Top Chef • The Snake • The Mortician • Eliza Orlins • more!
Dear newsletter friends,
A week ago, I was elected as the new Television Critics Association president. As I wrote, I’m honored and excited to lead this organization for the next two years.
This may sound like a humblebrag, but it’s actually a kind of a holy shit! moment for me.
TCA played a pivotal role in my career and evolving reality blurred, and the challenge the new Board of Directors and I face is how to guide the organization and ensure that’s the case for current and future TV critics, in this much tougher environment for journalism and the TV industry.
It’s also fun because, when I first applied to TCA, I was rejected—three times! The reasons: they didn’t yet accept independent online publications, and they weren’t accepting freelancers who wrote for multiple publications.
That was 2008; today, the organization mostly has online journalists and freelancers. So we’ve evolved a lot, and we’ll keep evolving things over the next two years.
By the way, to answer a question someone asked in a comment earlier this week, this is an entirely volunteer position, so I’ll be continuing my work here as always.
And so let’s get to that work! 😀
🐍 Recaps and reviews
Top Chef:
Below Deck:
A bitter, fired Below Deck chef is re-hired. That’ll go well!
ANW:
🏝️ Survivor series
My newest interview:
ICYMI:
🗓️ Reality TV premieres
Premieres this week include the return of The 1% Club, with new host Joel McHale; A&E’s investigative Secrets of the Bunny Ranch; Virgins, a TLC show following, uh, virgins; and new seasons of Alone, Alone Australia, and The Real Housewives of Miami
This week’s docs and specials include Hulu’s “documentary series” about Alex Cooper, Call Her Alex, which is two episodes, i.e. not a series; Frontline’s Syria’s Detainee Files; and a doc about the Astroworld Festival crowd crush
recommended
These photos of the invasion in L.A. made me laugh so hard, I recommend:
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💬 Comments of the week
On my review of Fox’s The Snake, Jillian wrote,
I will give them credit for one thing: they recycle a lot of ideas but at least they didn’t recycle any players from other shows. Kind of refreshing in a world of quickie reality shows latching onto any “reality star” that’ll take the payday. (Looking at you Destination X and Josh)
On my review of Hulu’s Got To Get Out, Eric wrote:
Your review of The Snake reminded me to check out Got To Get Out and I’m so glad because this show is fabulous! It’s funny and the escape attempts are genuinely thrilling. There’s no real strategic element or drama but it delivers on great camaraderie amongst the cast and WTF moments. When Susan fell asleep! OMFG!
🗞️ Reality TV news
Show and star news:
Survivor 50 started production June 6. Jeff Probst said in a post-opening challenge video saying that the players all told him, "I want to play hard and I want to have fun."
CBS posted a scene from Survivor Heroes vs. Villains on Instagram with the caption, "Who remembers this moment? 🍿" It's when Danielle and Amanda fight for a clue while Colby
That scene? Its editing manipulated reality so badly that Colby told me Jeff Probst apologized to him.
Drag Race’s Kim Chi: “no one deserves this”
Industry news:
HGTV executive Loren Ruch, who also hosted HGTV House Party, died Thursday of leukemia. He was 55. Warner Bros. exec Channing Dungey told colleagues, “Loren was the rare leader who lifted everyone around him. Known for his unwavering dedication, endless kindness, and unshakeable integrity, Loren built not only hit shows but enduring relationships, serving as mentor, advocate and true friend to countless colleagues across the television landscape. His impact stretched far beyond the screen.”
🤩 I recommend
Pee-wee As Himself (HBO Max)
My open letter to Top Chef, in part because I tried something a bit experimental with it!
That’s everything! I hope that, despite all that is going on in the world, you’re able to find some time and space and joy in the days ahead.
best,
Andy
🌄 This is issue 423 of reality blurred’s weekly newsletter, first sent on 13 June 2025, and it’s sitting outside right now, enjoying cool summer air, and will miss this in the months ahead.