Step behind reality TV's scenes with me, Andy Dehnart, a TV critic, creator of reality blurred, and "the pioneer of reality TV criticism," according to the very discerning YouTuber Barfbag.

I pull back the curtain on reality shows—Survivor, The Traitors, Big Brother, Couples Therapy, 24 in 24, American Ninja Warrior, and so many more—for candid conversations about how people are turned into entertainment, and what it means.

Subscribe now to join me every week for my reporting, recommendations, ridiculousness, Real World references, and alliteration you won't find anywhere else.

Why is Bravo trying to make Big Brother 15’s Aaryn Williams—who's best known for her racist, homophobic, and other vile comments on the CBS show—a star? She's returning to TV on Bravo's Small Town Trouble: Texas.

In this episode of Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV, I ask why Bravo would cast someone with her history, and explore what we should do when networks platform people like her.

Annotating Andy: BB15's Aaryn on Bravo

• Bravo said, ‘Hold my racism!’—and cast BB15’s Aaryn. No, thanks.
• Big Brother - Aaryn's Eviction Interview
• Did Bravo really need to dig up this reality TV corpse? No!

Recommendations

• The Golden Life (E!)
• The Mob (Hulu)
• The Diplomat (Netflix)

Life Advice from Reality TV

• Parker Posey on The Mob

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.

NBC's The Traitors: New Blood has been a baffling mess, and I think there's one thing to blame more than anything else: episodes that are much shorter than the ones on Peacock. Yep, I'm blaming the editing!

Except: The Edit!

• My Traitors: New Blood recaps

Recommendations

• The Real Housewives of New York City, Bravo
• SNL UK: "Great Big Crab Man"
• Ponder Club

Life Advice from Reality TV

• Kristin on Survivor 51 episode 4

Credits

• Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC.
• Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com
• Photo of Alan Cumming by Euan Cherry/NBC
• Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.

This week, into the Great British Baking Show tent we go to discuss its Audience Choice week. How does it fit in to the pattern of reality TV shows—from American Idol to Survivor 50—blaming viewers for what are ultimately producers' decisions?

Analyzing the Analysis

• Survivor 50: What choices were in the Hands of the Fans?
• Bake-Off series 17's Audience Choice Week recap
• Great British Bake Off's time calls are fake

Recommendations:

• Sticky Bun Boys
• Sweet Deceit, Food Network

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.

Bravo's Below Deck Mediterranean season 11 is over, and I break down what made this season great—and horrifying. Nathan vs. Joe, Aesha's growth, and Chef Joy's joy, and how much the production has to do with all of it.

Review Review: Below Deck Med season 11

• Below Deck’s semen-stained sheet is gross. Is it hazardous?
• Nathan convicted of horrific domestic violence, now wanted in Australia and Ireland
• My Below Deck Med season 11 recaps

For help:

• In the U.S.A., call 1-800-799-SAFE or text START to 88788
• In Australia, call 1800 737 732
• For other countries, visit the No More directory of global helplines for domestic and sexual violence

Recommendations:

• The Great British Baking Show, Netflix collection 14
• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4
• "Level-Five Transporter Accident" behind-the-scenes photos

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.

The Amazing Race has an iconic, simple format. But the reality is that, during season one, many of the decisions were made while filming was underway—or after it was over.

Behind the Scenes

• Amazing Race behind the scenes: an oral history of CBS’s first race around the world

Recommendations

• The Amazing Race season 39's premiere, CBS
• The Swan: Behind the Mirror, Hulu

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.

It's a new season of Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV, and today I'm looking at my expectation versus reality of Survivor 51’s premiere, and Wonka's The Golden Ticket.

I Was Wrong: Wonka's The Golden Ticket and Survivor 51

• What in the chocolate river is AI slop doing in Netflix’s Wonka competition?
• My Wonka's The Golden Ticket review
• Survivor 50 finale's preview of season 51
• Survivor 51 premiere recap: old is new again!

Recommendations

• The Floor, Fox (behind the scenes)
• Cocktail Wars, E!
• Drink Masters, 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.
• Survivor photo by Robert Voets/CBS

Life Advice from Reality TV

• Aesha on Below Deck Mediterranean season 11 episode 10

In this quick episode: An update on the premiere of Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV season 6, which is coming the morning after Survivor 51’s premiere.

Also, a recommendation: Nation's Dumbest on Fox