A Different Reality: Ex-Participants Are Giving Us A Sneak Peak Into The Curious World of Reality TV Shows

Finding the right participants is likely one of the most difficult jobs of any reality TV show producer. As this story shows, that challenge can lead producers to search for participants in some strange locations. For instance, producers for World’s Strictest Parents spent a lot of time hanging around McDonald’s, waiting for the right people to show up.

The person in this story arrived as the perfect candidate for the show. Not only were they drunk at age 15, but she was also wearing a stolen police hat at the time. That display earned them a spot on the show, but it’s hard to say if the show helped them improve. At the very least, let’s hope that stealing from the police is no longer a habit.