I got a text: Season 6 of Love Island USA is a massive hit! The Peacock series doubled in viewers since Season 5 and is the #1 reality show on streaming. That’s very impressive for a show that was, until this summer, always in the shadow of the original Love Island.
Season 6 is undoubtedly the best USA season and one of the best in the whole franchise. It’s so good that I’m devastated it’s ending in just a few days. The jaw-dropping drama is surely one of the reasons it’s so popular. But as we all know, great TV doesn’t always translate into high ratings.
So, how did Love Island USA manage to become such a breakout hit in its sixth season? We have a few theories.
Just how popular is Love Island USA Season 6?
It certainly seemed like more people were watching this season. Especially after the app kept crashing because so many people were trying to vote at once. However, that might also be because superstar Odell Beckham Jr. asked his fans to vote for his brother Kordell.
We didn’t know the stats until recently, and it’s even bigger than expected. Multiple outlets reported that Love Island USA is #1 in reality TV right now. Beyond the reality TV genre, even, as Variety reported it’s the hottest show on streaming, way ahead of The Bear and The Boys. It’s wild for a show to reach that popularity after six years. But it’s a testament to how incredible this season is.
Ariana Madix’s impact cannot be denied on Love Island USA
It’s been a year and a half since Scandoval, and it’s time to stop saying that’s the only reason for Ariana Madix’s success.
Ariana is more popular than ever. Her first run in Chicago broke records in ticket sales. And she’ll return to the stage as soon as Love Island USA Season 6 wraps. Her book, Single AF Cocktails, was a New York Times bestseller. It can’t be a coincidence that LI USA’s viewership doubled with her as the host.
It’s clear from social media that many viewers tuned in to their first Love Island season ever because of her. And on the flip side, she also won over Love Island fans who never watched Vanderpump Rules. Promotional materials for Love Island USA focus on Ariana. A recent ad highlights how many people call her the perfect host. Not to mention all her incredible outfits!
I wouldn’t be surprised if jealousy over her success hosting the hottest show is what pushed Tom Sandoval to file that ridiculous lawsuit.
New viewers came for Ariana, stayed for the Love Island USA cast
The casting department deserves a raise! The Love Island USA Season 6 contestants are likable, dramatic, messy, hilarious, and very, very hot. Usually, bombshells are needed to keep the show interesting. But in the last two weeks, the return of Season 5 stars Harrison Luna and Kassy Castillo felt like an unnecessary afterthought, because the current cast brought more than enough drama on their own.
Longtime Love Island fans always expect the last week to be boring. But this season is so exciting that we don’t want it to end. That’s the sign of a truly great cast. Fans are even asking for specific Casa Amor contestants to come back next season as Rob Rausch did.
The girls are the standouts, especially Leah Kateb, JaNa Craig, and Serena Page, who fans call the PowerPuff Girls. As Ariana said herself, it’s been a highlight of the summer to watch the girls’ friendships blossom. And Katie Maloney spoke for all of us when she said she wanted to hang out with them.
The increase in viewers is also clear by the contestants’ enormous gain in social media followers. Leah, for instance, is nearing half a million followers on Instagram. That’s the type of post-show following that turned Love Island UK into such a breeding ground for influencers.
Social media buzz is crazy!
Because of Ariana’s hosting, Bravo fan accounts covered Love Island USA and spread the word about how good it is. Likewise, you couldn’t go on any Love Island UK-related social media without finding a million comments telling people to switch to the USA. I’ve seen numerous posts on the Love Island UK Reddit asking people to stop talking so much about how the USA is eating its lunch.
Love Island USA’s social media domination isn’t limited to reality TV-related accounts either. Even the Empire State Building’s social media account made a TikTok shipping Leah and Rob. Meanwhile, the Xfinity account prefers her with Miguel Harichi. Kaylor Martin’s cries of “FAWWWK AARON” became a meme. So did a picture of the incredibly expressive JaNa.
Love Island USA is a beacon in a bleak summer TV landscape
Aside from Love Island USA, this isn’t a great summer for reality TV. Especially when it comes to dating shows. Many viewers switched to USA after Love Island UK Season 11 disappointed. As for similar shows, Too Hot Too Handle doesn’t come back until after LI USA Season 6 wraps. Bachelor in Paradise also took 2024 off. And while the Bachelorette mansion has rats, the Love Island USA villa is a dream.
As for Bravo shows, the network seemed to be in a bit of a slump when Love Island USA began. The highly anticipated return of Real Housewives of New Jersey, for instance, is a mess. Real Housewives of Orange County finally delivered what fans were missing, but it just premiered last week.
I can also personally say that I’ve recommended this season to Love Island UK loyalists. As well as people who haven’t watched a Love Island season in years. And the response is unanimously positive. Anecdotal evidence isn’t objective. But based on the numbers and the online buzz, I feel confident declaring Love Island USA the hottest show of the year. Now we countdown the days until Season 7!
See what all the hype is about by streaming Love Island USA on Peacock.
TELL US – ARE YOU SURPRISED BY THE SUCCESS OF LOVE ISLAND USA SEASON 6? IF YOU’RE A NEW VIEWER, WHAT MADE YOU TUNE INTO SEASON 6?
