The Top 10 Reality Judges of 2010

5. Simon Cowell, American Idol

Did Simon phone it in this season? Certainly. And did he back the marginally talented Lee DeWyze? Yes. But his serrated quips remained the backbone of American Idol, and you can't help but love a curmudgeon who inspires a musical number as gigantic and cheesy as this one.

4. Gail Simmons, Top Chef

We could use more no-nonsense types -- that is, gimmick-free -- judges on reality TV, and Gail Simmons needs no artifice: She's a straight-talking magazine vet who articulates at warp-speed and makes home viewers feel like they've actually tasted the food.

3. Ben Folds, The Sing-Off

The underrated NBC competition benefits from a singer/songwriter judge who combines sympathy and tough love in qualified, never-longwinded commentaries. He picks apart harmonies, joyously indulges his stickler instincts, and never stumbles on a single word.

2. Michael Kors, Project Runway

To be fair, Kors often resorted to "mother of the bride"/"disco (noun)"-type throwaway comments when judging the eighth season of Project Runway. But to be fairer, he also spiced up his barbs magnificently. "She looks like a transvestite flamenco dancer at a funeral," for example? It's telling how great a judge is when he can scare the hell out of contestants using playground insults or just the word "Listen." I'm trembling in my Piperline accessories already.

1. RuPaul, RuPaul's Drag Race

His hard-strutting Logo show may have come in second place on our roundup of the year's best reality TV, but RuPaul is the ne plus ultra when it comes to artful criticism, non-bitchy sass, and wit that could filet Dorothy Parker. It's hard to argue with a head judge who told winning drag queen Tyra Sanchez -- with a certain Douglas MacArthur authority -- "Girl, your pu**y was on fire."

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