Reality TV may be dying but these shows keep genre alive
When we all think reality TV, some of the first shows bound to come to mind are "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," "Dance Moms," "Jersey Shore" or some installment from "The Real Housewives" franchise. They have their glitz and glam, I'll give them that, but there's a whole world of reality TV shows that'll suffice for even the pickiest of reality TV show snobs, and some of those happen to be my favorites.
My guiltiest pleasure is, admittedly, reality TV, so I think I'm pretty qualified to name some of the best reality TV shows. Although I'm aware most of the shows are scripted, the drama sucks me in, and honestly, it's too entertaining to resist. Whenever I'm looking for a new show to watch or feel bored and need something to vicariously live through, I turn to reality TV. Here are some I personally recommend.
Dating shows
Growing up having watched a multitude of rom-coms with my mom gave me this hankering for reality TV show matchmaking. My favorite love-related reality show by far is Netflix's "Love is Blind." I'm a true Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed stan, and I believe no couple from the series can live up to their potential.
I also love to sink my teeth into new seasons of Netflix's "Too Hot to Handle." I always try to understand how contestants don't realize what show they're actually signing up for and how they can lose so much money so quickly. If it was me and that much money was on the line, I would be laser-focused on forming a true connection.
"The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On" holds up to its controversy of being too ridiculous of a show to have been allowed to air. For context, one person in the relationship wants marriage, and the other doesn't.
Couples go on this show to get paired with different partners in order to test the waters in a new relationship to see if they want to commit to their original partner. Each contestant gets to witness their partner in a new relationship, by the way. It's so entertaining in the worst way possible.
Cooking shows
If you want a break from romance but still want entertainment, turn to any sort of cooking competition. The speed of the chefs on "Chopped" can give you a rush of adrenaline even while you're lazing around on your couch. But this is balanced with the craving you get after they turn caviar and Oreos into a Michelin star-worthy appetizer.
It sounds gross, but they always make it look so delicious, and "Chopped" is a classic for that reason.
"MasterChef" is another fantastic cooking show in which contestants have to survive brutal elimination rounds by cooking gourmet meals with barely any time to think while enduring heart-shattering critiques from chefs Joe Bastianich, Gordon Ramsay and Aarón Sánchez. It's intense, but I highly recommend the show's third season for those who are interested.
Business reality TV
Now for any business bro out there that may not think they can dip their fiscally responsible toe in reality TV, you have another thing coming. "Shark Tank" is the reality TV show for you, and it is my favorite for when I'm in the mood to watch a business deal myself.
The inventions that I have seen come out of that show make me think either "you're kidding, right?" or "I wish I could've created that." Many of the products can actually be helpful for everyday life. I just so happen to wash my dishes with a "Scrub Daddy," which made its grand appearance on "Shark Tank."
TLC and MTV
If you're looking for something a little more lighthearted, I'd turn to any TLC or MTV original show. My favorites are definitely "Say Yes to the Dress" because the dresses are either cry-worthy stunning or absolutely ridiculous.
Another crowd favorite is MTV's series, "Are You The One?" which has, by far, the most unnecessary violence and the most shocking couples. The particular seasons that have been released on Netflix truly prove that opposites attract — it also proves that toxic masculinity will always find a way to rear its ugly head.
Hands down, my favorite of them all is "Catfish: The TV Show." It's got romance, it's got comedy, it's got a whole lot of drama and sometimes it even has some food and family. Current hosts Kamie Crawford and Nev Schulman make the binge-worthy show all that it is.
My clear borderline obsession with reality TV shows, I believe, makes me deserving of a degree. I'm outgrowing it like many others, though, due to the seemingly steep dip in the quality of these shows. I will grieve the beauty that was some of these reality shows, but I hold out hope for a comeback and resurgence of reality TV in the near future.
