Top Chef earned $37.75 million in advertising last year, and another $16.1 million this year, and thus we know that more product sponsorships and sponsor-focused challenges are on their way. Advertising Age reports that product placement works: Top Chef 4 “posted high brand recall for sponsors such as Toyota (67% vs. the cable average of… continue reading
Archives for October 2008
Bravo and Oxygen’s Lauren Zalaznick: “I’ve got no budget, no stars, but I’ve got to win”
In its Sunday edition, The New York Times Magazine profiles Lauren Zalaznick, the NBC Universal executive who runs Bravo, Oxygen, and other things, and declares that “what she’s producing isn’t rampant consumerism on display to be emulated or mocked, or both — it’s a form of social anthropology, a cultural text as worthy of analysis… continue reading
Ace, Dan voted off Survivor Gabon
Survivor Gabon aired its first double-elimination episode last night, forcing both the perennially lame Fang and strong Kota to vote someone off. Gone were Kota’s Dan Kay and Fang’s Ace Gordon. I liked both Dan and Ace pre-season, although Dan quickly crumbled even during the first episode, and Ace played up his evil persona way… continue reading
Amazing Race 14 starts taping soon
The Amazing Race 14 will begin production late this week or this weekend. Host Phil Keoghan confirmed that on The Early Show, saying, “It’s incredible. It’s amazing, quite frankly. We’ll be heading out for the 14th time to go around the world. We keep having this opportunity and for me, it’s the best job I’ve… continue reading
Celebrity Sew Off , Fashion House, Fashionality, Double Exposure are Bravo’s new fashion shows
Bravo is dealing with the presumed loss of Project Runway by ordering four–yes, four–new fashion-themed reality series, none of which are Fashion House, the Project Runway-like clone that Bravo announced this summer, even if some people have been sensationalizing its existence recently. The Fashion Show (a working title, thankfully) is an American Idol-like competition for… continue reading
America’s Next Top Zombie Idol spoof airing on VH1.com
On Monday, the UK’s E4 debuted a satirical zombie-infected version of Big Brother called Dead Set, and now, just in time for Halloween, VH1.com is airing a spoof reality show America’s Next Top Zombie Idol. The one-episode, five-act video features eight zombies competing for the title, and it is, of course, scripted and not at… continue reading
Cloris Leachman eliminated from Dancing
Late last week, Cloris Leachman said it was “a miracle” she was still on Dancing with the Stars 7. Last night, like a piece of toast with the Virgin Mary’s image that was re-toasted, that miracle came to an end. Characteristically, she refused to go. “I’m not leaving!” she said, but eventually, she did go…. continue reading
Dancing with the Stars beats the World Series
Dancing with the Stars 7 was watched by more people than the World Series on Monday night, although the two only overlapped for a half-hour. In other words, a quasi-athletic competition featuring C-list celebrities defeated a competition between two actual, although perhaps B-list, athletic teams. At 8 p.m., 18.02 million people watched Dancing–and possibly Cloris… continue reading
So You Think You Can Dance 5 now casting
Fox is now casting for So You Think You Can Dance 5. The first open casting call will be held in New York on Nov. 13 at the Mark Morris Dance Center, and those auditioning should “be prepared to stay for an extra two days for potential call backs.” Dancers ages 18 to 30 can… continue reading
Bravo sued over “copycat shows,” lack of Project Runway promotion
The Weinstein Company has filed a countersuit against NBC Universal and Bravo, claiming that the network’s “copycat shows” and failure to promote Project Runway 5 hurt the show. According to The Hollywood Reporter, “the Weinstein Co. claims Bravo intentionally refused to promote Season 5 of the reality series because of the move and is seeking… continue reading
Trista and Ryan may get their own show
Trista and Ryan Sutter, the couple who met on The Bachelorette and who sold their wedding to ABC for $1 million five years ago, may soon star on another reality show, but only for the money. The couple, who are expecting their second baby, “are in talks to star in a new reality show,” People… continue reading
reality blurred update alert
Updates to reality blurred will be sporadic for the rest of this week and the beginning of next week, as I’m traveling to an undisclosed remote location. Keep checking back for new content, and I’ll be back up to full speed mid-week next week. Thanks for your understanding; it’s all worth it, I promise. And… continue reading
Julianne Hough having an appendectomy
Yet another Dancing with the Stars 7 cast member is being hospitalized, although this time, it’s not directly related to the actual dancing. Julianne Hough, who’s partnered with Cody Linley and danced tonight, “has been diagnosed with endometriosis and is scheduled to have an appendectomy today,” USA TODAY reports. It’s because of “a tissue growth… continue reading
Cloris Leachman says it’s a “miracle” she’s still on Dancing with the Stars
The most entertaining, and perhaps most controversial, contestant on this season of Dancing with the Stars 7 isn’t quite sure why she’s still on the show. “The fact that I’m still on is a (expletive) miracle. I suppose (viewers) see fun and hope and happiness,” she told USA TODAY, which apparently used the “(expletive)” because… continue reading
Bravo casting for Fashion House, a Project Runway-like series it announced months ago
A tabloid newspaper claims that it has unearthed Bravo’s secret plans for a Project Runway clone, but the cable network actually announced the series, Fashion House, in a press release three months ago. Today, the New York Post claims that the news that Bravo will air Fashion House is “official,” after “Page Six first broke… continue reading
Speeding ticket leads to non-penalizing penalty in Cambodia
Breaking news: The Amazing Race 13 started on time for the first time in weeks. Haleljah. Of course, since there can’t be two victories in one week, a quarter of this week’s episode was airline ticket drama in a New Zealand travel agency, none of which affected the results at all. At least there was… continue reading
Samantha Harris, Susan Lucci “adore” Cloris Leachman
Last week, an alleged anonymous show staffer said that people were “downright concerned” that Cloris Leachman was making Dancing with the Stars 7 “a big joke,” and that co-host Samantha Harris was “sick and tired” of the actress’ antics. Predictably, people who are actually willing to talk on the record say that the alleged staff… continue reading
Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother killed
American Idol 3 finalist and Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother were found dead Friday, and her seven-year-old nephew is missing. She “and her family offered a $100,000 reward Sunday for the safe return of her missing nephew,” Julian King, the AP reports. Jennifer is in Chicago with family, and “the Cook County medical examiner’s… continue reading
Jaime and Erik’s begging wins them an $80,000 wedding
Survivor China cast members Jaime Dugan and Erik Huffman have won the $80,000 wedding that they begged fans to help them win. They’ll marry April 4, 2009 at Wild Dunes Resort in Charleston, according to a press release. That’s presumably the same day that virginal Erik will lose the most interesting part about himself. Besides… continue reading
Kelly Czarnecki: Survivor “made me a tougher person mentally, socially, physically, and spiritually”
After Survivor Gabon‘s lame tribe Fang lost yet another challenge during last night’s episode–they’ve now lost eight of 10 challenges–Chicagoan Kelly Czarnecki was voted out at Tribal Council. Kelly was my least-favorite contestant during pre-season interviews, and my analysis of her as a player led to an angry e.mail message. So I was anxious to… continue reading