Say what you’ll about actuality TV, nevertheless it’s right here to remain. It is a celebrity style! Because the 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 individuals 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 appeared again on the 12 months for a way the style grew and reshaped itself. These themes introduced a number of beloved new favorites that made 2023 among the finest 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 development will be arduous. Not everybody can attain the staying identify energy like Survivor, Huge Brother, Love Island, and many others.
You want a singular format that gives an entertaining recreation and plenty of 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 development 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 dwell on Peacock to glorious 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 surprising season!
The Traitors has grow to be probably the most vital new identify on the fact TV block. And with its rising attraction, we’d 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, a number of franchises saved rising or launching. Similar to The Traitors above, RuPaul’s Drag Race kicked off a number of new sequence in international locations 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 means onto screens to search out the Subsequent Drag Famous person. If you happen to have been craving drag queen leisure, this was only a style of the out there content material.
For a extra established sequence, we had the return of Huge 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 in opposition to their love-to-hate villains.
The fact TV style appeared to acknowledge this by bringing again many acquainted gamers to launch brand-new IPs.
In some circumstances, gamers got here again to play a similar-ish sort 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 thing proper to hit the bottom operating.
What higher strategy to launch a brand new sequence than by specializing in the characters that deliver all of the drama? The villains!
Typically, all you could make a success 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 combat for display screen time. This recipe spelled success, making it one among E!’s greatest launches in years.
Bringing again former gamers could be a hit and miss, however 2023 hit all the appropriate notes.
A New Spin On Traditional Types
Refreshing outdated 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 Huge Brother U.Ok. introduced again after going off the air in 2018? It is one of many large juggernauts from the worldwide franchise and a enjoyable present crammed with loads of personalities.
Although, the true standout on this theme was The Satan’s Plan on Netflix.
Does anybody bear in mind the cult traditional actuality present The Genius? With a number of tweaks and a contemporary replace, The Satan’s Plan Season 1 captured the magic of its predecessor. We obtained again a format that was sorely wanted!
New Face, Similar Aptitude, Extra Enjoyable
Talking of updating codecs, how about spin-offs of already in style exhibits? 2023 was the 12 months of constant momentum for profitable exhibits however making an attempt out a brand new fashion. It was a good way to launch new titles from established and beloved IPs.
Huge 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 varieties 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 Huge 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 circumstances, like The Ultimatum: Queer Love, the season was extra favorably acquired by critics and followers than the primary present. (*Cough* The Ultimatum Season 2 *cough*.) The spin-offs introduced all of the attention-grabbing storylines and reminded us what we beloved in regards to 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, Huge 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 many others. Possibly Huge Brother ought to take be aware and cease doing rounds that favor solely extraordinarily match and younger houseguests.
Essential Pleasure
One of many downsides of actuality TV is the unfavorable notion of the style. As a consequence of 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 fallacious if you happen to thought that actuality TV is simply that.
2023 noticed a 12 months of sequence getting the popularity they deserve as well-crafted exhibits.
For instance, Jury Responsibility Season 1 had a wave of essential reception and fan curiosity as a consequence of how sturdy the season was when it got here out. And it could possibly be one worthy of award acclaim. Jury Responsibility 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 probably the most constant actuality TV exhibits. They’re prepared to strive one thing to see if it will work, they usually’ll greenlight extra actuality exhibits to their slate, each authentic and spin-offs.
Simply in 2023 alone, Netflix has had its fair proportion of sequence, like Surviving Paradise Season 1, Excellent Match Season 1, and Bling Empire: New York Season 1, to call a number of.
Whereas some did not final lengthy (so lengthy, Bling Empire), different beginner sequence struck a chord with followers. We have got new seasons of Surviving Paradise and Excellent Match to look ahead to within the coming years.
Netflix would possibly lastly be moving 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 Sport: The Problem Season 1.
This sequence had loads of hype, particularly since Squid Sport Season 1 was an enormous hit for Netflix. Remodeling and adapting a fictional present right into a real-life actuality present might grow to be a catastrophe if not accomplished proper.
And sure, we should acknowledge all of the behind-the-scenes drama from creating the sequence. The sequence hasn’t escaped its fair proportion 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 Sport right into a actuality TV present format will be accomplished.
Responsible Pleasure When You Want It
For each “severe” actuality present, generally 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, Allure Faculty, and the opposite spin-offs alongside the best way. And I’ve a protracted historical past of different responsible pleasure exhibits added to the listing (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. A lot 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 like in 2023? Have been there any shock hits that blew you away?
Are there any exhibits that you simply suppose ought to keep in 2023?
Share your ideas within the feedback under.
Justin Carreiro is a employees author for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.
