Big Brother history • Shark Tank's fiasco • spoiler thoughts • Survivor + Amazing Race recaps • Mary, Mel, and Sue's Bake-Off • and more!
Dear newsletter subscribers,
When I wrote last Friday, Hurricane Ian was a tropical depression. And of course, it's now about to slam into yet another coast.
Here in Central Florida, we were in the direct path, but thankfully we were very lucky, while others of course were not.
I'm hoping for the best for the people in the Carolinas, but thoughts aren't actions, of course. Occasional reality TV competitor and chef José Andrés' charity World Central Kitchen—which is so impressive—is already feeding people, as they're still doing in Ukraine.
They do great work, as do people like those in the Red Cross, National Guard, and FEMA who are on the ground helping. I appreciate them!
In times like these, I look for reality TV to provide temporary relief and comfort.
Thankfully, earlier this week, I learned that there's even more of that now:
Okay, on to other news and reviews from the week.
Big Brother
The big news of the week is that...
As a result of my rapid reporting on that finale and news, I spoiled the outcome for some west coast viewers, and conversations with them on social media led me to write this:
By the way, if you haven't read Monte's interview with Mike Bloom yet, Monte breaks down how he thought the jury would vote, which explains his Colby Donaldson-like decision.
Recaps
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Last week, Shark Tank went live for its season premiere. The result was a total fiasco.
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Amazing Race went to Austria for yodeling, dancing, and bells
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In my Survivor recap, I asked: Does Survivor need 90-minute episodes? Or flashbacks? Join the conversation in the story's comments section!
Also, here are:
Reality TV news
Reality TV news you shouldn’t miss this month now includes:
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The deaths of a Drag Race UK queen and two-time Big Brother UK competitor, Coolio
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Adnan Syed is out of prison, six years after Serial
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Documentary Emmy winners
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Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s closing after murder-for-hire conviction
🤩 Recommended
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This jury speech, the best in Big Brother finale history
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These classic seasons, now streaming free
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This documentary, on Hulu and Disney+
That's it for me this week. Happy October tomorrow, and happy Mole premiere week next week!
best,
Andy
🌄 This is reality blurred's Reality in Focus issue 308, first sent Sept. 30, 2022, and it likes the idea of naming hurricanes after oil companies.
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📷 Photo of Hurricane Ian from the International Space Station by NASA