Love is Blind lawsuit's stunning claims • The Challenge strategy • Live PD's return • Jersey Shore house
Dear newsletter friends,
I intended to watch and review the new Love Island this week, and have a big story in the works that I was hoping to publish early next week.
But starting Wednesday afternoon, my week became focused on helping to manage this.
After months of planning and so much work by my fellow TCA Board members, it’s disappointing to see the collapse of our in-person summer press tour—where we would have spent 2.5 weeks in non-stop press conferences, asking questions and learning about new and returning shows. We will do a version of that via Zoom; it’s not the same.
I think I’m mostly sad about not being able to finally see friends and colleagues from all over the U.S. and Canada in person after 2.5 years.
Anyway, enough about me! Here’s what I did have time to write about this week.
I reported:
on the Love is Blind lawsuit. Are reality show cast employees? Should Love is Blind contestants have gotten meal breaks and water in their hotel rooms?
Those are some of the questions in the fascinating lawsuit, which you can now read here because I paid $22.20 to download it from the court’s website.
I recapped:
Also, here are:
I suggest:
Reading the Live PD contracts for yourself. The show is back tonight, rebranded as On Patrol: Live on Reelz.
Whether you love or loathe it (I have strong feelings!), I think it’s useful to know that the shows’s insistence that it's "real-time" and just like "news-gathering" is untrue. Just read the show’s own contracts.
I revisited:
My interview with a husband and wife team about how they created, cast, and film their reality show Black Love, which ends with its sixth season starting tomorrow.
I compiled:
My July reality TV news and must-reads. I’ll keep updating throughout the month, but there now:
Survivor 44’s idol twist
a story by someone on The First 48
the return of Homicide Hunter
the cancellation of both MDL:NY and Million Dollar Island
Tyra’s new DWTS co-host
I learned:
That I bought the Jersey Shore house. It was news to me!
🤩 I recommend
This show, back for a third season today on Netflix. It’s not a perfect competition, but it’s great art and fun characters.
This show, which premieres its final season tomorrow.
That’s it for this week. Have a terrific weekend!
—Andy
🌄 This is Reality in Focus issue 299, first sent 22 July 2022, and it’s ready for a nap. At 8:12 a.m.
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