Rhode Island Rob is Ready to Represent His State on ‘Survivor’

Antonson with supplies on the first day of Survivor. Photo: Robert Voets/CBS ©2026 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t let the accent fool you, Rob Antonson isn’t from Boston. The season 51 Survivor contestant is from Rhode Island, Providence to be specific, and has resided in Cumberland for the last seven years. Despite his smallest state roots, Antonson has worked for Boston Logan International Airport for the last 11 years, giving him that Massachusetts edge picked up by all who meet him, including his fellow Survivor contestants who quickly drew comparisons between Antonson and the iconic earlier seasons competitor Boston Rob. With the longstanding iconic reality competition series premiering its new season tonight on CBS, Antonson chatted with us about how it felt to finally be chosen to compete in the show that rejected him 20 years ago.

 What part of Rhode Island are you from?

I was born in Providence and lived a lot of my life in Johnston but now I live in Cumberland.

Can you give me a peek into your life before Survivor?

I’m a 40-year-old father of three kids. I met my wife on a cruise and she works as a per diem nurse in California while I work as a gate agent at Logan Airport. All of the chaos in that everyday life just kind of prepared me for the game of Survivor.

How was it leaving your three kids to go on Survivor?

It sucked. I’m with them almost every day especially when my wife travels away for work so I’m the super daddy. I think people forget when you go on these shows especially shows like Survivor, you don’t have your cell phone on you at all. It was definitely hard but it felt more like a business trip or something to prove to my family and my kids.

I feel like nowadays everyone who ends up on Survivor has been a die-hard fan of the series for years because it’s been on for so long. Are you part of that demographic that is living out their dream by getting on Survivor?

I actually auditioned for Survivor 20 years ago and didn’t get it. It’s definitely a dream of mine to get on television show as big as Survivor. I was more of an OG Survivor guy; I watched the first season with Richard Hatch and I’m a big Boston Rob and Tony guy. When I found out I was getting on the new Survivor I was like okay I gotta go back and check out this new era stuff to see what’s going on with these idols. When I was watching the idols gave one thing and that was immunity. Now some of these idols, you gotta do different steps to make a different power into it. I’m not going to say I’m a diehard because those are the people who watch every season but I’m a huge reality TV Guy. I love Traitors and Big Brother and even The Real Housewives of Rhode Island. I just enjoy seeing people’s lives on TV.

Was the experience what you thought it was going to be?

I think the experience was unbelievable. Everyone on the cast truly won the lottery. I heard so many stories of so many people that have been putting in for Survivor for like 20 plus years and haven’t gotten on until now. When I put in for Survivor 20 years ago, I was a young buck. Thank god I didn’t get on then because I was a cocky little kid and would have been bad. It is like everyone thinks it is. You have to go out there and literally survive. You go on the island, and you have to fend for yourself.

What was your auditioning process like?

There were a lot of interviews and a lot of Zoom calls. I pretty much put it out there who I was. I told them how I wasn’t the outdoors type; I think I went camping once and I was in an RV which honestly doesn’t count because I was sleeping on a bed. My biggest thing for me to get on the show was saying if you want a real dude, a real guy, a real dad, someone that never does this, put me out there. Let’s see if I can do this for my kids and my family. Let me know them that it’s okay to step out of your comfort zone and just go out there and see what happens.

What was your reaction to finding out you were going to be on Survivor?

I had tears of joy. I’m like this baby I cry all the time. I tell people all the time that real men cry. I was just happy I had my one boy with me, Atlas. He was with me at the time and we just celebrated together. I thought it wasn’t real like I thought they were pranking me. You think about how many people in this country put in for Survivor every year so I just feel very grateful. It’s just so surreal. You don’t think it’s ever going to happen to you, especially 20 years after you originally apply like I did.

What made you decide to apply again?

Being totally real with you, it was just a spur of the moment decision. After graduating college with a degree in broadcast journalism, I always wanted to be a host on TV or interviewing people. Even now in my basement I have a full studio set up where I do a sports podcast. All my friends tell me I’m meant for TV. The cameras in my face on the island weren’t a big deal, it just felt natural.

Eva Erickson was the first openly autistic person on Survivor and she’s a Brown University student. Did you reach out to her at all or anyone else who has been on the show before for advice?

I didn’t. My life is so chaotic like even when I watch reality TV it’s always when my kids are sleeping. It would have been wise to do that but I never thought I would get on. I tried to manifest that I’d get on and even would google what the odds are of getting on Survivor. It’s just a ridiculously small percentage so I just put my best foot forward and thought if they like me they like me and they’ll have me on.

How does it feel to be representing the smallest state?

I always wanted to represent. To say that I’m from Rhode Island and I’ve been working for Logan Airport for 11 years in Boston feels like I get a little piece of the pie in Boston too. A lot of people know me but think I’m from Boston, especially with my accent. When I first came out on the show, everyone thought I was from Boston. No body can fill Boston Rob’s shoes. That guy is a legend. I was in no way trying to fill those shoes, I’m Rhode Island Rob.

Are you planning a watch party in Rhode Island?

I’m kind of just laying low. My life is so hectic and chaotic so I’m just laying low with my family and watching them watch. We’re having our own little watch party at home.

Watch the trailer for the new season below and be sure to tune in to the premiere tonight at 8pm ET.