China dating show 2013

Rating the Dating: Can a 'Love Expert' Crack China's Top Dating Show?

For singles, they are a platform for seeking potential spouses. For the mass audience, they are a topic for gossip. For the cultural elites, they are a subject for interrogation. And for the government, they are a target for surveillance. Studying the development of television dating shows helps to understand how the concept of love and marriage in China has changed, and how the shows are helping bring about that change. Dating shows began emerging as a new form of marriage matchmaking in China in the late s. The nature of the show echoed the strong imprint of the communist ideology initiated by Mao Zedong in Television Red Bride followed a basic format: candidates introduced themselves, outlined their marriage criteria, and answered a few questions from the host.

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After the first two seasons, however, it was clear that audiences loved it. The concept is simple: One male contestant faces 24 single women. The jovial host, Meng Fei, might invite the guy to demonstrate a special talent, play testimonials from his friends and family or show him being interviewed backstage. And of course, the girls get to ask him questions — personal and often painfully direct questions. On the basis of his answers the female contestants judge the man either worthy or unworthy of a date, and signal their decision by leaving on or switching off a light in front of them. If any lights are left on by the end of the round, the male candidate chooses between the willing women and takes one of them on a vacation.

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Does she navigate it with ease or come unstuck by the pressure? And most importantly, does she get a date? Yue Xu had that illuminating choice when she appeared in four episodes of the show this winter. She left her light on until the end in one of those episodes.

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Picky Families in New Reality-TV Dating Show Cause a Stir

In case you've never heard of the show, the premise is this: 24 women decide whether or not they want to date a bachelor. The jury of single women ask questions of the guy, watch intro videos and press light buttons to decide if he's date-worthy. The guy can also choose his favorite girl. If he survives the "trial," then he gets the chance to pick one of the girls to ask out on a date.

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