This is the list of Best Reality Competition Series. Reality competition series are gaining high viewership rates with the rise of new networks. The best reality competition series are those that make you want to be a part of it. They are entertaining, surprising, and involve twists and turns.
- Survivor, 2000
Survivor is one of the most popular reality series of all time. It was first introduced in 2000 and has since generated 40 seasons. The show was followed by a spin-off series called The Amazing Race, which is also one of the most popular shows on TV.
- The Amazing Race, 2001
The Amazing Race is a reality show that challenges teams of two in a race around the world. It was first aired in 2001 and has been on-air for nearly twenty years. Over the course of its run, The Amazing Race has won more than twenty-two Emmy Awards and been nominated for over one hundred Emmy Awards. It also won two Academy Awards (the first time any reality television show had ever done so).
- Big Brother, 2000
Big Brother was a reality competition series that aired on CBS from 2000 to 2015. Frankly, I am not surprised that Big Brother has been renewed for another season. It is the perfect show to watch with your friends! This show is really popular because of its suspenseful nature. It is interesting to see what happens next week based on the events of this week.
- RuPaul’s Drag Race, 2009
RuPaul’s Drag Race was a groundbreaking reality competition series for its time, breaking the mold of traditional reality show formats. The show proved to be a hit from the beginning and has been credited with changing the format of the reality competition genre forever. In 2009, RuPaul’s Drag Race won Outstanding Reality Program at the Emmy Awards. It was also nominated for Outstanding Writing in a Variety Program and Outstanding Editing in a Variety Program.
- The Challenge, 1998
A Challenge was a reality competition series with a different twist. It would have a group of people competing against each other with the last one standing being crowned the winner. The series premiered on NBC in 1998 and ran for five seasons before it ended in 2002. In 1997, NBC purchased the rights to A Challenge from producer David McKillop after he filed for bankruptcy, who originally intended it as an unscripted game show format. The show was filmed on location with contestants competing against each other in various physical challenges to win money, prizes and immunity from elimination until only one contestant remained. It is among the first reality television series that proved to be popular with both audiences and critics.
- Project Runway, 2004
Project Runway is a reality television show that started on the Lifetime network in 2004. The show is a competition to see who can design the best fashion. Project Runway was created by Nigel Lythgoe and David Hill of BMG Entertainment, who have been together since the early 1970s. They have been responsible for some amazing reality television shows such as Grease, Beverly Hills 90210, and So You Think You Can Dance.
- Hell’s Kitchen, 2005
The first reality competition series, originally titled “Hells Kitchen”, aired on September 5, 2005. The first season of the Emmy Award winning show aired its 13 episodes on Fox.
- The Voice, 2011
The Voice is an American reality competition television series that premiered on NBC in 2011. The Voice began with the concept of four coaches, each assigned to one of four corners of the coaching area, singing to their respective contestants. The Voice is currently hosted by Carson Daly and Miley Cyrus. Miley Cyrus also serves as a coach on the show. The winner of season one was Javier Colon, who went on to become a member of his team’s winning group called “The No BS Gang”.
- Face Off, 2011
Face Off is one of the most popular reality competition series, with an audience of over 1.5 million viewers per episode. Face Off has spawned multiple spin-offs, including Face Off US, Face Off All Stars, and Face the Truth. The series is currently in its 15th season and is still going strong. Face Off is a game show that pits two teams against each other in creative challenges where they have to create unique works of art using the medium they are given in just 60 seconds.
- America’s Next Top Model, 2003
America’s Next Top Model was created by Tyra Banks and developed by Ken Mok. It is counting with four seasons since 2003 until 2011 and some spin-off shows like America’s Next Top Model: All Stars and America’s Next Top Model: Guys & Girls. Tyra Banks was also the presenter of this show until season 8, when it moved to host Kyra Phillips.
- America’s Got Talent, 2006
America’s got talent started in 2006 and has been watched by millions of people. It is one of the most popular reality competition series today. America’s got talent is a reality television series that produces an unknown number of contestants in a contest to find America’s best performers and artists. The show has been criticized for being too similar to Simon Cowell’s Britain’s Got Talent.
- Fear Factor, 2001
Fear Factor was the best reality competition series in the early 2000s. The show brought out contestants’ fears like no other show before it. The Final Stage of each episode would showcase the most intense task that the contestants had to do, like eat bugs or swallow a snake whole.
- Top Chef, 2006
The show challenges amateur chefs in a culinary competition and rewards them with cash prizes and endorsements to help launch their careers. Top Chef’s success is due to its ability to keep viewers entertained and hooked by offering something new each season; be it a new theme for the show, a new set of contestants, or new challenges.
- Chopped, 2009
Chopped is a reality competition series that pits four chefs against each other in a high-pressure kitchen. It features some of the most talented chefs and food makers in the country and the world. From its first season, Chopped has been on top of its game with judges that include Gordon Ramsey, Joe Bastianich and Wolfgang Puck. This reality show is particularly useful for aspiring food makers to learn how to cook for a crowd while competing under intense pressure.
- Ink Master, 2012
Ink Master is a reality competition series, with the winner of the competition winning $100,000. The most popular season was Season 9, in 2012. The series is hosted by Terry Crews and airs on Paramount Network. It stars 10 competitors who are tattoo artists who compete for cash prizes in order to win money, prizes and glory. The show airs every Monday at 7pm on Paramount Network following its success in becoming one of the most-watched cable TV shows with an average of 3 million viewers per episode.