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Top 5 reality TV show judges

July 24th, 2012

Let’s face it; we watch reality TV shows for the outrageous judges as much as we do for the amazing/crappy talent. Judges anchor the show with their opinions, wisdom and witty retorts. But with the onslaught of cast changes with recent seasons of American Idol and the X Factor, we’ve decided to comb through the channels and find our top five favourite reality TV show judges.

1. Simon Cowell – American Idol, The X Factor
This man was the reason why we fell in love with American Idol back in 2002 (holy crap, ten years ago!). His mean, but honest, critiques made viewers’ jaws drop and we were entertained in a way that we hadn’t been before. Cowell made people cry, he shattered people’s dreams, he was the classic reality TV villain that we all love and hate. Without Cowell, we would’ve just had Paula Abdul with her crazy enthusiastic “TOUCHDOWN” and Randy Jackson’s “YO DAWG” — neither of which are actual critiques.

2. The cast of The Voice
Four of today’s biggest stars in music, sitting in swivel chairs and battling each other for reality show supremacy? GENIUS. Even the most skeptical of viewers have to admit that Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Cee-Lo Green and Cee-Lo’s cat immediately won us over on this fairly new singing competition show. Only two seasons in, the four (or five, if you include the kitty) have already established a strong sense of comradery and competition that is addictive to watch. Who’s team are you on?

The Voice returns on September 10 on MUCH.

3. Lil Mama – America’s Best Dance Crew
America’s Best Dance Crew boasts some serious talent when it comes to dance crews, but the real star of that show is long-time judge, Lil Mama. She was best-known as a successful rapper, but she’s even better known for her honest critiques – and sometimes tears – on this hit reality show.

4. Ms. Jay – America’s Next Top Model
America’s Next Top Model is not going to be the same without our favourite runway model coach/judge, Ms. Jay. The popular judge has left the show, along with Jay Alexander, but we can’t imagine anyone else helping out these model wannabes in the runway department. He out-walked all of them. In heels.

5. Lady Gaga on that one episode of So You Think You Can Dance
Lady Gaga might not be a permanent judge on any reality TV show (yet), but her stint on an episode of So You Think You Can Dance last year definitely left an impression on everyone. She laugh, she cried and she even threw a dangerously large shoe onstage, praising performance after performance of contestants dancing their way to the grand prize. Sure, Gaga was a little too nice to everyone but what she lacked in Simon Cowell-meanness, she made up in sheer entertainment value. Gaga, please return to another reality show ASAP!

Catch So You Think You Can Dance every Friday at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on MUCH.