How weird can reality TV get? We start this week with actual bears competing on a show.
Dear newsletter friends,
It’s November, and I don’t think I’ll write a weirder headline in the next two months than the one you’re about to read.
I think it also may be the most surreal thing reality TV has given us so far in this very surreal year:
🚨🐻🚨A bear from Game of Thrones will be a contestant in a new reality competition. 🚨🐻🚨
That is not a joke!
Seriously: Read all about Man vs. Bear, and watch a brief preview.
I also wrote this headline this week: Lego Batman will host Lego Masters, Fox’s version of the reality competition.
So, I confess that’s not literally true—though a minifig host would be hilarious—because it’s actually Will Arnett, who voiced Lego Batman. Based on what I’ve seen of the international versions, I’m excited for this show.
Survivor shines, GBBO ends, and three reviews
I have often complained about Survivor (and CBS reality shows’) failure to address the actual reality of life in the competition, especially when it comes to race and gender.
This week’s episode gave us one of the best scenes in the show’s 19-year-history, an honest, vulnerable discussion between two friends, one of whom was hurt by something the other said.
And that conversation was just a few minutes in an all-time-great episode. This episode had everything, from two challenges (!) to a Tribal Council outcome that surprised me.
I also reviewed three shows, all of which are on Netflix, though only one is a Netflix original:
Prank Encounters, the Netflix series staring a Stranger Things kid trying to scare people who’ve been hired for temporary jobs.
The Chef’s Line, a cooking competition from Australia which I highly recommend.
Interior Design Masters, which was underwhelming, alas.
Also on Netflix, The Great British Baking Show season 10’s finale is up today in the U.S. (it aired in the UK on Tuesday). In case you missed it, here’s my review of the season. I will miss this cast!
News about Sonja Morgan, Lizzo, and Adore Delano
Shocking news: RHONY’s Sonja Morgan isn’t going to attend the first-ever BravoCon in a couple weeks.
Perhaps of more concern: People are still mad that the rather expensive tickets sold out right away (there are conspiracy theories about this), while a Real Housewives website posted a story saying that BravoCon is “a mess.”
In other news:
Lizzo auditioned for Oxygen’s reality series The Glee Project and was rejected!
The new Ex On the Beach cast is out, and it includes Drag Race’s Adore Delano. Also there’s a new winter location and new subtitle.
There were Halloween reality TV specials this week
The first Thanksgiving reality TV starts Sunday.
That’s everything I have for you this week. I hope November has arrived with a good supply of extra Halloween candy, and will bring us lots of great reality TV to watch and discuss.
best,
Andy
🌄 This is Reality in Focus issue 168, first sent 1 November 2019, and it’s ready for Twink vs. Bear.
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📷 Photo of a mug of candy corn by Sarah Gualtieri