Hello - I'd like to get a better understanding on how to properly list each season's cast for competition based reality shows (specifically those who start with a cast announcement and eliminate contestants as the season goes on). Whether they go in the regular cast for the season or need to be listed as a special guest under every individual episode. I found a couple threads that touched on the topic but they were a few years old and appeared outdated.

While "early-outs" will obviously be absent from later episodes in the season, they are still often credited (whether it be opening credits, closing credits, or both) on all that season's episodes as they are considered to be part of that season's cast, regardless of where they ultimately placed in the competition. In that sense, it makes sense to me that they all be listed under that season's regular cast.

On the flip-side, I have seen some shows in which the contestants are listed as special guests on the specific episodes in which they were in. This ends up giving spoilers since their credit would display the number of episodes they "guest starred" in, but the show cast also displays, in order, who has appeared in most episodes. So those who went furthest in each season are highest on the cast list. On top of that, it seems redundant to have to enter somebody who lasted 10 episodes in the season 10 different times rather than just the 1 entry for being part of the season cast when that section seems more appropriate to special appearances or guest judges.

Is there a standard for this specific type of program? I've seen both approaches and just want to make sure I am being consistent.