Television

The Best Reality Shows That Make You A Better Person

While traditionally pigeonholed as a trashy genre, there is plenty of current reality TV with substance. Whether it's learning a new trade, understanding a complicated topic, or gaining a more nuanced perspective of the lives of others, the reality shows below truly teach you something. For every Real Housewives, there's a Who Do You Think You Are. Many current thought provoking reality TV series do not shy away from controversy. Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath explores shocking stories of people who escaped Scientology and does not hesitate to challenge the religion as a whole. Inspirational reality series shine light on traditionally marginalized groups. RuPaul's Drag Race focuses on the LGBT community and Little People, Big World shows the every day struggles of little people. Such programs prove reality TV scandal and exploitation are not the defining factors of the genre. What is the most thoughtful current reality TV series? Vote up the best programs below!

Entries: 68
Votes: 3.8K
Updated: 4 days ago

Tap upor downto vote. Your vote is added to Ranker's counts.

Voting identifies your browser with an anonymous fingerprint, stored only as a salted hash, to count one per visitor. Privacy

Source: Ranker, ranked by its voters.

#1Currently leadingHow It's Made

1
How It's Made
What you learn: How stuff is made, the magic of manufacturing, practical science is cool
89% upvoted
2
The Great British Bake Off
What you learn: Baking tips, teamwork, British phrases
72% upvoted
3
Who Do You Think You Are?
What you learn: It's a small world, family trees have deep roots, ancestry is interesting
66% upvoted
4
That Animal Rescue Show
What you learn: The selflessness and dedication of those who rescue animals from bad situtations
73% upvoted
5
This Old House
What you learn: DIY skills, how to locate a stud, when to call an expert
65% upvoted
6
The Repair Shop
What you learn: The history of things and the joy of caring for objects that are vital parts of our memories and childhoods.
65% upvoted
7
Canine Intervention
What you learn: the loving wonder of dogs and the healing power of love (and good training)
70% upvoted
8
Born This Way
What you learn: How to empathize more with adults with cognitive disabilities
63% upvoted
9
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath
What you learn: How to adopt a nuanced, informed perspective on religion and the abuse of power
62% upvoted
10
MasterChef Junior
What you learn: The fortitude and creativity of children and the inspiration of seeing young minds create
63% upvoted
11
The World According to Jeff Goldblum
What you learn: Fascinating facts about the world around us
61% upvoted
12
The Great British Baking Show: Holidays
67% upvoted
13
Love on the Spectrum
What you learn: The wider spectrum of the ways and types of love and life.
60% upvoted
14
Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
What you learn: That it's okay to move on and let go, but it's also okay to keep the things that are a part of you
58% upvoted
15
Shark Tank
What you learn: Be prepared, know your value, learn from your mistakes
56% upvoted
16
MasterChef
What you learn: How to be resourceful, act under pressure, and engage in teamwork
56% upvoted
17
RuPaul's Drag Race
What you learn: Celebrate uniqueness, love yourself, work it girl
56% upvoted
18
Iron Chef America
What you learn: Gourmet cooking techniques, how to perform under pressure, creativity
55% upvoted
19
Undercover Boss
What you learn: Communication skills, good customer service, the importance of mutual respect
58% upvoted
20
The Great Pottery Throw Down
What you learn: The joy of seeing others create, the unknown well of possibility in any of us, the art of clay
56% upvoted
21
The Amazing Race
What you learn: Teamwork, basic geography, and how to read instructions carefully
52% upvoted
22
America's Got Talent
What you learn: Go for your dreams, overcome obstacles, share talent
52% upvoted
23
The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning
What you learn: Ways to process grief and celebrate life.
62% upvoted
24
Rich House, Poor House
59% upvoted
25
Pit Bulls & Parolees
What you learn: Everyone deserves a second chance, the power of redemption, don't judge a book by its cover
49% upvoted
26
Becoming You
What you learn: The differences and simlarities of how all of us humans come into this world and grow into it
47% upvoted
27
Painting with John
What you learn: Strangeness, complativeness, the power of observing
52% upvoted
28
Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss
What you learn: The many possible sources of happiness.
54% upvoted
29
Deliciously Twisted Classics
56% upvoted
30
Family Dinner
What you learn: About the differences and similarities of other American families.
44% upvoted
31
Home Sweet Home
What you learn: The importance of understanding the complexities of the lives of those differnet from oneself
45% upvoted
32
Little People, Big World
What you learn: Celebrating uniqueness, family values, overcoming adversity
44% upvoted
33
Family Reboot
36% upvoted
34
Roman to the Rescue
42% upvoted
35
Running Wild with Bear Grylls
What you learn: Survival skills, how to be prepared, the importance of mental strength
42% upvoted
36
Born For Business
What you learn: How difficult it can be to start your own business and admiration for those who do
39% upvoted
37
Getting Curious With Jonathan Van Ness
What you learn: To lead with curiosity to learn about the world around you.
40% upvoted
38
True Life
What you learn: A nuanced perspective of those of whose lives deviate form the norm
40% upvoted
39
We're Here
What you learn: The heart and love that can be found in small towns and that even if one feels isolated, they are not alone
38% upvoted
40
Celebrity IOU
What you learn: That even celebrities have hearts, and the many shapes of gratitude.
37% upvoted
41
Vanderpump Dogs
What you learn: About the joy of adopting dogs, whether you're adding a new member to your family or helping someone find theirs
39% upvoted
42
Marvel's Hero Project
What you learn: The generosity of children and the inspiring work some kids do
36% upvoted
43
The Laundry Guy
What you learn: That the experiences of others can be very familiar.
36% upvoted
44
Celebrity IOU: Joyride
What you learn: The value of helping others.
36% upvoted
45
Sparking Joy
What you learn: The importance of balancing work and home.
37% upvoted
46
The Fieldhouse
What you learn: The power of positive thinking and trying again after failing.
36% upvoted
47
She's the Boss
What you learn: The importance of balance even for the busiest boss babe.
32% upvoted
48
Legendary
What you learn: All about the skill-filled world of vouging
32% upvoted
49
Karma
What you learn: The power of karma
29% upvoted
50
Being Reuben
What you learn: Tolerance, family love, makeup skills
32% upvoted
51
Hi I'm
What you learn: The different ways people move through the world.
18% upvoted
52
Cesar Millan: Better Human Better Dog
47% upvoted
53
100 Day Dream Home
50% upvoted
54
Onyx Family Dinner
What you learn: The power of talking it out and seeing how others live.
34% upvoted
55
Celebrations with Lacey Chabert
50% upvoted
56
Team Rubicon
47% upvoted
57
Superchef Grudge Match
44% upvoted
58
Farm Dreams
44% upvoted
59
Unicorn Hunters
44% upvoted
60
7 Little Johnstons
45% upvoted
61
Like a Girl
42% upvoted
62
Hero Ink
44% upvoted
63
Finding Magic Mike
What you learn: That the magic is always inside you.
20% upvoted
64
Love in Fairhope
41% upvoted
65
Down for Love
What you learn: That dating has it's ups and downs for everyone.
38% upvoted
66
Love & Marriage: DC
35% upvoted
67
Making Good
100% upvoted
68
Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy
100% upvoted