All the reality TV coming this winter! Plus: Survivor's latest twist, Real World LA's return, a Top Chef spin-off, and more
Dear newsletter friends,
It’s that time of year: when I ask for your feedback to help me plan and improve! If you have a few moments, could you please fill out this quick survey?
By the way, in their response, one person recommended I check out Taskmaster—which I have watched! And really liked! And while I have not watched every episode, they’re all free and legal to watch in the U.S. on YouTube, so if you’re looking for some silly fun, I concur that it’s worth watching.
Okay, on to all of the stories I wrote during the last two weeks—plus news and recommendations, of course.
Behind-the-scenes
Questions about the Great Christmas Light Fight, answered. I had fun learning about the behind-the-scenes of this holiday show from its producer—who you may recognize from this behind-the-scenes story.
Why ABC thought Dancing with the Stars 30’s winner would never win
Shows coming this winter
Here are my brand-new premiere lists!
Survivor
On Survivor 41, we went from…
Episode 10, the best episode of the season
to episode 11, which turned into Let’s Make a Deal with a random twist.
Reviews
Want to see an outstanding season of Top Chef? Watch Top Chef Family Style
Real World Homecoming: Los Angeles began with the Tami and David incident, of course
News
Sylvia Weinstock, a renowned baker and cake creator whose reality TV appearances included a very-memorable scene in the first episode of Nailed It, has died.
Sheila Nevins—who now runs MTV’s Documentary Films, but was responsible for decades of Emmy-winning documentaries on HBO, including Real Sex, Taxicab Confessions—says she was forced out of HBO.
Hulu pulled Astroworld: Concert from Hell off its service. Hulu told Variety: it “was an investigative local news special” and “not a Hulu documentary and has since been removed to avoid confusion.”
The end of Netflix’s Britney vs. Spears was updated
🤩 I recommend
This show on Peacock
This holiday-themed season of a Netflix competition
This 1987 episode of Super Password with Betty White, Estelle Getty, and Lucille Ball
Even though Thanksgiving is over, this sketch from At Home with Amy Sedaris, which makes me laugh—especially because Amy almost breaks character.
That’s everything from Thanksgiving week and the first few days of December.
Happy Hanukkah to those of you who celebrate, and
best,
Andy
🌄 This is Reality in Focus issue 269, first sent Dec. 3, 2021, and it probably would have switched boxes and been eliminated.
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📷 Photo of evergreen trees with lights by Annie Spratt