15 reality shows you're not watching but should

Bravo’s Summer House has been a staple on the network since its premiere in 2017. In 2023, a spin-off featuring an all-Black cast, Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard, aired, and the surprise of no one was an instant hit. The series was renewed for a second season in July 2023, with filming commencing shortly after. 

Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake is the perfect reality show for someone looking to dip their toe in. It’s good fun, with no drama and pure laughs. It features two former Real Housewives of New York City stars, LuAnn and Sonja, in small town Benton, Illinois, working with the mayor to get some things in order. The great thing about this show is that these Upper East Side girls take on the punches with nothing but smiles. 

Family Karma is one of Bravo’s soap-style reality shows; only this time, instead of a group of women in Beverly Hills, this show features several Indian-American families living in Miami, Florida. Family Karma has aired three seasons on the popular network, and many consider it one of the channel’s best shows. There are secrets, strained relationships, and drama between two fierce in-laws. 

According to Bravo, there’s something about following a group of friends who work together at a restaurant. Southern Hospitality is a new series on Bravo that follows Southern Charm star Leva Bonaparte and her employees at Republic Lounge & Garden and Bourbon and Bubbles Restaurant & Bar in Charleston, South Carolina. The show was a smash hit among fans, leading to the series’ renewal. Drinks go flying, hearts are broken, and someone may even lose their job. Catch up on the first season's drama on Peacock. 

Paris Hilton is no novice to reality television. She’s starred in The Simple Life from 2003-2007, Paris Hilton’s My New BFF from 2008-2009, and now, Paris In Love. The 13-episode first season premiered on Peacock and has since been renewed for a second. Season 1 was all about Paris planning her star-studded wedding, her engagement party, bridal dress shopping, and so much more. She stars alongside her partner, Carter Reum, and her mother and sister, Kathy and Nicky Hilton. 

Love Island is originally a CBS reality series, but has since been picked up by Peacock, and follows young, hot vacationers in a villa that must couple up to win the prize money. Throughout the season, there are twists and turns, new and old contestants, and romantic switcheroos, causing everything to hit the fan. The series originated in the UK, and the UK version is available to stream on Hulu.

The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip is every Real Housewives fan's biggest dream come true. The first season was a combination of the most iconic Housewives from Atlanta, Beverly Hills, New York City, and one from New Jersey. Since then, there have been three iterations, with two more in post-production. Viewers can stream the latest season, which was filmed in Phuket, Thailand, on Peacock. 

For any fan of medical TV shows like Grey's Anatomy or Chicago Fire, this one’s for you. Emergency NYC follows the lives of New York City healthcare professionals working in intense life-or-death situations. Like most reality docuseries reality shows, the cast members, who in this case are travel nurses, transplant surgeons, neurosurgeons, and paramedics, are striving to strike a healthy balance between their work and personal lives.  

Although this show, developed as a spin-off of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, was canceled after one season, it’s definitely worth the stream. Like Vanderpump Rules on Bravo, Kandi & The Gang focuses on the lives of Kandi Burruss’ restaurant employees. There’s drama, feuds, and top-notch shade — exactly what viewers want in a reality TV show.

One of the reasons My Unorthodox Life is so interesting is because of how relatable this show is to those watching. It centers around Julia Haart, a fashion designer leaving behind Orthodox Judaism. This series is real, raw, and emotional, with critics calling it “wildly compelling.”    

This limited series focused on two legendary R&B groups from the ‘90s — SWV and Xscape — as they rehearsed for their reunion tour. Their groups have released iconic tracks like “Weak” and “Understanding,” which debuted at No. 1 and 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1993. The series features reality stars Kandi Burruss from RHOA and Tiny Harris from T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle. 

Sweet Life: Los Angeles is a Max Original that follows a group of young Black creatives in Los Angeles, traveling, working, and adjusting to adulthood as a group of friends. They showcase their successes and failures and take viewers on a personal journey. An engagement, new houses, cars, and many other things make this series that much more enjoyable.

Created by Carlos King, Love & Marriage: Huntsville is must-see TV. It focuses on three Black couples living in Huntsville, Alabama, who were originally striving to relaunch one of their failed business ventures. Additionally, the couples work through their marital woes throughout the seasons, including infidelity, overbearing parents, and salacious rumors. LAMH first premiered in 2019 and has since aired six seasons, becoming one of OWN’s most popular shows. 

Netflix has hit the nail on the head regarding reality shows. They have massive hits like Selling Sunset, The Circle, and Love Is Blind. But don’t forget about Bling Empire. Despite being canceled after three seasons, this group of friends still gave viewers more than we could’ve asked for during their run. Bling Empire and its spin-off, Bling Empire: New York, follows a group of wealthy East and Southeast Asian Americans as they shop, travel, and of course, try to resolve their drama.

Love Match Atlanta was a surprisingly entertaining series. According to the show’s description, it “follows highly sought-after matchmakers” working to “outmaneuver their competitors.” Throughout LMA's eight-episode run, the cast of five fought to find the balance between their personal and professional lives. There's been no word on if this show will receive a second season, but you can stream the first on Peacock.