Reality TV shows are addictive to watch for a reason. There’s just something exhilarating about temporarily putting down the daily hustle and bustle of our own lives for the infinitely more fascinating drama of the reality TV stars. Whether it’s angry housewives or the angst of entrepreneurial hopefuls, other people’s troubles are just so much more interesting than our own. So, if you’re looking for recommendations on the best reality TV shows to watch, you’re in the right place! We have gathered some of the most dramatic, groundbreaking, and all-around best, for your viewing pleasure.
But first, some context: Reality TV shows first came on the scene in the early ’90s and were a whole new genre; television, unscripted. The genre began in 1992 with the hit series The Real World. The show featured a group of strangers, all forced together in a new city and a bizarre living situation. The point was to see the unscripted lives and loves of these 20-somethings who were suddenly all under the same roof. Fights, flings, and general chaos quickly ensued. The world was hooked.
Although the show was an instant success, the genre itself didn’t really take off until a decade later with the 2000 premiere of the reality TV survival show, appropriately named Survivor. It was quickly followed by the 2004 introduction of the high school drama Laguna Beach. Laguna Beach featured a group of feuding high school students in the affluent Orange County of southern California. It was one of the highest-rated shows of its time, with thousands tuning in every week to see the unfolding drama of Lauren Conrad and her mortal high school enemy, Kristen Cavallari. The show ended in 2006 but featured a spinoff titled The Hills, which followed Conrad’s foray into the LA college scene.
It was also around this time the hit series Keeping Up With The Kardashians and The Real Housewives (also, ironically, of Orange County) launched, and the singing platform phenomenon American Idol, which premiered in 2002, really took off. As time went on, the reality show genre expanded to include talent competitions, true crime, families and home life, and much more. Here are a few of our all-time favorites that have helped make the genre what it is today.
1. Pawn Stars-2009
If you are a fan of antiques and historical objects, then the reality show Pawn Stars will be right up your alley. Pawn Stars first hit the airwaves in 2009, and featured the Harrison family and their happening Las Vegas pawnshop. The reality show features the usual family drama related to the business but also adds an essence of education, as the shop owners detail the individual items brought in. This aspect of the series has separated into its own unique reality subgenre. It has been joined in that genre by shows such as Antiques Roadshow, American Pickers, and Salvage Hunters, all shows that feature the lives of the participants but also have a historical and educational context that viewers can’t seem to get enough of. Pawn Stars premiered on the History Channel and has lasted ten seasons and counting. Pawn Stars not only has spawned more than a few classic GIFs and memes but also an entirely new reality tv subgenre. Check it out as it heads into its 11th season on History Channel.
2. Real Housewives– 2006
The Real Housewives franchise began in 2006 with The Real Housewives of Orange County. The dramatic lives and loves of these southern California housewives soon grabbed the attention of the nation and the show was an instant success. It debuted right on the heels of Laguna Beach, the reality show of the women’s young southern California counterparts, which was also filmed in Orange County. Real Housewives was released as one of six reality shows produced and aired on Bravo. The Real Housewives of New York City, Atlanta, New Jersey, D.C., and Beverly Hills quickly followed, each capturing its own unique audience. The original series has spawned 27 spin-offs, including the current-day phenom Vanderpump Rules, featuring the famous restauranteurs the Vanderpump family of West Hollywood, California. Variations of the original The Real Housewives including New Jersey, Orange County, and New York City continue to this day, making it one of the longest-running (and most dramatic) reality TV series of all time. So feel free to pick your favorite housewives and tune in on Bravo to see them in action.
3. Master Chef-2010
Anyone who loves to stretch their culinary muscle knows how big an impact the show Master Chef has made in both culinary and pop culture. Whether you’re addicted to the candidate’s complicated cooking challenges or their often heart-wrenching personal stories, the show will draw you in and keep you guessing. Not to mention the antics of host and master chef Gordon Ramsay will keep you on your toes.
Master Chef is responsible for an additional series of culinary show spinoffs, many of which have Gordan Ramsay at the helm including Kitchen Nightmares, Top Chef, and Hell’s Kitchen. Cooking shows take up their own subgenre of the reality TV phenomenon and are some of the most popular among them, shows including The Great British Baking Show, Iron Chef, and many more. The shows often have a competitive edge to them where contestants compete to be the best in the biz, and have no shortage of personal problems sprinkled in as well. Between the delicious food, the thrill of competition, and the touching human interest component, it’s no wonder Master Chef has taken off the way it has, leading the way in this reality TV genre. Check it out on Fox.
4. Shark Tank-2009
Shark Tank is the show made for entrepreneurs — or more accurately, the show that makes entrepreneurs. The show revolves around aspiring entrepreneurs who are given a chance to present their ideas to the shark in the tank, or the five biggest business names in the industry. Their goal is to convince these savvy business tycoons to invest money in the contestant’s aspiring entrepreneurial concepts.
The show has been around since 2009 with 14 seasons under its belt and rumors of a 15th in the making. The best thing about this show is that it has no shortage of material, as there are always new business ideas out there and an ever-changing market for them. Viewers can’t seem to get enough of watching the successes and flops of these aspiring entrepreneurs as they pursue their dreams and the chance of a lifetime. Of course, with so much at stake, the show sees its fair share of heartbreaks and blow-ups which only serves to make it more addicting. See this heated competition and its hot-blooded contestants on ABC.
5. Survivor-2000
Survivor was one of the founding fathers, so to speak, of reality TV. It premiered in 2000 and shocked viewers as the contestants participated in difficult and often bizarre survival competitions. The show pits a group of castaways on a deserted island against each other to compete for a cash prize of one million dollars. The contestants can team up to take others down but in the end, there can only be one winner. Alliances and coupes abound as do romances, friendships, and of course, fights. The show launched the concept of a competition reality show.
Up to the point of Survivor’s debut, reality TV shows had mainly focused on the daily lives of individuals and groups, not that there wasn’t some amount of competition among the cast members, but usually, it centered around romances or friendship disputes. Survivor took that concept to the next level by assigning the cast challenges and providing a monetary prize as additional fodder for the drama fire. Viewers couldn’t get enough. So much so, the show is one of the longest-running of reality tv series of all time.
The show is entering its 44th season — yes, you read that correctly. Survivor has been on without pause since 2000, it also features several spinoffs such as Survivor: Winners At War, Redemption Island, and Survivor: Celebrity. The show made reality TV what it is today, and spawned the concept of the competition reality series. Many shows have followed suit as cameras follow contestants that compete for everything from prizes to relationships. When it comes to reality TV series, this is not only of the best, it’s one of the first, and it’s hard to beat an original. So be sure to add this unscripted adventure to your list. Catch it on CBS.
6. RuPaul’s Drag Race– 2009
RuPaul changed the face of reality TV, literally. RuPaul’s Drag Race premiered in 2009, and grabbed viewers’ attention by featuring a never-before-seen premise; it’s a competition-based reality series, but unlike the ones who had come before, these contestants were fighting for drag queen fame and fortune. The show features a group of hopeful contestants who battle it out in various competitions for mini and maxi prizes including monetary ones, with the recent season 15 winner pulling in $200,000, a franchise record. The show is hosted by the “Queen of Drag” himself, RuPaul. Mama Ru mentors the contestants and acts as one of the judges in the competitions. The show features phenomenal contestant transformations and the fashion and makeup displayed are trendsetting. The high fashion of the show is rivaled only by the high drama. The competition itself is cutthroat, as emotions run high and sabotage and betrayal run deep. Contestants get into fights, relationships, and everything in between.
The show has a large set of loyal followers and has been going strong since its 2009 debut. In fact, the latest season of RuPaul’s Drag Race had the highest ratings since the pandemic. It’s now heading into its 16th season with no two seasons being the same. Each one brings its own set of challenges for contestants, both personal and professional. The show also spotlights the unique challenges and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community and has created a legacy of acceptance and transparency for the queer community. The show has made LGBTQ+ culture mainstream and many applaud its efforts to bring light to and awareness of the community. Check out this groundbreaking reality series on MTV and Hulu.
7. Bachelor/Bachelorette– 2002
Welcome to the reality TV dating genre. The Bachelor franchise introduced the world to competitive dating, and it’s never looked back. In case you were under the impression dating is easy, this show demonstrates just how complicated it can actually be. Add in the components of multiple people competing for one partner, an exotic location, lots of alcohol, and not a lot of sleep, and watch the chaos ensue. Which is exactly what The Bachelor franchise intends to do and we can’t get enough of it. The original show The Bachelor premiered in 2002 at the height of the reality TV premieres, and has been on the air ever since.
It has branched off into several different versions including the equally popular Bachelorette, which is a similar premise only with the men in competition for a female partner. The show even has begun bringing back unsuccessful contestants from previous seasons to see if they might hit it off with other previous contestants in a spinoff called Bachelor In Paradise, and there is also Bachelor In Paradise: After Paradise, The Bachelor Winter Games, etc. The show has been on for twenty-seven seasons with no end in sight. The series has launched the career of several familiar faces including Jamie Otis, who went on to find her fame and partner on another reality series, called Married at First Sight. Other familiar names, such as Ben Higgins and Nick Viall, also got their start on the popular series. The show began the popular dating and marriage reality TV subgenre, and it is not only a classic, but continues to draw viewers in droves to this day.
8. American Idol-2001
What do the celebrities Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, and Jennifer Hudson all have in common? They all got their start in the same place — American Idol. American Idol is another of the original reality TV series that caught the attention of viewers in a big way. The show featured regular people with big dreams. The superstar hopefuls appeared before a panel of very experienced (and intense) judges and sang their hearts out, to see if they could make their dreams a reality. The original panel of judges included Paula Abdul, the harsh British judge Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson. The panel has changed significantly over the years but the show’s mission has remained the same, to help superstar singers find their spotlight. The show is responsible for many celebrities getting their start and skyrocketing into fame.
The show premiered in 2001 and has continued for 21 seasons. Part of the show’s popularity — and genius — was involving the viewers. It picked normal Americans with relatable stories and helped to make their dreams a reality. They also allowed viewers a say, as they were able to vote for their favorite contestants, allowing them to become even more invested in the show and its outcome. The method has been implemented on multiple other shows following suit attempting to achieve American Idol’s success, yet nothing really compares to the original. American Idol continues to be one of the most-watched reality tv shows of our time. Check it out on ABC.
9. Jon and Kate Plus 8-2007
Jon and Kate Plus 8 is a reality TV series that started a whole new trend in reality TV, the unfamiliar family subgenre. Viewers seemed to love watching families unfiltered in their home environment. They especially loved the unusual family dynamic of the Gosselin family which included Jon, his wife Kate their set of twins, and their unruly toddler sextuplets. The show premiered on TLC in 2007 and was an instant success. Soon shows about unusual families such as Sister Wives, 18 Kids and Counting and others followed suit. Unfortunately, the stress of the show seemed to prove too much for the family, and the couple split in 2009. The series continued and ultimately morphed into the show Kate Plus 8 which continued until 2017.
While viewers kept up with the Gosselin family, the original show’s glory was never again reached. Many felt Kate Gosselin’s behavior became increasingly attention-seeking and that her children seemed to come second to her fame. Yet the show itself certainly set a trend in the reality TV world, and TLC continues to produce shows that show the “unfamiliar and unfiltered” family dynamic that the Gosselins began. Check out the original and the spinoff on TLC.
10. Love Is Blind– 2020
Love Is Blind is a fairly new reality TV series, but it is one of the most popular, even in its short time on the air. Love Is Blind is the love child of the famous couple Nick and Vanessa Lachey. The show takes reality TV dating to a whole new level as the contestants are not only going on “dates” sight unseen (the couples are separated by walls) but some couples even agree to marriage, sight unseen. The premise of the show is to prove if love is truly blind or if the other factors of a relationship make a difference. After meeting in “the pods” the couples then go on honeymoons, and soon move in together. The couples then get to decide on their wedding day if they say “I do” or “I don’t”, the latter leaving their partner standing alone at the altar in front of their friends and family. …Ouch. No wonder the show is such a hit!
The couples experience breakups, makeups, and love triangles with other couples, it’s very dramatic and basically everything you could want in a reality show. In fact, one of the cast members from last season, Paul Peden, just got arrested! The series began in 2020 and continues to this day with four seasons under its belt and a call for many more.
Reality TV has defined a generation by creating an entirely new type of television. Not only is it addictive, but as we’ve seen it can actually be educational, informative, and trendsetting. So let’s hear it for the era of the unscripted because really, what would we do without it?