We love a good reality TV showmance — we couldn’t get enough of Brooke Lynn Hytes and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo’s short-lived relationship — but sometimes the real love story isn’t the steamy romances, but the intense friendships and bonds that form between male cast members.
It’s usually the messy drama and stiff competition on reality TV that keep us glued to the screen, but sometimes the most entertaining part of these shows is the bromances that form. Watching two men form an unshakable bond and platonically fall in love is often the best part of the show. Not only are the hijinks they get up to fun to watch, but seeing men steer clear of toxic masculinity, share their feelings, and be physically affectionate with another man makes audiences swoon.
From sweet friendships to problematic besties to a bromance that turned into a romance when the cameras stopped rolling, these friendships belong in the reality TV history books.
Zach & Bryce — ‘Love Island USA’
Zach & Bryce
Peacock
Zach Bryce’s viral bromance on Love Island USA season 8 — dubbed #Zryce by fans — had the audience begging for the two men to couple up.
Their flirty relationship, cuddle sessions, extended hugs, and the infamous “girth check” moment made them go viral over and over again throughout the season, with their bromance getting more attention from fans than the relationships they had with the women on the show.
Dylan Efron & Boston Rob — ‘The Traitors’ season 3
Dylan Efron & Boston Rob
Michael Tullberg/Getty Images
Despite The Traitors being a competition show where alliances are ever changing and you never know exactly where you stand with the other competitors, Zach Efron and Boston Rob managed to form a sweet friendship on the show’s third season.
They even posted a hilarious rom-com style goodbye on social media that featured the two men turning away from each other and then running back into each other’s arms, where Boston Rob picked Efron up in a giant bear hug.
Frankie Grande & Zach Rance — ‘Big Brother USA’ season 16
Frankie Grande & Zach Rance
Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Ariana Grande’s gay pop star brother Frankie Grande and Zach Rance — dubbed “Zankie” by fans — formed a tight bond while on Big Brother USA season 16.
The two competitors formed an alliance and friendship that lasted the length of the show, but their bromance turned into a romance when the cameras stopped rolling. Rance came out as bisexual after the season ended and admitted that he and Grande hooked up after the show wrapped.
Vinny & Pauly D — ‘Jersey Shore’
Vinny & Pauly D
MTV
Vinny and Pauly D became fast friends when they joined the Jersey Shore, and their friendship has continued ever since.Their fan-favorite bromance was built on a foundation of humor, loyalty, and a strict regimen of “Gym, Tan, Laundry.”
Since that iconic first season where they became joined at the hip, Vinny and Pauly D have done two spin-off shows together — Double Shot at Love and Revenge Prank with DJ Pauly D and Vinny —and they even had an Elvis impersonator officiate a “brommitment ceremony” on Jersey Shore Family Vacation.
Kyle Cooke & Carl Radke — ‘Summer House’
Kyle Cooke & Carl Radke
Bravo
The bromance between stars Kyle Cooke and Carl Radke has been the anchor on Summer House since 2016. The two besties almost fell out over working together on Loverboy and Radke and Lindsey’s romance, but a couple fights didn’t keep their friendship down for long.
Radke has been firmly “Team Cooke” in his split from wife Amanda Batula and the controversy that followed, and their friendship doesn’t show any signs of stopping.
Chris & Kem — ‘Love Island’ season 3
Chris & Kem
ITV
Kem Catinay and Chris Hughes met while competing on the third season of Love Island, where they had an iconic bromance that was solidified the moment Kim shaved Chris’ name into his pubic hair.
The inseparable duo became the first Love Island cast members to land their own spin-off show with Chris & Ken Straight Outta Love Island, and even formed a music duo and released their song “Little Bit Leave It,” which made it to number 215 on the UK Singles Chart.
Pedro & Judd — ‘Real World: San Francisco' season 3
Pedro & Judd and the cast of The Real World: San Francisco
MTV
Way back in 1994, The Real World: San Francisco broke boundaries at a time when homosexuality wasn’t shown on TV. The season starred a house full of young adults, including Judd, who befriended Pedro, an out gay AIDS activist who was open about being HIV-positive in the hopes of educating the public.
The season not only showed Judd’s close friendship with Pedro, but also frank discussions about HIV, Pedro falling in love with his boyfriend Sean, Pedro and Sean kissing and holding hands, and eventually even having a commitment ceremony. Pedro sadly passed away from complications related to AIDS just hours after the finale episode of The Real World: San Francisco aired. Pedro and Judd’s friendship may have been fairly short-lived, but Judd has spent the last three decades using Pedro’s life story to continue educating people about HIV, including writing a book.
Rob Rausch & Aaron Evans — ‘Love Island USA’ season 6
Rob Rausch & Aaron Evans
Peacock
If you only know snake handler Rob Rausch from The Traitors, then you missed out on his fan-favorite bromance with Aaron Evans while living in the villa on Love Island USA season 6.
The season was already iconic since Ariana Madix joined as host, but viewers were also obsessed with the sweet friendship between Rob and Aaron that turned into a bromance for the ages.
Mark Ballas & Derek Hough — ‘Dancing with the Stars’
Mark Ballas & Derek Hough
Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Fans love the long-standing bromance between Dancing with the Stars alum Mark Ballas and Derek Hough, who have been close friends since they were kids. The two joined the show at the same time back in 2007 and since then, Ballas has gone on to win the coveted mirror ball three times, while Hough has taken it home a record-breaking six times.
The two besties act like brothers who prank and roast each other affectionately. Since DWTS, they’ve reunited on the set of the spinoff DWTS: The Next Pro, and Hough did a surprise opening monologue when Ballas was on Broadway in a Chicago revival.
Tom Sandoval & Tom Schwartz — ‘Vanderpump Rules’
Tom Sandoval & Tom Schwartz
Bravo
This may by the most problematic bromance on this list. Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval were already BFFs when Vanderpump Rules started, and the two men just became more toxically codependent as the show went on.
Their friendship was also a blast to watch as they opened a bar together, Sandoval acted as Schwartz’s best man when he got married, and the frequent stunts they pulled like the time Schwartz rode in the sidecar of Sandoval’s motorcycle. The bromance even continued through Scandoval, where it came out that Schwartz had lied to his fellow cast members and he actually did know about Sandoval cheating on his long-time girlfriend Ariana Madix.
