39 Reality Show Secrets That Will Change How You Watch TV
39 Reality Show Secrets That Will Change How You Watch TV
While they may seem straightforward, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to reality TV shows. Reality TV employs careful camera work and behind-the-scenes tricks to create those dramatic and shocking moments that keep us watching. Keep reading to discover top secrets about your favorite reality shows, like The Bachelor, The Voice, and Selling Sunset. But be forewarned — you may never watch these programs the same way again.
‘Bachelor’ producers influence who stays and who goes
Ever wondered why some contestants stay on for weeks on end against all odds? Well, you can thank The Bachelor producers for that. Former executive producer Scott Jeffress confirmed this in an interview for the book Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America’s Favorite Guilty Pleasure. “We would say, ‘We’d like you to keep this one because she’s good for TV, and this other one we’d like you to get to know better,'” he said.
Some ‘Selling Sunset’ seasons were filmed consecutively
According to what Selling Sunset creator Adam Divello told Variety, seasons 2 and 3 of the show were filmed concurrently but were released as separate seasons.
'The Masked Singer’ security is extremely tight
In order to avoid spilling the celebrity’s identity, The Masked Singer goes to extreme lengths to keep things under wraps. Staff are not allowed to use their phones under any circumstances and face embarrassing punishment if they do. Showrunner Izzie Pick Ibarra told Billboard, “Everyone tries to justify their need to use their phone, so if they want to do that, they have to go through the humiliating task of wearing this pageant sash.”
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Bobby Berk’s budget might be larger than you think
Queer Eye’s Bobby Berk always does incredible home transformations, but it takes no small budget to do so. Bobby told Vanity Fair he gets $20,000 per episode to complete his home transformations. While that may seem like a lot of money, most of it ends up going to construction costs.
‘Bachelor in Paradise’ contestants have a drink limit
Contestants on ABC’s Bachelor in Paradise are limited to two drinks an hour at the island resort. Former paradise participant Dean Unglert told Us, “They’ve got a little binder with your picture in it. Every time you get served a drink, they do a little tick mark in it and then every hour it resets. I remember there were ways to, like, not cheat the system, but just kind of get the most out of the experience.”
'The Great British Baking Show’ contestants have to rewear their clothes
Ever wondered why the bakers seem to wear the same clothes for days on end? It’s no coincidence: the British baking competition requires its contestants to rewear the same outfit over multiple days of filming. Former contestant Laura Adlington explained in a Q&A that this is primarily for continuity and filming purposes. While it may make filming easier, this may be a tricky task for some of the more messy bakers!
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‘The Voice’ supplies wardrobes for its contestants
Although contestants need to bring their own clothes for the blind auditions, the show hooks them up after they move on to the next round. “We shop for each artist to come up with great looks. Once we get to the live shows, looks are customized for each specific performance,” revealed Audrey Morrissey, an executive producer of the show.
Producers make the call on 'Dancing with the Stars' pairings
Dancing with the Stars celebrities and their partners have no say in their pairings on the popular dance show — no matter how much they might want to. Deena Katz, the talent co-executive producer, explained to Glamour in 2015, “We [decide] 100%.”
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Two more couples got engaged on ‘Love is Blind’ that audiences didn’t see.
When more than the expected amount of couples got engaged on Love is Blind, producers simply couldn’t keep up with them all. In fact, two more couples got engaged that audiences never saw. “We weren't sure where the stories were going to go, everybody felt like they truly found the person they wanted to spend their life with and we had an abundance of story...we just didn't have time in the show to follow them, which is incredible to me,” said show creator Chris Coelen to E News.
There are no clocks in the ‘Love Island’ villa
According to season 2 contestant Kady McDermott, contestants have no way of knowing what time it is due to the lack of clocks in the Love Island villa. “You don’t even know what time it is! You’re not allowed clocks. You’re in your own secluded world, you know nothing - you don’t even know what day it is really,” Kady told Cosmopolitan.
Producers decide the rose ceremony order on ‘The Bachelor’
There’s a reason the rose ceremonies always leave our hearts pumping! While the bachelor/bachelorette makes the final decision on who stays and who goes (minus producers’ input), the producers decide the order of the elimination during the rose ceremony.
Potential ‘Queer Eye’ candidates have to meet a ‘huge checklist’
Casting director Danielle Gervais explained to CNN, “There's a massive checklist the heroes have to meet, and all these requirements that these people have to have in order to really make for a wonderful hero."
‘Nailed It’ episodes can take almost half a day to film
Although the final episodes are only 30 minutes, filming usually takes around 10 hours. However, Jacques Torres explained to Vulture that some days can run even longer. “One day, I remember they had us do 14 hours. So it’s long,” he said. “Remember, the shows are 30 minutes long, so they have a lot [of] material to edit and cut.”
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A private investigator helps cast ‘The Bachelorette’
A private investigator is just one of the people involved when working to cast contestants for the dating show. Former contestant Darius Feaster revealed that when he reached the final round of casting, a psychologist and a private investigator were present. “The P.I. was asking me about my friends’ histories based on pictures from social media,” Darius said.
'Top Chef’ has an unofficial extra judge
When the judges can’t make up their mind, they have someone else to turn to on the popular cooking show. In a 2015 interview with Entertainment Weekly, it was revealed that judges turn to a camera operator — named T-Bone — for additional help when they can’t make up their mind about a dish. Lucky T-Bone!
‘Big Brother’ houseguests get a hefty weekly stipend
Unlike many other reality shows, Big Brother pays its contestant for their weeks on the show. Contestants get $1,000 each week they’re on the show. Even the evicted members that go to the jury house still receive their weekly pay.
Couples are fairly far in the buying process on ‘House Hunters’
Although it may look like the couples are extremely indecisive over their dream house, producers say the people are usually fairly sure of their home before the show films. A statement released to Entertainment Weekly by the show’s publicist explained, “To maximize production time, we seek out families who are pretty far along in the process.”
‘American Idol’ contestants had a rigorous rehearsal process
Performing on American Idol wasn’t for the faint of heart back in the day. According to The Washington Post, contestants picked their songs and immediately recorded them after Thursday’s elimination. They then spent the weekend rehearsing and shooting promotions before rehearsing three more times on Tuesday, the day of the live performance.
Contestants get to choose their costume on ‘The Masked Singer’
It turns out that celebrities do have a say in their unique costumes on The Masked Singer. Former contestant and comedian Margaret Cho told E News that she was presented with two options — a poodle and an alien — and she was able to choose between the two (P.S. she chose the poodle).
Days in 'Paradise' can last longer than you may think
The Bachelor in Paradise crew don’t just get to sit in the sun and relax all day like you may think. Wells Adams, the bartender in Paradise, told TV Insider that he usually works an eight or nine hour shift daily — even later if there is a rose ceremony. “So yeah, I’d get up there, go set the bar up, and then they’d start sending people down to my bar. And it depends — if it’s a rose ceremony, then that’s a night shoot,” Wells said.
Joanna Gaines staged homes with some of her own personal items
While the items used to stage the homes all contained the classic Fixer Upper style, not all of it was from Magnolia Market. Some of the items were even Joanna Gaines’ personal pieces, according to homeowner Jeff Jones from season three. “Joanna actually staged our house with some of our furniture and some of it was her own personal stuff that she uses from her house, and that isn’t for sale,” Jeff said, per Apartment Therapy.
Everyone on ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ has to sign an NDA
And Kris Jenner makes sure of it. The show requires everyone who appears on the show to sign non-disclosure agreements, but Kris Jenner goes a step further by keeping a stack of NDAs on a table right by the front door.
‘Survivor’ teams can discuss the challenges beforehand
While it may seem that teams are thrown headfirst into their challenges, they do get to collaborate off-screen. According to Today, the teams get behind-the-scenes information about the challenges before competing, allowing the teams to strategize and even ask questions before the event.
More people than you think work at the Oppenheim Group
Not all of the individuals at the Oppenheim Group are followed and highlighted on Selling Sunset. Heather Rae Young revealed that around 15 people total work at the Oppenheim Group, including a few men we never see on the show.
‘Shark Tank’ contestants receive an awkward introduction
When Shark Tank contestants first walk in front of the judges, they aren’t allowed to speak…at all…for 30 seconds. This awkward moment is so the camera crew can adjust mics and angles, according to season 6 business owner Eric Bandholz. “You’re just standing there,” Eric said, per Mental Floss. “The Sharks are smiling awkwardly. The whole thing is pretty intense.”
‘The Voice’ audition rounds take close to a week
According to executive producer Audrey Morrissey, judges listen to around 18-20 auditions per day for five to six days. Thankfully for contestants, they get ample preparation time before their auditions. “Artists are with us for several days prior to [their audition] to rehearse with our band, work with wardrobe/styling and camera block on the audition stage,” Audrey said.
'The Amazing Race’ team is massive
Over 2,000 people worldwide work to keep The Amazing Race running, according to a 2005 interview with creator Bertram van Munster. “In order to lay out the race and make it financially, creatively, and logistically work, I go everywhere and lay it out, and hand all that knowledge over to the rest of my team,” Bertram said. “Then I travel with my team again around the world and plan exactly where the camera position is going to go, what we’re going to do, and come up with all the challenges.”
'Dancing With the Stars’ producers get the final say
Ever wondered how each dancing pair’s song gets chosen each week? Although the pros may have some input on their desired music, the producers have the final say when it comes to weekly song choice and theme.
Nobody eats the food on ‘The Bachelor’
Those plates of food always look untouched for a reason! Former bachelor Sean Lowe explained that no one eats the food on the one-on-one dates. “Nobody eats, and that's primarily because nobody wants to watch you eat and the mikes will pick up the chewing,” Sean said. “So between the two date portions, they would bring us to a hotel, where you can shower and change and get ready — and it's during that time that you can eat.”
‘Love is Blind’ dates could last for hours…and hours
While the beginning dates in the pods could be brief introductions, as the show goes on dates could last for hours on end according to an interview with former participant Lauren Speed. "As the time prolonged and as people started to get connected and matching up, the dates would get longer, maybe four to five hours,” Lauren said, per Buzzfeed. “But then you'd still be dating multiple people, so dating total a day could be 16-hour days!"
'The Bachelor’ casting takes place a year in advance
The popular dating show doesn’t waste any time preparing for its next season! Casting for the next season takes place almost a year in advance. “The moment in the previous season when they step out of the limo, I start casting the next season,” said casting director Lacey Pemberton in a 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “We sift through all of the people we have to make sure it’s just the right group for whoever we’re casting in that lead role.”
'American Idol’ producers choose the best of the best…and the worst of the worst
Ever wondered why some of the worst singers you’ve ever heard make it to the audition rounds? American Idol producers purposely select not-the-best singers along with the best in order to draw viewers in. It’s one of the aspects that made the show so famous in the early years.
The 'America’s Got Talent’ prize money isn’t given all at once
The disclaimer shown at the end of every episode says, “The prize, which totals $1,000,000, is payable in a financial annuity over forty years, or the contestant may choose to receive the present cash value of such annuity." According to a Forbes report, the disclaimer allows AGT to pay the winner $25,000 a year for 40 years (before taxes), or the winner can select a cash payment of around $300,000 instead of the annuity.
Homeowners keep everything on ‘Property Brothers’
Unlike some other home renovation shows, what you see is what homeowners get on Property Brothers. "Every one of our shows, where it's a homeowner moving in, they all keep the furniture," explained Jonathan Scott to PopSugar. "I've heard that some other shows take it all away and I was like, 'Uh ... That's a jerk move.' You get someone to fall in love with a room and then you're like, 'See ya!' So no, everything that you see on TV stays."
Producers can influence voting on ‘America’s Got Talent’
In the case of a public voting tie or issue, the America’s Got Talent producers can step in. In this case, the show’s contract explains that producers have the right to decide who will be eliminated and who will stay.
‘The Amazing Race’ contestants have their own filming team
Each traveling duo on The Amazing Race has a two-person camera pair following them every step of the way. “Every team of contestants, we have a camera team consisting of a cinematographer and a sound man,” said show producer, creator and director Bertram van Munster in a 2016 Variety interview. “So that’s their team. It’s like the contestants have their two kids with them; they’re not leaving unless the kids are coming with, as well.”
'Love Is Blind' producers "strongly suggested" that couples delayed breaking up
According to former participant Lauren Speed, the Love is Blind producers didn’t have any strict relationship rules for the couples during their time on the show: no forcing to stay, no pressure to get engaged. However, they did make known their strong preferences. "If you decided to say no, you had to say it at the altar. Well, it was strongly suggested,” Lauren said.
'Masked Singer’ contestants freshen up before their reveal
Before each contestant is revealed on The Masked Singer, they’re swept backstage to freshen up their hair and makeup off-camera. Twenty minutes after the announcement and a backstage touchup later, their identity is finally revealed.
'Chopped’ chefs can bring their own knives
There’s nothing quite like working with your own familiar tools! According to Food Network, contestants are allowed to bring no more than seven of their own knives. All of the other appliances they must use from the Chopped kitchen.
These are 39 of the most shocking secrets of some of the most popular reality TV series, from 'Keeping up With the Kardashians' to 'The Bachelor' and 'Selling Sunset.'