Over the years, reality television has turned a slew of ordinary people into famous Hollywood stars. Most of those stars have since become a nuisance, dominating the tabloids with stories ranging from scandal and affair to obsessions with plastic surgery. (We're looking at you, Speidi!) Never before has 15 minutes of fame felt like such an eternity.

But if the recent death of 'Deadliest Catch' captain Phil Harris has proved anything, it's that there are still some good people left in the medium. Upon hearing the news, thousands flooded the Internet with messages of sympathy and support for his family, and reminded us of the incredible influence he had on his viewers.

Of course, these days, it's a rarity for a reality star to make such a positive dent on television; for every Phil Harris, there seems to be a Tila Tequila, or a Jason Mesnick or a Bret Michaels.

With that dichotomy in mind, we here at PopEater decided to take a closer look at reality's most beloved and reviled stars. Read our picks, then post some of your own.