Will competitive reality TV go back to what it used to be? 

This week, Aaron, Joey, and Jess talk about pandemic "normalcy," earnestness, parasocial relationships, referees, social media, and taxons. They don’t talk about Ernest Borgnine or his amazing eyebrows. 

references 

• Been around the world and we've been player-hated. 
• Parasocial Relationships: The Nature of Celebrity Fascinations 
• Richard Hatch (Survivor contestant) 
• Forged in Fire 
• The New York Times: The Fall of ‘Terrace House’ 
• The Mole: then and now 
• Philodendron 
• The Importance of Being Earnest