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Andy Dehnart

writer, TV critic, teacher

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long-form journalism

Andy Dehnart > writing > long-form journalism

Some stories and topics take more time to explore, and more words to explain. These are stories that I spent weeks and months writing and reporting, and that take deep dives into their subjects.


Photo Credit: reality blurred

Amazing Race behind the scenes: an oral history of CBS’s first race around the world

In this Amazing Race season 1 oral history, people involved with the first season—producers, cast, and crew—reveal the behind-the-scenes story of how a race around the world and TV show came together.

Photo Credit: Playboy

Reality on the High Seas

Sea Shepherd activists went to the Faroe Islands to try to stop whaling, a tradition that goes back centuries. Aboard their ship was an Animal Planet film crew.

This piece won the Society for Professional Journalists’ Sunshine State Award for magazine feature reporting.

Photo Credit: Playboy

The Curse of Reality TV

No genre of television leaves more human wreckage in its wake than reality television. But who’s at fault? The shows themselves, or the people they attract? I tried to find out, reporting from the set of Hoarders, a show that either helped or exploited mentally ill people in crisis,  and spent time with a Survivor cast member, soccer coach, and pastor who felt like the show damaged his reputation.

Photo Credit: Salon

Behind the scenes of Trading Spaces

The first time I watched an episode of television be produced was in suburban Houston, during the height of the Trading Spaces craze. In this piece, I shared what I learned about how reality becomes TV.

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Andy Dehnart, photographed by Kellie Warren, March 2019

Hi! I'm Andy, a writer and teacher who obsessively and critically covers reality TV and unscripted entertainment, focusing on how it’s made and what it means. Learn more about me.

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RSS recent writing on reality blurred

  • Hulu’s new show wants to make you uncomfortable, because we’ve been ‘indoctrinated’
  • Squid games leave squid juice squirting on Tough As Nails
  • Physical: 100 is a visually spectacular but bulky strength competition
  • Rachel Reilly’s answers to all of my Traitors questions
  • The Traitors US: Who won? Who was banished? Betrayed? Recaps of episodes 6-10
  • Oil and tears spill everywhere on Tough As Nails
  • 25 reality TV news and must-read stories: prison, renewals, Netflix, and more
  • How Trafficked films ‘risky and dangerous situations’—and deals with ‘holy sh*t’ moments
  • Are all Great Pottery Throw Down seasons streaming? Why do TV shows end mid-season?
  • Milf Manor’s twist was exactly what we expected

what I’ve been doing

  • Three podcasts, two stories, one wild year December 30, 2021
  • Thank you again, SPJ Florida! August 8, 2021
  • Me and my writing, in your inbox October 24, 2019
  • I asked CBS executives about their reality shows’ problems with race. Here’s what happened. August 16, 2019
  • An anniversary, and three recommendations, plus a way to really stay up to date July 15, 2019

“It’s good to be curious about many things.”

—Mister Rogers

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RSS recent reality blurred stories

  • Hulu’s new show wants to make you uncomfortable, because we’ve been ‘indoctrinated’
  • Squid games leave squid juice squirting on Tough As Nails
  • Physical: 100 is a visually spectacular but bulky strength competition
  • Rachel Reilly’s answers to all of my Traitors questions
  • The Traitors US: Who won? Who was banished? Betrayed? Recaps of episodes 6-10

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