A Survivor winner's mistake • Jury Duty & the Emmys • Traitors recaps • a contest
Dear newsletter friends,
The final reality TV Emmy was presented Monday during a truly great telecast.
I'm usually annoyed with awards shows for being bad TV, and how ironic that is for a show that's celebrating good TV. But not this one—it was entertaining from start to finish!
With comedy awards going to the dramatic and tense The Bear, and the dark comedy Succession taking many of the drama awards, it seems like TV may have outgrown simple awards show categories.
That said, I couldn't quite understand why Jury Duty—as funny as may have been—was competing alongside Abbott Elementary and Only Murders in the Building.
So I wrote about that:
The Traitors
My Traitors US season 2 recaps from last Friday's delayed premiere, and from last night's episode, are here:
Episode 4: Real Housewives accused of acting—with scripts!—as The Traitors fracture
Episode 3: Players dig in graves as a traitor may be digging their own
Episode 2: Accusations, blunders, and terrifying scarecrows haunt the players
Episode 1: The Traitors US 2’s treachery begins with two terrific twists
💜 a contest and reality blurred news
I'm giving away some swag I was sent! Enter here. You can enter once per day through next Wednesday. (Pro tip: I have three fun bracelets to give away; so far there's one entry that's opted for that if they win)
Not mentioned in the site news story is that I also took some of what's been in my head and wrote it down. So here are:
reality blurred's editorial policies, which cover everything from corrections to why I put show names in bold to the Oxford comma. How fun!
Coming Monday! A major announcement about reality blurred that true detectives among you might have already been able to sniff out. 😄
🗓️ This week's reality TV premieres
Highlights of this week's reality TV shows include Jason Mamoa's On the Roam; new seasons of Love on the Spectrum U.S. and Life Below Zero: Next Generation; and new seasons of Legacy List with Matt Paxton (I interviewed Matt about his show a few years ago) and Trafficked with Mariana Van Zeller (who I interviewed about how her show is produced)
Also this week, find documentaries that focus on June Carter Cash, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Danielle Brooks, plus Netflix's new American Nightmare, which Sarah D. Bunting reviewed:
💬 Comments of the week
On this Traitors recap, Eric wrote:
I just wish the US version’s editing matched the production design & atmosphere. There were A LOT of obvious, noticeable frankenbites during Season 1 and that normally wouldn’t bother me (because REALITY TV!), except that when I watch the UK/AU versions of The Traitors, I find the editing to be much cleaner & more forthright. When the latter versions don’t try to manufacture drama through fake bites, it just sort of makes the US version feel like it’s trying too hard in comparison.
On this review, Brenda wrote:
Your review does a disservice to this presentation. It uses a research technique of triangulating to support its findings. The triangulation is: 1) the study, 2) the cultural implications of food evidenced by the differing backgrounds of the study participants, and, 3) economic implications of food production and distribution. At no time, in my viewing did I feel I was being hammered over the head with veganism. I thought it was an intelligent and layered presentation worth my time and attention. Further, I find your summation of “bullshit” Netflix documentaries to be so condemning that your opinion in your review is nullified.
🗞️ Reality TV news
A Survivor winner tried to make cousin sex legal, now claims that’s ‘a mistake’
Darnell Ferguson's show is off Food Network's schedule entirely; he appeared in court where a detective shared horrifying details.
The online charity event 24-Hour Game Show Marathon asked Fremantle Media for permission to have its participants play versions of Press Your Luck or Match Game, and got a cease and desist instead.
E! renewed House of Villains; the second season will film soon and air later this year. E! said it was "the network’s most-watched new series since 2020."
Five Vanderpump Rules couples are getting their own Bravo show, The Valley: Jax Taylor & Brittany Cartwright, Kristen Doute & Luke Broderick, Danny & Nia Booko, Jesse & Michelle Lally, and Jason & Janet Caperna.
Chuck E. Cheese games ("supersized arcade games — including pinball, air hockey, alley roller and the human claw") will be part of a new competition show produced by Magical Elves.
The future of Bad Vegan, the Long Island Serial Killer, and other true-crime news
🤩 I recommend
Netflix's The Trust, which I'll be checking in on this weekend
Fox's The Floor, which is getting even better
Hope you've had great TV to watch so far, and I'll see you back in your inbox next Friday.
best,
Andy
🌄 This is issue 366 of reality blurred’s weekly newsletter, first sent on 19 January 2024, and it's excited for next week's reveal.