The producers have always been very clear that the couples on "90 Day Fiancé" are real — they aren't playing matchmaker. But how do the producers settle upon a good couple who will provide drama, laughs, and loads of personality?
At first, it was hard finding suitable couples. As TLC exec Alon Orstein told Glamour, "For that first season, we didn't know who we were looking for outside of people who were engaging, had interesting backstories, were willing to be totally transparent and authentic." As the series continued, the producers worked harder to bring in couples with more interesting stories to showcase unique experiences. Orstein said, "We really endeavored to raise the bar in casting and to keep looking forward, to keep it fresh and tell different kinds of stories [in Season 2]."
As Orstein told E! News, another big consideration is finding couples who are in it "for the right reasons." He explained, "We just wanted to make sure that no one was trying to either get on the show for a lark or get on the show to advance their presence in some way, shape or form."
