10. Dancing with the Stars
TV's schmaltziest hour of dance and pseudo-fame is usually worth a couple episodes of actual entertainment, but this year, Bristol Palin's relentless survival turned the show into a musical remake of Network. Fans rioted, ratings boomed, dignity died, and viewer outrage felt as flammable as one of Maksim Chmerkovskiy's leisure suits. Though Jennifer Grey won the season, it was Bristol Palin's weak hoofing and dictatorial reign that made for violently good TV.
9. The Real World: Back to New Orleans
The Real World peaked sometime last decade, but it's hard to dislike its rather innocent format. Upon returning to New Orleans for its 24th season, the Bunim-Murray juggernaut cast its most deplorable housemate since Puck: Ryan Leslie, the sometimes-homophobic, oftentimes-emotional, always self-obsessed imp whose appearance is best describe as "crunkcore." Even if you hated to hate him, Back to New Orleans also served up the lovable Jemmye, Knight, and Eric.
8. Real Housewives Reunion Shows
Bravo has a history of unbelievable reunion shows (dating back to Project Runway's first season), yet its Andy Cohen-hosted Real Housewives reunions deserve recognition as their own sleazy entity. Whether Bethenny's eviscerating Jill Zarin or Dina Manzo is physically pushing Andy Cohen, it's a spectacle worthy of parody -- particularly from Saturday Night Live's lady legends.
7. Work of Art: The Next Great Artist
We weren't treated to many new reality shows of note in 2010, but Bravo's Sarah Jessica Parker-produced Work of Art is a standout. It not only made the art world accessible to the average idiot, but it promoted discussion about vagina symbolism, people who masturbate standing up, and anuses. Best of all: That pretentious ass Miles lost hard.
6. Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains
Though Survivor fans balked at Sandra Diaz-Twine's eventual victory, they were treated to an incredible season of machinations, twists, and betrayals on Heroes Vs. Villains. The scrappy Parvati Shallow deserved victory, but the fact that she outlasted most of a formidable cast is satisfactory enough.
5. Be Good Johnny Weir
Some people are born to topline a reality series: Ozzy Osbourne, Kathy Griffin, Tabitha Coffey, and even an Olympic competitor like Johnny Weir. The skating sensation's hilarious Showtime series Be Good Johnny Weir taught us that he's a zealous Russophile, a fabulous quipper, and a guilty-as-charged abuser of ankle-massage machines. So uncomfortable, yet so awesome.
4. Project Runway
We slummed through season six. We perked up in season seven. And in season eight of Project Runway, we clutched our TV screens, headbutted winner Gretchen Jones through the monitor, and vowed to avenge Mondo Guerra's undeserved loss. It was a heavenly rage. After two so-so years on a new network, Lifetime finally gifted us with a well-cast, well-judged year of fashions, fussiness, and the astonishment of Tim Gunn.
3. Jersey Shore
Has an ensemble reality show ever caused as hearty a ruckus as Jersey Shore? We lapped up the Situation's umber abdominals. We adored the Pixar-animated Smartcar known as Snooki. We sympathized with sensible Vinny, hollered along with loose-cannon JWOWW, and reviled the screen-hogging romance between Ronnie and Sammi. Best of all, pretension was totally verboten. For a cast of characters that looked like a pack of Chicken McNuggets, Jersey Shore was surprisingly sumptuous.
2. RuPaul's Drag Race
Not only is RuPaul reality television's finest emcee (Screw you, Emmys!), but his Logo Network competition series is downright ferocious. With a season-two cast of drag queens that included snobbish Raven, feathered Jujubee, and tepid winner Tyra Sanchez, it was hard not to get wrapped up in their tucked-n'-loaded sass. We may not have agreed with the winner, but you must admit that RuPaul's Drag Race is one of the smartest, feistiest reality series of all time. Let's play "Snatch Game"!
1. So You Think You Can Dance
Many fans would argue that So You Think You Can Dance had a defective seventh season: The underwhelming Mia Michaels replaced Mary Murphy, several dancers succumbed to injury, and no breakout star like tWitch or Russell truly emerged. But the essence of So You Think You Can Dance remained intact -- a supportive, eminently entertaining group of dancers came together, formed a rugged camaraderie, and danced hard every single week. Has a reality show ever been so demanding of its contestants? And has it ever had as gracious and wonderful a host as Cat Deeley? We cheered when Lauren bested Kent for the final win, and we roared in approval when Ellen DeGeneres performed a tribute to fallen dancer Alex Wong. In fact, it's fair to say Alex Wong's hip-hop routine (which Ellen reenacted) is the greatest reality moment of the year. Let's relive it and get out of our minds.