It’s hard to believe that we are already decades into the reign of reality based programming a top the television industry.
While mainstays like Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, and America’s Next Top Model seemingly are not going anywhere any time soon, there are other favorites who have gone extinct. Is it too late for a resurrection for some of these old time-y favorites, or is it too late?
We examine the most missed reality shows below and muse on how they could return in our 6 Reality TV Shows That Need to Come Back.
The Mole
The Mole was a real-life whodunnit that saw real life working class men and women live lavishly as they engaged in a battle of wit, skill, and sabotage. First hosted by now serious news-stud Anderson Cooper, the show would put average citizens in an exotic location as they tried to collectively earn money as a cast that only one would eventually win. Catch is – one of the cast members has been designated the titular mole and their sole objective is to ruin the game from the inside in hopes to earn the money themselves. So dastardly but so juicy!
Tough Enough
This super-grungy ass kicker of a show made a luke-warm comeback and recent rumors indicate that it may be coming back with an American Idol style twist. However, we want this one back in its original form, wherein contestants had to live in twin beds in snow-covered Connecticut while getting their butts whipped by muscly meatheads from the WWE.
The Simple Life
I personally think that the internet would explode at the announcement of a reunion between Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton – who despite going their separate paths professionally remain pop-culture beloveds. The original series saw them as ditzy babes who got themselves in over their head with average labor. What could a reboot see them do? Maybe Paris could babysit Nicole’s kids?
Laguna Beach
A riff of one of the most popular fictional shows at the time- The OC- Laguna Beach brought forth “the real” Orange County. Another timeless classic from MTV, inheriting the “Real World” throne for the mid-2000’s. Maybe this reboot would only work if they brought back the OC, too.
Making the Band
Although it seems like its parodies (2Gether, Chappelle’s Show) are more remembered than the actual show was – imitation is the biggest form of flattery and Making the Band is no exception of that rule. Originally a boy band project, then expanding to different genres (and networks for that matter), Making the Band was like an intimate group oriented American Idol and would certainly have a place on today’s airwaves.
Jersey Shore
Ah, the Jersey Shore. The show that everybody loved to hate with the cast that everybody hated more – the Jersey Shore entertained millions before quickly fizzling out and detaching into numerous spinoffs. I personally would love to see the cast come back to the Shore and help rebuild and contribute in the post-Sandy reparation of New Jersey. Who’s with me?
