Paramount+'s Survivor disaster, The Challenge's expansion, and more
Dear newsletter friends,
ViacomCBS made a lot of news this week, changing the company’s name to Paramount and announcing a whole bunch of reality TV shows—renewals and orders.
But it’s what they didn’t announce that I think was the biggest news:
Paramount+ suddenly and quietly dropped its international Survivors—specifically Survivor Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa
Survivor fans have been waiting years for legal access to those shows, and then poof! Gone, after less than four weeks, with no notice.
I tried to find out why, and did get an an answer from Paramount+, but not yet a reason.
As I tweeted, I think this is a massive unforced error.
CBS will have a Challenge!
As part of Paramount+’s doubling-down on The Challenge, this summer we’re getting The Challenge: CBS with all-star Survivor, Big Brother cast.
In current challenges:
Celebrity Big Brother ends Wednesday
New reality show news
A Wordle game show, hosted by RuPaul, is coming to CBS—in its original form, Lingo!
America’s Eurovision, American Song Contest, revealed its hosts and format.
Yo! MTV Raps is coming back, hosted by Conceited and DJ Diamond Kuts
The New England Patriots will be the subject of a 10-episode series on Apple TV+ that’s based on this book.
🤩 I recommend
This fun video with glimpses behind the scenes at Chopped that Maneet Chauhan posted to Instagram
This podcast, which tells a true story you may have heard in the news 17 years ago, but goes so much deeper
This ABC show, which isn’t reality TV but a fantastic mockumentary created by Quinta Brunson. One of its EPs and directors is Randall Einhorn, a season-one Survivor camera operator who went on be cinematographer for The Office and other shows
This TikTok video, if you’re a fan of both cats and White Christmas
That’s everything from me. I hope you have a great rest of your Friday!
best,
Andy
🌄 This is Reality in Focus issue 278, first sent Feb. 18, 2022, and it didn’t even have time to start watching Australian Survivor
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