Dating Shows

Reality dating shows are game shows that incorporate a variety of matchmaking systems and services in the form of a game with clear cut rules. These matchmaking systems on different shows vary in many ways each with their own twist.

The First Dating Show

“Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?” came from TV Producer, Mike Darnell who wanted to replicate the success of the game show, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” but also wanted to highlight two of America’s vulnerabilities: love and money.

The show had unmistakable flaws including a restraining order which had surfaced after the show had premiered between the frontman/groom, Rick Rockwell and his ex-girlfriend who had alleged physical abuse (which Rockwell had denied).

Despite all of the ups and downs of the show, this proved that people would sign up to play out their love lives on national television and viewers would watch.

Reality Television in the Social Media Age, especially with reality dating shows, has given a platform to hundreds of social influencers hoping to “build their brand” and it has worked.

The Bachelor

One of the few shows that still commands a live viewing audience, The Bachelor, hasn’t changed their formula much over the 20 years that the show has been running. The premise of the show is for 30 women to compete to marry a man they have only known for a few months.

Many viewers find that they enjoy watching because it helps view relationships from an outsider's perspective and apply the knowledge they learn to their own relationships. One example of this is how Bachelorette Hannah Brown handled one of the suitors of her season, Luke P, try to “gaslight” and manipulate her.

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