Deal or No Deal Islandhas become a breakout series thanks to the integration of the classic game show combined with the strategy reality television fans have adored about games likeBig BrotherandSurvivor. Well, whenDeal or No Deal IslandSeason 2 invited legends of both games into the fold,everyone without a reality credit on their resume soon became a causality in the crossfire.
Maria-Grace Cookwas doing her best to play a low-key game. And then two fatal mistakes, neither of which were intentional, caused MG to become an easy target. First, she began a showmance withStorm Wilson, which led to his demise. Then, her close friendship with “The Family,” comprised ofSurvivorlegendParvati ShallowandAustralian SurvivorlegendDavid Genat, caused her to be a pawn inBig Brother’s ownDr. Will Kirby’s masterplan. With both stars off the table to eliminate, it all came down to MG. When it came to The Family, MG figured out why they were such a threat. As she said, “I guess all of us together, we just had a lot of power.”
MG Talks Post-Game Life With Storm
COLLIDER: Another blind side on the Bankers Private Island. It’s time to find out all about it with MG! How are you?
MARIA-GRACE COOK:I’m doing good, all considering last night.
Well, let’s start simple. If you could describe your experience in three words, what would they be?
MG: Adventurous, shocking, blindsides,
I’m here for it. What was it like being out there on this stunning Banker’s Private Island?
MG: You know, watching it on TV, it looks glamorous. It looks great, and it is really like that, but there’s so much gameplay going on, and you’re stressed the whole entire time that it is really hard to sit on the beach and just put your toes in the sand.
Well, let’s start and talk about how much preparation you did prior to going in. I’m assuming you had watched the first season and prepared physically and mentally. What was your strategy for your game?
MG: Well, I was a full-time fireman for about three years, and then I moved to EMS, so I would say physically, it was easy. But the strategy behind that was going in and telling everyone that I was a southern nanny for four children. Which everyone believed. And I was trying to ride under the radar. I was doing really well with that. Just not winning challenges, but getting safe. I mean, I did that three out of four times, or four out of five times.
So, let’s spill the iced tea. What was it about Storm that caught your eye?
MG: You know, he is a very, obviously, very attractive man, so that’s kind of hard to look at.
MG: But it’s something about him. He doesn’t care what anybody thinks, and he really didn’t have a lot of gameplay, at least what I saw. So it kind of was a break from strategy. I would be doing all the strategy in my tent, talking with The Family Alliance, and then I would be like, Okay, now I’m gonna go have breakfast with Storm and chill and just talk about fun stuff. So it was kind of like a break. So, I think it was easy to fall into.
Now I know we don’t like to kiss and tell, but tell me about the parting kiss last week.
MG: Oh my goodness, yeah. When you’re in these games, you think that it is your real life. So when they make you think it’s your real life, it’s so important. So when he he left, I truthfully was like, I’m never gonna see him again. Which, in retrospect, I was going to, but I saw him doing his exit interview, and I’m looking around. I’m talking, I’m asking people, and I’m like, “I’m gonna go in. Is that cool?” And people didn’t seem to have a problem with it. So I just walked in, and I was like, “Can I get a kiss before you leave?' And he was willing to, as we all saw, he was willing.
It was a beautiful kiss. Now, I’m sure everyone wants to know, are there any updates on the two of you? I did seeyour special tribute on Instagramthis morning.
MG: Yes, we will have more content on our Instagrams, if you want to go follow us and our TikToks. But he visited me in LA. I moved to LA. But I do not plan to him in Austin. He is a very great guy, but we are just friends. We had a lot of real world talks recently. I think he’s great, but we are just friends for now.
MG Figures Out Why The Family Was A Massive Target
All right, so Dickson sent shock waves when he eliminated Storm. What did you make of that decision, and how did you feel it would affect your game?
MG: I don’t think it was more affect my game strategically, because Storm was never a part of that. And like he says to me, I mean, I was never in his alliance. I think later down the road, we would have been in the same alliance, but it was so early on that it didn’t affect the strategy. It just affected me emotionally. I mean, that night, as we saw last night, everyone’s cheering for him. He got $5million. I should be happy for him, too, but I’m over there, just like drinking my apple juice. I don’t give a crap. I didn’t talk to him or anything.
This excursion this week looked like so much fun, but there was a lot of strategy behind it. What was going through your mind when you had to go against David, because you let him have it?
MG: Yeah, so when we partnered up, obviously, they told us we’re gonna be partners. So I’m like, great. I’m gonna have the biggest guy on my team. We thought maybe it possibly could be a heights challenge. We love heights. We have no problem with them. He’s a big guy. I want him on my side. Then they’re like, “Oh, you’re enemies. Y’all are against each other.” And I was like, “Oh, great” And he starts off by saying, “I’m gonna give you the case. I think you need it. I’ll figure it out. you may have it.” And then just the good southern girl of me goes, “No, no, no. You take it, David, I think you’re in a worse position than me.” Which, up against Will, he would have been. Will would have taken him out. But I rather him than me. Hindsight.
This Underdog Shocked Everyone in ‘Deal or No Deal Island’ Season 2
Dickson Wong impressed the Banker and his castmates.
Dr. Will. There is so much to discuss. First off, what did you make of his little hissy fit after the excursion?
MG: It was awful. I mean, I can’t look up more synonyms for awful. I mean, we were so…But the thing was awful, but not shocked. He is a method actor. Dr Will, as his “Dr. Will” is awful to work with. Like, if I ever have to do another television show with him, and if I ever see him on an island or anything again, I think I’m gonna cry. But that’s why he’s good at the game. It’s his strategy to make everyone else miserable.
Everyone was targeting The Family. Why was this alliance so scary to the non-reality star players?
MG: I really didn’t know until last night that I was such a big threat. I didn’t know. I don’t ever get to see the confessional. So last night, I was like, “Wow. People were really mad about this Family.” Which, I got grandfathered in just because me and David. David was my number one, so I kind of just got grandfathered into it. I think just because we had David, which is a huge guy. No one knew he wasSurvivor. Then we did have aSurvivor. And then we had Dickson, which, Dr will says is a weasel, and you’re able to’t trust him. Which is true. And then me, I just got grandfathered in. So I guess all of us together, we just had a lot of power.
Now, if it wasn’t The Family, everyone was targeting CK. Why was she someone who was perceived as a threat? Why did she need to go?
MG: I think she wanted to be perceived as a threat. I don’t know. As soon as we landed on the island, she just raised her hand in every situation. Like, “Everyone don’t like me. Everyone hate me. I’m gonna be the problem.” So no one’s gonna be like, “No, don’t be the problem.” So everyone was like really kind of egging her on. “Say, what you mean? Say your mind.” Because we don’t want the stuff on us.”
“I Hate Him”
Last week, Dickson played an incredible game against the Banker. This week, Dr Will played a Dr. Will game. What did you make of his case-picking and his ultimate decision to play mind games with everyone during the challenge?
MG: It was, I mean, like I said, again, just terrible. It looks funny on TV and watching it now, it is funny. I think it’s hilarious, and I understand why he does it. But in the moment, we are all exhausted, we’re all in it to win it. It’s a really important game to us. And then he just makes a mockery of everything. And he hits the button really quick, and we’re all like, “You’re terrible, you’re awful.” He’s like, “That was a trick.” And we’re all like, “What?!” So he’s really funny. I get why people like him, but it’s all games with him. It really is.
Did you have an inkling in your mind that he could target you?
MG: In the back of my head, in the very, very back. Right before we went to Temple, me and Parvati took a nap together on one of the couches next to the dining table. And we woke up from the nap, we got ready for Temple, and she goes, “MG, are you sure you don’t want to play the Banker? This seems like something Will would do.” And I was like, “No, honestly, I think I’m good.” Obviously, I probably should have listened to theSurvivorlegend. But she was like, “Okay…” And then he takes me out, I turn around and looked at her, and I’m like, “I hate him.” And she goes, “I told you.”
If you had stayed, what would your next move have been? How would you have played the game?
MG: If I would have stayed and CK, would have went home, I think I would have transitioned from doing challenges easy, just to pass by, and then starting to try to win them. The challenges, if you really, really think about them and you’re strategic, they’re easy to win. It’s just I didn’t want to until…never. I never wanted to. I would have probably started playing.
Listen, there is a time and place to show your talent, and you didn’t need to early on.
Let’s end on a positive finish the sentence: The best moment of myDeal or No Deal Islandexperience was _____
MG: Probably after getting kicked off and just partying on the island. Honestly, the games are so stressful. After I got kicked off, we all went and just raged. It was really fun. And then you got to really know the personalities of people, because their guards down. So you really got to know them.
Well, you played a fun game. It was amazing watching you. Thank you so much for chatting.
