Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV

How the Amazing Race turned ‘a bloody nightmare’ into TV history

The Amazing Race has an iconic, simple format. But the reality is that, during season one, many of the decisions were made while filming was underway—or after it was over

Survivor 51’s surprise start

It's a new season of Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV, and today I'm looking at my expectation versus reality of Survivor 51’s premiere, and Wonka's The Golden Ti

A fun recommendation and quick update

In this quick episode: An update on the premiere of Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV season 6, which is coming the morning after Survivor 51’s premiere. Also, a

Bonus: From dinos to photos, our Emily Post wedding story

In this special episode: My husband Nick and I chat about our wedding, some highs and lows, with Emily Post's great-great grandchild, Lizzie Post, in this excerpt from th

Big Brother’s producers on its format, 12 years ago

After this week’s Big Brother 28 elimination, I’m revisiting an interview I did with Big Brother producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan about the show’s format. Has an

The two words that make or break a reality star

Two words in a reality TV star's contract can change their post-show life—but also may not be that big of a deal? A dive into exclusivity clauses. Plus: news I broke ab

Let’s drag Project Runway 22 episode 2

In this very special episode: A Project Runway 22 episode 2 recap and review, with a special guest star! Plus: news about The Challenge and a reality TV couple, plus reco

The Real World Hawaii episode that started it all

This week: A dramatic reading of my very first reality TV recap—to celebrate reality blurred’s 26th birthday today! Also: recommendations, and, at the very end, life adv

How Love Island and Big Brother find their casts

Love Island and Big Brother have a history of casting hot dummies who sometimes turn out to be people who behave badly and maybe shouldn’t be on TV. How do they find them

Queering Love Island USA—or queerbaiting?

On this week’s episode: Before Casa Amor, Love Island USA’s hottest couple were two guys! Is this finally queering up a hetero show, or just queerbaiting? And how can we

Below Deck Med’s male-centered mayhem

On this week's show: We’ve rolled into a new season of Below Deck Med, one I was dreading, but it’s actually refreshing—for the franchise and reality TV. Plus: What Lov

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 culin

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 vide

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, a

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 o

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 insig

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 recommendati

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 behavi

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 th

7 behind-the-scenes stories from Amazing Race’s first season

On today’s show: The Amazing Race took off 25 years ago this week, and I have some amazing behind-the-scenes stories for you! Also, two recommendations, and reality TV li