Two winners, from Top Chef and Survivor, and two very different weeks
Dear newsletter friends,
The last week or so brought two very different examples of the paths that former reality competition winners have taken:
A Survivor winner voted for an "extreme" set of laws, and other Survivors reacted, as did I
A Top Chef winner using her curiosity to offer us "a window into somebody else’s life"
These two things aren't directly comparable, of course—a lawmaker's vote, a reality star's new show.
But they are two very different approaches to using fame and trying to affect other people's lives.
🧑🍳 Top Chef
My recap of Top Chef World All Stars episode 3:
My interview with Top Chef winner Kristen Kish:
Why Top Chef Kristen Kish’s new series is so liberating and personal
FYI: All of the episodes are now on Disney+
😃 Survivor and Big Brother recaps!
Survivor 44:
Episode 4: Survivor’s most brainless tribe swap ever did provoke some action
Probst podcast episode 3: Jeff Probst describes Survivor's new casting process, and also says “We try to have a few rules as possible on Survivor.” LOL LOL LOL
Big Brother Canada 11
Hamsterwatch continues her excellent coverage of BBCAN11:
Episode 6: Does anyone want The Zach Show?
Episode 7: Vanessa exposes Zach
Episode 8: Who was evicted? Plus: Wendy’s Rewards points, explained
Dan’s surprise BBCAN 11 nominations, plus fractures and friend-zoning
What BBCAN11’s shorter Friday and Saturday Digital Dailies revealed
📺 This week on reality TV
The week's reality show premieres include:
New seasons of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip and Love is Blind
The new country music competition My Kind of Country
Restaurants at the End of the World
Among the specials and docs premiering this week are:
American Masters' profile of Dr. Tony Fauci
Storming Cesar’s Palace, the story of a woman who "took on the Nevada mob in organizing a massive protest that shut down Caesars Palace"
a special Impractical Jokers
🗞️ Reality TV news
Tyra Banks quit Dancing with the Stars; Alfonso Ribeiro will now host, while Julianne Hough will co-host
The Challenge All-Stars 4’s cast and links to spoilers
Survivor David vs Goliath winner Nick Wilson voted for a ‘terrifying’ Kentucky law
The final Below Deck episode for Captain Lee Rosbach (who I once interviewed about how real the show is) aired March 20, or at least it seemed that way based on the episode. But then Captain Lee tweeted that he'll be back.
Producers who work on The Kitchen and Trisha’s Southern Kitchen are unionizing at their workplace, BSTV Entertainment.
Food Network renewed Superchef Grudge Match, which will return in early 2024 with eight new episodes hosted by Darnell Ferguson.
Drag Race’s contestant Salina EsTitties reacted, during a performance, to judge Ross Matthews' criticism
💬 Comments of the week
I have applied to Survivor in the past, and I’m due for another go, but honestly, the game in its current format is not one I want to play in. Far too many advantages, and perhaps worse, decoy advantages. If production essentially lies to contestants with fake idols and other misdirects, sooner or later all rules fall apart and the game totally crumbles.
—Patrick, on this recap
The female cast is absolutely stacked with big characters and strong competitors, holy cow.
—Kurt, on this story
🤩 I recommend
This show, especially for its host
This show, which is getting better and better
This competition on Netflix
Coming soon: My review of The Traitors Australia, an MTV mystery finally solved, and an interview you won't want to miss.
Check reality blurred regularly for those and much more, because this newsletter is going to take next Friday off. Have a great weekend!
best,
Andy
🌄 This is issue 230 of reality blurred’s weekly newsletter, first sent 24 March 2023, and it's still waiting for Nick Wilson's response
📸 Photo of a bee by József Szabó