So another HUGE week of reality television has come to a close, and when I thought I was out of the woods; television world told me not to worry, because the onslaught is about to roughen up over the next couple of weeks!
Let’s begin with a recap of the week that’s been by starting off discussing Dancing with the Stars! On Sunday, a three hour finale saw Manu Feildel take the winner’s trophy, beating bookies favourite Haley Bracken and my personal favourite Damien Leith. It was a lengthy affair; and personally, I can’t recall half of the show due to the fact half of it was insignificant! But it does wrap up a controversial year and yes, at times I have been critical of the show pumping itself up as being a ‘controversial’ program using its own footage and footage of Seven public affairs programs to try to back up its point; but all in all, it will be one season to remember!
Speaking of things to remember, it surely was a week to remember for MasterChef as all eight remaining contestants jetsetted off to New York City; what some may call the cuisine capital of the world! There, they visited multiple places on their own to find inspirational aspects from all walks of NY and blend it into a specific dish. This challenge left Sun in lockdown and after having to cater for a massive UN dinner, Billy joined her.
And so soon after Dani won an immunity pin (of course losing it soon after), what do you know, New York worked its magic on Ellie! An elimination regular, she won this challenge of all challenges giving her an immunity pin! With only a few weeks left of the competition, Ellie sure has rocketted up the ranks of MasterChef season three to become a frontrunner for finale.
Then, the most memorable task in my opinion of the entire SERIES; seeing the judges’ faces light up on the big screen in Times Square to announce that all contestants must hunt down a recipe, race back to the Four Seasons Restaurant and cook it! In the mad rush of things, both Dani and Hayden joined Sun & Billy in elimination.
The elimination was held at the iconic Sylvia’s restaurant. Overall, the dishes were all pretty underwhelming (except for Billy’s which was praised highly by Sylvia Wood’s descendents) but it was Sun, after failing to prepare things on time, who was ultimately kicked out on a high.
It was a cruel week, if not a memorable one, but if you thought it could not get any better, think again…
Meanwhile, the ‘finale showdown’ on Australia’s Got Talent kicked off with a mirage of talent including acts such as Instant Bun, Majestic and little Jack Vidgen and those larger-than-life teeth. The nine acts amazed Australia and we are all chomping at the bit to see who made it through!
On The Amazing Race Australia; a trip through the Middle East that saw contestants dig for keys, play Matkok, read their partner’s mind and drive a massive truck was too much for bikers Dave & Kelly to muster, and the iconic team were sent home in fifth place.
The Block fired up for its third week (fourth in total) as contestants tackled the bathroom and laundry; the first ‘wet room’ of the season. What is considered the hardest room in the house, it sure did create tension, not just between contestants, but between tradies and foremen as well.
Josh & Jen won week two before winning both Shelley’s plumbing task AND Scott’s tiling task. This segregated them from the group as the other exhausted contestants gave up on the arrogant team.
Katrina & Amie hit lows after their new plans for a bathroom were scrapped; taking them back to an old plan that detailed a bathroom without a bath! But that was the least of their worries. Further into the week, their tradie staged a strike after not being paid, leaving an unfinished room for the girls to find. Later in the day, the girls also found out that they had been slugged $7,000 a week by the unruly tradie before a wet sealer who was supposed to finish off the base of their shower rejected to do the job on the grounds that the room wasn’t ready for it.
Now a day behind schedule, the girls broke down. The week did get better for them as they mustered together a new team of professionals who in turn called their own professionals to help. What a relief, but can they get it all done on time?
The week ended in an Unlocked special which saw contestants enter OTHER contestant’s homes for the first time to see their progress. Utilising judge’s comments and personal tastes, they all gave a critique on each other’s rooms. Surprisingly, it wasn’t as negative as I’d thought it would be with most contestants happy, if not surprised or delighted at their opponent’s room styles.
To the new kid on the block, Top Design, and while it was a rushed and somewhat unneatly packaged affair, it debuted with a simple premise and a fun challenge with lovely results at the worst of times.
The contestant known as Craig will be forever known as the ‘first contestant to be eliminated off Top Design’ as he was eliminated after a challenge involving them all to split up into pairs and renovate a shipping container. His partner for the week, Jo is still in the competition.
Wow, with so much reality, I hope I haven’t missed anything there as we preview what is ahead.
Well, first off, The Block extends to a new night of Sunday at 6.30pm. I look down the schedule and everything else looks the same with hour episodes on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and Shelley’s challenge moved to Monday. I have to wonder if this extra timeslot will saturate the show. Maybe in this whirlwind season it won’t, but it is an ambitious move nonetheless, one that has just crept up out of nowhere.
Can Josh & Jenna win another room, or maybe sweep all three challenges of the week? If so, it will be one hell of a s**tstorm! After judgement day on Sunday, contestants sweep into their fourth room with two more challenges coming from the hosts. It sure will be one hell of a week on The Block.
Looking at MasterChef, and remember when I said ‘if you thought things could not get any better; think again…’ well here it is- it CAN! On Sunday, none other than the Dalai Llama comes to visit the final seven in what could surpass NY Week’s Times Square challenge as the most memorable yet!
Further into the week and former Celebrity MasterChef winner Eamon Sullivan will be facing off against Sunday’s winner that may see that person win an immunity pin!
With all the trimmings of a delicious week of MasterChef, the finale drawing ever nearer and a smaller group of contestants, I’m expecting a whopper week!
Australia’s Got Talent features its final finale showcase as the final nine acts go head to head. I believe FOUR acts from week one go through to the final, although this could be five, can someone clarify?!
On The Amazing Race Australia, another team will surely be lost as the final four become the final three! Can the models Sam & Renae keep the girl flag riding high in the race for yet another week; or are we set for an all male final three?
And of course Top Design is moving into another week as well…. But I don’t know what to add for that one.
Well, another week is upon us, and while it won’t be as hectic as last week, one thing is for certain; shows such as Australia’s Got Talent, The Amazing Race Australia and MasterChef Australia are slowly drawing to a close. The Renovators, Four Weddings, Dinner Date, The X Factor, Beauty & The Geek Australia and Junior MasterChef are yet to start. If reality television is slowing down, I’d love to see the evidence, please!
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