10 Reality TV Show Judges Who Give The Best Advice

While watching the Olympics, viewers will inevitably see a judge give a score that they don’t understand or agree with. Those viewers may find themselves asking, “What were they thinking?” But they’ll probably never hear an answer. One of the great things about reality TV competitions is getting to hear the judges explain themselves.

Something else that makes reality TV competitions special is how they go beyond just scoring contestants. Judges get to offer advice, be it harsh, encouraging, angry, or delighted. And as contestants stay in the competition week after week, judges watch them evolve (or not) and adjust their opinions accordingly (or not). It’s the advice they give that keeps viewers coming back.

10 Bruno Tonioli (Dancing With The Stars)

Reality TV judges come in a variety of flavors. Some are pure positivity and they shine a light on everyone. Others are big personalities in their own right and are there to entertain the audience as much as the competitors are. Then there are the experts, the ones with the knowledge and confidence to offer truly worthwhile advice. Bruno Tonioli is an expert judge on Dancing with the Stars.

Some experts are unwaveringly harsh with their critiques and can become villains. Tonioli is among the best because he strikes the balance between advice that is direct and honest without tearing contestants down. His advice is always clear and his integrity is unquestionable.

9 Tim Gunn (Project Runway)

Tim Gunn is an integral part of Project Runway, and although the show features judges, Gunn isn’t technically one of them. However, as mentor to the Project Runway contestants, he does unofficially judge all their work during his signature workroom visits. More importantly, he is a crucial source of advice.

And what advice it is. Tim Gunn may be the best and most trustworthy advice-giver in the history of television. It’s easy to tell that he’s a real teacher. He’s warm, honest, employs humor with a light touch, and truly cares about his charges. He’s not afraid to speak out when he disagrees with the judges or with production. Tim Gunn’s advice carries more weight than that of anyone else on reality TV.

8 Blake Shelton (The Voice)

Of the original four coaches on The Voice — Blake Shelton, CeeLo Green, Adam Levine from Maroon 5, and Christina Aguilera — Shelton wasn’t the biggest star or the one viewers were most excited to see — but it soon became clear he was the best of the bunch.

Shelton is a successful coach because he combines an extremely likable personality with great advice and mentorship. It’s no wonder that, since the show’s debut in 2011, eight of The Voice‘s 20 winners had Shelton for a coach. That’s by far the most wins for any single coach on the show.

7 Tom Colicchio (Top Chef)

In the restaurant business, there are chefs and there are owners. Some chefs never own a restaurant, and some owners have never cooked a meal. But among the greats are the chefs who train in the world’s finest eateries and opened a few of their own. Tom Colicchio is one of these elite.

That’s why Chef Colicchio is so great for Top Chef. To be a chef, perhaps more than any other art form, requires the delicate balance between art and commerce, the cooking of great meals, and the struggle of running a successful business. Colicchio blends his experience in both worlds when he judges Top Chef‘s cooks in a way that makes his advice invaluable.

6 Gordon Ramsay (Hell’s Kitchen)

Some people thrive under so-called “tough love,” and some people don’t. For those who do, Gordon Ramsey may be the ultimate teacher, coach, judge, and, of course, chef. He demonstrates this on his many shows, including Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, and MasterChef.

There’s no tougher audience than Gordon Ramsay, as he’s famous for his temper and insults. And while his combative style may cross the line for many viewers, it must be said that Ramsay also displays great compassion for those in his kitchen. By contrast with his contempt, his praise feels truer and most honest than a lesser teacher’s easily earned platitudes. At his best, Chef Ramsay is deeply inspiring.

5 Judy Sheindlin (Judge Judy)

Court shows have been a staple of reality TV programming for decades. And while Judge Judith Sheindlin is not the original TV judge, she is the most iconic and the best. For 25 years of Judge Judy, Sheindlin was the toughest, sharpest, and most no-nonsense person on television.

When Judge Judy hit the air in 1996, Sheindlin became instantly famous for her quick temper and absolute refusal to tolerate anyone’s guff. Whenever Sheindlin read someone in her courtroom the riot act, which was often, it always had an undercurrent of genuine care. Judge Judy wanted people to be better, and they always could be if they’d only follow her advice.

4 Nigel Lythgoe (So You Think You Can Dance)

Now in his seventies, Nigel Lythgoe, the only permanent judge of every So You Think You Can Dance season, is a respected elder statesman of both reality TV and dance. Lythgoe has danced on and choreographed literally hundreds of television shows over 50 years. So, he’s one of those elite experts who makes for a keen-minded, informed judge.

But it takes more than knowledge and experience to be both a good judge and a good coach; it takes an effective communicator. Lythgoe knows the history of dance and understands modern styles equally, so he knows how to talk to dancers. Combine that with his experience as a reality TV producer, and he’s the perfect judge for SYTYCD.

3 Michelle Visage (RuPaul’s Drag Race)

They may call RuPaul “Mother,” but the queens on RuPaul’s Drag Race have two moms on the show, and the other one is Michelle Visage. RuPaul’s longtime friend and co-host, Visage is the only other permanent host on the show — and her word carries almost as much weight as Mama Ru’s.

Visage is definitely the most maternal figure in the RuPaul’s Drag Race world. While RuPaul himself can sometimes be a bit aloof, Visage is known to maintain personal friendships and mentorships with the dolls, even spending time on the tour buses with them. Her love may be tough, but viewers can tell Visage really cares about her girls.

2 Paul Hollywood (The Great British Baking Show)

When it comes to choosing the best judge on The Great British Baking Show, aka The Great British Bake-Off, it’s really a coin flip between Paul Hollywood and the great Mary Berry. Both are knowledgeable, thoughtful, insightful, tough-but-firm judges. Neither is frivolous and neither is cruel.

In the end, Hollywood wins for the best advice because Berry is ever so slightly more polite while Hollywood is ever so slightly more direct. Berry is more charming and likable, but Hollywood gives contestants the good advice they should listen to most of the time.

1 Simon Cowell (American Idol, The X Factor, America’s Got Talent, etc.)

It’s impossible to imagine that American Idol would have been the unstoppable juggernaut of early-’00s reality TV that it was if not for the presence of Simon Cowell. Love him or hate him, Cowell defined reality TV judging in ways that are still relevant nearly 20 years after launching the international Pop Idol franchise (not to mention the X Factor franchise, the Got Talent franchise, and other UK reality projects).

Known for his signature phrase, “I don’t mean to be rude, but…,” Cowell is famous for his blunt critiques of auditions and contestants. And while some accuse Cowell of being needlessly mean sometimes, the truth is that Cowell’s word is valuable because he always tells competitors what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. And what’s the essence of good advice if not that?

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