Before Rachel Reilly became the queen of “Big Brother,” she was just another contestant considering a showmance.
Fifteen years later, she has one win under her belt, three seasons and — get this — a marriage with fellow housemate Brendon Villegas. The two now have two children and a history on reality television.
Reilly has appeared on three seasons of “The Amazing Race,” one of “Celebrity Fear Factor,” one of “Snake in the Grass” (which she won), “The Traitors” and “Worst Cooks in America.”
A career in reality television is possible — even if your last name isn’t Kardashian — but Reilly has a way of “playing the game,” as contestants call it, and isn’t afraid to shake things up. That’s why she’s such a force this summer in the 27th edition of “Big Brother.”
Fifteen years ago, when her journey began, I got a chance to visit the “Big Brother” house. Located on a Los Angeles soundstage, it was filled with cameras (52), microphones (95) and a staff of producers watching every move.
The houseguests (as the contestants are called) didn’t have contact with producers or camera operators. One-way mirrors enabled them to see the participants but those participants couldn’t see them. Staffers dressed in black, so no flashes of light slip by the mirrors.
Walking around those behind-the-scenes hallways, “Big Brother” personnel used fluorescent arrows to find their way in and out of the backstage areas. The effect was like that of a Halloween haunted house. When you’re in the camera area, you couldn't see much but what’s lurking in the mirror/windows.
Sliding doors separated the actual living area from the backyard. When the cast was in the backyard (which consisted of a small swimming pool, a dinky hot tub and a lot of artificial turf) production staffers could work inside the house without being seen. Similarly, they could set up games in the backyard while the cast was sequestered in the house.
What viewers don’t realize is the contestants are expected to handle meals, cleaning and other household chores.
“We try not to be a concierge or room service,” Executive Producer Allison Grodner told me. “But at the end (of a season), they do get a little more demanding.”
My visit brought to light something I wasn’t aware of as a mere viewer — the mess.
In each of the rooms, it looked like teenagers were in charge. Dishes clogged the sink, towels filled the bathroom floor, beds were not made. “They’re responsible for their living space,” Grodner said. “We just keep an eye on them.”
While subsequent “Big Brother’ houseguests have seen upgrades in living conditions, there’s still the mess factor and the mental game.
In early years, there wasn’t as much gamesmanship to emulate. Now, it takes a game plan just to get to Week Two.
Because she has so much experience (and a way with manipulating lesser players), Reilly could be in this season for the long haul.
“It’s like being at Sea World,” Grodner said of the show. “It’s a voyeuristic experience that keeps us — and them — on their toes. It’s such an intense mental game, you never know what’s going to happen.”
"Big Brother" airs on CBS.
