msnbc.com — Andy Dehnart

Starting in 2004, I contributed to the entertainment coverage at msnbc.com, later known as NBC News,then the most-popular news web site. I primarily wrote about television, and served as the interim TV editor for a period of time.

Television criticism and features

25 seasons on, ‘Real World’ as immature as ever / 3.9.11
‘Bachelor’ Brad is back — but will fans watch? / 1.17.11
On reality TV, quitting can be a winning strategy / 12.3.10
‘Survivor’ finally brings the crazy with its cast / 10.5.10
New twists on ‘Survivor’ could impact the game / 9.14.10
Reality gets a few twists this fall / 9.2.10
How will ‘Idol’ fare against Cowell’s ‘X Factor’? / 1.11.10
For ‘Big Bang’s’ Sheldon, the nerd is the word / 11.2.09
Fall comedies preview: Accidentally on Purpose, Community, Modern Family, Cougar Town, Brothers, Eastwick, Glee, The Middle, The Cleveland Show / 9.21.09
‘Survivor’ villain promises to destroy own food / 9.14.09
Reality show standbys return for fall / 9.11.09
Reality TV scandals aren’t just on the screen / 9.2.09
‘Mad Men’ characters soften difficult themes / 8.12.09
Abdul’s exit could rejuvenate or kill ‘Idol’ / 8.5.09
Food shows keep on dishing up competitions / 7.29.09
‘Bachelor’ shows love their lack of romance / 7.12.09
Big Brother hopes viewers click with cliques / 7.7.09
Summertime, and the TV watching is easy / 7.5.09
Five top TV shows on the bubble / 5.18.09
Five top ways ‘Idol’ pimps its favorite contestants / 5.11.09
First impressions count on new ‘Survivor’ / 2.5.09
New judge has already improved ‘Idol’ / 1.20.09
Marathons only improve ‘A Christmas Story’ / 12.21.08
Reality TV presents plenty of moral dilemmas / 12.15.08
‘Idol’ to make changes in 2009 / 12.12.08
‘Mentalist’ follows CBS formula, with a twist / 11.20.08
‘CSI: Miami’ is watchable, yet horrible / 11.9.08
‘Pushing Daisies’ has to struggle back to life / 10.16.08
At last! The secrets of ‘Survivor’ answered / 10.12.08
‘Survivor’ will shine spotlight on pristine Gabon / 9.22.08
Show that celebrates TV is itself a crashing bore / 9.22.08
‘Survivor: Gabon’ throws temptations at cast / 9.22.08
Emmys get a reality check—at last / 9.18.08
Not much new in reality-show genre / 9.4.08
Fall 2008 preview: Fox’s Fringe, NBC’s Crusoe, and NBC’s Kath & Kim / 9.4.08
‘Project Runway’ needs a fresh design / 8.26.08
Can ‘Mole’s’ return live up to fans’ memories? / 6.5.08
Strike not to blame for drop in TV viewership / 5.11.08
After 19 seasons, ‘Real World’ hasn’t changed / 4.15.08
Pairing contestants with ‘soulmates’ latest drama-inducing tactic on ‘Big Brother’ / 2.12.08
Strike was devastating — but not to viewers / 2.10.08
Colbert, Stewart make do without writers / 1.16.08
‘Dexter’ is poised for a graceful, conflicted finale / 12.14.07
Talent level rises on new season of ‘Runway’ 11.14.07
‘Prison Break’ can’t escape conspiracy theory 11.13.07
‘Family Guy’ is no cheap ‘Simpsons’ knockoff / 11.5.07
Controversial ‘Kid Nation’ is at times uncomfortable — and inspiring 9.26.07
‘Survivor’ still stays fresh after seven years / 9.19.07
CBS should be ashamed of ‘Big Brother’ / 9.18.07
Lovable Tim Gunn misses target on ‘Style’ / 9.7.07
Fall TV preview: Big Bang Theory, Moonlight, Viva Laughlin, Cane / 9.07
‘Kid Nation’ most notable of new reality shows / 8.29.07
Fun Paula, Diva Paula co-star on Abdul’s show / 6.28.07
It’s fitting that ‘Sopranos’ won’t give up answers / 6.11.07
‘Grey’s’ spinoff shows familiar potential / 5.8.07
‘Sopranos’ heads for exit with quiet power / 5.7.07
‘Grey’s’ spinoff shows familiar potential / 5.4.07
Ominous future awaits Tony on ‘Sopranos’ / 4.9.07
‘Addison’s Anatomy’ will only hurt ‘Grey’s’ / 3.7.06
‘Top Chef’ fails the taste test / 2.1.07
O’Reilly vs. Colbert: More fizzle than sizzle / 1.18.07
L.A. ‘Apprentice’ throws in some new twists / 1.7.07
‘Prison Break’ finds freedom outside of walls / 11.27.06
Fall 2006 preview: FOX’s Justice, FOX’s Vanished, FOX’s Standoff, and NBC’s Kidnapped / 9.1.06
Fall preview: Reality shows stick to the old and familiar / 9.1.06
Can ‘Project Runway’ maintain the magic? / 7.11.06
Janice Dickinson redefines model behavior / 7.7.06
Like Sydney, ‘Alias’ kept reinventing itself / 5.19.06
No shackles on ‘Prison Break’ finale / 5.15.06
‘Unan1mous’ is unpredictable joy ride to hell / 4.19.06
‘24’ has finally hit its stride / 4.17.06
At five, ‘Apprentice’ needs a reorg / 2.27.06
Immunity idol complicates ‘Survivor Panama’ / 2.1.06
Fashion reality show returns to the ‘Runway’ / 12.7.05
On ‘Prison Break,’ there’s no escape / 11.30.05
‘Housewives’ desperately needs a makeover / 11.13.05
‘Survivor’ survives by never truly changing / 9.14.05
Fall preview: Reality shows are tweaking old formulas / 9.1.05
Fall preview: CBS’ ‘Threshold’ / 9.1.05
Audience is clay in Aiken’s hands / 8.9.05
‘Big Brother’: So awful, yet so addictive / 7.22.05
Modern reality TV turns five / 5.31.05
‘Trek’ has drifted since ‘Next Generation’ / 5.12.05
Exclusive interview with “Amazing Race 6“‘s Jonathan: ‘I would never hit Victoria’ / 3.21.05
‘Carnivàle’ returns — please let there be plot / 1.6.05
Don’t be ashamed to love ‘The OC’ / 11.1.04

Commentary

Don’t be a hater! Not all reality TV is trash / 11.2.10
Best reality shows you aren’t watching / 11.2.10
All-stars on ‘Survivor’ ultimately disappoint / 2.11.10
New ‘Idol’ season should learn from last year / 1.11.10
Paula-free ‘Idol’ should make more changes / 1.11.10
For kids’ sake, ‘Jon & Kate’ needs to stop now / 10.6.09
On ‘American Idol,’ strength can be a weakness / 5.5.09
Reality judges range from wise to wacko / 11.17.08
New judge will instantly improve ‘Idol’ / 8.26.08
Five reality shows that are begging for tune-ups / 7.16.08
6 critical changes needed to revive ‘Big Brother’ / 4.27.08
Humility could doom Archuleta on ‘Idol’ / 3.7.08
Advantage super-fans on latest ‘Survivor’? / 2.6.08
‘Idol’ talent not ‘fresh, untapped’ / 1.29.08
Nowhere to go but down for false ‘Idol’ / 1.10.08
Samantha Harris slips back into ‘Dancing’ / 10.16.07
‘Big Brother’s’ competing realities / 8.24.07
Summer reality shows fit the laid-back season / 8.15.07
Win for Blake would restore ‘Idol’ as hitmaker / 5.22.07
Paula Abdul: Don’t call her crazy anymore / 5.14.07
Sanjaya could actually win ‘American Idol’ / 4.17.07
‘American Idol’ has begun its decline / 3.13.07
‘Idol’ judges aren’t meaner, it’s the editors / 1.30.07
‘Idol’ judges have grown into their roles / 1.15.07
What twist is lurking for ‘American Idol’? / 1.8.07
‘Apprentice’ moves west, with same old Trump / 1.4.07
Book review: “The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid” by Bill Bryson / 10.7.06
Book review: “My Ox is Broken” by Adam-Troy Castro / 10.1.06
Why ‘Lost’ has lost me as a viewer / 10.4.06
Why are all-star reality shows so disappointing? / 8.21.06
Gloves are coming off for ‘Contender 2’ / 7.19.06
Lack of ‘Idol’ vote information frustrates fans / 5.23.06
J.J. Abrams: the Goldilocks of filmmakers / 5.7.06
What a long, strange ‘Idol’ season it’s been / 5.4.06
How could ‘Dreamz’ miss such an easy target? / 4.20.06
Shane is latest ‘Survivor’ viewers love to hate / 4.13.06
Most important ‘Idol’ judge? It’s Paula Abdul / 3.21.06
‘Idol’ season four: Country vs. rock ‘n’ roll / 1.6.06
‘Idol’ season three: William Hung to Fantasia / 12.30.05
‘Idol’ season two: Where are they now? / 12.27.05
First season ‘Idols’: Where are they now? / 12.20.05
10 scariest characters: ‘Prison Break’s T-Bag, ‘Family Guy’ monkey, ‘Desperate Housewives’ cast / 10.24.05
‘Amazing Race’ has lost its way / 9.27.05
Vote Martha’s catchphrase off the island / 8.31.05
Rob and Amber’s success hurts ‘Amazing Race’ / 4.26.05
Moviegoers trapped by pre-show ads / 4.13.05
How has ‘Survivor’ continued to survive? / 12.3.04
Cruel reality shows don’t play fair / 11.5.04

Episode analysis

‘Survivor Tocantins’ is down to its final four / 5.14.09
‘Survivor’ crowns its newest millionaire / 5.17.09
‘Bachelor’ breaks two hearts in season finale / 3.3.09
Hollywood round has been disaster for ‘Idol’ / 2.5.09
Bob the non-player outwits, outlasts ‘em all / 12.15.08
‘Survivor Gabon’ winner? What about Bob? / 12.12.08
‘Survivor’ gets personal as season nears end / 11.20.08
‘Survivor’ delivers surprises right until the end / 5.12.08
Favorites have best shot at winning ‘Survivor’ / 5.7.08
“Survivor” student’s alliance, plans pay off / 12.17.07
Gizzie needs to be surgically cut from “Grey’s” / 11.7.07
Underdog “Survivors” betting on $1 million / 12.13.07
Television deserves better than weak Emmys / 9.16.07
The “Grey’s” we’ve known is over … so over / 5.21.07
Broken promises abound on “Survivor” finale / 5.14.07
Rocker chick sent back to nest on “Idol” / 4.4.06
Halfway through day, “24” needs to pick up pace / 3.6.07
Oscar’s best moments weren”t in the script / 2.26.07
“Idol” women try some risky business / 2.22.07
Golden Globes wins points for stars” goofiness / 1.16.07
“Survivor” closes book on compelling season / 12.17.06
Handicapping the final five “Survivor” players / 12.14.06
Laying odds on this season’s “Amazing Race” / 10.9.06
“Housewives” gets back to sudsy business / 9.24.06
Racial divide doesn’t change “Survivor” / 9.14.06
Quiet “Sopranos” finale offers no clues / 6.4.06
“Housewives” finale looks to the past / 5.21.06
Taylor a lock to make final two on “Idol” / 5.16.06
On “Survivor,” Aras won by outlasting / 5.14.06
“Survivor” final four: It’s anybody’s game / 5.11.06
Real, dream families blend for Tony Soprano / 3.19.06
“Sopranos” returns with a bang / 3.12.06
Fired “Apprentice” just couldn”t keep quiet / 2.27.06
“Idol” results show revels in cruelty / 2.24.06
TV favorites rewarded, if miscategorized / 1.17.06
‘Apprentice’ winner refuses to share title / 12.16.05
‘Survivor’ finalists were consistent to the end / 12.11.05
Curse of the car leads ‘Survivor’ to final four / 12.8.05
Survivor’s paranoia is self-fulfilling prophecy / 11.17.05
‘Survivor’ keeps shaking things up / 10.20.05
‘Survivor’ has new tribes, but old cliques / 10.06.05
Apprentices display male-pattern dumbness / 9.29.05
For ‘Apprentice,’ it’s just like old times / 9.22.05
Trump seeks an ‘Apprentice’ he won’t hate / 9.22.05
Rock, hard place meet the ‘Big Brother’ finale / 9.20.05
Emmy tries to be hip but still ends up boring / 9.19.05
‘Survivor’ gets tough in Guatemala / 9.15.05
‘Big Brother’ finally grows up / 8.12.05
Mysteries of ‘Lost’ detract from the characters / 5.25.05
Trump should have hired both women / 5.19.05
‘Apprentice’ not a test of corporate skills / 5.18.05
Tom wins [‘Survivor’], but Ian will be remembered / 5.15.05
‘Survivor’ finale tough to handicap / 5.12.05
Gut-wrenching ‘Race’ offers satisfying ending / 5.11.05
‘Idol’ special offered a lot of nothing / 5.4.05
Quitting time on reality TV / 4.21.05
Which Apprentice will Trump them all? / 4.14.05
‘Apprentice’ sponsors are the real losers / 4.8.05
The Donald, wrong? Say it isn’t so / 3.24.05
Beauty and the Beasts: Sexism reigns on The Apprentice 3 / 3.3.05
‘Survivor returns with surprises / 2.17.05
‘Apprentice’ ads don’t connect / 2.10.05
Auditions make ‘Idol’ a joke / 2.2.05
Type A Apprentices need an intervention / 1.27.05
‘Apprentice 3’ candidates make it personal / 1.20.05
‘Idol’ judges starting to crack up / 1.19.05
Welcome to another season of ‘Delusional Idol’ / 1.18.05
‘Race’ contestant has somebody to shove / 12.22.04
Trump turns ‘Apprentice’ into ‘Idol’ / 12.16.04
Final Survivor was the best liar / 12.12.04
You’re fired! And … so are you! / 11.19.04
Raj was just too much like Trump / 11.5.04
What’s with Trump’s weird voiceovers? / 10.29.04
“Survivor” strategies are shifting / 10.15.04

Ask the Reality TV Experts column