An interview with Russ Landau, composer of Survivor theme song “Ancient Voices,” on why he stopped writing new music for the CBS reality series last year.
Exclusive reports, interviews, details, and observations from behind the scenes of reality TV productions, from soundstages to islands, Trading Spaces to Survivor.
Sharknado 3’s surprises, on screen and behind the scenes
A review of Sharknado 3 and its cameos (starring Mark Cuban and plenty of other reality stars), plus a look behind-the-scenes at production of the movie.
How The Last Alaskans stayed real
How Animal Planet’s The Last Alaskans was produced, and why the show is so different from other shows about Alaska and all of reality TV.
Ultimate Survival Alaska fake? “No” “Everything … is real”
Is National Geographic’s Ultimate Survival Alaska fake or does it stage moments? No, says its producer, who tells reality blurred about how it’s produced.
Behind the scenes of Knife Fight
What happens when a real restaurant becomes the set of a reality TV cooking competition.
Bachelor mansion: behind the scenes
The secrets of Villa De La Vina, the candle wax-scented mansion where The Bachelor and Bachelorette are filmed.
Behind the scenes of The Glass House
Go inside and behind the scenes of The Glass House, ABC’s Big Brother-like competition series.
Whale Wars spin-off Viking Shores: behind the scenes
I spent time aboard the Steve Irwin with the Sea Shepherd crew during filming of Animal Planet’s Whale Wars: Viking Shores. Here’s what I found.
Behind the scenes of Hoarders: Randyland
How Hoarders was filmed, from behind the scenes of a show that usually doesn’t allow visitors. Plus: What happened that wasn’t shown on TV on the season 4 episode “Randy/Vicki.”
Big Brother cast contract: the agreement houseguests sign
This is the Big Brother contract, which cast members sign during casting. It details things like houseguests’ pay and prohibited behavior.
Big Brother finals casting process: how it works, rules finalists must follow
A finalist for Big Brother explains how the casting process works. Plus: Read the rules and other documents potential houseguests are given.
Behind the scenes of Hoarders and inside Survivor Coach’s house and life
I visited Ben “Coach” Wade at his home and visited the set of Hoarders, reporting on both in a Playboy feature story.
Survivor behind-the-scenes: building Tribal Council, constructing the first challenge
In two new behind-the-scenes videos narrated by Jeff Probst, we see the construction of Survivor Redemption Island’s Tribal Council and its first challenge.
Big Brother 12 house: inside the soundstage
Big Brother behind the scenes: a detailed tour of the soundstage home of the season 12 houseguests, including their bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, and more.
Behind the scenes of the Big Brother house
The CBS Big Brother house behind the scenes: a tour of the control room, back yard, Julie Chen’s studio, and camera ring from where houseguests are filmed.