reality blurred + archives + August 14 to August 20, 2005

Sunday, Aug. 14, 2005

Reality TV catchphrases are more pop culture one-liners
Those one-line phrases competition-based reality TV shows use to send contestants home aren't just written on a whim, according to a Newsday investigation. For example,...
Wife Swap pays $20,000 to each family
Ever wonder why a family would go on Wife Swap, subjecting its young ones to life. I mean, other than for the "experience"? A casting...
Gospel Dream searching for gospel singers who don't have "Satan sneaking in"
The Gospel Music Channel is planning its own version of American Idol, and casting began this weekend. The show will visit seven cities over the...
Jennifer wins Head of Household; petition wants producers to give Kaysar immunity
After 12 hours in a terrarium with her finger on a button, Jennifer won head of household. She wouldn't, however, have won if Kaysar hadn't...

Mark Burnett Productions employs 1,500, has "a commitment to not putting crap on the air"
After two years in business, Mark Burnett Productions now employs around 1,500 people, and "handles its own production, post-production, graphic title design, video bumpers and...
Johanna wearing Gamma Phi Beta letters despite quitting the sorority
Real World Austin cast member Johanna has earned the ire of her former sorority. Apparently, the sorority shirts she wears on the show aren't acceptable...
Kelly Clarkson accused of lip-synching at concert
Our first American Idol apparently has something in common with Ashlee Simpson: she's been using "back-up" tracks, which was known in pre-spin days as lip-synching....
Paradise Hotel repeats start tonight
Fox's beloved summer orgy of crap, also known as Paradise Hotel, returns to television as the Fox Reality Channel begins to repeat the series. Tonight,...

Kill Reality alters perceptions about its cast
After the fourth episode of E!'s Kill Reality, it's become less of a train wreck and more of a study about reality TV show personalities....
Some reality TV shows thriving on DVD
After some initial failures, reality TV shows are now thriving on DVD. One reason: DVDs now include the full season and extras, not just clips...
Tommy Lee Goes to College debuts tonight
The summer reality TV season winds down this week with two final premieres of new shows. Tonight, NBC debuts Tommy Lee Goes to College, which...
Family Amazing Race teams revealed
The cast of The Amazing Race 8, the family edition, has been unveiled today. There are just 10 teams racing. As USA TODAY points out,...
Real World Austin women are in Stuff; Trishelle and Tonya appear on Playboy
A bunch of ex-Real World women are baring some or all of their bodies this month. Using Kill Reality as a hook, Playboy online is...

Jen breaks her promise and nominates Kaysar; houseguests flip out on the feeds
Here's a funny thing Head of Household Jen said during last night's episode of Big Brother 6: "I'm completely honest in this game." Being the...
Crew member's wife attacked at hotel during Extreme Makeover production
The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition crew and their families don't live in luxury while they're working to bring a family a new house and bring...
FX renews 30 Days; DVD will be released
FX has picked up a second season of Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days. The renewal was almost assured, as the series "averaged 1.4 million viewers during...
Battle of the Network Reality Stars debuts tonight
Bravo resurrects a television classic from the '70s and '80s tonight as it airs Battle of the Network Reality Stars. The six-hour series kicks off...
Jen gets a fan site: JenVasquezSucks.com
What happens when you annoy the viewers of Big Brother? They make fun, hateful web sites about you. Four seasons ago, viewers who hated Mike...
Mario gets a recording contract; Idol rumored to be dropping J Records
Mario Vasquez, who quit in the middle of American Idol 4, has signed a record contract with J Records. The personal reasons excuse Mario stuck...
"DOR" banner flies over Big Brother house
And it has happened. Someone hired a plane to tow a banner over the Big Brother 6 house, and it flew this afternoon around 3...

Sarah plans to watch the live feeds all day
After being evicted from the house last week, Sarah Hrejsa is apparently going through withdrawal. She tells TV Guide that she plans to "have the...
First jury member will be evicted Saturday night
Those wacky Big Brother 6 producers just announced another twist, although it's not a huge one. Tonight, after Kaysar or Janelle leaves the house, a...
The Apprentice: Martha Stewart cast unveiled
The named and identities of the 16 people who will compete to become Martha Stewart's apprentice on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart have been announced. They're...
Servicemembers allowed to compete in special Fear Factor
The Department of Defense will permit servicemembers to appear in a special edition of Fear Factor. But they can't wear their uniforms and must take...

Contender rematch between Sergio and Peter will air in October
Peter "The Pride of Providence" Manfredo Jr. will once again try to defeat Sergio "The Latin Snake" Mora when the two enter the ring in...
Kaysar evicted unanimously after apologizing to America; Janelle is new HOH
One week after he re-entered the house, a unanimous vote sent him back out of the house. Right before he left, Kaysar apologized to us....
John O'Hurley and Kelly Monaco will compete in a dance-off next month
Responding to the controversy over the Dancing with the Stars finale, and also responding to their own selfish desire to squeeze every last rating point...
TeamKaysar.com wants to raise $2 million for Kaysar, Janelle, Rachel, and Howie
A web site has launched with the goal of raising $2 million for Big Brother 6's Sovereign Four. Kaysar and his three allies (Rachel, Janelle,...
PBS will air The Wine Makers, giving the winner his or her own wine label
PBS is planning a competitive reality series based upon wine. The six-episode series, The Wine Makers, "will follow five people from diverse backgrounds as they...

Bob becomes a villain with a scar
How did Bachelor Bob, the goofiest member of the Kill Reality, cast transform into the film's villain? Did he take acting classes to learn how...
Big Brother live feeds blocked to protect results, but accidentally reveal that Jennifer was evicted
In order to keep the results of Saturday's episode of Big Brother 6 secret, the live feeds have been blocked since yesterday. CBS released a...