reality blurred + archives + January 14 to January 20, 2001

week of January 14, 2001

critic: Temptation Island "is far worse than lascivious."
critic: Temptation Island "is far worse than lascivious." Asking "Why let the Pat Robertsons and Jerry Falwells of the world have all the fun," The...
Popstars debut earns WB "highest rating ever for the time period."
Popstars debut earns WB "highest rating ever for the time period." Variety reports that the US debut of Popstars Friday did extremely well, beating FOX's...
only seven of ABC's 22 hours of programs are scripted.
only seven of ABC's 22 hours of programs are scripted. From The Mole to Making the Band to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, most...
Making the Band marathon on MTV all day today.
Making the Band marathon on MTV all day today. MTV is airing the entire first season of Making the Band, which ABC recently announced will...

Temptation Island debuts at #13 on the Lycos Top 50.
Temptation Island debuts at #13 on the Lycos Top 50. Temptation Island was the 13th most popular search on Lycos last week, the subject's debut...
Joyce Millman doesn't care who the Survivor "rip-off" Mole is.
Joyce Millman doesn't care who the Survivor "rip-off" Mole is. Calling The Mole a Survivor, from the castaways to the host, Salon.com's TV critic, Joyce...
report: Survivor 2's Debb is engaged to her stepson.
report: Survivor 2's Debb is engaged to her stepson. There's again some pre-show controversy, or at least gossip, about a Survivor contestant. The New York...
NBC will add time to Friends, air SNL clips to combat Survivor.
NBC will add time to Friends, air SNL clips to combat Survivor. Not content to be booted off the must-see TV island, NBC is fighting...

Anderson Cooper: The Mole is "a lot smarter" than Survivor.
Anderson Cooper: The Mole is "a lot smarter" than Survivor. Swimming into dangerous waters, Anderson Cooper brazenly says that the show he hosts, The Mole,...
Morgan: "I'd rather it be on PBS than on a TV station with Temptation Island."
Morgan: "I'd rather it be on PBS than on a TV station with Temptation Island." American High star Morgan talked to TV critics, and...
next from Big Brother producer Endemol: a sperm-donor show?
next from Big Brother producer Endemol: a sperm-donor show? The creative geniuses that brought us Big Brother are thinking about producing a reality TV show...

Billy Joel's former girlfriend is dating Sean.
Billy Joel's former girlfriend is dating Sean. Mr. ABC voting strategy, Dr. Sean Kenniff, is dating Trish Bergin, Billy Joel's former girlfriend. The New York...
casting begins for "the first ever summer" edition of The Real World.
casting begins for "the first ever summer" edition of The Real World. This year, The Real World's 10th anniversary, Bunim-Murray will tape two seasons of...
Survivor goes worldwide.
Survivor goes worldwide. CBS has sold the rights to the first Survivor to 40 countries, including Japan and Australia.+ plus: Survivor 2 sponsors announced....
FOX pulls some Temptation ads.
FOX pulls some Temptation ads. Caving to pressure from the FCC and others, FOX will stop airing ads for Temptation Island during "family-oriented" shows, Inside.com...

NBC's Thursday night "ploy reveals its own programming weaknesses."
NBC's Thursday night "ploy reveals its own programming weaknesses." Entertainment Weekly says NBC's plan to expand Friends by 10 minutes to combat Survivor shows that...
Temptation Island ratings rise 10 percent over last week's premiere.
Temptation Island ratings rise 10 percent over last week's premiere. Temptation Island's second week had better ratings than last week, gaining 10 percent more viewers...
O-Town album "listening party" broadcast online all weekend.
O-Town album "listening party" broadcast online all weekend. Listen to O-Town's self-titled debut album, in stores Tuesday, online all weekend....

this week's Entertainment Weekly explores Survivor 2, handicaps The Mole, and more.
this week's Entertainment Weekly explores Survivor 2, handicaps The Mole, and more. Entertainment Weekly's "Guide to 2001" double issue, on newsstands this week, includes a...