It’s hard to believe that 2024 is almost over. This year has been a great one for many reasons. One of the biggest highlights of this year has been reality television. From January until now, dozens of addicting reality shows have graced our screens.
Many of these shows were additional seasons of series that had already begun. However, 2024 did introduce us to several new amazing reality series. Five of these shows stood out to us in particular. It’s hard to pick a winner, but the Reality Tea Awards 2024 found a winner.
Without further ado, here are the nominees and winner for Reality Tea’s Best New Reality Show of the Year Award for 2024.
Nominee: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was one of the biggest reality television surprises of 2024. After its release on Hulu in September, the series quickly became an Internet sensation. The show follows a group of eight Mormon women who found themselves caught up in a shocking scandal. Season 1 followed the women as they processed the aftermath of the chaos and their relationships with one another.
One of the most captivating things about The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was its uniqueness. It was interesting to see how different the lives of these women were compared to that of the typical American. There was also no shortage of scandalous behavior, which always makes for great reality television! My personal favorite thing from this series, however, was learning about the Utah soda specials! I need to try one ASAP. Hurry up, Season 2!
Nominee: The Anonymous
The Anonymous premiered in August on USA Network and has certainly not disappointed! This brand-new series featured a group of fifteen players in its kick-off season. These individuals met in real life and participated in challenges but also had the opportunity to interact with one another anonymously. While in anonymous mode, the players did their best to conceal their identities so that they could decide who to eliminate from the game. In the end, the winner took home an $80,000 prize.
Many things made The Anonymous such an enjoyable watch. The show featured notable reality television figures, while also including everyday individuals. While it was similar to other competition shows such as The Circle, the combination of real-world and anonymous playing made it a lot of fun to watch. Give us Season 2 ASAP, please!
Nominee: Owning Manhattan
While Netflix is no stranger to real estate shows, the network knew what it was doing with Owning Manhattan. The show’s debut season released its premiere in June and continued throughout the summer. Owning Manhattan starred real estate broker Ryan Serhant and a variety of his agents at one of his Manhattan offices. The show featured many breathtaking Manhattan listings, while also following some drama amongst the agents and Serhant.
Owning Manhattan was everything that a real estate show should be. It focused on the properties but it wasn’t all about them. The cast also played a huge part and was entertaining to watch throughout the season. Manhattan truly is the perfect place for a real estate show, as it features some listings unlike any other in the world! Thankfully, the series has already been renewed for a second season.
Nominee: The Summit
The Summit Season 1 premiered at the end of September on CBS and resembles the Australian series of the same name. Over 14 days, 16 individuals faced the challenge of trying to reach the peak of a mountain in the New Zealand Alps. This was no easy task, as the conditions on the mountain were nothing short of brutal. The twist was that each participant carried a backpack containing some of the million-dollar prize. If the group didn’t make it to the summit by the end of the two weeks, then all of the prize money would be lost.
At the end of the journey, three of the participants ended up reaching the summit. One of the things I enjoyed about this series was that the finalists split the money. Two received $250,000, while one received $500,000. The concept for The Summit is unique and not one that has been explored before on reality television. While intense at times, The Summit is certainly worth the watch!
Winner: The Valley
And now for the moment, you’ve all been waiting for, our big winner reveal! The award for the Reality Tea 2024 Best New Reality Show of the Year goes to The Valley! The Valley is the fourth spin-off of the hit Bravo series Vanderpump Rules. Season 1 premiered at the end of March and wrapped up in June. Bravo has already announced that the entire Season 1 cast will return for Season 2.
Season 1 featured notable former Vanderpump Rules cast members, including Jax Taylor and Kristen Doute. Unlike Vanderpump Rules, where the events were often upbeat, The Valley focused more on the realities of home life. I think the one thing that gave The Valley an edge over the other nominees is that we were already familiar with some of the cast members. Season 1 of The Valley was a great watch so it will be exciting to see what Season 2 has in store!
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