Casting
Many cast members didn't even apply to be on the show. "The producers found most of them on, yep, you guessed it, Instagram." The criteria for casting? "Sexy, sexed up and charismatic."
The Twist
The producers saw over 100 possible contestants before locking in the cast you've come to know and love and to narrow the pool down, they asked a number of invasive questions, including how frequently the subjects masturbated, but didn't clue them into why they were asking. The cast only heard the sexless twist when already in production.
What They Knew
All the cast knew going into the show was that it required time in the sun, there was a prize and it was related to dating.
Assembling the Stars
To ensure that the cast members—who came from all around the world—didn't meet, each star was on a different flight with different layovers. They even had a handler from production with them at all times while they traveled to set. They were then kept in isolation for three days, only meeting at the villa while cameras rolled.
When It All Took Place
Filming took place a year before it premiered in April 2019.
The Villa
All the sexy action took place on the west coast of Mexico. The cast really lived there and were sequestered there, forbidden to leave, for the entire production shoot. You can stay there, if you have more than $15,000 laying around. The price includes a private chef, which the contestants had as well, but no word if it comes with the same crate of snacks the cast got.
Privacy
The rooms of the villa were equipped with mics and cameras, but no crew, so the cast could go and speak in (some) privacy. Five separate cameras followed them around on the beach, during workshops and on dates.
No Phones
Production took phones, books, iPads and other forms of entertainment so the cast would be encouraged to flirt and interact. Aside from the rare moment, the cast had no access to the outside world.
Alcohol Consumption
Production restricted the intake of alcohol from the cast. According to Netflix, the thinking was too many drinks the price money would go away fast.
Lana
Too Hot to Handle had no human host, rather there was Lana. Production worked on several prototypes while deciding on what shape to give the AI host And where did the name come from? Spell it backwards…