Top 10 Reality Shows That Don't Exist Anymore

The nostalgia hits hard with this one. Hosted by Christina Milian and Lance Bass, contestants were shacked up in a 90’s themed mansion where they competed in a series of 90s themed games in order to win… $90,000. With plenty of biker shorts, crop tops, and denim jackets, it was the perfect throwback to the Dot-com era. That being said, sometimes the past should stay in the past, which might be why they pulled the plug after one season. But hey, just like the 90s themselves, it was fun while it lasted.

They say that every tattoo tells a story and in 2005, TLC sought an opportunity to jump on the storytelling potential. Following a group of tattoo artists operating their own shop in the South Beach area of Miami, Florida, the series documented the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. The show also introduced audiences around the world to Katherine von Drachenberg, aka goth icon Kat Von D. Although the series was full of drama, conflict, and even received spinoffs, by season 6, all the ink had dried and the show closed up shop in 2008.

High off the success of the “Real Housewives” franchise, Bravo took the concept and gave it a twist with the “Ladies of London.” Following a group of British and American socialites living in London, the series peeled back the curtain on some of the city's most wealthy residents. Documenting the culture clash and luxurious lifestyles of the cast members peaked a fair amount of audience interest. However, the series didn’t quite have the same staying power as “RH” and the network bid “Cheerio” to the show after only 3 seasons.

Lasting an impressive 9 seasons, “Total Divas” was at one time, unbeatable. With a built-in fan base, the series had a foolproof concept that provided viewers with an up-close and personal peek into the lives of World Wrestling Entertainment’s female roster. The show found their shining stars in The Bella Twins, Brie and Nikki, who would go on to receive their own spinoff, “Total Bellas.” Whether it was inside or outside the ring, “Divas” was a fun and insightful look into the people behind these larger-than-life public personas.

In the early 2000s, there were two things that ruled pop culture: Reality shows and pop music. “Making the Band” was the perfect marriage of the show and centered around the concept of ensembling pop music's next big group. Turning out acts like “O-Town” and “Danity Kane,” the program was an instant success. Helmed by Diddy from season 2 onward, each season captured all the drama that unfolded behind the mic. Unfortunately, as the music industry and television landscape changed, the series couldn’t keep up and ended its run in 2009.

Riding the wave of the “Bachelor” success, this spinoff failed to satisfy the franchise's massive fan base. Inviting back some of the most memorable cast members, the show set up challenges for the players to partake in an effort to win $100,000. However, despite its best efforts, the show only lasted two short seasons. Full of just as much drama as its predecessor, something about the series didn’t quite work. But as fans know with “The Bachelorette” and “Paradise,” there’s plenty of “Bachelor” content to fill the void between seasons.

This series took the word “spoiled” to a whole new level. Following the planning process of wealthy teens' extravagant birthday parties, the MTV reality show became notorious for featuring some of America’s biggest brats. Every single episode featured lots of fights, tears, and sass. No matter how many eye-rolls the show would elicit from viewers, we would keep coming back for more just to see what over-the-top madness was next. This guilty pleasure proved time and time again that turning 16 is not always so sweet.

As one of the top celebrity chefs, Gordon Ramsay has become as well known for his cooking as he has for his fiery temper. In “Kitchen Nightmares,” he used his passion for the culinary arts to save restaurants on the brink of closing. One of the most stomach-turning reality shows ever, the series featured some gross-out shots of food that could make the most seasoned health inspector queasy. With people's livelihoods on the line, Ramsay would go to extreme lengths to help the ill-fated establishments go from failing to thriving. Although he moved onto shows like “Hotel Hell,” “Nightmares” legacy is cemented in the minds of diners across the world.

In the 2000s, it was hard to name a pair of BFFs more iconic than Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. The two socialites were thrust into the limelight when they appeared in their own reality series on Fox. “The Simple Life” followed the dynamic duo as they traveled across America taking on a variety of jobs, such as working in fast food and farming. Inspired by “Green Acres,” the series was a rating success thanks to Hilton and Richie’s carefree but seemingly clueless personas. It ended in 2007 and the pair parted ways to pursue other opportunities, but millennials will always have a soft spot for the two.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Room Raiders” (2003-09)
MTV Show Where Participants Raid Rooms & Choose a Date Based Off What They Find

“Mob Wives” (2011-16)
Follows Women Whose Families Had Connections to the Mob

“Farmer Wants a Wife” (2001-09)
10 Singles Try to Win the Affection of a Farmer

“Joe Millionaire” (2003)
A Bachelor Tries to Win the Affection of a Singleton Under the Guise That He's Rich

“College Hill” (2004-09)
Follows the Unfiltered & Unedited Lives of College Students

One of the biggest reality shows of the 2000s, “The Mole” was also something of a breakthrough. The series took contestants and pitted them against each other to complete and solve a variety of games and puzzles but with a twist. One player among them is a mole and everyone must solve the mystery of who it is. Hosted by Anderson Cooper, the program proved so successful that it received a celebrity spinoff. While “The Mole” in its original form no longer exists, 2021 saw reports that a project with a suspiciously similar premise - currently being called “The Insider” - was in production for Netflix. Here’s hoping that this show, whether it's the "new" Mole, or something else entirely, will be just as addictive as the 2000s one!