Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV

By reality blurred's Andy Dehnart

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 b... more

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FAQs about Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV:

How many episodes does Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV have?

The podcast currently has 51 episodes available.

Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV episodes:

April 16, 2025Three recommendations, a two-week break
This week: A super-brief episode with three fast recommendations because I cannot actually talk, so apologies for having to listen to 50 seconds of this. (Congrats to the virus I caught; you win this one!) I'll be back with a new episode in a week or two.
Recommendations
Got to Get Out, Hulu
My review
The podcast The Dream
The Vicks Sinus Inhaler
Credits
Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2025 by Reality Blurred LLC.
Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com
...more
1min
April 09, 2025Why I’ll miss being in a hotel for weeks this summer
In this episode: I talk about the transformative experiences I had at TCA press tours—and what they are, and why one is not happening this summer. Plus: three reality TV recommendations, including two returning shows and one two-season show.
Mentioned
The Television Critics Association
Why the Big Brother twist BB Takeover disappeared
Bachelor producers blindsided by obvious questions
Survivor producer Mark Burnett to me: "You ask such stupid questions"
Tyra Banks allowed me to ask her two whole questions, and I asked the wrong ones
Recommendations
America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston, PBS Passport, Hoopla (season 2), Amazon
My review
America's Test Kitchen: Next Generation, Amazon Prime Video
My review
Love on the Spectrum, Netflix
My interview with its producers/creators
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.
...more
17min
April 02, 2025The history of April Fool’s Day on reality blurred
Why I started publishing satirical stories on April Fool's Day, why I stopped for a few years, and why I continue to miss the early 2000s internet. Plus: two Netflix recommendations and a story about "how to survive anything."
Mentioned
reality blurred April 1, 2001 and 2008
Satire: ABC fires Ty Pennington, producer from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
In Touch corrects the record about reality blurred’s April Fool’s Day Ty Pennington story
My 2025 April Fool's Day stories: Don’t take this personal, but you will never be casted on reality TV and The Survivor 50 cast’s new big twist
The Verge: April Fools’ Day 2025: the best and cringiest pranks
Recommendations
Million Dollar Secret, Netflix (my review)
The Residence, Netflix (based on The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House)
J Wortham’s My 10-Day Crash Course on Surviving the Apocalypse and how to survive anything
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.
...more
22min
March 26, 2025What’s the Deal or No Deal Island with spoilers?
In this episode, Project Runway dumps Tim Gunn, and what I forgot he told me years ago; the never-ending struggle with spoilers and how it relates to NBC repeatedly spoiling Deal or No Deal Island’s finale. Also, recommendations for Below Deck Down Under and actions you might want to take to protect your privacy, and life advice from Tim Gunn.
Mentioned
Project Runway 21 made three great hires, and screwed Tim Gunn again
My interview with Tim Gunn about his solo Bravo show
Deal or No Deal Island 2’s losers pick the winner—we already know they won!
Recommendations
Below Deck Down Under, Bravo
My recaps
Everything you say to your Echo will be sent to Amazon starting on March 28
Attorney General Bonta Urgently Issues Consumer Alert for 23andMe Customers
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.
...more
18min
March 19, 2025Following The Amazing Race 38 in real time
We can track production of The Amazing Race season 38 in real time, which just kicked off filming in the Netherlands, thanks to dedicated fans who work together to scour the internet.
Besides appreciating TAR's incredible logistics, I also talk about two interviews with Survivor winner Parvati Shallow, exploring her now-timeless strategy, before sharing recommendations for a new TV show, a web browser, and a useful website.
Mentioned
The Amazing Race Hub on Discord
My Amazing Race season one oral history
Parvati interviews:
2010: Parvati Shallow: “I can put on this really great, happy-go-lucky, girly facade”
2025: Parvati Shallow on how DONDI compares to Survivor
Recommendations
House of Knives, Food Network
Vivaldi
RSS: the best, easiest way to follow your favorite websites
FreeTaxUSA
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.
...more
16min
March 12, 2025Filthy Temptation interview burnout
In this episode, I dive into the challenges of preventing burnout as a solopreneur, talk about interviews with Temptation Island’s Mark L. Walberg and Filthy Fortunes and Hoarders’ Matt Paxton, and share recommendations for getting your information off the Internet and keeping the sun off your skin.
Mentioned
Below Deck recaps
Secret Lives of Mormon Wives recaps
Why I'm boycotting Target
Matt Paxton interview: On Filthy Fortunes, Matt Paxton is clearing clutter—and helping families cash out
Mark L. Walberg interview: As Temptation Island moves to Netflix, its host reveals what’s changed and what has not
Recommendations
Filthy Fortunes on Discovery Channel
the Big Ass Data Broker Opt-Out List
Badger
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.
...more
25min
March 05, 2025Secrets of Food Network’s Tournament of Champions
Let's go behind the scenes of Food Network's Tournament of Champions, the March Madness-style cooking competition, as I share insight into the how the show's blind judging, the randomizer, and parts of the production work.
I also reflect on the evolution of a nearly 25-year-old reality blurred feature: my premiere calendars. Plus: recommendations for three shows and one newsletter/website.
Mentioned
The Wayback Machine on archive.org
realityblurred.com in fall 2000
Spring 2025 reality TV schedule and guide
Spring 2025 documentary and specials premieres
Tournament of Champions questions, answered
The Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land
the directors' acceptance speeches
Recommendations
Tournament of Champions, Sundays at 8 on Food Network, and Max/Discovery+
The Traitors and The Traitors UK on Peacock
all my Traitors US season three recaps
What The Fuck Just Happened Today?
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.
...more
25min
February 26, 2025How court shows pay, and how I found journalism in high school
In this episode, I discuss how court reality TV show verdicts are not paid by litigants, and then tell the story of my first experience in journalism, which was thanks to two high school teachers. Plus: recommendations for an old Bravo show and some journalism-related resources.
Mentioned:
My interview with Hot Bench judge Rachel Juarez
Recommended:
The Student Press Law Center
The Newseum
Tabloid Wars
my review
bookmark on Amazon Prime Video, in case it returns
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.
...more
17min
February 19, 2025Improv lessons from Snatch Game, and life lessons from improv
Why has RuPaul's Drag Race's Snatch Game been so disappointing in recent seasons? I have a theory, and discuss that, how I got started in improv, and the significance of saying "yes, and" in comedy and life. Plus: recommendations for a podcast and free ebooks, and life advice from TV, starring Quinta Brunson.
Mentioned:
Another stinky Snatch Game proves Drag Race needs a lesson in the art of improv
SAK Comedy Lab classes
Recommended:
Vibe Check
How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones
The Sam Sanders Show from KCRW
100 Days of Creative Resistance
Standard Ebooks
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.
...more
19min
February 12, 2025Why do you want me to delete that?
A request to delete part of a story I'd published; how a major broadcast network show uses consumer-grade tech; and recommendations for Black History Month stories, plus re-dubbed versions of Cinderella, Dance Moms, and Harry Potter.
Mentioned
My interview with Extracted showrunner Rob Buchta
reality blurred’s editorial policies

Recommendations
The Cinderella parody
Other voice-over parodies by JordyBuzz, including Dance Moms and Harry Potter
Everyday Black History
Tools to help you write and create your blog posts or newsletters
Get e-mail updates of new posts in the series

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.
...more
17min

FAQs about Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV:

How many episodes does Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV have?

The podcast currently has 51 episodes available.