Admittedly, modern reality TV shows have gotten a bad rap with the table flipping, explicit scenes, and all-around bad behavior. What can we say? Audiences like what they like. But, here’s the thing, reality TV shows are not all swear words and hair-pulling. With the numerous angles and wide content pool to draw inspiration from, reality TV is also the gift that keeps on giving. From the not-so-secret lives of the creme de la creme to the ins and outs of the common man, there’s something out there for everyone.
Dare we say that once in a while, you need that step down from the intense shows and sagas we follow so closely — a palette cleanser of sorts. And what cleanses the palette better than a nice reality TV show?
Say Yes to the Dress
Picking a wedding dress spurs a wide range of emotions in every bride, and that’s exactly whatSay Yes to the Dressis out to capture. Produced byGrace Ingefor TLC — and narrated byRoger Craig Smith— the stage is set in Kleinfeld Bridal located in Manhattan where brides troop in with their families to pick that perfect dress. Does it always go right? You bet it doesn’t, but that’s essentially part of the show’s charm. While trying to pick out the right dress is the central theme, as the plot of every episode unfolds there’s so much more going on.
When it’s not well-wishing friends and family tugging the bride back and forth with their opinions on what the perfect dress should look like, it’s the challenge of staying within their budget. Let’s not forget the occasional bridezilla, momzilla, and dadzillas that added that extra spark of drama.
RuPaul’s Drag Race
It’s glamorous, outrageous, and solid proof that being a drag queen is not all glam and no work. At the center of it all isRuPaul, who besides being the most popular drag queen in the world, plays the role of the host, mother hen, and head judge. Then there are the contestants, a selection of diverse and colorful personalities who take on a series of tasking challenges every week. Is there any drama, you ask? Plenty of it, with some contestants taking their disagreements off-screen.
Here’s the thing,Rupaul’s Drag Raceis not just another contest. It’s a platform for queens of all shapes, sizes, colors, and genders to express themselves and ultimately silence their “inner saboteurs”. Besides competing for the $100,000 grand prize (and other perks), contestants have the chance to share touching and challenging aspects of their LGBTQ journey.
Too Hot to Handle
This 2020 Netflix original is built on quite an interesting premise. Picture this: a scenic island, stunning accommodations, and 10 incredibly attractive singles expected to shack up for the next four weeks — minus all forms of sexual activity. Of course, there’s always a catch and it’s even harder for the contestants since they are mostly commitment-phobes who are no strangers to the occasional fling. Even better, they have no idea what restrictions await them.
Hosted by the all-seeing virtual assistant, Lana,Too Hot to Handleseeks to help contestants form meaningful connections before jumping between the sheets. Does it always work? Definitely not, especially because Lana doesn’t quite make it easy for them. The end game for contestants is to bag $100,000, but they’re docked a sum every time someone breaks the rules. With kisses going for $3000 and full-blown sex $20,000, the real question is whether the winner takes anything home at all.
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Love is Blind
Not your run-of-the-mill dating show,Love is Blindoffers an unconventional take on the modern quest for love. The Netflix original kicks off with a group of 30 men and women searching for that special someone. Using a customized speed-dating format, they get through the courtship stage seated in separate pods, which really ends up putting the “blind” in “blind date”. In the true spirit of “first comes love, then comes marriage,” the men are expected to propose to the women they want to marry. That’s where the real drama starts. The couples finally get to meet face to face, spend time together and meet the parents before their big day. Whether they make it to the big “I do” is a whole other thing entirely.
They’re here, they’re queer and ready to give your life a complete upgrade. Originally airing on Bravo,Queer Eye,AKAQueer Eye for the Straight Guy, paved the way for numerous franchising concepts and even a female-oriented spin-off,Queer Eye for the Straight Girl. Drawing from the expertise of its five hosts (the Fab Five), each episode tackles fashion, interior design, food, lifestyle, and general grooming. The great thing aboutQueer Eyeis that the show deals with real-life problems that are as relatable as they are diverse. Detaching itself from the usual makeover show genre, the show leans more towards helping, uplifting and equipping individuals with the tools to emerge as the best version of themselves. Perhaps that’s why the cast prefers to call it a “make-better show” instead of “reality show.”
Rhythm + Flow
For music lovers specifically drawn to hip hop,Rhythm + Flowis a pretty good pick. WithT.I,Cardi B, andChance the Rapperat the judge’s table, the show seeks to discover budding talent in the hip hop scene. Besides shining the spotlight on rap music,Rhythm + Flowadds that personal touch by selecting contestants solely from the judge’s hometowns of Atlanta, Chicago, and New York — which in turn spurs that sense of healthy rivalry. As insightful, experienced, and talented as the judges are, contestants also bring the heat and the flavor. Though there’s only one season out on Netflix,Rhythm + Flowremains a solid choice if you’re looking to kick back, laugh, and enjoy some good music.
Altogether, the show gets props for delivering a touch of genuineness you don’t often see in music competitions.
The Amazing Race
If spanning over 31 seasons and two decades proves anything, it’s thatThe Amazing Racemay very well have cracked the code for reality TV. The show itself features 11 teams of two who are required to take the most outrageous trip around the world. We’re not talking priority check-in and first-class tickets here. It’s more like boats, buses, trains, foot and occasionally planes. On the clock, as well as with a limited budget, the teams embark on a scavenger hunt-type adventure that eventually leads them to their final destination — the last team to arrive is booted.
It wouldn’t quite hit the spot without a little bit of drama and best believe that the contestants don’t hold back. Tempers flare, conflicts arise and attitudes often threaten to thwart their chances of completing their tasks. In a nutshell, it’s engaging on more levels than one.
Masterchef Junior
While the grown-up version of this show is obviously more on the intense side, there is no doubt that the kids onMasterchef Juniorhave incredibly sophisticated palettes. Let’s stay away from the debate of whether it’s staged or not, the show is fun, educative, and inspiring to say the very least. The contestants themselves are kids ranging from age 8-13 and they showcase a variety of tasty dishes.
Then there’s this strong sense of positivity that the show gives out. It truly makes it seems like everyone is a winner, even though one person gets to take home the grand prize. Speaking of the prize, the winner gets to take home the juicy sum of $100,000, the MasterChef Junior trophy, as well as the coveted title of MasterChef Junior. The best part of it all is seeing the softer side ofGordon Ramsey. It’s solid proof that there’s more to him than masterful cooking and creative swear words.
American Idol
Though it was adapted fromPop Idol, it’s safe to say thatAmerican Idolset the tone for most of the singing competitions we see today. With its star-making capabilities and interesting selection of judges and contestants alike, the show is all shades of entertaining. Producing sensations such asJennifer Hudson,Carrie Underwood,Jordin Sparks, andAdam Lambert, the show certainly proved that there’s more than one route to stardom. Let’s pan back to the judges for a moment. Not only did the show create the template for talent show judges everywhere — the nice one, the level-headed, and theSimon Cowell— it also featured some of the most dramatic feuds. In a nutshell, this is one reality show with everything from drama to raw talent on the menu.
What Would You Do?
Released in 2008,What Would You Do?is the kind of show you never knew you loved. Hosted byJohn Quiñones, the show seeks to reveal and dissect true human nature. A typical episode stages actors performing various illegal and often illicit acts just to see how bystanders react. Scenarios range from blatant cases of racism and even go as far as attempted date rape. With hidden cameras strategically positioned, the show captures the actions of humans in their true element. Believe us when we say that you’d be surprised at how often people fall short and equally amazed at the extent of human kindness.
