Vault: Cameras in studio to film Bert for reality tv

Summary

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The Bert Show – "Vault: Cameras in Studio to Film Bert for Reality TV"

Date: June 25, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Bert and the Bert Show team provide listeners with an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at the filming process for a potential Atlanta-based reality TV show called "Boys Club ATL"—a project developed by one of the creators of "Real Housewives of Atlanta." The discussion explores Bert’s unique position as a potential cast member, uncertainties about joining reality TV, concerns about family privacy, and the realities of life in front of the camera. The team shares frank thoughts on personal boundaries, family representation, production logistics, and the psychology of being filmed for reality television.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Reality TV Opportunity & Casting Process

[01:01–03:17]

• Show Concept: Bert shares that he's been approached by producers developing a reality show centered on five dynamic Atlanta men, each with different lifestyles—ranging from a promoter to a gym owner and restaurateur.
  • “She [the producer] thought this would be a pretty interesting cast… Most of the guys in my group are stoked about it. Like they have greenlighted it… I'm the only one on the team that’s still not 100% sure.” (Bert, 01:35)
• Family Considerations: Bert emphasizes the need to consult more seriously with his wife, Stacy, if their group is selected.
  • “Stacy and I really haven't wrapped our brains around it yet because we haven't had to… If they come back to us and they say, ‘Look, we want you guys,’ then Stacy and I will really sit down and decide if it’s right for us and the family.” (Bert, 01:47)

2. Filming at Home & in the Studio

[02:30–04:03]

• First Interview: Bert and Stacy undergo a candid, on-camera interview at home, openly discussing highs and lows of their 16-year relationship.
  • “We're not embarrassed to say that, you know, we’re sort of a mess… Sometimes it's great. Other times it really sucks… We’ve gone through a lot of really, really difficult times together.” (Bert, 02:57)
• Studio Cameras: Reality show cameras visit the Bert Show studio to capture Bert in action, including off-air, unfiltered moments, and typical show debates.
  • “They were in here getting footage in studio and, you know, saw us cussing when the mics were off and trying to be G-rated when the mics were on and that kind of thing. So that was pretty cool.” (Co-host 1, 03:24)

3. Adapting to Life on Camera

[03:44–04:27]

• Camera Awareness: Co-hosts praise Bert for remaining natural with cameras close by; Bert admits mild insecurities but finds himself forgetting the cameras' presence.
  • “Sincerely, the camera is three inches from your face… Already insecure about my nose… But… while we were talking on the show yesterday, I forgot that the dude was up my schnozza.” (Bert, 03:59, 04:04)

4. Producer Inquisition & Deep Questions

[04:30–06:31]

• Tougher Topics: Post-show, Bert describes a probing sit-down with the L.A. producer, discussing sensitive issues: his own drinking habits, Stacy's past recovery from pain medication addiction, relationship dynamics, and boundaries regarding their sex life.

  • “He starts to ask me some pretty intimate questions… So in that initial conversation, I think I was honest with him and I said, you know, I know I got a drinking problem… We talked a lot about that. [And] Stacy's addiction to pain medications that she got over.” (Bert, 04:30–04:54)
  • “At some point during the initial interview, I must have said that the only thing that's off limits is our sex life… Of course he's drilling me on sex questions… So I really didn’t answer a lot of them.” (Bert, 05:14)

• Anticipated Show Focus: Bert suspects their storyline would center heavily on family and the real-life challenges of married life.

  • “…I sort of feel like they’re going to focus more on family with us and the realities of a couple that is trying to juggle job and insecurity.” (Bert, 06:14)

5. Logistics & Production Concerns

[06:34–08:00]

• Kids on Camera: Bert brings up his kids; producers reassure him that reality TV rarely portrays children negatively.

  • “They said they don't know any reality TV show that has ever put kids in a bad light. So I'm not concerned really about that.” (Bert, 06:34)

• Filming Schedule: Modern reality TV is more structured—producers will coordinate with Bert on when and what to film, rather than constant “fly-on-the-wall” observation.

  • “Reality TV shows really aren’t based on that anymore. They give you a schedule… it's a little more scheduled than I thought it was gonna be.” (Bert, 06:44)

• Shared Screen Time: With five cast members, time commitment is split, alleviating Bert's fears of overexposure.

• No Editorial Control: Bert will have no control over how footage is edited.

  • “I wouldn’t have any control of the editing of the show whatsoever… Nobody gets that unless you fund your own reality TV show like Paris Hilton did.” (Bert, 07:18)

6. Concerns Over Family Portrayal

[08:01–10:36]

• Vulnerability: Bert worries about Stacy being edited to appear one-dimensional—“abrasive” or “demanding”—when she’s also compassionate and a volunteer for addiction recovery.

  • “My concern was that they would only show that part of her and they wouldn't show that the work she does, like with other people that are addicted… She volunteers a whole bunch that they wouldn’t show her soft side.” (Bert, 08:51)
  • “And they said to me, they're gonna shoot and portray her as she is, which I kind of buy and I kind of don’t.” (Bert, 09:04)

• Selective Editing: Bert and co-hosts joke but express real concerns about how inside jokes or isolated behaviors could be edited to misrepresent his marriage or personality.

  • “If they edit this the wrong way, I'm gonna look like a real jerk… If they show that over and over and over again, here I am looking like some taskmaster that’s… too good to go get his own coffee heated.” (Bert, 10:16)
  • “You joke like that all the time. But I thought, oh, my God, the camera’s in here. And if they do that, it’ll make you look like you’re unhappy in your marriage.” (Co-host 2, 10:44)

• Real-Life Example: Bert recounts Stacy confronting a restaurant manager after a bad experience, worrying how that scene—if selectively edited—could portray her unfairly.

  • “I could see a point where they only take the part of her bitching about her meal… making her look like this really demanding woman. So I'm nervous about all that, y’all.” (Bert, 11:17)

• Emotional Stakes: Bert is more concerned about Stacy's and family’s reputation than his own.

  • “Why are you nervous about it? Because you're afraid of them portraying her in a bad light or afraid of needing to defend her or both?”
  • “Like, if it’s me, I’ve got no problem with it. But it’s my wife, man. And I don’t know. I don’t want people taking shots at my wife or my family.” (Co-host 1 & Bert, 11:42–11:49)

7. Caller Perspective: First-Hand Reality TV Experience

[12:10–13:57]

• Time Management Woes: A caller, Brian, whose family appeared on TNT’s “Wedding Day,” describes long delays and unpredictable schedules despite initial promises from the production team.

  • “If they tell you it’s going to take an hour and be there at two, you can pretty much say it’s going to take four hours and you’re going to be there.” (Caller, 13:41)

• Production Delays: Even meticulously planned events, like a filmed wedding, ran late as producers sought dramatic content.

8. Producers’ Influence & Upcoming Filming

[13:57–14:37]

• Encouraged Drama: Bert foresees external pressure to fuel certain narratives, such as alcohol consumption among the men.
  • “I know there’s gonna be pressure to drink alcohol tonight because they're gonna want to see this storyline, you know.” (Bert, 13:57)
• Next Steps: The team is filming a group dinner scene that night; Bert expects this to be the last filmed segment before producers decide whether to move forward with his group.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bert on Reality TV Clichés:
  “I've heard this cliche before that when you do a reality TV show that after a while you forget the cameras are there. And while we were talking on the show yesterday, I forgot that the dude was up my schnozza.” (Bert, 04:17)

• On the Realities of Editing:
  “They can edit it so well that she’s just really is created… They just don’t show the other side.” (Bert, 11:49)

• On Family over Fame:
  “Like, if it’s me, I’ve got no problem with it. But it’s my wife, man. And I don’t know. I don’t want people taking shots at my wife or my family.” (Bert, 11:49)

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Key Timestamps

• 01:01 – Bert explains the reality TV show concept and his involvement
• 02:35 – On-camera home interview and honesty about his relationship
• 03:17 – Reality show cameras visit the studio
• 04:30 – Intense producer questioning and boundaries
• 06:34 – Concerns about kids, filming schedules, and production logistics
• 08:51 – Fears over how editing could affect Stacy’s image
• 10:36 – Selective editing and how jokes could paint a false narrative
• 12:10 – Caller shares personal reality TV production experience
• 13:57 – Bert describes anticipated group dinner shoot and story manipulation

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Summary Tone & Language

The conversation is candid, self-aware, and tinged with humor, but real vulnerability emerges as Bert discusses sensitive family issues and the challenge of maintaining authenticity under the scrutiny of reality TV production. Listeners are drawn in by the team’s openness and the relatable struggle of weighing personal boundaries against media opportunities. Bert’s preoccupation with honesty and fairness—especially regarding Stacy’s portrayal—underscores the very real stakes behind the reality show glitz.

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Transcript

[Host 1]

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[Bert]

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[Host 1]

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[Bert]

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[Bert]

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[Host 1]

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[Bert]

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[Bert]

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[Bert]

All right, so for those of you that haven't been playing along here, just let me tell you what's going on with this reality TV show. Months ago I was approached by one of the creators of Real Housewives of Atlanta. They have the concept to do a reality TV show around Atlanta based on five guys and they're calling it Boys Club. ATL and I hang out with some dudes and they go out quite a bit. We all sort of have different lifestyles. I've got two kids. One of the other guys that they're considering in my group is a promoter. One owns a gym, the other one owns a restaurant. So we're all pretty much, you know, like on the move. Right. She thought this would be a pretty interesting cast. So she's been interviewing all of us to see if our group is going to be the group that she wants to have on this reality TV show. Most of the guys in my group are stoked about it. Like they have greenlighted it. If they choose our group, they're really excited about it. I'm the only one on the team they that's still not 100% sure. So as I've said a million times over the last couple of weeks, Stacy and I really haven't wrapped our brains around it yet because we haven't had to. If they come back to us and they say, look, we want you guys, then Stacy and I will really sit down and decide if it's right for us and the family and all that. But up until then, we just sort of put it on the back Burner. But I'm going through the process still. And the last time I talked to you guys about it, they came over to my house and Stacy and I did an on camera interview which lasted for about 30 minutes. And they got a good sense about what our relationship was like, and I think it went really well. I'm not exactly sure what they're looking for, but we didn't hold back. We're not embarrassed to say that, you know, we're sort of a mess. We don't really try to put the polish on our relationship. I think we're pretty typical when it comes to a couple that's been with each other for 13 years, married 13, we with each other 16 years with two kids. Sometimes it's great. Other times it really sucks. We've gone through a lot of great times together, and I've told you guys that. We've gone through a lot of really, really difficult times together. Times where I didn't know that the relationship was really gonna work out. And it doesn't bother me to talk about these things. So I think that's what any reality TV show is looking for. I mean, I'm not catering my story for them. It's everything that we talk about on the radio, you know, So I thought that interview went well. Then they came in studio yesterday and the cameras were here.

[Co-host 1]

Yeah, they came in to check out what Bert does on the air, and we're getting some footage of him. As we were talking about different things, we were in relationship discussions. I think yesterday we were talking about Joanna and her situation with her fiance Jason. Should they move in together? Should they not? So I thought that was a really great snapshot of a typical conversation we'd have on the Burt show. And so they were in here getting footage in studio and, you know, saw us cussing when the mics were off and trying to be G rated when the mics were on and that kind of thing. So that was pretty cool.

[Co-host 2]

And I have to commend Burt because the cameras, of course, they're focused on him. And Derby most of that conversation. The camera guy was like, right next to you with the camera, like, in your face. And I was like, how is he pulling this off without every now and again wanting to turn to the camera like, but I guess that's good training if you get on this show, you

[Bert]

know, sincerely, the camera is three inches from your face.

[Co-host 2]

I was distracted by, like, whoa, you

[Bert]

know, and I'm already insecure about my nose. And he's right. He's doing a Full on profile shot. It's like they want my nose for the reality TV show, but they don't want the rest of my body. But it is weird cause I've heard this cliche before that when you do a reality TV show that after a while you forget the cameras are there. And while we were talking on the show yesterday, I forgot that the dude was up my schnozza.

[Co-host 1]

So it's good.

[Bert]

Yeah, it didn't bother me.

[Co-host 1]

Yeah.

[Bert]

So after the show, we go into my office and then the inquisition really began. The producer dude that they brought in from la, I got a little nervous because he took his jacket off and I'm like, oh, damn, we're gonna be here for a while and this is gonna hurt. So it was me, the Atlanta creator, and this producer from Evolution, I think, and the cameraman and, you know, he takes his jacket off and he starts to ask me some pretty intimate questions, you know, like they were follow ups from the initial conversation that Stacy and I had. So in that initial conversation, I think I was honest with him and I said, you know, I know I got a drinking problem. I don't call it alcoholism, but I mean, I'm my age and I'm still binge drinking and it concerns me. So we talked a lot about that. He also talked about Stacy's addiction to pain medications that she got over. But I have concerns about how Stacy's drinking now also. So we talked a lot about that. We talked about our relationship, Just let it all hang out. At some point during the initial interview, I must have said that the only thing that's off limits is our sex life. It's the same thing I've said on the radio for years. Because Stacy has made it, you know, just part of the landscape that she doesn't want to explore. So I've respected that. So of course he's drilling me on sex questions, but he even admitted, you know, it's the one thing you don't want to talk about. So I got to ask you questions about it. So I really didn't answer a lot of them. And I said, if you want to talk about that, then go ahead and, and ask Stacey about it. But I felt like if we were in there for 25 minutes, I felt like 15 minutes was about Stacy and our relationship. So if they're starting to piece together this group, I sort of feel like they're going to focus more on family with us and sort of the realities of a couple that is trying to juggle job and insecurity. Still with each other and day to day life.

[Co-host 2]

Right.

[Co-host 1]

Did they ask about your kids?

[Bert]

I had to bring them up. They never asked about the kids. They said they don't know any reality TV show that has ever put kids in a bad light. So I'm not concerned really about that. I asked them about the scheduling because I am very concerned about time management, management issues. Basically what they said to me is this is that it's not like the old days, you know, like the old Ozzy Osbourne reality TV show when the cameras used to live in their garage and they had cameras all over the place, hidden cameras. There were cameras in every room. Reality TV shows really aren't based on that anymore. They give you a schedule so they'll tell you, look, is 2 o' clock on Tuesday good for you or what are you doing on Thursday night? Do you have an event plan? Can we follow you around then? So it's a little more scheduled than I thought it was gonna be. And they also said time commitment wise, this cast will be easier than other reality TV shows because there are gonna be five dudes on it. So they have to split all that time up. So it's not like the cameras are focused on me like I'm Kim Kardashian or something. This is a cast of five people, so they have to split that time up. So they alleviated my fears a little bit. That way I wouldn't have any control of the editing of the show whatsoever. Nobody gets that unless you fund your own reality TV show like Paris Hilton did on MT. Then you have 100% edit control, but then it's really an infomercial and that's

[Co-host 2]

not what they're looking for, and that's why it's not on anymore. And what about what you're allowed to

[Co-host 1]

talk about on the radio?

[Bert]

They thought that I would be able to come on the next morning and talk about stuff that happened on the show the night before. They thought it would be great promotion for the show. They don't have a TV network that has picked up this, this yet. I guess the way it happens is they shoot it and then they start pitching it to different networks. Bravo, I don't know, Spike, whomever, right? And if it's qual enough, then Bravo says, okay, that's good stuff. We're gonna go ahead and we'll take this. It would be 90 days, about three months for only like eight to 10 episodes. I didn't realize it took that long to do for that fewer shows. They asked me, you know, about Stacy's personality. Because I have said before that I'm concerned about that, that Stacy, on one hand, can be very abrasive, and she's very, very forward. Man, you know exactly where you stand with my wife.

[Caller]

And.

[Bert]

And my concern was that they would only show that part of her and they wouldn't show that the work she does, like with other people that are addicted to pain medications, she volunteers a whole bunch that they wouldn't show her soft side. And they said to me, they're gonna shoot and portray her as she is, which I kind of buy and I kind of don't.

[Co-host 2]

Well, I mean, we've talked before. I mean, it's all about the draw. It depends on. I mean, with the reality show, I'm sure they put all. It's like putting. You know, I don't cook, but it's putting together perfect stew where they're gonna get all these personalities in and they're just gonna see what happens. And where the drama goes is what they're gonna follow. Because even with Desperate House, Desperate Housewives of Atlanta, Real Housewives of Atlanta, which is their show as well, that the evolution, you know, was that Nene and Kim had constant conflict. And so the show started just focusing on the two of them more so than the others. They showed a little bit of the others, but so they just probably just, you know, it's very spontaneous, whatever comes up. So if Stacy's personality, where the abrasiveness starts coming out with somebody else on the show, they're gonna focus on that.

[Bert]

Like, if she and Dolvette have a big old blowout or something like that, that's gonna be a reoccurring storyline, right? Exactly.

[Co-host 2]

Exactly. But you don't know until you get there.

[Bert]

It happens, right. And it's funny because I'm sort of been living my life the last couple of days now, like, thinking, okay, if the cameras were on me right now, what could they edit? And we had an instance in here yesterday that I thought, if they edit this the wrong way, I'm gonna look like a real jerk. And yesterday, it's really difficult for me to get down the hall now cause of my jacked up knee and the time constraints. So I asked an intern to go heat up my coffee. Well, if they show that over and over and over again, here I am looking like some taskmaster that's not good enough. That's too good to go get his own coffee heated.

[Co-host 2]

And there was something else yesterday that you did that you do. And it's funny because you do A lot. And you're meaning it's a joke. But I thought, man, if they just focus on this. Because yesterday you were talking about how long you and Stacy been together. I forgot what context we were talking about. You're like 16 years like that. And you joke like that all the time. But I thought, oh, my God, the camera's in here. And if they do that, it'll make it literally make you look like you're unhappy in your marriage, you know, we

[Bert]

were at Lenox Grill last night, and it was a really bad restaurant experience. The food was bad. The waiter was bad. They wouldn't bring coffee. They wouldn't bring our food. It was just a bad experience. So Stacy asked for the manager, and the manager comes over and she told him exactly what had happened over the last hour or so. Cause she's been there a whole bunch of times, and she's had a great experience, right? And she said that to the manager. I've been here so often, and I've had nothing but great experiences, but I don't know what's happening tonight. But everything's gone wrong. Everything. And I could see a point where they only take the part of her bitching about her meal and making her look like, you know, this really demanding woman. So I'm nervous about all that, y'. All. I'm really nervous about that because.

[Co-host 1]

Why are you nervous about it? Because you're afraid of them portraying her in a bad light or afraid of needing to defend her or both.

[Bert]

Like, if it's me, I've got no problem with it. But it's my wife, man. And I don't know. It's just. I don't want people taking shots at my wife or my family. Me, no problem. But they can edit it so well that she's just really is created. They just don't show the other side. Hey, Brian, Good morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller]

Hey, good morning, guys.

[Bert]

What's happening?

[Caller]

Not a whole lot. I was calling just to shed a little light. I've had a little bit of experience with what you're concerned about. Not as far as the way they're going to portray you or your wife, but as far as how you said they had a schedule laid out and it wouldn't be very time consuming. I was on a. My wife and I were on a reality show on TNT last year called Wedding Day, and they would give us times. And they were only in town, granted, for like, four days. And they were from Hollywood, and it was Mark Burnett production, so it was A, you know, very experienced team. They do a lot of extreme home makeover. But they would tell us, hey, let's be at the zoo at two o'. Clock. And I. And we have three small children as well. I know you have two, we have three. So you get, you get the kids ready, you know, you're rushing out the door, you get to where they're going to be. You're there, you're there at 1:50 to start shooting at 2:00'. Clock. Well, you'll sit there until 4 or 5 o' clock before they do anything. And the kids are going, you know, crazy running around. And the one thing that I. And that was not just one time, that's for everything they tried to film. And the one thing I really stress was they actually filmed the actual wedding. There's a backstory to my wedding while we got on the show. But the wedding was supposed to go off at 6:30, I believe it was. And the thing I stress them, I do not want the guests waiting. Please, you know, whatever you do, make sure the wedding goes off on time, you know, because we'd already invitation. So all the guests were there on time and our weddings wound up going off at like 9:15.

[Bert]

Is that right? Yeah, yeah.

[Caller]

So there are a lot of challenges now, different producers, so I can't say how they would portray it, but as far as them, I assume that's probably a common thing. If they tell you it's going to take an hour and be there at two, you can pretty much say it's going to take four hours and you're going to be there.

[Bert]

Yeah, there's no doubt they're going to have to create some drama. They're going to tense you out. So they've got some kind of material. Like tonight they are shooting me and all the guys at a restaurant tonight. And I know there's gonna be pressure to drink alcohol tonight because they're gonna want to see this storyline, you know. So I'm already ahead of the. Ahead of what's, what could happen tonight. But I think this is the last thing that we're gonna do on camera. So all of us tonight go over to Justin's restaurant and they're gonna shoot us for a couple hours and then I guess it's just a waiting game and we'll see if this is the group that they want or not. So we should know within the next couple of weeks if we have to make a decision or not. That's where that whole thing stands right now. You're on the Birch Show.

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[Bert]

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