reality blurred + archives + February 4 to February 10, 2007

week of February 4, 2007

Jennifer Hudson: American Idol contestants are "abused, misled and brainwashed"
Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Jennifer Hudson, who was also an American Idol 3 finalist, does not have kind words for the show. "On...
Survivor, other reality shows not filmed in HD because cameras are "delicate"
CBS's schedule indicates that Survivor will be in high definition for the first time starting this season, as Engadget HD reported a few days ago....

Tim Gunn says he'll be on Project Runway 4
After months of vague, speculation-inspiring comments about his future on the show, Tim Gunn has finally confirmed that he'll be on Project Runway whenever it...
Jay McCarroll: Tim Gunn "should not be the adviser or the fuckin' creative director"
Project Runway's first star is not happy with the show's much-beloved mentor. In fact, today at Fashion Week, he went off on Tim while talking...
CBS promises Race all-stars are making "one final trek around the globe"
The Amazing Race 11 officially debuts in just under two weeks, and CBS has finally gotten around to announcing the 11 all-star teams that will...

New reality show stars: NFL players, TV journalists, and virgins
Three reality series that are currently in production will follow virgins, TV newscasters, and NFL stars, although not together in one show. Two film producers...
Lauren Conrad: "I don't want to act" because "I'm not that good at it"
The Hills star Lauren Conrad says she is giving up acting after her first try. "I don't want to act," she told the New York...
Adrianne Curry says Top Model producers had "no clue what they were doing"
Inspired by Jennifer Hudson's criticism of American Idol, America's first Top Model, Adrianne Curry, is once again openly criticizing the show and its host. (Two...
Tim Gunn still "working out" the details of his contract
The saga of Tim Gunn's return to Project Runway is, almost unbelievably, still not over. It's continued for more than two and a half months,...
Educational DUI film will be modeled after Laguna Beach's cast and format
A new anti-DUI "public service announcement with the look and feel of a reality television show/documentary" is being filmed, and the producers found inspiration in...

Producers sue Paula Abdul, saying her Bravo series Hey, Paula was their idea
Pilgrim Films and Television is suing Paula Abdul and her producing partner David Russo over Paula's forthcoming Bravo reality series Hey Paula. The lawsuit [PDF],...
Abram punches a Road Rules cast member (again) and gets kicked off (again)
After two episodes, Road Rules Viewers' Revenge has proven itself to be a lot like The Real World/Road Rules Challenge, just with an unnecessary RV....
Designer will reveal HIV positive status on tonight's Top Design
On tonight's Top Design, one of the cast members will reveal that they are HIV positive, becoming only the second cast member in reality TV...
Producers told singer to lie after he was removed from Idol before Hollywood
An American Idol 6 contestant who was sent to Hollywood (and once pled guilty to marijuana possession) was removed from the competition, and producers suggested...
The Daily Show satirizes, mocks Laguna Beach
Last night, The Daily Show aired part two of their brilliant satirical Laguna Beach report. Jason Jones, who seems to be the correspondent most willing...

Survivor Fiji debuts tonight; only one cast member applied while the rest were recruited
Less than two months after the conclusion of Survivor Cook Islands, CBS debuts a new season of the show tonight with Survivor Fiji at 8...
Anna Nicole Smith died today in Florida
Anna Nicole Smith, star of her own reality show from 2002 to 2004, died today at age 39. Last September, her son also died unexpectedly....
Bravo VP: "we did not alter the integrity of what happened" with Marcel hazing; no reunion due to viewer reaction
Bravo VP Andy Cohen takes a break from egologging and uses his blog to address "lingering" viewer complaints about Top Chef 2. Specifically, he discusses...

Katharine McPhee's album debuts at number two
Katharine McPhee's self-titled debut album, sold 116,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. Right behind her...
20th Survivor Fiji contestant left because of "overwhelming panic attacks"
The 20th Survivor Fiji, who quit the show the day before production began, says she left because of "overwhelming panic attacks." Melissa McNulty tells TV...
FOX vetoes Idol contestants if the network "believes [they] will damage the show"
American Idol's executive producer said today that the network essentially vetoes contestants without explanation. He also detailed his proposal for a songwriting competition in a...
Nashville Star throws out all votes after "technical difficulties"
On last night's episode of Nashville Star 5, no one was eliminated because of "technical difficulties." Host Jewel told the audience, according to Reality TV...
Contender's boxers will face UK fighters in ESPN's The Contender Challenge
ESPN is bringing back The Contender, sort of, for a six-episode all-star series that will have boxers from the first two seasons fighting boxers from...