Reality TV casting producer Doron Ofir talks about his role in casting ABC’s reboot of American Idol, which will start touring the country in August.
How American Ninja Warrior created stars like Jessie Graff and Drew Drechsel
I interviewed American Ninja Warrior stars Jessie Graff & Drew Drechsel, and hosts Akbar Gbajabiamila & Matt Iseman, about how the show created celebrities.
How Stranded with a Million Dollars was produced
An interview with Stranded with a Million Dollars creator and executive producer Kevin Lee about how the show came together behind the scenes.
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
Marcus Lemonis on criticism of The Partner, his mistakes, and its future
An interview with The Profit’s Marcus Lemonis about his CNBC show The Partner, which concluded its first season when he named Julianna Reed as his partner.
How Vanity Fair Confidential breaks from the true-crime formula
Of the true crime, murder-mystery, pulpy shows that air on Investigation Discovery, there’s a bit of an aberration, a series that gets its name from one of the most respected institutions in journalism: Vanity Fair Confidential. The show draws its stories from the pages and archives of Vanity Fair, which are adapted and added to for the television screen by… continue reading
An interview with Kicking & Screaming’s Maxwell about the new Fox competition
Kicking & Screaming contestant and reality TV fan Maxwell Carr takes us behind the scenes, talking about surviving in Fiji and playing a new game.
Why ‘facts don’t matter’ and ‘people are crazy’ can show us how religions are linked
An interview with the star of CNN’s Believer, Reza Aslan, who talks about why beliefs overrule facts, and how religious beliefs may be universal.
The Curse of Oak Island: Marty and Rick on skepticism and what they’d change
An interview with Rich and Marty Lagina, the stars of History’s The Curse of Oak Island, who talk about the show’s editing and their search for treasure.
The life and lessons of Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise tells the full story of Maya Angelou’s life, and it was a life that included a lot more than her memorable writing.
Why Face Off: All Stars changed its format, and more insight from its producer
For its 11th season, Face Off will look different: not just because it’s the show’s first-ever all-star season, but because the contestants will compete in pairs all season long, affecting the way each episode is structured. Instead of weekly eliminations, as the show had for its previous 10 seasons, the show will now alternate. Tonight’s episode (Syfy, 9 p.m.) won’t… continue reading
Why Matt Paxton is leaving Hoarders, which is again on the bubble
Hoarders airs its season, maybe series, finale on Sunday, with what will be Matt Paxton’s final episode. Why it’s “the most difficult hoard I’ve ever seen.”
How a real-life, action-adventure crime series was produced
An interview with the producers of Ocean Warriors, a six-hour Animal Planet series that follows people who are trying to stop illegal fishing.
Derek and Heather divorce mid-season, a Married at First Sight first
Married at First Sight’s Derek Schwartz and Heather Seidel got divorced mid-season, a first for MAFS. Its showrunner reveals behind-the-scenes details to reality blurred.
Born this Way, rejected by other networks, is now changing lives
Born This Way producer Jon Murray and showrunner Laura Korkorian talk about how they produce the A&E series, which follows friends with Down syndrome.