TLC Network Planning More ’90 Day Fiance’ Spin-Offs For Fans Of Reality And Love

Spoilers for midseason of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way on TLC

Fans of the 90 Day Fiance franchise rejoice. They will be pleased to know TLC is developing “one or two” additional spinoffs to its reality line-up. If so, this would bring a total of 90 Day Fiance reality series up to 12. While they are still in the planning stages, TLC is mindful of not going over the “tipping point” with the romance franchise.

90 Day Fiance first aired in 2014

The TLC reality show is produced by Sharp Entertainment and first aired in 2014. Since then, it has become a huge success for the reality TV network. In fact, this led it to post its best quarter ever between April and June 2020 in two key demos.

90 Day Fiance has spawned Before the 90 Days, The Other Way, What Now?, Pillow Talk, The Family Chantel and Happily Ever AfterOther recent spinoffs include B90 Strikes Back! and Self-Quarantined. Meanwhile, a more recent addition to the franchise is Darcey and Stacey with the Silva twins.

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‘One or two’ TLC spinoffs in the works

Howard Lee, President and General Manager of TLC spoke at a virtual Edinburgh International TV Festival panel about their plans. He said there are “probably one or two that we are actively working on.”

Lee says they always like to check in with their fans to make sure they are not getting “past the tipping point” of saturation. TLC likes to ensure this is something fans would want to see. Moreover, he says that so far, they have been really fortunate that fans find their new projects “compelling.”

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90 Day Fiance and the K1 visa process

Initially, 90 Day Fiance was about the K1 visa process. This saw many foreigners hoping to move to the States. Since then, the reality show has broadened into various forms, mostly around its characters. According to Lee, in casting, they discovered they were “overflowing with so many terrific stories.” These generally had nothing to do with a marriage proposal or imminent marriage.

Stressing that the network listens to its audience, Lee says it is important they don’t create a spinoff just for the sake of it. They like to ensure they are not just ripping themselves off, “franchise after franchise.”

The success of the 90 Day Fiance franchise has caused TLC to seek other shows in the relationship space. Lee said that 90 Day Fiance was their first time tapping into love and relationships. Now, they are now looking for more of that.

Lee continued, “We’re okay if it’s docu-follow or if it’s a social experiment, we’re very much open to that.” He said if it is just “plain old dating,” this has to be extraordinary and there must be a hook. They are “open arms for anything like that.”

TLC casting must be compelling

At the end of the day, Lee says the casting has to be compelling. They are looking for real people and they don’t have to be glamorous. In fact, they could be from any area of America and could physically be any shape, size or form. In other words, TLC is representative of who their audience looks like.

Currently, fans can catch 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? on TLC, Sundays at 8 pm. Meanwhile, the midseason finale of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way is set to air on Monday at 9 pm on TLC. As noted by Deadline, that reality show returns on Sunday, October 11.

Anne Sewell

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