American Idol 20 – reality blurred

Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Ryan Seacrest celebrate American Idol's 20th season in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 5, 2021

Why are there 16 missing American Idol seasons?

2021 was such a long year that there were apparently 16 seasons of American Idol, 15 of which I missed. But really what’s happening is more annoying season numbering.

about reality blurred

Welcome! I’m Andy Dehnart, a writer who obsessively and critically covers reality TV, focusing on how it’s made and what it means.

I created reality blurred 22 years ago as a place to collect interesting links I found. Today, I review and recommend reality shows, documentaries, and nonfiction entertainment; analyze news and report from behind the scenes; and interview people who create and star in reality TV shows. You'll also find other people's insightful takes on reality TV in these pages, too.

I believe pop culture can both entertain and affect us, and so reality blurred's goal is to amplify the best and hold the worst accountable. In other words, I’m here to call it out when it sucks and celebrate it when it’s amazing. Let’s talk about it together!