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Check out the baddies who make reality TV so good

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1 of 12 Monty Brinton/CBS

Jonny Fairplay, Survivor: Pearl Islands

Host Jeff Probst has called Fairplay "despicable," but you have to give him credit for his brains. In a pre-planned lie, Fairplay had a visiting friend tell him his (alive-and-well) grandmother had died. Jonny played it up, earning sympathy and weasling his way to the final three. We're sure he and grandma were planning to split the cash.
2 of 12 MTV

David "Puck" Rainey, The Real World: San Francisco

This tattooed bad boy's roommates should've known they'd have their hands full when he arrived late on the first day because of a run-in with the police. Though his fights with an HIV-positive roommate took up most of his screen time, he had a beef with just about everyone in the house, which ultimately led to his eviction.
3 of 12 Chuck Hodes/Bravo Photo

Lisa Fernandes, Top Chef: Chicago

A classic example of the producers keeping the villain around way too long. Surly Lisa deserved to go home for weeks, but managed to eke her way to the finals... where she delivered a meal almost worthy of winning. Let's hope Colicchio & Co. learned their lesson.
4 of 12 Everett Collection

Jonathan Baker, The Amazing Race

This one's simple: He shoved his wife after she cost them a victory. We hope his nights on the couch were Amazing.
5 of 12 Fox

Simon Cowell, American Idol

Simon's harsh truth-telling ways earned him the reputation of being "the mean British judge" way back in the days of Dunkelman. He's mellowed in recent seasons, but one off-key rendition and the "absolutely dreadful" claws return.
6 of 12 Patrick Ecclesine/Fox

Gordon Ramsay, Hell's Kitchen

Loud, violent, and curse-word-infused insults are best served warm, and the flames are always high in Ramsay's kitchen. This is one cooking show that is most definitely not about the f---ing food.
7 of 12 Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

Vicky Vilcan, The Biggest Loser: Families

She certainly put the "vil" in villain with name-calling (sleaze bucket), mean-spiritedness and back-stabbing her way into the final three. Loser indeed!
8 of 12 CBS

Evel Dick, Big Brother 8

Finally, a villain who won something. Sure, everybody hated this chain-smoking, foul-mouthed L.A. bar owner's style of gameplay, but he rocked and rolled his opponents out the door, securing the top prize for himself and the runner-up's check for his daughter. Just don't let this guy near any pots and pans.
9 of 12 VH1

Lacey, Rock of Love

Being called the least classy contestant on Rock of Love is kind of like being dubbed the skinniest one on 90210. Still, Lacey schemed and lied her way into Bret Michaels' bedroom before ultimately turning in her backstage pass. She made an impression though: She's made a guest appearance on every season since.
10 of 12 F. Scott Schafer/Bravo Photo

Marcel Vigneron, Top Chef

Marcel's wacky hairstyle was matched only by his unique approach in the kitchen. He made more gelées than he did friends, but his selfish attitude and focus earned him a spot in the finals.
11 of 12 Craig Blankenhorn/Bravo Photo

Wendy Pepper, Project Runway

It's hard to say what Runway fans hated more about Season 1's villainess: her skunk-striped coif or the fact that she stirred up more trouble than the average Survivor contestant. She would've thrown her own mother under the bus if it meant getting closer to Fashion Week.
12 of 12 Justin Stephens/NBC

Omarosa, The Apprentice

She butted heads with everyone in the boardroom, becoming the most reviled person in reality-TV history. She knows what makes good TV, whether it's arguing with Janice Dickinson on The Surreal Life or attacking Piers Morgan's parenting skills on Celebrity Apprentice. (Fun fact! She's the only person The Donald has fired twice.)