A few shows I’ve reviewed so far this year:

• American Idol, now on ABC
• Rose McGowan’s Citizen Rose
• Tabatha Coffey’s Relative Success
• A&E’s Undercover High
• Netflix’s The Big Family Cooking Showdown

Before former Apprentice star Donald Trump reached 100 days in his presidency, The Washington Post asked me to write about Trump’s presidency as compared to his time on television.

Here’s the resulting essay:

• Forget 100 days — we’ve been watching this Trump for years

 

The genre known as reality TV is suffering from a lack of breakout hits. Why? It comes down to one word: fear.

I explored that in a long feature story, which appeared on the cover of The Los Angeles Times’ Sunday Calendar section:

• Why there is less reality TV on television this fall

And there are some outtakes that didn’t make it into the piece in a follow-up piece I wrote for reality blurred:

• How fear has infected the reality TV industry

For my first story in Pacific Standard, I explored the fascinating way reality television seems to have helped to marriages thrive, and explored research that suggests elements of reality shows can benefit all relationships.

• ‘Married at First Sight,’ Now in a Lasting Relationship: What couples who stick together after starring on reality TV can teach us about enduring romance

Last fall, I launched a new newsletter to help people keep up with the latest news in reality television—and, more importantly, the best shows. There are so, so many shows now that it’s impossible to watch them all, so I highlight the best (or sometimes, the weirdest, or funniest, or most dramatic).

Join me, will you? Subscribe here, free.

(No spam, I promise, and you can unsubscribe any time, of course—but I hope you will be with me for a long time!)

Project Runway mentor and co-host Tim Gunn was recently criticized for his treatment of a designer/contestant. That criticism prompted me to think and write about Tim’s reaction, the role of a teacher/mentor, and my role as a critic. It also gave me the opportunity for refer twice to one of my favorite films, Clue.