Just an Alabama Creek Rat

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This is Unscripted. Where I round up the biggest reality TV stories we see each week & deliver them straight to your inbox. Some weeks, all the best news seems to center around one person… This was one of those weeks. Writing an entire Headline story about reality TV’s biggest hearthROB? Don’t mind if I do.

-Kaitlyn, Bracketology Co-Founder

TRENDING

• 💘 Nick Viall’s new dating show premieres next week. Age of Attraction hits Netflix on March 12, with the former Bachelor lead hosting yet another attempt to reinvent reality dating TV. Meet the singles looking for love.
• 🌹 One of Lana Del Rey’s ex-fiancés is about to show up on The Bachelorette. Jeremy Dufrene, previously engaged to the pop star, is part of the cast competing for Taylor Frankie Paul on Season 22.
• 🍎 Bravo reshuffled The Real Housewives of New York again. Season 16 keeps Sai De Silva, Erin Lichy, and Jessel Taank while introducing three new Housewives, another cast reset as the reboot searches for a steadier groove.
• 🌍 An Amazing Race couple is suing the show over their edit. Jonathan and Ana (Season 36) filed a lawsuit claiming producers manipulated footage to portray them negatively.
• 🦑 Bachelor Nation is infiltrating Squid Game. Hannah Godwin (The Bachelor Season 23, Bachelor in Paradise Season 6) is joining the cast of Squid Game: The VIP Challenge on Netflix.
• 🔥 Survivor’s Joe Hunter is heading into acting. The Survivor 48 castaway who also returned for Survivor 50 is set to make his scripted debut in Tyler Perry’s new Netflix firefighter drama, Where There’s Smoke.
• 🌴 Another Bachelor in Paradise baby is on the way. Season 7 couple Alana Milne and Chris Conran announced they’re expecting their first child together. The pair famously left the beach early after getting iced out by the cast.
• 🎭 The Masked Singer unmasked Heidi Montag. The Hills alum was revealed as Snow Cone on last week’s episode, extending the franchise’s long tradition of pulling from the reality TV casting pool.
• ❄️ Cameras are back up on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Season 7 resumed filming as the cast navigates fallout from Mary Cosby’s son, Robert Jr.’s, death, which is expected to become part of the season’s storyline.

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HEADLINES

🐍 Rob Rausch’s Post-Traitors Victory Tour Is Off to a Strong Start

Rob Rausch pulled off the win. The victory tour started almost immediately.

Since the Season 4 finale & reunion, Rob has been everywhere. Late-night TV. Magazine profiles. Podcast stops. Brand deals. Shirtless campaigns. Not bad for someone who claims he’s “just an Alabama creek rat.”

If the last couple of weeks have proven anything, it’s that the right person won The Traitors.

Rob even followed through on the most expensive apology in reality TV history. After betraying Maura Higgins at the final fire pit to win The Traitors, Maura told him forgiveness would require a Birkin bag. Rob, to his credit, actually delivered. He was spotted shopping at Hermès in Beverly Hills before presenting the bag to her on Watch What Happens Live. As Maura later put it, Rob won the prize money, but she “won best dressed and a free Birkin… that’s better than winning the show.”

Rob also found time to record audio erotica. He partnered with the platform Quinn to narrate a steamy story called Snake Handler, which he described as being made “for the girls and the gays.”

At several stops on the press tour, he’s been wearing a small ICE Out pin. Asked about it, he kept the message blunt: “I don’t f— with ICE.” He added that while enforcing laws is one thing, “dehumanizing people and splitting up families is something I can’t stand by.”

Rob may not be doing much wrong these days, except for the part where he’s apparently off the market. Reports surfaced that he’s been quietly dating someone from Kansas City after the two met in a bookstore. When asked what she was looking for when they met, Rob’s answer: “a book.”

Rob has said in interviews that he wants to take a break from reality TV for a while. But the speculation is already starting anyway. Dancing with the Stars pro Mark Ballas recently joked that Rob would look good in “sequin overalls” on the ballroom floor. And when Jimmy Fallon asked what would happen if Survivor host Jeff Probst called, Rob’s response was simple: “You know… I do love Survivor.”

Rural Alabama will have to wait.

WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE?

Okay, I know I’ve been sharing a lot of reunion looks lately, but TIS THE SEASON.

Also, the fits just say so much about what has happened since filming. The Love is Blind reunion doesn’t air until March 11th, but you can watch our favorite @storytimewithrikkii roast the outfits now.

If you’re looking for some good vibes heading into the weekend, Love Island USA’s Nic Vans (aka Mr. Olandria) just released his first official DJ track & it’s a bop. Until next week! - Kaitlyn