Your Burning Behind-the-Scenes Questions About 'Love on the Spectrum'
Dani and Adan share a kiss on 'Love on the Spectrum'
The charming docu-reality series Love on the Spectrum, which won three Primetime Emmy Awards in 2022, follows a diverse group of people on the autism spectrum as they navigate the often-tricky world of dating and romance. Despite its specificity, the show has a universal appeal (who among us can't relate to first-date nerves?), which show creator and EP Cian O’Clery says he's particularly proud of.
"[It's] been both amazing and humbling," he tells Parade. "It’s always surprising when something becomes this big and you’ve got people like Bradley Cooper talking about the show. ...There’s real comfort in that we’re allowing these people to have a platform to introduce themselves to the world."
Related: 'Love on the Spectrum' Renewed for Season 3: What to Expect, According to the Show Creator
Photo credit: Courtesy of Jerord Harris / Getty for Netflix
As with any reality show, Love on the Spectrum raises a ton of questions about how the heck the series comes together. How do the producers cast its participants? Who pays for the dates? Ahead, O'Clery indulges Parade's behind-the-scenes questions (and yours!).
Answered! Behind-the-Scenes Questions About Love on the Spectrum
How does Love on the Spectrum casts its participants?
Many reality shows have a casting team that books talent, but Love on the Spectrum's producers work on the casting process themselves.
"We develop relationships with various organizations, support groups, communities and individuals, and just put the call out," O'Clery says. "We send out flyers that explain who we are and what we’re doing, and if you’re interested in meeting with us and talking about it, get in touch. Lots and lots of people write in."
The more popular the show gets, the more folks reach out directly—a good thing, O'Clery explains, "because it shows that people love the show and that they want to be part of it," but a challenging thing, too, because the producers can only include "a very small number of people in the final cut of the series."
Curating an ensemble means taking a look at who from previous seasons they're bringing back (as is the show's tradition) and how many spots there are for new people.
"Then we try to work it out in terms of wanting to represent a diverse group of people," O'Clery says. "The people we choose to be the main participants can be from anywhere. Once we decide on someone, that’s when we start to look for potential matches for them and we kind of go with it that way."
Related: 'Love on the Spectrum's Dani Bowman and James Jones Discuss Their Return to Dating in Season 2
Photo credit: Courtesy of Netflix
Who plans the dates on Love on the Spectrum?
When it comes to planning the dates, which can range from a walk in the park to a trip to a museum, O'Clery describes a collaborative effort between the producers and cast. "We talk to the participants all the time about what they’re interested in, what they want to do and what they think would be a nice date," he tells Parade. "Then we work together to find something that might be suitable and go from there." (Of course, getting permission to film in certain locations "can be quite an ordeal.")
Above all, the cast is never asked to do something they don't want to do. "They’re always the ones who are leading the experience," O'Clery explains. "We’re not saying to them, 'You’re going to do this and you’re going to go here.'"
Related: 'I Am Different, Not Less': 17 Inspiring Quotes for Autism Awareness Month
Who pays for the dates on Love on the Spectrum?
O'Clery has previously confirmed that while the cast members are not compensated for being on the show, the dates and transportation are paid for. "People aren’t left out of pocket by being part of the experience, that’s all I can say," he adds in conversation with Parade.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Netflix
Do the producers and crew members receive sensitivity training on Love on the Spectrum?
Yes. The show has "an autism consultant who is part of the series, and he conducts training for everybody," O'Clery says. "Just to make sure everybody understands and is aware of any potential sensitivities. Which, of course, is important."
Do the Love on the Spectrum producers keep in touch with the cast between seasons?
A hundred percent. "It’s like a family," O'Clery says. "It’s amazing how close everyone’s become. It’s not one of those shows where you just film people and don’t see or talk to them again. It’s nice to be able to keep in touch with people; make sure they had a positive experience, and that they still feel like they’re part of the family."
Photo credit: Courtesy of Netflix
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