Game Show on MTV that ran from 1995 to 1998 which turned The Dating Game up to eleven. Hosted by Chris Hardwick and Jenny McCarthy (later replaced by Carmen Electra), the show centered on a single woman choosing a date from among 50 young men, and a single man then taking his turn with 50 women. As with its predecessor, the winning couple was set up on a date after the show.
In each game, the featured contestant, or "Picker", would eliminate undesired dates using six categories ranging from the innocuous (height, weight) to the blatantly sexual ("Bedroom Behavior", "Package"). Once eight or fewer remained, the Picker would start individually asking them Dating Game-style questions, having them perform certain tasks, or both. The "Picker" would then "Keep" or "Dump" each candidate based on his or her answer or performance. The three who survived this would then be asked questions with two possible answers; for each one that matched the Picker's, a candidate would move one step closer to the Picker. Whoever reached the Picker first won the date; in the event of a tie, Hardwick would ask a "closest without going over" question to break it.
Game Show Tropes in use:
- All or Nothing: Just like Dating, you either get the date or you don't.
- Big Win Sirens: Anytime a contestant reached the Picker and thus was matched with him or her, the "NBC sirens"note would go off.
- Carried by the Host: Jenny, to be exact.
- Personnel:
- The Announcer
- Game Show Host: Chris Hardwick, Jenny McCarthy and Carmen Electra.
- Studio Audience: The potential suitors in the "Dating Pool".
- "Pianoboy" Jon Ernst.
This show provides examples of:
- Brown Bag Mask: Some "dumped" contestants were forced to wear one with a big frown face on it.
- Crossover: With Buzzkill, a prank show also airing on MTV at the time. One of the show's performers, upon being rejected, dropped his pants on the way out, showing the female "Picker" his boxers with "YOUR LOSS BABE" emblazoned on the rear.
- One episode of Boy Meets World has Eric appearing on Singled Out, complete with set and host Chris Hardwick.
- Deadpan Snarker: Jenny, and a rather violent one at that.
- It could be argued that Chris was more of a deadpan snarker, whereas Jenny would make rather more unsubtle digs at the contestants.
- Double Entendre: Loads.
- Every Episode Ending / Dance Party Ending: The set was turned into a dance floor for all the day's contestants while the credits rolled.
- Fan Disservice: The show's "mascot", a cigar-smoking baby Cupid with a huge diaper, a golden crown and a 5 o'clock shadow. Appeared in person at least once.
- Fanservice: Because the show wouldn't work if the contestants were unattractive, now, would it?
- Ms. Fanservice: Jenny and Carmen.
- 1-Up: The "Golden Ticket"; starting with the third season, if the Picker gave it to you upon being eliminated in the first round, you got a second chance (and immediately advanced to the second round).
- Passing the Torch: Jenny to Carmen, in the dressing room.
- Refuge in Audacity: PACKAGE. Even more so when it was chosen first.
- Rule of Three: Three finalists per game.
- Signature Sound Effect: * DING* DING* DING* DING* GOLLLLLLLLDEN TICKET!!!
- Toilet Humour: "Dumped" contestants sometimes got a toilet flush sound effect when it happened, and others were forced to wear a toilet seat labeled "DUMPED" around their necks.
