“I Think About It as a Character”: ‘THR Frontrunners’ Q&A With ‘The Traitors’ Host Alan Cumming

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“I Think About It as a Character”: ‘THR Frontrunners’ Q&A With ‘The Traitors’ Host Alan Cumming

As a gamer who’s seen his fair share of reality TV shows, I must say I’ve been thoroughly entertained by Peacock’s hit series, The Traitors. This Emmy-nominated show is like nothing I’ve ever watched before – it’s a blend of acting, drama, and good old-fashioned treachery that keeps me on the edge of my seat.

At a live event held by the San Vicente Bungalows in Los Angeles, Alan Cumming, an Emmy-nominated actor and host, spoke candidly and revealed many backstage facts about Peacock’s popular reality competition show, “The Traitors.”

“Cumming remarks, ‘It feels like I’m putting on quite the performance,’ as he secured his fifth Emmy nomination for The Traitors, a series also recognized in the category of best reality competition series and for its host. He explains, ‘I view it as a character. Of course, it’s me – Alan Cumming – but clearly, it’s not my true self. I don’t actually sound like that, or dress like that, or own a castle. A pity, indeed.'”

In this adaptation of a Dutch series reminiscent of popular party games like Mafia, titled “The Traitors“, American reality TV personalities from shows such as The Challenge, Love Island, Survivor, The Bachelor, and Real Housewives are brought together to participate in a game of deceit and assassination, with the chance to win over $200,000 as the prize. Each episode features physical challenges that increase the money in the prize fund. However, secretly interspersed among them are three traitors who every night eliminate one player by “murdering” them. The remaining players must identify and expel the traitors at the end of each roundtable discussion, where emotions run high as allegations of betrayal are hurled between contestants (and these accusations frequently prove to be unfounded, as seen when faithfuls mistakenly eliminate one of their own, much to the delight of the traitors).

Coming clean, Cumming confesses he’s not a fan of reality TV, meaning he usually doesn’t know the contestants before the show starts filming. In his own words, “I don’t recognize many of them, but I work very hard to learn about them.” He refers to this process as a quick education on the contestants’ backgrounds right before shooting a season. He finds it crucial for him, particularly during the initial interviews with the contestants, to be impartial and understand their unique personalities well.

As a fan, I can’t help but notice how the diverse backgrounds of the contestants make for an exciting mix of drama on the show. It doesn’t take long before alliances start to form, often along the lines of reality shows. For instance, during the second season, we saw friendships blossom between participants from shows like The Challenge, Survivor, Big Brother, and even Bravo stars such as those from Real Housewives of Orange County, Miami, and Atlanta.

In his recollections, Cumming notes that people often seemed to travel in cliques, particularly towards the Housewives. He finds it intriguing how various reality TV personalities group together, as if one is threatened, they seem to rally in defense, much like a feudal system. This behavior can make for engaging television, but for The Traitors, it’s just part of the competition’s dynamics. Cumming further compares the show to “Lord of the Flies,” where individuals form groups and then engage in senseless conflicts, with no real reasoning behind it. From a sociological perspective, he finds this behavior endlessly fascinating.

For enthusiasts of reality TV shows, heated debates among cast members are a common occurrence, especially during intense group discussions that frequently lead to one member being removed from the competition. In the case of Cumming, staying expressionless while discerning who among his peers is telling lies presents the greatest difficulty.

“Occasionally, I find myself thinking, Oh dear, is a dispute imminent? On several occasions during this third season, I had the feeling things were about to turn quite contentious,” says Cumming, hinting at the upcoming season set to premiere on Peacock in January. In such instances, the producers must step in and whisper to the host through an earpiece, urging him not to react and avoid revealing too much.”

“As a fan, I’m always left astounded and appalled by the responses of those I know who are traitors when a loyal character is taken out. Sometimes, their reactions can be over-the-top – that’s something I excel at! For me, it’s what makes the show so captivating. We all know who the traitors are, so watching their intense performances and dedication is thrilling – yet, it’s also frustrating to see such commitment from them.”

This edition of THR Frontrunners is brought to you by Peacock.

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2024-08-19 21:24