The Dating Game

Hosts

Jim Lange (1965–1980) Bob Eubanks (sub, 1978) Elaine Joyce (1986–1987) Jeff MacGregor (1987–1989) Brad Sherwood (1996–1997) Chuck Woolery (1997–1999) Paige Davis (2009 pilot) Zooey Deschanel & Michael Bolton {Also executive producer} (2021)

Announcers

Johnny Jacobs (1965–1980) Tony McClay (sub, 1980) Bob Hilton (1986–1987) Charlie O'Donnell (1987–1989) Virginia Watson (1996–1997) John Cramer (1997–1999) J.J. Surma (2021)

Broadcast

ABC Daytime: 12/20/1965 – 7/6/1973 ABC Primetime: 10/6/1966 – 1/17/1970 Syndication (Weekly): 9/10/1973 – 6/3/1974 (reruns aired until 9/1974) Syndication (Daily): 9/4/1978 – 5/23/1980 (reruns aired until 9/1980) Syndication (Daily): 9/15/1986 – 9/8/1989 Syndication (Daily): 9/9/1996 – 9/1999 Unsold Pilot for CBS: 7/14/2009 ABC Primetime: 6/14/2021 - 8/16/2021

Packagers

Chuck Barris Productions/Barris Industries (1965–1989) Brian Graden Productions (1996–1997) Columbia TriStar Television (1996–1999) Sony Pictures Television (2009-2021) Hard North Media (2021) Passion Films (2021)

Distributors

Station Syndication Inc. (1973–1974) Firestone Syndication (1978–1980) Bel-Air Program Sales/Barris Program Sales (1986–1989) Columbia TriStar Television (1996–1999)

The Dating Game (also known as The New Dating Game, The All-New Dating Game and The Celebrity Dating Game) is the long-running dating game show where one girl or one guy had to choose between three bachelors or bachelorettes by answering provocative questions in order to go out on a date for which the producers pay.

Gameplay

Classic version

Generally the bachelorette would ask a series of questions to each of the three hidden bachelors. The same question could be asked to multiple bachelors. The questions were written in advance by the producers. Certain kinds of questions such as name, age, occupation, and income were not permitted to be asked. The process continued until time ran out. The bachelorette would make her choice based solely on the answers to her questions. After making her choice, the bachelorette met the two unchosen bachelors before meeting the chosen one. When all said and done, the dating couple went out on a dream vacation which was paid by the producers. Occasionally, the bachelor would ask questions to three bachelorettes.

1990s version

For this revival's first season, two formats were used.

The basic format for this show, used throughout the first year, was for the bachelor/bachelorette to pick from two facts about the three potential dates. Once it was picked, the person in question would reveal the reason behind the fact to the hopeful single. After a round of questioning, the bachelor/bachelorette chose their date. All three of the potential dates had their names revealed before the questioning started as well, something that wasn't done on any version of TDG prior.

During a part of the first season, in addition to asking the questions, the bachelor/bachelorette got to see all three contestants at the outset of the game (who all had headphones on so they couldn't hear what their potential date was saying about them), and would pick who they thought was the best looking of the bunch. After that, the question round was conducted in its usual fashion, with the bachelor/bachelorette picking who they thought had the best personality out of the three. After the choices were made, the contestant was then prompted to choose between their choice for best looking or best personality. Sometimes the guy chosen would be the one chosen for both looks & personality; in later shows when that happened he/she won a $500 bonus in addition to the trip.

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This format was mostly disliked by fans of the original show so the next year they switched back to its original format and theme with new host Chuck Woolery at the helm (although now the game featured bachelors questioning bachelorettes more often than the original version).

Celebrity Version

Plays like the original version with two celebrities whom each pick one lucky suitor from a hidden panel of three bachelors/bachelorettes. But the twist here is that the celebrities identity remains hidden in plain sight to their potential suitors who are given clues by hilarious song parodies being performed by Bolton.

Pilots

GSN

In 2008, according to an article from The Hollywood Reporterthe network has taped comediennes Kim Coles (who previously hosted Pay it Off for BET) and Judy Gold respectively to host pilots of this show along with its sister show The Newlywed Game even though for this show they already had a female host with Elaine Joyce in 1986 until 1987 as they would incorporate modern elements like online dating sites. Michael Davies would executive produce both shows through his overall deal at Sony Pictures Television. However, this never came to fruition.

CBS

In 2009, a pilotwas taped for the network in order to replace the now-cancelled, long-running soap opera Guiding Light hosted by Paige Davis of Trading Spaces fame as a companion to either The Joker's Wild, The $1,000,000 Pyramid or Let's Make a Deal hosted by Wayne Brady but has lost in the process.

Celebrities

Many celebrities appeared on the show over the years; here are a few of them:

• Adam West – 1966
• Peter Duel - 1966
• Jeremy Clyde – 1966 (of Chad and Jeremy fame)
• Michael Richards - 1967
• Danny Bonaduce – 1972
• Kathryn Minner, "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena" – 1966
• Kathy Garver – 1966; December 31, 1970 and January 1, 1971
• Sally Field and Robert Vaughn – 1966
• John Ritter – 1967
• Groucho Marx – 1967 (as a prank on his daughter Melinda, who was Bachelorette #1)
• Donna Loren – 1967
• Paul Lynde – 1968
• Richard Dawson – 1968
• Bill Bixby – 1968 (he appeared on the show four times and was never selected)
• Deep Purple – 1968

Steve Martin appeared twice on THE DATING GAME, in 1968 and 1970.

• Steve Martin – 1968 & 1970
• McLean Stevenson – 1968
• Strawberry Alarm Clock – 1968 (Drummer Randy Seol appears as one of the three eligible bachelors and is chosen)
• Jackson Bostwick – 1968
• Joanna Cameron – Late 1960s
• Farrah Fawcett – 1969
• Iron Butterfly – 1969 (Bassist Lee Dorman appears as one of the eligible bachelors and is chosen)
• The Carpenters – July 1970
• Ann B. Davis – 1970 and 1971
• Maureen McCormick – 1971 and 1973
• Brandon Cruz (The Courtship of Eddie's Father) – 1972
• Barry Williams – 1972
• Ron Howard – 1972

Michael Jackson performs “Rockin’ Robin” during the show’s opening.

• Michael Jackson – 1972 (He performed “Rockin’ Robin” during the intro; he appeared in the second half of the show.)
• Butch Patrick – 1972
• Vincent Price – 1972
• Kenny Rogers and The First Edition (Mary Arnold and Terry Williams both did episodes) – 1972
• H.R. Pufnstuf – December 25, 1972
• Dick Clark on "The New" Dating Game - 1973 (He was finding a date for one of his dancers on American Bandstand)
• Arnold Schwarzenegger on "The New" Dating Game – 1973
• Suzanne Somers on "The New" Dating Game – 1973
• Willie Aames – 1978
• Christopher McDonald – 1978
• Murray Langston (as The Unknown Comic) – 1978
• Rip Taylor – 1978 (the 3 bachelorettes were all fat and ugly, because of his own game, The $1.98 Beauty Show)
• Famous Amos – 1978
• Teri Copley – 1978
• Tom Netherton (The Lawrence Welk Show) – 1978
• Andy Kaufman (as Baji Kingan) – 1978
• Jimmie Walker – 1978
• Robert Wuhl – 1978
• Phil Hartman – 1979
• Paul Reubens (as Pee Wee Herman) – 1979
• Bob Saget – 1979 and 1980
• Jennifer Granholm, current Governor of Michigan
• Cuba Gooding Jr. – 1986
• Dick Martin
• Don Johnson
• Tom Selleck
• Oprah Winfrey
• Michael Richards
• Jim Carrey
• Michael G. Brown (General Hospital) – 1988
• Cheryl Hines - 1996

International Versions

Countries that have done their own versions of The Dating Game include:

• Australia (as Blind Date and Perfect Match)
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• Columbia
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hungary
• Ireland (as Blind Date)
• Israel
• Italy
• Latvia
• Mexico
• Poland
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Turkey
• United Kingdom (as Blind Date)

Additional Trivia

The ABC Primetime version exists. No Daytime shows prior to 1967 exist.

Future sportscaster Al Michaels was once a contestant coordinator on the show.
TCDG had to be made for ABC due to a racial problem with former host of The Bachelor franchise, Chris Harrison.
The ABC 2021 premiere halves the ratings of The Bachelorette.
In the intro of the 2021 version, a small woodgrain television (seen down here in the bottom of this page) shows the colorful ABC logo references the show that originally aired on the network in the 60s until the 70s with the late Jim Lange as host.

Despite a short-lived lifespan, Deschanel is the second female host of The Dating Game franchise, the first was Elaine Joyce in the 80s.

Rating

Music

1965-1974

• Main – Chuck Barris
• Background Music – "Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf" by King Richard's Fluegel Knights
• Bachelor Intro cue – "Spanish Flea" by Herb Alpert
• Bachelorette Intro cue – "Whipped Cream" by Herb Alpert
• Date cue – "Lollipops and Roses" by Herb Alpert
• Prize Intro cue – "Boston Bust-Out" by Jimmy McGriff
• Think cue – "Ladyfingers" by Herb Alpert
• Think cue – "Lemon Tree" by Herb Alpert
• Times Up cue – "Love Sickness" by Milton Delugg
• Turntable cue – "Fantail" by Count Basie

Along with various contemporary & popular tunes during the years, some which can be heard here.

1972-1980

• Open Theme – Chuck Barris
• Close Theme – "Little Rosie" by Chuck Barris
• Bachelor Chooser Intro cue – "Spanish Flea" by Herb Alpert
• Bachelorette Chooser Intro cue – "Whipped Cream" by Herb Alpert
• Post-Bachelor Intro cue – "Mother Trucker" by Chuck Barris
• Prize Intro cue – "Boston Bust-Out" by Jimmy McGriff

1986-1989

• Original – Milton Delugg
• Alternative – Chuck Barris

1997-1999

Main – Steve Kaplan

Inventor

Chuck Barris

National Advertising

Clarion Communications (1986–1987)
Barris Advertising Sales (1987–1989)

Studios

ABC Television Center, Los Angeles, California (1965–1966)
ABC Vine Street Theater, Hollywood, California (1966–1974)
KTLA Golden West Studios, Los Angeles, California (1978–1980)
Studio 7, Sunset Gower Studios, Los Angeles, California (1986–1989)
Hollywood Center Studios, Los Angeles, California (1996–1999)
Sony Pictures Studios, 10202 W. Washington Blvd. Culver City, California (2021)

Additional Pages

The Dating Game/The Dating Game In Popular Culture
The Dating Game/Quotes & Catchphrases
The Dating Game/Merchandise‎
The Dating Game/Gallery

Related Pages

Three on a Date
Murder Made Me Famous: The Dating Game Killer
The Dating Game Killer
48 Hours Mystery: Rodney Alcala - The Killing Game
20/20: The Dating Game Killer
Dating Death

Similar Shows/Spinoffs

• Double Up – a kid's version of The Dating Game with J.D. Roth as the host.
• Singled Out – a spinoff similar to The Dating Game but with 100 bachelors & bachelorettes (50 of each).
• Bzzz! – a spinoff similar to The Dating Game but at a much faster tempo

Links

Official Website (Sherwood era/via Internet Archive)
Official Website (Woolery era/via Internet Archive)
Official Website (Deschanel & Bolton era)
The Dating Game @ Tim's TV Showcase
The Dating Game W/Brad Sherwood @ Game Show Garbage

YouTube Videos

What's Bob Eubanks doing here?
Promo for The All New Dating Game (Elaine Joyce)
Promo for The All New Dating Game (Jeff MacGregor)