Andy Dehnart

Andy Dehnart is the creator of reality blurred and a writer and teacher who obsessively and critically covers reality TV and unscripted entertainment, focusing on how it’s made and what it means.

Hotel Inspector Alex Polizzi revisits Brecon Castle and finds a detached toilet seat and the same pubic hair

Hotel Inspector: a charming British B&B makeover show, now streaming free

The Hotel Inspector, a long-running British reality TV show starring Ruth Watson and Alex Polizzi, is now streaming free in the United States. Highly recommended!

The House of Juicy Couture performing during Legendary's anime-themed episode, season 3 episode 5

Legendary has grown into reality TV’s best dance competition

I’ve always been a fan of Legendary’s artistry, but the show, especially in season one, was a wreck. Now, in its third season, it’s really focused on what matters most: its houses, their performers, and their performances.

A woman covers her ears, perhaps from all that loud music on reality TV shows

Why is Life Below Zero’s music so loud? Why can’t I hear dialogue on reality TV?

Life Below Zero’s executive producer knows that his show suffers from the same thing as many reality TV shows: the music drowns out the dialogue. So what causes that? He has a theory.

Cooking stations on The Great American Recipe, PBS's new cooking competition

Great American Recipe is PBS’s disappointingly bland cooking competition

PBS’s first cooking show could have been its signature reality competition. Alas, it’s bland, lacking acid and heat—and has no real identity.

Amazing Race 34 and Survivor 43 will premiere on the same night this fall, bumping Big Brother's finale to a different night

Survivor’s premiere and Big Brother’s finale break up

CBS announced its fall schedule today, and that includes news about when we’ll see Survivor 43, Amazing Race 34, and The Real Love Boat—and when Big Brother 24 concludes.

Life Below Zero: First Alaskans cast member Steven

Why Life Below Zero: First Alaskans’ representation ‘wasn’t just lip service’

An indigenous person hired to work on Life Below Zero: First Alaskans as a story producer talked to me about the show’s diversity and inclusion efforts, as did the show’s showrunner. LBZ:FA is currently filming season two.

Cal Plohoros, 16, on the new Carnival obstacle during American Ninja Warrior season 14's qualifier round

How is American Ninja Warrior edited? Why are obstacles fancier in season 14? And more behind-the-scenes details

American Ninja Warrior season 14 showrunner Anthony Storm answers my questions about how editors decide who to focus on, the success/fail rate for obstacles, and much more. He also teases a first-time “end result” this season.