reality TV shows

'Squid Game' reality TV show is coming soon

‘Squid Game’ Reality TV Show Is Coming to Netflix

In the competition series, 456 contestants will play children's games for a chance to win a record-breaking $4.56 million prize.…

June 29, 2022

In an article about the show "Atlanta", a screencap of the show's main character Earn,

How ‘Atlanta’ Sets Itself Apart in Modern Television

Kwami Maranga, Binghamton University

The FX show successfully brings together aspects of humor, drama and social commentary in a beautiful package.…

June 17, 2022

The Selling Sunset women stand in front of a house

‘Selling Sunset’ Continues To Be Addictive in Season 4

Trinity Crompton, Molloy College

The relatively low stakes of this series help make it a quality reality program that stands out from many of its peers.…

December 17, 2021

Gordon Ramsay’s ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ Is TV’s Junk Food

Darby Williams, University of Michigan

The anger-prone chef's hit reality TV program may not be fine dining, but it’s downright indulgent.…

September 27, 2021

The Hype is hosted by many big names in fashion

‘The Hype’ Is Bringing Streetwear to the Mainstream

Nathan Kolodney, Wesleyan University

While high fashion has always been incredibly influential, this HBO Max show is aiming to change the culture surrounding an entirely ignored style of clothing.…

September 11, 2021

In an article about 'Sexy Beasts,' an illustration of a man in a bison mask and a woman in a devil mask.

Reality Dating Show ‘Sexy Beasts’ Is a Missed Opportunity

Zach Terrillion, Oberlin College

The idea that two people could fall in love with each other even when their face is masked is intriguing, but the show misses the mark.…

August 25, 2021

An illustration of the cast of "My Unorthodox Life"

‘My Unorthodox Life’ Looks at the Heart of the Haart Family

Lauren Koop, London School of Economics - Peking University

Fashion mogul Julia Haart and the rest of her family are equal parts heartfelt and boisterous in their new Netflix special.…

August 23, 2021

In a show about "Making It," actors Nick Offerman and Amy Poehler stand beside each other in a warehouse.

NBC’s ‘Making It’ Is Brimming With Humor, Heart and Crafting

Mai Senser, Virginia Commonwealth University

By fully embracing its innovative makers and their one-of-kind designs, this reality competition show has successfully built an environment in which creatives can thrive.…

August 2, 2021

‘Big Brother’ Season 23 (Mostly) Demonstrates a Commitment to Diversity

Kelsi Karpinski, Michigan State University

The reality show has had a scandalous history, but its latest season reflects a 'new era' of combating racism, misogyny and homophobia in its casting.…

July 25, 2021

How the Infamous Duggar Family Fell from Public Grace

Jenna Nelson, Scripps College

The Duggars entered the public eye in 2008 through the reality TV show '19 Kids and Counting' and were loved by thousands, but resurfacing controversies led to the family's downfall.…

July 13, 2021

An illustration of the TV show The Circle for a comparison of the show's two seasons. (Illustration by Sonja Vasiljeva, San Jose State University)

Season 2 of ‘The Circle’ Is Out, but Does It Stack Up to Season 1?

Emma Watts, University of Arizona

Does the initial success of this Netflix reality show promise that fans will enjoy the newest installment?…

May 24, 2021

Survivor advantages, photo of the Advantage Menu

A Comprehensive List of All the ‘Survivor’ Advantages, Ranked

Callie Rosenzweig, University of Chicago

The producers of the hit reality TV show have introduced several advantages into the game over the last 20 years, but which ones were really worth their while?…

February 10, 2021

Article about Matt James as the first Black bachelor on "The Bachelor." (Image via Google Images)

Matt James Has Made a Good First Impression on ‘The Bachelor’ Season 25

Anna Wurm, Texas A&M University

Fans of ABC’s hit reality dating competition are in love with Matt James, the show's first Black lead.…

January 18, 2021

Bachelorette Season 16. (Image via Google Images)

‘The Bachelorette’ Finale: Tayshia Adams Saves Season 16

Anna Wurm, Texas A&M University

ABC's hit reality dating show was rescued from Clare Crawley's poor fan reception by a new star.…

December 29, 2020

The Latest Season of ‘Are You the One?’ Features an Entirely LGBTQ+ Cast

Callie Rosenzweig, University of Chicago

The first few seasons of the series started off like every other reality dating show. But the inclusive cast of the newest season is paving the way for the future of reality TV.…

December 25, 2020

‘I Live Alone’ Is a Comforting Show for Those Who Might Be Flying Solo

Laura Song, Biola University

The unscripted reality show gives an unfiltered look at the lives of Korean celebrities as they live their lives as single adults.…

December 24, 2020

Top 10 ‘Survivor’ Contestants Who Never Won the Million

Callie Rosenzweig, University of Chicago

Winners of the show are revered by fans worldwide, but some players who couldn’t pull out a victory are just as deserving of praise.…

November 8, 2020

Why Reality Show Dating Couples Don’t Last

Daniel Reed

Is the love real, or is it all just for the cameras?…

August 17, 2020

The Fab Five of Queer Eye sit on couches together

How ‘Queer Eye’ Both Fails and Succeeds at Representation

Emma Smith, Wesleyan University

The depiction of queer people on the show's fifth season is reigniting questions about how LGBTQ+ characters are portrayed in the media.…

July 18, 2020

Dancers on Dance Moms wait for instruction during rehearsal

Is ‘Dance Moms’ a Feminist Show?

Emma Smith, Wesleyan University

The reality TV sensation features fierce rivalry, but it also offers a lens into female empowerment and dynamic female representation.…

July 11, 2020

Screenshot from Listen to Your Heart, where a person plays the acoustic guitar for someone else on a couch

‘Listen to Your Heart’ Provides a Musical Update to the ‘Bachelor’ Series

Desiree Jaime, Hofstra University

The latest iteration of the long-running reality show franchise mixes song and romance. …

May 28, 2020

’90 Day Fiancé’ Is Bringing More Attention to Age Gap Relationships

Asha MacKay, Wellesley College

With their 31 year age difference, Big Ed and Rose are provoking an age-old discussion about love.…

May 23, 2020

Screenshot from 'Love Is Blind,' one of Netflix's new dating shows.

Dating Shows Try New Ground With ‘Love Is Blind’ and ‘Too Hot to Handle’

Vaishnavi Kalyana, College of DuPage

Netflix is going beyond the typical reality TV program with its two latest hits.…

May 5, 2020

‘Too Hot to Handle’ Is A Dating Show That Actually Shows Personal Growth

Kali Johnson, Gustavus Adolphus College

On the surface, this dating program sounds like your typical reality show fare, but if you dig a little deeper, you'll see the contestants actually develop as people.…

April 30, 2020

Pete Weber from latest season of The Bachelor

This Season of ‘The Bachelor’ Is Unbelievably, Unsustainably Dramatic

Vaishnavi Kalyana, College of DuPage

Every new season comes with a brand new set of conflicts and opportunities for sabotage. This time, it might be too much to take.…

February 13, 2020

The ‘Big Brother’ Finale Takes a Moment for Self-Reflection

Emma Lichtenstein, Brandeis University

The long-running reality show's season finale — which finally looked at some of its problematic issues — was actually good.…

October 7, 2019

Songwriters Are Finally Given a Voice on NBC’s ‘Songland’

Rebecca McKinley Parsons, Wake Forest University

Long pushed out of the spotlight in favor of performers, songwriters are finally getting to be the center of attention.…

July 14, 2019

4 British Reality TV Shows to Replace Your American Staples

Stina Chang, University of Southern California

It's everything you love about reality TV — but British.…

July 10, 2019

Reality TV Shows Need to Provide Their Contestants Counseling, a Thread

Rachel Hall, Augustana College

In the last decade alone, 21 reality show contestants have taken their lives after the cameras stopped rolling.…

August 5, 2018

Why Gordon Ramsay Is the GOAT of Reality Television

Eric McInnis, Arcadia University

With his boisterous personality and passion for cooking, the famous Scottish chef has become one of the biggest television personalities of this decade.…

July 20, 2017

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reality TV shows