A 10-year-old reality TV mystery, finally solved. Plus two great recommendations, DWTS news, and more
Dear newsletter friends,
For 10 years I have wondered what actually happened on an episode of The Great Food Truck Race where the host accused contestants of cheating. I wondered again while doing research for a review on a new (and better) show.
I’ve done a similar search about once a year since that 2011 episode aired, and this time, I found an answer! So I updated my story, because now we know, as the mystery was finally solved.
The other big news of the week is that Dancing with the Stars has made a major change that is so long overdue that all of Tyra Banks’ gushing about just made me feel embarrassed for the show that it took this long.
Reality TV reviews
I reviewed:
Reality TV news
So You Think You Can Dance season 11 contestant Serge Onik died
Maya Rudolph and Andy Samberg will host Baking It, Peacock’s spin-off of Making It
The next show in the Life Below Zero franchise will have an entirely indigenous cast
How journalism saved Jeopardy! from an unworthy host after an utter failure of corporate vetting
ICYMI (in case you missed it)
20 times Big Brother viewers complained about the CBS show to the federal government
Answers to your questions about Holey Moley and its changes this season
My interviews with the Making the Cut 2 winner and runners-up
⭐️ I recommend
This show, which premieres on HGTV tomorrow night at 9, having aired earlier this year on Discovery+
This show, which is only on Discovery+ (for now)
This show, which truly surprised me
This story that tries to answer the question, “What the hell was Sony thinking?” by choosing Mike Richards to host Jeopardy
This essay by Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi, in response to a Washington Post column that dismissed Indian cuisine—and which she wrote after telling the columnist to fuck off and recommending he read her book
The story I teased last week is coming next week. Just four more interviews to go—and then a lot of writing and editing this weekend and early next week. I can’t wait to share this with you!
Have a terrific weekend.
best,
Andy
🌄 This is Reality in Focus issue 257, first sent Aug. 27, 2021, and it had an adult birthday yesterday, meaning it did work all day, yay.
💻 This newsletter is hand-crafted in Florida by me, Andy Dehnart, and is supported in part by reality blurred patrons and paid subscribers to this newsletter. If you have a healthy expense account, consider becoming a patron or upgrading your newsletter subscription!
💌 If you like this newsletter, forward it to a friend! If you're that friend, you can subscribe here!
✅ Bookmark realityblurred.com and visit daily for the latest of my reality TV news analysis, reviews, and commentary.
📷 Photo of a bunny in grass by Davies Designs Studio