Survivor surprises, Legends of the Hidden Temple's secrets, Real World and Challenge news, and more
Dear newsletter friends,
That cat is me, or at least how I’ve felt for much of this week! But I still managed to watch and write about a lot of reality TV.
I started the week with this big story about Legends of the Hidden Temple, which has tidbits about the 1990s Nickelodeon show and the brand-new CW reboot (which was originally intended for Quibi).
So much great behind-the-scenes material! Read it here.
And if you’re into behind-the-scenes stories, and you haven’t yet read my Amazing Race oral history, perhaps it’d be a nice weekend read.
A recap, a review, and 3 podcasts
Survivor: Finally! Survivor 41 rebounds with a classic, thrilling episode
Home Sweet Home: My review of Ava DuVernay’s new NBC reality show
I reviewed three podcasts, including one about a reality show producer who was conned by his best friend
Reality TV news
In August, I told you that 7 of the 9 Real World Los Angeles cast members were reuniting; Paramount+ confirmed that and set a premiere date. The cast will live in the same Venice Beach house.
The Challenge: All Stars is also returning in November. You can find that on the fall reality TV schedule, along with other recently announced premieres.
RHOBH will start filming its next season soon, rather than taking time off
Bravo has been subpoenaed for unaired footage of Erika Jayne
Reality show cast member news
Ex On the Beach season 1 cast member Chris Pearson died after being stabbed
Food Network star Ree Drummond is starring in Discovery+ and Food Network’s first scripted project: a Christmas movie, Candy Coated Christmas
Jen Richards, who’s featured in the documentary Disclosure that’s been on Netflix since June and is labeled a “Netflix Original,” tweeted that Netflix “purchased the streaming rights for less than half of what it cost to make and relied on us to promote it,” and added that “director Sam Feder and the rest of the producers decided to accept the deal because it meant the widest possible audience.”
Question correction!
Last week I screwed up the link for this story, so here it is again, but fixed, I hope:
I answered two questions about Masked Singer’s audience and Naked and Afraid’s pay—and also asked for your help for a reader who’s looking for a specific 9/11-focused documentary.
⭐️ I recommend
This show’s final two episodes, which dropped on Netflix a week after the show premiered. A curious schedule but a terrific competition!
This tweet, captioned “Kyle Richards confronting Michael Myers”
This genius visual observation, which involves one of my favorite movies, The Muppet Christmas Carol.
That’s everything for this week. Happy Friday and happy weekend!
best,
Andy
🌄 This is Reality in Focus issue 263, first sent Oct. 15, 2021, and it still wants to attempt the Temple Run.
💻 This newsletter is hand-crafted in Florida by me, Andy Dehnart, and is supported in part by reality blurred patrons and paid subscribers to this newsletter. I’m grateful for them. If you can—or have a healthy expense account!—consider becoming a patron or upgrading your newsletter subscription.
💌 If you like this newsletter, forward it to a friend! If you're that friend, you can subscribe here!
✅ Bookmark realityblurred.com and visit daily for the latest of my reality TV news analysis, reviews, and commentary.
📷 Photo of a sleeping cat in Croatia by Miha Rekar