Reality TV has become engrained in the heart of American television because the drama that happens in real life is damn entertaining. Watching other peoples drama unfold, and forgetting about your own, is now one of America’s greatest past times. The popularity of reality TV has ballooned in the last few decades since the emergence of The Real World and Survivor. Since then, reality television series have been made in just about every genre, from love shows to addiction shows.
With all the reality content out there to choose from, I have made this list of ten shows that are an absolute must-watch if you are looking for your next reality TV fix.
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90 Day Fiance
90 Day Fiance is the show that has swept the nation in the last few years. It has consistently had incredible viewer turn out and viewer retention. Not to mention, the franchise keeps pushing out content with all its different as popular spin-offs. One common mistake viewers make with this show is that they don’t watch it in order, so if you are new to the show, make sure you start with Before the 90 Days.
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Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore was the first of its kind to profile a specific group of people and their antics within that group. This show led to other geographically specific niche shows like Buck Wild and Englands’ Geordie Shore.
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Catfish
With the rise in the popularity of dating apps, a show documenting how internet lovers come together or don’t was necessary. Catfish is here to catch all the drama when things don’t work out and when online romance dreams come true.
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Ru Paul’s Drag Race
Mama Ru was the first person to capture the extravagant world of Drag Queens on a global scale. Combining a competition show with world-class entertainment has made this show iconic.
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Rock of Love
With the emergence of love reality TV shows like Flavor of Love, I Love New York, Real Chance at Love, etc., the girls on Rock of Love felt a little more deranged than they did on the other shows of its kind. The quality of the rock n roll ladies made for great drama over a few seasons and created a few spin-offs as well.
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Intervention
This long-running show takes a deep dive into the world of addiction and the people it affects. This show is raw and tugs on your emotions every episode. Many people know someone affected by drug or alcohol addiction, which makes this show poignant and relatable.
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Survivor
Survivor is one of the original reality TV game shows that piqued America’s interest for many years. Combining team mentality, cool challenges and locations, and a great host, Survivor was a Primetime favorite.
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The Bachelor
The Bachelor was the first of its kind to capture the fantasy of love and the scandal of multiple partners on television. It is a hard show to stop watching because there are so many personalities coming together during the show, and The Bachelor tries to present it in a way that is not as trashy as some of the love reality shows that followed.
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16 & Pregnant and Teen Mom
America’s fascination with teen pregnancy coupled with a platform on MTV made these two shows very popular among teenagers and adults alike. Many different characters from different backgrounds on this show made the girls’ family dynamics and personal struggles on the show gripping to watch.
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Real Housewives
This show preys on America’s interest in the housewife and all the social drama, societal norms, and family boundaries it pushes. From fights to passive aggression to clique heavy drama, this show has had many spin-offs from wives in different cities and has been a staple in reality TV for a long time.
Conclusion
Watching people’s lives come together, fall apart, and rebuild is damn entertaining. Throw love, pregnancy, wealth, or addiction into the mix, and the drama gets explosive. This list has something for everybody, and each show is absolutely binge-worthy.
