Reality television has become a part of the very fabric of America. Few forms of entertainment polarizes the American viewing public quite so dramatically as reality television. People either love it or absolutely hate it. Still, it is consistantly among the top rated television shows each and every season, and it is here to stay. What are the top reality shows of all time? After careful consideration, I have narrowed down my top five. Here they are in the order of their ranking:
Survivor - This show has come in a number of different versions, and all of them have taken on a life of their own. The basic premise is that a group of people from all walks of life get dumped in an extreme locale (jungle, rainforest, etc) and they are split into teams. These teams compete in challenges and the losing team loses a person each week via a vote. The show is absolutely fun to watch and the strategy is fascinating to see each week. The lengths they go to are funny to watch.
The Amazing Race - The Amazing Race is exactly what it sounds like. Various teams of two race all over the world over a period of weeks to see who can get from place to place the quickest. Along the way, the racers are challenged in new and interesting ways, and the relationships are strained in every way imagineable. The Amazing Race is not only interesting from a game point of view, but also from the standpoint of seeing all the various locations they travel to.
So You Think You Can Dance? - This show is quickly climbing the ranks and in some people’s eyes has already reached the top. Basically, it is American Idol for dancing. The show takes auditions every year for the show, and then gives out tickets to Hollywood. Then the Hollywood contestants fight it out for a spot on the show. The show then pairs people into boy/girl teams and they are asked to dance their way through various styles of dance. Each week there are eliminations and eventually a winner is voted and crowned.
Big Brother - Big Brother is one of the top guilty pleasures in America. It pairs up many different people in one single house, and then watches them all self implode. Each week there are challenges that help to whittle down the cast. One person each week is the head of household and they wield the power in the home. The strategy is the main thing to watch on Big Brother, as the back stabbing and various deals that are made are hilarious to watch.
American Idol - Unless you have been living under a rock, you know all about the show American Idol. Every season the juggernaut seems to grow in ratings and popularity, and this season was no different. The contestants were stronger this year than ever before, and the fourth judge that was added only enhanced the show. American Idol is certainly the King of reality television, and it looks as though that won’t be changing any time soon. The music world has certainly embraced the winners.
