2013’s most-popular reality blurred stories

One fun thing I like to do while recovering from the holidays and being sick is look at analytics and site data, so here’s a list of the 20 most-popular stories I wrote this past year.

Popularity isn’t the most important measurement, of course, unless you’re in middle school and/or on Facebook, but it is fascinating to look back at what grabbed interest. The number one story is no surprise, though I am still surprised how Big Brother cast members’ bigotry became such a national story, when it’s previously been all but ignored.

This list has quite an eclectic mix, from absurdity (those who thought an ABC reality series was actually murdering its contestants) to bigotry, from highs to lows. There’s also the comically stupid and the actually tragic. Survivor‘s fall season is well-represented, as it was a season that managed to generate interest last spring and then deliver on that.

1. Big Brother already a cesspool of racist, homophobic, and misogynistic comments
2. Survivor Blood vs. Water cast includes Big Brother winner, former NFL player
3. People think ABC’s Whodunnit actually killed contestants
4. Brandon Hantz banned from Survivor reunion as Russell Hantz threatens Phillip Sheppard
5. Survivor 27: returnees versus their families
6. One of four brothers who got a Shark Tank investment died earlier this year
7. Survivor Blood vs. Water: returnees vs family members
8. Amy’s Baking Company causes Gordon Ramsay to quit, Kitchen Nightmares to win
9. Amazing Race 24 all-star teams identified
10. Survivor‘s Todd Herzog: an alcoholic who’s “closer to death” than any Dr. Phil guest
11. Survivor Cagayan three tribes, brains vs. beauty vs. brawn
12. Why Big Brother After Dark is censored on TVGN
13. Tina Wesson’s son, Katie Collins’ brother died in a car accident
14. Details on Todd Herzog’s rehab, how Survivor contributed to alcoholism, Dr. Phil appearance
15. RIP Survivor, murdered at 26 by Jeff Probst
16. Bravo’s Below Deck cast member did gay porn
17. Proof Restaurant Stakeout uses actors to play servers
18. BB15 Spencer’s child porn “tasteless joke” leads his employer to report him to law enforcement
19. Whodunnit: all your questions answered
20. More of Big Brother 15 cast’s awfulness and bigotry: watch the video