The best reality TV of 2019
Dear newsletter friends,
It’s that time of year: there’s a chill in the air, and fluttering everywhere are best-of-the-year lists. So, I’ve added my own to the mix.
I present to you 🌟⭐️ the best reality TV of 2019 ⭐️🌟, and related caveats. Let me know what you think!
Coming next week: The best reality TV of the decade, starring one show that I think perfectly encapsulates the past 10 years of reality TV.
One of my all-time favorite shows, Whale Wars, returned with a new season last night. Oh wait—it didn’t! Animal Planet is actually re-airing an old season, but has given it new episodes titles and even a new name. I find that to be truly bizarre.
Speaking of premieres: Here’s my new winter 2020 reality TV schedule and guide, which has premieres all the way into March.
If you’re into holiday competitions, here are seven that premiered Thanksgiving week.
Also Thanksgiving week, a story unfolded about summer’s top-rated reality show, America’s Got Talent, which fired its two newest judges.
One of them, Gabrielle Union, met with NBC this week to share her concerns about AGT’s “toxic culture.” Here’s what we’ve learned in the past two weeks.
Reviews and recommendations
As promised, I:
While it’s too early to recommend a show I haven’t yet seen, I can recommend watching the trailer for Spy Games, the new Bravo series that I am really excited about.
Also, while I haven’t written about either show yet, we’ve been watching and enjoying the new season of Making It.
And I’m just now watching last night’s Project Runway, and so far it seems just as strong as last season.
Behind-the-scenes of two new shows
I reviewed two new shows and also interviewed their creators:
Man vs. Bear, Discovery’s new competition that includes bears as contestants, a wild concept and results in some incredibly fun moments. 🐻 I interviewed a Discovery executive and two of its executive producers about how it was produced. Read the review and interviews.
College Behind Bars, which followed incarcerated students and aired on PBS last week (all four episodes are now streaming, free). I interviewed director Lynn Novick and producer Sarah Botstein, who revealed why she recused herself midway through production. Read the review and interviews.
That’s everything from the past two weeks! I’ll see you next Friday right here in your inbox.
best,
Andy
🌄 This is Reality in Focus issue 172, first sent 6 December 2019, and it would be better at being a spy than challenging a bear.
💌 If you like this newsletter, forward it to a friend! If you're that friend, you can subscribe here!
💻 This newsletter is hand-crafted in Florida by me, Andy Dehnart, and is supported by reality blurred patrons and paid subscribers to this newsletter. Become a patron or upgrade your newsletter subscription!
✅ Bookmark realityblurred.com and visit daily for the latest of my reality TV news analysis, reviews, and commentary.
📷 Photo of a reindeer decoration by Denisse Leon