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R__d My L_ps: The Rise of the Barely-Bleeped Curse

Speaking of Bravo reality shows, anyone who’s watched them for several years–anyone who’s watched any TV for several years–has witnessed an evolving phenomenon: the gradual shrinking of the censor’s bleep. It used to be that even on a Bravo reality show–or, say, a network show like Fox’s Action–one of the major curse words would be [...]

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From Top to Bottom: Life after Bravo

For Top Chef et al. fans, a fascinating cover story in this week’s New York magazine on Bravo reality shows. Turns out they’re reality shows: they’re cast for entertainment value, and the contestants don’t immediately become top-tier designers, chefs and hairdressers. Not even close. Among the saddest revelations: that Andrae “AHN-drae” Gonzalo of Project Runway [...]

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JFC Watch: Avon Calling

HBO photo: John P. Johnson I have no inside intelligence on whether we’ll ever see a second season of John from Cincinnati, but if we don’t, I do hope David Milch casts Ed O’Neill in whatever he does next. However baffling or maddening JFC can be, O’Neill (who starred in Milch’s sadly short-lived Big Apple) [...]