Screen Rant

Lee Whitten-

Lee Whitten

July, 2021
  • 217
    articles

Author Details

Lee Whitten is a freelance reality TV writer for Screen Rant. Originally from Mississippi, Lee received a bachelor's degree in screen studies from Oklahoma State University and also holds a master's degree in literature. He writes screenplays and reviews movies on Letterboxd when he's not too busy rewatching old seasons of reality competition shows.

Industry Focus

Lee is a pop culture fiend and considers himself an expert on all things Survivor, Big Brother, and The Amazing Race. He writes about these shows for Screen Rant, and he also covers other reality competition properties like The Traitors and The Challenge: USA, in addition to international franchises like Big Brother Canada and Australian Survivor.

Favorite Media

Lee's favorite reality competition series is Survivor. He has seen all 40+ seasons multiple times, and he can name all 662 contestants from memory. He has complicated feelings as to what that implies about his priorities in life, but even when he's critical of the show, he still thinks Survivor is the greatest game ever created.

Latest

Phil Keoghan host of The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race Season 35: Release Date, Cast, Trailer, & Everything We Know

The Amazing Race season 35 premiered this fall, and there are some major changes in store for the installment of the show.

Image of Survivor promo with jeff probst
Why Survivor Will Never Return To The Original 39-Day Format

Survivor's new era introduced a major change by shortening the game. Here's why the show will probably never return to its original 39-day format.

Julie Chen Moonves Big Brother
Big Brother Season 25: Release Date, Cast, Latest News & Everything We Know

Big Brother 25 premieres in August. The 16 new houseguests have been announced. In addition, hints about a shocking twist have been revealed.

Jeff Probst Survivor montage jeff in pale blue and bright blue shirts smiling in both shots
Why Survivor Probably Won’t Have All-Stars Until Season 50

Survivor hasn't had an all-star season since 2020's Winner at War, and it seems that the show won't have returnees until the landmark season 50.

Jeff Probst Survivor
Why Survivor Should Bring Back Season Themes

Survivor's current era no longer features season themes. There are several reasons why the show should bring themes back for future installments.

big brother canada dane rupert and ty mcdonald
10 Big Brother Canada Winners Ranked From Worst To Best

Big Brother Canada has crowned 10 winners after 11 seasons. Some victories may have been flukes, but others were the result of brilliant gameplay.

jeff probst survivor montage with two cast  stylized effect
7 Reasons Why Survivor 44 Was Better Than Season 43

Survivor 43 wasn't the show's most beloved installment ever, but season 44 was a big step in the right direction, for so many good reasons.

Jeff Probst from Survivor
How 90-Minute Episodes Will Improve Survivor (& Make It Worse)

Survivor season 45 is switching to 90-minute episodes instead of 60 minutes, and the change could have some major ramifications, for better or worse.

King George Mladenov australian survivor montage with brown and outdoor backgrounds
What “King” George Mladenov Has Been Up To Since Australian Survivor

"King" George Mladenov is an iconic Australian Survivor competitor, and the strategic mastermind is branching out to other shows and opportunities.

carolyn yam yam survivor montage dramatic expressions
Survivor 44’s Yam Yam & Carolyn Deserve Their Own Reality Show

Survivor 44's duo of Yam Yam Arocho and Carolyn Wiger were incredibly fun to watch, and they should have a future together in reality television.

jeff probst survivor montage with island background different expressions
8 Biggest Takeaways From Jeff Probst’s Survivor Podcast

The first installment of the On Fire with Jeff Probst podcast has ended, and the official Survivor podcast was informative and frustrating.

Julie Chen Big Brother
How The WGA Writers Strike Might Impact Big Brother

The Writers Guild of America recently began their first official strike since 2007, and the labor dispute could have a major effect on Big Brother.

survivor three castmates smiling
16 Survivor Contestants Who Have Received The “Sia Award”

Pop icon Sia is a massive Survivor fan, and she gives cash prizes to her favorite players. So far, 16 Survivor castaways have won the "Sia Award."

Carolyn Survivor 44 looking excited while playing game near ocean
Survivor 44 Contestants Who Should Play Again

Survivor 44 recently concluded, and the season introduced a number of strong castaways who could make waves on a Second Chance or All-Star season.

johnny fairplay jerri manthey survivor montage
10 Of Survivor’s Greatest “Fallen Angels” Ranked

Over the years, many great Survivor players have come close to winning the million-dollar prize. These are the ten best "fallen angels."

Survivor's Yam Yam with an island-type background
Where Yam Yam Arocho Ranks Among Survivor Winners

Survivor 44 ended with San Juan, Puerto Rico's Yam Yam Arocho pulling out the win. Here's how Yam Yam's game compares to his fellow Survivor champs.

Maryanne winning survivor 42
Why Survivor’s After-Shows Are Cruel To The Contestants

Survivor has replaced live reunions with after-shows filmed immediately after the Final Tribal Council, and the new format is cruel and unnecessary.

Jeff Probst Survivor 44 smiling outside in survivor hat
Survivor 44: How Many Episodes Are Left & When The Finale Airs

The Survivor season 44 finale was thrilling, and the aftershow also featured some truly memorable moments. This season has been so exciting.

American Idol Iam Tongi Winner smiling with guitar
Why Iam Tongi Is One Of American Idol’s Greatest Winners

Iam Tongi was crowned American Idol's newest winner in the exciting season 21 finale, and he's one of the most talented champions in Idol history.

Carson Garrett on Survivor 44 smiling in red top
Why Survivor 44 Could Have The Greatest Finale Of All Time

Only one episode remains of Survivor 44, and the finale could shape up to be the most thrilling and competitive battle in the show's history.