Reality TV has become a cultural powerhouse. There’s no stopping it

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What’s the first reality TV show you remember watching? Was it a classic like “The Real World” or “Survivor,” or maybe something more recent like “The Bachelor,” “Project Runway,” or one of the “Real Housewives” series?

I grew up watching early reality TV on MTV in the ‘90s and early 2000s, like “Real World” and “Road Rules.” Being the youngest of four kids, I ended up seeing shows that now seem pretty mature for my age, but they really stuck with me. I vividly remember moments like when Irene McGee on “Real World: Seattle” got slapped by her roommate, which was shocking at the time. Genesis Moss from the Boston season was one of the first openly gay people I saw on television. And Melissa Howard from New Orleans showed me that you don’t have to be tall to be strong and confident – something I really connected with, being a similarly sized and spirited person.

I’ll admit, I used to be quick to dismiss reality TV. It always felt a bit too revealing, a little too focused on cutthroat competition, and I often worried about what that kind of exposure did to the people involved. But I can’t ignore how incredibly popular these shows are, and honestly, I get why. They’re just so good for conversation! Just in the last few weeks, my colleagues and I have spent hours dissecting everything from the latest season of “The Bachelorette” to Taylor Frankie Paul’s drama, and even debating the couples from Season 10 of “Love Is Blind.” It’s become a real office obsession!

When reality television first appeared, almost no one predicted its massive impact on our culture or the rise of a new kind of celebrity. Today, reality TV stars are major influencers, pop culture icons, and, in one remarkable case, even hold political office – one is currently the president.

Many TV shows have proven incredibly durable, growing into vast franchises with international versions and spin-offs. Take Bravo, for example. Once dedicated to the performing arts, it’s now a major force in reality television, complete with its own fan convention, BravoCon, where all its shows and personalities come together.

What does our interest in reality TV say about us? People have always been curious about watching others navigate life, especially when those lives are on display. Maybe it’s a way to avoid dealing with our own challenges – the pressures of politics, financial struggles, and personal difficulties. Watching someone else face their problems can be a welcome distraction.

So like it or not, reality television is here to stay.

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2026-03-26 13:36