Theholidayseason is about jolliness, enjoying time with family and friends, and celebrations. This also often equates to time off from work and school. After filling bellies with indulgent meals, drinks, and desserts, shopping way too much, and either traveling to visit others or hosting, relaxing in front of theTVis a great way to unwind.
The best types of shows for the holidays includereality shows. They are “turn the brain off,” watch passively types of shows. They don’t require a lot of brain power to figure out complex plot points or recall pertinent details of an ongoing story. It’s bubble gum entertainment, and some reality shows, in particular, are perfect for the holidays.
10’The Great Holiday Baking Show' (2015-)
Hosted by Nia Vardalos, Ian Gomez, Et al.
Adapted from the hugely popular reality competition showThe Great British Bake Off, also known asThe Great British Baking Showand one ofthe best baking shows on streaming right now,The Great Holiday Baking Showfollows the same premise except it’s focused entirely on festive treats. Competitors are home bakers wanting to show off their skills. Each episode consists of three challenges: a signature challenge, a technical bake, and a showstopper. At the end of each episode, one person goes home until a winner is crowned.
The Great Holiday Baking Showprovides wonderful inspiration for dishes to make at the next holiday event, like cream puff characters, meringue holiday wreaths, sandwich cookies, and more. Competitors often share memories from their own childhoods, and incorporate nostalgic recipes and elements into the bakes, making the show sweet in more ways than one.
The Great British Bake-Off
Watch on Netflix
9’Nailed It! Holiday' (2018-)
Hosted by Nicole Byers
If ever there was a baking show designed for people who can’t bake and just want to enjoy a good laugh, this is it.Nailed It!has aired seven seasons to date, plus three special seasons, two of which were holiday-themed ones in 2018 and 2019. The concept behind the show is that amateur bakers are shown an elaborate cake or confectionary item, and they must replicate it to the best of their ability to win. Naturally, the cakes end up looking like people’s post online, poking fun at their failed attempts at recreating everything from Cookie Monster to a simple turtle.
Nicole Byer’s hilarious commentary on the show and with the contestants is a large part of its charm, which is why she earned two Emmy nominations for hosting, making her the first Black woman to receive a nomination in the category. The two holiday editions focused on, of course, holiday themed desserts and included some funny guest judges as well, likeLauren Lapkus,Maya Rudolph,Jillian Bell, andRon Funches.
Nailed It!
8’Love is Blind' (2020-)
Hosted by Nick Lachey, Vanessa Lachey
What better way to spend relaxing time at home during the holidays than to curl up to a totally binge-able show likeLove is Blind? Now with seven seasons under its belt along with a U.K. version (and plenty of other country adaptations), the show has singles meet in pods where they can only talk to one another from behind a wall. If two people build a deep, emotional connection, they can decide to take the leap and get engaged. From there, they finally meet in person, go on vacation, live together back at home, and plan a wedding that they either go through with or not.
The premise might seem ridiculous, but it clearly works because the show has spawned several successful marriages. With that said, there are a lot of unsuccessful relationships as well. This makes for juicy drama throughout each episode andplenty of WTF moments. The show is structured, not surprisingly, to end every episode on a cliffhanger. It’s one of those shows that viewers say “just one more episode” and end up powering through five. So, rather than get stuck in this lack of sleep predicament when there’s work or school the next day, binge freely during the holiday season and let it all digest while sleeping in.
Love Is Blind
7’Sugar Rush Christmas' (2018-2020)
Hosted by Hunter March
Sugar Rush Christmasis a special episode within the baking reality competition showSugar Rush. Two specials are available, including one from 2019 and one from 2020, both with six episodes each. As with the standard show, four professional teams of two people each compete to win the final cash prize. They tackle some of the most popular dessert items - cupcakes, confections, and cakes - putting their own unique spin on each.
Produced by the same company behindTop ChefandNailed It!,Sugar Rush Christmasis a feast for the eyes. Seeing the delicious holiday-themed treats will inspire viewers to try and replicate the same ones at home, or at least steal some ideas. The Christmas episodes also feature notable guest judges, includingTiffani Thiessen, Jordin Sparks, andAbigail Breslin.
Sugar Rush
6’Squid Game: The Challenge' (2023-)
Based on Squid Game by Hwang Dong-hyuk
The actual Korean showSquid Gameis bloody, terrifying, and deeply troubling. But the reality game show version,Squid Game: The Challengeis much lighter, though still thought-provoking in its own way. The show replicates the same process from the series, whereby a record-breaking 456 players compete in a variety of challenges to be the last one standing to win the also record-breaking $4.56 million single cash prize. Every challenge is different, many based on childhood playground games. There are other psychologically manipulative games and tests that occur throughout as well.
A fun study of human nature, kindness, gratitude, and honor, no one’s life is actually at stake in this game show: the worst “deaths” come in the form of a paintball shot to the chest. But there are the same themes tackled in the main show about coming together; leadership, trust, and greed. With the second season ofSquid Gamecoming this holiday season, it’s a good time to watch the reality show in preparation, and seecompetitors fans believe deserve a second chance.
Squid Game: The Challenge
5’Is it Cake?' (2022-)
Hosted by Mikey Day
Everyone has seen those videos online of professional bakers creating cakes that look identical to other inanimate objects, like a turkey, a pair of shoes, a remote control, a flower, even a dartboard. These types of cakes became popular on YouTube and TikTok, and that inspired the show. The premise is simple: contestants make cakes and attempt to trick celebrity judges into thinking they really are the items they look to be and not indulgently sweet and delicious fakes. Fittingly, players win money by identifying real stacks of cash versus ones made of cake.
Enjoy the three seasons to date in preparation for the upcomingIs It Cake?holiday edition, which will be released on June 01, 2025. It features star bakers from previous seasons who made some ofthe bestIs It Cake?creations.
Is It Cake?
4’The Masked Singer' (2019-)
Hosted by Nick Cannon
A fun show for the whole family, celebrities don elaborate costumes onThe Masked Singerand deliver a series of cryptic clues (in a disguised voice) about their identity. Then, they perform songs in front of the live audience and celebrity judging panel, singing with their real voices. The goal is to guess who the masked celebrity is before the person is unmasked. The show is silly, taking the concept of cornyness to new heights. But as it grew and became more popular, the show started attracting bigger and bigger stars. Some celebrities participate simply to do something out of their comfort zones. Some want to face fears or feel vindicated about their singing abilities. Others want to delight a child or grandchild who watches the show at home.
With everyone fromDick Van DyketoSarah Palin, Gladys Knight, andLil Wayneappearing on the show,The Masked Singerhas become a huge phenomenon. While younger kids might not know all the celebrities behind the masks, they’ll have fun guessing anyway. Parents and grandparents, meanwhile, will enjoy listening intently and grabbing a notepad and paper to jot down clues to analyze.
The Masked Singer
3’The Traitors' (2023-)
Hosted by Alan Cumming
With a third season coming in January 2025,The Traitorsis delightful, campy fun. Players enter a lavish estate in Scotland to compete in mental and physical challenges. The catch: a few are secretly named traitors, sending someone home each episode. They meet in secret black capes where they decide who the next victim will be. But they must agree and work together strategically to avoid being caught. In the end, if no traitors are left, the remaining players win and split the prize pot. If even one traitor remains, that person wins the whole thing.
While the first season had a mix of unknown players and celebrities among itscast ofthe best players(and the worst), the focus has shifted in recent seasons to include all celebrity players. These are known names from other reality shows likeBig Brother,Survivor, andThe Real Housewivesfranchise, as well as athletes, even political figures. It’s fun to see how the strategy plays out, how the different personalities clash, and why they end up working together or being the most perceptive (or cunning). Plus,Alan Cumming’s over-the-top personality and equally quirky outfits make the show entertaining.
The Traitors (US)
Watch on Peacock
2’Catfish: The TV Show' (2012-)
Hosted by Nev Schulman, Max Joseph, and Kamie Crawford
With nine seasons to go back on, there are lots of stories and episodes ofCatfish: The TV Showto follow to entertain through the holidays. Developed following the documentaryCatfishabout hostNev Schulman’s own experience falling in love with a woman online who turned out to be someone else,Catfish: The TV Showsees the hosts travel across the U.S. to meet with people who need their help. They (or one of their loved ones) feel like they are conversing with someone online who is not who they claim to be.
Each case is different, sometimes resulting in the person coming clean with the truth, sometimes the individual not being a catfish at all, but dealing with other insecurities. There are more twists and turns then viewers probably think, in some cases more unbelievable than others. But it’s all about healing as the hosts try to help both parties find closure, move on, and become better versions of themselves.Catfish: The TV Showis a solid option to consider forthose who hate the reality show genre. Every episode as a different flavor and where they’re relatively formulaic in nature, every ending is satisfying.
Catfish: The TV Show
1’RuPaul’s Drag Race' (2009-)
Hosted by RuPaul
Be thoroughly entertained watching aspiring drag queens learn the ropes from one of the most well-known drag queens around inRuPaul’s Drag Race. They compete to show their talents while they are mentored and judged through various rounds and challenges.
Winning numerous awards and inspiring spin-offs around the world,RuPaul’s Drag Racehas brought visibility to the drag queen and LGBTQ+ communities and earnedRuPauleight consecutive Emmy Awards. The show has introduced the world to famous drag queens likeBob the Drag Queen, Trixie Mattell, Sasha Velour, andAlyssa Edwards.
