reality blurred + archives + September 13 to September 19, 2009

week of September 13, 2009

Jaison Robinson: "not having any control, I want to see what it's like"
This is the 11th in a series of interviews with Survivor Samoa cast members. Jaison Robinson is probably the most intelligent, most accomplished person on...
Liz Kim: "I'm a type-A personality so it would hard for me to be a follower"
This is the 12th in a series of interviews with Survivor Samoa cast members. For someone who I completely forgot about, was recruited, and hasn't...
Brett Clouser: "they think I'm the young, naive, optimist, which probably holds true"
This is the 13th in a series of interviews with Survivor Samoa cast members. Brett Clouser is an entrepreneur at age 23 and looks a...

Russell Swan: "I don't want them to think about uses of grey matter at all"
This is the 14th in a series of interviews with Survivor Samoa cast members. Russell Swan is charismatic, intelligent, and a long-time Survivor fan. He...
Model didn't want to wear Ra'mon's toilet-stained dress
Ra'mon-Lawrence Coleman won the challenge on Thursday's episode of Project Runway 6 after dyeing his dress at the last minute in the bathroom, and it...
Cast member who faked cancer leaves Real World DC, cast doing charity work
The Real World Cancun concluded last week, which means we're looking ahead to the DC season. This video with Cancun's Joey explaining his sexual encounter...
Intervention wins Emmy, beats Kathy Griffin; Project Runway 5 finale wins for best editing
The Creative Arts Emmys were held Saturday night, hosted by Kathy Griffin, and for the first time in two years, she lost in her category...
Andy Cohen's chat show renewed through the end of 2009, says Bravo "happen[s] to be gay."
Andy Cohen's oddly watchable chat show Watch What Happens Live has been renewed by the network where he is a vice president in charge of...
ACLU argues Richard Hatch should be released; jailing was "retaliation," attorney says
Richard Hatch has been back in jail for almost a month now because he talked to the media without permission. He's being held in solitary...

Shannon "Shambo" Waters: "I can't completely be myself because I will rub people the wrong way"
This is the 15th in a series of interviews with Survivor Samoa cast members. Shannon Waters is nothing if not enthusiastic. She borders on being...
Vote for Ethan Zohn to be GQ's "Better Man"
GQ is searching for a man who is "an agent of change striving for the betterment of society through charitable work, volunteerism, and/or community involvement--someone...
More to Love bachelor Luke: "I'm an athlete," weight is "an issue for the ladies to get over"
Fox's More to Love ends tonight, ironically airing at the exact same time that The Biggest Loser returns on NBC. The overweight dating show and...
John Fincher: "some may see right through all the bullshit and think I'm a really smart dude"
This is the 16th in a series of interviews with Survivor Samoa cast members. John Fincher was recruited and cast on Survivor Samoa despite never...
Vern Yip says Antonio Ballatore won Design Star because of his "distinctive voice"
On Sunday, Antonio Ballatore won HGTV's fourth Design Star, beating Dan Vickery. After three seasons of letting viewers select the winner, the show dropped viewer...

Jeana Keough is leaving Real Housewives
Update: Jeana admitted she left the show over money. The Real Housewives of Orange County will return on Bravo in early November, and Jeana Keough,...
Russell Hantz: "I control every aspect of my life: ... my family, ... my job, even my friends"
This is the 17th in a series of interviews with Survivor Samoa cast members. If you haven't heard of Russell Hantz right now, you haven't...
Jordan wins Big Brother 11 but Natalie still gets $50,000 despite being horrible
Jordan Lloyd won Big Brother 11 after receiving five of the seven votes, including the (irrelevant) one cast by viewers, who voted more than 11...
Ben Browning: "love me or hate me, or fuck off, I could really care less"
This is the 18th in a series of interviews with Survivor Samoa cast members. Ben Browning and I talked for just over 10 minutes, by...
BB11 had more viewers than last year, same among 18-49; Julie Chen interviews Natalie
Big Brother 11 ended its season with higher ratings than the 10th season drew last summer, but was still below the previous summer season. Tuesday's...
Adam Shankman added as SYTYCD's third permanent judge
Despite having left American Idol over a year ago, Nigel Lythgoe couldn't keep his stupid mouth shut about the show any time the media asked,...

Erik Cardona: "I'm going to be fulfilling a boyhood dream to be a con man out here"
This is the 19th in a series of interviews with Survivor Samoa cast members. Erik Cardona is smart, articulate, and self-confident, a word I use...
Ashley Trainer: "I am here to prove how strong I actually am"
This is the final interview in a series of interviews with Survivor Samoa cast members. Interviewing Ashley was my strangest Survivor interview ever: it took...
Kara DioGuardi shopping reality show Dropped to give dropped artists a second chance
Kara DioGuardi is developing her own reality series, Dropped, and shopping it around. Here's how she described it to New York magazine: "I'm starting to...
Survivor: how challenges are created, how Samoa impacted the crew, why twists are fair
After less than 48 hours of recovery time, CBS transitions from its craptastic summer reality shows to its gold-standard series: the return of The Amazing...
Country singer Kevin Skinner wins America's Got Talent 4 during highest-rated episode ever
For the fourth season in a row, viewers have voted for a singing act to win America's Got Talent 4. Chicken farmer and country singer...

Ethan Zohn's cancer is "worse"
After three months of chemotherapy, Ethan Zohn's cancer hasn't disappeared. "I got some bad news the other day. The doctor called, and she said that...
Tim Gunn smacks down contestant over his "spewing of fiction"
At the end of last night's Project Runway 6 episode, Tim Gunn broke from his typically objective and calm demeanor and called the eliminated contestant...
Behind the scenes of Survivor Samoa's first ep: tie votes, flipped boats, and Russell H. gloats
The new season of Survivor had me the moment that massive wave almost swept Jeff Probst away as he delivered his signature "39 days, 20...
Next week: Emmy reality host, show winners, Sundance's five-night series Brick City debuts
Here's what happened last week, and what to watch next week: The Past This third week of September, I finished the roughly 25-hour project that...