Greatest Reality TV Personalities of All Time: Couples

While we can’t honestly classify most of it as “real,” we admit that we’ve been hopelessly hooked on reality TV for, oh, about a decade and a half now. In honor of the 15th anniversary of Survivor (the show that kick-started the reality TV revolution premiered on May 31, 2000), we’re celebrating our favorite reality TV personalities in eight categories… and letting you pick the winners. Be sure to vote in the poll below — and if we left out your favorite, feel free to submit a write-in vote in the comments. Today’s category: Couples.

Flavor Flav and Brigitte Nielsen, The Surreal Life (Season 3)

Why They Make the Cut: Yes, the thought of the Public Enemy hype man and the Red Sonja actress starting a beautiful friendship was as crazy as their public personas. But there was a genuine affection between the two that was disarmingly charming and made them a pleasure to watch — so much so that they scored their own show, Strange Love. ”I think Flavor Flav is the only one right now who can cut through to her,” he told the camera. “I just want her to be around.”

Best Moment: When the duo cuddled in the Jacuzzi. “When it comes down to you, baby, I got the present right here,” he said. [VH1-inserted doing! noise.] “Oh, I feel it,” she assured him.

— Mandi Bierly

Jeff & Jordan, Big Brother (Season 11 and 13) and The Amazing Race (Season 16)

Why They Make the Cut: A reality TV power couple that appears built to last, Jeff and Jordan are almost scarily stable. Whatever strain being locked in a house or racing around the world places on them, it never exposes obvious fault lines in their relationship. Clearly, they need to host their own couples’ counseling show, stat.

Best Moment: This couple is so comfortable around each other that they’re totally down for discussing their nose hairs in public… and on camera.

— Ethan Alter

Lori Allen and Monte Durham, Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta (Seasons 1-8)

Why They Make the Cut: Though the owner of the Atlanta bridal salon Bridals by Lori and her fashion director, Monte, are best friends, we’ve deemed work spouses eligible for this category. The duo uses their big personalities to keep each other on their toes and the focus on their brides. Lori is always ready to chase a rooster from the hen house if a groom shows up to an appointment, and Monte can’t wait to say, “Jack her up!” when a bride needs to see herself in a veil and jewelry to confirm she’s making the right gown choice.

Best Moment: Any time they share a gasp over a thoughtless comment made by an entourage member, then kindly put that person in his or her place.

— Mandi Bierly

Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica (Seasons 1-3)

Why They Make the Cut:

Who can forget these adorable lovebirds? The MTV reality series gave viewers a candid look at the pop-star couple during their first year of marriage. Because Nick and Jessica never lived together before their nuptials, Newlyweds captured the celebrities having a “they’re just like us” experience of navigating the dynamics of a real relationship, including Nick learning of Jessica’s excessive spending and Jessica dealing with Nick’s OCD-like behavior. And to top it all off, Jessica’s ditzy personality quickly made her America’s favorite blonde, boosting her popularity.

Best Moment: Even if you’ve never watched a single episode of Newlyweds, you’ve seen this clip from the show’s debut in which Jessica asks Nick, “Is this chicken, what I have, or is this fish? I know it’s tuna, but it says ‘Chicken by the Sea.’” Nick can only shake his head at her.

— Chrissy Le Nguyen

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, The Osbournes (Seasons 1-4)

Why They Make the Cut: Ozzy had been the Prince of [bleeped] Darkness for more than 30 years, biting the heads off bats and terrifying parents around the world. But, by the end of The Osbournes’ first season, Ozzy stopped being known for screaming “Crazy Train” and started being known for screaming “SHARON!” It was the first time we realized that reality TV could reveal the nature of celebrity in an entirely new way — and that it had the power to turn an evil metal god into a domestic frump in just a few short episodes.

Best Moment: You know that you’ve uncovered a deep truth about human relationships when it transfers equally well to a pair of gophers.

— Robert Chan