The Quest is back! Great American Baking Show will return! MTV is selling alcohol! Plus: Top Chef, Survivor, and much more
Dear newsletter friends,
Although classes ended a two weeks ago, today is technically my last day of teaching undergraduates: I’m taking at least a year off from classroom teaching.
It’s been a 9-month-a-year day job for 20 years and 40 semesters, which seems impossible since I’m still in my early 30s in my head. As much as I love teaching, I need a break from the academia parts, like grading and assessment. 😝
It’s scary, stepping into the unknown, but I’m also excited to have more time to focus on writing about reality TV, finding new ways to teach, and whatever else comes up!
I reviewed
This week, I reviewed:
Disney+’s The Quest, which is back (yay!) and so impressive and immersive the real-life players get lost (oh no!)
I’m still stunned about how well they transformed the filming location
American Song Contest was a wonderful, exuberant flop
Also! I appeared on The EuroWhat? Podcast to talk about the show. The episode is on their Patreon feed now and will be on the main feed soon.
And: I am still very worried about Michael Bolton
Survivor + Top Chef
I recapped two shows this week. As you can see by the headlines, I have no strong feelings about either of them:
Please die, Survivor’s Do or Die, for threatening great strategy with a dumb game of chance
Top Chef Houston’s Last Chance Kitchen’s winner was named after a two-part, half-dumb episode
Reality TV news
The Great American Baking Show will return—and will be more like The Great British Bake-Off
Survivor alum and now podcaster Stephen Fishbach won a Pushcart Prize for "To Sharks," his short story that will now be in this anthology.
Bravo renewed Top Chef, Project Runway, Married to Medicine, Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, Summer House, Winter House, Family Karma, Below Deck, Below Deck Mediterranean, Vanderpump Rules, and The Real Housewives of Orange County, New Jersey, New York City, Potomac and Salt Lake City.
Todd Chrisley is getting another show, in addition to a 10th season of his show Chrisley Knows Best. Speaking of just what the world needs, it's a dating series, where "he guides one unlucky-in-love single on a whirlwind day of speed dating that will hopefully end in the date night and match of their dreams."
MTV is now selling alcohol called "Juicy Shore: Hard Seltzer." I think this is a real missed opportunity!
A new Jackass is coming thanks to "the success of Jackass Forever," Paramount Global's CEO said.
🤩 I recommend
This Disney+ show, which is great to have back
This show, which returns today. I haven’t seen season 3 yet, but can’t wait!
This behind-the-scenes footage at a Survivor challenge. The attention to detail is so impressive!
That’s everything for this week! Have a great rest of your week and weekend!
—Andy
🌄 This is Reality in Focus issue 290, first sent 13 May 2022, and it would like to go on The Quest.
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📷 Photo of Disney Springs by Philip Arambula