The 10 Best Reality TV Shows Of The ‘90s

The ’90s had some of the best reality TV. From The Real World to True Life, here are the 10 best reality TV series of the ’90s.

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Reality TV continues to dominate the entertainment industry, captivating fans from beginning to end with new content being released to the masses. From dating shows like Are You The One to competition shows like The Circle, each has its niche so that there’s something everyone can enjoy. But, viewers can’t forget about the 90s reality television that paved the way for the current shows that are out right now

The ’90s had some of the best reality TV series that is still considered relevant to this day due to the originality, drama, and fascinating people that let viewers into their lives. Additionally, ten shows in this time period stand above the rest.

10 The Real World (1992-2019)

The Real World followed seven young strangers from different backgrounds living under one roof tackling issues such as sexuality, politics, and racism. The show was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family and since then had a total of 33 seasons on MTV and two spinoffs which were Road Rules and The Challenge.

The Real World was a show ahead of its time due to its diverse cast and tackling issues that many other series were too afraid to touch on. This made it easy for fans to relate to cast members like Ruthie Alcaide from The Real World Hawaii who let viewers into her life while battling a drinking problem while at the same time completing a stint at rehab. These moments helped viewers connect more to the show which in turn made it a global phenomenon

9 Road Rules (1995-2007)

Road Rules followed six people in their late teens to early ’20s who lived their lives in an RV, traveling each day to new locations while at the same time going on missions. The reality series spanned 14 seasons with different cast members each season ready to set out on a new adventure.

What made Road Rules so special is, not only were viewers able to watch the lives of six strangers, but there was also the competition factor that was added to the show which opened up the door to a completely new genre for fans. Viewers also got a front-row seat to the many places the cast traveled to each season whether it was Europe or the Caribbean Islands.

8 Cops (1989-)

This reality series followed police officers in over 100 different cities cracking down on people breaking the law, and viewers got a first-hand look and what goes down when a police officer is on duty. Cops aired on Fox and was the network’s longest-running show besides The Simpsons.

Cops was a guilty pleasure for everyone who watched because it gave viewers an inside look at the day-to-day life of law enforcement. Not only that, but the people these officers came across while on duty were pretty memorable as well, from being intoxicated in public or having something on them they shouldn’t have. The show was successful because there was something new in every episode, and it was unlike anything out there during its time.

7 America’s Funniest Home Videos (1989-)

America’s Funniest Home Videos featured comedic homemade videos for the public to see, and during the episodes, producers picked three videos for the audience to vote on. The winner with the most votes received a cash prize and a chance to win an even bigger prize at the end of the episode.

The reason why this series was so successful in the ’90s was that it was pure wholesome entertainment. Whether it was babies doing something hilarious, or pets cracking their owners up, it was something that the entire family could watch and bond together over.

6 True Life (1998-2017)

True Life was a show that aired on MTV that touched on many topics including money issues and social behavior. Each episode focused on two or three people and gave viewers insights from their different perspectives.

This was the show that defined the millennial generation because it touched on a topic that many teens and young adults were going through. Not only were some episodes entertaining to watch, but viewers were able to learn something new and witness once-in-a-lifetime moments. A prime example is an episode titled “I’m Deaf” which followed a deaf high school student who received a cochlear implant that allowed him to hear for the first time.

5 Bug Juice (1998-2001)

A true Disney Channel classic. Bug Juice focused on a group of kids attending summer camp as they made friends and participated in camping activities. The show spanned three seasons and was so popular that a revival series was released in 2018 called Bug Juice: My Adventures At Camp.

This show was for the kids and was one of Disney Channel’s finest in the 90s, viewers got to witness the start of friendships, first-time crushes, and it even brought on the drama when a camper was kicked out. This show stood out because it was the only reality television show on the Disney Channel, but also no other children’s network had a series like Bug Juice.

4 The Challenge (1998-)

The Challenge was a new type of reality show when it first aired in the late 90s. It brought together fan favorites from the Real World and Road Rules and pitted them together as they competed in challenges for a shot to win a cash prize. Since then the show was evolved and now people from different reality shows across the world come together to battle it out.

The Challenge was one of a kind, because it was the first competition reality show that brought together past reality TV stars. It was also the blueprint to other successful reality shows like Survivor and Big Brother. The Challenge is still going on to this day and doesn’t look like it will be ending anytime soon.

3 Star Search (1983-1995)

Before there was American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and The Voice there was Star Search, a show that discovered new talent ranging from singers, dancers, and comedians. The show lasted for 13 seasons and was then revived in 2003 and ran for two years on CBS.

Star Search is a special show because it was one of the first to give people the opportunity to show the world their talents. Even some of the biggest singers today got their start on the reality series including Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake who competed on different occasions in 1992. Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland also performed, but this time in 1993 with a band called Girl Tyme.

2 Blind Date (1999-2006)

Blind Date was a reality series that brought together two people who have never met before and had cameras follow them on their first date. The show ended in 2006 but a revival series was released on Bravo in 2019.

This show was amazing because, not only did fans get to see real people fall in love but they also got to witness awful dates that no one would wish on anyone. While dates were bad viewers could not stop watching especially due to the thought bubbles that would randomly appear during the dates.

1 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (1999-)

Who can forget about Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? The was a huge hit in the late 90s and gave people the opportunity to show off their smarts to win the grand prize, a million dollars. The show was such a success that it still airs to this day.

This was pure TV gold because, not only were fans entertained by the show, but they also got to play along and see if they knew the answers to the multiple-choice questions. One of the most iconic moments is the first millionaire John Carpenter, who used his phone a friend lifeline to tell his father he was about to be a millionaire.

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