I need to know what you love and what you want kinds of content you’d like to see more of. All you have to do is fill out this fast, anonymous form!
Archives for February 2017
Reality show casting can now win an Emmy
A long overdue award has been added to the Emmys by the Television Academy: casting for reality shows and competition series.
7 new reality shows and other unscripted TV this week, Feb. 27 to March 5
Seven new reality TV shows debut this week, and several unscripted and documentary TV specials will air, including HBO’s broadcast of Tickled.
O.J.: Made in America won the Oscar for documentary feature; White Helmets wins short
ESPN’s five-part documentary series O.J.: Made in America won the Oscar for best documentary feature during the 89th Academy Awards.
Review: Netflix’s Ultimate Beastmaster
Netflix’s first reality competition series, Ultimate Beastmaster, arrived today. While it owes a lot to NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, it turns out that the genius part of the show’s business strategy turns out to be its best creative move, too. The draw here is not Sylvester Stallone, who appears in the trailer and the introduction, monotoning his way through some scripted lines before evaporating, but rather… continue reading
Three reality star profiles and 24 reality TV news stories
Inside this reality check round-up: in-depth stories about Anthony Bourdain, Anna Nicole Smith, and Rachel Lindsay, plus links to news about reality TV.
Behind the scenes of Stranded with a Million Dollars, with Alex Apple
Stranded with a Million Dollars contestant Alex Apple writes about episode one, “Game of Drones,” including his strategy and survival in a rainy shelter.
A few of Hunted’s absurd rules have been revealed
Hunted team David and Emiley revealed several of the show’s rules on a radio show this morning—including one ridiculous rule that benefits the production.
CBS’ Survivor casting demands: younger players, Ozzy
Survivor host and showrunner Jeff Probst reveals the behind-the-scenes conflict over the casting of Survivor Game Changers.
The Curse of Oak Island: Marty and Rick on skepticism and what they’d change
An interview with Rich and Marty Lagina, the stars of History’s The Curse of Oak Island, who talk about the show’s editing and their search for treasure.
Review: MTV’s Stranded with a Million Dollars
The new survival competition Stranded with a Million Dollars is much more than just another drunken MTV competition or survival show knock-off. It’s great.
The life and lessons of Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise tells the full story of Maya Angelou’s life, and it was a life that included a lot more than her memorable writing.
Why a mountain lion was staring at me while I reported this story
The seventh Big Cat Week starts on NatGeo WILD tonight, and I talked to Boone Smith about the role cuteness plays in its conservation efforts.
Six brand-new reality shows and other unscripted TV debuting Feb. 20 to 26
Stranded with a Million Dollars and The Pop Game are among six reality shows debuting this week, along with a special about parents, kids, and police.
10 years later, the sequel to Planet Earth offers a new perspective on the planet
A decade later, Planet Earth returns with its seven-episode sequel this Sunday, when its premiere airs on BBC America, AMC, and Sundance.
Please, Project Runway Junior, never grow up or get old
Tim Gunn agrees: Project Runway Junior is the best Project Runway. And its second season—which began its conclusion last night on Lifetime—hasn’t changed that at all. This is a talent competition that is everything a talent competition should be: challenging, joyful, emotional, and all together wonderful, a celebration of art and struggle. From Tim Gunn to the edit, the contestants are treated… continue reading
MasterChef adds Chopped’s Aaron Sanchez as its third judge
After two seasons with just two judges, MasterChef has poached a chef from Chopped to be its third judge alongside Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi.
Behind the scenes of CBS’ Hunted
A person who appeared on CBS’ Hunted reveals key details about how the show works—and Channel 4’s version of Hunted also offers insight.
America’s first mass school shooting, animated
The Independent Lens documentary Tower tells the stories of the victims, survivors, and first responders of the 1966 UT Austin school shooting.
Gwyneth Paltrow, will.i.am, an escalator, and the best reality TV trailer of the year
Preview the magic that is Apple’s Planet of the Apps, a Shark Tank-like show that has an amazing set design and an unfamiliar structure (just kidding).