Big Brother 23 – Season Recap

Rock bottom comes in many forms. In some cases, you find that it’s getting sacked from a job that you’ve devoted yourself to for years. It can also be a near-fatal substance abuse. Some people can also say that it’s filing for bankruptcy, or not getting accepted to the school of your choice, or the loss of a loved one, or finding out that your romantic partner is cheating on you with multiple people at once. There’s no wrong answer to what rock bottom is, as it can be experienced in many ways by many forms of subjects that experience it. Big Brother’s rock bottom came in 2020, when the show’s 22nd season, Big Brother: All-Stars (2020) pulled off the rig that it was dreaming of for years, all at the expense of the goodwill it received from its audience. To say that it was a letdown of prodigious proportions would be an understatement.

After the dumpster fire that was 2020, CBS ordered all its reality shows moving forward to cast more BIPOC contestants, forcing them to have a minimum of 50% of BIPOC contestants. You could tell that this was largely directed towards Big Brother more-so than the others. It was almost as if CBS was playing Big Brother with Big Brother. I can imagine what they told the show at the time.

Longtime casting director Robyn Kass chose to fuck off instead, bringing an end to the Kass-Grodner era. I’m surprised Allison Grodner continued on without her drinking buddy. The man they brought in to fill her spot was Jesse Tannenbaum, a casting director who’s had experience with CBS’s other reality shows, Survivor and The Amazing Race, so he’d probably be more willing to help Big Brother comply to the network’s new casting requirements. He’s also served as the casting director for its Over the Top spinoff, so the franchise should have no problem trusting him, as well as the fans. The only question is: will it translate into a good season with Big Brother 23? It all depends on how it plays out. A casting overhaul is one thing, but they also have to manage with the formula of the show. They have made the formula work in the past. They just need to remember what made it work back then. If they manage to do that, everything will be fine. If not,… I’d cringe to think of what terrors Allison Grodner has in store for us this time around.

The Challenge: All-Stars 3 – Trailer Announcement & Cast Reveal

Third time’s the charm. The Challenge: All-Stars is returning to provide intense care for the fanatics after the horrors they’ve witnessed during the main show’s most recent outing. Today, as The Real World Homecoming: New Orleans is enjoying the premiere of its first episode, Paramount+ and MTV have unleashed the trailer for season 3 of The Challenge: All-Stars. The season premieres on May 11th, but you can watch the trailer below.

As always, casting is important, and The Challenge knows it has to go up a notch to keep the fans satisfied with the best of the best. All-Stars 3’s casting mission was accomplished, with very few missteps (extra emphasis on very few). 24 past Challenge legends, all of whom have reached a final before, will be slugging it out in Panama in a whole new game, and the stakes are raised even higher. While 2/3 of this cast have played an All-Star season before, the show also has 8 new All-Stars in the mix. With a cast roster so stacked, where do we even start? Let’s start with the guys.

The Challenge: All-Stars 2 – Episode 7 Recap

Previously on The Challenge: All-Stars, the remaining competitors were required to pick a partner of the opposite sex for the Deep Dive daily challenge. Once 8 pairs were formed, they found out that their partnerships will continue throughout the remainder of the season. Thus, this meant that Brad/Jodi were the winners. Meanwhile, Tyler/Jasmine came in last and they were sentenced to go into the Arena against the house vote, Laterrian/Kendal. However, after a nasty impact into the water during the challenge, Kendal needed medical assistance and was declared unable to return to the game. Therefore, Jasmine was automatically saved. Sorry, Tyler, but you weren’t so lucky. In fact, you got the Pole Wrestle versus the toilet repairman himself, Laterrian. Thanks for coming. Happy trails.

This week’s episode shows the war between the King’s Palace and the no-name majority growing deeper than ever before, and it even threatens to tear apart some of the few existing friendships between both sides. Brace yourselves, folks! There’s going to be a lot to unpack! This is episode 7 of The Challenge: All-Stars 2!

The Challenge: All-Stars 2 – Episode 5 Recap (w/ Madisonkirkpatrick1998)

Narrator: On March 3rd, Madisonkirkpatrick1998 was asked to remove herself from her workplace. That request came from her boss. Deep down, she knew he was right, but she also knew that someday, she’ll find a job that better suited her. With nowhere else to go, she appeared at the office building of Reality TV Guide. Sometime earlier, chief recapper Turk182 was told to fill a vacancy left by a departing staff member. Can these two reality TV writers collaborate on an episode recap without driving each other crazy?

THE UNLIKELY DUO

STARRING MADISONKIRKPATRICK1998

AND TURK182

BASED ON THE BLOG 

REALITY TV GUIDE

FOUNDED BY WARREN MITCHELL

Madisonkirkpatrick1998: Previously on The Challenge: All-Stars, two alliances were formed and risked drawing a line in the sand. Alliances led by rivals Derrick and Nehemiah fought for power at the daily challenge, where it was Nehemiah’s alliance who came out victorious. Previously seen as outsiders, Casey and Steve shook up the house with a dirty power play that sent Derrick and Brad into elimination. Ayanna and Katie, who had quit the daily, also faced off. Brad and Ayanna were victorious, sending two of the most formidable competitors home and giving the other alliance the upper hand. 

Turk182: For this week’s episode, we deal with the fallout after the lines have been drawn in the sand. Will Derrick’s allies seek their vengeance? Will Nehemiah and his forces be able to ride their momentum? Where will everyone else scramble to, and will they be able to find a side before it’s too late? Strap yourselves in! This is episode 5 of The Challenge: All-Stars 2!

The Challenge: All-Stars 2 – Episode 4 Recap

Previously on The Challenge: All-Stars, Tina and Darrell received immunity thanks to the Black Team’s winning performance at the Around the Block challenge. Ryan and Ayanna were automatically sentenced to compete in the Arena for being captains on the Green Team. Because she had the Life Shield, though, Ayanna kept herself safe and put her ally, Sophia, in the Arena instead. Tina drove Darrell up a wall as she managed to get her nemesis, Jodi, and his ally, Cohutta, selected as the other competitors. Cohutta managed to defeat Ryan in the guys’ matchup, and Tina did not get to see a repeat of The Inferno II, as Jodi sent Sophia home in the girls’ matchup.

For this week’s episode, it promises to deliver the goods. Trivia! Blindsides! Backstabbing! Unlikely champions! Power moves! Epic matchups! All this, and more on episode 4 of The Challenge: All-Stars 2!

The Challenge: All-Stars 2 – Episode 2 Recap

Previously on The Challenge: All-Stars, this superior version of the show it spun off from kicked off its second season in Cancun, Mexico. 8 All-Stars from the first season returned for their sophomore runs. Joining them were 16 previous Challenge favorites from the Real World/Road Rules/Fresh Meat eras that were ready for their comeback. All 24 competitors learned that they would be playing for $500,000 this time around. At the first daily challenge, Derrick Kosinsky and Jodi made a statement as they won safety. Ayanna and Nehemiah shit the bed hard, and thanks to the bombshell that every elimination this season would be a double elimination, they’ll both be going into the first one. 

This second episode will determine who they’ll be going up against, as well as who’ll be the first two All-Stars sent back to the States. There’s not much time to waste, so let’s dive right into episode 2 of The Challenge: All-Stars! 

Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X – Season Recap (w/ Madisonkirkpatrick1998)

Narrator: On March 3rd, Madisonkirkpatrick1998 was asked to remove herself from her workplace. That request came from her boss. Deep down, she knew he was right, but she also knew that someday, she’d find a job that better suited her. With nowhere else to go, she appeared at the office building of Reality TV Guide. Sometime earlier, chief recapper Turk182 was told to fill a vacancy left by a departing staff member. Can these two reality TV writers collaborate on an episode recap without driving each other crazy?

THE UNLIKELY DUO

STARRING MADISONKIRKPATRICK1998

AND TURK182

BASED ON THE BLOG 

REALITY TV GUIDE

FOUNDED BY WARREN MITCHELL

It’s Thanksgiving at the Reality TV Guide office. The entire staff is at a conference table set up as a Thanksgiving dinner. Turk182 sits at one end of the table. Madisonkirkpatrick1998 sits on the other end. One of the long sides has Loud Mouth, Pops Ross E., and Mega Max. The other side has Gossip Woman, Jack S., and Joe Average.

Turk182: Welcome to the Reality TV Guide Thanksgiving Feast. It’s been a long and eventful year, but now is the time for us to gather around and celebrate what we’re most thankful for. Let’s go down the table, starting with you, Gossip Woman.

Gossip Woman: Certainly. I’m most thankful for cappuccinos and the book store that’s 5 minutes from my house.

Jack S.: I’m thankful for my closet full of shades, so that I can always grab another pair if the one I’m wearing gets broken.

Joe Average: I’m thankful for the fact that I got my COVID booster shot just in time for Thanksgiving.

Madisonkirkpatrick1998: I am most thankful for family, friends, and the fact that I was able to quit my awful job. 

Mega Max: I’m thankful for my black brothers and sisters, as well as my white allies.

Pops Ross E.: I’m thankful for the time I spent listening to old jazz and Frank Sinatra records.

Loud Mouth: I’m thankful for the tickets to tonight’s football game.

Jack S.: You’re kidding me, right?

Loud Mouth: No. Just got them yesterday.

Turk182: What now?

Gossip Woman: Holy shit, Loud Mouth! 

Joe Average: When does the game begin?

Loud Mouth: In exactly 30 minutes. 

Mega Max: How far away is the drive to the stadium?

Pops Ross E.: 29 minutes.

Mega Max: Well, let’s get going. There’s no time to waste!

Loud Mouth: To the stadium, everyone!

Turk182: Aren’t you guys going to eat the turkey?

Loud Mouth: On Thanksgiving, we don’t eat turkey. We eat Detroit Lions!

Everyone leaves the table and heads out the office. Now, only two people are left at the table: Turk182 and Madisonkirkpatrick1998.

Turk182: You’re probably not used to a non-family Thanksgiving dinner, right?

Madisonkirkpatrick1998: Not really. I’ve never been a part of any work dinners and I don’t know what to expect. 

Turk182: Trust me. Not all families are of the typically traditional form. 

Normally, families have been defined by blood-relation. But as we’ve come to realize, families can also be a group of people that share a common interest. It could be people you know from work, it could be a group of friends that you do tailgates and travels with. It could be a group of the high school classmates that you graduated with. Things like this can allow the term “family” to be stretched a little loosely. In the reality TV world, a family can also be a cast lineup that you share the experiences of the show with and forge a bond with. One of the most fascinating tight-knit bonds between a reality TV cast that I’ve ever witnessed in recent memory has been on Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X.

Madisonkirkpatrick1998: There are a lot of moments during and after the season that made me believe that the cast truly became a family. It was a battle between generations, but it was also an internal battle for lots of the castaways. One person had a mother who suffered from cancer, and another person was a cancer survivor. A few contestants were able to get over their fear of both the outdoors and attention outside of their daily lives. This is the first season I can think of where everyone was so close and felt welcomed. My favorite type of seasons are ones where personal development and growth take center stage; I would rather see someone develop as a person and want to be better than someone who thinks they’re the best at everything. 

Turk182: The cast is always one of the key components that make or break a season, and this season’s ensemble happens to be the strongest of any reality TV season, which makes us that much more excited to cover this season to prove our case. So let’s dive right in.

Madisonkirkpatrick1998: I can’t wait. This turkey looks delicious. 

Turk182: No, to the recap!

Madisonkirkpatrick1998: This is “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X.”

The Challenge: All-Stars 2 – Episode 1 Recap (w/ Madisonkirkpatrick1998)

Narrator: On March 3rd, Madisonkirkpatrick1998 was asked to remove herself from her workplace. That request came from her boss. Deep down, she knew he was right, but she also knew that someday, she’ll find a job that better suited her. With nowhere else to go, she appeared at the office building of Reality TV Guide. Sometime earlier, chief recapper Turk182 was told to fill a vacancy left by a departing staff member. Can these two reality TV writers collaborate on an episode recap without driving each other crazy?

THE UNLIKELY DUO

STARRING MADISONKIRKPATRICK1998

AND TURK182

BASED ON THE BLOG 

REALITY TV GUIDE

FOUNDED BY WARREN MITCHELL

Turk182: My name is Turk182…

Madisonkirkpatrick1998: and I’m Madisonkirkpatrick1998, and this is Reality TV Guide, where we came to make everyone feel better about themselves. 

Turk182: Let’s take a look at what the newest season of The Challenge is serving up.

No, no, the other one.

There we go.

Madisonkirkpatrick1998: Let’s forget this current season is even a thing, lmao. After a few long months of waiting, the ever-so-popular Challenge spinoff, All-Stars, is back for a second season. The first season was great, unlike anything I would have expected (though there were certain portions I disliked), so I can only hope that this season measures up. One thing that could make this season better is two winners instead of one, but that could potentially be a pipe dream. I don’t know, I tend to see some pleasant surprises in life.

Turk182: Having to follow up a popular season to a fan-demanded spinoff is a tall order, especially when you’re The Challenge, and you have to please the most judgmental fanbase in all of reality TV. Yet, based on the looks of everything so far, this season looks like it’s going to be a very worthy follow-up, and we’ll be looking at the season premiere today to see if our assumptions are correct.

Madisonkirkpatrick1998: All I can say is that I’m very excited for what’s to come. 

Turk182: This is episode 1 of The Challenge: All-Stars 2!

Survivor 41 – Episode 5 Recap

Hi, there. My name is Turk182. It’s been a while since we’ve talked. I’m stepping in today for Madisonkirkpatrick1998 on this Survivor 41 recap, as she enjoys her vacation time. Like Madisonkirkpatrick1998, I’ve also been watching this season regularly each week. There’s so much that there is to talk about. How do you do a quick recap of everything so far at the beginning of something for a show that doesn’t even do a recap at the beginning? Well, when I was watching the previous episode, I got a good smile out of the Yase tribe doing their own “Previously on Survivor…” talk at camp. That’s the kind of entertainment that should inspire us Survivor fans to come up with our own interpretation of this form. So here’s my DIY version of “Previously on Survivor…”, consisting of some notes that I’ve taken on the first four episodes:

• The first episode included some tribe errors that equaled the golden comedy of bad NFL teams.
• It’s understandable that Jeff Probst cut the “guys” out of his “Come on in, guys!” catchphrase. Society has changed, and Ricard needed more time to see where his transgender husband with an ability to conceive a baby fit into that equation before he spoke up on that.
• I didn’t realize until that first Tribal Council that Abraham existed.
• Shan’s song she always hums sounds a lot like the Spider-Man theme song.
• Sara has a nice personality, but she was too weepy and timid to make a deep run in the game.
• Voce looked like the perfect person to go the distance. What happened to him?
• I can’t believe Survivor did a flashback within a flashback.
• Brad was less of a villain and more of a try-too-hard.
• Who’d expect a mistake-prone Yase tribe with one guy and three girls to go from bad to good?
• Tiffany has become the little engine that could. As someone who hoped to see that out of her, I’m impressed by that.
• I find it hilarious that Luvu’s attempt to throw the immunity challenge 
• Naseer is so clutch that I need to attach the Mighty Mouse theme song to each of his clutch moments.
• JD’s throwing technique was terrible. He was throwing the ring with his body and coming off the throwing platform. Keep your feet planted and just flick the ring, you dumbass!
• Oh, and speaking of JD being a dumbass, let’s give your extra vote advantage to Shan a second time. I’m sure that won’t turn out worse than the first time.

The Challenge: All-Stars 2 – Trailer Announcement & Cast Reveal

Don’t call it a comeback! They’ve been here for years! The Challenge: All-Stars, perhaps one of the best gifts we could ask for in 2021, is coming back for season 2. Paramount+ just dropped a short trailer for the second season, which is set to premiere on the streaming service on November 11th.

There’s not too much to see, as it’s only 21 seconds long. Hopefully, a longer trailer will premiere somewhere down the pipeline before the season premiere. However, the biggest treat in this promo drop is the cast reveal. 24 past Challenge legends are coming in for a whole new game set in Mexico. 8 of the competitors have appeared on the previous season. However, they’ll be joined by 16 new All-Stars seeking their own Challenge career resurgences. There’s a lot of names to go over, so as always, let’s start with the guys.