reality blurred + archives + May 10 to May 16, 2009

week of May 10, 2009

Redemption fuels teams as Tammy and Victor win The Amazing Race 14
The Amazing Race 14 pulled the series from its depths of Emmy-winning suckiness into a version of its former self, and although its finale lacked...
Joan Rivers wins Celebrity Apprentice 2 after being outraised by Annie Duke
At the end of The Celebrity Apprentice 2, an Oompa Loompa--I mean, an oddly bright orange Donald Trump--chose Joan Rivers as this season's winner, giving...
Results are now more popular than singing on American Idol; ratings are down but revenue up
American Idol's decreasing ratings have had strange effects on the show: its revenue is up, more votes are being received, and more people are watching...

Dad and son face off for final spot in Biggest Loser 7 finale
Just as it did Sunday night, NBC is devoting its entire three-hour prime-time schedule for a reality show finale, as The Biggest Loser 7 will...
Celebrity Apprentice 2, Amazing Race 14 finales both down from previous seasons
Despite two exceptionally compelling seasons and strong season finales, both The Amazing Race 14 and The Celebrity Apprentice 2 had fewer viewers for their finales...
Party planner calls Joan Rivers "a monster" and "unprofessional"
The party planner who quit Celebrity Apprentice 2 and caused its finale's greatest conflict says Joan Rivers is an "unprofessional" "monster," but also blames her...
Kate Gosselin beats tabloids to her affair story by denying she's cheating on Jon
After Jon & Kate Plus Eight's Jon Gosselin was accused of having an affair by the woman's own brother, Kate Gosselin now is beating the...
Paulina Porizkova fired from Top Model for "ego problem"
America's Next Top Model 12 concludes Wednesday night--either Teyona Anderson, Aminat Ayinde, or Allison Harvard will win Tyra's approval--and it'll be the last appearance of...

Older people are Biggest Losers as Helen, Jerry take top weight-loss prizes
The Biggest Loser 7 concluded last night and awarded its $250,000 prize to Helen Phillips, who's 47. That gave Bob Harper his sixth loss to...
Judges get weird on Idol's 300th episode, which included an ExxonMobil infomercial
From Paula Abdul's makeup all over Simon Cowell's white v-neck t-shirt to Ryan Seacrest's apology, chipped blue fingernail polish on two of the finalists to...
Reunion host Andy Cohen tells arguing Real Housewives to "talk about it at lunch"
Not that we needed further evidence as to why Andy Cohen is pretty much the shittiest reality show reunion host ever, but we got more...
Kate is "struggling" with her marriage to Jon
Kate Gosselin appears on the cover of the new issue of People magazine, and the cover line says "We Might Split Up." A divorce between...

Jaime refuses to answer questions about her behavior; Margie and Luke "regret" fight with Kisha and Jen
In the most ironic and most self-unaware post-Amazing Race interview ever, Jaime Edmondson--who spent most of the season berating cab drivers and other locals before...
Adam Lambert and Kris Allen are Idol's final two with just one million votes separating them
In South Park's recent Jonas Brothers episode, Mickey Mouse tells the animated version of the group they're popular "because you make little girl's gineys tickle,...
A second look at Survivor Tocantins' final five and jury's initial interviews
Late last October, I talked to the Survivor Tocantins cast members in Brazil before the game started. I published highlights from those interviews and analysis...
How American Idol pimps contestants, and why that, and conspiracy theories, often fail
A couple weeks ago, I wrote a piece that was published Monday that identified five ways American Idol pimps and promotes its favorite contestants. Those...
Kristin Cavallari and her "acting skills" cast on The Hills because "drama sells"
Kristin Cavallari has been cast on The Hills, with the emphasis on "cast," since Cavallari--who originally appeared on Laguna Beach but went on to act...
Teyona Anderson wins Top Model 12 after losing weave in group body-painting orgy
Teyona Anderson is America's next next next next next next next next next next next next top model. She won Top Model's 12th cycle, beating...

Summer 2009 reality TV schedule
The heat is setting in and American Idol and other spring shows are concluding. That means just one thing: Time for dozens of new reality...
Fired judge Paulina Porizkova criticizes Tyra Banks for being late, ignoring her
Former America's Next Top Model judge Paulina Porizkova, who was fired on her birthday, is going after the show's star and executive producer, Tyra Banks,...
Danny wins Hell's Kitchen, which is no longer worth watching
Hell's Kitchen 5 concluded last night, and Danny Veltri, a 23-year-old chef from Florida, beat Paula Dasilva, a 28-year-old chef from Florida. He wins $250,000...
"Drama queen" Coach finally voted out
Say what you want about Survivor Tocantins' Benjamin "Coach" Wade: He made excellent television for 12 episodes. His final episode last night was no exception,...
Ben "Coach" Wade: "It's hurt me; I'm human" and "I'm not really like that in real life"
This morning, I talked to Survivor Tocantins biggest character, Ben Wade, known on the show as Coach. He was by far the most entertaining and...
David Cook, David Archuleta threatened with arrest, quarantine in Philippines over swine flu
American Idol 7's winner and runner-up were threatened with arrest and quarantine in the Philippines after skipping a swine flu check in the airport. They...