I stood on a bridge, swatting mosquitos so frequently my hands were just a blur, and shook American Grit executive producer Jon Kroll’s hand. “Let’s try right here until we start getting devoured,” he said. We were above a lake, water that was now swarming with bugs, bugs indifferent to insect repellant, natural or chemical, and… continue reading
Interview: John Cena on American Grit season two’s major changes
Last November, in a rural Georgia park, I interviewed several contestants for American Grit season two. It was the first thing a tiny contingent of press—two Fox TV station crew, and another print reporter and I—did before traveling to the actual set, where the contestants would be mentored by military elites and test their own endurance in the John… continue reading
Behind the scenes of The Runner’s real-time production
A behind-the-scenes report from day 29’s episode two of The Runner, go90’s cross-country chase reality competition produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
Behind the scenes of Trading Spaces, on its 15th anniversary
Trading Spaces debuted on Oct. 13, 2000, 15 years ago. The TLC series was a groundbreaking early reality TV show that spawned imitators and captured the nation’s attention, but ultimately burned out as fast as it became a phenomenon. After just four years, perky host Paige Davis was fired and replaced by no one. She was eventually re-hired, but… continue reading
Why Project Runway is no longer filmed at Parsons, and where it is now
Since 2004, Project Runway‘s home and filming location has been the Parsons School of Design in New York City. It’s where the workroom and the runway were located, and it was a five-minutes, 0.2 mile walk from Mood. Parsons also gave us Tim Gunn, who taught there and was supposed to just be an off-camera… continue reading
Sharknado 3’s surprises, on screen and behind the scenes
Oh hell yes: Sharknado is back on Syfy tonight, and the third installment brings with it more ridiculous mayhem and another slew of reality TV cameos. Shark Tank‘s Mark Cuban as the actual president, and, of course, the ever-serious Ian “EYE-an” Ziering from Celebrity Apprentice is the franchise’s star, Fin Shepard. The third installment brings… continue reading
How The Last Alaskans stayed real
“It was a big risk for us. We just had to hope, but we really wanted to try to tell authentic stories.” That’s Animal Planet Media executive Keith Hoffman, talking about the network’s series The Last Alaskans, which is the most surprising and most spectacular reality television show I’ve seen in quite some time. It’s… continue reading
Ultimate Survival Alaska fake? “No” “Everything … is real”
Ultimate Survival Alaska, which is now in its third season, sends four teams of three on a 13-leg race through Alaskan wilderness. It is dramatic and thrilling, and features moments of great danger. It has also been accused of staging moments and not authentic. Is Ultimate Survival Alaska fake? “Nothing is staged. Everything you see those people do… continue reading
Behind the scenes of Knife Fight
The set of Esquire Network’s Knife Fight was chaotic: people moving everywhere, chefs moving around in the small open kitchen, conversation plus cooking so loud you cannot hear the chefs or the judges. Once the setting for late-night cook-offs, Top Chef 2 winner Ilan Hall’s downtown Los Angeles restaurant now also hosts a TV show that is… continue reading
Bachelor mansion: behind the scenes
ABC’s The Bachelor franchise is currently airing its 25th season, and to celebrate that, Warner Bros. invited TV critics to its Southern California mansion, where the men and women meet each other for the first time and start their romantic televised journey toward a public break-up. Creator Mike Fleiss praised the show’s cast and crew… continue reading
Behind the scenes of The Glass House
Most of my interview with executive producer Kenny Rosen was conducted from behind one of the mirrored walls that make up The Glass House. We were standing behind the tubes from which players enter and exit, watching the players blow bubbles and answer viewer questions in the living room during the July 31 3 p.m…. continue reading
Big Brother cast contract: the agreement houseguests sign
Over 12 seasons and 11 years, Big Brother has entertained and horrified us thanks to the many men and women who have signed up to be cast members on the show. Those houseguests were all required to sign a contract with producers governing their behavior before, during, and after the show, and until now, that… continue reading
Big Brother finals casting process: how it works, rules finalists must follow
Big Brother debuts its 13th season this week, introducing us to eight new cast members and several returning cast members. All went through a process that we’ve often heard mentioned but that, until now, has never been revealed in detail: finals. That refers to the final stage in the casting process, when finalists are brought… continue reading
Big Brother 12 house: inside the soundstage
After touring Big Brother house Saturday, I was left with new respect for the people who both run it and live there. Although perhaps “respect” is a little much for the houseguests; actually, I just now appreciate how easy it is for already insane people to go crazy in there. Here are my observations from… continue reading
Behind the scenes of the Big Brother house
On Saturday, 20 members of the Television Critics Association toured the Big Brother house, live studio, and backstage areas. As a member of TCA, I was one of those fortunate people. After we visited the studio and back yard, executive producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan each took half the group, and led us through… continue reading