Dating in the Dark

[luvthemstrawberries]

Did anyone happen to watch the pilot of this show last night? It's called Dating in the Dark, and it came on ABC. I was surprised I wanted to watch it, but I ended up staying up for the full hour of it. The title pretty much sums up the idea of the show. They brought 3 guys and 3 girls into a big house and kept the genders separated. They all met in a group setting at first, but in pitch black (the cameras let us see them). Then they have a series of one-on-one time with each other, all still in the pitch black rooms, getting to know the one they like the best. In the end, they end up paired up and get to see each other in real light, one at a time, where you can't see the person's reaction to you. If you want to continue dating that person outside the show, then you go out to this balcony to meet the other person. If you choose not to meet them, you leave out the front door of the house, which can be seen from the balcony.

I just thought it was neat because it was sort of a new kind of social experiment. One girl even talked about that in the end of the show, how we as a society are so affected by what our eyes see, and we make split second judgements about people just by their looks. This show gave people a chance to change that, by getting to know someone's personality. I thought it was interesting how into the guys (personality-wise) all these girls were, then 2 of the girls came back after seeing them and were disappointed in the guys' looks. In the end, one of those girls still went and met up with the guy, and another couple also met up. But one of the girls who was disappointed in her guy's looks ended up walking out while he was waiting on the balcony. I personally didn't think he was too shabby at all! And in the interview, she was crying saying how she wished looks didn't matter that much to her...

Just goes to show how much she apparently upheld the value of looks over a great personality she was attracted to.

Anyway, overall I thought it was pretty interesting. They showed previews of upcoming episodes though, and it shows people getting raunchy and stuff, which I really don't think is necessary. Last night's episode really didn't have all that, which I thought was nice for a change.

Anyone else catch it? Thoughts?

 

[OUpearlgirl]

I half watched it while I was on the phone..

The poor guy that got left alone on the balcony was pretty cute! I didn''t understand...

I think it''s a really interesting social experiment. I agree though, the upcoming stuff looks so FOUL.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Sounds interesting.

To be fair though, it''s pretty hard to have a romantic relationship with someone you don''t find at all physically attractive. I don''t mean to say looks are everything, but for most people (myself included) looks matter to a small degree. I don''t think I''d be happy in a relationship with no "heat" or physical pull no matter how otherwise compatible we might me. We would just be good friends.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 7/21/2009 12:02:22 PM
Author: OUpeargirl
I half watched it while I was on the phone..

The poor guy that got left alone on the balcony was pretty cute! I didn''t understand...

I think it''s a really interesting social experiment. I agree though, the upcoming stuff looks so FOUL.

I thought the same thing, about how he wasn''t a bad looking guy at all! She was saying that, but also how he just didn''t have the "dashing good looks" I guess that she wanted. Then she was crying about it later, saying she "wished" she didn''t care as much about looks. Ha.

Yeah I may watch it again next week, but if it gets foul, I''ll be turning it off. Raunch is just unnecessary to me.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 7/21/2009 12:35:05 PM
Author: MakingTheGrade
Sounds interesting.

To be fair though, it''s pretty hard to have a romantic relationship with someone you don''t find at all physically attractive. I don''t mean to say looks are everything, but for most people (myself included) looks matter to a small degree. I don''t think I''d be happy in a relationship with no ''heat'' or physical pull no matter how otherwise compatible we might me. We would just be good friends.

I thought about that too, and that''s what all the girls did talk about at one point - that you want some sort of physical attraction. I just didn''t understand how she could let such a connection go - I mean she was obviously very attracted to this guy''s personality and charm. They got along great and all. And the way the reveal works is they shine a light on you for a few moments, then turn it back off. You don''t interact, speak, make eye contact - nothing. So she never even gave him the chance to actually be around him, see him move, smell him or hold his hand WHILE looking at him, gauge his height, look into his eyes. Seems kind of preconceived to not even give that a chance. She made the decision to leave based on a few moments of looking at his outfit of choice and his face, from a distance. I mean, it''s just amazing to me that someone would be that judgemental right off the bat, especially after the time they''d spend together and seemed to enjoy each other''s presence.

By the way, he loved how she looked - she was in a dress, heels, shiny dark hair that was straightened, lots of makeup, big jewelry... basically "hot" according to today''s standards. He was elated.

 

[tlh]

looks matter to me. I won''t lie about that. They matter a lot. But who I find attractive wildly varies, and sometimes it is just unexplainable why I find someone attractive...

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 7/21/2009 4:05:54 PM
Author: tlh
looks matter to me. I won''t lie about that. They matter a lot. But who I find attractive wildly varies, and sometimes it is just unexplainable why I find someone attractive...

Haha I''m the same way - sometimes attractiveness is totally random.

But I do get that looks matter. I think they matter to just about everybody, at least to some extent, if even just a tiny extent. But the whole point of this show I think is to offer somebody the chance to make that inner connection first. I guess the wrench is just thrown in there once they reveal looks, to see how people truly react to that. I mean, this girl had even said in the introductions that she was tired of just dating hunky guys who were boring and she didn''t really like - she said she was now looking for more "substance" (her words). Then she gets to know a guy with lots of substance and connection, then leaves because she doesn''t think he''s hunky.

Oh well.

 

[purrfectpear]

Looks rate pretty far down the list of things that matter to me. Chemistry is fairly high. I might have chemistry with someone homely, but if it''s there, it''s there.

 

[tlh]

hunky! I love that word! totally retro!

I haven''t seen the show, but might be a chuckle!

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 7/21/2009 4:49:54 PM
Author: tlh
hunky! I love that word! totally retro!

I haven''t seen the show, but might be a chuckle!

Haha, yeah she said he wasn''t really a hunk.

Give it a watch - supposed to come on again after the Bachelorette on Monday I believe.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 7/21/2009 4:32:13 PM
Author: purrfectpear
Looks rate pretty far down the list of things that matter to me. Chemistry is fairly high. I might have chemistry with someone homely, but if it''s there, it''s there.

I hear ya.

 

[Sabine]

I fell asleep halfway through...can someone explain to me what would happen if 2 girls end up liking the same guy or vice versa? I would think if it''s always 3 girls and 3 guys, they wouldn''t always end up in perfect pairs.

Also, who ended up with who, which girl left, and which guy was left on the balcony?

I thought it was interesting at the beginning that the guy that said he was a typical ladies man (the foreign one) made the weakest first impression. I wonder if he was used to relying on his looks?