Sometimes we give reality television a real bashing, accusing them of being nothing but lowest common demoninator type shows, totally sapping us of intelligence and destroying culture as we know it. And in some cases, that is absolutely the case. But there are examples of some of these shows that were genuinely entertaining and properly inventive. Here are what we think are the ten most influential reality TV shows of all time
CANDID CAMERA (1960 to present)
Not reality TV in the way that we recognise it today, but its influence is still felt today. This is little more than well-aimed CCTV footage that happened to capture something hugely entertaining. But you can see where this idea lead to the trend in “reaction shows”, with people setting up pranks, or performing self-harming stunts, all for the audience’s laughter.
Without CANDID CAMERA, there'd be no: You've Been Framed, Punk'd, Jackass, any of those shows that involve actual CCTV footage, most of the found footage movies from today.
COPS (1989 to present)
Without COPS, there’d be no: Most Dangerous Catch, Whale Wars, Pawn Stars, pretty much any show where we see normal people working their day-to-day job.
THE OSBOURNES (2002 to 2005)
Always at the forefront of new reality trends, MTV brought us into the home and lives of the rich and famous already with Cribs, but with The Osbournes, we got a proper look at what it was like to exist as a celebrity. And not just any celebrities, but the most foul-mouthed, insane family of celebrities you could think of outside of the Manson family. Still though, we loved them all.
Without THE OSBOURNES, there'd be no: The Newlyweds, Keeping Up With Kardashians, The Simple Life, and no Sharon on X-Factor!
SURVIVOR (2000 to present)
Collect a group of random folk, take them away from their normal surroundings, drop them into an environment, set them with a few tasks, and watch them either bond or self-destruct. This entry could've just as easily been Big Brother, but having arrived on screens a measly two weeks prior to that show, this one wins out.
Without SURVIVOR, there'd be no: Amazing Race, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, any show that followed the Big Brother format.
POP IDOL (2001 to 2003)
Most of the world's entry point to the current slew of singing, dancing and talent shows, Pop Idol only ran for two seasons, and gave the world Will Young, Gareth Gates, Michelle McManus and Darius. Merely a redefined version of Stars In Their Eyes (remember that?), we've currently hit saturation point with these kinds of shows, but there is no real signs of them dropping in popularity.
Without POP IDOL, there'd be no: The X-Factor, American Idol, Britain's Got Talent, American's Got Talent, Dancing On Ice, Dancing With The Stars.
THE REAL WORLD (1992 to present)
Take a bunch of strangers, drop them into a fancy house in a hip and trendy part of the city, and watch them interact with each other, and more often than, totally misbehave. Or if you’re REALLY lucky, they'll cop off with one another. 'This is what happens when people stop being polite… and start being getting REAL!' Unfortunately for us, this show has caused some of the most atrocious shows in history to get their kick start.
Without THE REAL WORLD, there'd be no: Jersey Shore, Geordie Shore, Tallafornia, The Valleys, that whole sub-genre of people acting sub-humanly.
AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL (2003 to present)
Take a bunch of strangers, drop them into a fancy house in a hip and trendy part of the city, and watch them interact with each other, and more often than, totally misbehave. The only difference this time is that they're all super attractive (or sometimes not, let's be honest, some of these models looked hella-weird), and they had to learn how to 'smeyes' and, ye know, stand still. Taking people with vague potential and pushing them into the deep end of their dream career is now big business.
Without AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, there'd be no: Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model, Project Runway, Top Chef, The Great British Bake-Off.
THE BACHELOR (2002 to present)
Sometimes it's really, REALLY difficult for rich, attractive people to find love in the real world, so they have to go on TV to find their perfect partner. There certainly don't want any kind of media exposure or possible future career based on this show. Nope, just love, thanks. Celebrities (and we use that term loosely) then took over this format, turning it into a dog and pony show and forgetting about the love. Sad times.
Without THE BACHELOR, there'd be no: A Shot Of Tequila, For The Love Of Ray-J, Flavour Of Love.
LAGUNA BEACH (2004 to 2006)
Once again MTV at the forefront, perfectly melding soap opera drama with a 'is this real?' mentality that made it one of the most addictive shows ever. But that was nothing for what would come next, making superstars out of the likes of Lauren Conrad, Heidi Montag and the likes. There was a time in the mid to late noughties when you couldn't escape one of these shows, but it didn't matter. The real fun was trying to figure out if any of this was actually real or not.
Without LAGUNA BEACH, there'd be no: The Hills, The City, Washington Heights, Catfish.
THE APPRENTICE (2004 to present)
Watching someone of immense power and wealth make potential underlings – not even his employees yet, his POSSIBLE employees – go through the seven gates of business hell just to impress and not hear the dreaded words 'You’re Fired!'… shouldn't have worked, because the business world is barely interesting to the lay man. But by making it competitive, and filling the show, whether accidentally or on purpose, with people who would run over their own mother's for a spot at the job just made it all the more watchable.
Without THE APPRENTICE, there’d be no: Dragon's Den, every adaptation of that The Apprentice, including the just as entertaining UK and Ireland version, although for different reasons.
JON & KATE PLUS 8 (2007 to 2011)
While not known on this side of the world at all, this was where reality shows about 'normal' people began, but of course there had to be something special about them to get them but on TV, and in this case, it was raising eight kids. Since then there has been no stone unturned to find the most 'unique' people to put up on the small screen.
Without JON & KATE PLUS 8, there'd be no: Honey Boo Boo, Little People Big World, The Undateables.