The Town with Matthew Belloni ‘The Traitors’ and How to Craft Hit Reality TV in 2025
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Aug 22, 2025 Stephen Lambert, a veteran television producer known for creating reality hits like The Traitors and Undercover Boss, chats about the evolution of reality TV. He shares insights on the crucial role of casting, explaining how personality dynamics can make or break a show. Lambert discusses the cultural differences between American and British formats and the growing demand for fresh, innovative concepts. He also highlights the art of crafting pitches in a risk-averse industry and the dramatic techniques that keep viewers engaged.
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Casting Is Everything
- Casting is the single biggest determiner of unscripted show's success.
- You need people who can be themselves on camera and form the right mix of strategists and characters.
Choose Camera-Comfort Over Performance
- Test whether civilians stay natural on camera before casting them.
- Prioritize comfort and authenticity over theatricality for stronger unscripted TV.
Bigger Budgets, Higher Gatekeepers
- Streamers now prefer fewer shows with much bigger budgets and spectacle.
- That raises the bar for producers who must prove they can reliably deliver large-scale productions.
