Summary

• Reality TV shows cater to a variety of interests, offering exciting competitions, survivalist challenges, and insightful journeys for male viewers.
• From intense physical challenges to strategic competitions, reality TV series provide a range of emotions and experiences for male audiences.
• Shows like Survivor, Special Forces, and Formula 1: Drive To Survive offer unique insights and push viewers to appreciate diverse aspects of reality TV.

Through the last two decades, reality TV has evolved from a specialized, niche genre to a staple of modern TV, and while some series have audiences that skew female, others are clearly meant for male viewers. Captivating audiences with real stakes and complex, interesting stars who are walking through real moments in their lives, reality TV series create their own appeal. For men, the appeal of reality TV can be different than what it tends to be for women.

From the adrenaline rush of a reality TV competition to the strategy of a survivalist game, reality shows can offer an exciting mix of elements that pique the interest of everyone, regardless of gender. While some series are meant to provoke a reaction, others are meant to inspire or bring viewers together. Regardless of what they're meant to do, most reality TV shows invoke emotion from their viewers. Whether it's an emotional series or an innovative one, reality TV shows traditionally bring viewers to new heights or push them to think differently than they did before.

Exploring the best reality TV shows for men has been a fascinating look at what the genre has to offer outside of the Bravo-sphere that interests male viewers. From shows with survivalist competition at the core to docies about top performers in sports or business, there are dozens of options for guys to dive into if they're interested in a dose of reality. The shows that cater to men aren't just about the viewing experience, but what the viewer is able to take from that experience.

With series that can be leisurely, thought-provoking, or a little of both, reality TV shows that cater to a male audience assume that the viewer is looking for something to learn, or finding motivation in the journeys of others. From shows like Chopped and Survivor, which put things into perspective in two very different ways, viewers are able to glean new and exciting insights. Though they're not just for men, many of the reality TV shows that are geared towards men can be enjoyed by everyone.

Throughout the history of modern reality TV, there have been shows that allow viewers into a life or space they're unfamiliar with. While some of the shows geared towards men are more exploratory than others, the series are always eye-opening and hope to provide a deeper understanding of a subject. Some of the best reality TV shows have a higher count of male viewers, and these are only a few of the best.

20 Survivor

46 Seasons Available To Stream

One of the oldest, longest-running reality TV series, Survivor is a series that audiences love. Continuing to captivate viewers for over two decades, Survivor is a competition that invites a group of contestants, called castaways, to live on an island while competing for power, food, and immunity. The castaways are initially split into tribes and compete in challenges against one another before they eventually come together for a grudge match where all of the castaways merge into one tribe to work their way to the end.

While there are some seasons of Survivor that hold up better than others, the joy of watching the series isn’t about the quality of the gameplay. Throughout the years, Survivor has developed a cult following and those who watch the series have their own theories, strategies, and suggestions on how the game should be played. With the ability to follow along online, Survivor is a can’t miss for guys who enjoy strategy games and survivalist content.

19 Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test

2 Seasons Available To Stream

Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test is a newer series that traditionally airs on Fox, but the show also streams on Hulu. The series asks its contestants to put their fate in the hands of top-ranking military officials from all over the world as they put them through complicated, harrowing training exercises. Special Forces pushes its cast of celebrities, athletes, and entertainers to their limits and then asks them to go even further.

While Special Forces has changed its military personnel throughout the two seasons that have aired, the cast are what make the experience fascinating for viewers. Though athletes like Carli Lloyd, Dwight Howard, and Bode Miller weren’t surprising in their success on the show, other celebrities have had incredible success in following the grueling orders from the military trainers. Stars like Bachelor Nation’s Nick Viall & Hannah Brown have succeeded on the show, along with Vanderpump Rules Tom Sandoval, pushing the limits on what audiences expect from reality stars.

18 Formula 1: Drive To Survive

6 Seasons Available To Stream

Following the high-stakes world of Formula 1 drivers, Formula 1: Drive To Survive is available on Netflix. Originally airing in 2019, the series has been the gateway to Formula 1 racing for many, bringing a new appreciation to the sport for a whole new generation. Following the time between races, the preparation, and the teams surrounding drivers, Formula 1: Drive To Survive breathes new life into the racing community.

The series follows the most intimate moments to those surrounding the high-octane world of Formula 1, including drivers like Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo, and Pierre Gasly. The world surrounding F1 is also included in the series, with team owners, F1 management, and reporters from the racing world all participating in the show. With grit and drive, Formula 1: Drive To Survive provides viewers a front seat to the fascinating world of racing.

17 Full Swing

2 Seasons Available To Stream

A collaboration between Netflix and the PGA Tour, Full Swing is a docies that follows the players and tournaments of the PGA Tour. While golf is not always lauded as the most interesting sport to watch, the fascination with the PGA Tour has been a longtime draw for many viewers. With personal access to many of the players who participate on the tour, Full Swing provides access that many wouldn’t have surrounding the sport.

With two seasons available to stream on Netflix, Full Swing takes a look at some of the most incredible golfers playing the game. Featuring Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, and Scottie Scheffler among other PGA Tour golfers, the series is one of the only ways to get premier access to the players. Giving viewers a new depth of understanding of the complicated sport, Full Swing is well worth the watch.

16 Ultimate Beastmaster

3 Seasons Available To Stream

A competition surrounding strength, fortitude, and physical ability, Ultimate Beastmaster pushes the physical limits of its competitors to the test. Similar to other physical reality TV competitions, Ultimate Beastmaster asks its competitors to take on the challenge of an extreme obstacle course known as The Beast. The competitor who wins is known as a Beastmaster, and is invited back to compete again later in the season.

After the preliminary races, the Beastmasters in once again to face each other in a head-to-head competition, working against the other strong competitors in the game. While the premise of the series is simple, the show itself is an incredible display of strength. For those who enjoy watching competitive athletes who are able to show off their skills, Ultimate Beastmaster features competitors at the top of their game.

15 Chef’s Table

9 Seasons Available To Stream

Another Netflix original, Chef’s Table is a fascinating look at the inner workings of some of the most talented chefs in the world. The series, which has spin-offs of its own based around different cuisines, has been able to follow some incredible chefs through their own recollections of their cooking and career. Throughout the seasons, chefs get to take viewers through their journey of falling in love with food, learning their craft, and creating their restaurants.

While Chef’s Table seasons are typically only a few episodes long, the chefs the show are able to profile are usually huge names and open to speaking about their experiences at length. The series allows for the chefs to be able to speak freely, discussing the highs and lows of their careers. With Chef’s Table itself spanning six seasons as well as three spin-offs, Chef’s Table , Chef’s Table BBQ, and Chef’s Table Pizza, there are many journeys to absorb and meals to salivate over.

14 Somebody Feed Phil

7 Seasons Available To Stream

Noted television creator Phil Rosenthal has been part of the creation of some of the funniest sitcoms of all time, but his real love has always been food. Phil, who created Everybody Loves Raymond with Ray Romano, has always celebrated his ion for food in various ways, but his Netflix series takes this to a whole new level. Somebody Feed Phil follows the titular Phil as he eats his way through cities all over the globe.

ed by his friends, family, and local guides that show him the most delicious dishes all over the world, Phil has been to several different cities to try their cuisines. Having visited cities like New Orleans, Bangkok, and Mexico City through the seasons, Phil takes viewers along as he finds hidden gems for delicious dishes in each locale. Somebody Feed Phil has seven seasons for viewers to stream, with each new dish giving the host more reason to continue his journey to find something delicious.

13 American Ninja Warrior

16 Seasons Available To Stream

Another competitive series, American Ninja Warrior pits athletes from all walks of life together, pushing them to their physical limits. The first mainstream competition of its kind, American Ninja Warrior put ninja-style training on the horizon for many competitors. Asking its participants to compete in a timed obstacle course, those who finish or make it the farthest qualify for later rounds of competition.

The obstacle courses are changed from round to round, and competitors sometimes compete head-to-head throughout the course of the season. While American Ninja Warrior is mostly about the competitive side of things, the show does humanize its contestants by sharing their backstories. Viewers get the chance to learn how competitors got into ninja training, what they’re competing for, and more on the show, helping them to pull for their favorite competitors throughout the season of competition.

12 Blown Away

4 Seasons Available To Stream

While Netflix’s Blown Away doesn’t have many seaasons on the platform, the short series is perfect for a binge. Following the incredibly complex world of glass-blowing, the competition series is also educational. Though the practice of glass-blowing is delicate, those who do it are typically ionate about their craft. With judges and challenges that are made to test their artisan skills, the contestants are able to show off their abilities on Blown Away.

Throughout their time on Blown Away, the contestants are competing for the opportunity of a lifetime while working with some of the best mentors in the glass-blowing game. The winner of Blown Away receives a residency at the Corning Museum of Glass, one of the top glass-blowing institutions in the country. With the prize of a lifetime on the line, the competitors on Blown Away are serious about doing their best and winning.

11 Bar Rescue

9 Seasons Available To Stream

Available on Paramount+, Bar Rescue is a series that brings viewers into the mind of one of the leading experts in restaurant management. Jon Taffer, who’s described as the Gordon Ramsay of bars and nightclubs, works each episode to transform a pre-existing bar having difficulties in their business into one that thrives. With a background in nightclub and bar ownership, Jon has the understanding of what it takes to push a business to success.

In his time on Bar Rescue, Jon works with his wife Nicole Taffer, along with a cast of experts that rotate throughout the episodes. Jon is meticulous in his ways, working undercover in the beginning of each episode to diagnose the issues at each bar before moving in to rectify the situation. With nine seasons to binge through of dilapidated bars and lackluster clubs getting transformed into thriving, exciting spots with the perfect touch, Bar Rescue is well worth the watch.