A Good Idea at the Time Trivia Quiz

Answer: Extreme Couponing

First airing in 2010, "Extreme Couponing" was exactly what it sounds like-- two people headed into a grocery store after doing their research and actually competed to accumulate the most items at the highest cost, and then used hundreds of cut-out coupons to save as much money and spend as little as humanly possible.

While a lot of this involved buying nonsensical mass amounts of non-essential products, it's apparently a real thing. The show couldn't have come at a better time considering the massive recession in the 2010s; it appealed to TLC's slowly deteriorating viewership and, unsurprisingly, it fit the common denominator: exploitation. One can only imagine the surprise in the network offices when another front-running TLC show, "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo!", also featured extreme couponing in an episode. Wait until they can link it to "Hoarding: Buried Alive" too...

Answer: My Super Sweet 16

"My Super Sweet 16" epitomized the 1%; kids sitting pretty in luxury were given an hour to showcase the planning, build-up, and end product of their 16th birthday bash and, in most cases, it was horribly extravagant. The catch? What catch do you need? Teens with too much money were given the opportunity to show off how cool they were on television, bring their friends along for the ride, and get gifts most of us would need a mortgage to purchase.

In one notable episode, a girl received a new Lexus only to freak out when her mother gave it to her before the party-- not during the party in front of her friends.

The nerve of some parents, am I right? Other parents have given diamond encrusted tiaras, more than one car, and horses. Seriously. Fortunately, "My Super Sweet 16" ended in 2008, but not before forty-ish episodes, several of which featured teen celebrities like Sean Kingston and Bow Wow (albeit on different birthdays; not 16).

Answer: The Swan

"The Swan", critically panned on basis alone, was brewed up by FOX executives early on in the reality TV canon and it took its place among the most notorious offerings very quickly. Two teams of surgeons were called in every episode with each team taking one woman and making her over not through style and diet changes, but by carving into her, restructuring her face and body with plastic surgery and vast amounts of liposuction and injections.

After three months of healing, they dolled the women up in dresses, paraded them in front of each other, and had the gall to choose the one who had the best makeover (re: the woman who turned out to be better looking). That's right-- one girl was sent home for not being pretty enough after three months of surgery. Oh yeah, and at the end, the girls who won were told to compete in a beauty pageant where only one would be pretty enough to be considered 'The Swan'. All the other contestants? Nothin'. It took two seasons to cancel this show.

Answer: Mr. Personality

"Mr. Personality" only lasted five episodes in 2003 and it's not hard to tell why. Twenty men, all wearing the creepiest masks on television, were sent to a mansion to woo a young woman named Hayley who (sigh) has had relationship problems in the past and-- get this-- host Monica Lewinsky gave her advice. Amongst the show's more interesting quirks, the only time the men could remove their masks was in a pitch-black room (where she could feel their faces).

At the end of its short tenure, she ultimately chose a millionaire though, really, the other men seemed to be having a good time playing mind-games, especially since they couldn't show most of their faces.

Answer: Boy Meets Boy

"Boy Meets Boy" was about as tastelessly appalling as one would expect; when the show's six episodes aired, one main bachelor was sent to meet with fifteen men, some of whom were straight and some of whom were gay. Ultimately, if he chose a gay man in the end they would win a trip for two; if he chose one of the straight actors, then the actor would win $25,000 and everyone else would walk away a loser. Ultimately the chosen suitor, Wes, was gay, but the relationship fizzled out so soon after the taping of the show that they did not use the prize.

Answer: Splash!

"Splash!" was proof that viewers would watch celebrities do virtually anything. Based on a German show of the same name, it pitted heats of celebrities diving against each other from progressively higher diving boards until one would ultimately win an oversized trophy. FOX also made a diving TV show in an attempt to stay hip, only their offering was called "Stars in Danger: The High Dive", as it needed to go out of its way to sound more death-defying than anything else. On both shows a number of celebrities were injured and many withdrew. Considering the danger factor, it makes sense.

Answer: The Will

Sure enough, people weren't willing to tune in to see a rich family fight over a yet-to-be-dead man's money. The show essentially pitted rich family members against each other in various challenges to see who would win Bill Long's luxurious ranch. One by one over six episodes, different family members would be cut from the will until only one would be left standing to inherit the property.

It took one episode before the show was killed, but it was later inherited by FOX Reality. In the end, Bill's scheming wife, Penny, 'beat out' his son, her own mother, the best friend of the deceased, and six others to claim the prize-- her dead husband's property.

Answer: Temptation Island

Considered one of the guiltiest reality shows to ever air, "Temptation Island" split up couples, some of whom were already on the rocks, and had them spend time flirting, drinking, dancing, and relaxing with single men and women-- separated, no less-- in Belize.

The first season of the show was particularly notable for the amount of good-looking people on-screen. At the same time a lot of them just argued and cried when they were reunited, but you have to expect these things. It lasted two years in the U.S. before FOX pulled the plug.

It remained quite popular internationally.

Answer: The Chair

"The Chair" was a particular favourite of mine, mainly because contestants sat in a chair strapped to a heart monitor and, while in front of a camera, were given no more than about seven questions in an attempt to earn up to $250,000. The problem was that their heart rate couldn't rise above a certain danger level, otherwise their money would diminish.

It was especially a downward spiral when contestants were faced with live animals being dropped on them (including bees). The host was tennis pro John McEnroe and at certain points he would lob tennis balls at the player. A similar show, "The Chamber", was released in 2002 as well.

While also short-lived, it pitted contestants against much more intense discomforts, though for less money. It aired on (you guessed it...) FOX.

Answer: Conveyor Belt of Love

Another instant classic (in the sense that it ended after its premiere), "Conveyor Belt of Love" was truly baffling. Four women sitting in stationary seats got to sit around and simply shop for men on a conveyor belt. The men had thirty seconds to talk about themselves and if a bachelorette wanted him they could claim him before he slid offstage.

They could always swap out for a later man. If more than one woman wanted the same man, THEN, and ONLY THEN, would the man get a choice. After the humiliation, the surviving men got their dates and that was about it.

But hey, at least you didn't have to sit through a whole season of eliminations and build-up!