Blind Date

The best thing about this show are the "thought bubbles" and cartoon drawings that supposedly tell what the couples are really thinking. Those are very funny. I have to wonder though--where do they find some of those people? From what they say in the little intro before the cameras start following them on their dates, I get the impression that most of the participants are 1) sex obsessed, 2) have huge egos, 3) very immature, 4) lacking social skills, 5) crazy. Do they even want lasting relationships?

"Blind Date" is one of the better dating shows to come on the scene in a long time. To date, my favorite dating show was "Love Connection", but "Blind Date" comes in at a close 2nd. It's a lot better than shows like "Studs", "The Fifth Wheel', "Elimidate" and the worst one of all "Shipmates". One thing that I've noticed on this show is the candidates that they choose for dates. I don't know where they get these people from! A lot of them just seem to be looking to get some booty. You would think that this would be happening with the young daters, but it seems to be right across the board, even with the older people. I know that most of the Producers of these shows love it when couples don't get along. This makes for better ratings and is more entertaining to the viewer...or so they think. It would be nice if some of the couples really connected, and not just for one night. In past episodes, when they do a follow-up on previous daters, none of them have lead to marriage, or even a long term relationship. Most of the follow-ups have been the same scenario. The couple will maybe go on a few dates after wards, then something comes up and the dating stops. The other point I've noticed, a few times, are the people that go on the show and they are already in a relationship! I assume they are thinking that some talent scout will spot them on the show, and make them a movie or TV offer. Guess what? That is not going to happen. To me, they end up making fools out of themselves when they do this. The other point it could be is that they are looking for the elusive BBD (Bigger & Better Deal). This is fine, but do they have to go on national TV and make a fool out of themselves? The host of "Blind Date", Roger Lodge, is funny. His sarcastic comments and facial expressions are priceless. He is no Chuck Woolery, but he does make the show fun. What really makes this show entertaining are the thought bubbles, and the animated characters that come on screen to show what the daters are really thinking. The "Fifth Wheel" tried doing this too, but "Blind Date" does a better job with it. Even though most of these dating shows seem to follow the same formula, "Blind Date" is entertaining and a lot of fun to watch.

I watch too many of these dating shows; it creates images in my head that many people are going through life partly unaware of the impression they make, and are slightly clueless as to how they related to others. I need to remind myself that TV isn't true reality, since there can be much tinkering behind the scenes.

If we think of the contestants of this show being awful, what do we consider the ones on other shows ( where some feature more than two people leading to competition, extra insults/tension, bickering ).

Roger Lodge is a very good host. Many people on television ( not just dating shows ) just try too hard; they chatter a bit too much and use forced humor ( example: Jillian Barbarie of Ex-treme Dating ). Lodge tries go with the flow and does not force himself on the audience.

I have noticed contestants on dating shows who appear on more than one of them. It's a small, tiny, strange trend of current reality TV. Are these people obsessed with trying to be on these shows? Are they appearing simply because the producers of shows know each other and suggest contestants to each other? Who knows....

When the creators of Blind Date hatched their ingenious idea and convinced Universal they could produce it as a twice a night strip, that was the first victory. The second one was combining it with written comedy. Introducing a pure reality date with no pop-ups would have grown weary by the end of the 1st season, but, right from the first day of shooting the pilot, surely the producers discussed their vision and agreed they needed to give the public a double dose of fun. I never miss an episode this show sucks you in and never lets you go.

The premise is simple: the applicants create a video description of themselves, and the Blind Date team hooks them up. They choose from a list of "activities", then drive a special camera equipped vehicle to their date. After the activity is dinner, then a camera equipped cab ride to a bar, then a cab ride home.

The entire time, we are watching the couple interact. In post-production, they add in thought balloons and clever comments. When I first watched this show, I thought it looked stupid, but a girlfriend convinced me to watch. Now I'm hooked!

The best part of "Blind Date"? I'm not sure there is one. Sometimes you know they hooked up incompatible people, but in general I think they choose couples that look good on paper.

The very few of these dates that work, work well. You can visibly see the connection as it's made. But the majority don't work.

And why don't they work? Many reasons. Is it really true that most guys are so incredibly "on the make"? Some of these guys are absolutely pathetic in their attempts to get their "prize". Laughable.

And some of these women are shallower than a rain puddle. Several times I've seen some really nice, sincere guy getting totally sneered at by his "date" because he isn't wealthy or "attractive" enough.

I would say that this series says more about PEOPLE than any other "reality show". Instead of fake and contrived situations, this is just a low budget documentation of things that people DO in real life.

Seriously, there is no other "reality" program than can even come close to real life as Blind Date does. It's worth watching, it's even worth watching repeats to get details and nuances you may have missed the first time.