Reality TV is often associated with the dramatic transformations on shows likeQueer Eye, or the catastrophic confrontations featured on Bravo series likeThe Real Housewivesfranchise. And yet the rapid growth of the genre has proven that reality TV truly has something for everyone. Viewers can become devoted to a specific sub-genre, like competition series or renovation shows, or they can get hooked on a constant influx of new seasons each year, everything fromLove IslandtoThe VoiceandSummer House. The joy of reality TV comes when something brilliant or outrageous happens, andyou get to share the juicy story with loved ones.
With images of make-overs and catty Housewives lingering around the genre, reality TV might not automatically spring to mind when it comes to the men in your life. However, with Hollywood pillars likeJohn OliverandBen Stillerbeginning to hop on the reality TV bandwagon, hopefully more men will be comfortable admitting they enjoy the genre, or be encouraged to give it a chance.For any family men looking to ease into the genre, here are the 10 most underrated reality shows for dads.
10’Rennervations'
Network: Disney+
The first season ofRennervationsdebuted as a four-part docu-series that showcased Marvel heroJeremy Renner’s passion for philanthropy and mechanics. Renner’s interest in construction is on display as he assists four communities around the world to reimagine a unique vehicle built to meet their individual needs.Renner’s enthusiasm for fabricator culture and interest in the build of each vehicle will thrill any mechanically-minded dad who is new to the pleasures of reality TV.
Renner is a great example to ease fellow dads into the reality TV genre. The Avenger undertooksome real-world heroicswhen saving his nephew froma horrific snowplow accidentin January 2023, which left Renner hospitalized with blunt chest trauma and 38 broken bones. The actor luckily had a speedy recovery from the accident, and was quick to get back to following his philanthropic drive. WIth his heroic reputation both on and off-screen,Rennervationsis an underrated option to ease dad into his introduction to reality TV. Season 2 of the documentary series premiered on Disney+ in February 2025.
Rennervations
9’Wipeout'
Network: ABC
Wipeoutis a wacky watch thatanyone in the family will enjoy. The competition reality series encourages contestants to participate in four rounds of nearly impossible obstacle courses, with contestants gradually being eliminated until a winner remains. Challenges vary with each episode, and the $50,000 grand prize is awarded to theWipeoutChampion who survives a final round in the “WipeoutZone.”
One of the features of the zany series is the comedic observations from the commentators, who offer insight into the challenges and players in a fashion meant to imitate announcers at sports events. The family fun can also continue beyond the TV show, since there areseveral video games based off the popular series.The kooky premise and upbeat pace of the competition series guarantees a lively viewing party with dad, with no commitment to learning storylines or characters required.
8’America’s Got Talent'
Network: NBC
Competition series are always great family fun, and withAmerica’s Got Talentthe joy is the range of zany talents on display. From vocalists to magicians and dance troupes, there is literally no limit to what creative and unique abilities the contestants exhibit.AGThas everything you want from a competition reality show, including a returningcast of celebrity judgesto keep both the contestants and the viewers on their toes.
Dads may at first seem resistant to reality TV, but plunk them down in front of a season ofAGTand watch them suddenly become deeply invested in their favorite competitor’s journey. One of the best parts of a competition series is getting to witness people exhibiting their passion, and the range of unique and creative talents on display is often surprising to the viewers.Some fans might prefercompetition series that focus on one particular talent, butAGTviewers know that the variety of skills exhibited on the show keeps things fresh each season.Dads will invariably join in on the family fun,being awed at the abilities of some contestants, and shocked by the audacity of others whose talents should have stayed in the workshop.
America’s Got Talent
7’Shark Tank'
ABC’s reality juggernautShark Tankcontinues to enthrall business-minded viewers, as hopeful entrepreneurs appear before established “sharks” in the business world andpitch their ideas for investment opportunities. The global franchisebegan as a series in Japan calledMoney Tigers, before a spin-off,Dragons' Den, was developed in the UK, and then producers picked up the idea for the US market in 2009.Such worldwide success speaks to the strength of the format of this reality series.
Critiquing the entrepreneurs' business strategies and guessing which shark will make them an offer adds a fun element to watching the series.Dads will enjoy elucidating on how they would improve each idea, or which investments they would choose to invest in and why. While the rest of the family is free to laughingly roll their eyes and listen to the experts make their bids.
Shark Tank
6’The Amazing Race'
Network: CBS
The Amazing Raceis another competition series that is fun for the whole family. Everyone can choose their favorite teams, based on their unique chemistry or backstories, and rooting for them throughout the season creates memorable moments. Watching the team solve clues, navigate unfamiliar terrain, undertake challenges, and utilize whatever transportation they can afford with the limited funds provided by the serieswill unite the family as they cheer their favorite contestants on.
As contestants are eliminated in each leg of the series, the competition escalates as the surviving teams become more and more exhausted as their resources deplete towards the end of the season. Watching team members overcome obstacles and resolve tensions during the competitioncan lead to heartwarming moments as well.The glory of introducing dad to this reality series is just how many seasons it has to offer. Since it has run continuously since 2001, Season 37 began airing in March 2025.
The Amazing Race
5’Deadliest Catch'
Network: Discovery
Some reality series can be reliably trusted to bring the family together. However, if distraction is the name of the game, theDeadliest Catchis a reliable bet. Keeping dad distracted while you run a few last-minute errands is no sweat with the Discovery Channel’s hugely successful reality series,Deadliest Catch. Regardless of their cast or creed, there is something unifying about watching a team of guys battling the elements togetherunder the watchful eye ofCaptain Sig Hensen, pulling together to get their dangerous job done.Dads around the globe have fallen into the habit of tuning-in to see what the Bering Sea has in store for the tenacious fishermen featured onDeadliest Catch.
The title of the series alludes to the dangerous nature of the work on board the fishing vessels featured in the show. While networks like Bravo rely on the drama that arises when pressures are placed on relationships, especially with help from series producers, the dangerous nature of the work inDeadliest Catchmeans there is no need to fabricate tension. Each episode draws the viewer in, andthere isn’t a better reality series out thereto keep dad fully invested and occupiedfor several hours at a time.
Deadliest Catch
4’Top Gear'
Network: History
Dads love cars, and it doesn’t get any better than History’sTop Gear. Based on the British show of the same name, Top Gear doesn’t pull any gimmicks to lure in its viewers. It keeps its premise simple, in whichThe Stigtest drives cars celebrities are booked for interviews and to also test drive cars.
Its simplistic nature, combined with high-octane speed, is what will draw dads in. The one downside is that it’s on the History channel, a network that isn’t known for catering strictly to dads. Despite this, it stayed on the air for six seasons, ending in 2018. Here’s hopingTop Gearcan get a revival on a more well-known network or streaming service to swerve the big guy’s need for speed.
Top Gear America
3’You Vs. Wild'
Network: Netflix
If there is a single man on the planet that can reliably draw the attention of the men in the room, it’sBear Grylls. The survivalist expert’s penchant for placing himself inextremely challenging adventure scenariosand documenting his ability to endureis certain to grip dad’s attention once played. Grylls military background in the British Special Air Service commands respect, as does the survivalist’s impressive history of conquering milestones, like climbing Mount Everest, circumnavigating the UK, paramotoring the Himalayas, journeying to Antarctica, and many other adventures.
Grylls rose to global fame with his adventure seriesMan Vs. Wild. The format of the series was Grylls would be dropped into a survivalist scenario somewhere in the world, and the episode documents his efforts to survive as he finds his way to civilization. Due to contract disputes, the Discovery Channel effectively canceled the series and terminated their relationship with Grylls in 2012, which eventually led to the adventurerbuilding a new relationship with Netflixthat came to fruition in 2019.The interactive adventure seriesYou Vs. Wildis sure to keep dad occupied as he entertains the kids, as they learn new survival techniques in each episode.
You Vs. Wild
2’American Pickers'
There is something naturally soothing about the pace of anAmerican Pickersepisode that makes it the perfect reality TV series to bring the family together. The only tension that the series relies on comes at the bargaining stage when the pickers have found a historic piece of Americana they wish to purchase and the sellers play a little hard ball before they acquiesce.Dads with an interest in American history are sure to fall into a contented lull while binging this reality series.
American Pickersis an underrated dad series because its longevity and consistency have all but proven it has a unilateral appeal, which allows it to perform through any market trends or production shifts.Mike Wolfecontinues to perform as the lead picker searching for items to sell in his antique shop, and for many yearsFrank Fritzwas his co-host before personal friction and health troubles behind-the-scenes led to a breakdown in the pair’s working relationship. Wolfe managed to steer the series throughsome significantly troubled years, and the strength of the series' premise and the legacy built by theAmerican Pickersteam helped him to keep the production rolling. Season 26drew to a close in January 2025, with a finale that proved the series still has lots to offer viewers. While Season 27 has been confirmed, Wolfe announced the series will begoing on hiatus after that, as he pursues other career ventures after dedicating 15 years of his life to the series.
American Pickers
1’Run’s House'
Network: MTV
MTV’sRun’s Houseisthe ultimate underrated dad reality series that gets too little credit forthe example it set for the genre.Run’s Housedebuted during the peak era of trash reality TV, when the genre wasn’t known for a diverse range of series that occasionally offered a glimpse into something remarkable.Joseph “Rev Run” Simmonswas already a network darling as a result of his career in the rap group Run DMC, whose rise to fame coincided with MTV’s role in popularizing the music video format. In 2005, Simmons opened up his home to the MTV reality TV cameras, and further history on the network was made.
Unlike so many family-based reality series of the era,likeKeeping Up With the Kardashians,Run’s Housewasn’t focused on demonstrating how obnoxious and outlandish the lifestyle of the family was. Instead of focusing on bratty attitudes and outrageous antics,Run’s Houseshowcased how loving and hardworking the Simmons family aimed to be. The example that Rev Run set as a father, with his unique charisma and tough-love wisdom,makes this series the ultimate underrated dad reality show.
