Entertainment
‘Love Is Blind’ contestants count as employees − new US government agency finding could shake up reality TV production
Reality TV contestants lack employee rights, but the NLRB’s complaint may change their classification and pay protections.
David Arditi, University of Texas at Arlington
When members of a reality TV show’s cast sign a contract to participate in a show, they typically do so more for the exposure than the pay – and in many cases they do not earn a dime.
Employers get away with what may appear to be a violation of basic labor laws because those contestants are classified as independent contractors, not employees. In the eyes of the law, they do not have the same protections most workers get with just about any other kind of job, such as the freedom to join unions.
It also means that the National Labor Relations Board does not have jurisdiction over them. This may soon change after the government agency filed a complaint against Delirium TV and Kinetic Content, the producers of “Love Is Blind.”
The NLRB complaint states that reality TV contestants are employees and therefore have the right to join a union. Former “Love Is Blind” contestants Renee Poche and Nicholas Thompson had filed a petition requesting this action. In addition to not being able to join a union, they couldn’t even discuss the terms of their contracts due to nondisclosure agreements.
As a sociologist who studies popular culture and labor, I have argued for years that reality TV stars and musicians should be classified as employees.
Reality TV participants, including many of the stars of those shows, are essentially the unpaid interns of the entertainment industry, even though it’s their stories, personalities and talent that attract and hook viewers.
Offering contestants paltry pay
Today’s economy is saturated with precarious employment practices where many corporations classify workers as independent contractors. From musicians to influencers, people work gig jobs where there is no guarantee of pay or employment.
“Cupcake Wars,” “Love Is Blind” and other reality TV shows thrive thanks to a simple business model: They are cheap to produce. One reason for that is most participants are independent contractors who work for free or earn paltry pay under the guise of chasing their dreams or gaining exposure.
This arrangement might change after the new NLRB complaint. The NLRB was created during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal as an independent government agency tasked with protecting and regulating workers’ rights.
One of its key responsibilities is regulating unions and determining workers’ right to strike. It determines who can join a union and whether a strike is legal.
Providing a gold mine for networks
To conduct research for my book “Getting Signed: Record Contracts, Musicians, and Power in Society,” I interviewed contestants on “The Voice.”
Former contestants repeatedly told me that the television exposure did little to help their careers.
Prior to joining the show, many of the musicians were trying to scratch out a living through touring or performing. They put their developing careers on pause to chase their dreams.
However, the show’s contracts have stipulated that contestants cannot perform, sell their name, image and likeness, or record new music while on “The Voice.”
Furthermore, viewers might not realize just how profitable these reality shows are.
Take “House Hunters.” The show follows a prospective homebuyer as they tour three homes. Homebuyers featured on the show have noted that they earn only US$500 for their work, and the episodes take three to five days and about 30 hours to film.
The show’s producers don’t pay the real estate agents to be on it.
The low pay for people on reality TV shows matches the low budget for these shows. A former participant wrote that episodes of “House Hunters” cost about $50,000 to shoot. Prime-time sitcoms, by comparison, have a budget of up to $3 million per episode.
Organizing unions within reality TV
That massive budget gap between reality TV and sitcoms is not simply due to an absence of star actors.
Many scripted television shows are based in Los Angeles, where camera crews, stunt doubles, costume artisans, makeup artists and hair stylists are unionized. But shows like “House Hunters,” which are filmed across the country, recruit crews from right-to-work states.
Employees in those places cannot be compelled to join a union or pay union dues as a condition of employment. For these reasons, unions have far less power in these states than they do in places traditionally associated with show business, such as California and New York.
I think reality TV might become the next show business labor battle. If the NLRB forces “Love Is Blind” to treat its stars and other on-screen participants as employees, it could cascade.
Reality TV production companies could someday be required to pay all contestants wages and limit the hours they work. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the union known as SAG-AFTRA, could begin to recruit those workers as dues-paying members.
But it’s not certain that any of this will happen. There are many hearings, court cases and appeals in store before it becomes enforceable. And since President-elect Donald Trump will take office before the hearing is scheduled to occur, his appointees could change course.
Still, I think the NLRB’s action demonstrates that reality TV contestants are finally becoming recognized as workers who deserve to be treated better by their employers.
Some portions of this article first appeared in an article published on Sept. 21, 2023.
David Arditi, Professor of Sociology, University of Texas at Arlington
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Automotive
Simeone Museum Brings the 12 Hours of Sebring Spirit to Philadelphia
The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum will host “Once Around the Clock: The Simeone 12 Hours of Sebring” on March 21, 2026, celebrating American endurance racing with historic cars, themed sessions, Q&A, and real-time race coverage, marking a unique tribute outside Florida.
The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum is turning Philadelphia into an outpost of American endurance racing with “Once Around the Clock: The Simeone 12 Hours of Sebring,” a full-day event built to run alongside the real 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida. Timed with America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the March 21 program gives racing fans a chance to experience Sebring’s legacy through live demonstrations, historic race cars, archival footage, and all-day race coverage without leaving Pennsylvania.
According to the museum, the event is the only Sebring celebration happening outside Florida, giving it a distinctive place in this year’s commemorations. Executive Director Kevin Kelly described Sebring as America’s proving ground, where builders, drivers, and engineers showed they could compete with the world’s best. That framing gives the event a broader hook beyond motorsports nostalgia, tying it to American innovation and competition.
From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., the museum will present seven themed sessions covering major Sebring milestones, from the 1950 Crosley upset and the first true 12-hour format in 1952 to Cunningham’s 1953 breakthrough, Detroit-versus-Europe rivalries, Jaguar-Ferrari battles, Shelby’s Cobra Daytona Coupe era, and a closing champions parade. More than 24 historic race cars will be demonstrated throughout the day, supported by archival footage, audience Q&A, and close-up photography access.
The museum is also recreating the Sebring infield atmosphere of the 1950s through 1970s with period signage, vintage music, and staff in era-appropriate racing attire. Continuous race coverage from Florida will run on ten screens throughout the facility, helping make the Philadelphia event feel connected to the live race. For motorsports fans and casual visitors alike, it reads as a hands-on history lesson with a real-time race-day backdrop.
Short STM Daily News Brief
The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum will bring the spirit of the 12 Hours of Sebring to Philadelphia on Saturday, March 21, 2026, with a 12-hour celebration running alongside the real race in Florida. Titled “Once Around the Clock: The Simeone 12 Hours of Sebring,” the event will feature seven themed sessions, live demonstrations of more than 24 historic race cars, archival footage, Q&A, and continuous race coverage.
Organizers say it will be the only Sebring celebration outside Florida and a fitting addition to America’s 250th anniversary year. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, with food vendors, free parking, and photography encouraged.
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Source: PRNewswire press release
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Entertainment
Food Truck: Stolen Love… and Moo Deng Heads to Select U.S. Theaters Before Netflix Debut
Food Truck: Stolen Love and Moo Deng opens March 20 in select U.S. theaters before its global Netflix premiere later in 2026. Here’s what to know.
An international comedy adventure is making a quick stop in U.S. theaters before heading to Netflix worldwide later this year. Food Truck: Stolen Love… and Moo Deng opens March 20 in select U.S. markets, giving moviegoers a chance to catch the film on the big screen ahead of its global streaming release.
According to Monarchs Screen Entertainment, the limited theatrical rollout includes cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Las Vegas, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, and Boston, with tickets already on sale. The early response appears strong. Scott Kennedy, founder and CEO of Falling Forward Films, said tickets are moving quickly in several key markets.
What the film is about
The story follows a wild road trip involving three friends, a runaway Korean boy, and a famous baby hippo, all traveling together in a Thai food truck. As the group moves through a fast-paced mix of humor, danger, and hidden truths, a young mother is in a race to find her missing son.
The film blends comedy and adventure with a more emotional core, leaning into themes of friendship, family, and the unexpected bonds that can form under pressure.
Cast and release details
The movie stars Korean singer and actress Yulee Choi in her debut film role, joined by Thai star Mario Maurer and Chun Padchun Hiranprateep. The production also includes Tony Sarandos and Keyun “Country” Parker of Parker’s Communication & Entertainment Services as consulting producers.
After the theatrical run, Food Truck: Stolen Love… and Moo Deng is set to launch globally on Netflix later in 2026, expanding its reach to international audiences.
Why it stands out
What makes this release worth watching is its cross-cultural setup and offbeat premise. A Thai food truck, an international cast, a runaway child, and a baby hippo is not a combination audiences see every day. That unusual mix could help the film stand out in both theaters and on streaming.
For viewers looking for something lighter but still grounded in emotional stakes, this one may be worth adding to the watchlist.For more information, visit www.foodtruckthemovie.com
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Entertainment
Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival Returns to Philadelphia March 28-29, Celebrating 100 Years of Sakura Friendship
Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival
Philadelphia’s annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival will return to Fairmount Park on Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29, 2026, with a special focus on the 100th anniversary of Japan’s gift of cherry trees to the city. Hosted by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia and Subaru of America, Inc., the two-day event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Horticulture Center and Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center.
Organizers say the family-friendly, dog-friendly festival will feature live music, Japanese cultural performances, cosplay and alternative fashion shows, karaoke, tea ceremonies, calligraphy, ikebana demonstrations, a vendor fair, artist alley, and a food court highlighting Japanese and Asian cuisine. A “Prettiest in Pink” Pet Contest & Parade is also scheduled for Sunday, March 29. The event comes after the festival drew more than 25,000 attendees in 2025 and will expand its footprint this year to improve the visitor experience.
General admission is $15 in advance and $20 at the gate, while children under 12 and JASGP members can attend for free. Organizers said the festival will be held rain or shine, with parking available at the Highmark Mann Center for $10 per vehicle. More information and tickets are available at PhillySakura.org.
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