Skip to content

Top Navigation

EW.com EW.com
    • All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Winter TV
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
    • All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
    • All Music
    • Music Reviews
    • All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • Survivor
    • This is Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • Stranger Things
    • The Boys
    • The Blacklist
    • The Walking Dead
    • Better Call Saul
    • All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
    • All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
    • All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
    • All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe

Explore EW.com

EW.com EW.com
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The 10 best songs of 2022

      The 10 best songs of 2022

      From disco-trap to deconstructed techno to Dolly-style country, we rank our favorite tracks this year. Read More
    • The 10 best movies of 2022 (and 5 worst)

      The 10 best movies of 2022 (and 5 worst)

      Let there be Mavericks, Bollywood magic, and a Cate Blanchett maestro on the loose. Read More
    • The true story of the g-strings and murders behind Welcome to Chippendales

      The true story of the g-strings and murders behind Welcome to Chippendales

      A look back at the crazy true story of Chippendales founder Somen "Steve" Banerjee and the murder and murder-for-hire plots at the center of the Hulu series. Read More
  • TV

    TV

    See All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Winter TV
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
  • Movies

    Movies

    See All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
  • Music

    Music

    See All Music
    • Music Reviews
  • What to Watch

    What to Watch

    See All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
  • BINGE

    BINGE

    See All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • Survivor
    • This is Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • Stranger Things
    • The Boys
    • The Blacklist
    • The Walking Dead
    • Better Call Saul
  • The Awardist

    The Awardist

    See All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
  • Books

    Books

    See All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
  • Theater

    Theater

    See All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
  • Events

    Events

    See All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Gallery
  3. 10 of the Best Reality TV Sidekicks

10 of the Best Reality TV Sidekicks

By Madeline Boardman Updated September 29, 2016 at 02:10 PM EDT
Skip gallery slides
FB

1 of 11

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

The Best Reality TV Sidekicks

The Best Reality TV Sidekicks
Credit: Logo; Danny Moloshok/The CW; MTV

The sidekick is as essential of a cog in the reality television wheel as confessionals and bad decisions. Offering comic relief, sage advice, and, at times, the strongest relationship with actual reality outside of the show, the best friends, assistants, and confidants keep us tuning in week after outrageous week.

 

1 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 11

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Lo Bosworth, Laguna Beach, The Hills

Lo Bosworth, Laguna Beach, The Hills
Credit: MTV

May we all be so lucky to have a Lo. Lauren Conrad's best friend, who made the transition from Laguna Beach to The Hills with the future lifestyle maven, is fiercely loyal, supportive, and sneakily hilarious. She made passive-aggression an art in the first season of Laguna Beach, casually asking Christina if her new earrings were a birthday gift after Lo and LC were excluded from her party, and we were hooked. Bosworth only grew from there, asking Audrina's new boyfriend to his face if she could call him "JustinBobby."

 

2 of 11

3 of 11

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Miss J, America’s Next Top Model

Miss J, America’s Next Top Model
Credit: Danny Moloshok/The CW

Miss J, aka J. Alexander, was often the voice of reason in the insanity that was America’s Next Top Model. Whether he was teaching the contestants how to walk, coaching them through out-there challenges, being brutally honest about their chances in the industry, or stealing the spotlight with his outrageous panel outfits, the runway coach never failed to bring humor, expertise, and fabulousness to the ANTM stage.

 

3 of 11

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 11

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Max Joseph, Catfish

Max Joseph, Catfish
Credit: Jamie Cary/MTV

Max Joseph may co-host Catfish with Nev Schulman, but as the man often holding the camera as Schulman makes dramatic phone calls to potential catfishers, he takes a bit of a backseat in the limelight. The silver fox brings the humor to the MTV show, keeping it real as he often gets exasperated with the games of deception, even walking away from the so-called "King of Catfishes."

 

4 of 11

Advertisement

5 of 11

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Malika and Khadijah, Keeping Up With the Kardashians

Malika and Khadijah, Keeping Up With the Kardashians
Credit: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

While Malika has graced Keeping Up with the Kardashians with her irreplaceable presence significantly more than her sister Khadijah, the twins are a bit of a package deal. Childhood friends to the famous sisters, Malika and Khadijah regularly pop up on KUWTK and its offshoots, showing up to support Khloe Kardashian and manage Dash.

 

5 of 11

6 of 11

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Faye Resnick, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Faye Resnick, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Credit: Evans Vestal Ward/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank

Years before she was portrayed by Connie Britton in The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Faye Resnick was bringing the drama to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as a supporting act. Popping up in the first and second seasons of the show, Resnick became an official "friend" of the housewives in season 3. She then took a break in the fourth season and returned for guest appearances in the fifth and sixth installments. The Nicole Brown Simpson: The Private Diary of a Life Interrupted author often started fights with her mere presence, refusing to back down as she demanded apologies and respect from those around her.

 

6 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 11

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

The Unit, Jersey Shore

The Unit, Jersey Shore
Credit: MTV

Because Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino wasn't enough, Jersey Shore introduced the pseudo-villain's friend from home, Jonny "The Unit" Manfre, in the fifth season. Rocking The Situation's same gelled hair, sculpted abs, and nickname construction, The Unit brought even more gossip, drama, and trips to jail to the house on the shore.

 

7 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 11

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Gianna Martello, Dance Moms

Gianna Martello, Dance Moms
Credit: Lifetime

For every Abby Lee Miller, there's a Gianna Martello. A choreographer at Miller's Reign Dance Productions, Martello is the calm voice of reason in the intense world of competitive dance. Once a student herself, Martello maintains a strong relationship with Miller and conceptualizes winning routines for the girls.

 

8 of 11

Advertisement

9 of 11

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Dwight Eubanks, The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Dwight Eubanks, The Real Housewives of Atlanta
Credit: Wilford Harewood/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank

Very few people can hold even the slightest candle to NeNe Leakes — Dwight Eubanks is one of them. The hilarious, glamorous party-planner hopped between the ladies as their best friend of the moment, often spreading rumors and having confrontations along the way.

 

9 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

10 of 11

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Michelle Visage, RuPaul’s Drag Race

Michelle Visage, RuPaul’s Drag Race
Credit: Logo

Michelle Visage took a seat at the judging table of RuPaul’s Drag Race during the show's third season. Visage met RuPaul in the '80s, first appearing alongside her best friend in The RuPaul Show. An expert in dance and style, Visage never fails to fight for the contestants and have on-point critiques of the competition.

 

10 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

11 of 11

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Cacee Cobb, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica

Cacee Cobb, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica
Credit: MTV

Fans first met Jessica Simpson's best friend, Cacee Cobb, in the second season of Newlyweds. Cobb shipped in from Texas, signing on for a gig as Simpson's assistant and spending time living with the two stars. Cobb served as Simpson's support system in both her professional and personal life, fulfilling her needs as the singer worked on her acting career and listening as Simpson dished to her BFF about her marriage. Cobb got her own moment as a newlywed bride a few years later, marrying Donald Faison in a start-studded ceremony in 2012.

 

11 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Madeline Boardman

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 11 The Best Reality TV Sidekicks
    2 of 11 Lo Bosworth, Laguna Beach, The Hills
    3 of 11 Miss J, America’s Next Top Model
    4 of 11 Max Joseph, Catfish
    5 of 11 Malika and Khadijah, Keeping Up With the Kardashians
    6 of 11 Faye Resnick, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
    7 of 11 The Unit, Jersey Shore
    8 of 11 Gianna Martello, Dance Moms
    9 of 11 Dwight Eubanks, The Real Housewives of Atlanta
    10 of 11 Michelle Visage, RuPaul’s Drag Race
    11 of 11 Cacee Cobb, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message
    EW.com

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Meredith© Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright EW.com. All rights reserved. Printed from https://ew.com

    View image

    10 of the Best Reality TV Sidekicks
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.