Survivor shocker and more surprises • Drag Race changes • holiday reality TV recommendations • and more!
Dear newsletter friends,
Somehow, we've arrived at the end of the year. If anyone knows where this entire fall went, please let me know.
This will be the penultimate newsletter of the year, with a special edition going out sometime in the next two weeks that'll have my picks for the best reality TV of the year, and a round-up of my favorite stories.
⭐️ What's been your favorite reality TV or documentary show of the year? Reply and let me know!
And read on for this week's reviews and news.
Survivor 43
Before the finale:
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The editing of winners throughout Survivor's history—and what that predicted
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I asked AI to review this season, and create images. The results made me laugh so much!
After the finale:
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My recap of the stupefying finale and this season. Someone make the ending make sense!
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5 surprises from Survivor 43 finalist interviews, including their thoughts on the fire-making challenge, which really shocked/saddened me
And that's it for this season of Survivor! It'll be back in March.
Reviews and news
I reviewed:
- America’s Test Kitchen: Next Generation, which is a satisfying return of the job interview competition like Food Network Star
I reported on:
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a show that Netflix filmed last year: its own all-star dating show like Bachelor in Paradise
Here are:
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This week’s reality TV premieres
More reality TV news
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SYTYCD alum and judge Stephen "tWitch" Boss died this week. He recently hosted the Dirty Dancing reality show, among so many other things
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Disney+'s revival of The Quest won two Emmys! They were for directing and special effects, and part of the first-ever Children's and Family Emmy Awards
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Fox is bringing back Farmer Wants a Wife, which first aired on The CW in 2008, though more as a rural clone of The Bachelor, while the Fox version will have four farmers and a group of women
Last-minute shopping?
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Fun gift ideas for reality TV fans, from Love is Blind wine glasses to a Survivor voting pen
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For yourself: Join me on Patreon and get reality blurred stickers at any tier! Or upgrade your newsletter subscription right here. Both will give you bonus content and the warm feeling that comes from supporting an independent creator.
🤩 I recommend
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This new competition, which has new episodes every Friday on Freevee
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The images in this story, and then creating your own! I asked it to paint photos of my family in the 1980s and the results were uncanny.
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This look at Survivor editing over 42 seasons
🎄 Bonus holiday recommendations!
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This special season of Blown Away on Netflix
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This holiday decoration show; its past five seasons on Hulu and also free on ABC.com
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This Santa competition, which is available for purchase on Amazon
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The Jinkx and Dela Holiday Special, on Hulu and available elsewhere
To those who celebrate: Happy Hanukkah (this weekend and next week/end) and Merry Christmas (next weekend)!
I'll be back with one final newsletter before the new year. See you then!
best,
Andy
🌄 This is reality blurred’s Reality in Focus issue 318, first sent 16 December 2022, and it wishes you a very happy holiday season.
📸 Photo of a holiday table by Libby Penner