Summary

• Reality TV casting has evolved with social media but still looks for specific archetypes in potential cast .
• Shows like Love Is Blind require in-depth questionnaires and videos to gauge vulnerability in potential participants.
• Big Brother and Survivor cast people familiar with the shows, incorporating online applications and in-person casting calls.

While some reality TV stars are plucked from obscurity and made into celebrities, most get onto their favorite shows in more traditional ways, and if you’re interested in being on your favorite series, there are some tips and tricks to getting cast. Most reality TV shows began casting in similar ways to scripted shows early on, hosting large casting calls and using scouts that would find people outside of the entertainment industry who were ready to break in. For early reality TV shows like Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, many of the stars were found in their natural habitat.

In the earliest heyday of reality TV, the casting process was far different than it is now. There were fewer pre-existing notions about reality TV, especially before the internet was a major factor in day-to-day life. Many reality TV shows cast people who were simply looking to have a new, interesting experience and were open to anything, rather than looking at ing a show as a gateway into fame. With reality TV having to shift regularly to meet societal standards, it’s not surprising how rapidly the casting process has changed.

Though the style of casting may have changed with the times, reality TV casting itself is likely very similar to when unscripted series started to become popular. While there’s now an array of other factors that have come into play when casting a series, like social media following and past indiscretions online, the majority of the casting process evaluates potential cast for whether or not they’d fit into the role that’s needed on the series. Most reality TV series are looking for cast who can fit an archetype the producers believe may work in the cast.

As reality TV changes and expands, the casting tactics used to find new stars has had to develop into an entirely different process than what the industry began with. For some, this has led to an easier time getting cast on their favorite shows. With social media more important than ever, the majority of reality TV stars have the ability to grow their personal brand on screen and reap the benefits after the fact online.

Though some reality TV stars come from social media, many are still cast in the traditional way. Since many reality star hopefuls don’t have massive social media followings, it can be helpful to know some tips and tricks about the best ways to make into the reality TV spotlight. Here are the ways some of the most popular reality TV shows on the air find their incredible cast .

8 How To Get Cast On 90 Day Fiancé

Available To Stream On Max

While 90 Day Fiancé isn’t the easiest series to become a part of, the casting process is fairly straightforward. As a series that follows the lives of couples who are going through the K-1 visa process, there are specifications surrounding who the casting agents are looking for. According to the casting website, they’re looking for stories about international love where an American citizen is in the process of bringing their international future spouse to the US.

The producers behind 90 Day Fiancé, 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way. In order to get cast on 90 Day Fiancé or any of its spin-offs that accept new participants, potential cast are encouraged to email the production company for more information about the casting process.

7 How To Get Cast On Love Is Blind

Available To Stream On Netflix

The production company behind Love Is Blind, Kinetic Content, has simple website to use for it casting process, though things can get more complicated after the initial questionnaire. Using their online application, potential Love Is Blind cast are asked a huge range of questions about their background, lifestyle, and dating history. The questions are in-depth, asking things about potential participants dating histories and philosophies around relationships in general.

While the questionnaire is the first part of the process, Love Is Blind applicants are then asked to record a short video about themselves explaining why they want to be part of the series. After the questionnaires are submitted and reviewed, selected applicants will be ed by the Love Is Blind casting team and interviewed more specifically. Throughout the process, the casting team is looking for open, vulnerable, authentic potential pod squad .

6 How To Get Cast On The Bachelor & The Bachelorette

Airs On ABC & Available To Stream On Hulu

While The Bachelor may be one of the most popular reality TV dating franchises on the air, the casting process for the shows is both similar to other dating shows, but has some elements that are different. Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants are able to apply to be on the series traditionally through the Bachelor Nation casting website, or attend one of the nationally held casting calls looking for contestants. Contestants can also be nominated by their friends and family through the site.

Bachelor series are all a bit different in of who appears on what show. The Bachelor and The Bachelorette have the widest pool of potential contestants, as anyone in the appropriate age range can be eligible to apply and get onto the show. Bachelor In Paradise, which is currently taking a hiatus from new seasons, only casts from the pool of contestants on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, making it impossible for applicants to be eligible. Bachelor Nation’s newest addition, The Golden Bachelor and The Golden Bachelorette, allow for contestant applications as well.

5 How To Get Cast On Married At First Sight

Airs On Lifetime & Available To Stream On Amazon Prime

The second series created by Married At First Sight was airing long before Love Is Blind, but their application process is a bit different than their sister series. Those who are looking to be cast on Married At First Sight are put through some more rounds of preparation before they can actually get onto the show. Much like the casting for Love Is Blind, Married At First Sight contenders have to fill out a long questionnaire about their preferences, history, and lifestyle in order to move forward in the process.

On top of the questionnaire, Married At First Sight hopefuls have to be in the same area the show is filming in to qualify for the casting to move forward. Unlike Love Is Blind, the participants on Married At First Sight go through more psychological evaluations prior to ittance to the show. As the participants are hoping to be married at the beginning of the experiment, they have to be somewhat more sound and rational, or at least cleared psychologically to move forward.

4 How To Get Cast On Big Brother

Airs On CBS & Available To Stream On Paramount+

Casting for reality TV competition shows can be different in many ways, though it does incorporate the standard elements of most casting processes. To get cast on Big Brother, CBS’ long-running summer long battle for power, potential houseguests can either go to a casting call in a major city, or visit Big Brother Casting, which explains the eligibility requirements and provides instructions on how to apply to be on the show. Big Brother comes with a monetary reward, which means contestants must be US citizens to apply.

For Big Brother applications, the questionnaire and information you have to provide are somewhat different. Though the casting application asks you about your lifestyle and background as well, you are also questioned about your knowledge of the show, strategic abilities, and overall personality to make sure you’re a good fit for the series. Potential applicants who aren’t chosen at a casting call are also required to provide an application video talking about why they’d be a good fit as a Big Brother houseguest.

3 How To Get Cast On Survivor

Airs On CBS & Available To Stream On Paramount+

Much like the application for Big Brother, the application to Survivor can be more tedious than a reality TV dating series. Survivor typically casts people who are fans of the show, and though there are some who haven’t been deep into the fandom of the series that wind up cast from season to season, the majority of the castaways are people who have been watching Survivor for ages. This can make the casting process easier for some, but more difficult for others.

In order to be cast on Survivor, potential cast must complete an application on Survivor Casting, sharing their qualifications and reasoning for wanting to be on the series. Like Big Brother’s casting experience, potential castaways must also film a video along with their application about what would make them an ideal member of an Survivor season. There are also casting calls in major cities for Survivor, though they are less frequent and in high demand.

2 How To Get Cast On Love Island USA

Available To Stream On Peacock

Love Island USA has become one of the most popular reality TV dating series on the air, and with a summer long event in store for viewers, the casting is an incredibly important part of developing each season. For Love Island USA hopefuls, it takes more than simply looking the part. The Islanders that make up each season have to be willing to be open and vulnerable with each other in order to build genuine connections and, if they’re lucky, find love.

For those who are looking for the opportunity to appear on Love Island USA, they can apply with a similar questionnaire to the other dating series on Love Island USA Casting. The potential Islanders will have to answer close to 100 questions about their lives, love, and what they’re looking for in a partner. If they’re found to be eligible and of interest, the Love Island USA casting department will reach out for further information. Contestants could become an early Islander, a Bombshell, or even infiltrate Casa Amor.

1 How To Get Cast On Too Hot To Handle

Available To Stream On Netflix

Netflix’s Too Hot To Handle is a different variety of of reality TV series, which makes it unsurprising that the casting process for the reality dating competition is somewhat different, as well. While other reality TV series have questionnaires and casting calls, Too Hot To Handle has a somewhat more streamlined approach to reality TV casting. The series is looking for an international cast, open to citizens of the US, UK, Canada, and Ireland, all with one requirement: they have to be looking to hook up.

Though the singles applying for Too Hot To Handle may already be aware of the twist coming their way with Lana the robot and her villa-wide rules, it appears that they’re not told what show they’ll actually be participating in before they’re cast. Applicants are simply asked to submit a 1-minute video to Netflix Reality showing off their personality, allowing casting teams to see the authentic person behind the camera. If the applicant is chosen by the casting team, they’ll be ed for a follow up interview.

Sources: Sharp Entertainment, Kinetic Content, Bachelor Nation, Kinetic Content, Big Brother Casting, Survivor Casting, Love Island USA Casting, Netflix Reality