Reality/Game Shows

 
AMERICAN IDOL
Network: Fox
Run date: 2002-premise
Stars: Singing contestants, judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul
Premise: People sing (some well, others not so much) for the chance to become a pop superstar.
THE REAL WORLD
Network: MTV
Run date: 1992-present
Stars: The sex-fueled cast
Premise: Seven strangers stop being polite, and well, you know the rest.
SURVIVOR
Network: CBS
Run date: 2000-present
Stars: The participants, host Jeff Probst
Premise: Players are stranded on an island and forced to compete with one another until there is a sole survivor.
THE OSBOURNES
Network: MTV
Run date: 2002-2005
Stars: Ozzy, Sharon, Jack and Kelly Osbourne
Premise: The first family of dysfunction battles their neighbors and one another.
THE REAL WORLD-ROAD RULES CHALLENGE
Network: MTV
Run date: 1998-present
Stars: The same sex-fueled cast you know and love from their previous reality TV stints.
Premise: Former Real World and Road Rules cast members compete in weekly challenges (and drink in excess) with the hopes of claiming a cash prize in the finale.
DEAL OR NO DEAL?
Network: NBC
Run date: 2005-present
Stars: The participants, host Howie Mandel
Premise: Open briefcases, which contain different sums of money, in hopes of winning the grand prize. The rest is too confusing to explain.
PUNK'D
Network: MTV
Run date: 2003-present
Stars: Punk'd celebrities, host Ashton Kutcher
Premise: Kutcher and his gang of merry pranksters play jokes on unsuspecting celebrities, some of which hardly qualify for celebrity status.
JACKASS
Network: MTV
Run date: 2000-2002
Stars: Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O
Premise: Miscreants hurt themselves on purpose.
LAGUNA BEACH
Network: MTV
Run date: 2004-present
Stars: Kristin Cavallari, Lauren Conrad
Premise: Rich kids do rich kid things in “the real Orange County.”
THE AMAZING RACE
Network: CBS
Run date: 2001-present
Stars: The participants, host Phil Keoghan
Premise: Teams of two race around the globe, attempting to avoid being eliminated at various checkpoints, until a victor is crowned.
FEAR FACTOR
Network: NBC
Run date: 2001-2006
Stars: The participants, host Joe Rogan
Premise: Contestants do really gross sh** for money.
THE SIMPLE LIFE
Networks: Fox, E!
Run date: 2003-present
Stars: Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie
Premise: Airheaded rich girls are deprived of cash and other amenities, then forced to work. They still find time to feud with one another.
PIMP MY RIDE
Network: MTV
Run date: 2004-present
Stars: People with P.O.S. cars, host Xzibit
Premise: People have crappy rides. Xzibit takes them to a custom body shop, where they are uncrappified.
PROJECT RUNWAY
Network: Bravo
Run date: 2004-present
Stars: Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn
Premise: Somehow make fashionable clothes that won't fall off starving models. It's quite the task.
AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL
Network: CW
Run date: 2003-present
Stars: Tyra Banks, aspiring models
Premise: Contestants withstand Tyra Banks' tirades, all in the hopes of winning and thus fading into obscurity.
THE SURREAL LIFE
Network: VH1
Run date: 2003-present
Stars: C-listers everywhere
Premise: Aforementioned C-listers live with one another. Much more gripping than it sounds.

Drama

GREY'S ANATOMY
Network: ABC
Run date: 2005-present
Stars: Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, Chandra Wilson, Katherine Heigl
Premise: When they're not sleeping with one another, doctors and interns at Seattle Grace Hospital find time to save lives.
THE SOPRANOS
Network: HBO
Run date: 1999-present
Stars: James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli
Premise: The personal and professional lives of mob boss Tony Soprano are often intertwined. Lots of dead bodies.
24
Network: Fox
Run date: 2001-present
Stars: Kiefer Sutherland, Elisha Cuthbert
Premise: Special agent Jack Bauer attempts to save the world (for the sixth time now), with each hour-long episode taking place over the course of an hour.
THE X-FILES
Network: Fox
Run date: 1993-2002
Stars: Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny
Premise: Agents Mulder and Scully investigate the paranormal and extraterrestrial. Sexual tension runs rampant.
BEVERLY HILLS 90210
Network: Fox
Run date: 1990-2000
Stars: Luke Perry, Jennie Garth, Jason Priestly, Shannen Doherty
Premise: A group of high school friends deal with friendship, life and love in Beverly Hills.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Network: WB/UPN
Run date: 1997-2003
Stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon
Premise: High school girl Buffy fulfills her destiny by slaying evil creatures of the night. Unfortunately, that does not include ravers.
ER
Network: NBC
Run date: 1994-present
Stars: George Clooney, Laura Innes, Noah Wyle
Premise: Examines the personal and professional lives of emergency room doctors in Chicago.
THE WONDER YEARS
Network: ABC
Run date: 1988-1993
Stars: Fred Savage, Jason Hervey, Danica McKellar
Premise: Based in the 1960s-1970s, this show focuses on Kevin Arnold and his dealings with friends, family and socially relevant issues. And no, Marilyn Manson was not on this show.
THE O.C.
Network: Fox
Run date: 2003-2007
Stars: Benjamin McKenzie, Mischa Barton, Rachel Bilson, Adam Brody
Premise: A troubled teenage boy moves to Orange County, Calif., where he learns that the drama in his life has only just begun.
PARTY OF FIVE
Network: Fox
Run date: 1994-2000
Stars: Matthew Fox, Neve Campbell, Scott Wolf, Jennifer Love Hewitt
Premise: After their parents are killed in a car accident, five siblings unite to survive the hardships that follow.
DAWSON'S CREEK
Network: WB
Run date: 1998-2003
Stars: James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams
Premise: Four friends in a small town deal with rigors of adolescence. Dawson cut his hair, and it was all over.
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Network: Sci Fi
Run date: 2004-present
Stars: Jamie Bamber, Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell
Premise: A group of human intergalactic refugees searches for the mythical 13th colony. Still with us?
LAW AND ORDER
Network: NBC
Run date: 1990-present
Stars: S. Epatha Merkerson, Jerry Orbach, Sam Waterson
Premise: Examines the investigation, and ensuing court prosecution, of a crime. Spinoff shows are plentiful.
CSI
Network: CBS
Run date: 2000-present
Stars: William Peterson, Marg Helgenberger
Premise: Forensics police experts work their magic in Las Vegas and scare the crap out of anyone who ever thought about committing a crime.
HEROES
Network: NBC
Run date: 2006-present
Stars: Ali Larter, Hayden Panettiere, Milo Ventimiglia
Premise: People discover their supernatural abilities and try to save the cheerleader, save the world, or something like that.
LOST
Network: ABC
Run date: 2004-present
Stars: Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Naveen Andrews
Premise: People are (wait for it) lost on a deserted island.

Variety/Animation/Miscellaneous

THE SIMPSONS
Network: Fox
Run date: 1989-present
Stars: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright
Premise: The Simpson family, including dimwitted father Homer and mischievous son Bart, interact with the quirky residents of Springfield.
SOUTH PARK
Network: Comedy Central
Run date: 1997-present
Stars: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Isaac Hayes
Premise: Four foul-mouthed elementary school students in Colorado offend just about everyone.
THE DAILY SHOW
Network: Comedy Central
Run date: 1996-present
Stars: Jon Stewart, Craig Kilborn (former host)
Premise: Comedic newscasts delivers plenty of laughs and more political insight than one might expect.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
Network: NBC
Run date: 1975-present
Stars: (the good ones of seasons past) Will Ferrell, John Belushi, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler
Premise: Late-night sketch comedy show features the not-ready-for-primetime players, many of which have gone on to find superstardom on the big screen.
CHAPPELLE'S SHOW
Network: Comedy Central
Run date: 2003-2006
Stars: Dave Chappelle, Charlie Murphy, Donnell Rawlings
Premise: Chappelle and many others perform a number of hilarious and memorable skits.
BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD
Network: MTV
Run date: 1993-1997
Star: Mike Judge
Premise: Two teenage idiots cause trouble at school, work at Burger World and sit on their couch and watch TV.
FAMILY GUY
Network: Fox
Run date: 1999-2003, 2005-present
Stars: Seth MacFarlane, Mila Kunis, Seth Green
Premise: Centers on the misadventures of the Griffin family, particularly the father — Homer Simpson-esque imbecile Peter — and evil toddler Stewie.
IN LIVING COLOR
Network: Fox
Run date: 1990-1994
Stars: Damon Wayans, Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx
Premise: A sketch comedy show featuring predominantly African American characters, a white guy and about 37 Wayans siblings.
KING OF THE HILL
Network: Fox
Run date: 1997-present
Stars: Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, Brittany Murphy
Premise: Small-town folks in Arlen work blue-collar jobs, drink beer in the alley and talk about football.
THE COLBERT REPORT
Network: Comedy Central
Run date: 2005-present
Star: Stephen Colbert
Premise: Fake right-winger Colbert skews politicians of all parties, then (sort of) interviews guests.
THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO
Network: NBC
Run date: 1992-present
Stars: Jay Leno, Kevin Eubanks
Premise: Comedian Leno delivers monologue, interviews celebrities and often does the same to random people on the street.
THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN
Network: CBS
Run date: 1993-present
Stars: David Letterman, Paul Shaffer
Premise: Letterman does monologue, Top Ten lists, interviews guests and, occasionally, features stupid pet tricks.
WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW
Network: USA/Spike
Run date: 1993-present
Stars: Vince McMahon, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, HHH
Premise: The biggest stars in sports entertainment take to the squared circle. It's real, isn't it?
THE REN AND STIMPY SHOW
Network: Nickelodeon
Run date: 1991-1996
Stars: Billy West, John Kricfalusi
Premise: The adventures of a hot-tempered Chihuahua and his best friend — a good-natured, slow-witted cat.
LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN
Network: NBC
Run date: 1993-present
Stars: Conan O'Brien, guests
Premise: O'Brien provides monologue and interviews that are much funnier than those conducted by Leno or Letterman.
MIND OF MENCIA
Network: Comedy Central
Run date: 2005-present
Star: Carlos Mencia
Premise: Mencia does what Dave Chappelle already did, only with Hispanic people.

Comedy

SEINFELD
Network: NBC
Run date: 1990-1998
Stars: Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, Jason Alexander
Premise: Four New Yorkers go through everyday life, talk about nothing, nickname almost everyone they meet and coin a number of popular phrases along the way.
FRIENDS
Network: NBC
Run date: 1994-2004
Stars: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry
Premise: Six New Yorkers live in really nice apartments, work occasionally and sleep with one another often.
SEX AND THE CITY
Network: HBO
Run date: 1998-2004
Stars: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon
Premise: Four 30-something singles live fabulously in Manhattan and date many men. Many, many men.
SAVED BY THE BELL
Network: NBC
Run date: 1989-1993
Stars: Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, Tiffani Thiessen
Premise: Six friends, and seemingly no one else, attend fictional Bayside High, where they create trouble for Principal Belding.
THE COSBY SHOW
Network: NBC
Run date: 1984-1992
Stars: Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad
Premise: Revolves around the tight-knit Huxtable family, led by patriarch Heathcliff, who sells Coca-Cola and Jell-O pudding pops on the side.
WILL AND GRACE
Network: NBC
Run date: 1998-2006
Stars: Debra Messing, Eric McCormack
Premise: Two best friends — a gay man and straight woman — live together in New York City.
THE OFFICE (U.S.)
Network: NBC
Run date: 2005-present
Stars: Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer
Premise: A mockumentary focusing on the hijinks — and occasional work — at small-time paper supply company Dunder Mifflin.
SCRUBS
Network: NBC
Run date: 2001-present
Stars: Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke
Premise: At Sacred Heart Hospital, a group of young doctors and interns — and a host of other quirky cast members — create some hilarious, and quite strange, situations.
ROSEANNE
Network: ABC
Run date: 1988-1997
Stars: Roseanne, John Goodman, Sara Gilbert
Premise: A working-class family in suburban Chicago tries to hold things together, despite a number of obstacles — many of them humorous — that come their way.
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
Network: Fox
Run date: 2003-2006
Stars: Jason Bateman, Will Arnett
Premise: With his father in prison for some light treason, straight-laced Michael Bluth tries to balance the dysfunctional family business and his dysfunctional family.
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
Network: ABC
Run date: 2004-present
Stars: Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria
Premise: Crazy sh** happens with four women — and their neighbors — on Wisteria Lane.
MARRIED WITH CHILDREN
Network: Fox
Run date: 1987-1997
Stars: Ed O'Neill, Katey Sagal
Premise: Miserable shoe salesman Al Bundy lives miserably with his family — lazy wife, Peg, nerdy son Bud and dimwitted daughter Kelly — in Chicago. Bundy routinely reads Big ’Uns magazine and visits the nudie bar, so his reasons for misery elude us.
FULL HOUSE
Network: ABC
Run date: 1987-1995
Stars: Bob Saget, John Stamos, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
Premise: Morning talk show host Danny Tanner and two friends raise his three daughters in San Francisco. The middle child later becomes addicted to crystal meth, while the youngest (who is, in fact, two people) eventually develops an eating disorder.
ENTOURAGE
Network: HBO
Run date: 2004-present
Stars: Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Jeremy Piven
Premise: A Hollywood star — and his entourage — encounter money, women and fame, sometimes all at once.
UGLY BETTY
Network: ABC
Run date: 2006-present
Stars: America Ferrera, Vanessa Williams
Premise: Betty is nice and hard-working, but unlike her co-workers at a fashion magazine, she is not hot. Except, in real life, she kind of is.
MY NAME IS EARL
Network: NBC
Run date: 2005-present
Stars: Jason Lee, Ethan Suplee, Jaime Pressly
Premise: Former bad boy Earl, thanks to karma and a winning lottery ticket, turns his life around by righting all of his previous wrongs.