Introduction:
Behind the scenes of your favorite TV shows, there’s a special kind of magic that happens long before the final episode reaches your screen. We’re transported into the lives, dramas, and laughs of our favorite characters—but what we see on screen is just the polished product.
The real story unfolds behind the camera, where actors face hilarious mishaps, special effects teams perform wild tricks, and television’s glamour gets a little… messy.
We’ve dug up eight incredible behind-the-scenes facts that reveal the surprising, and often hilarious, reality of making your must-watch shows. Get ready to see your favorite scenes in a whole new light.
1. The “Vomit” in Euphoria Was a High-Tech Illusion
Remember Cassie’s dramatic projectile vomiting scene in the Euphoria Season 2 hot tub? It was a masterful blend of practical effects and CGI. Actress Sydney Sweeney revealed that the crew taped a hidden pipe to her body connected to a pump. A “horse bit” was placed in her mouth, and the crew would fill her mouth with the fake vomit before it shot out on cue. The team then used CGI to remove the pipe from the final shot, making the messy effect look terrifyingly real.
2. The Game of Thrones Horse Heart Was a Nauseating Prop
In one of her most iconic early scenes, Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen had to devour a raw stallion heart. The prop was made from a block of solidified jam, but Clarke said it tasted like “bleach and raw pasta.” She had to eat roughly 28 of these fake hearts throughout filming and was given a spit bucket because she was “vomiting in it quite often.” To make matters worse, the sticky fake blood covering her made her get stuck to a toilet seat between takes!
3. A Regurgitated Dessert Made for a Icky Friends Blooper
Sometimes the funniest moments on screen come from genuine accidents. In the famous “beef trifle” episode of Friends, a funny thing happened between takes. David Schwimmer (Ross) spat his dessert—a mix of bananas and whipped cream—back onto his plate. Matt LeBlanc (Joey), who wasn’t looking, then took from Schwimmer’s plate and ate the regurgitated food during the next take, not knowing what had happened. Now that’s commitment to a scene!
4. Fake Human Meat on Yellowjackets Was Disgusting
For the intense cannibalism scenes in Yellowjackets Season 2, the actors had to chow down on fake human flesh. The prop was made from rice paper and jackfruit, which Sophie Nélisse described as “the grossest thing ever.” It was so unappetizing that her co-star, Samantha Hanratty, actually vomited during filming.
5. The Boys Set Inside a Whale Was a Sticky Nightmare
Shooting inside the decaying whale for The Boys Season 2 was as unpleasant as it looked. The cast reported that it was 120 degrees inside the prop, and the sugary, blood-like liquid attracting insects. Actors Laz Alonso and Jack Quaid said the fake guts would dry so quickly that their skin would get stuck to the whale’s interior, and they’d have to peel themselves off it at the end of a take.
6. Kissing Scenes on The Office Came with a Side of Tuna
On-screen romance isn’t always glamorous. Angela Kinsey (Angela Martin) revealed that Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute) would often eat something smelly like a tuna fish sandwich right before they had to film their kissing scenes. This less-than-romantic habit made filming those moments particularly “difficult” for her.
7. WandaVision Had a Sticky “Snotgate” Controversy
Even big-budget Marvel shows have messy moments. Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany have a friendly feud over what they call “Snotgate.” While filming a particularly emotional kiss in the cold, one of them got a runny nose, resulting in snot on both actors. To this day, each blames the other for being the culprit!
8. The Mad Men Wardrobe Caused an Unfortunate Accident
Period costumes can be tricky. Alison Brie, who played Trudy Campbell on Mad Men, was given vintage underwear that included “biker shorts” with a small hole for bathroom use. Not knowing she wasn’t supposed to wear her own underwear underneath, she had a unfortunate accident while rushing to set, leading to a very un-glamorous and stressful situation that she had to quietly handle herself.
So, the next time you’re binge-watching your favorite show, remember the incredible, and often messy, effort that goes into every scene. From disgusting props to uncomfortable sets, it’s all in a day’s work to bring our beloved stories to life. If you love discovering fun facts like these, check out our post on Cloud Skin vs. Dewy Skin or explore Trending Lipstick Shades for more behind-the-scenes beauty insights.
