Mainstreamed romance competition TV long before reality dating empires.
Why it matters
Episode guide
251 episodes across 2 seasons — titles, air dates, and synopses.
At a glance
A contestant questions three hidden suitors and picks a date based on banter alone. Soft-core 60s flirtation for daytime and prime access. Matchmaking becomes a format.
Network & studio
- ABC — broadcast network
Why watch now
Watch for the cultural DNA of the 1960s — and the star power that made living rooms feel like red carpets.
Cultural impact
Mainstreamed romance competition TV long before reality dating empires.
Creators
Chuck Barris
Key cast
- Jim Lange as Host
Flash facts
- ABC dating game show created by Chuck Barris; premiered 1965.
- Hosted by Jim Lange in its classic era.
- Helped invent the modern dating-competition TV genre.
FAQ
What network aired The Dating Game?
The Dating Game is associated with ABC (1965–1986).
Why is The Dating Game in the TV Flash top 100 for the 1960s?
Mainstreamed romance competition TV long before reality dating empires.
Who are the key names behind The Dating Game?
Creators and principals include Chuck Barris.
Official & further reading
External sites for further reading — TV Flash is not affiliated with these networks or studios.
Back to the decade
Also on the dial
Related & side shows
The Green Hornet
Britt Reid and Kato — martial-arts sidekick energy that made Bruce Lee a U.S. star.
The F.B.I.
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. vs. the ten most wanted — Bureau procedural as national myth.
ABC's Wide World of Sports
The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat — anthology sports as global window.
Shindig!
Prime-time rock variety — go-go dancing and British Invasion heat on ABC.
F Troop
Fort Courage farce — cavalry, Hekawi schemes, and slapstick frontier corruption.
McHale's Navy
PT-73 hijinks — wartime sitcom with Ernest Borgnine's sneaky skipper.