Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/48724
Meet By Mollie Busby Rob Mariano may just be the king of reality TV. If you've tuned in to CBS's hit show, "Survivor" in the last 10 years, chances are you've seen "Boston Rob" pushing himself to physical, mental and emotional extremes across four different seasons. He even current- ly holds the record for most days—117 to be exact—spent playing the game that places contestants in a remote location where they compete to outwit and outplay each other on their way to a $1 mil- lion prize. His reign began in 2002, when he was propelled into the spotlight after landing a coveted spot on "Survivor: Marquesas," the show's fourth season. Th ough he didn't win the million-dollar prize, his thick Boston accent, no-nonsense commentary and cut-throat tactics appealed to both producers and audiences alike. He re- turned two years later for "Survivor: All Stars," where millions of viewers watched not only as Mariano and teammate Amber Brkich persevered to the end but also as their whirlwind on-screen ro- mance culminated with a swoon-worthy proposal on the season fi nale. After Brkich said "yes," it was announced that she beat Mariano for the title of "Survivor." Mariano's reality TV credentials have expanded over the years to include the CBS special "Rob and Amber Get Married" in May 2005; two additional seasons of "Survivor," the latter of which Mariano won; and two seasons of CBS's "Amazing Race," in which he teamed with Brkich in a race around the world. Mariano's lat- est project debuted in October. Titled "Around the World in 80 Ways," the reality collaboration with the History Channel is an adventure like none other, taking him around the world to experi- ment with every mode of transportation he can. Now settled in back at home with Brkich and their two daugh- ters, he takes a moment to share what life is like both on screen and off. Th e consensus? Mr. Reality TV is just that: 100 percent authentic. (And yes, his Boston accent really is that intense.) November 2011 bravamagazine.com 49 Mr. Reality TV Whether surviving on an island or racing around the world, Rob Mariano is a hit in the world of reality TV. Between launching a new show and raising two daughters, he lets us in on his life in the real world