Relating to actuality competitors exhibits, Josh Martinez has been across the block, however Vacation spot X promised to take the Large Brother and The Problem alum across the globe. Sadly, although, his world-trekking tour for this new present was restricted to only one nation, Italy, the place he was eradicated after incorrectly guessing the group’s location was Milan as an alternative of Rome.
The brand new NBC collection, hosted by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, introduced collectively 10 strangers to journey the world on a bus with no exterior visibility with the only aim of answering the query, “The place the X am I?”
Josh was the one superstar contestant of the primary 10 — the others’ careers ranged from flight attendant to skilled chook watcher and all over the place in between — however he performed a bit coy about how deep his credentials go, saying solely that he’d gotten far on Large Brother and never even mentioning his many seasons on The Problem.
“I might say I’m a really polarizing particular person,” he mentioned in a confessional. “I feel that’s factor. Lots of people assume that’s dangerous, however I feel it’s factor.” However did that polarization issue come again to chew him with one other contestant, Rick, sabotaging his map room reply? Josh definitely appeared to assume so.
The primary problem began with a recreation during which the contestants needed to pull tags off of fifty suitcases and place them within the right bins, associating the tags’ clues with associated nations. Instantly, Mack proved to be a formidable contender by partnering up with Ally — for the reason that reward was a serious clue, and the winner might share with one particular person, it was a surefire win for each of them to associate up, and apparently, nobody else considered it. (Plus, she was prepared to swipe Rick’s dropped sausage tag with out an oz of regret and coasted to victory.) Collectively, Mac and Ally obtained to step off the bus and see an historic theater the place gladiators fought 2,000 years in the past. The Roman ruins clued them in that they had been in Italy, and so they shared that intel with Rick as a gesture of goodwill after the sausage incident.
The second a part of the problem noticed the contestants randomly teamed as much as clear up riddles in St. Patrick’s Nicely so their seeker might roam the city of Orvieto for cash. Although Josh initially provided to do the above-ground bidding, citing his endurance, fellow teammate Biggy insisted he was a greater match. Because it turned out, although, that wasn’t true in any respect, and the crew obtained smoked, incomes only one coin to opponent Mack’s 4. That left Mack with the selection to ship 4 opposing crew members into the map room to guess their precise location, and Josh was amongst them. Though he was initially satisfied it was Rome, Rick’s last-minute suggestion that it was Milan left Josh confused, and his guess ended up being the farthest off the mark in consequence.
On his approach out, Josh accused Rick of sabotaging him and instructed the others to not belief the man. So does he nonetheless consider that’s what occurred, and what else did Josh Martinez must say about his all-too-brief time on Vacation spot X? TV Insider caught up with him to search out out!
Final time I talked to you, it was for The Problem, and we mentioned the “Trip Alliance,” which was a giant factor within the season. Did you assume coming into this that historical past of world touring would enable you?
Josh Martinez: 100 and 10 %. I imply, I traveled all of Europe with The Problem. So immediately I used to be like, “Oh, I obtained this within the bag. I’m gonna accomplish that good!” I’ve traveled with my household to Europe. I’ve completed a number of seasons in Europe, so I felt fairly well-versed in my European geography.
You talked about forward of the season that this was the toughest factor you’ve completed. Are you able to simply describe why Vacation spot X was so tough?
It wasn’t a lot the gameplay — effectively, yeah, no, I feel that did add to it. It was simply because for those who didn’t need the challenges, you principally had been going primarily based off of the connection that you simply shaped in there, and I in a short time needed to belief these individuals, in order that was actually onerous for me. After which I simply form of needed to go off of what they had been telling me as a result of we didn’t win any clues. We had one clue, and that’s it. So immediately, the sport took off. Nevertheless it wasn’t a lot the sport. I feel being confined on the bus, for me — I spotted I used to be claustrophobic, and I simply don’t do effectively with being confined. I imply, I simply can’t sit nonetheless, and we must sit for hours on the bus. So I feel simply adapting to my setting, it took me somewhat longer than I do know that I’m used to. I feel I adapt in a short time, and I wasn’t catching the hold of it on the bus. I felt very trapped. I used to be getting irritated and agitated in a short time. I used to be due for some blow-ups, if I might have [stayed] simply resulting from the truth that individuals had been annoying me already. So it, yeah, it was actually robust to adapt to, however it’s gonna make for some nice TV.
Did you choose up on the flirty vitality that Ally was speaking about having for you?
Yeah, I did… I can’t give any spoilers. There’s an entire showmance that develops together with her. However we had been flirting actually onerous, actually onerous, and never even on a bodily stage. I feel Ally is such a likable, sociable woman, and he or she’s simply any person that’s so she’s really easy to speak to. So she was any person on the bus that I simply wished to be round. She was any person that I felt snug with, that I used to be simply vibing with. So it simply felt very pure for each of us and, yeah, I undoubtedly picked up on it. However no, I imply, I used to be out so fast. Nothing occurred. However I’m excited to see the place that goes for her. Yeah, I feel she’s undoubtedly any person to maintain an eye fixed on.
Was there any speak of you aligning together with her and Mack, because you guys did have that?
Sure… Ally was any person that I felt, like I mentioned, very snug with. So I used to be confiding and really open together with her, and he or she was open with me… They form of introduced me in and instructed me somewhat bit concerning the clues that they obtained, however not an excessive amount of. And I felt like Mack was holding again so much. So I immediately instructed Ally, “I don’t belief Mack,” and Mack was simply any person that I believed was gaming. She was very reserved when it got here to me and wasn’t open, and I felt linked to individuals like Biggy or Shane or Tai, so she was very distant for me. So I didn’t belief her proper off the bat, however I knew that Ally was shut together with her, so it was form of onerous…
Did anyone else take into consideration teaming up for that first problem with suitcases?
No one, no one. And immediately, these women. I used to be like, “Wow, they’re right here to play!” And when she snatched Rick’s tag, I used to be like, “Oh my God, they’re not messing round.” So, no, and I form of admired [the move]. I used to be like, “All proper, it’s recreation on.” I feel in that second I spotted — I imply, it was our first problem — I used to be like, “All proper… they’re right here to play. So it’s time to play onerous.” However yeah, it was actually cool. I knew the producers cherished that, too, as a result of I don’t assume anyone was anticipating that, however it was genius of them. It labored out.
Matteo Graia / NBC
What we noticed of you speaking about your actuality TV background with the others, you talked about that you simply had been on Large Brother, however you didn’t say you gained, and you then actually didn’t discuss The Problem in any respect. What was the calculus there?
I wished to be open with what I do. Only for me, it’s simpler, as a result of it’s a massive a part of my life, to only form of simply share it. However I didn’t need to say I gained simply because individuals, for those who say you gained considered one of these exhibits, then immediately, you’re a backstabber, you’re a snake, you’re a manipulator. … So I didn’t need that rap, however I wished them to know, like, yeah, I’ve expertise on this. And in some unspecified time in the future I used to be going to speak about Large Brother. It’s a giant a part of me, so I couldn’t have held that for too lengthy. So, yeah, I don’t assume it hindered me in any approach or something. Some individuals had been like, “All proper, he is aware of the ropes easy methods to do TV, so any person to lean on.”
Do you assume that perhaps having talked about The Problem credentials, that may have satisfied them to place you because the seeker as an alternative of Biggy?
Most likely, in all probability… I don’t remorse something, however there’s quite a lot of issues that I take from this, and one of many largest classes is that proper there: me not stepping up. I’m an aggressive participant, and once I need one thing completed, I do it myself, and for me to not step up and say, “No, Biggy, sit down. That is my doing. I’m gonna do it. I obtained it.” Even when we didn’t win, I might have seen the place we had been at, and I might have recognized for sure that I used to be in Rome, and that’s considered one of my largest errors. However yeah, I feel it might have gave them extra leverage. However I additionally didn’t need to put [a target on my back]. I felt from sure individuals very distant: Rachel, Mack, Rick, so if I might have added like, “Oh, I’ve completed eight seasons of The Problem additionally,” they’d have been like, “Oh!” I didn’t need to draw that a lot consideration or turn out to be that massive of a goal. However yeah, in order that’s why I stored that form of in the dead of night. However I feel, yeah, my crew in all probability would have trusted me extra… No, not even my crew. I feel that was a second that even when I pissed off my crew in that occasion, I in all probability would have nonetheless been within the recreation, and that’s what I’m there for. So I ought to have taken management, and when I’m extra aggressive on no matter present I do sooner or later, simply realize it stems from that little mistake I made.
Have been you stunned by how Mack was speaking about you on the bus?
No, as a result of I felt that vibe from Mack. Me and Mack actually didn’t hit it off. We didn’t have a lot dialog. And Mack was any person that I noticed as a risk. Mack was any person that, shifting ahead, I used to be gonna find yourself calling out… My type is to only name individuals out and simply blow up their recreation, and I had all intentions of doing that to her. I simply didn’t assume I used to be gonna be out first.
What made you assume that Rick was sabotaging you with the Milan remark, and do you continue to assume he was?
Sure and no. Pay attention, I can’t blame Rick for my mistake. I doubted myself. I wouldn’t even blame it and put it on Rick. I let issues get in my head, and I doubted myself, and I didn’t belief my intestine, which was that we had been in Rome. So I’m not placing that on Rick. My intent with calling out Rick was to attract consideration. I noticed the way in which that he was shifting, and I didn’t belief it. Nice man, however his gameplay was messy. He was doing one-on-ones and attempting to play each single angle and attempt to join with everyone. And so I knew … the one approach that I’m going to present the those who I’m that I constructed a stronger friendship with, like Biggy and Shane and Tai and Ally an opportunity at shifting ahead on this recreation is by placing a goal on any person else. So I wished all eyes on Rick. In order that was form of my intent. I wasn’t actually mad at him as a result of he instructed me Milan… It was like, “All proper, it’s time to attract consideration to any person and blow up his recreation.” In order that was my one approach to [do so]. I imply, I wished to depart with a bang, and I feel that Rick was the goal. Sorry, Rick!
If you left, did you not less than get to spend some high quality time in Rome?
I did. So pay attention, there’s no approach in hell that I used to be [going to go home]. I did my exit interview, and I feel they handed me my boarding cross. And I used to be like, “No, there’s no approach in hell I’m getting on a airplane.” So I spent a while in Florence. I form of disconnected somewhat bit. It was a tough hit, like oh, I used to be so connected — immediate remorse. I used to be like, “Why didn’t you simply say Rome while you knew you weren’t flawed?” And that basically sucked. However I do know I disconnected our somewhat bit, and I obtained my thoughts proper, and now I’m identical to, “What’s taking place now? I’m simply so hungry to play. I’m so hungry to recreation. I need to simply get in there and get my palms soiled.” … No matter present I find yourself on, I really feel dangerous for whoever must play towards as a result of I’m desperate to play a recreation as a result of I actually didn’t get the prospect on Vacation spot X.
Are there any that you’ve in thoughts? I do know there are a couple of which have popped up, like Traitors and Home of Villains — not that you simply’re a villain — and Deal or No Deal Island? Are there any you might have your eye on?
There’s two out of three that you simply simply mentioned that I might like to do. I feel Traitors is such a giant one. So I might like to do Traitors. At the same time as a Latino, seeing Sandra [Diaz-Twine], any person that I admired and I used to be such a giant fan of, simply seeing the Latino on there doing her factor, and he or she’s such an amazing gamer, I might simply like to. I feel it might be such an enormous factor for me and my household. So I might like to do Traitors. Traitors is unquestionably one thing that I’m manifesting for myself. And Deal or No Deal Island, what’s humorous is, I truly obtained initially referred to as for Deal or No Deal, and so they ended up placing me on Vacation spot X, and I’m glad they did … There’s nothing like Vacation spot X. So I’m completely satisfied that I did it. However yeah, these two I might like to do, and we’ll see what NBC has in retailer. Hopefully, they let me redeem myself as a result of there’s no approach in hell [I’m going out like that]. I need to hold working with NBC. So hopefully there’s one thing aligned within the books for me.
Was there something that didn’t we didn’t get to see that you simply want we had?
Not a lot. They did a tremendous job at enhancing. They did a extremely good job at enhancing. And props to them as a result of you might have an hour and so they match — that was like three, 4 days of content material, and so they squeezed as a lot as they may, and so they instructed the story rather well, which I really like that. I feel simply, after all, you’re not going to see all of the relationships, however I bonded with lots of people in there in a short time. And even Rick! Plenty of these individuals are simply actually good. They smashed it. The casting crew, shout out to them. They completely killed it. It’s such a novel, lovely group of individuals. And I feel that there have been simply deep conversations, even with Kim, I instructed her I used to be a momma’s boy. We simply had very good conversations. So simply the connection, I don’t assume individuals are going to know how briskly [you bond]. Since you’re trapped and confined on this bus, all you might have is one another to speak. So I feel that the connections are going to be actually sturdy, and I don’t know that’s going to translate.
Vacation spot X, Tuesdays, 10/9c, NBC