Throughout the last couple of years, dating shows have exploded in popularity. Shows like Love Island, Too Hot to Handle, and recently Secret’s Inferno have topped charts in entertainment over the last few years. What makes them so popular? 

“They’re part-reality TV, part-soap opera, part-game show, which means that they’re combining elements of fiction and non-fiction, characterization, relationships, melodrama, competition, and aspiration that are very potent,”  said Dr. Karen, a reader in film and media at London Metropolitan University.

The dating reality TV genre has been in the mainstream media for years, but only recently have new shows topped the charts, especially during COVID-19 lockdowns as people at home search for forms of entertainment. 

Different types of dating shows with all kinds of concepts attempt to create successful couples and long-lasting relationships. Channel 4’s Flirty Dancing is based on part performance and part blind date. New shows like Love is Blind and Too Hot to Handle test bolder experiments for finding love. 

“​​Overall the show had a very meaningful message behind it with valuable lessons learned about life. The amount of rules and fines if they get caught breaking them was absolutely mental, but it did make sense in the end. Really hope they renew it for Season two,” commented Nami Noorbakhsh after watching Too Hot to Handle.

Another popular show 90-day Fiance features long-distance couples deciding if marriage is the right option in only 90 days.

“I think the appeal comes from the fact that it’s just so bizarre. People like it because it’s these gorgeous European women, like model-type women, coming to live with the weirdest American men for 90 days to decide if they want to marry them and it is just really, really funny.” said Avery Shane (‘24).

This push of “regular” people onto national television also often ends in celebrity-like fame and success for contestants. Oftentimes viewers get invested, picking out a favorite “character” and rooting for them.

“In 90-day Fiance, people got so hooked on it and it was huge on the internet. So many people were invested in Ed and Rose and what was going on with their relationship; it’s similar to a lot of other dating shows. There were so many memes about Ed and Rose and it gave Rose so much popularity and she’s doing better now. Ed is still on the show and competing and whatnot.” said Anjali Bemarker (‘25).

A new show from Korea named Single’s Inferno has also recently gained popularity, even among international viewers. The audience enjoyed watching the differences in culture and dating scenes.

“So far I am really enjoying how things are playing out, it is a slow burn, but interesting to see how things pan out at a reflective pace. I think the different dating culture is refreshing to watch compared to Love Island UK/USA/Australia,” said a commenter after watching Single’s inferno. “I am interested in each of the contestant’s personalities and physical attractiveness. They are all captivating in their own ways. Having their professions revealed when the couples match and go to ‘Paradise’ is always surprising in a good way.”

Though centered around the concept of finding one’s true love, much of the dating show industry is focused on producing good entertainment. Statistics show that dating shows have a very low percentage of successful long-term couples. 

Through 26 seasons the Bachelor has only produced 1 currently married couple, while the Bachelorette has produced 4 currently married couples through 18 completed seasons. Love is Blind has 4 successful couples through its 2 seasons. 90-Day Fiance has the highest success rate, with 29 currently married couples through the 4 seasons.

Dating shows are the perfect combination of what makes reality TV good, putting real people’s relationships into the spotlight for audiences to commentate on. 

“The suspense of it keeps me going and to see if people are gonna work out or not. I think they are generally popular because it’s interesting, (and) it keeps people hooked,” said Bemarker. “It’s good entertainment to put on in the background and just watch while you are doing something. It creates gossip and people talk about it a lot so you get emotionally invested in it sometimes.”