Doctor Who is the longest running show on television with 60 years to its credit.  Well, the show hasn’t aired 60 years straight.  My history with the show began with the Tom Baker (fourth Doctor) episodes.  But 60 years and 14 Doctors (isn’t it?) is quite an achievement.  So, when I heard that David Tennant was returning for these three episodes, well, I danced for joy.  And he hasn’t let me down with the new episode, The Star Beast.  Now, I’m not doing a recap because others have done that.  What I’m going to do is give you my thoughts on what Rupert T. Davies, David Tennant and Catherine Tate have done!  They’ve brought back the fun.

I’m going to state this first. I had nothing against Jodie Whitaker. I just didn’t make Doctor Who required viewing.  I’d catch episodes now and then (especially if geared toward the holidays), but my viewing was centered more around Riverdale and dramas.  Doctor Who has always given me comic moments and a love of adventure which I had found slightly lacking from the end of the Smith era.  No longer the children’s show it started as, I missed some of the innocence that seemed to be fading. Of course, we now know it was due to the Time War but come on folks, give us a laugh.

The Star Beast did just that.  It had moments of seriousness and levity and that’s what made this episode work.  We were not being given revisions that were not explained.  We weren’t being given a rock star, guitar player.  We were given an old friend, David Tennant, back to lead.  And lead Tennant did. He may be a manic sometimes, but he knows how to deliver the goods.  His attitude when he first sees Donna started that ball rolling.  By the time he whipped out the judge’s wig, I knew we were on a roll.  Then, in the climatic final scenes, he had us all set up for a wild ride to the finish. 

Now, on to his partner in crime (I mean time), Donna Noble.  Donna Noble will always be up there with Elisabeth Slater (Sarah Jane) as one of my all-time favorite companions.  The reason:  she didn’t take the Doctor that seriously.  They were friends first who just happened to like adventures.  I thought we would never see Donna team up with the Doctor again.  If she remembered him, she would die.  Yet, she didn’t recognize him during the first meeting which gave me hope.  We were given glimpses into her life, and I found it amazing that she wanted to exhibit the Doctor’s qualities of caring.  She was happily married with a daughter (I’m not going there) and home.  Mom is still there and made her feelings known to the Doctor to vamoose.  And I did love that Donna never saw the spaceship crash as it plays back to her going snorkeling in Spain during Tennant’s first appearance in The Christmas Invasion.

Donna’s daughter, Rose, was a surprise as her name shocked me as well as the Doctor.  The Star Beast shows us that Rupert doesn’t mind bringing up the past.  While we really don’t get much time with this Rose, we do find out that she’s one to make her own decision (gender question) and help her family.  A teen who develops a toy line along the line of monsters of Doctor Who?  Who would have thought it, but I loved it.  In the end, we find that Rose has the mind of her mother and the shared adventures with the Doctor.  Like her mother, Rose is determined to “fix” things.

Before we get into all thing that ended the show, let’s get to one of the big “surprises” that both made it work and was the common threat (er – I mean thread) through the story.  The spaceship that crashed/landed was involved with what appeared to be an adorable creature known as “The Meep.”  I loved when Donna asked it if was male/female/whatever.  “The Meep” answered I am “The”.  This was not such a subtle reminder of “The Doctor.”  Anyway…The Meep appeared scared and in need (think ET) and looked like a cross between all our friendly aliens.  As Donna’s family and the Doctor watched, “The Meep” brought chaos with people chasing him.  Or was it chasing him or trying to free him.  The Doctor quickly realized that something was off with “The Meep” who wasn’t sweet and innocent.  In a trial setting, “The Meep” turned evil with pointed teeth, took our fearless gang as prisoners, and promised to eat one.  For a cute little cuddly creature, it’s evil as they come. 

“The Meep” has a plan in mind.  Since it needs to destroy, why not destroy London with fire and earthquakes (I guess that’s what made the earth split).  As it drills down, though, we move to the real fun.  The Doctor and family get free, and The Doctor goes to stop “The Meep.”  Donna starts remembering and goes to help.  The two arguing then working together is what made them such a fun pair.  And the confused speaking over each other just brought back old times.  Now, the interesting part of the story.  Remember, Donna kept saying “binary” before he wiped her memory.  Well, it takes the “binary” connecting with the “non-binary” (or Donna’s daughter, Rose), to shut the rocket down.  Donna doesn’t die in the Doctor’s arms (which I feared).  The conjunction of Donna and Rose rescinding the Doctor’s memory saving-device was amazing, a nice twist, and to hard to explain here.

The ending was pure Doctor Who.  “The Meep” was sent off to jail by the Doctor but not before saying “The Meep’s” boss will be interested in learning of a dual heart individual on earth.  I see this as setting the stage for Neil Patrick Harris’s Toymaker.  Also, Donna and her family will be getting a new home courtesy of UNIT.  The new TARDIS is amazing (Disney – thank you).  And we all knew something would have to happen to make it unpredictable.  The TARDIS must be unpredictable and how better than Donna to set that up with her spilt coffee.  And yes, I’ll be around for future episodes.

I can’t leave this piece without a few additional words.  My old Doctor Who ended with the departure of Baker and Davidson  (the 5^th Doctor).  I did watch the FOX movie and loved it.  I had reservations of returning to the series, but it was Eccleston who brought me back.  Warming up to Tennant was hard until Sarah Jane Smith (Sladen) approved.  After Matthew Smith left, I needed a break.  I also knew that Moffat was in charge..  While I loved Sherlock, I didn’t think he could sustain that energy over two shows.  I also had some issues with Davies’ Torchwood final series but that’s for another piece (the woman should have lived). 

I definitely will be here for this three episode arc.  Will I continue after that?  Time and other options will make that determination.

Welcome to The Curse of Oak Island folks!  Last week, we were treated to finds of coins dating from at least 3 BC and on to the 5^th century AD.  Four total and no nails in sight!  Oh, and I forgot the possible Chinese coin under water.  So, you know I was a happy camper.  But tonight, what will they find?  Will the finds be in the water they are testing or will they find an entrance to the tunnel?  Will more artifacts be found on Lot 5?  What about last week’s dive?  Will paperwork be back for that continuation?  And finally, what about that old swamp that Marty hates so much?  Let’s get ready and see what comes.

The Money Pit/Garden Shaft

We open tonight at the drill site heading toward the Garden Shaft.  Last week, they found what could be wood from a tunnel.  The new bore hole is leading to the Garden Shaft and on the opposite side of the Baby Blob.  Spooner and Micel think the treasure is within a 20 foot radius (circle) of the Garden Shaft.  The plan – construct a new tunnel after determining the direction. 

The team is anxiously awaiting samples from the new bore hole and hope that they find signs of a tunnel.  They find soft soil and wood.  The next sample is from a different bore hole nearby and contains more wood, so things are promising.  There looks to be some sort of structure but is it the tunnel?  With more of the team members arrive, the decision is to continue the path toward the Garden Shaft.  Marty feels since it lines up with the Garden Shaft and Baby Blob, all are connected. 

The next day, they’re at it again and been joined by expert Ian Spooner.  The sample comes up and it is soft with more having some slivers of wood.  With Craig and others joining, they decide to continue toward the Garden Shaft.  The next sample has more evidence of the tunnel.  Rick tells us that they must continue to find the direction of the shaft to understand what is happening.

Next morning, Rick, Alex and others are at the Interpretive Center studying the wood found near the shaft.  They’ve got to decide where to go next – the Baby Blob or Garden Shaft.  Also, they need to know if precious metals are present.  There is no gold, Emma reports, but something that seems to point toward something sourced from gold/platinum nearby.  I’ll be honest.  I didn’t get the technical terms – sorry folks).  Emma didn’t expect it but there and could be a palladium deposit.  (Wait, this isn’t Riverdale, is it?) They will send that piece of wood off for further testing.

Lot 5

Marty, Jack, Laird, Jamie, Fiona are investigating the stone circular feature.  Marty gets to dig again with the front end loader.  All of the artifacts so far could be related to Sir William Phipps from the 1700s who could have buried the mystery treasure.  There is a hole that looks interesting.  As the archeologists start digging, they find a larger same pf pottery.  Interesting enough, it could have come from Germany or Philadelphia two decades before the Money Pit founding.  Interesting enough.  I know from my family tree that I had a many times remove grandfather that arrived in Philadelphia on a German ship.  He took the road south and not north. 

Meanwhile, Rick and Gary are back digging for clues.  Gary digs down and finds a piece of what turns out of be a French crate strap.  The next find is an iron bolt (well, at least it is not a nail).  When the pieces are examined the next day, Erica calls it a wedge.  An expert is called in and he’s not sure how the wedge was used.  Erica’s evidence implies that it could be connected to other artifacts connected to William Phipps (and possible the Free Masons).  The anchor looking piece could have come from a cart of something similar.  Rick decides that they aren’t through with Lot 5.  Another piece is a bow strap that could be around a box or crate from France.  This leads to Jack reminding all of the “French map” that mentions a hatch.  This leads to a reminder of the iron cross and coins.  Knights Templar again rears its head.  These artifacts are different from anything the expert has seen before.

The team think they are getting close to a break through.  Oh, and the narrator had to bring up the curse. 

Next week.  Unusual finds and more evidence of a tunnel.  Plus, a camera is sent down for a look. Also unusual find and longer pieces of wood.  Camera going down!

Tonight’s kick off episode of Curse of Oak Island is called “On the Money.” Last year, they had evidence that they were closing in on the treasure at the Garden Shaft.  Digging was discontinued as winter set in.  Honestly, I’m not sure how bad the winter was, but I’m waiting anxiously to see how two hurricanes will later in the season affect the hunt.  But the hurricanes are episodes away and first we must see if there was any damage during the winter on Oak Island.  With commercials of golden glow, will they finally find that dough?  Please let it be more than a nail.

All seem to be happy to be back to solve this over 200 year old mystery.  The question is where should they focus their search.  The Garden Shaft is one area but will the Money Pit or swamp play a role in the uncovering.  It seems the meeting will determine what to do at Marty, Ricky, Craig and the team start the meeting.

Gary Draper is still on a high over last year’s finds.  Gary retells the story and is upset that they had to leave the Garden Shaft.  Here is where they found gold soundings under the structure.  Marty, Rick and Gary became excited, but the weather caused the search to cease.  They’re also going to look at the Baby Blob which is associated with the Garden Shaft.  Gold has been found in those water samples also.  So this is a key area near the Money Pit

So, where else is an area of interest.  Laird Niven will lead the archaeological team which has been expanded.  He has teams that will be working in specific areas like Lot 26 and 5.  The Roman coin and the possible connection to the Portuguese design of a rock circle have raised significant questions including if the circle is connected to 2,000 years ago.  The rocks used in the structure are not from the area and have raised questions.  Was there people on the island before the 1700s.  Then, more information is needed from the waters off the coast.  A dive also is planned. 

Lot Five

On Lot 5, Laird and two staff are setting up a dig of the stone structure with Jack nearby to help.  This seems to be the area of finds tonight.  One of the ladies finds pottery which Laird, an expert in pottery, has never seen.  Jack knows they need to go deeper and more pottery is found.  The date, Laird says, has to be 1600s which points to people being there before the first Money Pit dig in the 1760s.   When Rick and Marty get there, Laird admits he hasn’t seen pottery like this before.  Gary joins in with the metal detector and finds a large iron piece.  Marty points out that vegetation does not grow in the area and he’s wondering if it could be part of a latch. 

The latch is taken to be scanned.  Once Lauren (I believe) finishes the scan, it turns out to be something they’ve never seen before.  It could be a latch but Laird thinks it may be from a river raft.  During the off time, Laird had been contacted by Frank White who wants to have the group look at what he found in Maine.  This, like those artifacts, may be connected to an explorer, Phips, whose ship sank off the coast.  The analysis if a 100 percent similar.  While part of the cargo was recovered, some was rumored to be buried on Oak Island.

While Laird’s group continues at the rock formation, Rick and Gary go to investigate a spot about 100 yards away.  The find is a coin much like what was found last year and suspected to be Roman in origin. The search continues and a second and third coin is found.  At the lab, the coins are found to be from three different periods but all ancient.  One also has markings that could be Templar in origin with marking that Alex found last year.  Once again, the Templar Knights raise a flag for the team.  The next day, Craig, Marty, Rick and Gary continued the search and find an additional coin.  The coincidence is just too profound not to mean something.

A coin expert arrives and reviews the coins.  One is 1500s English, the expert said, but he wants to do more investigation on it.  One is definitely Roman which makes Gary excited.  It could be from between 3 and 300 A.D.  The third one shows a design and it could be from India.  Marty doesn’t see this as making sense.  The fourth coin has a pronounced male face on it and is definitely Roman.  The back has two figures and the coin expert puts it in the B.C. era.  Marty thinks an ancient treasure would have coins from different areas and ancient times.  Rick feels more investigation is needed.  All are thinking of the Templars and what they have seen overseas.  Signs are there from coins to structures but more work will be needed.

The Money Pit Area

While Lot Five is producing some finds, the same can’t be said of the soil samples.  The first two spots seem to be a bust.  Marty suggests that they move to a spot closer to an area investigated last year that had traces of gold.  At the new dig, excitement grows as a large section of wood is found.  Have they finally found the tunnel or the destruction left by a previous dig? 

And the Swamp

The swamp area is next.  The group decides to look for further evidence of a docking area used by early ships before the swamp was made.  Tony, from previous dives, joins Alex and Jack on the boat and will be doing the dive with a underwater camera system.  Nothing can be brought up until Nova Scotia agrees. 

Offshore Jack, Alex, Tony and the ship, head north for the dive.  They are looking for any trace of structure or things of interest.  Tony makes the dive with an underwater camera which will give the team a clear picture.  It’s not long before Tony finds wood.  As he moves toward a rock, pottery and other “trash” is found.  Tony even finds a coin like on that Jack and Gary found from China near or on lot 5.  This would add another angle to the discoveries with the other coins.  Alex thinks this will allow Canada to allow the investigation underwater to continue. 

Next week, it’s more digging and shaft investigations.  With the addition of more crew, there is hope.  At least tonight, they found more coins that nails!

As many of you are aware, there has been an absence of our favorite shows on television.  For some, their favorites are back due to a waiver between the production company and the union.  For others, we must sit patiently and hope for the best while the union and studio heads argue over money from streaming and artificial intelligence.  Both are issues that need to be addressed because both could impact the actors (and writers) and even make them obsolete.

The studios, according to some experts, have been playing a waiting game thinking first the writers then the actors would go broke and take whatever the studios offered.  The writers finally came to a deal, but the actors are still walking the picket line. To be honest, I understand the actors’ concerns.  I’ve seen some artificial artwork that look to be portrait gallery ready.  In all of this, though, we have been left with little or no new programming except reality and game shows. 

Okay, this isn’t the first time that the ‘real world’ has come into play with the television season.  In 2001 (after 9/11), there were many shows that had to rethink their opening episodes and hold off on starting the season.   I believe to this day the concept of a good comedy was lost in that shuffle.  Then, we had another season of no new shows in 2007-2008.  The writers were on strike, and it lasted from November 5, 2007, to February 12, 2008.  At least we had a fall season but dramas like LOST and Heroes lost momentum in their sophomore year due to the break in production.  This hurt the dramas but gave us what is common in Great Britain – mini seasons.  I actually looked forward to the break in December when a show ended on a cliff hanger and returned in February with all new shows.  It gave me something to look forward to as one year ended and a new one began.

So, it surprised me yesterday at the grocery store to see an National Enquirer.  Granted, I don’t usually look, but the person in front of me was taking their time and so I fingered through.  There, all of a sudden, I saw the “Straight Shuter!” article by Rob Shuter that said exactly what I feared – “Reality TV Takes Over.”  My worst fears are coming true.

I won’t quote the entire article but do want to highlight one thing he said.  In the piece, he has a quote from Tommy Lightfoot Garrett that is exactly along the lines of what I thought.  Garrett said:  “Studio moguls and television executives will never go back to the old way of doing things now.  … They are spitting out reality TV shows and stars at a fraction of the cost – and finding an audience for it too!” (National Enquirer, November 6, 2023).  So what does he mean.  I’ll break it down this way.

They need no writers.  Reality can be broken down into categories.  Game shows and reality shows that are filmed “live.”  Game shows have been caught recycling questions during the actual writers’ strike with Jeopardy coming to mind.  They’re back to being filmed.  Shows like Big Brother and Survivor do not supposedly use a script but just need to find participants to do the show.  The participants are given a paycheck for the number of days they are involved in the show.  Programs like Bravo network carries that highlight people do not have scripts (although I wonder sometimes) but producers hinting at what they want.  So no scripts are needed.

No location shots or other crew.  Survivor and Big Brother does have a crew but not to the extent of needing make-up artists, lighting or other crew that goes with a big production.  It’s minimalistic at best.  Sure, there are assistant directors and set people but no need for an inventory of costumes or props.  Thus, the network saves money.  The only problem is that it can lead to boring locations and stupid subplots or competitions/games.  I’ll use the 25^th season of Big Brother that was hyped as a celebration.   Big let down from the start folks.  While we had Cirie and son and the prospect of the back lots, the games were the same old/same old and the stunts lame.  The cast was terrible.  The set was horrible, and the “surprise” was not used to it’s best potential.  X/Twitter has had complaints since the first twist as it is the first year that a double evictee may win. 

Actors:  Studios often say that actors get paid too much but do they really? Sure, the big names get the big salary but the day people or supporting actors do not.  That’s one of the big problems the strike is dealing with.  Sure, it is an expense but it’s what brings people in.  How long do you think we can take a reality show that has people who are through in 13 weeks?  How long do you think that fans will tune in to see the reality “superstars” go to another competition show to win more money.  Not all reality people have the clout that Johnny Bananas or Cirie has.  Plus, reality shows do not  get residuals for all showings.  Their residuals ended with the show. Look!  If the strike continues, the studios are to blame.  They are the ones who stalled the negotiations thinking that it would be over with and a season could begin in February. 

Unfortunately, their wait has caused production problems that will not be over if the actors agree to return tomorrow.  And I’ll tell the studios one more thing now.  Don’t recycle old television shows anymore for at least 30 years after they leave the schedule.  I, for one, think the CSI, Law and Order and NCSI have too many variants and some of the remakes just recycle scripts.  I have an extensive DVD collection plus Pluto Television that I don’t mind watching.  Studios, come up with original ideas please. 

So bye, bye BB 25

You promised so much

Yet seem out of touch

We hoped that you

Would give us a show

Instead all your tricks flopped

And so fans have dropped.

Since we had the Writer’s Strike going on, I had high hopes for Big Brother 25.  We had been promised a season like never before.  I thought:  “Oh good!  Back lots here we come.”  Then signs developed that showed I wouldn’t get what I wanted out of Big Brother 25.  Let’s walk through the disaster, shall we. 

First word leaked that not as many potential house guests showed up for audition.  From there, rumors were flying on X (Twitter) that the potential contestants were being turned away as quickly as they were interviewed.  You went your usual route of stunt casting (Circe and Jared) or people who had never watched the show.  Once again you failed when we had high hopes for a cast we could like.

The cast that you did chose immediately let us down.  Luke was gone before we got to know him.  X (Twitter) then went into hyperdrive because they said that Jared used an inappropriate word also but didn’t get shown the door.  Then, there is Matt (one of the few I like).  I saw no accommodation by the cast to aid with his hearing.  As a wearer of hearing aids, I know it’s better to see the speaker than just rely on the devices.  Shall I go on…

Of course, I shall.  Let’s look at the Head of Households (HoHs) since this comes from the cast. The HoH has been a joke since week one.  With four contestants (including two former HoHs — Reilly and Hisam) leaving the house, you would have thought that by this time, the jury would have started, and an end of fans misery would be in sight.  Instead, two former HoHs, Cameron and Jared, were set up to give us a buy-back week.  Cameron is lucky.  First Matthew competed in an America’s vote contest and won over three others to save Jag.  This allowed Cameron fresh opportunities to stay in the house to get the person he wanted out.  Cameron had already gotten one “save from eviction card” due to Luke’s being eliminated.  Even when he was on the block, he managed to win Power of Veto and get off.  No matter what people wanted, Cameron was the house guest that wouldn’t leave.  Then during a double eviction Cameron finds out that he and Jared (second evictee) will stay in the house as zombies for a week and play to reenter.  Cameron won and then won HoH.  Does this sound like a rig?  To me it does.  Of course, I think Alison Grodner rigs the show every season.

Moving right along, let’s look at the stunts.  The show set up the idea that they were going to have the house designed in a strange way.  Comic book style is more like it but the good and evil never developed from the comic setting.  To get the set-up, Big Brother released a promo to build excitement.  They had Danielle (Big Brother 3), Britney (Big Brother 12 and 14), and Frankie come in.  The joke of a story was that these house guests were back to change the history of the show and become the winner.  You know, Alison, old fans might have returned but you chose not to use the budget.  The cheesy special effects used ruined this opportunity.  And the reference to “Meow Meow Company” didn’t work either because I doubt any of the fans who saw this knew the reference much less who Danielle was.

Second mistake was using the ‘nether regions’ as a set up to take a cast member out of the game.  First, the term was taken in the wrong way by fans.  Twitter buzzed every time Julie said it as we know Julie is a born again Christian.  You had the back lots to use.  You could have set up an “after life” or purgatory region but you chose to use the nether term for at least two weeks and send them to the basement of the studio.  So much for the hope of originality.  I forgot to mention.  You use old games, so you don’t have to spend money.

Big Brother 25’s biggest disaster was this past week (zombie return).  You had Julie tell us that the week would be scary verse but instead, it was the most boring week for live feeders in history.  I follow some folks who basically said that Cody and America spent enough time in bed together and now you have them in the shower.  That was supposed to be scary!  Well, I guess in a way it was. Scary Week to me could have had some sent to the back lots at night to find “hidden reward” treasure.  With two zombies in the house, you could have had the non-zombies get chased by the zombies.  If Cameron or Jared caught someone, the zombie won a point and the house guest had to assume a characteristic of the zombie.  Better yet!  Give the zombies the opportunity to reenter the house by catching someone enough times that they moved up to the eviction list.  With this plot (and Halloween coming), you could have done so much more but you had to protect your favorites (which evidently Jared isn’t one of) from any possible negative exposure or chance of leaving.  Don’t worry!  Cody and America gave you enough of that.

I could continue but why bother.  Until CBS and “Fly on the Wall” make a move to make production come up with more original and interesting games, we’ll get more of the same. As of now, I’m officially checked out.  With Hell’s Kitchen on Thursday, I don’t need to know who goes home.  As for Sunday, I always have a movie that I can watch. 

So bye, bye Big Brother.  Have fun for the rest of the season and know you lost a viewer due to your lack of motivation.

Riverdale, first let me say:  Thank you for the wild ride.  I felt lost after Once Upon a Time ended but found you and the opportunity to continue using my imagination.  We don’t often get a series that allows you to throw off the real world and step into a world where adventure and strange things happen.  While some television columnists see this an end of the era, I’m sure that sometime in the future (hopefully after the Writers/Actors Strike), someone will emerge to keep this trend going.  It may not be on the CW where these shows have always thrived, but somewhere, on some network, the need will arise.

I’m not sure in what direction the show will go tonight but I honestly feel that we will see how the gang’s lives progressed from 1955 on.  I also think that we have a new “angel of Riverdale,” Jughead Jones.  No, I was wrong.  He is Rod Sterling Jones again.  We’ve been promised that they will be allowed to relive their last day as high school students.  That day probably wouldn’t be the one that I chose but with the episode called “Goodbye Riverdale,” I take it to mean that the gang leaves town.  The line that Jughead says in the opening is about a town suspended in time makes me remember Once Upon a Time.  My question is:  Can people driving through see the town?

We open with the feeling that the gang did “bend to justice” but each had to do it their way.  With Jughead’s narration, we learn that Riverdale is a town (as I said) lost in time.  Betty is 86 and living with her granddaughter.  She’s has her senior yearbook with her and is upset thinking of her Yearbook not having any friends’ signatures. Jughead appears in the room and tells her she can return to Riverdale by stepping through the door.  Betty finds herself in her old room.  Seeing Archie, she remembers all the times she had looked out.  And we find out that Archie has bent toward justice.  He’s going to go work on road construction with the Eisenhower project.  He tells Mary who doesn’t want him to go but he explains that Riverdale will be their home.  Mary sees Fred in Archie.  They both share the wanderlust.  Once Archie sees the Pacific, he won’t return.

Betty hears voices downstairs and finds Alice, as a stewardess, and Polly at the table.  Polly and Alice have made up.  So, I guess we can say, Alice has finally bent toward justice.  Betty asks about what happened (she doesn’t remember).  It seems Polly had twins (yes, like on the original time line named Dagwood and Juniper) and never returned to performing.  Alice had landed a plane.  She fell in love with a passenger from the flight and they married and travelled.  She sent postcards until they stopped suddenly.

“Sterling” Jughead and Betty arrive at school and it seems like a dream.  Veronica arrives and they enter Riverdale High where Betty says it feels like the last time.  Veronica smiles and says they haven’t graduated yet.  Toni is student president and comes over the loud speaker to announce yearbooks are there, one per person.  Of course, Toni has one last poem to read by the poet of the year, Archie Andrews.  It is titled “Dreams.” Cheryl gives Betty a hard time when Betty gets her annual.  Betty asks Fangs and Midge to sign the yearbook and the two are finally going to be married and raise their daughter.  Fangs is a rock star who is heading out on tour after recording an album.  Unfortunately, he dies during the tour in a crash.  Midge and his daughter have a great life though off the money Fangs’ music makes.

Kevin invites Betty to lunch with him and Clay and tells her they knew about the foursome of Betty, Archie, Veronica and Jughead.  It seems that the four were always seen together “double dating” and much more.  Kevin and Clay plan to move to New York.  Clay’s parents are accepting of Kevin and okay with their plans.  Sterling Jughead tells Betty that Clay attends Columbia and ends up teaching there.  Kevin opens a off-Broadway theater and they are both happy.  Kevin dies first but Clay dies within a few days.

Reggie asks Betty when she hands him her annual why she wanted Archie instead of him.  She tells him about the quad relationship and how she was with Archie, then Jughead, then Veronica.  Reggie is shocked and asks why not ask him to join.  Betty admits that they thought of it, but Reggie seemed so focused on basketball.  She gives him a kiss on the cheek.  Sterling Jones tells her that Reggie went to Kansas State and left after a year to join the Lakers.  During the summers, he worked the farm until it was sold.  He married and had two sons, coached at Riverdale High and was buried near the farm. 

Veronica tells Betty that she plans to return to Los Angels and has a job with Peter Roth.  It is entry level but she is determined to climb the ladder fast.  Sterling Jones and Betty talk about what happened to Veronica.  She quickly rose in the ranks and was running the place.  Known for her style and taste, she was buried in the Hollywood Cemetery.  Her legacy was two Oscars and Betty visits her hand prints at the Grauman’s Chinese Theater.  Sterling Jones reminds Betty as she gets sad that it’s a day without regrets.

That night Cheryl and Toni have a gathering to celebrate their partnership.  Toni has a copy of the writing magazine for each of them.  Cheryl wants them to view her paintings.  They’re beautiful and Sterling Jones tells Betty that they move out west and raised a son they named Dale (Riverdale of course).  The baby is being played by Vanessa Morgan’s real son.  Both were activists for LGBT and died peacefully. 

Archie tells Veronica and Jughead about his plans and Betty joins them.  While Jughead and Veronica are not happy about his decision, Veronica does point out that all had to go their separate ways.  Betty says it’s not a time to mourn what they lost for the future wait.  They decide to take one more ride together.  Archie then reads a letter to his best friends.  Kevin, Clay, Reggie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica, Toni, Cheryl, Fangs and Midge are there.  He remembers their friendship.  Oh, and Julian is there but doesn’t get recognized.  Archie calls all those gathered his best friends forever.

Betty and Archie share one last hug.  While they seem sad that they will be separated, Archie feels they will end up together.  Betty tells Archie that he’ll make it to California and never look back.  He’ll meet a girl who will make him laugh and they will have a beautiful family.  He’ll work construction like his dad.  When he dies, Archie will ask to be buried in Riverdale. 

Once again Betty and Sterling Jones talk.  She has one more person she wants to visit, Pop Tate.  She gets flowers and they place them on his grave.  Betty asks Sterling what happens when you die.  Sterling Jughead tells her he can’t speak for all but he thinks Pop Tate is still flipping burgers and making shakes.  Betty tells Jughead that she read his obituary.  He fulfilled his life’s dream of reviving his writing.  His “Mad House” magazine became an institution even to the present day.  He admits he could have done much worse.

They talk about Betty’s choice.  Her first book and her advice column were successes.  She protested the injustices and never regretted not getting married.  She’s proud of her magainze (“She Says”) which is still popular.  She adopted her daughter and Jughead admits he regrets not having a family.  He has to take her back where her granddaughter awaits.

When next we see Betty, her granddaughter and her husband (who looked like Reggie) are heading to Riverdale.  They pull in to Pop’s and turn to Betty who has quietly died.  The young Betty opens the car door and goes inside where all her friends are waiting.  Pop smiles as she enters. They have returned as young people to be together in the afterlife.  She kisses her friends and joins Archie, Jughead, and Veronica in a booth.  They knew she was coming and ordered her favorite, a strawberry milkshake.  Sterling Jones once again tells us that Riverdale will be our (collective) home.

I’ve enjoyed bringing the recaps and opinion pieces for you at All My Screens.  I hope we all will take a little of Riverdale with us.  This world needs more of shows like this that make us think and go with twists  and surprises.  Where else would you get such reminders of the past?  To Roberto, the writers, directors, producers, actors, and all the crew, I say thank you.  I didn’t think I would have this type of adventure again when Once Upon a Time left the airways, but you gave it to me.  I will always be grateful.  Know that even us old folks appreciate imagination and inspiration.  You gave us all of this over seven seasons and 137 episodes.

Okay!  Big Brother is not my big priority right now. I’m not sure I can even make it through this season with my mind intact.  My priority is finishing up Riverdale which makes Big Brother a burden.  I have watched a few Thursday/Sunday episodes and I have spotted some issues that need to be addressed by CBS.  Surprisingly enough, the Twitter (X) residents and Blue Sky people have seen the same thing.  So what are my issues?  Let’s go!

The big elephant is the room is Cirie.  I have no issues with her really.  I thought her play against Russell Hantz on Survivor was amazing.  The problem I have with her is that she’s just finished The Traitors and won.  I’m sure this is the reason that the Big Brother executive producers wanted her – the name quality and a new group of viewers for the show.  I’m not sure that the viewers of The Traitors would want THIS type of show.  After all, The Traitors was set in a beautifully furnished castle with each player treated like royalty.  You don’t see this on Big Brother.

The next issue again involves Cirie.  Her son, Jared, is playing the game with her.  While we have had family before, usually the parent/child are at odds.  Can anyone forget that Danielle Donato had not even seen her father, Evel Dick Donato, for years until they were put in the house together?  At least Jared and Cirie get along.  And while the rest of the house hasn’t made the connection yet, what will happen when they do?  Jared is apparently a member of the “Handful” alliance while his mom runs “The Professors.”  And Jared shares with Cirie.  As long as this goes on, “Handful” will be gone soon.

While we’re dealing with Cirie, let’s not forget the other issue that has caused a stir.  She didn’t even play for the first Head of Household.  To me, that wasn’t fair.  Her fame has her been running the house ever since her appearance was made known.  I hate it when the show gives anyone a bye, but this was over the top.

Let’s move on to the issue I have about the “special needs” person.  I love Matt and think it’s great that the producers added a deaf person to the show.  The problem I have with this is that Big Brother is full of whispers of subplots.  As a wearer of hearing aids, I can honestly say that conversations are always hard to understand.  The quieter you whisper, the harder it is for me to hear (and I have the volume on the hearing aids up to high).  I’m not sure if he wears a hearing device but I know that he will have major problems in the house.  If he can’t see the person speaking, reading lips will be hard.  The whisper game play puts him at a disadvantage.  The one good thing about being hearing impaired is that the loud noises that the producers play during games shouldn’t have a major impact.  I hope he can adjust now that both ladies who were helping him have left the game.

Luke Valentine is another problem that Big Brother didn’t consider.  Yes, they are given sensitivity training and lectures on respecting each other, but Luke used an offensive word and was out of the game.  He even realized he used it and tried to cover but live feeders heard it!  The social sites have been going crazy with this question:  Would it have happened without “live feeds?”  We may never know but whoever was operating the feeds didn’t use the five second delay.  It got out on the air and the producers had no choice but to put him out of the game.  He said in a recent interview that the lack of sleep and food caused his error (https://ew.com/tv/big-brother-luke-valentine-racial-slur-reaction/).  Luke states that it was only a “slap on the wrist” offense.  Sorry Luke!  You knew the rules and what to expect and should have used restraint.

Now, let’s get down to the physical issues, shall we.  I will state point blank that with the Writers/Actors Strike, we’re in for a terrible period of television.  And having said this, let’s remember that Big Brother is not shot at a remote location but in the center of television production.  Here we go.

The word “nether regions.”  While CBS probably meant to use the first definition of “hell,” with this being Big Brother, people took it for the second definition (in other words, body regions).  I have covered many science-fiction shows and there were other words that CBS could have employed if the meant hell.  Many shows have referred to it simply as purgatory.  Others have called it “Hades.”  Others have called it a “waiting room.”  CBS, with a supposedly creative team assigned to Big Brother, couldn’t find an ingenious new term.  Really? 

The special effects for going into the “nether region” also could have been done in a more spectacular manner.  I know you give away a good sum of money, but that can’t be where all the money for production went.  With an in-house animation department for CBS, couldn’t you have come up with something a little different and not so hokey.  And I do know you have an animation department!  I worked for a university that had interns working for you.  Since I wrote about television on the side, they always found their way to my office and shared their experiences.

The back lots are there and should be used but the one time so far it appeared stupid.  The HoH competition that Hisam won was so limited that a child could play.  Was it supposed to be a commercial for a horror film or did you just not want to put the effort into the “hide and go seek” segment? By having only set spaces where the contestants could stand, of course they would end up out easily.  I was expecting so much better of you!  Back lots have many opportunities for games.  You chose, again, to go the easy route.

I’m going to stop for now.  I’ve hit all the problems I have seen so far.  Let’s all keep a monitor on what else it problematic for us.  After all a tropical storm is expected in the area by Sunday.  I’ll be watching (but not every episode).  Until next rant, goodbye.

Tonight, Riverdale marks the next to the last episode of a show that has brought enjoyment to some and confusion to twice as many.  I admit that with the first episode I went:  “What the…” but I came to realize that this show was one of the most innovative shows on television at this time.  This series revisioned the comic in not only characters, but personalities and situations they face.  We’ve been into a different universe, heaven, and along roads never imagined.  I’m thankful for finding it after Once Upon a Time aired it last episode.

Riverdale tonight starts the memory of characters returning.  I worry that this is a 1950s Riverdale set on the 2020s era town.  We may never know that answer but I think some idea will come.  So let’s start the show and be prepared to cry.

Riverdale Changes  — Better and Worse

Jughead is back as the narrator and calling Riverdale utopia.  Really?  Oh, that’s right!  The Blossoms are in jail.  Mr. Featherhead is gone due to his involvement with the Blossoms (one part of the problem the gang has faced).  And Jughead learns that Mr. Wrether is heading to Washington where the president wants him to deal with juvenile delinquency and comic books.  With the history of the past arising, Jughead has hope (Jughead this is Riverdale).  What will happen to Riverdale High though?  PTA will meet to decide.

Betty finds that her parents are staying together but Hal will be live in the basement bedroom.  Betty is surprised and asks Alice why no divorce.  Alice responds that she’s never been alone.  She went from her parents’ home to being Hal’s wife. The house and station are Hal’s.  With Betty going to college, what will she do.

As the day progresses, Betty gets her book from the publisher in the mail.  She gives Alice the first copy and Alice reads it. That night, Betty wakes and finds Alice crying in her bedroom.  Alice tells her it’s good.  Alice is glad she has done it and has come to know Betty better.  The hopes, dreams, fears and experiences that Betty and her friends have gone through impresses Alice. 

Toni has the new principal in mind, Mr. Weatherbee.  She and Betty discuss it with Alice and Alice agrees to take it to the PTA.  Next thing we know, Mr. Weatherbee (yes, our Mr. Weatherbee without the memories of cults) is the principal and hires Archie’s favorite teacher back.  She’s kept in touch with Ms. Grundy and has read Archie’s poems.  Archie plans to ride the rails during the summer and experience the world. She tells him that a writer experiences life to make it real in books (my words). Archie has a plan until he returns home to find Reggie on the porch.  Reggie has learned that he can’t go to basketball camp because it’s during the crop harvesting season.  He’s needed at home.  Archie tells him to take the chance and go to the camp.  Archie will put off his travels and stay behind and help Reggie’s family.  To work land is to experience life.  Archie feels that this is what he needs at this time. 

Jughead has bad news.  The latest comic, “The Comet” wasn’t accepted as it has the world destroyed and a black man and white woman living together in New York.  Also, when he visits his editor, he finds out that the editor expected this to happen and has decided to close the Pep Comics.  He asks Jughead to write the final editorial of the comic which was the best they had ever done.  Jughead writes the editorial and hopes the comic finds its way into people’s hands who want the world to be a better place.  At the closed Pep office, Jughead says that it is easier to tear down than to build up.  So true as he’s about to find out. 

Veronica agrees with the editor that it’s the best comic story ever written.  She gets the idea to turn it into a movie and talks to Clay, who knows the original story by W.E.B. DeBois.  He’s read it many times (Note:  it was written in the 1920s).  Clay agrees that it would make a wonderful movie.  He’d love to write the script.  Veronica knows that the racial them will make it an uphill battle to succeed but she does buy the rights.  Clay agrees to write the adaption.  Clay and Veronica say they need a big star, Sidney Poitier, who Josie McCoy knows.  Veronica plans to open the movie in Cannes’s in four to five years.  (While there have been many movies with “comet” in the title, a quick search did not reveal that a project like this was ever made.)

Cheryl is ready to take her stand and get the Vixens back.  Nana has met with Julian and Cheryl and told them that they have to erase the stain of their parents.  Cheryl’s way is to take on Evelyn for her head position with the cheerleaders.  Evelyn doesn’t want her there but can’t stand up to Cheryl when she demands a dance off.  Need I say who wins!  Cheryl survives to lead again.

Oh, and one thing I haven’t mentioned.  Guess who is having a LGBT+ affair.  It’s Sheriff Kline and Fred.  Archie finds it out and is VERY surprised.

The Tabitha Angel Arrives

Get the tissues ready.  Our Tabitha has shown up in the railroad car to see Jughead.  He first thinks it’s Tabitha from school. She’s tells him no and she has something she wants him to see.  She has a color television set (which of course didn’t exist) and puts on the Riverdale (the series we have watched in its entirety).  He remembers!  She’s has succeeded into bringing all the timelines together and preventing Bailey’s Comic from destroying the earth.  In doing it, all have merged in the one the gang is in presently (1955).  There will be no returning to 2023 from here.  The good news is that the gang succeeded in “bending toward justice” and started to reshape the town/world and make it a better place where the destruction of Bailey’s Comet won’t happen.  She can show the rest of the gang what happened but it will be up to them to remember everything or stay ignorant of the future. 

Jughead calls a meeting of the gang.  He tells them what has happened and what he has seen.  It is up to each of them to decide if they want to see what happened and carry the memories.  The first to take the opportunity is Archie.  He wants to remember but is troubled by what he sees.  He’s glad to see his dad but hates that he died twice.  He’s confused as he leaves and talks to the others. 

Next that wants to see the past is Veronica and Betty together.  After the viewing, Betty has a hard time with what her family did.  How could Hal be a serial killer?  How could Polly die like she did?  And what about the darkness that surrounded her family.  Veronica has a problem believing that she killed her husband, Chad, and her father.  The main characters, except for Julian who was a doll, decide they want to see it also.  Yes, Dilton is included and Fangs is there. 

After the viewing, Tabitha meets with all of them.  They must make the decision of keeping the memories or letting them go.  Veronica wants to only remember the happy times they had together and the rest seem to agree.  All that is but Betty who feels she needs to remember.  Jughead plans to retain all memories as he is the chronicler of what happened.  Angel Tabitha can make this happen.  She can only share the good memories.  Angel Tabitha feels they deserve this after all they’ve been through.  They all meet (including Julian and Clay) at the Babylonium and see the equivalent of a home movie.  It’s only the fun, good things that they shared/experienced and did together.  She has hit a reset button for all but Jughead and Betty.  If this didn’t make you cry, I don’t know what would. 

Tabitha leaves the theater knowing only the happy memories will remain.  Jughead follows.  He hopes she will stay and they can have a life together like they planned.  Unfortunately, there is already a Tabitha in 1955 who will go to Chicago, college, and become a Civil Rights advocate.  Tabitha tells him they can’t have the past but it still exist.  They will always have the memories.  They only have one path forward – which is a good thing.  Jughead says it sucks.  She holds out her hand and they kiss.  Oh no, did she wipe his memory.  No remembers as she leaves. 

So this year wasn’t a waste as so many people thought.  They needed to reset from total annihilation.  With Jughead as the chronicler, and memories of the joy and good times.  At Pop Tate’s, Jughead as the chronicler, starts a new book (or diary).  He types “Goodbye Riverdale” and we have one more episode! 

Next week:  Betty and the gang have one last time together.  No sign of an aged Betty but that’s been given as a hint.  She wants one more time with her friends and their youth.  Well, wouldn’t you at 84? 

Tonight, Riverdale does the monochrome version of the program.  I haven’t seen a current production done in black and white since the 2012 Whedon’s version of Much Ado About Nothing.  Black and white is its own genre of film and sometimes bothers viewers.  I grew up during an age of black and white television and was shocked when my father got us a color set.  It’s also strange that it deals with the Cold War and the nuclear bomb.  The only thing I remember from the drills is to take cover.  Our bomb shelter was a local church about a mile away.  You know we wouldn’t have reached that in time.

My real thoughts is that this is setting the show up for multi-verse or various universes that must come together.  A nuclear blast could do it.  To me, the blast looked more like the Bailey’s Comet blast.  The “bending toward justice” theme will be hard here but we’ll see where it goes.  It’s more likely to start the gang’s memory coming back.  And while some twitter (X) participants are having problems with Ethel’s emergence as a primary player, she is a “B” character in the comics.  It comes down to Rivervale for both Ethel and Dilton.  Hopefully tonight we’ll find out how.

Mysterious Melting Man

Jughead’s story opens at the theater where he’s watching a horror movie.  It appears that half of Riverdale High is there.  He stops Ethel as they leave to discuss how she’s doing.  Ethel has a new boyfriend.  As they stand talking, a man appears and dies in front of all.  Seems he’s not the only one.  Our friendly morgue doctor tells Jughead (after getting a comic) that it was radiation poisoning but Kline took the body before more information could be gathered.  One interesting feature is that the man worked for the Blossom’s Maple Factory – just like Ethel’s dad and Mr. Rayberry.

Later, Jughead asks Ethel about her father’s job for the Blossom family.  Ethel doesn’t want to talk about it as she is moving on with her life.   With Ethel a washout, the surprising one to supply details is Dilton.  Wait!  We get the bunker.  Dilton’s dad built it to protect the family after being given palladium by Ethel’s dad.  Palladium is even more dangerous that the hydrogen and other nuclear bombs. This will be a safe zone for them. And yes, it is the bunker where the third Jughead writes comics.  Later, Jughead approaches Cheryl to ask about the mines and they end up going down into the mines together to take pictures.  (Unfortunately, we don’t get to see the photos!)  Is this for Dilton’s redemption and his bending toward justice?

Shipping Out

Archie’s story is “Shipping Out.”  Frank tells Reggie and Archie he’s got them into a prestigious basketball camp.  Then evil Frank ruins it by asking Archie if he can let his poetry go that long.  Later at school, Archie see Kevin and Clay tying knots.  They’re going out on a cargo ship as Merchant Marines and that makes sense to Archie who decides to go also.  Clay tells him the adventure would offer inspiration for stories.

At dinner, Archie announces his decision and Frank says that makes more sense than going to college to study how to write poetry.  They bicker back and forth, and Mary puts a stop to it.  Later, Frank finds Archie exercising in the garage.  Frank makes his pitch about Archie going into the Army and becoming a hero by protecting democracy.  It would be better than the Merchant Marines because he could join now.  To make it complete, Frank gives Archie his father’s dog tags.  (And Frank goes back to being a jerk!)

The next morning Archie talks to his mom who gives him the true story.  At dinner, Mary goes on the attack and tells Frank to leave Archie alone.  He needs to finish high school and make his own decisions.  To finish it off, Mary throws Fred out (thank goodness).  Fred goes to stay with Sheriff Kline.  Before Fred leaves, he seems to want amends.  Mary lets him come to Sunday dinner. Archie delivers the key line.  Most of the poets he idolizes wrote their poems in the foxholes.  This seems to surprise Frank.

Project Moloch (A Weird Version of the Manhattan Project)

Okay, remember I said that Cliff Blossom was evil. We’ve all known that Penelope was. Cheryl and Julian come home from school to find dad with a visitor from Washington.  He’s delivered an ancient ugly statue which Cliff tells the twins was used in sacrifices?  Okay, I admit I may not have gotten that right.

Cheryl later has a dream and wakes up screaming.  It’s about the nuclear bomb.  She goes downstairs only to overhear a conversation about Project Moloch and the palladium.  It seems that when the bomb goes off, the Blossoms family will survive and be part of the new leaders of survivors. 

First Cheryl then Cheryl and Jughead go down to get proof.  The pictures that Cheryl and Jughead make are sent, via Veronica’s contacts, to Washington.  Cheryl knows what is coming and greets the agents at the door.  (Was that Chick leading them?)  Anyway, the parent Blossoms are led off in handcuffs and the world is saved.

Driver’s Education

Betty’s story deals with birth certificates to get their driver’s license.  After the ladies get their parallel parking drill finished, they now will go get their license.  All applaud Ethel when she does a perfect job (wish I could).  Ethel seems worried though because she doesn’t have her birth certificate.  They’re in the family home,  Ethel, for good reasons, doesn’t want to go there.  Betty agrees to go get the documents but finds much more.  Betty finds bank deposits for the Muggs from her father nd a picture of Hal holding a baby about Betty’s age.

What do you do when you find your parents lying about something?  If you are Betty, you confront them.  Hal gives the story that Ethel’s mom cleaned house for the Coopers.  Betty points out that the checks are current.  Alice stops Hal before more lies.  He got Ethel’s mom pregnant, and Ethel is Betty’s half-sister.  Alice sends Hal out of the room.  She and Betty have a heart to heart.  This is the reason Alice can’t forgive Polly’s choice of career and Betty’s book choice.  Betty asks Alice if she was afraid this would happen to her.  Alice admits it was.  They hold a family meeting and tell Ethel the truth.  Ethel now understands the reason her parents acted the way they did toward her. This is the reason Alice took her in after her parents’ death.  Alice and Hal offer to adopt her but Ethel wants only one thing:  to be happy!

At Pop’s, Ethel tells Alice, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead good-bye.  She and her boyfriend are headed to California.  Alice wants her to stay and worries about what she will do but Veronica has taken care of that.  Veronica has gotten her job as an art illustrator with a film company and a place to live with a friend in a well-known address.  Ethel hugs Veronica with a thank you and Betty and she shares a sisterly hug.  To Jughead, Ethel gives a hug and says “we’ll always have Pep Comics.”  Alice now feels Ethel will be fine.

The Bomb Information

Dilton’s dad, the science teacher, shows a film about what will happen if Riverdale gets hit with a bomb (think Bailey’s Comet).  Later in their gathering, each says what they will do.  Jughead points out the town will be vaporized but Veronica says she’ll go into the mini-city beneath the Pembroke with Jughead. Cheryl will go into the mines (with Toni, of course) while Reggie will go home and climb down the well. Archie would grab Mary and head to the mountains in Colorado, but Clay says that wouldn’t work.  Kevin would get in a refrigerator and Betty thinks that is dumb.

.Ending Narration

Jughead says all the pieces were falling into place and we are back to colorized show.  We get “The End” but is it?  Of course not – two more episodes remain.

Tonight’s show was more like Rod Sterling’s The Twilight Zone and echoed back to Rivervale.  We saw the bunker and it’s history.  More importantly, we may have seen why Alice was the way she was.  Mary is still the angel but Frank and Hal moved backward.  The evil came out and we see the hidden mystery of the palladium.  It was a hard episode to see any “bending to justice” but I think that is seen with the palladium.  And do we know if this really happened at all.  Luckily change is coming. 

Next Week:  We get some memories of high school and the return of our angel of Pop’s, Tabitha.  This stirs Jughead’s memory.  Will the reason to “bend toward justice” become clearer?

Reality shows have been around for a long time.  I remember when Survivor and Big Brother premiered.  These shows were supposed to be fun and entertaining, but they evolved into something entirely different.  The amount of booze, sex, and violence have far exceeded the amount of fun and entertainment.  I’ll be honest.  I think the sex and booze has changed since the advent of Covid.

My common go-to complaint has always been Dance Moms because of the long hours the girls had to work and Abby’s attitude toward education.  In fact, more has come out about the treatment of the girls and their moms.  The show, according to Holly Frazier and Christi Lukasiak, was supposed to be a six-part series of the mother/daughter relationship.  Evidently, the network and production company loved the concept.  It evolved into the Abby Lee Miller scream fest most remember today.  Recently, a commentator on the show, MackZBoss did a short reveal on the salaries that the girls and moms made.  To me, it wouldn’t have been worth putting my child through it but by the time it evolved into what we see, the moms/girls had iron clad contracts with Lifetime and breaking though was tough.  If you are interested in her recent piece on the salaries, view her video on YouTube entitled “How Much Was the Cast Paid” (https://youtu.be/7185FBHF2zk). 

Big Brother in its early days didn’t have as many showmances (romances between house guests) with sex going on under the covers.  Yet this began to change around Season 10 when couples became more romantically involved and the Head of House room became a common site of lovers’ adventures.  With “live feeds,” they could tantalize viewers over to see more of the sexual escapades.  And let’s not forget the fights and drunken parties where secrets were spilled, and fights broke out.  I should also mention here that the mental harassment of Taylor Hale and mental instability of one house guest played a role in last year’s fiasco of a show that made it hard to watch.  I gave up on live feeds but saw enough during the three recaps during the week to wonder where Taylor’s strength came from.

Last night though things were taken to a new level with Below Deck Down Under. To be honest, I only liked the original Below Deck because Captain Lee wouldn’t have some of the shenanigans with the crew that appeared on the Mediterranean and the Yacht versions.  On Below Deck Down Under last night, we saw a crew member take it too far. After the usual night of drinking and partying after the cruise, one of the stewardesses came back passed out and was put to bed.  The Bosun, Luke, decided that he wanted to “go to bed” with her and took off his clothes, went to her room, shut-the door, and crawled in bed.  This was a first as I thought: “A sexual assault.  I’m out of here.”  Luckily the producer stopped it, the chief stew was made aware of the situation and went to Captain Jason.  Captain Jason wasn’t going to have that kind of behavior on his ship and basically fired Luke sending him to the motel for a night.  The next day, Luke packed without seeing the crew.  The third stew, Laura, got upset that Luke was fired and took it out on the victim.  Luckily, the chief stew found out about it and Laura’s behavior to a deckhand (wanting sex).  She reported it to Captain Jason who fired her also.  Laura didn’t understand why and said that she should have been given a warning.  Laura, my dear, you were and didn’t listen to the rules Captain Jason laid out.  My opinion of Captain Jason rose but my opinion of Bravo sank.

All this came as a story broke last week of a lawsuit brought against NBCUniversal (parent company of Bravo) by Bethenny Frankel (Real Housewives).  Granted I have never watched a full episode of Real Housewives because I didn’t like the concept, but this lawsuit encompasses all the reality TV stars as she is purposing a union.  Deadline has an interesting article at entitled “NBCUniversal Offers Circumspect Response to ‘Sordid and Dark Underbelly’ of Reality TV Allegations; Porn, Sexual Violence, Booze Abuse Claimed as a Lawsuit Looms”  (https://deadline.com/2023/08/porn-violentce-claims-bethenny-frankel-lawsuit-reality-tv-nbcuniveral-bravo-1235454964/). A lawsuit isn’t something to be taken lightly.  For a reality star of Frankel’s caliber to bring it, the issues must be grave.    I’m taking this straight from the article and will list examples of things I have seen on various reality shows (not necessarily NBCUniversal).

• Deliberate attempts to manufacture mental instability by plying cast members with alcohol while depriving them of food and sleep.  (My example:  Big Brother.  Let’s give them alcohol and have all stay up to 2:00 A. M. so we have plenty of footage for the weekly shows.  By the way, are the Have-Nots (those in punishment) eating any of the others’ food today.)
• Denying mental health treatment to cast members displaying obvious and alarming signs of mental deterioration.  (Again, Big Brother.  There always seems to be one contestant who goes off the deep end each season.  Paloma, from last year, quickly comes to mind.)
• Exploiting minors for uncompensated and sometimes long-term appearances on NBC reality TV shows.  (The video I linked above from Dance Moms is a talking point for this.  The children sometimes didn’t leave the studio until 12 midnight, cast didn’t get food while crew did, and fights were staged.  But this is a Lifetime show?)
• Distributing and/or condoning the distribution of nonconsensual pornography.  (Below Decks Down Under come to mind here.  When a person is drunk and has passed out, they can’t give permission.)
• Covering up acts of sexual violence.  (Okay, I’m not sure what show this came from as it is worded.  There have been questions about the various programs and what we don’t see.)
• Refusing to allow cast members the freedom to leave their shows, even under dire circumstances.  (Again, let’s go with Big Brother which has an exit plan.  The problem is that you must wait 24 hours to be allowed out and then it’s after “counseling.”)

So, do you see a case for the lawsuit to be continued.  NBC has issued their own statement that they are committed to providing a safe environment for the reality shows and throws it back on the production company.  Yet, it is NBC’s name/network that goes on the show, so I don’t buy it.  NBC also says in their statement that they work with production companies when it is brought to their attention.  Yet couldn’t rules about alcohol and behavior be incorporated into the contract along with the truth about the freedom to leave the show and what happens if you do.  All this is ongoing so much more will come out.  Deadline does provide a link in their article to the complaint.  Wonder what else Bethany has to reveal?  And could other networks like CBS/Paramount, A&E/Lifetime and TLC become involved?