Summary
Reality TV as we know it today has stemmed from two things: game shows and documentaries, which is whymany find competition shows so appealing. Combining the base elements of reality TV, competition shows test the most primal and base instincts of human nature. While not everyone isinterested in competing on a reality TV show, nearly every person has the drive to compete in some circumstances. Some competition shows take that instinct and push it to the limits of physicality, while others ask their contenders to compete in a mental game.
Asreality TV shows have shifted and changedthrough the years, the style of programming has changed to fit with the culture, and to evolve with the times. In the 1970s and 80s,gameshow-style competition shows were the most popular series that resemble today’s style of reality TV. In the 90s, things began to change as physical competition came into play, and the docu-series style of reality TV began to form. The 00s brought reality TV to the forefront, changing the expectations viewers had for reality shows and the way they consumed unscripted content.
With the rise of reality TV in the 2000s, viewers became more familiar with the structures used in reality programming, and producers felt more comfortable pushing the envelope. Shows likeBig BrotherandSurvivorwere some of the earliest reality TV competitions that are still on the air today,while other series likeThe Challengeformed on a whim, bringing reality TV stars from other successful shows together to compete. With competition being a part of human nature,the way reality TV continued to evolve toward competitive series wasn’t surprising. Still, the genre had nay-sayers as shows became more complex.
Asreality TV began to approach the modern era, competition became one of the most interesting parts of the genre. Rather than simply watching people live their lives, watching them compete was a novelty. With complicated games full of specific rules,competition series developed cult followings who were able to divulge on social mediain order to consume even more content about their favorite players, as well as their least favorites. Reality TV competition became must-see-TV for many, changing the rules of the genre and broadening its horizons.
Although reality TV shows will likely always be a major part of most viewer’s TV diets,competition series have become a standard watch for the majority of TV viewers in general. From talent shows to strategy shows, survival shows to cooking shows, reality TV competitions have been thriving in the last several years more than ever before. Asthe reality TV genre continues to grow, competition shows will always be an ever-evolving part of the viewing experience.
20 Best Reality TV Shows Right Now
Reality TV is more popular than ever. With so many to choose from, here are some of the best reality TV shows to stream or watch right now.
20The Challenge
39 Seasons
Originally known asTheReal World vs. Road Rules Challenge,The Challengehas been one of the longest-running reality TV competition serieson the air. While the show originally brought together stars fromThe Real WorldandRoad Rulesto compete head-to-head, things have changed in subsequent years. Now,The Challengeinvites veteran Challengers like five-time winner Chris “C.T.” Tamburello and Challengers from other shows, likeBig Brother’s Kaycee Clark, to compete for a cash prize.
Mixing social strategy with physical competition,The Challengebrings together some of the best competitors from all over the worldto test their strengths. With stars coming out ofThe Challengelike Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio and Cara Maria Sorbello, the series has created some of the biggest stars in reality TV competition, as well as some of the biggest rivalries.The Challengeseason 40, a battle of the eras, will explore the dynamics between the four distinct eras of the series.
The Challenge
Cast
“The Challenge” is an MTV reality competition show that began in 1998 as a spin-off of “The Real World” and “Road Rules.” Originally featuring alumni from these shows, it now includes contestants from various MTV and non-MTV franchises. Participants compete in extreme challenges, with winners sharing a large cash prize.
19Big Brother
26 Seasons
Another long-running competition series, CBS’sBig Brotheris one of the most interesting strategy shows on the air. Bringing together a group of houseguests who will live together and compete with each other for an entire summer,Big Brotheris typically known as a season-long power struggle. The houseguests compete for food, luxuries, and power throughout the season until only one is left standing, winning the $750,000 grand prize.
WhileBig Brotherhas been known for its fascinating seasonal twists and turns, the series has also been known for its scandals.TheBig Brotherlive feedshave been a major part of the series throughout its run, but in recent years, the feeds have gotten some houseguests eviscerated on social media and ejected from the game for an array of scandals.Big Brotheras a game tends to be an interesting summer-long power struggle, but has revamped itself for its current season to make it even more enjoyable.
Big Brother
Big Brotheris a reality game show that is based on a Dutch series of the same name. Each season, contestants, known as HouseGuests, live in the same house and compete for upwards of $500,000. Contestants are constantly monitored by cameras placed throughout the house and are voted out each week in an eviction
18The Trust: A Game Of Greed
1 Season
With just one season under its belt, Netflix’sThe Trust: A Game Of Greedhas become one of the most interesting reality TV competitions on the air. The premise is simple:a group of players are brought into the game having already won the prize pot, but it’s up to them to go through a series of games and tests that could change their opinions on who deserves the money. The group then goes through days of competition where they must assess each other’s worthiness.
ThroughoutThe Trust,the players are tasked with different challenges that will give some advantages. These advantages could find players awarded money from the pot, should they choose to take it, or allow them to make more money for the group. Withplayers keeping secrets and backstabbing often,The Trust: A Game Of Greedseason 1was a fascinating look at social dynamics in a pressurized situation.
The Trust: A Game Of Greed
The Trust: A Game Of Greed is a competitive reality show where contestants vie for a substantial cash prize by forming alliances and facing strategic challenges. Host Elena Goldberg guides participants as they navigate treacherous social dynamics, aiming to outwit rivals while managing their own ambitions. The show delves into the psychological aspects of trust and manipulation, capturing the high stakes of each decision.
17Survivor
46 Seasons
One of the most popular reality TV competitions of all time,Survivorhas been on the air since 2000 and the game has been revamped and revitalized several timesover the nearly 25-year run.Survivorhas a very simple premise. It asks its players, dubbed Castaways, to outwit, outplay, and outlast each other in the elements of the jungle for a pre-determined amount of days. Split into tribes, the Castaways onSurvivorhave to work together while plotting each other’s demise.
WhileSurvivorhas a cult followingalready, there are new fans of the show appearing regularly who typically binge through the entire 46 seasons of the show available. With several different eras ofSurvivorto choose from, some of the most strategic plays in reality TV history have come from the series.Survivor47,the show’s next season, will premiere in the fall of 2024.
Survivor
Survivor is a reality competition series set in remote locations where contestants, divided into tribes, must survive with minimal resources for approximately 39 days. Participants face physical challenges for rewards and immunity, with losing tribes attending Tribal Council to vote off a member. Released in 2000.
16The Mole
2 Seasons
AlthoughThe Molewas once a 2000s reality serieshosted by a baby-faced Anderson Cooper, the show was rebooted by Netflix in 2022 with a whole new style. The competition itself asks the players to work together to earn money for their prize pot in challenges, butone of the players in the group is the titular mole, sabotaging every move. The mole’s only job on the show is to derail challenges, keeping money out of the prize pot.
Throughout the season, players are eliminated by way of a nightly quiz that the players take to asses who they think the mole is. The player with the least accurate answers are eliminated from the game, while the rest move on to gather more data. With two seasons of the rebooted series on Netflix,The Molefeeds off an element of deceptionthat viewers tend to find fascinating.
The Mole
A reboot of the 2001 original adventure/reality game show, the Mole sees twelve contestants vying for a massive cash prize as they compete in increasingly tricky “missions” with one problem - one of them is the Mole. It’s the Mole’s mission to sabotage the players' efforts to win the pool for themselves eventually - but if they’re discovered, they’ll lose the game. Players will be eliminated each week based on a knowledge test given to them by the production staff - whoever reveals themself to know the least about the Mole will be forced off of the show.
15Physical: 100
Another Netflix competition,Physical: 100is a series that asks its competitors to show their best physical abilities, pitting them against one another until just one is left standing. A South Korean series,Physical: 100employs some fascinating editing native to the South Korean style, which makes it a doubly interesting watch. The series brings together 100 of the fittest physical competitors in the world to test their strength and abilities, running on pure competition.
The first season ofPhysical: 100was a major hit on Netflix, drawing in audiences from all over the reality TV space. The show created such buzz thatPhysical: 100season 2was greenlit quickly, bringing another season with a whole new theme of the show to the horizon. Showing off some of the most incredible physical feats on reality TV,Physical: 100is well worth the watch.
Physical: 100
In this competitive reality series, one hundred elite athletes showcase their physical prowess in a series of grueling challenges. The participants, drawn from various disciplines, vie to be recognized as possessing the ultimate physique, testing their strength, endurance, and mental fortitude throughout the competition.
14Ultimate Beastmaster
3 Seasons
Another physically-inclined series,Ultimate Beastmasteris more in the vein of a traditional competition series than a pure test of physical strength.The competitors in the series are all traditional athletes who are competing against one another in an obstacle course, leading to a larger obstacle course called The Beast. Competitors must be fast, agile, and adaptable to make it through rounds of competition.
AsUltimate Beastmasteradvances through rounds of the season, some competitors continue on while others don’t make it through the course in its entirety and are eliminated from the competition. While there’s a major sense of competition throughout the show, the competitors are also supportive of one another in a way that’s quite touching to watch. The series is one of the few purely physical competition shows that is genuinely captivating.
13The Amazing Race
36 Seasons
Another staple of reality TV competition,The Amazing Raceis one of the long-standing competition shows that hasbeen able to continue to adapt to the world as it’s carried on. Beginning in 2001,The Amazing Racehas been able to capture some of the most incredible locations in the world through the lens of a reality TV competition. As the title states, the series is a large race around the world between teams of competitors that all have a pre-existing relationship.
Dealing with logistical issues surrounding flights, cars, buses, and trains, the competitors onThe Amazing Racealso have to deal with challenges set forth by the show. Completing detours and roadblocks,the teams have to work together to get through the race and find themselves first at the finish line. The longtime series has been to some incredible places through the years, and withThe Amazing Raceseason 36having just wrapped up, it’s still a staple of reality TV competition.
The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race is a reality TV competition series that features multiple teams making a global trek through a variety of countries. Hosted by Phil Keoghan, the show travels to multiple cities and towns, where players must undergo a series of culturally relevant games and puzzles to progress. At certain “pit stops,” the teams in last place during a leg of the race are eliminated. This continues until there is only one team left.
12The Circle
6 Seasons
A Netflix original reality TV competition,The Circleuses isolation to its advantage, putting a fun new spin on the traditional strategy series. The competition brings several players into the game, giving them each an isolated apartment equipped withThe Circle’s own brand of social media. The players must each set up a profile, then get to know each other through a series of chats, DMs, and games. Faced with ranking each other, some players are ranked high and become Influencers, while others rank low and get blocked from the game.
With different sets of twists and turns throughout each season,The Circlecreates an isolated environment for its players where they can choose to enter the game as themselves of as catfish,using entirely fake names, photos, and details about their lives. Hoping to become the highest-rated player,The Circlecontestants often struggleto keep themselves afloat as they move through the game. With six seasons, the Netflix competition is a fun watch.
The Circle
The Circle is a reality competition show initially conceived as a British series until this American adaptation launched on Netflix in 2020. In The Circle, players live in temporary apartments separate from one another. They must communicate through a custom-made social media platform for the game show to win $100,000. Players can lie and present themselves however they wish, allowing them to cheat the rankings to be rated higher by other contestants. If a contestant is “blocked,” they are removed from the game. Once eliminated, the true identity of a player will be revealed to the remaining contestants.
11American Ninja Warrior
16 Seasons
Much likeUltimate Beastmaster, American Ninja Warriorcreates a massive obstacle course for its competitors to venture through, changing it up from season to season. One of the longest-running purely physical competition series,American Ninja Warriorcan be an incredible series for those looking for inspiration. The competitors typically share their journeys to each stage of the competition, shedding light on the complexities of their lives outside of the sport.
Shining light on the competitors who fill ninja gyms throughout the US,American Ninja Warriorgoes deeperthan simply showing off incredible displays of strength. The series has been on for a stunning 16 seasons, and will likely continue on for a long while. With regular athletes who are featured on the series,American Ninja Warriorhas managed to create a familyfrom a group of incredible competitors.
American Ninja Warrior
American Ninja Warrior is a reality competition series in which contestants tackle a series of challenging obstacle courses in various cities across the United States. Contestants aim to advance to the national finals in Las Vegas, where they compete for a grand prize by completing increasingly difficult stages. The show emphasizes physical fitness, endurance, and mental fortitude, showcasing competitors from diverse backgrounds.
