reality blurred + archives + January 13 to January 19, 2008

week of January 13, 2008

Birthday girl gives everyone a present by getting eliminated on The Amazing Race 12
The penultimate episode of The Amazing Race 12 gave us something we haven't had in a long time: A final three without a real villain....
NBC renews American Gladiators; stars were tested for steroid use
NBC has renewed American Gladiators after airing just two first-season episodes, although its renewal announcement seems to use the renewal as an excuse to just...
30-second American Idol 7 ads selling for more than $1 million
Advertisers are paying more than $1 million for 30 seconds of time on American Idol 7, which debuts tomorrow night. The network "initially sold commercials...

Project Runway schedules two events at Fashion Week
Project Runway 4's Fashion Week show is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Feb. 8 in the tent, but one week earlier, the show has scheduled...
Bravo announced Real Housewives of New York City and its cast
As it promised to do last year, Bravo is expanding its The Real Housewives of Orange County into a franchise, announcing the debut and cast...
New York says it's not her in sex tape, but that she'd admit it if it was
A sex tape posted online is not of Tiffany "New York" Pollard, she says, and the editor of the web site that posted it is...
American Idol 7 debuts tonight
Tonight at 8, The CW repeats the first episode of Reaper, ABC airs new episodes of its hidden camera series Just for Laughs, CBS will...
Idol's big three sponsors paid $35 million each for their brand integration
Together, the red paint on the set of American Idol, a few logos and graphics, and the cups the judges drink from cost Coca-Cola $35...
Idol producers don't check auditioners' backgrounds, don't care about pro experience
At least 13 of the people who will be part of American Idol's top 50, which was revealed online in December, have professional experience in...

Amazing Race 12's Jen and Nate are still together
This season's bickering Amazing Race couple seemed to have destroyed their already-wrecked relationship during their time on the race, but Jennifer Parker and Nathan Hagstrom...
American Idol 7 exchanges cruelty for storytelling and attention whores
Last year, the auditions for American Idol 6 were uncomfortably cruel. Instead of abject cruelty and lingering, awkward shots of delusional people, American Idol 7...
American Idol 7 debut watched by 33.2 million viewers, the lowest-rated debut since 2004
Despite the writers' strike, American Idol 7 debuted with about 10 percent fewer viewers than watched last year's debut. Still, 33.2 million people tuned in,...
Clay Aiken debuts in Spamalot Friday
Clay Aiken joins other American Idol alumni on Broadway this Friday when he debuts as Sir Robin in Spamalot. He'll appear through May 4. In...

Bravo casting for Top Design 2, Shear Genuis 2
Having greenlit second seasons of its competition series Top Design and Shear Genuis, Bravo is now casting for contestants for each one. Top Design 2...
Idol tries to be a freak show but judges stay flat
While American Idol 7 started with some relatively good singers and attention whores, it tried its best to turn into a freak show on its...
American Idol 7 loses three million viewers its second night, but still dominates
From Tuesday to Wednesday, about three million viewers fled American Idol 7. The second episode was watched by 30.3 million viewers, down from 33.2 million...
An American Family's 35th anniversary was this week
On Tuesday, with the TV-watching world focused on the debut of American Idol 7, a significant anniversary passed: It was the 35th anniversary of the...

Reality TV finds success on network TV, but networks risk being confused with cable
The reality shows that have debuted so far in 2008 have found great success, from American Gladiators to Dance Wars, and "have performed as well...
New series: celebrity circuses, Legally Blonde casting, Super Sweet 16 spin-off, Rachel Zoe docudrama, US Top Gear, America's Top Dog
Several cable and broadcast networks have recently announced a number of new reality series. Both ABC and NBC are planning shows that let celebrities become...
VH1's Michael Hirschorn leaving, but will create reality shows for the network
Michael Hirschorn, the man responsible for developing many of VH1's recent hits that have given the network its new identity, is leaving, but he will...
Survivor Micronesia Tribal Council, challenges photos revealed
Photographs and other details about the upcoming fans vs. favorites season of Survivor have been revealed online by a production company that worked on the...
Donald Trump fires Gene Simmons
The boardroom segment of The Apprentice has always been its most dramatic part, especially when the contestants verbally latch on to each other's necks and...
Nashville Star 5 moves to NBC this summer; will feature groups, duets, teenagers
Nashville Star is leaving its cable home of five seasons, moving to NBC and shifting to the summer. The country music-focused singing competition has aired...