Reality shows have only grown in popularity over the years. So much so, that it is close to impossible to keep up with the new ones that come out every season. While to an outsider it may seem like most reality shows are smash hits that rule the airwaves, the truth is the successful ones are the minority.
With so many different reality shows coming out at such a fast pace, most of them are either ignored or ridiculed. there are plenty of examples of bad reality TV, and fans take pride in ranking the worst ones on IMDb.
I Wanna Marry “Harry” (2014)- 4.0
![The 10 Worst Reality Shows Ever, According To IMDb](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/I-Wanna-Marry-Harry.jpg)
It is one thing to have a show where contestants vie for the acceptance of a bachelor, it is another thing entirely for the contestants to be led to believe said bachelor is someone they are not. I Wanna Marry “Harry” involved twelve women who were under the impression they were competing for a chance to date Prince Harry. The show aired for one season on Fox in 2014 and has lived in infamy ever since.
The show was bashed almost immediately for the way the contents were blatantly lied to for the enjoyment of others. One segment even featured the contestants being convinced by a therapist they were wrong in suspecting anything was up. The contestants have been vocal about how they felt about the show, and it is hard to believe the show made it to air.
The Simple Life (2003-2007)- 3.9
![Paris and Nicole dressed as farmers in The Simple Life](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/reality-shows-the-simple-life.jpg)
The show that had arguably the biggest impact on reality TV in the 2000s was The Simple Life. The show follows Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie as they leave their highly privileged lives to live a more average one.
Paris Hilton was a hot topic at the time, and seeing her and Nicole fail to perform even the most basic tasks definitely had its funny moments. However, the premise quickly grew boring, as it was essentially the same thing every episode. The show gained a large fan base, even though many claim it is one of the more overrated reality shows of the 2000s.
Jersey Shore (2009-2012)- 3.6
![Jersey Shore promo image](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/pjimage-12.jpg)
It was hard to escape the pop culture phenomenon that was Jersey Shore in its heyday. The show revolved around a group of people as they went through their day-to-day lives in Jersey. The show certainly had its fanbase, but outside of that, it was less than loved.
The show was lampooned almost as much as it was celebrated, with haters being as vocal if not more vocal than the fans. People were drawn to the drama and humor they felt the show contained, and for a time it was one of the most popular shows on television. Besides this, the show has a reputation that is less than stellar, which leads to its low IMDb score.
BridalPlasty (2010)- 3.2
![Promo image for bridalplasty](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Bridalplasty.jpg)
Reality shows revolving around weddings are nothing unique. Take the wedding premise and mix it with preying on women’s insecurities and it becomes Bridalplasty. This show received controversy almost immediately and deservingly so. The premise involved around 12 women who compete to receive their dream wedding makeover. Only the makeover was excessive amounts of plastic surgery.
The show showcases their insecurities and almost paraded them. Bridalplasty bought into the idea that women can’t be happy unless they get plastic surgery. It shouldn’t need to be stated that this is a harmful premise that warps the way one views themself, so it is no surprise why the show only lasted a season before being canceled.
Mr. Personality (2003)- 2.9
![Promo image for Mr. Personality](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Mr.-Personality.jpg)
A dating show focusing on the personality of contestants seems like an okay premise, but it’s the execution of Mr. Personality that makes it infamous. The male contestants compete for the affection of Hayley Arp, and they are all wearing masks. One issue of many, is the contestants are clearly as attractive as any other handpicked contestant on dating shows, so it really didn’t matter who Hayley picked.
The masks the men wear don’t cover their faces completely, making the premise make even less sense. The show was bombed with bad reviews right out of the gate and didn’t even last a full season.
Joe Millionare (2003) – 2.8
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Reality shows blatantly lying to their contestants seemed commonplace in the early 2000s, as Joe Millionaire was another show that did just that. The premise followed a group of women who compete for the chance to date a wealthy heartthrob who promises them a lavish lifestyle. The catch, unknown to the women as they competed, was that the man wasn’t a millionaire at all.
This average Joe didn’t reveal this little tidbit until the end of the season when he chose a winner. If they stay with him, they win a million dollars. The show attempts to reveal if these women are in it for love or money, but the execution is heavily misguided and sloppy.
The Swan (2004-2005)- 2.6
![Title card for The Swan](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/The-Swan.jpg)
The Swan takes the basic premise of Bridalplasty and somehow makes it worse. The show insinuates that women should conform to certain beauty standards, and should take pride in having extensive surgery done. Young women being manipulated into not being comfortable with their bodies is unfortunately nothing new, but this show takes it to the next despicable level.
The show has been named one of the worst reality shows of all time and for good reason. The show isn’t exactly a binge-worthy reality show like the ones on Netflix, and it is better that it is forgotten.
Paris Hilton’s My New BFF (2008)- 2.1
![title card for Paris Hilton's My New BFF](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Paris-Hiltons-My-New-BFF.jpg)
The Simple Life wasn’t the only time Paris Hilton appeared on reality TV, and her second show is even more shallow. The premise of Paris Hilton’s My New BFF is exactly what the title implies. A group of people competes in a series of challenges to be able to hang out with Paris Hilton.
This show was clearly aimed at Paris’ fanbase as a sort of fantasy for them. The show treated Paris like a prize and insinuated fans weren’t cool unless they were able to be her BFF. The show wasn’t very well received, so it is a shock that there were two seasons. Many agree it should have been canceled after airing for one season.
Are You Hot? (2003)- 1.8
![Panel of judges on Are You Hot](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Are-You-Hot.jpg)
The message behind Are You Hot? was that conventional ‘beauty’ was all that mattered – and this is a show that celebrated perfection and shunned any kind of perceived flaw. The premise involved a panel of judges deciding if men and women were ‘hot’.
Every inch of their body would be nitpicked and criticized. The contestants were rated on a scale of 1-10, and those who were rated highest were crowned winners. The contestants were intentionally already typically ‘attractive’, which made viewers feel insecure that these overly attractive people were nitpicked. The show was shallow and was hated during the original run, making the low rating no surprise.
Toddlers & Tiaras (2009-2016)- 1.8
![Title card for Toddlers & Tiaras](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Toddlers-Tiaras.jpg)
One of the most controversial shows in recent years is Toddlers & Tiaras. The show followed a group of children as they compete in pageants for the enjoyment of television viewers. There are many things viewers hate about this show. The way the mothers push their daughters, the outfits the young girls wear, and the suggestive dancing performed by the titular toddlers are just a few.
The way these girls are treated is seen as deeply problematic, with many people calling out the pageant industry as incredibly damaging. Perhaps the most puzzling thing is how this show ran for an astounding 9 seasons before being canceled. This is a show that will forever live in infamy, even if it deserves to be forgotten entirely.