Clara Bush

The truth about dating reality shows

We all know reality shows aren’t really reality. They’re a contrived environment meant for entertainment.

So what happens when dating shows become a joke? TV networks create even more gimmicks.

Monday is the start of season 19 of The Bachelorette, or The Bachelorettes. Two women will be handing out roses the entire season. Bachelor Nation has done this twice before, but never for an entire season.

The two women, Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia, were dumped by last season’s bachelor at the same time (please cue a massive eye roll for how dumb that was). So far, it seems they’ll make it through the journey without drama between them, but will it be dramatic in other ways?

Bachelor producers certainly want us to think so. This gimmick seems like a huge ploy to attempt to get ratings back up after recent declines.

While Bachelor Nation has been going strong for 20 years, its success rate isn’t good. One Bachelor is married to his winner (though two are married to their runners-up after both pulling switcheroos during the finale), and the most recent two are still in a relationship with the woman they chose.

The Bachelorettes have a slightly higher success rate, with four still married to their pick (another final couple announced their divorce in 2020 after eight years together).

The spinoff Bachelor in Paradise could be deemed the most successful in terms of couples staying together, but there’s not a clear-cut formula to mark success for that show.

The Bachelor and Bachelorette have all but monopolized the dating reality show realm. Its tradition of handing out roses, 1-on-1 and group dates, the limo entrances, the fantasy suites, and travel make it seem like such a fairytale.

And maybe early on it was. Who wouldn’t mind a little humiliation for travel opportunities, a swag bag and the chance to fall in love? (Contestants don’t get paid monetarily, but the lead does.)

But in the age of Tinder and other online dating sites, why bother taking unpaid time off work for a person you don’t know and probably doesn’t live in your state when you can just go online and find hundreds of available options?

In a word: influence.

It’s not just 15 minutes of fame anyone; contestants can buoy a 3- or 4-episode run (or a particularly interesting night-one or villain turn) into an Instagram influence deal and verified account.

Tayshia Adams, one of the more recent Bachelorettes, is an influencer and co-host. She was a phlebotomist. She’s not alone in leaving her profession for “lifestyle expert” work.

The romance doesn’t matter on this show anymore; it’s how you can score celebrity status.

Producers know it too. The dates are almost verbatim every season, and manipulation of contestants is fairly obvious. But people seem more than willing to sign up for humiliation at the chance of mediocre fame (ironically, at least one person each season is called out for not being there for the right reasons, aka finding love).

Reality TV isn’t great, let’s be real. It’s mindless entertainment that allows you to turn your brain off and laugh at other people. It’s watercooler TV, even in the age of remote work.

With as many options as there are these days, you can listen to or watch recaps, which typically boil down a 2-hour, with commercials episode into around 20 minutes, instead of watching the actual episode. You lose some of the drama, but you also save time while still staying in the know.

Because we all see the fame opportunities and Bachelor shows still have social and pop culture traction, other TV networks keep trying to find their own version.

This winter, Fox brought back Joe Millionaire with the subtitle “For Richer or Poorer,” but the bits I saw looked so early 2000s, it was almost gross. And neither couple lasted long past airing.

NBC brought “The Courtship,” which felt like Bridgerton meets Bachelor. The winning couple isn’t together anymore either.

The process doesn’t work. That’s obvious. But people love to watch other people crash and burn. And the fantasy of falling in love still rings so true for people, it’s hard to resist. We hope they work out, but deep down we know it’s unlikely.

I just wish the gimmicks would stop, but that’s what goes viral.

I could stop watching (I prefer the recaps more and more), but it’s hard not to watch to see what wacky date or trick they’ll try next.

Hulu’s three true-life stories examined

Truth can set you free…if you can handle it.

Hulu has dropped three miniseries, eight episodes each, based on true events.

Is this OK? Is this good TV? Is this informative in a harmful way? Let’s take a look.

Pam & Tommy

Casting/styling for realistic looks: Amazing

When first-look pictures came out, I was shocked at how Sebastian Stan and Lily James looked.

Accuracy: Iffy

Look, this is about a celebrity couple and their sex tape. It seems like some parts are accurate, like their whirlwind beach wedding, but some things happened but not in the order portrayed.

The show is based on an article (and bits of Tommy Lee’s biography), but this is the type of show where we’ll never know the whole truth, especially without the consent of Pam or Tommy.

Pamela has spoken out on her approval of the show, Lily James seems to have gotten her voice right.

Rating: C

This is a super-stylized show (#iykyk), and it’s not for everyone. The saga of Pam & Tommy is a lot about sex, but they still should have some privacy for their own items.

This was a private tape, and it feels wrong to capitalize on it, even if it’s for cultural context.

The Dropout

Casting/styling for realistic looks: Only the styling

Amanda Seyfried has a unique look, so it’s hard not to see her as herself, and she only has a slight resemblance to Elizabeth Holmes.

But they’ve got the look of her down. The red lips, the messy hair, the black outfits? Check.

Accuracy: Good

This is based on the podcast of the same name, so it has more research behind it. Plus, the story has been in the news for a while.

The imagery of Seyfried as Holmes for her 2017 testimony looks accurate.

The facts are there, from what we know. You’ll never know private conversations, just like we’re still unsure how real the deep voice of Holmes is.

Rating: B-

To help interpret the different years, music is used. But it’s so incredibly distracting, especially in the first two episodes, which cover roughly 2001 to 2007. We get it, the music was different then; it’s fine.

In my opinion, Holmes is a narcissist, and I have more questions about her than answers, even after watching a few episodes.

It’s an interesting story of ambition, technology and capitalism, but it could be harmful for the trust in healthcare.

The Girl from Plainville

Casting/styling for realistic looks: Great for the lead, OK for everyone else

Elle Fanning looks like Michelle Carter for the most part, especially in the later years.

But the supporting characters don’t look like their real-life counterparts at all.

Accuracy: Mixed

There’s fact and fiction in this miniseries based on an Esquire article.

She liked “Glee,” and talked about it often. But the couple didn’t see each other that much before he died.

The key, though, is the text messages are real. They’re part of court record, so they’re detailed exactly as they were typed.

Rating: B+

As much as I found Elle Fanning’s portrayal gritting (probably because she’s playing a vapid 15-year-old at the start), it’s such an intriguing story.

I zipped through the first few episodes and haven’t stopped thinking about it.

It’s a little scary to focus on something dubbed the “texting suicide case,” but I think we see something beyond glamorizing suicide by instead focusing on grief and social media’s influence on society.

All of the episodes for all three series are on Hulu. It’s a lot of true-life stories, but remember TV isn’t real.

Oscars 2022: Did the awards show sink or swim?

It’s the slap seen ’round the world. Not heard…because the audio was cut quickly from the U.S. broadcast.

This year’s Oscars tried some new things, but did it work?

Unfortunately, it’s hard to say since Will Smith slapping Chris Rock after Rock made a pointed jab at Smith’s wife Jada is what everyone’s talking about. I don’t have commentary to add to this moment; none of it was OK.

Here are my thoughts on the 94th Academy Awards:

Did the 3 hosts work?

Hiring three women is cheaper than hiring one man to host was one of my favorite jokes of the night because it’s funny while being relevant.

Amy Schumer, Wanda Skyes and Regina Hall hosted this year’s ceremony. They were announced late and are the first to host in three years.

All considering I thought they did well. They had funny bits, though some ran long (Skyes at the academy museum) and felt thirsty (Hall’s “random” COVID test callout).

The segmentation of one host at a time felt disjointed and rigid over the night’s run. They were best together.

Overall I prefer having hosts to no host. And more than one allows synergy and takes the pressure off.

Did cutting awards work?

Pre-Oscars, the biggest controversy seemingly was cutting eight awards from the telecast. Except they weren’t cut; they were announced early and edited into the show.

Usually, these nominees are stuck in the back of the theater because they aren’t big names. So in a way, it saved filler time by cutting out the part where they have to run to the stage to get the award.

But the point was to reduce the overall run time. And the Oscars still ran for more than three and a half hours.

There were other ways to ensure the ceremony went less than three hours. While the anniversary bits were nice, they could’ve been shorter (especially the Pulp Fiction one since it was a 28-year anniversary, not a milestone year like 50 or 25).

I actually liked that the Oscars were more of a celebration of movies overall, not just this year’s nominees. The nostalgia made it more enjoyable. But it was disappointing to have some of it take away from well-deserved wins.

What news source should you use for your Oscar pool?

I reviewed predictions from Entertainment Weekly, Vanity Fair, Gold Derby, The New York Times and NPR ahead of Sunday’s ceremony.

The best predictor? It’s a toss-up between Entertainment Weekly and Vanity Fair; the two publications got the most right. Entertainment Weekly got all the craft categories right but missed Best Picture. Vanity Fair got all the top-of-the-line winners correct.

So if your Oscar pool is weighted, you can decide where to go next year.

What were my standout moments?

I think it’s interesting that Billie Eilish won an Oscar before Taylor Swift or Beyonce. Eilish’s reaction was joyous.

I appreciated that during Troy Katsur’s acceptance speech, his interpreter was off-camera so we could focus on Katsur, the true winner.

The In Memorium segment was much livelier than normal, and I liked that it was more celebratory than sad.

I’m glad they added the Best Song performances back into the telecast, along with using movie soundtrack songs for the background scores for various parts of the night.

What did you think of the Oscars?

Winter TV 2022: 3 new shows premiere

OK, more than three shows have premiered, but I’ve got some ideas in the works because new TV shows tend to come in themes.

In the meantime, here are three new shows and my quick takes.

Promised land

10 p.m. Mondays on ABC (now it’s on Hulu)

This ABC drama is nothing like how it was advertised. Bellamy Young, massively advertised because of her work on “Scandal,” is only in two scenes of the pilot.

The show centers on a blended family and its vineyard business; it feels very soap opera-y. There was also a subplot about people crossing the border that made no sense at first until it became a “This Is Us” style flashback.

It’s a lot about family loyalty vs. staying ahead, and what secrets you’ll hide to stay that way.

Skip it

All American: Homecoming

9 p.m. Mondays on the CW

The CW should just rename itself the Greg Berlanti network. He’s again an executive producer on this HBCU-set spinoff of the show “All American,” now in its fourth season.

The college sports drama has a good mix of characters, but they all seem rather catty.

But like “Katy Keene” for “Riverdale,” I doubt this spinoff will last long.

Skip it

Endgame

10 p.m. Mondays on NBC

I’m all for a show that centers on two badass women, even if they unrealistically maintain perfect makeup throughout the day.

Starring Morena Baccarin and Ryan Michelle Bathé, these women are both after something. I wish it wasn’t so focused on love, but it’s nice to see female leads.

There’s a lot going on in the heist-crime drama — the flashback in the pilot seemed unnecessary, but the show has more glitz and punch than others like it.

Also, they probably should’ve picked a better name; “Avengers” took over this name on Google.

Try it

Winter TV 2022: As drab as the weather

In the cold of winter, we’d hope TV could provide some comfort.

This season, not so much.

Here’s a quick summary of the new broadcast shows in 2022.

The Cleaning Lady

9 p.m. Mondays on Fox

In Las Vegas, two sisters are trying to make ends meet by cleaning. What path will they take to secure help for their kids?

They’re both undocumented, but the main character is called an illegal at one point, which doesn’t seem like a good look, especially since there’s also a lot of back alley business going on in this drama. Not to mention an insinuation that the FBI is following them.

It’s based on an Argentine series, but I’m not sure the show has anything good or helpful to say.

Skip it

Pivoting

9:30 p.m. Thursdays on Fox

Eliza Coupe, Gennifer Goodwin and Maggie Q star in this half-hour dramedy, which starts off with the vibe of “A Million Little Things” and “First Wives Club.”

I laughed a bit, but the emotional heart of this story, centering around three friends who pivot (get it?) after their friend dies, is a little forced. The three actresses deserve better, but maybe it’ll pick up a bit.

Besides, if anything is relatable, it’s a character trying desperately to fit into her skinny jeans…though in today’s world that’s probably because we’ve worked from home for two years, not just because.

On a funny note, I hope Dave, one of the woman’s husbands, never actually appears, like Vera on “Cheers” or Maris on “Frasier.”

Try it (with caution)

Naomi

9 p.m. Tuesdays on the CW

The CW should really just rebrand as SuperheroTV. In yet another superhero drama, a girl named Naomi is an adopted high school student who runs a Superman blog.

Her adoptive parents and the townspeople may be hiding the truth about who she is and what her capabilities are, but the pilot telegraphs she has some power…once she takes her glasses off.

The special effects are pretty blah for a new show, but I give them credit for putting a Black female hero on the screen.

Skip it (unless superhero shows are your thing)

American Auto

8 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC

The pilot for this comedy is so expositional, it’s hard to believe any of it is realistic. It makes no sense that the company would still be surviving after a CEO with zero automotive experience comes in and the executives unveil a new car concept that’s made up in six hours.

Sure, there’s only one white American guy in the main cast, but he’s a complete (choose your swear word here), and the actor is basically playing the same role he did on “Superstore” but with arrogance instead of stupidity.

Skip it

Grand Crew

8:30 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC

So two roommates, a married couple, and a brother and sister all hang out together at a wine bar…sound familiar? This comedy is basically “Friends” set in LA.

Everyone feels a little too caricatured, and the narrator concept is overdone, tedious and pointless.

The pilot only sets up the series, and it takes the full episode to do so. I wish this show was better given its cast, which includes Nicole Byer.

Skip it

That’s my Jam

9 p.m. Mondays on NBC

This “new” game show is just “Hollywood Game Night” but with mostly music-focused games, no regular-people contestants and Jimmy Fallon as host.

It’s so silly and not in a fun, hate-watch kind of way.

Can we bring back “Hollywood Game Night”?

Skip it

Abbott elementary

9 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC

This comedy/mockumentary is just “The Office” in an elementary school setting.

It can be a funny take on real issues schools and teachers are facing, but that might be oft-putting for some, especially teachers who have really gone through a lot the last two years.

A romance is heavy-handedly foreshadowed, which is probably unnecessary for plot but necessary for a broadcast show.

Try it (with caution)

Good Sam

10 p.m. Wednesdays on CBS

This drama has a bit of a “Scrubs,” but with family instead of friends, in it.

Sophia Bush holds the show, and the pilot does a good job of setting up the show without being all exposition.

It’s still a medical procedural, a concept we already have enough of. There is one plot point that seems a bit too soap opera for my taste, but we’ll see where it goes.

Try it (with caution)

What shows are you enjoying this season?

Golden Globes 2022: A redemption story?

In a world of cancel culture and scrutiny over decisions, the Golden Globes is facing a media crisis.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has been secretive for years, but after last year’s snubs of prominent Black performances following other issues, they got dropped like a hot pancake.

NBC dropped the awards show from its 2022 schedule. Actors returned their awards. Studios disassociated. It was (and is) a firestorm.

And what has the HFPA done? They’ve promised change, updated bylaws and added 21 new members (the pool was less than 100 last year, with zero Black members).

Nominations were announced today (co-hosted by Snoop Dogg for some reason), and it’s tough to decide if they’ve improved and offered a more diverse group of nominees. Let’s take a look.

Movies

Best Picture

In 2021, the dramas were mostly white casts. The comedy nominees had a mix of stories and casts.

In 2022, I count one Black-focused story and one multiracial story amoug both categories.

Ruling: Slide backward

Best Director

In 2021, we saw a record-breaking three women nominated, two of whom are non-white.

In 2022, all nominees are white, but there are still two women nominees.

Ruling: Slide backward

Best Actress

There were two Black women among all the comedy and drama nominees last year.

This year, there is one Latin American nominee among both comedy and drama.

Ruling: Slide backward

Best Actor

In 2021, there were various groups represented in the nominees. We had Lin Manuel-Miranda, a first-generation American; Riz Ahmed, a British-Pakistani man; and other non-white nominees.

In 2022, half of the nominees are non-white.

Ruling: Neutral

Best Supporting Actor and Actress

We saw more diversity in the best supporting actress category this year, but the supporting actor nominees are all white this year.

Side note: Who has heard of “The Tender Bar,” the movie Ben Affleck got a nomination for?

Ruling: Neutral

Television

Best series

On the drama side, we saw some more casts with Black leads this year, plus a cast of Asians in “Squid Game.”

In comedy, there isn’t much diversity either year, but “Reservation Dogs” getting a nomination gives a place for indigenous people.

Side note: I’m curious about “Lupin,” a French thriller that’s on Netflix. I had never heard of it until today, but it has two seasons.

Ruling: Neutral

Best actress

For both drama and comedy, the nominees went from all white in 2021 to including two Black women in 2022.

One interesting tidbit is Tracee Ellis Ross is nominated this year for the first time since her win in 2017. “Black-ish” is ending in 2022 after eight seasons.

Ruling: Step forward

Best actor

Similar to actress, the drama category went from all-white to having two non-white actors, both of whom speak their own language in their shows.

The comedy category has included one Black actor both years, but last year also saw Ramy Yousef among the nominees, though his show “Ramy” hasn’t come out with its next season yet.

Anthony Anderson of “black-ish” is nominated for the first time since 2018 for his work on the ABC comedy.

Ruling: Step forward

Supporting actor and actress

For the actor nominees, we’ve seen a non-white nominee both years.

For the actress nominees, there have been zero nominees of color in the last two years.

Ruling: Neutral

Notable snubs who are non-white include Selena Gomez for “Only Murders in the Building” and Aretha Franklin for “Respect.” But every year it’s a tough pool, and you can make arguments for/against every nominee.

Overall, it’s hard to say for sure if the HFPA has truly taken a turn for the better. You can’t compare two years of movies with the same eye, especially these last two years with the pandemic. To me, it’s not clear based on this information.

Most of the press has suggested the HFPA take a year off, but they are moving forward. We have no idea how the awards will be handed out, but they will be presented Jan. 9, not on NBC.

Fall TV 2021: Some shows show promise

New shows are coming, and some may be worth watching.

Here are my quick takes (side note: “Killer Camp” and “The Activists” have been pulled from the air):

Legends of the Hidden Temple

8 p.m. Sundays on the CW

This game show is a remake, and boy can you tell. It feels so 90s, even the prizes (one team got a Razor scooter).

The main differences are it’s adults competing not kids, and it’s an hour instead of a half-hour.

The adults competing is fine, but an hour for a show with only a handful of challenges is pointless.

The tradition of the game feels really forced, and poor Cristela Alonzo feels like she’s gritting her teeth through her hosting duties.

They should’ve aired this show in the summer when people are more inclined to watch pointless game shows.

Skip it (unless you have nostalgia for the original)

4400

9 p.m. Tuesdays on the CW

This reboot of a show from the 2000s has an intriguing presence.

People from all ages, races and time periods end up on Belle Isle in Detroit with no idea what’s happened and unsure of what year it is.

It feels a bit like “Lost” or “X Files” with a strong overtone of government-police-community relations, but while it’s a lot to follow, it could be interesting.

The original ran for four seasons, but I hope they make this remake more of a mini-series. I don’t think the mystery needs to be dragged out for years.

Try it

Queens

10 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC

This fiery show is so fun.

The pilot sets up what could’ve been a cute movie about a girl group reuniting, but I’m excited to see it dive deeper in upcoming episodes.

Each girl group member has issues to deal with, but you still believe they can be friends and love each other even in disagreements. And the music performances are full of energy.

Watch it

Home Sweet Home

8 p.m. Fridays on NBC

I really thought this Ava DuVernay produced show would be so cheesy, forced and sappy. And while there are slow-motion shots and pingy, cheesy music, it’s a heartwarming show.

In each episode, two families exchange houses and try one another’s traditions and activities for four days before meeting up for a meal. There are so many lessons to learn from one another, but taking it down to the family level really brings home some of the important discussions.

I can’t imagine it’ll last too long, and I’m guessing they’ll choose families that are very different from each other, but hopefully it’s for learning, not drama.

Try it

Ghosts

9 p.m. Thursdays on CBS

You may recognize some of the actors in this comedy that’s based on a UK series.

A group of ghosts is stuck living in a mansion, but when a new couple comes in, hijinks ensue.

I feel badly for the actors who play ghosts since they’ll always be in the same costume, and one person isn’t wearing pants.

It’s a bit of a soap opera plot that’s set up in the pilot, so it may have potential, but I’m not sure it’s that funny.

Skip it

Fall TV 2021: Reboots and more

For the first time in a while, I’m cautiously optimistic about fall TV’s new shows.

It’s not that I think these broadcast shows will win Emmys (let’s be real, broadcast doesn’t really make a play at awards these days), but there are some compelling storylines.

The Big Leap

9 p.m. Mondays on Fox

You know how “UnReal” was a dramatic, behind-the-scenes look of “The Bachelor”? “The Big Leap” is basically that but for “So You Think You Can Dance.”

“The Big Leap” is the show within the show that a hotshot producer, who has problems of his own, is trying to make. Everyone is supposed to get a second chance through the show, and we’ve got three storylines to prove it.

It’s probably one too many on top of the producer (Is he good or bad? It’s unclear from the pilot.) and the judges/coaches, one of whom is Billy Porter-esque and the other is some British villainess type.

Try it with caution

Ordinary Joe

10 p.m. Mondays on NBC

Like NBC’s soon-to-be-ending show, “This Is Us,” “Ordinary Joe” has multiple timelines. The difference? It’s alternate timelines based on one man’s choice at his college graduation. Each timeline has a different color palette to help distinguish them since it’s the same actors but with very different outcomes.

I assume it’s an acting challenge for the core cast to play a slightly different character across the timelines, but it’s hard to root for Joe when his character is just different enough in each timeline.

Plus, I have two major flaws to point out from the pilot: 1. You can’t have an outdoor concert during a hailstorm, and 2. not that many people come to a school reunion, especially for someone Joe’s age (30s).

Skip it

Our Kind of People

9 p.m. Tuesdays on Fox

You may recognize some people in this soapy drama (even Olivia Pope’s dad plays a role). Yaya DaCosta is owning her role, and she’s a delight to watch.

Everyone in this Martha’s Vineyard town has a secret, so it could be interesting to see how it’ll play out since we know secrets don’t stay that way. Unfortunately, most of the characters are unlikeable, so it’s hard to root for them.

What confused me is this show is clearly set in summertime, so why didn’t Fox air it during the summer months?

Try it with caution

Alter Ego

9 p.m. Wednesdays on Fox

This competition show is “The Voice” plus “The Masked Singer.” Each contestant performs as a motion capture, AI alter ego avatar, so the judges don’t see them, only their movements through the avatar.

Unfortunately for the contestants, you don’t get a recording contract (they win $100,000), and the celebrity judges are way more interested in the technology than the contestants.

Skip it

La Brea

9 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC

This show had me on the edge of my seat.

A sinkhole decimates La Brea, an area of L.A., but the people who fell in aren’t dead … at least, for now. The question of where and when they are now is to be determined. Hopefully, it’s determined quickly, since they may not survive the extinct animals that also exist in this land.

The pilot does a great job setting up the two dynamic worlds as the military and a father tries to figure out what happened and if they can reach the people who fell in.

Try it

The wonder years

8:30 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC

There is so much nostalgia in this reboot, but I’m here for it.

The pilot takes place on the day Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, but the show balances touching on history without overdoing it.

The cast equally performs to bring the charm of the original, and with Fred Savage as an executive producer, I think this reboot could be more fun (and better) than others.

Try it

The Ultimate Surfer: ABC’s gives viewers more paradise?

I guess when you miss a year of paradise, you have to make up for it with double the water waves?

“The Ultimate Surfer” is like the Olympics, “Big Brother,” “Survivor,” “Wipeout” and “Bachelor in Paradise” rolled into one.

The reality competition show has the same bad dramatic music and rumors from “Bachelor” shows to hype up drama, challenges and a host who’s kind of notable like “Big Brother,” eliminations and alliances like “Survivor” and Olympic-level sports commentary.

In COVID, there’s been a lot more mindless TV, especially in beautiful locations. Kelly Slater’s Surfer Ranch is about half and half. His wave machine is an engineering marvel, but it’s still a ranch in the middle of farmland. And the competitors are sharing airstreams. It’s not that majestic.

For all the stupidity, “Bachelor in Paradise” knows what it is. “The Ultimate Surfer” is maybe a better follow than “Celebrity Dating Game,” which aired after Katie Thurston’s season of “The Bachelorette,” or at least they’re a better pairing, but viewers don’t know these people unless they follow surfing.

At the Olympics, we get commentary from experts that’s easy to follow, for teh most part. But many people watch the Olympics every time it’s available. But with surfing, it’s a small community, so the commentary and scoring didn’t make sense. The scores are out of 10 and are combined between the teammates, and after two episodes, I have no idea what the criteria is….besides not falling.

There are some “experts” coming in for challenges, but again, we don’t know who these people are because surfing isn’t popular in the U.S. Jesse Palmer is the host, and he’s got a small amount of fame (and is part of Bachelor nation), but that’s about it for notable people.

There are already alliances in the first episodes, but it’s difficult to be invested because we don’t know why these alliances are happening; the drama surrounding them was prior to the show and not explained beyond “I don’t like their energy.”

Will I keep watching? Probably not unless I’m wide awake and think the waves will soothe me to sleep. After all, they are engineered to be consistent; it could be like counting sheep.

Emmys nominations 2021: By the numbers

The 2021 Emmy nominations were announced July 13, and as always, there are surprises and snubs.

For example, remember Quibi? It has nominations even though the platform no longer exists.

Here are some number-related tidbits for this year’s nominations.

Conan

Conan received a nomination for outstanding variety talk show series, his ninth for the show over its 10-year run. The show had zero nominations in 2020, and it ended earlier this year, so there may be a final hooray win for him.

Broadcast shows

“This Is Us” made a comeback in the outstanding drama series category; it missed last year. It’s never won, and with seven other nominees this year, I doubt it’ll win this year.

Sterling K. Brown has been nominated for his work in the NBC show every year he’s been eligible. He won in 2017, but I doubt he’ll win this year. He’s the only broadcast drama lead actor nominee.

On the comedy side, “black-ish” received an outstanding comedy nomination, its first since 2018. Anthony Anderson has been nominated every year; Tracee Ellis Ross has been nominated every year except for 2019. Neither has won.

First time nominees

More than 40 people are nominated for an Emmy for the first time.

Some interesting first-time nominees? Yvette Nicole Brown, Jason Sudeikis and Kaley Cuoco.

You’ve seen these performers on your TV for years, so I was suprised to learn they are first-time nominees.

Sudeikis is likely to win after winning Critics Choice and Golden Globe awards earlier this year.

Multiple nominations

There are usually a few categories with multiple nominees from the same show, but the supporting categories are filled with this conundrum.

Out of the lead actor in a limited series or movie, two are from “Hamilton.” Out of the lead actress in a drama, two are from “The Crown.”

But those are mild compared to the supporting categories. Here’s the breakdown:

Actor in a comedy: 8 nominees, half are from “Ted Lasso,” two are from “SNL”
Actor in a drama: 8 nominees, three are from “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Actor in a limited or anthology series: 6 nominees, half are from “Hamilton”
Actress in a comedy: 7 nominees, two are from “Ted Lasso,” three are from “SNL”
Actress in a drama: 8 nominees, four are from “The Handmaid’s Tale,” three are from “The Crown”
Actress in a limited or anthology series: 6 nominees, two are from “Hamilton,” two are from “Mare of Eastown”

Normally with overlapping nominees, you risk losing, but that hasn’t been the case the last two or so years, so it’s anyone’s game.

The 73rd Emmys will air Sept. 19 on CBS.