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Married at First Sight: "Married at First Sight" returns with a new look this week. Season 20 premiered July 12 on Peacock.
It's the first installment built entirely for the streaming platform, not adapted from network television.
The show previously aired seasons five through 18 on Lifetime. Season 19 marked its move to Peacock, but production had wrapped before that deal was finalized.
Executive producer and Kinetic Content CEO Chris Coelen explained that Season 19 was filmed with Lifetime's format in mind, then edited for streaming afterward.
Season 20, he said, is the franchise's first true Peacock production from the ground up.
That shift gave the creative team more flexibility. Without traditional network constraints, producers had room to rework the series' structure.
Coelen credited A&E for backing the show early on, but said industry changes made a transition necessary.
The overhaul extended to the show's panel of experts. Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Pastor Cal Roberson and Dr. Pia Holec have all departed following Season 19. Paul C. Brunson and Dr. Lisa Paz now lead the matchmaking process.
Coelen said the change reflects an ongoing evaluation of what works best for the series. He called the two new experts an exciting fit for the show's next chapter.
Past seasons typically featured three or four experts guiding participants. This season narrows that number to two.
Coelen said the smaller panel allows for more focused, individualized relationships between experts and couples.
Season 20 is set in Seattle. Producers also cast an older group of participants this time around.
Coelen said readiness for marriage often depends on both age and location, and that this season's cast reflected people serious about long-term commitment.
The new season also includes a familiar face. Nick Uhlenhuth previously appeared on Netflix's "The Circle" and "Perfect Match."
Producers were initially cautious about casting someone with reality TV experience, wanting assurance his goal was genuine marriage, not further fame.
Coelen said Uhlenhuth's connection with match Courteney Landis eased those concerns.
He pointed to their compatibility across multiple factors, along with insights from Uhlenhuth's family, as key reasons for the pairing.
The Season 20 premiere of "Married at First Sight" is now streaming on Peacock.
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