Best reality show

Cafe Society
1

Any genre of reality:
Ordinary folks competing: Amazing Race (ta-tou), Survivor, The Mole, etc
Talented people: American Idol, Americas Got Talent(?), Project Runway, etc.
Celebrities: Get me out of here . . ., Celebrity Apprentice, etc.
Life-altering: The Bachelor, More to Love, The Cougar, etc.
Ones featuring OpalCat
I’m not one that gets into all of the performing ones or the ordinary people competition ones (made so the best person rarely wins) and spur of the moment I would say my favorite is Project Runway or Top Chef, but the BEST one (and I hate to say this) . . . So You Think You Can Dance. I absolutely love the three judges Nigel, Mary, and whoever they get as the third one. That Boys Group dance last season at the Top 6 was breathtaking and still has me amazed. The “talent” is actually talented 1 to 20.

I love this show and I hate myself for it.

A close second is Tool Academy. Even Jerry Springer would think these people are white trash and you gotta love it when you’re eliminate because “you’re just a tool”.

2

I’d say:

  1. The Mole with Anderson Cooper

  2. Survivor

  3. I used to say Amazing Race, but I’ve grown very, very tired of it.

3

My personal favorite is The Ultimate Fighter. It also happens to be the most legitimate competition IMO because there’s no judging or voting. You have to objectively win or lose to continue on or be out of the competition.

Runner up would have to be Top Chef. It’s higher on legitimate talent and lower on over-produced drama than most reality shows. (Though it’s not immune to the drama - the kiss between Hosea and Leah last year, dragged out over how many episodes, was groan-inducing.)

4

Why? It’s lots of really good dancing, week after week. What’s not to love? (Well, other than Mary Murphy’s shtick.)

5

What did I miss?

6

I presume this is a take off on the running joke that “Hi Opal” makes it into every list here on the Dope.

As to the OP, I vote for Iron Chef. My SO loves the cooking channel, so I’m well acquainted with Top Chef, and it’s good. But Iron Chef is like a sporting event - one key ingredient, 5 dishes, one hour to cook, go! And the best part is the announcers sometimes interact with the chefs while they’re cooking - imagine if the broadcasters could ask the quarterback a question while he was running the 2 minute drill! I love it.

7

I am growing fond of Pawn Stars a hybrid of Antiques Road Show, The Real World, Lets Make a Deal and Mythbusters. People bring interesting items into the shop for sale that have to be authenticated or demonstrated, then the wheeling and dealing starts for the right price.