This curated, frequently-updated list of reality TV news highlights what’s happening in the world of reality TV this month—and a few must-read pieces—with some sarcasm, skepticism, and/or snark when appropriate.

This isn’t every piece of news, and certainly not all the celebrity gossip, but the stories I find to be the most notable, important, and interesting.

Read more about this feature, and subscribe to my free newsletter to get updates every Friday.

And, as always, I welcome links or suggestions; just send me an e-mail message!

May must-reads

Two terrific profiles of two The Real World New Orleans stars:

 Joshua David Stein’s in-depth look at Top Chef:

May 2022 reality TV news

The Challenge appears to be recruiting family members and/or enemies of past contestants. Have they already run out of contestants? [ScreenRant, 5.17.22]

Todd and Julie Chrisley’s trial for tax evasion and bank fraud started this week. [Associated Press, 5.16.22]

Camila Cabello is joining The Voice to coach alongside Gwen Stefani, John Legend, and Blake Shelton. That means Kelly Clarkson is out after eight seasons. 

Worst Cooks in America winner Ariel Robinson was convicted of killing her 3-year-old daughter and sentenced to life in prison. [NBC News, 5.13.22]

The Staircase’s creators say the new HBO Max drama based on the documentary series “recklessly blurs fact and fiction,” according to Vanity Fair. That’s understandably frustrating—except what did director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade expect? (He’s a paid EP on the new series but didn’t even read scripts!) There’s no reason to make the new series except to blur fact and fiction! [Vanity Fair, 5.13.22]

Bravo renewed Top Chef, Project Runway, Married to Medicine, Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, Summer House, Winter House, Family Karma, Below Deck, Below Deck Mediterranean, Vanderpump Rules, and The Real Housewives of Orange County, New Jersey, New York City, Potomac and Salt Lake City. [Bravo, 5.12.22]

Alton Brown talks about leaving Food Network for Netflix’s Iron Chef, and working with Kristen Kish [EW, 5.12.22]

Eddie Lucas left Below Deck, and said “we are the lowest-paid cast members” on Bravo. [New York Post, 5.11.22]

Survivor alum and now podcaster Stephen Fishbach won a Pushcart Prize for “To Sharks,” his short story that will now be in this anthology. [Twitter, 5.11.22]

Todd Chrisley is getting another show, in addition to a 10th season of his show Chrisley Knows Best. Speaking of just what the world needs, it’s a dating series, where “he guides one unlucky-in-love single on a whirlwind day of speed dating that will hopefully end in the date night and match of their dreams.” [USA Network, 5.10.22]

MTV is now selling alcohol called “Juicy Shore: Hard Seltzer.” I think this is a real missed opportunity! [Instagram]

A new Jackass is coming thanks to “the success of Jackass Forever,” Paramount Global’s CEO said. [Hollywood Reporter, 5.5.22]

The new The Circle has two Spice Girls, Mel B and Emma Bunton, who are playing as “Jared.” [Los Angeles Times, 5.4.22]

In Matt James’ new book, he reveals that he did such extensive investigative research before signing on to The Bachelor that he had no idea he would become its first Black star. [Us Weekly, 5.3.22]

Kailia Posey, who was on Toddlers & Tiaras and became a frequently-used GIF, died at age 16 by suicide. [NBC News, 5.4.22] If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone, call the Lifeline.

Amazon Freevee announced its order of three new reality shows: “a new cooking competition series called America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation, the coming-of-age drama Beyond Black Beauty, the family competition series Play-Doh Squished, and the music documentary Post Malone: Runaway.” [Amazon Freevee, 5.2.22]

The true-crime focused CrimeCon held its first Clue Awards for true crime content this weekend. The three television awards went to Fall River, Cold Justice and Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story. Two of those are on Oxygen. CrimeCon was also sponsored by Oxygen. [Variety, 4.30.22]

Alan Cumming will host Peacock’s The Traitors, which sounds like The Mole with many moles: “Twenty contestants come together to complete a series of challenges with the objective of earning a cash prize. The catch? A number of the contestants coined ‘The Traitors’ will meet in secret to devise a plan to eliminate their fellow players” [Peacock, 4.29.22]

Remember when Danny from The Real World New Orleans was on Dawson’s Creek? I completely forgot! [Primetimer, 4.27.22]