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You cant haveTemptation Islandwithout Mark L. Walberg.
Once filming wraps, he keeps up with the shows 70-plus former contestants via Instagram.
This shit is real for me.
You cant open up a can and then walk away.
So much has changed since you first started hostingTemptation Islandback in 2001.
I think what has changed is that temptation is everywhere, with Instagram and Snapchat.
You cant open your phone without somebody putting out a filtered, sexy version of themselves.
But the core issues couples deal with when theyre at a crossroads, those dont really change.
What has changed for you since that first season back in 2001?
When we did the first season, we were inventing it on the fly.
So that happened [for three seasons] and the show was whatever.
Then USA picks it up 18 years later, and they hired me again, which blew my mind.
At that point, reality TV was an industry and everybody knew what they were doing.
But I was out of the game.
I was in the invention of it, and then I was gone.
Im never a scripted guy.
If you want to hire me, I just dont know any other way to do it.
I come off set and they go, Something wrong at home?
I said, Im trying to do what I thought you wanted.
Im trying to stay within the lines.
And they basically said, Do that thing you do.
Im not listening to what the contestants say.
Im listening to whats behind it.
Why did they say it?
It hopefully creates a relationship where they feel comfortable talking.
The empath stuff, thats inherently me.
People say it like this is some ESP-key in gift its just severe codependency.
Its born out of my childhood survival and fear.
I listen deeper than some others do.
And Im uncomfortable with it, really.
I just want to do the show, make the hour great, and cut me out.
I dont even want to see me.
After all these years, are you still uncomfortable seeing yourself on TV?I dont love it.
For me to do what Im doing, I become vulnerable.
Im making these connections and saying stuff thats taking some chances and showing my own emotion.
In reality TV, the host is not usually part of the content.
So when I see that happening, my gut says,Who do you think you are?
Get out of the way.
Then I lie there till three oclock in the morning, going, What the hell did I say?
She is a spiritual warrior.
Im a reluctant listener, but Im an incredible retainer.
So our way of being with each other is a pretty emotionally intelligent, full-contact relationship.
My kids are now adults, and we have that same relationship, too.
My daughter has gone through incredible growth.
My son has had some tragic shit happen and is in this process of really making that powerful.
So when I go on the show, its husband shit.
On the show, its in my deal that I bring my wife.
Youre amazing.She goes, This was great, but where are you going here?
Shes somebody who knows me deeper.
I cant bullshit her.
Shes kind of like my little private counselor.
We have a crazy relationship.
I just make it really clear to the contestants.
I say off-camera, Look, Im a game-show host.
Im going to say a bunch of shit.
If it fits like a good jacket, wear it.
If it doesnt, throw it away.
Im hosting a show, but my goal is that you leave the island in a better place.
So use me and know that Im more committed to your journey than is probably even healthy.
I read that you dont watch the clips beforehand.
I really want to be able to say to them, I dont know whats coming.
Well watch it together.
Well get through it together.
I dont want to have to lie about that.
Its important to me to protect that as best I can.
I really make a run at stay in the moment.
Its not that Im trying to find right and wrong, but Im trying to hear.
Sometimes, Im still saying stuff like, What do you think she feels?
Thats about as far as I go, but I really venture to keep it separate.
Whatever Im responding to is based on what theyre saying, not what I know.
Being a woman is not easy.
Its really tough having to put on that armor to protect yourself.
I really wish Id have done that earlier, because I think thats the answer to all of it.
Being able to minimize your feelings thats learned behavior from survival, and I have space for that.
If anything, I feel like that was a failure on my part.
In particular, Taylers story really resonated with you this season.
Why?Its a really common story.
You see it right away when shes watching something terrible and shes smiling.
And it just broke my heart.
I wished I had more to say.
I just did the best I could, because my heart broke for her.
Nobody should have to feel that way.
Then, add some patience and tolerance and forgiveness, and you got a shot.
