Before his rise to fame in Hollywood, Joe Manganiello, known for his roles in Magic Mike, How I Met Your Mother, True Blood, and the Magic Mike film series, revealed that he once auditioned for the popular reality show Survivor. The actor shared that he met a casting agent for Survivor at a pool party early in his career and was encouraged to make an audition tape. However, due to his acting commitments and a pilot he had shot, he was unable to pursue the opportunity.
Survivor, which has been on the air for 24 years, has seen its share of celebrity contestants, including Lisa Whelchel and Mike White. Manganiello, now set to host the new NBC series Deal or No Deal Island, expressed his excitement for the show, calling it the 'Mount Everest of competition programs.'
Deal or No Deal Island features contestants competing in challenges to secure briefcases hidden around the island, with a total prize money of over $200 million. The player with the highest-value case gains immunity and selects a fellow player to enter The Temple, where a high-stakes game of Deal or No Deal ensues.
The show is set to premiere on Feb. 26 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, moving to its regular time slot at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Mar. 4. Viewers can catch all episodes the next day on Peacock. Howie Mandel, known for his role as a judge on America's Got Talent, produces the show, which also features Manganiello's ex-wife Sofia Vergara.
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