List of reality television programs

List of reality television series, by general type, listed with the date of their premiere. A few details are added for some shows that don't have their own article. See reality television for further descriptions.

Contents

1 Documentary style 1.1 Historical re-creation 1.2 Dating 1.3 Law Enforcement/Military 1.4 Makeover 1.5 Lifestyle change 1.6 Docusoaps starring celebrities 2 Hidden camera 3 Reality game shows 3.1 Spoofs 3.2 Talent Searches 3.3 Fantasies fulfilled

Documentary style

In this genre, camera crews follow the daily interactions of people in ordinary places, such as airports or restaurants.

• An American Family (1973)
• The Family (1974) (UK)
• Sylvania Waters (1992) (Australia)
• The Real World (1992)
• Road Rules (1994)
• True Life (1998)
• Airport (UK; BBC show that made Jeremy Spake famous)
• Airline (UK; ITV's imitation of Airport)
• Airline (US; 2003 on A&E Network)
• Lagos Airport (UK; Channel 4's take on Airport focusing on the third world conditions in and around Nigeria's main airport; a kind of "grim reality" show)
• U8TV: The Lofters (2001) (Canada; Life Network show about the lives of eight young Canadians who host a number of television series and live together in a loft)
• Making the Band (2001)
• Making the Band 2 (2002)
• Sorority Life
• Fraternity Life
• American Chopper (2003)
• The Salon (2002)
• The Restaurant (2003)
• Jamie's Kitchen (2003) (featuring chef Jamie Oliver)
• Starting Over (2003)
• Opening Soon
• American Hot Rod (2004)
• Rachael Rocks (2004)
• Family Plots (2004) (US; A&E Network show about a mortuary in San Diego)
• American Casino (2004)
• The Casino (2004)
• Drawn Together (2004)

Historical re-creation

This genre takes modern-day contestants and puts them in the lifestyle of historical people or places.

• The 1900 House (1999) (UK; living in historical conditions. Also shown on PBS)
• Pioneer Quest: A Year in the Real West (2000) (Canada)
• The 1940s House (2001) (UK)
• The Edwardian Country House aka Manor House (2002)
• Frontier House (2002) (US; PBS show set in the American frontier of 1883)
• Quest for the Bay (2002) (Canada)
• The Ship (2002) (UK)
• Klondike: The Quest for Gold (2003) (Canada)
• Colonial House (2004) (US; PBS show set in the American frontier of 1628)
• Regency House Party (2004) (UK)
• Warrior Challenge (2004) (US)
• Le Moyen 1903 2003 (Switzerland/TSR)
• Infamous (2004, E!)

Dating

In this genre, couples or singles are brought together in dating or romantic situations.

• Blind Date (US) (1999)
• Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? (2000)
• The 5th Wheel (2001)
• Temptation Island (2001)
• Dismissed
• ElimiDATE (2002)
• EX-treme Dating (2002)
• The Bachelor (2002)
• Bachelorettes in Alaska (2002)
• Would Like To Meet (UK)
• Streetmate (UK)
• Average Joe (2003)
• The Bachelorette (2003)
• Cupid (2003)
• For Love or Money (2003)
• Joe Millionaire (2003)
• Married by America (2003)
• Mr. Personality (2003)
• My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé (2004)
• Boy Meets Boy (2004)
• The Littlest Groom (2004)
• Playing It Straight (US - 2004, UK - 2005)
• Outback Jack (2004)
• The Player (2004)
• Celebrity Love Island (2005) (UK)

Law Enforcement/Military

• Cops (1989)
• Real Stories of the Highway Patrol (1994)
• American Fighter Pilot (2002)
• Boot Camp
• Combat Missions2002

• Dog The Bounty Hunter (2004)

Makeover

This increasingly popular genre features ordinary people having home or lifestyle makeovers with the assistance of professionals.

• Changing Rooms (UK) = Trading Spaces (US) (2000)
• Trading Spaces: Home Free
• A Makeover Story (US)
• Extreme Makeover (2002)
• Extreme Makeover : Home Edition (2004)
• Life Laundry (2002) (UK; house clearance)
• Monster Garage (2002) (US)
• Clean Sweep (2003)
• Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (2003)
• Knock First (2003)
• How Clean Is Your House? (2003) (2004) (UK)
• Monster House (2003) (US)
• MTV's MADE
• Restoration (2003) (UK)
• The Swan (2004) (US)
• The Complex: Malibu (2004) (US)
• What Not To Wear (US; UK)
• Queer Eye for the Straight Girl (2005) (US)

Lifestyle change

Here, ordinary people experience an extraodinary change in their environments or occupations.

• Faking It (2001) (UK; remade in US in 2003)
• Wife Swap (2002) (2003) (UK)
• Celebrity Fit Club (2002) (UK)
• Masters And Servants (2003) (UK)
• Holiday Swap (2003) (UK)
• He's a Lady (2004) (US)
• Trading Spouses (2004) (US)
• Holiday Showdown (2004) (UK)
• The Biggest Loser (2004) (US)
• What the Butler Saw (2004) (UK)
• Extreme Celebrity Detox (2005) (UK)
• The Monastery (2005) (UK) - 6 people are sent to live in a monastery for 1 month to try to find spritual enlightenment.

Docusoaps starring celebrities

This genre, launched most successfully by music channel MTV, follows a camera crew into the lives of celebrities.

• The Anna Nicole Show (2002)
• The Osbournes (2002)
• The Surreal Life (2003)
• The Simple Life (2003)
• Rich Girls (2003)
• Newlyweds (2003)
• The Ashlee Simpson Show (2004)
• The Simple Life 2 (2004)
• Growing Up Gotti (2004)
• The Gastineau Girls (2004)
• The Simple Life: Interns (2005)
• Britney and Kevin: Chaotic (2005)

Hidden camera

Perhaps the oldest reality show genre, popular as far back as the early days of television.

• Boiling Points (US) MTV
• Candid Camera (1953)
• Cheaters (2000)
• America's Funniest Home Videos (1990)
• The Jamie Kennedy Experiment (2002)
• Punk'd (2003)
• Trigger Happy TV (2002) (UK; launched comedian Dom Joly)
• Celebrity Stitch Up (2005) (UK)

Reality game shows

This, the biggest and most successful reality genre, features contestants who compete for prizes, while often living together in close quarters. Usually, they feature the eliminations of contestants until a winner is chosen.

• Expedition Robinson (1997)
• Big Brother (2000)
• Big Brother (UK) (2000 - present)
• Survivor (2000)
• The Mole (2000)
• Shipwrecked (2000) (UK)
• Cannonball Run 2001 (2001)
• Fear Factor (2001)
• The Amazing Race (2001)
• Beg, Borrow & Deal (2002-2003)
• Murder in Small Town X (2001)
• Model Flat (Fashion TV, 2002)
• I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! (2002) (UK)
• I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! (USA)
• Dog Eat Dog (2003)
• Boot Camp
• Drop the Celebrity (2003) (UK)
• Celebrity Farm (2003)
• The Games (2003) (UK)
• Shattered (2004) (UK)
• Back To Reality (2004) (UK)
• Paradise Hotel (2003)
• Forever Eden (2004)
• Gana la Verde (2004) (USA; Spanish language)
• Mad Mad House (2004)
• The Benefactor (2004)
• The Farm (2004) (UK)
• I'm Famous and Frightened! (2004) (UK)
• Celebrity Wrestling (2005) (UK)

Spoofs

• Real Life (movie) (1979)
• The Joe Schmo Show (2003)
• Superstar USA (2004)
• Joe Schmo 2 (2004)

Talent Searches

Often similar to the game show genre in that there are eliminations and a final winner, this genre centers around contestants competing a specific skill or talent, rather than in random challenges.

• Star Search (1980s)
• Popstars (2000) (UK; launched bands Hear'Say and Liberty X)
• Pop Idol (2001)
  • American Idol (2002)
    • American Juniors (2003)
  • Canadian Idol (2002)
  • Australian Idol (2003)
• WWF/WWE Tough Enough (2001)
• WWE Tough Enough 2 (2002)
• WWE Tough Enough 3 (2003)
• Fame Academy (2002)(2003) (UK)
• Last Comic Standing (2003)
• America's Next Top Model (2003)
• Performing As... (2003)
• Reborn in the USA (2003) (UK)
• Star Académie (2003) (Québec)
• Can You Be A Porn Star? (2004)
• The Apprentice (2004)
• Dream Job (2004)
• Next Action Star (2004)
• Hell's Kitchen (2004 - UK, 2005 - US)
• The Assistant (2004)
• The Contender (2004)
• Dream Job II (2004)
• The Next Great Champ (2004)
• The Rebel Billionaire (2004)
• My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss (2004)
• Kings of Comedy (2004) (UK)
• The X Factor (2004) (UK)
• Dancing With The Stars (2004) (Australia)
• Strictly Come Dancing (2004) (UK)
• Hit Me Baby One More Time (2005) (UK)
• Strictly Dance Fever (2005) (UK)
• Get Gorgeous (2004) (India)
• Get Gorgeous II (2005) (India)
• Super Singer (2004) (India)
• Launchpad (2005) (India)

Fantasies fulfilled

• Thrill of a Lifetime (1982-88 & 2002)
• No Opportunity Wasted (2004)
• Your Reality Checked (2004)