The early 2000s and 2010s were quite a time for celebrity romances. While we all grew accustomed to seeing the industry’s power couples pop out in the pages of the latest tabloid, most of those famed flings ended once the lights dimmed and curtains closed. However, on the other side of these prolific pairs and the controversy that came with them lay a then-unconventional way of finding love in front of the public. These are old dating shows you should binge.
From flashing cameras to screaming supporters, several public figures were married to the euphoria of Hollywood. They spent their workdays enjoying the glitz and glamour of striking poses on red carpets, leaving their weekends for dodging paparazzi. Thus, many available individuals with these high-profile careers struggled to carve out time for anything beyond a short-lived linkup or publicity stunt.
So, when the new craze of bachelors and bachelorettes having others compete for their affection confiscated pop culture, they didn’t turn down a little chaos for a lot of cash. Already having the world at their fingertips, the stars now had the people, handpicked by show producers and put on a platter for fans’ entertainment.
Old Dating Shows You Should Binge That Are Bound to Give You a Dose of Nostalgia
1. Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch
Former NFL playboy Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson had the ladies on lock when VH1 premiered his hit show Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch on July 11, 2010. The series initially saw 85 women competing to score the heart of the celebrated football wide receiver (who notably played for the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins). Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch ran for one season. Johnson served as the creator, along with Bob Horowitz, Lewis Fenton, Cris Abrego, and Mark Cronin.
2. For the Love of Ray J
Actor/singer Ray J’s one wish was to get out of the dating game and settle down. His monumental dating show For the Love of Ray J debuted on VH1 on February 9, 2009 and was created by Cris Abrego and Mark Cronin. The series, which aired for two seasons, featured 14-19 female contestants and saw the women completing various challenges tailored to see who’d be the best fit for the R&B heartthrob.
3. A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila
Model/socialite Tila Tequila broke new ground with VH1’s A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, a dating competition comprising men and women. The bisexual romantic stood before a group of 16 heterosexual guys and 16 lesbian girls who were battling it out for their shot with the internet personality. Riley McCormick created the production, which aired on October 9, 2007, and followed the same format as many other similar shows where contestants stayed in the same house. There were two official seasons with a handful of spin-offs, including A Double Shot at Love.
4. Real Chance of Love
Ex-I Love New York competitors Ahmad “Real” Givens and Kamal “Chance” Givens made headlines when they landed their own VH1 dating show, Real Chance of Love. The first episode went live on October 20, 2008 and was another phenomenon by Cris Abrego and Mark Cronin. Real Chance of Love highlighted the ‘Stallionaire’ brothers’ journey to finding their one and only, with a group of women going above and beyond (literally) to prove that they deserved the top spot. The series withstood two seasons.
5. The Ultimate Merger
Before Donald Trump’s tenure as The White House’s #45 came The Ultimate Merger, his dating game show that acted as a spin-off of The Apprentice. TV One premiered the series on June 17, 2010, with reality star/political aide Omarosa leading its first season and plus-size model Tocarra Jones taking over for the second. The premise centered on twelve men (selected by Trump) who were living together while vying for each of the successful women’s love.
6. What Chilli Wants
When the opportunity presented itself for award-winning TLC member Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas to find her knight in shining armor, she took it! On April 11, 2010, VH1 debuted What Chilli Wants, a reality series that documented the songstress’ love quest with the help of relationship coach Tionna Smalls. The show ran for two seasons and depicted the ups and downs of Chilli’s personal life aside from her professional stardom.
Which of these old dating shows you should binge have you seen? Share below!
