Top 5 Reality Shows of 2008

Most Disappointing: Top Design
I waited an eternity for Bravo! to bring back Top Design and what I got was hot reworked mess. Todd Oldham was still there and so was judge Kelly Wearstler but they seemed awfully toned down (especially Kelly’s insane sense of style). The show was predictable and in the end left me completely befuddled as to why I wanted it to come back in the first place.

5. Design Star
I must admit I was a non-believer in this show to start with. Unlike Top Design, which features designers using the maximum resources to create their looks, Star looked like a bunch of TV wannabees. Turns out this was true but it didn’t mean the show wasn’t a hell of a lot more fun. Who can forget Michael crying for his mama or the weekly tension with Tracy? So while I wouldn’t let any of these hacks refinish my house, I’d gladly watch them dance for Vern Yip.

4. Survivor
Loved the spring installment but haven’t been crazy about Gabon. That’s ok though as Survivor still manages to be appointment reality and it shows no signs of letting down. While the category may be laughable, I was very pleased to see Probst take home a well-deserved Emmy for Reality hosting. His transformation over the years from play by play man to color commentator has been fascinating to watch.


3. Project Runway
Two seasons (well technically 1 and 1/3) in one year made Elliot a happy boy. Seeing my favorites Leanne and Christian take home the top honors makes made me even happier. Sure the challenges continued to decline, but the idea of never seeing Tim and Heidi again due to the Bravo!/Lifetime lawsuits, makes me so sad I want to cry on my form’s shoulder.

2. Top Chef
An alarming dip in quality from the new season in NYC prevents Top Chef from taking the top spot for the second year in a row, however the show still tops its Bravo! brethren. Padma and company owned Chicago and it made for the best season yet. Of all the food shows on TV this continues to be the best…as long as they pick up the pace in New York.

1.The Hills
A year ago, I could not have fathomed that The Hills would end up as my number one reality show of 2008. We as a nation, seemed to be suffering from laurenopecia, which is defined as the excessive viewing of bored Lauren looks on TV. Thankfully, the cast (and the writers) got busy and cooked up a gigantic pot of drama that seems to be never ending. For those of us that were so done with the Lauren/Heidi fight we got siblings. For those of us bored with Audrina we got a decent into madness…on a bike driven by JustinBobby. Whitney kept making those amazing facial expressions and even got herself some screen time. Brody was exposed as the consummate TV idiot. Spencer is the devil and still wore the flesh colored beard to prove it. Best of all, Lauren’s best reality friend, Lo booked some serious time by moving in with the girls and giving us plenty of straight truth. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I hope to hell The Hills comes back for another season.

Looking Ahead to 2009: The CityIf The Hills falls by the wayside, we still have hope in The City. Yes, the eventual spin-off is here and thankfully, it’s not centered on Speidi. Whitney is off to NYC with a cast full of models and fashion workers. How will she survive away from Lauren? Will she find enough douche bags in NYC to remind her of home? Which friend that she’s known for two weeks betrays her and causes her to break down? I don’t know but I can’t wait.