Captain Kerry Titheradge may be manning the helm on Below Deck now, but his predecessor of ten seasons is far from gone from the public eye. Captain Lee Rosbach had to leave the demanding job due to health concerns.
The Bravolebrity now hosts a podcast and has a new show on Oxygen called Deadly Waters With Captain Lee. With all these projects on hand, fans were curious about his health status post-surgery on his leg.
“I’m doing great,” Lee exclusively told E! News. “I’ve been going to the gym every day. I still have a slight limp, but other than that I don’t have to use a cane or any crutches or anything like that, which I’m grateful. I’m happy to be healthy again.”
All his commitments mean Captain Lee hasn’t had time to keep up with Below Deck, but he’s “read a lot about” Season 11 and Kerry’s management style.
“It seems that Kerry’s got his hands full. I think they fired four people this year. That’s a lot. I thought I was good at firing people,” Lee said.
Meanwhile, his new show focuses on examining true crimes committed at sea.
“I’ve been doing a lot of work with this new show and that’s occupied a lot of my time and thought process,” Lee explained, “because it’s so totally different from Below Deck. We have people that get killed. Even though on Below Deck I may have felt like I wanted to kill somebody at one time or another, it didn’t actually ever happen. Here we’re in a little bit more of a serious nature and it affects people’s lives and people do lose their lives.”
Lee shared his thoughts on how much of a role “the ocean plays in catching these perpetrators.”
“When I watched the first episode, I thought, ‘What are they thinking?!'” he added.
Catch Below Deck Mondays at 9/8c on Bravo.
Deadly Water With Captain Lee premieres Saturday, June 1, at 9/8c on Oxygen.
TELL US – WERE YOU CURIOUS ABOUT CAPTAIN LEE’S RECOVERY? ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HIS NEW SHOW? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF BELOW DECK WITHOUT CAPTAIN LEE?
Reality competition shows have taken over in the 21st century. The genre has transformed from “guilty pleasure TV” to a media juggernaut. There are podcasts, college courses, and books dedicated to understanding and analyzing reality competition shows. After all, who doesn’t like a little competition?
In honor of the genre’s success, let’s take a look at some of the greatest reality competition shows of all time:
The Netflix show The Circle premiered in 2020 and quickly developed a cult-like following. The reality show utilizes social media by instructing the players to create profiles that can either be authentic or a “cat fish.” From there, the players use their social prowess to gain power in the game and avoid falling at the bottom of the rankings. The series is a fascinating social experiment with a modern twist.
Survivor may be the most iconic reality television show. The CBS show has been on air for over two decades. It just wrapped its 46th season in May 2024. The competition tests a player’s survival skills, ability to socialize, and athleticism. In February 2024, host Jeff Probst spoke to the Paramount Newsroom about the success of the show.
“One of the things about Survivor that has remained consistent is little kids watch it and grandparents in their eighties watch it,” he told the publication. “That’s because this idea of Survivor is universal. There’s something inside me that asks “could I do this?”
Big Brother (2000 – present)
After the success of Survivor, CBS launched another competition-based show-Big Brother. The American series, which is based on a Dutch reality show of the same name, got off to a rough start. The first season was a confusing mesh of different ideas that just didn’t work. The series found its footing in Season 2.
Big Brother is similar to The Circle and Survivor in that it is a game about social strategy and outlasting your opponents but it has one unique difference. The houseguests’ every move is broadcast on the 24/hour live feeds. You can watch them eat, sleep, scheme, and much more. The live feeds aspect adds an interesting level of transparency that viewers love.
RuPaul’s Drag Race (2009 – present)
RuPaul’s Drag Race originally premiered on the Logo TV network in 2009. The show has since become a cultural phenomenon. The series has won 29 Emmys and has spawned countless iconic internet memes. The show casts some of the most talented Queens from across the country who are eager to compete for the crown.
The Amazing Race premiered in 2001 and is still going strong. The series follows teams of two as they compete against each other in a race around the world. The show provides a deeper look at different cultures, whether it be through food, nature, tradition, or thrill.
Dancing with the Stars (2005 – present)
Dancing with the Stars has been entertaining viewers since 2005. The show tests celebrities talent and tenacity as they compete week after week in a rigorous dance competition. It is endlessly enjoyable watching stars battle it out in hopes of winning the iconic Mirrorball trophy. The dancing is incredible and the personal stories of the stars always touches my heart.
The Voice (2011 – present)
The Voice revived a dying genre of talent competition shows. Series like American Idol and America’s Got Talent once loomed large but by the 2010s, the genre was fading into the background. The Voice provided a unique spin on a classic idea. The blind auditions added an exciting element and viewers tuned in to see if talent was really blind. Between the celebrity judges and the jaw dropping performances, The Voice has solidified its place as one of the greatest reality competition shows.
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay has appeared in a number of successful shows throughout his career but his series Beat Bobby Flay may be his best. The show features a variety of successful chefs who are all there for one reason-to beat Bobby. The competition is a fun, fast-paced race against the clock that is a joy to watch.
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE WITH OUR LIST? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE REALITY COMPETITION SHOW?
In case you missed it, Teresa re-followed Kim on Instagram last year. A few months later, they went out to lunch and shared pictures of their hangout. Hell didn’t freeze over, and pigs didn’t fly. It turned out that the two just decided to move past their decade-long feud. Meanwhile, Dolores didn’t even know it was happening until “right before” the two met up.
Dolores spoke to Us Weekly about her bestie’s surprising reconnection with Kim D. Since she’s “playing Switzerland” in Season 14, it shouldn’t be too surprising that she was in full support of Teresa making amends with some of her former RHONJ foes.
“That’s a relationship that needed to be rekindled,” Dolores said.
“Life’s short,” she explained. “They had a really close friendship. Now they can talk, now that things are calm and they’re not mad at each other anymore. It only takes, in Jersey, eight years to get over a tiff.”
With that timeline in mind, does that mean we’ll hear about Teresa sitting down with Melissa Gorga and Margaret Josephs in 2032? Probably not. However, Dolores said she was also glad to see Teresa reconcile with Jaqueline Laurita last year. For her, it’s all about salvaging genuine friendships, even if it takes years to make it happen.
“I advocate [for] anybody who had a history, who were really friends making up,” Dolores explained. “Those are real friendships.”
The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 14 airs on Bravo, Sunday nights at 8/7c.
TELL US – WERE YOU SURPRISED THAT KIM D AND TERESA RECONCILED? SHOULD IT HAVE HAPPENED SOONER?
The first season of Vanderpump Villa is over. Lisa Vanderpump planned perfectly curated, luxurious experiences for her guests at Chateau Rosabelle. The estate, located in the French countryside, seems removed from the modern world. It screams extravagance. And shows Lisa’s obsession with floral arrangements.
Lisa hand-picked her staff to both live and work at the chateau. And that factor amped up the drama among the cast. They also competed to show Lisa that they deserved a spot working for her.
Meanwhile, they were also hooking up, arguing, drinking, and bonding. This group was giving Vanderpump Rules vibes with their messy behavior. Let’s take a look back at the Vanderpump Villa winners and losers.
Lisa told Life & Style, “We wanted to make an immersive experience full of characters that would bring the life and soul to the party. It’s deliciously naughty, but also has a feel-good factor we all need right now.” Amen!
Lisa created magnificent experiences for her guests, all while mentoring some staff members and disciplining others. She had her hands full, but this series was fun and refreshing.
Winner: Stephen Alsvig
Photo Credit: Gilles Mingasson/ Disney
Stephen Alsvig interviewed for the chateau manager role, which ultimately went to Eric Funderwhite. Stephen was annoyed by Eric’s drinking with the guests and not reprimanding the staff for doing the same.
Finally, after Eric went too far, Lisa allowed Stephen to step into Eric’s role. While he did a great job, he also second-guessed himself. In the end, Lisa put Eric back in the chateau manager position. But with positive remarks on his comment card, Stephen proved his worth to Lisa.
At first, Eric seemed like an eccentric wildcard. He did a striptease for a guest and spanked her with his belt. He poured alcohol from bottles down his throat and communed with the sheep and donkeys. He also romanced three co-stars: Emily Kovacs, Caroline Byl, and Nikki Millman.
But all of that was a lot less cute when Eric’s past came to light. According to The U.S. Sun, “Eric was disinvited from the Vanderpump Villa reunion taping because of his TRO (temporary restraining order).”
In November 2020, Eric’s ex-wife filed for a temporary restraining order. The order was dismissed in December 2020. Eric’s ex alleged that he “physically assaulted” her. I think we have seen the last of Eric, and I’m fine with that.
Loser: Telly Hall
Photo Credit: Gilles Mingasson /Hulu
Telly Hall was a mixologist with a temper. She argued with Marciano Brunette and shoved him. That was not cool, Telly. Then she became besties with Hannah Fouch, and the duo insulted Gabriella Sanon’s appearance. Body shaming is also never okay.
Telly often questioned whether she wanted to be at the chateau, but with Lisa’s support, decided to bet on herself. She brought the fun factor for the guests, but her comments about Gabriella were just not acceptable.
Gabriella was one of the event coordinators at the chateau. She immediately was attracted to mixologist Andre Mitchell, but she backed off because housekeeper Grace Cottrell also had a crush. Grace confessed her feelings, and Andre told her he didn’t feel the same.
So, Andre and Gabriella started hooking up. Hannah and Telly were furious and called Gabriella’s actions into question because of Grace. The duo made insulting comments about Gabriella’s appearance. All in all, Gabriella didn’t let her co-workers’ comments affect her and kept her head held high.
Winner: Andre Mitchell
Photo Credit: Gilles Mingasson /Hulu
Andre was the most eligible bachelor in the chateau, and he loved every moment of it. Not only was he nice, but he made sure that the guests had a good time. We had high hopes for his relationship with Gabriella, but their romance fizzled out once they left the chateau.
Hannah and her ex-boyfriend, Marciano, were not dating when they arrived at Chateau Rosebelle. But they started hooking up again. Of course, Marciano was unfaithful in the past. So, no one should have been surprised when he kissed a guest. But Hannah was blindsided.
Besides feuding with Marciano, Hannah had a penchant for screaming at her co-stars in the middle of the night. What a charming trait! She insulted Gabriella’s looks and fought with Grace and Emily. Hannah was involved in all the drama. It was a lot.
Winner: Priscila Ferrari
Photo Credit: Gilles Mingasson /Hulu
Server Priscila Ferrari also argued with Hannah about the way she was sitting near Marciano. Lordy! Poor Priscila was homesick, and with Lisa’s support, decided to prioritize her mental health and leave the chateau.
Sous chef Caroline was a hard worker. After a while, she bonded with Eric because they were both divorced. But when Eric started to pay attention to Nikki, she called out Nikki for being unprofessional and kissing a guest. Still, Caroline remained classy and didn’t dive into all the drama.
Emily managed to slip out of her housekeeping duties and fill in as both a bartender and a server. She hoped to move up to bartending permanently at the chateau.
She earned major points for telling Gabriella about Telly and Hannah’s rude comments, and made a toast for the ages, calling out the duo. Cheers!
Loser: Marciano Brunette
After Marciano kissed a guest, Lisa was furious. The resulting screaming match with Hannah disturbed the clients. So, Lisa put Marciano in the kitchen to wash dishes. Welcome to the dish pit, Marciano! Hannah loved his fall from grace. And she wasn’t alone.
At the reunion, Lisa pointed out that he was disrespectful to women. Marciano proved her point by saying that he “allowed” Hannah to do certain things. Seriously, Marciano? He certainly doesn’t merit a spot on the Vanderpump Villas winner’s list.
Grace wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. The housekeeper confronted Marciano when he dissed Chef Anthony Bar. Grace received positive comments from the guests, and formed a close bond with Emily.
Chef Anthony’s edible creations wowed all the guests. He didn’t take kindly to Eric overstepping his bounds and turning a refined dinner into a club atmosphere. His fellow staff members spoke so highly of Anthony that he received an additional bonus from Lisa.
Draw: Nikki Millman
Photo Credit: Gilles Mingasson /Hulu
Viewers didn’t have much of a chance to get to know the newbie. She arrived after Priscila departed, and raised eyebrows by snuggling with Eric. She cried during her first night at the chateau after Hannah slammed her. Still, we didn’t see enough to form a solid opinion.
TELL US – WHO WERE THE VANDERPUMP VILLA WINNERS AND LOSERS?
