Since Deal or No Deal Island premiered, the reality show has become one of the best things on Peacock for several reasons. For example, Joe Manganiello did a great job hosting the show, and it has been fascinating to see it grow and become harder. More importantly, Deal or No Deal Island has starred many fascinating reality stars, including David Genat and Dickson Wong from the “Family” alliance.
After David previously told TheThings that Dr. Will made him ‘more flustered’ than ever and Dickson explained what being a reality star is like, they were interviewed together. When Dickson and David spoke to TheThings together, they explained whether they regret anything about their “family” alliance. David also told TheThings what his reality show “nightmare” is during that same group interview.
David Genat And Dickson Wong Have No Regrets About How They Handled Their “Family” Alliance”
In May 2025, TheThings journalist Matthew Thomas interviewed Dickson Wong and David Genat together about their Deal or No Deal Island experience. During that conversation, Dickson explained how much he enjoyed that it was obvious to everyone that he, David, and Parvati Shallow were an alliance.
“The part that I love about the family the most is, obviously, we were working together and it was just kinda ticking everybody off. And for me, I wanted people to know that I was working with David and Parvati, because I kinda wanted to use them as a shield a little bit. But, unfortunately, I was collateral damage, but, you know, it’s fine. At least David won, so one of us won.”
At that point, David and Dickson were asked if they had any regrets about if the talk about their alliance being a “Family” got away from them. Their responses were fascinating and very revealing.
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While talking exclusively to TheThings, David explained why he thought their “Family” alliance being so upfront was good for him. David also revealed that he believed that Parvati being a reality show legend meant she might take metaphorical arrows for him.
“It’s tricky for me to find Shields. I like that strategy, but it is a little bit tricky for me to find that. And so I was like, ‘If we’re gonna be visible, let’s be as visible as possible.’ So Parv and I kind of lined up well. I was like, look. Well, if she’s gonna be the figurehead, maybe they’ll take her first.”
Even though he was a reality show newbie, David also believed that Dickson could also wind up in the crosshairs before him.
“Dickson had actually turned himself into a really big threat early on because he had been gaming, like, super hot. And so people were kinda like, ‘What is this dude doing?’ So he was in a bit of trouble at the start…
And then Dickson’s causing enough trouble, maybe they’ll take him second, and I can just, like, slot in at the back there. You know? So that was the initial kind of strategy. So I liked that it was visible for people.”
Based on the results of the season, David’s instincts clearly seem to have been correct.
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In March 2025, TheThings journalist Matthew Thomas interviewed Dickson Wong with his fellow DONDI competitor Phillip Solomon. During that interview, Dickson revealed that when Deal or No Deal Island was airing, Dickson had fans calling him out on social media for the way he spoke about David and Parvati being his parents.
“I feel like I’ve gotten more negative reactions than I thought I would. You know, I’ve heard some people say I have mommy and daddy issues. I’m a narcissist. I’m stupid. I’m a follower. You know, a lot of that stuff.”
With that remark in mind, Matthew asked Dickson and David during their May 2025 interview if they regretted any of the “Family” talk when the show was airing. Despite the flack he’d gotten from fans, Dickson definitively stated that he had no regrets about the “Family” talk.
“I don’t regret it at all because I had a great time on the island. I played with two legends. At the time, I thought Parvati was the only legend. I was playing a character on the show, and it’s part of the strategy. You know, as far as the social game, I mean, if they wanna play family, I’ll play family with them all day long, if it gets me further in the game. I don’t regret any of it because, again, I had a great time. I made two lifelong friends in David and Parvati, so I have no regrets whatsoever.”
Deal Or No Deal Island’s David Genat Revealed What His Reality Show Nightmare Is
During the May 2025 conversation about whether Dickson Wong and David Genat regretted being so public about their “Family” alliance, something fascinating was revealed. Anyone who has seen David on reality TV should know how entertaining he is. With that in mind, it was fascinating when David told TheThings that his “nightmare” is being so boring on a reality show that he is barely featured.
“I don’t regret any of it. I thought it was really fun and I think it played pretty well from the people I heard talking about it. I just think any kind of alliance you can be in that people are talking about is good. If you wanna be on television, you wanna be a little bit more polarizing. My nightmare is going to do a show and then getting no edit or getting underedited.”
Fortunately for David, he is so entertaining on reality TV that it would be shocking if he competed on a reality show and was barely featured in the edit.
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David then exclusively told TheThings that he wants the things he does on reality TV to get a big reaction from viewers, whether they love or hate it.
“Coming up with stuff like the ‘Family,’ maybe it rubs some people the wrong way, but when I’m making TV, I want you to feel something. If you either love it or you hate it, great. But if you’re just like, ‘Oh, there’s a person I don’t care about them.’ Then that sucks. So I like it when people are like, ‘Oh, let’s scream. I hate that.’ That’s good. I’m glad you did that. You’re watching it. It’s good. Just for everyone that says they hate it, there’s, like, a thousand people that love it. So it’s just that I think sometimes those vocal minorities can get kinda loud, but I don’t read that stuff anyway.”
With that mentality, it will be very exciting to see what reality shows David appears on in the years to come.
