Reality TV has been a guilty pleasure for the past few decades of television. True to form, the genre has sustained all the changes in television structure, from cable to streaming services. Often criticized for their exploitative and untrue nature, reality shows have survived through thick and thin to remain popular among a wide range of audiences.
Everyone seems to watch reality TV a little differently, usually dependent on how much a viewer buys into the show’s premise and the honesty behind the intentions of the actors. One thing seems certain, reality shows aren’t going anywhere and the recent influx of streaming services means that they will only find more viewers looking for cheap thrills. Hulu is renowned for having a diverse selection of shows and movies, and they certainly have their fair share of funny reality TV shows worth jumping into.
8 Jersey Shore
Considered by many television aficionados to be the turning point for “bad reality TV,” Jersey Shore is still going strong to this day, with a new spin-off featuring the older members of the show. There was never much of a premise or story, just some goofy guidos and guidettes partying, hanging out, and getting into silly beef with each other. Watching this show without a loose sense of humor is near impossible, but watching it “ironically” is oddly satisfying.
7 Swamp People
The name says it all. This reality show follows a group of alligator hunters in the deep swamps of the American South as they go about their daily routines. This show is wildly entertaining and quite funny, thanks to the colorful personalities that star in the show, and of course, the ridiculous predicaments that come with hunting gators in the swamp. The show has been going strong for 13 seasons now and shows no signs of slowing down.
6 Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills
Hulu has a lot of the Real Housewives shows, and they are all pretty hilarious. Petty drama and loads of cash make up the storylines on this show, but the actors make it special. Every fan of the program has a favorite on the show, someone they can relate to, and in essence that is what can make reality TV so funny, is how audiences see themselves in the characters and their predicaments without actually having to experience them. The funniest moments are often the craziest and this show has lots of over-the-top crazy moments.
5 Married At First Sight
This show is basically the definition of cringe humor. Funny for all the wrong reasons, Married at First Sight takes prospective partners and makes them get married. The show follows the process from start to finish and explores how relationships work without any prior dating.
The results are…mixed at best, but reality TV fans can’t get enough of the awkward encounters between partners.
4 Catfish: The TV Show
Catfishing is a term used when people who have only met online and not in person are actually being duped by someone else who is using the fake profile for some type of personal gain.
This show is based on a movie of the same name and follows the concept pretty closely, as the hosts explore the real stories behind online accounts. The show can be emotional at times, but pretty humorous as the deception behind some catfishes seem so untrue they are funny.
3 Beyond Scared Straight
Jail reality shows are intense, but when angry delinquents are added into the mix, they tend to be much funnier. Beyond Scared Straight is exactly that, a show that follows a group of angry teenagers with a penchant for small crimes, and throws them into the big house with seasoned criminals and prison inmates.
There are so many hilarious moments that it almost negates the whole point of the program, which is to detract teenagers from a life of crime. This reality show has no business being as funny as it is.
2 American Ninja Warrior
\The American spin-off of the classic Japanese program is every bit as outrageous as its predecessor. This reality show follows various contestants as they compete against one another on a massive and intricate obstacle course full of wild designs meant to test their physical strength.
The show’s contestants are often pretty nutty, but watching them fall into the water after talking about how skilled a ninja they are is just plain funny. This is a great reality show thanks to its lack of plot; viewers can jump in at any time and fully understand what is going on.
1 Divorce Court
This bittersweet reality show is as funny as it is tedious. The name says it all, couples who have had enough of each other take it to the TV and let the judge decide their fate. The absurdity of the show is what makes it so funny, especially when the crazy couples start going at it. It’s all the fun of watching the drama unfold without any of the hassle of experiencing it firsthand.
This reality show isn’t for everyone, but for those who love a good cringey spat, there are few reality shows that can compete against Divorce Court.