Skip To...
Reality television changed the world of entertainment in a huge way. Today, almost 80% of adult viewers watch some kind of reality TV and these shows account for nearly 40% of all the programming on television. Some of them have been around for a long time too. So, what’s the history of this type of program and what are some of the longest-running reality TV shows?
The History of Reality TV
While it is true that reality television has become more popular in the last 25 years, the history of reality TV is almost as old as television itself. Candid Camera is often recognized as the first reality TV show to air. It debuted on ABC in 1948 under the name Candid Microphone. A number of different versions of the show aired from 1948 until 2014.
Other early reality shows included Queen for a Day, which aired from 1956 to 1964. It featured a number of women telling stories about their day-to-day lives in hopes of winning various prizes. The Dating Game (1965 to 1986) showed one person interviewing three participants in hopes of finding someone to go on a date with. Then, Cops broke onto the scene in 1989. It is the first program on the list of the longest-running reality TV shows.
1. Cops (1989)
Cops made its television debut in 1989. The show followed police officers, sheriffs, and deputies on patrol. It utilized handheld videography and didn’t use any narration or music (besides for its catchy theme song). Viewers loved to watch the raw footage of the everyday lives of officers. The show aired on Fox from 1989 until 2013 and then moved to Spike TV, later Paramount Network, and ran until 2020. Following the George Floyd protests, Paramount decided to cancel the show. Fox Nation brought it back in 2021, but it was ultimately canceled in 2023. However, it remains one of the longest-running reality shows in history with 36 seasons and more than 1,200 episodes.
2. The Real World (1992)
The Real World essentially served as a blueprint for reality television as we know it today. Cameras filmed around the clock as strangers from various backgrounds lived under one roof for several months. As you can imagine, plenty of drama unfolded during that time. It debuted on MTV in 1992 and put out one season every year until 2017. The show was briefly brought back on Facebook Watch in 2019, but it didn’t perform as well as they’d hoped. Despite that, it still remains one of the longest-running reality shows with 33 seasons and 614 episodes.
3. Antiques Roadshow (1997)
Antiques Roadshow is another program on the reality TV show list that has been on since the 90s and continues to air today. While it isn’t sensational by any means, Antiques Roadshow has been successful in its 25+ years on television. The show follows a group of professional antique appraisers who travel to various shows around the country. It first aired on PBS in 1997 and has aired for a total of 28 seasons (and counting). What’s even more astonishing is that the British version of the show has been going strong since 1979.
4. The Challenge (1998)
The Challenge was one of the first reality TV spinoffs. It really came into existence because of The Real World. MTV took alumni from The Real World and another one of its reality shows, Road Rules, and put them up against each other. Eventually, the show branched out to other non-MTV reality show alums too. Making its debut in 1998, The Challenge has aired 40 seasons and over 550 episodes, and it continues to air today.
5. Survivor (2000)
When people think of the longest-running reality shows, they typically think of programs like Survivor. Jeff Probst basically became the face of reality television in the early 2000s. The contestants are divided into teams or “tribes” and compete in various challenges. At the end of each episode, someone is voted off by the other contestants until one person remains. This show has been pivotal in the world of reality TV and is truly one of the most iconic shows on television. Since its debut in 2000, there have been 47 seasons of Survivor, and host Jeff Probst already has big plans for Survivor 50, so it’s not going anywhere any time soon.
6. Big Brother (2000)
The same year Survivor made its debut on CBS, another show was emerging on the network. Big Brother is another show that has made a massive impact on reality TV and they are still putting out new episodes, with the latest season wrapping up in fall of 2024. In this show, a group of strangers lives together in one house and is filmed 24/7. They are completely isolated from the outside world while in the house. There are challenges and games that they have to play and each week someone is evicted from the house by their housemates. Then, the season’s winner is decided by a jury of evicted contestants during the finale. There have been more than 930 episodes of Big Brother over 26 seasons. Again, there aren’t any plans to cancel it anytime soon.
7. The Amazing Race (2001)
The Amazing Race has made reality television history for a number of reasons. It is not only one of the longest-running reality shows, but it is also the most decorated reality TV program. Since its debut in 2001, the show has been nominated for 97 Emmys and won 15. It is yet another CBS series that has captivated audiences. The show sends a number of contestants out on a “race” where they must beat other teams of two to the finish line. They have to use their speed but also must have good time management, people skills, and other things to succeed. Think of it as a scavenger hunt around the world. It first debuted in 2001 and has aired one or more seasons every year since, totaling 36 seasons in all.
8. The Bachelor (2002)
You can’t talk about reality television without mentioning The Bachelor franchise. The original series kicked off in 2002 on ABC and followed one male bachelor with a number of female suitors. It was such a hit that they decided to launch a spinoff, The Bachelorette, in 2005. Since then, there have been a number of different versions of the show, including Bachelor in Paradise, The Golden Bachelor, and The Golden Bachelorette. The original installation of the show has aired 28 seasons and more than 300 episodes.
9. American Idol (2002)
American Idol is another trendsetter in the world of reality TV. The judges, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson, sat through auditions from people all over the United States to pinpoint a group of rising talent. Once narrowed down, the top performers compete for the chance of being named “American Idol.” The show has gone through some growing pains in its 22 seasons spanning over 650 episodes. Judges have frequently changed and the ratings weren’t doing so well at one point, leading to it being dropped by Fox in 2016. However, it was picked back up by ABC and continues to air today. Season 23 is expected to kick off on March 9, 2025.
10. Dancing With the Stars (2005)
Dancing With the Stars is another notable reality show that has been on air for two decades. Celebrities who have no background in dancing enter into a competition where they are paired with professional dancers. Each duo goes up against other celebs and their partners every week. There is usually a theme or a specific dance they must master. During the 20 years it has been on the air, Dancing With the Stars has had 33 seasons and more than 500 episodes.
11. Deadliest Catch (2005)
Discovery Channel has some of the best reality shows on television today and Deadliest Catch is one of the longest-running. The show follows several different crab boats and their crews during the peak of the crabbing season. It is really intense and often shows the crew dealing with potential life-and-death situations. Since its debut in 2005, it has aired one season every year for a total of 20 seasons and over 350 episodes.
12. Intervention (2005)
Intervention is a heavily debated reality show. Every week, the show follows a new person who is struggling with addiction. Everything taped eventually leads up to an intervention with their family and friends. They are asked to enter into a rehab program, which sometimes doesn’t work. Critics and health professionals have slammed the show for taking advantage of addicts to get ratings. That said, it won an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Program in 2009. There has been at least one season every year following its debut in 2005, totaling 25 seasons with more than 350 episodes.
13. Hell’s Kitchen (2005)
Hell’s Kitchen is another standout show in the reality television space. It made its way to TV in 2005 and is now the longest-running American cooking-based reality show in history. Gordon Ramsay really sets Hell’s Kitchen apart from other shows with his over-the-top rage when the chefs don’t get something right. People generally tune in to see what he’ll get mad at and who will get called a “donkey.” It has aired a new season every year since 2005, except for 2020 (due to COVID restrictions). The show is now in its 23rd season and has aired more than 350 episodes in that time.
14. The Real Housewives of Orange County (2006)
The Real Housewives of Orange County paved the way for an entire franchise. Debuting in 2006, the show followed a group of women and their families in one of the wealthiest areas of the country. There is always some drama that unfolds and, for whatever reason, people have become addicted to following what’s going on. It has aired for a total of 18 seasons and more than 300 episodes. Not to mention, it has led to a massive number of other shows. There have been a total of 11 American Real Housewives shows, 20 international installments of the franchise, and 27 spin-offs, including the popular Vanderpump Rules.
15. Keeping Up With the Kardashians (2007)
Last, but certainly not least, is Keeping Up With the Kardashians. While the show, and the family, were initially dismissed as a passing fad, the show turned out to be incredibly successful. After its debut in 2007, there were 20 seasons and 280 episodes of the show that aired. The family decided to end the show in 2021, but they picked up a deal with Hulu to start a new program called The Kardashians, which is expected to return for its sixth season in 2025.
Looking back at the longest-running reality shows, what do you think the key to a successful reality program is?
