Summary

• Reality TV dating shows have evolved from game shows to high-production stories, showcasing compelling relationships.
• The Bachelor franchise paved the way for popular dating shows like Love Is Blind and Married At First Sight.
• New concepts like The Ultimatum and MILF Manor offer unique twists, diversifying the reality TV dating genre.

Reality TV dating series have come a long way since they first took over the pop culture sphere. While reality TV dating started out as an entirely different concept with dating-style game shows in the 70s and 80s, reality TV began to become part of the cultural conversation in the 90s and took over in the early 2000s. While reality TV has become a normal part of our day-to-day lives, the shows that started it all felt controversial and overwhelming at the time, changing the way society spoke about dating, love, and relationships.

As the 90s and 00s style of reality TV came to be more popular, reality TV dating shows became more abundant. In the early 2000s, The Bachelor became the most popular reality TV dating show of all time. Bringing together contestants and a lead for a production on scale with major motion pictures, The Bachelor proved that higher production value could make reality TV more popularized. Moving forward, many reality TV shows took their lead from the ABC phenomenon.

With The Bachelor and its spin-off show, The Bachelorette, bringing in viewers, other networks began to test the waters of reality TV dating. Shows like Rock Of Love, Flavor Of Love, and Blind Date took over and saturated the market as reality TV dating became commonplace. As reality TV producers began to realize that normal people were as interesting, if not more interesting, as stars, things began to change for the genre.

Though reality TV dating took a moment to catch on, the shows that have entered the market in the last few years have been more complicated and more exciting than ever before. With shows that push the limits of boundaries for participants, stronger couples with more connection than ever have formed on reality TV dating shows. With shows like Love Is Blind and Married At First Sight keeping strangers in the game, other shows like The Ultimatum bring couples into the mix.

As new concepts are being brought to network TV and streaming platforms all the time, the reality TV dating landscape is one of the most diverse in the genre. Bringing together dating and competition shows in some circumstances and binding docu-series style shows along with dating series in others, there are shows for anyone to find interesting. With something for everyone to divulge in, reality TV dating shows have a concept for everyone. Here are the top 20 reality TV dating shows.

20 The Bachelorette

21 Seasons

The Bachelorette is a spin-off of the most popular dating series of all time, The Bachelor, that puts a woman in control of her own journey. While The Bachelor has been on the air since 2002, the first season of The Bachelorette didn’t air until the following year, putting Trista Sutter (née Rehn) in the hot seat for the very first time. After finding love with Ryan Sutter, it was clear that the formula worked well for both reality TV and matchmaking purposes.

Typically more successful than its predecessor, The Bachelorette has made some incredibly strong couples who have gone on to change the landscape of reality TV. Trista and Ryan have made countless reality TV appearances since their inaugural season on the series. The Bachelorette season 12’s lead JoJo Fletcher and her now-husband Jordan Rodgers met on the series and have since produced their own reality TV show. The currently airing season, The Bachelorette season 21, features the first Asian American lead, Jenn Tran.

19 Love Is Blind

6 Seasons

A Netflix original series, Love Is Blind has been able to bring the idea of anonymous matchmaking to the reality TV dating landscape. Premiering in 2020 just months before the COVID-19 pandemic caused a global lockdown, the series was able to capitalize on the fact that their participation had used isolation to their advantage. Putting contestants into pods and having them essentially speed date in order to get to know each other, Love Is Blind brought the idea of falling in love sight unseen to the forefront.

Throughout Love Is Blind’s run, there have been some incredibly successful matches and some incredibly devastating ones. Those who are still married after Love Is Blind have credited the experiment to their success, sharing that they were able to build an emotional foundation so strong that their relationship could sur any issue they may find themselves up against. With Love Is Blind season 7 coming soon, the series is well worth a binge-watch.

18 Married At First Sight

17 Seasons

Created by the same team as the producers behind Love Is Blind, Married At First Sight uses a similar element of anonymity, but allows participants to see each other before they commit. Married At First Sight, the American version of a Dutch series by the same name, brings together two strangers who have been matched by a of experts and asks them to commit to each other without any preamble, the participants getting married on the spot. MAFS couples are then given two months to try out their relationship and see if they want to stay married or divorce.

While Married At First Sight has produced some wonderful couples who never would’ve met without the show, there have also been a few dangerous matches made by the series. With some of the most controversial reality TV stars coming from MAFS, the show has had to explain itself time and time again with the actions of their cast coming into question. As viewers get ready for Married At First Sight season 18, there are still 17 seasons available to binge to get used to the show’s formula.

17 Too Hot To Handle

6 Seasons

Another Netflix original series, Too Hot To Handle brings together a group of conventionally attractive singles and asks them to do something inherently against their nature: abstain from physical of any kind. The cast of Too Hot To Handle are self-described players, often sharing their stories of hookups gone wrong and emotions ignored, craving the physicality of a relationship rather than the emotional connection. The singles on Too Hot To Handle have typically been unaware of the series they were g up for, instead believing they’d be ing a typical reality TV dating show.

Instead, the Too Hot To Handle singles find themselves at a retreat hosted by Lana, a cone-shaped robot who gives them the rules of the retreat and informs them that any breach in the rules will cost them significant funds. As Too Hot To Handle’s competition continues, the singles are able to match up with each other and take part in therapeutic, intimate workshops to help them accept emotional connections into their lives. The series recently released Too Hot To Handle season 6, which revamps the game after years of a similar format.

16 The Bachelor

28 Seasons

As the predecessor to the aforementioned The Bachelorette, The Bachelor was one of the first reality TV dating shows to hit the mainstream. Beginning in 2002, The Bachelor has consistently brought fairy-tale romance to the forefront with each season of the series. On the show, the titular Bachelor is able to get to know a group of 20-30 women who are interested in dating him, making weekly eliminations as he finds himself connecting with some women over others.

While some Bachelor leads have met the loves of their life on the show, others have been left broken hearted, and others have simply found themselves without a connection on the series. Each Bachelor lead has been different, though some do wind up being compared in the media, and each of their journeys has been unique. With The Bachelor season 28 leaving Joey Graziadei engaged to Kelsey Anderson, the next season of the series may have an ending unlike any other.

15 The Ultimatum

3 Seasons

A franchise of its own, Netflix’s The Ultimatum: Marry Or Move On and The Ultimatum: Queer Love shine a spotlight on relationships that are at a breaking point. Couples on the series must break up and commit to a trial marriage with another participant, creating a new couple that will either help them move into a better relationship or help them to realize that they want to be with their original partner. After the trial marraiges end, the original couples get back together to see how their relationship has changed.

While The Ultimatum can be somewhat confusing for those used to a standard reality TV dating show, the shows are a fascinating look at the way couples function when put under pressure. The Ultimatum: Marry Or Move On has two seasons, while The Ultimatum: Queer Love only has one season thus far, but the entry into LGBTQIA+ stories on reality TV has been a much-needed change. With several couples coming out of The Ultimatum ready to commit, the series is a refreshing change of pace.

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  The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On

  The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On is a reality television series where couples face a critical decision about their future. Each couple must decide to either get married or part ways after being exposed to potential new partners in a controlled social experiment. This emotional journey, hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, challenges participants to confront their relationship issues and examine their compatibility.

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  The Ultimatum: Queer Love

  The Ultimatum: Queer Love follows five couples comprising women and non-binary individuals at a pivotal relationship juncture. As one partner seeks marriage and the other hesitates, they issue ultimatums, leading to an eight-week journey where they explore new partners to decide on marriage or separation.

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14 MILF Manor

2 Seasons

A controversial reality TV dating series, MILF Manor season 1 took viewers by storm with its premise, then reeled them in with its unique, eye-opening series. MILF Manor brings together a group of women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond to look for love with younger men, but during the first season, it wasn’t revealed that the objects of their affection were going to be their sons. Each participants son, who are in their teens, 20s, and 30s, are part of the cast, hoping to match up with one of the older women.

After the first season of MILF Manor was a major hit with the reality TV dating audience, the series was renewed for a second season that would change the game entirely. MILF Manor season 2 has changed the game for the contestants, bringing in younger men as well as an older crowd to vie for the womens’ affections. While the twist may not be working for some viewers, the heart of MILF Manor hasn’t been lost between its first two seasons.

13 Love Island USA

6 Seasons

A spin-off of the original Love Island UK, the American version of the series has taken the states by storm for the past several summers. Love Island USA has the same premise as the UK version, bringing together a large group of sexy singles who are looking for love in a Fijian villa. Though the first three seasons were on CBS, the last three seasons of the series have been streamed on Peacock to some incredible success, bringing in an incredible amount of viewers for the season.

After moving to Peacock, Love Island USA changed the series a bit, bringing in actor Sarah Hyland to host the series and shifting gears to a bit more of an online format. Love Island USA season 6 brought Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix in to host the series, giving it a more personal touch and creating a major must-see element to the show. Now that Love Island USA season 6 has saved the series, another season will certainly be on the horizon.

12 Bachelor In Paradise

9 Seasons

Another Bachelor Nation series, Bachelor In Paradise has become one of the most fun reality TV dating series on the air. Taking a more Love Island style approach to reality TV dating, Bachelor In Paradise brings together those who didn’t make it to the end of their own Bachelor Nation show (along with some who have and ultimately left their relationships) and puts them up in an idyllic Mexican resort. The contestants must couple up and try to find a genuine match through all of the drama of Bachelor Nation.

Although Bachelor In Paradise season 9 wasn’t the best the series had to offer, many have felt that the show is actually the best in Bachelor Nation overall. Bringing together contestants who may never have met otherwise, the series has created some of the longest-lasting couples in Bachelor Nation. With Bachelor In Paradise season 10 having finally been renewed, now’s the perfect time to get caught up with the long-running series.

11 The Courtship

1 Seasons

The Courtship, a Hulu reality TV dating series, is a series that brings the Bridgerton-style of romance to the 21st century. A leading lady and her suitors were tasked with finding romance in the style of Regency era customs. Nicole Rémy and her cast of suitors had to participate in traditional activities, like Regency era games, traditional hand-written love letters, and courting via dance.

Setting The Courtship apart further from the rest of the reality TV dating world, Nicole’s family was brought in to consult about her matches. Giving the participants an experience of a lifetime, The Courtship was a fascinating look at old-style customs mixed with modern era participants. While there’s only one season of the series, it’s well worth the watch and has viewers hopeful that they’ll see another season of The Courtship in the future.