Summary
- The Traitors US season 2 features a mix of veteran reality TV personalities and newer reality stars, offering an interesting dynamic for viewers.
- Reality TV experience can be beneficial when playing The Traitors US, as it provides an understanding of the production and format. However, it doesn't guarantee an advantage when it comes to identifying the traitors.
- The cast shared their desires to see certain individuals from their original franchises compete on The Traitors US, highlighting the desire to see familiar faces outside of their regular reality TV bubble.
season 2 includes reality TV stars and entertainment personalities in the game together, the draw of the series for many comes in watching the mix between reality stars who have played competition shows before, and those who haven’t. While there are many cast of The Traitors US season 2 who haven’t competed on reality TV in the past, nearly half the cast has, and has done so successfully.
For stars like Phaedra and Bergie, dramatics are part of the game, but strategic prowess hasn’t been part of their TV personas just yet. Phaedra has spent years on The Real Housewives of Atlanta and now Married To Medicine, but Bravo’s dramatics aren’t quite the same as The Traitors US’s. C.T., on the other hand. C.T. has spent over 20 years using competitive skills and strategy to win five seasons of The Challenge, which could’ve put him at an advantage within season 2's cast, but competition wins can’t save him when it comes to perception from the rest of the group.
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While season 2 is a game of its own variety, there’s definitely a benefit in understanding the machinations of reality TV before coming into the game. Even Bergie, who has only appeared on Love Island USA season 5 thus far in his career, had some idea of what to expect production-wise coming into the Scottish castle where the series is filmed. Having a foundation, however, wasn’t going to help the players when it came to narrowing down the identities of the traitors. For the trio, their connection is something they’ll take from the series, regardless of whether or not they’ve taken the win.
Screen Rant: Thanks so much for taking the time to chat! C.T., I want to start with you – I spoke to Johnny Bananas and he talked about how the two of you have very different styles of gameplay despite coming from the same franchise. I’m wondering who from The Traitors US cast surprised you the most with their competitive prowess, coming from one of the more competitive franchises from the cast?
Chris “C.T.” Tamburello: Phaedra and Bergie – both of them, because they both came in with something to prove. I’m not sure what I can and can’t say, but from what I learned about Phaedra, for her to come into [a show like The Traitors], it was almost like fulfilling a fantasy. I don’t want to say too much, but down the line [viewers] will be able to see what I mean with her. The same thing with Bergie, I liked that he came in having something to prove. I like to call him Mr. Blush, because he’s such an honest kid.
Phaedra Parks: He’s so sweet.
Chris “C.T.” Tamburello: But, yeah – both of them, and I’m not just saying that because they can hear me.
Screen Rant: I’m curious for all of you, who from your original franchise would you like to see compete on an season of The Traitors US?
Carsten “Bergie” Bergersen: Oh, gosh. I always say my girlfriend [Taylor Smith of Love Island USA season 5] because I’d love to see her on another show and just see her like, kill it. I’m trying to think if there’s anyone else from my season I’d like to see, but I’d say [her].
Chris “C.T.” Tamburello: [mocking] No, I love you more! No, I love you more!
Phaedra Parks: [laughs] I love it. I think from Housewives, Marlo Hampton would be a hoot on this show – Marlo Hampton would be hilarious on this show…and she would bring the fashion.
Chris “C.T.” Tamburello: I’ve called Bergie, “Bergie 2.0”, I’d like to see Bergie 1.0 [Wes Bergman of The Challenge], and then I’d also like to see Cara Maria [Sorbello], but I’d want to see her go in by herself. I think because outside of The Challenge world, where there’s a tight bubble of 32, 34 people…to come into a show like this where there’s [someone I know] like Bananas – I’m looking at him like, ‘are we actually going to do this’? Even Trishelle [Cannatella], I was excited to see Trishelle, but when I looked over at her I was like, how are we going to play this?
I would love to see more people that I came into The Challenge world with early on, but see them outside that scope. When we first started doing reality TV, reality was frowned upon in the industry in the early 2000s. Like, if you look at someone like [Mike] The Miz [Mizanin] or Jamie Chung, in order to [move forward] – you used to use The Challenge or reality TV as exposure and then you took that and applied it to something else. We weren’t getting paid for it, and in order to get to something else you had to stop doing reality. In this day and age, it’s the gateway – so to see someone that I came up with in my generation of The Challenge, real competitors…someone like Cara Maria or Wes Bergman come into a world outside of The Challenge bubble, if that’s something they would do, I would be fascinated to watch that.
Screen Rant: That would be amazing to see. Last question, and Phaedra, I want to start with you. Now, in the trailer for The Traitors US season 2, we see you get into a little bit of beef with Pilot Pete [Weber from The Bachelor]. How much did you get into the drama of the season?
Phaedra Parks: Um, it’s pretty fair to say that Pilot Pete and I…listen, he was the person I was excited to see the most. I was super over the moon to see Maks [Chmerkovsiky from Dancing With The Stars] and Peter…but oof. Then the Bachelor in him came out, honey. The bachelor was bacheloring, I would say.
Chris “C.T.” Tamburello: When she knew she wasn’t getting that rose, she got pissed off.
Phaedra Parks: Yeah, we definitely had some different opinions…
Screen Rant: CT, Bergie, any drama that you can divulge during the season?
Chris “C.T.” Tamburello: Now, the thing is – apparently you’ve seen three episodes so far, I haven’t seen any of them, so I don’t know what I can say, but from what I hear, it’s a good one.
Screen Rant: Well, I can say it’s definitely not bad so far.
Chris “C.T.” Tamburello: It’s not bad so far? I’ll take that.
Carsten “Bergie” Bergersen: I tried to stay selective with the drama. You know, sometimes you have to go to the bar and you get red in the face when there’s a confrontation happening, but you have to stay in the moment.
Chris “C.T.” Tamburello: You’re always red in the face. As soon as someone talks to you, you get red in the face.
Carsten “Bergie” Bergersen: I can’t help it!
New episodes of The Traitors US are available to stream on Peacock every Thursday.
The Traitors (US)
- Release Date
- January 12, 2023
- Showrunner
- Stephen Lambert
- Writers
- Lee Grant, Christine Rose
Cast
Alan Cumming
WHERE TO WATCH
The Traitors is a reality competition series that features celebrity and civilian contestants vying for a grand prize. They must engage in challenges while trying to uncover the traitors in their midst. Based on the Dutch series, The US incarnation of Traitors is hosted by actor Alan Cumming. As the faithful try to avoid being "murdered" by the traitors, the traitors must work together to evade banishment.
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