Finding Prince Charming
2016 reality television series
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Finding Prince Charming is an American reality dating show that premiered on the cable network Logo on September 8, 2016. It is hosted by actor and pop singer Lance Bass. Robert Sepúlveda Jr., an interior designer based in Atlanta, was cast as a suitor for the first season.
| Finding Prince Charming | |
|---|---|
| |
| Genre | Reality television |
| Presented by | Lance Bass |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 9 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Production locations | Los Angeles, California |
| Running time | 43 minutes |
| Production company | Brian Graden Media |
| Original release | |
| Network | Logo |
| Release | September 8 – November 10, 2016 |
The concept of the show was modeled after The Bachelor, but instead of having a rose ceremony, it features a black tie ceremony.[1][2]
Format
A cast of thirteen gay suitors will live together in one house with a Prince Charming in the search for love. Each week the Prince Charming will go on group or solo dates with different men. At the end of the episode, Prince Charming will have to eliminate contestants in a "black tie" ceremony, where black ties will be given to the guys he wants to keep and get to know more, while the guys who do not get a black tie will be eliminated. At the end of the process, Prince Charming will choose one man to try a relationship with outside of the series.
Production
The American cable network Logo ordered production of Finding Prince Charming on July 12, 2016, and announced that Lance Bass would host the series.[3][4] Shortly after the announcement, reports of the alleged suitor began and filming began in July 2016.[5] Brian Graden, Dave Mace, Fred Birckhead, Nick Murray, Chris McCarthy, Pamela Post and Stevenson Greene are recognized as the series' executive producers; it is produced and distributed by Brian Graden Media.[6]
On October 13, 2016, the series was renewed for a second installment.[7] Applications for season two became available on November 3, 2016, and closed on November 16, 2016. Five suitors would be submitted to public voting and the winning suitor would be featured on season two as a contestant. Voting was from November 18 to November 23, 2016.[8] However, as of 2023, a second installment has yet to be aired.
Contestants
The cast consists of 13 eligible men from the ages of 26–35.[9][10][11]
| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Occupation | Outcome | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Leonardos | 35 | Los Angeles, CA | Hair Stylist | Winner | [12] |
| Brandon Kneefel | 29 | Los Angeles, CA | Behavioral Healthcare Administrator | Runner-Up | [13] |
| Dillon Powell | 26 | West Hollywood, CA | Fashion Publicist and Designer | Quit in week 8 | [14] |
| Justin Roisom | 29 | Seattle, WA | Model and Project Manager | Eliminated in week 7 | [15] |
| Chad Aaron Spodick | 32 | New York, NY | Real Estate Agent | Quit in week 6 | [16] |
| Robby LaRiviere | 26 | West Hollywood, CA | Beauty Expert | Eliminated in week 5 | [citation needed] |
| Paul Hollowell | 34 | Dallas, TX | Tanning Company Founder | Eliminated in week 4 | [17] |
| Danique McMillan | 30 | Los Angeles, CA | Business Analyst | Eliminated in week 3 | |
| Sam Provenzano | 31 | Chicago, IL | Director of Planned Giving | Quit in week 3 | [18] |
| Jasen Kaplan | 33 | New York, NY | Celebrity Makeup Artist | Eliminated in week 2 | [19][20] |
| Brodney McClinton | 34 | Atlanta, GA | Personal Trainer | Eliminated in week 1 | [21] |
| Nick Barbati | 31 | Hamilton, NJ | College Event Administrator | Eliminated in week 1 | [22] |
| Charlie Erikson | 26 | Hermosa Beach, CA | Manny | Eliminated in week 1 |
Contestants' ages are at the time of filming.
Contestant progress
| Suitor | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | WINNER |
| Brandon | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | ELIM |
| Dillon | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | QUIT |
| Justin | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | ELIM | |
| Chad | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | QUIT | ||
| Robby | IN | IN | IN | IN | ELIM | |||
| Paul | IN | IN | IN | ELIM | ||||
| Danique | IN | IN | ELIM | |||||
| Sam | IN | IN | QUIT | |||||
| Jasen | IN | ELIM | ||||||
| Brodney | ELIM | |||||||
| Nick | ELIM | |||||||
| Charlie | ELIM | |||||||
- The contestant received the first black tie or was called first to keep his black tie.
- The contestant received the last black tie or was the last one called to keep his black tie.
- The contestant quit the competition.
- The contestant was eliminated.
- The contestant was the runner up.
- The contestant won Finding Prince Charming.
Controversy
A week before the premiere, an industry trade report revealed that series suitor Robert Sepulveda Jr. had previously engaged in prostitution and escort work.[23] The following week he discussed he started turning to paid sexual encounters beginning in his 20s, and also spoke about a pornographic video released by what he characterized as a disgruntled ex-boyfriend.[24][25][26] Logo said it was not aware of Sepulveda's history until after production had started.[27] Contestant Chad Aaron Spodick claimed he had been fired from his job following the controversy.[28] In December 2025, it was reported that Spodick had died, aged 42.[29] The cause of death was later confirmed to be suicide.[30]
Episodes
| No. | Title | Original release date | US viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "A Second First Impression" | September 8, 2016 | 0.158 (Logo)[31] 0.184 (VH1)[31] | |
| 2 | "The Canary" | September 15, 2016 | 0.158[33] | |
|
Robert and the suitors set out for a day at the beach; two of the men are chosen for solo dates; a suitor is accused of inappropriate behavior.[34] | ||||
| 3 | "Sensing a Connection" | September 22, 2016 | 0.196[35] | |
|
Robert and several of the suitors go wine tasting for a group date.[36] | ||||
| 4 | "Appetite for Love" | September 29, 2016 | 0.123[37] | |
|
Robert chooses three suitors for individual dates; jealousy arises among the suitors.[38] | ||||
| 5 | "Man Behind the Mask" | October 6, 2016 | 0.137[39] | |
|
The suitors are required to construct a mask for Robert to wear at a masquerade ball.[40] | ||||
| 6 | "What About Robert" | October 13, 2016 | 0.160[41] | |
|
The suitors participate in a trivia game about Robert.[42] | ||||
| 7 | "A Family Affair" | October 27, 2016 | 0.157[43] | |
|
Robert introduces the remaining suitors to his family, and his family's reactions cause him to reconsider his relationship with one of the suitors.[44] | ||||
| 8 | "The Last Black Tie" | November 3, 2016 | 0.131[45] | |
|
Robert and the three remaining suitors go on a trip together, in which Robert picks his final suitor.[46] | ||||
| 9 | "Reunion: All Tied Up" | November 10, 2016 | 0.124[47] | |
|
Robert and the 13 suitors discuss their experiences on the series and answer further questions posed by Lance Bass. | ||||
International versions
- A current production
- Status unknown
- No longer airing
| Country | Name | Network | Prince | Host | Date premiered | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Denmark |
Prince Charming[48] | Discovery+ | Season 1, 2021: Jonas Løvik | none | March 23, 2021 | |
 Germany |
Prince Charming[49] | TVNOW (stream) VOX (television) |
Season 1, 2019: Nicolas Puschmann
|
none | October 30, 2019 (TVNOW) April 20, 2020 (VOX) | |
| Princess Charming | TVNOW (stream) VOX (television) |
Season 1, 2021: Irina Schlauch
|
none | May 25, 2021 (TVNOW) October 29, 2021 (VOX) | ||
 Netherlands |
Prince Charming | Videoland |
Season 1, 2020–2021: Marvin Wijnans
|
none | December 16, 2020 | |
 Poland |
Prince Charming[50] | Player (stream) | Season 1, 2021: Jacek Jelonek | Agnieszka Lal[51] | October 12, 2021 | |