32 Epic Moments in Reality-TV History

Let’s be honest: the entertainment industry has never been about inner beauty. Extreme Makeover, which first aired in 2002, capitalized on this fact and lured viewers in with a reality series that transformed ugly ducklings into their most beautiful selves (or at least the selves that had smaller noses, thinner thighs and plumper lips) with dramatic plastic surgeries. These days, viewers don’t bat an eyelash at shows like Bridalplasty or the disturbing surgical transformation of celebrities like Heidi Montag. But at the time, Extreme Makeover was hugely controversial, drawing criticism for remaking “average” Americans and perpetuating the idea that physical beauty equates with happiness. Others blamed the show and its stunning transformations for the plastic-surgery boom that soon followed.