List of reality television programs - Definition and Overview

List of reality television series, by general type, listed with the date of their premiere. A few details are added for some shows that don't have their own article. See reality television for further descriptions.

Documentary style

• An American Family (1973)
• The Family (1974) (UK)
• Sylvania Waters (1992) (Australia)
• The Real World (1992)
• Road Rules (1994)
• True Life (1998)
• Airport (UK; BBC show that made Jeremy Spake famous)
• Airline (UK; ITV's imitation of Airport)
• Airline (US; 2003 on A&E Network)
• Lagos Airport (UK; Channel 4's take on Airport focusing on the third world conditions in and around Nigeria's main airport; a kind of "grim reality" show)
• U8TV: The Lofters (2001) (Canada; Life Network show about the lives of eight young Canadians who host a number of television series and live together in a loft)
• Making the Band (2001)
• Making the Band 2 (2002)
• Sorority Life
• Fraternity Life
• American Chopper (2003)
• The Restaurant (2003)
• Starting Over (2003)
• American Hot Rod (2004)
• Rachael Rocks (2004)
• Family Plots (2004) (US; A&E Network show about a mortuary in San Diego)
• American Casino (2004)
• The Casino (2004)
• Drawn Together (2004)

Historical re-creation

• The 1900 House (1999) (UK; living in historical conditions. Also shown on PBS)
• (2000) (Canada)
• The 1940s House (2001) (UK)
• The Edwardian Country House aka Manor House (2002)
• Frontier House (2002) (US; PBS show set in the American frontier of 1883)
• Quest for the Bay (2002) (Canada)
• The Ship (2002) (UK)
• (2003) (Canada)
• Colonial House (2004) (US; PBS show set in the American frontier of 1628)
• Regency House Party (2004) (UK)
• Warrior Challenge (2004) (US)
• Le Moyen 1903 2003 (Switzerland/TSR)
• Infamous (2004, E!)

Dating

• Blind Date (US) (1999)
• Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? (2000)
• The 5th Wheel (2001)
• Temptation Island (2001)
• ElimiDATE (2002)
• EX-treme Dating (2002)
• The Bachelor (2002)
• Bachelorettes in Alaska (2002)
• Would Like To Meet (UK)
• Streetmate (UK)
• Average Joe (2003)
• The Bachelorette (2003)
• Cupid (2003)
• For Love or Money (2003)
• Joe Millionaire (2003)
• Married by America (2003)
• Mr. Personality (2003)
• My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé (2004)
• Boy Meets Boy (2004)
• The Littlest Groom (2004)
• Playing It Straight (2004)
• Outback Jack (2004)
• The Player (2004)

Law Enforcement/Military

• Cops (1989)
• Real Stories of the Highway Patrol (1994)
• American Fighter Pilot (2002)
• Boot Camp
• Combat Missions (2001)

Makeover

• Changing Rooms (UK) = Trading Spaces (US) (2000)
• Trading Spaces: Home Free
• A Makeover Story (US)
• Extreme Makeover (2002)
• (2004)
• Life Laundry (2002) (UK; house clearance)
• Monster Garage (2002) (US)
• Clean Sweep (2003)
• Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (2003)
• Knock First (2003)
• How Clean Is Your House? (2003) (2004) (UK)
• Monster House (2003) (US)
• MTV's MADE
• Restoration (2003) (UK)
• The Swan (2004) (US)
• (2004) (US)
• What Not To Wear (US; UK)

Lifestyle change

• Faking It (2001) (UK; remade in US in 2003)
• Wife Swap (2002) (2003) (UK)
• Celebrity Fit Club (2002) (UK)
• Masters And Servants (2003) (UK)
• Holiday Swap (2003) (UK)
• He's a Lady (2004) (US)
• Trading Spouses (2004) (US)
• Holiday Showdown (2004) (UK)
• The Biggest Loser (2004) (US)
• What the Butler Saw (2004) (UK)

Docusoaps starring celebrities

• The Anna Nicole Show (2002)
• The Osbournes (2002)
• The Surreal Life (2003)
• The Simple Life (2003)
• Rich Girls (2003)
• Newlyweds (2003)
• The Ashlee Simpson Show (2004)
• The Simple Life 2 (2004)
• Growing Up Gotti (2004)

Hidden camera

• Boiling Point (US) MTV
• Candid Camera (1953)
• America's Funniest Home Videos (1990)
• The Jamie Kennedy Experiment (2002)
• Punk'd (2003)
• Trigger Happy TV (2002) (UK; launched comedian Dom Joly)

Reality game shows

• Expedition Robinson (1997)
• Big Brother (2000)
• Big Brother (UK) (2000 - present)
• Survivor (2000)
• The Mole (2000)
• Fear Factor (2001)
• The Amazing Race (2001)
• Murder in Small Town X (2001)
• Model Flat (Fashion TV, 2002)
• I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! (2002) (UK)
• I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! (USA)
• Dog Eat Dog (2003)
• Boot Camp
• The Games (2003) (UK)
• Shattered (2004) (UK)
• Back To Reality (2004) (UK)
• Paradise Hotel (2003)
• Forever Eden (2004)
• Gana la Verde (2004) (USA; Spanish language)
• Mad Mad House (2004)
• The Benefactor (2004)
• I'm Famous and Frightened! (2004) (UK)

Spoofs

• Real Life (movie) (1979)
• The Joe Schmo Show (2003)
• Superstar USA (2004)
• Joe Schmo 2 (2004)

Talent Searches

• Star Search (1980s)
• Popstars (2000) (UK; launched bands Hear'Say and Liberty X)
• Pop Idol (2001)
• WWF Tough Enough (2001)
• WWE Tough Enough 2 (2002)
• WWE Tough Enough 3 (2003)
• American Idol (2002)
• Canadian Idol (2002)
• Fame Academy (2002)(2003) (UK)
• American Juniors (2003)
• Australian Idol (2003)
• Last Comic Standing (2003)
• America's Next Top Model (2003)
• Performing As... (2003)
• Reborn in the USA (2003) (UK)
• Can You Be A Porn Star? (2004)
• The Apprentice (2004)
• Dream Job (2004)
• Next Action Star (2004)
• The Assistant (2004)
• The Contender (2004)
• Dream Job II (2004)
• The Next Great Champ (2004)
• The Rebel Billionaire (2004)
• My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss (2004)
• The X Factor (2004) (UK)

Fantasies Fulfilled

• Thrill of a Lifetime (1982-88 & 2002)
• No Opportunity Wasted (2004)