This, the biggest and most successful reality genre, features contestants who compete for prizes, while often living together in close quarters. They usually feature the elimination of contestants until a winner is chosen. Sometimes they are considered to be "reality playoffs" since their format is similar to that of a
playoff in sports. •
Beat the Clock (1950) •
Truth or Consequences (1950) •
Fort Boyard (1990) (France) •
Susume! Denpa Shōnen (
進め!電波少年) (1992) (Japan) •
How Do You Like Wednesday? (水曜どうでしょう) (1996) (Japan) •
Expedition Robinson (1997) •
Shiawase Kazoku Keikaku (
しあわせ家族計画) (1997) (Japan) •
The Challenge (formerly known as
Real World/Road Rules Challenge) (1998) •
Susunu! Denpa Shōnen (
進ぬ!電波少年) (1998–2002) (Japan) •
Big Brother (1999) (many countries) •
Big Brother (2000) (UK) •
Big Brother (2000) (US) •
Celebrity Big Brother (UK) •
The Mole (2000) •
Survivor (2000) •
No Limite (2000) (Brazil) •
The Amazing Race (2001) •
Boot Camp (2001) •
Robinson: La Gran Aventura (2001) (Venezuela) •
Cannonball Run 2001 (2001) •
Dog Eat Dog (2001) (UK) •
Fear Factor (2001) •
Lost (2001) •
Moolah Beach (2001) •
Murder in Small Town X (2001) •
Pilipinas, Game KNB? (2001) (dubbed as "the best Philippine game show") •
100 Hours (2002) (New Zealand) •
Protagonistas de Novela (2002) (Venezuela) •
Beg, Borrow & Deal (2002–2003) •
Big Brother (2002) (Brazil) •
Endurance (2002) (US) • ''
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!'' (2002) (UK) • ''
I'm a Celebrity... US version'' (US) •
Model Flat (
Fashion TV, 2002) •
Under One Roof (2002) •
Dog Eat Dog (2003) (US) •
Drop the Celebrity (2003) (UK) •
Celebrity Farm (2003) •
The Games (2003) (UK) •
Going Straight (2003) (New Zealand) •
Paradise Hotel (2003) •
Való Világ (2003) (Hungary) •
The Apprentice (2004) •
Back To Reality (2004) (UK) •
The Benefactor (2004) •
The Code Room (2004) •
The Farm (2004) (UK) •
Forever Eden (2004) •
Gana la Verde (2004) (US;
Spanish language) • ''
I'm Famous and Frightened!'' (2004) (UK) •
Mad Mad House (2004) •
Peking Express (2004) (BEL/NED) •
Quest USA (2004) (US) •
Shattered (2004) (UK) •
Strictly Come Dancing (2004) (UK) • ''Actuality TV's Casting Call'' (2005) (US) •
Beauty and the Geek (2005) •
Infinite Challenge (2005) (Korea) •
Pinoy Big Brother (2005) (Philippines) •
Vyvolení (2005) (Czech Republic, Slovakia) •
Shipwrecked: Battle of the Islands (2006) (UK) •
Solitary (2006) (US) •
Treasure Hunters (2006) (US) •
Ultimate Challenge (2006) (Pakistan's first adventure-based reality show) •
Unan1mous (2006) (US) • ''
Britain's Got Talent'' (2007) (UK) •
Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants (2007) (US) •
Pirate Master (2007) (US) •
Celebrity Apprentice (2008) •
I Love Money (2008) •
I Survived a Japanese Game Show (2008) (US) •
Wipeout (2008) (US) •
13: Fear Is Real (2009) (US) •
A Fazenda (2009) (Brazil) •
The Great American Road Trip (2009) (US) •
Busão do Brasil (2010) (Brazil) •
Minute to Win It (2010) (US) •
Spring Break Challenge (2010, US) •
Expedition Impossible (2011) (US) •
The Glass House (2012) •
Celebrity Splash! (2012) (many countries) •
Redneck Island (2012) •
Shipping Wars (2012, US) •
The Genius (2013) (Korea) •
Hollywood Game Night (2013) (US) •
King of the Nerds (2013) (US) •
King of the Nerds (British TV series) (2015) (UK) •
Whodunnit? (2013) (US) •
Capture (2013) (US) •
The Quest (2014) (US) • ''
Steve Austin's Broken Skull Challenge'' (2014) •
Hunted (2015) (UK) •
Hunted (2017) (US) •
Hunted (2022) (Australia) •
I Survived a Zombie Apocalypse (2015) (UK) •
Home Free (2015) (US) •
SAS: Who Dares Wins (2015) (UK) •
SAS Australia: Who Dares Wins (2020) (Australia) • ''
Special Forces: World's Toughest Test'' (2023) (US) •
American Grit (2016) •
Escape the Night (2016) •
Power Couple (2016) (Brazil) •
A Casa (2017) (Brazil) •
Battle of the Ex Besties (2017) (US) •
Bromans (2017) (UK) •
The Challenge: Champs vs. Pros (2017) (US) •
The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars (2017) (US) •
The Cuts Indonesia (2017) (Indonesia) •
Celebrity Big Brother (2017) (US) •
The Circle (2018) (UK) •
The Circle (2020) (US) •
The Circle (2020) (Brazil) •
The Heist (2018-2020) (UK) •
De Verraders (2021) (Netherlands) •
The Traitors (2022) (Australia) •
The Traitors (2022) (UK) •
The Traitors (2023) (US) •
Around Naija (2021) (Nigeria) •
Ilha Record (2021) (Brazil) •
Rise and Fall (2023) (UK) •
Squid Game: The Challenge (2023) (UK) •
Million Dollars Secret (2025) (US)
Talent searches Often similar to the game show genre in that there are
eliminations and a final winner, this genre centers on contestants competing a specific skill or talent, rather than in random challenges.
Before 2000 • ''
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts'' (1948) •
Original Amateur Hour (1948) •
Opportunity Knocks (1956) (UK) •
Star Tanjō! (
スター誕生!) (1971) (Japan) •
The Gong Show (1976) •
Owarai Star Tanjō! (
お笑いスター誕生!!) (1980) (Japan) •
Star Search (1983) •
Stars in Their Eyes (1990) (UK) •
Asayan (1995) (Japan) •
Popstars (New Zealand) (1999) (UK version bands
Hear'Say and
Liberty X)
2000s premieres •
BattleBots (2000–2002, 2015–) •
Search for a Supermodel (Australia) (2000) •
Bands on the Run (2001) •
Operación Triunfo (2001) (Spain) •
Idol •
Pop Idol (2001–2003) (UK) •
American Idol (2002) •
American Juniors (2003) •
Canadian Idol (2002) •
Australian Idol (2003) •
Indonesian Idol (2004) •
Philippine Idol (2006) •
Pinoy Idol (2008) •
Idol Philippines (2019) •
Model Behaviour (2001–2002) (UK) •
WWE Tough Enough •
WWF/WWE Tough Enough (2001) •
WWE Tough Enough 2 (2002) •
WWE Tough Enough 3 (2003) •
La Academia (2002) (Mexico) •
Fame Academy (2002) (2003) (UK) •
Popstars: The Rivals (2002) (UK) •
Worst Driver (franchise) • ''
Britain's Worst Driver'' (2002) • ''
Canada's Worst Driver'' (2005) • ''
America's Worst Driver'' (2010) •
Top Model • ''
America's Next Top Model'' (2003) • ''
Australia's Next Top Model'' (2005) • ''
Britain's Next Top Model'' (2005) • ''
Canada's Next Top Model'' (2006) •
Top Model Ghana (2006) •
Be a Grand Prix Driver (2003) (UK) •
The Big Break (2003) •
Comic Relief does Fame Academy (2003) (2005) (2007) •
Last Comic Standing (2003) •
Nashville Star (2003) •
Performing As... (2003) •
Reborn in the USA (2003) (UK) •
Search for the Star in a Million (2003) (
Philippines)
ABS-CBN •
Star Académie (2003) (France) •
StarStruck (2003) (Philippines) •
Surf Girls (2003) •
WWE Diva Search (2003) (US) •
American Candidate (2004) (US) •
The Apprentice (2004–2007, US, NBC) •
The Assistant (2004) •
Bollywood Star (2004) (UK) •
Can You Be a Porn Star? (2004) •
The Contender (2004) •
Dancing with the Stars (2004) (many countries) •
Dancing with the Stars (US) (2005) •
Dancing with the Stars: Juniors (US) (2018) •
Dream Job (2004) •
Dream Job II (2004) •
Get Gorgeous (2004) (India) • ''
Hell's Kitchen'' (2004 – UK, 2005 – US) •
Kings of Comedy (2004) (UK) •
Little Big Star (2005) (Philippines) •
Megasztár (2004) (2005) (2006) (Hungary) •
Next Action Star (2004) •
The Next Great Champ (2004) •
Pinoy Pop Superstar (2004) (Philippines) •
Popstars Live (2004) (Australia) •
Project Runway (2004) (US) • ''
The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best'' (2004) •
Star Circle Quest (2004) (Philippines) •
Strictly Come Dancing (2004) (UK) •
Super Singer (2004) (India) •
Wickedly Perfect (2004) (US) •
The X Factor (2004) (UK) •
Afghan Star (2005) (Afghanistan) • ''
Britain's Worst Celebrity Driver'' (2005) (UK) •
Celebrity Wrestling (2005) (UK) •
Filmstjerne (2005) (Norway) •
Football Icon (2005) (UK) •
Get Gorgeous II (2005) (India) •
Hit Me Baby One More Time (2005) (UK) •
Launchpad (2005) (India) •
The Next Food Network Star (2005) •
Rock Star INXS (2005) •
The Scholar (2005) •
So You Think You Can Dance (2005) (many countries) •
So You Think You Can Dance (US) (2005) •
Strictly Dance Fever (2005) (UK) •
The Ultimate Fighter (2005, USA, Spike) •
The All Star Talent Show (2006) (UK) •
American Inventor (2006) (ABC) •
Dancing on Ice (2006) (UK) •
Dirty Dancing (2006) •
Just the Two of Us (2006) (UK) •
Knight School (2006, USA, ESPN) •
The One: Making a Music Star (2006) •
Pinoy Dream Academy (2006) (
Philippines) •
Rock Star: Supernova (2006) •
Skating With Celebrities (2006) (US) •
Soapstar Superstar (2006) (UK) •
Top Chef (franchise) •
Top Chef (2006) (US) •
The Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search (2006) (US) •
VJ Search (2006) (Canada) •
Who Wants to be a Superhero? (2006) (Sci-fi) •
Tusker Project Fame (2006) (Kenya) • ''
America's Most Smartest Model'' (2007, US) • ''
Don't Forget the Lyrics!'' (2007) (many countries) • ''
Ego Trip's The "White" Rapper Show'' (2007) • ''
Grease: You're the One that I Want!'' (2007) •
The Next Iron Chef (2007, US, Food Network) •
On the Lot (2007) (US) •
Phenomenon (2007, US, NBC) •
Pussycat Dolls Present •
Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll (2007) •
Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious (2008) •
Shear Genius (2007) (US) •
The Shot (2007) (US) •
The Singing Bee (2007) (US) •
Top Design (2007) (US) • ''
America's Best Dance Crew'' (2008, US) •
Celebrity Bainisteoir (2008, Ireland) • ''
Ego Trip's Miss Rap Supreme'' (2008) •
Fáilte Towers (2008, Ireland) •
High School Musical: Get in the Picture (2008) • ''
I Know My Kid's a Star'' (2008) • ''
My Kid's a Star'' (2008) •
Redemption Song (2008) •
Scream Queens (2008) •
African Inventors & Innovators TV Program (2009–2014) (
Nigeria) •
Redemption Song (2009) (US) •
Local Live (2009) (Canada) •
MasterChef Australia (2009) (Australia) • ''
RuPaul's Drag Race'' (2009) •
Super Star K (2009) (
Korea)
2010s premieres •
Bridalplasty (2010) •
Just Dance (2010) (India) •
MasterChef (2010) •
Parovi (2010) (Serbia) •
Skating with the Stars (2010) •
Star Anchor Hunt (2010) (India) •
The Tester (2010) (US) •
Top Shot (2010) (North America) •
Work of Art: The Next Great Artist (2010) (US) •
Worst Cooks in America (2010) (US) • ''
America's Best Dance Crew'' (2011) (North America) •
Face Off (2011) (US) •
The Glee Project (2011) •
Live to Dance (2011) (North America) •
Project Accessory (2011) •
Platinum Hit (2011) •
The Voice (many countries) (2010) •
The Voice (2011) (US) •
The Voice Indonesia (2013) (Indonesia) •
The X Factor (2011) (North America) •
X Factor Indonesia (2012) (Indonesia) • ''
Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition'' (2012) (US) •
Best Ink (2012) (US) •
Ink Master (2012) (US) •
Project Runway: All Stars (2012) •
TNA British Boot Camp (2013) (United Kingdom) •
MasterChef Junior (2013) •
The Face (2013) •
American Dream Builders (2014) (US) •
Can You Beat the Professor (2014) (US) •
The Great Interior Design Challenge (2014) (UK) •
Idea to Industry (2014) (
Nigeria) •
Project Runway: Threads (2014) •
Royco Fuata Flava (2014) (Kenya) •
Skin Wars (2014) •
The Great British Baking Show(2014) •
Under the Gunn (2014) •
Forged in Fire (2015) (US) •
Nach Baliye 7 (2015) (India) •
WWE Tough Enough (2015) •
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded (2015) (India) •
Dance Plus (2015) (India) •
D3 – D 4 Dance (2016) (India) •
Tarok got talents, (first edition winner, Sticky ya Bongtur) (2016) (Nigeria) •
YWT 01 – YOUTH WITH TALENT (2016) (Sri Lanka) •
DZ Comedy Show (2017) (
Algeria) •
World of Dance (2017) •
YWT 02 – YOUTH WITH TALENT (2017) (Sri Lanka) •
Making It (2018) •
The Masked Singer (2018) •
Real Country (TV series) (2018, US) •
The Butcher (2019) •
Songland (2019) •
Hyperdrive (2019)
2020s premieres • ''
America's Top Dog'' (2020) • ''
Indonesia's Next Top Model'' (2020) (Indonesia) •
The Masked Dancer (2020) •
King Maker IV (2021) (Hong Kong) •
Rise and Fall (2023) (UK) ==Hoax shows==