(Online Dating News Blog) The premise for Dating in the Dark is as follows:

Each week three single men and three single women, all looking for love, move into separate wings of the same house and remain completely sequestered from the opposite sex. They interact with the opposite sex in a complete dark room that is so dark that those participating can’t even see their hand in front of their face. However, viewers see everything thanks to some nice high-tech infrared cameras.

After four days of wooing, kissing and snuggling in complete darkness, the participants will select one of their dates to be revealed in the light. And after they see each other for the first time, they’ll have to make the ultimate decision to stay with the person they fell for in the dark, or to move on and turn their back on the other person.

Looks are completely removed from the equation in Dating in the Dark as people get to know each other for personality and compatibility. Yet this social experiment also answers the question as to how shallow people still are these days when it comes to looks. The premise is similar to that of two people communicating via an online dating service and neither one posting a photo. No matter how strong the connection, the real question becomes what happens when that photo (or first date) arrives?

The six episode series airs Mondays on ABC (From July 20, 2009 through August 24, 2009).

(Online Dating News Blog) We want to know what you think of the new ABC TV series Dating in the Dark.  Is it a good social experiment or does it just confirm that looks is all that matters to most people? What are your overall thoughts of the show and the psychology behind it? Use the Comments section below to share your thoughts. Here’s one opinion, via video, shared by a guy named Mike on his Vlog:

What do you think?

(Online Dating News Blog) Here is an FAQ we put together for the TV show “Dating in the Dark“:

Question: What exactly is Dating in the Dark?

Answer: Dating in the Dark is a weekly hour long TV series on ABC that examines what happens when single people meet other single people in a completely dark environment where they can’t see each others faces or bodies. One must totally rely on a sense of touch, sound, communication, and smell to see if there is an attraction. The TV series brings together three single guys and three single girls every week and starts with group dating before pairing off into solo couples. ABC describes it in a much simpler fashion:

“Dating in the Dark is a sexy social experiment asking the age-old question, ‘Is Love Blind?’ Looks will be taken out of the equation when men and women get to know each other and connect in total darkness.”

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Question: When Does it Air?

Answer: Mondays at 10 pm on ABC.

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Question: How many episodes are there in season 1?

Answer: Season 1 consists of six episodes.

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Question: How long do couples have to get to know each other before their looks are revealed?

Answer: Four days.

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Question: How many people are in each episode?

Answer: There are three single men and three single women.

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Question: How are the couples paired together?

Answer: Each episode starts with a group date where the six singles get to know each other in the dark. After they are told who experts and compatibility tests say they are best matched with. Taking both into account, they then decide who they want to see more of in a one on one setting.

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Question: How are the looks revealed?

Answer: The couple is brought into the dark room and placed facing each other at a distance. They are not allowed to speak with each other during the reveal. The light then shines on one person (see video below). It then goes off and shines on the other person. There is a complicated exception to this rule. A person can choose to see any member of the opposite sex, but only one.  Of course, so far they have all chosen the person they’ve gotten to know better.

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Question: What are the ratings like?

Answer: 6.3 million viewers for the pilot episode which is good. Click here for our article on the premiere. For the second episode, 6.4 million tuned in and the show was the highest rated among 18-49 year olds for the 10pm time slot. Following The Bachelorette finale didn’t hurt. But in week #3 the show’s ratings took a nosedive, losing nearly half of it’s audience.

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Question: Where can I find updates on the couples?

Answer: You can’t. We do know that some of the contestants read our blog and would welcome their updates. Unfortunately there is no single outlet for updates. ABC says on the show (every episode)  to go to its Website for updates on the couples from Dating in the Dark, yet they don’t provide any updates. It’s one of the poorest designed TV show Websites ever.

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Question: Is Dating in the Dark an offshoot of any other show?

Answer: Yes. It is an imported offshoot of the Dutch TV show Blind Love.

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Question: Who is the host of Dating in the Dark?

Answer: The host is Rossi Morreale

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Question: I have a question that wasn’t answered here. How do I ask it?

Answer: Use the Comments section below or email it (with Dating in the Dark in the Subject header) to jtracy@onlinedatingmagazine.com.

(Online Dating News Blog) The intriguing Dating in the Dark TV series premiered on ABC Monday with 6.3 million viewers, making it the second best show in its time slot and the first in its time slot for the age group 18-49 year olds.

Dating in the Dark is a reality series where three men and three women are brought into a house, but not allowed to see each other. They communicate with each other in a dark room where infra red cameras catch all the action.   Eventually each selects who they want to get to know better and they spend quality time with that person in the dark room. The key is to see if they can develop relationships without seeing each other. They do.  The big question is if the relationship will continue once they see what the other person looks like. It gives a whole new meaning to the term “blind date”.

Here’s a trailer for the series: