Ryan Lochte TV Shows: From "What Would Ryan Lochte Do?" to Reality TV Mainstay

Ryan Lochte's television career spans a solo E! reality series, high-profile competition shows, and scripted comedy cameos. His flagship show was What Would Ryan Lochte Do?, an 8-episode reality series that aired on E! in 2013. Since then, Lochte has appeared on Dancing with the Stars, Celebrity Big Brother, The Traitors, and Special Forces: World's Toughest Test.

The Solo Reality Series: What Would Ryan Lochte Do?

Following his dominant performance at the 2012 London Summer Olympics—where he earned five medals, bringing his career total to eleven—Ryan Lochte became one of the most recognizable figures in global sports. Capitalizing on his heightened media profile, the E! Entertainment Television network greenlit a dedicated unscripted reality series titled What Would Ryan Lochte Do?, which premiered on April 21, 2013.

1. 2012 London Olympics
2. E! Greenlights Solo Reality Show
3. What Would Ryan Lochte Do? (Aired April–May 2013)
4. Canceled After Season 1 (8 Episodes)

Concept, Format, and Key Storylines

The series was structured as an intimate, comedic look at Lochte’s day-to-day life as he navigated elite athletic training, personal business ventures, family ties, and single life in Gainesville, Florida. The show sought to showcase Lochte's off-beat charisma, relaxed demeanor, and famous trademark catchphrase, "Jeah!"

Over the course of its eight episodes, the show focused on several core storylines:

• The "Lochterage" and Family Life: The camera followed Lochte's tight-knit inner circle, including his family members and close friends, capturing their social routines and comedic interactions.
• Business and Fashion Ambitions: The series documented Lochte’s efforts to expand his personal brand beyond swimming, highlighting his pursuit of a custom clothing line and commercial endorsements.
• Dating and Personal Life: A major narrative thread centered on Lochte’s search for a serious relationship while balancing his intense lifestyle, portraying his attempts at romantic speed dating and casual night outs.
• Athletic Training: Despite the lighthearted lifestyle focus, episodes showcased his demanding workouts under long-time coach Gregg Troy as he prepared for the 2013 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona.

Reception and Cancellation

Despite significant promotional backing from NBCUniversal, What Would Ryan Lochte Do? struggled to maintain viewership momentum. Critics pointed out that while Lochte's naturally relaxed persona worked well in soundbites and post-race interviews, sustaining a full 30-minute episode required more artificial drama than his genuine personality provided.

Initial ratings opened with modest numbers (around 807,000 viewers for the premiere) but steadily declined over its broadcast run. In four weeks, E! burned through the eight produced episodes, concluding the season on May 27, 2013. The network quietly chose not to renew the show for a second season, officially ending Lochte’s tenure as the central lead of his own reality show.

High-Stakes Reality Competition Appearances

While his solo reality series was short-lived, Lochte transitioned into a sought-after contestant for major network reality competition franchises. His physical athletic background, combined with his high-profile public journey, made him a compelling casting choice for survival, dance, and strategy formats.

1. Olympic Career Highlights
   
   
   • Dancing with the Stars (Season 23 - 2016)
   • Celebrity Big Brother (Season 2 - 2019)
   • The Traitors & Special Forces (Season 1 - 2023)

Dancing with the Stars (Season 23, 2016)

In August 2016, Lochte became embroiled in a major international controversy during the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics regarding a fabricated robbery report at a gas station. Seeking to rehabilitate his public image and recalibrate his career, Lochte signed on for Season 23 of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, paired with professional dancer Cheryl Burke.

The season premiere on September 12, 2016, made national news when two protesters wearing anti-Lochte t-shirts stormed the dance floor immediately following his live performance, interrupting the judges' feedback. Security tackled the intruders, and host Tom Bergeron cut to an impromptu commercial break.

Despite the rocky opening night, Lochte and Burke progressed through eight weeks of competition. His athletic discipline showed steady improvement in ballroom routines, though he lacked the fluid musicality of top-tier dancers. The duo was eliminated in Week 8 (finish position: 7th place), with Lochte crediting the show for helping him rebuild confidence during a difficult career juncture.

Celebrity Big Brother US (Season 2, 2019)

In January 2019, Lochte entered the Big Brother house for Season 2 of CBS’s Celebrity Big Brother. Given his competitive history, Lochte immediately emerged as an obvious physical threat in Head of Household (HOH) and Power of Veto (POV) competitions.

• Initial Dominance: Lochte won the very first competition, securing the title of Head of Household for Week 1.
• Strategic Pitfalls: Because of his prominent status, Lochte was viewed as a primary target by opposing alliances led by reality stars Tamar Braxton and Lolo Jones.
• Elimination: When he failed to secure immunity in Week 2, the house quickly voted to evict him. Lochte was evicted on Day 13, finishing in 10th place overall.

The Traitors US (Season 1, 2023)

In early 2023, Peacock released the inaugural season of The Traitors US, a psychological strategy show filmed at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands. Hosted by Alan Cumming, the show pitted unscripted reality stars alongside non-famous contestants in a game of deception and murder-mystery deduction.

Lochte was assigned the role of a Faithful (a contestant tasked with identifying hidden "Traitors" within the group). Throughout his tenure:

1. Gameplay Style: Lochte took a straightforward, trust-based approach to the game, relying on team bonding during physical missions to gauge sincerity rather than deep political deceit.
2. Targeting by Traitors: Because Lochte was universally liked and possessed zero malicious intent, the covert Traitors (which included Cirie Fields and Cody Calafiore) viewed him as a non-threatening player who offered little strategic pushback.
3. Murder: Lochte was targeted by the Traitors and "murdered" off-screen in Episode 5, ending his run before the midpoint of the game.

Special Forces: World's Toughest Test (Season 1, 2023)

In January 2023, Lochte also appeared on the FOX reality military-selection series Special Forces: World's Toughest Test. Shot in the harsh climate of the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan, the show subjected celebrities to rigorous training drills modeled after the Direct Directing Staff (DS) of Special Forces selection processes.

Lochte performed strongly in high-altitude physical challenges and endurance marches. However, during a high-impact water-insertion exercise (jumping from a helicopter into the sea), Lochte suffered a torn labrum and shoulder injury. Due to the medical severity of the injury, he was forced to voluntarily withdraw (VW) in Episode 3, demonstrating physical fortitude despite the early medical exit.

Scripted Guest Roles and Pop-Culture Cameos

Beyond reality television, Lochte leveraged his post-2012 popularity into several cameo appearances on scripted network comedies and teen dramas, frequently playing lighthearted, fictionalized versions of himself.

30 Rock (Season 7, Episode 3 - "Stride of Pride")

In October 2012, Lochte guest-starred in NBC's critically acclaimed comedy 30 Rock. In the episode, he plays a fictionalized version of himself functioning as an "idiot hookup" for Alec Baldwin’s character, Jack Donaghy. Lochte delivered self-deprecating lines poking fun at his own public image, which TV critics cited as one of his best comedic screen moments.

90210 (Season 5, Episode 8 - "902–100")

In November 2012, Lochte made a cameo appearance on The CW’s teen drama 90210. Playing himself, he encountered main characters Naomi Clark and Max Miller at a luxury resort, delivering quick guest lines aligned with his carefree surfer-swimmer personality.

Additional Guest Appearances

Lochte’s comedic willingness to lampoon his persona led to appearances on internet comedy platforms such as Funny or Die, guest judge roles on game shows, and frequent late-night appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Conan.

Summary Table: Ryan Lochte Television Career Overview

The following table provides a complete timeline of Ryan Lochte's primary television credits, detailing the format, platform, release year, and outcome for each project:

The Media Evolution: From Olympic Swimmer to Reality TV Veteran

Analyzing Ryan Lochte’s footprint on television reveals a distinct pattern that mirrors the modern landscape of athlete personal branding. Historically, Olympic athletes faded from broadcast television in the four-year interim between Olympic cycles. Lochte was among a generation of world-class athletes who attempted to break out of that cycle by establishing a continuous television presence.

1. Elite Athletic Fame
2. Solo Brand Building Attempt (What Would Ryan Lochte Do?)
3. Public Crisis Management (Post-Rio 2016 Incident)
4. Rehabilitation & Competition Reality (DWTS, Big Brother, Traitors)

Navigating Public Perception Through TV

For Lochte, television served two distinct strategic purposes throughout his career:

1. Monetization and Brand Expansion (2012–2014): Fresh off his London Olympic wins, television was a direct vehicle to monetize his charisma and secure lifestyle endorsements outside the pool.
2. Reputation Rehabilitation and Humanization (2016–Present): Following the severe media backlash from the 2016 Rio incident, unscripted competition television provided an unedited platform where audiences could observe his work ethic, humility, and vulnerability in real time.

By participating in intense physical tests like Special Forces and strategic social experiments like The Traitors, Lochte successfully pivoted from a polarizing figure in headline news into a grounded, hardworking, and relatable unscripted TV regular.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Ryan Lochte's solo TV show called, and when did it air?

Ryan Lochte's solo reality TV show was titled What Would Ryan Lochte Do?. It premiered on the E! Entertainment Television network on April 21, 2013, running for 8 episodes before concluding in May 2013.

Why was What Would Ryan Lochte Do? canceled after just one season?

The show was canceled due to declining television ratings and mixed critical reviews. Viewership dropped significantly after the premiere, as critics and audience members felt the show lacked sufficient conflict and structure to sustain a recurring multi-season series.

What happened during Ryan Lochte's appearance on Dancing with the Stars?

On the premiere episode of Dancing with the Stars Season 23 in September 2016, two protesters wearing anti-Lochte shirts rushed the stage live on air to disrupt his evaluation. Security intervened immediately. Lochte stayed on the show alongside partner Cheryl Burke and ultimately finished in 7th place.

Did Ryan Lochte win any of his reality competition shows?

No, Ryan Lochte has not won a reality competition series. His best competition finishes include 7th place on Dancing with the Stars (2016), 10th place on Celebrity Big Brother (2019), an Episode 5 elimination on The Traitors (2023), and a medical exit in Episode 3 on Special Forces (2023).

Where can viewers stream Ryan Lochte's reality shows today?

Availability varies by platform:

• The Traitors (US) is available to stream on Peacock.
• Special Forces: World's Toughest Test can be streamed on Hulu and FOX digital platforms.
• What Would Ryan Lochte Do? and back-seasons of Dancing with the Stars or Celebrity Big Brother are periodically available via digital purchase on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, or network-specific streaming archives.

Final Takeaway for Viewers and Media Analysts

Ryan Lochte’s television journey provides a comprehensive case study in how modern Olympic athletes interact with pop culture. For fans or media researchers interested in his broadcast career:

• For Comedic Highlights: Watch his guest appearance on 30 Rock (Season 7, Episode 3) and early episodes of What Would Ryan Lochte Do?.
• For Athletic Resiliency: View Season 1 of Special Forces: World's Toughest Test on FOX/Hulu to see his physical conditioning under military conditions.
• For Strategic Gameplay: Stream Season 1 of The Traitors on Peacock for an engaging look at his interpersonal dynamics among other reality TV icons.