Too Hot to Handle (TV series)

Last updated

Too Hot to Handle
Too Hot to Handle title card.png
Genre
Created by
  • Laura Gibson
  • Charlie Bennett
Based on"The Contest" from Seinfeld
by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld
Developed by
  • Charlie Bennett
  • Laura Gibson
Presented by Lana
Narrated by Desiree Burch
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series5
No. of episodes49
Production
Executive producers
  • Viki Kolar
  • Jonno Richards
  • Ed Sleeman
  • Leon Wilson
Production locations
Running time36–43 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Netflix
Release17 April 2020 (2020-04-17) 
present

Too Hot to Handle is a British reality television dating game show produced by Fremantle production companies Talkback and Thames. Created by Laura Gibson and Charlie Bennett, the show's eight-episode first season was released on Netflix on 17 April 2020. Hosted by a virtual assistant named "Lana", the show revolves around 10 adults – all of whom primarily engage in meaningless flings and are unable to form long-lasting relationships – who are placed together in a house for four weeks and must go through various workshops, all while being forbidden from any kissing, sexual contact or self-gratification, with the money prize getting reduced any time a rule is broken.

Contents

In January 2021, the series was renewed for two more seasons, both of which were filmed back-to-back amid the COVID-19 pademic on the Turks and Caicos Islands. [1] The first half of the second season released 23 June 2021, followed by the second half the next week on 30 June 2021. The third season was released on 19 January 2022. The fourth season premiered on 7 December 2022. [2] The fifth season premiered on 14 July 2023. [3]

Premise

Hosted by a traffic cone-shaped virtual assistant named "Lana", the show revolves around a group of adults – all of whom primarily engage in meaningless flings and are unable to form long-lasting relationships – who are placed together in a house on a tropical island for four weeks. Initially led to believe they are on a fictional, raunchy show, the contestants are later informed by Lana of the true purpose behind their stay, and that they are forbidden from any kissing, sexual contact, or self-gratification for the duration of it. The contestants start with a $100,000 grand prize that gets reduced any time a rule is broken. Alongside these restrictions, the contestants are put through various workshops aimed at aiding personal growth, in order to foster genuine connections between them.

Each season starts with 10 new contestants, although later new additions occasionally join throughout. Similarly, contestants who are unable to form connections in the house or commit to the process are sometimes kicked out, while others may voluntarily withdraw if they feel that their personal growth would be better facilitated outside of the show's environment.

Episodes

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1 917 April 2020 (2020-04-17)8 May 2020 (2020-05-08)
2 1023 June 2021 (2021-06-23)30 June 2021 (2021-06-30)
3 1019 January 2022 (2022-01-19)
4 107 December 2022 (2022-12-07)14 December 2022 (2022-12-14)
5 1014 July 2023 (2023-07-14)28 July 2023 (2023-07-28)

Season 1 (2020)

  1. Kenter, Jake (27 January 2021). "Netflix Renews 'Too Hot To Handle' For Two Seasons; Show Changes Location & Fremantle Switches Up Production". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  2. "Watch Too Hot to Handle | Netflix Official Site". www.netflix.com. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  3. "Video: "Too Hot To Handle" - Season 5 Announcement - Netflix" (Press release). Netflix. 11 January 2023 via The Futon Critic.
  4. Harnick, Chris (10 April 2020). "Too Hot to Handle Tasks Horny Contestants With Keeping Their Hands to Themselves for Money". eonline.com. ENews. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Too Hot to Handle – Listings". The Futon Critic . Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  6. Arruda, Aline. "Too Hot to Handle: How Seinfeld and Dick Pics Inspired Netflix's Wildest Dating Show Yet". Vanity Fair. Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  7. Kurkland, Daniel (17 April 2020). "Too Hot To Handle: Awesome Facts About The Making Of Netflix's New Show". TheThings.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  8. White, Peter (16 April 2020). "'Too Hot To Handle': Producers Dish The Dirt On Netflix Reality Show That Combines 'Seinfeld's 'The Contest' With 'Love Island'". deadline.com. Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  9. Nakamura, Reid (18 April 2020). "Netflix's 'Too Hot to Handle' Producers Explain Why That Blow Job Cost $6,000". The Wrap. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  10. Tannenbaum, Emily (17 April 2020). "Netflix's Too Hot to Handle Is the Funniest, Least Sexy Reality Show About Sex". glamour.com. Glamour. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  11. "TOO HOT TO HANDLE - Trademark Details". trademarks.justia.com. Justia Trademarks. 29 May 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  12. "Netflix Studios, LLC Trademarks". trademarks.justia.com. Justia Trademarks. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  13. White, Peter (10 April 2020). "'Too Hot To Handle': Netflix Unveils Trailer & Sets Premiere For Steamy Reality Dating Format". deadline.com. Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  14. Smail, Gretchen (17 April 2020). "'Too Hot To Handle' Narrator Desiree Burch Is The Perfect Person For The Job". bustle.com. Bustle. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  15. Nicolaou, Elena (18 April 2020). "The Too Hot to Handle Cast and Creators Answer Your Burning Questions". oprahmag.com. The Oprah Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  16. Weaver, Hilary (2 May 2020). "WHERE WAS TOO HOT TO HANDLE FILMED?". LPR Luxury. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  17. Lague, Adam (27 March 2020). "Is This the Most Luxurious Home in Punta Mita?". magazine.luxuryretreat.com. Luxury Retreats Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 April 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  18. Brockington, Ariana (18 April 2020). "This Is When All The Too Hot To Handle Action Was Filmed". refinery29.com. Refinery29. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  19. Blanton, Kayla (16 April 2020). "Where Was 'Too Hot To Handle' Filmed? You Can Plan Your Own Luxury Stay". bustle.com. Bustle. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  20. Nicolaou, Elena (18 April 2020). "Netflix's Too Hot to Handle Was Filmed at This $15,660-a-Night Mexican Villa". oprahmah.com. The Oprah Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  21. Baty, Emma (17 April 2020). "Harry and Francesca From 'Too Hot to Handle' Felt Like the Group Was "Against" Them During the Retreat". cosmopolitan.com. Cosmopolitan. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  22. "Season 1 Trailer: Too Hot to Handle". Netflix. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  23. Corinthios, Aurelie (10 April 2020). "Netflix Drops Too Hot to Handle Trailer: See 10 Hot Singles Attempt Celibacy for a $100K Prize". people.com. People. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  24. Masonhall, Erika (24 March 2020). "NETFLIX SPARKS JOY WITH RETURNING UNSCRIPTED FAVORITES RHYTHM + FLOW, THE CIRCLE, AND LOVE IS BLIND, PLUS AN ALL-NEW SHOW FROM MARIE KONDO". media.netflix.com. Netflix Media Center. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  25. Longeretta, Emily (8 May 2020). "'Too Hot to Handle' Reunion Includes Tears, a Proposal and a Still Annoyed Haley". usmagazine.com. US Weekly. Archived from the original on 9 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  26. Kenter, Jake (19 May 2021). "'Too Hot To Handle': Netflix Sets June 23 Premiere Date For Season 2". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  27. "'Too Hot to Handle' Season 3: Meet the New Cast | Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  28. King, Jack (16 February 2022). "'Too Hot to Handle' Renewed for a Steamy Season 4 by Netflix". Collider. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  29. "Watch the first trailer for Too Hot To Handle season 5". Cosmopolitan. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  30. Kaser, Rachel (13 December 2022). "Netflix adds final games of 2022, announces 2023's first titles". VentureBeat . Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  31. Dellosa, Catherine (11 July 2023). "Too Hot to Handle 2 is coming to iOS and Android on July 20th courtesy of Netflix". Pocket Gamer . Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  32. Morris, Iwan (20 March 2023). "Netflix Games one year on". Pocket Gamer . Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  33. "Lust or Bust". Too Hot to Handle. Season 1. Episode 8. 17 April 2020. Netflix.
  34. "Who won Too Hot to Handle season 1?". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  35. "Who won Too Hot To Handle season 2?". Capital. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  36. "Too Hot to Handle season 3 reveals winner and their final jackpot". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  37. Bobic, Chrissy (14 December 2022). "'Too Hot to Handle' Season 4 Has Crowned One of the Strongest Couples As Winners (SPOILERS)". Distractify. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  38. Feskova, Lena (28 July 2023). "Who is the winner of Too Hot To Handle season 5?".
  39. Decider (23 April 2020). "Netflix Top 10 List: Today's Most Popular Shows and Movies, Reviewed". decider.com. Decider. Archived from the original on 23 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  40. "Too Hot to Handle Hours Viewed • FlixPatrol". FlixPatrol. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  41. "TOO HOT TO HANDLE: SEASON 1 (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes . Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  42. "Too Hot to Handle - TV Show Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  43. Serba, John (17 April 2020). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Too Hot to Handle' on Netflix, Possibly the Trashiest Reality Show Ever". Decider. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  44. Hampton, Rachelle (16 April 2020). "Netflix's Too Hot to Handle Bungles Its Juicy Reality TV Premise". slate.com. Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitlePrize moneyOriginal release date [4]
11"Love, Sex or Money"$100,00017 April 2020 (2020-04-17)
22"When Harry Met Francesca"$97,00017 April 2020 (2020-04-17)