Reality television sometimes gets a bad rap for indulging in the worst that people and culture have to offer. Encouraging bitter competition, toxic personalities, bullying and a generally unpleasant vibe, the reality space can sometimes be a minefield for those looking to sit back and enjoy some relaxing TV. Those times of cutthroat competition, however, are changing as the rise in streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu has allowed reality series to become less broad and more niche (and nice) as a result.
This is especially true of the competition sub-genre. While older shows likeSurvivorare filled with cut-throat moments and betrayals, modern series likeBlown AwayandPhysical 100instead focus on the raw talent and skill of the competitors. Ridicule is replaced with constructive feedback and unkind talking heads are shifted to the side in favor of good sportsmanship and earnest competition.
10’Nailed It!' (2018 - )
Number of seasons: 8
What started as a self-deprecating internet meme has grown into a much loved Netflix series with 8 seasons. Hosted byNicole Byer,Nailed It!embraces the misguided ambition of budding home bakers. Each episode, a handful of amateur contestants are asked to prepare an elaborate dessert that they are in no way skilled enough to pull off. Typically involving intricate decorations, advanced cooking techniques and challenging structures, failing to meet the brief is the show’s whole point.
While mostNailed It!contestants are average home-cooks, the series occasionally features some famous faces among its participants. Previous celebrity contestants have includedJack McBrayerandPaul Scheer. Although no one is expected to actually ‘nail it’, there is a winner each episode who is selected by judges Nicole Byer,Jacques Torresand a rotating guest judge.Previous guest judges have included the likes ofJason Mantzoukas,Antoni Porowski, andSam Richardson.
Nailed It!
Home bakers with a terrible track record take a crack at re- creating edible masterpieces for a $10,000 prize. It’s part reality contest, part hot mess.
Watch on Netflix
9'8 Out of 10 Cats' (2005 - )
Number of seasons: 22
8 Out of 10 Catsis a British panel showwhere competing teams use light competition as a jumping off point for witty banter and cheeky anecdotes. Hosted byJimmy Carrand featuring a changing panel of guest comedians and two permanent team captains, the series is much more focused on the comedy than it is the scoreboard. Based around opinion polls and statistics, the long-running series features recurring rounds based on topical items and outlandish facts and figures.
Comedian and host Jimmy Carr is known for his extremely edgy humor, so it’s no surprise that8 Out of 10 Catswon’t be for everyone. But, despite the bad language and adult vibe, the series is an excellent bit of fun for viewers looking for competition without the usual tension.8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown,a spin off series,is a mash-up between the comedian-centered8 Out of 10 Catsand the long-running puzzle showCountdown. The spin-off series pits two teams of witty and chatty comedians against each other in games revolving around mathematical equations and letters and words.
Watch on Amazon
8’Blown Away' (2019 - )
Number of seasons: 4
The niche nature of streaming means that audiences have a chance to get a front row seat to a whole world of people and professions they seldom see. This is certainly the case forcompetitive glassblowing seriesBlown Away. Each season of the show follows a new group of experienced and talented glassblowers as they craft amazing glass pieces with the hopes of impressing the judges. Up for grabs for the winner is a prize package which includes a coveted residency at the Corning Museum of Glass.
Contestants work in a large shared hot shop during their challenges. While they often get in each other’s way, overlap on ideas and inspiration and have vastly different approaches to their work, the environment is welcoming. The lack of toxicity has undeniably contributed to the success of the series, which is streamed on Netflix. The charm ofBlown Awayfor viewers is watching the magic of this challenging art form unfold without the stain of poor sportsmanship or toxicity that has long been a feature in competitive reality.
10 Reality TV Stars We’d Be Friends With IRL
From ‘Real Housewives’ to ‘Jersey Shore’ here are the top reality stars we’d hang out with, from fun times to genuine friendship.
7’Forged in Fire' (2015 - )
Number of seasons: 10
With a staggering 10 seasons and over 200 episodes,Forged in Fireis well and truly a hit and proves that even blade-based combat can be cordial and good-spirited. Each episode follows four bladesmiths as they compete in three rounds of forging competition. Their blades are assessed on strength, aesthetics, durability, sharpness and function.
In addition to learning a thing or two about how metalworking and blade forging work, audiences are also treated to history tid-bits and movie trivia along the way. The final piece that contestants are asked to create is often a notable historical weapon, or a weapon that was made famous by a film, TV show or video game. Crafted weapons from the series include the Egyptian Khopesh,similar to weapons used by the DothrakiinGame of Thrones, andthe Ikakalaka, a 19th century African sword that was featured inBlack Panther.
Watch on Hulu
6’Alone' (2015 - )
Few survival competitions are as realistic and captivating asAlone. Each season sees a group of 10 contestants set out into the wilderness with a few supplies, their own camera equipment and only themselves for company. The goal is to make a camp in an inhospitable environment, like Vancouver Island, Patagonia or Great Slave Lake, and survive longer than anyone else.
Similar shows likeSurvivorfind their tension through group dynamics, alliances and interpersonal conflict.Alonecan be harrowing and grim, but the tension and energy of the series is propelled by the contestants and their sense of competition with nature and themselves. Longtime viewers of the series have witnessedcontestants have encounters with bears, lose their campsites to fires, and tap out of the competition due to injury, illness and starvation.
Watch on History
5’World’s Toughest Race: Eco Challenge Fiji' (2020)
Number of seasons: 1
The Eco-Challenge dates back to the mid-90s and is considered to be a catalyst of reality television that brought adventure racing into the mainstream. While the original run ofEco-Challenge: The Expedition Raceconcluded in 2002, it was revived under the new nameWorld’s Toughest Race: Eco Challenge Fijiin 2020.Hosted byBear Grylls, the series follows over 60 teams from across the world as they race across the rugged and tropical landscape of Fiji. The challenge requires teams to use a range of travel methods to reach each checkpoint, including 40 miles of paddling along the Wainibokasi River, 35 miles of mountain biking, 19 miles of white water rafting and 6 miles of swimming through freezing cold rivers and pools.
Despite the grueling and extremely dangerous nature of the competition, there is an undeniable sense of camaraderie and optimism among the competitors, and a huge amount ofshared respect for the Eco-Challenge experience. All of this results in a surprisingly uplifting viewing experience. Some teams are competing for the last time before they retire, while others are returning for the first time after near-death experiences in previous challenges.
6 Reality TV Shows That Have Aged Badly
Once considered revolutionary reality TV, but now when we look back, things don’t seem quite right?
4’The Great British Baking Show' (2010 - )
Number of seasons: 14
The Great British Baking Show(orTheGreat British Bake-Offas it’s called outside the United States) is the ultimate in non-combative cooking competition. Each season features 10 to 12 amateur home bakers competing to win the title of Bake-Off champion. Participants film the show on weekends, and spend the weekdays at their day-jobs or preparing for the next challenge. While each episode sees one contestant eliminated, the vibes are always supportive and welcoming.
The success of this wholesome series is undoubtedly due to the friendly and fair sense of competition and camaraderie between the contestants. This is certainly one of the reasons the series hascelebrity and kids' spin-offs, as well as over 30 international versions with their own unique hosts and judges. Challenges over the 14 seasons have included suet pudding, opera cake, crème brûlée and soufflé.
3’Portrait Artist of the Year' (2013 - )
Combine a relaxed talk-show with art exploration and the most polite and proper sense of competition you can find, andthe result isPortrait Artist of the Year. Each episode features a new cohort of amateur and professional artists painting a portrait of a celebrity-sitter. Utilizing their own styles and techniques, the best artist in each episode has a chance to compete in the finale, where the prize on offer is a prestigious portrait commission of a notable figure.
Artists aren’t just limited to paint, and are free to use any medium they choose to capture their subject, from collage and pencil, to found materials and mixed-media. While they paint, viewers are treated to conversations between the hosts and the portrait sitters. Celebrity sitters have includedRob Delaney,Michaela CoelandSophie Turner.
2’Taskmaster' (2015 - )
Number of seasons: 16
Each season ofTaskmasterfeatures five comedians participating in strange, tedious, mundane and hilarious tasks for the amusement of the audience, and the all-powerful TaskmasterGreg Davies. Davies' assistantAlex Hornesupervises the comediansas they complete their tasks, and the results are viewed in front of a live audience and the Taskmaster himself, who hands down points and judgments.
Taskmasteris unlike any other competitive reality series. While previous series on this list have involved contestants doing their best in the arts or cooking,Taskmasterisn’t concerned with such worthy pursuits. Across the show’s 16 seasons, tasks have included trying to guess whether Davies is thinking of a horse or a laminator, and throwing a potato into a golf course hole with the fewest attempts. These may seem uninteresting or dull, but the spark of the show is the creative thinking of contestants. For example, in a task where contestants are asked to ‘create the biggest mess’, comedianKatherine Ryancalls and tells her sister her husband is cheating on her.
Watch on Pluto
1’Physical 100' (2023 - )
What may seem like the most competitive, contentious and self-obsessed series on this list is anything but.Physical 100is a Korean reality competitionwith the goal of finding ‘the most perfect physique’. On its face it sounds vain and indulgent, but when digging deeper, viewers are treated to a supportive and wholesome environment where people from all walks of life and all athletic disciplines are given the chance to shine and demonstrate the skills they’ve worked hard for.
Contestants onPhysical 100compete in utterly staggering physical feats, and learning which people excel at what is refreshing and surprising. Contestants include emergency service workers, pole-dancers, ice-climbers, national level athletes and bodybuilders. While the individual challenges are thrilling, the team challenges are the most fascinating. Brute strength and agility play an equal role to team management and planning in these tasks and the winners will surprise you.
Next:10 Best Shows To Watch if You Loved ‘Physical 100’
