Movies

When did I realize I’d achieved success? Actually, I’m realizing it right now, in this very moment.

Vulture’s first-ever Reality TV Masterminds list explores who truly shapes today’s popular reality shows. Unlike scripted television, it’s often unclear who’s responsible for the most memorable moments on shows like The Real Housewives or Dancing With the Stars. To figure it out, we asked dozens of industry professionals – from executive producers and network heads to talent and their representatives – to identify the most influential people, considering their recent achievements and overall career paths. The resulting list reveals how power is distributed in an industry where what happens behind the scenes is just as important as what’s on screen. Influence isn’t just about winning a competition like Top Chef or lasting on The Ultimatum; it’s about controlling the story and turning current events into long-term career opportunities. Someone who leaves a dating show with a podcast idea instead of a partner? A mastermind. The person whose viral moment launches them into the spotlight? Also a mastermind. This list shows how far reality TV has come – it’s no longer just a stepping stone for aspiring stars, but a place where people can build lasting careers, regardless of their background.

When The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives first came out, it totally blew up online. Everyone was debating whether the women on the show fit the traditional ‘wife’ mold or were breaking away from it. It felt like everyone wanted to understand what made that community tick – even people over at The Bachelor tried to capitalize on it, though that didn’t really pan out. But the online community around the show, which people started calling ‘MomTok,’ is still going strong. As Erika Draper put it, and I totally get this, the best friendships are the ones where people actually check in on you when you’re going through a tough time – Taylor Frankie Paul has definitely been there, and honestly, so have I recently. Just having friends call and ask if you’re okay? That makes all the difference.

Andy Cohen is much more than just a host – though he’s well-known for hosting reunions, Watch What Happens Live, Radio Andy, and CNN’s New Year’s Eve. He spent ten years as an executive at Bravo, starting in 2004 when the network was first becoming known for reality TV. He played a key role in developing shows like Top Chef, Project Runway, and Below Deck before leaving his VP position to focus on the Housewives franchise and becoming the public face of Bravo. Even now, his influence is visible in every dramatic moment and carefully edited scene that defines the network’s reality TV style – tropes he helped create. He continues to pitch new ideas to Bravo executives, like Rachel Smith and Frances Berwick, stating, “It’s in my best interest for Bravo to always be succeeding.”

Though Lord of the Flies has been adapted into several films over the years, this marks the first time the classic story has been brought to television. The new series was created and written by Jack Thorne, known for co-creating and writing Netflix’s Adolescence and for his work on HBO’s critically acclaimed fantasy series, His Dark Materials.

In tonight’s episode of Euphoria, Nate Jacobs uses his stitched-up toe – brutally cut off by someone he owes a lot of money to – as a way to explain his relationship with Cassie. He suggests the toe, once lost but preserved, is like their marriage: seemingly beyond repair, but potentially salvageable with effort. When Cassie asks him to clarify, Nate compares their relationship to the scar the toe will leave – a mark that shows both vulnerability and resilience. Ultimately, he’s promising to fix things and get them through their problems, but only if Cassie trusts him a little longer.

When SLOMW first aired in 2024, Leavitt was part of the original cast. However, her involvement with the show has been uncertain, and she reportedly returned for season 3 primarily to also appear on Dancing With the Stars. In a private interview, she explained that while she took a step back from the show, she remained connected to the ‘MomTok’ community. She needed a break, but the opportunity to return to television with Dancing With the Stars – specifically if someone from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was cast – motivated her to come back. After finishing sixth on season 34 of DWTS, she took on the role of Roxie Hart in Chicago. The show reached record attendance numbers when DWTS professional Mark Ballas joined her as Billy Flynn for several performances.

The latest episode of “Valerie Chases the Truth” begins right after the previous one left off. Mark’s return from Burning Man is marked by a questionable decision – a large tattoo reading “ANYWHERE ELSE” on his back. Val is understandably upset, especially when Mark reveals it’s meant to represent his current unhappiness – something she feels doesn’t need a permanent reminder. She believes in moving forward from bad situations, not dwelling on them. This sentiment sets the stage for the episode’s focus on resolving the fallout from the AI leak, though the show seems to rush towards a solution without fully exploring the complexities. The episode also features a quick reconciliation between Val and Jane, who assures Val she wasn’t the source of the leak and doesn’t deserve the backlash. Billy apologizes to Jane for previously kicking her off the lot, explaining he was protecting the company. Jane counters that she was protecting humanity, which raises questions about why she’d be pleased about the leak. While it’s good to have Jane back, her reasons for acting as she did feel unclear.

The second-to-last episode of the season, “Ludlow’s Fourth Hottest Professor,” really focuses on the love triangle between Katie, Archie, and Sunny. Honestly, I haven’t been a fan of this storyline, and this episode didn’t change my mind. Archie just doesn’t seem to have a genuine connection with either woman, and their chemistry feels forced. I was hoping both Katie and Sunny would move on, but it looks like they’re both still trying to make things work with him, which means this plot could continue into next season. Hopefully, that won’t happen.

She video calls Liz – and what looks like Liz’s bobcat – to discuss their breakup, explaining that the relationship had simply reached its natural end. She admits it was always a bit unusual, but she also discovered he was involved with more people than she initially knew. It’s frustrating when you find out your boyfriend is cheating, especially with someone besides his other girlfriend, right? Throughout the surprisingly intense conversation, Liz continues a facial treatment with a red-light therapy device. Talk about multitasking! Liz’s only question is, “Who will remove the seeds from the lemons?” This question really hits Kelsey hard. The thought of losing her boyfriend’s staff – and with it, the convenience of having someone de-seed her lemons – makes her question her decision. But she knows it’s time to move on, and she’ll have to find a way to manage. Maybe she could just buy lemons without seeds?