100 best reality TV series

List of the best TV series in the reality TV genre, selected by visitors to our site: Man vs. Wild, America's Next Top Model, Queer Eye, MythBusters, Drawn Together, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, Gold Rush: South America, Vinnie Jones: Russia's Toughest, Brain Games, Construction Intervention, Project Runway, Dual Survival, Bam's Unholy Union, American Idol, The Amazing Race, The Hills, Kenny vs. Spenny, Duck Dynasty, Sugar Rush, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
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Markimdb: 4.1
Genrereality TV, game
CountryUnited Kingdom

A British reality television game show in which a number of contestants live in an isolated house for several weeks, trying to avoid being evicted by the public with the aim of winning a large cash prize at the end of the run.

Markimdb: 6.9
Genreaction, crime, reality TV
CountryUSA

Follow real-life law enforcement officers from various regions and departments of the United States armed with nothing but with cameras to capture their actions, performing their daily duty to serve and protect the public.

Markimdb: 5.9
Genrecomedy, reality TV
CountryUSA

Ashton Kutcher punks his unsuspecting A-list celebrity friends with over-the-top pranks.

Markimdb: 3.9
Genrecomedy, reality TV
CountryUSA

The Simple Life is an American reality television series. The series aired from December 2, 2003 to August 5, 2007. The first three seasons aired on Fox, and the final two on E!. The series depicts two wealthy socialites, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, as they struggle to do manual, low-paying jobs such as cleaning rooms, farm work, serving meals in fast-food restaurants and working as camp counselors.

Markimdb: 3.6
Genredrama, reality TV
CountryUSA

After high school graduation, "Laguna Beach" alumna Lauren sets out to live on her own in Los Angeles and work as an intern at Teen Vogue.

Markimdb: 5.7
Genrefantasy, reality TV
CountryUSA

Criss Angel Mindfreak is a show that aired on A&E Network. It debuted in 2005 and ended in 2010. It centered on stunts and street magic acts by magician Criss Angel.

Markimdb: 4.3
Genremusic, reality TV
CountryUnited Kingdom

The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent, contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions.

Markimdb: 7.1
Genrereality TV
CountryUSA

Iron Chef America: The Series is an American cooking show based on Fuji Television's Iron Chef, and is the second American adaptation of the series, following the failed Iron Chef USA. The show is produced by Food Network, which also carried a dubbed version of the original Iron Chef. Like the original Japanese program, the program is a culinary game show. In each episode, a new challenger chef competes against one of the resident "Iron Chefs" in a one-hour cooking competition based on a secret ingredient or ingredients, and sometimes theme.The show is presented as a successor to the original Iron Chef, as opposed to being a remake. The Chairman is portrayed by actor and martial artist Mark Dacascos, who is introduced as the nephew of the original Japanese chairman Takeshi Kaga. The commentary is provided solely by Alton Brown, & Kevin Brauch is the floor reporter. The music is written by composer Craig Marks, who released the soundtrack titled "Iron Chef America & The Next Iron Chef" by the end of 2010. In addition, regular ICA judge and Chopped host Ted Allen provided additional floor commentary for two special battles: Battle First Thanksgiving and Battle White House Produce.

Markimdb: 5.6
Genrereality TV, game
CountryUSA
Duration00:43

Aspiring models compete for a chance to break into the business with a panel of judges critiquing their progress throughout the competition.

Markimdb: 7.7
Genrereality TV
CountryUSA

Host and everyman Mike Rowe gets the grimy scoop on downright nasty occupations.

Markimdb: 4.2
Genremusic, reality TV, game
CountryUSA

Each year, hopeful singers from all over the country audition to be part of one of the biggest shows in American television history. Who will become the new American Idol?

Markimdb: 6
Genrereality TV
CountryUSA

Steven Seagal: Lawman is an American reality television series on the A&E Network which stars actor and martial artist Steven Seagal performing his duties as a reserve deputy sheriff in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. It premiered on December 2, 2009."I've been working as an officer in Jefferson Parish for two decades under most people's radar", said Seagal in the premiere episode, "The Way of the Gun". "I've decided to work with A&E on this series now, because I believe it's important to show the nation all the positive work being accomplished here in Louisiana—to see the passion and commitment that comes from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office in this post-Katrina environment." Seagal's current rank of Reserve Deputy Chief is largely ceremonial.

Markimdb: 8.3
Genredocumentary, detective, reality TV
CountryUSA

MythBusters is a science entertainment television program created and produced by Australia's Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel. The show's hosts, special effects experts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, use elements of the scientific method to test the validity of rumors, myths, movie scenes, adages, Internet videos, and news stories.

Markimdb: 4.7
Genrefamily, music, reality TV, game
CountryUSA

The competition sees celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts and voted on by viewers. Enjoy sizzling salsas, sambas and spray-tans as they vie for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy.

Markimdb: 8.2
Genreadventure, reality TV
CountryUnited Kingdom
Duration00:43

Bear strands himself in popular wilderness destinations where tourists often find themselves lost or in danger.

Markimdb: 6.6
Genrecomedy, family, reality TV, game
CountryUSA

Wipeout is a reality game show series in which contestants compete in what is billed as the "world's largest obstacle course". Wipeout is hosted and commentated by John Henson and John Anderson, while Jill Wagner acts as the "on-location" presenter. The interim presenter for one season was Vanessa Lachey. The creators and executive producers are Matt Kunitz and Scott Larsen. Distribution of the show is handled by Endemol USA. The show is taped at Sable Ranch in Canyon Country, Santa Clarita, California, about 40 miles north of Los Angeles. The show holds a "TV-PG L" rating for mild language by participants and some crude humor. Syndicated reruns of Wipeout are airing on truTV, and TBS. Season Six started on ABC on May 9, 2013.

Markimdb: 7.4
Genrereality TV, game
CountryUSA
Duration00:43

Aspiring fashion designers compete for a chance to break into the industry. Each week, a designer is eliminated from the competition after exhibiting their work in front of a judges' panel.

Markimdb: 4.5
Genrereality TV
CountryUSA

A fast-paced reality show that follows several incredibly busy and ambitious Manhattan women. Watch as they balance envious social calendars, challenging careers, and motherhood, with the hustle and bustle of the big city all around.

Markimdb: 5.8
Genrecomedy, reality TV
CountryUSA
Duration00:22

Bam's Unholy Union is an American reality series that aired on MTV and MTV Canada. It follows Bam Margera and his fiancee Missy Rothstein as they plan their wedding. In addition to Margera and Rothstein, the show features several members of the CKY Crew.

Markimdb: 3.6
Genrefamily, music, reality TV
CountryFrance

Star Academy is a French reality television show produced by the Dutch company Endemol. It consists of a contest of young singers. It spawned an equally successful show in Quebec called Star Académie. It is broadcast on NRJ12. At the end of each season, selected contestants would go on tour around France, Morocco, Switzerland, Belgium, Tunisia, and other French-speaking countries.The contestants stayed in the Dammarie-lès-Lys castle: The Vives-Eaux castle.The reality show was hosted by Nikos Aliagas and featured guest stars such as Madonna, Alizée, Céline Dion, Tina Arena, Nelly Furtado, Tokio Hotel, Andrea Bocelli, Charles Aznavour, Hélène Ségara, Peter Kingsbery, Phil Collins, Laura Pausini, Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue, Tina Turner, Mariah Carey, Lara Fabian, Rihanna, Shania Twain, Moby, Avril Lavigne, Anastacia, Alicia Keys, Craig David, 50 Cent, will.i.am, James Blunt, Diddy, Sting, David Guetta, Lenny Kravitz, Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Liza Minnelli, Johnny Hallyday, Paul Anka, Lionel Richie, Alanis Morissette, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Bee Gees, Ricky Martin, and Beyoncé.

Markimdb: 3.7
Genrecomedy, melodrama, drama, reality TV
CountryUSA

Jersey Shore is an American reality television series which ran on MTV from December 3, 2009 to December 20, 2012 in the United States. The series follows the lives of eight housemates spending their summer at the Jersey Shore in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Season 2 followed the cast escaping the cold northeast winter to Miami Beach, with Season 3 returning to the Jersey Shore. The fourth season, filmed in Italy, premiered on August 4, 2011. The show returned for a fifth season, at Seaside Heights on January 5, 2012. The fifth season finale aired on March 15, 2012. On March 19, 2012, MTV confirmed that the series would return for their sixth season. On August 30, 2012, MTV announced that the Jersey Shore would end after the sixth season, which premiered on October 4. The series finale aired on December 20, 2012.The show debuted amid large amounts of controversy regarding the use of the words "Guido/Guidette," portrayals of Italian-American stereotypes, and scrutiny from locals because the cast members were not residents of the area.The series garnered record ratings for MTV, making it the network's most viewed series telecast ever. The series' cast have also been credited with introducing unique lexicon and phrases into American popular culture.

Markimdb: 7.6
Genresport, reality TV
CountryUSA

Top Shot is an American reality television show that debuted on the History Channel on June 6, 2010. The show features 16 contestants, split into two teams of eight, competing in various types of shooting challenges. One by one, the contestants are eliminated until only one remains. That contestant receives a $100,000 grand prize and the title of "Top Shot." Survivor contestant Colby Donaldson is the host.

Markimdb: 7.4
Genrereality TV
CountryUSA

Construction Intervention is a program on the Discovery Channel in which host Charlie Frattini and his team save small business that are on the brink of closing due to bad contractors or botched construction. They then get to work, completing all aspects of construction in a mere four days, and give the owner back a brand new business, ready for the masses.

Markimdb: 4.1
Genrereality TV
CountryUSA

A view into the lives of several women and their families who live in one of the wealthiest communities in the country with the viewer taken "inside the gates" to show their lives aren't always perfect.

Markimdb: 4.8
Genrereality TV, game
CountryUSA, United Kingdom

The ultimate sixteen-week job interview where eighteen Americans compete in a series of rigorous business tasks, many of which include prominent Fortune 500 companies and require street smarts and intelligence to conquer, in order to show the boss that they are the best candidate for his companies. In each episode, the losing team is sent to the boardroom where they are judged on their performance in the task. One person is fired and sent home.

Markimdb: 4.7
Genredrama, reality TV
CountryUSA

A cast of young women, who recognize that their outrageous behavior has hindered their relationships, careers and lives, are brought together in a beautiful mansion. They claim they want to change, but will living together help them move forward and turn their lives around – or will chaos rule?

Markimdb: 5.7
Genrefamily, music, reality TV, game
CountryUSA

A weekly talent competition where an array of performers – from singers and dancers, to comedians and novelty acts – vie for a $1 million cash prize.

Markimdb: 5.1
Genrereality TV
CountryUSA

A reality series that follows some of the most affluent women in the country as they enjoy the lavish lifestyle that only Beverly Hills can provide.

Markimdb: 7.4
Genreadventure, reality TV
CountryUSA
Duration00:43

Two people with drastically different backgrounds and survival strategies take on some of the planet's most unforgiving terrain to demonstrate how the right skills and creative thinking can keep you alive in the most dangerous situations.

Markimdb: 4.4
Genrereality TV
CountryUSA

Bravo's cameras turn to the Southern states as the network presents this inside look at the Real Housewives of Atlanta. These women handle the personal dramas that affect their affluent lifestyles with a signature Southern brand of “style” and “grace.”

Markimdb: 5
Genremusic, reality TV
CountryUSA

The X Factor was a singing competition on a mission to find America’s next undiscovered superstar. The X Factor, on FOX is going to give someone like you the chance to win a $5 million recording contract with Sony Music. What’s great about The X Factor is that it is open to anyone – vocal groups and solo singers, over the age of 12 – and there’s absolutely no upper age limit.

Markimdb: 5.9
Genrereality TV
CountryUSA

Sons of Guns is a reality television series that airs on the Discovery Channel. The series centers on Red Jacket Firearms LLC, a Louisiana-based business that manufactures and sells custom weapons. Will Hayden is the founder and owner of the shop, while his daughter and business partner Stephanie manages the office.As on the Discovery Channel series MythBusters, this show practices a degree of self-censorship and safety-consciousness. Each episode begins with a staff member warning viewers not to try anything demonstrated on the show at home. In addition, during scenes of catastrophic failure, the crew will remind the audience not to try anything at home. The program also makes a noted point to avoid showing specific detail of how weapon modifications or fabrications are performed.

Markimdb: 6.8
Genrereality TV
CountryUSA

Chef Robert Irvine tries to turn around restaurants across America that are facing an impending demise if things don't improve. With a $10,000 budget and two days to work, Irvine uses his creativity and resourcefulness to turn the eatery's fortunes around.

Markimdb: 7
Genredocumentary, reality TV
CountryUSA

Pickers like Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz are on a mission to recycle America, even if it means diving into countless piles of grimy junk or getting chased off a gun-wielding homeowner’s land. Hitting back roads from coast to coast, the two men earn a living by restoring forgotten relics to their former glory, transforming one person’s trash into another’s treasure.

Markimdb: 7.1
Genrecomedy, reality TV
CountryUSA

Betty White's Off Their Rockers is an American reality comedy television series broadcast on NBC. A sneak preview was released on January 16, 2012 in tribute to Betty White's 90th birthday. The show officially premiered April 4, 2012. It is based on the Belgian TV format Benidorm Bastards. White hosts the series, and also serves as an executive producer for the show.On May 13, 2012, NBC renewed the series for a second season in the mid-season schedule. On July 11, 2013, The Hollywood Reporter reported that NBC had canceled the series, citing a drop-off in ratings and low DVR viewership.

Markimdb: 2.7
Genredrama, family, reality TV
CountryUSA

A peek inside the exploits and privileged private lives of the blended Kardashian-Jenner family, including sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloé.

Markimdb: 5
Genrereality TV
CountryUSA

Mob Wives is an American reality television series on VH1 that made its debut April 17, 2011. It follows six Staten Island women after their husbands or fathers are arrested and imprisoned for crimes connected to the Mafia.

Markimdb: 4.5
Genredocumentary, reality TV
CountryUnited Kingdom

Reality series following the lives, loves and awks of SW3's bright young things.

Markimdb: 4.3
Genrereality TV
CountryUSA

Jenelle, Chelsea, Kailyn, and Leah are four young women navigating complicated lives. It's not always easy being a young mom.

Markimdb: 7.1
Genrereality TV
CountryCanada

Brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott help home buyers to purchase renovation projects.

Markimdb: 7.5
Genrereality TV
CountryUSA

Chef Ramsay attempts to do the impossible: turn one ordinary and empty restaurant into the most popular, sought-after venue in town. There's no time for polite small talk as he embarks on his mission to turn around the fortunes of each restaurant in just one week and save them from their living nightmares.

Markimdb: 6.3
Genrecomedy, drama, family, reality TV
CountryUSA, Netherlands

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is an American reality television series providing home improvements for less fortunate families and community schools. The show is hosted by former model, carpenter and veteran television personality Ty Pennington.Each episode features a family that has faced some sort of recent or ongoing hardship such as a natural disaster or a family member with a life-threatening illness, in need of new hope. The show's producers coordinate with a local construction contractor, which then coordinates with various companies in the building trades for a makeover of the family's home. This includes interior, exterior and landscaping, performed in seven days while the family is on vacation and documented in the episode. If the house is beyond repair, they replace it entirely. The show's producers and crew film set and perform the makeover but do not pay for it. The materials and labor are donated. Many skilled and unskilled volunteers assist in the rapid construction of the house.EM:HE is considered a spinoff of Extreme Makeover, an earlier series providing personal makeovers to selected individuals, which the Home Edition has now outlasted. This show displays extreme changes to help recreate someone's space. However, the format differs considerably; in the original Extreme Makeover, for instance, participants were not necessarily chosen based on any recent hardship, whereas the family's backstory is an important component of Home Edition. EM:HE also has similarities to other home renovation series such as Trading Spaces, on which Pennington was previously a key personality.

Markimdb: 8.3
Genrecomedy, drama, documentary, reality TV, game
CountryUSA

Get ready to have your mind messed with! "Brain Games" is a groundbreaking series that uses interactive experiments, misdirection and tricks to demonstrate how our brains create the illusion of seamless reality through our memory, through our sensory perception, and how we focus our attention.

Markimdb: 8.6
Genrecomedy, reality TV
CountryUSA

This hidden-camera series follows four lifelong friends -- Brian "Q"' Quinn, James "Murr"' Murray, Joe Gatto and Sal Vulcano -- who take dares to an outrageous level. To find out who is best under pressure, the guys compete in awkward and outrageous hidden-camera hijinks with the loser performing what is deemed to be the most-mortifying challenge yet.

Markimdb: 3.1
Genremelodrama, drama, reality TV, game
CountryUSA

A single bachelor dates multiple women over several weeks, narrowing them down to hopefully find his true love.

Markimdb: 5.4
Genrereality TV, game
CountryUSA

The Biggest Loser features obese people competing to win a cash prize by losing the highest percentage of weight relative to their initial weight.

Markimdb: 3.8
Genrereality TV
CountryIndia

The Indian version of the reality show where a number of contestants (known as "housemates") live in a purpose-built house and are isolated from the rest of the world. Each week, housemates nominate two of their fellow housemates for eviction, and the housemates who receive the most nominations faces a public vote out.

Markimdb: 4.5
Genrereality TV
CountryUSA

Dance Moms is an American dance reality series that debuted on Lifetime on July 13, 2011. Created by Collins Avenue Productions, it is set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the Abby Lee Dance Company, and follows children's early careers in dance show business, and their mothers. A spinoff series, Dance Moms: Miami, set in Miami at Victor Smalley and Angel Armas' dance studio, Stars Dance Studio, premiered on April 3, 2012, and was cancelled in September 2012 after eight episodes.On October 10, 2012, Lifetime announced that they had picked up Dance Moms for a third season, consisting of 26 episodes, which debuted on January 1, 2013.

Markimdb: 5.9
Genrecrime, reality TV
CountryUSA

Think the days of bootleggers, backwoods stills and "white lightning" are over? Not a chance! It's a multi-million dollar industry. But perhaps more importantly to the moonshiners, it's a tradition dating back hundreds of years, passed down to them from their forefathers. It's part of their history and culture. While this practice is surprisingly alive and well, it's not always legal. Moonshiners tells the story of those who brew their shine - often in the woods near their homes using camouflaged equipment - and the local authorities who try to keep them honest. Viewers will witness practices rarely, if ever, seen on television including the sacred rite of passage for a moonshiner - firing up the still for the first time. They will also meet legends, including notorious moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton.

Markimdb: 7.6
Genrecomedy, reality TV
CountryUSA

A show for Fanboys by Fanboys. Set in uber-geek Kevin Smith's iconic comic shop Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash, the show explores every nook and cranny of Fanboy culture from A to Z. Endless circular debates about the technical accuracy of the USS Enterprise's warp-core schematics? Snarky comic aficionados with an encyclopedic knowledge of every Marvel back issue? You bet.




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