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Reality TV

Vox’s coverage of reality TV shows, their stars, and their drama.

You didn’t have to watch Traitors to care about its breakout starYou didn’t have to watch Traitors to care about its breakout star
Culture

Gabby Windey, lethargic ciggy mommy, explained.

By Alex Abad-Santos
With Love, Meghan is bland and inoffensiveWith Love, Meghan is bland and inoffensive
Culture

She’s not an expert like Martha Stewart. She’s not an icon like Princess Diana. Where does she go from here?

By Constance Grady
The rules of being a good Real Housewife, explained by messy Mormons The rules of being a good Real Housewife, explained by messy Mormons 
Culture

Salt Lake City has “high body count hair” and games, while New York City has pranks and lies.

By Kyndall Cunningham
Vanderpump Rules was the perfect millennial tragedyVanderpump Rules was the perfect millennial tragedy
Culture

The cult reality show offered a darkly comic look at the American dream. Can a reboot recreate the horror?

By Kyndall Cunningham
Who came out looking the worst on Love Is Blind season 7Who came out looking the worst on Love Is Blind season 7
Culture

The latest attempt to find love in the pods was good for Netflix, but bad for everyone else involved.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Reality dating shows need to reckon with their toxic men problemReality dating shows need to reckon with their toxic men problem
Culture

Lying, cheating, and dark pasts are a feature — not a bug — on TV’s biggest shows.

By Li Zhou
MTV’s nostalgia problem, explained by The Challenge MTV’s nostalgia problem, explained by The Challenge 
Culture

The network has lost its way. So has its biggest franchise.

By Kyndall Cunningham
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is really about coworkers who hate each otherThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is really about coworkers who hate each other
Culture

Why is Utah the epicenter of reality TV?

By Alex Abad-Santos and Rebecca Jennings
Has The Bachelorette finally gone too far?Has The Bachelorette finally gone too far?
Culture

The Bachelorette finale was riveting TV — and unfathomably cruel.

By Dylan Scott
The difference between American and UK Love Is BlindThe difference between American and UK Love Is Blind
Culture

The pods across the pond feel a lot less toxic.

By Alex Abad-Santos
How Love Island USA became this summer’s most exquisite trashHow Love Island USA became this summer’s most exquisite trash
Culture

Americans are finally falling in love with the US version of the British reality hit. Fancy that!

By Rebecca Jennings
The ugly process of turning beautiful women into Dallas Cowboys CheerleadersThe ugly process of turning beautiful women into Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Culture

Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts is a convincing argument that the organization shouldn’t exist

By Alex Abad-Santos
A new book tackles the splendor and squalor of reality TV A new book tackles the splendor and squalor of reality TV 
Culture

Critic Emily Nussbaum makes the case for the guilty pleasure as an art form.

By Kyndall Cunningham
Vanderpump Rules shows the limits of making money on reality TVVanderpump Rules shows the limits of making money on reality TV
Culture

On the financial anxiety dominating the post-Scandoval season.

By Kyndall Cunningham
The messy legal drama impacting the Bravo universe, explainedThe messy legal drama impacting the Bravo universe, explained
Culture

Reality stars are suing Bravo (and each other) while wrestling with their own reality.

By Kyndall Cunningham
The Bachelor has a notorious influencer pipeline — but only for white contestantsThe Bachelor has a notorious influencer pipeline — but only for white contestants
Culture

Instagram follower counts indicate Bachelor Nation doesn’t care as much about leads and contestants of color.

By Fabiola Cineas
We’re long overdue for an Asian lead on The Bachelor franchiseWe’re long overdue for an Asian lead on The Bachelor franchise
Culture

Jenn Tran, a physician assistant student from Miami, has been named the new Bachelorette.

By Li Zhou
Should Black women stop going on Love Is Blind?Should Black women stop going on Love Is Blind?
Culture

AD’s journey underscores the Netflix hit’s misogynoir problem.

By Fabiola Cineas
Love Is Blind gives “not here for the right reasons” a new meaningLove Is Blind gives “not here for the right reasons” a new meaning
Culture

The offscreen drama of the Netflix reality hit, from Jeramey to Trevor, explained.

By Li Zhou
After Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, is Bravo headed for a fan-pocalypse?After Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, is Bravo headed for a fan-pocalypse?
Culture

What the Reality Von Tease bombshell on SLC means for Bravo.

By Kyndall Cunningham
George Santos treated politics like reality TV. And he won.George Santos treated politics like reality TV. And he won.
Culture

The expelled rep used his time in Congress like a Real Housewife, and now he’s found his true calling making bank on Cameo.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Netflix’s Squid Game reality show is kinda great. Oh no.Netflix’s Squid Game reality show is kinda great. Oh no.
Culture

Oops, they did it again (weaponized the desperation of the proletariat for fun).

By Alex Abad-Santos
The Golden Bachelor is kinder, gentler, grayer reality TVThe Golden Bachelor is kinder, gentler, grayer reality TV
Culture

The best Bachelor yet is revitalizing a tired old franchise.

By Scott Nover
Jenna Lyons is the last great Real HousewifeJenna Lyons is the last great Real Housewife
Culture

The former J.Crew president has no idea how to be on reality TV, and it’s fantastic reality TV.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Love Is Blind season 5 is all about red flagsLove Is Blind season 5 is all about red flags
Culture

Netflix’s hit reality dating series is back to ask: What is love? And baby, who hurt you?

By Alex Abad-Santos
Bethenny Frankel’s reality TV union is easier said than done
Culture

The former Real Housewife wants Bravo and other reality stars to come together and unionize. It’s not so simple.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Hollywood’s historic double strike, explainedHollywood’s historic double strike, explained
Culture

SAG-AFTRA now joins the WGA on the picket line. What does that mean for viewers?

By Alissa Wilkinson
Scandoval is bad for personal lives, really good for businessScandoval is bad for personal lives, really good for business
Culture

The Scandoval affair is a blight and a blessing for the Vanderpump Rules cast.

By Alex Abad-Santos
On Selling Sunset, these Barbies sell a recession-proof fantasyOn Selling Sunset, these Barbies sell a recession-proof fantasy
Culture

And Chrishell helpfully enters her villain era.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Scandoval broke the fourth wall for one of the greatest reality TV episodes everScandoval broke the fourth wall for one of the greatest reality TV episodes ever
Culture

On the Vanderpump Rules finale, the cameras finally capture Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix at the most dramatic moment of their lives.

By Rebecca Jennings
In defense of Raquel Leviss, kind ofIn defense of Raquel Leviss, kind of
Culture

The other half of “Scandoval” did something messed up, but deserves at least a little compassion from viewers who love the drama.

By Erin Corbett
Love Is Blind’s fourth season is its villain eraLove Is Blind’s fourth season is its villain era
Culture

The Netflix dating show’s contestants are not okay.

By Alex Abad-Santos
5 winners and 2 losers from The Bachelorette’s “bubble” season premiere5 winners and 2 losers from The Bachelorette’s “bubble” season premiere
Culture

Warning: This post has major spoilers for some of the anticipated twists this season.

By Li Zhou, Emily Stewart and 1 more
How reality TV shows cast the right peopleHow reality TV shows cast the right people
Play
Video

A casting director for Queer Eye explains the process.

By Phil Edwards
How The Bachelor became a launchpad for influencersHow The Bachelor became a launchpad for influencers
Podcast
Technology

They’re not here to make friends. They’re here to make lots of money. The latest episode of Reset explains.

By Byrd Pinkerton and Arielle Duhaime-Ross
How the Real Housewives built cable TV’s biggest fandom
Money

The Bravo network’s interconnected universe of beautiful rich people has won over millions of fans. Now they have their own convention.

By Rebecca Jennings
Breaking down The Bachelorette’s take on slut-shaming, religion and duplicitous boyfriendsBreaking down The Bachelorette’s take on slut-shaming, religion and duplicitous boyfriends
Culture

This maybe, just maybe, might be the “most dramatic” season yet.

By Li Zhou, Lexie Schapitl and 2 more
Real Housewives is a product placement paradise. But fans say the series recently went too far.Real Housewives is a product placement paradise. But fans say the series recently went too far.
Money

Looks like Bravo fans might not respect The Hustle after all.

By Angelica Florio
In its 37th season, Survivor is still capable of surprising even its hardcore fansIn its 37th season, Survivor is still capable of surprising even its hardcore fans
Culture

The long-running CBS reality series is playing to the strengths it’s always had — and developing new ones.

By Karen Han
The Real Housewives of New York City boat ride from hell was peak Real HousewivesThe Real Housewives of New York City boat ride from hell was peak Real Housewives
Culture

If you like rich ladies who act messy and literally poop the bed, this season is for you.

By Alex Abad-Santos