RHAP: We Know Reality TV

Bachelor, MTV Challenge and Reality TV Podcasts

The Best TV Shows of the 21st Century

Also available on YouTube.

Grace Leeder is joined by Ariel, Philly and Amanda to break down the New York Times’ Top 100 TV Shows of the 21st Century. This conversation digs into what makes standout reality TV, the place of competition shows like Survivor in critical rankings, and why shows like Mad Men and Game of Thrones capture so much attention. From hilarious rewatch habits to strong takes on forgotten gems and surprising snubs, nothing’s off the table as these TV experts bring their personal experiences and thoughtful critiques to the forefront.

The team unpacks:

A passionate defense of late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and the surprising value of comfort rewatching, especially talk shows and Survivor marathons.

Their take on comedy’s place on this list, spotlighting recent favorites like Succession and the challenges of mixing realities, documentaries, and scripted TV into one ranking.

A guide to hidden gems, including emotional reactions to music documentaries and musings on which small, bold shows deserved more love from critics.

A lively discussion on the snub of Mr. Robot and genre gaps, with pointed observations on the scarcity of animation and the absence of shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender, Legion, or Top Chef from the list.

A breakdown of which reality shows belong, and why Survivor stands as both a genre-definer and a stand-in for an entire era of television, with RuPaul’s Drag Race earning similar praise.

Did the critics get it right by putting The Wire on top, or does Mad Men deserve the crown? Which shows have the biggest claims to a rewatch, and what truly makes a TV series last? Dive in as Grace, Ariel, Philly, and Amanda bring sharp opinions and honest debates to the rankings.