedictorian to earning the title of Miss Indiana and finishing third in the Miss USA pageant, Lete has never shied away from a challenge. She was a Division 1 volleyball player, made waves as a WWE wrestler and now thrives as a free-spirited artist. Lete isn’t afraid to make a quick connection to get ahead and cut ties if it means winning the game. Driven by her competitive spirit, Lete aims for nothing less than first place and dreams of using her winnings to move to New York and further expand her creative outlets.
Eagle River, Wis.
Luke Olejniczak is a private chef and an outdoorsman at heart who thrives in the wild – tracking game, fishing on the icy lakes of northern Wisconsin and training his two energetic scent hounds. He hopes that his problem-solving abilities and physical endurance, honed through distance running and rigorous outdoor activities, will give him a competitive edge. A highly calculated individual, Luke recently took a bold leap of faith by launching his own private chef business in a rural area. As he steps onto the island, he plans to embrace even greater risks to secure his victory.
Redondo Beach, Calif.
Sydnee Peck has been fiercely independent since 16, never waiting for others to act and refusing to take no for an answer. As a teenager, she stepped up as caretaker for her siblings and isn’t afraid to take bold risks, as shown by her decision to move across the country to study behavioral neuroscience at Columbia University and pursue a career in sales on Wall Street. Now a successful financial consultant thriving in a male-dominated industry, she’s no stranger to being underestimated. Armed with sharp analytical skills and undeniable charm, Sydnee is ready to outmaneuver her competition, even if it means bending the truth or playing a few mind games.
Los Angeles
Parvati Shallow is a mother, winner and five-time competitor of Survivor and breakout star of The Traitors on Peacock. She holds advanced certifications in yoga, meditation and breathwork, and is a passionate student of various healing and therapeutic modalities, including structural integration, Somatic Experiencing, acupuncture, nutrition, sound healing, hypnotherapy, IRF, IFS and many more. Her memoir, Nice Girls Don’t Win, will be published by the Dial Press with Random House in summer 2025. She brings almost 20 years of reality competition experience to the island.
Austin, Texas
Phillip Solomon puts his whole heart into everything he does. He has two master’s degrees, a background as a middle school teacher for more than 10 years and is a fitness instructor and choreographer. Growing up as one of the only minorities in his graduating class of over 700, Phillip learned to embrace standing out, striving to be the best in every arena he enters. Always an individual willing to rise to any challenge, he has continued to break barriers as one of the only Black educators in his former school district and the first Black male instructor in Texas at one of the top fitness brands in the country. With his mix of intellect, charisma and resilience, he’s ready to bring the heat to the island.
Austin, Texas
Storm Wilson is an all-American charmer with a passion for fitness. Born with what his parents believed resembled a lightning-shaped birthmark, he was given the name Storm and has embraced it ever since. As a project manager for a tech client, he’s mastered the art of sealing deals with his natural charisma. Outside of work, he’s active on the lake, wakeboarding and captaining boats full-time, and hitting the gym twice a day to stay in peak physical shape. With a competitive spirit and a strong athletic background, Storm is a formidable contender on the island. However, he’s also open to a showmance, fully aware the right lady might be his ultimate weakness in the end.
Wood River, Ill.
Dickson Wong is not your typical Gen-Z. A self-proclaimed free-spirited nerd with very little social media presence, he’s passionately dedicated to his community and serves as a vital force in his town’s Parks and Rec office, where his energy and charm shine. Dickson was born in New York and moved to a small town where he would meet his American family. Eager to embrace new experiences and take risks in this exciting chapter of his life, he’s ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, hoping his love for competition shows will guide him to the finish.
Chapel Hill, N.C.
Bubbly La Shell Wooten has found her groove in North Carolina, but her heart still beats with that unmistakable New York flair from her upbringing. As a devoted mother of two and recent empty nester, she effortlessly exudes southern hospitality, drawing people in with her warmth and wisdom. This natural charm shines in her job as a social worker, where she has a knack for reading people and uncovering what truly drives them. La Shell is excited to harness these talents for success on the island, but don’t let her sweetness fool you, she’s ready to put her master’s in human behavior to work, gaining competitors’ trust and skillfully playing with their emotions to stay ahead of the game.
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Deal or No Deal Island season 1 is currently streaming on Peacock.
Deal or No Deal Island Season 2, Episode 1 Premiere Recap: A Sly New Banker Changes the Game
Deal or No Deal Island is back for Season 2! The series, which blends the original Deal or No Deal with nail-biting physical challenges and strategic gameplay, blew our minds with its first season. Now 14 new players are staying on the Banker’s private, swampy, tropical island.
Once again, host and Game Master Joe Manganiello is ready to find the Banker’s ultimate challenger. Each competitor hopes to be the last player standing, securing the right to play the Banker for the entire prize pot. Last season, contestant Jordan Fowler took home $1,230,000 as the first winner of Deal or No Deal Island. Will the winner of Season 2 take home even more cash? Let’s dive into the Season 2 premiere recap of Deal or No Deal Island, “The Banker Strikes Back.”
Of course, there are three reality stars in the mix. Parvati and David have both won Survivor, while Dr. Will won Big Brother. It remains to be seen if these reality stars’ resumes will help or hurt them.
Parvati was getting some serious side-eye as the contestants sped towards the island in a boat. She wasn’t going to openly admit that she competed on Survivor four times and won once. The yoga teacher and life coach created an all-female alliance on Survivor known as the Black Widow Brigade. But no worries, Parvati isn’t a threat.
“I’m here to just blow fairy dust in people’s eyes so that they can’t imagine life without me. Look, I could be a cult leader if I want to,” she said in a confessional. That is probably true.
Finally, the players met Joe on a platform in the water. He warned the group to discard everything that they think they know because the Banker has flipped the game. For the first challenge, dubbed the “Banker’s Pyramid Scheme,” the Banker wanted to assess what type of players were on the island. There was a golden pyramid on a floating platform in the water, with water spraying out of its top. There are nearly $5 million in cases located on the structure.
To get one of the high-value cases, contestants must cross floating rocks that are slippery and loosely connected. Side two of the pyramid has cases that contain medium-value dollar amounts, and those contestants can take an easier, but longer, path through the jungle.
Side three boasts three red cases, and these can be reached via zipline. One has a “swap,” one has a “steal,” and one has the lowest case amount. The player with the highest value case will be safe and decide who will face the Banker in The Temple.
As the players started to plot their course, Joe added another wrinkle. Whichever path they choose will determine which team they are on, and the team with the lowest combined total is up for elimination. Yikes!
This challenge is insane. David, Seychelle, and Luke picked the zipline to the red cases. The plan was for Luke, who was at the top of the perch, to watch who took the $1 million case. However, instead of waiting, he just zipped away. Then Seychelle followed suit, leaving David alone to mutter about their lack of strategy.
Meanwhile, the team going over the rocks for the high-value cases included Phillip, Sydnee, Lete, and Parvati. Poor Sydnee had trouble crossing the rocks and hit her face on one. Ouch! I felt that at home.
Finally, David, who was still hanging out at the top of the zipline, saw Lete take the $1 million case. What he didn’t see was the players switch the cases after that. It’s an old-fashioned switcheroo, and I’m here for it!
Finally, it’s time for the teams to open their cases. The Jungle team, comprised of Storm, CK, La Shell, Rock, Maria Grace, and Dickson, have a combined total of $1.6 million. Rock has the highest case, worth $450,000.
Next, the Zipline team opened their cases. Luke had the “steal.” Poor David tried to convince Luke to take a case from the high-value team, like Lete’s $1 million. However, Luke insisted on taking Rock’s case for $450,000. All because he wanted a “bird in the hand.” Everyone was stunned. Then, Seychelle discovered that she had the lowest case in the game at $75,000. That meant that David had the “swap,” which was worth $200,000.
Of course, David thought that Lete had the $1 million because he didn’t know they switched cases. The Rocks team wanted to keep David in the game, so they decided to make him a deal and give him a case that they would ensure David’s team would come in second place. As Sydnee so eloquently put it, “He’s so hot it’s stupid.”
Sydnee went over and whispered the plan to David, but he wanted to come in first place. He refused and swapped for Lete’s case. However, when she opened it, it was only worth $500,000.
The Rocks team’s total was $2.55 million, and Sydnee had the $1 million case. Naturally, the Zipline crew was in last place. Since someone from their team had to face the Banker, both David and Luke wanted the opportunity. Luke’s reason for coming on the show was to help his father. When Luke went through a divorce, his father came out of retirement to help him. That is sweet.
The accommodations impressed the contestants. There are three lodging areas. The group quickly divided into pods. The Red Dome has C.K., Rock, Dickson, and Parvati. Then, we have the Blue Dome, which Lete, Phillip, Seychelle, Luke, and Storm call home. They quickly form the “high-five alliance.” Finally, the Yellow Dome has David, Sydnee, La Shell, and Maria Grace. Welcome to the social game, folks!
Sydnee told David that he wasn’t going anywhere. She wanted him to go steady … oops, I mean, always be her challenge partner. “Sydnee wants to actually eat me,” David told the camera. “Girl, I’m married, you know? Step off!”
Meanwhile, as individuals approached Parvati and told her that they knew who she was, she asked them not to tell anyone. However, David was in for a shock, because Parvati is a fan of his! He hoped to fly under the radar the whole time. And so, the Black Widow and the “Golden God of Australian Survivor” made a pact to go to the end. “Thank God I’ve got someone out here I can play with!” Parvati said. Then they giggled over how sweet and innocent the normal players were.
However, Parvati took a shine to Dickson, and his story of how his parents had him live with an elderly couple who had grandchildren. Parvati and David are now his “mom” and “dad.”
Meanwhile, Seychelle doesn’t want to face the Banker, and she doesn’t plan to go home. She told Lete and Phillip that if someone has to go, it should be David because he is a threat. Then she told Luke that sending David home would be “a sick move.” I see you, Seychelle, working that social game.
Luke Olejniczak faces off against the Banker in Deal or No Deal Island Season 2, Episode 1.
At The Temple, one thing was clear: Syndee loved to have all the attention on her. She claimed that she was the team leader, which caused some eye-rolling from Phillip, Parvati, and Lete. Finally, Luke stepped up to face the Banker. “This is what I want. Back where I come from, when we’re ready to go to work, we roll up our sleeves, Joe,” he stated, rolling up his sleeves.
Then, the Banker called before the game started. It was Howie Mandel, and he video-chatted with the new contestants. He let them know two things. One, he was not impressed by their performance. And two, he is not the Banker this season. He found his ultimate competitor in Jordan, so he was letting a new Banker take control.
It was time for Joe to get down to business. The prize total will grow every game until the finale. The largest case amounts that the players retrieve during the excursion are added to the board, along with low numbers from the Banker. Luke needed to make a good deal to stay in the game. A good deal means taking an offer that is higher than what is in his case.
Finally, Luke chose number seven for his case. He selected four cases, but a bored Banker only offered him $55,000. He said, “No deal,” and continued to the next round. Afterward, the Banker’s new offer was $220,000. Luke still wouldn’t accept the deal, and he knocked the $1 million off the board in the third round.
Wow – this banker doesn’t play. The new offer was $185,000. Once again, Luke moved on to round four, where he had to select one case. That case knocked another high number off the board, leaving only $1, $500, and $600,000 on the board.
The Banker offered $218,000, or Luke could open one final case. Luke decided to play on, much to Seychelle’s delight. “What I’m hoping for is that Luke makes a terrible deal with the Banker and he gets his *ss shipped back home to Wisconsin,” she stated.
Well, Luke’s final pick was the $600,000 case. The Banker called back with the lowest offer in Deal or No Deal Island history: $300. Meanwhile, Sydnee kept giving advice but then told everyone else not to say anything. What?! Once again, Luke rejected the offer. His case must have a value of $500 for him to stay.
Luke Olejniczak was the first player eliminated in Deal or No Deal Island Season 2.
Welp, the private chef had the $1, which was added to the prize pot. “I put our team at risk. They both get to fight on to live on another day,” he told the group.
In his final confessional, Luke stated, “I got what I deserved, but I’m not going to dwell on the past. The only thing that would be worse than being eliminated is being eliminated when it’s not in your control.”
Before the group headed back to camp, Joe issued a warning. “But beware of the Banker, you never know what she will do next,” he stated. And the crowd went wild! So, who could this new female Banker be?
The next morning, Parvati and David decide to wait until after the next challenge to drop some wisdom on the newbies. Once someone wins, they will see who influences that person. Still, David is wondering if Parvati is playing him.
Then, Sydnee approached David, asking who he wanted as a partner in the challenge. While he wanted to see how it goes, Sydnee, who went from being homeless to working on Wall Street, won’t accept that. “You’re not going to, like, abandon me?” Sydnee asked. As David tried to figure out what she meant, she snapped, “Just don’t ditch me without warning!” And she doesn’t just mean in this challenge. “You live with me, I’ll f*ck you up,” she said, then laughed. I wonder who will be sleeping with one eye open?
Eventually, the group met Joe on a platform in the swamp. There are signs that say “danger” sticking up out of the water. The host let them know they have disappointed the Banker. So, this challenge will be “a twisted treasure hunt.” And there is a surprise that could upend the game.
Deal or No Deal Island continues on Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock.
TELL US – DID YOU ENJOY THE SEASON 2 PREMIERE OF DEAL OR NO DEAL ISLAND? DID YOU ADMIRE LUKE FOR TAKING HIS FATE IN HIS OWN HANDS?
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