While reality TV can deliver some of the most entertaining and unique experiences for its viewers, it has also created some of the craziest premises that we can't believe made it on air.
We've seen some reality shows push the boundaries of this form of entertainment to varying results ranging from surprise success to outright flop. Let's explore some of the craziest premises that reality TV has tackled below.
I Wanna Marry "Harry"
The short-lived Fox reality series I Wanna Marry "Harry" follows 12 American women who were led to believe that they are competing for the affection of Prince Harry (who was single at that time).
However, little did they know, the "Prince Harry" is actually a bachelor lookalike named Matthew Hicks. While the idea of Harry doing this reality show is unrealistic, the producers somehow managed to gaslight the contestants that it was the real royalty that they were dealing with.
Unfortunately, Fox canceled the series after airing only four episodes. The remaining unaired episodes were streamed online.
Kid Nation
The 2007 reality series Kid Nation saw 40 children attempt to create their own society in an abandoned summer camp with very minimal adult supervision.
However, the results were abysmal as ambulances were called a few times during the 13-episode run and the contestants suffered under poor living conditions.
After the divisive reception it received, CBS decided to cancel the series after one season. However, it has gained cult following in the following years.
Bridalplasty
Bridalplasty follows 12 engaged or already married women who are competing for the wedding of their dreams and their dream plastic surgery procedure. The winner of the weekly challenges would win one plastic surgery procedure from their wishlist.
The husband/fiance will also not be seeing their partner until the final episode where the winning bride reveals her new look on their wedding day.
The series was criticized for its huge embrace of cosmetic surgery and how it pushed the boundaries of medical ethics in a negative fashion. Its viewership also tanked throughout its one-season run.
Who's Your Daddy?
Who's Your Daddy? is a short-lived 2005 reality series where eight men have to convince Myers, who was adopted, that they are her biological father. However, one of the contestants is indeed the real biological father.
If Myers chooses the incorrect biological father, the contestant will win the $100,000 reward. If Myers chooses the correct contestant, she will be declared the winner.
While the series resulted in a grassroots campaign among adoptive parents and protests from national adoption organizations, it is criticized for its hokey and exploitative premise. Fox only aired the pilot episode following its modest viewership and the rest were later aired on Fox Reality Channel.
Buying Naked
The short-lived TLC series Buying Naked has the "simple" premise of real estate agent Jackie Youngblood as she tries to sell houses in clothing-optional communities to nudists.
While the series might be more simple than the other entries in this list, there is no doubt that it is a bizarre concept and, somehow, they managed to produce it and make it on air.
The biggest standout is how the series creatively tried to cover the NSFW parts. However, it only ran for one season after an underwhelming reception.
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