Last Chance Kitchen twist • Traitors ideas • Survivor's decline • Serial
Dear newsletter friends,
When I write a review or recap, I think of it as my part of a conversation—even if that part is very long-winded! 😅
That's because I love discussing, debating, and disagreeing about reality TV. It gives us so much material.
For example, I appreciated the thoughtful pushback against my review of a new Netflix show—even from one of its stars!
This week, I wrote about Survivor 46, a piece prompted by how much hostility I was seeing directed toward the players—and how I noticed myself doing that, too.
The headline summarizes my argument: Let’s stop blaming Survivor players for the show’s decline.
Again, I never expect everyone—or anyone—to disagree with me, but I will say I started to get a wee bit frustrated when some responses, especially on social media, were just like: The cast sucks!
I'm just worried that it's so easy for us to attack the real people who offer themselves up for our entertainment, when maybe we should be questioning the apparatus and systems that have created the characters we're watching.
What do you think?
🍿 Recaps
Top Chef
Survivor
Big Brother Canada
Hamsterwatch recapped for us:
Episode 9: the third HOH comp and nominations
Episode 10: ‘A masterclass in action’: BBCAN12’s veto show had guests, sneaky gameplay, and more
Episode 11: The third BBCAN12 evictee is on his way home, and we have a new Head of Household
Digital Dailies 16 & 17: The new Head of Household is (finally) revealed
Digital Dailies 18 & 19: A shockingly dumb blindside
⚰️ The Traitors
I asked, you shared, so here are your
The Traitors UK
Fantastic funeral fallout and backfiring backstabbing: recaps of episodes 7, 8, and 9
Coming early next week: Recaps of the final three UK season 2 episodes!
The Traitors NZ and Australia
Peacock is now streaming The Traitors NZ season 1 and The Traitors Australia season 2—the entire seasons!
I can't wait to watch and share some thoughts, though it'll be a week or two, I imagine. I want to savor them, not burn through them.
🔪 True crime
Edgar Awards round-up: The Lost Sons of Omaha
Sarah and Eve answered your questions in their latest podcast episode:
The Docket 03.28.24: Ask Us Anything II
🗓️ Reality TV premieres
This week's reality show premieres include new seasons of Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard and Is it Cake?, and Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show, which I'll review later today.
Documentaries airing this week include portraits of comedians Steve Martin and Mike Birbiglia; Greener Pastures, which follows four farming families, and Spermworld, which follows donors and recipients; and Madu and Moynihan, about the dancer and politician, respectively.
💬 Comments of the week
On my review of Homicide: New York, Barbara Butcher wrote:
Hi Andy—I’m sorry that you wouldn’t believe me even as a fictional character, but I can assure you that I am quite real, and that’s how I talk. You might enjoy my book, “What the Dead Know”, as it is full of unbelievable, yet real, stories.
On the same review, Paul wrote:
I thought this series was wonderful and your caricaturization of it as “pointless garbage” a little harsh. I’m not qualified to judge the technical aspects of how it was filmed, but I felt and can relate to the emotional toll these detectives are left with after retiring.
On this review of Serial, Tracy wrote:
Thank you for this! I got about halfway through the first episode on my morning commute, and I co-sign what you say about about a strange “what year is it” vibe. I would have really liked some front-loading about why this story is important to be told in the year of our Lord 2024, because I think it is!
🗞️ News
I asked Tournament of Champions’ producer several questions, including whether it'll ever abandon the east vs. west structure
Noel Fielding told me about the differences between his Bake-Off co-hosts, and compared that show to his new Apple TV+ scripted series
Here's The GOAT’s reality star cast, which appears to be an intentional joke. Also: watch the trailer
Here's my collection of 38 noteworthy reality TV news stories from March, which include:
Jenna Lyons' return to RHONY
The Traitors castle being booked by the show for another six years 🎉🎉
House of Villains season 2's cast
Below Deck’s new deckhand was also on Vanderpump Rules?!
🤩 I recommend
These three incredible episodes of The Traitors UK
This piece about how Bachelor stars turn exposure into money
This interview with a former Top Chef star, if you missed it
That's everything from me this week! Enjoy the last few days of March, and a happy Easter for those who celebrate. I'll see you in April!
best,
Andy
🌄 This is issue 376 of reality blurred’s weekly newsletter, first sent on 29 March 2024, and it's excited about another six years of US and UK Traitors