Moviefone Editorial

Tag: reality-tv

  • Fox Orders ‘Lego Masters’ Reality Series Produced by Brad Pitt

    Fox Orders ‘Lego Masters’ Reality Series Produced by Brad Pitt

    Lego Masters Australia
    Endemol Shine Australia/Nine Network

    “Lego Masters” is crossing the pond.

    The British reality competition series has already inspired an Australian edition, and now it’s headed stateside. Fox has ordered “Lego Masters” for an unspecified number of episodes, THR reports. The project is produced by Endemol Shine North America and Brad Pitt‘s Plan B.

    “Lego Masters”  is “bold, fun and unlike anything else of television,” according to Rob Wade, Fox’s president of alternative entertainment. It pits teams of two against each other in Lego-building challenges. Ultimately, the top teams face each other and compete for the trophy.

    “‘Lego Masters’ has everything you want in a reality competition: an incredibly quirky and unique twist on a brand revered by billions of people, exciting team-based battles driven by creativity and a premise that’s ultra-family friendly,” Wade said, per THR.

    The show was created by the production company Tuesday’s Child and has aired two seasons so far in the U.K. Meanwhile, the Australian version premiered in April. Both have had solid ratings, hence the decision to bring it to North America.

    Karen Smith and Steph Harris of Tuesday’s Child will executive produce the U.S. version alongside Endemol Shine North America’s Sharon Levy, DJ Nurre, and Michael Heyerman, and The Lego Group’s Jill Wilfert and Robert May. Fox has not yet announced a release date for “Lego Masters,” but the fun is coming.

    [via: THR]

  • Chrissy Teigen Gets Her Own Court Show, ‘Chrissy’s Court’

    Chrissy Teigen Gets Her Own Court Show, ‘Chrissy’s Court’

    Chrissy Teigen on Lip Sync Battle
    Paramount Network

    Chrissy Teigen is ready to make small claims court “a little more petty.”

    The TV personality has just landed an unexpected new gig: arbitrating small claims cases on a new Quibi reality series. The show, “Chrissy’s Court,” will involve real plantiffs, defendants, and disputes, per Deadline. It apparently doesn’t matter that Teigen’s not an actual judge; her decisions will be final and binding.

    The episodes will be 10 minutes long each, and they’ll show Teigen arbitrating disputes while her mother, Vialiluck “Pepper Thai” Teigen, serves as the bailiff. The model-turned-“judge” teased on Twitter that her mom will scold arguing plaintiffs and defendants and “basically take selfies the entire time.”

    Teigen has developed a sizable following in recent years. Her outspoken personality has led to her amassing more than 11 million Twitter followers and nabbing some very eclectic gigs. In addition to her court show, she co-hosts “Lip Sync Battle” and is working on new food shows for Hulu. She’ll also judge the upcoming NBC comedy competition, “Bring the Funny.”

    Teigen will executive produce “Chrissy’s Court” through her production company, Suit & Thai Productions. The show is produced by Suit & Thai and 3 Arts Entertainment. Luke Dillion is also set to executive produce.

    [via: Deadline]

  • ‘Amazing Race’ Contestant Jim Raman Passes Away at 42

    ‘Amazing Race’ Contestant Jim Raman Passes Away at 42

    CBS

    Orthodontist Dr. Jim Raman, who competed on Season 25 of “The Amazing Race” with his wife, Misti, has died at his home in South Carolina. He was 42.

    Authorities pronounced him dead upon their arrival, according to Lexington County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Capt. Adam Myrick. The County Coroner stated that “nothing suspicious or criminal is involved with the case.”

    The “married dentists” finished second in the round-the-word reality show in 2014. They finished first on five of the season’s 12 legs and won a number of bonuses, including trips for two to Dubai, UAE, Brazil, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and Vietnam.

    Their dental business, Irmo Smiles, sent out the following statement to patients: “As our staff and the family prepare for Dr. Raman’s celebration of life, please join us in praying for peace and comfort during this difficult time. Your patience is greatly appreciated as we give Dr. Misti Raman time to grieve the loss of her loving husband.”

    The couple have two children, Lexi and Jimmy. Raman’s funeral will be held Saturday in Lexington, South Carolina.

    Jodi Wincheski, a casting director for the reality show, tweeted, “So sad to wake up to this today. We lost a member of The Amazing Race Family and I hope everyone will come together to support his family.”

    [Via Variety,  USA Today]

  • 11 Things You Never Knew About Jim Carrey’s ‘The Truman Show’

    It seems strange to think that “The Truman Show” is now 20 years old, especially given how prophetic the movie ended up being about the rise of reality TV.

    20 years later, as of this week, it’s still fondly remembered as one of the best films in Jim Carrey‘s career. Here some interesting facts you might not know about this unusual sci-fi drama.
    1. The film began life as a one-page story treatment in 1991. At that point, it was called “The Malcolm Show” and was set inside an elaborate recreation of New York City.

    2. Director Peter Weir said that the film was partly inspired by the life of Michael Jackson, who — like Truman — dealt with a lifetime of media attention.
    3. Originally, Truman was intended to be a younger character who recently graduated high school. But when Carrey was cast, the script was rewritten to make Truman a 30-year-old man.

    4. Earlier screenplay drafts contained many darker moments cut from the final version. Among these are scenes where Truman fails to stop staged criminal acts and a violent confrontation between Truman and Christof at the end of the film.5. The film provides an early clue that Truman’s entire town is located inside a massive studio building thanks to a shot of a Vitamin D supplement bottle, which would be necessary for someone who’s never actually been exposed to the sun.

    6. The film contains numerous subtle references to Psalm 139 in the Bible, including the numbers “139” on the sail of Truman’s boat.
    7. Weir wrote an elaborate, 10-page back-story for Truman’s reality series, which revealed that the series has won numerous Emmy awards and that Christof directed an award-winning documentary about the homeless.

    8. The film was originally scheduled for release in November 1997, but was pushed back to Summer 1998 to prevent it from being overshadowed by “Titanic.”
    9. Weir filmed “The Truman Show” in an unusual 1.66:1 aspect ratio in order to make it feel more like a TV show. However, both the theatrical and Blu-ray releases were cropped, and only the DVD version features the correct aspect ratio.

    10. Critics Siskel & Ebert” for insinuating that Carrey would never have a career after “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.”
    11. Psychiatrist Joel Gold has noted a phenomenon called “The Truman Show delusion,” where schizophrenic patients believe they too are trapped in an elaborate reality TV show and having every moment of their lives viewed by an audience.

  • Kylie Jenner Is Set for Her Own ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ Spinoff

    Marie Claire's Image Maker Awards 2017 - ArrivalsThe first family of reality TV’s sphere of influence is growing.

    E! has announced that “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” spinoff. The show, “Life of Kylie,” will follow the youngest of the Kardashian-Jenner siblings as she works on her many business projects as well as navigates her personal life. The drama and developments will unfold over the course of eight half-hour episodes, premiering this summer.

    Jenner has built a personal brand of her own in recent years, going from being known as the youngest Kardashian half-sister to an entrepreneur, fashion designer, and social media standout. Getting her own series is a big milestone, and she’s understandably excited. She tweeted the big news Monday, saying she “can’t wait to share” the docu-series.

    There’s never a lack of Jenners or Kardashians on E!, that’s for sure. If you want to keep up, look for “Life of Kylie” on the network this summer.

    [via: Deadline]

  • The Best Shows for Reality TV Addicts

    UnREALEver since MTV introduced “The Real World,” viewers have been obsessed with the genre it created: reality television. Even now, more than 20 years later, audiences still can’t get enough of cameras following people around as they live their supposedly spontaneous but actually scripted lives — whether it’s the Kardashians or the Real Housewives of wherever. Whether you’re already a huge fan, or ready to get in on the fun of reality TV, here are five reality shows that need to be seen to be believed.

    ‘Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo’ (2012 – 2014)

    America’s obsession with child beauty pageants took an unexpected turn in 2012 when TLC’s “Toddlers & Tiaras” launched “Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo” as a spinoff. Following frequent pageant contestant Alana “Honey Boo-Boo” Thompson and her family, the show captures their antics as they prepare for her pageants while living in Southern poverty. It’s unclear if the audience is meant to laugh with, or at, the family but it’s definitely hard to look away from them. If nothing else, “Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo” is a perfect course for parents on what not to feed their children (Spoiler alert: copious amounts of butter are not great for a kid’s diet).

    ‘Property Brothers’ (2011 – )

    “Property Brothers” is an HGTV staple, because everyone loves watching two hunky guys (Jonathan and Drew Scott) transform dumpy houses into dream homes. Although the format never changes — a complaining couple is shown a turnkey house that’s out of their price range, they pick one of three shoddy houses, and the brothers transform it into a palace — somehow, “Property Brothers” doesn’t get old. The twins’ ability to stay positive despite the inevitable construction setbacks, not to mention the buyer couple’s shocking sense of entitlement, will likely keep audiences returning for years to come.

    ‘UnREAL’ (2015 – )

    “UnREAL” is a scripted drama about the producers of a fictitious reality show — “Everlasting,” a thinly veiled version of “The Bachelor.” “UnREAL” works on two levels: The show is both a sobering reminder that all reality TV is scripted — and anything but real — and it also stands on its own as a compelling drama. Producer Rachel Goldberg (Shiri Appleby) is charged with manipulating contestants for ratings while creating a facade of romance, and the show maneuvers around the constant tension of doing what’s best for the participants versus what will gain the most the viewers. Think of “UnREAL” as all the fun of reality TV, without the guilt.

    ’16 and Pregnant’ (2009 – ) and ‘Teen Mom’ (2009 – 2012)

    Arguably the most realistic reality TV franchise, MTV’s “16 and Pregnant” — and its follow-up series “Teen Mom,” “Teen Mom 2,” and “Teen Mom 3” — tracks the lives of young women through their journeys into motherhood. All four shows depict the overwhelming joy of having a child while presenting many of the grim realities at the same time, to the point where watching an episode can feel like sitting through a high school Sex Ed class. While some critics have been troubled at the instant-celebrity status that follows the mothers after appearing on the show, most agree that all the shows in the franchise are worth watching as a series of parables.

    ‘America’s Next Top Model’ (2003 – )

    One of the longest-running reality TV shows of all time — 13 years have yielded 22 seasons so far — “America’s Next Top Model” is an elimination-style game show where aspiring beauty queens vie for a chance at $100,000 and a modeling contract. Led by fashion legend Tyra Banks, who left the show as host in 2015 but remains an executive producer, the models are given new challenges each week to prove they’re each more than just a pretty face. The drama on “Top Model” gets pretty intense — the show isn’t short on backstabbing, yelling, or petty arguments — but what has helped it endure is how well it shows the amount of work that goes into the fashion industry. The plots may not be real, but the models’ hard work definitely is.

    Sources

  • Simon Cowell Joining ‘America’s Got Talent’ as New Judge

    2013 Summer TCA Tour - Day 9When “America’s Got Talent” creator Simon Cowell had to find a big name to replace departing judge Howard Stern, he didn’t have to look far — he’s hiring himself!

    Cowell announced on the “Today” show that he’ll join season 11 as a judge. He’ll still serve as executive producer of the show he created.

    “I am really thrilled to be joining ‘America’s Got Talent’ next season,” said Cowell. “What I love about this show is that it’s open to absolutely anyone. America has some fantastic talent just waiting to be discovered, and I would like that talent to come to our show, including any dogs who can sing!”

    Cowell already serves as a judge on “Britain’s Got Talent” and the U.K.’s “X Factor,” but he hasn’t been a judge on an American reality series since his time on “American Idol” (which is ending this season). He’s used those shows to find and sign talent, including One Direction, Fifth Harmony, and Susan Boyle.

    While he expects “AGT” to move to L.A., he’s not sure which of the show’s current judges — Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, and Mel B — will come along for the ride. Nick Cannon is the host.

    “They might decide since I’ve come back, they’ll run for the hills,” he joked to USA Today. “I have no idea. I know them all. I think they’ve done a great job. … I thought we’d let the dust settle and then we’ll meet everyone who’s on the show and then we’ll make some decisions.”

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  • CBS Orders Reality Show That’s Basically Real-Life ‘Fugitive’

    The FugitiveThink you can disappear, go on the run, without anybody finding you? Then sign up for “Hunted,” a new reality competition show ordered by CBS.

    “Hunted” sounds a lot like a real-life version of the 1993 movie “The Fugitive” (itself based on a 1960s drama series). Contestants will go on the run and try to evade “some of the world’s most highly skilled investigators and trackers” on a nation-wide manhunt. The pros will use every method available to them, from state-of-the-art techniques to old-school tactics, in an effort to uncover clues and find their hiding places.

    The show is adapted from a British series of the same name, which premiered to very good ratings this month.

    “Hunted” combines the suspense of a crime drama with the thrill of a competition reality series and some very topical social issues,” said Glenn Geller, president of CBS Entertainment. Issues like privacy in this digital day and age — it’ll be interesting to see if anyone can truly disappear. The temptation to post an Instagram might be just too tempting.

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  • The 9 Most Entertaining Reality TV Judges Ever

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    Some reality TV judges say a few semi-astute words of criticism to contestants and send them on their merry ways, and some reality TV judges bring it. If you’re given the seemingly cushy job of sitting comfortably at a panel mentoring hungry Hollywood newbies and spouting comments about something you’re a supposed expert on, you should give it your all. And if you’re not really helping the contestants, at least make things interesting for the viewers at home…

    There are a few reality competition judges who go above and beyond. These judges entertain the audience week after week and season after season (or cycle after cycle if we’re talking “America’s Next Top Model.”)

    Who are our favorite judges of all time? Take a look at 9 greats who spice up reality competition TV.

  • ‘The Bachelorette’: Kaitlyn ‘Slut Shaming’ Heats Up After Nick Sex in Dublin

    UPDATE: Yeah, fans had strong reactions after Kaitlyn and Nick got hot and heavy in Dublin. It didn’t help that they made out in a church (!) before going back to her hotel room. Check out some of the reactions on Twitter — a lot of fans were most disgusted that she did this with Nick. If it were Shawn, maybe they’d feel differently. But no, making out in a church would not go over well with anyone.

    Original post:

    It was only a matter of time and apparently that time is tonight. Right after Kaitlyn Bristowe was revealed as “The Bachelorette” for Season 11, ABC shared a promo that teased a sex scandal, ’cause she apparently had sex with one of the guys while still dating the rest of the harem. It sounds like the Monday, June 22 Week 6 episode set in Dublin, Ireland is going to cover that sex territory and viewer reaction is expected to be … strong.

    *SPOILERS AHEAD*

    Reality Steve, who shares spoilers about every season, had already said the sex was with controversial returnee Nick Viall. E! News also heard that it was Nick, and a source elaborated, telling E!, “It happened after they spent the day touring in Dublin. During the date, they had a hard time keeping their hands off each other. When it was over, she invited him back up to her hotel room.” However it plays out, it’s sure to be dramatic, and in case we didn’t already know that, The Powers That Be are emphasizing it.

    Here’s a tweet from show creator Mike Fleiss:

    And here’s one from ABC exec Robert Mills:

    And here are teases from Reality Steve:

    Yikes.

    But while we’re talking spoilers, Reality Steve had initially said that Nick and Shawn B. were the final two and Kaitlyn left single — picking no one — but after Kaitlyn shared a Snapchat video with Shawn, Reality Steve updated with intel that she did pick Shawn and they are engaged. So keep in mind that Kaitlyn and Shawn are probably happy somewhere, fully aware that she did whatever she did with Nick. It’s not like it’s a bad thing to have sex, but it’s not that cool to do it outside of the fantasy suite while still dating several other people that are not allowed to date anyone but you. Still love her, just saying. But if she does pick Shawn in the end, then this is just water that has to make its way under the bridge before they can both move on. (What about Nick, though? If this is all true, should we expect another round of “If you weren’t in love with me, I’m just not sure why you made love with me”?)

    How do you feel about this whole thing?

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