Jeff Probst revealed that he quit Survivor sometime in 2009, calling the 17th season, Survivor Gabon, the show’s low point. But that wasn’t the reason why he quit—before, of course, coming back. This revelation comes in a New York Times… continue reading
Archives for September 2015
Meet Hotel Impossible’s alcoholism intervention hero, Joe Schrank
Hotel Impossible‘s biggest challenge on Tuesday’s episode, “Hershey Addiction,” was not bed bugs, mold, or a decaying property. Instead, it was alcoholism. A general manager’s addiction found its way into online reviews and was clearly affecting both his 91-year-old mother,… continue reading
How David Vanacore’s music came to dominate reality TV
One man has worked on hundreds of reality shows. His name doesn’t always appear in the credits, but his work is more immediately noticeable than many of the other people whose names fly by. It sets the mood, highlights a… continue reading
Why there will be protests at Ink Master’s live finale
There are protests planned for the Oct. 13 live Ink Master season six finale in New York City as part of the ongoing quest to unionize reality show television workers. The Writers Guild of America, East, has taken its complaints… continue reading
The death an Amazing Race team member’s infant son
Hera McLeod and her father Gus were the fifth team eliminated on The Amazing Race 6 in 2004. In 2012, her 15-month-old died during visitation with his father, who was charged with first-degree murder and faces trial for the child’s… continue reading
Peih-Gee smuggled flint and more onto Survivor
In one of the most infamous accusations in Survivor history, Jeff Probst said Richard Hatch smuggled matches in his anus during Survivor All-Stars, which Hatch denied when I asked him about it. Probst said that incident led to pre-game strip… continue reading
As always, Big Brother’s jury picked a man over a woman
Though the motto of Big Brother is to “expect the unexpected,” throughout its 17 seasons on the air, one thing remains resoundingly constant. That is, when a man and a woman are the remaining final two houseguests and have to… continue reading
So many moments to love on Survivor Cambodia’s premiere
No show starts a new season better than Survivor, and everything there is to love about the CBS show, 15 years and 31 seasons later, was there during Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance‘s premiere. From a lack of self-awareness to insanely… continue reading
Estranged Ghost Adventures couple found dead
A couple who appeared as regulars on Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures, Mark and Debby Constantino, were found dead yesterday in a Nevada apartment after what appears to be a murder-suicide. Police are investigating another man’s death that may be related…. continue reading
Survivor’s composer Russ Landau on why he left, what he’s doing now
An interview with Russ Landau, composer of Survivor theme song “Ancient Voices,” on why he stopped writing new music for the CBS reality series last year.
The Real World 31’s location appears to be Las Vegas yet again
MTV has not publicly renewed its ratings-challenged and creatively declining flagship reality show The Real World, but reports indicate that it is getting ready to film its 31st season in Las Vegas at the Gold Spike Hotel and Casino. Vital… continue reading
Next year, Big Brother should be played in reverse
In this edition of The Confessional, an argument for how Big Brother could change everything but keep the same elements. Big Brother is a dynamic reality game show. With the weekly show, After Dark, and the online feeds, it brings… continue reading
The Voice wins its second Emmy
The day before its ninth season premiere, The Voice won its second Emmy, meaning The Amazing Race did not win its 11th Emmy. The outstanding reality competition Emmy was the only unscripted category presented at the prime-time Emmy telecast, because… continue reading
Matt Damon’s pseudo-apology blames editing, congratulates himself
Matt Damon has apologized and blamed the editing for comments he made during the first episode of Project Greenlight‘s fourth season, in which he rejected another producer’s concern about diversity. The season premiere include the producers of Project Greenlight deliberating… continue reading
2015’s summer of joyous reality TV
Since Survivor first aired 15 years ago, summertime has been reality television’s territory—especially on broadcast networks, which have more real estate in summer for unscripted shows. With the end of America’s Got Talent and Big Brother, and the return of… continue reading