Married at First Sightlong-time expertPastor Cal Robersonis not fit to be a therapist and guide on the show, and his appearance and position in season 18 will affect the season. In season 18, Pastor Cal will be joined byDr. Pepper Schwartz, who has been on the show since its premiere in 2014, andDr Pia Holec, who joined in season 15. Outside of his work withMarried at First Sight, Pastor Cal is the Pastor of his church in Georgia. He is also an author and a keynote speaker around the U.S.
Currently,Married at First Sightfans are highly anticipating season 18’s premiere in mid-October, after a six-month show hiatus.MAFSseason 17was the longest season in the show’s history, airing for nearly six months. The latest season promises a mature cast, but will also have twists and turns like a couple swap and a cheating scandal. In season 18, all three experts are remaining the same, which I’m certain will be a blight for the season. From my expansive knowledge of the show on and off camera, I believe Pastor Cal was not an appropriate alum to keep on.
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Pastor Cal Has Been On MAFS Since Season 4
He Is The Second-Longest Running Expert
Lifetime’sMarried at First Sightexpert Pastor Cal joined the show in season 4. Dr. Pepper is the only other expert who has been on the show longer. I can tell Pastor Cal endeavors to offer compassionate advice to the couples, but his aloof approach and lack of sternness have had a negative effect at times. He has rendered guidance alongside Dr. Pepper, and the two seem to have a solid working relationship.
Pastor Cal tries to keep it real with the couples and challenges them to self-identify their issues.I’ve seen him push the couples to go out of their comfort zones to get closer. He is known to be the expert who plays devil’s advocate and offers faith-based advice to those who are religious. As the only male expert, Pastor Cal gives a different perspective than the other two experts.
Pastor Cal Has Been Criticized By MAFS Viewers
MAFS Fans Don’t Think He’s Fit To Be An Expert
Pastor Cal’s style of therapy and insights into situations have historically been ill-received by fans, I’ve noticed. Many viewers take to social media during and after the seasons to bring up the ways in which he is not a good expert on the show. I thinkPastor Cal tends to get carried away with emotion and harbors disdain for some cast membersand couples, which ends up with him giving biased and overly harsh criticisms when he should come from a more supportive approach.
This negative style to his therapy has been noticed byMarried at First Sightfansas well. A Reddit thread was recently started titled,“I am disgusted with pastor cal.“The now-deleted post recalled a time onMAFSseason 15 in San Diego when he told Justin Hall that he was too emotional and not"alpha male"enough for his partner Alexis Williams. The direct insult was shocking and cold and did nothing to help the couple.
In the comments of the post, otherMAFSfans jumped in to remark on their takes on Pastor Cal’s “expert” abilities.
“Pastor Cal & Dr Pepper used to care but money, ego and boredom corrupted them. They are simply independent contractors who follow Production’s orders for a paycheck.”
That assessment resonated with otherMAFSviewers and other people offered other perspectives.
“Pastor Cal and the whole production of the show promoted marital abuse time after time again.”
Pastor Cal Is An Ineffective Expert
He Has Let Many Couples Down
Pastor Cal has always had a say in who gets paired up together each season, and he has had made some major blunders with his matchmaking. I noticed themajor contention fans have with Pastor Cal is over the lack of care when choosing cast members, as there have been many abhorrent and dangerous people to have been chosen for the show by Pastor Cal and the experts.
I don’t think Pastor Cal takes into consideration each participants' full background, appearance preferences, and non-neogtiables seriously enough.
This carelessness usually ends with the cast becoming frustrated and resentful toward their partners when it was really the experts' fault for not giving each participant the person they genuinely asked for.
Will Pastor Cal Have A Negative Impact On MAFS Season 18?
A Lot Is Riding On Season 18’s Success
I’m positive keeping Pastor Cal onMarried at First Sightas an expert is a huge mistake. Viewers already don’t like him and the way he conducts his therapy approach, so I knowthe season is already starting out with disdain from fans.He is no longer a good fit for the show, and should be replaced in seasons to come. However, fans will have to try and make the most of his appearance in season 18, and try to focus on the positives of the season.
Married at First Sightseason 18 premieres Tuesday, August 06, 2025, at 8 pm, EST.
Married At First Sight
Cast
Based on the Danish version of the series, Married at First Sight is a reality show/social experiment that gives singles a chance to find a lifelong partnership with one particular caveat: they must agree to marry a stranger arranged the moment they meet. Experts provide counseling and guidance as they help couples navigate their new marriage with their unknown partner and highlight the journey of the newlyweds from wedding to honeymoon to beginning their new lives together. At the end of eight weeks, couples will decide to stay married or divorce.
