Top 10 Dumbest Mistakes on Reality Shows
#10: Tyson Votes Himself Out
“Survivor” (2000-) Russell Hantz really lives up to his reputation as a villain in this classic “Survivor” blindside. In this barnburner of an episode, Russell manages to convince Tyson Apostol to vote out Parvati Shallow, Russell’s own ally, at the next Tribal Council. Playing his Hidden Immunity Idol, Russell negates the votes against his ally Parvati and effectively splits his tribe’s votes, sending Tyson home instead. Despite “Survivor” being a game involving brutal strategy and betrayal, it’s clear that Tyson does not see this one coming. He sums it up best in his post vote-out confessional.
#9: Sandro Demands Feedback
“Project Runway” (2004–) The runway has seen its fair share of feisty designers, but few have ever confronted the judges like season 12’s Sandro Masmanidi. Despite being deemed safe in the season’s fourth episode, Sandro demands that the judges give him feedback on his design. However, he probably should have left well enough alone. While his design isn’t the worst that week, it doesn’t impress fashion designer and judge Zac Posen at all. Not only does the move sink his standing with the judges, but his fellow designers take him to task for his actions as well. The whole ordeal leads to Sandro walking off the show.
#8: Topaz’s Jury Vote
“Big Brother Canada” (2013–) The season one finale of the Canadian “Big Brother” series features one of the franchise’s biggest mistakes ever. Juror Topaz Brady stops the final voting result when she insists that her vote has somehow been switched. She meant to vote for finalist Gary Levy to win the show. Even the show’s host, consummate professional Arisa Cox, isn’t sure how to handle the situation at first. After a replay of the voting process, though, it’s clear Topaz mixed up her votes all by herself. In a twist of cruel irony, it’s the one vote her nemesis, finalist Jillian MacLaughlin, needs to win the season. It’s a mistake that makes the ending of the season very awkward for all involved.
#7: Elimination Blunder
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“Dancing with the Stars” (2005–) Tyra Banks is no stranger to hosting reality TV, but the live taping of “Dancing with the Stars” put her in hot water during the juggernaut show’s twenty-ninth season. During week four’s elimination episode, where Banks is reading off the names of the couples who have been saved by the public vote, she announces there has bee n a mistake. “Cheer” star Monica Aldama and dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, who have already been declared safe, are actually in the bottom two. Although it’s unclear whose mistake it is, the host is forced to save face. Repeating that they’re on “live TV,” she has to close the show in a mad rush, making the sloppy blunder stand out all the more.
#6: Ghosts of Hell’s Kitchen Past
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“Hell’s Kitchen” (2005–) This mistake from season 6 of Chef Gordon Ramsay’s cooking competition show was actually made by the editors. In the eighth episode, Ramsay is screaming at contestant Amanda Davenport over undercooked fish in his own clever and vulgar way. In the background, though, eagle-eyed viewers may notice that a ghost from previous episodes is cooking alongside the red team. Chef Tek Moore can clearly be seen in the red kitchen despite being eliminated three episodes before. Most of the footage featuring Tek has since been removed from the episode since its appearance on streaming services. However, at least one shot featuring Tek still appears to have been missed!
#5: Katie? Karen?
“The Bachelor” (2002–) The rose ceremony has been a surefire source of unintentional humor over the years, but if we had to pick the most embarrassing gaffe, we have to go with this one. Season 5 bachelor Jesse Palmer calmly gives Katie Gehart a rose, all the while realizing he’s just said the wrong woman’s name. Jesse actually meant to call Karen Lindsay forward. After clearing things up with host Chris Harrison, Jesse is able to compose himself and manage to be as gentlemanly as he can be at the moment. He even valiantly offers Katie a chance to stay in the competition to compensate. But still, what a goof.
#4: Marcellas Doesn’t Use the Veto
“Big Brother” (2000–) One wrong move can sink a “Big Brother” HouseGuest’s entire game. Every week, contestants in the “Big Brother” house have the chance to save themselves from elimination with the Power of Veto. Well, that’s the intended use anyway. However, Marcellas Reynolds, after delivering a dramatic speech about loyalty, opts not to use his Veto. Thinking his fellow competitors would save him, Marcellas is shocked when he’s evicted. Even the normally buttoned-up host, Julie Chen Moonves, has a message for him on the way out. Luckily, Marcellas seems at peace with his time in the house. Still, if this mistake makes one thing clear, it’s that if you have the chance to save yourself, do it.
#3: Erik Gives Up Immunity
“Survivor” (2000–) Guess Erik’s not a “Big Brother” watcher. In this all-time dumb move for the series, naive ice cream scooper Erik Reichenbach gets masterfully played by his four female tribemates. In a misguided attempt to earn their trust, he gives up the immunity necklace that is his only safety from the vote. They then took the only respectable course of action, here: they put him out of his misery and voted him out of the game. All in all, it is a rare show of mercy from the alliance that came to be known as the Black Widow Brigade.
#2: Hottie’s Chicken
“Flavor of Love” (2006-08) Look, chicken can be hard to figure out for an inexperienced cook, but what contestant Schatar “Hottie” Taylor serves Flavor Flav in this episode is a crime against nature. Her competitors watch in horror as she frankensteins her dish together, stuffing it with random vegetables and garnishing it with what looks like grape jelly and marshmallows. To add insult to salmonella, she microwaves the entire bird instead of frying it. You know, the healthier option. Then, she presents the chicken raw. Hottie, of course, is completely unaware of her many faux pas. Or, maybe she just let herself look dumb in service of a classic reality TV moment. In that case, she’s a hero.
#1: Wrong Winner
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“Australia’s Next Top Model” (2005–16) The “Top Model” finale is always a nail-biter. That’s doubly true in Australia, where the winner is decided by the public and announced after a live televote. And nothing can possibly go wrong during a live broadcast, right? During the season six finale, things were going as planned until host Sarah Murdoch announced Kelsey Martinovich as the season’s winner. Kelsey, understandably excited, was in the middle of her thank-you speech when a horrified and embarrassed Sarah interrupted to tell the audience there was a mistake. In fact, the winner was the other finalist, Amanda Ware. Although some accused the mix-up of being a stunt, it really does seem like a massive error that put a damper on what should have been a happy occasion.
