Dating in the Dark, August 4: That’s a Deal Breaker, Ladies!

This Week’s Participants:

Chris: Age 26. He is a part-time personal trainer. His father died when he was 11 and he himself was diagnosed with cancer when he was 15.

Phil: Age 27. He’s a Marine and is looking for someone with depth.

Billy Ray: Age 33. He doesn’t tell us what his occupation is, but mentions that his parents and step-parents have been married multiple times. His goal isn’t to get married, but to not get divorced.

Sasha: Age 30. Sasha is a writer. She says she’s superficial and loud. I guess you could add “honest” to that list.

Megan: Age 23. She is a nanny who is looking for someone who can blend with her conservative parents and her friends who aren’t conservative.

Jennifer: Age 30. Jennifer is in the military and looking for someone mature to start a family with (and let her be in control). Wow, 2 people from the military went on television to find someone with depth and maturity. Good luck!

The Group Date – In the Dark!

The daters introduce themselves, and the guys ask the women what their perfect date would be. Sasha says she wants to laugh so hard that she barfs and pees her pants. Well, if that isn’t a romantic image I don’t know what is. Jennifer says she likes “volleyball on the beach.” Megan goes with working at a lion rehabilitation program in Zimbabwe. Sasha announces, “Megan, I totally want to date you right now!” Sasha comes across to me as someone who thinks she’s funnier than she really is. Chris says he likes to work out which intrigues Jennifer.

Dating in the Dark – Round 2 –The First One-on-One Date

First up are Megan and Billy Ray who both invite each other. Megan asks about Billy Ray’s family. He says his father has passed away and had been in and out of jail “quite a bit.” Megan is a bit taken aback and later says that Billy Ray doesn’t have the kind family relationships that she hopes for. What? His father’s dead, what’s he supposed to do? Actually, I think what she means is that he’s not from the type of family she approves of. She’s likely just as conservative as her parents and probably doesn’t even realize it.

Billy Ray is up again when Sasha invites him for a date. They seem to have good rapport, but Sasha is not enthusiastic about his allergy to cats. Sasha tells us that the allergy is not going to work for her. She also doesn’t care for his admission that he’s lazy.

Moving on, Jennifer invites Chris for a date. She wants to see if he can do a push up with her on his back. He does several. Jennifer tells us that Chris has a “body to die for.”

Next, Phil invites Jennifer into the darkroom. They discuss all things military. Jennifer tells us that she and Phil have a lot of similarities and she looks forward to another date with him.

“After a bad date with Billy Ray,” says our host in voiceover, “Sasha invited Chris to the darkroom.” I don’t know how to wittily say “Ouch.” Chris and Sasha talk family. Chris divulges his father’s illness and death. Sasha is shocked and sympathetic. She gives Chris a big hug.

Back on the ladies side of the house, Sasha gushes about her date with Chris to Jennifer. There are now two women who have Chris high on their list. Jennifer tells us that there are always women competing for men, but that she usually gets what she wants. Sasha says “in-TOE-resting.” Ugh, I don’t like her.

This Week’s Get-To-Know-You Activity:

This week’s items for inspection are the men’s wallets and the women’s purses.

Billy Ray’s wallet contains no money, but lottery tickets. Add that information to the fact that we don’t know if this guy is employed, then this is not looking good for Billy Ray.

Billy Ray thinks Sasha’s purse is a chaotic mess. He adds that he didn’t even need a sign that told him that would be her purse. Interesting the things that you can learn through invading someone’s privacy. Or should I say “in-TOE-resting!”

Phil’s wallet has $122 in cash and “a slew of credit cards.” The ladies think Phil must be quite the shopper.

Phil himself notes that Jennifer’s purse seems to show that she’s a rough girl. He jokes that she has chewed on it. He then pulls out her lipstick which has been chewed up. Phil thinks she just must be really hungry.

Chris’s wallet has $70 and a CPR card. Megan says Chris’s wallet was the happy medium. Not too many credit cards and not empty with lottery tickets.

Megan’s purse is fashionable and empty. You can make of that what you will.

Dating in the Dark – Round 3 – The Compatibility Matches:

Will the power of the pre-show questionnaire matches hold this week? I’m having my doubts as one bachelor seems unpopular with the ladies, while another seems to have rabid admirers.

The matches this week are:

Billy Ray and Sasha! (Sasha says, “That why being good on paper doesn’t make for a good relationship.”) I can’t think of a witty way to say “Billy Ray is doomed.”

Jennifer and Phil. I think Sasha is rooting for them!

Megan and Chris. Sasha tells Megan “I’m going to punch you in the face!” One thing about Sasha, she sure is quotable. Jennifer tells her that she’s jealous.

On their date, Chris brings some food for Megan. If she can guess what all the food is, she’ll get a tickle on her arm. The date ends with her getting a tickle on her arm. This was kind of a boring date. Nonetheless Megan falls for Chris. Why not? Everyone else is!

Sasha starts her date with Billy Ray by asking him how soon after meeting someone he can tell if he wants to marry them. Leave it to her to ask a question that has no good answer on a date. Justifiably flabbergasted, Billy Ray says one or two years. Sasha says her answer is that she’s not sure she’ll ever be ready. Billy Ray is justifiably confused. Sasha obviously isn’t even trying with him.

Phil gets Jennifer to dance some Salsa. Phil cuts a mean rug, but Jennifer is concerned she views him too much in a brotherly way.

Dating in the Dark – Round 4 – Free Choice:

Jennifer invites Chris on a date where she feeds him strawberries. Chris says he had a great time with her. Jennifer is thrilled that he thinks his best assets are his honesty and trustworthiness.

For the second date, Phil invites Jennifer. Jennifer tells him that she’s really choosing between him and Chris. Phil acts like a man and tells her that she really likes Chris and that it’s okay. Good for Phil. If anyone’s leaving here with dignity, it’s going to be him.

Next, Billy Ray tries again with Megan. Too bad he’s not middle class enough for her with his dead jail-bird dad and all. Megan seems to dominate the conversation. As a result, Billy Ray tells us that there was no spark with Megan. “She’s talking, I’m listening, I’m putting information in my head. That’s as romantic as it got today.”

At this point, both Phil and Billy Ray have both admitted to us that their “perfect girl” is not here, while the ladies are falling all over themselves for Chris. I have to say that this is as interesting as this show has gotten in three episodes.