A surprise coming out • a Survivor's Challenge strategy • a ringing new documentary • Kristen Kish dishes • and so much more
Dear newsletter friends,
Happy Friday! Thanks, as always, for being here with me.
A quick programming note before we get to this week's reality TV coverage.
Because next weekend is a holiday weekend—and as an early/late birthday present to myself (I'm 46 tomorrow!)—I'm giving this newsletter next Friday off.
But reality blurred will be going strong next week, including with coverage of the Claim to Fame finale, so check the site for that and the other things I'm working on, such as:
a big piece about reality TV unionization efforts, which will be published later today
my Challenge USA recaps
my fall reality TV premiere guides, which goes live next Friday
😍 1 review, 2 recaps, 1 collection
I reviewed:
Claim to Fame season 2:
😭 There was no Claim to Fame this week! The Bachelorette took the whole three hours
🙌 The two-episode, two-hour finale airs Monday
But I used the off week to gather together all my recaps here: Claim to Fame recaps: ABC’s terrific celebrity relative guessing game
The Challenge USA season 2:
Episode 3: Yes, Paulie came out on The Challenge USA 2, while outnumbered vets fractured
Episode 4: A Survivor winner’s ‘insane plan’ affects a double elimination
Episode 5: Coming soon!
🗞️ Reality TV news
In fun news:
Kristen Kish was profiled by the New York Times, and that gave me 3 more reasons why I now love Kristen Kish as Top Chef host even more
The Bachelorette Charity Lawson chose Dotun Olubeko, after the SHOCKING AND SURPRISING return of someone she'd rejected earlier, who found his way back to the set in Fiji!! 🙄
Charity rejected Joey Graziadei, and he will star on The Bachelor’s 28th season, ABC announced. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Survivor: Millennials vs Gen X’s Bret LaBelle, 49, was profiled because he's in a relationship with a 23-year-old influencer, Chris Stanley, who goes by stanchris on TikTok and, um, elsewhere.
This sounds like a joke, but apparently is not: Magnolia Network said it's developing "the first ever nation-wide roller dancing competition series" produced by—here it comes—Chip and Joanna Gaines.
In awful news:
A Below Deck Sailing Yacht crew member has detailed an assault and harassment by Gary King. Bravo and producers say they investigated; Gary King will be attending BravoCon this year.
A former Chopped competitor, who was sued by women who said he assaulted him when they were minors, had one charge of sexual assault dismissed, but was soon after arrested at JFK airport trying to fly to Bangkok. He was later released.
🗓️ This week's reality TV
Among reality shows premiering this week are a new series following Toya Johnson-Rushing and Reginae Carter, Toya & Reginae; a new season of Netflix's The Ultimatum; and new seasons of Bobby’s Triple Threat, Mountain Men, and Disappeared
The documentaries on TV include Attenborough: Behind the Lens, Swamp Kings, Secrets of Prince Andrew, and BS High.
💬 Comments of the week
This would be fantastic – I love, love, love Ari Shapiro!
—Lauren, on this story
Never thought I’d say a negative word about ninja. The world is overflowing with negativity and ANW has always provided a couple hours of wholesome, inspiring positivity. But here I am, being put in a position that I feel I have to complain about the show.
—Peter, on this story
🤩 I recommend
This three-episode series, which ends Sunday
Re-watching this finale, which aired 23 years ago Wednesday. It holds up!
I hope you have a great weekend, and an even better long Labor Day weekend, whether it involves working or taking a break from it.
best,
Andy
🌄 This is issue 351 of reality blurred’s weekly newsletter, first sent on 25 August 2023, and it has never accidentally ended up on the set of a reality show in Fiji
📸 Photo of a pika in the San Juan mountains by Deirdre Denali Rosenberg