The new Traitors cast • The Challenge changes forever • DWTS, BB25 & strikes • a behind-the-scenes interview
Dear newsletter friends,
This Tuesday, I had a tiny taste of what I'd be like on Survivor, and/or on a reality show that challenged me to drink something yucky.
As I documented on Facebook, using one of my favorite GIFs, I had my first colonoscopy this week. (The American Cancer Society now recommends first screening at 45.)
TV prepared me well for what to expect, including Katie Couric's Today Show segment way back in 2000.
What I did not know, until my doctor told me, is that I couldn't eat fiber for three days, and no food at all for an entire day before the procedure. (Katie Couric had lunch the day she did her giant jug of laxative!)
So I was quite hungry by the time I had to drink my two 16-ounce drinks. I don't know how Survivor contestants think straight after several days or weeks of no food.
The liquid was vile. Between gulps, I ran around my house, making noises and trying to spit out the lingering flavor. It took me about 20 minutes to get each one down.
Thankfully, everything after that was swift and easy, and everything's all clear, so I don't have to do that again for 10 years. 💩
As a bonus, my doctor sent me home with souvenir photos, just like every other place in Orlando.
Okay, let's move on from my colon into the week's reality TV!
🥳 Big news and an interview
I interviewed The Challenge USA season 2's executive producer, and it was a fascinating behind-the-scenes conversation:
Here was the big casting news of the week:
The Traitors US season 2 players: mostly reality stars, but not all—and not some rumored names
And news from Survivor, which returns next week:
😍 2 recaps, three answers
I recapped The Challenge USA season 2:
episode 9: The Challenge USA really buried a Survivor who was digging their own grave
episode 10: A player makes a decision that will change The Challenge forever 😱
And I answered these questions, all in the same edition of Ask Andy:
🗞️ More reality TV news
Show news:
ABC will probably delay Dancing with the Stars, now that the actor Matt Walsh (from Veep) is "taking a pause" from the show until the strikes are resolved. DWTS has a WGA writer; one picker had a sign that says, "Matt Walsh: Don't dance as a scab!" But SAG itself says it's fine. [Variety, 9.21.23]
The Golden Bachelor made its cast stay up for 11 hours straight overnight, finishing the rose ceremony at 6:34 a.m. Bravo to them: I couldn't stay awake that long! [Variety, 9.21.23]
America's Got Talent is spinning off yet another show: AGT: Fantasy League, which NBC says will have "winners, finalists, viral sensations and fan favorites from America’s Got Talent and Got Talent franchises around the world." So, you know, exactly like AGT is already. The difference: the judges will choose acts to mentor, like The Voice. Zzzz. [9.21.23]
Netflix is now casting for a second season of The Ultimatum: Queer Love that'd film between February and April 2024. [Autostraddle, 9.21.23]
HBO said the New York Jets season of Hard Knocks "averaged 4.4 million viewers per episode, scoring the largest audience for the series in 13 years (since 2010), which also featured the New York Jets."
Reality star news:
Jody Kelly, who ran The Amazing Race 16 with her granddaughter Shannon, died Sept. 5 at age 85. [Austin American-Statesman, 9.15.23]
Selena Gomez says she was "very against" the idea of the Apple TV+ documentary My Mind and Me at first, but then opened up to it: "I felt like I got to say things that I’ve been keeping in for years. It’s very hard for me to watch. I will never watch it again, but I’m very proud of it." [Hollywood Reporter, 9.19.23]
Food Network's Aarti Sequeira has a new cookbook coming out next week, though its title is not quite as catchy as her first cookbook, Aarti Party.
🗓️ This week's reality TV
Reality shows premiering include new seasons of Love is Blind, All Star Shore, and The D’Amelio Show, and Fox's singing competitions Celebrity Name That Tune and I Can See Your Voice, plus the next Food Network holiday competition, Halloween Wars.
Documentaries premiering this week include: Showtime's Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court; Apple TV+'s doc about supermodels Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington; and more of Netflix's Murdaugh Murders.
💬 Comments of the week
The best thing about it was the music.. and only because I’m a GenX’r with nostalgia for the songs. The rest is uninteresting. I was more engaged watching my kids second grade friends playing ‘minute to win it’ games at the school carnival.
—Kim, on this review
I just finished watching the season on Netflix and I feel that the whole show was rigged and I will not waste my time watching another. I loved watching the actual carving and the camaraderie between contestants, but the judging was terrible.
—Kristin, on this review
🤩 I recommend
This show, which HBO said this week is its most-popular doc series in two years
The US, UK, and Australia seasons of The Traitors, so you'll be caught up when the new seasons arrive
This interview with a longtime reality TV producer and showrunner
Coming next week: a HUGE week of reality TV premieres, so lots of coverage!
best,
Andy
🌄 This is issue 354 of reality blurred’s weekly newsletter, first sent on 22 Sept. 2023, and it apologizes for blindsiding you with a colon story this Friday morning
📸 Photo of Lingmoor Fell in the UK by Jonny Gios