Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV

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/].

More looks behind the reality TV curtain, please!

On this week's show: More reality TV shows are showing us their scaffolding, literally and figuratively. Some examples, and a plea for more. Plus: a bunch of recommendations; an update on the next month of this podcast; and life advice from TV, once again from Mister Rogers.   Mentioned * Is Flavortown's town square inside Guy's Grocery Games? An investigation [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/03/guy-fieri-ggg-flavortown-market-flavortown-food-fight-toc-studio/] * RuPaul's Drag Race and Guy's Grocery Games: how their sets were designed [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2019/05/rupauls-drag-race-guys-grocery-games-set-design-scott-storey/] * Justin Warner's TOC video [https://www.instagram.com/foodnetwork/reel/DWbkPVfFKpE/] * Eric Adjepong on Wildcard Kitchen, hosting, and how  [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2024/03/eric-adjepong-wildcard-kitchen-interview/] Recommendations * House of Villains season 3 [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/03/house-of-villains-season-3-review/] (Peacock) * Wildcard Kitchen [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2024/04/wildcard-kitchen-food-network-review/] (Food Network/HBO Max) * Another Day Closer [https://profmusgrave.github.io/anotherday/] * Vivaldi [https://vivaldi.com] * FreeTaxUSA [https://www.freetaxusa.com] Credits * Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. * Find me at realityblurred.com [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/] or andydehnart.com [https://www.andydehnart.com/] * 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/].

Blame Taylor, but not for The Bachelorette

On this week's show: Once again, fans and media are piling on a person instead of the corporations and systems. Can we hold Taylor Frankie Paul accountable for her behavior but not lay the blame for the franchise's implosion at her feet? Plus: a non-Bachelorette recommendation, and life advice from reality TV from Iman. Mentioned * ABC is trashing The Bachelorette season 22 [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/03/bachelorette-22-cancelled/] * The Bachelorette’s PR nightmare is exactly what ABC ordered [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/03/bachelorette-22-drama-spoilers-taylor-frankie-paul/] * After using racial tension to promote The Bachelorette, ABC cancels Roseanne over a racist tweet [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2018/05/abc-cancels-roseanne-bachelorette-racial-tension/] * What The Bachelor franchise should do to change its own systemic racism [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2020/06/bachelor-franchise-racism-rachel-lindsay-diversity-campaign/] Recommendations * Dating Around [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2019/02/dating-around-review-netflix/] (Netflix) * ...and these four dating shows [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/03/dating-show-recommendations/] Credits * Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. * Find me at realityblurred.com [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/] or andydehnart.com [https://www.andydehnart.com/] * 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/].

Why Survivor 50 is so great (so far!)

On today's show: Why Survivor 50 is working for me, especially compared to the past nine seasons! Plus: three recommendations for fictional films, and life advice from the Oscar-winning director of a nonfiction film. Mentioned * My Survivor 50 recaps [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/collection/survivor-50-recaps/] * Did Boston Rob just out himself as MAGA Rob? [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/03/boston-rob-mariano-maga-rob-photos/] * What choices were in the hands of the fans? [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2025/05/survivor-50-hands-of-the-fans-voting-options/] * How Survivor became a game of cheerful mercenaries, and why Rob Cesternino is responsible [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/02/how-rob-cesternino-changed-survivor-forever/] * 11 revealing Survivor and Jeff Probst tidbits from his profile [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2026/02/survivor-50-jeff-probst-vanity-fair-profile-tidbits/] * David Borenstein's Oscar acceptance speech [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd2NuCDqlRI] Recommendations * The Oscar-winning movie Sinners (HBO Max) * Weapons, starring Oscar winner Amy Madigan (HBO Max) * Fight or Flight, not Oscar-winning (Paramount+) Credits * Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC. * Find me at realityblurred.com [https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/] or andydehnart.com [https://www.andydehnart.com/] * 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/].