Gone are the days when Pinoy viewers were usually entertained by dance competitions, and singing contests or drama specials on television. Audiences now go for TV programs that show ordinary people or celebrities engaged in different kinds of challenges, performing without any given script in popular programs called "Reality TV."

This program genre started in the U.S. in the 1940s, although it wasn't called reality TV yet. An Internet website mentions Candid Camera, which debuted in 1948, and has since been called "the granddaddy of the reality TV genre." Through a hidden camera, the program caught "unsuspecting ordinary people reacting to pranks." In the ‘50s came several game shows.

Reality television has evolved through the years with other categories, like the face-and-wardrobe makeover and house-renovation shows, even the culinary and fashion-design extreme competitions, which we see today.

Since the 1980s and more prominently in this decade's first years, Philippine television has followed the reality trend. Giant networks ABS-CBN and GMA-7 are now open to franchising international reality shows to produce local versions, like Survivor Philippines, Philippine Idol, Fear Factor, and Pinoy Big Brother.

But even before American reality shows captured Pinoy audiences, local TV stations already had their own reality programs. These might not be as big and popular as American Idol and Big Brother, but they did build up the local reality-show genre to become a staple in TV viewing today.

PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) looks back at these reality shows, particularly those that fall under elimination/game shows. Some shows that are still going strong are mentioned as well. See if you can still remember the old ones.

GAME SHOW. In the early 2000s, local adaptations of Who Wants to be a Millionaire and The Weakest Link were big hits. After dinner, Pinoys would set their place in front of the TV screen and answer the host's questions as if they were one of the studio contestants.

The success of these shows may have inspired the ABS-CBN to create its own game show called Game KNB? Since its first playdate in 2001, this noontime game show and its title have gone through several changes. Kris Aquino first appeared in Game KNB, which was then changed to Milyon, Milyon Na, Game KNB? in 2002. The following year, it became Next Level Na, Game KNB? Now it's Pilipinas, Game KNB? with new host Edu Manzano.

Competing in the early afternoon slot is the newcomer show called Da Big Show, which is hosted by Ogie Alcasid. While Game KNB tests the mental alertness of the contestants, Da Big Show needs participants who are physically fit for their challenges.

In Da Big Show, contestants play traditional Pinoy games with a twist. Four teams compete in a series of games with the objective of being the last team standing. To add excitement to each game, gigantic props are used instead of the usual things needed in traditional games.

FEAR-CENTRIC. Even before Fear Factor was introduced by Endemol in 2001, the Philippines already had shows that challenged contestants mentally and physically. The participants were not first-timers, unlike in Fear Factor. They were called the "King and Queen" of the things they do-eating chilis, putting nails onto the wood using only hands, and even eating blades.

In previous programs of the variety show Eat Bulaga, a segment featured people who had unbelievable skills, like eating the most number of chili peppers, peeling a coconut only by gnawing the husk with one's strong teeth, stopping the blade of a whirring electric fan with the tongue or having a jeepney run over one's stomach. These people became part of the Pinoy Records, which was based on the Guinness Book of World Records.

ABS-CBN also had Pinoy Exposed, hosted by Marc Logan and JV Villar. This show also featured ordinary Pinoys with strange and unusual abilities. This was followed by another program called Kakasa Ka Ba?, hosted by Connie Sison and JV Villar, that challenged ordinary people to do extraordinary stunts and other feats.

And who would forget Extra Challenge (2000)? It was a mix of Survivor, Amazing Race, and Fear Factor, having different sets of challenges for its contestants. There were stunts, time-bound challenges, and even unusual dishes prepared for the challengers, who were mostly celebrities.

Paolo Bediones earned his reputation as a good host through this program. Some believe he deserves to host of the upcoming Survivor Philippines because of his performance in Extra Challenge.