Dating in the Dark: Do Looks Matter?

By Amanda Pendolino on July 29th, 2009

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Mondays just got a little bit better…in that irresistibly trashy reality television kind of way! ABC’s new show Dating in the Dark pairs up three new couples each episode to see if sparks fly – but they can’t actually see the sparks since they have to sit in complete darkness and try to get to know each other before finding out who’s hot and who’s not.

The show isn’t the only reality dating show to explore themes of superficiality and the importance of physical appearance. Fox’s More to Love premiered on Tuesday, featuring average and overweight dating hopefuls (a stark contrast to the skinny minnies and fit frat boys we’re used to seeing on shows like The Bachelor).

On Dating in the Dark, the six contestants begin by sitting together (in the dark) and deciding whom they click best with. Then we see a series of solo dates (though the contestants still can’t see anything). There are guaranteed funny moments as they try to feed each other, give each other massages and generally attempt romance while fumbling around in the dark. The limits of this kind of dating, though, might get boring after a few more episodes.

At the end, they finally get to see what their dates look like – and decide whether they’d like to keep seeing each other. Many find themselves grappling with the decision. If there was an emotional connection, should they take a chance with someone who’s not their physical type? Surprisingly, the women seem to struggle as much as the men. Nobody tries to argue that looks don’t matter; the question here is more about how we approach the idea of physical attraction after an emotional attraction is already present. It’s an interesting debate, but since the rest of us don’t have a darkroom, the show is kind of dating in a vacuum.