Is this the end of reality TV?
It's Been a Minute
NPR
4.7 • 9.2K Ratings
🗓️ 7 April 2026
⏱️ 36 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast member Taylor Frankie Paul has been a controversial figure for some time now, but the latest allegations surrounding the star - and the subsequent cancellation of her season of The Bachelorette - have caused viewers to ask: how far is too far for reality TV? With ratings on the decline and networks desperate to keep audiences coming back, reality TV has taken some drastic turns to remain relevant.
To get into all this Rebecca Jennings, features writer for New York Magazine, joins the show to unpack the drama surrounding Taylor Frankie Paul and the state of reality TV at large.
(0:00) Who's being exploited more on reality TV?
(03:36) Unpacking Taylor Frankie Paul's controversial reality TV journey
(09:27) ABC's risky bet on Taylor Frankie Paul as 'The Bachelorette'
(18:29) Navigating the line between 'messy' and 'dark' on reality TV
(21:25) How reality TV fandom has changed
(25:37) Finding unexpected value in reality TV drama
(29:23) The need for better vetting and ethics in reality TV casting
(33:33) Official statements from Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen
Want more about reality TV? Check out these IBAM episodes:
Our love lives have gone full Love Island.
Dating skills vs. dating gimmicks in 'Love on the Spectrum'
Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.
Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluse
For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | I've interviewed a lot of reality TV stars. |
| 0:01.9 | I've never interviewed anyone who said they regretted going on a show or doing it. |
| 0:07.2 | Never. |
| 0:07.4 | Really? |
| 0:08.0 | Yeah. |
| 0:08.3 | And that's sort of why I'm like, yes, I think the exploitation conversation needs to be had. |
| 0:15.9 | But I'm also wondering, like, who's actually being exploited, like, more? |
| 0:19.6 | Is it the person or is it the audience? |
| 0:25.6 | Hello, hello. |
| 0:27.1 | I'm Brittany Luce, and you're listening to It's Been a Minute from NPR, |
| 0:30.7 | a show about what's going on in culture and why it doesn't happen by accident. |
| 0:42.5 | Thank you. and why it doesn't happen by accident. You may have heard about the latest season of The Bachelorette getting canceled, |
| 0:46.7 | or that the annual number of unscripted TV series has shrunk by a third in the past four years. |
| 0:52.2 | The networks are in crisis, and in turn, they are more and more willing to do whatever it |
| 0:56.5 | takes to keep their audiences tuning in. |
| 0:58.8 | My guest today, New York Magazine features writer Rebecca Jennings, recently profiled Taylor |
| 1:03.6 | Frankie Paul and dissected how trying to leverage the star's infamy may be an indicator |
| 1:09.0 | of larger issues with the reality TV industry at this moment. |
| 1:14.2 | Rebecca Jennings, welcome back to its bin a minute. Thank you so much for having me back. |
| 1:18.9 | It's so great to have you back. I know you've covered your fair share of reality television |
| 1:23.2 | over the years, but in my experience, even like the most seasoned reality TV viewers and fans have one true |
| 1:30.6 | favorite. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from NPR, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of NPR and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.