40+ MTV Reality Shows We Completely Forgot Existed

Before American Idol and The Voice, there was Making the Band. Yep, that show where Diddy was all like, “I want to put together a band,” and a bunch of hopefuls would come and audition for him. It was three seasons of drama, music, and lots of Diddy-isms. And the final product? Danity Kane.

They were mildly successful, but hey, they had some bops. And guess what? MTV just announced that Making the Band will return! So, get ready for more Diddy-isms and some new potential superstars.

Remember when Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson were the ultimate pop-power couple? MTV thought it was a good idea to capture all their lovey-dovey moments in Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. We got to see the couple argue over everything from housework to canned food.

Let’s be real; the chicken vs. tuna debate was the best thing to come out of that show. It only lasted three seasons, but those few years of televised blissful domesticity couldn’t save their marriage, which ended four years later. But hey, at least we have that timeless tuna moment to cherish forever.

Back in the day, when we thought of Ashlee Simpson, we mostly thought of her as Jessica Simpson’s cooler, younger sis who rocked skinny scarves like nobody’s business. But then, MTV gifted us with The Ashlee Simpson Show, and we finally got to know her as a person.

We saw her recording her first album and navigating the ups and downs of the music industry. It was a wild ride, and we even got that iconic “Pieces of Me” performance on SNL. So, thank you, MTV, for introducing us to the real Ashlee Simpson.

Remember when Travis Barker, the drummer for Blink-182, and his wife, Shanna Moakler, were the coolest couple on the block? They were the kind of neighbors you’d want to invite to your backyard barbecue, and they proved that rock stars could be pretty chill.

Sadly, they’re not together anymore, and we can’t help but wonder if it’s all because of the MTV reality show curse. You know, the one where being on a reality show pretty much guarantees the end of your relationship? It’s like the universe just can’t handle that much coolness in one couple.

Remember when we all fell in love with Ozzy Osbourne and his family on MTV? It was five seasons of pure entertainment, and we got to see a side of Ozzy that we never knew existed.

Plus, let’s be real, watching Kelly Osbourne being an angsty teen was pure gold. It’s been a while, but trust us, it’s worth a rewatch. So, grab some snacks, turn up the volume on “Crazy Train,” and let the Osbournes entertain you once again.

Alright, so there was this show called Rich Girls that followed the lives of Ally Hilfiger (aka Tommy Hilfiger’s daughter) and her bestie Jaime Gleicher (aka the daughter of the guy who started Innovation Luggage).

It was a lot of fancy clothes, exclusive parties, and discussing whether spending $400 on shoes was ethical when you could be saving a life. You know, the kind of deep stuff that really makes you think. But hey, if you’re into watching the lives of the rich and fabulous, this one’s worth checking out.

Yo, do you remember Life of Ryan on MTV? The show put pro skater Ryan Sheckler back on our radars (and, if we’re honest, our crush lists). The show lasted a solid three seasons (like, how?), and we got to watch Ryan do his thing on his skateboard, take care of his little brothers, and flirt with all the ladies.

But the real highlight was Ryan’s deep monologues on life, love, and happiness. The guy was like a modern-day philosopher, dropping truth bombs left and right. Ryan, if you’re reading this, please return to our screens and bless us with your wisdom again.

So, Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro thought it would be a good idea to star in their own reality show on MTV called Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen & Dave. It was a pretty confident title, considering their marriage only lasted for a whopping two years. Oops.

At least they gave us some entertainment while it lasted, right? Also, let’s be real; the drama and chaos that went down on that show were worth tuning in for.

On the hit reality show Punk’d, Ashton Kutcher took the world of pranks and celebrities, smashed them together, and gave us TV gold. The concept was simple: an accomplice would lure their famous friend into a cringe-worthy situation set up by undercover actors.

Be honest with yourself; you weren’t a cool teen in the early aughts if you didn’t know the Justin Timberlake episode by heart. It was classic. So let’s all raise a glass to the OG prankster Ashton Kutcher and his epic show Punk’d.

“Don’t try this at home” became everyone’s favorite catchphrase after watching MTV’s Jackass! Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, and Chris Pontius took stupid stunts to a whole new level with that show.

Somehow, they managed to keep it going for three seasons and even spawned a bunch of movies. After all, who wouldn’t want to watch a bunch of grown men get hit with giant rubber balls or ride a shopping cart down a steep hill? Classic MTV gold.

This reality show was the viewing option for all you surfer babes out there. Fourteen amateur surfers, living together in a house, wearing all the Roxy gear they could get their hands on, and competing for the chance to go pro.

We mean, could you get any more MTV than that? It was a wild ride, with all the surfing drama, friendship goals, and romance you could want. So, let’s all hang ten and give a shout-out to the OG Surf Girls crew.

Dudes, have you ever heard of 8th & Ocean on MTV? It was so bad; it’s like society collectively decided to erase all evidence of it. We mean, you can’t even find a legit video of the show anymore. To no one’s surprise, it was canceled after just one season.

But for that brief moment in time, we got to watch aspiring male and female models live and work in the land of sun, surf, and spray tans — South Beach, Miami, Florida. It’s like America’s Next Top Model meets Jersey Shore. So, if you’re feeling nostalgic for cringe-worthy TV, go give 8th & Ocean a watch… if you can find it.

MTV Cribs, aka the show where we could all pretend we were rich and famous for 30 minutes, was an absolute gem. We got to peek into the pads of some of our favorite stars like 50 Cent and Lil Bow Wow, and it was always a wild ride.

We’re not going to lie; the best part was seeing what kind of snacks they had stocked in their kitchen. It was like playing a game of “What’s in my fridge?” but with celebs.

Laguna Beach was the show we all watched to live vicariously through the rich and fabulous lives of high schoolers in California. From beach parties to Cabo vacations, we saw it all. And the best part?

The drama was so juicy that it led to a spin-off in Los Angeles. Let’s just say these kids had more drama than the Kardashians.

If you were a teen in the mid-2000s, you couldn’t miss The Hills — the iconic reality show that followed Lauren Conrad (LC for short) around Los Angeles as she tried to make it in the fashion industry.

We watched as she went on awkward dates, got into heated arguments with her friends, and landed some seriously enviable internships. The show was such a hit that MTV decided to bring it back with a reboot in 2021, but unfortunately, LC was a no-show. We’re still hoping for a cameo though

MTV decided to make a spin-off of a spin-off (don’t they just love their spin-offs?). The City followed Whitney Port from The Hills as she adapted to life in the big city for two seasons.

It was a really exciting voyage filled with drama, glamour, and much of New York City. Oh, and don’t forget that this program brought us Olivia Palermo, who is unquestionably an icon.

Room Raiders was like a bizarre snatching, spying, and dating mashup. MTV literally barged into your home, snatched you away, and made you watch as a stranger went through all your private belongings.

Let’s be real, some of the things they found were downright cringy. But hey, if you were lucky enough to make it to the end, you might just get to go on a date with your room raider. All in all, it was a wild ride for the eight seasons it lasted.

Bam Margera, the legendary prankster of Jackass, was a force to be reckoned with. He was such a force that he got his own spin-off show in 2003, Viva La Bam, which lasted a staggering five seasons.

The show was all about him pulling pranks on his parents while still living with them, and we have no idea why they put up with it. Seriously, if it were us, he would have been out on his ear after the first episode.

MTV really outdid itself with Tila Tequila’s show. It was like The Bachelor on steroids, with the added twist of Tila being openly bi and inviting both men and women into her mansion to compete for her love.

And let’s not forget, Tila was a MySpace star, so you knew this show would be wild from the get-go.

MTV really knocked the ball out of the park here! A Double Shot at Love featured identical twins Ricki and Vicki competing for the affections of a group of suitors who were down for whatever. The twist?

Both Ricki and Vicki were bi and looking for love, which only added to the chaos. The show was a hot mess from start to finish, but we couldn’t look away.

My Super Sweet 16 was the perfect example of how far some parents would go to spoil their kids rotten. If you thought throwing a simple birthday party was enough, think again!

These bratty teen girls and boys demanded over-the-top celebrations, usually involving a ton of money and extravagant gifts like luxury cars. The show was crazy, but boy, was it entertaining!

Rob Dyrdek, a former professional skater, and Big Black, a huge guy, were the primary characters of Rob & Big. They were always getting into mischief.

You couldn’t help but watch the show every week because it was so fascinating. We saw two brothers who appeared to be living life to the fullest.

Yo, have you ever found yourself scrolling on the internet, stumbling upon some ridiculous videos, and thinking, “What the heck did I just watch?” Well, Rob Dyrdek took that to a whole new level with his show, Ridiculousness.

He’s been bringing us the most bizarre, insane, and laugh-out-loud videos from the internet for over 13 seasons, and let’s be real, we can’t get enough. You’ve got that right — this show is still running!

Ah, Next. The dating show where finding love was about as rare as finding a parking spot in New York City. One by one, the suitors would strut off the bus and try to win over the bachelor or bachelorette’s heart.

But let’s be real; it was more about who could come up with the most cringe-worthy pickup line. And if things weren’t going well, all you had to do was yell “next” and onto the next one! It was like today’s dating apps but with much more real-life rejection.

Plain Jane was basically MTV’s version of Cinderella — if Cinderella wore jeans and a t-shirt instead of glass slippers. Hosted by the fabulous Louise Roe, it was a show about taking a regular ol’ Jane and turning her into a confident queen with a fierce new wardrobe.

After all, who doesn’t love a good makeover montage? Unfortunately, we didn’t like it enough because it was canceled after its move from MTV.

If you were cruising around town in a total clunker, you had one goal and one goal only: get on Pimp My Ride. On this show, a team of car geniuses, including mechanics and customizers, went all out to give one lucky person the ride of their dreams.

And when we say all out, we mean ALL out — nothing was too extra or over the top for this show. This show was the ultimate wild ride (because of all the crazy cars).

When Jersey Shore first hit our screens in 2009, we were all introduced to the wild and wacky world of Snooki and The Situation. These self-proclaimed guidos and guidettes partied their way into our hearts, and before we knew it, we were all fist-pumping like we were at Karma.

The show’s still going strong today with the Jersey Shore Family Reunion, and we’re still just as obsessed as we were back in the day.

If you thought Snooki and JWoww were done causing trouble after Jersey Shore, you thought wrong. In 2012, the dynamic duo got their own show aptly named Snooki & JWoww.

The series documented their daily shenanigans as they lived their best lives in New Jersey. The show was so good it lasted for four seasons!

Remember MTV’s iconic show, Road Rules? They basically tossed six good-looking folks into an RV and sent them on a wild adventure through a selected region.

The catch? They had to compete for some serious dough along the way. It was like The Real World mixed with The Amazing Race; man, it was freaking awesome.

TRL was THE show to watch after school back in the day. It counted down the hottest music videos of the day and had the coolest hosts like Carson Daly and Vanessa Minnilo.

Plus, they even had some of the biggest artists of the time stop by and join in on the fun. We all knew that you were definitely at school if you didn’t catch the show!

Have you seen the drama that goes down on Teen Mom? Well, it all began with 16 and Pregnant. The show tracked the lives of a bunch of young girls from all over America who suddenly found themselves with a bun in the oven.

Each girl had her own story, and things could get pretty heated. It was pretty controversial when it first aired, but boy, did it make for some juicy TV. It has since spawned a whole bunch of spin-offs and turned the moms into bona fide celebrities.

MTV was like, “Oh, you like Guy Code? Well, let’s give you Girl Code, too!” It was like a whole guidebook on everything girly, from dealing with haters to keeping your eyebrows on fleek.

Comedians and cool chicks gave their two cents on all of it, and it was some hilarious and sometimes questionable advice.

True Life was the OG show that let us peek into the crazy lives of people and subcultures we never knew existed. From couch eaters to laundry detergent drinkers, this series gave us an exclusive look into our fellow humans’ bizarre habits and hobbies.

It lasted a whopping 22 seasons, so you know it was good. And let’s be honest; we enjoyed every one of those crazy seasons!

Made may have been the most wholesome show on MTV! Each episode followed a teenager who had a dream they wanted to achieve, like being a ballerina or a rapper. Then, get this — they paired them up with a Made coach who was an expert in that field.

So, if you wanted to be a surfer, you’d get a coach who could teach you to hang ten. It was like the Karate Kid, but for real-life dreams.

Did you catch Lindsay Lohan’s Beach Club? Yeah, we know it wasn’t technically a reality show, but let’s be real here; the show followed the lives of many employees at Lohan’s Beach Club in Greece.

It was super juicy, and we loved every minute of the drama. It’s too bad it got the boot after only one season, but we’ll always have the memories.

So, have you ever been stuck with a bad BF or GF that your parents totally hated? Well, that’s where Parental Control comes in. The show would bring in a few potential new baes for the teen.

The parents would watch them all go on dates with their child’s current boo. It was like a hot mess of cringe and drama, but we couldn’t stop watching!

MTV Unplugged is like a breath of fresh air for music lovers. The show strips down songs to their acoustic core and gives us a chance to hear our favorite artists in a new light.

It’s been around for ages and has hosted some of the biggest names in the industry, like Paul McCartney and Mariah Carey. Plus, who doesn’t love an intimate concert vibe?

Get ready to pledge and party because Sorority Life was the ultimate show for those obsessed with Greek life. MTV followed six lucky ladies as they went through the thrilling process of rushing, pledging, and being initiated into sororities.

Let’s not forget that epic Michelle Branch tune played during the intro — it was the perfect soundtrack for this wild college ride.

Yeah, so Date My Mom, a dating program created by MTV, was somewhat unconventional. The foundation? After going on dates with three different parents, a guy or girl would have to decide which one to take out on a formal date.

Although it was a peculiar idea, it did make for some intriguing television. Like many other dating shows, it just took an uncomfortable situation and heightened it to new levels, don’t you think?

When MTV was all about the music, they took a little detour with Remote Control, a game show about TV-related trivia. This show ran from 1987 to 1990 and was the first non-music show on the network.

You could say this trailblazer show paved the way for all the wacky reality shows we know and love today.

Let us tell you about MTV’s short-lived reality show, I’m From Rolling Stone. It was as if they took Almost Famous and added a sprinkle of The Apprentice. A group of lucky interns got the chance to spend their summer working at Rolling Stone magazine, and cameras followed them around to document all the drama and hijinks.

Think coffee runs, filing papers, and fetching lunch orders, but make it reality TV. It was like watching your own summer internship, but with better lighting and a cool soundtrack. Unfortunately, the show didn’t quite make it past its 10-episode run, but at least it gave us a glimpse of what it’s like to be a rock & roll intern.

Oh boy, do we have a forgotten gem for you: Tough Enough. This show was a reality competition that aimed to find the next big superstar in the world of professional wrestling. Yup, you heard that right.

Contestants were put through a series of grueling physical challenges and wrestling training sessions, all while living together in a house (because, of course, they were). The competition winners would get contracts with WWE, so they took it seriously.

Get ready for some wild adventures because we’re talking about Wildboyz, the MTV spin-off from the iconic Jackass franchise. While Knoxville went on to Hollywood fame, Steve-O and Chris Pontius continued to push the limits of absurdity and courage with their crazy stunts.

While Wildboyz only lasted four seasons, Steve-O and Pontius brought their animal antics to every Jackass movie. Who needs a zoo when you have these guys?

Alright, now that you’re ready to hear more, let’s talk about Bromance! This MTV gem featured Brody Jenner, who some of you may remember as the stepbrother of Kim Kardashian and son of Caitlyn Jenner. But don’t let his celebrity status fool you because, on this show, he was just a regular bro looking for a new BFF.

The show only lasted one season, but it was full of bromantic moments and brotastic phrases like “bromance is in the air.” It was the ultimate bro-down, bro-out, bro-mazing experience.

Okay, listen up, folks, because we’re about to dive into a show that aired so recently, you might still be feeling the aftershocks. It’s called How Far Is Tattoo Far? And if you’re wondering what the heck that even means, don’t worry. You’re not alone.

This masterpiece of a reality show, which stars none other than our queen Nicole Polizzi, is all about tattoos. But not just any tattoos. We’re talking about tattoos people get without knowing what they will be beforehand. Yes, you read that right. They let their friends or family members pick out their inks, and they have no say in the matter until it’s too late.