Earlier this week, Derek Hough, who currently serves as a judge on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” made an offhand comment on social media about competing on “Survivor” – but only if former “Sole Survivor” “Boston Rob” Mariano to join a future season of “DWTS” in return.
Hough’s offer comes after Mariano’s “Traitors” co-star Dylan Efron appeared on the hit dance competition series earlier this year. While Efron ultimately lost the Mirrorball Trophy to Australian wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin, his spectacular run on the series saw Mariano become a regular fixture on the show’s set, appearing to support his “bromance” partner multiple times throughout the season, leading fans of both “Survivor” and “DWTS” to call on Mariano to join the competition.
While Boston Rob has repeatedly turned down offers to compete in the past, citing his horrendous dancing skills, it seemingly hasn’t stopped Hough from doing everything in his power to make the crossover a reality TV dream come true – even if it requires him to bribe longtime host Jeff Probst, and commit himself to spending 26 days stranded on the “Survivor” island.
Derek Hough Sets the Terms of His Offer to Compete on ‘Survivor’
“Boston Rob asked me the other day when I was him, he goes, ‘Hey, would you ever do [‘Survivor’],” said Hough in a video posted to his Instagram Stories earlier this week. “Here’s my thought. I’ll do ‘Survivor’ if Boston Rob does ‘Dancing with the Stars.’”
Derek’s wife, Hayley Erbert Hough – who has been binging “Survivor” for the first time with her husband as they “nest” in preparation for the upcoming birth of their first child together – warned him, “I don’t know if I’d put that out there.”
Regardless of his wife’s warning, however, Hough responded, “A promise is a promise.”
Now, Hough’s offhand comment has gained some traction after Jeff Probst himself recorded a video in response to the “DWTS” judge’s offer.
Probst Accepts Hough’s Challenge, Says Boston Rob Could Win ‘DWTS’
“Derek, I am so happy to hear you’ve finally discovered ‘Survivor,’” said Probst in the video message to Hough. “That’s okay it took a while, it’s okay, you’ve been busy.”
“I gotta say,” the host continued, “I love that you put this idea out into the ether because I think you’re gonna be surprised how many of your fans are going to want to see you compete on ‘Survivor.’”
Probst then turned his focus to Boston Rob, a legend of “Survivor” who has played the game five times – more total days than any other contestant in the show’s history – who has won the title of “Sole Survivor,” and who even met his now-wife, Amber Brkich, on the series.
CBSAccording to Probst, Mariano – who has also competed on series like “The Amazing Race,” “The Traitors” and “Deal or No Deal Island” – isn’t the type to back down from a challenge.
“Now that you’ve issued a dare to Rob, this could get interesting,” Probst told Hough. “Cause you know as well as I do that Boston Rob is the kind of guy that will take that dare and end up winning ‘Dancing with the Stars.’”
Probst continued to raise the stakes, telling Hough, “And then the pressure’s really on you ‘cause not only are you out on ‘Survivor’ next year with us, you gotta win! Let me know…”
Hough has since responded to Probst’s video, sharing the message to his Instagram Stories with the caption: “Me and my big mouth. Also geeking out over this message.”
Boston Rob has similarly shared Probst’s video, tagging Hough alongside the message: “Look what you did.”
