Like it or not, reality shows were must-see TV this year, offering a much<\/i>-needed<\/i> distraction from the real world. Scandals involving breakups, fighting among friends and erratic behavior were among the highlights, but so were touching moments on shows known for having a lot less drama. If anything, series like such as \u201cLove Island USA,\u201d \u201cDancing With the Stars\u201d and \u201cMormon Wives\u201d proved that Americans can <\/i>come together, as long as it involves a little bit of competition or people speaking their truths \u2014 with a Barbie.<\/p>\n Our picks for this year\u2019s best in arts and entertainment.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n Garcelle Beauvais, left, Sutton Stracke and Kyle Richards during \u201cThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hills\u201d Season 14 reunion.<\/p>\n (Nicole Weingart \/ Bravo)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n Actress and producer Garcelle Beauvais<\/a> made a dramatic exit from the series after six seasons. As Season 14\u2019s three-part reunion neared its conclusion, host Andy Cohen tried to wrangle the women to pose for a customary cast photo, but Beauvais wanted no part of it, muttering, \u201cI\u2019m out \u2026 nope, I\u2019m not doing it,\u201d while walking off stage in her bejeweled gown. She shared more of her frustrations about the women in her dressing room. (\u201cI can\u2019t be friends with people like that; I don\u2019t trust them. And they obviously don\u2019t like me. \u2026 I\u2019m done.\u201d) It effectively marked her departure from the series. Her fallout with the ladies, particularly her former BFF Sutton Stracke, has already been a talking point in the current season. \u2014 Yvonne Villarreal<\/i><\/p>\n Liam Payne in Netflix\u2019s \u201cBuilding The Band,\u201d which was released after his death in 2024.<\/p>\n (Netflix)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n The death of One Direction star Liam Payne<\/a> shocked and saddened fans across the world in 2024, but the singer and songwriter\u2019s love of music is now immortalized on screen. \u201cBuilding the Band\u201d is a Netflix reality competition series that followed singers who formed bands and worked with veteran musicians, including Payne, Nicole Scherzinger,<\/a> Kelly Rowland and Backstreet Boys alum AJ McLean, who hosted. The series wrapped filming just months before Payne died, and when it aired in July, it opened with a dedication to Payne. \u201cThrough his presence, we see his deep love for music and his unwavering commitment to helping others find their voice,\u201d McLean said in the introduction. Payne mentored musicians in the competition, offering moving encouragement and sharp advice. In a dedication closing out the final episode, a clip from downtime during shooting showed Payne singing and dancing<\/a> along to One Direction\u2019s \u201cWhat Makes You Beautiful.\u201d He jumped down from the stage where he and the judges sat and joined the crowd, laughing and singing with the audience. \u201cThat was so fun,\u201d he said as he returned to his seat. It\u2019s a truly touching moment, illustrating his warm and energetic spirit. \u2014 Kaitlyn Huamani<\/i><\/p>\n Chris Seeley and Huda Mustafa in \u201cLove Island USA.\u201d<\/p>\n (Ben Symons \/ Peacock)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n Thanks to my friends, I became \u201cLove Island\u201d<\/a>-pilled this year. While the \u201cMommy? Mamacita\u201d conversation, where Huda Mustafa revealed that she was a mom to a confused Nic, was the meme of the summer, it was Huda\u2019s crash-outs \u2014 plural \u2014 that provided ongoing fodder for our group chat. Which was the most iconic? Was it when a trucker-hat-wearing Huda started bawling after Amaya<\/a> kissed beau Jeremiah during a game? (That\u2019s our avatar.) What about when new islander Iris went on a date with Jeremiah, and after she recounted it, Huda bitterly responded that their beach get-together was her \u201cdream date\u201d? Perhaps it was when Huda\u2019s new beau Chris abandoned her at their weird grotto dinner date after their breakup in the finale. But for real, we hope Huda has access to a good therapist and finds someone who will take her on that beach dream date. \u2014 Vanessa Franko<\/i><\/p>\n Kacie and Patrick\u2019s breakup happened shortly after they saw each other for the first time. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n For the first time, no couples said \u201cI do\u201d<\/a> on Netflix\u2019s reality dating show, but it\u2019s the journey to the altar that\u2019s the most compelling part of this series. Conversations about class hit their peak in the Denver-set season, as couples such as Jordan Keltner, a service manager and single father, and \u201cSparkle\u201d Megan Walerius, an entrepreneur who discussed her wealth often<\/i>, ultimately decided to call it quits before ever walking down the aisle because of the disparities in their lifestyles. For Anton Yarosh and Ali Lima, work and lifestyle were also among the reasons they split. Anton was referred to as just a \u201ctruck driver,\u201d and Ali didn\u2019t hide her desire to be taken care of, which included being able to continue her Botox injections if she quit her nursing job to go back to school. But the most interesting discussions centered on race, especially when it came to Patrick Suzuki<\/a>, an Asian American contestant, who gradually opened up about his insecurities about his race with Anna Yuan, who is also Asian, and Kacie McIntosh, to whom he proposed. But the most devastating moment came when Kacie called off the engagement before the group trip to Mexico, despite her assurances that it had nothing to do with Patrick\u2019s race or looks. It was a confusing moment for Patrick and<\/i> viewers, but his candor and decision to wear his heart on his sleeve made him more sympathetic. \u2014 Maira Garcia<\/i><\/p>\n Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Mindy Kaling in Season 1 of \u201cWith Love, Meghan.\u201d<\/p>\n (Justin Coit \/ Netflix)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n While carefully making star-shaped cucumber sandwiches for an imaginary children\u2019s party for her Netflix lifestyle show, the former \u201cSuits\u201d star made sure to remind her friend and guest Mindy Kaling (and us, for that matter) that she has a new-ish last name. The exchange arrived in Season1, Episode 2, as Meghan detailed how she grew up as an average American latchkey kid who ate a lot of fast food. <\/p>\n \u201cUh, I don\u2019t think anyone in the world knows that Meghan Markle has eaten Jack in the Box and loves it,\u201d Kaling quipped. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s so funny, too, that you keep saying \u2018Meghan Markle.\u2019 You know I\u2019m Sussex now,\u201d the duchess replied. The correction is met with a brief pause from Kaling, whose real-time processing felt tailor-made to be dubbed with \u201cthe woman was too stunned to speak\u201d viral TikTok audio. <\/p>\n Meghan goes on to explain the importance of sharing a last name with her children. \u201cWell, now I know, and I love it,\u201d Kaling responded. I\u2019m not a hate-watcher of the show or its star \u2014 I, too, wish to moonlight as a domestic doyenne. But I remain fascinated with how most things related to Meghan become ammunition. The clip quickly caused a stir on social media and prompted more debate on the complexities surrounding her family\u2019s last name now that they are outside the royal structure. Meanwhile, I\u2019m still stuck on the use of \u201cflower sprinkles\u201d as a garnish for scrambled eggs. \u2014 Y.V.<\/i><\/p>\n In Season 3 of \u201cThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,\u201d the women gathered to air out their issues.<\/p>\n (Fred Hayes \/ Disney)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n MomTok<\/a> survived another year! The third season of Hulu\u2019s \u201cThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,\u201d which follows Utah-based social media influencers <\/a>with varying degrees of faith, was not short on dramatic moments. There were heated confrontations, stunning accusations and even lie detector tests, but one of the season\u2019s best moments came via a reconciliation effort. Whitney Leavitt (of newfound \u201cDancing With the Stars\u201d<\/a> fame) and Mayci Neeley gathered the group together so they could air out their issues and \u201ctake accountability,\u201d a phrase that\u2019s said ad nauseum on the show. The assembly was an organized affair, with each woman snapping a glowstick around their neck after they\u2019ve \u201cspoken their truth\u201d and a Barbie named Eve, who acted as the \u201ctalking stick,\u201d was passed around to avoid cross talk. While the concept of the gathering was ridiculous, it gave viewers some juicy moments and underscored what makes this show so good: These are young women dealing with very complex issues and being incredibly forthcoming about it all, even if their conflict resolution resembles that of \u201cMean Girls\u201d<\/a> \u2014 it\u2019s a parallel they lovingly acknowledge. \u2014 K.H.<\/i><\/p>\n Kirk Cousins, center, with sons Cooper and Turner Cousins.<\/p>\n (Netflix)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n The inside baseball, or in this case, football, makes this Netflix series a fascinating watch for NFL fans, but pulling back the curtain on the gridiron gods\u2019 humanity is where it shines. Nobody is more relatable than book-loving Kohl\u2019s shopper Kirk Cousins, who\u2019s back for a second season<\/a> and on a new team waxing poetic about how Tom Petty\u2019s \u201cI Won\u2019t Back Down\u201d fueled his comeback win for the Falcons. During a practice, Cousins explains that Celine Dion<\/a> provided the soundtrack of his youth, promising a coach that \u201cIf you play Celine Dion \u2018I Drove All Night,\u2019 I\u2019ll have the best practice I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d But the pi\u00e8ce de r\u00e9sistance is Cousins, his brother and friends in the drive-thru line of a fast food joint joyfully singing Cher\u2019s<\/a> \u201cBelieve\u201d after a win \u2014 the antithesis of the sad Zac Efron meme \u2014 complete with harmonies. Cousins\u2019 young son asks them to stop, but as the quarterback says, \u201cSometimes you just have to sing Cher.\u201d \u2014 V.F.<\/i><\/p>\n Brittany Cartwright, Andy Cohen, Jax Taylor and Jesse Lally during the Season 2 reunion of \u201cThe Valley.\u201d<\/p>\n (Trae Patton \/ Bravo)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n It felt as dark as a true crime doc. Full stop. Sure, toxic drama playing out on reality TV has become the norm in the misguided pursuit of must-see TV, but the darkness that unfolded on the recent season of the \u201cVanderpump Rules<\/a>\u201d spinoff was unrelenting in its intensity. After debuting with the promise of a light and entertaining look at these former hard-partying millennials entering a phase of life focused on growing up, marriage and sometimes parenthood, the whole thing quickly felt more like a horror show. The docusoap\u2019s second season centered on Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright\u2019s turbulent separation, with Taylor\u2019s erratic behavior, accusations of cheating, financial issues and substance abuse culminating in Cartwright moving out of their home and Taylor checking into rehab. And they weren\u2019t the only ones casting a bleak and dysfunctional light on the show. There was feuding between Jesse Lally and Michelle Saniei, with Lally accusing his ex-wife of being a hooker, and Danny Booko\u2019s relationship with alcohol was put in the hot seat. It was the sort of season that gets a reality TV die-hard considering the ethics of watching it all unfold. \u2014 Y.V.<\/i><\/p>\n Tom Sandoval in Season 3 of \u201cThe Traitors.\u201d<\/p>\n (Euan Cherry \/ Peacock)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n I didn\u2019t think the adulterous villain from the OG \u201cVanderpump Rules\u201d was long for Alan Cumming\u2019s campy Scottish castle because everyone remembers \u201cScandoval<\/a>\u201d and what he did to Ariana Madix<\/a>, but I was wrong. We were treated to weeks of entertaining chaos from Sandoval \u2014 once he stopped sweating profusely at the breakfast table. Forever spouting hilariously wrong theories about the Traitors, I started to feel bad for him when his teammates made fun of him as he sang backwards lullabies played by creepy dolls. He was genuinely focused on the mission, and while he was absolutely ridiculous as he crowed about his musical prowess \u2014 and his performances were even more disturbing than the dolls\u2019 \u2014 he really did try to play the game the right way. Ultimately, Sandoval\u2019s \u201cTraitors\u201d turn easily cracks the top five of reality show redemption arcs, which might be the best twist that nobody saw coming. \u2014 V.F.<\/i><\/p>\n Adriana de Moura in the Season 7 reunion of \u201cThe Real Housewives of Miami.\u201d<\/p>\n (Jocelyn Prescod \/ Bravo)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n She\u2019s not even technically part of the main cast, but Adriana de Moura knows eclipsing a bombshell revelation is a surefire way to keep a firm grip on her \u201cfriend of\u201d title. Ordinarily, a reveal like the one that arrived in the show\u2019s Season 7 reunion \u2014 Julia Lemigova\u2019s shocking admission that she slept with De Moura, her former BFF whom she had grown distant from during the season, on a cast trip \u2014 would have singularly powered the fandom\u2019s social media discussion. And it did. But it was quickly overshadowed by one viral soundbite. After Lemigova exposed their alleged affair, De Moura claimed Lemigova had previously cheated on her wife, former tennis pro Martina Navratilova \u2014 or as De Moura said with her whole chest: \u201cShe was cheating on Martina with a Haitian mortician!\u201d<\/a> As if that wasn\u2019t enough to process, it was followed up with the claim that Lemigova \u201cwould take him to the motel, pay for the motel, bring the champagne and had to give him a coffee machine as a gift.\u201d It made TikTok scrolling an LOL wonderland<\/a>. But \u201cHousewives\u201d fans are familiar with De Moura\u2019s comebacks. One of her past viral reunion moments involved penning a letter as her cocktail-loving frenemy\u2019s liver. \u2014 Y.V.<\/i><\/p>\n This is one of the friendliest and gentlest competition shows on television, and it never ceases to surprise me by showing how such wildly creative and humble people \u2014 who regard themselves simply as home bakers \u2014 exist in the world. Series 16 featured another group of endearing contestants, including Nataliia Richardson, a Ukrainian who settled in England with her family just before the war with Russia broke out. In the first episode, Nataliia pays homage to her homeland with a beautiful Ukraine landscape cake that looks more like a surrealist painting than a pastry. The work earned her Star Baker for the week \u2014 a well-deserved honor. It was a reminder that for Ukrainian citizens who\u2019ve had to flee their war-torn country, their hearts are always with their homeland. \u2014 M.G.<\/i><\/p>\n Robert Irwin and Witney Carson in the ballroom during \u201cPrince Night\u201d on \u201cDancing With the Stars.\u201d<\/p>\n (Eric McCandless \/ Disney)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n This was the year Robert Irwin stepped out from the shadow of his father. Steve Irwin wowed audiences as the \u201cCrocodile Hunter,\u201d his TV persona with the notable catchword \u201cCrikey!\u201d and who had an enthusiasm for wildlife, often wrangling or hovering dangerously close to reptiles in his signature khaki shorts and chest-bearing shirts. And while the late TV personality\u2019s son has followed in his father\u2019s footsteps with his interest in wildlife, this year, he also gripped the attention of American TV viewers with his own stealth moves \u2026 on the dance floor. But the 22-year-old\u2019s spin through this year\u2019s season of \u201cDancing With the Stars\u201d<\/a> was more than just the usual fare of flashy costumes and impressive dance moves. He became a certified reality TV heartthrob with his onscreen presence and slick routines with partner Witney Carson, delivering some meme-worthy facial expressions and plenty of moments \u2014 both emotional and thirst trap-adjacent \u2014 to feed TikTok. It was quite the unexpected glow-up. And like his sister Bindi, who competed a decade ago, he took home the mirrorball trophy. Crikey, indeed. \u2014 Y.V.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Best](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/95ff631\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3600x1136+0+32\/resize\/320x101!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbc%2Fe0%2Fa1b8e284429c9b100b3aad416179%2Fbest-of-2025-infobox.jpg)
<\/picture> <\/a> <\/div>\nA dramatic exit on \u2018The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills\u2019<\/h2>\n
![\"Three](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/d32232f\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6f%2Fca%2F1a9c7c23409782539de37f48661a%2Fnup-207104-00316.jpg)
<\/picture>\nLiam Payne\u2019s posthumous appearance on \u2018Building The Band\u2019<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/7a15f13\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3600x2024+0+0\/resize\/320x180!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F08%2F18%2F062d64b2444dbe2e447ce0646e2e%2Fbuilding-the-band-n-s1-e10-01-05-15-03r.jpg)
<\/picture>\nHuda Mustafa\u2019s crash-outs on \u2018Love Island USA\u2019<\/h2>\n
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<\/picture>\nHow race and class were discussed in Season 9 of \u2018Love Is Blind\u2019<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/7ae290b\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3600x2024+0+0\/resize\/320x180!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F54%2F37%2Fe42a26144529845205620c3d1f58%2Flove-is-blind-n-s9-e5-01-04-47-13r.jpg)
<\/picture>\nWhen Meghan explained her surname on \u2018With Love, Meghan\u2019<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/2fb216d\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3600x2400+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc4%2Fa5%2Ffca0f80346579edc0b5070d48ad6%2Fwlm-240607-unit-00291rc.jpg)
<\/picture>\nThe \u2018Mormon Wives\u2019 pass a talking stick and \u2018take accountability\u2019<\/h2>\n
![\"Four](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/63baa03\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x2001+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe6%2F23%2F3265f8144710abb3c47b18756c45%2F177470-0585-v1.jpg)
<\/picture>\nKirk Cousins\u2019 musical stylings in \u2018Quarterback\u2019 Season 2<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/3682478\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1920x1080+0+0\/resize\/320x180!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7b%2Fec%2F023cc40f40a6ad7b524238c291ed%2Fquarterback-s2-e1-00-02-42-07.png)
<\/picture>\nThe entirety of Season 2 of \u2018The Valley\u2019<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/91ca903\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2F85%2F840083d14b3cb78796ee7c324550%2Fnup-207575-01067.JPG)
<\/picture>\nTom Sandoval\u2019s rise from rock bottom on \u2018The Traitors\u2019<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/5b98d2d\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x1996+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F73%2Fc5%2F0cba23324905b3daa7c82359cff8%2Fnup-204704-0433.jpg)
<\/picture>\nAn (alleged) affair to remember on \u2018The Real Housewives of Miami\u2019<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/3db0d5c\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x2001+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2Fbc%2F3344839f4c4aaab125c80612301a%2Fnup-208285-01149.jpg)
<\/picture>\nNataliia\u2019s homage to Ukraine on \u2018Great British Baking Show\u2019<\/h2>\n
Robert Irwin\u2019s moves on \u2018Dancing With the Stars\u2019<\/h2>\n
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