Singled Out

Infobox Television
show_name = Singled Out


caption =
show_name_2 = "MTV's Singled Out"
genre = Game Show / Romance / Dating / Non Fiction
creator =
writer = Steve Freeman
Dave Polsky
Steve Sussman
Michael Rotman
Mark Cronin
Jonathan Bourne
Jennifer Heftler
Lisa Page
Andrew Robbins
Rachelle Romberg
Mark Sanderson
director =
creative_director =
developer = MTV Productions
presenter =
starring = Chris Hardwick
Jenny McCarthy
Carmen Electra
Jon Ernst
Royale Watkins
Jonathan Bourne
Jennifer Bangs
Tom Dorfmeister
Spencer Emmons
Kurt Engstrom
Randal Malone
Mark Phinney
Mike Ricca
voices =
narrated =
theme_music_composer =
opentheme =
endtheme =
composer = Jon Ernst (pianoboy)
Caprice Crane
country = USA
language = English
num_seasons =
num_episodes =
list_episodes =
executive_producer = Gary Auerbach
co_exec =
producer = Mark Cronin
Nancy McDonald
Sharon Sussman
Burt Wheeler
supervising_producer = Randy Trager
asst_producer = Johnny Mansbach
Christopher Griffie
co-producer =
editor = Eric Blazak
Brian Szot (post-production assistant)
story_editor =
location = Glendale Studios - 1239 S. Glendale Avenue, Glendale, California, USA
cinematography =
camera = Michael Yarish (still photographer)
runtime = 30 minutes (including commercials)
network = MTV
picture_format = 1.33 : 1
audio_format = Stereo
first_run =
first_aired = June 5, 1995
last_aired = May 22, 1998
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related = "Buzzkill"
"Boy Meets World"
website =
production_website =
imdb_id = 0112164
tv_com_id = 3600

"Singled Out" is a game show that ran on MTV from 1995-1998 and on America Online in a separate virtual version. Each television episode featured a group of 50 men and a group of 50 women competing for a date with one main contestant of the opposite sex.

Hosts

The original hosts were Chris Hardwick and Jenny McCarthy. Hardwick had previously hosted a short-lived MTV game show entitled "Trashed". McCarthy landed her place on the show thanks to her appearance in "Playboy Magazine", but it was "Singled Out" that made her a celebrity. When she left the show to star in her own sketch comedy show called "The Jenny McCarthy Show", MTV hired Carmen Electra, another "Playboy" model, to replace her. Electra co-hosted "Singled Out" for a season and a half. MTV VJ Idalis DeLeón filled-in for Jenny McCarthy when McCarthy was stricken with laryngitis.

Gameplay

Each game began with one main contestant, the "Picker", being escorted onto the set blindfolded in front of the 50 potential dates in the "Dating Pool" while the announcer described him/her. The Picker was then led to a seat facing away from the Dating Pool and further divided from the potential dates by a wall.

Categories round

The Picker was presented with a board showing six categories, which ranged from physical attributes to preferences in love-making to leisure activities. They generally were expressed in a humorous style, often with various pop-culture references. After choosing a category, two or three choices were listed (for example, a category on hair might be divided into blonde, brunette, and redhead), and the Picker was asked to eliminate one of the choices. After eliminating a choice, all the contestants who fit that choice left the Dating Pool, in view of the Picker. This process was repeated until 5 to 8 potentials were left, at which point they advanced to the next round.

In the third season, a "Golden Ticket" was introduced, which allowed the Picker to save one eliminated player as he or she walked in front of him on the way out of the studio. This contestant automatically advanced to the semifinals. For episodes taped outside, the "Golden Ticket" was replaced with a "Golden Lifesaver", with the same rules.

"Keep 'em or Dump 'em" round

At that point, the Picker asked a series of questions which ranged from "Dating Game"-style questions (example, "if you had me alone in a limousine for 3 hours, what would you do to me?") to stunt-oriented questions (example, hitting a paddle ball a number of times, with the female host relaying the potential date's performance to the Picker). If the Picker was satisfied with the answer or performance, he or she would "keep" the contestant, advancing them to the final round; if the Picker was not satisfied, he or she would "dump" the contestant, eliminating him or her from further play. "Dumped" contestants were not shown to the Picker as in the first round, but were instead marked with some sort of prop, such as a toilet seat around the neck, a bag with a sad face on it on the male player's head, or a pageant sash labeled "Dumped". This round continued until three contestants were "kept", or enough players were "dumped" to leave three. If the potential date received the golden ticket, then sometimes the host would show him or her to the picker.

The Final Cut

The wall was removed from behind the Picker to reveal a walkway with several spaces behind him or her. The three finalists started on the back step, and were asked a series of two-choice questions. Each time a contestant's answer matched the Picker's, the player advanced one space on the walkway; the first player to make it to the circle on which the Picker was sitting won a date with the Picker. In case of a tie, a final question was asked to the tying contestants, such as "How many girls did (Picker's name) say he dated last year?"; the contestant who guessed the closest without going over won the date.

The Reveal

After a couple had been made, the two contestants were placed back-to-back while Hardwick read a description of the winning player to the Picker; the contestants were then turned around to meet each other for the first time, and their trip and prizes were described to them by the announcer.

Two games were played per show, first with a woman picking from 50 single men, then with a man picking from 50 single women.

pecial episodes

Several episodes were shown with out-of-the-ordinary rules, guest appearances, or other notable occurrences:
* Twins' Day - Twins appeared as pickers
* Loser's Show - Where losers from previous shows got a second chance. In addition, a contestant who was "dumped" on one or more previous episodes was featured as the Picker.
* Spring Break - Special Spring Break episodes were produced (in fact, this is where the show got its start).
* At least two episodes featured gay and lesbian contestants.
* Personalities from other television shows appeared as contestants. For example, Michael Bower (Donkey Lips from the Nickelodeon series "Salute Your Shorts") appeared as a potential date on one show.
* The show fell victim to a prank from "Buzzkill", another MTV series airing at the time. One of the three pranksters posed as a potential contestant with a female Picker; upon being eliminated, the prankster dropped his pants in front of the Picker to reveal a pair of boxer shorts with "YOUR LOSS BABE" emblazoned on the buttocks.

Books

The show served as the basis for a book: "Singled Out Guide to Dating" (MTV Books 1996) by Lynn Harris and J.D. Heiman. This tie-in advice book was actually two books in one, a "His" side (with Chris Hardwick on the cover) and, turned over, a "Hers" side (with Jenny McCarthy on the cover). In this book, winning couples were interviewed about their dates.

References on other shows

An episode of "Boy Meets World" featured Eric Matthews appearing on the show. They chose him because of his hair. He ended up with a date with a sophomore from Columbia University. However it was later revealed in that episode that both Eric and his date lied about being college students to get onto the show which was supposed to be for college-students only.

Future development

Although not confirmed, in Spring 2007, it was reported a revival of the show [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1069962/ Singled Out (2007) (TV)] ] is currently in development with comedian Ryan Stout [ [http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2007/11/06/starpulse_qaamp_a_with_chris_hardwick_fr MTV recently announced comedian Ryan Stout as the host of the new Singled Out. Did you do any sort of passing of the flame ceremony? I think I may have been the first person Ryan called when he found out and I thought he was an excellent choice. There was a very formal black tie ceremony in which the Singled Out flame which had been kept alight for the last ten years in a hot room under the Kilauea Volcano was used to burn a sacred crest onto Ryan’s shoulder. Unfortunately, the show didn’t get picked up, leaving Ryan meaninglessly scarred for life.] ] and former Miss USA winner Tara Conner being tapped as the new hosts. [ [http://www.accesshollywood.com/news/ah5251.shtml Access Hollywood ] ]

References

External links

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* [http://www.jumptheshark.com/topic/singled-general-comments/1796 Jump The Shark » Forums » Shark Discussions » TV Shows: A - Z » S » Singled Out]
* [http://www.ukgameshows.com/index.php/Singled_Out Singled Out - UKGameshows]