Vault: Bert's "Boys of ATL" Reality Show Update

Summary

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The Bert Show – Vault: Bert's "Boys of ATL" Reality Show Update

Date: July 20, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, the Bert Show team, led by Bert, dives into an update on Bert’s involvement (or lack thereof) with a potential new Atlanta-based reality show. The main focus is on the behind-the-scenes dynamics of reality TV—how casting works, the editing process, and the risks it poses to personal reputations. They are joined by Bert’s friend Dolvett, who shares his recent experience being portrayed on another reality show centered around Chili (the singer from TLC). Using both their own reality TV considerations and Dolvett’s firsthand account, the conversation explores the pitfalls and manipulations inherent in the genre. The segment is lively, candid, and sprinkled with jokes, pop culture references, and listener call-ins.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bert’s (Non-)Update on His Reality Show (00:00–01:23)

• Bert opens by admitting there's little update on the "Boys of ATL" reality show; he still hasn’t officially auditioned or made any decision, as he hasn't been contacted further.
  • Bert: "I haven't had to make any decision to be on the show or not because there's really been no update." (00:22)
• The crew speculates if the show has been shelved, with ongoing uncertainty adding to Bert's hesitation.

2. The Dangers of Reality TV Editing: Dolvett’s Story (01:23–07:13)

• The main discussion shifts to Dolvett’s recent appearance on "Chili’s Show" on VH1, after Bert received multiple tweets/texts suggesting Dolvett was portrayed poorly.
• Dolvett joins the call to unpack the experience:
  • Dolvett: "Edit, chop, cut, paste." (03:57)
    He stresses how contestants lose editorial control, and moments can easily be manipulated out of context.
• A key example: On-screen, Dolvett appears to say he doesn’t talk to his son every day, "losing" Chili as a romantic prospect. But Dolvett says producers cut out explanations about his close relationship with his son and hectic work schedule.
  • Dolvett: "They just cut it. It was like, oh, whoa. He don’t. You know, and again, that's TV. That's sensationalism." (05:45)

3. Manipulation & Contradictions in Reality TV (07:13–08:53)

• Dolvett points out the contradiction in Chili’s expectations: she has a long list for prospective partners, but what does she bring to the table?
  • Dolvett: "I felt like her expectations were higher than her effort...she's not saying what she's bringing to the table." (06:30)
• The team riffs on the artificial drama TV producers create, noting how being close friends won’t protect people—if drama can’t be manufactured between the main subjects, producers may target those around them.
  • Bert: "...they're gonna go to the wives and girlfriends. And if that happens, that's...that's gonna be bad." (07:48)
• Dolvett calls out the show's hypocrisy with humorous jabs at the cast's contradictory dating requirements.

4. Listener Call-Ins: Viewer Perspectives (09:05–11:16)

• Michelle (09:07): Offers her take, defending Dolvett—she saw that Chili was excessively picky and didn’t give him a fair chance. She didn’t interpret the edit to mean Dolvett was a bad father.
  • Michelle: "I've watched reality television shows all the time...I didn't take away that he was a deadbeat dad. She was so judgmental, you know, from the start." (09:11)
• Aisha (10:03): Explains that Chili’s negativity stemmed from being caught off guard by her matchmaker; the drama was set up by showrunners for effect.
• The hosts and callers agree—reality TV is engineered for drama, even at the expense of fair representation.

5. Final Thoughts: Why You Have to Be Ready for Anything (11:00–End)

• Bert sums up the risks: participating in reality shows means you "are the sacrificial lamb for the ratings."
  • Bert: "...if we choose to do it, we gotta know that going in, dude, they will find out everything about you." (11:18)
• The group closes with banter and more tongue-in-cheek TLC references (“Don’t go chasing waterfalls...stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to.”) (11:35)
  • Jeff: "Don’t go chasing waterfalls." (05:18, 11:35)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dolvett: "Edit, chop, cut, paste." (03:57)
• Bert: "They basically labeled you a deadbeat dad last night. So they can edit it any way they want..." (06:49)
• Dolvett: "I felt like her expectations were higher than her effort..." (06:30)
• Michelle (Caller): "She was so judgmental, you know, from the start, and she didn't want to go out on the date from the jump that she just didn't give him a chance." (09:11)
• Bert: "You are the sacrificial lamb for the ratings. And you gotta know that going in." (11:18)
• Jeff: "Don't go chasing waterfalls." (05:18, 11:35)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – 01:23: Bert's update (or lack thereof) on his reality show consideration
• 03:08 – 07:13: Dolvett’s call-in and reality TV editing exposé
• 09:05 – 10:49: Listener Michelle and Aisha weigh in on the TV episode and casting set-up
• 11:00 – 11:39: Wrap-up: Hosts reflect on the risks and realities of participating in reality programming

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Tone:
Conversational, humorous, and slightly skeptical—true to the show’s morning radio style and the real-life, no-holds-barred attitude of the crew.

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This rich episode blends candid personal insight, real talk on the costs of reality TV fame, and playful rapport—making it essential listening for anyone curious about what happens before, during, and after the cameras roll.

Transcript

[A]

The first show, we were just talking about reality TV shows, and I haven't given you guys an update on the reality TV show that I don't even know what to call it. I didn't try out for. What do you call it? Audition for. I didn't really do that.

[B]

Well, you did audition.

[C]

You're being considered.

[A]

Considered for.

[B]

Yeah, you can still call it an audition because they asked you to audition because they've kind of observed you with the other guys.

[A]

But no decision has been. I haven't had to make any decision to be on the show or not because there's really been no update. And it's been so long that Jen asked a good question today. Like, maybe they just shelved the project.

[B]

Oh, Jen got a good question today.

[D]

Great.

[A]

So I don't know, but we were talking about reality TV shows again today because my friend Dolvett was on Chili's show this weekend. Man, I started getting tweeting and texts about this thing before it even played in its entirety last night. I guess they were showing longer clips of the show to tease you guys on VH1. And some stuff were said on. On the show that rubbed some listeners the wrong way about Dolvett. So we talked about it earlier this morning, and he text me and he said, can't wait to come in and give my version of the Chili show. Dot, dot, dot, edit, cut, chop, paste, which everybody on reality TV show says, you know, like, I didn't.

[C]

That's what you sign up for, but

[A]

that's what you got to sort of sign up for, so you know that in advance.

[C]

You're not signing up because,

[E]

I don't

[C]

know, like, you're not signing up to not get attention. You're signing up because you want to be on television. You want to get some sort of celebrity fame, notoriety, or what marketing for your business, whatever it is about it. So you give up your ability to be able to tell your own story when you sign up for that.

[B]

Because they're not the trade off, because they're not your PR rep, right?

[A]

Yeah. They're looking for drama. And if there's not drama on a reality TV show and it's getting poor ratings and you're not getting picked up for a second season, which is what you're hoping for.

[C]

And this is a different type of show than what you're being considered for, Bert, because this is a competition show. This show is for these guys to compete to win Chili over, to win her heart. Right? So they're competing. It's A specific thing for a show, like what you're being considered for is all about personal drama. Because there's no competition, there's no winner, there's no Amazing Race. There's no Survivor versus Heroes and villains. And I mean, it is just gossip and drama in your social circle. That's the only reason people would watch,

[A]

which is something to consider when making a decision on something like that.

[B]

For sure, if you're making a decision

[E]

if one was in a.

[A]

If you haven't already made.

[E]

If the decision hasn't already been made.

[B]

Hypothetically speaking. We gonna talk to him?

[A]

I'm gonna call Dolvett.

[B]

Awesome.

[E]

He strikes me as the type who answers the phone like if it's on a cradle by punching one side of it, and when it flies up in the air catching it,

[B]

he's got that thing in his ear all the time.

[F]

Yeah.

[E]

24. 7 Bluetooth boy.

[A]

Dude, he had a tough enough time last night. We all leave him alone.

[E]

Talk to me.

[A]

Go. I'm not gonna let his voicemail play. Yes, you are playing. I'm protecting my friend. I'm not play D. Yeah, hey, it's Bert. We're on the radio, dude.

[F]

What up, Bert?

[A]

Okay, no cursing or anything, all right? You understand? We're on the radio.

[F]

Do I answer blocked? Because it came up blocked.

[A]

Well, when you only block one person, then really know who it is. All right, dude, so we were talking about this reality TV show, this chili thing. Can you talk about this, or are you contractually obligated to not be able to say anything about it?

[F]

No, no, I can talk about it.

[A]

Okay. Cause he and I talked yesterday, and I started getting texts about it and tweets about it yesterday, and some of them were like, oh, boy, your boy's not looking so good right now. And I had no idea what they were talking about.

[B]

And we haven't seen it. I mean, I totally forgot it was

[A]

on last night, but I guess you

[F]

haven't seen it yet. No, you gotta see it.

[C]

Sorry.

[B]

Don't.

[D]

Van.

[A]

Did you watch it last night?

[F]

I watched it last night.

[A]

Of course you did.

[F]

Lately? Like 12:30.

[A]

How do you think you looked? You look good. You look pretty, didn't you?

[F]

No, no. Edit, chop, cut, paste.

[A]

Okay. All right, so let's talk about this, because at the root, I'll be straight up with you. All right? At the root of the tweets, and the texts are like, everything was going. Might have been going sort of rough. And then she asked you about your child, and then. And you said, yeah, I have a child, but we don't talk every day. And that's when you lost her.

[F]

I think I lost her before that. Although, you know, because right on our initial meeting, the second that we met, she was standoffish from the jump. The girl that introduced us, t. That introduced us, you know, she was kind of like, this guy's perfect. And she's like, he's not my type. Her response was, you don't even know him to say he's not your type. You haven't been given an opportunity. She's like, all right, fine. So she essentially had to convince her chili to even go on a date with me.

[C]

Do you think you're too good looking for her? Is that why?

[F]

No, I just think, you know, some people have chemistry, some people don't, but.

[A]

But at that point, she hadn't even talked to you, Right? She looked at you and said, you're not the type.

[F]

It was an introduction thing. She started nitpicking me the second we met. It wasn't even an opportunity for me to introduced myself, but she didn't give me an opportunity to get to know me. So I don't know what happened.

[E]

You still went out with her. And I remember years ago, a really wise person told me, don't go chasing waterfalls.

[C]

Really?

[B]

Really.

[F]

You know what? You listen to too much R and B. Jeff.

[B]

No, he just looked up the lyrics online.

[A]

So what do you think that was shown on the show last night that wasn't, like, real that they edited to make look either worse or just different?

[F]

My relationship with my son. She asked me if I didn't. If I spoke to him or, you know, and they didn't give the rest of what I said, you know. You know, we have a great relationship. I don't get opportunity to talk to him every day. I work a lot of hours, and by the time I'm able to speak to him, he's in bed or off doing his basketball thing. So they didn't really give. They just cut it. It was like, oh, whoa. He don't. You know, and again, that's tv. That's sensationalism. So there's really nothing. That and the fact that at the end of the relationship, of the dating, when I had an opportunity to give my version of the date, they cut a lot of that out as well in terms of how I went in on her. So what did you. I think it was fine.

[A]

What did you say that didn't. Didn't make it on tv?

[F]

I said that I felt like her expectations were Higher than her effort. You know, Chili is talking about a guy has to be like this, a guy has to be like that. You know, and what. You know, she's not saying what she's bringing to the table. You know, she's just, you know, being Chili, I guess.

[A]

See, this is the thing about reality TV shows, dude. And, you know, as. I'm not really sure where this whole project still stands with Princess and all that, but, I mean, if. If we agree to do it, you look what they did just in one night with you. I mean, they basically labeled you a deadbeat dad last night. So they can edit it any way they want, they can cut. They can paste it any way they want. So are you sure you want to do this whole thing again when the whole reality. When the whole show of this next one would center around us?

[F]

You know, what with the show that we're talking about and that we're doing. I'm a fan of it only because of you guys. The control and the relationship that I know I already have with my friends, it's not even a thing where it's a guessing game. I didn't know Chili. She didn't know me. You know, so with all that speculation and probability, then it becomes dangerous. But I think when you walk into a situation where you already have relationships, friendships, you know, we're like brothers. I think it's. It's more of a much better dialogue.

[A]

See, but, you know, the more we. We talked about it, the more it makes me think that because we do have that tightness. We've talked about this on the air, that they're gonna look for drama somewhere. So if they don't find it in us, guys that are pretty tight and have each other's backs, then they're gonna go to the wives and girlfriends. And if that happens, that's. That's gonna be bad. That's gonna be bad.

[E]

Who's it gonna be the worst for tv, baby?

[F]

You gotta love it.

[A]

I think it would be spread out

[F]

of you with this show, though. I mean, Chili really went in, but it's just one of those things. I think it's a huge contradiction because she. The first guy who's on the first episode, she was like, her list is, he has to have ass. He can't eat pork. This guy eats pork, and he's a heavyset dude, so. And then she's saying how a guy has to be tall. Six' one, six' two and four. Mayweather's five' two. You know, I love you, bro, but I'M just saying.

[A]

What.

[C]

Who's five' two?

[F]

Floyd Mayweather. Floyd Mayweather.

[E]

Oh, the guy that you went out with?

[F]

The boxer Floyd Mayweather?

[A]

Yeah. Why you gotta rip. Why you gotta rip on short dudes?

[F]

I'm just saying, homie. I'm just saying. But, you know, in other words, to my point is that it's a lot of contradiction on it. You know, it's like, what do you want? Do you really know what you want? You know? So it is what it is.

[A]

Here's Michelle. Hey, Michelle. Good morning.

[D]

Good morning.

[A]

Did you watch the show last night?

[D]

I did.

[A]

Did they do them wrong?

[D]

Oh, gosh. I took it as they made Chili seem like the crazy one at the end because she was so picky. She doesn't. She's so picky, she doesn't even know what she wants. She. I think Dolvett did an excellent job. I didn't take away that he was a deadbeat dad because I've seen. I've watched reality television shows all the time, and I didn't take away that Eve was a deadbeat dad. She was so judgmental, you know, from the start, and she didn't want to go out on the date from the jump that she just didn't give him a chance. And she's in love with Floyd Mayweather. So, I mean, I just, you know, you guys have to just watch the episode. It's just, you know, she's so picky, and she really doesn't know what she wants. I really don't.

[A]

Well, she says she's got that list. You know, she got that list in her head, and you gotta. You gotta meet all those criteria. Hey, Aisha. Good morning. You're on Q100.

[D]

Good morning. I just wanted to quickly, like, in defense of Dolvett, I think Chilli was just immediately standoffish because of the way her matchmaker did it. She wasn't too thrilled about being, you know, having her guys picked from the Braves game and having herself blasted like that. Like, hey, I'm looking for love. Although she has a reality show,

[C]

so she started off on the wrong foot.

[D]

Yeah, she started off on the wrong foot, and I think all that just got through in the mix. Like, he's a great guy and he did meet all. But maybe one of her expectations, which is, you're not going to get 100% of what you're looking for, which was what her matchmaker tried to tell her. But Chili was already on the defense because of the way it was introduced,

[B]

which is, again, reality. Tv. So it's the matchmaker's job to make sure that there's some drama going on. So even catching Chilli off guard is part of the manipulation in the show?

[A]

Yeah, it was like, the first or second episode. So if she gets along with one of these guys in the first or second episode, then guess what? We've got no season, people. So we better start creating some drama. And there are gonna be casualties in that. And they're part of Dolvett, I think, was a little bit of a casualty of that last night, man.

[F]

You think I was a guinea pig?

[A]

Well, no, I just think that. I mean, you're. When we do a reality TV show or you do a reality TV show, you are the sacrificial lamb for the ratings. And you gotta know that going in. And, you know, if we choose to do it, we gotta know that going in, dude, they will find out everything about you.

[E]

Stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to.

[F]

Get it. The bird show.