Twilight of Tyra?
Friday seems an odd day to start a new season of “America’s Next Top Model” (The CW, 8 p.m.), since it’s often the low-rated last stop for shows. But that’s…
‘Facts of Life’ Star in New ‘Survivor’ Cast
Who says acting careers are being hurt by reality shows? Lisa Whelchel, who played the peppy Blair Warner on “The Facts of Life” in the 1980s, is back on TV…
Peace Laureates Want End to ‘Stars Earn Stripes’
Nine Nobel Peace laureates know warmongering when they see it, so they sent a letter to NBC this week, urging it to cancel its new reality series “Stars Earn Stripes,”…
Military Propaganda via Reality Show
Most reality shows are just dumb but “Stars Earn Stripes” (NBC, 8 p.m.) is almost maliciously bad, built on deceptive premises blown up to a jingoistic, action film level with…
Hutterites in a Huff
One of my favorite series this summer, readers will know, is the oddball reality series from National Geographic, “American Colony: Meet the Huttterites.” The unusual, German-speaking sect of Protestants in…
Anthony Bourdain Cancels His Reservations
The upcoming ninth season of “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations” will be his last, the Travel Channel announced Monday. The bon vivant former chef has traveled to more than 60 countries…
Bristol Palin Among ‘Dancing’ All-Stars
The Palin plan for conquering America now has nothing to do with politics, it’s all about reality TV. With the unveiling Friday of Bristol Palin as cast member of “Dancing…
Cowell Conjures the Judges Drama as ‘X Factor’ Boot Camp Begins
Like the fearsome visage in “The Wizard of Oz,” Simon Cowell’s face addressed the reporters at the TV Critics Association press tour Monday with the kind of wrath of the…
Mariah Carey Confirmed as New ‘Idol’ Judge
In a bit of drama that looked a bit like a Bob Newhart bit, Fox Entertainment president announced to reporters at the TV Critics Association press tour that multiplatinum singing…
Now J-Lo is Leaving ‘Idol’ Too
The day after Steven Tyler quit “American Idol,” Jennifer Lopez said she’d be leaving the show’s judges table as well. She made it official by calling the radio show of…