A quick note before we begin, The Block Unlocked will be uploaded by 10.30pm AEST tonight or just a little after. Apologies for any inconvenience.
But before that, let’s recap the massive week it has been in reality television. We begin with The Block which, after moving to the new timeslot of 6.30pm Sunday, has now been extended to six episodes per week.
What a week to begin this with the contestants having to makeover their entire upstairs area (including an ensuite bathroom out of a master bedroom and a walk in wardrobe) bar Jenna & Josh whose house is double fronted and therefore features a master bedroom on the ground floor.
The week began sluggish in terms of storyline; but featured many twists that kept me entertained. After Tania & Rod took top spot on Sunday’s judgement day, the contestants were told to get stuck into their second storey with the added incentive of a $10,000 prize for the winning couple!
Moving onto Shelley’s wallpapering challenge, the sisters won this lovely yet drawn out challenge and got $3,000 for it. The twist in this? The $3000 must come from the other teams.
Controversially, the sisters decided to take $2,000 off of Josh & Jenna and $1,000 off of Rod & Tania, therefore ‘billing’ them $1,000 for every weekly win thus far and saving the broke Polly & Waz from an early finale.
As I said, the storytelling was sluggish, based around the budgetary problems of the contestants. I know budget plays a bit part in the game, but every episode we are some how or another reminded of this through the words and stress of the contestants; why did we need the best part of Monday and Tuesday’s episode to be based on this?
Scott’s challenge was a beauty as Polly & Waz paired with Josh & Jenna to go up against Tania & Rod and Katrina & Amie in a Salvation Army market sell-off. All the proceeds were to go to charity with the winning team earning the right for both its couples to have their corresponding eliminated team from week one return and help them on their house for a little while.
With that, Laura & Emily, Chrissy & Toby, Aaron & Shannon and Chris & Carrie returned to help their corresponding Block competitors on the stalls.
In the end, it was a failing-at-first team consisting of Josh & Jenna and Polly & Waz win the challenge. This meant that Aaron & Shannon returned to help Josh & Jenna and Chrissy & Toby returned to help Polly & Waz, mostly with their painting.
It was also a sad day with the departure of Laura & Emily & Chris & Carrie for what will probably be the final time.
But whatever twist The Block had, was no match to what MasterChef Australia had in store; however for most of the week, this show was doused in controversy.
On Sunday, things began smoothly with the contestants cooking for their biggest guest yet; the Dalai Lama! In the end, the vegetarian dish of Dani impressed, with Ellie, Billy & Kate’s dish getting the thumbs down (not from the Dalai Lama, of course) meaning possible elimination for the troubled trio.
On elimination night, Ellie gave up her immunity pin and saved herself from elimination however Billy pretty much spoilt the results nonetheless that morning on his twitter account and apparently, personal blog. As it happens, the only returning chef from this season went home for the second time.
On Tuesday night, Sunday Night winner Dani faced off for Immunity Pin #2 against Celebrity MasterChef winner Eamon Sullivan. In what some would call a one sided and unfair challenge, Dani did in fact win a second immunity pin, making MasterChef history!
On Wednesday, Kate, Michael & Hayden faced off against Alana, Ellie & Dani in a first class challenge of the lounge type; taking over a shift in Sydney Airport’s Qantas First Class Lounge. Neil Perry & Alan Joyce guest starred as judges in a challenge that saw Kate, Michael & Hayden of the blue team lose out to the red team and enter Thursday’s elimination.
Not much to say on Thursday except the fact that the stench of another MasterChef favourite leaving the kitchen was in the air. Hayden somehow managed to plate up a dish worse than Michael’s and Kate’s, sending the fan favourite surfer home.
Another MasterClass ended the week.
Top Design continued along ok. Suffering a drop in ratings, it seemed this show did nothing to improve on its first episode with a drawn out elimination process, too much focus on the planning of the room and not the actual implementation of the design, and somewhat choppy camerawork. Mary was sent home as this week’s eliminated contestant.
Australia’s Got Talent sent its first five contestants into the grand final; those being Jack Vidgen, Team Rocket, Ben Price, Instant Bun and David De Vito. From there, the last nine semi-finalists took to the stage in an epic performance that in my opinion has topped all others.
On The Amazing Race Australia, I was a little peeved that after a race through Jerusalem, there was a non-elimination pit-stop; however no doubt there will be many out there that are thankful that model’s Sam and Renae survive to see another week.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record; next week is just going to get BIGGER! Firstly, one team off The Block will become $10,000 richer after finishing what will be a gruelling week. I wonder what room will be next to be renovated?
With that, Top Design also continues on into its third week with another contestant facing the axe; but if this show doesn’t improve, it could be Top Design facing the axe altogether!
Australia’s Got Talent goes into its first part of a two part grand finale, by announcing the names of the final five acts to advance. What follows is sure to be a fanfare, and a brilliant beginning of the end of a truly top rating realty drama!
The Amazing Race heads to Sri Lanka where ahead of its grand finale, will DEFINITELY cut another team member loose. The three remaining teams then go on to battle it out in the grand finale.
On MasterChef, the road to finals week officially begins with five amateur cooks fighting for a place in that coveted week of competition. In the process, they will cook from home and meet some amazing chefs but on Thursday, ONE will leave to create a final four! It is sure to be riveting viewing.
…but maybe not as riveting as TEN’s new hopeful; The Renovators! This series is to debut TOMORROW with a lot of expectations weighing down on it due to it being a new take on a saturated genre, following off the back of MasterChef and pretty much following in the cooking show’s footsteps.
So, that’s what’s happening lately in reality television; I’ll be blogging throughout the week, but due to the amount of reality on, there may be some pre-emptions:
SUNDAY- No pre-emptions
MONDAY- MasterChef, The Renovators and The Amazing Race Australia blogged and should be up same night however The Block may be delayed until Tuesday afternoon.
TUESDAY- I will try to avoid any delays, but if any show will be delayed, it will be The Renovators.
WEDNESDAY- I have no choice but to make it all same night.
THURSDAY- No Pre-emptions.
FRIDAY – No Pre-emptions.
Don’t forget guys, I need your help! If you want to run this blog for a week in September and have the capacity to write even little reviews on some reality programs plus post them on Throng, I’d love to hear from you as I am unable to do so. Contact me via PM on this site, or through c_rose_luvy1980@hotmail.com. Thankyou for all who take on this volunteer work; it would mean a lot to me!
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