Andy Cohen, executive producer and TV host, criticized Netflix’s decision to film a live reunion for Love Is Blind, stating that this is a bad idea, and there is a reason why reunions are not aired live. Cohen emphasized that due to the number of topics discussed in these reunion taping, it takes longer to craft and shape the episodes properly. Netflix’s season 4 reunion for Love Is Blind was delayed, and users had technical issues when trying to watch it as it was filmed live.
Andy Cohen advises against live reunion shows, explaining that there is an art to creating a successful reunion special that must prioritize quality over speed.
Andy Cohen, the executive producer and host of Bravo, has shared his thoughts on what went wrong with Netflix’s first live Love Is Blind reunion special. During the April 17 episode of his radio show, SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live, Cohen stated that “Live reunions are a very bad idea,” in reference to the season 4 reunion of Love Is Blind. He explained that reunion episodes are edited down and typically take longer to shoot due to the need for emotional intensity.
On Sunday, April 16, Netflix’s users were unable to watch the season 4 special at its designated release time. The episode was eventually filmed for a live audience and only uploaded the following day due to technical difficulties. Netflix apologized for the delay, assuring fans that the episode would be uploaded as soon as possible.
According to Cohen, keeping the priority on quality over speed is crucial when creating reunion specials. He explained that editors would often spend a lot of time refining talks and interviews to create better content, honing the conversations to their most meaningful and emotional moments.
The reunion special features interviews with various participants and is currently streaming on Netflix. Vanessa Lachey, the actress and host of the show, addressed the fan backlash surrounding the delay, highlighting the “intense vulnerability” shown by the cast and asking fans to be considerate of their words.
Despite the delay, the Love Is Blind reunion special eventually aired, but the incident serves as a cautionary tale for content creators and producers looking to create successful live events. Delays are not only inconvenient for viewers, but they can also negatively impact the quality of the content being produced.
