Rob & Amber are back

Rob Mariano has almost won both "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race." He did win the love of his life on the former, and they're still very much in love after surviving the latter.

But can "Boston Rob" succeed as a professional gambler?

"C'mon," he said with an impish smile. "Don't you think I know how to bluff?"

Having seen him manipulate people on "Survivor: Marquesas," "Survivor: All Stars" and "Amazing Race," maybe he is cut out for this. Mariano and his wife, fellow "Survivor" survivor Amber (Brkich) Mariano, move to Las Vegas and he pursues his dream on "Rob & Amber: Against the Odds."

"It's 'The Rob and Amber Show' with a twist," Amber said. "It's something he really wants to do, and it's better than a lot of the shows we've been pitched."

Of course, it is "a little scary" because Mariano is gambling with his own money. Or their own money, won on the other reality shows.

Amber, who finished sixth on "Survivor: The Australian Outback" and won "Survivor: All-Stars" — and accepted Rob's marriage proposal in the "All-Stars" finale — and Rob had been pursued to appear in everything from talk shows to home-improvement/decorating shows.

"This is something different," he said. "We're used to the cameras, so that was no big deal. And this is something fun."

The 10-part series debuts Thursday at 10 p.m. on the Fox Reality Channel (which is available only on some cable and satellite systems).

We saw them fall in love on "Survivor." We saw them get married in a two-hour, prime-time TV special. We saw them as newlyweds on "The Amazing Race" and now on this new show.

So could the next logical step in Rob and Amber reality shows be ... parenthood?

"That's the first question everybody asks," Amber said. "Of course, we want to have children. But not necessarily right now."

"We're young. There's plenty of time for kids someday," Rob said.

And what about rumors that Rob and Amber might be part of the "Amazing Race: All-Stars" that begins airing in February?

Well ... CBS is still keeping that cast list a secret. Stay tuned.

GAY, STRAIGHT OR TAKEN? (today at 6 and 6:30 p.m., Lifetime) is the latest low-budget reality show.

One young woman spends a little bit of time with three different guys — one gay; one straight; one involved in a relationship and unavailable. If she picks the straight, available one, the two of them go on a fabulous vacation together. If she picks the wrong one, he and his partner get the vacation.

It's all pretty dopey. But at least it breaks a few stereotypes.

---

E-mail: pierce@desnews.com