The good, the so-bad-it’s-good, and everything in between.
The Mole
The Mole was one of those reality shows where you could actually tell that everyone involved was having fun creating it, which only made it more enjoyable to watch as a viewer. The challenges perfectly combined a sense of irreverent humor with a feeling of seriousness; these challenges weren't merely throwaways, but actually prompted the viewer to have some fun thinking along with contestants. And if the show weren't great enough already, the first couple seasons were expertly hosted by Anderson Cooper. Please, Anderson, leave CNN and come back to the reality landscape!
ABC
Blind Date
This is in more of the "so-bad-it's-good" category, but Blind Date was such a hilariously blunt look at dating and relationships that it just needs to return to TV. It was fine when the dates went well, but when they went wrong, the show became a trainwreck that you just couldn't take your eyes off of. Plus, the little pop-ups that recurred throughout voiced all of the snarky commentary you usually keep in your head when you watch dating shows.
Universal Worldwide Television
Trading Spaces
In the "home improvement" genre of reality TV, one of the first and best series was Trading Spaces, in which two pairs of neighbors switched homes for two days and redid a room in their neighbor's home with the help of a designer. Host Paige Davis brought a sense of vibrancy and fun to the proceedings, helping to assuage homeowners' fears about the renovations going on in their own home. Plus, who doesn't want to see what kind of hilariously terrible designs Hildi Santo-Tomas could come up with using modern technology?
TLC
Murder in Small Town X
Though little-remembered (it's basically impossible to find clips online), this series was incredibly entertaining during its one-season run in the early '00s. Contestants were dropped into a small-town murder mystery, tasked with interrogating the locals (played by a slew of actors) and uncovering clues to unravel the story behind the crime. Given the current murder mystery trend (Broadchurch, How to Get Away with Murder, The Killing, etc.), a reboot of MiSTX could be a perfect reality-themed fit for the TV landscape.
Fox
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