‘Rob From Rhode Island’ plans to make this season of ‘Survivor’ enjoyable

TV

If this interview with Rob Antonson is any indication, we’re in for a journey as he tries to win the $1 million this season.

By Lauren Daley

September 23, 2026 | 7:36 AM

7 minutes to learn

Yes, Rob works in Boston. And sure, Rob is on “Survivor.”

But Rob Antonson desires to make one factor clear: He is just not out to turn into the brand new “Boston Rob.”

“Huge Bawston Rob guy. He had the accent, so I could relate,” says Antonson, 40, in a Rhode Island-meets-Bawston accent thicker than a espresso frappe. 

While he’s seen each “Boston Rob” Mariano “Survivor” episode, he says, “I want people in Bawston to know: listen, I’m not Bawston Rob — I’m from Rhode Island. I’m not tryin’ to be anybody else. Even though I love Bawston. As you can tell, I got the accent. I already had the Rhode Island accent — now I got the Boston accent, too,” says the gate agent at Logan Airport with fun.

And the “chaos” of Logan, he says in our latest Zoom, “prepares you for any kind of reality show.”

So no, Rob from Rhode Island is just not Boston Rob. But he’s obtained that very same boy-next-door, how-do-you-like-them-apples chaahm. Dude is all Personality, capital P.

In a vibrant turquoise tee that reveals off his tattooed arms, and carrying a thick gold chain round his neck, Antonson spoke from the Cumberland, R.I. basement nook he hopes will someday function a sports activities podcast studio — and which at the moment serves because the backdrop for his Instagram reels and video shorts for his YouTube channel, “Rob Show” (or @realrobshow). Here, he’s parodied Backstreet Boys, reviewed burgers, and mentioned “Love Island.”

“This is my basement. My wife let me have this little studio. I can’t touch anything upstairs, but downstairs, she said, do whatever you want,” he says with fun. His spouse Nichole, a NICU nurse who travels usually to California for work, he says, “completed my life.”

In our latest Zoom from his “little studio,” the dad of three basically held courtroom, regaling me with story after story: Driving a Mario Kart (“Mario Kaht”) dressed as Yoshi in Tokyo. Meeting his spouse whereas singing karaoke on a bar high on an Orlando cruise. 

This Logan Airport gate agent was constructed for actuality TV. On Instagram, he’s lip-synced to the “Aladdin” soundtrack, reviewed an “Ace crunch” sizzling canine at a Toronto Blue Jays sport, and sure, filmed himself lip-syncing to Destiny’s Child’s “I’m a Survivor” at Logan. #OnModel

Rob from Rhode Island clearly has that sure colourful New England je ne sais quoi that shot Boston Rob and “Real Housewives of Rhode Island” cracker-obsessed Alicia Carmody straight into viewers’ hearts — and onto the radar display screen of actuality present producers. 

Antonson is one among three contestants with New England ties on the upcoming Season 51 of “Survivor.” Aaliyah Puglia, a New Jersey native, is now a chef in Providence, R.I. Eric Macksoud is a Lincoln, R.I., native now residing in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, per the present’s promo materials.

Season 51, hosted by Emmy winner Jeff Probst, premieres Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 8 p.m. The new season, set in Fiji, ushers within the “Open Era,” a “bold new chapter … in which every twist, every idol, every advantage in the series’ history may come into play, in any order and without warning.” It will see 21 castaways vie for the $1 million prize. 

Ahead of the premiere Antonson talked Logan chaos, Mario Kart, karaoke, actuality TV, and extra. Read this within the drawped-ah (and dropped “g”) New England accent. Watch him attempt to survive in Fiji staahtin’ Wednesday. 

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Boston.com: So have you ever all the time needed to be on “Survivor”?

Rob Antonson: I’m a huge actuality TV present man. I’ve been watchin’ “Survivor” for the reason that OGs, the beginnin’. MTV’s “The Challenge,” I’ve been watchin’ from the get-go. I watch “Real Housewives!”

[laughs] Right.

[laughs] I similar to actuality TV. I like seein’ folks’s lives on digital camera — I don’t know what it’s. I imply, once I was in my early 20s, I put in for “Survivor” and “Big Brother,” and didn’t get it. But once I was younger, I used to be only a cocky child. So now, havin’ three youngsters, bein’ 40 years previous — one random day, I’m like, “Hey, let me put in for it.” And I obtained it! So it’s like winnin’ the lottery for me.

That’s superior. And you’ve labored at Logan since 2015, you mentioned.

I’m a gate agent. So I take care of all of the bulls—t.

[laughs]

Every day is one other problem. It’s craziness. That ready me to get on this present. 

You should have some wild tales.

The greatest one — and I discussed it to “Survivor” [producers] — so one time I’m working a gate. Lots of people name me once they have points as a result of I’ve been there for 11 years; I understand how to take care of folks. So there was a man, piss-drunk, has his factor out of his pants, peein’ in opposition to the wall, arms up in opposition to the glass, wanting on the runway. They’re like, “Rob, you gotta come over here. We gotta get state police!”

[laughs] Oh my God.

I’ve by no means seen something prefer it. But that’s Logan Airport. Crazy stuff occurs. State police pulled this man out so fast, it was ridiculous. But that’s working on the airport. The chaos there prepares you for any type of actuality present.

I guess. How else did you put together?

I work out so much. I’ve youngsters. I need to have the ability to, once I’m older, run round, throw the soccer. [Strategy]-wise, I’ve been watching eternally, so I type of know what occurs. I needed to choose up with the [newer seasons] as a result of I used to be extra of an OG man. I needed to catch up. I felt like I ready myself nicely.

So you grew up in Johnston, R.I., and moved to Cumberland a little bit earlier than COVID, you instructed me. Your youngsters at the moment are 2, 4, and seven.

And my spouse is a per diem nurse. I work for the airline, so we fly at no cost. My spouse goes to California, works her per diem shifts. So loads of the time, I’m a full-time daddy. I’m touring to California with the three youngsters, or I’m simply doing every single day right here with the three youngsters. Again, the 20-year-old me [who first tried out for “Survivor”] had no youngsters, no duty. I used to be residing with my dad and mom. I might’a obtained booted off the island so fast, it’s ridiculous.

[laughs] You should love touring.

We’ve traveled all over the place. My spouse, I met her on a cruise in Orlando. She’s from California. I went on the cruise on my own. She went along with her household. I used to be going loopy, I used to be an enormous dancer. I’m doing karaoke. Her dad noticed me dancing on the bar high and was like, “Listen, have fun, Nichole. You’re never gonna meet these people again.” We get married, and three youngsters later, you recognize?

[laughs] That’s superior. It sounds such as you’ve traveled so much.

Thailand, China. Recently, Bali for our anniversary. Egypt’s unbelievable — happening within the tombs and seein’ the pyramids. Japan’s unbelievable.

So that is earlier than I met my spouse: I went to Japan, me and my buddies, they usually had Mario Kaht. You choose your charactah — I picked Yoshi — you get within the little Mario Kaht, drive across the freeway [in Tokyo]. You’re on the freeway and nobody’s operating you ovah! You drive on the freeway in Bawston in a go-kart? You’re useless.

[laughs] That’s superior. So inform me a bit extra about you.

I graduated highschool in Johnston [in ‘04 and] ended up going to Rhode Island College, class of 2009. The only problem was I lived five minutes away, so I didn’t get that full faculty expertise. I nearly went to URI, which, I don’t know if I might’ve handed as a result of they are saying URI is this big pahty school. So that’s in all probability good I didn’t go there.

RIC, I graduated with a broadcast journalism diploma. As you may inform [motions around his desk] that is my podcast space. So that’s one other factor: I all the time needed to be a number, and now I see Jeff [Probst], one of many greatest icons on the planet. It’s surreal. To be on “Survivor” — then seein’ Jeff? It’s like, oh my God.

Right. And you could have a podcast?

I do little shorts now. I need to do a stay [sports] podcast, and have my buddies over. So that’s in manufacturing now. I obtained the entire little room round right here. I kicked down that door for actuality TV. Now I obtained the itch. I need to be on extra reveals.

What would you check out for subsequent?

Definitely, I need “Big Brother.” Maybe “Amazing Race.” We’ll see. My spouse, after every thing, she’s like, “We should do ‘Amazing Race.’ We travel everywhere.” I mentioned, “You want me and you arguin’ with each other on national television? OK, that would be good ratings.”

[laughs] And your spouse, Nichole, you instructed me, is a NICU nurse in California.

She accomplished my life. I used to be a hard-nosed man, then she got here alongside — somebody that saves infants’ lives. I obtained very fortunate goin’ on that cruise; I nearly didn’t go on it. 

I really like that. Anything else you need our readers to know?

I’ve been at Logan a very long time. When I used to be youthful, I used to be this child all the time burning bridges, however I spotted while you become old, it’s all about relationships. That’s one other factor with a sport of “Survivor” — it’s an enormous relationship sport, in order that type of prepares you, too. Because you wanna construct that relationship, so that you don’t get voted off.

I obtained fortunate. It’s been 20 years [since I first tried out], so I really feel like I hit the lottery. Everyone on the market, in the event that they’re older and need somebody to root for, root for me: Rob from Rhode Island. Even although I really like Boston. 

Interview has been edited and condensed. Lauren Daley is a contract tradition author. She may be reached at [email protected]. She tweets @laurendaley1, and Instagrams at @laurendaley1.