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Winter reality shows 2016 schedule and guide

Winter reality shows 2016 schedule and guide
It's winter, and time to stay inside to watch more reality shows. (Illustration by Shutterstock)
Date published  |  updated | Discussion 0 comments

Here’s your quarterly guide to reality shows and their premiere dates. Over these winter months, some reality TV shows will go into brief hibernation and then reemerge with new spring seasons, including Survivor and The Amazing Race, while other shows will keep us warm as one year ends and another begins. Also ahead in winter reality shows are the beginnings of the end of two groundbreaking series, American Idol and Mythbusters.

This reality TV show schedule is frequently updated with the officially announced debut dates of new and returning reality shows, so bookmark it and check back.

Times are ET/PT; because TV networks change their schedules and repeat episodes, check your guide or other TV listings. For all the reality shows that premiered before Dec. 1, check out the spring 2015 schedule.

If you have any updates, additions, or corrections, please e-mail me. Thanks.

Winter reality shows 2016 schedule

December 2015

  • Married at First Sight 3 [A&E, Dec. 1, Tuesdays at 9] news
  • The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills [Bravo, Dec. 1, Tuesdays at 9] news
  • Full Throttle Saloon [Destination America, Dec. 1, Tuesdays at 10]
  • Racing Extinction [Discovery, Dec. 2 at 9 p.m.]
  • Santas in the Barn [truTV, Dec. 2 at 9, Thursdays at 9]
  • Finding My Father [Oxygen, Dec. 2, Wednesdays at 9]
  • Top Chef California [Bravo, Dec. 2 at 10, Thursdays at 10] news
  • The Challenge: Battle of the Bloodlines [MTV, Dec. 2, Wednesdays at 10] news
  • Rev Runs Around the World [Travel Channel, Dec. 2, Wednesdays at 10]
  • Rich in Faith [Oxygen, Dec. 2, Wednesdays at 10]
  • Food Porn [FYI, Dec. 3, Thursdays at 9]
  • Flip or Flop [HGTV, Dec. 3, Thursdays at 9]
  • Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars [WEtv, Dec. 4, Fridays at 9]
  • Untold Stories of the ER [Discovery Life, Dec. 4, Fridays at 10]
  • Portrait Artist of the Year [Ovation, Dec. 5, Saturdays at noon]
  • Kangaroo Dundee [NatGeo WILD, Dec. 5, Saturdays at 9]
  • Work Out New York [Bravo, Dec. 6, Sundays at 9]
  • The Great Christmas Light Fight [ABC, Dec. 7, Mondays at 8]
  • Kate Plus 8 [TLC, Dec. 8, Tuesdays at 9]
  • Born This Way [A&E, Dec. 8, Tuesdays at 10]
  • Black Love [FYI, Dec. 8 at 10:15, Tuesdays at 10]
  • Melting: Last Race to the Pole [Animal Planet, Dec. 9 from 9 to 11 p.m.]
  • Finding My Father [Oxygen, Dec. 9, Wednesdays at 9]
  • Rich in Faith [Oxygen, Dec. 9, Wednesdays at 10]
  • Tamar and Vince [WE tv, Dec. 10, Thursdays at 9]
  • Jill and Jessa: Counting On [TLC, Dec. 13 at 8, Sundays at 9]
  • Then and Now with Andy Cohen [Bravo, Dec. 13 at 10, then Dec. 16 and 23 at 9]
  • Married by Mom and Dad [TLC, Dec. 13, Sundays at 10]
  • Love and Hip Hop: New York [VH1, Dec. 14, Mondays at 8]
  • Running Wild with Bear Grylls President Obama special [NBC, Dec. 17 at 10]
  • Making a Murderer [Netflix, Dec. 18]
  • Undercover Boss [CBS, Dec. 20 at 8:30, Sundays at 8 until Jan. 8, then Fridays at 8] news
  • Ghostly Encounters [Destination America, Dec. 28, Mondays at 9]
  • Carter’s W.A.R. (Wild Animal Response) [Outdoor, Dec. 28, Mondays at 9]
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee [Crackle, Dec. 30 at 11:30 p.m.]
  • I Get That A Lot [CBS, Dec. 30 at 8]

January 2016

  • Bring It! [Lifetime, Jan. 1, Fridays at 9]
  • Love, Lust, or Run [TLC, Jan. 1, Fridays at 10]
  • The Rap Game [Lifetime, Jan. 1, Fridays at 10]
  • Shock Trauma: Edge of Life [Discovery Life, Jan. 1, Fridays at 10]
  • Love at First Swipe [TLC, Jan. 1, Fridays at 10:30]
  • Pit Bulls & Parolees [Animal Planet, Jan. 2, Saturdays at 10]
  • Million Dollar American Princesses [Smithsonian, Jan. 3, Sundays at 8]
  • Long Island Medium [TLC, Jan. 3, Sundays at 9]
  • Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge [CMT, Jan. 3, Sundays at 8]
  • Guy’s Grocery Games: Diners, Drive-ins and Drives Tournament [Food Network, Jan. 3, Sundays at 8]
  • Hoarders [A&E, Jan. 3, Sundays at 9] news
  • Finding Bigfoot [Animal Planet, Jan. 3, Sundays at 9]
  • Newlyweds: The First Year [Bravo, Jan. 3 at 9, Wednesdays at 10]
  • Garage Gold [DIY, Jan. 3, Sundays at 9]
  • Worst Cooks in America [Food Network, Jan. 3, Sundays at 9]
  • The Bachelor 20 [ABC, Jan. 4 at 8] news
  • Superhuman [Fox, Jan. 4 at 8]
  • Kids Baking Championship [Food Network, Jan. 4, Mondays at 8]
  • The Biggest Loser 17 [NBC, Jan. 4, Mondays at 9] news
  • Vanity Fair Confidential [ID, Jan. 4, Mondays at 9]
  • Kitchen Crashers [DIY, Jan. 4, Mondays at 9]
  • Teen Mom OG [MTV, Jan. 4, Mondays at 10] news
  • Hollywood Game Night [NBC, Jan. 5, Tuesdays at 8]
  • Finding Your Roots [PBS, Jan. 5, Tuesdays at 8]
  • Dance Moms [Lifetime, Jan. 5, Tuesdays at 9] news
  • Building Alaska [DIY, Jan. 4, Tuesdays at 9]
  • Killing Fields [Discovery, Jan. 5, Tuesdays at 10]
  • Pitch Slapped [Lifetime, Jan. 5, Tuesdays at 10]
  • American Idol 15 [Fox, Jan. 6, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8] news
  • My 600-LB Life [TLC, Jan. 6, Wednesdays at 9]
  • Skin Tight [TLC, Jan. 6, Wednesdays at 10]
  • Restaurant Startup [CNBC, Jan. 6, Wednesdays at 10]
  • Criminals at Work [BET, Jan. 6, Wednesdays at 10]
  • Child Genius [Lifetime, Jan. 7, Thursdays at 8]
  • My Diet Is Better Than Yours [ABC, Jan. 7, Thursdays at 8]
  • Party Down South [CMT, Jan. 7, Thursdays at 9]
  • Bringing Up Bates [Up, Jan. 7, Thursdays at 9]
  • Beyond the Tank [ABC, Jan. 7, Thursdays at 10] news
  • Growing up Hip Hop [WE tv, Jan. 7, Thursdays at 10] news
  • Lip Sync Battle [Spike, Jan. 7, Thursdays at 10]
  • Texas Flip and Move [DIY, Jan. 8, Fridays at 9]
  • Mysteries at the Castle [Travel Channel, Jan. 8, Fridays at 9]
  • My Lottery Dream Home [HGTV, Jan. 8, Fridays at 11]
  • Ex Isle [WE tv, Jan. 8, Fridays at 10]
  • Mythbusters [Discovery, Jan. 9, Saturdays at 9]
  • Outrageous Acts of Science [Science, Jan. 9, Saturdays at 9]
  • Renovation Realities [DIY, Jan. 9, Saturdays at 9]
  • The Incredible Dr. Pol [NatGeo WILD, Jan. 9, Saturdays at 9]
  • The Dead Files [Travel Channel, Jan. 9, Saturdays at 10]
  • Live to Tell [History, Jan. 10, Sundays at 10]
  • Cake Wars [Food Network, Jan. 11, Mondays at 9]
  • Mob Wives: The Last Stand [VH1, Jan. 13, Wednesdays at 8]
  • Dual Survival [Discovery, Jan. 13, Wednesdays at 9]
  • Duck Dynasty [A&E, Jan. 13, Wednesdays at 9] news
  • Alaska Proof [Animal Planet, Jan. 14, Thursdays at 9]
  • Hell’s Kitchen 15 [Fox, Jan. 15, Fridays at 9] news
  • Monster Fish [Nat Geo WILD, Jan. 15, Fridays at 9]
  • The People’s Couch [Bravo, Jan. 15, Fridays at 10]
  • Treehouse Masters [Animal Planet, Jan. 15, Fridays at 10]
  • Burgers, Brew & ‘Que [Food Network, Jan. 15, Fridays at 10:30]
  • The Circus [Showtime, Jan. 17, Sundays at 8]
  • The Real Housewives of Potomac [Bravo, Jan. 17, Sundays at 9]
  • Ellen’s Design Challenge [HGTV, Jan. 18, Mondays at 9]
  • Fameless [truTV, Jan. 18, Mondays at 10]
  • The Prancing Elites Project [Oxygen, Jan. 19, Tuesdays at 8]
  • Team Ninja Warrior [Esquire, Jan. 19, Tuesdays at 8] news
  • Planet Primetime [Travel Channel, Jan. 19, Tuesdays at 8]
  • Friday Night Tykes [Esquire, Jan. 19, Tuesdays at 9]
  • Total Divas [E!, Jan. 19, Tuesdays at 9]
  • Just Jillian [E!, Feb. 19, Tuesdays at 10]
  • Fit to Fat to Fit [A&E, Jan. 19, Tuesdays at 10]
  • Recipe For Deception [Bravo, Jan. 21, Thursdays at 10]
  • Dark Net [Showtime, Jan. 21, Thursdays at 11]
  • Truth and Power [Pivot, Jan. 22, Fridays at 10]
  • Yankee Jungle [Animal Planet, Jan. 23, Saturdays at 9]
  • Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar [AXS, Jan. 24, Sundays at 9]
  • Breaking Band [AXS, Jan. 24, Sundays at 9:30]
  • Hollywood Medium [E!, Jan. 24, Sundays at 10]
  • Love & Hip Hop: New York [VH1, Jan. 25, Mondays at 8]
  • Stevie J & Joseline Go Hollywood [VH1, Jan. 25, Mondays at 9]
  • K. Michelle: My Life [VH1, Jan. 25, Mondays at 9:30]
  • Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations [Travel Channel, Jan. 26, Tuesdays at 9]
  • Lucha Underground [El Rey, Jan. 27, Wednesdays at 8]
  • Little Women: LA [Lifetime, Jan. 27, Wednesdays at 9]
  • Little Women: Atlanta [Lifetime, Jan. 27, Wednesdays at 10]
  • Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan [Travel Channel, Jan. 27, Wednesdays at 10]
  • Rev Run’s Sunday Suppers [Cooking Channel, Jan. 27, Wednesdays at 10]
  • Party Down South [CMT, Jan. 28, Thursdays at 9]
  • Redneck Island: Battle at the Lake [CMT, Jan. 28, Thursdays at 10]
  • Deadliest Job Interview [Discovery, Jan. 29, Fridays at 10]
  • Zombie House Flipping [FYI, Jan. 30, Saturdays at 10]
  • Mission Critical [Nat Geo WILD, Jan. 31, Sundays at 9]

February

  • Wicked Tuna [National Geographic, Feb. 1, Mondays at 9]
  • The Great Human Race [National Geographic, Feb. 1, Mondays at 10]
  • Rattled [TLC, Feb. 2, Tuesdays at 10]
  • Dinner at Tiffani’s [Cooking Channel, Feb. 3, Wednesdays at 8]
  • Rehab Addict [DIY, Feb. 3, Wednesdays at 9]
  • Big Fish Texas [National Geographic, Feb. 3, Wednesdays at 9]
  • Preachers of Atlanta [Oxygen, Feb. 3, Wednesdays at 10]
  • Guy & Hunter’s European Vacation [Food Network, Feb. 5, Fridays at 10]
  • Vice [HBO, Feb. 5, Fridays at 11]
  • Swamp People [History, Feb. 8, Mondays at 9]
  • Billion Dollar Wreck [History, Feb. 8, Mondays at 10]
  • The Next 15 [BET, Feb. 10, Wednesdays at 9]
  • Project Runway All Stars [Lifetime, Feb. 11, Fridays at 8] news
  • Impractical Jokers [truTV, Feb. 11, Thursdays at 10]
  • The Amazing Race 28 [CBS, Feb. 12, Fridays at 8] news
  • Brain Games [National Geographic, Feb. 14, Sundays at 9]
  • Generation X [National Geographic, Feb. 14, Sundays at 10]
  • All-Star Academy [Food Network, Feb. 14, Sundays at 10]
  • Comic Book Men [AMC, Feb. 14, Sundays at midnight]
  • The New Yorker Presents [Amazon, Feb. 16, two episodes released weekly]
  • Survivor Koh Rong: Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty [CBS, Feb. 17, Wednesdays at 8] news
  • Ex-Wives of Rock [AXS, Feb. 17, Wednesdays at 9]
  • Fat Chance [TLC, Feb. 17, Wednesdays at 10]
  • Venom Hunters [Discovery, Feb. 17, Wednesdays at 10]
  • Income Property [DIY, Feb. 18, Thursdays at 10]
  • Join or Die with Craig Ferguson [History, Feb. 18, Thursdays at 11]
  • Cooked [Netflix, Feb. 19]
  • Cesar 911 [Nat Geo WILD, Feb. 19, Fridays at 9]
  • NASA’s Unexplained Files [Science, Feb. 21, Sundays at 10]
  • Outlaws: New Orleans [Discovery, Feb. 22, Mondays at 9]
  • Nicole & Jionni’s Shore Flip [FYI, Feb. 24, Wednesdays at 9]
  • Catfish [MTV, Feb. 24, Wednesdays at 10] news
  • MTV Suspect [MTV, Feb. 24, Wednesdays at 11]
  • Insane Pools: Off the Deep End [Animal Planet, Feb. 26, Fridays at 9]
  • Salvage Dawgs [DIY, Feb. 28, Sundays at 9]
  • The Voice [NBC, Feb. 29, Mondays and Tuesdays at 8]
  • Hate in America [ID, Feb. 29, Mondays at 9]
  • truInside [truTV, Feb. 29, Mondays at 10]

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About the author

  • Andy Dehnart

    Andy Dehnart is the creator of reality blurred and a writer and teacher who obsessively and critically covers reality TV and unscripted entertainment, focusing on how it’s made and what it means.

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