Singled Out


Singled Out is an American dating game show created by Burt Wheeler & Sharon Sussman which originally ran on MTV from 1995 to 1998. Each episode featured a group of 50 singles competing for a date with one main contestant.
The original hosts were Chris Hardwick and Jenny McCarthy. When McCarthy left the show in early 1997 to star in her own sitcom, Jenny, MTV hired Carmen Electra to replace her for the last season and a half.
The show became a cult classic, putting a more comedic spin on traditional and formal dating shows. Contestants would most likely be unconventional and cast purely for entertainment, without any assumed compatibility put into effect.
MTV revamped the series in late 2018 for its YouTube channel. The overhauled format gave a more urban contemporary hip hop theme to the show. Incorporating a main social media aspect as well, the show features rapper Justina Valentine acting as host, with rapper Conceited as a cohost.
On June 4, 2019, it was announced that a reboot of the series will premiere in Spring 2020 on Quibi with Keke Palmer as the host.

Format (1995–1998)

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

Round 1

The Picker was presented with a board showing six categories, which ranged from physical attributes to preferences in love-making to leisure activities. They generally were expressed in a humorous style, often with various pop-culture references. After choosing a category, two or three choices were listed, and the Picker was asked to eliminate one of the choices. After eliminating a choice, all the contestants who fit that choice left the Dating Pool, in view of the Picker. This process was repeated until five to eight potentials were left, at which point they advanced to the next round.
In the third season, a Golden Ticket was introduced, which allowed the Picker to save one eliminated player as he or she walked in front of him on the way out of the studio. This contestant automatically advanced to the semifinals. For episodes taped outside, the "Golden Ticket" was replaced with a Golden Lifesaver, with the same rules.

Round 2

At that point, the Picker asked a series of questions which ranged from Dating Game–style questions to stunt-oriented questions. If the Picker was satisfied with the answer or performance, he or she would "keep" the contestant, advancing them to the final round. If the Picker was not satisfied, he or she would "dump" the contestant, eliminating him or her from further play. "Dumped" contestants were not shown to the Picker as in the first round, but were instead marked with some sort of prop, such as a toilet seat around the neck, a bag with a sad face on it on the male player's head, or a pageant sash labeled "Dumped". This round continued either until three contestants were "kept," or all but three had been "dumped." If the potential date received the golden ticket, then sometimes the host would show him or her to the picker.

Round 3

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

The Reveal

After a couple had been made, the two contestants were placed back-to-back while Hardwick read a description of the winning player to the Picker. The contestants were then turned around to meet each other for the first time, and their trip and prizes were described to them by the announcer.
Two games were played per show, first with a woman picking from 50 single men, then with a man picking from 50 single women.

Characters

Besides the hosts, the show also had mascot characters. The most prominent character was a scruffy, cigar-smoking cupid known as "Bob the Angel", who would sometimes appear in a series of vignettes with Hardwick and McCarthy. Bob would be joined by a wife, Roberta, and a son, Little Bob. Other characters included Fidel Castro, or an evangelist. These characters would often interact with the contestants during the "Keep 'Em or Dump 'Em" round, such as one male contestant being challenged to a game of tetherball against Castro. On rare occasions celebrities would appear. A female Picker claimed she was a Mel Torme fan and challenged a contestant to sing like him, only to have the real Torme come and judge his work.

Format (2018–)

The format in the 2018 revival is significantly different. The show has a main hip hop/urban contemporary theme, with a social media or Tinder motif as well. Also showcasing a more inclusive tolerance towards alternative lifestyles featuring LGBTQ segments as well.
Likewise in the original version, "The Picker", is seated facing away from the audience. 50 other "singles" still compete for one person, however only 25 are genuine legitimate contestants in studio. Referred to as "IRL" contestants.. The other 25 are "URL" contestants. They are essentially contestants as well, however not quite. The catch is, there is a possibility some, the URL contestants are illegitimate contestants, or to keep up with the show's theme, a Catfish. If a "URL" contestant is real, the selfie image on the screen is actually them and they are backstage. If a "URL" contestant is fake, their selfie is a stock image of an actor, and the "URL" contestant is essentially a catfish that during the reveal looks nothing like the image of them.

Round 1

The Picker was presented with a large board of six categories. Which narrowed down a contestants attributies. Anything from physical attraction, mental attraction, hobbies and social media habits. Once choosing a category two or three choices were listed, and The Picker was asked to eliminate any contestant who falls under that trope. "IRL" contestants who were eliminated left the studio in view of the picker revealing themselves. This continued until at least eight or less "IRL" contestants remained and/or eight or less "URL" contestants remained who would then advance to Round 2.

Round 2

The Picker who still has no idea who the "IRL" and URL" contestants are, names are revealed and formally introduced and interviewed.. At this time, The Picker is only allowed to choose one "IRL" and one "URL" contestant to move onto the following round. This is done by an activity or challenge The Picker asks the "IRL" contestants to do, and by various creative means for the "URL" contestants to do. The eliminated "IRL" contestants walk out the studio and are revealed to The Picker. Once one "IRL" and one "URL" contestant is left, they move onto the final round.

Round 3

The Picker is now allowed to see the "IRL" contestant that is left, and they also see the selfie avatar image of the "URL" contestant on the plasma screen. To make the choice somewhat easier, an activity done to get to know more about the "IRL" and "URL" contestants is played. Before the show, The Picker was given a survey on personality questions.. These same questions are asked, and the "IRL" contestant would give their choice,. The Picker would raise a cue card of the choice they made earlier. If it was a match, the "IRL" and/or the "URL" contestant would get a point. After the questions are asked, The Picker then would have to make a choice. Either pick the "IRL" contestant in the studio, or go with the "URL" contestant The Picker would then make the choice, leading onto the reveal.

The Reveal

Immediately after The Picker makes their choice, if they chose the "IRL" contestant, they would simply be matched together. However, if The Picker chose the "URL" contestant, they would then reveal themselves. If the "URL" contestant was not a catfish, they would be matched together as if they chose the "IRL" contestant. If the "URL" contestant is a catfish, The Picker usually is unhappy about this, however they can still decide to accept the catfish regardless.

Books

The show served as the basis for a book: MTV's Singled Out Guide to Dating by Lynn Harris and J.D. Heiman. This tie-in advice book was actually two books in one, a "His" side and, turned over, a "Hers" side. In this book, winning couples were interviewed about their dates.

Appearances in other media