The Dating Game: Love, Celebrities, And The Occasional Serial Killer

Before dating apps, before The Bachelor, before reality television turned romance into a spectator sport, there was The Dating Game. Premiering on ABC in 1965, The Dating Game took the simple idea of finding a date and turned it into one of television's most entertaining formulas: one contestant asking questions of three unseen bachelors or bachelorettes, trying to decide which stranger might make the best match. Hosted by the instantly recognizable Jim Lange, the show mixed flirtation, comedy, innuendo and the unmistakable sensibilities of 1960s and '70s television. But there was much more going on behind those three numbered contestants. The Dating Game reflected changing attitudes about romance, marriage, sex and celebrity—and helped establish a television formula that would eventually lead to generations of dating and relationship shows. It also produced some unforgettable contestants, celebrity appearances and genuinely bizarre moments, including one episode that became infamous for a reason nobody watching at home could have known. On this episode of The Tom Gulley Show, Tom takes a deep dive into the history of The Dating Game: how the show worked, why audiences loved it, the role of Jim Lange and Chuck Barris, the celebrities who appeared as contestants, the evolution of television romance, and the strange legacy of a show that made choosing a date into prime-time entertainment. If you remember The Dating Game, this is a trip back to a very different era of television. If you don't, you'll discover where a lot of today's dating-show conventions really began. #TheDatingGame #DatingGame #JimLange #ChuckBarris #ClassicTV #TVHistory #GameShows #TelevisionHistory #1960sTV #1970sTV #TomGulleyShow thetomgulleyshow.com