Whether it’s the gag-worthy drag on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” the strategic scheming on “Survivor,” or the congenial confectionery combat on “The Great British Baking Show,” reality competitions have us hooked. And if you’re an aspiring performer looking for your big break, these contests are a great way to showcase your personality, talent, and drive. Here’s our roundup of the crème de la crème.
1. “Survivor”
Network: CBS
Stream on: Paramount+
Air dates: 2000–present
Premise: A group of castaways are stranded (albeit with a full documentary crew) in the wilderness to compete in a series of mental and physical challenges for their chance at a $1 million prize.
A mainstay of reality TV since its inception (and still one of the best competition reality shows, at least according to viewership numbers), ”Survivor” has long graced us with a smorgasbord of competitors we love—and love to hate. Combining the thrill of watching contestants battle it out in skill-based challenges and the pure entertainment value of explosive group dynamics, it’s no surprise this is one of the longest-running and most beloved shows in the genre.
It’s produced several successful alumni, including Elisabeth Hasselbeck, former co-host of ABC’s “The View,” and country music star Chase Rice. For audiences and hopeful contestants, there’s perhaps no better contender than this classic.
2. “The Challenge”
Network: MTV
Stream on: Paramount+
Air dates: 1998–present
Premise: Contestants from reality TV shows past come together to compete in a series of extreme mental and physical challenges for the ultimate cash prize. To win, hopeful contestants must strategize, form alliances, and be unafraid to stab someone in the back when the time is right.
A spinoff of a spinoff (the original name for the series was “Real World/Road Rules Challenge”), “The Challenge” pits fan favorites and certified villains from other reality programs against each other. Competitors come from series including “The Amazing Race,” “Are You the One?,” “Big Brother,” “Ex on the Beach,” “Love Island,” and “Survivor.” The show’s constantly evolving format, dramatic twists, and long-running lore always keep viewers coming back for more.
Throughout its run, several contestants have emerged as stars in their own right: Professional wrestler Mike “The Miz” Mizanin, standup comedian Theo Von, and actor Jamie Chung all earned larger acclaim after competing in one or several of the show’s dizzying number of seasons.
3. “Big Brother”
Network: CBS
Stream on: Paramount+
Air dates: 2000–present
Premise: Forced to live together under one roof and constant surveillance, contestants on “Big Brother” must form alliances and compete against one another to avoid eviction from the house and earn the $750,000 prize.
Most reality shows give you an all-too-intimate portrait of their contestants’ private lives, but “Big Brother” dials that concept up to an 11. With cameras in virtually every corner of the eponymous house, houseguests have nowhere to hide from the prying eyes of their producers and fans. In addition to the events spliced together for the show proper, audiences can also tune in to the 24/7 live feed to check out what their favorite competitors are up to at any given moment.
While many reality TV competitions have some level of strategy and backstabbing, the most successful competitors on “Big Brother” have understood that the path to victory is paved with performance—a skill some of the contestants have leveraged into stable careers. All-star Cody Calafiore has starred in several Hallmark-style Christmas movies for Prime Video. Season 2 winner Will Kirby, an aesthetic dermatologist, appeared on the CBS medical talk show “The Doctors” and even had a cameo role on the Disney+ series “The Book of Boba Fett.” “Big Brother” absolutely epitomizes the type of junky drama and suspense that makes reality TV so popular, easily landing it a spot on this list.
4. “The Amazing Race”
Network: CBS
Stream on: Paramount+
Air dates: 2001–present
Premise: Teams of two race around the world on a limited budget in a quest to be the first duo to finish a series of puzzles for $1 million.
“The Amazing Race” sets itself apart from other entries on this list by leaving out the alliance-building that makes reality TV so popular. Instead, this show focuses on interpersonal dynamics between the pairs, adding a welcome layer of human drama to an already exciting show. It often strikes an emotional chord with audiences, thanks in no small part to the inspiring stories of personal growth it engenders. The show has produced many memorable contestants over its dozens of seasons, including YouTube star Tyler Oakley and Reichen Lehmkuhl from Season 4, who would go on to appear on the soap opera “Dante’s Cove” and the Logo reality show “The A-List: New York.”
5. “MasterChef USA”
Network: Fox
Stream on: Hulu
Air dates: 2010–present
Premise: A group of amateur and home chefs are pitted against one another to complete a series of cooking-related challenges in the goal of winning the title of MasterChef and a $250,000 prize.
Judged and hosted by famed meanie Gordon Ramsay, “MasterChef USA” is beloved not only for the celebrity chef’s bombastic personality, but also for its in-depth stories of aspiring food virtuosos. Take, for example, Christine Hà, the series’ first blind contestant and winner of Season 3. Hà’s career post–“MasterChef USA” includes hosting the Canadian cooking show “Four Senses,” giving multiple TED Talks, and opening several restaurants in Houston.
Others who have translated their appearance on “MasterChef USA” to mainstream entertainment success include Season 4 competitor Eddie Jackson, who went on to win Season 11 of “Food Network Star,” and Season 10’s Nick DiGiovanni, who has won two Streamy Awards for his food channel on YouTube.
6. “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
Network: MTV
Stream on: Paramount+
Air dates: 2009–present
Premise: A group of drag queens put their artistry to the test in a variety of creative and performance-based challenges in the hopes of becoming America’s next drag superstar.
Anchored by drag queen legend RuPaul, “Drag Race” is a performative powerhouse, combining dazzling runway performances with heartfelt stories of up-and-coming queens eager to prove themselves. Art and competition collide on this infinitely quotable show, giving each unique competitor the chance to show off their skills across the realms of fashion, makeup, divaliciousness, and comedy. The show has inspired multiple spinoffs, including “RuPaul’s Drag U,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars,” “RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race,” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars.”
Numerous queens have used the show as a springboard to more mainstream success. Season 6 winner Bianca Del Rio wrote and performed several standup comedy shows and had a role in the Prime Video film “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” (2021). Katya Zamolodchikova and Trixie Mattel from Season 7 co-host the World of Wonder web series “UNHhhh” (2016–present) and hosted its Viceland spinoff “The Trixie & Katya Show” (2017–2018). In addition to its fiercely glamorous battles and absolutely savage drama, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is widely celebrated for its diversity, inclusion, and empowering message of self-love.
How to Become a Drag Queen: A Complete Guide7. “American Idol”
Network: ABC
Stream on: Hulu
Air dates: 2002–2016; 2018–present
Premise: Aspiring singers face off in a series of auditions and performances as they compete for a recording contract and the hopes of launching a successful music career.
A cultural powerhouse that brought us some of the most iconic performances of the last two decades, the competition aspect of “American Idol” is simple, leaving room for audiences to appreciate each singer’s inspiring journey. Its premise centers on performing for the nation, so it’s only fitting that the winners are chosen by popular vote. Audiences get the chance to discover new musical talent and make their voice heard about which singers are deserving of superstar status.
The passion of pursuit and the thrill of live performance come together to make this musical showdown a lasting favorite. Grammy Award winner and talk show host Kelly Clarkson, country music star Carrie Underwood, and Oscar winner Jennfier Hudson all rose to prominence on the “American Idol” stage.
8. “The Traitors”
Network: Peacock
Stream on: Peacock
Air dates: 2023–present
Premise: Twenty-one larger-than-life personalities are brought together to compete for a $250,000 cash prize—but unknown traitors are hidden among the cast, “murdering” the other contestants in order to claim the prize for themselves.
The newest reality contest show on this list, “The Traitors” captivates viewers with its high-stakes combination of atmospheric aesthetics, strategic gameplay, dramatic betrayals, and the ridiculously charming Alan Cumming as host. This perfect storm of intrigue is “goofy, hyperdramatic, suspenseful, and pretty entertaining,” according to NPR’s Linda Holmes.
Audiences revel in watching alliances form and betrayals unfold as the traitors secretly plot to eliminate the faithful contestants for a bigger piece of the prize; in turn, the faithful scramble against time to root out the traitors and make it to the final episode. While half of the “Traitors” cast are TV newbies, the other half are reality veterans from shows like “The Real Housewives,” “Survivor,” and “Big Brother.”
9. “The Great British Baking Show”
Network: Channel 4 (U.K.)
Stream on: Netflix
Air dates: 2010–present
Premise: Twelve amateur bakers compete in timed challenges that put their skills and imaginations to the tastiest test.
Unlike pretty much all other reality TV contest shows out there, “The Great British Baking Show” (aka “The Great British Bake Off”) is a wholesome showing of camaraderie and joy. Gone are the elements of drama and betrayal, replaced instead with the love of baking and the celebration of culinary creativity.
Several of the show’s contestants have found wider renown: Season 3 winner John Whaite is a resident chef on the ITV morning variety show “Lorraine,” and he also made it to the final round on BBC One’s “Strictly Come Dancing.” Season 7 winner Candice Brown went on to author cookbooks and own a pub in Bedfordshire, England. By far the most recognizable, though, is Season 6 winner Nadiya Hussain. She’s released cookbooks and novels, hosted several cooking shows, and even presented Queen Elizabeth II a cake for her 90th birthday.
10. “Project Runway”
Network: Bravo
Stream on: Peacock
Air dates: 2004–present
Premise: Budding fashion designers flex their creativity and resourcefulness in a series of challenges for the chance at a cash prize, a magazine feature, and expert mentorship.
There’s something uniquely fun about watching competition shows that highlight the wild creativity of their competitors. It’s part of what audiences love about “RuPaul’s Drag Race”—and it’s part of what they loved about “Project Runway” before it. There’s an intense pressure in building up a contestant’s burgeoning talents into a skill set that can rival industry professionals.
Original host Heidi Klum brought a fun fierceness to the earlier seasons, extended by Karlie Kloss on later seasons—and the pièce de résistance was contestant mentor Tim Gunn and his iconic catchphrase: “Make it work!” One of the most successful designers to come out of the show is Season 4 winner Christian Siriano, who’s debuted several popular fashion lines, was parodied on “SNL,” and has taken on the mantle for Gunn as “Project Runway” mentor.
