TVSquad

From the 1950s through the 1980s, reality television programming was a rarity on the schedules of the Big Three networks. It was more of a novelty that piqued the interest of the viewers for a few months or a few seasons, then was relegated back into the shadows while scripted shows dominated the airwaves. It wasn't until the very end of the 1980s, when FOX premiered COPS, that reality-based programming became a prime-time staple.

It stayed that way for several years. Then, just like that, it all changed, thanks to one show that premiered in 1992. With a simple program on a fairly new cable channel, reality programming went from television rarity to huge success. So much so that, in a few short years, it spawned various direct copies and variations of its concept on both the over-the-air and cable networks. By the early 21st century the airwaves were filled with more reality programming than scripted works, garnering the ire and the joy of many a long-time television viewer.

And, it all began on a network primarily known for its music videos and Pauly Shore.

Gallery: Real World and Road Rules

• At 8, FOX has a new On The Lot, then the season finale of House.
• At 10, ABC has the season finale of Boston Legal.
• At 9, PBS has a new Independent Lens.
• Discovery has a new Deadliest Catch at 9, followed by a new After The Catch.
• Food Network has a new Challenge at 9.
• Also at 9: Travel Channel has a new John Ratzenberger's Made In America.
• At 9:30, Bravo has a new Real Housewives of Orange County special.
• CBS has the Kimberly Dozier news special Flashpoint at 10.
• FX has a new episode of The Shield at 10.
• There's a new ECW on Sci-Fi at 10.
• HBO has a First Look at Ocean's 13 at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 8, ABC has a new Wife Swap, followed by the debut of The Ex-Wives Club and a new Supernanny.
• FOX has a new, two-hour On The Lot at 8.
• NBC has a new Real Wedding Crashers at 8, then the Miss Universe Pageant.
• Four good Friends repeats on TBS starting at 8.
• TLC has two new episodes of Little People, Big World, then a new Big Medicine.
• At 9 on CNN, Larry King interviews journalist Kimberly Dozier.
• There's a new Monday Night RAW on USA at 9.
• Lifetime has the new movie My Name Is Sarah at 9.
• Also at 9: Food Network has a new Challenge, then a new Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
• At 10, FX has a new episode of The Riches.
• Discovery has a new Stunt Junkies at 10.
• E! has the season premiere of The Simple Life at 10, then the premiere of Sunset Tan.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, followed by new episodes of The Amazing Race, Cold Case, and Without A Trace.
• ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos at 7.
• NBC has a new Dateline at 7.
• At 8, FOX has the two hour premiere of Drive.
• The CW has a new 7th Heaven at 8.
• Discovery has two new episodes of Planet Earth starting at 8.
• Also at 8: Food Network has a new Challenge, with footage of the Food Network Awards.
• At 9, ABC has a new Desperate Housewives, then a new Brothers & Sisters.
• HBO has a new Sopranos at 9, then a new Entourage.
• At 10, Lifetime has a new Blood Ties.
• Comedy Central has a new Mind of Mencia at 10, then a new Reno 911.
• Showtime has a new ep of The Tudors at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 6, both E! and TV Guide Channel have red carpet coverage at the Academy Awards.
• At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, followed by a new Amazing Race: All-Stars.
• ABC has the Barbara Walters Oscar Special at 7, followed by The 79th Annual Academy Awards.
• NBC has a new Dateline at 7.
• At 8, Food Network has a new Emeril ("Far East Hot & Spicy"), then new episodes of Iron Chef America and Challenge.
• TCM has the original A Star Is Born at 8, then Here Comes Mr. Jordan.
• Also at 8: Sundance has a new Slings & Arrows.
• At 9, Sci-Fi has a new Dresden Files, followed by a new Battlestar Galactica.
• At 10, NBC has a new Crossing Jordan.
• HGTV has a new Dream House at 10.
• Toon Disney has a new Xyber 9 at 10.
• Showtime has a new ep of The L Word at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 7, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, followed by new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
• At 7:30, The CW has a new Reba, then a new 7th Heaven.
• At 8 (or after the Pats/Chargers game), CBS has a new 60 Minutes, then new eps of Cold Case and Without A Trace.
• FOX has the two hour season premiere of 24 at 8.
• There's a new Grease: You're The One That I Want at 8, followed by a new Apprentice and the season premiere of Crossing Jordan.
• PBS has The Best of Nature at 8, a 25th anniversary special.
• MSNBC has The Quest For Atlantis at 8, then a repeat of this morning's Meet The Press, if you missed it.
• At 10, HGTV has a new Living With Ed.
• Food Network has a new Challenge at 10, with contestants making steak recipes.
• Demetri Martin's new comedy special, Person, airs on Comedy Central at 10.
• Also at 10: the season premiere of Rome, followed by the season premiere of Extras.

This is a variation of a word game I sometimes play with my friends. Below I've listed a bunch of television shows, but instead of writing the actual name of the show, I've written the show's "opposite." I put "opposite" in quotations because obviously not all words have exact opposites, so I have to be clever sometimes and just come up with something that kind of fits. This makes it fun. Here are some examples:

The "opposite" of Taxi might be Bus.

The "opposite" of Everybody Hates Chris might be Nobody Loves Christie.

The "opposite" of General Hospital might be Specific Clinic.

The list is after the jump. See how many you can guess. You won't win anything, just bragging rights and a cameo appearance in my next sexual fantasy. Onward:

UPDATE: Congrats to everyone who has guessed correctly so far. There are still a few left, so crank up your brains, puzzle masters.

SECOND UPDATE: One more left.

THIRD UPDATE: They've all been guessed. Good job, everyone.