Photos: Mean reality TV judges we love

“Project Runway” fans can’t get enough of catty judges Michael Kors, Heidi Klum and Nina Garcia, but the designer wannabes might feel otherwise. The trio doesn’t hold back and rarely tries to soften the blow when it comes to critiquing a tortured artists’ creations, but Kors is becoming a real pro at hurling insults.

Classic zinger: “She looks like a transvestite flamenco dancer at a funeral.” (From left: Michael Kors, Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia and Tim Gunn, credit: Bravo.)

Piers Morgan popped onto the scene like a Simon Cowell protege as the resident Brit on “America’s Got Talent.” Of course, he turned out to be much more than Cowell 2.0, but his blunt take on contestants like Prince Poppycock puts him in stark contrast to his fellow judges like Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel.

Classic zinger: “Sharon [Osbourne’s]'s like one of those little Pomeranian dogs of her’s, small and very, very volatile and irritating,” he said during a post-finale interview with NBC. (From left: Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and David Hasselhoff, credit: NBC.)

The other half of “America’s Next Top Model’s” Miss J/Mr. Jay franchise, right, with his ever-increasing collars and ever-expanding Afros, isn’t one to hold his tongue. The show’s resident runway coach sat on Tyra’s panel alongside a slew of former models (remember sharp-tongued Janice Dickinson, timid Twiggy and Paulina Porzikova?). Miss J was ousted as a judge in Cycle 14 by Vogue Editor at Large Andre Leon Talley, who is caught up with introducing new vocabulary words like “drecktitude” (dreck + quackitude) to the models. But the runway expert still teaches the girls how to walk fiercely and makes sure the show reaches its sass quota each week.

Classic zinger: “It’s not my place to put anyone down, I am put here to build their egos up. I feel for them when the models trip or flub-up, and I try hard to contain my laughter. But child...sometimes I just gotta laugh.” (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Many thought show figurehead and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, left, was the mean judge for the first six seasons of the show. Lythgoe can be stern and cutting in his criticism, for sure, but that was before the show’s Emmy-winning choreographer Mia Michaels, center, made the leap from behind the scenes to the judge’s table during the seventh season. Michaels has made no secret of having favorites on the show and woe to the dancers who fall on her bad side.

Classic zinger: “You annoy the ... out of me…everyone keeps saying there’s talent there…but i just don’t see it!” (Mathieu Young / FOX)

The Scottish-born soccer player-turned-Michelin Star chef has a reputation for a quick-witted, stinging, swear word-laden repertoire that that is equally hurled at contestants and restaurant guests attending the cooking challenges, which is one of the reasons he’s so fun to watch. No wonder he’s got such a roster of cooking shows. In the States alone, there’s been “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Kitchen Nightmares,” and “MasterChef.”

As opposed to “Kitchen Nightmares,” a reality show where Ramsay takes to the streets to reorganize and revamp fledgling restaurants, “Hell’s Kitchen” and “MasterChef” are reality game shows that pit chefs who are arguably either ambitious or just plain stupid against each other over a myriad of challenges and Ramsay berating for a grand prize. While Ramsay is the host and the sole judge on “Hell’s Kitchen,” he’s joined by restaurateur Joe Bastianich and chef Graham Elliot on “MasterChef.” That doesn’t mean he gets less chances to make cutting remarks.

Classic zingers: (Calling his Maître d’) “Jean-Phillipe Susilovic? Can you take these two ladies please back to plastic surgery?” and “If we were on a date and you cooked that for me, I’d go to the bathroom and you’d never see me again. I’d bolt out the door.” (FOX)

The best thing about “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is RuPaul. In this fierce reality competition between the most outrageous and talented drag queens vying to be America’s Next Drag Superstar, RuPaul stands alone in his sometimes harsh criticism of the contestants.

Classic zinger: “It’s RuPaul here with your Drag-U Weather forecast! This we can expect a high-pressure system, followed by storms of ‘Hell no!’ (and) ‘Oh no she didn’t!’” (Mark Boster, Los Angeles Times)

NBC‘s “The Marriage Ref” came with a revolving door of judges, and some as big as Madonna. Yet it was “30 Rock‘s” Alec Baldwin who had the best ability to cut right through the silliness of the arguments being judged. As Baldwin and Co. watched one couple fight over a stuffed dog -- he liked it and it creeped her out -- Baldwin reminded everyone that some fights, like some reality shows, are relatively pointless.

Classic zinger: “Women come and go, but a stuffed dog is forever.” (NBC)

Oh, the Donald. He and his flaxen mane, sturdy pointer finger, infallible ego (“So as a reward, you have 10 minutes with me. You know, a lot of people would like that opportunity, so take advantage of it.”) and dicing catchphrase have crushed the dreams of many a ladder climber, famous or not, since the franchise started in 2004.

Classic zinger: “You’re fired.” (Chris Haston / NBC Universal Inc.)

Sure, the “Kitchen Confidential” author and “No Reservations” star isn’t a permanent fixture on “Top Chef,” but his frequent appearances over the seasons have made an impact. As opposed to head judge Tom Colicchio’s stern, direct honesty or former judge Toby Young’s failed humorous jabs, Bourdain goes all out and isn’t afraid to sugar-coat how he really feels. One of the advantages of not being around for the next episode? Not having to worry the contestants will kill you in your sleep.

Classic zinger: “They were cleaning Bob Marley’s house and found this in the closet.” (In reference to C.J. Jacobsen’s broccolini in Season 3)

Photo: Anthony Bourdain, left, Padma Lakshmi and Buzz Aldrin in Season 7 of “Top Chef.” (David Giesbrecht / Bravo)