Games for singles M-Z
Shows are listed alphabetically
and analyzed on the "Movie Western Scale" (see below). For more detailed
information on, or pictures of, some of these shows, read The Encyclopedia
of TV Game Shows, available at most game show fan's houses and also
at your local bookstore. Opinions expressed are mine, and possibly
shared.
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NIGHT GAMES PERFECT MATCH, THE PERFECT MATCH PERFECT SCORE, A PERSONALS SINGLED OUT STRAIGHT TO THE HEART STUDS |
Hosted by: Dave Hull, later Jimmie "Dynomite" Walker
The Premise: I think this might be the only show where you as a contestant had no say in the matter. The host and six contestants, three male and three female, were all shielded from each other, facing forward. The host would ask the contestants probing questions, and would start eliminating players who wouldn't fit in his "matchmaking", bringing the panel down to four, then three, then one man and one woman. The lucky couple set up by the host could win prizes and a trip by one player matching one of the three pre-recorded answers of the other's likes and dislikes.
The Good: Beats me.
The Bad: This late-night show sent many sleeping before it was over. Also, everyone faced forward like a police line-up.
The Ugly: The original host, radio personality Dave Hull, was Dave Dull. So, he was replaced with Jimmie Walker ?!?! Like I'll let "J.J." set me up on a date, while wearing a stupid wizard's outfit. And we had to believe Jimmie had the same experience and mind-probing of Dave Hull.
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Hosted by: Jeff Marder
The Premise: Kind of like LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT . Three men and three women numerically rated each other's answers to the host's games and questions. The man and woman with the highest numerical score could earn a trip if they matched answers.
The Good: Never saw it, can't say much.
The Bad: Ditto
The Ugly: The show was canned on a Friday, and the next Monday Jeff Marder had a new relationship show on CBS, A PERFECT SCORE .
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Hosted by: Dick Enberg (yes, the now sportscasting Dick Enberg)
The Premise: Three men and three women are asked revealing questions by the host. At the end of the show, the players had to guess which other player a IBM computer selected as their "perfect match", with a prize of $200 if two contestants picked each other.
The Good: Look, in one year we went to a computer picking dates to a computer running a mission to Jupiter (bless you Stanley). This show let audiences know that their was more to the games of love than THE DATING GAME , but…
The Bad: To err is human, to really foul it up requires a computer! Especially a Mac!
The Ugly: Dick Enberg actually hosted a few game shows too! Only good call was "Sports Challenge" now on Classic Sports.
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Hosted by: Ken Ober
The Premise: This show only qualifies because at the end a couple is formed, but it is on ESPN - so it must be about SPORTS! Two women compete against each other in two rounds of matching answers on the game board (like "Wipeout") to questions read by the host. Then two men competed against each other. The winning contestant of each round played together to match some more answers for a vacation - together.
The Good: Ken "Remote Control" Ober in front of the camera, where he belongs. Adequate job hosting "Make Me Laugh" on Comedy Central, now hosted by Mark Cohen. Ken's free for Remote Control!!!
The Bad: Watching the women ending up with scores in the 20-30s and guys with scores in the 80-100s (or good if you're a male chauvinist).
The Ugly: Why? When you think of ESPN, you don't think of game shows! But, that one that took place in the sports bar "Sports on Tap" was pretty good.
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Hosted by: Jeff Marder
The Premise: Like THE DATING GAME , but three friends you brought along got to ask the questions and pick of the possible dates. The final segment of the show was taped after you went on the date and we all find out how it went. Thus, the entire process is collapsed into 24 minutes. Kinda like a few of my dates.
The Good: I liked the idea of having your friends set you up. I liked this idea so much, I used part of it for my own show. (See the link on the main page).
The Bad: I don't like the idea of taping the last part of the show after you went on the date. Why not tell how it went on a future episode, like LOVE CONNECTION did? This gives me a reason to watch the show regularly! Well, not really.
The Ugly: Cheap set made from those glass building blocks, and a host who had to explain how he switched shows one weekend.
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Hosted by: Michael "Getting Ready To Match The Stars" Burger
The Premise: Three women tried to predict how a man answered questions. The woman with the most matched became the man's date. Then they played a compatibility game with a couple from a previous show. The level of compatibility was measured by matching answers with their date. The trip increased in value with more compatibility - from a jaunt in Hollywood (right up the 405) to places further away.
The Good: The best of the three late-night relationship shows aired by CBS, it lasted over a year. Good game and a set that actually looked decent. That's not saying much because they all were axed for David Letterman!
The Bad: Fun but silly (read questionable intelligence level) end game. I liked the fact that this show could send you across the street (like BZZZ! or LOVE CONNECTION ) or across the ocean (THE DATING GAME ).
The Ugly: The show was taped at a hotel at LAX! Executive producer Rick Rosner would tape his next show at another hotel - "Caesar's Challenge" from Las Vegas.
Trivia: Host Michael Burger then moved to daytime in ABC's "Mike and Maty" and FAM's "Home and Family". Personals' producer Harry Friedman, who began as a question writer for "Hollywood Squares", now produces "Wheel of Fortune".
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Hosted by: Chris Hardwick and somewhat hosted by Carmen Electra, (first co-host was Jenny McCarthy)
The Premise: Stay with me on this. Before the game, fifty (like how can you tell?) possible dates write down their answers to 6 two-answer questions like "Blondes or Brunettes". In Round 1, the contestant sees these 6 questions and answers and eliminates answers he/she doesn't like - and the possible dates who gave that answer. The contestant can spare one of them by handing them a "Ticket to Round 2" as all the rejects parade in front of them. This continues until 5-8 of the dates are left. These 5-8 introduce themselves using false names. The contestant calls on them one at a time by number and has them perform a small stunt, without seeing them or their performance. Based on the audience reaction, the contestant rejects them, or lets them be one of 3 who advance to the final round. The 3 remaining are asked two-choice questions. The contestant holds up their pre-given answer, and dates who said that answer move one "step" closer to the contestant. The date who reaches the contestant first goes on the date with them - usually in LA or to San Diego. Whew! I don't think scripts for music videos are this long!
The Good: Well, you can't say as a contestant you didn't have enough to choose from. And for the males in the audience, Carmen. If you're a woman who watches the show for Chris Hardwick, seek help. Beavis and Butt-Head are sexier that Chris.
The Bad: Fast, fast, sometimes too fast. I would also watch the show more if the stunts weren't so lame (I don't like stunt shows). But it does give Carmen Electra a chance at camera time.
The Ugly: Chris Hardwick's last job was hosting another show on MTV, "Trashed" (remember?). First co-host Jenny McCarthy left for her own sketch comedy/variety show (also on MTV, now a defunct sitcom on NBC).
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Hosted by: Michael Burger, again!
The Premise: Three men and three women answered questions and chose the answer from the opposite sex they liked the most. The man and the woman who selected each other the most played a compatibility round for a exotic vacation. Sounds just like a few shows on this list.
The Good: In addition to a possible date, contestants won money each time a contestant selected their answer.
The Bad: Probably a few things, but I never saw this show.
The Ugly: Michael Burger moved to hosting another relationship show! It's the Jeff MacGregor curse! (Say with a thick Irish accent)
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Hosted by: Mark "Monty who?" DeCarlo
The Premise: Two men are sent out on dates with the same three women. They are all brought to the show and the men must guess which woman said what about them and matching answers received a beanbag heart from the host, which the guy placed on his lower leg (read scorekeeping). In round two the men had to guess which man the woman said was "more likely to…" for more stuffed hearts. The men could receive an all-expense paid date to a location of their choice if he could pick which woman wanted to go out with him again. If both could do this, whoever had the most hearts won.
The Good: I feel this was the first relationship show to realize that the TV audience wasn't "making whoopee" like the 1960's. Innuendo filled the air. The success of this show prompted many other relationship shows, but none ran for 2+ years like STUDS.
The Bad: I remember my local station airing STUDS at 3:00 pm. Now only if we had that ratings system in place back then, the station wouldn't have brainwashed the kids who missed GI JOE cartoons by one channel.
The Ugly: Host Mark DeCarlo kept his FOX allegiance and hosted "Big Deal", a terrible (in my humble opinion) "Let's Make a Deal" revival. Speaking of game shows, Mark DeCarlo was a contestant on the 1990's "Tic-Tac-Dough" (he lost his first game) But I have been informed he went "all the way" on "Sale of The Century".
Trivia: Ron Goldman, a waiter who gained notoriety by being murdered on the same night as Nicole Brown Simpson, was a contestant.
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