Nowadays, anyone with enough collagen injected into their face and a history of psychiatric trauma can land a date with a D-list celeb on national television. But there once was a more innocent time when average lovelorn folks used the power of broadcast TV for good, not to ride on the back of a motorcycle with Bret Michaels. Here are some of the original dating shows that eventually led to the surge of home wrecking reality drama that we're accustomed to today.
The Dating Game (1965-1973)
The forerunner of dating shows was created by TV mogul Chuck Barris. In the game, a bachelorette would question three hidden candidates, and then choose one to go out on a date with that would be paid for by the show. The Dating Game featured an array of celebrity contestants including Burt Reynolds, Michael Jackson, and Farrah Fawcett. Mr. Barris later revealed in his autobiography that the whole thing was apparently a cover for his covert CIA activities. Yep, your guess is as good as mine.
The Dating Game (1965-1973)
The forerunner of dating shows was created by TV mogul Chuck Barris. In the game, a bachelorette would question three hidden candidates, and then choose one to go out on a date with that would be paid for by the show. The Dating Game featured an array of celebrity contestants including Burt Reynolds, Michael Jackson, and Farrah Fawcett. Mr. Barris later revealed in his autobiography that the whole thing was apparently a cover for his covert CIA activities. Yep, your guess is as good as mine.
