After releasing in 2019, Netflix’sSelling Sunset has been instrumental in the streaming service’s reality TV sector. The series follows The Oppenheim Group, a brokerage firm around Los Angeles, and its stunning realtors as they sell million-dollar homes while juggling work dynamics and their personal lives. Television Stats shares the series has repeatedly made Netflix’s Top 10 shows to watch with every new season, becoming one of Netflix’s most successful and entertaining reality shows.
Owners, Brett and Jason Oppenheim, became overnight sensations for their successful firm, but it’s their staff that really makes the show the entertaining mess that it is. Cast members like Mary Fitzgerald, Chrishell Strause, and Heather El Moussa became overnight sensations and furthered the show’s success. Now in Season 8, how did Netflix and Selling Sunset’s creator, Adam DiVello, come together?
‘Selling Sunset’s’ Creator Got The Idea From A Magazine Ad
TV producer Adam DiVello is most known for his roles in MTV’s Laguna Beach, The Hills, and The City, but in 2019 Selling Sunset became one of his best creations.
Adam did an exclusive interview with Netflix where he shared how his concept for Selling Sunset was created.
“I was looking through
The Hollywood Reporter
one day… Jason Oppenheim had a full-page ad in there,” he stated.
He explained that he “ripped the page out of my magazine” and brought it to his development executive’s office to get the ball rolling on a possible series.
Dude, get me a meeting with these people. This is a TV show.
In just two weeks, Adam and his team were in talks with Jason and Brett Oppenheim about a reality show centered around their firm. Adam recalled how “hesitant” Jason was because he was already on the real estate series Million Dollar Listing. Centered around his business, Jason wanted Adam to share how this series would separate itself from other real estate shows on TV. Adam gave one word: “Netflix.”
At the time, Adam didn’t know anyone who worked at Netflix, but once his idea got put in the right hands, it was off to the races.
In an interview with Bustle, Adam explained what he looks for as a producer, editor, and viewer of the series.
“I tell people all the time when we sign them up for this, it’s going to be an exaggeration of who you really are.”
He explained every emotion or situation will be dramatized for the art of reality TV.
“If you’re feeling lonely or sad in real life, there is no slow song playing when you’re staring off in the distance,” he shared. “But on our show, there will be. We’re going to exaggerate how you’re feeling, and for that, we can’t apologize. That’s really what they sign up for.”
The Oppenheims have a combined net worth of $100 million.
Although Selling Sunset was an overnight success, the show still had its criticisms from viewers and former cast members.
‘Selling Sunset’ Has Been Dubbed As Toxic And Fake
Outside of Selling Sunset revolving around the real estate industry around Southern California, the show is most known for its stunning cast, lavish outfits, and expensive lifestyles. The women’s glam and personal lives were so outlandish that many viewers called the series scripted.
There were a few instances of alleged rehearsed moments on the show.
- Grazia Daily reported there was a scene in Season 5 where Jason Oppenheim was talking on the phone with a client, but his phone screen clearly showed a home screen — proving he was pretending to be on a call.
- In 2021, model Chrissy Teigen had a few questions about the validity of the show after tweeting that she had never heard of any of the realtors in the LA area, and neither had any of her agents.
- Fans did some research and found out that a few of the cast members (like Amanza Smith and Chrishell Strause) only got their real estate licenses for the show.
- A few viewers on TikTok and Instagram revealed that some of the homes shown in the series were not on sale at all — they were just shown for lavish effect.
Christine Quinn alleged that she and the Oppenheim brothers make the most money per episode.
One of the show’s most popular and villainous cast members, Christine Quinn, left the series after Season 5 to focus on other business ventures. As one of the more popular cast members, her departure raised a lot of eyebrows.
In a 2022 interview on the podcast Call Her Daddy, Christine alleged that creator Adam DiVello created a “toxic” work environment and “manipulated” her to play the villainous role. She expressed scenes were overly “produced.” One of the storylines that Christine felt was produced was the relationship between Jason Oppenheim and Chrishell. “It was a great storyline. I think that Jason did have genuine feelings for her. Do I think that she had genuine feelings for him? No.”
Throughout the criticism, Adam has defended his role in Selling Sunset and claims the series is as real as it can get for a reality TV show. While most scenes are orchestrated and planned to perfection, the reactions and stories shared are not.
Between two spinoffs and eight seasons, Selling Sunset has proven to have a winning formula in the reality TV world, and that’s all thanks to Adam.