Reality TV : Opinion Brief
Not usually one to tread softly, Howard Stern surprised critics Monday night with a more subdued judging style during the "America's Got Talent" season premiere.

Howard Stern's America's Got Talent debut: Was he too nice?

TV watchdog groups worried that the shock jock's crass humor would mar the family-friendly talent competition — but a jarringly warm personality emerged instead

 
Reality TV : Burning Question
As one of the new judges on "The X factor," wildcard Britney Spears will likely draw viewers who simply want to see how she handles herself professionally.

Will Britney Spears and Demi Lovato revitalize The X Factor?

The notoriously erratic pop supernova and the 19-year-old Disney Channel star will join Fox's singing competition next season as judges... for better or worse

 
Reality TV : Opinion Brief
Many critics still consider Juliet Simms the frontrunner on "The Voice," though Chris Mann's strong finale performance may help him overtake her.

Who should win The Voice?

After a rocker, an opera singer, a soulful crooner, and a former Mousketeer vie for the top prize in NBC's talent competition, critics lay bets on their favorites

 
Reality TV : Instant Guide
The most recent bachelor Ben Flajnik: "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" producer Mike Fleiss once said his team is afraid to cast minorities because they would "feel guilty of tokenism."

The Bachelor's 'shocking' racial discrimination lawsuit: A guide

Two African-American men are filing a class action lawsuit against the producers of the ABC series for its longstanding failure to cast a non-white bachelor

 
Reality TV : Best Video
A bloodied Bear Grylls tries to survive the elements in Siberia on an episode of "Man vs. Wild," which has been canceled.

Bear Grylls' 6 craziest Man vs. Wild moments: A video roundup

As the Discovery Channel cancels the popular survivalist series, a look back at some stunts that really made audiences squirm

 
Reality TV : Analysis
In NBC's "Fashion Star," which debuts Tuesday night, Elle MacPherson hosts, while Jessica Simpson and Nicole Richie mentor up-and-coming clothing designers.

Fashion Star: Another 'cheap Project Runway knockoff'?

In NBC's new reality series, Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie, and Elle MacPherson challenge designers to make clothes that real people will wear

 
Reality TV : Opinion Brief
Britney Spears is reportedly demanding $20 million a year to join "The X Factor" as a judge.

Would Britney Spears make a worthwhile X Factor judge?

Simon Cowell is reportedly wooing the "Baby One More Time" singer to the Fox reality singing competition. Big mistake?

 
Reality TV : Opinion Brief
Kelly Clarkson and other music stars will join amateur singers in ABC's forthcoming talent realty show "Duets."

ABC's Duets: Another singing competition?

Overload alert: The alphabet net will launch its own American Idol rival this summer, pairing celebrities like Kelly Clarkson with amateurs hoping for a record contract

 
Reality TV : Opinion Brief
"The Voice" judge Cee Lo Green nabs singer Juliet Simms for his team after her blind audition on the second season premiere of the NBC singing competition.

The Voice's 'stellar' post-Super-Bowl premiere

The season premiere of NBC's hit singing competition scored the coveted post-game time slot — and delivered with a winning show

 
Reality TV : Controversy
Simon Cowell fired fellow judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger Monday night in a shake up that is dividing critics.

The X Factor bloodbath: 'An admission of failure'?

After an underwhelming first season, Simon Cowell hands pink slips to host Steve Jones, as well as judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul

 
Reality TV : Opinion Brief
Danielle Tarantola was so heartbroken when her dog Trouble died that she saved everything he touched, including the water left in his bowl.

I Cloned My Pet: TLC's 'craziest show' yet?

A new reality special features obsessed pet owners determined to create carbon copies of their deceased dogs

 
Reality TV : Opinion Brief
In an upcoming boot of MTV's Ashton Kutcher-led hit "Punk'd," Khloe Kardashian gets pranked by Miley Cyrus and Kelly Osbourne.

The return of Punk'd: Even 'more immature' than before?

After a four-year break, MTV's hidden-camera pranksters are coming back this spring, and a preview clip offers a taste of what's in store

 
Reality TV : Opinion Brief
(Relatively) low-rated: "X-Factor" judges Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherziner (right) and the show's winner Melanie Amaro on Thursday's season finale.

The X-Factor's first season: A 'disappointment'?

Melanie Amaro won the title in Thursday's season's finale, but the jury's still out on whether the wildly hyped show itself is a winner

 
Reality TV : Opinion Brief
NBC is making a $15 million gamble by hiring Howard Stern as an "America's Got Talent" judge for the upcoming summer season.

Howard Stern: A 'terrible' choice for America's Got Talent?

The shock jock just signed on to judge the upcoming season of the family-friendly NBC reality competition — and critics are divided on the hire

 
Reality TV : Opinion Brief
"Fear Factor" host Joe Rogan stands next to a vat of cow's blood: The gag-inducing show returned to NBC Monday for its first episode since 2006.

Fear Factor returns: Still reality TV's grossest show?

Contestants take a dip in a 3,000-gallon pool of cow blood in the first episode in five years of the once-popular NBC series

 
Reality TV : Opinion Brief
A sexually inexperienced couple braves their first kiss on "Virgin Diaries," a controversial TLC special.

Does Virgin Diaries make a 'mockery' of virgins?

A cringe-inducing clip of a celibate couple's first smooch gives rise to charges that TLC's reality special is exploiting a wholesome lifestyle for laughs

 

Facebook

Twitter

Stumble

Tumblr

RSS

Newsletter

See our bad opinions
Lauren Odes

A lingerie store fires a staffer for being too buxom — and more in our collection of strange revelations about the nation

Can you guess what's really going on in these bizarre photos?

Get The Week iPad app
Get The Week iPad app