Say what you’ll about actuality TV, but it surely’s right here to remain. It is a famous person style! For the reason that days of The Actual World, actuality TV has pulled us in with new tales and codecs.
For me, it has been 23 years since watching folks vote one another out on Survivor stole my 10-year-old thoughts’s consideration. And I have been obsessed ever since!
With a decades-worth of TV explored, the style is not slowing down but. 2023 was a landmark 12 months that introduced us new names, new iterations, and new obsessions that crammed our actuality TV thirst.
Do not imagine me? Beneath, we seemed again on the 12 months for the way the style grew and reshaped itself. These themes introduced a number of beloved new favorites that made 2023 the most effective years but for brand spanking new IPs (and a few acquainted names).
Test it out!
A Supreme Rises
After many years of actuality TV, launching a brand new IP that attains widespread success and progress will be laborious. Not everybody can attain the staying identify energy like Survivor, Massive Brother, Love Island, and so forth.
You want a novel format that gives an entertaining recreation and many potential. Enter The Traitors.
The social deduction recreation was initially launched in 2021 within the Netherlands to huge success, and some worldwide variations got here the next 12 months. However in 2023, The Traitors noticed its most huge progress but!
Not less than 12 new worldwide variations have been launched that unfold The Traitors’ model globally.
For North American audiences, The Traitors Season 1 went stay on Peacock to wonderful fan curiosity. Fortunately, a second season renewal got here shortly and with one wanted change: that includes solely actuality TV celebrities.
And The Traitors Canada Season 1 on CTV delivered a deliciously enjoyable and stunning season!
The Traitors has turn out to be essentially the most vital new identify on the truth TV block. And with its rising enchantment, we would have a brand new franchise juggernaut that’s right here to remain. (Crossing all my fingers!)
All Round The World
Talking of taking issues internationally, just a few franchises saved rising or launching. Identical to The Traitors above, RuPaul’s Drag Race kicked off a number of new collection in nations worldwide.
Drag Race Germany Season 1, Drag Race Belgique Season 1, Drag Race Brasil Season 1, Drag Race Mexico Season 1, and Drag Race Sverige Season 1 all sashayed their method onto screens to search out the Subsequent Drag Famous person. In the event you have been craving drag queen leisure, this was only a style of the accessible content material.
For a extra established collection, we had the return of Massive Brother U.Ok. because it went off the air in 2018! Positive, it is only a continuation, however the relaunch felt like a contemporary tackle the beloved present.
There may be a lot actuality TV to take pleasure in in lots of locations however so little time.
Embracing Historical past
If there’s one factor a actuality TV fan has, it is their tried-and-true favorites. Even when it is a decade later, they’re going to nonetheless be rooting for his or her favourite former gamers or towards their love-to-hate villains.
The truth TV style appeared to acknowledge this by bringing again many acquainted gamers to launch brand-new IPs.
In some instances, gamers got here again to play a similar-ish kind of recreation, like Love Island Video games Season 1. Or, it was recognizable and well-established names invited to compete on a brand new present, like The Traitors or E!’s Home of Villains Season 1.
Home of Villains is one such case that did every little thing proper to hit the bottom working.
What higher solution to launch a brand new collection than by specializing in the characters that carry all of the drama? The villains!
Typically, all that you must make successful is to depend on the ability of the forged. These villains had the expertise from their previous exhibits and weren’t afraid to talk their minds and battle for display time. This recipe spelled success, making it one among E!’s greatest launches in years.
Bringing again former gamers generally is a hit and miss, however 2023 hit all the precise notes.
A New Spin On Traditional Types
Refreshing previous concepts could make one thing really feel new and fashionable whereas nonetheless honoring the legacy of the unique. (Look to The Mole for the way it’s accomplished!) This 12 months, we discovered success in bringing again codecs we have been lacking for a while.
Who wasn’t excited to see Massive Brother U.Ok. introduced again after going off the air in 2018? It is one of many huge juggernauts from the worldwide franchise and a enjoyable present full of loads of personalities.
Although, the actual standout on this theme was The Satan’s Plan on Netflix.
Does anybody bear in mind the cult traditional actuality present The Genius? With just a few tweaks and a contemporary replace, The Satan’s Plan Season 1 captured the magic of its predecessor. We bought again a format that was sorely wanted!
New Face, Identical Aptitude, Extra Enjoyable
Talking of updating codecs, how about spin-offs of already fashionable exhibits? 2023 was the 12 months of constant momentum for profitable exhibits however making an attempt out a brand new fashion. It was an effective way to launch new titles from established and beloved IPs.
Massive fan of relationship exhibits like The Bachelor or The Bachelorette? Go for an older, extra mature relationship pool on The Golden Bachelor Season 1.
Do you benefit from the relationship mess on The Ultimatum? Expertise new sorts of relationships on The Ultimatum: Queer Love Season 1.
Miss the casts from the mainline franchise? Watch them compete once more in spin-off video games like Massive Brother Reindeer Video games Season 1 and Love Island Video games Season 1.
What made this method profitable was how audiences have been drawn to the spin-offs.
In some instances, like The Ultimatum: Queer Love, the season was extra favorably obtained by critics and followers than the principle present. (*Cough* The Ultimatum Season 2 *cough*.) The spin-offs introduced all of the attention-grabbing storylines and reminded us what we liked concerning the exhibits within the first place.
And the spin-offs might take a look at and take a look at issues that must be added to their mainline exhibits.
For instance, Massive Brother Reindeer Video games was enjoyable as a result of it had equitable competitions that any of their gamers might win, no matter age, measurement, and so forth. Possibly Massive Brother ought to take notice and cease doing rounds that favor solely extraordinarily match and younger houseguests.
Essential Pleasure
One of many downsides of actuality TV is the damaging notion of the style. Resulting from years of gimmicks and scandalous drama, many assume actuality TV is nothing greater than trash.
Positive, there are many responsible pleasures to lose your self in (we’ll get to this later). Nonetheless, you would be sorely unsuitable if you happen to thought that actuality TV is simply that.
2023 noticed a 12 months of collection getting the popularity they deserve as well-crafted exhibits.
For instance, Jury Obligation Season 1 had a wave of essential reception and fan curiosity as a result of how robust the season was when it got here out. And it could possibly be one worthy of award acclaim. Jury Obligation has been nominated for a number of awards, together with the Primetime Emmys.
Netflix Is On A Roll
Out of all of the streamers, Netflix is pumping out essentially the most constant actuality TV exhibits. They’re keen to strive one thing to see if it’s going to work, and so they’ll greenlight extra actuality exhibits to their slate, each authentic and spin-offs.
Simply in 2023 alone, Netflix has had its justifiable share of collection, like Surviving Paradise Season 1, Excellent Match Season 1, and Bling Empire: New York Season 1, to call just a few.
Whereas some did not final lengthy (so lengthy, Bling Empire), different beginner collection struck a chord with followers. We have got new seasons of Surviving Paradise and Excellent Match to sit up for within the coming years.
Netflix would possibly lastly be stepping into a very good swing with their actuality line-up.
Adapting IPs
Talking of Netflix, one among their greatest actuality TV exhibits of 2023 got here from Squid Recreation: The Problem Season 1.
This collection had loads of hype, particularly since Squid Recreation Season 1 was a large hit for Netflix. Reworking and adapting a fictional present right into a real-life actuality present might turn out to be a catastrophe if not accomplished proper.
And sure, we should acknowledge all of the behind-the-scenes drama from creating the collection. The collection hasn’t escaped its justifiable share of controversy or issues.
Although even after a bumpy run, the present’s success has proven that there’s potential for this recreation to proceed. And that carrying over a high-concept concept like Squid Recreation right into a actuality TV present format will be accomplished.
Responsible Pleasure When You Want It
For each “critical” actuality present, typically you want a responsible pleasure to decompress and binge. No judgments!
I used to be deep in VH1’s world of Taste of Love, I Love New York, Attraction College, and the opposite spin-offs alongside the best way. And I’ve a protracted historical past of different responsible pleasure exhibits added to the checklist (and some random ones to this present day).
In 2023, the brand new slate of “responsible pleasure” exhibits appeared to personal their campy and absurd codecs. Many of the exhibits have been in on the joke and knew precisely what they have been creating, which made it even higher. Their followers wished all of it and extra.
Simply look to exhibits like For the Love of Dilfs Season 1 and MILF Manor Season 1, for what I imply.
Now, over to you, Fanatics!
Which new actuality TV exhibits did you’re keen on in 2023? Have been there any shock hits that blew you away?
Are there any exhibits that you simply assume ought to keep in 2023?
Share your ideas within the feedback under.
Justin Carreiro is a workers author for TV Fanatic. Comply with him on X.
