The phenomenon of seeing a train wreck and not being able to look away has been around for a long time--and it's one of the reasons that the reality TV business has only gotten better and better over the years. Some concepts are genuinely interesting, like people showing off their skills on MasterChef or The Amazing Race.
But, some of the most infamously loved reality TV isn't popular because of its compelling nature. Some reality shows are watched religiously because they're so bad that they actually end up being wildly entertaining, and Reddit has determined which shows are the best of the worst.
90 Day Fiancé (2014-pres)
One of the more notorious reality shows centers around a pretty taboo topic: getting married for a green card into the United States. There are a ton of, sometimes very cringey, things on the show that have kept fans entranced for so many seasons and spin-offs. Some people even start watching the show as a joke, only to become addicted after a few episodes.
From some of the oldest cast members on the show having huge age gaps with their partners, to blow-up fights that make it clear that these two people hardly know each other, 90 Day Fiancé has kept Redditors hooked with the drama. Reddit user wendyunniestan wrote, "90 day fiancé is the best show ever. I'm way too invested in the train wrecks." Roopjm81 agreed with them, commenting, "I walked in to my wife watching this one day: "what trash are you watching?" 2 days later: 'don't turn it off it's the reunion!'"
Love Is Blind (2020-pres)
In some cases, the premise of a show can be interesting enough, like testing to see whether or not people can fall in love without physical attraction being a factor. However, it's the love-to-hate-them cast members that put this show on the "watchable train wreck" side of reality television.
When asked, Redditors were more than enthusiastic to list all of the reasons they love this "so bad it's good" dating show. jupiterisagirl said, "Love Is Blind is f***ing terrible and I'm all over it." Many Reddit users were quick to chime in with their takes. Fatcatsinhats wrote, "No one knows about it in my real life and I need to rant about how terrible of a human being Jessica is! She's the worst and I can't help but watch." Jupiterisagirl commented back, joking, "I schedule these stupid things in my calendar."
America's Next Top Model (2003-2018)
Anyone wanting to relive some of the cringey early 2000s aesthetics and binge-watch the toxic side of the beauty and modeling industry can tune into America's Next Top Model because the episodes are now available online on Hulu. Tyra Banks has had some pretty iconic quotes on the show, and many of them have become popular internet memes that have resurfaced recently.
A Reddit user that's since been deleted wrote, "America's next top model was about as trashy but entertaining as it gets. More addictive than crack." Foxlashes replied to their comment, saying, "I've enjoyed a couple seasons again after I watched them as a teen back in the day. They're so funny now. So many bad poses and ridiculous drama!"
Flavor Of Love (2006-2008)
Dating shows can be beautiful disasters even when they just featured everyday people from around the country. But, when a reality dating show stars a celebrity as the main love interest? That's when things go from dramatic to wild very quickly, and that's exactly what Flavor Of Love fans love about the OG show and the spin-offs.
Redditor voregeois said, "I think I've seen it 5 times thru while showing other people. A bunch of pretty (and trashy) ladies going after flavor flav's musty a**." Mackinacsfuriousclaw commented, "All of the ___ of love are wonderful train wrecks. Now I need to look up what New York is up to now."
The Bachelor (2002-pres)
It seems like many of the most popular reality dating shows are appreciated more for being bad than being actually good. With the dismal success rate of the end couples on the show and the sometimes messy drama that ensues when 20 contestants are all dating the same person, viewers can't look away from The Bachelor.
Another now-deleted Reddit account added to the discussion, saying, "The Bachelor. Perfect no brain needed trash." SierraSeaWitch couldn't agree more, writing, "And so fun to watch with friends! My friend group is so busy and spread out but we make sure to watch the premieres and finales together and it is such a good time, no matter how terrible."
Love Island (2015-pres)
Continuing the theme of "bad good" dating shows, Love Island has had viewers hooked watching beachside challenges and catty drama for the past seven years and counting. Both the UK and US versions of the show have their cringey and trashy moments--and fans love them for it.
Yet another deleted Reddit account commented, "I've been binging Love Island. Idk why I'm hooked on this crap." Melseegs immediately hopped on the Love Island train, saying, "Ugh yes. 50 episodes of British people sitting in bean bags and drinking water? I'm sold." They're correct on that subject: so much of the show seems to be contestants hydrating and having good "chat," but audiences just love it.
Real Housewives & All Spin-Offs (2006-pres)
Wondering how the other half lives is a natural part of being a non-celebrity, non-wealthy human being. Although, many people did not imagine that the other half was full of screaming fights that go way too far, iconic quotes that turn into Vines, and a ton of confrontations over expensive dinners.
But, the messy beauty and toxicity of the housewives in all the major cities are what keeps fans watching every episode, even if they don't know exactly why. Reddit user palm-vie wrote, "RHONY is my favorite, but the first 3 seasons of RHONJ are reality tv gold!" Frankiej712 simply stated, "all the housewives! Love the drama" and LadyTerminator3000 finished it off by saying, "My guilty pleasure is watching the housewives."
Bridezillas (2004-2013)
It can be very entertaining and equally horrifying to watch a full-blown wedding meltdown, and that's exactly what viewers get to do while binging Bridezillas. Producers gathered together all of the least-behaved and most rage-filled brides-to-be and put them all in one show. It's like a car accident in slow-motion on repeat.
Redditors showed nothing but love-hate for the show. Fuddydudd wrote, "I got SUCKED into that show one weekend in college. I binged like...several seasons. It was embarrassing. So insanely bad/good." A Redditor named fruple commented, "I tried to get my husband to watch it with me and he got so anxious just watching the opening he had to leave the room. It's definitely a guilty pleasure of mine though!"
Are You The One? (2014-2019)
Are You The One? seems like a simple enough concept: contestants take a compatibility test and are paired up with other players in a bid to win a large cash prize. All they have to do is find who they were matched up with. However, the participants still find a way to mess things up or even refuse to cooperate altogether in captivating chaos, but some Redditors have the unpopular opinion that it's the best.
Reddit user UninfluentialWear joked, "'I'm going to follow my heart!...' instead of using strategy to win a million dollars. It's great TV." Redditor jadesaddiction added, "There's at least one moment in each episode where they have to remember that it's a game and they need money, yet somehow also think they'll find love."
1000-lb Sisters (2020-pres)
There are loads of reality shows about weight loss and general health, including another hate-to-love show, My 600-lb Life, which chronicles the weight loss journeys of many hopeful but chronically obese patients. 1000-lb Sisters is a similar concept, except it just follows two subjects for the entirety of the show, and is based on their personal lives in general than specifically only weight loss.
There are many reasons Redditors think the show is so bad that it's good. COmmensalism wrote, "Their sense of humor is SO painful. That being said, I watched every episode." In spite of the sometimes cringey comedy and misunderstanding about sugar content, TLC fans want more. Pianochick36 commented, "The Slaton Sisters are the official queens of TLC."