interviews & press

Thanks in part to our society’s never-ending interest in reality television, my work is frequently cited in the media, and I’m often interviewed to provide details, perspective, and/or analysis.

Below are highlights of my media appearances. If you’d like to book or interview me, send an e-mail message!

• recognition
• podcast interviews & appearances
• television appearances
• interviews
• radio appearances
• profiles
• work cited in the media
• books that cite my work

recognition

• Third place, 2023 National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards, L.A Press Club, Entertainment Blog by an Individual, for “The Mole behind the scenes: an oral history of its early seasons.”
• Excellence in Journalism award, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, 2023, for “Drag Race’s talent has never been better. The producing has never been worse.“
• Winner, 2021 National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards, L.A. Press Club, Entertainment Blog by an Individual Not Tied to an Organization, for “Shark Week and Sharkfest’s experts are mostly white men. Why? And does it matter?“
• #93 of 2001’s “top 100 personalities” in popular culture, USA TODAY’s Pop Candy’s People of the Year 2001

podcast interviews & appearances

• Eurowhat, Episode 190: Starter Pack, 4.11.23
• Eurowhat, Episode 160: Just ASCing Questions, 5.31.22
• Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera, episode 7, 12.27.21
• Side Hustle School, episode 1809, 12.14.21
• KFI with Marc Summers, John & Ken Show, Dec. 28, hour 2
• Reality Steve, Podcast #257 – Interview with Reality Blurred’s Andy Dehnart, 10.21.21
• Media Path, Reality TV Blogging & Promoting Inclusivity featuring Andy Dehnart and Cameshia Reviews, 9.23.21
• Extra Hot Great, Episode 348: Did Pooch Perfect Made Us Want To Flea?, 3.31.21
• Extra Hot Great, Episode 320: Zooming In On Home-Shot Reality TV, 9.16.20
• #AmWriting, Episode 224: From Mr. Rogers to #RealityTVJournalism, 7.14.20
• Daily DVR, Andy Dehnart of Reality Blurred, 7.14.20
• Reality of Reality, Andy Dehnart – 20 Years Of Reality Blurred, 7.2.20
• Reality Steve, Podcast #189 – Interview with Reality Blurred’s Andy Dehnart, 7.2.20
• Reality Steve, Episode 147: Interview with Reality Blurred’s Andy Dehnart, 9.12.19
• Eurowhat, Episode 28: The Aftermarket, 10.24.18
• On The Island, The State of Survivor with Andy Dehnart, 9.25.18
• Reality Steve, Episode 78: Interview with Reality Blurred’s Andy Dehnart, 5.17.18
• 15 Minutes of Blame, Episode 67: Andy Dehnart, Reality Blurred Creator, 4.30.18
• Reality of Reality, Andy Dehnart, 2.7.17
• The Jay and Tony Show Show, Episode #48 – When critics attack. What happens when producers and journalists get real, 8.13.15
• Faroe Islands podcast, Reality (TV) comes to the Faroe Islands and Viking Shores, Revisited, 4.12 and 6.12
• Rob Cesternino’s Rob Has a Podcast, Andy Dehnart from Reality Blurred on Colton’s Impact and The State of Reality TV, 3.9.12
• Matt Paxton’s 5 Decisions Away podcast, Keeping it Real, 11.10.11
• This Week in Reality TV, This Week in American Idol, 1.18.11

television appearances

• NBC LX News, Are [dating] shows impacting the way we view relationships IRL?, 7.28.23
• Newsy, Do Reality Shows Affect How Viewers See Real-Life Relationships?, 10.6.22
• Cheddar Live, Can Food Network Survive in the Netflix Era?, 8.8.18
• Katie Couric Show, Rural Reality Showdown, 5.16.13
• HLN, Jane Velez-Mitchell, 12.12.12
• TV Guide Network, Reality Chat, 7.11.08
• VH1, 40 Greatest Reality TV Moments 2, 2007
• MSNBC, MSNBC Live [video], 1.18.07, 3:40 p.m. ET
• MTV Canada, MTV Live, 12.19.06, 7:10 p.m. ET
• MSNBC, The Most with Alison Stewart [video], 9.1.06, 3:10 p.m. ET
• CNN, Showbiz Tonight, 8.25.06, 11 p.m. ET
• MSNBC, The Most with Alison Stewart [video], 8.25.06, 3:20 p.m. ET
• MSNBC, Tucker Carlson [video], 8.25.06, 4:30 p.m. ET
• FOX News, Fox & Friends, 1.30.06, 6:50 a.m.
• Canal+ España, Estás nominado: Cuando la realidad supera a la ficción, 5.18.05
• MSNBC, Connected: Coast to Coast, 5.4.05, 12:45 p.m. ET
• MSNBC, Lester Holt Live [video in sidebar], 12.15.04, 4:50 p.m. ET
• CSPAN, Great American Think-Off, 6.10.00

interviews

• Stylecaster, Why Does Reality TV Keep Shoving Marriage Down Our Throats?, 11.15.23
• USA Today, The complicated contract reality TV forges between stars and viewers, 11.3.23
• NBCU Academy, How to Be a Successful Freelance Journalist, 10.1.23
• The Chicago Tribune, Column: Most reality TV cast and crew aren’t unionized. Will that change?, 9.14.23
• Vice, How Reality TV Got Meta, 12.16.22
• Best Evidence Best of 2022: Favorite true-crime podcasts, true-crime docuseries, true-crime longreads, true crime hopes and dreams, 12.22
• Toronto Star, Why do Canadians excel on American reality TV shows? Could be our brains, our backgrounds or our niceness, 8.1.22
• Los Angeles Times, Black players changed ‘Big Brother’ forever. Fans say the show can’t ‘tiptoe’ around it, 9.16.21
• Los Angeles Times, A ‘Big Brother’ alliance could make history. Not everyone is thrilled, 8.19.21
• TV Insider, How Will Colton Underwood’s Revelation Impact ‘The Bachelor’ Going Forward?, 4.14.21
• Monsters & Critics, Exclusive Interview: Reality TV journalist Andy Dehnart gets real on what’s real, 1.10.21
• Tylt, Reality TV is failing Black people, 7.8.20
• Portland Press Herald, Popularity of Maine reality shows proves it’s the way TV should be, 6.15.20
• New York Times, ‘Survivor’ Limps to a Finale After a Difficult Season, 12.18.19
• Vanity Fair, How Reality TV Gate-Crashed the Emmys, 8.20.19
• NPR, A Kinder, Gentler Wave Of Reality TV Tries A Little Tenderness, For A Change, 7.26.19
• USA TODAY, ‘Mythbusters Jr.’ is just the latest kid-friendly reality spinoff: What’s behind the trend?, 12.28.18
• Stetson magazine, Passion Pursuit, fall 2018
• Los Angeles Times, Julie Chen and other spouses caught up in the #MeToo era face a difficult decision, 10.4.18
• The Orlando Sentinel, Fox News Network and Roger Ailes’ widow battle lawsuit in Orlando court, 2.20.18
• Variety, Emmys: RuPaul and Tim Gunn Share Hosting Tips for Reality Shows, 6.19.17
• NPR’s All Things Considered, Bachelor In Paradise’ Suspends Filming After Sexual Assault Allegations, 6.15.17
• Los Angeles Times, Does too much violence spoil the fairy tale? A look at Season 12 of ‘The Bachelorette’, 6.20.16
• USA TODAY, ‘Cake Boss’ Valastro helps failing bakeries rise, 12.1.13
• The New York Times, Reality Show Contestants Pay a Real-World Price, 7.9.13
• NPR, ‘Big Brother’ Isn’t Just A Terrible Show, It’s A Wasted Opportunity, 7.2.13
• Variety, Bruckheimer Brings Big Pic Vision to Small Screen, 6.24.13
• USA TODAY, Storage Wars star says A&E series is faked, 12.11.12
• Los Angeles Times, Ryan Lochte, Olympians test the reality TV waters, 8.22.12
• Reuters, ‘X Factor’ may be singing “Oops!…” over Britney, 5.16.12
• CNN, Where’s the originality in reality TV?, 3.15.12
• Reuters, Bruised ‘X Factor’ limps toward finals, 12.16.11
• CNN, Lifetime gets real, 9.28.11
• Philadelphia Daily News, Ryan Dunn: Why so many cared about a ‘Jackass’, 6.21.11
• The Los Angeles Times, Making a case for truTV, 5.29.11
• USA TODAY, ‘The Voice’ coaches have their reasons, 4.25.11
• Minneapolis Star-Tribune, More reality TV shows are featuring players with physical disabilities, 4.18.11
• Reuters, At 25, MTV’s ‘Real World’ challenged to stay fresh, 3.9.11
• After Elton, What Does Reality TV Say About Gay Men?, 9.27.10
• Dallas Morning News, Reality TV expert: Jimmy Johnson’s wealth not insurmountable to win “Survivor: Nicaragua”, 8.21.10
• Variety, Can reality fix mix?, 8.3.10
• CNN, What makes a two-hour show work? Process of elimination, 7.29.10
• CNN, In defense of reality TV, 7.29.10
• Multichannel News, Take This Job and … Air It, 7.19.10
• New York Times, Farewell to ‘The Hills,’ With a Wink and a Nod, 6.14.10
• Associated Press, ‘The Hills’ fans lament end of MTV reality series, 7.14.10
• Chicago Sun-Times, ‘Bachelor’ land turns ugly, 6.22.10
• Variety, Food, wedding among reality hot topics, 6.7.10
• Philadelphia Inquirer, They’re baaack: Has-beens find new life in reality, 5.16.10
• Associated Press, Fans delighted by DeGeneres’ ‘Idol’ debut, 2.10.10
• St. Petersburg Times, ‘American Idol’ faces crucial season; which winter shows should you be watching?, 1.10.10
• Kansas City Star, An expert speculates on the new seasons of ‘Idol,’ ‘Survivor,’ ‘Runway’ and more, 1.6.10
• Chicago Sun-Times, A fighter, not a lover, 10.7.09
• Daytona Beach News Journal, Journalism still interests students despite industry downturn, 10.3.09
• Metro, Pressing charges ‘with the Stars’, 9.28.09
• New York Times, Killing Raises New Reality TV Concerns, 8.21.09
• Variety, Mark Burnett raises reality TV genre, 7.7.09
• St. Petersburg Times, Brooke Hogan and Jon & Kate: Will summer TV be filled with disintegrating families?, 5.31.09
• Esquire, Why Does David Caruso Continue to Get Work as an Actor?, 3.19.09
• St. Petersburg Times, The messy ending made ABC’s The Bachelor even more real for fans, 3.5.09
• Associated Press, For some, ‘American Idol’ a second chance at fame, 2.5.08
• Time, A Brief History Of Reality TV, 9.19.08
• The National, Reality bites traditional TV staples, 9.15.08
• Orlando Weekly, The Incredible Shrinking Newspaper, 8.7.08
• msnbc.com, Scoop: Natasha Bedingfield, plugs can’t be unwritten, 7.9.08
• The Chicago Tribune, It’s reigning men: The reality kingpin behind ‘Deadliest Catch,’ ‘Ice Road Truckers’ and other he-man hits, 6.18.08
• msnbc.com, Scoop: ‘The Mole’: Burning questions answered, 6.8.08
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Hearing voices: More and more television shows use narration to advance story, 11.18.07
• St. Petersburg Times, Reality clouds Bollea’s career, 11.11.07
• Associated Press, Controversial remarks and a physical altercation fuel ‘Big Brother 8’, 8.29.07
• St. Petersburg Times, Is ‘Idol’ losing its worshipers?, 5.22.07
• The Chicago Tribune, ‘American Idol’: Are there cracks in the facade of the Death Star?, 5.22.07
• The Baltimore Sun, Being No. 4 still can be fantastic on ‘American Idol’, 5.9.07
• Boston Herald, Is ‘American Idol’ cruising on its last vocal chords?, 4.6.07
• St. Petersburg Times, Stepping up to celebrity status, 2.17.07
• St. Petersburg Times, Want celebrities to be perfect? Lots of people prefer they aren’t, 2.10.07
• Green Bay Press Gazette, After 5 seasons, there’s still only 1 ‘Idol’ 1.14.07
• AP, “Survivor’s” latest tribal twist: racial segregation, 8.24.06
• The Chicago Tribune, ‘Survivor’ move to divide teams by race raises eyebrows, 8.24.06
• New York Post Page Six, Reality Racism, 8.22.06
• Reuters, 15 minutes of fame shrinking in reality TV era, 8.10.06
• Baltimore Sun, Realistic material and sheer talent keep ‘Project Runway’ in, not out, 7.12.06
• Scripps Howard, Spelling bee not just for nerds anymore, 5.30.06
• The Baltimore Sun, Battle of the TV titans, 5.25.06
• Los Angeles Business Journal, Hollywood execs do much better behind cameras, 5.22.06
• CanWest News Service, ‘Carpet grazing’ catching on in Canada, 3.29.06
• The Altlanta Journal-Constitution, Olympic dream runs into reality (shows), 2.26.06
• The Chicago Tribune, Why do we still watch ‘Survivor’?, 2.1.06
• The New York Post, P is for Pitiful, 1.27.06
• St. Petersburg Times, Turns out the show is really the ‘Idol’, 1.15.06
• The Ottawa Citizen, TV networks flog their blogs, 10.1.05
• The Sacramento Bee, Parting shots, 9.27.05
• The Boston Herald, Even in Katrina’s wake, the show must go on, 9.18.05
• The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Martha, Martha, Martha, 9.10.05
• The Chicago Tribune, When rock rolls on TV…, 8.14.05
• Sacramento Bee, Come again? Reality shows replacing reruns as summer TV fare, 8.8.05
• The Chicago Tribune, ABC’s ‘Dancing’ steps lively, 6.20.05
• Daily Herald, Riding the reality wave, 5.19.05
• The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Web site puts campus crowd face to face, 5.17.05
• The New York Times, On TV, Reality Loves a Villain, 4.26.05
• Chicago Tribune, Error has voting system under fire, 3.24.05
• TV Guide, “The Real World, Celebrity Style”, 2.6.05
• TV Guide, “You’re Not My Mom: Mate-swap shows really hit home”, 12.19.04
• The New York Times, An Audience Finally Catches Up to ‘The Amazing Race’, 11.16.2004
• The Chicago Tribune, With help from fans, hit CBS show rolls on, 11.16.2004
• UPI, The Web: Grassroots action thrives online, 8.18.2004
• Psychology Today, Seeing by Starlight, 7.15.2004
• The Philadelphia Inquirer, ‘Assistant’ spoofs best — or worst? — of reality TV, 7.10.2004
• MTV.com, Surviving Reality Television, 5.26.2004
• St. Petersburg Times, ‘Idol’ is TV, not reality, 5.25.2004
• The Washington Post, The Evil Sista Of Reality Television, 2.24.2004
• Psychology Today, The Money Shot, 1.9.2004
• The New York Times Upfront, So, this is reality?, 2.7.2003
• Creative Loafing, Reality check, 11.27.2002
• LA Daily News, CSUN extension to explore TV phenom, 10.8.2001
• The New York Times, Stalking New Hot Trends Along the Lycos Trail, 2.5.2001

radio appearances

• Connecticut Public Radio, The Golden Bachelor and reality TV’s real-life draw, 11.10.23
• KFI with guest host Marc Summers, 12.28.21
• KDKA Radio Pittsburgh, Lynne Hayes-Freeland & Robert Mangino midday show, 6.12.20
• WDBR, 103.7 FM: Dave and Dina, “Reality Check”, weekly, Fridays at 8:20 a.m. CT, 2004 to 2010
• Minnesota Public Radio, Reality still hot as fall TV seasons premiere [listen], 9.22.10
• Marketplace, VH1 rethinks reality TV after incident, 8.28.09
• KFWB News 980, Los Angeles, weekly reports, summer 2009
• CBS News, BlogBuzz: RealityBlurred [MP3], 3.29.07
• Rock 102, Bax & O’Brien, 2.13.07, 8:45 a.m. ET
• CJOB Canada, Richard Cloutier Reports, 1.18.07, 11:40 a.m. ET
• CBS News, BlogBuzz: RealityBlurred MP3, 12.28.07
• Wisconsin Public Radio, Joy Cardin show, 11.3.06, 7 a.m. ET
• Northeast Public Radio, The Weekly Rundown, 8.4.06
• WHYY, Philadelphia NPR: Radio Times, reality television, 3.3.05
• WSAR, 1480 AM: Information Highway with Paul Giammarco, weekly from 2.04 to 6.05
• Charles Adler, 10.28.05, 7.19.05, 5.16.05, 5.23.05
• syndicated: Lifetime Radio, occasional appearances
• WTBU, 89.3 FM: Beyond The Headlines, reality television, 11.10.04
• KTBZ, 94.5 The Buzz: The Rod Ryan Show, 9.29.2004
• XM Satellite Radio: Channel Surfing, trends in TV, 4.22.2002
• CKNW, AM980: Doc Harris Show, reality television, 11.24.2001
• CKNW, AM980: Shiral Show, media coverage of Sept. 11, 9.20.2001
• CFPL, AM980: Homestretch with Brent Bissell, 2.7.2001

profiles

• Buttondown, Andy Dehnart uses Buttondown to share his television reviews and analysis, 11.13.23
• After Elton, Andy Dehnart … is Snackable!, 8.20.10
• The Morning Call, Reality Blurred: A shrewd and skeptical look at reality TV, 10.28.05
• Associated Press, The last six blogs you should be reading, 9.23.05
• Daytona Beach News-Journal, Stetson instructor talks TV, 12.16.04
• The Toronto Sun, Webmaster of the Reality TV Domain, 1.28.2001

work cited in the media

• Washington Post, ‘Shark Week’ lacks diversity, overrepresents men named Mike, scientists say, 12.5.22
• Sunday Long Read, Issue #361 edited by Phil Rosenthal, 10.16.22
• Best Evidence, Gacy · Dahmer · The Other Jim Jones. Plus Johnny Bananas and stupid headline tricks, 9.19.22
• Hollywood Reporter, Emmys: Jimmy Kimmel Lying Onstage During Quinta Brunson’s Speech Spurs Backlash, 9.12.22
• The Guardian, The 74th Emmy awards ceremony wraps up – as it happened, 9.12.22
• The Daily Mail, Jennifer Coolidge DANCES as the Emmys try to play her off stage after she wins her first award for The White Lotus, 9.12.22
• Adweek, Alex Wagner Set to Host Netflix’s Reboot of The Mole, 9.8.22
• Current, With ‘Great American Recipe,’ PBS showcases culinary traditions that bring people together, 8.4.22
• We Grow Media, Marketing is about connection, 10.15.21
• NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, What’s Making Us Happy: A Guide For Your Weekend Watching, Listening And Reading, 9.10.21
• Extra Hot Great, Episode 371: Testifying About Impeachment: American Crime Story, 9.8.21
• The Nation, Who Is That? The surreal pleasures of The Masked Singer., 6.14.21 issue
• Best Evidence, DOJ vs. Louisville PD · Dan Abrams · Best American Crime Writing 2002, 4.28.21
• Gizmodo, Mike Rowe’s New Discovery+ Show Is Big Oil-Funded Propaganda, 4.2.21
• Rob Has a Podcast, “Tough as Nails Season 1, Episode 8 Recap” (starts at 12:00), 8.20.20
• Washington Post, ‘Live PD’ started during a national uprising over police brutality. Less than four years later, it’s ending the same way, 6.12.20
• Variety, A&E Canceling ‘Live PD’ Following Ongoing Protests Against Police Brutality, 6.11.20
• Daily Mail, ‘Cops’ defunded: Police reality show is CANCELLED after 33 seasons…, 6.10.20
• The Washington Post, Shut down all police movies and TV shows. Now., 6.4.20
• Salon, From “Survivor” to D.C., women are showing up strong on TV, but does patriarchal America care?, 11.23.19
• The Washington Post, What gets edited out of ‘Big Brother’? How sharp-eyed online viewers are leading a backlash., 8.15.19
• The New Yorker,  Celebrity Delirium on “The Masked Singer” and “The Other Two” , 2.11.19
• Vulture, If Women Have Power in the Bachelor-verse, Why Can’t They Propose?, 2.6.19
• Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law, Linking to Liability: When Linking to Leaked Movies, Scripts, and Television Shows Is Copyright Infringement, winter 2015
• Associated Press, Fans divided about Ellen as new ‘Idol’ judge, 9.10.09
• Associated Press, Fatone wants to appear on ABC dance show, 12.21.06
• New York Post, ‘Stars’ Taps ‘NSync, 12.18.06
• Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star, Gentry is still a ‘Survivor’ Tune in and see area native tonight, 12.17.06
• The Guardian, Reality TV turns to race ‘tribes’ to survive ratings war, 8.25.06
• In Touch, Was Ty Fired from Extreme Makeover?, 5.17.06
• Reuters, First-time Oscar host Stewart draws mixed reviews, 3.6.06
• Boston Herald, Confused callers worship false Idol, 3.2.06
• Newsday, Simon says — and ‘Idol’ soars, 2.8.06
• Reuters, Simpson-Lachey breakup spurs online satire, 11.25.05
• Newsday, “Survivor locks down Panama”, 11.28.05
• Us Weekly, Internet Rumors: True or False?, 8.1.05
• Digital Spy, ‘Real World’ returning to Florida?, 6.10.05
• Key West Citizen, Key West considered for ‘Real World’ site, 6.14.05
• New York Post, “‘World’ within Austin city limits”, 12.22.04
• The Chicago Tribune, Dub flub (item #11), 11.10.04
• The Morning Call, ‘Simple Life 3’ team romps through LVIA, 11.10.04
• Utne, TV is a Turn on, 4.26.02
• Utne, Move over, Soap Opera Update. It’s ‘Reality Blurred’, 8.1.00
• Utne, Yeah, But Can She Cook?, 7.11.00

books that cite my work

• Celeb 2.0: How Social Media Foster Our Fascination with Popular Culture by Kelli S. Burns
• Colorblind Shakespeare: New Perspectives on Race and Performance by Ayanna Thompson
• Censored 2007: The Top 25 Censored Stories by Peter Phillips
• Paris Hilton (Blue Banner Biographies) by Jennifer Torres
• Stolen Words by Thomas Mallon
• Television in New Zealand: Programming the Nation edited by Roger Horrocks and Nick Perry