The Dating Game

**The Dating Game** is an American reality television program. Since it first aired 20 December 1965, it has gone through several incarnations.

In each, contestants must choose between three bachelors or bachelorettes by asking provocative questions in order to go out on a date for which the producers pay.

## The Dating Game

Jim Lange hosted the original version from 20 December 1965 through 6 July 1973 on ABC.

Celebrities who appeared in this version include:

* Adam West – 1966
* Peter Duel - 1966
* Jeremy Clyde – 1966 (of Chad and Jeremy)
* Kathryn Minner, "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena" – 1966
* Kathy Garver – 1966, 31 December 1970 and 1 January 1971
* Sally Field and Robert Vaughn – 1966
* Michael Richards - 1967
* John Ritter – 1967
* Groucho Marx – 1967 (as a prank on his daughter Melinda, who was Bachelorette #1)
* Donna Loren – 1967
* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 1967
* Bill Mumy - 1968
* Paul Lynde – 1968
* Richard Dawson – 1968
* Bill Bixby – 1968 (appeared four times but was never selected)
* Deep Purple – 1968
* Steve Martin – 1968, 1970
* McLean Stevenson – 1968
* Strawberry Alarm Clock – 1968 (Drummer Randy Seol appears as one of the three eligible bachelors and is chosen)
* Jackson Bostwick – 1968
* Maurice Gibb - 1968
* Joanna Cameron – Late 1960s
* Farrah Fawcett – 1969
* Iron Butterfly – 1969 (Bassist Lee Dorman appears as one of the eligible bachelors and is chosen)
* Jay North
* The Carpenters – July 1970
* Ann B. Davis – 1970 and 1971
* Louisa Moritz - 1971 and 1973
* Maureen McCormick – 1971 and 1973
* Danny Bonaduce – 1972
* Brandon Cruz (The Courtship of Eddie's Father) – 1972
* Barry Williams – 1972
* Leif Garrett - 1972
* Ron Howard – 1972
* Michael Jackson – 1972 (He performed "Rockin' Robin" during the intro; he appeared in the second half of the show.)
* Butch Patrick – 1972
* Vincent Price – 1972
* Kenny Rogers and The First Edition (Mary Arnold and Terry Williams both did episodes) – 1972
* H.R. Pufnstuf – 25 December 1972
* Fannie Flagg - 1973

## The New Dating Game

Jim Lange also hosted *The New Dating Game* from 10 September 1973 through 3 June 1974 in syndication.

Celebrities in this version include:

* Dick Clark - 1973 (He was finding a date for one of his dancers in *American Bandstand*)
* Arnold Schwarzenegger – 1973
* Suzanne Somers – 1973
* Louisa Moritz - 1974

## The Dating Game

*The Dating Game* returned in syndication from 4 September 1978 through 23 May 1980 again with Jim Lange hosting, though Bob Eubanks substituted in 1978.

Celebrities in this version include:

* Willie Aames – 1978
* Christopher McDonald – 1978
* Murray Langston (as The Unknown Comic) – 1978
* Rip Taylor – 1978 (the three bachelorettes were all fat and ugly, because of his own game show, *The $1.98 Beauty Show*)
* Famous Amos – 1978
* Teri Copley – 1978
* Tom Netherton (*The Lawrence Welk Show*) – 1978
* Andy Kaufman (as Baji Kingan) – 1978
* Jimmie Walker – 1978
* Robert Wuhl – 1978
* Phil Hartman – 1979
* Paul Reubens (as Pee Wee Herman) – 1979
* Bob Saget – 1979 and 1980
* Jennifer Granholm, future Governor of Michigan
* Jaye P. Morgan - 1980
* Jackie Fox - 1980

## The All New Dating Game

*The All New Dating Game* ran from 15 September 1986 through 8 September 1989 in syndication. The first season was hosted by Elaine Joyce, and for its remaining two seasons, it was hosted by Jeff MacGregor.

Celebrities in this version include:

* Cuba Gooding Jr. – 1986
* Judd Apatow - 1986
* Dick Martin
* Don Johnson
* Tom Selleck
* Oprah Winfrey
* Michael Richards
* Jim Carrey
* Charlie O'Donnell - 1987
* Michael G. Brown (*General Hospital*) – 1988

## The Dating Game

The original name was revived for this version, which ran from 9 September 1996 through September 1999. The first season was hosted by Brad Sherwood, and the next two by Chuck Woolery.

Celebrities in this version include:

* Cheryl Hines - 1996

## The Celebrity Dating Game

This version began airing 14 June 2021 on ABC. Zooey Deschanel hosts with Michael Bolton. Celebrity contestants choose a date from among three non-celebrities.

Celebrities in this version include:

* Carmen Electra
* Taye Diggs
* David Koechner
* Nolan Gould
* Nicole Byer
* Chris Kattan
* Margaret Cho
* Gabriel Iglesias
* Iggy Azalea
* Carson Kressley
* Hannah Brown
* Rashad Jennings
* Demi Burnett