Netflix’s Tiger King: Murder Mayhem, and Madness is as unsubtle as this headline, and is addictively watchable. But what is its point?
All reality show and documentary TV reviews on reality blurred by TV critic Andy Dehnart. (Learn more about Andy.)
On Making the Cut, Heidi and Tim are back and having a blast
Making the Cut has sheared away the minutiae of the clothing-designing process, and replaced it with twirling, cinematic shots of New York and Paris. A review of the Amazon Prime Video reality competition.
Welcome back, Top Chef! Now please rise to the level of your all-stars
I’m thrilled to have Top Chef back and the premiere was a fun watch, but it also felt surprisingly stale after the reinvention of Project Runway and the pomp of Survivor: Winners at War.
Buddy vs. Duff 2 review: it’s a vastly improved show
Buddy vs. Duff 2 is not the odd and flimsy competition that season one was. It’s a lot more playful and fun—though it’s still a little sketchy.
Project Runway vs. Next in Fashion: Which fashion competition is better?
Bravo’s Project Runway is in its 18th season, its second of its new era, while Netflix’s new entrant, Next in Fashion, doesn’t exactly reinvent the fashion competition.
Food Network’s Tournament of Champions is a refreshingly streamlined competition
Great chefs—who you may know best from judging Food Network competitions—have been gathered by Guy Fieri for a swift and fun bracketed tournament.
Why Spy Games should get a second season, and how it should change
Bravo’s Spy Games has been hit or miss. Here are a few changes the show could make for a season two that could make it more likely to be a hit.
Why is Lego Masters’ judging so bad? Why do we see so little Lego building?
Lego Masters can be a lot of fun, and its contestants have produced some fantastic builds. But like on other recent talent competitions, the judging is a major weak spot.
Restaurants on the Edge: a review of Netflix’s restaurant makeover reality show
A review of Netflix’s Restaurants on the Edge, on which a chef, a restauranteur, and an interior designer visit locals in a community during their quest to help a struggling restaurant.
A review of Netflix’s Love is Blind, on which The Circle meets Temptation Island and Married at First Sight
Love is Blind is a new Netflix dating series that starts with fascinating interactions similar to The Circle, but then becomes a more cautionary tale.
Girl Scout Cookie Championship is a mess, and Girl Scouts and their cookies deserve better
The editing and filming of Food Network’s latest baking championship is incredibly clunky and atypically amateurish.
Lego Masters: a review of Fox’s Will Arnett-hosted competition
Lego Masters is firmly in Will Arnett’s sardonic grip, but it’s still a dazzling display of talent, creativity, and multicolor spectacle.
The Biggest Loser says it’s changed. But it’s still focused on the wrong things.
A review of USA Network’s rebooted Biggest Loser, plus interviews with researchers and the show’s talent about its approach to weight loss.
Nickelodeon’s Crystal Maze is a win for fans of both the UK show and reality TV challenges
The Crystal Maze offers eight simple but challenging and watchable challenges per episode, connected by Adam Conover’s energy and improv.
Spy Games: a review, plus interviews with an assessor and a producer
A review of Bravo’s new competition Spy Games, plus interviews with assessor Erroll Southers and Kinetic Content’s Eric Detwiler about the show.