Nowadays, reality television is all the rage, as seen in the well-received recent season of the strategic reality game showTraitorsand the new season of the exciting singing competitionThe Masked Singer. After all, in a world in the middle of the digital age, audiences simply want to see the real sides of ordinary people. Many reality television shows (besides Bravo’sReal Housewivesand others similar to that) are centered around some sort of competition, whether it be talent-based or not.
People are cast from around the world to participate to win a grand prize or become superstars. Apart from its interesting and entertaining mechanics, some of the best reality TV shows have cultivated massive fanbases as they feature magnetic and charismatic personalities. With so many reality shows on the air, there are a select few that reign as the best of all time, including the classic showSurvivorand the inspirational and entertainingRuPaul’s Drag Race.
10‘Survivor’ (2000 - )
Created by Charlie Parsons
Survivoris a classic reality television show that easily takes the cake as one of the most iconic and well-known series in its category.The show takes a group of strangers and places them in a remote area, with thebest seasons ofSurvivorhappening in picturesque locations in countries like the Philippines and Brazil. The contestants must provide food, fire, and shelter for themselves and those living with them.
The show is well-loved by fans for its intense challengesthat involve endurance, puzzles, and mental fortitude, for a prize of $1,000,000. What’s more, the strategic gameplay and social dynamics among contestants also play a huge part in the show’s popularity, with alliances and betrayals happening left and right.Survivorhas such an intriguing concept, and has brought in fans for 46 consecutive seasons!
Watch on Amazon Prime
9‘The Amazing Race’ (2001 - )
Created by Elise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster
The Amazing Raceis another iconic reality television seriesthat is definitely worth the watch. The CBS series is a reality game show where 11 or 12 teams of two must race around the world. The entire race is split into legs, with each leg requiring the pairs to deduce clues, navigate foreign countries, speak with locals, and do other challenges while also debating the best form of travel with a limited budget.
The series is so unique — how often does the American public get to see teams compete in a reality series all over the world at once? It’s also an interesting show to watch ascontestants often participate in challenges that highlight the culture and traditions of the countriesthey visit, such as traditional dances, rituals, or food preparation.
The Amazing Race
Watch on Hulu
8‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ (2009 - )
Created by RuPaul Charles
You better werk! Covergirl!RuPaul’s Drag Raceis a competition series bringing in some of the most magnificent and established drag performers from across the country to compete for the crown. The contestants go on challenges that involve impersonating well-known figures, singing, dancing, and acting. In each episode, the two queens that have done the worst will have to Lip Sync for Their Life to a popular song.
The series is primarily judged byRuPaul Charles,Michelle Visage, and an alternating third judge. It goes without saying that the show hasplatformed some amazing queens and brought to light LGBTQ+ issues.RuPaul’s Drag Raceis currently airing its 16th season and has recently crowned the amazingformer Miss ContinentalSasha Colbyas the winner of its 15th season.
RuPaul’s Drag Race
7‘Hell’s Kitchen’ (2005 - )
Created by Gordon Ramsay
Hell’s Kitchenis a legendary reality competition cooking show that washosted by the infamousGordon Ramsay. In the series, two teams of chefs compete for a job as head chef at a restaurant while working in the kitchen of a restaurant set up in a television studio.Hell’s Kitchenhas managed to maintain a loyal viewership thanks to its nail-biting challenges that involve cooking for special events, creating dishes with limited ingredients, and replicating Ramsay’s dishes.
Ramsey doesn’t hold back inHell’s Kitchenand the show has gone down in history for featuring Ramsey’s explicit outbursts. Ramsay’s repeated use of the phrase “It’s raw!” when critiquing undercooked food has also become a running gag on the show. It’sHell’s Kitchen, after all — if you’re able to’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen!
Hell’s Kitchen
Aspiring chefs face intense culinary challenges under the watchful eye of Chef Gordon Ramsay, competing in grueling dinner services and high-stakes cooking battles. Ramsay pushes contestants to their limits with his demanding standards, and each episode ends with eliminations as they fight for the ultimate prize: becoming head chef at a prestigious restaurant.
6‘The Voice’ (2011 - )
Created by John de Mol Jr.
The Voiceis a reality competition series from NBC that focuses on finding unsigned vocal talent! The series has four famous singers as judges who form mentorships with each of the contestants they choose to hit their button for — the catch is that their chair is turned around, and they can only hear the contestant.
Some of the mechanics ofThe Voiceinclude steals and saves, where the coaches have the ability to “steal” contestants from other teams during the battle rounds and “save” them from elimination during the knockout rounds. Another interesting feature in the show is the Block Button, which allows coaches to prevent another coach from turning their chair for a contestant they want to be on their team. The winner of the series is determined by votes, and they receive $100,000 and a record deal with Universal Music Group. The currentcast of judges onThe VoiceincludesReba McEntire,Chance The Rapper,John Legend, andDan + Shay.
Watch on Spectrum
5‘American Idol’ (2002 - )
Created by Simon Fuller
Perhaps America’s most famous singing competition series of all time isAmerican Idol. The series, which took a break in 2016 and returned after its hiatus in 2018, has a similar concept to that ofThe Voicein finding new singing talent. Some of the most successful winners of the show include the Grammy winnerKelly Clarksonand Oscar winnerJennifer Hudson.
The contestants audition for famous singers or music icons, and then those chosen to move forward must compete in group and solo challenges to become the next America Idol. The current lineup of judges includeKaty Perry,Lionel Richie, andLuke Bryan.The winner, chosen by American voting, wins a record deal. The series is on its 21st season, with more to come (especially in this re-vamped style).
American Idol
Watch on Fubo
4‘Big Brother’ (2000 - )
Big Brotheris a reality competition show based on the Dutch series of the same name. The title draws inspiration fromGeorge Orwell’s character in his book1984, which follows a group of contestants (or “HouseGuests”) as they live together in a specially constructed house isolated from the outside world.
The contestants onBig Brotherare constantly monitored by video camerasand microphones and compete for a huge cash prize. Some of the most memorable scenes in the show includeDick Donato’s aggressive strategyas he manipulated his competitors to win the season, as well as the Brigade alliance in Season 12 where four contestants controlled evictions and successfully made it to the final four together. The series was so successful that the network even produced spin-off reality competitions with celebrities.
Big Brother
3‘Dancing With the Stars’ (2005 - )
Created by: Richard Hopkins
Dancing With the Starsis an American dance competition that has become extremely popular since it premiered in 2005. In the show, celebrities and professional dancers are paired together to learn dances. Each pair must then compete for the judges’ points and audience votes.
Pairs are eliminated by having the lowest amount of points and the audience votes until only one remains.Dancing With the Starsoften features theme nightswhere contestants perform dances related to specific themes, such as movie night, Disney night, or country night. The show’s judging panel has also included a variety of dance experts and celebrities, with current judges including dancing legendsDerek Hough,Bruno Tonioli, andCarrie Ann Inaba.
Dancing with the Stars
Watch on Disney+
2‘The Great British Bake Off’ (2010 - )
Created by: Anna Beattie
The Great British Bake Offis a British television baking competition full of joy and hilarity. The series follows groups of amateur bakers as they compete against each other in a series of rounds in order to impress judges. WhileThe Great British Bake Offis relatively relaxed compared to other cooking reality TV shows, there have been a ton of chaotic moments in the show. Such include contestantIain Watters' uncooked baked Alaska that was thrown in the trash and judgePaul Hollywood’stiff with some of the contestants.
One contestant is eliminated in each round and the winner is selected from the finalists.The Great British Bake Offwas initially hosted by the duoMel GiedroycandSue Perkins, but is currently hosted bybeloved talk show hostAllison Hammondand comedianNoel Fielding.
Watch on Netflix
1‘America’s Got Talent’ (2006 - )
Created by: Simon Cowell
America’s Got Talentis an American talent show competition part of theGot Talentfranchise, created by frequent reality show competition judge and famous music producerSimon Cowell. The show brings in many random acts from across the country as they attempt to impress a panel of four celebrity judges with their talent—whatever it may be.
The contestants then move on and are eliminated one-by-one by the judges and audience vote until the live final, where the winner is selected. The series has had 18 seasons thus far and is such a fun watch to celebrate Americans’ many talents and dedication to greatness. VentriloquistPaul Zerdin, a group of canine performers called the Olate Dogs, and magicianMat Francoare some of the amazing talents that wonAmerica’s Got Talent.
