How to play
“The Dating Game” is based on the TV game show popular in the US in the 1960s. A contestant (player or audience member) asks questions of three bachelors (or bachelorettes) who are hidden from view. The contestant chooses one of them with whom to go out with on a date.
The contestant is put in the soundproof booth while the audience suggests personalities for the 3 bachelors (or bachelorettes). The personality may include occupations, quirks, fictional characters, animals or celebrities.
The contestant returns to the stage and takes his/her place.
The staging
The 3 bachelors (or bachelorettes) and the contestant sit and face forward as if they can’t see each other.
The Host starts the scene as if addressing a TV audience explaining the basic rules of the game and introduces the contestant.
The contestant asks questions of each bachelor (or bachelorette). At the end of the third round of questions the contestant choose a bachelor (or bachelorette) as the winner. Alternatively he or she guesses what personality the player is portraying.
Notes
The questions can be created with the help of a cast member when the audience volunteer is off-stage in the sound-proof-booth.
A trademark of the TV show came at the end of the show when everyone (host, contestant and players) blows a kiss to the audience.
Check out the history of the Dating Game TV show here.
Guessing Game
It is often played with the questioner guessing who the eligible bachelor (or bachelorette) is pretending to be. Once he/she guesses correctly, that player leaves the stage.
This game can easily fall into the ‘guessing game’ category of improv games. There is no scene, story or relationship developed here… just jokes. Still that can be interesting sometimes.
Variations
Have an audience volunteer play the contestant. If you choose this option you may have to support them with the questions.
You can probably create an improv game using any TV game show. Maybe you already play one –if so, drop me a note and let me know.
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