reality blurred + archives + April 4 to April 10, 2010

week of April 4, 2010

Effects of solitary confinement explored in online experiment, Nat Geo Explorer episode
On April 11 at 9 p.m., the National Geographic Channel will air an episode of Explorer about solitary confinement that "looks at the science of...

Jet and Cord's come-from-behind first-place finish not quite "unbelievable"
Upon arriving at the Roadblock and seeing Jet and Cord leave to go check in first at the pit stop, Carol asked Brandy, "How could...
Blagojevich mangles Harry Potter names, Donald Trump unleashes stereotypes
Not until The Celebrity Apprentice 3 teams presented their task did last night's episode really hit, but it was amazing. They created walk-through displays to...
Marriage Ref, Minute to Win It, and Who Do You Think You Are all renewed, aren't that bad
NBC has renewed the three unscripted series it debuted this spring: The Marriage Ref, Minute to Win It, and Who Do You Think You Are?,...

NYT critic insists Ellen DeGeneres "hijacked" Idol, "finds a way to remind" us she's gay
Alessandra Stanley writes some clueless, hilariously error-ridden stuff for The New York Times, pieces that transcend disagreement and a difference in perspective and just seem...
Chad Rogers leaving Million Dollar Listing; producers casting for New York version
One of the three stars of Bravo's Million Dollar Listing is leaving the series, and producers are now casting for New York City real estate...
Dancing with the Stars singers prove Simon Cowell right by mangling more pop music
If you were confused by Simon Cowell's reference to "singers murdering a song" on dancing shows during last week's American Idol, all you have to...
Casey James gay rumor spreads after man suggests he's Casey's boyfriend
It took three months into American Idol 9 for the season's first gay rumor to surface, and it involves Casey James, the 27-year-old divorced, guitar-playing...

Networks rejected Marlee Matlin's show about 15-year-old and his deaf family; it's now online
The pilot episode for My Deaf Family, a reality series about a 15-year-old who's hearing but has a deaf family, has been posted to YouTube...
Bagpiper, heckler, didgeridoo player, and improved singing show up on American Idol
American Idol dispensed with the mentor this week, and with two hours to fill despite fewer contestants than there were when the finals started, there...
Top Chef Masters 2 returns as the (hopefully misleading) trailer emphasizes drama
Just a few hours left until the second season of Top Chef Masters, which I'm excited about because the first was so fantastic, and far...
American Chopper will return, but follow Paul Sr. and Junior at their separate shops
Although TLC aired what it said was the series finale of American Chopper back in February, the network will soon start filming its two stars,...

Michael Lynche saved by judges; he was voted out after Idol's lowest-rated Tuesday ep ever
Despite receiving the fewest number of votes, American Idol 9 finalist Michael Lynche will return to sing again next week, as the judges decided to...
Filming on Jersey Shore 2 starts as MTV looks to add people, and casts a Persian spin-off
Jersey Shore is now filming its second season in Miami and may add additional cast members during production, while MTV is casting for a Persian-American...
TLC calls Kate Gosselin "America's favorite Mom," reveals her new show, familiar new series
TLC announced this morning a series of specials called Kate Plus 8, revealed that its solo Kate Gosselin series will be called Twist of Kate,...
Reality producer Bruce Beresford-Redman suspected of killing his wife in Mexico
A veteran reality TV producer is a suspect in the death of his wife in Cancun. Bruce Beresford-Redman, who has worked as a producer and...
Jersey Shore cast will return to their New Jersey house during the second season
Jersey Shore's second season is currently filming in Miami, but the network just revealed that it will return to New Jersey for at least half...

Sandra deceives Russell, Survivor editors deceive us
Wait, what? All of Survivor made sense last night until the votes were revealed, and since I watched in a hotel instead of on a...
Joan Rivers claims Paul Newman was going to be on Celebrity Apprentice
Celebrity Apprentice 2 winner and Donald Trump BFF Joan Rivers claims in a new documentary that she signed on for the show only because Paul...
Russell explains his vote for Courtney (sort of)
The biggest surprise of last night's Survivor was Russell's vote against Courtney, and his alliance's vote for Coach. Theories in the comments and elsewhere suggest...
Next week: gators get rescued, Deadliest Catch returns, and Bravo gets its Jon and Kate
It's time for our weekly look back at the past week in reality TV and ahead at the next week. Lots of weeks. The Past...