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These Bostonians are taking on reality TV
Boston has been getting lots of reality TV representation. Here is a rundown of the shows, rumors, and contestants.
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My very first day back in the office after a much-needed vacation following the 2025 Oscars, it appears that I unwittingly walked past Netflix crews filming an upcoming Boston-set season of “Love Is Blind.”
I’m not a big reality TV watcher, but there is currently way too much Boston-specific news in the world of unscripted television to ignore.
This week we’re checking in with three Boston-area reality TV contestants, as well as sharing everything we know about two Netflix dating shows — one seemingly filming here now, and one that will begin streaming very soon.
Is ‘Love Is Blind’ coming to Boston?
The possibility of Netflix filming a season of “Love Is Blind” in Boston first surfaced back in August, when production company Kinetic Content put out a casting call for New Englanders who were “brave, open-minded, and ready for a committed relationship.”
The rumor mill kicked into gear when someone posted a TikTok at Loco in South Boston, claiming that a dating show featuring the show’s trademark gold cups was filming at the bar.
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Then on Tuesday, fans on the “Love Is Blind” subreddit shared photos of what appeared to be filming for a dating show at the New England Aquarium. Around the same time, I spotted film crews a little further up State Street from the Aquarium filming b-roll footage of the Old South Meeting House.
Netflix reps didn’t get back to me when I emailed them, so nothing is confirmed for now. You can read my full breakdown of the situation here.
‘Love on the Spectrum’ features three Bostonians
April 2 is National Autism Awareness Day, which is also when Netflix will release Season 3 of “Love on the Spectrum,” its show focused on individuals on the autism spectrum as they navigate dating, relationships, and love.
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The show is bringing back around a half-dozen previous stars of the show for Season 3, including Bostonian James B. Jones, a fan favorite from Season 2.
In the upcoming season, Jones, 36, is still in the dating phase of his love journey, but told Netflix he is “fairly certain” about what he is looking for in a romantic partner.
If you’d like a quick introduction to James, watch this video with WBZ NewsRadio’s Matt Shearer, or listen to his appearance on my colleague Meredith Goldstein’s Love Letters podcast.
Also joining Season 3 are Sudbury native Madison Marilla, 27, and Lesley University student Pari Kim, 22.
Madison told Netflix that she was inspired to participate by watching others on the show, and is “looking for someone who shares common interests and values.”
Pari, who can be seen riding the Red Line in the “Love on the Spectrum” Season 3 trailer, is a big train lover seeking “the Amtrak to my Commuter Rail.”
Reality TV round-up
In the time it took you to read this sentence, another reality TV show has been greenlit. There’s simply no way for anyone to fully keep up with the vast universe of unscripted television, including me. But I’m going to try!
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Here are three updates on some reality show contestants with Boston-area connections.
“Survivor”: Revere pizzeria manager Justin Pioppi was voted off the island in one of the more bizarre tribal councils in the 48-season history of “Survivor.” Explaining exactly what happened would take hundreds of words, but in essence, Justin got screwed over multiple times by unlucky rolls of the dice. You can read this lengthy Entertainment Weekly breakdown of what happened if you’re curious. (Paramount+)
“The Traitors”: The cast of this show was filled with reality TV villains, yet all of them were terrified when “Survivor” superstar Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano was added to the game. Mariano was ultimately banished from this “Mafia”-esque game in Episode 7, but the fact that he made it that far with a massive target on his back is a testament to his gamesmanship. (Peacock)
“The Bachelor”: Enough loser talk, let’s focus on someone still competing! Newton resident Juliana Pasquarosa has outlasted 22 other women to make it to the final three suitors vying for Grant Ellis’ heart. Monday night is Season 29’s “Fantasy Suites” episode, at which point we’ll have a good idea of whether Ellis has gone from “falling in love” with Pasquarosa (as he said to her earlier this season) to fully in love with the client service associate. (Hulu)
Play or Skip
Have a show you can’t stop watching? Email me about it at [email protected], and your recommendation may appear in a future edition of The Queue.
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Press play on these new movies and shows:
- “Celtics City”: Bill Simmons has taken a page from his “30 for 30” playbook to create this nine-part series on the team, interviewing everyone from Bob Cousy to Jayson Tatum about what it means to wear the shamrock. (Max)
- “Heretic”: Hugh Grant is having a blast as the villain in this slow burn horror film, subjecting two missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) to his own twisted belief system and subjecting them to moral quandaries that reference everything from Monopoly to Jar Jar Binks. (Max)
- “The Righteous Gemstones”: Danny McBride’s evangelical satire will ascend to comedy heaven at the end of its fourth and final season, but last week’s premiere — featuring a 12-time Oscar nominee in a role that goes well beyond a cameo — proves McBride and co. have plenty of stories left to tell. (Max)
But go ahead and skip these:
- “The Electric State”: The Russo Brothers have gone from directing Marvel’s best movies to wasting $320 million of Netflix’s money with this sci-fi misfire starring Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, and a wisecracking robot voiced by Anthony Mackie. (Netflix)
- “With Love, Meghan” Season 1: As much sympathy as I have for Meghan Markle’s treatment by the British tabloids, this vanity project is the definition of non-essential viewing. (Netflix)
End Credits
That’s a wrap on this edition of The Queue. If you’re a fan, please consider recommending this newsletter to your friends.
PS: I think a lot of readers will enjoy the movie “Eephus,” a sports comedy about two rec league baseball teams in Massachusetts playing one last Sunday afternoon game before their field is bulldozed.
It’s not streaming anywhere, you can watch it at the Somerville Theatre throughout this week and next.
Until next time, good stream hunting, everyone!
— Kevin
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