This week’s reality TV recap: ‘Love Is Blind’ stars Tyler and Ashley address their marriage, ‘DWTS’ sees controversial elimination — and more
In Reality newsletter: Catch up on what you missed in reality TV this week
G’morning, reality fans! Have we recovered from that LIB reunion? Didn’t think so. Let’s unpack it all together.
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Reality moment of the week
Anyone who’s watched this season of Love Is Blind knew the reunion would be messy, but Wednesday’s chaos was next level.
What happened: We all wanted to see how Ashley processed the news that Tyler is not just a sperm donor to his kids, as he claimed on the show. Instead, she said she knew he was involved in their lives and scolded America for doubting their communication. Wait — what? [People]
What people are saying: The couple says their sperm donor convo was staged and semi-fictionalized after they’d had the real talk off-camera to protect the other parties involved. Folks are not buying it. [Glamour]
My take: Producers fell asleep at the wheel this season if Ashley and Tyler really did fabricate a whole narrative for “privacy.” Also, Ashley and Tyler can scold social media sleuths all they want, but the kids’ mother called him out herself — so clearly she didn’t want his “protection.” [Business Insider]
The recaps
?? ‘The Voice’
Battle rounds 3 and 4 were intense: Austyns Stancil lost his Team Stefani matchup with Jose Luis, but in a rare twist, he got his pick of all three other coaches. After an overnight cliffhanger, he picked Snoop Dogg. [Yahoo Entertainment]
??? ‘Survivor’
This week was an emotional rollercoaster: On one hand, we had Tiyana’s shocked, tearful exit, and on the other, we had Sol hiding an advantage in his butt (er, shorts) so no one would know he got it. Give him an Emmy for that. [Entertainment Weekly]
?? ‘The Golden Bachelorette’
In a sadly predictable “twist,” Joan Vassos’s aloof French lover Pascal self-eliminated during Part 1 of the finale. Sacre bleu! Hopefully, she’ll have more fun at next week’s “Men Tell All.” [Yahoo! Entertainment]
?? ‘Dancing With the Stars’
Halloween Night left singer-actress Chandler Kinney and former Bachelor Joey Graziadei tied for first, but fans were not happy to see retired NBA star Dwight Howard stay over former Bachelorette Jenn Tran. Hasn’t she been through enough? [The Independent/Yahoo Entertainment]
?? ‘Real Housewives of Orange County’
Tamra Judge has been vindicated for calling Jennifer Pedranti’s fiancé, Ryan Boyajian, shady. RHOC's season finale finally teased Ryan's implication in an alleged gambling scandal, with Tamra gloating in an FBI hat. I'd expect nothing less. [Reality Tea]
Reality trivia
Who was the first Olympic athlete to compete for the Mirrorball Trophy on Dancing With the Stars?
Hint: He won in 2007 and came back for the all-stars season in 2012.
Cheat code: Here’s a list of all the Olympians who’ve danced for the judges.
Answer at the bottom.
3 questions
...with Love Is Blind fan Kelsey Weekman
We’re not getting a new season of Love Is Blind until Valentine’s Day, so before we put this messy season to rest, I wanted to check in with Yahoo Entertainment reporter Kelsey Weekman for one last debrief.
Laura: Which breakup takes your top slot as the season’s most dramatic?
Kelsey: Most of the drama this season happened off-screen, but I will never forget that Stephen's excuse for sexting someone else behind Monica's back was that he was drunk at a sleep test.
Laura: Do you think our two married couples are going to make it?
Kelsey: I've only ever had hope for Garrett and Taylor. I’m genuinely baffled that Tyler and Ashley are still together. But to me, the fun of Love Is Blind is seeing what pushes people over the edge into splitsville, whether it's fundamental disagreements or personality clashes.
Laura: What's your favorite trope of the show?
Kelsey: I love the token unmatched people who didn't make it past the pods but hang around at events to ask questions and get people fighting!
Pop quiz: How many Love Is Blind couples are still together now?
Next week's watchlist
1?? The Voice will only air Monday: I’m dying to know how Reba McEntire and Michael Bublé will use their steals during the remaining Battles at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Election Night will preempt Tuesday’s episode. [Yahoo Entertainment]
2?? It’s time for “Men Tell All” on The Golden Bachelorette: Watch the guys dish about life in the mansion Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. [Yahoo Entertainment]
3?? It’s Group B Finals on The Masked Singer: The costumed competition show got preempted by the World Series this Wednesday night, but it returns next week at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. Here’s everyone who’s been unmasked so far this season. [Entertainment Weekly]
? Trivia answer: Retired short track and speed skater Apolo Ohno was the first Olympic competitor on DWTS. Ever wonder what he and other winners are up to? Let’s find out.
?? Bonus: If you’re following The Golden Bachelorette, don’t miss my interview with the one and only Charles L., who dished on his favorite room in the mansion, becoming the house chef alongside Mark Anderson and the men’s post-show group chat.
About In Reality: It’s hard to keep up when there’s so much great reality TV. Good thing entertainment reporter Laura Bradley is an expert at staying on top of everything. Every Saturday morning, she shares a roundup of what happened on the week’s top shows. Sign up.