Reality TV has become a key component of network television programming, especially after the writer's strike took away original programming for a while.

The Ozarks is no stranger to reality TV. We have many stars from the genre living among us. We tracked some of them down to find out what life is like after the cameras stopped rolling.

"We got very lucky and had the highest ratings of the series yet, for what it's worth I didn't make a dime on the show, but I had a lot of fun doing it"

Probably the Ozarks most recognized reality TV star. Aaron Buerge was the Bachelor on the ABC hit show six years ago. He still gets recognized.

"It’s usually when I’m traveling outside the state that's when people come up to you "hey aren't you that guy, I hate to be that guy"

To Ozarkers Aaron is much more than that guy. The president of First National Bank in Springfield, part-owner of a popular downtown restaurant bar and ... Still a bachelor.

"I am dating someone here from Springfield, a Rogersville girl"

Despite a much publicized, failed romance from the show, Aaron has no regrets about doing it.

"Life is short"

"I wasn't even allowed to watch MTV when I was little"

Viewer or not Josh Stewart and his wife Bre found themselves the stars of MTV reality show Engaged and Underage. It aired last year right after Josh and Bre's 2006 wedding.
The MTV cameras followed the couple around their hometown of Nixa for weeks before the wedding.

"Whenever we were up they were up, when we went to bed, they went to bed"

"If you think you might want to be on a reality show, you may want to think twice and listen to what our local participants had to say, there can be a camera on you at all hours of the day, even when you wake up in the morning. And then what viewers actually see on TV may not be exactly as it seems"


"They had a lot of trouble creating conflict"

So Josh and Bre saw their situations twisted somewhat in the finished product. But they're not complaining. The show opened doors that may otherwise have been closed.


Josh, an aspiring musician got a call from a Los Angeles agent.

"He wanted me to be in a movie, Ashley Tisdale from high school musical and I really wasn't interested, I’m not an actor"

Josh turned down the movie part. The agent called back a few weeks later and offered to represent him in the music industry.

Josh has since cut a demo and shot a video.

"We’re going to shop it around"

And who knows?

Joplin's Asia'h Epperson is proof reality t-v is a good way to showcase your talents. This recent American Idol alum made it to the top 12 and she hopes the popular reality show is just the beginning for her.

“I’ve been working at this for a really longtime, so I’m not going to give up”

Josh and Asia'h could parlay reality TV fame into something much bigger, but the veteran has some advice for anyone interested in a reality TV stint.

"It is what it is, don't plan on it changing your life, stay grounded"