Best Reality TV Shows Of All Time
From America's Next Top Model to Keeping Up with the Kardashians, the world of reality television has become one of the most popular genres in entertainment.
Whether it's the drama, the competition, or the glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous, reality TV shows have captured the attention of viewers worldwide. In this blog post, we'll take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the best reality TV shows of all time.
America's Next Top Model
This iconic show, hosted by Tyra Banks, is one of the most successful reality shows of all time. It introduced us to some of the most famous supermodels today, such as Adriana Lima and Gisele Bundchen.
The show was all about finding the next big thing in the modeling industry and showcased some dramatic photo shoots and challenges that tested the models' skills and perseverance. It also tackled some real-world issues such as body positivity and diversity.
RuPaul's Drag Race
This Emmy award-winning show, hosted by RuPaul, has taken the world by storm. The show is all about drag queens competing in various challenges to become America's next drag superstar.
It's not just about the makeup and costumes, but also about showcasing each queen's unique personality and talent. The show has also tackled issues such as LGBTQ rights and the importance of self-acceptance.
Project Runway
If you're into fashion, then Project Runway is the show for you. The show is all about discovering the next big fashion designer and showcases some amazing creations that are truly works of art.
Hosted by Heidi Klum, the show also features judges such as Nina Garcia and Zac Posen, who provide insightful critiques to help the designers improve and ultimately win the competition.
Big Brother
This show takes reality TV to a whole other level. Contestants are thrown into a house together with no contact from the outside world and are constantly under surveillance 24/7.
The show features various challenges and competitions to test the contestants' mental and physical abilities. It also showcases the social dynamics of living together with strangers and the drama that comes with it.
The Circle
This newer show has taken the world by storm and is all about social media. Contestants live in separate apartments but communicate only through a social media platform named The Circle.
They're able to create profiles that may or may not be entirely truthful and compete to become the most popular player. It's a unique take on reality TV that plays on the idea of the curated image we all portray on social media.
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
This show needs no introduction and has been a staple in the reality TV industry for over a decade. It's all about the lives of the Kardashian-Jenner family and the drama that often comes with living in the public eye. The show features everything from family vacations to breakups, and everything in between.
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Jackass
This show was a pioneer in the world of reality TV and showcased some of the most outlandish stunts and pranks ever seen on TV.
Hosted by Johnny Knoxville, the show featured a group of friends who would go to great lengths to entertain their viewers. It was a show that was definitely not for the faint of heart.
The Real Housewives
The Real Housewives franchise has taken over TV screens around the globe. With spinoffs from Beverly Hills to Atlanta, the show follows a group of affluent women as they navigate their friendships, businesses, and families.
The Housewives are notorious for their glitz, glamour, and drama, which has garnered a legion of loyal fans over the years. In 2021, Bravo celebrated the show's milestone 15th anniversary, showing there's no sign of slowing down.
Too Hot Too Handle
This Netflix reality show has taken the world by storm with its concept of attractive individuals sent to an island with the incentive of winning a cash prize for abstaining from physical contact for an extended period to address their inability to build emotional connections.
The drama on the show is intense, making it addictive to its audience. It represents a shift from vintage reality TV shows like Big Brother, where participants' humiliation was central to their entertainment value.
Wife Swap
Inspired by a UK reality show, Wife Swap brings together two families with vastly different backgrounds and lifestyles to switch with each other for two weeks.
The program often involves cultural clashes and the challenges of judgment, spending a significant amount of time living under another family's rules, lifestyle, and values.
90 Day Fiancé
This highly popular reality TV show follows couples enduring long-distance relationships and getting married within 90 days of their foreign fiancé visa's approval.
It's a wild ride of cultural differences and language barriers that often have its audience gasping and rolling their eyes. The show has spawned multiple spin-offs and is a fan favorite with its loyal viewers who can't get enough of the drama.
Love Island U.K.
Love Island UK is a dating show that brings together attractive contestants in a villa in Mallorca. Contestants form couples, and they have conversations aimed at fostering a relationship throughout the series.
There are challenges, eliminations and, of course, plenty of opportunities for hookups. The show has fans all over the world and has been on air since 2015.
Extreme Makeover
This heart-warming series was all about transformations. The concept was to deliver a complete makeover to someone’s life, which included a brand new look, a new home, and a new outlook on life.
The show was the ultimate feel-good experience that left us all misty-eyed and smiling. It was a classic family show that ended too soon.
The Bachelor
This show’s concept is downright genius. A group of 20 beautiful women competing for one man's heart each season. Every episode is a rose ceremony where the bachelor sends home several women until the final finishing ceremony, where he proposes to his chosen one.
The Bachelor has made it a cultural phenomenon, and the franchise has expanded into sister shows and spin-offs that have also entertained us.
Come Dine With Me
It’s hard to describe this show without underestimating it. Essentially, it’s just a group of strangers competing with each other to host the best dinner party. The winner receives £1,000, and the bragging rights of throwing the best party of the week.
However, it's the commentary throughout the show that makes it hilarious. The comments of the other dinner guests throughout are the funniest part, making the show a must-see.
Survivor
Survivor was one of the first reality TV shows ever made, and it’s still going strong today. This show’s premise is simple: maroon some people on a deserted island and watch them scheme, compete, and claw their way to victory.
The physical and mental challenges are intense and challenging. The characters are constantly entertaining, and the alliances that form, and then fall apart, always keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Love is Blind
2020 was the year that the world was introduced to Love is Blind. The show’s concept was to pair people up with someone that they have never laid eyes on.
Over time the couples grow closer and have to make a monumental decision: get engaged and finally meet, or break things off and move on. It was a hit when it first aired, and its success has prompted Netflix to release a second season.
Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore arrived in our lives during the height of the reality TV boom. Its concept was again, a group of strangers living in close quarters with each other, and their journey of life in a seaside house.
The entire show was peppered with fights, parties, and drama. The cast was full of standout personalities that made the show continually watchable.
The Mole
Finally, The Mole is another early reality TV show. The premise of the show was that one of the contestants was a “mole” who was there to sabotage the other players, and the others had to try and identify who that was to win.
The show demands thinking skills and strategy, and the "Who is It?" element has viewers questioning their instincts.
Conclusion
Reality TV shows have become a staple in modern entertainment and showcase a wide range of topics and genres. From fashion to social media and everything in between, there's a reality TV show out there for everyone.
These shows have entertained audiences for years and have even tackled some important issues in society. So sit back, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the drama and entertainment that comes with the best reality TV shows of all time.
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