From dramatic rose ceremonies to $5 million competitions, reality shows are dominating television screens. With many shows to choose from, such as “The Bachelor,” “The Voice” and “Beast Games,” more than 80% of American adults watch reality television, immersing themselves in the lives of strangers.

The 29th season of “The Bachelor” debuted on January 27, 2025. This season features Grant Ellis, a 30-year-old day trader from Newark, New Jersey. In the 21st season of “The Bachelorette,” which starred Jenn Tran, Ellis came in fifth. Now, as the leading man, his return has prompted excitement among longtime fans of the show. With its mix of drama, romance and familiar faces, it is no surprise that many Americans have fallen in love with “The Bachelor.”

“I think the concept of ‘The Bachelor’ is absurd yet super entertaining! There’s something fascinating about watching people fall in love, or at least pretend to, under such artificial circumstances. It’s over-the-top, dramatic, and often unrealistic, but that’s what makes it so entertaining,” junior Hima Binu said.

Every new episode of “The Bachelor” hits over 2 million viewers across platforms in its first day. However, some viewers may perceive “The Bachelor” as troublesome. Thirty women are competing for a man’s affections and engagement. The bachelor often shares intimate moments with many of the women there, telling them, “I love you,” throughout the season. At the end, he will choose one and break the hearts of the others.

“It is a weird concept at times, but I think the drama and entertainment makes it hard for people to not watch,” sophomore Bella Bodenhorn said.

While “The Bachelor” continues to captivate viewers with its emotional rollercoasters, it isn’t the only reality show drawing in millions. Music lovers are tuning into the 27th season of the singing show “The Voice,” featuring coaches Michael Bublé, John Legend, Adam Levine and Kelsea Ballerini. This season debuted on February 3, 2025,  and airs on NBC Mondays at 8 p.m., with episodes accessible on Peacock the following day. The show allows people of all different ages, genders and races to be able to go up on stage and be judged on nothing else but their talent, with the season premiere of the show reaching almost 6 million viewers.

“What I love about ‘The Voice’ is the stories that people give before they go on stage, how long it took for them to get there or how hard they pushed themselves. I love following along with their stories and the competitions each person has along the way,” sophomore Kaitlyn Washington said.

While “The Bachelor” and “The Voice” are long-standing television shows with dedicated fan bases and multiple seasons, “Beast Games” is a new extreme competition show, which just released its first season. YouTuber Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson, Tyler Conklin, Sean Klitzner and Mack Hopkins created the 2024 reality competition television show.  “Beast Games,” hosted by Donaldson, follows 1,000 competitors—the largest group of players in a reality show—as they compete for $5 million, which is touted as the biggest cash prize in the history of reality television.

“I only watched ‘Beast Games’ and I really enjoyed it,” social studies teacher Ms. Borgogelli-Ferraro said. “Life can be hard at times and I find reality TV a good escape from reality.”

The idea of the show came from the popular Netflix show “Squid Game,” and all the episodes are available on Amazon Prime Video.

“My dad said ‘Beast Games’ is genius,” sophomore Emma Onorato said.

From romance to talent to high-speed competition, reality television shows draw in millions of viewers. Whether it’s “The Bachelor,” “The Voice” or “Beast Games,” these shows are an escape from reality and must watch for many.