Ranking All the Reality Shows Where Contestants Can't See Each Other
#7: “Dating in the Dark” (2009-10)
Top 10 Weirdest Dating Shows
Premiering in the summer of 2009, “Dating in the Dark”, put six hopeful singles into a house, only allowing them to meet and converse in a space known as the “dark room”. After a lights off group date, participants were allowed to have one-on-one interactions. Then it was up to the contestants to take their relationships to the next stage after revealing themselves to each other in a climactic meeting on a balcony. Hosted by Rossi Morreale, this reality series ran for two seasons and was based on a Dutch series that has since spun off into international versions where singletons around the world must decide if looks really are everything.
#6: “Sexy Beasts” (2021-)
Top 10 Animated Kids Shows With Surprisingly Sexy Characters
A recent addition to the reality show genre, “Sexy Beasts” is truly an amazing concept. Contestants seeking their perfect match meet a trio of potential suitors, all while sporting prosthetic makeup disguising them as animals and other kinds of creatures. As anything from a dolphin to a demon, participants go on dates, get to know each other and then have to decide which creature they want to reveal themselves to. Based on a UK program of the same name, the series is fun, silly and doesn’t attempt to take itself too seriously, while also proving that when it comes to dating, personality can be everything.
#5: “Catfish: The TV Show” (2012-)
Top 10 Insane Catfish Meltdowns
Spun off from the documentary that took Sundance by storm in 2010, MTV’s “Catfish” is an investigation series made for the digital age. Hosted by Nev Schulman and Kamie Crawford, the pair become social media detectives attempting to find the truth behind “fishy” online relationships. Every episode features a climactic moment where the true identity of the catfishes are revealed, and sometimes the results are devastating. Before the 2020 pandemic, the show took their investigations on the road, traveling across America, but have since pivoted to remote work. In a world where looks can be deceiving, “Catfish” is peeling back the curtain and making the internet a more just place, one case at a time.
#4: “The Circle” (2020-)
Top 10 Competition Show Scandals That Got Contestants Kicked Off
Following in the footsteps of its British predecessor, the American version of “The Circle” became an instant hit stateside when it premiered on Netflix in 2020. One part competition and one part experiment, selected participants compete to win a cash prize of $100,000. Each isolated in an apartment, contestants only interact with each other via a social media app, and can assume any identity they want. Flirting, lying and manipulation are all different tactics cast members use
in order to win. As of 2021, the series has completed two seasons and been picked up for a third, which means more lies, deceit and strategy is on the way.
#3: “The Masked Singer” (2019-)
Top 10 Craziest Rules The Masked Singer Contestants Must Follow
What began as a hit series in South Korea has become a worldwide success. The American version of “The Masked Singer” debuted in 2019, with the reality competition pitting celebrities in costumes against each other in a sing-off. After each performance, a panel of judges, including Ken Jeong, Nicole Scherzinger, Jenny McCarthy and Robin Thicke, attempt to guess who the singers are, based on their voice and a fixed amount of clues.The series has proven so successful that it even inspired a spinoff, “The Masked Dancer” which premiered in 2020. Celebrities from Bobby Brown to Raven Symone to Dr. Drew Pinsky have showcased their vocals on “The Masked Singer,” making every reveal a jaw-dropping moment guaranteed to shock.
#2: “Married at First Sight” (2014-)
Top 10 Best Married at First Sight U.S. Moments
When it comes to reality television the stakes are already high but “Married at First Sight” takes it to another level. The series unites hopeless romantic couples into legally binding arranged marriages coordinated by a trio of experts. The couples don’t meet until the moment they are walking down the aisle in front of their close friends and family. After a wedding, a honeymoon and moving in together, the newlyweds have just 8 weeks to decide if they want to stay married or get divorced. As of 2021, 13 out of 44 couples have remained happily married while the others have chosen to go their separate ways. Emotions are always high and the drama is plentiful on this series where marriage comes first and then… hopefully, love.
#1: “Love Is Blind” (2020-)
Top 10 Cringiest Love is Blind Season 2 Moments
Hosted by real-life married couple Nick and Vanessa Lachey, “Love is Blind” became a smash hit after debuting on Netflix in 2020. In the series, singletons have the opportunity to meet, flirt, fall in love and get engaged all before actually seeing each other. Despite their anonymity, the experiment still possesses a competitive nature, as sometimes multiple prospective love interests vie for the same person. The end of the season culminates in wedding ceremonies, where the contestants must decide whether to say “I do” or say “goodbye.” Having brought together one of the strongest couples in reality television history, Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed, this show proves that sometimes love can happen at first sight.
