These Are The Best Reality TV Competition Shows

When people sign up to star in a reality competition show, they get a huge opportunity, but they are also taking a big risk. After all, some reality stars go from beloved to hated, winners won’t necessarily get the prize they expect, and even hosts talk about how hard making that kind of show can be.

With that in mind, it takes a truly incredible person to star in a reality competition show. Fortunately, some shows are able to combine a stellar cast with a great concept to become some of the best reality competition shows ever.

10 What Makes Dancing With The Stars One Of The Best Reality Shows?

Aired By ABC

Once a person becomes famous, it can be easy to imagine that everything they do works out for them easily. However, a show like Dancing with the Stars shows that even famous people can be awful at something as basic as moving their bodies. Alternatively, some Dancing with the Stars performers have proven to be truly impressive on the dance floor. Either way, seeing stars who aren’t known for dancing try to impress judges makes Dancing with the Stars very entertaining. There also is no denying that waiting to see who will win each season can be captivating.

9 What Makes Hell’s Kitchen One Of The Best Reality Shows?

Aired By Fox

There are two reasons why Gordon Ramsay is arguably the most famous TV chef ever. Gordon has a compelling temper that makes fans love to see him blow up, and he is an extremely talented chef and there is something compelling about seeing a master at work. Fortunately for anyone who wants to see Gordon show off both of those parts of his personality, they can watch Hell’s Kitchen. After all, Gordon loves showing off his cooking skills during each episode, and he loses it when Hell’s Kitchen’s chefs disappoint him.

8 What Makes America’s Got Talent One Of The Best Reality Shows?

Aired By NBC

When people watch most reality shows, they have a pretty good idea of what to expect next. Since America’s Got Talent lets pretty much anyone audition, at least in theory, fans are left guessing about what the next performer will do. In some cases, viewers are entertained because the person who auditioned is great and in others, the person who auditions is terrible. Either way, one thing is almost certainly going to be true: each episode of America’s Got Talent will entertain fans. After all, that chaos is one of the key factors in what AGT fans love about the show.

7 What Makes The Amazing Race One Of The Best Reality Shows?

Aired By CBS

When fans watch the latest season of The Amazing Race, they get to see a group of people with captivating personalities do incredible things. If that wasn’t enough, the show’s events take place in some of the most gorgeous places in the world. Interesting people competing in amazing places in a game that challenges them and keeps viewers guessing is a great recipe for any reality show to succeed.

6 What Makes The Voice One Of The Best Reality Shows?

Aired By NBC

In theory, singing competition shows should only be about how great a performer’s voice is. However, everyone recognizes that some singers get judged before they open their mouths. The Voice is designed to fix that problem, as the show’s judges can’t see the singers when they begin performing. Between that brilliant concept, the high-caliber performers that appear on the show, and how likable the judges are, The Voice has earned its place on this list.

5 What Makes RuPaul’s Drag Race One Of The Best Reality Shows?

Aired By MTV

A show that combines the aspects of previous shows like America’s Next Top Model and Project Runway, RuPaul’s Drag Race has become beloved. Initially a cult hit, RuPaul’s Drag Race has become a mainstream hit that entertains millions of viewers each time a new episode airs. On top of that, there is no denying that RuPaul’s Drag Race makes a lot of people feel like the world has become more accepting of them and the people they love.

4 What Makes Big Brother One Of The Best Reality Shows?

Aired By CBS

For most people, the idea of being locked in a house with complete strangers would sound like a nightmare. However, the idea of watching other people having to deal with that kind of tension is extremely entertaining. Thankfully, Big Brother’s producers were brilliant enough to put a bunch of people in that awkward position in a house together. As a result, fans get to watch the Big Brother houseguests turn on each other and do everything they can to survive another week. On top of that, Big Brother goes a step further by letting fans watch 24-hour feeds of what is really going on inside the house, which makes the show even better.

3 What Makes The Great British Bake Off One Of The Best Reality Shows?

Aired By BBC One

When people tune into reality competition shows, they typically expect to see a bunch of drama and backstabbing. While that certainly appeals to most people, The Great British Bake Off is a great show for a completely different reason; how comforting it is to watch. There is just something about watching The Great British Bake Off that makes viewers feel safe to relax and forget the stresses of their everyday life. If a show provides comfort to millions of people, it is nearly impossible to ignore its greatness.

2 What Makes Top Chef One Of The Best Reality Shows?

Aired By CBS

In the television landscape, there are a bunch of cooking shows for fans to watch and many of them are great, including Hell’s Kitchen. However, what makes Top Chef truly special is the fact that the show presents cooking in such an elevated light that it is bound to change the way viewers perceive food. If that wasn’t enough, Top Chef also features a slew of compelling people that viewers come to care about and root for.

1 What Makes Survivor One Of The Best Reality Shows?

Aired By CBS

Arguably the best reality competition show ever, Survivor is such a brilliantly executed show that fans sometimes don’t know how good they have it. The show puts tribes of strangers completely out of their comfort zones and forces them to turn on each other to survive.

While Survivor’s concept is extremely compelling, the real brilliance of the show comes from its casting department. After all, Survivor has introduced the world to everyday people who manage to reinvent the game and come up with new angles to win each season. Between the brilliant players and the fact that most fans like Jeff Probst, there is a long list of reasons why each Survivor season is a must-see for reality competition show fans.

Survivor

Release Date

May 31, 2000

Cast

Jeff Probst

Seasons

45

Network

CBS

Showrunner

Jeff Probst

Expand