Dying for Fame: 21 Reality Stars Committed Suicide in a Decade

NYPost.com:

In 2007, Gordon Ramsay ripped apart struggling New Jersey chef Joseph Cerniglia on “Kitchen Nightmares,” screaming: “Your business is about to f - - king swim down the Hudson.”

Three years later, Cerniglia jumped off the George Washington Bridge.

His shocking death was one of at least 21 reality-contestant suicides since 2004 — afflicting lesser-known programs such as “Storage Wars” as well as ratings mammoths like the “Bachelor” franchise, which has lost three former stars to suicide.

Insiders raise questions about the types of people attracted to these shows — and the screening process and support offered.

Dr. Richard Levak, a California-based personality expert who has worked on several reality shows, including “Survivor,” says the spate of suicides among reality-TV stars boils down to a chicken-or-the-egg debate.

“Does [appearing on reality television] attract people with a higher rate of instability?” Levak asks. “Are people who are unstable more interested? Or do the vagaries of reality TV precipitate people killing themselves?”

Two weeks ago, “The Bachelor” Season 14 contestant Alexa “Lex” McAllister, 31, became the latest fatality when she overdosed on prescription pills. Gia Allemand, from the same season, hanged herself in 2013. Three years earlier, 35-year-old Julien Hug, a 2009 “Bachelorette” contestant, shot himself in the head.

RELATED:  The Dark Side of Reality TV: 27 Tragic Deaths

The Duggar's Are Returing To TV...Minus Josh

CinemaBlend.com:

For a long time 19 Kids and Counting was TLC’s biggest hit, bringing families into the lives of the large and intriguing Duggar family. However, after reports leaked that son Josh had molested several girls, including some of his sisters, when he was 14 years old, the network quickly sought to distance itself from the famous clan. That didn’t last long, though, and three specials were soon commissioned--just without Josh. Now, TLC is definitely back in bed with the Duggar clan and recently signed on for brand new series Jill and Jessa: Counting On. 

Counting On will follow Jill and Jessa and their ever expanding families. Jessa and her husband Ben Seewald currently have a very young baby, and TLC is banking on audiences finding the kid adorable. On Jill’s end, she and her husband, Derick Dillard also have a child and they are currently working as missionaries in Central America, which is pretty interesting. Obviously brother Josh seems to be missing from all of the upcoming footage, but his wife Anna will be around, as will a slew of other Duggar siblings, including Jana, Jinger, Joy Anna, John David, Josiah and Joseph Duggar. That's not all of the 19 kids, but it's quite a lot. 
Along with Josh being on the outs with TLC, familiar patriarch Jim Bob and mom Michelle seem to be off the network, as well. When the Josh scandal broke, it seemed as if Jim Bob and Michelle had potentially not helped the situation by getting information covered up and not getting Josh the proper care. When Jim Bob and Michelle found out was Josh was up to, reports indicate they withheld information from the authorities, instead choosing to send Josh to a Christian treatment camp. They later spoke with a police office who simply gave Josh a stern talking to. That officer, Jim Hutchens, is reportedly in jail on child pornography charges. 

RELATED: Josh Duggar Scandals Cause ‘Hate’ As Duggars Film TV Reboot: Duggar Family Minister Slapped With Sex Abuse Claims

Comedian/Actor David Spade: Barack Obama ‘Should Have a Little More Dignity’ Than to Appear on Reality Shows

Mediaite.com:

David Spade has said in the past that President Obama‘s participation on reality shows is not exactly becoming for the leader of the free world. Yesterday, TMZ caught up with the actor, who expressed that Obama should “have a little more dignity” than doing things like going on an episode of Running Wild with Bear Grylls.

“What president is doing reality shows,” Spade asked. “I realize that Woodrow Wilson went on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ once… It just sounds weird to me, you know, it’s just too much.”

Spade also had some commentary about how “thirsty” the First Family is when Michelle Obama has been on with Ellen Degeneres more than he has.

“He’s on GQ, I’m like, leave that to Bradley Cooper,” Spade added. “You don’t need to go — you’re the president, you’re above all of us, you’re above stars, you’re above everything. When he’s trying to get in the mix like I want to present at the MTV Awards – all right guy, you got it, relax.”

Spade better be careful before the wolves come out and call him a 'RACIST!!!' for daring to criticize Barry.

RELATED: President Obama to appear on Seinfeld's "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee"

Cross-Dresser Bruce Jenner's New Show "I Am Cait" Loses Half Its Audience

HollywoodReporter.com:

E! may be playing the waiting game for those precious DVR views, but time-shifting likely can't change the tenor of I Am Cait's second week at bat.

The Caitlyn Jenner reality series lost more than half of its premiere haul on Sunday night, per live-plus-same-day ratings. The episode averaged 1.3 million viewers, down from 2.7 million viewers the week prior.

All told, the first episode of I Am Cait already has reached 7.7 million viewers. But that number is a combination of encores and time-shifting. The original telecast of I Am Cait's premiere fetched a more modest 3.9 million viewers with its first round of DVR views.

Though I Am Cait is bringing young viewers to its Sunday slot, 1.3 million viewers is lower than any episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians ever has pulled among live-plus-same-day showings.

Finally, the general public seems to be waking up to the fact that despite all the makeup, dresses, Vogue covers and a liberal media that celebrates everything his every move, Bruce Jenner is still a sad man/cross-dresser with a severe mental illness.

RELATED: Caitlyn Jenner's Friends In Reality Show Fake? Actresses Paid To Play Reality Star's Clique?

Bruce Jenner’s ‘I Am Cait’ Draws Only 2.7 Million Viewers

AdAge.com:

It seems the buildup over Caitlyn Jenner's transformation dissipated a bit too soon for E! to make a major splash with the debut of the docu-series "I Am Cait."

The show, which chronicles Ms. Jenner's journey as a transgender woman, premiered to 2.73 million total viewers on Sunday night and pulled a 1.2 rating among the all-important 18-to-49 demographic.

That's a meaningful audience for the NBC Universal cable network, and cable TV in recent months has struggled to provide premieres on this level.

It does, however, fall short of some robust expectations. Nearly 17 million people tuned in to ABC's "20/20" in April to watch Bruce Jenner's interview with Diane Swayer, and more than 7 million people watched Ms. Jenner accept the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs earlier in the month, also on ABC.

That's an utter fail by any other name.

RELATED: Caitlyn Jenner's ESPY Courage Award win is SLAMMED by victim in fatal car crash as she claims former Olympian ' still refuses to accept responsibility for taking a life'

Report: Caitlyn Jenner's Camp Pitched ESPY Award in Exchange for PR Plugs

Chron.com:

ESPN's annual ESPY Awards show generally comes and goes with little controversy.

Until this year, that is. 

Caitlyn Jenner, the former Olympic champion decathlete, will be awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at Wednesday night's event which will be televised on ABC. Abby Wambach, a member of the U.S. women's national soccer team that just won the World Cup, will present Jenner with the award.

According to a new report, Jenner's ESPY award originated as a pitch from her representatives to ESPN. Per RadarOnline, Jenner's camp suggested to the network that she receive the award and offered public relations plugs on her upcoming reality show in return.

"They suggested that she receive the Arthur Ashe award,” a source told the website. “It was a brilliant move because the executives at ESPN loved the idea, and immediately began making sure it got done. Caitlyn’s journey to accepting the award will also be featured on her upcoming reality show, 'I am Cait.'”

That's right. Thanks to Barack Obama, white liberals, the Gay Mafia and the rest of the sexually-deviant loving, morally bankrupt souls on the Left, a man who chooses to dress and act like a woman is getting a notable "courage" award, while real courageous athletes of recent past are blithely passed over.

RELATED: iPhone’s Siri Will Correct You if You Call Caitlyn Jenner ‘Bruce’