Did I go too far with my Survivor recap? • Monster: The Ed Gein Story • Clue
Dear newsletter friends,
One of my favorite tasks every Friday is looking through the past week of comments—most of which I’ve read, some of which I’ve replied to, all of which remind me what smart and thoughtful people read my work. And I love highlighting a few of those in my newsletter, which is why I’m looking at them.
Today, those highlights are all from my Survivor recap, which elicited some strong opinions, mostly about my approach.
The episode, for me, was very one-note, and so I just thought I’d have fun with it. I realize not all of my snarky jokes are going to work, or even be for everyone, especially since I’m writing and publishing in a couple of hours, not with weeks of revision.
Still, it’s always a little painful to read criticism of my work, mostly because my intent didn’t work for some people.
And I want to make you, dear readers, happy, offering both entertainment and insight about your entertainment. And if I fail to do that, I’m disappointed in myself.
So that’s why I appreciate the critique, even when it stings.
As a writer and critic and person, I’m always trying to do better, and I appreciate you holding me accountable and/or just sharing when something doesn’t work. 💜
⛲️ Reviews and interviews
Reviews:
Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story is too much
Hulu’s How I Escaped My Cult
Apple TV+’s Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars (I’m finishing this review next so it’ll be coming later today!)
🦄 Recaps
🪩 Dancing with the Stars
🍫 The Great British Baking Show
🛳️ Below Deck Med
Episode 2: It’s amateur hour aboard the Bravado!
🐍 Survivor
🚄 The Amazing Race
Episode 3: Coming sometime over the next few days to this new page: Amazing Race 38 recaps
🗓️ Reality TV premieres
Reality TV premieres this week include new seasons of The Real Housewives of Potomac and The Braxtons; and competitions Alex vs. America, The Boulet Brothers' Dragula, and Penn & Teller: Fool Us.
Also, a special Is it Cake? Halloween, with Cake Daddy Mikey Day, and the new show O’ahu Shores.
Docs and specials include the delayed Ozzy Osbourne show-turned-special, Ozzy: No Escape For Now; and profiles of Victoria Beckham, Saquon Barkley, and the daughter of the BTK serial killer.
💬 Comments of the week: Survivor recap edition
Your snark is getting to be as over the top as Probst is and it just reads like a rage article. Yes, Probst needs to go but maybe tone it down a bit on the contestants. I’ve read your recaps for years and you still make good points, but this was borderline cringe.
Mike b. replied:
Au contraire my friend, let’s agree to disagree. Chopping off his foot with a machete is the best medicine in the whole world.
AK replied:
I have to agree. I’ve always appreciated Andy’s thoughtful criticisms of the show, especially because it feels like there are more than ever that need to be called out in the new era. But there’s no substantive critique here, just a lot of snark. If there are failings in how the show is produced and edited now, I’d love to hear more from Andy about why it’s not working and what would improve it rather than just making fun of a man who is clearly excited about becoming a father stumbling over his words. I would find that much more engaging in helping me process my feelings about why the new era feels so lackluster compared to the show I fell in love with!
C Matthews wrote, in part:
At some point, you either accept the show for what it is and offer real critique, or you stop watching. You’re not a producer. This is the show. If you hate it this much, maybe it’s time to walk away. Because your recaps have started to feel just as miserable as you say Jeff is to watch.
And Mimi wrote:
Does Jeff Probst remind anyone else of Gale Weathers, from Scream??! Like, Gale saw a traumatic tragedy and thought her reporting could earn her a Pulitzer Prize, and I see scenes, like last night’s episode of Survivor, where it seems like Jeff is trying to be a news’ reporter to, again, get him an Emmy win. Both just seem so intent on making someone else’s crisis all about them.
🗞️ Reality TV news
Show news:
Dr. Jane Goodall died at age 91 last week, and now Netflix has released the very first episode of its obituary series Famous Last Words: Dr. Jane Goodall.
A reality TV competition based on Clue, the board game is coming to Netflix—about 35 years after the British game show Cludeo. Here's Netflix's description:
Players will step into a real-life game of deduction and deception, facing both physical and mental challenges along the way. To win, they’ll have to outwit opponents and answer three big questions: who, where, and with what. If the contestants guess correctly, they’ll add money to the prize pot, but if their suspicions are wrong, they could face elimination. They’ll also cross paths with familiar suspects like from the original board game. Viewers can expect suspense, surprises, and plenty of red herrings.
Jimmy Fallon 🤢 is developing a game show based on Wordle for NBC, with Savannah Guthrie hosting. (That's different than Lingo, the Wordle-ish show hosted by RuPaul.)
Banijay Entertainment acquired the worldwide rights to the Ninja Warrior format from Tokyo Broadcasting System—though not in the U.S. or Canada, Germany, France, Poland, and all of Asia—and said they intend "to evolve this brand."
Masterchef has been renewed for two more seasons
🤩 I recommend
This episode of Below Deck, because it was classic Below Deck in all the right ways!
This recap of DWTS
My interview with Alex Guarnaschelli about her competitiveness
This story about “What The Rocky Horror Picture Show Cast Remembers After 50 Years”
That’s everything for today! Have a great rest of your day, whatever day you may be reading this!
best,
Andy
🌄 This is issue 439 of reality blurred’s weekly newsletter, first sent on 10 Oct. 2025, and it’s ready for some fall weather here in Florida!