HONORABLE MENTIONS
30 slots can only begin to capture the full spectrum of reality TV, so we want to take a minute first and celebrate the trailblazers (An American Family), the long-running competitions (The Voice, Dancing With the Stars), the dating shows (Love Island UK, Beauty and the Geek), the stunt-comedy hybrids (Jackass, Punk’d), the new favorites (Nailed It!, Selling Sunset) and the fondly remembered one-hit wonders (Bands on the Run, Gallery Girls) that either didn’t qualify or fell just short of making our list. We love them, one and all.
Any list like this without FACE OFF in it is a sham.
Yes! Face Off was an awesome show.
Right???
The only ones I watched were:
American Idol
Queer Eye For The Straight Guy
The Great British Baking Show
I’m surprised that The Apprentice/Celebrity Apprentice didn’t make the list. Setting personal feelings aside for the host of this show, I think it should have been on the list.
I was expecting Survivor at #1 and Drag Race at #2.
Well at least the surreal life made the list it was such a fun show. Wish I could find a way to see it again but we don’t have VH1 in Canada and Pluto tv dropped it
Come on! America’s Next Top Model! It was huge
To be fair one contestant did participate on the surreal life even led to her finding love…for awhile the marriage didn’t last
Yo what about Holey Moley on ABC!! The best reality show (and most entertaining) one of all!! Should at leats be in the Top 10. Especially Season 2 Ep 5 with the IT Guy! :)
Seriously?! The Hills beat The Challenge? I call BS on that lol
Glad to see The Amazing Race, The Mole, American Idol, Big Brother, Survivor, Hell’s Kitchen, and The Voice (honorable mention). Others left out include America’s Got Talent, The X Factor, MasterChef, MasterChef Jr, The Apprentice, The Masked Singer, Joe Millionaire.
I can’t believe that America’s Got Talent was left off this list. It’s literally been on for 17 years. There are shows on this list that were only on for a few years.
I’m sorry, but how are the Kardashians not on here.
Love them or hate them, they are the reality tv standard of how to turn 15mins into a billion dollars
Came to the comments just to see if someone mentioned them. I’ve never seen an episode myself, but there’s obviously a reason they’ve been on the air since 2007.
Everything wrong with TV from 1992-2022.
There, I fixed your headline! :)
Agree
Big brother used to be so amazingly good until they stop casting for personality and started casting for looks.
Also I can’t believe Solitary didn’t make the list.
Except for American Idol when it first came out. I am glad I have missed all of these reality shows. It’s just networks way of cutting costs. I would rather have well written shows whether dramas or comedies.
Well, I don’t think The Amazing Race saves much money (its rumored to be one of the most expensive shows to make)
Justice for The Simple Life and Girl’s Next Door!
Chopped has 4 mystery ingredients, not 3…
I haven’t seen a lot of these shows that were on cable, but one I do keep up with is Below Deck, which I am glad can be watched ad-free with Peacock Premium.
Ink Master is another of my favorites.
Who knew what The Real World would create!? Glad to see Project Greenlight on the list. The show I would add is The IT Factor (Bravo 2002-2003). A true look at what it means to be a struggling actor. I highly recommend.
I don’t watch much reality check tv, but I loved Bret Michaels and “Rock of Love.” I didn’t expect it to be on the list, but I wanted to mention it. It was a glorious guilty pleasure for me.
I can’t really argue with this list too much- There are several Food Network cooking competitions I watch that didn’t make the list but they are a niche thing. I don’t really watch many that aren’t competitions in some way so can’t comment on a lot of these on the list. I don’t agree that reality TV ruined everything. I enjoy Survivor and Amazing race as much as any scripted show if the season is compelling. Watching “real” people in their everyday lives and their interactions isn’t my thing either but if someone likes them they will make them so I just don’t watch them.
Came here to make sure that GBBO and The Mole were here. Satisfied. :-)
Here’s my list of favorite reality shows in no particular order:
Overhaulin’
Factory Made
Junkyard Wars
Counting Cars
Forged in Fire
Modern Marvels
American Chopper
American Restoration
so many of these should end
I’m sad Newlyweds didn’t make this list..
Big Brother and Project Runway need to be higher.
I’ve never watched it so considering how much I know about the family still, Keeping Up with the Kardashians should be somewhere (pretty high too) on this list.
I have only seen a few of the shows. Don’t like Reality shows. The one I really dislike is The Real Housewives show.
I loved Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in its first couple seasons. Also shout out to Rock Star: INXS one of the more compelling music competitions.
I was looking for RS:INXS as well. Loved JD Fortune and saw the new configuration twice the next year. I rewatched all of it last summer on YouTube. I’d forgotten how compelling the companion show where they showed the contestants fighting for the available song selections and working on arrangements with the best ever house band was.
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I would have The Amazing Race and Idol higher as they along with Survivor were the original big three.
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The Mole was the first time I ever saw Anderson Cooper. I admit that he still has a soft spot in my heart from that fantastic show.
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I admit I am also surprised AGT isn’t on this list. Vegas is full of alumni.