The Reality All-Star Celebrity Cast for the Second Season of 'Traitors' Is Compelling

By Dustin Rowles | TV | September 21, 2023 |

By Dustin Rowles | TV | September 21, 2023 |

Last year’s Traitors was perhaps the first standout new reality series in years, as well as the first genuine breakout hit for Peacock — arriving before Poker Face. The concept is straightforward: 18 people live in a house. Three are traitors. If the rest of the house can identify all three traitors and vote them out, the remaining players split the $250,000 prize money. If any traitors survive until the end, they take the entire prize.

The first season was captivating partly because it’s easy to fall into the trap of suspecting that reality “villains” will be the traitors. Those same villains had a difficult time convincing the rest of the house that they were not the traitors. On the flip side, those who weren’t reality TV veterans struggled against the more experienced contestants (which may be why this season is entirely comprised of reality-show vets). The season concluded with one of the most satisfying—and cruel—victories in reality TV history.

Though the series won’t return until early 2024, I’m eagerly awaiting its comeback. Peacock has released the list of contestants for the Alan Cumming-hosted series. While I don’t recognize most names, I’m excited to see two of the greatest Survivor players ever: Sandra Diaz-Twine and Parvati Shallow. Of the remaining contestants, I’m familiar with Marcus Jordan and Real Housewife Larsa Pippen. Larsa, the ex-wife of Scottie Pippen, is engaged to Marcus, Michael Jordan’s son, making them one of history’s most awkward pairings.

The rest of the contestants are: Carsten “Bergie” Bergersen (Love Island USA), Chris ‘C.T.’ Tamburello (The Challenge), Dan Gheesling (Big Brother), Boxer Deontay Wilder, Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu (Love Island UK), Janelle Pierzina (Big Brother), Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio (The Challenge), Kevin Kreider (Bling Empire), Maksim Chmerkovskiy (Dancing With the Stars), Mercedes “MJ” Javid (Shahs of Sunset), Peppermint (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Peter Weber (The Bachelor), Phaedra Parks (The Real Housewives of Atlanta), Shereé Whitfield (The Real Housewives of Atlanta), Tamra Judge (The Real Housewives of Orange Country), Trishelle Cannatella (Real World: Las Vegas), and John Bercow, an actual member of the U.K. Parliament.