“Is reality TV really real?” Throughout my 15 years in reality TV casting, I was asked the same question over and over. And the answer, at least for the shows I worked on, was a resounding: Yes!
No matter the show type, from game shows to talent shows, as well as competition shows to docu-follows, casting departments are always looking for charismatic, memorable, and authentic personalities to fill their casts. Finding and interviewing an over-the-top personality is just the first step to getting them all the way to the finish line of a TV production. The truth is, not only do candidates for unscripted productions need to have the right charisma and storyline to make it on TV, they usually must also pass through exhaustive vetting, which typically includes background checks and social media screening.
Generally, if a reality show casting department likes you after your on-camera interview and thinks you could ultimately have a chance to make a cast, they will start their due diligence efforts as required by the network and/or production company. Diligence and requirements can change from project to project as there are different factors for each type of show.
For example, if the cast will be living together as part of the production, those participants may have to go through different types of vetting than someone participating in one episode of a game show. Likewise, dating shows where candidates may “hook up” on the show or afterwards might be put through different types of checks than, for example, a business-centric show.
During casting interviews, candidates for unscripted projects are often asked why they want to be on a show. This offers key insights into their persona and psyche. Do they have an amazing storyline and are in need of the prize money? Are they someone who just likes to be the center of attention?
Likewise, networks and production companies have multiple reasons why they run diligence on their prospective cast. First and foremost is the safety of all involved. Customized diligence requirements are carefully crafted on a show by show, and sometimes role by role basis, to help identify and mitigate possible risks a person may present to their own safety and the safety of others involved in the production – both cast and crew. For this reason, not only are on-camera talent and participants put through background checks, but productions often also run background checks on crew members – especially when they are in higher risk situations, such as working closely with minors.
Additionally, an important reason to run background checks and other diligence on prospective participants and talent is for reputational and business risks. One factor that comes into play is to ascertain whether someone is who they purport to be – is this person truly a good-guy, millionaire business savant or is he going through bankruptcy and has a bunch of lawsuits against him? These also present business risks to networks and production companies. They do not want to jeopardize their relationships with advertisers and sponsors. As a result, networks and production companies may not want to cast people who espouse controversial viewpoints, could use their platforms to spread misinformation, or worse. Production companies and networks are spending thousands if not millions of dollars to produce each episode and series, so vetting potential candidates (just like any other prospective business relationship) during the reality TV casting process makes good business sense.
One of the most obvious discoveries of an issue would be any sort of criminal violence. Assault and battery showing up on a criminal record, especially in recent history, is a huge concern to production companies and networks.
The most shocking example of missing a violent history is the horrific story from VH1’s Megan Wants a Millionaire/I Love Money. A contestant turned finalist brutally murdered his wife shortly after filming the reality shows. Only then was it discovered that he had been arrested for physical assault in Canada prior to filming the shows. The situation changed reality TV and its risk management across the industry as production companies and networks realized the value a thorough background check provides.
Risk management is certainly not the most sexy topic, and often times, when diligence is done well, companies may not always see the inherent value. In this era of cost-cutting, it is a easy to see risk prevention as a place to target for budget cuts, but in background screening as elsewhere, you get what you pay for. Sure you can have a cheap and quick check, but will that truly address your concerns and provide valuable insight into the areas that could shelve an entire project? We take our role in the safety and risk management of our clients and everyone involved very seriously, and by choosing Checkers, you can rest assured you are getting the best possible research and reporting to aid in your risk management.
Beyond finding reports of criminal violence, an in-depth background check may include an internet search through social media accounts and beyond. Perhaps a candidate has posted photos or stories about fights they’ve been in, has mugshots online, or other (maybe not so smart) digital breadcrumbs. Casting teams, production companies, and networks usually don’t have the time, training or resources to comb through every candidate’s digital footprint, especially with social media being so prevalent in candidates’ lives starting at such a young age. Having Checkers’ social media checks as an option as part of a background check is a huge timesaver and it’s always enlightening for a casting team. Additionally, having a human, as opposed to A.I., check through social media and other areas of the internet provides an opportunity to evaluate content for nuances that only humans can understand. For example, A.I. may not understand sarcasm, nor is A.I. as of now able to evaluate video and audio. This means that using A.I. only leaves entire chunks of social media unevaluated, so we find that our clients very much value our human conducted social media checks.
Driver’s records can also affect how production deals with a cast member. Multiple speeding tickets or even a single DUI might not disqualify a candidate from being cast on a show, but it could mean they won’t be allowed behind the wheel during shooting.
In some cases, such as when candidates need visas to enter other countries, a DUI could be a baseline disqualifier. Canada, for example, will usually not allow talent to enter the country if they have a past DUI, which could bring production to a halt in this day and age, where networks and production companies need to utilize filming tax credits and other incentives to help mitigate the cost of production.
Likewise, we’ve also seen instances where a show sponsor is a car company and the winner would be awarded a vehicle as part of the prize, so anyone with a DUI or DWI was a non-starter on casting that show. Sometimes there are competition shows that create challenges based on driving, especially if there’s some product placement tie-in. As you can see, for some shows this could be a huge issue while, for other shows, it could be a non-issue altogether. Regardless, having the background check information available is best practice before any filming starts.
Safety doesn’t just apply to physical safety but also mental and emotional safety. A well-rounded cast of characters typically strives for people from all walks of life, including representing different cultural, ideological, and geographical backgrounds. Casting opinionated and outspoken people is important, but when those opinions border on problematic or even downright extreme or hateful, production companies and networks take that information into consideration. We’ve seen account after account of cast members’ problematic social media posts overshadow the show itself, which in turn, could cause the audience to lose trust in the brand.
This isn’t just for the safety of the other cast members, but also the crew. Reality TV casting and production crews are made up of people from all cultural, ideological, and geographical backgrounds as well. Oftentimes, the crew will be very close with the cast, both emotionally and in physical proximity – whether it’s a casting producer, story producer, talent wrangler, production assistant, or even the sound people who mic the cast. The safety of all involved, including their mental and emotional safety, is paramount, and proper screening can help ensure this.
Controversies can also damage the reputation of both the TV show and the production company. VH1, for example, took a huge hit following the aftermath of the Megan Wants a Millionaire scandal and began pivoting their reality TV style to more docu-follows. Often for pilots or development shows, casting relies on the laurels of a production company’s other more popular shows to get people interested in a new concept – if those shows are full of unsavory characters or resulted in unsafe situations, people may be less inclined to apply for that show. Production companies and reality TV casting teams trying to sell a project or pilot may ultimately need to damage control their own reputations if they don’t properly vet the talent they pitch to networks.
Background checks aren’t just beneficial for production companies and networks, they are also beneficial to potential cast members. Knowing that everyone on the cast is going through the same process brings peace of mind to the applicants and makes them feel more confident in putting themselves out on a limb to apply for a TV show. Background checks have also helped applicants clean up various issues in their lives if they elect to receive a copy of their background report. I can count on at least two hands the amount of people who have told me, “Wow, I had no idea I had a warrant!” Some people have found fraudulent social media accounts with their likeness. And perhaps the most disheartening issue – finding out explicit content that you thought was private is somewhere on the internet. Going through the background check process can give applicants a sense of control before their every move gets scrutinized once the cameras start rolling.
So, are the people found via reality TV casting really that wild and outrageous? Of course – these people exist, and the job of a casting team is to find them. We just have checks and balances to make sure that they are the right amount of wild and outrageous without presenting undue risk to themselves, others involved in production, and the interests of all the businesses involved.
Don't leave your casting decisions to chance. At Checkers International, we specialize in reality TV and entertainment background checks that help ensure you select the right talent while protecting your show's reputation. With our thorough screening process, casting and production teams are able to focus on finding the perfect mix of personalities, knowing their cast is fully vetted. Contact us today to learn more about how our background checks can help make your next project a success.
Katrina Cooney has been an Operations Specialist at Checkers International for 1.5 years. Prior to Checkers, she spent 15 years working in reality television as a Casting Coordinator and Casting Manager. Credits include The Real World, Bad Girls Club, Masterchef, Project Runway and Top Chef – the latter two earning her casting teams 4 Emmy nominations. Katrina often worked with Checkers from the casting side and has been happy to make the switch from dealing with reality show applicants to working with old and new colleagues to help guide them through the background check process. Katrina is a native Angeleno, currently raising her daughter as a 4th-gen LA girlie along with her beloved east coast transplant husband.
