The Role Of Producer Plants In The Below Deck Franchise Explained (This Casting Dynamic Is Boosting Entertainment Value)

The Below Deck franchise has been called out for using producer plants in the past, but these cast members who bring the drama are a driving force in what makes the franchise run smoothly. Throughout the history of Below Deck, the franchise has always been reliant on cast member drama to ensure that there’s enough going on to keep viewers interested. With Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 currently running on Bravo, the multi-show franchise has had accusations of producer interference more frequently in the last few seasons, and has utilized producer-planted cast members to create more realistic, intense drama.

While some viewers don’t realize that most reality TV shows have producers that interfere with the organic storylines on screen, Below Deck viewers have struggled to feel comfortable with the idea of producer plants on the shows. With the premises of the Below Deck shows being markedly different than most other reality TV series, including the workplace struggles that yachties face, it’s usually perceived somewhat differently than other unstructured shows. Even with a different tone, Below Deck still follows the interpersonal drama of the yachties, meaning producers are involved in crafting the stories on screen, sometimes through producer-planted cast members.

What Is A Producer Plant In The Below Deck Franchise?

Procuder Plants Serve A Purpose

Bravo’s‘ Below Deck franchise has been long-held as one of the more realistic reality TV franchises on the network. Showing off the day-to-day experiences of yachties working aboard superyachts and sailing yachts, the shows within the franchise feature both personal and professional drama. While some cast members flock to the more professional drama within their job roles, others find themselves in conflict with their fellow yachties, or engaging in romantic boatmances while they’re working the charter season.

While the majority of the drama on Below Deck shows stems from the yachties themselves, some of the cast members have been accused of being producer plants. A producer plant, someone the producers of the show bring in or utilize to stir up drama, can make an average season of Below Deck that much better. With several cast members said to be producer plants in recent seasons of the series, like Below Deck Sailing Yacht’s Daisy Kelliher or Below Deck Mediterranean’s Jonathan Shillingford, the drama can be elevated.

How Producer Plants Help Below Deck’s Entertainment Value

Pot-Stirring Has Its Place

Although the Below Deck franchise has been called out for their producer interference in the past, yachties who have been called out for being producer plants tend to bring the most drama to the series. While reality TV drama that feels forced or fabricated doesn’t always land with viewers, producer plants often wind up bringing a more natural drama to the series, exacerbating already existing storylines. As Below Deck’s possible producers plants have been consistently bringing the drama, they’ve been welcomed into the casts and applauded for stirring the pot, as it ups the entertainment value on the shows.

Will Producer Plants In The Below Deck Franchise Continue?

Yes, It’s A Reality TV Tactic

With producer plants having become a part of Below Deck’s makeup, they’re likely not something the series will send off any time soon. Producer plants are a reality TV staple, and though they come in different forms, the fact that some cast members can be relied upon to stir the pot and up the drama is great in the eyes of a reality TV producer. While authenticity in reality TV is important, refreshing drama is what the viewers are genuinely looking for. Below Deck creates that drama with and without producer plants, so they’ll continue to appear within the franchise.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht airs Mondays at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo.

Source: Bravo/YouTube

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Below Deck

Below Deck is a popular reality TV franchise that focuses on a group of crew members as they work on luxurious yachts and cater to their client’s needs. After the original series proved to be a success, Bravo developed a handful of spinoff shows including Below Deck Selling Yacht, Below Deck Adventure, Below Deck Down Under, and Below Deck Mediterranean.

Created by

Mark Cronin
, Rebecca Taylor Henning
, Doug Henning

Cast

Kate Chastain
, Gary King
, Mads Herrera
, Daisy Kelliher
, Colin Macrae
, Aesha Scott
, Lexi Wilson
, Glenn Shephard
, Jason Chambers
, Marcos Spaziani
, Sandy Yawn