What was the best reality show of the year? – Poll

Ah, reality shows. For some, they are the most amazing, gripping programs on television. For others, they are nothing but crass and trash taking jobs away from actors and writers. I am a reality junkie … but I do draw the line at real housewives, bachelors and bachelorettes. In the current TV landscape, I tend to gravitate more to the reality/competition show like Survivor and The Amazing Race or the standard game show with real people like Wipeout (is there anything funnier than people falling down?). Now that we’re into the summer season when most scripted shows take a break (although there do seem to be more and more new scripted shows each summer), and we’ve had other polls choosing the best shows of the season, I thought that it would be fun to see what reality/competition shows people like to tune in to. This poll is a bit different from the other polls in that the calendar spans May 2010 through May 2011, because some of the better shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Big Brother air during the summer season. I’m also excluding cable reality shows because … well, we don’t have a column big enough to cover the reality cable spectrum (sorry Top Chef/Project Runway fans). So, looking at the broadcast networks — ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and TheCW — what reality show do you consider to be the best on TV?  Our CliqueClack crew chimed in with their picks as well.  See what they had to say, pick your favorite from the list below and let us know what you think.

NOTE: POLL CLOSES JULY 7th at 11:59 PM EST

TARA: I nominate Dancing With the Stars. Not only to shamelessly promote my reviews to new/more people, but because it’s a fantastic way to procrastinate! You can see “thick” celebrities get thinner, or if you’re really lucky, fall or faint. Tom Bergeron is a fairly witty host, and the judges are not as annoying as those on Idol or The Voice (where every contestant is “amazing!”)

Also, the guy dancers take off their shirts a lot, and for you men, there’s skimpy skimpy girl dancer costumes. It’s a win/win.

RACHEL: I love The Sing-Off. I used to sing in an a cappella group in college, and have been missing it ever since. (Yes, I am a big music nerd.) I really admire Ben Folds as an artist, so hearing what he has to say is always cool. Nicole Scherzinger is … well, not as revered as some other musical artists, but she’s still fun to have as a judge. And I have a mini-crush on Shawn Stockman … I heart Boyz II Men.

As for the groups on there — they are mostly very talented. It’s amazing to see the diversity/variety in style, arrangement, musicianship, personal story, etc. The super cheesy groups are usually weeded out the first couple of weeks.

The only thing I dislike about the show? Nick Lachey. He used to be the most boring reality show host, until Carson Daly took that crown with The Voice.

BRITTANY: If The Voice is eligible, I have to nominate it. If only for the obvious reason that it’s the show that made me take back every single bad thing I’ve ever said about reality/competition TV.

Randomly, I miss The Mole.

MICHAEL: Best? That’s a tough one.

Best is so relative a term … especially when talkin’ ’bout reality television. I mean … is there really a “best” in the venue?

Oh, there’s “best quotation of the night” … “best dramatic moment” … “best put down” … “best worst outfit ever” … “best burn of a duo or team” … “best performance you thought you’d never like” … “best use of a box drum” … “best stupidest thing said during the season” … “best reason the show should be cancelled” … “best thing ever said by Carson Daly” (Hint: There’s no such thing) … well … you get the idea.

But … “Best Network Reality/Competition Series” on network television? I’m skeptical.

JANE: I was about to send this nominating The Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise, but in good conscience I simply couldn’t do it. Now if this were a poll about Best TV Train Wreck …

And I also miss The Mole. Not those later versions. The original recipes ones which introduced me to the joy that is Anderson Cooper.

BRITTANY: Kitchen Nightmares is always on in my house, so I’d throw that one in there as well (although with the caveat that the US edition is much more dramatic than the UK version). It’s a different side of Gordon Ramsay than the one put out by Hell’s Kitchen, and it also helps shine a light on just what it really takes to run a restaurant. So many people just buy one and think it’s easy.

I will forever remember the one in Manhattan Beach because it’s right down the street from my dad’s work. I was in the same shopping center getting froyo and had no idea that was the place Gordon was at until I saw the episode on TV!

I liked Food Revolution too, though by S2 it started feeling even more preachy than it usually does. Although it will go down in history as the show where some kid thought chocolate comes from a lake.

CHUCK: I like Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. I thought it was very informative and has forever put me off of fast food after showing how chicken nuggets are made, and a demonstration of “pink slime,” the filler that goes into most fast food ground beef. And it made me wonder what the school lunch program in my area is serving these days.

Clacked by Chuck Duncan
on Jun 30, 2011 @ 12:00 EST5EDT