Survivor legend Boston Rob Mariano revealed the cutthroat strategy he advised Dylan Efron to use on Dancing With The Stars—a plan so ruthless Efron refused, which Mariano jokes cost him the Mirrorball trophy.
For a master strategist like Boston Rob Mariano, the game never truly ends. The iconic four-time Survivor player has built a career on social engineering and calculated risks, and it appears he can’t help but apply that thinking to every competition—even when it’s his friend’s turn in the spotlight. In a recent interview, Mariano pulled back the curtain on the ruthless advice he gave Dylan Efron during his run on Dancing With The Stars, revealing a plan that was pure Survivor in a world of sequins and sambas.
During an appearance on E! News’ Hot Goss, Mariano detailed the fan-vote strategy he cooked up to help Efron secure the coveted Mirrorball Trophy. It was a plan built not on perfecting a paso doble, but on political maneuvering.
“You got to start to befriend the other contestants, the ones that are not as good, because they’re going to get voted off,” Mariano explained he told Efron. “And when they do, you need to recruit them to have their people start turning their votes for you.”
A ‘Survivor’ Strategy for the Ballroom
The advice is a classic “Boston Rob” move, echoing the alliance-building and jury management that defined his legendary gameplay. He even had a specific target in mind for Efron. “I was like, ‘You know, Andy [Richter] is not making it to the end. He’s got a lot of votes coming his way, buddy up with Andy,'” Mariano recalled, a detail confirmed during his E! News appearance.
This strategy transforms the friendly confines of the dance competition into a political battlefield, where eliminated contestants’ fan bases become assets to be acquired. For his part, Efron acknowledged receiving constant coaching from his friend. “I was calling him every show day, but he had a lot of strategies,” Efron admitted. “Some we didn’t use, some we did.”
However, this particular plan was a bridge too far. “Just to be clear, I did not use this strategy,” Efron clarified. Mariano, ever the competitor, had a quick retort ready: “He didn’t! And that’s why he ended up in fourth place.”
From ‘The Traitors’ to a New Tandem
The fascinating dynamic between the two was forged in the crucible of another high-stakes reality show. Mariano and Efron became close friends while filming season 3 of The Traitors, a game of deception and psychological warfare that Efron ultimately won. Their bond, built on mutual respect for each other’s competitive spirit, is now the foundation for a new project.
On Thursday, December 11, the pair will launch a new YouTube series titled Everything’s a Competition on Efron’s channel. The show will see them go head-to-head in a variety of offbeat challenges, from pickleball and blindfolded golf to beer pong, pottery-making, and even a duel at Medieval Times.
The series promises to showcase the competitive fire that fuels their friendship. “I grew up watching Survivor. I always thought I could win all of these challenges,” Efron says in the show’s trailer. “Now here’s my chance to beat Boston Rob at literally everything.” It’s a bold claim against one of reality TV’s most dominant figures, setting the stage for a compelling new series for fans of both personalities.
While Efron may have rejected Mariano’s Machiavellian advice for the ballroom, their new venture proves that the spirit of competition between them is stronger than ever. Whether on a deserted island, in a Scottish castle, or at a pottery wheel, for these two, everything is indeed a game.
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