Dome formats like “Crazy Dates” have long been forgotten. The broadcasters have already tried these dating shows.
With formats such as “Bachelorette” (from June 15 at 8:15 p.m. on RTL or via RTL ) and “Princess Charming” (from June 14 on RTL ), two popular dating shows will start again in the summer. The list of currently successful dome formats is long – from “Take Me Out” to “Love Island” to “Bauer sucht Frau”. Some former dating programs have now fallen into oblivion. Or do you remember “Crazy Dates” or “Game of Clones”? Those were the strangest dating shows that flickered across German television screens.
“Kiss Bang Love”, 2016 to 2017 on ProSieben
While formats like “The Bachelor” work towards the first kiss over a few dates, “Kiss Bang Love” got down to business straight away. Luckily, singles kissed in the show, which was shown on ProSieben for three seasons. The show’s so-called “pickers” kissed twelve potential matches blindfolded in the first round of each episode. The five best kisses then took place again without a blindfold. Only then did the people looking for a partner exchange their first words on dates with their favourites.
After the first two seasons, which were shown after “Germany’s next top model”, had delivered good ratings, the format was put into prime time for the first time in autumn 2017. In “Kiss Bang Love – endless summer” the Munich pilot Julius was looking for “the one”. The show, which was extended by dream dates, was reminiscent of “The Bachelor” and did not convince the audience. “Kiss Bang Love” was subsequently canceled. Since May 2, 2022, Sat.1 has shown the second season of the show as a repeat.
“Catch The Millionaire”, 2013 to 2014 on ProSieben
Previously, the private broadcaster had tried the dating show “Catch The Millionaire”. The show premiered in 2013. The format was based on the mega success of “Joe Millionaire”, which attracted an average of 34.6 million viewers in the USA in 2003. In the USA, a fake millionaire was looking for love on the show – and only revealed his true identity to his chosen ones in the finale. In the German format, 18 single women went in search of three alleged millionaires. The highlight: They didn’t know that only one of the bachelors had millions in the account – the viewers did. In the final, the candidates then had to make a decision: did they choose a prize of 10,000 euros or love – even if their partner wasn’t a millionaire after all.
With a market share of up to 12.4 percent in the target group, the first season still found a solid audience in prime time. But with the second season, the concept could not convince. In 2014, the dating show was moved to sixx by ProSieben after just two episodes. Only very few viewers were interested in the final three episodes of the dating show. Accordingly, there was no third season.
“Game of Clones”, 2018 on RTLzwei
In 2018, the private broadcaster RTLzwei reached the pinnacle of absurdity when it came to TV dating. After “Naked Attraction” had already selected potential partners based on the appearance of their genitals, “Game of Clones” started a no less superficial dating format. In the show, a single called “picker” generated its optical dream partner in advance on the computer. The image of Mr. or Mrs. Right could be configured from hair color and body shape to cup size.
The “picker” then moved in with six singles that corresponded to the configuration created on the PC. The “clones” all wore the same outfits and the same hairstyle. After four days together with the almost identical singles, the bachelor or bachelorette chose a partner. The viewers showed no enthusiasm for the format. After the first episode was able to get 0.55 million people to tune in, episode two only had 370,000. The format was subsequently discontinued.
“Crazy Dates. In Love with Palina”, 2014 on ProSieben
Love far from the superficial should be found on “Crazy Dates. In Love with Palina”. ProSieben sent Palina Rojinski (37) to match single women with a potential partner. Two men who had had their eyes on the lady of their hearts for a long time from a distant circle of acquaintances fought for her favor. However, what made the dates as “crazy” as the show title promised: the men dressed up in fluffy animal costumes.
The concept did not convince enough viewers. The first issue in June 2014 achieved a market share of just 6 percent in the target group of 14 to 49 year olds. The second episode was not broadcast until November and undercut the previous quota of 4.8 percent in the target group.
“Meet the Parents”, 2017 on RTL
It’s not unusual for parents to look for a partner for their offspring on TV. “Daughter-in-law wanted” on RTL or the MTV formats “Date My Mom” or “Parental Control” are prime examples of this. With “Meet the Parents” RTL 2017 tried another dating format of this kind. Moderated by Daniel Hartwich (43), three pairs of parents fought for a date for their offspring. The parents tried to convince the potential dream man or woman of their offspring. Backstage, the singles were allowed to watch their parents and the potential date. The singles were allowed to veto each episode – if, for example, their parents were too embarrassed or revealed too many details. This happened via phone call live to the studio.
Of the six episodes recorded, only two made it onto television. After broadcasting on two Sunday evenings, RTL took the program out of the program again. The market share recently fell to 8.6 percent. The format originally came from Great Britain – and was not a success there either.
