Reality TV Is Officially Cool!

In more than three decades in entertainment journalism (good lighting hides my age well!), I've met hundreds of celebs — in interviews, at award shows and parties... some have even become good friends. So when I tell people about my job, they always want the inside scoop on the stars. Everyone from the waitress at my local seafood stand to CEOs of Fortune 500 companies crave gossip. And the stars they ask about the most? A-list actors? Rock gods? Pop divas? Nope. They all want to know about reality stars. Yup, they get a lot more excited about my attending Countess Luann's wedding and getting tablescape advice from celebrity chefs than they do about my walking the red carpet at the Oscars.

- Dan Wakeford Editor-in-chief

Executive editor Brody Brown (left) and editor in chief Dan Wakeford (right) flank our Reality Stars Of The Year.

Reality stars captivate because they're real — the clue is in the title. They're not acting or performing, and the emotions you see are authentic. Sure, they may be slightly more glamorous and slightly more dramatic (OK, a lot more dramatic), but their raw, relatable humanity is what hooks us, as individual viewers and the culture as a whole.

For years, reality was considered a lesser form of entertainment. Barbara Walters famously told Kim Kardashian in 2011 that she had no talent. More than a decade later, Kim is still here thanks to her charisma, business savvy and yes, talent. She and others like her have had an undeniable cultural impact. So let's just say it: Reality TV is officially cool.