Erin Tomasello (00:00)
you see somebody on a social media influencer, and you think they're going to be great. And you're really excited to meet them, and you think they've got this great personality. And you start to interview them, and either they can't shake putting it on, and it's just all kind of a show and pushing it out,

or you know they're so used to like editing their videos to be perfect. And so sometimes it tricks us with the social media.

Bradley Carpenter (00:29)
Hey everybody, welcome to the Unscripted Files. My name is Madelyn Cunningham and I am a development producer in the unscripted industry, bringing you candid conversations with the minds behind your favorite form of entertainment. Happy Friday, happy holiday weekend and happy like start of summer. I really can't believe it. This year has absolutely flown by. We're already almost done with this first season of the Unscripted Files. Absolutely crazy. again.

Every time I'm excited for you to meet our guest today. This is a prolific casting director, Emmy award winning, responsible for hit shows like The Traitors, The Circle, Golden Bachelor, Got to Get Out, and so, so many more. we talk about her prolific casting career, what she looks for, red flags, what she wants, and then we focus on the latest project that she's casting for, the Fear Factor reboot, Fear Factor, the next.

Chapter Fear Factor was a show that like me and my family watched a lot growing up It's like very nostalgic for me for some reason and it was so much fun to get to talk to her about What the process is gonna look like for fear factor and the little bit that she could share about this reboot that's coming late 25 or 26 on Fox So this is my really fun incredible engaging conversation with Erin Tomasello

Madelyn Cunningham (01:52)
Erin Tomasello, welcome to the Unscripted Files. How are you doing today?

Erin Tomasello (01:56)
I'm good. Thank you so much for having me.

Madelyn Cunningham (01:59)
I'm so excited to have you. I've been following you on Instagram for a while. You and I have been chatting back and forth and every time I see a story of yours, you're casting for a big project. The Golden Bachelor got to get out, the circle, and now Fear Factor, the next chapter, which we'll get into in a little bit. But I just wanna hear a little bit more about you, how you got into this career and how you got your start.

Erin Tomasello (02:23)
Amazing yeah, so I was actually born and raised in a little tiny town in Northern California called Truckee, California up there in Lake Tahoe

Madelyn Cunningham (02:32)
Trucky,

like the vehicle truck, trucky. Wow.

Erin Tomasello (02:35)
Yup, Truckee County. was

Truckee. What it's named after, I believe. And it was where the Donner Party is. Everyone's heard of the Donner Party, right? So that Donner Lake is where I grew up in that area where the Donner Party was. So tons of snow and mountains and outdoors and just, was a mountain girl. I still am a mountain girl at heart. And so never really, you know, didn't really know where that would take me, but I had big dreams as a little girl. I loved...

Madelyn Cunningham (02:44)
yeah.

Erin Tomasello (03:02)
and being in front of the camera and doing theater and I always had this larger than life personality. I was very bossy. You can ask any of my friends. I bossed them all around so I was born bossy. My senior year of high school we had a paper due of what we wanted to be and do when we grew up and then I also was taking this elective at that time called Community Calendar and they were looking for hosts to volunteer to host this like community news program and so

I volunteered and it just kind of lit a fire in me of something that I didn't know that I wanted to pursue. And I loved being in front of the camera. I loved learning all aspects of production, what it takes behind the camera, and it lit a fire in me. And so I ended up writing this English paper for my class that I wanted to work in television. So fast forward to going to college, I took broadcasting classes. So if any of your listeners are interested,

and you wanna follow the same path I did, I loved taking TV broadcasting classes. And kind of my tool belt that got me ready to move down to LA was I learned everything. I learned camera work, I learned how to edit, I learned how to do it all. And so when I came down and I was a small fish in a big sea down here in Los Angeles, and I would see the jobs that we're hiring, I would say, you know what, I've got a little bit of experience in all of this. And that kind of led me to casting.

And so it was, it's called The Casting Recruiter. It was for MTV Date, and Date My Mom and Next. I don't know if you, you might be too young.

Madelyn Cunningham (04:32)
⁓

Those were the shows that I was sneakily watching that my parents didn't know that were so unhinged. Love next.

Erin Tomasello (04:40)
Okay, good, so that was like one of my first jobs and I was fresh off the boat in Los Angeles, so new. They would pay me, I don't know how I should say this, but was like $25 per yes. So like, wasn't even like a salary. I'm sure that's like a legal.

Madelyn Cunningham (04:52)
as an incentive.

Erin Tomasello (04:54)
And so like I would go out and I would hit the streets. I would have my little clipboard and I would go meet people at nightclubs and bars and all these, I would wait outside at 2 a.m. when the bar would let out and I would sign all these people up to be on these dating shows. And it was hilarious because some of them the next day I'd be like, hi, it's Erin, do you remember me? Signed up for this dating show and they're like, no, I don't. I don't remember you or I was drunk and I don't want to do it anymore. But I was great at it and I love.

I loved talking to people. I was fearless. I would walk up to the group of hottest guys and say, hey, do you want to be on the show? And so that kind of was my first foot in the door into casting. And then finally I landed a desk job, which was so much fun. And my first couple shows with The Bachelor, I found The Bachelor.

and Fear Factor back in the day, the original Joe Rogan Fear Factor I worked on, tons of a master chef, you know, I could go on and on. And then that led me to kind of even building further in my career where I got to do The Circle. I've been in ahead of casting for The Circle for every single season that we've done and that was amazing and so much fun and changed my life. It's just such a fun show to work on.

The Traitor Season 1 was an absolute blast. That's where I got to take home my Emmy, which was too cool. And so now we are here. We're jumping on Fear Factor. So that's a little bit of background of how I got started, where I come from. I live in Los Angeles and I'm still following my dreams, but I always will be that small town girl at heart.

Madelyn Cunningham (06:23)
love that social anxiety is afraid of you. Like the idea that you are like out in the clubs, boots on the ground, going up to people, scouting, like that feels so like OG reality to me. And I love that. Do you feel like that extraversion is essential in casting?

Erin Tomasello (06:41)
Totally, and that's what, so I've got my teams now and I feel like the old lady, right? And they're wonderful at social media and that is we have to pivot with the new way to find people and social media is a gift to us casting folks because it was, we used to have to fly all over the United States and meet people the old fashioned way, which I miss and I love and they'll always be, that will always be something that.

is important to continue to do. So it's almost blending the new school with the old school. So continuing to be fearless, constantly working. If I'm at an airport, if I'm at the restaurant, if I'm at my kids play, I'm always looking, I'm always watching. I'm looking for people that have huge personalities, but then you can't help but TikTok, Instagram, Facebook. I remember when MySpace first started coming out, I was like, this is amazing. I could search a whole fraternity house if we were casting.

Madelyn Cunningham (07:33)
Right.

Erin Tomasello (07:33)
a show that needed guys like that. so all those tools are really great for us casting folks. It can also trick us because you see somebody on a social media influencer, and everybody seems to be an influencer nowadays, and you think they're going to be great. And you're really excited to meet them, and you think they've got this great personality. And you start to interview them, and either they can't shake putting it on, and it's just all kind of a show and pushing it out, which is really hard, because we won't

real people that are gonna really put themselves out there or you know they're so used to like editing their videos to be perfect. And so sometimes it tricks us with the social media.

So you really have to, we have steps in our casting process where we do like a first initial phone call and if they make it past that we do a zoom. If they make it past that we'll do like finals just to really, really try to get through and know the person.

Madelyn Cunningham (08:27)
Yeah, absolutely. What is the, who's like the last cast like person we'd know that you scouted in person that you like saw in person?

Erin Tomasello (08:36)
You're putting me on the spot.

Madelyn Cunningham (08:39)
Just

the idea, because I think like I remember, I remember like ANTM back in the day, at least for me and like the real world and they would, there would be these like this lore of like, oh, they came up to me and my whole life changed, you the hills, whatever.

Erin Tomasello (08:53)
Well, Andy from Traitors Season One, did you watch Traitors Season One with Andy? Yes. So Andy is a very special person to me. They actually don't originally come from my hometown, but they live in Reno, Nevada, which is very close to Truckee. And...

Madelyn Cunningham (08:57)
Yes.

Erin Tomasello (09:08)
producer that I worked with years ago sent me an email and said I have a very special person that you need to meet and it was Andy and And for five years I was trying to get them on a show So it was just like show after show pitching trying trying and I always tell everybody if your viewers are watching right now or listening in Don't ever give up because I am telling you you know sometimes. It's just whoever you believe in

up above or the universe, but when timing works out and it's meant to be, it'll happen. And so it was like, when Andy made it on that show, it was so special to me. And I think they were wonderful addition to that show in the heart of it. ⁓ so that was probably one cool one that I found that was sent to me that had a special place in my heart.

Madelyn Cunningham (09:44)
Totally.

Yeah, what is that it factor? You you're saying you can scout people on social media, but once you meet them in person, they might fall flat. It takes you a couple of rounds to really see if they've got it. For you specifically, what is that it factor?

Erin Tomasello (10:05)
It's so funny because it's like you either have it or you don't but with that being said I don't want people watching this thinking that they have to pretend like they're like Joey Sasso or they're like people that they see on TV the biggest favor you can do to yourself when you're on an interview with someone like me or my colleagues is Be true to yourself be true to your heart speak from your heart. I see the biggest mistake I see people make is telling us what they think we want to hear putting it on

giving this game show, speaking in sound rights. It's like you're doing yourself a disservice. Just really, and not everybody's me. Not everybody's loud and outgoing and big reactions. I'm naturally like this. I'm like this all the time. Not everybody's like that and you don't have to be to make it on a show. Look at Andy. You know what I mean? So to make a good ensemble cast, everybody's different. Everybody has their own personality, your own special uniqueness, the weird, whatever it is that that's what we love.

to dive into who you are, the quirky, the different. I love having an ensemble cast of all different shapes, sizes, people, where they come from, what they stand for, what they believe in, reflecting what we actually see in this real world, right? Diversity and inclusion, all of that. So don't try to be anybody but yourself.

Madelyn Cunningham (11:20)
love that. And I hear that a lot, you know, that the it factor isn't one thing. It's not that you're extroverted and big and loud It's something that you tend to feel, and it can sort of vary across people. are you

looking for people who are going to challenge each other and like, like when you're building, what's going through your head with this like game of Tetris?

Erin Tomasello (11:43)
Yes,

and to be honest, I'm not necessarily the builder. but we are throwing everything at the wall and giving them options to see what sticks, to see what will work for them to do the final building, to have this great mixtures of characters and people. Your original question was, are we looking for people that will...

Madelyn Cunningham (12:02)
like to challenge each other.

Erin Tomasello (12:03)
⁓

Absolutely. So, you know, one of my first questions when I'm doing like a competition show with a bunch of people is, you know, asking for strategy or who do you bump heads with or who do you get along with? Are you extremely loyal? Are you, you know, gonna do stick up for the underdog in real life? You know, those different kind of questions that will lead you to like the natural answers of

who they're gonna be once they get on screen. And then sometimes there's times where you can ask them a million questions and the person that gets on screen is completely different than anything they ever told me or anything we talked about. especially like with these new shows that we don't know, when we're talking about strategy, it's like we're kind of just going, we're making it up almost like, well, my strategy will this, this and this, but when you get on, who knows what you're gonna do? Who knows how it's gonna play out, you know?

Madelyn Cunningham (12:53)
Right. Yeah, exactly. And you've cast for strategic formats like Traitors and also more experimental formats like the circle. How do you approach those differently with who you're looking for?

Erin Tomasello (13:05)
Yeah, definitely. So with The Circle, it was so much fun because it wasn't like casting a dating show or, you know, one of those typical shows where I have a bunch of rules. Like they have to be single, they have to be this, they have to be that. It was like anybody, anybody. We could do old, young, any, all walks of life.

The catfishing element was so much fun. And so the circle I think will always hold a really dear place in my heart because it was just like let's go let's get everybody and anybody on this show and highlight that and have fun with that and lean into that and I think that's what viewers really want to watch is people that they can relate to you know that that looks like them that talks like them that you know all of that instead of some of these other shows where you're like gosh

Everybody's a size zero and everybody looks this way and they all look like they're supermodels and you know, that's not real life. Competition, something like the traders, you know, you are, would dive in and I would look for those social strategy players. So someone that's familiar with like mafia or you know, those kind of games where they do their one step ahead, they have strategy, their thinking, or maybe we dive into occupations, you know, how can you use your tools?

from your occupation into gameplay. I'm a lawyer, I'm gonna say I'm a pool guy, I'm gonna leave my cards close to my chest. They're not gonna know that, they're not gonna know that I'm this master strategist, all of that kind of stuff. I could get in a hairstylist from Staten Island and she could bullshit more than an FBI guy.

Madelyn Cunningham (14:38)
And hair stylist, listen, you want to talk hairstylists, they've heard it all. They have heard it all. They have to listen to everybody. I think they probably know more about the human psyche and behavior than maybe the neuroscientist because they just hear and experience it all. So, but again, I think that's something you learn to hone in on and sense. Got To Get Out on Hulu was really interesting because it mixed normal people, firefighters, you know, with sort of reality celebs.

what was it like sort of mixing celebs and people who are familiar with reality and like normies? And what did you look for?

Erin Tomasello (15:13)
Yeah, okay, so for the celebrity side, we bring on a very talented celebrity talent booker. So they handle those guys. And then my team and myself, we handle all the normies or the regular civilian, regular people. And so really, you don't really know the magic that's gonna happen until they all get thrown in there. My biggest thing for the regular people was like, listen, this is your shot. Don't get starstruck.

Don't walk in there and see somebody like Spencer Pratt and be like, shit. It's like, you made it there for a reason. So play your game. And Stein, he really did. And he impressed me so much. And Stein, I never knew him. I'm way older than him. But he is born and raised in Truckee, California too. I remember one of my casting producers, Holly, found him on Instagram or something and pitched him. And she was like, Aaron, he's from Truckee. And it was just like,

This is so cool. So just to watch him on screen on like episode five, I was screaming. And then what something so magical was his relationship with Cynthia and like how they work together. And it didn't matter that one was a celebrity and one was a small town boy from like, oh, like they work together. They were a team. They conquered. I mean, just watching them hug and be so excited. And then when he did the right thing, even though he could really use that money, you know, so.

Madelyn Cunningham (16:14)
Mm-hmm.

Erin Tomasello (16:31)
It's something magical about seeing those guys come together and have some fun with some of the biggest reality stars.

Madelyn Cunningham (16:38)
I thought it was such an interesting format. thought it was like a fresh take. I obviously love Spencer Pratt and like all of the sort of like reality celebs and then, you know, creating kind of new people to love and root for with your normies, I guess you could say. And I thought like the balance of it was really, really awesome.

is there someone that you like fought for and you felt like it really paid off?

Erin Tomasello (17:01)
Shoebomb! Shoebomb from the circle! I look, he's a huge star! Everybody loves him! When we first found him and pitched him, I don't think that, you know, people were sold right away. And so our casting team really, really fought for him and it paid off hugely. I mean, he is, he was the best on the circle. was that relationship he built with.

Joey Sasso and then just now he's just thriving. I mean he's been on a couple other spin-offs He's on another one that Netflix has airing right now where he's just he's such a good person And so sweet and just it's so much fun to watch him. I'm obsessed with him

Madelyn Cunningham (17:38)
I love that. What are some, know, some of these formats have psychological elements to them, right? Whether it's physical, mental, emotional, how do you test in your casting process if someone can handle that?

Erin Tomasello (17:54)
you know, listen, there's a part that we do and then there's other parts to make sure that people are okay and you know, all of that because nowadays I think it's really good that we all talk about our mental health because it's exhausting and life is hard. I'm a new mom and that is hard and I'm the first to talk about that I'm hanging on by a thread because it's real, you know, and we're trying to do so much and nowadays we have so much demand on us. So I think

Madelyn Cunningham (18:06)
Totally.

haha

Erin Tomasello (18:22)
I think the difference in the year that we're living in is it's okay to talk about mental health and be ourselves and let people know like, I'm not okay all the time. So if we're casting a show that is gonna be physically demanding mentally and physically, yes, we're gonna ask those questions and we're gonna go there. But everyone's gonna go through psych and background and make sure everyone's okay. The networks and the production companies are excellent at taking care of their cast.

Madelyn Cunningham (18:31)
Right.

Erin Tomasello (18:48)
When they go to film, there's always an on-site psych. There's things that are set in place to support them. So it's a loaded answer. I hope that was a good one.

Madelyn Cunningham (18:58)
No,

it's all good. mean, I think it's important to talk about and I also think just the general taboo and stigma around mental health and protecting that for, I mean, for crew and for cast is really, really important. Okay, so speaking of psychological pressure, let's get into fear factor.

I remember watching this growing up. And in fact, my family and I would have like Fear Factor nights where we would like put a whole bunch of food in a blender or we would like turn out all the lights. We lived out in the country, turn out all the lights outside and like go do crazy stuff. And my dad would scare us. But like, this was an essential part of my childhood. So I'm very excited to talk about this. It's coming back with Fear Factor the next chapter on Fox. I mean, what does this reboot have in store?

20 something years later. I'm really excited.

Erin Tomasello (19:44)
No,

I know and same. I'm so excited. I did get to cast the version, I think it was 2011. So to be able to come back and cast it, this is gonna be a whole new twist. it's bigger, it's better, it's bolder, it's more daring. We're gonna drop contestants off in an unforgiving remote location, a group of strangers and together under one roof, they're gonna live together and face mind blowing stunts, harrowing challenges.

and a twisted game of social strategy. So I think on top of the normal fears is going to be, you know, the fellow competitors, right? And that's gonna be so much fun to watch. We have a casting website that I'm gonna plug. So go to www.fearisback.com. Fear is back.

You can all if you have any trouble with the website or applying and you need to get in touch with me My Instagram is very easy to follow it's at casting Aaron. So see AST I N G E R I N but that website is fears back It's a simple application. You do a 60 second video, you know Tell us about your biggest fears and how you're going to conquer them or like look forward to You know facing them and that's really it. It's gonna be fun. You know, we don't have

a host lockdown yet, we don't have the amount of money that we're giving yet, but this is gonna be, it's not your one episode, you know, $50,000 thing anymore. It's different and it's bigger and better and it's going to be like one of those large scale competition shows. So I'm so excited for this. Yes.

Madelyn Cunningham (21:14)
I love that. So it's arched.

I love that. So you talked about a 60 second video where you talk about like your fears or conquering your fears.

Are there any phobias you're hearing about that you did not know existed?

Erin Tomasello (21:27)
I I think my original ones that I thought of, like if you were to ask me what are you afraid of, I don't think that I would say bugs, but I was actually in the pool yesterday and one of those massive like flying beetles came. I scream and was truly afraid like I was gonna get killed and I've got my kids in there with me and like it's so funny how people, we don't think we're afraid of things, but then when you're faced with it, you know, I'm really afraid of dogs, which is so crazy to say and people are like, what?

I grew up in Lake Tahoe where people had big dogs roaming the streets. mean, when I was little, it wasn't like everyone had to be on a leash and behind the doors. And I'm afraid of them to this day. If it's a dog and they're scary, I'm afraid. I have an irrational fear. So I like the fun, crazy, quirky ones like that, or phobias or ghosts or things like that. Yes, everyone's afraid of deep water and sharks and things like that.

I'm really enjoying the really fun, quirky ones, where it's something that we wouldn't think of right

Madelyn Cunningham (22:28)
the more like innocuous fears like textures or like isn't tryptophobia like the fear it's like a lot of like holes or something okay

Erin Tomasello (22:32)
Yeah!

I have to do it. I see those holes. I do. get the...

I have a physical reaction.

Madelyn Cunningham (22:42)
Me too, which I would have known about unless like it popped up on my TikTok and then I was like, what is this feeling? Like what is happening? So that's, it's, it's really fun. That's so interesting. So this is a show that was originally an NBC format, right? And so, now it's over with Fox. So how do you, how do you think that like, you know, Fox is really known for like really big, they got special forces, like they're known for like.

really big sort of competition formats. So how do you think that they're putting their own DNA into this reboot?

Erin Tomasello (23:12)
You know, I don't know, the casting team is not part of creative at all. So I am completely in the dark and I think that they do that on purpose because we are there, we're meeting you guys and you know, all of that. And actually they're probably still even working on it, right? So casting is before all of that. And so I'm excited. I'm excited to see how they put their spin on it. I'm excited to see what they come up with. And I think it's a great idea. I mean, this is no matter if you are.

Madelyn Cunningham (23:16)
You

Erin Tomasello (23:40)
older and you remember when this first came out or if you are new and you remember like the MTV ludicrous one like it's just it's a show that we all loved we enjoyed watching it was for me as a reality fan I love all reality and when I was little I remember watching this and it was the first time that you got to like

have those feelings of reality, you know, and see, it really was the OG of reality, like before, like, the challenge and, you know, those shows, I think it really built all that. So as just a reality fan, like the fact that they're doing it this way, I think is so smart and so exciting, and I think it's gonna be a huge hit.

Madelyn Cunningham (24:21)
yeah, absolutely. We were talking about fears just a second ago and maybe fears we didn't know existed because of like the rise of social media are there like different types of fears you're tapping into that maybe you wouldn't have originally in fear factor? Like just again, like, like

new sort of things that are buzzwords or things that people are talking about now.

Erin Tomasello (24:41)
Listen, my job is to kind of let them tell me. And so, yes, obviously we're gonna get some fun, different phobias and things, but it's there. It's each person's own discretion, right? What happens? Let's ask you, what are your, what's your biggest fear?

Madelyn Cunningham (24:57)
Wait.

Erin Tomasello (24:58)
But why? And why? Like, were you... Is there a reason for Or it could be irrational.

Madelyn Cunningham (24:58)
Okay.

honest, my first thing that I want to say is like water. and, I, here's what's crazy, Erin. I was on the swim team for almost 10 years. Like I can swim. I was a competitive swimmer, I had a recurring nightmare growing up, that I would get kidnapped and put in a water tower. And I had to just like tread water. And every nightmare I have is about like a big tsunami or like a flood.

And so I don't do cruises, I don't do deep water, like nothing like that. So water and then like big, like vast spaces. remember driving from Malibu back to LA at one point through the canyons and it was getting dark and there was no light and I had a panic attack. So I don't know what that means, but those are the things that really freak me out is like,

unending, like the void, I guess. Maybe that's a better way to put it.

Erin Tomasello (25:54)
Well, I think you should apply. What's your app name, girl? Let's go. And don't forget to put my name.

Madelyn Cunningham (25:58)
You know what, you might've convinced me because this is something that like actually affects like my family is like, you need some help. And so maybe this will be some exposure therapy for me and everybody else. Can you share more about the social strategy element

Erin Tomasello (26:11)
So there's not too much I can go into And I truly honestly don't know. They don't fill the casting team in on that stuff. So maybe after the show airs, let's hop on again and then we could dissect it.

Madelyn Cunningham (26:22)
Totally, totally. But you're used to casting for those kind of things. So you have those instincts, you've got those feelings. now. Anything else that you wanna like, just plug for Fear Factor, what you're looking for, what types of people, just so we can make sure that we cast that net really wide and we get the right people in.

Erin Tomasello (26:36)
Yeah,

I think, you know, a lot of people hear the name and they think, oh my gosh, old fear factor, I could never do it, they're gonna do this. And it's like, I don't know, it's gonna be different. And I don't know how it's gonna be different, but it's like, throw your hat in the ring. It's life changing money. It's a lot of fun. It's your chance at a big competition show. So come on, let's go. Get your hat in the ring and let's see if we can get you that grand prize.

Madelyn Cunningham (27:02)
I'm excited. really, again, on the development side, I'm just excited to see how they reboot it and make it fresh. Again, like a decade or so later. I think it's going to be so awesome. So we'll have to have a part two with you. Okay. So in honor of this Fear Factor reboot, let's, I'm going to do some fun, rapid fire with you for these last few minutes. what is your biggest irrational fear?

Erin Tomasello (27:21)
germs I'm a germaphobe

Madelyn Cunningham (27:23)
I'm so

sorry for the past few years.

Erin Tomasello (27:26)
reason for it. I don't know. So this is my backstory. I don't know if you've ever heard it, but in 2008, I was crossing the street. I was hit by a truck and I was put in the hospital for 30 days. I couldn't, had trouble walking for a year. I was on permanent disability and fought my way back into casting and had to go all over. And so that's a big story that I have and it changed me as a person. I didn't know if I could be Erin again, if I could be good at what I do. It was really humbling and life-changing.

So this is like trauma fear. You know when I shake people's hands or I'm a mom I have kids.

Madelyn Cunningham (27:56)
my gosh.

Erin Tomasello (28:01)
When I see those kids with snot and coughing and daycare and the park, I'm like a psychopath. Like my poor kids, I think I'm screwing them up. I sanitizer in my purse. I'm squirting everyone's hands. I was a softball coach for my daughter, my eight-year-old daughter. And after the team would high five, I would be at the dugout and squirt all their little hands because they were going to go have snacks. So this one's really diving deep.

For your listeners, this is kind of what, you know, you could go look at, this is really deep stuff I'm sharing. So remember that it's okay to share the real stuff too, not just the surface level fears.

Madelyn Cunningham (28:37)
Number one, my gosh, how horrible did that happen to you, but how incredibly inspiring that you were able to rebuild and get back out there and be this bright, incredible person that you are. mean, you just pop through the screen to me and I can just tell that you're just such a light to the fact that you took that experience and have been able to build on it, come back, have such an incredible career. Bravo to you.

and you, listen, you were way ahead of the curve with the germs because we just had a global pandemic and okay. And I could reach in my bag right now and get three different hand sanitizers because I keep them on me as well.

So I feel you on that. And I love that you dove deep into like why that was a fear for you. And I think that's, I think a lot of fears aren't exactly surface level. I think if we really got in there, we would hear more about them. And I am excited to see potentially how Fear Factor will do that with people's stories.

Erin Tomasello (29:29)
And something that's so cool

that I just kind of came to the realization of is I'm healing now because of both my kids in school and daycare. I have to, it forced me to conquer it and overcome it because I have no choice. Like I can't control anymore. Like I can't control if someone that stick is around my baby, she's out and like.

Now here we go, this is like, you know, these kids are snotty, they're disgusting, she puts everything in her mouth and like, now I notice myself like, I'll touch a handle and a railing and I'll eat something or you know something that I'm, I think I'm getting better and healing so maybe the show will also heal your traumas and your fears by going on and conquering them in this way. We might be doing God's work.

Madelyn Cunningham (30:14)
think this should be rebranded as like Fear Factor therapy edition because it is gonna be some exposure therapy and it'll be good for everyone to even like heal virtually through the screen. I love that. Would you rather, this is very OG Fear Factor vibes. Would you rather eat a tarantula or be buried alive with snakes for 30 seconds?

Erin Tomasello (30:37)
I don't do the buried alive. I don't do the I can't breathe tight spaces like I would eat a tarantula I'd stuff it through although someone there was a show airing that I saw someone eat one and they had an allergic reaction and had to get like Things pulled out of their cheeks for eating them and who knows but I would eat it dip that thing in a little ranch just

Madelyn Cunningham (30:41)
Mm-mm.

Honestly, anything dipped in ranch, if it's the Wingstop Ranch, like, I'll, fine, I'll eat anything. If you, okay, if you had to go into your factor, who would be your dream celebrity teammate?

Erin Tomasello (31:09)
There's too many out there.

Maybe it would be someone like old school from Survivor, the challenge that I know would just like, he's out there, man. He's out there so much though. I wanna think of someone that hasn't been on everything that I'm just like obsessed with. Like someone from like 90 Day Fiancé. Being like a true reality fan, know. Let me put a pin in that one. Let me think about that one.

Madelyn Cunningham (31:15)
Like Boston Rob.

Ha

There you go.

Yes.

Yes, I would need someone who's gonna like really hype me up and like get me over my mental hurdle because oof. Have you ever, okay, have you ever had like a scary moment during casting or someone like presented something creepy or said something weird to like prove a point?

Erin Tomasello (31:51)
was doing a show very similar to like a talent show and it was Hypnotist. And we were on a lot, very famous lot here in Los Angeles and the Hypnotist hypnotized my coworkers and our PAs and like had them perform and they were completely out and it was scary. It was scary. And I remember like

are they gonna come back out of this? It was just almost like, you don't really believe it or you think they're doing a magic show, but to see people that, young kids that are 18 that are fresh off the boat that you hired that you're giving their chance, and then they're completely gone. That was maybe one of those.

Madelyn Cunningham (32:30)
Did it make you a believer?

Erin Tomasello (32:32)
Totally, yeah, I'm a believer. I am.

Madelyn Cunningham (32:34)
Ooh, I'm skeptical about those things, like hypnotizing and tarot and psychics, but then like I see these in like mediums, but I see like the real, I don't know. I see like the, you know, the mediums on TikTok. I'm like, how is that possible? So I need to have an experience like this to make me a believer. Okay, what would be your fear factor superpower? Where you're like, I can handle that, no problem.

and what would be your instant tap?

Erin Tomasello (33:01)
You know, I think I'm a people person. think with this, with the competition, I think there's gonna be an element of, you know, game plan strategy and getting to know people. I'm a natural born leader. I was team captain and, you know, sports growing up. And so I think that would kind of be my strength and, you know, maybe, you know, pairing with somebody that's really physically strong could be a good idea. And then a weakness is I'm just a psychopath. I'm emotional, I'm crazy, I'm gonna scream, I'm gonna be afraid, you know, all of that, but.

I would push through because I'm a fierce competitor and I will not give up for anything. Even me and my husband can't play Monopoly. We're psycho. I'll throw the board. I can't play Monopoly with my family.

Madelyn Cunningham (33:36)
you

I love that, my gosh. And what would be your instant tap out? Is it like eating something, heights?

Erin Tomasello (33:44)
No, I'm not tapping out. I'm not that tight.

Madelyn Cunningham (33:47)
You're like nothing's gonna make me tap out. No, and that's clear because of what you have already been through and what you've proven to yourself like with your personal experience and what you've had to overcome. I love that. Yeah, there's no way you're tapping out. That's so awesome. Well, it was incredible talking to you. I'm so glad we got to finally connect. Congratulations on being a new mom and still being like such a badass in this industry. Like I said, every time I turn around,

you're casting a new big project, you and your team, and that's such a testament to how good you are at what you do. And it's just really been fun to see all the projects that you have and the accolades that you're getting as well and the recognition. feel like casting, I say this all the time, but all these shows come down to casting. All your favorite, your Mormon wives, your Vanderpomps, your Southern charms, like someone like Erin found your favorite reality star.

And I just feel like you guys never get enough credit. So thank you so much for coming on and for sharing.

Erin Tomasello (34:46)
Thank you so much. Everybody go apply. Fear is back.com.

Madelyn Cunningham (34:51)
Love it. Okay, thanks so much, Erin.

Erin Tomasello (34:53)
Bye

Madelyn Cunningham (34:59)
Okay, what a fun conversation with Erin. Should I apply for the Fear Factory reboot, yes or no? Like part of me, because I loved the show so much as a kid wants to, and part of me is like, I would unravel if presented with any of the things that I talked about. I don't know if I could do it. I don't need you guys to see that. I need just me and my therapist to handle that. Really looking forward to the Fear Factory reboot. Again, if you think that this show could be right for you, you can go apply at.

www.fearisback.com. feel free to follow Erin on social media. She is always posting about different casting opportunities for all types of different shows. Let me see if I can, I will put her Instagram in the show notes, but she's always posting casting calls for shows. So if getting on reality television is something you've always want to check off your list, this is your girl. Thanks so much again for listening. Last few episodes until the end of the season,

We'll see you next week with a really fun guest, a bombshell, if you will, That's right. Can't wait to see you next week on The Inscripted Files. Don't forget, like, rate, review, subscribe, all the things. See you soon.

Madelyn Cunningham (36:11)
The Unscripted Files is brought to you by Good Gravity Entertainment. Thank you to producer Bonnie Adams, Original Music by composer William Wright, Artwork by Lisa Schweikart, and Photography by Reid Schick.