What’s this show called … Dating in the Dark?

I’ll admit that there are instances when I use my column as an opportunity to view, and subsequently poke fun at, a show I’ve never seen and otherwise never would. Like this one … Dating in the Dark? Really?

Let me explain to you what my “book by its cover” judgment is based on: have we been reduced to scraping so low on the “finding love on TV” scale (already a low bar itself) that we’re matchmaking in the dark? Is that the only novelty that remains? The show takes three guys and three girls and matches them up for love in a dark room, where looks are taken out of the evaluation equation. Or so they’d have us believe.

In the season two premiere we met Joey (a straight shooter from New Jersey), Dave (insecure about his looks but all about his personality), Storm (a former player looking for love), Natasha (admittedly superficial), Jessica (fat as a kid), and Kym (picky about looks). Already things weren’t looking good.

Oh, and there’s a host, who does absolutely nothing save for directing the groups to their next destination. I’m sure it would save some nice scratch to notify them via e-mail, flyer, or even carrier pigeon. He wouldn’t be missed.

Anyway, step one was a group date, where the six singles met for the first time in the dark room. Joey got things off to a wonderful start when he asked the ladies how they would treat their bodies during pregnancy — eat away, or be weight conscious. Classy guy … I think maybe he got rejected from Jersey Shore. You can imagine what people cut from that show must be like.

Anyway, next came the best friend interviews, where the singles got to hear from one another’s closest friends. The theory that girls with hot friends must be hot should be a standard that guys are held to as well — how did Storm’s friend give the ladies the impression that Storm was good looking?

Next came the one-on-ones, where each guy got the opportunity for a date with each girl. Joey spent his date with Natasha drinking, and was turned off by her plump wrists and what he referred to as her “weight issue.” He called her a floater. Okay, aside from the fact that we could see her so knew that to be far from the truth, he said what? Now I’m wondering why he wouldn’t make the Jersey Shore cut.

Next came the compatibility dates, where the guys and girls were paired up based on the compatibility of the answers they gave on their questionnaires, as well as the “opinions of experts.” And after that was ladies’ choice, each girl inviting one guy to meet them in the dark. At that point Natasha moved on from Joey and made a move for Jessica’s Dave (it’s more interesting when they aren’t paired off so soon, isn’t it?).

The reveal seems like a totally embarrassing experience. Each person is hit with spotlights, while the other remains in the dark, protecting the lit person from the dark person’s reaction. Which is fine, but being on display like that is where the show went from arguably credible and somewhat respectable to being all about looks.

Storm and Kym had a great time in the dark, but she was ready to drop him because she saw his earring. And Dave was into Jessica, but was swayed by Natasha’s body.

In the end Kym overcame her hesitations and went to meet Storm (update: the two are not dating but are in touch), while Dave picked Jessica, walking right past Natasha’s room with her (they’re no longer dating either), but by then the good will the show had built up over the course of the episode was lost for good.

I wasn’t about to pick the show up, but at least I could have walked away thinking I’d misjudged it. But dark or light, this one’s all about looks too.

“If I’m 78% compatible with that, then I need to change a lot about who I am.” – Natasha on Joey

“I’ll let you gain the ten.” – Joey, on allowing his 100 pound ideal woman to gain some weight

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Aug 16, 2010 @ 13:30 EST5EDT