Dan's Favorite Reality TV Shows of the Past 25 Years - 1990 to 2015

The one that started it all, MTV's groundbreaking series where they put a bunch of people from different backgrounds together in a NYC loft, and watched what happened. Arguably one of the least contrived reality shows of all time in it's first season.

Doubling down on the success of The Real World, MTV gave us Road Rules - introducing challenges, intentional conflict, and rampant hookups.

A mesmerizing series that sucks you in and makes you scream at the TV to "Pick the Second One you idiot!" as new home buyers navigate the confusing world of real estate and select the home of their dreams - from three choices. The early episodes with Suzanne Whang are among my favorites.

I used to get together with my friends EVERY WEEK to watch Survivor together, eat junk food, and enjoy as the clean cut and well fed contestants transformed through the season to leaner, dirtier, and arguably sexier versions of themselves... and eat bugs and balut and other horrible things.

The oft forgotten show where couples were taken to a tropical island, split apart, and thrown into a shark tank of bloodthirsty, sexy singles set on breaking them up permanently.

The show that introduced us to the tragic beauty of Anna Nicole.

ANTM has taught an entire generation to smile with their eyes. Nuff said.

Even though we couldn't figure out why they were famous, watching socialites Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie "slumming it" with regular people was a wonderful guilty pleasure.

Perhaps reinforcing some stereotypes, but still entertaining to watch as five gay men - each specializing in one area - coach a straight guy on grooming and culture.

In those early years, I ended every episode in tears, watching families who had endured heartbreaking situations were given houses built to fit their unique needs by Ty Pennington and his band of hyperactive builders and designers.

Clinton and Stacey work miracles on this show as they find people with shockingly bad style and teach them ways to dress that complement their bodies and elevate their confidence.

The reason I got cable TV and a DVR, so I'd never miss an episode. I learned to sew thanks to the inspiration, and watched it religiously (until it went to Lifetime).

A train wreck of low self esteem, as women compete to transform into beauty pageant contestants via plastic surgery and fitness regimens. Hard to watch but impossible to stop watching.

Hugh Hefner's three girlfriends, Bridget, Holly & Kendra navigating polyamory, pool parties, and photo shoots. I thought I'd hate it, but absolutely fell in love with two of the three girls, watching their spin-offs after they left the mansion.

Jerry Hall - Mick Jagger's ex-wife - coaching and testing a group of American men to decide which would become her kept man. Wonderfully different in a sea of shows about pretty women.

The show that inspired me to cook and blog, taught me to talk about food, and introduced me to celebrity chefs and up and comers and fine dining. After a slow first season, the switch to Padma Lakshmi as the host elevate the show immensely, and her banter with Tom and Gail is wonderful.

Sexy, sexy Bear Gryllis drinking his own pee, eating frogs, holding his breath and falling down hillsides.

A perfect summer diversion in 2007, watching "The Ollys" and the rest of the vapid staff at a tanning salon fight and argue and bicker and occasionally spray a customer with tanning solution.

A tear-jerking show following the dogs and trainers at a massive no-kill shelter that tries to rehabilitate some of the most damaged dogs.

The show that introduced drag to the masses, and has caused an explosion in the number of drag queens and the variety of drag queens in the world... and inspired me to learn a trick or two about beating my face.

Like Survivor, but in the city - watching as a bunch of specialists from various fields apply their knowledge and test their people skills as they try to survive a post disaster, off grid world.

Taxidermy, antique medical equipment, human remains and everything in between are bought and sold at this NYC shop, with the customers arguably more interesting than the things they come to the shop to buy and sell.

A dream job of mine, watching season after season of make-up artists transform models into aliens, animals and accidents keeps me up late every week and inspires my own costumes and makeup.

One of the most antagonistic, arrogant groups of contestants on TV, I can't stop watching every week as tattoo artists apply amazing and awful ink to "human canvasses" who inexplicably agree to be permanently altered.

One of the highest production value and least appreciated reality shows I know of, a bunch of fantasy buffs live on what amounts to a Lord of the Rings set for weeks as they compete to save the kingdom from dark forces, and to be the last champion standing.