David Genat Meets Boston Rob to Talk "Hippie-Dippie" Record-Breaking Battle Against the Banker
"I knew I had to swing big on those numbers because that's what I do in my game," David said during the After Show.
After the Season 2 finale of Deal or No Deal Island shattered primetime TV records, you can bet Boston Rob was excited to chat with the finalists during the Deal or No Deal Island After Show.
After a grueling final Excursion and weeks of Banker's Island mayhem, David Genat was crowned Season 2's champion thanks to his steel-tight alliances, brute physical game, and a touch of luck.
But his quest to that final game against the Banker was anything but easy. Third-place player Courtney "C.K." Kim led a bold yet divisive game on Banker's Island that ended several high-earning dreams. Meanwhile, Season 2 runner-up Alexis Lete led an honest yet formidable quest toward the final Deal or No Deal game before being narrowly beaten out by David Genat in the final Excursion. And David didn't just secure the season's victory; he's heading home with $5.8 million in riches after taking a deal for the biggest prize in primetime history.
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Following the historic Season 2 finale of Deal or No Deal Island, Boston Rob spoke with the DONDI finalists about their Banker's Island gameplay. Read on to learn more!
C.K. owned up to her Banker's Island mistakes with Boston Rob
After a game defined by chaotic alliances and burnt bridges, C.K. made her way to the DONDI After Show to chat about what went wrong along the way. C.K. admitted that paranoia played a role in her downfall after she jumped ship one too many times while trying to avoid Temple. But it was her lackluster alliance with Survivor champ Parvati Shallow that ultimately led to her end.
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Rob explained that games like these demand trust, so it makes sense that she allied with Parvati, but C.K. seemed clueless about her partner's play style. C.K. neglected to consider the other players that Parvati was already working with and overestimated their bond. Parvati may have been C.K.'s No. 1, but the feeling wasn't mutual.
"You have to be able to see it through [the other player's] eyes," Rob told her.
"Maybe that's what I was very bad at," C.K. mused.
"Because for Parvati, you were an option to her, you were," Rob continued. "But you were just that, an option. And where you saw her as your main alliance, and that's it, you were kind of blinded to other things that she potentially had going on. Is that fair?"
"1000%," C.K. agreed. "And that's how I got very emotional in the game, a lot of times when I was upset. Because I started feeling and figuring this out."
"You know what I really like about you, C.K.? You're one of the only people that can sit here with me and look back with perspective and own what it was and the mistakes," Boston Rob commended her, saying that many DONDI players refuse to accept accountability for their fate.
But true to form, C.K. went against the grain, totally willing to take ownership of her ill-fated DONDI game.
Alexis Lete says one player could have altered her fate
Boston Rob then invited Season 2's runner-up, Alexis Lete, to the palapa to chat about her close-but-not-quite run on Banker's Island. Lete was a physical titan and social charmer throughout the competition but came just short of victory.
"Although I didn't win, I'm really proud of myself and excited for David with the outcome he had," Lete told Rob, admitting that she would have copped out much earlier than David did during his battle against the Banker.
"It's gotta sting a little bit to know how close you were," Rob said, aware of the pains of ending a competition as runner-up.
"It did, and I was really hoping my alliance member from Day 2 could help me out, you know?" Lete said, referring, of course, to Phillip Solomon.
During the final Excursion, when returning players had the power to throw a wrench in the finalists' game, Phillip failed to stop David from dominating. Lete was naturally miffed about Phillip's lack of sabotage after the rapport she built with him on Banker's Island.
"He's an honest and truthful guy, and that was the downfall of my alliance, you know?" Lete said. "I had a lot of people that were really nice. In this game, you sometimes gotta play dirty... I don't know why he wouldn't have rooted for the person that he was with; it makes me question a lot of our relationships during the game."
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Rob asked Lete if she had any regrets about playing an honest game rooted in integrity; Lete refused to lie, backstab, or cheat to get ahead in the competition, which brought her far.
"How am I gonna sit here, the person who got second place, and tell you that wasn't the right choice?" Lete teased. "I'm proud of the way I played. I played as the person I am outside of the game, and I knew it was going to be harder for me... I wanted people to see my integrity, see my honesty, and honestly come to me to partner with me and build trust in the game because I knew I could help people."
"I actually agree with it, and I think it's a really good strategy," Rob commended, congratulating Lete on an incredible game.
The Family alliance crashed Boston Rob and David's party to help celebrate
Lastly, Boston Rob was excited to welcome Season 2's record-breaking champion, David Genat, to the After Show. Hilariously, it was David who was geeking out after coming face-to-face with fellow Survivor champ and reality TV powerhouse Rob. David may already be a reality TV icon overseas, but the Golden God of Australian Survivor was downright starstruck by the sight of Rob waiting with champagne.
"They say never meet your heroes, man, but this is more than anything I could have expected," David gushed. "I'm drinking champagne with you, dude!"
"Bro, I am highly impressed. What you did last night is going down in history forever," Rob congratulated him. "What's going through your head?"
"When you start playing these games, you have to believe in yourself. Like, you have to believe that you've got a little something that people want to work with, and you got to believe in it all the way because when you're lying, when you're selling different characters and presenting yourself in a certain way, you have to know your true self is."
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Rob said that David's ability to navigate the game as an undercover Survivor star certainly gave him a leg up in the competition, with his physical game, strategy, and ace alliances all getting him to the end. The one aspect of David's gameplay Rob couldn't wrap his head around was that final game against the Banker. David turned down not just a $1 million offer but also a $2 million offer and a $3 million offer before accepting a final deal of $5.8 million in the last round of the game.
"You were a freaking psycho, bro," Rob told him, asking to know what was behind David's bold gameplay. David revealed he was thinking of his father during his game and operated on instinct and signs from the universe. David admitted it may sound "hippie-dippie," but he felt his father at Temple.
Plus, a player like David was always going to go big.
"I knew I had to swing big on those numbers because that's what I do in my game," David explained. "Like, I'm not in the game to be like, 'No, I'm shrinking away from moments.' I wanna expand into those moments, I wanna feel every single offer, and I want to say no, and I want to keep going, and I want that feeling. I'm chasing that."
Rob remained mystified but impressed, telling David that game recognizes game. But before Rob and David could clink glasses, the After Show got a little surprise — The Family was here to celebrate. David and Rob were ambushed by Parvati Shallow and Dickson Wong — members of David's Season 2 alliance, The Family — with more champagne and presents for the Golden God.
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