Danielle Lindemann
@djlindee.bsky.social
Sociologist, mom, unapologetic lover of terrible reality TV
It's the most wonderful time of the year! I'm VERY excited about the slate of final presentations for my "Sex & Gender in Reality TV" class.
November 12, 2025 at 6:10 PM
It's the most wonderful time of the year! I'm VERY excited about the slate of final presentations for my "Sex & Gender in Reality TV" class.
Today I asked my Princeton students if DJ Bob still comes to the eating clubs, and they looked at me uncomprehendingly, with no idea who that was. Then I shriveled up into a ball of ash. @princeton.edu
November 10, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Today I asked my Princeton students if DJ Bob still comes to the eating clubs, and they looked at me uncomprehendingly, with no idea who that was. Then I shriveled up into a ball of ash. @princeton.edu
It was a pleasure speaking to the folks on the Mental Health Supra Omnia podcast (including my childhood friend Erika Kawamura!) about America's obsession with reality TV.
open.spotify.com/episode/11rR...
open.spotify.com/episode/11rR...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:49 PM
It was a pleasure speaking to the folks on the Mental Health Supra Omnia podcast (including my childhood friend Erika Kawamura!) about America's obsession with reality TV.
open.spotify.com/episode/11rR...
open.spotify.com/episode/11rR...
How come my toddler turns into Elton from Clueless every night at bedtime? "I need another glass of water." "My foot hurts." "I can't find my Cranberries CD. I have to go to the quad before somebody snags it."
October 5, 2025 at 12:15 AM
How come my toddler turns into Elton from Clueless every night at bedtime? "I need another glass of water." "My foot hurts." "I can't find my Cranberries CD. I have to go to the quad before somebody snags it."
Me: Okay, it's time to turn off the TV and brush your teeth.
4-year-old: You're hurting my feelings right now.
🤷♀️🤔
4-year-old: You're hurting my feelings right now.
🤷♀️🤔
October 4, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Me: Okay, it's time to turn off the TV and brush your teeth.
4-year-old: You're hurting my feelings right now.
🤷♀️🤔
4-year-old: You're hurting my feelings right now.
🤷♀️🤔
I've been interviewed a few times in my career, but having a production crew in my house today was definitely a first! 😬
September 20, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I've been interviewed a few times in my career, but having a production crew in my house today was definitely a first! 😬
Cool to see my students' Real Housewives taglines make it onto the Princeton University social media feed!
September 12, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Cool to see my students' Real Housewives taglines make it onto the Princeton University social media feed!
Once again, I put an Easter egg on my syllabus asking folks to send me their Real Housewives taglines, and these Princeton students did not disappoint! They were all great, but here are some of my favorites.
September 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Once again, I put an Easter egg on my syllabus asking folks to send me their Real Housewives taglines, and these Princeton students did not disappoint! They were all great, but here are some of my favorites.
Does anyone else remember the movie "Dave"? What a feel-good film, and Kevin Kline is of course delightful in every role he takes on.
I've been thinking about that film a lot lately for some reason.
I've been thinking about that film a lot lately for some reason.
September 3, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Does anyone else remember the movie "Dave"? What a feel-good film, and Kevin Kline is of course delightful in every role he takes on.
I've been thinking about that film a lot lately for some reason.
I've been thinking about that film a lot lately for some reason.
I had such a blast on @2BlkGirls1Rose the other day, talking about everything from Nicolandria to the intersection of capitalism and Feminism. Big thanks to @alieward for introducing us!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...
2 Black Girls, 1 Rose
TV & Film Podcast · Updated Weekly · Why don’t reality dating shows look or feel like reality? Where are all the rose ceremonies and romantic getaways when dating IRL? Is popular TV teaching us anythi...
podcasts.apple.com
July 31, 2025 at 11:14 PM
I had such a blast on @2BlkGirls1Rose the other day, talking about everything from Nicolandria to the intersection of capitalism and Feminism. Big thanks to @alieward for introducing us!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...
I'm in the BBC again today, talking about The Osbornes in the wake of Ozzy's death.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
How Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne become TV's favourite parents
The Black Sabbath rocker, who has died aged 76, had a second career as a beloved 2000s reality TV star.
www.bbc.com
July 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
I'm in the BBC again today, talking about The Osbornes in the wake of Ozzy's death.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
I recently spoke to the @BBC about the positive dimensions of reality TV (yes, there are some!). You can check out the piece here:
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
How reality TV has changed the way we think - for the better
When the first series of Big Brother launched, one critic denounced it as a "smearing of excrement" over TV screens. So, exactly 25 years on, how has reality TV affected viewers?
www.bbc.com
July 26, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I recently spoke to the @BBC about the positive dimensions of reality TV (yes, there are some!). You can check out the piece here:
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
If you missed me on The Colin McEnroe show today, talking about reality TV and politics, you can catch up on the interview here!
www.ctpublic.org/show/the-col...
www.ctpublic.org/show/the-col...
How reality TV shapes our politics
How does reality television shape our politics and our opinions? This hour on The Colin McEnroe Show, we discuss how reality TV helps us understand (or sometimes misunderstand) actual reality.
www.ctpublic.org
July 24, 2025 at 8:59 PM
If you missed me on The Colin McEnroe show today, talking about reality TV and politics, you can catch up on the interview here!
www.ctpublic.org/show/the-col...
www.ctpublic.org/show/the-col...
I'll be on air LIVE on the Colin McEnroe show on Connecticut Public Radio today from 1:06-1:26pm, talking about the link between reality TV and contemporary politics. www.ctpublic.org/show/the-col...
The Colin McEnroe Show
Public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric program. Tackling subjects like Neanderthals, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, punk rock, Occam’s razor — you get the idea.
www.ctpublic.org
July 24, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I'll be on air LIVE on the Colin McEnroe show on Connecticut Public Radio today from 1:06-1:26pm, talking about the link between reality TV and contemporary politics. www.ctpublic.org/show/the-col...
Almost missed this neat shout-out to my book in the Sunday @nytimes!
July 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Almost missed this neat shout-out to my book in the Sunday @nytimes!
I'm in The NY Times today, talking about MTV's "Road Rules" (remember that?!) and the rise of the political right.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/s...
What ‘Road Rules’ Wrought
www.nytimes.com
July 16, 2025 at 1:11 PM
I'm in The NY Times today, talking about MTV's "Road Rules" (remember that?!) and the rise of the political right.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/s...
I recently spoke to @GQMagazine about why men watch #LoveIslandUSA. Here's the piece! www.gq.com/story/the-bo...
The Boyfriends Who Love ‘Love Island’ Tell All
The reality-TV sensation has shattered viewership records—and defied conventional wisdom about who watches reality dating shows.
www.gq.com
July 13, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I recently spoke to @GQMagazine about why men watch #LoveIslandUSA. Here's the piece! www.gq.com/story/the-bo...
Are you Team Chelley or Team Huda? I recently spoke to The New York Times about our cultural obsession with the show Love Island. You can check out the piece here: www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/s...
Why Is Everyone Watching ‘Love Island USA?’
www.nytimes.com
July 7, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Are you Team Chelley or Team Huda? I recently spoke to The New York Times about our cultural obsession with the show Love Island. You can check out the piece here: www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/s...
Why DO so many reality TV stars get in trouble with the IRS? I had so much fun participating in this melding of the minds for sociologist and tax expert (taxpert?) @ruthbraunstein.bsky.social’s Substack!
ruthbraunstein.substack.com/p/why-are-so...
ruthbraunstein.substack.com/p/why-are-so...
Why are so many reality TV stars in trouble with the IRS?
A Q&A with reality TV expert and Princeton University professor Danielle Lindemann.
ruthbraunstein.substack.com
June 26, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Why DO so many reality TV stars get in trouble with the IRS? I had so much fun participating in this melding of the minds for sociologist and tax expert (taxpert?) @ruthbraunstein.bsky.social’s Substack!
ruthbraunstein.substack.com/p/why-are-so...
ruthbraunstein.substack.com/p/why-are-so...
You know what’s great for your fashion confidence? When you’re trying on summer outfits and your tween keeps saying, “Umm, I think you could wear that to sleep in.”
June 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
You know what’s great for your fashion confidence? When you’re trying on summer outfits and your tween keeps saying, “Umm, I think you could wear that to sleep in.”
Preschool teacher: You’re back! What did you do on your vacation?
My 4-year-old: I rided escalators!
CLASSIC.
My 4-year-old: I rided escalators!
CLASSIC.
June 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Preschool teacher: You’re back! What did you do on your vacation?
My 4-year-old: I rided escalators!
CLASSIC.
My 4-year-old: I rided escalators!
CLASSIC.
You know you’re raising a Jersey girl when you ask her how she’s doing with her homework, she says “I’m halfway there!” and without looking at each other you both sing “Whoaaah livin’ on a prayer.”
June 2, 2025 at 10:41 PM
You know you’re raising a Jersey girl when you ask her how she’s doing with her homework, she says “I’m halfway there!” and without looking at each other you both sing “Whoaaah livin’ on a prayer.”
Is there a term for feeling like you’re being gaslit because you’re the only one who knows the correct rules at a 4-way stop?
June 2, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Is there a term for feeling like you’re being gaslit because you’re the only one who knows the correct rules at a 4-way stop?
Nobody ever talks about the dark side of monitoring your tween’s group chats, which is that you have to wade through pages of comments about Roblox and kids just saying “GM”, “GN”, and “Bruuuuuh” to each other for eternity.
June 2, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Nobody ever talks about the dark side of monitoring your tween’s group chats, which is that you have to wade through pages of comments about Roblox and kids just saying “GM”, “GN”, and “Bruuuuuh” to each other for eternity.