All of this reality TV made me laugh so much this week š š¤£
Dear newsletter friends,
I'm trying something new on reality blurred: a return to blogging.
Yes, while I love taking deep dives with recaps, reviews, and other coverage, sometimes I have little things I want to share or comment on.
That was basically reality blurredās origin, but I effectively offloaded a lot of that to social media over the past 10 to 15 years. With Twitter under the control of a shithead, I've been looking at other options, like Threads. But why give my content to Facebook when I have a freakin' website? š
So, on the front cover of reality blurred, right under the featured stories, you'll now find The Digest, so named because reality blurredās tagline was once "The Reality TV News Digest." I am nothing if not creative.
It's a mini-blog where I'll share links and news and fun stuff, like this clip of RuPaul laughing on Drag Race, which made me laugh during last week's episode.
Our friends at Best Evidence also contribute to it, like Sarah D. Bunting sharing this article about Grammy nominees who were in a skyjacking.
As simple as it is, this new mini-blog took some behind-the-scenes wrangling with code, and next on my list are adding archives and maybe even RSS so you can follow it elsewhere. Do let me know what you think!
š§ 3 reviews, 1 look behind-the-scenes
Food Network's Wildcard Kitchen is fun and fresh, but doesnāt need all the fibs
Netflix's The Magic Prank Show: revenge is often hilarious on Justin Willmanās new show
HBO's The Synanon Fix, a slow-boil look at a once-influential cult
Reality TV editor and friend of reality blurred Michael Chaskes edited the premiere of a new TLC show, and shared the behind-the-scenes of the process with us.
I found his insight to be fascinating, even though this show is not for me became I am squeamish:
š§ Recaps
The Traitors UK
Top Chef
Survivor 46
Finding Your Roots
Big Brother Canada
Hamsterwatch recapped for us:
Episode 14: Big Brotherās Executive Veto power creates a surprise eviction
Episode 13: Veto results are in, and melodrama breaks out on BBCAN12
Episode 12: Goats in the Big Brother houseāand they were not the ones spitting
šŖ True crime
The Witch of New York argues that the good old days of journalism were not so good
Airbnb crime, a bad vegetarian, and a peep at a marshmallow scam
Edgar Awards round-up: In Light Of All Darkness
Listen to The Docket:
šļø Reality TV premieres
This week's new and returning shows included the new Italy-set Vanderpump Villa, which seems like a chance to reboot Vanderpump Rules but with new people; PBS's A Brief History of the Future, which "challenges the dystopian framework embraced by popular culture"; and new seasons of The Weakest Link, Pawn Stars Do America, The First 48, and Say Yes to the Dress.
Specials and docs premiering this week include the start of The Real Housewives of Potomac reunion; Girls State, which follows young women who participate in a mock government event, similar to Apple TV+'s previous doc, Boys State; and A Thousand Pines, which follows a crew of 12 as they plant trees across the U.S.
š š Eclipse reality TV
There's a solar eclipse passing across the U.S. on Monday, and if you're not in the narrow path of totality, you can watch on TV: Eclipse Across America will be on ABC, National Geographic, Nat Geo WILD, Disney+, and Hulu on Monday starting at 2 p.m. ET.
And please be careful looking at the sun!
š¬ Comments of the week
As a former member and a 'subject' in the documentary, my compliments to Eve Batey for your delightful review. You nailed it. Have a Cinnabon on me!
On this recap, Bad Mitten wrote,
Harry vs Cirie is a legitimate debate for best traitor of all time. Probably a higher level of difficulty win for Harry (all newbs vs Cirie being a vet pooling the wool over newbs) and he had some flashier moves (the shield gambit was a truly legendary play), but Cirie never had an ounce of heat on her up until the moment she won, whereas Harry nearly dodged a bullet there at the end.
šļø News
Two Apprentice cast members, Andy Litinsky and Wes Mossāwho created Truth Socialāsued back in February, claiming the company was trying to dilute their shares in the company. Trump sued back, claiming they "donāt deserve their 8.6% stake, currently valued at $606 million," Bloomberg News reported. Oh,
Tarek El MoussaĀ told Jennifer Hudson that, when he was diagnosed with cancer, HGTV thought that'd end Flip or Flop: "I got a call from the network, they said, We understand, the show's done."
Meanwhile, Heather Rae El Moussa said on a podcast that Selling Sunset was "very toxic," in part because "I never knew when I was going to be filming." She said, "it was a blessing that I wasnāt asked to come back because Iām so much happier filming my show with Tarek."
Tic Tac Dough is being revived by GSN
š¤© I recommend
This Netflix show, which made me laugh until I cried
FreeTaxUSA, if you haven't done your taxes yet and hate TurboTax as much as I do. It is actually freeāand is so much more pleasant to use than TurboTax
Next week, I'll check in on The Amazing Race, and recap/report on the finale of TOC V. This year is moving so fast.
Have a terrific weekend!
best,
Andy
š This is issue 377 of reality blurredās weekly newsletter, first sent on 5 April 2024, and it needs to do its taxes