ElimiDATE

infobox television
show_name = ElimiDATE
format = Reality, Game Show
runtime = 30 minutes
country = USA
network = SYN
first_aired = September 17, 2001
last_aired = September 8, 2006
num_seasons = 5
num_episodes =
website = http://elimidate.warnerbros.com/
imdb_id = 0303579
tv_com_id = 14639

"elimiDATE" was a television dating reality show in which one contestant chooses between four contestants of the opposite sex by eliminating them one by one in three total rounds. On August 11 2006, it was announced that the show would not be renewed for the 2006-07 season due to low ratings, and the show went out of syndication after September 5, 2006.

Information

The syndicated program premiered on September 17, 2001 and was produced by Dawn Syndicated Productions in association with Telepictures Productions, and distributed by Warner Bros. Television Distribution, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. The show was produced initially by Alex Duda and Andrew Scott. While Alex ran the show, Andrew produced most of the memorable episodes. In 2003, Andrew left Elimidate. As in that year, the show's ratings fell. Soon after that, the show was canceled.

Nationwide, it was broadcast on cable late nights on Superstation WGN. As of 2007, viewers can watch episodes of elimiDATE on AOL's free video-streaming channel, In2TV.

The show was popular due to it being designed to be aired around or past midnight, when their target audience was just coming home from being out or ending their studies for the evening. It developed a cult following of sorts among college students nationwide.

Format

The contestant (sometimes female, but usually male) meet their four dates one by one, and then give their first impression in a confessional-style cut scene. The other four contestants then size each other up along with the contestant within their own confessional scenes.

The group of five is cut one-by-one each round and in each round the group usually goes to a different place. The show starts out in the late afternoon at a public place (e.g. a city park or restaurant). Then, when there are only two suitors left, the setting moves to a hot tub or VIP area of a club where different sexual actions are apt to happen.

Typically, the contestants are very competitive and direct insulting comments towards one another many times during an episode. There are rare cases of fighting, but "catty" bickering is the major draw of the show. The extremity of some of the cattiness suggests handling and line-feeding from producers, and contestants respond in to these situations in interview sequences filmed after the fact. Most eliminations are preceded by some variation of the phrase "I liked everybody but unfortunately the name of the game is 'elimiDATE', so I have to make a cut. So I decided to cut...". Contestants who are cut have the opportunity to react to their dismissal. Many, who are often clearly intoxicated, usually insulting the contestant, claiming "He/she wasn't my type, anyway." Although the four suitors usually compete intensely for the main contestant, there was at least one instance in which two females suitors left with each other because they were so disgusted with the male contestant.

Initially, episodes rotated between Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City, but the popularity of the program encouraged the producers to film episodes in other cities. Episodes were filmed in over three dozen cities, including Baltimore, Chicago, Columbus, Little Rock, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Raleigh and Sacramento, and the syndicators usually received strong support from their affiliate stations to find contestants for the series within their cities through casting calls.

elimiDATE Deluxe

Coincidentally, a network version of Elimidate aired concurrent with the syndicated run called "ElimiDate Deluxe" on the WB for the 2001-2002 season, but was dropped after just a few airings.

UK Version

In 2002 a short lived British version aired on ITV, presented by former Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona. It generated a little controversy when contestant Donovan Russell lodged a complaint with the Broadcasting Standards Commission alleging that the programme was 'fixed' and contestants were told in advance who to pick. Although the complaint was not upheld, the series was dropped mid-way through its run.

External links

* [http://video.aol.com/video-category/elimidate/103258 Watch elimiDATE on In2TV]

References