Every now and again, reality TV shakes pop culture so much that it breaches the screen and enters the common realm of entertainment.
In 2023, “Vanderpump Rules” shook audiences when Tom Sandoval’s affair — after nine years with Ariana Madix — with co-star Raquel Leviss was exposed, launching Madix’s career far beyond the show. Fans have dubbed the scandal “scandoval.”
Most recently, “The Secret lives of Mormon Wives” star Taylor Frankie Paul was set to lead “The Bachelorette” this season before TMZ acquired a video of her throwing a chair at the father of her child, leading to the season’s cancellation. While this unfortunate incident leaves a gap in how I was planning to spend my Sunday nights this spring, don’t worry. As a self-proclaimed pop culture and reality TV connoisseur, this spoiler-free roundup of shows will keep you entertained for weeks.
“The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City”
It’s official: something is in the water in Utah. If you thought Taylor Frankie Paul brought drama, allow me to introduce Jen Shah. Between federal fraud charges, secret fan Instagram accounts and annual Sundance Film Festival drama, “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” delivers some of the most unhinged and addictive television in the “Real Housewives” franchise.
“The Traitors”
If you somehow missed it, now’s the time to catch up. Set in a Scottish castle and hosted by Alan Cumming, “The Traitors” blends reality TV personalities with a murder mystery-style game of deception. Alliances are constantly shifting and no one can be trusted. The drama is unlike any reality TV show I’ve seen, and it feels almost Shakespearean. There is not only $200,000 on the line, but reputations at stake as well. Last season’s contestant Maura Higgins put it perfectly: “You’re never gonna have a girlfriend after this.”
“Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat”
A follow-up on the viral success of “Jury Duty” is another absurd installment following a company retreat. In this “Truman Show”-like experiment, Anthony Norman is an unsuspecting temp worker for a completely fabricated company, surrounded by actors committed to escalating the chaos.
“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”
This is my personal favorite from Bravo’s “Real Housewives” franchise. It is classic, quotable and always dramatic. While the show delivers luxury, feuds and Kathy Hilton’s perfectly-timed one-liners, it also goes beyond the surface level and tackles some pretty heavy themes like abuse, sobriety and domestic violence. Since airing in 2010, the changes in cast throughout the years have been refreshing and welcome, which is something not every show can pull off.
“Jersey Shore”
Throwing it back to the MTV reality TV staple, Jersey Shore has stood the test of time in relevance and entertainment. Whether revisiting the show or watching it for the first time, get ready to learn about and fall in love with New Jersey Italian culture. From endless party nights at the club to roommate fights and Snooki’s iconic drunken arrest on the boardwalk, this show is shockingly ridiculous, yet entertaining.
“Below Deck”
If it’s not obvious by now, I believe Bravo makes superior reality TV. “Below Deck” has all aspects of classic, trashy reality TV, but on a luxury yacht. It combines workplace drama, demanding charter guests and messy dynamics. At the end of each episode, you’ll learn how not to behave if you ever find yourself chartering a yacht.
Ironically, reality TV is the perfect escape from our everyday lives. It’s hard to feel bad for yourself when watching such wildly entertaining characters implode on screen. Some people don’t need a script to create perfect television — they just need the right personality, a camera and a little nudge from producers.
