So, I have a podcast about game shows. And reality television gets a bad rap at times because of it’s often slimy, tilt the scale challenges and just overall “drama” and shouting that turns people off.

However, there is a thing called “Reality-Competition” that still gets this disgusting taste in purists, and sometimes I don’t blame them. However, in the last twenty years, they’ve included cooking competition shows like Top Chef, singing competition shows like The Voice, and even Shark Tank, which has billion dollar ideas, and can remind people “hey, they turned down Ring doorbells!”

I have wanted to do one of these “Top 10” lists in quite a while. However, I don’t have the voice strength to actually talk about it this time. (I’m writing this up on mobile, and my throat is very, very sore for the last couple of days)

My taste in reality competition is weird, because, it is a very gray area. Many of the shows I enjoy are more genre benders or “game show field trip” kind of shows. It Is the same as a game show, but it’s Island, or Hotel or City. Yes, deal or no deal island might just ba game show over reality show, even though it’s competitions and there’s the briefcase game.

And here’s some popular shows that people will want in a top 10 and quickly why they aren’t going into my list.

Wipeout – it’s a game show.

Fear Factor – every challenge is a crutch used in other shows, just watch Fort Boyard instead.

The Real World – it’s a documentary, not a competition.

Road Rules – easily forgotten about, best show on MTV, except for the one that’s on the list (HINT: it’s not a dating sho

(insert dating show) – sorry, next, bachelornation, dating naked, on the spectrum, blind, temptation Island, meet my folks, etc. I will do your list some other time. ITS NOT A GOOD GENRE, BUT THE BEST ONE WAS CHAINS OF LOVE

(insert cooking show) – Gordon Ramsay, Gordon Ramsay, Iron Chef, Chopped, Iron Chef Spinoff, Next Level Gordon Ramsay, and none of them hold a candle to the greatest one – CutThroat Kitchen (and maybe Great British Bakeoff)

Survivor - when we look at “American Pillars” Survivor will be that Mount Rushmore. However, I think the show has finally found it’s footing with “tropical Island” and the tribal counsel. But it does on way too long. I watch the challenge, go to tribal and that’s it. It’s half the episode, but I enjoy not motionthe hidden immunity idols.

The Challenge – I think it’s a great show. I enjoy the challenges and the games and their ability to adapt, but please, no more Johnny Bananas and CT. I also wish it wasn’t just “hey remember this player from this one reality show”. FRESH MEAT DESERVES BETTER.

Ton of Cash – you never watched it.

The Biggest Loser – Genetics is a bitch, and even though diet and exercise is important, it’s mental and mostly, instead of inspires audiences to get up and walk and eat a salad, instead it’s a OH YOU LIKE DONUTS AND HAMBURGERS? GO FUCK YOURSELF

The Bachelor – didn’t you just see the dating show thing? Later date, still find them icky.

The Apprentice – Trump is a bad president, but okay “reality show boss” however the UK version is more business, and instead of the office being running PR for a Trump Casino, you get at least a 50/50 partnership in your company. Which is like going to shark tank and asking for £250,000 for 50% stake, but without the embarrassment.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – When was the last time you saw the classic extreme makeover with the plastic surgery? Probably never. It really sucks that’s the title and not “move that bus”

RuPaul’s Drag Race – Honey, it’s just WWE Tough Enough. It’s just you want sassy diva queens doing the vaudeville acts because that’s old timey entertainment. At least they fake-die on Dragula (and that’s with the oh no, snakes and spiders)

Pretty much, most shows on this list won’t have the tropes of reality TV.

“oh no snakes and spiders” – call an animal wrangler to put spiders in a box or snakes in a box or have the contestants in a box with snakes. It’s a crutch, the idea is you’re supposed to scream with the players who have phobias, that’s not entertainment, that’s cruelty.

“ew, I ate something gross” – Building on fear Factor, have players eat “something gross”, you know, bugs! Blended up stuff, or whatever dumb TikTok challenge of the day to get people vomiting, why would you watch vomit?

“I saw this on jackass!” – if it’s something steve-o or johnny Knoxville will do, it’s not worth it. When Johnny or Steve-O, decide to get tazed, or shave their head, or run from a bull, it’s usually met with comedy, yes, however, the comedy is because they are willing to do it, because it’s their act as stunt people or comedians for laughs, most new shows, when it’s the slapstick face slap or throwing balls in people’s faces, it’s met as a batsu-style punishment or a worthless padding. Sorry “That’s My Jam”, I don’t understand the water spray. It’s a comedy device. But so is “pie in the face”

The Reason For This Top Ten List, is because not only are listicles apparently “acceptable content”. But mostly, to me, the dichotomy of “Deal or No Deal Island” coming out next month.

Deal or No Deal is a very simple, yet addictive game show, met with the risk/reward aspect that comes in many game shows and formats, but to turn it into a Reality-Competition series is still a “hold up” moment, even though many of deal or no deal elements are inside it. But based on previews, I think my assessment is “If Deal or No Deal is pizza, Deal or No Deal Island is an episode of Chopped that uses that same pizza as an ingredient”

Will it be in my favorite reality shows list in the future? Who Knows? There is also FORTUNE HOTEL in the future. and that to me screams “Reality Show Deal or No Deal” (even though it is also just White Elephant or Carrot in a Box)

10. The Great Escape

The Show is pretty much an over the top version of an escape room, made to look like an action movie. If it's one thing I really love, it's when reality television wants to become a genre bend. In this show three teams of two are trapped in a room, and then must escape and reach four checkpoints before finding Rich Eisen to win the $100,000. It was on TNT, but it's one of the few shows I wish was still around or was given to another channel. Some of my favorite episodes included Alcatraz (obviously) where they did a spotlight stealth puzzle, Escape the Power Plant, where they had a classic escape room code puzzle, and a desert where it was really hot, and pretty much a disaster of a production.

One of those few reality shows that I think “man it was ahead of it's time”, which will be recurring answer. Although Big Money Hide and Seek is available through Hunted.

9. The Phone

Genre bends are my favorite type of game show and reality show. And while “Release the Hounds” and “Hellevator” are perfect shows for fans of horror. As somebody who really loves buddy cop action movies, this is more my speed.

Based of a Dutch show, this saw two teams of two 20 somethings having to find each other and then go it's own action movie, but unlike The Great Escape that was played as an adventure series, this is strictly action. Car Chases, Stunt Actors falling off buildings, etc.

There are four missions that play into a storyline for 5k, 10k, 15k and 20k. After the 10k challenge whatever team fails is “killed off” and the remaining team plays the two challenges, then after they complete the mission (or fail) they play a quiz about the day in memory, with the winner of the duo taking the money, and then, in one final twist, they can keep it for themselves, or split the money to their partner today.

It was Justin Timberlake’s company, but to me, this was the best MTV reality series, when most retrospectives will focus on the dating shows like Next or things like You've Got A Friend or Damage Control, that just serve to embarrass for the sake of embarrassment.

8. The Amazing Race

It’s won countless Emmys, and got Trump very mad. But to me, it's what helped create Jet Lag The Game and also, one of the rare shows still on the air on this list.

A simple idea - a race around the world for a million dollars, complete challenges to get clues to figure out where you're going next. Last team at a certain pitstop is eliminated until only a few are left to go back to America to finish the race.

While the show has become mixed over time, with Taxi Cab Roulette, challenges that can best be described as “we need to build drama” and multiple legs in certain countries (for budget) this show, especially in it's early years still holds up to me as great television.

It's ambitious production profile, it's ability to go through a map and have a diverse group of cultures and customs to make challenges, and part travel show where you learn Geography, in a country where we just stop teaching it.

7. Whodunnit?

Murder Mystery is nothing new,, as “Murder in Small Town X” was a huge series back in the 2000s.

Created by the team behind CSI, each episode one of the contestants is murdered and it's up to the remaining players to figure out HOW they died, rather than the titular WHO, there are clues in the morgue, the scene of the crime and the contestant’s last known whereabouts, which, if pieced together, would make a great narrative. Those close will be “spared” while those far off are “scared” and then, I guess, one of them gets “murdered” in the next episode.

What makes the show great was the theatrics, it was WAY over the top. Unlike 101 Ways to Leave a Game Show that really want that “element of death” to heighten a contestant actually screaming for their life, this show welcomes them to be just actors.

It felt the closest we could get to a Clue based reality show (and yes, I'm aware the UK had a game show) and if it's one genre I really think we need more of, it's murder mystery, especially given all the True Crime and Only Murders in The Building that's trendy at the moment.

6. The Circle

Catfishing can create cash, at least in this game.

I first watched this show in the UK when it was almost Black Mirror, Contestants would give each other STAR reviews, like it's Uber with the players getting eliminated. Now, it's played with rankings and power players and voting out. But the highlight of the show is still the apartments the contestants stay in, as they read comments and respond to it.

It is pretty much the only living recording of people chatting on the Internet, but in real life, even if there COULD be people lying about themselves to be popular. You see LOL then they weren't laughing, you see people in private messages trying to sort grudges.

And the best part is the reveal, when a player is eliminated, they can finally meet one other contestant IRL, and they get to see their “best friend in the game” (or a rival) and when it's cat fishes, bring this very awkward and entertaining moment of television, but equally, if players are who they are, this also moment of joy as well that they were who they say they were.

It's a great expose of the lengths people will go for Internet Fame, especially in the EVERYBODY IS AN INFLUENCER world we have unfortunately cultivated.

5. Big Brother

The original Reality Show. Except for Real World, or Road Rules, or documentaries in general.

Big Brother in America is baby's first reality show, it's the training wheels for game show fans to get into reality comps. As the show has created it's own lore and terms like backdoor veto, and challenges like OTEV, it's the closest we can get to Mario Party as a show.

But I'm not here for THAT big brother. I'm talking the original one, the one where YOU are watching, and YOU control the game (by voting people out and making decisions for the house)

The 2000s Davina years of Big Brother in Channel 4 are some brilliant summer long television. Every week there is a challenge meant to play for a shopping budget, or pizza parties, and some play cruel, other play silly. But I think it's the natural progression of Channel 4 television - 90s was Crystal Maze, 2000s was Big Brother, and 2010s was Taskmaster (I know, it started on Dave, but given Alex Horne’s references)

The reboot on ITV last year was possibly one of the best reboots of television. 2000s reality show drama was about getting black people to get angry for the sake of racism, even if they were a token minority. Now, diverse casting has made sure it's not “say slurs to the gay guy” and that makes old boomer people mad, because “woke”. But alternatively, makes the show a MILLION TIMES BETTER.

Instead of a Drama over “I think she's a slutty bitch” which is passe, it's gotten smarter where the reasons people are up for elimination are more emotional beats where they fear a showmance might win, or a pageant queen is “an obvious shoe-in”.

Anyway, this year sees the debut of JOSH MUST WIN and I can't wait to see how they play into the classic world of “reality show contest”.

4. The Mole

You can look at Anderson Cooper’s version, however two versions stand out very well - “Wie is de Mol?” in the Netherlands, hosted by Rik van de Westelaken, and “De Mol” in it’s home country of Belgium, by our BEST FRIEND, Gilles De Coster.

These versions are where survivor is in the States. They don't need “immunity idols” (in the form of Exemption cards) they have JOKERS, that give players one “right” on a quiz (but not the answer) and this can be twisted to force a wrong on another player, or be opened for an exemption. They have a treasurers hold onto the money and could sabotage, or get secret missions to gamble the money.

Pretty much, the challenges from The Mole on Netflix but played a MILLION TIMES BETTER because they know how the fumble points matter, and where jokers could be allowed.

Free pass to the next round is easy, but to gamble the $10,000 for two free correct answers, or you can split it for two different quizzes or give one to somebody. That makes it more challenging.

Communication breakdown is the name of the game, and while it's not a full on Spy Thriller (which, again, genre bend). It is very fun to try and play along as to who is the mole.

(But, again, Netflix version was boring by comparison, you can't just give the mole a card that says “THE MOLE” on the exemption card, when it's not warranted, and only serves as a “clue”)

Also, challenges are way better than “switcheroo” like Anderson Cooper version, SORRY NOT SORRY.

(The Soundtrack is great though)

3. Solitary

Many game shows claim to be a “social experiment”, but this is truly the “anti-social experiment”.

When you see love is blind and how they do these chambers. It just reminds me of the one show that I think did it so much better.

9 contestants are placed in chambers and can't communicate with each other, and aren't identified by the shows host by their names, but rather their pod number. (Number 6…)

Each episode has a test and a treatment. A test is essentially a very annoying, often frustrating puzzle or challenge that rewards immunity from the “treatment”.

The treatment is an endurance challenge where if you fail, you MUST hit the red button to quit.

The red button and green button serves as the only real communication, and as dramatic points.

Green buttons are used in challenges for time, or when you need to “Ask Val” for something (typically food, water, bathroom) but occasionally, will get nothing but a flavorless meal bar, a bottle of water, and entry to the bathroom (through a tiny tunnel to an adjacent room)

To me, it was equal parts cruel and comedic, as you watch contestants slowly lose their mind from the isolation, but also as they have no idea how others are doing, could be going for HOURS longer than the games elapse.

There could be a Simon puzzle on a floor and you need to stand in the right spot at the right time, but while one tired themselves out and quit 5 minutes into the game, another could be going for 5 hours without any knowledge they were the last one standing.

This was on the Fox Reality Channel, one of the most underrated channels to ever exist, essentially the next upgrade from Game Show Network, and while the top prize was $50,000 (which was very low at the time)

It always makes me wonder why they haven't rebooted this on FOX or on Streaming with a upgraded $100,000 prize, considering it's very small budget, but very stressful premise.

2.. The Traitors

The smartest, simplest game show. Take “Mafia” or “Warewolf” and turn it into a reality show.

While “The Mole” makes sure you don't know who the villain is until the end, The Traitors wants you to know and follow their story.

Rather it's the UK, Australia, or the United States, there are always two stories being told

The Faithful, who are trying to deduce who is a traitor, based on murder and discussions, who can only eliminate in a banishment room. And in a Disadvantage of trying to eliminate Traitors.

And Traitors, who can only be eliminated by Banishment, and at night, can eliminate one of the faithful contestants from the game. As traitors can only lose by Banishment and getting voted out, this means Faithful get eliminated by either being incorrectly voted out or by murder by the Traitors.

If you're nice? Murdered! If you are on to the traitors? Murdered! If you are a baddie enough to be labeled a traitor, Probably not murdered, but most likely banished which is also elimination.

The UK version is more a subjective series about how “good can become evil” and the mental toll it takes to be a villain, even if you're really nice.

The US version, full of reality show all stars, sees the past grudges and “untrustworthy occupations” as a tool to mistrust everybody, making the show about how hard it is to be honest and good.

The Australian version, not set in a Scottish Castle, is more like Knives Out and played seductively.

There are other versions in Canada and New Zealand that I've watched since compiling this list and no matter what I realize the “round table” is more stressful than Tribal Counsel or an Boardroom, and always delivers in dramatic beats.

When it comes to the end game, which I'm calling “trial by fire” - contestants can stop the game at any time, but if one chooses to vote, they MUST banish another player before deciding again to stop. If 2 people are left the game is over. If both are faithful, they split the money won in challenges.

If they decide to stop, but one player is a traitor, the traitor takes it all (or two or three or…)

This makes for very dramatic moments where, if you watch social media makes viewers scream at the TV like a horror movie where the damsel is about to go in the room where the killer is.

It's a very delightful series, but I will be honest and admit I do skip through at times, especially when it's repeating past conversations or when it's a traitor saying “they are lying to these people!” when somebody pins them as a traitor.

It's still very clever!

1 .The Genius Game

Is it reality television? I mean, yes. Sure, it’s not set in a house or an island, or traveling all over the world, but it is one of the rare reality shows that has a set, and unlike most that want “sleeping quarters”, they don’t care.

If you want that, go watch The Devil's Plan, which is also similar to The Genius Game, however, Devil's Plan is more social games to disect with no “perfect route” to the solution, and requires deception.

The Genius Game, sometimes has two or more possible right answers and, almost like Taskmaster, is more open-ended if you see the rules and can figure out the code.

For instance, everybody having $1000 in play money and auctioning for playing cards to get closest to 21 without busting, with the face cards removed, if you win an auction, you can keep the card to yourself or pass it to a player, you are then allowed to freeze.

So then, you can see the game theory get broken down. Maybe players will cooperate so they tie and get 20 each. Others might want to drive the bid up on others so when the ace shows up, they can get it cheaply.

Others are going to take the 2/3/4/5s and try and build 21 with 3 cards.

Others will want to try and bust players who are doing well, so they might get an upper hand.

There is a “main match” to determine the winner of the episode, who gets garnets (an in game currency that also serves for the winnings for the last player standing) and safety, and a “death match” where two people go head to head playing Indian poker or rock paper scissors or train puzzle cards.

This is to me, the best reality show. The Traitors is mafia, but it lasts a WHOLE SEASON, on Genius Game, it's only one episode.

Additionally, the editing of the show is just brilliant, as it rewinds time to reveal secret conversations, Identity cards, somebody “cracking the puzzle” and it's that Eureka Moment that makes audiences really excited about the show of “ugly victories and beautiful defeats”

It's not set on an island or a field trip, it's set on a TV studio set and when the episode ends, they go back to a hotel and relax. But with the right amount of confessional, voice over, and illustration of plans and strategies, it might as well be the The Great British Bake Off for smartass game show nerds who get upset about point structure and strategies in game shows….

Oh wait, that's me, it's a reality show for nerds like me.

ITV has recently announced they are making a version this year and I'm really excited to see how it plays out, because it only means, hey maybe there could be one in America which means I would have a chance to lose to a Chess Grandmaster, a Jeopardy Superchamp and a World Series of Poker bracket holder in a game of “blind monopoly”

But please, check it out, that intro sequence alone is worth the price of admission. It's right up there with GamecenterCX in “Great with Subtitles”

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