Posted Jul 8th 2008 12:41PM by Jackie Schnoop
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Industry, OpEd, The Apprentice, Survivor

Executive television producer Mark Burnett is being sued by his former business partner Conrad Riggs for $70 million. Burnett, a British television producer, is best known for kick-starting the reality television genre in the United States. He's been on the producer and creator train for shows such as
Survivor,
The Apprentice,
Rock Star,
The Contender, M
artha Stewart Apprentice,
Pirate Master,
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader,
On the Lot (with Steven Speilberg), and more.
So, why is he being sued for the big bucks? Read on past the jump.
Continue reading Television producer Mark Burnett sued for $70 million
Posted Jul 7th 2008 4:24PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Programming, The Amazing Race, The Apprentice, Video, Survivor, Project Runway, Hell's Kitchen

I've noticed that one of the more overused phrases on reality shows is "I'm not here to make friends." It's that moment in the competition where some controversy/confrontation comes up and the player that everyone seems to dislike the most explains to them that they're "there to win the game" and "not here to make friends." Of course, the fact that many of these people probably can't make friends even in real life probably doesn't even cross their minds.
Now someone has taken a bunch of those "I'm not here to make friends" moments and created a YouTube montage. You'll see contestants from shows like Survivor, The Apprentice, The Amazing Race, America's Next Top Model, The White Rapper Show (whatever that is), Project Runway, Forever Eden, Hell's Kitchen, and other shows. One player even says "I ain't here to make no friends," which is at least a twist on the phrase.
It has gotten to the point where they really have to outlaw this phrase from all reality shows, though I think the phrase would make for an awesome t-shirt.
Continue reading Reality stars aren't here to make friends - VIDEO
Posted Jun 27th 2008 11:02AM by Brett Love
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other Comedy Shows, Programming, The Amazing Race, CSI, Survivor, Numb3rs, Criminal Minds, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, Reality-Free
Are you anxiously awaiting news of who was in that SUV that exploded? Still fraught with worry over how Gibbs is going to get his team back together? Or maybe you are just excited that Survivor is finally going to be beamed into your living room in glorious HD. Well, you can start making plans for your fall scheduling now. The eye network has released the schedule of premieres for their new and returning shows.
I'm a little concerned about two things on the schedule. First, The New Adventures Of Old Christine and Project Gary lead into Criminal Minds on Wednesday nights. That's an odd pairing, and I don't think bodes well for either of the comedies. And second, The Unit gets shuffled off to Sunday at 10? NCIS and The Unit have done remarkably well paired up on Tuesdays. Good for The Mentalist, not so much for The Unit. The whole thing kicks off with Survivor on September 18th. The rest of the schedule is after the jump.
Continue reading The CBS fall premiere schedule
Posted Jun 5th 2008 1:36PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Survivor
They haven't even begun filming yet and already there are problems on the set of the next Survivor.
Production on Survivor: Gabon, which starts filming later this month, has been hit with several problems during preproduction. Problem #1: shipments to the location have been delayed by 30 days. This means that the crew has to stay in tents and not a building. Problem #2: a crane fell over. Problem #3: $100,000 of food has gone missing. And Problem #4: dangerous animals are causing a problem.
Continue reading Problems on the set of the next Survivor
Posted May 18th 2008 12:01PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Programming, Survivor, Ratings

Now that the
upfronts have been presented, it's time to start handicapping the ratings (although
Jeff Zucker doesn't think Nielsens matter that much anymore). Nevertheless, some are looking at next fall's schedule and predicting a big-time battle royale on Thursday night at 8 o'clock. Which reality show will emerge at the Nielsen number one -- CBS's
Survivor or Fox's
The Moment of Truth? According to
Hollywood Reporter,
Fox is taking aim at CBS. When asked at the upfront about positioning
The Moment of Truth -- and
Hell's Kitchen right behind it -- on that night was a strategic move, the executive was diplomatic at first. He said Fox isn't looking for a battle; they're doing their own thing. But then said of
Survivor, "Look, it's eroding. It's an older show. Its eventually going to give up and were trying to accelerate that."
Hmm, sounds like fighting words to me.
The Moment of Truth and
Hell's Kitchen are two of Fox's three premiere reality shows, behind only
American Idol in the ratings. Anyway you slice it, Thursday night is going to be a night to drive TV fans crazy. While Fox and CBS are leading with reality shows to start the night, ABC will offer Emmy winner and critic's darling,
Ugly Betty, NBC will serve up its Emmy winner(s) and critic's faves,
My Name Is Earl and
30 Rock, and the CW will bring back the venerable fan fave,
Smallville. And that's not even considering what the rest of the networks have planned.
Continue reading Will Survivor survive The Moment of Truth?
Posted May 14th 2008 10:19AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Industry, Programming, The Amazing Race, CSI, Survivor, Numb3rs, How I Met Your Mother, Cancellations, Pickups and Renewals, Shark, Upfronts, Cane, Moonlight

CBS announced its plans for the 2008-2009 season today. For the most part, things are staying the same, but there are two new sitcoms and four hour dramas planned. Here are the highlights:
Returning: The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Rules of Engagement, The Unit, Cold Case, Numb3rs, Criminal Minds, The Ghost Whisperer, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, NCIS, 60 Minutes, Without A Trace, Survivor, The Amazing RaceOut: Shark, Moonlight, Cane, Kid Nation, Power of 10, Secret Talents of the Stars, Viva Laughlin, Welcome to the CaptainNew: The Worst Week, Project Gary, The Ex List, Eleventh Hour, The Mentalist
Mid-season: Harper's Island, Rules of Engagement
Schedule and detailed descriptions of the new shows coming soon, after the jump.Continue reading The Upfronts: CBS
Posted May 12th 2008 1:08AM by Jackie Schnoop
Filed under: OpEd, Survivor, Episode Reviews
(S16E14) "May the best woman win." - AmandaWell, this surely was a season of blindsides on
Survivor Micronesia, wasn't it? Down to the finale, it just went on and on. After the excitement we had all season due to the strategical game play, I felt tonight's finale was a bit lackluster and full of filler. No, I'm not fussing just because my favorite didn't win. Heck, if that were the case, I would have been gone when Yau-Man hit the dust! Read on past the jump for my full review of the finale.
Continue reading Survivor Micronesia: Stir the Pot (season finale)
Posted May 10th 2008 3:02PM by Paul Goebel
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, The Apprentice, Survivor, Game Show, Casting

A day hasn't gone by where we haven't received some sort of tip or email asking us, the TV Squad, how to get on [insert reality show here]. Unfortunately no, Simon Cowell does not work for us, and Donald Trump isn't my BFF, so we really can't help all that much.
The folks at RealityWanted.com often send us a list of new and existing reality shows that are looking for new, er, talent, and they've given us permission to make mention of them here. We'll try to make this a regular feature as often as we get a new list.
This time we have The Real Housewives of NYC ,The Moment of Truth and other new shows.
Continue reading Reality Show casting calls
Posted May 9th 2008 1:26PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, American Idol, Survivor
Everyone dumps on reality shows (though everyone watches them), but did you know that they can actually boost your career? It's true!
OK, maybe it's just true over at this Fortune article. They list 7 ways that reality shows can help you in your work life. Everything from what not to say in interviews (don't be like Rock of Love's Daisy, who said "um" too many times) to how to make watercooler friends (it involves Simon Cowell, and I'm still not 100% sure I even understand this one).
They also use Donald Trump as an example, of course.
Continue reading Reality TV can help you make more money!
Posted May 8th 2008 10:13PM by Jackie Schnoop
Filed under: OpEd, Survivor, Episode Reviews
(S16E13) "Win and survive, fail and die." - Erik
Well, maybe you can win and die, too. No, I'm not talking about an odd variant of a James Bond movie. I'm talking
Survivor Micronesia. This season has been like a roller coaster ride. While castaways I've been cheering on have been blindsided and cast away much like fish guts to seagulls, I've been enjoying the season nonetheless. After all, it's been their own darn fault!
Read on past the jump for the full review of tonight's show.
Continue reading Survivor Micronesia: If It Smells Like a Rat, Give It Cheese
Posted May 5th 2008 3:39PM by Richard Keller
Filed under: Programming, American Idol, Battlestar Galactica, Boston Legal, CSI, Desperate Housewives, ER, House, Law and Order, Lost, Scrubs, The Simpsons, Smallville, Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, Family Guy, My Name Is Earl, Bones, Supernatural, Numb3rs, Criminal Minds, How I Met Your Mother, King of the Hill, The Office, America's Next Top Model, Dancing With The Stars, Shark, 30 Rock, Ugly Betty, Brothers and Sisters, NCIS, TV Squad Lists, Reaper, Moonlight, Samantha Who?, Reality-Free, Gossip Girl
Holy frik! We've only just started to embrace the return of our shows after a shortened strike season. Now, they are almost over. In the next few weeks all of our network favorites will say good-bye for the summer to be replaced with reality shows, reality game shows, reality soap operas, and Regis on primetime (again).
Needless to say, I'm a bit depressed. As I am sure you are as well. But, we will do our duty and press on. Thusly, we here at the sprawling lakefront offices of TV Squad (you choose the lakefront) have compiled list of when your favorite, and not so favorite, shows will be saying good-bye for their summer vacation. As usual, taking the fickleness of the networks, these times and days can change at a moment's notices. We will try to update you of those changes as quickly as our little fingers can type it out.
So, with a leaden heart, here are your season and series finales.
Continue reading It's finale time again! No, really.
Posted May 1st 2008 11:20PM by Jackie Schnoop
Filed under: OpEd, Survivor, Episode Reviews
(S16E12) Okay, I officially declare
Survivor Micronesia to be one of the best, if not the best, season ever in the series. You see, the show really isn't all about surviving the elements of nature. The survival skills needed don't necessarily have to do with who might forage best in the woods or who can build a sturdy shelter. Nope, it's "Outwit, Outplay, Outlast." And, chances are ... if you outwit and outplay, you're going to outlast. Tonight's backsided blindside will make for
Survivor history.
Read on past the jump for my full review of tonight's episode.
Continue reading Survivor Micronesia: I'm Gonna Fix Her!
Posted Apr 24th 2008 10:45PM by Jackie Schnoop
Filed under: OpEd, Survivor, Episode Reviews
(S16E11) "Oh, it's going to be awkward." - James
Okay, we might be having a rather lackluster season of
Big Brother, but
Survivor Micronesia is kicking strategical butt. These castaways aren't messing around. They're not fickle and, once they've made up their minds on a plan, they follow through. They're diabolical and sneaky. I like that in my castaways. It's good to see some real strategy for a change even if I might not always want to see someone go so soon. Yes, I'm talking Ozzy. He's history and I think I have new favorites now. Yeah, I'm being fickle. What of it?
Read on past the jump for the full review of tonight's episode.
Continue reading Survivor Micronesia: I'm Ruthless ... and I Have a Smile on my Face
Posted Apr 22nd 2008 11:04AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Industry, OpEd, The Amazing Race, Survivor, Project Runway

Okay, I admit it. I like reality TV. Or maybe I should say unscripted TV. These days the parsing of the term "reality" has become as much a discussion as the genre itself. And don't kill me for calling it a genre. It is. It's here to stay. As long as producers can come up with ideas that make money and networks give them air time, reality/non-fiction/unscripted television is going to continue to proliferate the tube.
It's not with any great pride that I admit I'm hooked on reality shows -- some reality shows. My favorites include the high quality, classy shows, like
The Amazing Race and
Top Chef and
Project Runway, as well as trashy ones, i.e.
The Real Housewives of Orange County (and New York),
Hell's Kitchen and
Bridezillas. I like some of the competition-oriented shows, but that doesn't stop me from gazing in astonishment at the train wreck docu-series like
Hey Paula and
Being Bobby Brown. In fact, when I hear Kathy Griffin riffing on those shows -- her imitation of Whitney screaming "Bobby!" is classic -- I want to cry out, "Yes, yes, I watch that one, too."
Continue reading True confessions: I watch reality TV
Posted Apr 17th 2008 11:00PM by Jackie Schnoop
Filed under: OpEd, Survivor, Episode Reviews
(S16E10) "When you're annoying, you might not be able to appease everybody with a donut. They might just want the donut." - James
All week the promos for tonight's
Survivor Micronesia episode were saying that a blunder would overtake James having two idols and not playing them to save himself in
Survivor China. It's true. James is no longer the goat of stupid moves. Maybe they should rename the tag line for the season. Instead of
Fans vs. Favorites, it could be
When Smart Castaways Do Dumb Things. Or,
When Smarter Castaways Outwit Those Not as Smart.
Read on past the jump for the full review of tonight's episode.
Continue reading Survivor Micronesia: I Promise ...
Next Page »