Considering how prevalent reality television is these days, it's got to be a pretty daunting task to try and put together a comprehensive list of the best and worst of all time. But Entertainment Weekly thinks they've done just that. They've compiled the top 20 reality shows of all time, but also the ten worst reality shows of all time. All in all, they did a pretty damned good job. I completely agree with the top six, but they lose me with Jackass at number seven. I have never understood the appeal of filming morons doing stupid things on purpose just to be stupid. But there were some shows missing from the list completely, like Little People Big World, So You Think You Can Dance and Beauty and the Geek. Surely those shows are better than The Hills and The Real Housewives of Sesame Street, or whatever franchise they're spinning now.
The worst list nailed it, as well, though I'll admit I actually watched The Swan. And they missed Joe Millionaire from that list, too. And they put Cheaters on there, which is more akin to Cops and that genre, and if we're going to go there, then Cops should definitely be toward the top of this list. Here's the quick rundown of the top 20 and the bottom ten. Let me know in the comments which shows you disagreed with, and which shows they forgot completely.
Top 20
- Survivor
- The Amazing Race
- Osbournes
- Project Runway
- The Real World
- American Idol
- Jackass
- Top Chef
- Project Greenlight
- America's Next Top Model
- The Bachelor
- Bands on the Run
- The Real Housewives
- The Hills
- Big Brother
- Blind Date
- Deadliest Catch
- The Apprentice
- Jon & Kate Plus 8
- Flavor of Love
- The Swan
- Britney and Kevin: Chaotic
- Are You Hot?
- Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?
- The Anna Nicole Show
- American Idol/Dancing With the Stars (results shows)
- Cheaters
- Kill Reality
- Boy Meets Boy
- Skating With Celebrities
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-11-2009 @ 3:21PM
MarcDom7 said...
The thing is, Jackass goes beyond mere idiocy and sort of becomes dadaist performance art. It's ridiculous more than stupid.
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6-11-2009 @ 3:46PM
Rico said...
In paragraph two you say "The Apprentice" is missing from the list. Then you show the list, which includes...."The Apprentice"
What is missing from the "best" list is "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance". And missing from the "worst" list is "Temptation Island".
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6-11-2009 @ 3:55PM
Darren said...
Survivor, Amazing Race and Big brother should be the only ones in the top - the rest should all be GONE - BUT Those there are not reality TV - they are GAME shows! So basically everything should be in the bottom and off the air!
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6-11-2009 @ 3:55PM
Darren said...
I meant those three are game shows
6-11-2009 @ 6:07PM
MarcDom7 said...
But they're not game shows in the way that Jeopardy is a game show. It's considered a "reality competition" as they are technically different.
6-11-2009 @ 4:22PM
bc said...
No way is 'Boy Meets Boy' one of the 10 worst reality shows ever. And I think I'd find space for 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' in the top 20.
They didn't miss 'The Apprentice'; it's third from the bottom in the Top 20.
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6-11-2009 @ 4:10PM
StillBash said...
Wow you're actually incorporating the List - Why not make it a 20 stop click-through? ;-)
I totally agree on "Beauty & the Geek". That one's an underappreciated gem if you ask me. Real class, few scripting, little tweaking. It almost comes across as being real Reality TV...
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6-11-2009 @ 4:13PM
Derburger. said...
The Joe Schmo Show, the fake reality show. That thing was comedy gold. Although only season 2.
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6-11-2009 @ 4:14PM
gt said...
agree with most of it, though missing that i remember being the pioneer is the jessica simpson newlywed show.
blind date was great but is that really reality? if so, then singled out and others i cant think of now should be on there
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6-11-2009 @ 4:53PM
Rico said...
The BEST list is also missing "Amish in the City"
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6-11-2009 @ 5:27PM
nate said...
completely agree about the joe schmoe show. best reality show ever.
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6-11-2009 @ 6:37PM
Pierre-Luc Allie said...
I don't watch it anymore but The Ultimate Fighter launch a diying sport into mainstream and transform a higly in debt compagny (45 millions $) into a billion dollar business.
A part from Survivor not a single show on the list at a biggest impact on our culture than The Ultimate Fighter.
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6-11-2009 @ 6:39PM
Pierre-Luc Allie said...
I don't watch it anymore but The Ultimate Fighter launch a diying sport into mainstream and transform a higly in debt compagny (45 millions $) into a billion dollar business.
A part from Survivor not a single show on the list at a biggest impact on our culture than The Ultimate Fighter.
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6-12-2009 @ 1:34AM
Owloo said...
MISSING
the Mole
and
murder in small town X
both would be in the top with me
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6-12-2009 @ 8:58AM
Jimmy said...
I'm OK with Survivor being No. 1, but I think The Real World should be right behind it. Even though it has degenerated over time, the first few seasons were ground-breaking.
As for the worst, I admit: I liked Are You Hot?
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6-14-2009 @ 4:14AM
deebopalula said...
I would add "Top Design" to the "Best" list and add "I love New York" and "Paradise Hotel" to the worst.
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6-14-2009 @ 2:22PM
Becky said...
I would also add "What Not to Wear" to the Top 20.
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6-18-2009 @ 10:30PM
Nelly said...
I liked the Swan..it's not any worse than this"i'm a celebrity(psuedo celebrity) get me out of here!
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6-16-2009 @ 8:52PM
Nelly said...
I liked the Swan..it's not any worse than, "i'm a celebrity, get me out of here".
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