Betty Who Makes TV Debut as Host of Prime Video’s ‘The One That Got Away’

Betty Who may be a fierce pop artist who has given us an excuse to dance in the mirror, trust our instincts, and realize that joy is never too far away, but there’s more! The queer icon recently made her television debut by hosting Prime Video’s brand-new reality dating series, The One That Got Away.  

Love is most definitely in the air, but it’s showing up in a completely different way as six people searching for their soulmates are given the chance to explore a lifetime of missed connections as one by one; people from their pasts enter through “The Portal” to surprise them and take their shot at love. Could it be an old lover, a secret admirer, or possibly a childhood friend? So many “what ifs,” but all will be revealed.

Throughout filming, Who developed a bond with each contestant as they confided in her before approaching “The Portal.” 

OFM caught up with the music star to talk more about the show, how it felt jumping from music to hosting reality TV, and her upcoming projects.

Can you begin by telling us what makes The One That Got Away worth watching?

Obviously, there are a lot of competitive shows in the reality series format, and I think the most exciting thing about this series is the way it makes you think about yourself. It’s about six singles who come to meet people from their past that will come through this portal, and they see if this connection they had in their past, this misconnection, can work in the future. 

I think when people hear that logline and the description of the show, it immediately makes you go, “Oh my God, who’s my one that got away?” I think that self-referential experience that I’ve seen so many people have, one I even had during my first night on set, I was like, “This is a very interesting social experiment.”

Why did you want to be involved with this project?

Reality television is definitely one of my guilty pleasures. I don’t even call it guilty because I think it’s just a pleasure at this point (laughs). So, when the opportunity sort of came across my desk, it was like, “Are you even interested in something like this? Should we even have a conversation about it?” I was definitely nervous because I had no idea what I was doing and have zero qualifications, other than a can-do attitude.

When we had the first conversation about it and what it would entail and what it would look like, they asked if this would be something I was into. More and more, I was like, “I think I want to do this. I think I would have so much fun,” and to my surprise, they actually ended up hiring me for it. I had the best month of my life shooting it. It was so fun. 

How did it feel to make the jump from music into television?

It was an unusual experience. I don’t think I could have prepared myself for it. I don’t know if you can prepare for totally being out of your element and in a new professional environment. I spent 10 years in music feeling like I kind of really learned the ropes, and I put in my 10,000 hours, so there’s not a ton that could happen to me in music that would really throw me off. I know the lay of the land pretty well, so to be completely out of my element in this new environment, it was very vulnerable, but also, I think it was really good for me. It reminded me of how fun, exciting, and nerve-wracking art should sometimes feel. I came away with a really nice feeling.

Ultimately, what do you hope viewers take away from the show?

I ultimately hope that people watching the show feel like there’s hope for love. I’m such a romantic. I know it sounds so obvious, but I really do believe that whether it’s from your past or whether you have yet to meet the person who you will fall in love with, I believe there is a path for all of us to find that person, to find, if you will, the one that got away.

Is there a person you consider to be the one that got away?

(Laughs) This is always the question! This is the problem with doing a show called The One That Got Away. Everybody’s like, “OK, who’s yours?” I will say, I’m happily married, so no judgment around anywhere, but I do have a short list of people who would definitely come through the portal if I was a contestant on the show. 

Circling back to music, you released “Blow Out My Candle” in June, which is your first single in two years. How has that been received?

You know, it’s hard to say. I have had a great time performing it, and I got to perform it on James Corden, which was a huge milestone for me. TV performances can be very stressful, so I really wanted to enjoy myself, and I’m very proud of myself. I think all in all, it’s going really well. I love feeling that I’m starting up again. It feels like the machine is slowly grinding to be in motion again. Touring is always my favorite part. We haven’t announced a tour or anything yet, but there will be one eventually, and that’s what I’m looking forward to the most.  

What else do you have in store for us this summer and the rest of the year?

You will definitely be hearing more music for me, and hopefully there will be a full album by the end of the year. By the time we head into 2023, you’ll have a new Betty Who album. That’s the plan. Also, I’m hoping you won’t see a weekend go by next year where you wouldn’t be able to look up where Betty Who is and go see a show. That’s what I’m hoping. It’s been a long time, and I’m ready to get back out there! 

Stay up-to-date and connect with Who by following her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @bettywho, or visit her official website, bettywhomusic.com. The One That Got Away is now streaming exclusively on Prime Video. 

Photos Courtesy of Kate Biel