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80 Possible Ideas of Things I Could Promote:

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80 Possible Ideas of Things I Could Promote:

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1. A bus to a parallel universe (like the UniSA campus connector)
2. A hotel for ghosts - advertised like the Tipton Hotel video
3. Promotion for my ice hockey team
4. A service to help university students with their homework
5. UniSA student reality show
6. Complete Dummy's Guide to spotting the red flags
7. A TV that shows every alternate reality you could live based on your future and current decisions
8. Femme Fatale hit woman service to terrorise your ex
9. Choose your own adventure - but it's your life. You choose what you want to happen
10. Plus 1 service for introverts who need to attend an event but don't want to go alone

11. Centrelink but when you're dead and still have debt
12. Debit card that always has the exact amount of money you need for every payment
13. Pub crawl but for people in nursing homes - death crawl i.e. tick off things on their final bucket list
14. Send a key to your ex service/send cow dung to your ex
15. Dating courses for uni students
16. Doppelgänger hire service - do you want to get out of something? hire your doppleganger to go for you
17. A fictional film - film promo video as parody film promo
18. Wife Swap for uni students - but instead of swapping wives you swap courses with another student
19. A hotline for dead people
20. Self care space on campus for uni students

21. Mental health awareness service/promotion
22. Free therapy services
23. Teleportation service from your closet to anywhere in the world
24. Phone a dead person service - e.g. do you have an assignment due on someone famous that's passed? you can call them and get their firsthand information
25. A pill for never getting sick again
26. The Bachelor but for uni students
27. Dirty Laundry - anonymous messages of people airing their deepest and darkest secrets
28. Hypnotism/meditation videos to make you not fall in love with your therapist
29. Technology that can make your eyes record videos in real time
30. A portable charger that never loses charge

31. Perfume that never loses its scent
32. Tinder but for people to live stream movies together
33. Tinder but for people to play an online game together
34. Tinder but for uni students to make friends on their designated campus
35. Airbnb but for houses specifically to host parties
36. A satire TV show
37. Satire horror tv show
38. Drinking game: friendship hand grenades
39. A service for drunk people to safely crash the night somewhere
40. A pen pal service but from your future soulmate - a vague letter from them appears in your mailbox once every 6 months until you meet them

41. Water that's not water - e.g. water into wine (but not biblical)
42. A phone call to the other side
43. Geocoding treasure hunting again
44. Stepping into an alternate universe everytime you open the front door
45. Australian summer ad
46. Hotdogs for seagulls so they dont steal yours
47. Video diary pen pal service
48. Tinder but for you and your friends to decide on an activity to do together
49. Microsoft Teams but only for uni students
50. Free meditation and mindfulness services for people with anxiety and depression

51. An app (with no in app purchases) where someone with a mental illness can message and/or talk to a real person in live time if they just need someone to talk to
52. toy adoption service - custom made or secondhand toys 'adopted' by children
53. Donation services for hospitals
54. Psychic writes a poem from the perspective of your soulmate - what they'll feel and love about you when they meet you
55. Pop up market on campus every friday for uni students to sell stuff
56. A new publication/magazine free to submit to
57. A new blogging website
58. Satire podcast series for Spotify
59. A job service for uni students that gives them paid placement and paid work experience
60. A campaign for the Heart Foundation - heart attack awareness

61. Hair styling tools that make your hair frizz free - especially during winter
62. A new alcohol called 'Responsibly' - aka drink Responsibly
63. Zodiac themed mantra objects - candles, wallpaper downloads, keychains, etc.
64. Zodiac themed oracle cards
65. Hire a wingman/wingwoman service
66. Hire someone to cry at your funeral
67. A new romance novel
68. Free psychologist service for uni students
69. Satire sketch show
70. Uni student video diaries for exchange students

71. Animal Crossing but your life virtually - play with your friends
72. Video tape your memories straight from your brain
73. Free food and self care services for uni students during exam periods
74. University accommodation for students who aren't safe living at home
75. A story podcast - Welcome to Nightvale esque
76. Advertising for dad's business Adelaide Magic
77. A Website where you complete surveys for Honours/PHD students and actually earn money from them
78. A secondhand 'Blind Date With A Book' service
79. A niche parody instagram account e.g. 'fries of unisa magill'
80. An app where you can instantly download the exact reaction meme you need for any message

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Graham, D 2021, ‘The Seven Main Reasons Why Dating In The Modern World Is So Difficult’, Medium, November 25, viewed March 12, <https://medium.com/the-knowledge-of-freedom/the-five-main-reasons-why-dating-in-the-modern-world-is-so-difficult-de0e80159ee>

Graham’s article discusses examples of why dating in the age of social media is ‘harder than it’s ever been’. While the title of the article is called ‘seven main reasons’, the author actually only lists six. He presents his own theories relating to modern dating, and the irony of being unable to ‘connect’ with people as the internet has ‘robbed’ us of ‘social skills’.

The author mentions how dating advice that is streamed all over social media from disreputable sources is ‘fiction’ and ‘tactics for manipulation’. He also discusses how dating apps in modern times have women in a situation where they have ‘far too many options’ and men have ‘far too few’. This results in men will swipe across everyone and settle for the first person they match with, whereas women are overloaded with options so it’s difficult for them to make the correct choice.

This article is a useful source for my research as it gives insight into the negative side effects that social media has had on my target audience: students aged 20 - 25. It provides insight into how harmful online dating advice can be on young and impressionable students, as well as how men and women look for future partners in different places with different mentalities.

Press, N (n.d.) ‘Eight Ways That Therapy Can Enhance Your Dating Life’, My Wellbeing, viewed 12th March 2023 <https://mywellbeing.com/therapy-101/therapy-and-dating>

Clinical Psychologist Nikki Press discusses in her article how, through therapy, clients can improve their dating life as well as themselves. While this article is aimed at an age demographic older than 20, it does explore ways clients can work through and unpack ‘blocks’ and ‘trauma’, as well as unpacking and reflecting on their own personal dating goals.

This article focuses on the core of the individual person and how therapy can help in understand their attachment style, process grief, and deepen their emotional connections with others. The author is a licensed clinical psychologist at the time of publication and has expertise in humanistic and CBT approaches to help her clients. Press’s article is extremely helpful for my research. Through this project I am also wanting to explore ways therapy can help younger people with providing a deeper insight into themselves, provide healing from the past, and set them up with the tools they need to build a positive future.

Mandriota, M 2022, ‘8 Possible Benefits Of Dating Someone Who Goes To Therapy’, PsychCentral, March 29 2022, viewed March 12 2023, <https://psychcentral.com/relationships/benefits-of-dating-someone-who-goes-to-therapy>

This article, medically reviewed by sex therapist Dr. Brito, and interviewed by licences psychologist Dr. Balestrieri, examines the benefits of dating someone who is in active therapy. According to the data from the dating app Hinge in 2022: ‘91% of Hinge users prefer to date someone who goes to therapy’, and ‘89% of Hinge singles’ are more likely to ‘score a second date’ if they mention on the first that they attend therapy.

Balestrieri also discusses the possible drawbacks of dating someone in active therapy. There is the risk of one partner growing while the other remains stagnant, and this can take a toll on the relationship. A psychologist can also open the clients eyes to issues within the relationship that they hadn’t noticed. There is a limitation within this article regarding partners who do not attend therapy. It’s briefly mentioned that you can still have a healthy relationship without one or both partners seeing a psychologist. As the main focus of the article was regarding the benefits of attending therapy for relationships, this gap needs not to be explored within this article.

This article is beneficial for my research, as from this text I was able to not only see the positive and negative effects of partner who do/do not attend therapy, but also recent statistical data from the dating app Hinge regarding its users.

Morley, I 2023, ‘Reality Dating Show Contestants Struggle Without Psychological Support’, Psychology Today, February 10 2023, viewed March 12 2023, <https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/love-them-or-leave-them/202302/love-is-blind-contestants-struggle-without-psychological>

In her article, Psychologist Isabelle Morley reports on how contestants on a recent reality dating show have damage to their mental health after the show did not follow critical ethical and legal regulations. Because this show is not an actual experiment and only ‘entertainment’, they have exploited the ‘loophole’ of not being required to protect participants mental health.

The author provides examples of the show having no on-set counsellors, and the contestants not being able to have their phones on them to reach out to friends or family for emotional support. The contestants were also not given free or accessible therapy. It is reported that contestants suffer lasting psychological damage including ‘anxiety, anger, trust issues with romantic partners, and low self-esteem’.

This article is extremely useful for my research as it discusses the legalities of running a reality tv dating show, the ethical obligations needed to protect the contestants mental wellbeing, as well as real examples of lasting psychological damage on contestants when executed poorly.

First Dates 2022, ‘NEW: First Dates Returns Thursdays 10pm on Channel4Entertainment & Channel4’, video, YouTube, 19 January, viewed March 11 2023, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3_adI3KHBk>

The promo video for First Dates UK advertises the premise of the show concisely: ‘a place where everyone is on a first date’. It shows real couples on blind dates with hidden cameras in the First Dates restaurant. This promo is a useful source as i’ve gained inspiration as to how I can concisely demonstrate the premise of the show within a one minute YouTube ad.

E4 2016, ‘Trailer: Celebs Go Dating | Weeknights 10pm | E4’, Youtube, 9 September 2016, viewed 13 March 2023, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32h2VEG_FJA>

E4’s trailer for Celebs Go Dating advertises the show only through clips and B-roll of the cast members. This video includes no information besides the bio of the video: ‘a group of single celebrities join an exclusive dating agency in a bid to find true love’, and the ending screen ‘weeknights 10pm on E4’. This promo takes a different approach compared to the trailer for First Dates, however it has inspired me to showcase more plot in my promo video rather than straight promotion and advertisement. It has inspired me to ‘show’ rather than ‘tell’ my target audience what I am promoting and how it can benefit them.

RE: News 2023, ‘Dating While Asian | Launch Trailer’, Youtube, 15 February 2023, viewed 13 March 2023, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=papuVJK_l7g>

The trailer for Dating While Asian advertises a new dating show for Pan-Asian New Zealanders as they delve into their dating stories. While the demographic for this video is very specific, it seems like a series anyone in their 20s would enjoy regardless of ethnicity and culture. The trailer keeps the viewers captivated by having quick cuts of footage mixed with animation, rather than a constant uninterrupted stream of story information. This video was useful in demonstrating a unique way of promoting a dating show which is more character driven rather than plot driven. It has helped me consider a new angle to look at in terms of how I want my video to be filmed.

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uploaded February 18th 2020, viewed 11th March 2023

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TRAILER | Celebs Go Dating Series 8 | Starts Monday 24th Feb

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posted July 19th 2022, viewed 11th March 2023

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NEW: First Dates Returns Thursday 10pm on @Channel4Entertainment & @Channel4

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While brainstorming the 80 ideas from week 1, I tend to lean more towards products and ideas geared towards university students.
For the moment while we're still within the first two weeks, my focus seems to be on university and college students aged 18-30 years old. That could change, but it seems to be where all my ideas are geared to.

Updated 15th March:
My target audience is university students at UniSA aged 20 - 25. The secondary broader audience is for students at the same university aged 18 - 30.  I am aware that life experiences impact the effect on certain age ranges, and an 18 year old will not have the same experience that a 30 year old will have. I feel that it is best for now to keep the demographic between 20 - 25 as they will have the most similar experiences and outcomes.

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Welcome to the Tipton - Inspiration for Ad/Video 

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Welcome to the Tipton - Inspiration for Ad/Video 

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viewed 1st March 2023

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The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: The Tipton Commercial #3

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Something similar to our old Challenge Accepted videos for Channel 44? 

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Something similar to our old Challenge Accepted videos for Channel 44? 

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Challenge Accepted was a TV show my friends and I created for Channel 44 and Youtube back in 2016+

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"challenge accepted" "challenge accepted uni" "challenge master" "task master" "challenge accepted tv show" university uni "university of south australia" unisa

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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My initial thoughts as I start brainstorming my 80 ideas is that it's quite hard to get to 80. But the more and more I write, and the more I see the number of ideas increase, it does get easier. I'm excited to eventually film this video and make the website. The course itself excites me so I'm looking forward to seeing how I progress!

I am a very creative person, having already graduated with 2 degrees and working in the creative industries. I am always brainstorming, creating, researching, and collaborating. This class so far has been really fun, and I'm looking forward to learning other ways of brainstorming ideas and creating projects.

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The PalTV creative team matchmake four Durham University singletons for blind dates at Spags. Will they find 'the one', or will they be avoiding each other for the rest of term?

uploaded November 17th 2022, viewed 11th March 2023

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PalatiDates Episode 1 | Durham's hottest dating show! ❤️‍🔥

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Designed by daphnedoesart on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/daphnedoesart/706797212101918720/new-fall-out-boy-my-dudes Posted January 19th 2023, viewed 8th March 2023

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I have decided to promote a (fictional) reality TV dating show made for university students. The show will focus specifically on students from the University of South Australia with the age demographic being 20 - 25.

How this differs from reality TV programs that are already being broadcast, is that this show focuses heavily on self improvement through therapy WHILE the singles are actively dating. They will work weekly with their own psychologist and dating experts as they heal their past relationship trauma, learn about themselves, and be given the tools and techniques to manage their mental health and dating life going forward.

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Many uses for a Tinder-style swipe app, not just for dating

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Many uses for a Tinder-style swipe app, not just for dating

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accessed 7/3/23 via: https://techcrunch.com/2016/04/27/oops-tinders-new-friend-finding-feature-tinder-social-is-outing-which-of-your-friends-use-the-app/

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Posted October 8th 2017, viewed 11th March 2023

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Dating Red and Green Flags - Stan dating series Love Triangle

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Dating Red and Green Flags - Stan dating series Love Triangle

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uploaded October 11th 2022, viewed 11th March 2023

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Dating Red and Green Flags | The Stan Original Dating Series Love Triangle

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Uploaded February 11th 2020, viewed March 11th 2023

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Dating in the modern world is the worst it's ever been. How do we go about this? How do we fix it? But how do we date so that we get the best possible outcome for ourselves?
I want to create a dating reality show for university students, but with the broader goal of the singles learning and healing themselves through therapy while they actively date.
Not only will the singles go on dates with other students from the same university, they will be coached by a psychologist before and after the dates, and during the experiment. The psychologist will help the singles learn about themselves, heal their past relationship traumas, teach them how to spot red flags, and heal the relationship they have with themselves.
This show is to promote the growth and healing that comes from loving yourself as you meet new people.

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What do I need to show or say in the promo video that will persuade my target audience to take action?

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What do I need to show or say in the promo video that will persuade my target audience to take action?

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- have real authentic stories
- have real authentic people
- promote positive change from the people in the show
- promote positive messages about self growth
- set the tone of the video within the first few seconds
- show the viewers how this can benefit them - whether they are a contestant on the show or not

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uploaded February 21st 2023, viewed 11th March 2023

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PalTV is Durham's first and only Student TV station, voted student broadcaster of the year 2022. With over 100 members on the team in the UK and around the world, they create a variety of content from news/factual to creative.

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palatinate durham "durham university" "student newspaper durham" "university of durham" "student tv" "student newspaper" "student news" "indigo durham" "stud...

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PalTV is Durham's first and only Student TV station, voted student broadcaster of the year 2022. With over 100 members on the team in the Uk and around the world we create a variety of content from news/factual to creative.

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posted November 5th 2022, viewed March 13th 2023 https://www.luisonte.es/post/700018858083368960/bien-jugado-tinder

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via https://www.communication-director.com/issues/how-promote-another-dating-show/ viewed 12th March 2023

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posted November 22nd 2022, viewed March 13th 2023 https://www.tumblr.com/mindless-musing/701610593361231872/reason-for-me-being-single-its-me-hi-im-the

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Target audience: 20 - 25 year olds. Secondary audience: 18 - 28 year olds.
Level of education: current students studying within their degree
Geographical location: South Australia

How can my content enrich the life of my potential audience?
Not only can this show provide humour and entertainment, it can also teach the audience about themselves as well as dating. Watching students with the same experiences they have may help them take action on their own healing journey, or take some advice from the licensed psychologists on the show. This show is meant to be a feel-good easy watch but can also inspire at the same time.

How does this content differ from similar content online?
From what I can see, there hasn't been a dating show made specifically for university students on TV, let alone a dating show where licensed psychologists are employed to help them engage in active therapy as they date. Dating shows nowadays are made purely for ratings and are in-genuine. This show's primary focus is to have therapists and dating experts work one-on-one with the students, learn about their dating history, learn about what they're looking for, and help them navigate the dating world while giving them the tools to heal.

What platforms are members of my potential audience using?
Tiktok, Instagram, Twitter, Spotify, Tinder, Hinge, Snapchat, Bumble, YouTube, Discord, Facebook, Messenger, BeReal

What content are they consuming?
Memes, podcasts, videos, reality TV shows, tweets and statuses, bite-sized videos, stories

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What do my target audience already know, think, or feel about my message? 

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What do my target audience already know, think, or feel about my message? 

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- they are already aware of dating shows, so this one needs to display a unique message
- modern therapy apps already available: Headspace, BetterHelp, Wysa, Bloom, etc.
- therapy is more widely talked about now than it was 10+ years ago
- the modern generation embraces healing and empowerment
- there is no 'shame' in seeking help anymore
- single people are more likely to date someone that has gone or actively goes to therapy

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Title ideas:
- Students Go Dating
- You Deserve Love
- Cupid on Campus
- Dating During Degrees
- Love, Lust, and Lectures
- Uni Blind Dates

Tagline ideas:
- there's no one like you
- changing the way our generation dates
- the more you date, the more you learn
- find out who you really are
- date consciously
- never compromise with your soulmate
- on a journey towards happily ever after
- don't end up in the group chat. end up down the aisle.
- real dates, real connections, real relationships
- too full of life to be half loved
- consult with the best, to be the best
- you're too good for him. let's save you some therapy...
- a successful relationship needs consistent work. so do you.

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Bright Retro Social Media Manager Service Logo

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How my promotional message will be distinctive from other similar ads:

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How my promotional message will be distinctive from other similar ads:

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I love the idea of approaching my advertisement in the most realistic way possible. I found that the generation I am promoting this video to are more likely to buy from a brand/influencer or be apart of a campaign when the advertisement is true and authentic.
Young adults can cut through bullshit and know exactly when an influence is selling out. These days honesty and integrity are more important than selling something. I plan on my advertisement showing clips from the show (e.g. montages and b-roll) of real authentic moments from the singles. This can include therapy sessions, moments where they're vulnerable, and clips from the dates.
I really took inspiration from these two promotional clips from Celebs Go Dating:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32h2VEG_FJA
and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTYiBrmUDrg
In both trailers it shows the singles at their most vulnerable and fully authentic. It captivates the audience because they can relate to them, and it provides entertainment because they're being genuine.

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Trailer: Celebs Go Dating | Weeknights 10pm | E4

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From the Chinese dating game show 非诚勿扰 (Fei Cheng Wu Rao), If You Are The One.
Posted October 5th 2022, viewed 13th March 2023 https://sleepy-bebby.tumblr.com/post/697251305683632128/from-the-chinese-dating-game-show-%E9%9D%9E%E8%AF%9A%E5%8B%BF%E6%89%B0-fei-cheng

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This mind-map helped me clearly define my target audience and what their goals and perspectives are. It helped me see I really need to look at this from a modern perspective as they are a generation heavily centred within and around social media and influencer culture.

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Blue Hat - Processes:
What is the problem:
the problem is the modern generation has trouble with dating. Social media is a factor, and this results in people being in-genuine. Trauma comes from the result of their past and relationships, and they don’t know how to heal themselves. This results in an unhealed person unintentionally traumatising the next person they date.
How do we fix this?
We are looking into a way of changing how the modern generation dates. Looking into healing their inner trauma through therapy while they date; actively learning about who they are, what they want, where this trauma came from, and why it doesn't serve them anymore

White Hat - Facts:
- the objective is to create a dating show that helps single people heal their trauma, learn about themselves, and give themselves the tools to positively date in the future
- specifically focusing on people aged 20-25 from UniSA
- young people use dating apps - mainly Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble
- the promotional video needs to be 30 seconds max
- it needs to include a call to action - the call to action being ‘apply now for our next season’
- further information can be found on our website
- information about how the show runs, application information, eligibility criteria, etc. will be missing from the video because it’s not long enough to include these details

Red Hat - Feelings:
- my gut feeling is that this may take some time to get off the ground, but once it does it will be successful
- i like the idea of setting up singles within the same university, however if drama happens and/or they break up, it may be awkward for them on campus. however that is something they will know going into this
- this will be heartwarming but also emotional as you watch real people heal their trauma in real time. it’s vulnerable
- it may trigger some viewers if they have experienced the same trauma

Green Hat: Creativity:
- could we turn this into a dating app for more inclusion?
- could we branch out at other universities?
- what about other ages - expand beyond 20 - 25?
- could we do this live in person for an event?
- a risk we need to accept is some singles not being ready to find love, and leaving the show without a partner
- another risk we need to accept is some singles not being ready to heal their inner trauma, and needing to leave the show

Yellow Hat - Benefits:
- benefits include offering therapy services and healing to the viewers as well as the singles on the show
benefits include having a creative and entertaining show for viewers to tune in and watch, while being educational
- you can learn about yourself as you watch and utilise the therapeutic services that are provided
- this will be successful due to the authentic nature of the show - real people, real experiences, nothing is faked for ratings or views
- the proposal is preferable because it will be conducted in a safe and authentic way- not for clickbait or views
- we can make this work by having a proper duty of care for the singles, by employing reputable clinical psychologists and dating coaches, and having external psychologist and mental health services on site for singles off camera

Black Hat - Cautions:
- cautions - duty of care to the singles on the show
- costs - the trailer can be home made but the cost to create the show may be expensive. will need to look at funding
- regulations - make sure we have a duty of care for the singles, contracts signed, etc.
- the design of the show makes it easy to film as we will be filming in live locations and not on site in a studio
- risks can include the singles not being emotionally ready to face these traumas on camera

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Attention:
- show a montage of the singles being vulnerable - opening up in therapy, laughing, crying, being goofy and embarrassing on dates
- show heart warming clips; clips that show the growth of the singles. start with a clip of one single saying they've never been kissed before, and then in the montage show them having their first kiss

Interest:
- have the tagline advertised early on: 'changing the way our generation dates'
- have singles in the video that are diverse in life experience and culture, so that it's relatable to a broader range of viewers
- show situations that are relatable to the viewers e.g. failed dates, talking with their therapist, etc.
- play upbeat music to keep them engaged

Desire:
- montage of clips to be played - clips foreshadow their outcome on the show
- use humour and relatability to appeal to the audience
- desire can be used to influence the viewers to work on themselves at home for free through the psychological advice given, or influence them to take practical action and apply for the show

Action:
- physical call to action at the end of the video: 'apply now!' (apply for the next season)
- a mental/emotional call to action is to watch the series
- should promote the services the show offers e.g. psychological services. should act as a motivator for the audience to improve and heal their own lives

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viewed March 26th

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Tom Read Wilson, Anna Williamson and Paul Carrick Brunson from Celebs Go Dating. All photos: Chris Bethell

The matchmaking show is an unlikely hit among celebrities - and one of telly's most coveted onscreen gigs.

When you walk into the central London townhouse which, for three months a year, is transformed into the Celebrity Dating Agency, you don't really get much sense that you're in the midst of a working TV production. The building is tucked away on a posh but quiet and inconspicuous street, and in fact, the only indicator that you've arrived at the base location for E4's Celebs Go Dating, one of the UK's favourite reality shows, is a shiny gold plaque outside.

Open the front door, and the ceilings are high, the place is bright and airy, and the giveaways, again, are subtle. There's a wall lined with gilt-framed photos of the royal family (nothing so gauche as the queen, you understand, but the actual royal family: Celebs Go Dating alumni Lee Ryan, Chloe Ferry, and Kerry Katona), and nestled in among the fake flowers and rose-gold decor are multiple fixed rig cameras - the overall effect is like if the Big Brother house rolled around in Zara Home.

The cameras are small and semi-hidden. When celebrities enter the Agency, they're here to get genuine advice from onscreen coaches and matchmakers Anna Williamson and Paul Carrick Brunson, so while their actual dates are filmed by a crew, it's best they're not distracted by a big set-up in these moments.

Indeed, while Celebs Go Dating is first and foremost an entertainment show, the sessions with Anna and Paul often remind viewers that the celebrities who come through the doors are more than just characters in the extended soap opera of British media culture, and can show audiences a different side to people best known as outrageous reality stars or notorious party scene fixtures.

As a result, viewers love it, and celebrities fresh from other reality shows (or looking to revive their careers) are keen to be on it. But what exactly can a place on Celebs Go Dating do for a celebrity, both in terms of their actual relationships and their public profile? And what goes into casting and making the fairly unique hybrid of comedy and therapy we see on our screens?

Ahead of the show's return on E4 at 9PM tonight, I spent a day with its dating agents, receptionist-turned-junior client coordinator Tom Read Wilson, a couple of this year's celebrity daters, and executive producer Nic McNeilis, to find out.

Celebs Go Dating first attracted attention by wondering "What if celebrities dated members of the public on TV?", and has, since its 2016 debut, become one of E4's flagship properties, having borne such moments as Gemma Collins standing a guy up on a Eurostar platform, and Amy Childs asking a date: "If you were a sandwich, what would you be?"

New seasons air twice a year, and it's generally seen as a good gig because it offers the chosen celebrities eight weeks of sustained airtime. While some stars do come from the worlds of music, TV, and sport, reality personalities tend to dominate (over the nine seasons, the show has hosted 13 members of the cast of The Only Way Is Essex.) For its first 2022 instalment, it'll feature Chloe Brockett from TOWIE; Married at First Sight's Nikita Jasmine and her counterpart on its Australian version, Jessika Power; Geordie Shore's Marty McKenna, Ryan-Mark Parsons from The Apprentice, and Miles Nazaire of Made in Chelsea fame, along with TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson and Abz Love, best known for making music with the band 5ive.

The show plays a crucial role the UK's self-perpetuating reality TV ecosystem, offering a step up from the shows where celebrities first made their names and into a different - and slightly gentler and more forgiving - format. "We talk to a lot of celebrities for the show," says executive producer Nic McNeilis. "They must be open to the experience, and meeting a whole range of people, and open to chat about their life to the agents. You can't really be a closed book in that respect."

That makes casting the line-up an especially enjoyable experience, she says. "They've all heard it's a fun, positive experience, so we do have a lot of celebs wanting to do the show. We have a lot of fun chatting to so many, and then just honing it down to that mix."

Anna, one of the dating agents, agrees. In heels and a pink, heart-print midi dress look that I'm terming "Therapist Glam", she tells me: "The word has got out in the world of celebrity. They're now clamouring to sign up to this show. I know they are because I get DM'd by celebrities that don't make the cut... because they genuinely want the help in their love life, and their life. I'm sure they don't mind any pay cheque that comes," she laughs. "But what is a compliment is that they see the show now for a lot more than perhaps what started out."

Celebs Go Dating began largely as another reality vehicle, but its tone has shifted in recent years. Its sense of humour remains the same, steered by comedian Rob Beckett's acerbic narration (not a million miles from Iain Stirling's Love Island bit), and the dates still offer the bulk of the entertainment, but the coaching sections now go a little deeper. Much of this is down to the trio at the centre of the show: Anna, Paul and Tom.

Paul and Anna, who joined the show in 2018 and 2019 respectively, both have backgrounds in counselling and matchmaking (you might recognise Paul from Married at First Sight, while Anna, who has worked in TV for 20 years, gained her counselling qualifications outside of her entertainment career but was later encouraged to combine the two). Along with Tom - who greets the celebs when they arrive, assists them at mixers, and is a generally genial presence - the two dating agents are more interested in creating an environment that differs from the more dramatic, aggro-fuelled part of the reality world.

They go into the process without preconceived ideas about the celebrities, Tom - a person who was born for television, so perfect are his teeth and so apparently unaffected his eccentric mannerisms - tells me. "Our knowledge of reality telly between the three of us, I would describe as scant, so that is enormously helpful, because we are starting with a tabula rasa " - another of the things that make him so eminently watchable is that he's the exact type of person who peppers his speech with Latin - "so what we see is what we learn from them."

This doesn't mean, however, that the celebrities themselves don't initially walk into the Agency expecting the show to be their usual day's work. Paul, a grounding, thoughtful presence during our interview, says that breaking down the celebrities' expectations can be "the most challenging aspect".

"What happens with all the celebs is that they walk into the agency and they think, 'This is TV, we're gonna have a good time!'" he says. "And they get in here and they're like, 'Oh my god it's real, they're real! They really mean business!' Then when they leave the agency, and they get a message from us on IG or WhatsApp, or they reach out to us when they have a problem, they realise this is much more than a television show. And that's how we break down the barrier. But the hardest part is them being able to understand that while this is television, this is also real."

Chloe Brockett, one of the most entertaining TOWIE stars in years, is part of the incoming Celebs Go Dating cast. The 21-year-old says that her experience of the show helped her delineate between her reality persona and her real self. "Sometimes I find it hard to tell the difference between a scene and real life. There's me in TOWIE and there's me at home. Sometimes, them people just get meshed into one, and I turn into a right prick!" she giggles, throwing back her dark hair extensions.

Chloe makes for a fascinating interview because of her disarming honesty and self-awareness, particularly when it comes to her role on TOWIE. "I'm always going to be a fiery person, it doesn't matter how grown up or how mature I get, it's always going to be me," she reasons. "But it can be a bit draining sometimes, always having arguments and stuff like that. Then again, I never complain because with me, I love being the centre of all the stories and all the drama, so the minute my story starts to dry up I'm like, 'What the fuck?' ... So I can't sit there and play the victim because I'm not. But I'm grateful for the last series, because now I'm doing this [show]."

Celebs Go Dating occupies a unique space on TV because, in Anna's words, "there is that time and space for celebrities that get cast on this show, particularly those that have quite checkered lives, are often in the tabloids a lot, and it gives them an opportunity to be seen in a new light".

Chloe agrees: "Doing this show has allowed me to be more myself and show more of a softer side to me, because I do have that side," she says. "And yeah, I've definitely got better at differentiating from being Chloe TOWIE and being myself now."

Another of this year's cast members is Ryan-Mark Parsons, best known for being the youngest ever Apprentice contestant, and for subsequent appearances on Good Morning Britain RE: issues such as sending retirees back into the workplace, and whether or not it would be a good idea to benefit animal charities by selling the fur of the koalas that perished in the Australian bushfires.

Like Chloe, the 21-year-old is aware that he courts controversy, and describes himself as a "blunt, straight to the point, don't beat around the bush", adding that his experience on The Apprentice "was a really good lesson in terms of being able to deal with the trolling and just take it on the chin". He too is hoping "to show the public a different side of Ryan-Mark - a funner side, a more euphoric side".

"The idea of doing more and more TV shows is really appealing, 100 percent," he says. "I love getting the public reaction, good or bad. I can take it, nothing affects me."

Ryan-Mark adds that "getting booked for this kind of big series is a massive achievement, in the sense that I have been working very hard since The Apprentice to get something like this". As reality TV becomes one of the dominant genres on UK screens, it's clear there are viable and lucrative careers in going from one reality show to the next; in being a genuine reality star, whose force of personality is intriguing enough for viewers to stick with them, and who is able to let the inevitable negativity slide off them.

Celebs Go Dating, then,occupies an important slot in that economy, because it's about demonstrating a more intimate side to people whose whole deals you thought you already knew, and allowing them to go into their next project having given a more rounded view of themselves. Anna singles out DJ Tom Zanetti as someone who she feels really managed to use Celebs Go Dating to do this. "He made a nation fall in love with him really, which was quite extraordinary," she says. "I think celebrities see that as well, they see how it can really work in your favour."

As we're finishing up our interview, Paul leans in conspiratorially. "You know, I'll say something on the controversial side, because you'll like that." I laugh, unsure of what's coming next. "I don't like all of the celebrities that come in the door," he admits, shrugging. "Even when they leave. But a testament to the quality of what we're doing here is that everyone gets 110 percent of our time and energy. And they have to take that, and it's up to them to use it."

This amount of dedication from two highly qualified dating coaches, guaranteed screen time, and endearing personal growth? If you're a reality star, I'd say there's hardly a bigger TV win/win than Celebs Go Dating.
Celebs Go Dating airs on E4 at 9PM Monday to Thursday. @hiyalauren

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How 'Celebs Go Dating' Seduced Reality TV's Biggest Stars

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Tom Read Wilson, Anna Williamson and Paul Carrick Brunson from Celebs Go Dating. All photos: Chris Bethell The matchmaking show is an unlikely hit among celebrities - and one of telly's most coveted onscreen gigs.

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viewed March 26th

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is that show we just can't get enough of. Watching couples find love (or friendship, or enemies) with the help of Fred Sirieix and his team is essential viewing - but it makes it even better when you find out the couples are still together!
MORE: First Dates stars' chic homes: Fred Sirieix, Cici Coleman, Merlin Griffiths, more
While we only see their first ever date, many couples from the show have gone on to continue dating, move in together and get married - and some have even welcomed their first child together! Check out some of the pairs who have lasted the test of time...

Liberty and Pearse

Liberty strutted into the First Dates restaurant early last year determined to find love - and she did! On her date, she met stockbroker Pearse and, after a tricky start, the two had a connection, and have been together ever since.

Liberty met Pearse in the First Dates restaurant
Dan and Adam

Lovebirds Dan and Adam met on the Channel Four show back in 2014 and instantly hit off, becoming a viewers favourite from the show. The pair then fell in love and got engaged on Christmas Day the following year - how sweet! They even revisited the First Dates restaurant to celebrate their engagement and were said to be planning a wedding in South Africa.
WATCH: First Dates contestant finds love after being rejected during first appearance on show
Greig and Shaun

Things couldn't have been worse for Greig on his first stint on First Dates after his rude date told him he didn't find him attractive and that they should cut the date short. Luckily, the show's bosses got him back onto the show, where he instantly hit it off with soul mate, Shaun!
MORE: First Dates star Fred Sirieix shares big update on wedding plans WOW: Celebrity chefs' lavish homes: Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, Phil Vickery and more
The couple revealed that they were engaged back in 2017 and tweeted the show's official account with the happy news, writing: "Remember seeing us earlier this year? Well last week I asked Greig to marry me, and he said yes! Can't thank you enough for everything! Shaun. #FirstDates."
Greig and Shaun got engaged
Ibiba and Aaron

This pair had a great time on the show together back in 2016, and welcomed their first child together - a daughter - in April 2017. Speaking about finding love on the show and beginning a family together, Ibiba told the Mail of Sunday: "It's true that our meeting and the speed with which we've started a family is certainly far from traditional.

"And it is hardly ideal to do everything so fast. But that is the nature of modern Britain. Things move at a much faster pace these days... Our decision to go on First Dates was the best of our lives. Very few people are lucky enough, as we are, to be able to sit down and watch over and over the very first second we set eyes on each other. We both genuinely believe it was practically love at first sight."
Ibiba and Aaron welcomed a daughter together
Lauren and Dan

After a nightmarish experience the first time she went on the show, when she was paired with DJ Terry Turbo who asked her bra size, Lauren ended up finding love with Dan, who also appeared on the show but in season five. The pair now share two children, and she told HELLO!: "Having [our son] Jude in our lives is the best, Dan's party days of jäger bombs and late nights are over. We are all tucked up in bed by 8pm most nights."

Lauren and Dan also started a family
Doreen and James

Older couple Doreen and James wanted to find love again after Doreen's husband left her after 46 years, and James' wife passed away. During the episode, Doreen said: "It didn't take us long to get to know each other," while James added: "Well, we haven't got long to take, have we?" According to reports, the couple are still going strong after meeting on the show, lovely!
Doreen and James stole viewers hearts as well as each other's
Hema and Ajai

This pair might not immediately have hit it off on the show - but it just goes to show that first impressions aren't everything! The cute couple have been going strong since first meeting in 2016, and even tied the knot back in 2019! Hema shared a snap of himself with Ajai back in April 2021, writing: "[Five] years have flown by since we stepped foot in the @firstdates restaurant. Happy anniversary Mrs Kalia!"

Hema and Ajai found love on the show
Will and Fran

Will and Fran had the country saying 'aww' after they both revealed that they have always been single, and then found love together! The show confirmed that the couple went for a second date, and according to Fran's Twitter, the pair are still very much going strong since meeting in 2017. She recently shared a snap of them walking down the road together in matching tweed, writing: "Two peas in a pod or should that be two tweeds in a pod #amanintweedisallyouneed." She also confirmed to a fan that the pair were indeed moving in together following 2017's Christmas special.
Will and Fran found love in the First Dates restaurants Like this story? Sign up to our newsletter to get other stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.

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First Dates couples who have stayed together after meeting on the show

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is that show we just can't get enough of. Watching couples find love (or friendship, or enemies) with the help of Fred Sirieix and his team is essential viewing - but it makes it even better when you find out the couples are still together!

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viewed March 26th

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Whether it's the fault of crafty editing, high-octane personalities or producer interference, plenty of reality TV romances don't make it very long after filming wraps up-and occasionally don't even make it past the end of the show (i.e. Nick 'Honey Badger' Cummins, or literally half of the cast of Married at First Sight on any given season).

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10 Reality TV Couples Who Have Actually Lasted

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Whether it's the fault of crafty editing, high-octane personalities or producer interference, plenty of reality TV romances don't make it very long after filming wraps up-and occasionally don't even make it past the end of the show (i.e. Nick 'Honey Badger' Cummins, or literally half of the cast of Married at First Sight on any given season).

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viewed March 26th

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We see a woman sitting in a chair being interviewed. She tells someone off camera that she is looking for love.

A montage of clips plays, showcasing the singles of this season. Each clip is only a few seconds long. The first shows a couple laughing. The next shows one of the singles during their therapy session. Then a clumsy moment during a date: one of the singles knocks over their glass of wine. Voice over of someone talking about a vulnerable moment from their past relationship is heard, as the montage now shows more vulnerable clips. A clip plays of someone wiping tears. Another clip plays of a couple fighting. The next clip is of one of the psychologist looking surprised asking a question. A clip of a dinner date is shown. A couple is then shown sharing a kiss.

The video transitions to black with the sentence ‘changing the way our generation dates’. The call to action is then displayed: 'Apply now for our next season'.

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"red also symbolizes passion, love, and desire. These associations could explain why people wearing red are consistently rated as more attractive by the opposite sex.

In a landmark study published in 2008, researchers showed men an image of a woman and asked them to rate her attractiveness. Some men saw a woman wearing a red shirt while others saw the same woman wearing a blue shirt. Results showed that men rated the woman in red as more sexually desirable than the same woman in blue.8

Some researchers theorize that the reason the color red is associated with sexual arousal is that blood flow increases during arousal, leaving the skin—particularly the face—with a reddish tone"
- by Kendra Cherry, March 16th 2023: https://www.verywellmind.com/the-color-psychology-of-red-2795821#:~:text=The%20Color%20Red%20Symbolizes%20Passion,attractive%20by%20the%20opposite%20sex.

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Red: Energetic - striking - warm - strong - dangerous - rich

Symbolically: Red symbolizes fire, blood and life force. It is the color of passion, love and lust but also aggressiveness and power. Red is pre-eminently the color for flags because it symbolizes struggle, life and revolution.

Historically: In the time of the Romans, a custom existed of drinking the blood of dying opponents because it was said to give strength. Amongst the Greeks, blood was poured into the graves of the deceased in order to give them power in the afterlife. Later, medicines were made with a red color, band-aids and bandages were red, children wore a red ribbon to protect them from all kinds of diseases.

Red is also viewed historically as the color of nobility and represents wealth because red dye for clothes used to be difficult (and therefore also expensive) to manufacture. In the Middle Ages wearing red was a right reserved to the nobility. Anyone who wore red and was not of the nobility, was put to death.

Functionally: The color of danger and prohibition, think of traffic signs and warning signals. As it happens, red is one of the most striking colors, both during the day and at night.

Posted 5th Dec 2018: https://blog.colornavigator.net/color-psychology

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A writer’s use of color in a work of literature is intentional:

Red: The color red symbolizes some of the most powerful human emotions, like passionate love or lust. On the other side of the spectrum, this warm color is also the color of blood, often symbolizing anger, danger, and violence.

Brown: This warm, earthy brown color may symbolize dependability, comfort, and a sense of being grounded. Brown is also a neutral color, and writers may use it to represent dullness and predictability.

Pink: The color pink symbolizes love, kindness, femininity, innocence, and playfulness.

An example of colour theory in literature:

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne: In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, protagonist Hester Prynne’s punishment for committing infidelity is to wear the letter “A,” marking her as an adulterer. The color of the letter’s fabric is scarlet—a bright shade of red—symbolizing the lust and sin that got Hester into her predicament, but also the rage and frustration she experiences in the face of public shaming.

by Masterclass March 31st 2022: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/color-symbolism-in-literature#1Kf5rpWIFM5lgNcdrvcgjv

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posted 3rd December 2022, viewed April 1st 2023: https://thee-sun.tumblr.com/post/154002130192

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I have now updated my colour palette to include dark shades of red and brown, with a standout pink colour as a contrast.

Deep reds, browns, and black shades can be used to symbolise seduction, being sultry, romance, and lust. I picture these colours in winter when I sit in a dimly lit brown-brick bar at night, drinking wine on a date. I can picture myself re-applying my red lipstick and blotting the excess on a napkin.

Shades of brown act as a blanket of coziness and warmth within the powerful deep reds. The black can work both as a neutral colour, while working with and adding power to the seduction and lust of the red.

A lighter shade of pink to keep the original symbolism of the 'innocence' of love, as our demographic is younger.

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posted October 14th 2022, viewed April 1st 2023: https://disturbedlolita.tumblr.com/post/698067956160184320 

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RED VS BLACK: As per Kramer, “Red is traditionally seen as the colour of love, but more recently research has shown that both black and red are perceived as equally attractive and that the two colours may simply increase attractiveness in different ways.”
via: https://www.calendar-canada.ca/faq/is-red-a-seductive-color

Black: Sophistication, elegance, seduction, mystery, sex, banishment, binding, protection, evil
Red: Passion, energy, excitement, danger, speed, impulsive action, stimulation, assertiveness, aggression, strength, sex, revolt, war
Brown: Earthy, conservative, protective, constructive, hard-working, solid
Given the above, red, black, and copper/bronze would seem to head the list of the most sexually attractive colours.

By Stephen Juan, 7th July 2006. Accessed 1st April 2023: https://www.theregister.com/2006/07/07/the_odd_body_colours/

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Brown is a relaxing color. It’s been linked to an increase in tryptophan (related to sleep and our immune systems) and serotonin (linked to mood.) Brown typically gives us warm, settled feelings, reminding us of connections to earth, home, and family.

Symbolism And Meaning Of Brown:

Brown is a symbol for winter, the dormant time after autumn’s splendor and the tender shoots of spring. It’s the color of soil – provider of nutrients for the food we grow. Brown is a humble color, the hue of recycled paper, and brown functions as a warm neutral, providing an earthy balance for more vibrant tones.

Positive Associations:

We connect brown to coffee, to warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and with golden, sun-kissed skin. Brown is hearth and home, and it’s the color of our roots and of history.

By Kate Smith, date unknown: https://www.sensationalcolor.com/meaning-of-brown/

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The Psychology of Fonts:

Fonts that provoke a psychological reaction can be used to make a brand feel more trustworthy, friendly, or aspirational, with designers often turning to emotional fonts to give brand identities a powerful psychological impact.

Viewed April 1st 2023, posted 16th February 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jlo9iOZvXY

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Among all the alcoholic beverages we consume, wine is most often linked with romance. The Roman poet Ovid, in his 17 A.D. work “The Art of Love” writes of wine that “It warms the blood, adds luster to the eyes, and wine and love have ever been allies.” The loss of inhibition and gain in confidence make wine a natural ally in games of seduction.

Romance is about small things that activate the senses. It is initiated by a shy smile, an intriguing glance, the way someone moves across the room, the shapely outline of bodily form, or a well-placed murmur of approval insinuated into a conversation. It is sustained by the anticipation of things to come, the unfurling of mystery, an evolution without end that perpetually concentrates the future in a pregnant now. Romance is about sensuality.

A bottle of wine can be an alluring and capricious mistress, boldly grabbing your attention with aromas and tastes that disappear, leaving you wondering exactly what you are tasting. Or a wine can be reticent at first, shyly revealing new layers of flavor with every pour.

It is one of the great gifts of life that consuming fermented grape juice can resemble the experience of romance. The curvaceous shape of the bottle, the pop of the cork, the deep ruby or pale gold color as it splashes into the glass signal the beginning of sensation. Aromas that remind us of voluptuous fruit burst from the glass to be replaced by earthy, musky fumes that connote carnal knowledge. As we sip, we hold the wine in our mouths to maximize the sensation of creamy viscosity or light, racy runnels of flavor. Each bottle of wine promises new and different perceptions and a new summit of sensation, and each sip, if the wine is of quality, can reveal something previously hidden. Wine’s evolution in the bottle, in the barrel, and from vintage to vintage is its most mysterious, capricious aspect. One never knows what to expect and its improvement or degradation hangs in the balance.

By Dwight Furrow, May 24th 2021: https://foodandwineaesthetics.com/2021/05/24/wine-and-romance-the-eternal-connection/

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For the logo of the show, I want to use a scripted/cursive font as they have an element of elegance, they provoke creativity, and symbolically they're used within romantic settings. They mimic the form of handwriting and doodling, which provokes a fun and carefree nature.

With the intention being the brand identity i'm trying to create, I wanted to focus heavily on romanticism, elegance, and creativity.

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Great Vibes, regular 400, from Google Fonts

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The Psychology of Fonts:

Because human beings respond to visual culture in an emotional way, designers can manipulate the psychological responses of their viewers by making informed choices about the features of a design, such as colours and fonts. For designers and businesses, an understanding of typography psychology is key to shaping both how memorable a brand is and how customers perceive it.

Although the psychology of fonts is most keenly applied in the world of branding, designers working with any form of text should know a little about how font choice affects the mood and perception of viewers:

Typesetting a book? A transitional serif font like Baskerville will help readers to feel that the text has more authority and intellect.

Designing a wedding invitation? The right script font can simultaneously communicate romance, fun, and tradition.

By Grace Fussell, posted February 16th 2023, viewed April 1st 2023: https://design.tutsplus.com/articles/the-psychology-of-fonts--cms-34943

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Alex brush, regular 400, by Google Fonts

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The Psychology of Fonts:

Scripts - Fun Fonts:

Psychological Associations of Script Fonts: Creative, Amusing, Fun, Childlike, and Romantic

Script and fun handwriting fonts can lean towards formality or naivety, depending on the style and context. That's the beauty of typography psychology. Calligraphy fonts, inspired by the traditional method of handwriting using ink pens, feel more formal and sophisticated, and are often adopted by luxury brands or high-end restaurants in their branding and menus. Many contemporary script fonts are more informal and eclectic, mimicking the diversity of modern handwriting styles and making them fun fonts.

These eclectic and different fun fonts are evocative of handwriting and doodling, connecting them with creativity and eccentricity. Given their unique and quirky form, these emotional fonts are rarely sombre. Script fonts also remind the viewer of youth and first romances, making them a popular choice for Valentine’s cards and wedding invitations.

The association with youth and amusement also makes fun handwriting fonts popular for candy packaging and food products aimed at children, such as cereal and soft drinks, as well as cool fonts for posters and advertising fonts.

In terms of the psychology of fonts in marketing, script fonts have a particular history. In some cases, these emotional fonts have a retro personality, as these type styles (sometimes referred to as ‘diner’ fonts) enjoyed spells of popularity in advertising and branding during the 1950s. Brands like Ray-Ban and Coca-Cola have chosen to retain the original script form of their logos—reinforcing a connection between the past and present and tapping into a nostalgic marketing mood.

Examples in Logo Design: Disney, Mailchimp, Ray-Ban, Coca-Cola, Reese’s, Pinterest, Virgin, Kellogg’s, Budweiser, Cartier

By Grace Fussell, posted February 16th 2023, viewed April 1st 2023: https://design.tutsplus.com/articles/the-psychology-of-fonts--cms-34943

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using the 'Alex Brush' font downloaded from Google Fonts, and my updated colour palette.

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Script fonts are generally a lot fancier than their serif counterparts. They’re intended to provoke ideas of femininity, elegance, and creativity, thanks to their hand-written nature. If you want to make your company feel more personal, and improve your chances of earning that all-important customer affinity, then script typefaces could be the perfect option.

When it comes to typography psychology, script fonts are probably the ones most likely to inspire emotional and creative ideas. They’re perfect for when you want to convey feeling, history, or experience, and can be particularly useful for “visual” brands who want to show off their creative side. The key is to use script fonts with caution. While they look artful and fancy, they can also be difficult to read in certain contexts.

By Stephen Peate, date unknown, viewed April 2nd 2023: https://fabrikbrands.com/font-psychology-and-typography-inspiration-in-logo-design/

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The logos used for reality TV dating shows currently are all the same: bold sans serif fonts with no personality.

Sans serif fonts are easier for people to read, however, symbolically you can tell that these dating shows are not genuine through their advertisements. The font and typography alone gives a vibe that the show is only made for ratings, and is most likely scripted or false.

Shows like these can expertly tap into the very real need for love and how to find it - which is the bait that lures their audience in - but they're heavily scripted, the contestants are manipulated, and the audience is very aware that none of it is real. When someone sees an ad represented like the ones above, subconsciously you know you will be watching a dramatised dating show which is heavily scripted and inauthentic.

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The revealing and disturbing story of America, told through 20 years of reality dating shows

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The revealing and disturbing story of America, told through 20 years of reality dating shows

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If you are looking for the exact moment when American culture went off the rails that it has never managed to climb back on, may we offer a singular scene on television from Feb. 15, 2000: a man in a tuxedo, bent down on one knee, proposing to a total stranger in a wedding gown. She tearfully accepts while four other women, also wearing wedding dresses, shuffle off the stage.

The nearly 23 million viewers who tuned into "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?" were simultaneously riveted and horrified. But most importantly, there were 23 million of them. This would not be a one-time phenomenon, but rather the origin story for a new genre, the "reality dating show." (When the deep human need for companionship and money-hungry Hollywood executives love each other very much ...)

Since then, millions upon millions of people have spent many hours of their lives enraptured by these shows, which continue to proliferate with no sign of slowing down, like an invasive species that has become part of our natural environment. How did this happen? And what has 20 years of watching these spectacles - singles hooking up, couples breaking up and aspiring Instagram influencers melting down, all in the name of finding "love" - done to us?

To find out, we chose one reality dating show that debuted every year from 2000 through 2020 - shows that were particularly popular, controversial, influential or taught us something unexpected. (Quite a few were left out ... sorry, "Conveyor Belt of Love.") We talked to dozens of people: Contestants who loved the experience and those who regret everything. Producers who are proud of the content they made and others who could never stomach to work in the genre again. Reality TV experts who appreciate the escapism and entertainment value, but also lament the negative influence of these shows, from perpetuating damaging stereotypes to fueling the lack of representation on our screens.

Sometimes, these series are surprisingly hopeful. But mostly, they are disturbing. Deeply disturbing. But no matter how many people decry that the shows are fake and/or feel like the downfall of society, the impact has been extremely real.

2000

"Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?" (Fox)

As the legend goes, the idea for "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?" originated at a wedding attended by TV producer Mike Darnell, who was thinking about how to replicate the success of rival network ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" game show. He realized he could zero in on two of America's biggest anxieties: love and money.

"I kept thinking: Why is this show working? Because winning money is a huge American dream," Darnell said, according to TV reporter Bill Carter's book " Desperate Networks." "And I'm sitting here watching another huge American dream, which is getting married. What's bigger than that? Getting married to a wealthy man."

The unapologetically misogynistic concept enraged critics, who likened the spectacle to prostitution. That outrage, according to multiple accounts, was pretty much the reaction producers - which included future "Bachelor" creator Mike Fleiss - hoped for. (Darnell declined to comment.) The special was a massive hit. The groom, real estate developer Rick Rockwell, and the bride, emergency room nurse Darva Conger, set sail on a Caribbean honeymoon. Producers started plotting follow-up specials.

Then everything imploded. The Smoking Gun revealed that nine years prior, Rockwell had a restraining order filed against him by an ex-girlfriend, who alleged physical abuse. (Rockwell denied this.) Conger told media outlets she realized when she "won" that going on the show was a huge mistake, and cried herself to sleep every night. The marriage was annulled and producers launched an investigation into the negligent background check. Behind the scenes, Carter reported, Fox executives were mortified and furious, and the president declared his network was done with such exploitative trash.

However, the seeds were planted: People really would sign up to humiliate themselves on a national platform to try to find their soul mate. Viewers, apparently, would watch. Weeks into the controversy, the press couldn't stop talking about it. And in Hollywood, sometimes that's all that matters.

2001

"Temptation Island" (Fox)

When Mandy Lauderdale was a 22-year-old model and agreed to participate in a "dating documentary" with her boyfriend, she was unaware of the show's true premise, even when they were required to undergo all manner of doctor visits.

"We should have known with the STD tests that something was up," she said.

In fact, none of the participating couples knew they would be flown to Belize to an island full of hot single people who - thanks to psychological background checks - producers knew would be especially alluring to each person. The couples were split up and offered these "temptations." On top of shock value, the show was also billed as a, um, helpful way to test if partners were meant to be together. (Contestants Kaya Wittenburg and Valerie Penso-Cuculich, who were together on the show, said people earnestly told them afterward that watching them successfully get through "Temptation Island" inspired them to save their own relationships. They broke up three years later.)

Unexpectedly, the series, another one from Darnell, was a cynical, teachable moment about what audiences want. Carter reported that Fox executives, scarred from "Millionaire," found out during filming that one couple, Taheed Watson and Ytossie Patterson, had a child, which was against the rules of casting. But this time, Carter wrote, they realized if they simply incorporated the controversy, it could work for them, so they filmed a producer informing the unhappy couple they were kicked off the show. If there was any doubt about leaning into drama, it was cleared up when that episode was a ratings bonanza.

The incident also became an example of real-life consequences of such actions: Watson and Patterson sued Fox for defamation of character. Now, Patterson says the experience "kind of ruined me." She added she felt blindsided and would have never participated if she knew what the series was really about. She remains unimpressed with the genre.

"I cannot bring myself to watch any reality shows," she said.

2002

"The Bachelor" (ABC)

If watching "The Bachelor" makes you feel ill, that's fitting: Creator Mike Fleiss told Vanity Fair that a vision for the show appeared in his head when he had a 104-degree temperature. Yet no matter how degrading it is to watch dozens of adults fight to marry a person they have known for approximately two months, this 18-year franchise remains unstoppable. It's one of the few shows that still command a live TV viewing audience, and has launched a cottage industry of Instagram influencers.

More than any other dating show, experts say, the longevity of "The Bachelor" explains why this genre persists: It expertly taps into the very real need for love and how to find it. Even if you know that producers edit any kind of drama they want, and contestants only are there to (shudder) "build their brand," viewers subconsciously soak in lessons about relationships that apply to their lives.

"We would be lying if we didn't tell ourselves that watching these shows ... affects us in how we think about dating," said Natasha Scott, co-host of the podcast "2 Black Girls, 1 Rose." She pointed to "Bachelorette" star Hannah Brown being "gaslit" by manipulative suitor Luke Parker, a story that "resonated with a lot of young women across America."

This makes the embarrassing record of diversity on the franchise - which only recently cast Matt James as the first Black "Bachelor" after fan pressure - even more disappointing, Scott said, and reinforces the damaging idea of who our culture deems worthy of love and extravagant romance. "With that power, [the show] has not taken much responsibility in trying to show different representations of love," she said. "It continually operates in a formulaic fashion in terms of whose stories get highlighted and whose stories are told."

2003

"Joe Millionaire" (Fox)

The age of misinformation got a head start in 2003 when 20 women were told they were competing for the love of Evan Marriott, heir to a $50 million fortune - who was actually a construction worker making $19,000 a year. Around 40 million people tuned into the finale, eager to see Marriott reveal the truth and if a woman would run away screaming from a poor person.

In the end, it was basically fine (Marriott and winner Zora Andrich were awarded a $1 million check to split for their troubles and broke up shortly after), but the premise set a precedent for TV creators: People would believe what you told them to believe, leading to other bleak attempts such as "I Wanna Marry Harry."

Showrunner Liz Bronstein is still stunned by how the show blew up, parodied everywhere from the pages of the New Yorker to a "Saturday Night Live" sketch. Though she's proud it became a pop culture phenomenon, it made her realize she wasn't cut out for the reality dating genre. "I didn't want to spend my career lying to people and tricking them," she said. Marriott has also expressed regret about participating. He has dropped out of the public eye, but Bronstein said she heard from him a few years ago. "He called me and pitched me a show about how reality TV shows had ruined the lives of people who had gone on them."

2004

"Playing It Straight" (Fox)

Describing this show in 2020 will only result in one reaction: shock that it aired on TV. Five straight men and nine gay men pretending to be straight competed for one woman's affection. In the end, if the woman chose a straight man to date, they would each receive $500,000. If she chose a gay man, he would win $1 million and she would win nothing.

The series originated in the U.K. before it was sold to Fox, and executive producer Adam Wood said they envisioned it as a "slightly absurd" twist on "The Bachelor." Obviously, it did not go over well in America and was canceled after three episodes. The U.K. version had high ratings, though in the end, the woman chose a gay man who felt so guilty he offered to split the prize money anyway. "It felt darker than we had imagined," Wood acknowledged. "I don't think we had thought that far ahead."

U.S. contestant Bill Bouvier said that, in theory, he thought the show would be an opportunity to break down stereotypes on TV of how a gay man should look and act. In practice, he said, the experience was "absolutely horrendous." By pretending to be straight, he felt like he was "thrust back into the closet" all over again. Today, he's still troubled by shows that make jokes out of marriage.

"You can have people who don't know each other get married, or make it a game, but two gay men is 'destroying the sanctity of marriage,' " he said. "It's such a slap in the face where they've taken it."

2005

"Next" (MTV)

"'Next' was literally Tinder before Tinder. But instead of swiping left, you got kicked off a bus."

That explanation from D Renard Young, president and executive producer at That Rockz! content studio, makes perfect sense to any millennial who came home from school and watched people reject each other on MTV. A guy or girl would go on individual dates with a group of suitors sitting on a bus. At any point, if they didn't like how the date was going, they could yell "NEXT!" and the next person would walk out of the bus and take their shot.

While it featured a diverse group of daters (and was one of the first dating shows to cast LGBTQ contestants), Young also called it "popcorn voyeurism at its best." People were instantly "next-ed" for a variety of reasons: too boring, not tall enough, hideous shirt. It was a haunting preview of life on dating apps and normalized the idea of nixing a potential partner instantaneously.

"If you're single, even the most bizarre dating show can provide a sense of comfort and hope, because many viewers have been there," Young said. "Or, it can serve as a cautionary tale for what not to do."

2006

"Flavor of Love" (VH1)

Relaxing in a limo with his signature giant clock hanging around his neck, rapper Flavor Flav explained why he agreed to star on a reality dating show. "I've got fame and fortune, I've got real valuable works of art, I've got a mad domestic staff, I've got a nice big mansion," he told the cameras during the premiere. "But none of these things mean nothing without a woman to spend it with."

The Public Enemy hype man was one of the first celebrities to realize a dating show could boost your profile, alongside the likes of Christopher Knight on "My Fair Brady" and "Scott Baio is 45...and Single." But as "Flavor of Love" skyrocketed in the ratings, and was one of the rare shows that didn't have a majority-White cast, many slammed it for trafficking in stereotypes about Black women. Contestants were shown screaming, fighting and performing demeaning challenges. (In one of the most famous scenes, Tiffany "New York" Pollard lunged at Brooke "Pumkin" Thompson after Thompson spit on her.) Some said the series positioned Flav and the cast's antics as a modern-day minstrel show.

"The problem isn't Flavor Flav," said Mark Anthony Neal, chair of the Department of African and African American Studies at Duke University, in a 2006 Washington Post story that explored whether the series should be treated as "camp" or a source of outrage. "The problem is Flavor Flav becomes the stand-in for the one or two Black people you see on TV. And a figure like Flavor Flav takes on more importance than he should."

Nicole "Hoopz" Alexander, who won the first season, said in an interview that she didn't listen to the criticism. And although filming the show was surreal ("When you're inside something, going through the experience, you don't understand it"), it changed her life. She was glad to see a dating show that finally had a diverse cast and recalled Flav referring to himself as "Black-chelor" because, as he correctly predicted, the actual broadcast network "Bachelor" wouldn't cast a Black man as the star anytime soon.

2007

"A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila" (MTV)

Years before Tila Tequila was kicked off "Celebrity Big Brother" for writing a blog post that sympathized with Adolf Hitler, and before she revealed herself as a born-again Christian whose old self was "dead," the model and singer was deemed "the Madonna of Myspace" with 2 million online friends. Thus, she was the perfect fit as MTV's "bisexual bachelorette" on a show in which 16 straight men and 16 lesbians competed to date her. (She later said she was never actually bisexual and just "gay for pay.")

Sherri Williams, an assistant professor of race, media and communication at American University, remembers that instead of the show offering visibility for bisexual people, it "just ended up showing more about the patriarchy than anything else." The male contestants were hypermasculine, she recalls, making it seem like those qualities could override any desire that Tila Tequila might have for a woman.

The danger of this type of programming, she said, is that many people want to write off reality dating shows as garbage, when in fact "all of these shows show where we are as a society - what we value and what we believe." So it's telling when producers sideline anyone who isn't a cisgender, straight, conventionally beautiful White person. Even years later, Williams said, "there's still a lot of fetishizing on these shows."

2008

"Farmer Wants a Wife" (CW)

Ah, the classic attempt to appeal to middle America. Just like "The Simple Life" before it, producers figured they could get mileage out of throwing "big city" women into small-town life. (Contestant Josie Goldberg said she was told she was cast in the "Jewish American Princess" role.) Female participants competed in various obstacles - milking a goat, corralling chickens - and tried to win over a hunky single farmer. As the theme song went, "His land and cattle and chickens abound / but this good ol' boy ain't got no lady around."

The concept seemed bizarre to contestant Krista Krogman, but after she was approached by a casting director at a Miami nightclub, she figured she would give it a shot. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing, let's just see what happens," she said she thought at the time. "It's fun, exciting, something different." In the end, not many people watched, though it didn't stop other attempts outside New York or Los Angeles, from "Sweet Home Alabama" to "Alaskan Women Looking for Love." Although this one was billed as "The Bachelor" meets "The Simple Life," turns out audiences really just wanted "The Bachelor."

2009

"Megan Wants a Millionaire" (VH1)

In one of the darkest reality TV stories, this VH1 series was pulled off the air after three episodes when one of the contestants, Ryan Jenkins, was named the suspect in the murder of his ex-wife; days later, he was found dead by apparent suicide.

VH1 quickly canceled the show and one of its spinoffs, "I Love Money 3," which featured Jenkins. It turned out Jenkins had a prior record of domestic violence, which the production company missed in its background check. The situation was "the worst thing to ever happen to me in my career," executive producer Mark Cronin told Entertainment Weekly in a deep dive about the horrifying situation. The whole genre got a serious wake-up call about the critical importance of properly vetting contestants.

Megan Hauserman, the star of the show and a Playboy model who also starred in VH1 shows including "Rock of Love With Bret Michaels" and "Rock of Love: Charm School," was cast as the lead of her own find-a-husband show when she told producers that she didn't want a job but rather yearned to be a trophy wife. After the show was scrapped, she said, her TV career disappeared - no one wanted to touch anyone remotely associated with Jenkins.

"For many, many years, I was depressed by so many different aspects of it: knowing someone involved in that, knowing that a person close to me did that," she said. "I was upset because my show was canceled; every opportunity that I had at that time ended and was canceled."

2010

"Donald J. Trump Presents: The Ultimate Merger" (TV One)

It wasn't just an "Apprentice" reunion when Omarosa Manigault Newman joined President Trump's administration in 2017 as director of communications for the White House Office of Public Liaison. Back in the day, they extended their lucrative partnership to "The Ultimate Merger," featuring 12 men vying for Omarosa. "I'd love to have you meet some guy. Is there anybody that can tame you?" Trump, an executive producer on the series, asked in the premiere as she laughed. (Oh, if only we could have seen a glimpse of what the future held for the two of them.)

Executive producer D Renard Young said that though he figured people would tune in because Omarosa was so polarizing, even he was surprised by the high ratings. He knew her earlier persona as the villain on "The Apprentice" franchise was criticized as perpetuating the "angry Black woman" stereotype, which they worked hard to avoid.

"That's the beauty of having creatives and executives of color making decisions behind the scenes, such as myself, as we didn't manipulate situations in the edit to portray stereotypes that continue to plague Black women," he said. "We allowed Omarosa the space to express her full range of emotions."

Young is proud that the cast had "smart, funny, Black men represented on reality television. ... Before this show, we were always shown in a different light in this genre." A scene when Omarosa got in the hot tub with her suitors was especially memorable. "It was refreshing and rare to see an African American woman as the object of affection, desire and attention," he said, adding, "If Black Twitter was popping in 2010, it would've birthed many memes."

2011

"Love in the Wild" (NBC)

You know how you can get a glimpse of someone's true personality by how they react when they get lost while driving? That was the basic idea behind "Love in the Wild," except instead of a wrong turn on the highway, producers matched up random single people, sent them to navigate a Costa Rican jungle, and had them forge through quicksand or brave crocodile-infested rivers.

"We wanted to see, if people had to work together, would it bring them close together quickly?" said executive producer Tom Shelly, who also worked on "Survivor." "We were really hoping to get real relationships out of it."

Turns out when you base the premise on that type of psychology, it actually works? Five out of the 20 couples over two seasons wound up married - an impressive batting average for a genre that has a low success rate. Season 1 winner Samantha Spiro confirmed it that was not the way she expected to meet her husband, but, well, life is full of surprises. She and Mike Spiro tied the knot three years after the finale.

"Those high-pressure situations made us feel close to each other really fast," she said. "Being in that situation with no cellphones, no distractions, nothing else besides human contact - it was just us all the time."

2012

"The Choice" (Fox)

"The Choice" was like "The Voice" except for dating instead of singing: A group of celebrities, for some reason, signed up to sit on swivel chairs and listen to men or women describe themselves. If they liked what they heard in these "blind auditions," they turned around. The show was truly as ridiculous as it sounded, and shocked us because it showed that famous folks who had many other means of dating - including Joe Jonas, Carmen Electra and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino - still turned to TV. The "dating show" remained a powerful platform.

Of course, no one took it too seriously. At the beginning of each episode, producers aired a recap of what happened when a celebrity went on a date with the person of their choosing. Results varied from "texting ever since" to "better off as friends" to "promised to keep in touch" (we know what that means).

2013

"Ready for Love" (NBC)

One question that plagues observers of these shows: Why would anyone sign up to be on them?! With all the evidence that they didn't work and/or were a source of potential public humiliation, "Ready for Love" was proof that even 13 years in, the urge remained strong to look for a soul mate on television.

Ben Patton knew the drill; he had even once declined a chance to be considered for "The Bachelor." But a producer for "Ready for Love" made an intriguing sales pitch: Patton would be one of three bachelors, with zero pressure to get engaged, and women would be chosen by professional matchmakers. Patton considered this. He had been out of the dating world while working abroad. So, he thought, why not?

"Ready for Love" only lasted a few episodes, and drew unfavorable "Hunger Games" comparisons as women were "presented" to the men onstage with a live audience. Patton said even though he didn't find his future wife (he and the woman he chose broke up), it gave him a new understanding of why people reveal so much of themselves on TV.

"The camera is an uncomfortable element for about two weeks, max," he said. "Then you end up becoming friends with sound guys, camera guys ... when you build that rapport, you forget they're a voyeur."

2014

"Married at First Sight" (FYI/Lifetime)

When "Married at First Sight" started casting, producers weren't sure anyone would sign up. After all, you had to agree to be set up with a stranger by a panel of experts and then instantly marry whoever they chose. Buyers were hugely skeptical, but eventually it landed on the FYI cable channel. The debut sparked even more stunned reactions and mockery as viewers tried to process what they were seeing.

Yet, once again - you may be sensing a theme here - everyone underestimated people's desire to find a partner, especially when 14 years of reality dating shows had desensitized them. Fast forward, and the series - a bona fide hit which has since moved to Lifetime and just launched its 11th season - has produced nine married couples. "It's a show that celebrates love, at its core, and people who are willing to do one of the craziest things you can imagine doing, legally, in hopes of finding love," said Chris Coelen, chief executive of production company Kinetic Content.

Iris Caldwell was a loyal fan of the series and applied as soon as she learned the show was filming its ninth season in Charlotte. Her story line drew plenty of headlines (she revealed that she was a virgin) and she wound up breaking it off with husband Keith Manley, but she regrets nothing and says she's "still a huge hopeless romantic." She credits the show's popularity to viewers who watch and relate: "We're going through similar situations - rejection, love, getting to know someone," she said. "This is just a public way of doing it."

2015

"Everlasting" via "UnREAL" (Lifetime)

Yes, obviously "UnREAL" was a scripted drama that went behind the scenes of a fictional dating show, "Everlasting." Yet it was jarring to see "Everlasting" producers pull out every sick, dirty trick to manipulate cast members into having mental breakdowns - especially when you consider that co-creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro worked for three years on "The Bachelor," so she was drawing real-life inspiration from somewhere. (Shapiro told the New Yorker that her "Bachelor" bosses would order her to make contestants cry on camera or she would be fired.)

The drama series took a nosedive after the first season, partially due to a much-criticized police brutality story line in which a White producer called the cops on the show's first Black star. And plenty of people were unnerved by what they saw with an apparent peek behind the curtain. Still, it didn't stop them from watching "The Bachelor" in real life.

2016

"Catching Kelce" (E!)

Maya Benberry didn't pack too many clothes when she was cast on a mysterious athlete's dating show. "I just really honestly went into it like, 'I'm a Black girl, this is probably a White guy, and I'm probably only going to be there like a week or two,'" she told The Washington Post's Amber Ferguson.

The series wound up starring sometimes controversial NFL star Travis Kelce, whose goofy nature off the field made him a natural for this kind of role. Benberry couldn't believe it when she and Kelce clicked and he chose her at the end. However, when filming was over, Benberry said Kelce told her the producers wanted to redo the story line to make her the villain, because they liked the idea of the villain winning the show.

The result was a nightmare: She was portrayed in a "negative, villainous, angry Black women type of way," she said, and received racist comments and death threats online - an issue that remains a disturbingly common experience for reality contestants of color. She and Kelce broke up; she didn't feel like he, the network or producers supported her. (Kelce and the producers did not respond to a request for comment; no one who worked at E! when the show aired could be reached for comment.)

In editing her as the villain, Benberry said, they also didn't show Kelce expressing how much he liked her. That way "the audience would think that I wasn't going to win, and that I was just some evil, bitter girl, when in reality I wasn't. So that was unfortunate. I felt like it kind of made the experience, for me, not as fun."

2017

"RelationShipped" (Facebook Watch)

Is there anything more dystopian than clicking on a button and controlling the fate of another person? Probably not, and it was clearly only a matter of time before dating shows tried this out. BuzzFeed made the attempt with "RelationShipped" on the Facebook Watch platform, where viewers could choose the star of the show and future contestants - so basically not too different from fans voicing opinions on celebrity relationships in comments sections, but with actual consequences. Producer Tom Shelly said that contestants "didn't take it too seriously" since the viewers made a lot of decisions but that it created a social experiment - not even so much with drama, but more so with how everyday humans would react to an incredibly surreal situation being foisted upon them.

2018

"The Proposal" (ABC)

While "The Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" remain a mainstay, as well as spin offs such as "Bachelor in Paradise" and "The Bachelor Summer Games," one flop showed that fans wouldn't watch everything from creator Mike Fleiss. (He declined to comment for this story.) "The Proposal" was essentially a pageant similar to "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?," which didn't grab this decade's audience. Plus, it was yet another lesson in faulty background checks: The network had to pull an episode when one of the contestants was accused of past sexual assault as the show started airing.

"How are we supposed to find out about something that's never been reported???" Fleiss tweeted. "For the record," he added, "I am horrified that any of these abusive a--holes are on our shows. We are working very hard to find ways to do better."

2019

"Love Island" (CBS)

The U.K. viewing audience went bananas over this controversial show - producers sequestered hot singles in a Mallorca villa and let chaos ensue - after it debuted in 2015. Naturally, America wanted a piece. Set in Fiji, the CBS version didn't garner anywhere close to the amount of attention it did in the U.K., but it pleased the network enough that it ordered another season, presumably to capture young viewers. ITV Entertainment's Simon Thomas, who executive-produced the U.S. version, said he thinks that contrary to popular belief, crazy drama isn't always necessary to entice fans.

"My favorite 'Love Island' moments are miscommunications, or little 'he said she saids,' where what appeared to be a rock-solid relationship in the morning unravels by the evening," he said. "You don't need people throwing champagne glasses at each other - that's not real life."

Kate Casey, host of the "Reality Life With Kate Casey" podcast, said a major reason these shows catch on is because of the communal viewing experience, especially on a series like "Love Island" that airs daily. "I think you can't forget that it's also just a supremely satisfying television-watching experience," she said. "You can chat with your friends and make fun of [contestants] or root for them. It's a fantastic escape from our crazy world."

2020

"Love Is Blind" (Netflix)

After years of drilling unattainable beauty norms into our heads, Hollywood has occasionally tried to backtrack and teach us that attraction can be more than a physical connection. "Mr. Personality" made men cover their faces with creepy masks. "Dating in the Dark" was exactly what it sounded like. Neither lasted many episodes.

The breakthrough was Netflix's hit "Love Is Blind," a fitting culmination of two decades of reality dating shows. The wacky idea (people start out dating in pods where they can't see each other, although it no longer sounds that crazy in a covid-19 world) at least tried to be progressive by focusing on emotional connection first ... even if it had a viral scene of a contestant giving wine to her dog.

Creator Chris Coelen said he saw criticism along the lines of "this show is the final nail in the final coffin of humanity." A review from the Guardian said as much, adding it was "absurd, revolting, endearing, toxic and wholesome by turns - and addictive as hell throughout." "Sure, I guess you can look at it that way," Coelen said. "But to me, that's not why I created it or why it resonated. I think it resonated because it's relatable. We all want to feel like, hey, we should be loved for who we are."

Williams, the American University professor, said she sees the "Love Is Blind" popularity as a sign that while audiences will never tire of these shows, they will get oversaturated with endless "Bachelor" variations that showcase women seeking fairy-tale fantasies that do not exist. But she sees potential with series such as MTV's "Are You the One?," which featured a sexually fluid cast; or "Labor of Love," which, while it had ridiculous elements, actually starred a woman in her 40s who wanted to have a baby, with or without a husband.

"As we see this genre aging more, people are running out of ideas," she said. "But the ones that are more real and more inclusive are starting to germinate and really rise to the top."

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The revealing and disturbing story of America, told through 20 years of reality dating shows

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If you are looking for the exact moment when American culture went off the rails that it has never managed to climb back on, may we offer a singular scene on television from Feb. 15, 2000: a man in a tuxedo, bent down on one knee, proposing to a total stranger in a wedding gown.

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An example of an advertisement for shampoo but they've used a romantic focus: cursive fonts, couples acting in love, even the advertisement is written as romanticising women's hair for the male gaze.

The advertisement is by Alberto-Culver Co, 1954

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An example of a cigarette advertisement, again, advertised with a 'romantic' influence.

With the rising anxiety existing within the public about cigarettes’ risks to health, cigarette advertising changed to include evocative, reassuring figures. Women with flush rosy cheeks were advertised, and taglines read such as ‘red tips for hot lips’.

This is another example of an advert shown with bold red scripted text, advertised for 'pleasure' by a beautiful woman with a warm expression. This leans towards a romantic focus.

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How do you think your target audience feels about your product before they’ve seen your video?

I think my target audience would assume this is another typical reality TV dating show coming to air, specifically for views and controversy.

How do you want them to feel after they’ve seen your video?

I want the audience to feel as if they have a personal connection with the brand and the message advertised. The promotional video should be able to establish a bond between the audience and the company. The personality of the product - in this case the dating reality TV show - should be a face, or faces, that viewers can connect to.

The advertisement should be informative and make the viewers feel motivated - motivated to improve their own lives by watching the show, and/or motivated to apply for the show.

What tone/s or emotion/s will you need to convey to convince your audience of your promotional message?

The tone and emotions conveyed and expressed within my promotional message will all be upbeat, energetic, authentic, and genuine. By having real people, real emotions, and real stories, viewers can recognise and connect to the singles on the show. This creates a sense of trust that will encourage viewers to connect with the brand more.

Friendly and pleasant actors (or ‘singles’ in the case of the show) would be best responded to by viewers. This can be done by showing them being genuine, informal, warm, straightforward, geeky, charming, embarrassing, and using humour. Upbeat background music will be used to keep the advertisement light hearted.

Which colours best represent these emotions? Why?

Colours that represent and symbolise romance, sultriness, comfort, elegance, and seduction are best suited for this advertisement. These colours include deep reds, shades of black, brown, and dark pink. Red symbolises passion, love, and lust. Brown symbolises comfort, grounding, and warmth. Black symbolises elegance, sophistication, and seduction.

Which fonts best represent these emotions? Why?

Scripted and cursive fonts best represent these emotions, as psychologically they represent creativity, romance, tradition, and elegance. They mimic the form of handwriting and are inspired by the traditional use of ink pens. Think of hand-written love letters and poems.