The Dating Game is an American television show that was first aired in 1965. The show ran for over a decade and was one of the most popular TV shows of its time. The concept of the show was simple one bachelor or bachelorette would choose from three potential dates, who they could not see. The show was a hit among viewers and helped launch the careers of many celebrities.

The Concept of the Show

The Dating Game was a game show format where a bachelor or bachelorette would ask questions to three contestants who were vying for their attention. The contestants would sit on one side of a partition while the bachelor or bachelorette would sit on the other side. The bachelor or bachelorette would ask a series of questions to the contestants, who were not seen by the person asking the questions. After the questions were asked, the bachelor or bachelorette would choose their date based on their answers.

The Hosts

The original host of The Dating Game was Jim Lange, who hosted the show from 1965 until 1980. Lange was known for his affable personality and his ability to charm both the contestants and the audience. He was a staple of American television during his time on the show and helped make The Dating Game one of the most popular TV shows of its time.

After Lange left the show, it was hosted by a variety of hosts, including Elaine Joyce, Jeff MacGregor, Brad Sherwood, Chuck Woolery, and others. However, none of these hosts were able to capture the charm and appeal of Jim Lange.

The Contestants

The contestants on The Dating Game were typically young men and women who were looking for love. Many of them were aspiring actors, models, or performers who saw The Dating Game as a way to get exposure and make connections. Some contestants went on to have successful careers in show business, including Farrah Fawcett, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Jackson, and Steve Martin.

The Legacy of The Dating Game

The Dating Game was a groundbreaking show that helped popularize the game show genre. It was one of the first shows to use a format where contestants were asked questions and eliminated based on their answers. This format has since been used in many other shows, including Jeopardy!, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and others.

The Dating Game also helped launch the careers of many celebrities. Farrah Fawcett, for example, gained national attention when she appeared on the show in the late 1960s. This exposure helped her land a role on the TV series Charlie's Angels, which made her a household name.

The Controversies

Despite its popularity, The Dating Game was not without controversy. In 1978, one contestant named Cheryl Bradshaw chose a man named Rodney Alcala as her date. Alcala turned out to be a serial killer who had already murdered several women at the time of his appearance on the show. After Bradshaw chose him as her date, Alcala went on to kill several more women before he was finally caught and imprisoned.

Another controversy arose in the late 1960s when a contestant named Tom Selleck appeared on the show. Selleck had been drafted into the Vietnam War at the time, but he had not yet been deployed. When he appeared on The Dating Game, he wore his Army uniform and spoke about his upcoming deployment. This led to accusations that he was using his military service to gain sympathy from the audience and win the game.

The End of an Era

The Dating Game eventually went off the air in 1986 after a long and successful run. However, it has continued to live on in popular culture through parodies, tributes, and references in other TV shows and movies. Today, it is remembered as one of the most iconic TV shows of its time and a beloved part of American pop culture history.