Andy Dehnart's Reality Blurred

In this episode of Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV, I dive into the production of Showtime’s Couples Therapy, from the set design to b-roll to editing choices, all of which create an authentic experience, not fake drama. Curtain Pull: How Couples Therapy hides its cameras From Vulture: Couples Therapy Built the World’s Most Convincing Reality-TV Set Inside the Big Brother house Behind the Scenes: How Couples Therapy is produced How Couples Therapy’s directors work to create empathy, not villainy My reviews: season one and season two The Truman Show Recommendations The Chris Gethard Show season 2, episode 9 then read Liz Shannon Miller's behind-the-scenes interview TOC: All-Star Christmas Tickets from On Camera Audiences Life Advice from Reality TV Dr. Orna’s guide to active listening Credits Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

Coach Probst may be tanking Survivor, but in this episode of Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV, I share how my love of Survivor persists, because I am like a fan of a beleaguered sports games team thing. Plus: Survivor costumes! Mentioned Survivor clothing rules: How clothing players can bring is chosen for them Variety's Untold Tales of ‘Survivor’ Jeff Probst's quote Watching Survivor with friends: a reflection on a social game Recommendations Survivor Borneo (Paramount+) Million Dollar Secret (Netflix) Credits Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

On this week's show: America’s Culinary Cup and Padma Lakshmi’s dream of shaking up the cooking competition genre. Did it work? And how did it come together? I have insight from Padma and its showrunner. I also have reality TV recommendations for you, and stick around to the very end for life advice from reality TV, this time from Padma herself. Plus: Why this show has a new name! Mentioned 2026 New Voices AMPLIFY Creators 24 in 24's Ikea set location My America's Culinary Cup review Why Padma Lakshmi didn’t want blind judging on America’s Culinary Cup Iron Chef America is fake, in case you didn't know Recommendations Couples Therapy (Showtime and Paramount+) The Comeback (HBO Max) Extra Hot Great episode 613: Iron Chef S03.E23: Squid Battle (from Dan Cassino) Credits Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

On this week's show: More reality TV shows are showing us their scaffolding, literally and figuratively. Some examples, and a plea for more. Plus: a bunch of recommendations; an update on the next month of this podcast; and life advice from TV, once again from Mister Rogers.   Mentioned Is Flavortown's town square inside Guy's Grocery Games? An investigation RuPaul's Drag Race and Guy's Grocery Games: how their sets were designed Justin Warner's TOC video Eric Adjepong on Wildcard Kitchen, hosting, and how  Recommendations House of Villains season 3 (Peacock) Wildcard Kitchen (Food Network/HBO Max) Another Day Closer Vivaldi FreeTaxUSA Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

On this week's show: Once again, fans and media are piling on a person instead of the corporations and systems. Can we hold Taylor Frankie Paul accountable for her behavior but not lay the blame for the franchise's implosion at her feet? Plus: a non-Bachelorette recommendation, and life advice from reality TV from Iman. Mentioned ABC is trashing The Bachelorette season 22 The Bachelorette’s PR nightmare is exactly what ABC ordered After using racial tension to promote The Bachelorette, ABC cancels Roseanne over a racist tweet What The Bachelor franchise should do to change its own systemic racism Recommendations Dating Around (Netflix) ...and these four dating shows Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

On today's show: Why Survivor 50 is working for me, especially compared to the past nine seasons! Plus: three recommendations for fictional films, and life advice from the Oscar-winning director of a nonfiction film. Mentioned My Survivor 50 recaps Did Boston Rob just out himself as MAGA Rob? What choices were in the hands of the fans? How Survivor became a game of cheerful mercenaries, and why Rob Cesternino is responsible 11 revealing Survivor and Jeff Probst tidbits from his profile David Borenstein's Oscar acceptance speech Recommendations The Oscar-winning movie Sinners (HBO Max) Weapons, starring Oscar winner Amy Madigan (HBO Max) Fight or Flight, not Oscar-winning (Paramount+) Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

On today’s show: The Amazing Race took off 25 years ago this week, and I have some amazing behind-the-scenes stories for you! Also, two recommendations, and reality TV life advice from an icon. Mentioned Amazing Race behind the scenes: an oral history of CBS’s first race around the world 20th Anniversary Retrospective w/ Team Guido - "The Game Show" Recommendations Age of Attraction (Netflix) Rosebush Stories Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

On today's episode: A journey through blind judging. I love blind judging but not Love is Blind, and I'm glad some viewers are no longer blind to unconscious biases on The Traitors and I wish I had a different word here than "blind." Mentioned Why Padma Lakshmi didn’t want blind judging on America’s Culinary Cup Blind judging, Tournament of Champions’ best idea, should become reality TV’s norm Traitors season 4 finale recap: ‘In Rob we trust’ Recommendations Tournament of Champions 7 (Food Network) Vanderpump Rules season 12 (Bravo/Peacock) How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (Netflix) Curb Your Enthusiasm - "Survivor" fight Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

This week, a quick look at this wild week of competition reality TV—and what to watch during it. Mentioned First time watching Survivor? 50th? Some behind-the-scenes things to know! How four Survivor 50 players thought about their games 30 seasons ago Two Survivor experts* pick Survivor 50 fantasy teams How Survivor became a game of cheerful mercenaries, and why Rob Cesternino is responsible Recommendations Survivor 50 (CBS, Wednesdays at 8 ET) The Traitors US season 4 Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

Survivor has survived for 50 seasons in no small part because it's been willing to evolve and change over the years. So what would you change about it now, if you could change just one thing? In this episode of my podcast, I share my answer. Also: recommendations and life advice from Kristen Kish! Mentioned Dear Jeff Probst: Thanks for Survivor. Please change these 3 things RIP Survivor, murdered at 26 by Jeff Probst  Actors' deaths highlight growing risk of colorectal cancer for Americans under 50 Katie Couric Gets A Colonoscopy Recommendations Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (season 6, episode 7 and beyond starts at the Below Deck crossover) Colon cancer screening Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

On this week's show, I read from reality TV-related legal documents—including one NBCUniversal tried to keep secret—in character voices that my husband called "totally fucking bonkers" when he heard it. Plus: recommendations and life advice from TV. Mentioned The Profit’s secret settlement, Marcus Lemonis’ $14 million penalty, and me Is The Profit coming back? Marcus Lemonis’ answer—and The Profit’s contract Jill Zarin fired from 'Real Housewives' revival show after controversial Bad Bunny comments Recommendations Survivor's 10 reruns Bad Bunny's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show Behind the scenes of the halftime show FreeTaxUSA Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

This week: Below Deck Med and Below Deck Down Under, and why producing isn’t scripting. Also: my usual recommendations, plus reality TV stars band together to show us how community and working together is the way through all of this. And stick around to the end for life advice from an iconic reality TV cast member. Mentioned We Stand with Minnesota Owen Knight's Instagram post How Survivor’s Owen Knight united reality TV stars to raise $13K+ to help Minnesota immigrants Below Deck Down Under season 4 episode 1 recap: ‘best of the best’—LOL! Recommendations Extracted season two Extracted’s second extracted family on strategy, casting, prep, and more Olympic Gold Zone We need an Olympic Gold Zone—or NFL RedZone—for reality TV Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

On this week's show: Two Survivor legends, two conversations for you to eavesdrop on. Plus: recommendations for free and entertaining streaming TV! Mentioned Survivor’s Sandra Diaz-Twine on Extracted, her reputation, and waiting to pounce Survivor’s Stephen Fishbach on turning ‘an insane human experience’ into a novel Stephen's book Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire (American Masters) trailer Recommendations Marathon every Survivor season Pluto TV Survivor channel Tubi The Roku Channel Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

On today’s show: Watching, noticing, and turning those things into video instead of writing. Am I helping or hurting—them and me! Also, I have three recommendations for you and self-care advice from the very first episode of Sesame Street.  Mentioned Register for the free Stephen Fishbach Q&A Watch my Michael Rapaport eating video: Instagram, TikTok My short-form videos: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook Recommendations The Boyfriend (Netflix) Beast Games/Survivor crossover (Amazon Prime Video) Sesame Street Classics Behind the Scenes of Sesame Street Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

The Traitors is back—and introduced a new twist that fell flat. In today's episode, I talk about what I think the show needs, and also share recommendations and some hilarious life advice from Rob Cesternino. Mentioned My Traitors season 4 recaps 3 Donna Kelce mysteries from The Traitors Werewolf/mafia optional roles Recommendations Canada's Drag Race (WOW Presents Plus) Best Evidence’s true crime year in review 2025 The best reality TV of 2025 Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2025 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

What makes shows like Survivor and The Traitors better, more artistic shows? I think it's the way they fake some scenes—without affecting the game. Plus, three recommendations, and life advice from world treasure Stephen Fry. Mentioned REALITY CHECK: ‘SURVIVOR’ FAKED SOME SCENES Does Survivor use stunt doubles? No, but it does re-enact scenes I asked The Traitors’ producers about twists, editing, UK vs US, and so much more Recommendations Celebrity Traitors UK (Peacock) Canada's Drag Race and Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale (WOW Presents Plus) The Great Christmas Light Fight (ABC) Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2025 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

This week: Is it amazing to travel around the world by racing on The Amazing Race? Kinda and not really! We’ll dig into what you don’t see. Also, my travels into a new medium, recommendations, and, at the very end, some helpful words from Phil Keoghan. Mentioned My TikTok account My first TikTok video! What do Amazing Race teams do after elimination and at pit stops? Recommendations Watch What Crappens Watch What Crappens’ Ben Mandelker on his blogging to podcasting journey Julie Chen saying "but first" Pet Help Finder Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2025 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

This week: a recap of recaps! What do I recap, why do I recap, and WTF even is a recap today? Plus: life advice from The Real World Hawaii—really! Mentioned My Real World Hawaii recaps My reality blurred recaps Table Talk Television Without Pity Best Evidence RHAP Recommendations Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown (Food Network) What the Fuck Just Happened Today? Mercury Stardust, the Trans Handy Ma'am Safe and Sound: A Renter-Friendly Guide to Home Repair Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2025 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

This week: All food, all the time! I share behind-the-scenes details about The Great British Baking Show, and explore what other reality TV shows can learn from it. Then, recommendations for three shows related to food, and then stick around to the end for life advice from reality TV, this time from former Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi. Mentioned The Great British Baking Show The Great British Bake Off’s time calls are fake Why Prue Leith doesn’t have her own Hollywood Handshake Questions about The Great British Baking Show, answered Recommendations Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas (Food Network) Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi (Hulu) Padma's new cookbook Tongue Thai'd with Pangina Heals (WOW Presents Plus) Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2025 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

How one producer single-handedly revived a reality TV show that was cancelled by Disney-owned NatGeo—and how that has me thinking about connecting to our audiences as creators. Plus a recommendation for the first holiday season reality TV show of the year, and life advice from TV courtesy of the Barefoot Contessa. Mentioned Port Protection Alaska lives on thanks to one producer’s brilliant idea and work Alaska-Vibes on YouTube Dan Blank's Clarity Cards and newsletter Recommendations Finding Mr. Christmas (Hallmark) Kyshawn Lane @weeklyhomecheck Weekly Home Check newsletter Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2025 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

In this week's episode, I share what show I'd bring back for just one season. What would you choose? Also: dishwashers, country music, and Trading Spaces. Mentioned Reddit: If you could bring back a TV show for JUST ONE season... My The Mole season 1 recaps The Mole behind the scenes: an oral history of its early seasons Anderson Cooper on The Mole and its future Trading Spaces behind the scenes Recommendations The Road (CBS) Renae (RenDuH) on TikTok How to CORRECTLY Use a Dishwasher Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2025 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

This week's episode: How I think about criticism of my own work, as it relates to a recent episode of Survivor. Plus, recommendations for two very different food competitions, and life advice from Mister Rogers. Mentioned: My Survivor 49 episode 3 recap comments on my recap Recommendations Knife Edge (Apple TV) Culinary Class Wars (Netflix) Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2025 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

On today’s show: the happy accident I made when I started writing about reality TV on the internet, and how that connects to why I think Substack is full of shit and not the best place for your writing. Plus, recommendations and life advice from TV!  Mentioned: My Start Your Blog series Why Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg went to war over WordPress Substack is full of shit Substack’s extremist ecosystem is flourishing My newsletter tool: Buttondown My website host: Deep Roots Hosting Recommendations Amazing Race 38's and its train travel Famous Last Words: Dr. Jane Goodall (Netflix) Credits Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2025 by Reality Blurred LLC. Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.