Mind games and Dirty Tricks: How 'The Bachelor' manipulates and 'preys' on its contestants to make hit TV show
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Former 'The Bachelor' producers have admitted that they actively used personal information against stars in order to "wreck them psychologically" in order to make more dramatic television.
They also acknowledged playing them with booze and preying on their own traumas in order to make them cry on camera.
Former 'The Bachelor' producers come clean on the myriad ways the program has used to create more drama for the cameras on August 22's 'Dark Side of the 2000s'.
The ViceTV docuseries, which focuses on different parts of pop culture from the 2000s each week, investigates the history and mysteries of one of the most famous and successful reality dating shows in television history.
Much of the program concentrated on Mike Fleiss, who was the creator/producer of 'Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire' before later reinventing a new version of that show called 'The Bachelor'.
And, according to Marki Costello, the casting director for the inaugural season of 'The Bachelor', one subject of conversation on Tuesday was the procedure they would go through to find women for the program.
'Bachelor' producers cast certain roles for show 'like a villain'
The ABC dating show, which Mike invented and debuted in 2002, was examined in the newest episode of ViceTV's docuseries 'Dark Side of the 2000s', with ex-employees and participants exposing the sad truth of how the program was built.
The alarming deep dive into 'The Bachelor's early years comes just weeks after reality stars claimed NBC and Bravo intentionally harmed cast members' mental health by pouring booze on them and depriving them of food and sleep.
Michael Carroll, a producer on 'The Bachelor' in the 2000s, stated that they would choose participants with specific characters in mind, such as a villain, before studying what made them tick.
"We needed a bimbo. We needed a ho. We needed a ditzy girl that everyone could make fun of," he said.
'Bachelor' casting directors create boards with little backstory on each contestant
Ex-casting director Marki noted that they would then develop boards with a little narrative in order to figure out the participants' inclinations.
"She just went through a breakup, she just got over anorexia, she has been a bridesmaid 15 times but never a bride. She's gonna f*** somebody on day one. She's a virgin, and she's never gonna f***. That's the reality. They want to know what's gonna happen in that house."
They would then "wield" the information they gleaned throughout the screening process to get the dynamite stories they desired. Bringing up things that don't need to be brought up and, you know, mentally ruining them, Michael explained.
'Bachelor' producers worked to get a girl to cry on camera to create more drama
Producers were entrusted with producing even more drama when the cameras started rolling, so they utilized dirty techniques to make a participant weep.
"We had a lot of tactics on how to get a girl to cry on camera, everyone had their own shtick. You had to go for their hot buttons," Michael explained.
"Their dad left them when they were eight years old. They were left at the altar. And that's how it is if you want to be on 'The Bachelor'. You're gonna cry right here, and if you don't cry enough, we're going to find a way to get you out, and then we're gonna make you cry when you leave because you didn't get 'The Bachelor'. So… you better cry."
Bachelor producers use alcohol to heighten drama and achieve desired outcomes
Producers would also utilize booze to create drama and make sure the cast was well-stocked. Michael remembered the women being held in a limousine with a bunch of wine and nowhere to go to the restroom in the first episode of season one.
"They're just sitting in the limo, drinking champagne until they're blotto," he explained. "There's nowhere for them to go to the bathroom, so all the beautiful girls, 25, have to get out of the car and pee on the side of the road in their gowns. Fantastic."
Kelly Jo Higgins, who competed on the fourth season of 'The Bachelor', was certain that the producers would purposefully make the candidates inebriated.
''It's like a truth serum in a situation like The Bachelor," she revealed in the documentary. "So yes, of course, I think alcohol played a part in some people either being more comfortable in front of the camera or willing to share more."
Bravo and NBC reality show stars accuse network of 'covering up sexual violence'
Reality stars addressed a devastating letter to NBC and Bravo earlier this month, alleging "grotesque and depraved mistreatment" and being "mentally, physically, and financially victimized."
"At the outset, we require our third-party production partners to have appropriate workplace policies and training in place," an NBCUniversal representative told DailyMail.com.
"If complaints are brought to our attention, we work with our production partners to ensure that timely, appropriate action is or has been taken, including investigations, medical and/or psychological support, and other remedial action that may be warranted, such as personnel changes."