Andy Dehnart's Reality Blurred

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.

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.

On today’s show: It’s time for a new season of Survivor—the 49th, holy shit! And in honor of that, a behind-the-scenes look at what Survivor players wear. Plus: recommendations  for two new competition reality TV shows, and life advice from reality TV, this time from a chef at the Culinary Institute of America. Mentioned: Happier with Gretchen Rubin Why is Survivor 41 such a fiasco? Here are 5 reasons Survivor 41 finale: a streak is broken, and so was Survivor Survivor 49 E1: What a refreshing spit in the face from these wacky players! Project Runway has entered its villain era Why are Project Runway’s judges being such assholes? Recommendations Crime Scene Zero (Netflix) Marshal Knight’s Dancing with the Stars recaps Short Trip Reading Rainbow Remixed | In Your Imagination (PBS Digital Studios) 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: It’s time for a new season of Survivor—the 49th, holy shit! And in honor of that, a behind-the-scenes look at what Survivor players wear. Plus: recommendations  for two new competition reality TV shows, and life advice from reality TV, this time from a chef at the Culinary Institute of America. Mentioned: Survivor rule book Why you should never judge a Survivor for their clothes Recommendations Next Gen Chef, Netflix 99 to Beat, Fox 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: What the hell happened to Below Deck?! Breaking down the problems with season 12, and maybe the entire franchise. Also: recommendations for an episode, a clip, and a show, and stick around to the end for life advice from TV, this time from an Emmy winner Mentioned: Why Below Deck was such a wreck How much Below Deck: Mediterranean passengers will pay, and what they get Recommendations Bobby’s Triple Threat: Voltaggio edition Bobby's Triple Threat review Jeff Probst on the Emmys Jeopardy! on Hulu and Peacock Discover your next independent outlet! 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: Independent media! Advertising! How all of this works and what’s depressing and what’s exciting. Plus, a recommendation for a three-season, Emmy-winning show, and life advice from Bake-Off host Alison Hammond. Mentioned: The Back Indie Media Drive Support reality blurred Traffic Apocalypse, Columbia Journalism Review Washington Post staffers outraged at Jeff Bezos’ stunning plan for opinion pages that prompted top editor to quit After Getting The Ruling It Wanted, New York Times Publishes 6 Anti-Trans Articles Recommendations Australian: Australia Survivor v The World and its finale 100 Foot Wave, HBO and HBO Max Watch HBO Max with a free trial The Back Indie Media Drive 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: Creating and writing as an individual versus on a team, and what that means for breaks and burnout. Plus, recommendations, including a show that’s on Netflix for just a few more days, and stick around for life advice from Couples Therapy’s therapist. Mentioned: Project C's Top 50 Creator-Model Journalists What Went Wrong Podcast Recommendations Holey Moley, on Netflix until Aug. 1 Couples Therapy Intense Conflicts 🫷 The Amazing Race 37's Brett & Mark on TikTok 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: Love Island USA, Big Brother, and losing momentum—with TV shows, and in our writing. Plus, recommendations for two cooking shows, and life advice from TV, once again from our friend Mister Rogers. Mentioned: Survivor used Love Island’s villa, and 5 more Love Island USA revelations Braden evicted after tie despite producers’ pathetic sanitizing of his bigotry Hamsterwatch What's next for PBS and NPR after Republicans strip funding? May 1, 1969: Fred Rogers testifies before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications Recommendations Family Recipe Showdown, Food Network The Big Family Cooking Showdown, 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: Making mistakes in public as a blogger and journalist, feedback, and the scourge of reality TV network notes. Plus, recommendations from the Emmy nominations, and life advice from a writer. Mentioned How reality shows are ruined, explained by popular movies Jon Collins' blog, Jeez Jon Matt Kiser's What the Fuck Just Happened Today? SRCCON All the 2025 reality TV Emmy nominees Love on the Spectrum producers on casting, filming, and season 3’s ‘spectacular crescendo’ 12 truths I learned from life and writing by Anne Lamott Shitty first drafts: my favorite writing advice Recommendations Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Hulu Life Below Zero, NatGeo/Disney+ Love on the Spectrum, Netflix 100 Foot Wave, HBO Pee-Wee As Himself, HBO 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.