Will Blown Away blow you away again? Plus reviews, Bachelorette news, and Betty White & me
Dear newsletter subscribers,
I’m curious: What type of TV show—reality or scripted—are you watching most right now? Are you re-watching old shows like I am? Or seeking out brand-new shows? Or anxious for new seasons of shows you already know and like?
I ask because I find that I have less desire to start something new now, and more of a desire to just wallow in the familiar, whether that’s repeats of The Golden Girls or re-watching Instant Hotel—seasons one and two.
If you’re on Twitter, you can answer my poll! Or…
Three new reviews
This week, I reviewed three shows, two new, one old(er) but new to me:
Blown Away season 2, the return of Netflix’s glass blowing competition
Best Leftovers Ever!, a sibling of Netflix’s Nailed It!
Britain’s Best Home Cook, with reality TV treasure Mary Berry
All three are shows I’d recommend watching, though none enchanted me the way that, say, The Great Pottery Throw-Down did.
In the news
In Bachelorette—and Andy got really snarky—news:
Also:
The Bachelor has been beating other shows in the ratings, but is still way down. ABC’s Rob Mills talked to Variety about why that may be—and “how we have to really do better.”
Survivor’s Stephen Fishbach published a short story about, as he described it, “a has-been reality TV contestant at a reality TV charity event.” You can read it on Kindle or in the literary magazine One Story.
At Home with Amy Sedaris was cancelled after three seasons—three amazing seasons! It’s scripted, but parodies unscripted home shows, which is my excuse for writing about it
In case you missed it
Betty White’s 99th birthday was Sunday, and I shouldn’t have taken this photo
The toddlers of Toddlers & Tiaras are back, but are now no longer toddlers
Wednesday was the 16th anniversary of The Apprentice season three’s premiere—and also the final hours of Donald Trump’s presidency. On the occasion, I dug up NBC’s old bio of “The Donald”
⭐️ My recommendations
This competition show on Netflix, both seasons one and two
The Bernie Sanders-at-inauguration meme gave me so much joy, so I created two of my own. Among my favorites are these two (thanks to Jolene for sharing the third!):
That’s everything I have for you this week. Have a terrific weekend!
best,
Andy
🌄 This is Reality in Focus issue 227, first sent 22 January 2021, and it always laughs when Nick Uhas says “glory hole”
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