List of reality television programs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 Fantasies fulfilled 1.7 Docusoaps starring celebrities 2 Hidden camera 3 Reality game shows/Reality "Playoffs" 3.1 Talent Searches 4 Spoofs 5 Parodies

[edit] Documentary style

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

• Seven Up! (1964) (UK) sampling the lives of 12 children every 7 years by Michael Apted.
• An American Family (1973)
• The Family (1974) (UK)
• Sylvania Waters (1992) (Australia)
• The Real World (1992)
• The Living Soap (1993) (UK)
• Road Rules (1994)
• Bug Juice (1998)
• 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)
• Scariest Places On Earth (2001)
• Project Greenlight (2001)
• Making the Band 2 (2002)
• Bands Reunited (200?)
• King of Cars - 'Chop' and the gang at Tobwin Dodge (2006)
• Sorority Life (2002)
• Fraternity Life (2003)
• American Chopper (2003)
• The Salon (2002)
• The Restaurant (2003)
• Jamie's Kitchen (2003) (featuring chef Jamie Oliver)
• Starting Over (2003)
• Amish in the City (2004))
• College Hill (2004)
• 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)
• Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County (2004)
• Stranded with Cash Peters (2005)
• Miami Ink (2005)
• Who's Your Daddy? (2005)
• 8th & Ocean (2006)
• Bonds on Bonds (2006) (ESPN)
• The Real Housewives of Orange County

[edit] 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!)
• MTV's The 70s House (2005)
• The Colony (2005) (Australia)
• Outback House (2005) (Australia)

[edit] 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)
• Chains of Love (2001)
• The 5th Wheel (2001)
• Temptation Island (2001)
• Dismissed (2001)
• Who Wants to Be a Princess (2001)
• ElimiDATE (2002)
• EX-treme Dating (2002)
• The Bachelor (2002)
• Bachelorettes in Alaska (2002)
• Meet My Folks (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)
• Room Raiders (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)
• Date My Mom (2004)
• Who Wants to Marry My Dad? (2004)
• The Player (2004)
• Beauty and the Geek (2005)
• Next (2005)
• Celebrity Love Island (2005) (UK)
• How to Get Lucky (2005) (UK)
• Shopping for Love (2005) (Australia)
• Flavor of Love (2006)
• Parental Control (2006)
• Three's a Crowd (2003) (UK)
• Five Go Dating (2001) (UK)
• Chantelle's Dream Dates (2006) (UK)
• Estoy Por Tí (Spain)

[edit] Law Enforcement/Military

• Unsolved Mysteries (1987)
• Rescue 911 (1989)
• COPS (1989)
• Real Stories of the Highway Patrol (1993)
• LAPD: Life On The Beat (1995)
• World's Wildest Police Videos (1998)
• Boot Camp (2001)
• American Fighter Pilot (2002)
• Combat Missions (2002)
• Dog The Bounty Hunter (2004)
• Commando VIP (2005)

[edit] Makeover

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

• Born Diva Formatted More like a singing competition (Philippines)
• Backyard Blitz (Australia)
• Renovation Rescue (Australia)
• DIY Rescue (Australia)
• Location Location (Australia)
• The Hothouse (Australia)
• Changing Rooms (UK) = Trading Spaces (US) (2000)
• Trading Spaces: Home Free
• A Makeover Story (US)
• Dream Home (1999) (New Zealand)
• Extreme Makeover (2002)
• Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (2004)
• Life Laundry (2002) (UK; house clearance)
• Monster Garage (2002) (US)
• MTV's Made (2002)
• The Block (2002) (Australia)
• Clean Sweep (2003)
• Clean House (2003)
• Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (2003)
• Knock First (2003)
• How Clean Is Your House? (2003) (2004) (UK)
• Monster House (2003) (US)
• 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)
• Relationship Rehab (?) (Style Network, US)

[edit] Lifestyle change

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

• Girl Friday (1994) (UK)
• Castaway 2000 (2000) (UK)
• 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)
• The Resort (2004) (Australia)
• He's a Lady (2004) (US)
• Trading Spouses (2004) (US)
• Holiday Showdown (2004) (UK)
• The Biggest Loser (2004) (US)
• My Restaurant Rules (2004) (Australia)
• What the Butler Saw (2004) (UK)
• Nanny 911 (2004)
• Supernanny (2004 - UK, 2005 - US)
• Extreme Celebrity Detox (2005) (UK)
• The Monastery (2005) (UK) - six men are sent to live in a monastery for a month to try to find spiritual enlightenment.
• The Convent (2006) (UK), a female version of The Monastery.
• Trust Me - I’m A Holiday Rep (2005) (UK)
• Australian Princess (Australia) (2005)
• Brat Camp (2005)
• FC Zulu (2005-7, Denmark), format FC Nerds also made in Sweden (FCZ), Norway (Tufte IL), Finland (FC Nörtit), Netherlands (Atletico Ananas), Germany (Borussia Banana), Australia (Nerds FC) Belgium and Spain
• Ladette To Lady (2005) (UK)
• 30 Days (2005)
• Shalom In The Home (2005) (US)
• Survival of the Richest (2006)
• Saved by the Ball (2006) (UK)
• Boys will be Girls (2006) (UK)

[edit] Fantasies fulfilled

• Thrill of a Lifetime (1982-88 & 2002)
• Wish Ko Lang (2002) (Philippines)
• No Opportunity Wasted (2004)
• Your Reality Checked (2004)
• Three Wishes (2005) (US)
• Let's Get This Party Started (2005) (US)

[edit] Docusoaps starring celebrities

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

• This Is Your Life (1952) (US)
• 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)
• Blow Out (TV series) (2004) (US)
• The Simple Life 2 (2004)
• Growing Up Gotti (2004)
• The Gastineau Girls (2004)
• The Girls Next Door (2005)
• The Simple Life: Interns (2005)
• Britney and Kevin: Chaotic (2005)
• Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (2005)
• Hogan Knows Best (2005)
• Tommy Lee Goes to College (2005)
• Filthy Rich - Cattle Drive (2005)
• Totally Scott-Lee (2005) (UK)
• I Married a Princess (2005)
• #1 Single (2006)
• Meet the Barkers (2005)
• Girls Aloud: Off The Record (2006) (UK)
• Chantelle: Living the Dream (2006) (UK)

[edit] Hidden camera

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

• Boiling Points (US) MTV
• Candid Camera (1948)
• TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes (1984)
• Beadle's About (1987) (UK)
• Just For Laughs Gags (Canada)
• Totally Hidden Video (1991)
• Cheaters (2000)
• Trigger Happy TV (2000) (UK; launched comedian Dom Joly)
• Spy TV (2001)
• The Jamie Kennedy Experiment (2002)
• Oblivious (2002)
• Punk'd (2003)
• Scare Tactics (2003)
• Girls Behaving Badly (2003?)
• Victim (2004) (Philippines)
• Celebrity Stitch Up (2005) (UK)
• Hi-Jinks (2005)

[edit] Reality game shows/Reality "Playoffs"

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. Sometimes they are considered to be "Reality Playoffs" since their format is similar to that of a playoff in sports.

• Beat the Clock (1950)
• Truth or Consequences (1950)
• Expedition Robinson (1997)
• Big Brother (1999) (Netherlands)
• 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 - present) (UK)
• I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! (US)
• 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) (US; Spanish language)
• Mad Mad House (2004)
• The Benefactor (2004)
• The Code Room (2004)
• The Farm (2004) (UK)
• I'm Famous and Frightened! (2004) (UK)
• Endurance (2002) (US)
• Való Világ (2003) (Hungary)
• Quest USA, Da Tiao Zhan (2004) (US)
• Vyvolení (2005) (Czech Repubblik, Slovakia)
• Shipwrecked: Battle of the Islands (2005) (UK)
• Actuality TV's Casting Call (2005) (US)
• Solitary (2006) (US)
• Unan1mous (2006) (US)
• Pilipinas, Game KNB? (2001) Dubbed as The Best Philippine Gameshow (Philippines)

[edit] Talent Searches

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

• Original Amateur Hour (1948)
• America's Got Talent (2006)
• Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts (1948)
• Opportunity Knocks (1956) (UK)
• The Gong Show (1976)
• Star Search (1980s)
• Stars in Their Eyes (1990) (UK)
• Search for a Supermodel (Australia) (2000)
• Bands on the Run (2001)
• Popstars (2001) (UK; launched bands Hear'Say and Liberty X)
• Pop Idol (2001-2003) (UK)
  • American Idol (2002)
    • American Juniors (2003)
  • Canadian Idol (2002)
  • Australian Idol (2003)
  • Philippine Idol (2006)
• 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)
• Nashville Star (2003)
• Star Académie (2003) (Québec)
• StarStruck (2003) (Philippines)
• Surf Girls (2003)
• Star Circle Quest (2004) (Philipppines)
• 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)
• Popstars Live (2004) (Australia)
• Dream Job II (2004)
• The Next Great Champ (2004)
• The Rebel Billionaire (2004)
• Kings of Comedy (2004) (UK)
• Pinoy Pop Superstar (2004) (Philippines)
• The X (2003) (Québec)
• Dancing with the Stars (2004) (many countries)
• Little Big Star (2005) (Philippines)
• Strictly Come Dancing (2004) (UK)
• Project Runway (2004) (US)
• 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)
• Filmstjerne (2005) (Norway)
• Football Icon (2005) (UK)
• The Apprentice" (2005) (US NBC)
• The Next Food Network Star (2005)
• Celebrity Wrestling (2005) (UK)
• Britain's Worst Celebrity Driver (2005) (UK)
• Rock Star INXS (2005)
• The Scholar (2005)
• Knight School (2006)
• Soapstar Superstar (2006) (UK)
• Dancing on Ice (2006) (UK)
• Skating With Celebrities (2006) (US)
• Top Chef (2006)
• Just the Two of Us (2006) (UK)
• American Inventor (2006) (ABC)
• Who Wants to be a Superhero?" (2006) (Sci-fi)
• Rock Star: Supernova (2006)
• The X Factor (2004) (UK)
• Bollywood Star (2004) (UK)
• Search For The Star In A Million (2003) (Philippines) ABS-CBN
• The All Star Talent Show (2006) (UK)
• The One: Making a Music Star (2006)
• Pinoy Dream Academy (Philippines)

[edit] Spoofs

Reality shows in which one or more participants are tricked into believing they are taking part in a legitimate show when they are actually the victim(s) of a joke. These types of shows are somewhat akin to hidden camera shows.

• The Joe Schmo Show (2003)
• There's Something About Miriam (2004)
• Superstar USA (2004)
• Joe Schmo 2 (2004)
• Faking the Video (2004)
• My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance (2004?)
• My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss (2004?)
• Invasion Iowa (2005)
• Space Cadets (2005) (UK)

[edit] Parodies

While not reality TV in the proper sense, these scripted parody shows reflect the level of pop culture status that reality TV has become.

• The Office (UK) (2001)
• Reno 911! (2003)
• Drawn Together (2004)
• The Office (US) (2005)
• FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman (2006)