This week's reality TV premieres: June 16 to 22, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, Good evening! I’m just returning from a week at a writers workshop, so my creative energy is high, and I’m also ready to plop...
This week's reality TV premieres: June 9 to 15, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, I decided to sit outside to write this note to you. It’s 10:10 a.m. as I type. I am drenched in sweat. Is it time for fall yet?...
Summer reality TV ☀️ new Traitors cast • Top Chef secrets • Below Deck Med
Photo by Nick Fewings Dear newsletter friends, I hope you’re staying cool if you’re under this U.S. heat dome. We’re baking here in Florida, and I know it’s...
This week's reality TV premieres: June 2 to 8, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, Yesterday, I published my new summer reality TV premiere guide, and just in time, because summer reality TV is here. Sure, Big...
Survivor is 24 🥳🏝️ • Top Chef • Netflix renewals • Moviepass • Balls
Photo of a lavender field by Liana Mikah Dear newsletter friends, I hope you had a great Memorial Day and (short?) week. In my ongoing quest to horrify you...
This week's reality TV premieres: May 26 to June 1, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, Happy Memorial Day weekend! 🇺🇸 I’d completely forgotten this was a holiday weekend here in the States until, well, right now, as...
Survivor finale questions, answered • Top Chef interview • SYTYCD changes
Photo of a tree swallow by Dietra Alyssa Semple Dear newsletter friends, Happy Friday! In last week’s note, I mentioned how Google’s garbage AI is hurting...
Reality TV premieres for May 19 to 25, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, We’re on the cusp of a save of summer reality TV, with some starting to pop up this week, like the return of a few netwrok game...
Amazing Race record • Mole news • Survivor 🤦♂️ • 1990s Yankees
Photo by Inggrid Koe Dear newsletter friends, Silicon Valley’s obsession with adding AI to everything—even if it doesn’t need it—has reached Google, which is...
Reality TV premieres for May 12 to 18, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, Good evening—or whatever time it is for you when you’re reading this! Another packed week of reality TV premieres are ahead,...
Restaurant Wars • BB26 schedule • Fashun fun • Ctrl+Alt+Desire
Photo of trees in Switzerland by Pascal Debrunner Dear newsletter friends, I hope everyone is safe and sound with this latest wave of severe weather crossing...
Reality TV premieres for May 5 to 11, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, I just woke up from a three-hour nap in the middle of the day, which is I guess exactly what weekends are for. 🥱 Alas, I just...
Applebee's meltdown • Amazing Race crew screws a team? • Survivor 50 • more
Photo by Jürgen Dear newsletter friends, This week, I published two pieces about people whose behind-the-scenes work makes for excellent television. First, I...
Reality TV premieres for April 28 to May 4, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, An interesting mix of new and returning reality TV shows are coming to our screens this week, from shows no one asked for (a new...
Top Chef challenges • old Bravo shows return • The Jinx • 10 recommendations
Photo by Lucas van Oort Dear newsletter friends, Happy Friday! I have a lot of great reality TV and true-crime coverage to share with you—and I have a busy...
Reality TV premieres for April 21 to 27, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, Tomorrow is Earth Day, which you’d think might be theme for unscripted TV this week. Instead—probably coincidentally—a bunch of...
Last Chance Kitchen results • bonkers Survivor • What Jennifer Did—to a photo • reviews • recaps
Photo by Alessia C Dear newsletter friends, Last weekend, I went to a rage room with my sister and husband. We put on helmets and protective gear, and then...
Reality TV premieres for April 14 to 20, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, Good evening, and happy Tax Day Eve here in the U.S., if one can wish another a happy tax eve! Every April 15, I think about how...
TOC interviews • Amazing Race • Top Chef duos • What Jennifer Did
The Moon's shadow over Maine and Quebec during the eclipse (Photo by NASA) Dear newsletter friends, Seeing the moon cover the sun from my driveway was...
Reality TV premieres for April 7 to 13, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, Tomorrow, in the U.S., we'll experience a solar eclipse—and of course this real-life event will be covered by some unscripted...
All of this reality TV made me laugh so much this week 😂 🤣
Composite of the 2019 solar eclipse by Abed Ismail Dear newsletter friends, I'm trying something new on reality blurred: a return to blogging. Yes, while I...
Reality TV premieres for March 31 to April 6, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, I just realized I started last week's e-mail to you with "Another week, another"—and that was it. 😂 Sometimes I think I've...
Last Chance Kitchen twist • Traitors ideas • Survivor's decline • Serial
Photo by Marian Florinel Condruz Dear newsletter friends, When I write a review or recap, I think of it as my part of a conversation—even if that part is...
Reality TV premieres for March 24 to 30, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, Another week, another 🗓️ The week's premieres This week's reality show premieres: New seasons of Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard...
Top Chef joy • Survivor agony • Stormy Daniels • 2 recommendations
Photo of dandelions in Switzerland by Uwe Conrad Dear newsletter friends, For the second time in a year, the Hollywood press has breathlessly proclaimed that...
Reality TV premieres for March 17 to 23, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, The abundance of great reality TV right now means I have yet to watch The Amazing Race’s premiere four days later. And between...
Survivor 😭😭 • Traitors UK 🥳 • 3 amazing interviews • 9 recaps
Photo by David Clode Dear newsletter friends, I just got back from a two-mile walk this beautiful, cool morning. Yesterday, it snowed on me, and today, it...
Reality TV premieres for March 10 to 16, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, It's Oscar night; I'm writing this in advance, as I'll be at an Oscar party with friends when this is sent out. Don't tell...
Traitors' stunning end • RuPaul's shop of horrors • Survivor mess • more
Photo of a garden in Scotland by Craig Thomas Dear newsletter friends, Two nights ago, my husband and I and our cats woke up to the fire alarm blaring. It...
Reality TV premieres for March 3 to 9, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, I just published my new spring premiere guides, and springing forth immediately are a bunch of new competitions. Plus, this is...
Spring reality TV dates 🌷 Survivor, Traitors, TOC recaps 📰 lots of news
Photo by San Smile Dear newsletter friends, As I write these words Friday morning, I am just exhausted! It's all from good stuff—recovery from two great...
Reality TV premieres for Feb. 25 to March 2, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, Hope you've had a nice weekend. The coming week is big one for competition shows, and two Bravo shows. The Traitors will reach...
Traitors betrayal 😒 and drama 🍿 • TAR's new teams • TOC's return • 2 recaps, 3 reviews
Photo of a robin by Avery Lutkenhoff Dear newsletter friends, This leap year is moving so fast! Next week, February ends, Survivor returns (!), and we're...
Reality TV premieres for Feb. 18 to 25, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, I'm still decompressing after two weeks in L.A., and a day of (delayed) travel on Friday. I'm doing that by watching dumb action...
Traitors, Bachelor producers' answers to my questions • 7 reviews and recaps • and much more
Photo of cherry blossoms in Sweden by Arno Smit Dear newsletter friends, I'm writing to you from 28,300 feet in the air, at least according to Southwest's...
Reality TV premieres for Feb. 11 to 17, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, Happy Sunday! I hope you've had a great weekend. This week, we have puppies!! 🐶 🐕🦺 🐩 🦮 🐕 Also pet tricks, the Patriots,...
Below Deck's the best • Traitors betrayed me • Couple to Throuple • Lover, Stalker, Killer
Photo of Hafjell, Norway, by Theo Eilertsen Photography Dear newsletter friends, I suppose it was inevitable that my beloved The Traitors would have a...
Special preview! ✨ Reality TV premieres for Feb. 4 to 10, 2024
Dear newsletter friends, Good evening! February may not have brought us spring quite yet, but it is delivering a bunch of new reality TV shows, including one...
Reality TV premieres for Feb. 4 to 10, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, Good evening! February may not have brought us spring quite yet, but it is delivering a bunch of new reality TV shows, including...
Carla Hall's great new show • Love is Blind's silencing attempt • Capote • Traitors
Photo by Ralph Katieb Dear newsletter friends, Happy Groundhog Day! Though it occurs to me: it's probably not happy for that poor groundhog that gets...
Reality TV premieres for Jan. 28 to Feb. 3, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, I'm pretending this isn't the last week of January, because I'm pretty sure New Year's Eve was a few days ago. This week has...
TOC 5's chefs • true crime's new home • The Trust • The Traitors • and other things
Photo by Patrick T'Kindt Dear newsletter friends, On Monday, my husband and I adopted these two tiny kittens. Our established cat is still skeptical, and...
Reality TV premieres for Jan. 21 to 27, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, I hope you're staying warm and safe if you were in the path of this latest wave of icy weather here in the U.S., and if you're...
A Survivor winner's mistake • Jury Duty & the Emmys • Traitors recaps • a contest
Photo by Else-Marie de Leeuw Dear newsletter friends, The final reality TV Emmy was presented Monday during a truly great telecast. I'm usually annoyed with...
Reality TV premieres for Jan. 14 to 20, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, Good evening! Here's your look at the reality TV shows and one-off documentaries and specials premiering this week. As always, I...
The Traitors is back • Dr. Pol • two Netflix reviews • Emmy winners • a host's arrest • much more!
Photo by Fabien Dear newsletter friends, The prime-time Emmy awards are Monday, though all but one of the reality TV Emmys were presented last weekend. As...
Reality TV premieres for Jan. 7 to 13, 2024
Dear newsletter subscribers, Good evening! My brain is almost in 2024, as it only tried to type "2023" in the subject line before catching itself and...
A new year, a great new game show • Gypsy Rose & Natalia Grace • your Survivor thoughts • and more!
Phoot by Flo Dahm Dear newsletter friends, Happy new year! I hope 2024 has been spectacular for you so far. I had a refreshing, relaxing holiday break, and...
Reality TV premieres for the first week of January 2024
Dear newsletter friends and subscribers, Happy new year! 🥳 I love the week between Christmas and New Year's, when it seems like TV quiets down. I love TV,...
Reality TV premieres for the rest of 2023
Dear newsletter friends and subscribers, Good evening! Although I said Friday's newsletter was the last of the year, I wanted to send this supporter bonus...