The Programming Board sponsored its version of the Dating Game this weekend, pairing eight lucky Dartmouth men and women together for an all-expense night-out in the Upper Valley.
The Programming Board's Dating Game, a take-off of the long-running television contestant show of the same name, consisted of four episodes. Like the TV show, bachelors and bacholorettes chose a date from a pool of three contestants by asking open-ended -- and often racey -- questions.
Student Activities Director Linda Kennedy, who advises the Programming Board, said this is the first time the event was held. "We're hoping that it will be a huge success," Kennedy said.
Students who desired to be on the show sent BlitzMail messages to the Programming Board and filled out a brief questionnaire, listing prospective questions, Mary O'Connor '96, a Programming Board member, said.
O'Connor said most students who asked to participate were allowed to because of the low number of students interested in being on the show.
Along with the antics of the contestants, the Programming Board provided a band that played dating game songs, including the Rice-a-Roni theme and the Juicy Fruit jingle.
Winners were awarded a night on the town, compliments of the Programming Board, and contestants were given complimentary gifts for participating, Kennedy said.
With questions like "if you were an animal, what would you be and why?" and an answers like "I'll be a lion so I could roar all over you" the evening proved to be fun-filled.
"It was lots of fun and I probably would do it again," said Jack O'shea '97, a participant.
Complementary prizes to the contestants included "Lee Press on Nails" and a variety of Rice-a-Roni flavors. Paired contestants received prozes including dinner at the Daniel Webster Room in the Hanover Inn and spending money and tickets to activities on campus, such as the Barbary Coast Concert Saturday.
Contestants were also given a "dating survival kit," which included such items as soap, toothpaste, deodarant and cologne. The bachelors and bacholorettes asking the questions were given plastic handcuffs and screwdrivers.
The Programming Board will host its own version of the television show American Gladiators, a full-contact game show, Nov. 11.