Traitors is back đ ⢠my new podcast â˘Â 5 recaps ⢠Survivor mysteries, solvedÂ
Dear newsletter friends,
A very happy new year to you!
I realize that, for so many people affected by extreme weather right nowâespecially the horrific fires in Californiaâthat itâs not a very happy time, and my thoughts go out to you. Please stay safe!
As a Floridian, I know how weird it is to be living through a natural disaster while the rest of the world is, say, watching The Traitors and complaining about Boston Rob. đ
Even in dire times, though, I can definitely use entertainment and distraction, so if thatâs what you need right now, read on.
And if youâd like to help those affected in L.A. and elsewhere, check out the work World Central Kitchen is doing, or see this list of ways to help.
đ Old and new
An introduction:
Since our last newsletter:
đ§ My new podcast launched Wednesday!
You can:
Or find it on any podcast app:
if the app you use isnât listed here, just search it for âreality blurredâ or use the RSS feed
Please let me know what you thinkâand what youâd like to hear!
âď¸ Reviews, recaps, & an interview
I reviewed:
ICYMI:
Recaps, with my new recap format!
Below Deck Sailing Yacht Drag Raceâs Detox and friends liven things up
Worst Cooks in America reality stars act their way through cooking
Deal or No Deal Island 2: the first boot reveals what we didnât see before the âdisasterâ
đ° The Traitors
The Traitors US season three kicked off with three episodes dropping last night.
Here are my review/recaps:
Episode one: charms and chaos: a wonderful start to the season!
Episode two: the first murder and that 'Trinity of Terror' twist
Episode three: coming tomorrow, Saturday!
đŞ True crime
A review:
Some reads:
The best and worst:
đď¸ Reality TV premieres
The first full week of 2025 had 25 premieres, of both new and returning series. Besides shows mentioned elsewhere here, those include Special Forces: Worldâs Toughest Test, Raid the Cage, the revival of Hollywood Squares, Celebrity Jeopardy! and The Price is Right At Night.
Also new seasons of Kids Baking Championship, Guyâs Grocery Games, Chopped, Kitchen Nightmares, and Wildcard Kitchen, and more Antiques Roadshow and Betting on Paradise
There were also several documentaries, including Netflixâs doc about The Jerry Springer Show, the alleged âFinal Chapterâ of The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, Frontlineâs look at the Maui fires, and Independent Lensâ look at NFTs (remember those?!).
đď¸ Reality TV news
Good news for Amazing Raceâs future, and an update on Survivor casting
The first winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, The Vivienne, aka James Lee Williams, died this weekend at age 32, less than 10 years after becoming the UK's Drag Race ambassador. That led to multiple appearances on various shows, never mind other career highlights, including a role in the West End production of The Wizard Of Oz.
The Vivienne's publicist, Simon Jones, announced the death and wrote on Instagram that "We will not be releasing any further details."
Michelle Visage wrote on Instagram, "You were always there, always laughing, always giving, always on point. Your laughter, your wit, your talent, your drag. I loved all of it but I loved your friendship most of all. You were a beacon to so many."
Scientology and the Aftermath star Mike Rinder died at age 69, his wife announced. EW reports he'd previously shared a cancer diagnosis.
Rinder co-hosted the show with Leah Remini; both were former members of Scientology who worked to help others leave and expose its practices. Last year, Rinder published A Billion Years: My Escape from a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology.
Remini remembered him in a long post on Instagram, saying that Mike "was my trusted partner and my closest confidant. ... Mike saved my life and the life of my daughter and he stood by me through battles that felt insurmountable."
Stephen 'tWitch' Boss' widow, Allison Holker, has a memoir coming out next month, and is disclosing things she found in his journals and possessions, including drugs. For a cover story, she shared some of its revelations with People.
That's not sitting well with some people, like a mutual friend, Courtney Ann Platt, who wrote on Instagram, in part,
This is by far the most tacky, classless, opportunistic act I have ever seen in my entire life. We all had to sign some weird NDA to attend his funeral (even his own mother who youâve treated like garbage this entire time and letâs just remember you wouldnât have even had a husband if it wasnât for her) not to share anything or ruin his name as if that was on anyoneâs mind in the first place and here you go and write a book with all the dirty laundry smearing his name and attempting to dim the bright loyal, loving, light that was your husband, my friend.
... Shame on you Allison, shame on your money hungry team. Let my friend Rest in Peace not your PR.
𤊠I recommend
The Traitors, of course!
The new season of Wildcard Kitchen on Food Network; the first episode was really fun
Thatâs it for this first newsletter of 2025. Have a great weekend!
best,
Andy
P.S. If you'd like to support my work, you can for just:
or join on Patreon  â˘Â give a one-time donation
đ This is issue 402 of reality blurredâs weekly newsletter, first sent on 10 January 2025, and itâs fine with Boston Rob staying in the cage