Is Sandra a quitter? Also: Making the Band turns 20, and Love is Blind & The Circle news
Dear newsletter subscribers,
We’ve made it to Friday after another incredibly long week. So, here are some penguins to watch, live, if you need a break.
Below, I have lots of great reality TV content for you, from a review of Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn’s new show to great news about two of my favorite new Netflix shows, Love is Blind and The Circle.
First, though, I just wanted to say thanks: For reading this, for reading my writing, and for just staying connected during this bizarre time we’re all living through.
While people may be online more, ad revenue is way down for publishers. That’s because most ads you see online—including those on reality blurred—are displayed after a super-fast auction that takes place in your browser. (That’s why everyone sees different ads.) When advertisers stop spending, as they are now, there are fewer bidders, which means ads cost less, so publishers are making less money.
On top of that: Many advertisers are also choosing to exclude their ads from any page that has coronavirus-related words. Think about that when you’re reading news and information about this pandemic, from your local newspaper or TV station to national publications, whose critical coverage is far from free to produce. Even though their traffic may be up, they’re likely making far less.
That’s why direct support—readers paying publishers—matters so much. Support your local media if you can. And if you’re in a position to do more, I offer the option for people to:
I so appreciate those of you who do this already, and also completely understand that not everyone is able to—especially now!
Just reading this and my writing is valuable support, and I appreciate each and every one of you! Thanks for making space in your inbox and browser for my writing. ❤️
And if you had to drop your support of reality blurred because your financial situation changed this month, please just e-mail me and I’ll set you up with a complimentary subscription to this newsletter’s bonus content, no questions asked.
On to the reality TV…
Making the Band’s 20th
If you read one story this week, please let it be my deep dive into Making the Band, which premiered 20 years ago last Tuesday, and was the first modern broadcast network series.
For the piece, I talked to Real World co-creator Jon Murray, and also looked at some of the behind-the-scenes talent on Making the Band who went on to shape the genre.
Okay, here it is: Making the Band premiered 20 years ago. A look back at the reality TV ‘breakthrough’
Is Sandra a quitter?
On Survivor: Winners at War, the merge arrives next week, so there was one more chance for players to get rid of higher-profile contestants.
You can see what happened, and my thoughts about it, in my recap of Survivor: Winners at War episode 7.
At the beginning of the episode, the contestant voted off last week, Sandra, arrived at the Edge of Extinction, and decided she wanted no part of that. A lot of people—from Entertainment Weekly to random commenters—are referring to her as a “quitter” now.
So I wrote this: Sandra didn’t quit Survivor. Stop saying she did. Am I wrong here?
News and one review
Top Chef Masters 3 winner Floyd Cardoz has died from COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.
Why a two-time cancer survivor and ‘Cajun mermaid’ did Naked and Afraid. Her episode aired last Sunday.
Here are the 8 reality shows and 7 docs premiering this week—which don’t include a marathon announced this week. Saturday, Mythbusters will air all day on Discovery Channel, starting at 9 a.m., and the episode called “Flu Fiction,” which explores how viruses spread.
Yes, that meme means some Love is Blind news is coming!
This week, Netflix announced the very exciting future of Love is Blind and The Circle. If that isn’t enough, Netflix also announced a new Marie Kondo show.
Finally, here’s my review of Making the Cut, on which Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn are having a blast.
The first two episodes are live on Amazon Prime Video right now.
I hope they—or whatever reality TV you watch—bring some joy and relief to your weekend. Stay well, friends! Talk to you next week in your inbox.
best,
Andy
🌄 This is Reality in Focus issue 187, first sent 27 March 2020, and it will never quit its love for Sandra on Survivor.
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