Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV

How Love Island and Big Brother find their casts

Love Island and Big Brother have a history of casting hot dummies who sometimes turn out to be people who behave badly and maybe shouldn’t be on TV. How do they find them? How does casting work? We'll dive into two parts of the process.  Also: recommendations, including for some podcasts, and stick around to the end for life advice from reality TV, this time from The Real Housewives of Rhode Island. Unscripted Updates * In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood [https://bookshop.org/a/120/9781538784723] by Collin Gosselin * Kate Gosselin speaks out on estranged son Collin after scathing post [https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2026/06/30/kate-gosselin-son-collin-gosselin-memoir/90750007007/] * Another Love Islander disappears for using racial slurs [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/06/love-island-usa-8-alannah-removed/] * Alannah's bad apology [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyezep8dz4o] * Comcast spinning off NBCUniversal and Comcast * Versant cable networks [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versant#Current] Behind the Scenes * Love Island USA application [https://loveislandusa.castingcrane.com] * Big Brother finals casting process: how it works, rules finalists must follow [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2011/07/big-brother-finals-casting/] * Ian and Dan discuss Sucks, Jokers strategy, how Big Brother finals casting hasn’t changed in years [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2012/09/big-brother-14-ian-dan-blog-discussion/] * Big Brother contract: the legal agreement houseguests sign [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2011/07/big-brother-cast-contract/] Recommendations * Nick and I [https://emilypost.substack.com/p/epws-episode-3-andy-and-nick?utm_source=realityblurred.com]on Emily Post Wedding Stories with Lizzie Post. Listen here! [https://emilypost.substack.com/p/epws-episode-3-andy-and-nick?utm_source=realityblurred.com] * 15 great podcasts from the other AIR New Voices AMPLIFY podcasters and creators [https://airmedia.org/2026-new-voices-amplify-creators] * The Real Housewives of Rhode Island (Peacock) Credits * Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. * Find me at realityblurred.com [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/?utm_source=made-from-humans&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-501] or andydehnart.com [https://www.andydehnart.com/?utm_source=made-from-humans&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-501] * Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod [http://incompetech.com/?utm_source=reality-blurred-podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-308], licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/].

Queering Love Island USA—or queerbaiting?

On this week’s episode: Before Casa Amor, Love Island USA’s hottest couple were two guys! Is this finally queering up a hetero show, or just queerbaiting? And how can we tell? Plus: reality TV news you have missed and recommendations for some great social media videos you shouldn't. And stick around to the end for life advice from reality TV, this time from drag queen Delta Work. Unscripted updates * Top Chef 24 is delayed; 3 Top Chef Carolinas scheduling mysteries, solved [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/06/top-chef-24-delayed-carolinas-scheduling/] * Project Runway’s new judge: Tyra Banks 💀 [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/06/project-runway-22-new-judge-tyra-banks/] * The Traitors fired Fergus [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/06/traitors-us-fired-fergus/] * James Wallington on The Floor's finale [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZi2SAEPf6-/] * Get my newsletter! [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/newsletter/] Analyzing the analysis * Why Bryce and Zach, and their girth check, are giving Love Island USA fans a semi [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/06/love-island-usa-8-zach-bryce/] * Peacock's "The bromance is real" [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ez-C9r-u0zA] * Gerald's comments [https://www.facebook.com/realityblurred/posts/pfbid02GRg4jNebjLS8NKuHRgtu2VkC8zJ57HNyrec1DRkZT5aTY9LyrohYSxJx712qGfqYl?comment_id=1705106234041258&__cft__[0]=AZb-8WfaC_cnw4CwVeua2O97mJB5ZRp2hOj1HgSYtDCOCaLjlW8-_7d4IIvo3tu1z1zWslKuMYkk001tAPb5IEExMvmflgw9t05cUaNlFnY29sEbsDQhlK9j5gFd2NGC4iG4nTifE_5IIz-xMvh0X50CHtf_nYSTsU0SGqGcsk--kQ&__tn__=R]-R] Recommendations * Boman Martinez-Reid [https://www.instagram.com/bomanizer?igsh=ZDkxcTF3MDRpdmQy]’s Love Island parodies: one [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZnbL2isQdq/?igsh=OXp6M2h0dmlvbjFp], two [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZvPUyqsfR0/?igsh=MW5mbnF1OXo1eTQ0eg==], three [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZdeJKESbQE/?igsh=MWl6MDFjMDJoNTBtaw==] * The hidden mics of The Price Is Right [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSF-6F4QvTw] * Widow's Bay (Parks & Recreation Opening Titles) [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ3ytJDsvZ0/?igsh=MWs1YWlkeTA3bGNnZg==] Credits * Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. * Find me at realityblurred.com [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/?utm_source=made-from-humans&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-501] or andydehnart.com [https://www.andydehnart.com/?utm_source=made-from-humans&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-501] * Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod [http://incompetech.com/?utm_source=reality-blurred-podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-308], licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/]. Life advice from reality TV * $150 to appear on Network Television?! | GO OFF DELTA! #193 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDQOtueDfxw] * "Very Delta" Episode #193 (w/ Charles Galin King) [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/very-delta-episode-193-w-charles-galin-king/id1530637261?i=1000772581604]

Below Deck Med’s male-centered mayhem

On this week's show: We’ve rolled into a new season of Below Deck Med, one I was dreading, but it’s actually refreshing—for the franchise and reality TV. Plus: What Love Island USA and Survivor have in common, recommendations, and life advice from reality TV, this time from Captain Sandy. I Was Wrong: Below Deck Med season 11 edition * Guess what's back after Below Deck Down Under? [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/05/below-deck-med-season-11-coming-next/] * Below Deck Med season 10 ended with a threat [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/01/below-deck-med-season-10-finale-recap-review/] * Below Deck Med recap: Joe and Kizzi’s cruelty, Nathan’s diatribe [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2025/12/below-deck-med-s10-e12-forbidden-kiss-recap/] Curtain Pull * Love Island USA’s kissing is even sloppier and slurpier than usual. Yuck! [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/06/love-island-usa-kissing-sounds-yucky/] * Survivor used Love Island’s villa [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2025/07/love-island-usa-villa-survivor-ponderosa/] Recommendations * Outlast (Netflix) * Why Netflix’s Outlast ends with a race, and other questions, answered [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2024/09/outlast-netflix-season-2-interview/] * Stephen Fishbach's book [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/01/stephen-fishbach-survivor-escape-book-interview/]: Escape! [https://bookshop.org/a/120/9798217048151] * My interview with Stephen [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/01/stephen-fishbach-survivor-escape-book-interview/] * The 10 reality shows nominated for 2026 TCA Awards [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/06/2026-tca-awards-nominations-reality-unscripted/] Credits * Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. * Find me at realityblurred.com [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/?utm_source=made-from-humans&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-501] or andydehnart.com [https://www.andydehnart.com/?utm_source=made-from-humans&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-501] * Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod [http://incompetech.com/?utm_source=reality-blurred-podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-308], licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/].

Is Top Chef still top after Top Chef Carolinas?

On this week’s episode: Top Chef Carolinas is over, and no spoilers here as I look at the season and the franchise to ask: is Top Chef deserving of the title of top culinary reality show? Plus: two Kristen Kish related recommendations, and stick around to the end for life advice from reality TV, also from Top Chef host Kristen Kish!  Curtain Pull * Top Chef doesn't want you to see this 'sensitive information' [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2024/06/top-chef-wisconsin-brand-integration-agreement/] * Charlotte paid $1.2 million for Top Chef. Did they get their money's worth? [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/05/top-chef-carolinas-charlotte-partnership-cost/] Review Review * Top Chef Carolinas finale recap: toast the winner [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/06/top-chef-carolinas-winner-episode-14-final-toast-recap/] * Dear Top Chef: an open letter to a show adrift [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2025/06/dear-top-chef-an-open-letter/] * Top Chef spoiled/solved the Restaurant Wars/Last Chance Kitchen mystery [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/04/top-chef-carolinas-restaurant-wars-last-chance-kitchen-sieger/] * Kristen Kish is the best part of Top Chef Wisconsin [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2024/06/kristen-kish-best-top-chef-wisconsin/] * How America's Culinary Cup was cooked to be paired with Survivor [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/05/americas-culinary-cup-season-1-showrunner-josh-silberman-interview/] Recommendations * The Dish with Kish [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2025/05/dish-with-kish-review/] * Fast Foodies (stream free on truTV [https://www.trutv.com/shows/fast-foodies/season-1/episode-1/joel-mchale]) * Memoir and other true queer stories for Pride Month [https://bookshop.org/lists/pride-2026-books-true-queer-stories] * Accidentally on Purpose by Kristen Kish [https://bookshop.org/a/120/9780316580915] Credits * Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. * Find me at realityblurred.com [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/?utm_source=made-from-humans&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-501] or andydehnart.com [https://www.andydehnart.com/?utm_source=made-from-humans&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-501] * Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod [http://incompetech.com/?utm_source=reality-blurred-podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-308], licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/].

When I was voted out—on live TV

26 years ago, just one week after Survivor premiered, I was live on TV, competing for an audience’s vote, and it was broadcast thanks to C-SPAN. Here’s the story—and video! Plus: hilarious recommendations and stick around to the end for life advice from Tiffany Pollard. Curtain Pull * Reality TV contracts [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2022/07/reality-tv-contracts/] Story Time: * Great American Think-Off [https://kulcher.org/think-off/] * C-SPAN [https://www.c-span.org] * C-SPAN broadcast: "Is Democracy Fair?" [https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/is-democracy-fair/172376] (watch below) * Andy Dehnart on C-SPAN [https://www.c-span.org/person/andy-dehnart/84476/] * recent Think-Off debates on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@RegCulturalCtr] Recommendations * Bad Lip Reading - The House of Representatives [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBA7MA3qBM4] * Nancy Pelosi and George Santos [https://youtu.be/HBA7MA3qBM4?si=Qdg96Lt9LFC78qPp&t=627] * House of Villains [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/updates/house-of-villains-season-3-cast/] (Peacock) Credits * Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. * Find me at realityblurred.com [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/?utm_source=made-from-humans&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-501] or andydehnart.com [https://www.andydehnart.com/?utm_source=made-from-humans&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-501] * Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod [http://incompetech.com/?utm_source=reality-blurred-podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-308], licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/].