The 20 Earliest Reality TV Shows, In Chronological Order

Summary

• Reality TV started with hidden camera shows in the 1940s. It evolved into a pursuit of the American family in the 60s.
• The reality TV genre is constantly evolving. Streaming services are entering the game, giving more creative control to producers.
• Pioneering reality TV shows like Candid Camera and An American Family laid the groundwork for popular modern shows like Survivor and The Bachelor.

Reality television exploded in the early 2000s with franchises like The Bachelor, Big Brother, and Survivor, and it wasn’t long before fame and fortune took on a greater focus with The Real Housewives series and Keeping Up with the Kardashians. But, before all that, hit reality TV shows had quite a fascinating history in the twentieth century with the first reality TV shows. The genre began far earlier than people might realize, and it started with the hidden camera style, then moved into the pursuit of the real American family.

Reality TV continues to be a popular genre. The longstanding show Survivor season 46 is currently airing, and other shows like The Bachelor and Big Brother are approaching season 30. However, while these shows, and another in The Challenge, have entertained fans for so many years, they aren’t even the oldest of the reality TV genre. The reality TV genre will likely grow in popularity with streaming networks joining the game and allowing production to control all aspects of the series without worrying about network censors.

1 Candid Camera

The First Reality TV Show – 1948

Candid Camera is the first reality TV show with a creative concept from the start and began on the radio in 1947. According to Guinness World Records, the radio show was called Candid Microphone “and became so popular that it spawned a series of movie shorts using film cameras in place of concealed mikes. The TV version began in 1948 with the titleCandid Mike” and switched to Candid Camera the following year.

By 1960, the show was a mainstay on CBS, hosted by Allen Funt. The program has been revived several times through the decades, most recently in 2014 when Peter Funt and Mayim Bialik hosted it. This foray into reality television spawned a genre that would change how TV shows were made and produced.

2 The American Sportsman

Premiered in 1965

Plenty of sports movies are out there, and they could have The American Sportsman to thank. It was one of the first reality TV shows, and it followed TV hosts Joe Foss, Grits Gresham, and Curt Gowdy. Each episode followed a host and a celebrity as they participated in activities in the great outdoors. They did everything from mountain climbing to kayaking and showed some gorgeous places around America. Due to some celebrity guests, the show became popular with sports and nature enthusiasts.

The show typically featured famous sportsmen, athletes, and celebrities, including Bing Crosby, Terry Bradshaw, and Johnny Cash, venturing around the great outdoors. It was fascinating to see these famous figures away from the glamorous spotlight and doing activities like camping and fishing. Seeing celebrities’ private lives is more common today, but in 1965, it was much rarer.

3 An American Family

Premiered in 1973

An American Family is widely credited for birthing the reality TV genre, and Variety reported on it before its 1973 launch: Producer Craig Gilbert “set out to capture the living patterns and mentality of a fairly typical middle-America household but instead recorded the drama of a family in the process of coming apart.” The PBS series aired twelve hour-long episodes and focused entirely on the Loud family.

An American Family captured marital problems, a son coming out as gay, and “a business crisis.” Ten years after the show, curiosity about the burgeoning reality genre led to a follow-up special called An American Family Revisited: The Louds 10 Years Later. It was an original version of Modern Family. 2003 brought a subsequent special, Lance Loud! A Death in an American Family. The program inspired HBO’s 2011 TV movie Cinema Verite.

4 Real People

Premiered in 1979

Just like it sounds, Real People was one of the first reality TV shows that captured the triumphs and challenges of real individuals. Subjects opened up to the camera crew about their most challenging endeavors, from flying warplanes to running across Canada. The show was hosted by Sarah Purcell, Byron Allen, Skip Stephenson, and John Barbour, who introduced segments featuring a wide range of people and their stories.

Each episode of Real People featured a mix of stories, including from ordinary individuals. It was a family-friendly show for everyone. The series ran for six seasons from 1979 to 1984 and was produced by George Schlatter, who called it a “theater of reality,” according to the Real People YouTube channel. There’s no doubt that the NBC series was an early seed of the “real people” stories that would inundate TV listings for decades to come.

5 Cops

Premiered in 1989

Beginning in 1989, Cops spent 32 seasons on the air and depicted the routine duties of police officers. It was filmed in cinéma vérité style, eschewing incidental music and sound effects, narration, and scripted dialogue. With handheld cameras and no-nonsense editing, Cops made viewers feel they were part of the action, from routine traffic stops to high-speed pursuits. Its signature theme song became iconic over three decades on the air.

Though Cops continues production for international markets, the series was canceled in the US in May 2020 following the tragic killings of Black individuals involving police officers nationwide. Cops tended to glorify law enforcement while damaging public opinion regarding communities of color. Due to its long run, Cops is one of the most iconic police-themed reality TV shows. Additionally, its casual filming style changed the way reality TV would be produced in the future.

6 The Real World

Premiered in 1992

The Real World premiered in 1992 and is MTV’s original reality series. Known as a reality-based soap opera, the program put together a group of young adults who did not previously know one other and followed their interactions under one roof. While there were fake aspects of The Real World, it provided the model for many modern reality TV series. The series has 33 seasons, with some of the best seasons being the early ones. The iconic, long-running series enjoyed its latest incarnation on Paramount+ as The Real World: Homecoming: New York, which centered on the original cast.

The Real World didn’t just break new ground in reality TV; it laid the foundation for the genre to grow. This MTV series was a cultural cornerstone, forcing strangers into a shared living space and documenting their interactions, conflicts, and personal journeys. It offered a raw and unscripted look at the lives of its cast members.

7 Eco-Challenge

Premiered in 1995

Eco-Challenge was the ’90s genesis of the now-ubiquitous adventure reality genre, the first reality TV show of this kind. It shared tough races to see who could come out on top. The show ran from 1995 to 2002 and was revived in 2019 for Amazon Prime. The original series was created and hosted by Mark Burnett, who went on to helm Survivor, and it organized small teams to compete in a race. Day in and day out, teams trekked through a 300-mile course and completed the whole gamut of endurance challenges.

Eco-Challenge
was more than just a race; it was a journey of self-discovery and teamwork that undoubtedly led to the creation of
Survivor.

Eco-Challenge was more than just a race; it was a journey of self-discovery and teamwork that undoubtedly led to the creation of Survivor. Contestants faced a series of crazy challenges, from mountain biking to navigating white-water rapids and hiking terrifying cliffs. Along the way, they battled exhaustion, dehydration, and fear of failure.

8 Road Rules

Premiered in 1995

The sister show to the Real World, Road Rules, premiered in 1995 on MTV and ended in 2007. With no money, young adults lived together in an RV and moved from one place to another, collecting clues and completing missions. The concept came from a road trip on The Real World, and the series established reality personas and archetypes that would surface on plenty of other shows, like The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

Road Rules represented a genre still exploring the possibilities of what viewers would enjoy watching. As the show followed young adults on a cross-country road trip in an RV, the show merged the social dynamics of The Real World with the emerging survival or competition show genre explored in The Challenge or Survivor. While not as iconic as The Real World, Road Rules explored what was entertaining in the reality TV sphere.

9 A Baby Story

Premiered in 1998

A Baby Story premiered in 1998 and aired its last episodes in 2010. The reality show examined couples in the last weeks of pregnancy as they prepared to welcome their new additions. The camera crew would then dive into the delivery room and see each couple through their baby’s first few weeks. What set A Baby Story apart was its intimate approach to childbirth, something that was still relatively private. Unlike other reality TV shows that focused on drama or survival, A Baby Story explored the beauty and wonder of childbirth.

From natural births to C-sections, home births to hospital deliveries, A Baby Story showcased the diversity of childbirth experiences. Each episode was a celebration of life, love, and the miracle of new beginnings. This series ushered in the birthing and family genre with shows like Birth Moms, I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant, Sweet Home Sextuplets, and Doubling Down with the Derricos.

10 The Challenge

Premiered in 1998

The Challenge is one of the longest-running reality shows ever, debuting in 1998 and continuing into 2023. The show is an exciting mash-up of MTV’s The Real World and Road Rules; it even included those shows’ names in its title in the early years. What sets The Challenge apart is its evolving format, which always keeps things interesting. Each season of The Challenge is a high-stakes battle for supremacy, with competitors vying for the cash prize.

In this competition series, the challenges and team members vary from season to season, but there are different missions contestants can complete to advance and win prizes. The individual confessionals and the group drama on this show likely inspired later series to retain those qualities. Iconic cast members through the years include Trishelle Cannatella, CT Tamburello, and Johnny Bananas.

11 FANatic

Premiered in 1998

FANatic aired on MTV from 1998 to 2000. Ordinary people were tricked into arriving at designated places to meet their celebrity idols. According to Bustle, participants were chosen from submission tapes, and the lucky guests got to interview their favorite celebs after the big reveal. Each episode of FANatic followed a different fan as they embarked on a journey to connect with their celebrity idol. Whether it was a musician, actor, or athlete, the fan would have the opportunity to meet the celebrity and attend a concert or event.

Iconic celebrities like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Brandy, Whitney Houston, and hot groups like *NSYNC, the Spice Girls, and the Backstreet Boys were included. Even in the social media age, the premise of this series is still thrilling for superfans. It’s also fun to look back at these iconic celebrities who were in their prime over 20 years ago.

12 Emergency Vets

Premiered in 1998

Premiering in 1998, animal lovers got a reality TV series made just for them. This was Emergency Vets, and while no one mentions it anymore when talking about classic reality TV, it lasted for ten years on Animal Planet. The show follows the Alameda East Veterinary Hospital veterinarians in Denver, Colorado. It was one of the premiere shows on Animal Planet that showcased domesticated pets as opposed to just wild animals.

Emergency Vets was also similar to other reality shows, as it followed the vets in their careers and home lives. In addition to showcasing the medical aspects of veterinary care, Emergency Vets also delved into the personal lives of the hospital’s staff, offering insights into their demanding job. Toward the end of its run, the show changed its title to E-Vet Interns, featuring interns in their first year of residency.

13 Big Brother

Premiered in 1999

One of the longest-running reality shows that remains a critical darling today is Big Brother, which started in 1999. It is hard to believe that there have been over 500 seasons of Big Brother worldwide since its debut in 1999. The show took the format of putting people together in one house from Real World, then added the twist of making the entire thing a gaming competition. The United States version has enjoyed 25 seasons of Big Brother as well as three seasons of Celebrity Big Brother.

Big Brother holds a significant place in the history of reality TV. Its innovative format as a social experiment set a new standard by placing contestants in a house under constant surveillance, offering viewers access to their lives. In addition to The Challenge, Big Brother introduced strategic gameplay to reality TV. It undoubtedly changed the genre forever.

14 Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire?

Premiered in 2000

Before The Bachelor franchise took the world by storm, Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire? set the stage for modern-day dating shows. Airing in 2000, this single two-hour broadcast was a precursor to the genre’s evolution. The show featured 50 women vying for the chance to marry a millionaire they had never met until the competition. Despite high ratings, the format and the millionaire himself caused controversy.

However, the show served as a stepping stone, paving the way for future dating show successes. Fortunately, networks refined the concept with The Bachelor, which debuted two years later, capturing the hearts of viewers worldwide with its blend of romance, drama, and competition. Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire? may have been a flash in the pan, but its impact on reality TV’s trajectory remains undeniable, just as The Real World led to The Challenge.

15 Survivor

Premiered in 2000

Survivor is one of history’s most successful reality TV shows, airing its 46th season in 2024. The first year for the hit reality competition series came in 2000, with the challenging series airing an average of two seasons yearly. Survivor was a massive hit because it took viewers to remote, isolated locations, had the contestants deal with harsh settings and survive without modern amenities, and competed in challenges. Add in the factions set up where the islanders themselves determine who stays and goes home, and this was the most intense and entertaining reality TV series.

Iconic cast members like Survivor‘s Boston Rob or Survivor season 21’s Jimmy Johnson are mainstays on reality TV. Many cast members even compete more than once on Survivor. It’s an entire universe and certainly solidified reality TV as a genre to be taken seriously in television.

16 Fear Factor

Premiered in 2001

Fear Factor was an adrenaline-fueled reality TV show, and one of the craziest game shows ever. Premiering in 2001, the series took contestants on a wild ride through a series of nerve-wracking challenges, from heights and insects to confinement and extreme temperatures. Hosted by Joe Rogan, each episode featured contestants competing in terrifying tasks designed to test their physical and mental fortitude.

The show tapped into a fascination with danger, but despite its popularity,
Fear Factor
faced its share of controversy over the years.

The show tapped into a fascination with danger, but despite its popularity, Fear Factor faced its share of controversy over the years. Some critics and former contestants accused it of sensationalism and exploitation. However, it remained popular due to its ability to be cringe-worthy and entertaining at the same time. While Fear Factor aired its last episode in 2006, it contributed to the ever-growing landscape of reality TV competition shows.

17 The Amazing Race

Premiered in 2001

The Amazing Race emerged onto the reality TV scene in 2001, created by producers Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri. Drawing inspiration from their own experiences traveling the world, they conceived a show that would combine the thrill of a global adventure with the competitive spirit of a race. The idea worked, as The Amazing Race season 36 is currently airing.

The concept was simple: teams of two would embark on a whirlwind journey around the world, competing in a series of challenges and tasks designed to test their physical, mental, and emotional resilience. Along the way, they would navigate foreign cultures, navigate unfamiliar terrain, and forge bonds with teammates and rivals alike. Despite being on the air for so long, each season provides new twists and turns that keep one of the greatest reality TV shows interesting.

18 The Bachelor

Premiered in 2002

The concept of a single man who would date multiple women simultaneously with the ultimate goal of finding true love and proposing marriage by the end of the season was revolutionary.

The Bachelor made its debut on ABC in 2002, created by television producer Mike Fleiss. Building on the success of earlier dating shows like Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire?, Fleiss aimed to create a series that would combine love stories with competition. The concept of a single man dating multiple women simultaneously with the ultimate goal of finding true love and proposing marriage by the end of the season was revolutionary.

It wasn’t just the romantic aspects of The Bachelor that made it a hit; it was also the drama. Contestants vied for The Bachelor‘s affection, forming alliances, rivalries, and friendships along the way. The Bachelor quickly became a cultural phenomenon, spawning numerous spin-offs, including The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, and more recently, The Golden Bachelor. Its success paved the way for a new era of romance shows, including Love Is Blind, Married at First Sight, and 90 Day Fiancé.

19 The Osbournes

Premiered in 2002

The Osbournes aired on MTV from 2002 to 2005, offering viewers an unfiltered look into the lives of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne and his family. The show followed Ozzy, his wife Sharon, and their children Jack and Kelly as they navigated the highs and lows of everyday life in their eccentric household. Arguably, it led to the creation of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, a show about another famous family.

Audiences were given a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the chaos and hilarity of the Osbournes’ daily routines, from Ozzy’s struggles with addiction to Sharon’s no-nonsense approach to parenting. The larger-than-life personalities of the Osbourne family endeared them to audiences. Ozzy’s legendary status was contrasted with his surprising moments of vulnerability, and Sharon emerged as the matriarchal figure keeping the family grounded amid the madness.

20 America’s Next Top Model

Premiered in 2003

Reality TV exploded by 2003, and many hit shows premiered that year. One of the most iconic was America’s Next Top Model. The show was the brainchild of supermodel and television personality Tyra Banks. Recognizing the need for a fresh approach to the modeling industry, Tyra conceived the idea for a reality TV competition that would provide aspiring models with the opportunity to launch their careers in the fiercely competitive world of fashion. This led to many career-launching reality TV shows like Top Chef, American Idol, and Project Runway.

The show debuted in 2003, with Tyra serving as both host and executive producer. Drawing on her own experiences as a model, Tyra sought to demystify the industry and empower young women to pursue their dreams of becoming top models, and America’s Next Top Model launched many careers. While the show undoubtedly was mired with controversy over the years and didn’t age well, it remains an iconic reality TV show for the ages.

Survivor

season 46 airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on CBS.

Sources: Guinness World Records, Variety, Real People/YouTube, Bustle