Three reality TV reviews, two recommendations, one fascinating answer
Dear newsletter friends,
Happy Thursday and end of June! How are we already halfway through the year?!
I’ve shifted my usual Friday e-mail a day early this week because of the approaching long holiday weekend in the United States.
I imagine many of us will be busy with travel or fireworks or other summer fun—or at least re-watching Alf, now that it’s now streaming free.
Plus, next week is a big week: the premiere of The Challenge: USA, the return of Big Brother, and much more.
Here’s what’s premiering in July. And here’s what I wrote this week:
I reviewed
The ballroom competition Legendary, which I think is reality TV’s best dance competition.
PBS’s Great American Recipe, which I’d hoped would be its signature reality competition
Hotel Inspector, which is a UK show now streaming free in the US that I immediately fell in love with
I answered
Why is Life Below Zero’s music so loud? Why can’t I hear dialogue on reality TV? Really fascinating answers here from LBZ’s showrunner.
I curated
In my final update to my June reality TV must-reads and news links, I added stories about:
Two Apprentice 2 candidates’ surprising recent jobs
American Ninja Warrior becoming an Olympic sport
Lists of the reality hosts and shows that are eligible for Emmy nominations
For other links, here’s:
a great list of true-crime podcasts.
a list of free-to-watch films that trace the loss of reproductive rights over four decades, culminating in Friday’s Supreme Court decision.
🤩 I recommend
This Netflix show, whether you’re barbecuing or just looking for great summer reality competition
This HBO Max show, especially season three
That’s everything for this week. Have a terrific rest of your week and weekend, and I’ll see you in your inboxes next Friday!
—Andy
🌄 This is Reality in Focus issue 296, first sent 30 June 2022, and it’s ready for a fun and relaxing weekend.
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