(GUEST BLOG) Dana Burkey

Today, the lovely author, Dana Burkey will be taking over and doing a guest blog post! Enjoy, and remember if you ever want to do a guest blog post Contact Me! 

Best of the Best!

If you read my last guest post on July 3rd then you already know 9 of my top 10 favorite reality TV shows. In case you did not read that post, or don't want to click back to check it out, here is a quick recap to catch you up to speed:

10. Deadliest Catch
9. #Rich Kids of Beverly Hills
8. Botched
7. Amazing Race
6. Ink Masters
5. RuPaul’s Drag Race
4. The Challenge
3. So You Think You Can Dance
2. American Ninja Warrior


Now that you are fully on track, we can get to the good part. My number one spot goes to a show that I love to watch, and dream of joining the cast! It is an American favorite, but exists around the world in over forty countries. Did you figure it out yet? If not, that's okay. It's time for me to come right out and say that my #1 favorite reality TV show is:

BIG BROTHER!

The first time I saw Big Brother was actually when I was in Ireland in 2001. I watched one episode, had no idea what was going on, and then did not watch it again until season 6. That was the summer that brought BB fans Janelle, Kaysar, and Howie. It also began my real love for the show!

Since that first season, I have watched every summer. And doing so is a real commitment. The show is on three nights a week, making 3 full hours of show time for viewers to view in for. The show also goes for 2-3 months, giving viewers a LOT to watch! On top of that, viewers can watch “Big Brother After Dark” or the live feeds to get even more access to the house guests! I only did this one summer before deciding 3 nights a week was enough time to devote to the show!

Over the years I have come to love the games, the contestants, and even the special little thing that make the show great like slop, Zingbot, and of course the show-mances! My favorite players over the years have been Dan G, Jeff and Jordan, Britany, Hayden and Nicole, Frankie, Dereck, and of course Janelle Kaysar and Howie. They worked their way into my heart though their crazy antics, special missions from America, and of course they ability to play an amazing game!

Have I confused you completely yet? If you are not a BB fan, likely all of this was over your head. So, to help you stay on the same page, let's go over some of the basics. Each week, contestants compete to rule the house. Once in charge, they nominate two people to go home. The rest of the house then votes on which of the two chosen people will be send packing. After one person leave on the live eviction night, the whole cycle starts again. Sure, there is a little more to it than that, but hopefully that gives you the basic idea.

With all of that said, my favorite thing about the show is the strategic game play. Big Brother, much like Survivor, is all about alliances, secrets, and deals. The game plays out like a live chess game, captured on the dozens of cameras mounted all around the house. Now, some winners are good physical competitors, but through the years the players with a good social and strategic game make it the farthest. If you had asked me a year ago who the best, most crafty player in BB history was, the answer would be simple: Dan Gheesling of season 10. But, last summer viewers watched Derrick Levasseur, an undercover police officer, control the house while flying under the radar all summer. He led others to vote out whoever he wanted gone, all while making them think it was their idea.

So, for now, I have my favorite players, people, and even competitions seen every season. But, a new summer is already underway and with it is sure to come a lot more twists, turns, and fun! I am already excited to see the return of a few twists, a few special guests, and of course more unique game play brought on by this season super fans! It’s early in the season, but I already really love Jason, Clay, and Vanessa. Oh, and I am really glad to see the Amazing Race team of Jackie and Jeff joining in on the summer fun as well!

I hope all of this was not too confusing and has even inspired some of you to check out BB, or one of my other favorites. Comment below and let me know your thoughts on the shows I chose, or which one you plan to check out now. And, be sure to find me on Goodreads or other social media to learn about my upcoming books including my new novel Locket Full of Secrets, a YA suspense novel that hit the Amazon shelves yesterday!

Thanks for reading. Now, it’s time to grab your TV remote and tune in for some great reality TV shows!

(GUEST BLOG) Dana Burkey

 Today, the lovely author, Dana Burkey will be taking over and doing a guest blog post! Enjoy, and remember if you ever want to do a guest blog post Contact Me!

Reality Favorites!

Summer is here, and with it comes some of my favorite TV shows. Now, before you start guessing what those shows are, I should let you know a hint to narrow down your guess: I LOVE reality TV! In fact, I love reality TV show much I thought it would be fitting to put together a little list for you to see just what my favorite shows are. So, here is a list of my top 10 favorite reality TV shows! Take a look at the list, and let me know what ones I missed, what ones you love/hate, or even what your list looks like! Okay, here we go:

#10: DEADLIEST CATCH!
Intensity and manliest converge in this amazing show that has been on for ages! I started watching in season 2 and have been hooked ever since. I love getting to know the crews, the boats, and seeing the risk they take each season. The current season has been great to watch my favorite boat, The Cornelia Marie, back in the water going for the crab!

#9: #Rich Kids of Beverly Hills:
After seeing a few previews I started to watch this show as research for a new book I'm working on. The only problem was that I got hooked. All the drama and care free money spending is hard to look away form. It still baffles me that there are people that can live like that, while I clip coupons every time I head to the craft store. But, maybe one day the magical money fairy will let me live like them as well!

#8: Botched:
I've been fascinating with plastic surgery for a long time. No, I don't intend on going under the knife myself, but the lengths people go to for "beauty" are astounding. I really like that on Botched we get to see people who had bad plastic surgery get it corrected. It makes for transformations and a cautionary tale all in one. Not great if you get squeamish over blood and broken bodies, but thanks to years of watching Fear Factor, I really love this show!

#7: Amazing Race:
I only started watching this show a year ago, but I am sure hooked! Our theme this year at my work was Amazing Race, so I watched a few season on YouTube this past summer for inspiration. I got really into it, and there is no turning back. I'm sure it helped that I got to cheer on Bethany Hamilton for a whole season! I think it's the second show I would want to be on if I ever went on a reality TV show. Want to know my first choice? Keep reading!

#6: Ink Masters:
I thought about keeping this one off the list, since it is for sure dangerous, but needed to be honest about things, so here it is. The reason it is bad is that when I watch Ink masters, all I want to do is go get a new tattoo! I already have 8, with plans for at least two or three in the next few months. Every new episode gives me a new idea or helps me remember just how much I want certain ones. But, I can't NOT watch, since it is really awesome to see the artists making beautiful pieces each week!

#5: RuPaul's Drag Race:
From a young age I was fascinated with RuPaul and how she transformed with makeup and costume. Drag Race gives me a chance to watch as talented men use theater skilled I myself learned in college to perform as and celebrate women. This show is hilarious and amazing and at times so emotional! Oh, and this season has brought to light my favorite drag queen to date: Katya! Do yourself a favor and look up her "All That Jazz" performance!

#4: The Challenge:
Formerly known as the "Real World, Road Rules Challenge," each season pits former MTV reality starts against one another. Each season has new twists, turns, and drama! One thing that I love most, is that every season brings back competitors who I have been watching for years now! I get to cheer on people I feel like I already know as they deal with crazy drama, intense competition, and also some strategic game play. My two favorite competitors are Sara Rice, who won this last season, and Diem Brown who was a true inspirations to thousands up until she lost her battle with cancer this past fall. This is actually the only show I still watch on MTV, and it is worth it each and every time!

#3: So You Think You Can Dance (dance, dance, dance)
This first time I watched SYTYCD was season 4, and by the end of the first week of auditions I was in love! So many amazing dances, choreographers, and all around talent! I now watch every summer from auditions, to Vegas week, to the live shows and finale. Some of my favorite dancers of all time include Josh, Chelsea, Twitch, Melanie and Marco, Kent, and of course Aaron! And my favorite dance of all time? That's easy: Bleeding Love from Season four! I have already been enjoying this season, and cannot wait to see how the street vs. stage season plays out!

#2: American Ninja Warrior:
Like many, I started watching this show thanks to Mighty Kacy! Her inspirational run in the Dallas city finals last season had me in tears when I saw how amazing a woman could do in a male-dominated obstacle course. From there, I began watching the show over and over, each episode from the season playing dozens of times as motivation as I worked ran on my treadmill to train for my half marathon last fall. If it were not for my severe arthritis and carpel tunnel I would totally start training for my chance to make it to the top of Mt. Midoriyamaa. But, instead, I will stick to watching the show while I work out in my living room, racing vicariously through the amazing athletes on each new season of the show!

And, for my #1 favorite reality TV show....


Well, for that you will just have to tune in to Sundays blog! And, check back tomorrow to learn more about me, and also my new book that hits Amazon in just a few short hours!

(TV) Fawlty Towers (1975-1979)

Summary:
Hotel owner Basil Fawlty's incompetence, short fuse, and arrogance form a combination that ensures accidents and trouble are never far away.

Date Reviewed:
Stars: FIVE
Should You Watch This: YES!
Rating: PG
Review:
This show only had two seasons which is sad but good because both seasons are fabulous! Fawlty Towers is one of the best situation comedies that I have ever watched and that is because 1) it is well written (by John Cleese and wife Connie Booth) 2) the actors (John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Connie Booth, Andrew Sachs) are hilarious. There isn't anything like it on TV now and there probably never will be again simply because the standard for good comedic televison is fairly low (at least in my opinion) which is why I usually just watch old shows on dvd. If you have not watched Fawlty Towers, here is all you need to know: It rarely pauses to let you catch a breath between laughs and when it does it's not for long. My mum and I watched both seasons together and were rolling about like loonies laughing our heads off. Of course, this is British television and I know some Americans think British humour is slightly odd sometimes but trust me, you will laugh and you will like it (possibly love it). I would love to tell you my favourite episode but I can't cos they're all my favourites!