More looks behind the reality TV curtain, please!

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/].

How a reality TV show keeps the reality TV show hidden from its cast

In this episode of Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV, I dive into the production of Showtime’s Couples Therapy, from the set design to b-roll to editing choices, all of which create an authentic experience, not fake drama. Curtain Pull: How Couples Therapy hides its cameras * From Vulture: Couples Therapy Built the World’s Most Convincing Reality-TV Set [https://www.vulture.com/2024/05/couples-therapy-showtime-set-design.html] * Inside the Big Brother house [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2010/08/big-brother-house-behind-scenes-inside/] Behind the Scenes: How Couples Therapy is produced * How Couples Therapy’s directors work to create empathy, not villainy [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/05/couples-therapy-season-5-directors-interview/] * My reviews: season one [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2019/09/showtime-couples-therapy-review/] and season two [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2021/04/couples-therapy-showtime-season-2-review/] * The Truman Show [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2013/06/truman-show-reality-tv/] Recommendations * The Chris Gethard Show season 2, episode 9 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwi_kE0gy94] * then read Liz Shannon Miller's behind-the-scenes interview [https://consequence.net/2026/05/chris-gethard-show-dumpster-episode/3/] * TOC: All-Star Christmas [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/05/toc-all-star-christmas-season-2-filming-tickets/] * Tickets from On Camera Audiences [https://on-camera-audiences.com/] Life Advice from Reality TV * Dr. Orna’s guide to active listening [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/j5Gk-mW5L38] 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/].

Survivor is my sports team

Coach Probst may be tanking Survivor, but in this episode of Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV, I share how my love of Survivor persists, because I am like a fan of a beleaguered sports games team thing. Plus: Survivor costumes! Mentioned * Survivor clothing rules: How clothing players can bring is chosen for them [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2017/10/survivor-clothes-rules/] * Variety's Untold Tales of ‘Survivor’ [https://variety.com/2026/tv/features/survivor-50-editing-backlash-mike-white-lion-1236745458/] * Jeff Probst's quote [https://www.facebook.com/realityblurred/posts/pfbid0J3FLNzenUinzzrRoH3kczH25yZgVnXmy9xowUncS99XsFqEAQ3cdVG2ACr5A64oul?__tn__=%2CO*F] * Watching Survivor with friends: a reflection on a social game [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2016/05/survivor-friendships/] Recommendations * Survivor Borneo [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2021/05/survivor-borneo-season-one-recaps-reviews-episode-analysis/] (Paramount+) * Million Dollar Secret [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2025/03/million-dollar-secret-netflix-review/] (Netflix) 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/].

Creating a cooking competition from scratch

On this week's show: America’s Culinary Cup and Padma Lakshmi’s dream of shaking up the cooking competition genre. Did it work? And how did it come together? I have insight from Padma and its showrunner. I also have reality TV recommendations for you, and stick around to the very end for life advice from reality TV, this time from Padma herself. Plus: Why this show has a new name! Mentioned * 2026 New Voices AMPLIFY Creators [https://airmedia.org/2026-new-voices-amplify-creators] * 24 in 24's Ikea set location [https://maps.app.goo.gl/rrF7AFjw4Rk8rTxH9] * My America's Culinary Cup review [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/03/americas-culinary-cup-cbs-review/?utm_source=made-from-humans&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-501] * Why Padma Lakshmi didn’t want blind judging on America’s Culinary Cup [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/03/americas-culinary-cup-judges-scoring-blind-judging/?utm_source=made-from-humans&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-501] * Iron Chef America is fake, in case you didn't know [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2011/12/next-iron-chef-behind-scenes-iron-chef/?utm_source=made-from-humans&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=episode-501] Recommendations * Couples Therapy (Showtime and Paramount+) * The Comeback (HBO Max) * Extra Hot Great episode 613 [https://extrahotgreat.com/ehg-613/]: Iron Chef S03.E23: Squid Battle (from Dan Cassino) 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/].