Breaking The Mole news! • fall reality shows • Claim to Fame's winner • Emmy winners • and more!
Dear newsletter subscribers,
I've been trying to learn the identity of the new Mole host for a while now, even publicly asking for tips last month.
I was able to confirm it this week, and on Wednesday, published a story revealing their identity. I think it's great casting, and I was thrilled to break the news.
The very next day, Netflix announced both the host and The Mole’s premiere date.
I had no idea that was coming, though it may not have seemed that way. That's because it's pretty standard practice in entertainment journalism for networks to give a press release to a writer or publication early, and then, at an agreed-upon time, the outlet runs it as an "exclusive"—though that's usually "exclusive" roughly 10 minutes, before everyone else gets the press release.
But in this case, it was me trying to figure this out for weeks, and just happening to break the news the day before. Over the years, I've become less interested in being first; being accurate matters most. But I admit that is a little thrilling to be first!
Fall reality TV shows—and Bake-Off!
My fresh new quarterly schedules are out!
As always, those are constantly updated as dates are officially announced, so bookmark those two pages and check back during the next three months!
In other date news: The Great British Bake-Off now has a U.S. premiere date: next Friday!
That's on the fall calendar, too, and I've updated my guide to the confusing world of Great British Bake-Off seasons, numbers, and availability.
Claim to Fame wraps
My favorite new show of the summer has come to an end! So here's what I wrote about it:
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Will there be a season 2 of Claim to Fame?! Some clues.
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Here's a fun deleted scene.
And the previous two recaps, in case you missed them:
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Episode 8: These players are related to celebrities but some really don’t know pop culture!
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Episode 9: The final four get clues confirmed in a challenge
The Challenge: USA's latest drama
I recapped the last two episodes—and there are just two to go, which will both air next Wednesday. The past two weeks:
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Episode 10: An alliance of six players stay ‘locked in’
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Episode 9: Sarah, sabotaged, targets Angela and Alyssa
Reality TV news
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Who won reality TV Emmys? Some big names, and a few surprises. (While the actual prime-time Emmys are on Monday, all but one of the reality TV awards were already awarded last weekend.)
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Dancing with the Stars‘ new cast includes Shangela (!!), Wayne Brady, Cheryl Ladd, Teresa Giudice, and a bunch of people I don't recognize
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BBC One is resurrecting UK Survivor next year
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Kelly Clarkson won American Idol 20 years ago, and wrote on Instagram about how "it forever changed the course of my life." She'll get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Sept. 19.
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Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne are moving back to the UK—and filming a reality show about it.
🤩 I recommend
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This competition show, which was the best new reality show of this summer.
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This season and this season, to get ready for next month!
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My behind-the-scenes story about The Amazing Race, in honor of its 22nd anniversary this week
Coming later today on reality blurred: My interview with the winner of Making the Cut.
That's everything for these past two weeks. Phew! I hope you have a terrific weekend.
—Andy
🌄 This is reality blurred‘s Reality in Focus issue 305, first sent Sept. 9, 2022, and it appreciates its moles.
💻 This newsletter is hand-crafted in Florida by me, Andy Dehnart, using Buttondown.
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📷 Photo of a goldfinch by Mark Olsen