Like any game, Survivor has rules, but as viewers, we’ve never seen those rules. Until now. The nine-page document below is part of the legal contracts and agreements Survivor contestants sign before they are interviewed in Los Angeles. Contestants told me it is the only rule book they receive. (These rules may change from season… continue reading
Archives for May 2010
Survivor contestant contract: the waivers, agreements that cast members, families sign
Survivor has been on the air for 10 years as of today, and to date, 301 people have participated in the series as contestants. While casting has turned to recruiting to find participants, many people, from Canadians to teenagers, repeat applicants to first-timers, are still desperate to be cast. But in exchange for playing for… continue reading
Survivor debuted 10 years ago today
Today is Memorial Day, of course, and it happens to coincide with the 10-year anniversary of Survivor‘s May 31, 2000, debut. Yes, it has been one decade since the CBS reality competition first aired and changed everything. Making the Band was the first network reality TV series, beating Survivor by a few months, and The… continue reading
Summer 2010 reality TV debut schedule
Yes, it’s the first unofficial day of summer, and along with the heat, humidity, and hurricanes comes a heck of a lot of reality shows: more than 20 in the next week alone. The following is a frequently-updated list of officially announced debut dates for new and returning reality series. For shows that premiered before… continue reading
Behind the scenes of Survivor’s Dragons video, and its link to Ben “Coach” Wade’s evolution
The Dragons music video is perhaps the best thing to come out of Survivor Heroes vs. Villains‘ pretty Ponderosa series, and while its technical look and feel was the work of web series producer Norwood Cheek, it actually has its roots in Brazil, during Ben “Coach” Wade’s experience during Survivor Tocantins‘ Ponderosa, and connects to… continue reading
Gary Coleman dies; guest starred on an episode of The Surreal Life 2
Diff’rent Strokes star Gary Coleman, who appeared in an episode of The Surreal Life 2 in 2004, has died at 42. He was in a coma after suffering a brain hemorrhage after a fall Wednesday at his house. People has a full obituary. Gary guest starred in an episode on The WB reality series, when… continue reading
Year-end TV ratings: nine of the top 20 shows are reality TV
The 2009-2010 television season is over, and the final ratings show that reality shows both lead the pack and bring up the rear end. Among younger viewers, nine of the top 20 shows were reality TV, while among total viewers, just seven made it into the top 20. American Idol led, as usual, in both… continue reading
Lee and Crystal both sign record deals; Lee leads on iTunes; Crystal splits with boyfriend
Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox have both signed record deals less than a day after the conclusion of American Idol 9. Billboard reported that “DeWyze is signed to 19 Recordings Limited and RCA Records, while Bowersox is signed to 19 Recordings Limited and Jive Records. DeWyze joins Daughtry and Adam Lambert at RCA, while Bowersox… continue reading
American Idol 9 finale’s ratings lowest since season one
Simon Cowell’s final episode of American Idol and the finale of season nine was the lowest-rated finale since the show’s first season, which aired in the summer and thus isn’t directly comparable. During the last seven minutes, pretty much the only seven minutes that had anything to do with the competition, 34.39 million people tuned… continue reading
Jackie Warner blames editing: “I would never do a docu-drama about my life ever again”
Jackie Warner is about to return to Bravo as a star of a reality series, Thintervention, but it is not one about her life, because she says she was basically burned by the editing on her first series, Work Out. In an extended interview with After Ellen, Jackie said “I’m OK watching Work Out again”… continue reading
Adam Lambert wasn’t asked to appear on finale; David Cook was at a charity event
Two notable American Idol alumni absences during last night’s finale were easily explained, but that didn’t stop rumors and fake news stories. David Cook was the only winner to not serenade Simon Cowell, and that’s because he had a previously scheduled charity event in Kansas City, according to his rep, who spoke to Access Hollywood…. continue reading
Lee asks, “What would you do if I sang out of tune?” Answer: Let you win American Idol
During the American Idol 9 finale, Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze performed a duet of “A Little Help From My Friends” along with Joe Cocker, and Lee got the line, “What would you do if I sang out of tune?” The answer from viewers who vote was clear: We’ll make you the winner. Yes, season… continue reading
American Idol 9 finale live blog: trying to make this season end as fast as possible
In honor of the end of American Idol 9 (yes!), join me tonight for another sure-to-be-thrilling live blog at 8 p.m. ET. (If you’re on the west coast, a replay will be available immediately, so you can follow along in real time.) Sign up to get an e.mail reminder blow, and check out the reader… continue reading
Biggest-ever Biggest Loser contestant Michael Ventrella wins after losing record 264 pounds
Michael Ventrella won The Biggest Loser 9 and $250,000 last night after losing 264 pounds, or 50.19 percent of his body weight. He started at 526 pounds, making him the fattest contestant ever in a season that had the three biggest contestants ever. Although he lost more weight than anyone else in the show’s history,… continue reading
Must-see video: Survivor’s Dragons’ video; Apprentice celebrities’ bus-throwing
Two must-watch videos that came out of two recently concluded reality series: First, Videogum compiled the appearances of a phrase that is all too common on reality TV, but really made an impact on The Celebrity Apprentice 3. Here’s everyone throwing each other “under the bus”: Far more amazing, however, is this video which came… continue reading