reality blurred + archives + June 1 to June 7, 2008

Sunday, Jun. 1, 2008

Returning summer shows draw fewer viewers than last season
American Idol end signaled the beginning of the summer reality TV season, but the shows that networks are now offering--most of which have become summer...
Christian Siriano says his comments "mean no disrespect to the transgender population"
Project Runway 4 winner Christian Siriano has been criticized for using "tranny" as an insult, and now he's quasi-apologized after being criticized for comparing drag...
Second season of Ice Road Truckers moves north
The History Channel's ratings record-breaking initial contribution to the dangerous jobs genre, Ice Road Truckers, debuts its second season next Sunday, but an episode that...
Producers planted the frozen scallops that led to Spike's elimination from Top Chef
Spike Mendelsohn was eliminated from Top Chef 4 last Wednesday in part because he used frozen scallops he found in the cooler at Tramonto's Steak...

Third real season of The Mole debuts tonight
After being off the air for more than four years, The Mole returns tonight with its third non-celebrity edition. It debuts at 10 p.m. ET...
Matt Grant says he's marrying Shayne next week
Bachelor 12 star Matt Grant said he's marrying Shayne Lamas next week in Las Vegas, although he may have just been screwing with TMZ and/or...

Morgan Spurlock says 30 Days episode is "the best hour of television you're ever going to see"
30 Days, the FX reality series inspired by Morgan Spurlock's documentary Super Size Me, returns tonight for its third season at 10 p.m. ET on...
The new Mole feels just as good as the old one
The Mole is back, and after its first new episode, it feels like it never really left. I'm not quite sure, however, if that's wild...
Only 4.73 million watched The Mole's return
Though there may have been excitment among some fans for the return of The Mole, the show did not. Monday's debut episode averaged just 4.73...

Models age 35+ compete on She's Got the Look
Tonight, TV Land continues its mission to bring reality TV to older people with She's Got the Look, a modeling competition featuring women over the...
Fourth season debut of Next Food Network Star is the network's best debut ever
The Next Food Network Star returned to Food Network on Sunday night for its fourth season, and drew the channel's largest audience ever for a...
Los Angeles Improv Comedy Festival features Hollywood cast tonight; is this season better?
The cast of The Real World Hollywood will appear tonight as part of the Los Angeles Improv Comedy Festival. Their show is at 8 p.m....
David Archuleta contractually prohibited from having a charity concert in Utah
David Archuleta was going to hold a "thank you" concert Friday in Salt Lake City, but it has been cancelled because he's contractually prohibited from...

The Alaska Experiment, Discovery's latest uber-real series, is casting for season two
Sometimes, cable reality shows deliver contrived, artificial versions of reality, however enjoyable it sometimes is (see VH1 for examples). But there seems to be a...
Tim Gunn "concerned" about three Runways in a year, "nervous" about season 6
Project Runway 5 begins production in New York City this week, and it's the final season that will air on Bravo and the final season...
Survivor Gabon has "a danger problem with animals," other problems related to the production
The upcoming season of Survivor Gabon is already experiencing pre-production problems relating to wildlife and shipping, among other things, Jeff Probst says. Among other things,...
Antonia says she "wasn't competing at 100 percent," Lisa is "an amazing chef and person"
Perhaps the most tragic part of Top Chef 4's surprising elimination on Wednesday was that it robbed us of the show's most likable, most deserving...

Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff break up
Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff, who've been together since appearing together on Dancing with the Stars 3 in late 2006, have broken up. "Karina has...
Meerkat Manor returns tonight; meerkat killed by car
Meerkat Manor, the Animal Planet reality series that stars small mammals that demonstrate more brain power and are more engaging than the average Big Brother...
Roloff family friend and Little People, Big World cast member Mike Detjen dies
Mike Detjen, a friend of the Roloff family who appeared on Little People, Big World, died Wednesday after having a heart attack. Mike was injured...
HGTV's Design Star returns Sunday with fewer contestants
Design Star, HGTV's competition to find a host for a new show returns Sunday night at 9 p.m. ET for its third season. The network's...
Heidi and Spencer made $3 million in two years; MTV denies Hills spin-off
The Hills stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag have collectively made $3 million over the past two years just for living their fake lives--or, as...
Cook and Archuleta both sign record deals
American Idol 7's winner and runner-up will officially but unsurprisingly both be producing records, as David Archuleta has signed a record deal--not with Muppet Records,...