List of reality television programs

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This is a list of reality television series, by general type, listed with the date of their premiere. A few details are added for some shows that do not have their own article. See reality television for further descriptions.

Contents

Documentary style

In this genre, camera crews follow the daily interactions of people in ordinary places, such as airports or restaurants, or follow people in a specific profession.

Docusoaps starring celebrities

This genre, launched most successfully by music channel MTV, follows a camera crew into the lives of celebrities.

Financial transactions and appraisals

Extraordinary people

Structured reality

The Primetime Emmy Awards, which have given an award for Outstanding Structured Reality Program define structured reality shows as shows that "contain consistent story elements that mostly adhere to a recurring structured template." [1]

Historical re-creation

This genre takes modern-day contestants and puts them in the lifestyle of historical people or places.

Dating

In this genre, couples or singles are brought together in dating or romantic situations.

Makeover

This increasingly popular genre features ordinary people having home or lifestyle makeovers with the assistance of professionals.

Lifestyle change

Here, ordinary people experience an extraordinary change in their environments or occupations.

Fantasies fulfilled

Video cameras/hidden camera

This is perhaps the oldest reality show genre, popular as far back as the early days of television.

Reality game shows/reality "playoffs"

This, the biggest and most successful reality genre, features contestants who compete for prizes, while often living together in close quarters. They usually feature the elimination of contestants until a winner is chosen. Sometimes they are considered to be "reality playoffs" since their format is similar to that of a playoff in sports.

Talent searches

Often similar to the game show genre in that there are eliminations and a final winner, this genre centers on contestants competing a specific skill or talent, rather than in random challenges.

Before 2000

2000s premieres

2010s premieres

2020s premieres

Hoax shows

Reality shows in which one or more participants are tricked into believing they are taking part in a legitimate show when they are actually the victim(s) of a joke. These types of shows are somewhat akin to hidden camera shows.

See also

Related Research Articles

These are first-run syndicated television shows that air on commercial broadcast stations in a significant number of markets. If it has only aired in a few markets, it is not significantly important enough to be placed on this list. Note that shows listed here do not necessarily air in every market.

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References

  1. "66th Primetime Emmy Awards 2013–2014 Rules and Procedures" (PDF). April 18, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2019.