The most disturbing reality shows of all time

Since reality TV became an incredibly popular genre in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the successes of ‘The Real World, 'Big Brother’ and ‘Survivor,’ even the most basic reality TV shows have been questioned, with critics saying they don’t reflect reality, glamorize the untalented and seek to humiliate participants.

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Far beyond the standard shows starring oversharing celebs like Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian, those that force participants to eat questionable animal organs or take glee in tearing up bad relationships, there are times when the genre hits unimaginable lows.

Image: Keeping up with the Kardashians, E! Network

Eight so-called cougars (older women who pursue young men) are brought to a villa in Mexico where they’ll have a chance to date younger men. Then comes the horrifying Oedipal twist: The boys in the villa are actually their sons.

Image: M/LF Manor, TLC

In this American reality show, two honorable families struggling financially are each given a briefcase with $101,000. But, they have to decide whether they’ll keep it all themselves or give some to the other family. Time.com said it was “the worst reality TV show ever,” accusing producers of exploiting hard-off families with psychological torture for pure entertainment.

Image: The Briefcase, CBS

Audiences loved this TLC classic that revolved around bizarre, often harmful additions. From people having an adult relationship with a car, drinking nail polish and eating everything from drywall, couch cushions, dirty diapers or the ashes of a dead relative (as shown), it was yours to see on the screen.

Image: My Strange Addiction, TLC

This notorious show took normal-looking women (or “ugly ducklings”) and gave them extreme plastic surgery to make them turn into “beautiful swans.” Even in the early aughts, the program was derided for shallowness and sadism.

Image: The Swan, FOX

The British reality TV show brought six men who wanted to date the gorgeous Mexican model Miriam Rivera. It wasn’t until she picked a winner in the last episode that she revealed she was really a trans woman! The men sued the show, and Miriam was eventually rejected by the man she fell for.

Photo: Miriam Rivera (victoria aka) Facebook

For six weeks, two families covered themselves in makeup to “become the opposite race.” Then, they moved in together to see what it would be like. Besides the blackface, it turned out that the Black family was legitimate, but the white family was made up of all actors, although it did open frank conversations about racism. It won an Emmy for best makeup then, but probably wouldn’t get the same reception today.

This reality that followed around the erratic former playmate, who gained notoriety by marrying an 89-year-old billionaire before his death, was a huge hit for the E! Network. In retrospect, she was clearly slurring and dealing with addiction. Within the next few years, both Anna Nicole and her son Daniel Wayne Smith, who appeared on the show, died from overdoses from toxic mixes of prescription drugs.

Incredibly superficial, judges rated contestants on a numerical scale based on “face,” “body,” and “s e x appeal.” One of the judges, Lorenzo Lamas, famously used a laser pointer to point out contestants’ flaws. The show was canceled after six episodes due to low ratings.

Image: Are You Hot? ABC

No matter your opinion of Donald Trump, imagining that any reality star could eventually become the most powerful person on Earth is a disturbing thought. Who would have thought in 2004 that Trump, his kids and even legendary Apprentice villain Omarosa Manigault would be running the country 12 years later?

Image: The Apprentice, NBCS

This bizarre TLC show follows sisters who are obsessed with each other. Some of them need to look exactly the same, do exactly the same things at the same time and even date the same guy.

Image: Extreme Sisters, TLC

The same plastic surgeon behind 'The Swan' participated in this E! Network gem, where 12 women compete to win a wedding and all the plastic surgery they want before tying the knot. Feminist magazine Jezebel described it as an “unhealthy” and “dangerous” show.

Image: Bridalplasty, E! Network

One of the most irresponsible reality shows of all time, this American reality show cashes in on the drama of whether women giving birth outdoors, without the assistance of any doctors, will survive, along with their babies.

Image: Born in the Wild, Lifetime

This Canadian reality show had two best friends facing off in a series of challenges that usually got pushed over the edge. Challenges included “Who Can Wear a Dead Octopus on their Head Longest” and “Who Can Handle More Torture.” To make it worse, the winner got to humiliate the loser with acts like eating what’s left on a tongue scraper. Canada’s the Globe and Mail called it “stupid elementary-school antics from camera-hungry dopes.”

Image: Kenny vs Spenny, Showcase

Netflix aimed to take the success of UK show 'Love Island’ to the extreme with ‘Dated and Related.’ Both shows have attractive single people looking for love in an exciting contest. However, the contestants on ‘Dated and Related’ are all joined by siblings, who watch them as they go on dates.

Image: Dated and Related, Netflix

This UK show challenged ten contestants to go without sleep for seven days to win a max of £100,000. Hallucinations, odd behavior, and hostility ensued. But critics say watching people not sleep was a rather dull viewing experience. And the long-term health effects? Well, who cares, right!?

Image: Shattered, Channel 4

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